[00:00:02]
>> GOOD EVENING. THE TIME IS NOW 7:00 P.M.
[Call To Order ]
I'LL CALL TO ORDER THE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 4.BEGIN WITH A ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
NO. WE BEGIN WITH THE INVOCATION FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
IF ALL OF THOSE THAT ARE ABLE, PLEASE JOIN ME IN STANDING.
>> DEAR GOD. PLEASE GUIDE OUR DELIBERATIONS AND DECISIONS TONIGHT WITH JUSTICE, UNITY, AND PEACE.
AMEN. LET'S HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
>> PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE F OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE REPUBLIC INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY AND ICE.
>> MAY WE HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE?
>> OKAY. WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH
[1. Jupiter Fire Rescue Department Update. (Materials to be Distributed)]
A PRESENTATION PROVIDING AN UPDATE ON THE JUPITER FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT.ASK OUR CHIEF TO COME UP AND GIVE US THE UPDATE.
>> GOOD EVENING. MAYOR, TOWN COUNCIL, APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A LITTLE UPDATE ON JUPITER FIRE RESCUE TONIGHT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO SEE IF I CAN GET THIS.
THERE WE GO. NEXT YEAR, FEELS REALLY GOOD TO SAY THAT.
NEXT YEAR, JUPITER FIRE RESCUE WILL BEGIN PROVIDING FIRE SERVICE AND EMS SERVICE HERE IN THE TOWN.
WE MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN A WHOLE NUMBER OF AREAS, INCLUDING COMMUNITY OUTREACH, PERSONNEL, APPARATUS, AND EQUIPMENT, STATIONS, OPERATIONAL ITEMS, AND ALSO IN TERMS OF OUR BUDGET PROGRESSION.
I'M GOING TO RUN THROUGH MOST OF THOSE THINGS TONIGHT AND SCOTT'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE FINANCE DETAILS.
I'VE BEEN INVITED TO SPEAK AT A NUMBER OF NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, HOA MEETINGS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY GROUP GATHERINGS, AS WELL AS TO A NUMBER OF BUSINESS COMMUNITY VENUES, SOME OF OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS, AND SOME LOCAL EVENTS.
AT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES, WE'VE SHARED WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHY WE'RE DOING IT.
WE'VE REALLY RECEIVED JUST INCREDIBLY GREAT FEEDBACK.
LISTEN, NOBODY IS ASKING WHY? THEY GET THAT.
THEY DON'T WANT TO PAY $60,000,000 A YEAR FOR WHAT SHOULD COST 25 MILLION.
WE'RE BEYOND THE WHY AND WE'RE INTO THE OPERATIONAL PHASE THAT'S HAPPENING NEXT YEAR, AND THE QUESTIONS I GET ARE REALLY FOCUSING ON SOME SPECIFICS OF HOW.
I'M JUST GOING TO COVER A FEW OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I'VE BEEN ASKED AND I CAN SHARE SOME OF THOSE RESPONSES.
THE ONE I GET ASKED A LOT IS, CAN THE TOWN ATTRACT AND RETAIN FIREFIGHTERS? I CAN TELL YOU ABSOLUTELY THAT'S THE CASE.
I THINK LAST WEEK, I DON'T KNOW IF THE NUMBERS CHANGED BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE CHANGING DAILY.
LAST WEEK, WE HAD 158 PEOPLE WHO HAVE GONE TO OUR HR DEPARTMENT TO SAY, HEY, I'M INTERESTED IN WORKING IN JUPITER FIRE RESCUE, AND WE HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED ADVERTISING FOR THOSE POSITIONS AND WON'T UNTIL THE FIRST QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR.
THERE'S TREMENDOUS INTEREST IN OUR ORGANIZATION.
A LOT OF THAT INTEREST STEMS FROM THE GREAT PEOPLE THAT WE'VE ALREADY HIRED ON OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM.
THOSE FOLKS HAVE AN INCREDIBLE NETWORK OF PEOPLE WHO REALLY LOOK UP TO AND ADMIRE THEM, AND THEY'RE INTERESTED TO COME WORK WITH THEM.
THAT'S BEEN A GREAT THING. SOME PEOPLE HAVE SAID, LOOK, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO KEEP PEOPLE.
JUPITER, THE FOLKS ARE GOING TO COME WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO LEAVE.
LISTEN, THE TRACK RECORD FOR THE TOWN OF JUPITER SAYS JUST THE OPPOSITE.
I'M NOT GOING TO GET THESE NUMBERS EXACT.
I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN A LITTLE SMARTER TO GET THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT I THINK THE NUMBERS LIKE SOMEWHERE AROUND 100 OF THE TOWN'S EMPLOYEES RIGHT NOW IN JUPITER HAVE 20 YEARS OR MORE OF SERVICE, 100 OF THE TOWN'S EMPLOYEES HAVE 20 YEARS OR MORE OF SERVICE.
JUPITER HAS A TREMENDOUS TRACK RECORD OF RETAINING EMPLOYEES OF ATTRACTING AND RETAINING EMPLOYEES BECAUSE THEY GIVE THEM
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A GREAT ENVIRONMENT TO WORK IN AND A GREAT COMMUNITY, THEY SUPPORT THEM, THEY TAKE GOOD CARE OF THEM, AND THEY FEEL VALUED.ALL OF THAT THAT HAPPENS RIGHT NOW IN JUPITER IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH YOUR JUPITER FIRE RESCUE FAMILY AS WELL.
ANOTHER QUESTION I GET IS, WHAT IS THE ESTIMATED COST OF THE FIRE STATIONS? THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATES FOR FIRE STATIONS WERE AROUND 43 MILLION.
THAT'S WHAT YOUR CONSULTANT SAID.
BEFORE I CAME ON, THE PROJECTION WAS 43 MILLION FOR FIRE STATIONS.
I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW THE CURRENT ESTIMATES ARE THAT THE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED UP TO $20,000,000 TO BUILD THE FIRE STATIONS, WE'RE PRETTY COMFORTABLE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE LESS THAN THAT NUMBER.
ANOTHER QUESTION. WHAT IS JUPITER FIRE RESCUE GOING TO DO ABOUT SPECIAL OPERATIONS OR WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO ABOUT HAZMAT? I HEAR THAT QUESTION A LOT, AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF MISTRUTHS THAT GET CIRCULATED AROUND ON THAT VENUE OF TRUTH THEY CALL FACEBOOK.
LISTEN. WHO IN HERE PAYS FOR THEIR GARBAGE BILL? BECAUSE IF YOU PAY FOR YOUR GARBAGE BILL, YOU'RE PAYING FOR REGIONAL HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RESPONSE, WHETHER YOU'RE IN JUPITER, WHETHER YOU'RE IN TEQUESTA, WHETHER YOU'RE IN PALM BEACH GARDENS.
PALMACH COUNTY HAS AN INCRE INCREDIBLY GREAT SYSTEM WHERE THEY USE SOLID WASTE AUTHORITY FEES TO FUND A REGIONAL HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RESPONSE SYSTEM.
THERE ARE FOUR TEAMS. DEL RAY BEACH AND BOKO TONE, TWO MUNICIPALITIES COMBINED TO FORM A TEAM.
PALMACH COUNTY HAS ANOTHER TEAM THAT'S DOWN OFF THE LAKEWORTH ROAD AREA, I BELIEVE IT IS.
WEST PALM BEACH, CITY OF WEST PALM BEACH HAS A TEAM, AND PALMACH COUNTY HAS A TEAM IN THE NORTH END AS WELL.
ONE OF THOSE FOUR TEAMS IS GOING TO RESPOND TO YOUR HAZARDOUS MATERIALS OR TECHNICAL OPERATION EMERGENCY.
BECAUSE YOU'RE PAYING FOR THEM.
YOU'RE PAYING FOR THEM THROUGH YOUR SOLID WASTE FEES.
THE FOLKS IN PALM BEACH GARDENS, THEY DON'T HAVE A SPECIAL OPS TRUCK SITTING IN THEIR FIRE STATION, BUT THEY GET THE SERVICE BECAUSE THEIR RESIDENTS PAY FOR IT AND THE SAME IS GOING TO BE TRUE OF JUPITER.
THEY'RE GOING TO GET THAT SERVICE BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY PAYING FOR IT.
ANOTHER QUESTION THAT I GET A LOT IS, WHAT IS JUPITER FIRE RESCUE GOING TO DO ABOUT JET SKIS OR ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE JET SKIS? THE CURRENT PROVIDER HAS JET SKIS.
THE RESPONSE IS, LISTEN, RIGHT NOW, THE ANSWER IS NO.
WE DON'T HAVE A PLAN TODAY TO PUT JET SKIS OUT THERE.
WHETHER WE DO IN THE FUTURE OR NOT, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT, BUT TODAY WE DON'T BECAUSE OUR PLAN TODAY IS THAT WE ARE PARTNERING AND WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE JUPITER POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE'VE BEEN I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS WITH THE PD STAFF AND THEIR COMMAND STAFF SINCE SHORTLY AFTER I GOT HERE, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO TEAM UP TOGETHER, WE'RE GOING TO PUT A FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC ON THE POLICE BOAT THAT'S OUT THERE ALL THE TIME, ROVING AROUND.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY, HEY, LET'S GO DEPLOY IT, IT'S GOING TO BE THERE, WE'RE GOING TO BE THERE PARTNERING WITH THEM TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE JOINTLY WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY UNDER ONE ROOF.
WE HAVE SOME PLANS TO OUTFIT THAT BOAT WITH SOME SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT TO ALSO DO SOME OTHER SERVICES AS WELL.
AGAIN, IT'S JUST BEEN THIS GREAT PARTNERSHIP AND THIS JUST MALESTREM OF IDEAS THAT WE'RE DEVELOPING, OF HOW CAN WE WORK BETTER TOGETHER AND CREATE SYNERGIES? ONE OF THE OTHER QUESTIONS I GET IS, WHAT IS JUPITER FIRE RESCUE GOING TO DO ABOUT TRAINING? YOU DON'T HAVE A TRAINING FACILITY.
WELL, FORTUNATELY, IT WASN'T TOO LONG AGO THE TOWN COUNCIL APPROVED AN AGREEMENT WITH PALMACH GARDENS FIRE RESCUE FOR JOINT TRAINING, AND THEY JUST HAD THEIR TRAINING FACILITY APPROVED BY THE STATE.
THEY HAVE A STATE-APPROVED TRAINING FACILITY.
WE PLAN ON DOING LOTS OF TRAINING AT THEIR TRAINING FACILITY JOINTLY WITH THEM WITH OTHER FOLKS.
THERE'S OTHER FIRE DEPARTMENTS THAT TRAIN AT THEIR FACILITY AS WELL, AND SO WE PLAN ON WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THEM ON THOSE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES.
WE'VE ALSO HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH PALME STATE COLLEGE WHO HAS A TRAINING FACILITY ABOUT HOW CAN WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
MARTIN COUNTY HAS JUST BUILT A TRAINING FACILITY AND WE'VE HAD SOME INITIAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF DOING SOME TRAINING UP THERE AS WELL.
THEN THE LAST QUESTION, AGAIN, IT COMES FROM THAT SOURCE OF TRUTH, FACEBOOK, I BELIEVE, IS WHAT IS IT ABOUT THIS $80,000,000 BOND THAT JUPITER IS GOING TO BE ISSUING? I'M LIKE, SORRY, I CAN'T ANSWER THAT BECAUSE I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
THAT WAS THE LAST QUESTION I GOT.
I'M LIKE, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT'S COMING FROM.
SCOTT IS GOING TO TALK TO YOU MORE ABOUT FINANCES, BUT CURRENTLY, THERE'S NO PLAN THAT I'M AWARE OF FOR THE FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT TO ISSUE AN $80,000,000 BOND OR A $60,000,000 BOND OR ANY OTHER BOND THAT'S NOT CURRENTLY IN TODAY'S PLAN.
[00:10:02]
AGAIN, JUST A FEW OF THE CRAZY QUESTIONS THAT I'VE BEEN ASKED.MOST FOLKS ARE SAYING, HEY, WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO STARTING THE SERVICE, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING IN THE COMMUNITY SO FAR, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT, AND WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
NEXT, I WANT TO COVER A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PERSONNEL.
SO WE HAVE OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM LARGELY IN PLACE, AND AGAIN, AS I TOLD YOU, THESE TEAM MEMBERS ARE NATIONALLY KNOWN.
THEY'RE HELD IN INCREDIBLY HIGH REGARD ACROSS THE FIRE SERVICE, AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF HIRING A TRAINING CHIEF.
WE'RE GOING TO GET THIS PERSON ON BOARD SO THEY CAN BEGIN TO PUT OUR TRAINING AND ONBOARDING PLAN ON FOR OUR FUTURE FIREFIGHTERS WHO WILL BE HIRING.
WE'VE CONTRACTED WITH MEDICAL DIRECTOR, DR. MICHAEL FERRARO, WHO WORKS AT JUPITER MEDICAL CENTER, ALONG WITH HIM, WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH THE TEAM AT JUPITER MEDICAL CENTER ON HOW WE CAN PARTNER AND COLLABORATE WITH JUPITER MEDICAL CENTER IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY.
IN TERMS OF APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT, AS YOU'RE AWARE, YOU MADE A PURCHASE OF ALL THE APPARATUS THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED FOR FIRE RESCUE BACK IN 2023, AND THERE WAS AN EXPECTED DELIVERY DATE OF THE MIDDLE OF 2026 FOR ALL OF THAT.
WE HAVE GREAT NEWS. OUR AMBULANCES NOW ARE GOING TO COME SIX MONTHS EARLIER THAN THE PROMISED DATE.
WE EXPECT TO HAVE THEM DELIVERED IN DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF ORDERING, IDENTIFYING AND SPECIFYING ALL THE EQUIPMENT WE'RE GOING TO NEED FOR OUR FIRE APPARATUS AND OUR FIRE STATIONS. FIRE STATIONS.
GREAT PROGRESS THERE AT THE PIT PLACE FIRE STATION, THE UNDERGROUND PARKING STRUCTURE TOTALLY BEEN REMOVED, SITES BEEN FILLED, COMPACTED.
THEY'RE WORKING ON A RETAINING WALL PORTION SO THAT THEY CAN ALLOW THAT RIVER WALK TO GO THROUGH ALONG THAT SITE, WE'RE ANTICIPATING TO DO A GROUNDBREAKING AT THAT SITE ON FEBRUARY 21 AT 10:00 A.M. WE REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO ATTENDING THAT AT OUR SYQUEZ PARK FIRE STATION SITE.
AT THAT SITE, BEFORE WE BEGAN ANYTHING AT THAT SITE, WE MET WITH THE LOCAL RESIDENTS THERE ALONG CARVER AVENUE.
THEY ALL EXPRESSED A LOT OF CONCERNS.
WE GOT A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM THEM, A LOT OF IDEAS, AND REALLY THEY WANTED TO KNOW, HEY, LISTEN, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THIS, HOW CAN YOU ENHANCE OUR COMMUNITY? THEY WANTED TWO THINGS.
THEY WANTED THE LANDSCAPE WORK TO BE REALLY TOP-NOTCH SO THAT THE COMMUNITY BENEFITED FROM IT.
THE BIG THING IS THEY WANTED US TO PRESERVE AN ACCESS ROAD THROUGH CINQUEZ PARK, SO IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO GET EASTBOUND BY USING THAT ACCESS ROAD THROUGH THE PARK.
THOSE ARE THE TWO THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO HAPPEN FIRST, AND TOSE WERE PROMISES MADE AND PROMISES THAT WILL BE KEPT.
THE GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY IS ANTICIPATED TO BE FEBRUARY 20 AT THAT SITE.
AGAIN, WE HOPE TO SEE THAT GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY.
THEN THE ABACO FIRE STATION I HAVE A MEETING PLANNED THIS MONTH TO DISCUSS A TRANSITION PLAN WITH THE EXECUTIVE TEAM OUT AT PALMEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE, AND I'LL GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THAT ONCE THAT MEETINGS OCCURRED.
THEN SOME OPERATIONAL ITEMS. ONE OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO TO BE A FIRE DEPARTMENT IS YOU HAVE TO GET THE STATE TO BLESS YOU OR TO GIVE YOU IT'S NOT A LICENSE.
THEY CALL IT AN FDID OR A FIRE DEPARTMENT IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.
IT'S A PRETTY EXTENSIVE PROCESS.
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF INFORMATION THAT HAS TO BE PROVIDED.
THEY COME DOWN, SPEND A COUPLE DAYS HERE CHECKING EVERY SINGLE THING THAT YOU DO AND HOW YOU DO IT.
WE SUCCESSFULLY GOTTEN THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND BEEN ISSUED OUR FDID.
WE ARE A FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
WE'VE PASSED A MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT WITH PALM BEACH GARDENS THROUGH THE COUNCIL, TRAINING AGREEMENT WITH PALM BEACH GARDENS, RADIO COMMUNICATIONS AGREEMENT WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE OR PALMACH COUNTY, AND WE HAVE A VEHICLE MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT IN PLACE WITH TONIGHT, AND WE'VE ACTUALLY COMPLETED OUR APPLICATION.
IT'S BEEN SUBMITTED. IT'S UNDER REVIEW RIGHT NOW FOR OUR CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY.
ON THE HORIZON, WE'LL BE APPLYING FOR OUR STATE EMS LICENSE, AND THEN RIGHT AFTER THAT, WE'LL BE WORKING ON THE ADOPTION OF A FIRE CODE FOR THE TOWN OF JUPITER.
NOW I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO SCOTT REYNOLDS, WHO'S OUR DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, AND HE'S GOING TO GO INTO SOME DETAILS ABOUT THE FINANCE PORTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, DARRYL. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR.
COUNSEL. SCOTT REYNOLDS, THE FINANCE DIRECTOR FOR THE TOWN.
I WILL TELL YOU THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AS DARRYL STARTED GOING THROUGH A LOT OF HIS SLIDES, IT'S A VERY LARGE TASK, AND ALSO,
[00:15:03]
THE TOWN IS VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE'RE IN A GREAT FINANCIAL POSITION TO BE ABLE TO DO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.>> NOT TAKE OUT A LOT OF DEBT SERVICE.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT THROUGHOUT THE PLANNING STAGES.
WE'RE NOW ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF INTO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
BUT I WILL START OUT WITH BACK IN AUGUST OF 2023, IF YOU REMEMBER OUR CONSULTANT CAME AND GAVE AN UPDATE TO THE COUNCIL IN WHICH YOU ALL DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD.
AT THAT TIME, WE WERE ESTIMATING APPROXIMATELY $58 MILLION START UP FOR CAPITAL AND STATION CONSTRUCTION.
ALSO WITH A FIRST YEAR OF OPERATING ROLL FORWARD LOOKING INTO FY27 OF $25 MILLION.
I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT AS WE GO THROUGH THE SLIDES.
BUT THE FIRST YEAR OF OPERATING IN FY24, IT WAS $11.4 MILLION WITH A VAST MAJORITY OF THAT COST, AS DARRYL JUST INDICATED FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE FIRE APPARATUS AND THE AMBULANCES.
THAT ALSO INCLUDED SOME LOOSE EQUIPMENT, ALSO FOR THE AMBULANCES AS WELL.
IF YOU REMEMBER, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OVERALL FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ALWAYS GOING TO BE FUNDED THROUGH THE USE OF OUR HEALTHY RESERVE BALANCE, SOME SUR TAX MONEY, AND THEN WE WERE GOING TO BORROW SOME FUNDS, AND THAT WOULD BE DECIDED AS WE WENT INTO THE IMPLEMENTATION STAGE.
BUT THIS FIRST YEAR WAS GOING TO BE THE $11.4 MILLION.
WHAT I WILL TELL YOU, WE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE MARKET, MEANING THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO TAKE THE TOWN'S CASH AND ACCUMULATE SOME INTEREST EARNINGS THAT WAS ABLE TO ACTUALLY REPLENISH THE TOWN'S RESERVE AT YEAR END TO $54 MILLION.
NOW, THAT $54 MILLION THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN RESERVES AT YEAR END, THAT'S FOR ANY AUDIT ADJUSTMENTS, BUT WE WERE ACTUALLY ABLE TO REPLENISH THAT $11.4 MILLION.
ALSO, WE FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE GOING FORWARD INTO FY25.
I'LL JUST JUMP FORWARD TO FY25 BECAUSE THAT WAS PART OF THE BUDGETARY PROCESS THAT WE WERE ALSO AS A $2.6 MILLION FOR THE OPERATING, WE ASSUMED SOME PORTION OF DEBT SERVICE, WHICH I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT IN RELATION TO THE STATIONS.
BUT THAT, AGAIN, THAT'S GOING TO BE FUNDED THROUGH OUR INTEREST EARNINGS.
WE'RE TAKING THE TOWN'S MONEY, THE TAXPAYERS MONEY, AND EARNING INTEREST ON THAT TO HELP PAY FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOING FORWARD.
WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE AT THIS POINT IN TIME THAT REALLY THE CITIZENS, AS FAR AS THEIR TAX DOLLARS, THAT REALLY HAVEN'T LAID OUT ANYTHING BECAUSE IT'S BEEN THROUGH INTEREST EARNINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PAY FOR THOSE FIRST YEAR START UPS.
THE NEXT THING IS THE FUNDING OF THE FIRE STATIONS.
AS DARRYL INDICATED TO YOU THAT INITIAL ESTIMATE FOR THE FIRE STATION INCLUDED SOME LAND BECAUSE AT THE POINT, IF YOU REMEMBER RIGHT, THE CONSULTANT HAD ALREADY INDICATED THAT PROBABLY THE BEST SERVICE AREAS WAS CINQUEZ PARK OR THE CINQUEZ STATION, AS WELL AS PITT PLACE.
BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW FOR SURE UNTIL WE ACTUALLY DID ALL THE ANALYSIS.
THERE WAS SOME ASSUMPTION OF LAND PURCHASE IN WITH THE STATIONS.
BUT AS IT TURNS OUT, THOSE ARE THE TWO BEST AREAS FOR THE STATIONS TO BE CONSTRUCTED.
THAT'S GOING TO SAVE ON THE OVERALL IMPLEMENTATION COST.
BUT IN ORDER TO FUND THIS ADDITIONAL $20 MILLION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE STATIONS IS WHAT WE'VE CAME UP WITH AS AN ESTIMATE.
WE GOING TO USE A SHORT TERM BORROWING MECHANISM.
IF YOU REMEMBER RIGHT BACK IN AUGUST, WE CAME BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND GOT THE COUNCIL TO APPROVE A COMMERCIAL PAPER ISSUANCE.
IT'S SHORT TERM BORROWING AT A LOWER INTEREST RATE INSTEAD OF US JUST GOING OUT AND BORROWING $20 MILLION RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING.
I'M SORRY. IT'S LIKE A LINE OF CREDIT.
WE CAN ACTUALLY PULL ON IT AS WE NEED IT.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THE DEVELOPMENT STAGE OF THE BUDGETS FOR THE FIRE STATIONS.
WE STILL FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THAT WILL BE $20 MILLION OR UNDER FOR THE ACTUAL STATION CONSTRUCTION.
I WILL POINT OUT THAT WE ARE ANTICIPATING A $700,000 SAVINGS AT THE END OF LIFE WHEN WE ACTUALLY GO OUT INTO THE MARKET AND HAVE THE BANKS COMPETING FOR THE TOWN'S BUSINESS TO EITHER DO A BOND ISSUE OR A BANK LOAN FOR THAT FINAL BALANCE.
BUT AT THAT POINT, WE FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL HAVE OPTIONS FOR THE COUNCIL IF THEY WANT TO BUY DOWN THAT $20 MILLION WITH CASH.
THEY CAN DO THAT OR SET THE TERMS BASED ON WHAT
[00:20:02]
THE COMPETING BANKS WILL MAKE AN OFFER ON.BUT WE DO FEEL THAT THERE'LL BE APPROXIMATELY $700,000 SAVINGS BY THE USE OF THE COMMERCIAL PAPER OPTION.
THAT'S PRIMARILY DUE TO SAVINGS FOR INTEREST.
I DID LOOK AT THAT TODAY TO SEE WHERE WE WERE AT.
I KNOW WHEN WE GAVE THIS PRESENTATION BACK IN AUGUST, WE WERE LOOKING AT AN INTEREST RATE FOR THE COMMERCIAL PAPER AT 3.77%. TODAY, IT'S AT 3.2.
THAT WAS AS OF END OF DECEMBER.
WE DO KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN A PAUSE AT THE FED LEVEL ON THE REDUCTION OF THE INTEREST RATES OR THE PRIME RATES, BUT WE DO FEEL THAT GOING FORWARD, WORKING WITH OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR THAT THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE YEAR, THERE WILL BE SOME FURTHER REDUCTIONS AND MEET OUR TARGET.
WE'RE STILL FEELING VERY CONFIDENT WITH THAT.
ONE THING I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT THE STATION CONSTRUCTION.
YOU KNOW THAT WE'VE BROUGHT BEFORE THE TOWN COUNCIL ALREADY TWO PHASES OF THE INITIATION OF THE CONSTRUCTION.
ONE WAS THE REMOVAL OF THE UNDERGROUND STRUCTURE AT PITT.
BECAUSE WE'RE DOING ALL OF THAT, WE'RE ALSO PREPARING FOR WHAT THE COUNCIL HAS REQUESTED FOR A PIT PLACE.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE REMOVING THE UNDERGROUND STRUCTURE, WE'RE PAYING FOR A PORTION OF THAT, THE CRA IS ALSO PAYING FOR A PORTION, AND WE'RE STARTING TO PREPARE FOR THE RIVER WALK AS WELL.
THERE'S A WALL GOING IN THAT THE COUNCIL APPROVED ONE OF THE LAST COUNCIL MEETINGS AND ALSO SOME BACKFILL AND SITE PREP THAT'S OCCURRING.
THEN OVER ON CINQUEZ, WE'RE PUTTING IN A ROAD THAT WAS REQUESTED BY THE CITIZENS.
THAT'S OVER AND ABOVE THE STATION REQUIREMENTS.
THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING FOR THE CITIZENS AS WELL.
BUT GOING INTO YEAR TWO, 2025, $2.9 MILLION, 2.6 FOR OPERATING AND $350,000.
WE'RE ASSUMING THAT WE WILL START MAKING SOME DRAWS ON THE COMMERCIAL PAPER ISSUANCE, SO THERE WILL BE SOME DEBT SERVICE COSTS THIS COMING YEAR.
AGAIN, WE'RE PLANNING TO PAY FOR THAT THROUGH THE INTEREST EARNINGS, YEAR THREE INTO 2026.
WE'RE GOING TO START WORKING ON THAT TO SUMMER THIS THROUGH THE BUDGETARY PROCESS, DARRYL AND I ALONG WITH THE HR, WE'LL BE WORKING ON THE THE CADENCE FOR THE HIRING CADENCE AND ALSO SETTING OF THE SALARIES FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE HIRING AND HOW MANY WE'RE GOING TO BE HIRING GOING INTO FY 25/26.
THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, WE'RE GOING TO BE FIRMING UP THE BUDGET FOR 2026.
WE ARE ANTICIPATING THAT THAT IS GOING TO BE A HEAVY YEAR FOR THE EXPENSE FOR THE TOWN BECAUSE OF THE HIRING OF THE PERSONNEL, THE PURCHASING OF THE REMAINING EQUIPMENT, BUT RIGHT NOW THE TOWN IS IN A GREAT POSITION, RESERVE WIVE.
WE DON'T EXPECT THAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THAT BY YEAR END.
IN FACT, WE'RE HOPING TO ACTUALLY ADD TO THAT TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE WHATEVER WE NEED GOING INTO FY 26.
THEN AGAIN, I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THE FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION IN FY 27.
WE STILL FEEL THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ON TARGET.
PART OF THAT $25 MILLION CONSISTS OF $1.8 MILLION IN DEBT SERVICE COST.
AGAIN, LIKE I INDICATED EARLIER.
WHEN WE COME TO THE END OF CONSTRUCTION, WE WILL ASK THE BANKS TO COMPETE FOR OUR BUSINESS FOR A LONGER TERM LOAN.
AT THAT POINT, THE COUNCIL CAN BUY DOWN THAT AMOUNT OF DEBT AND WE CAN SET OUR TERMS. AND THAT'S RIGHT NOW WE'RE BASING THAT $1.8 MILLION ON A 15 YEAR TERM, AND I KNOW THE COUNCIL HAS INDICATED THEY'D LIKE TO SEE THAT TO BE LESS.
SO WE'LL HAVE THE DISCUSSIONS AT THAT TIME, AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK TO DARRYL FOR KEY TAKEAWAYS.
>> A BIT LONG TONIGHT, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
LOOK, NEXT YEAR, JUPITER FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT WILL BEGIN PROVIDING SERVICE TO RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES AND VISITORS IN THE TOWN OF JUPITER.
IMPLEMENTATION IS ON TIME AND ON BUDGET AND JUPITER FIRE RESCUE WILL SET THE BENCHMARK FOR EXCELLENCE DAY ONE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BE HAPPY TO TAKE IT.
>> ACTUALLY, I WANT TO ASK SCOTT A COUPLE JUST QUICKLY.
AND YOU SAID THIS, BUT I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM.
BUT IN FISCAL YEAR 27, THE PROJECTED BUDGET IS 25 MILLION.
WHAT DID WE ORIGINALLY EXPECT FOR 2027?
>> THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL ANTICIPATE $25 MILLION.
>> HEARD LAST NIGHT, SOMEBODY SAYING THE THOUGHT IT WAS 20 MILLION.
SO THEY THOUGHT IT WAS GOING UP.
I JUST WANTED TO HEAR ON THE RECORD IT HASN'T GONE UP.
[00:25:02]
>> NO, SIR. IN FACT, WE'RE HIGHLY ANTICIPATING MEETING THE $25 MILLION MARK.
I KNOW RIGHT NOW IN A COUNTY IS SWEEPING THEM AND I KNOW LAST YEAR WE COLLECTED $400,000, CORRECT, AND NOW THOSE GOT SWEPT.
BUT WHEN WE DO START OUR OWN DEPARTMENT, EFFECTIVE 10126 AND IMPACT FEES ACCRUE THEN TO THE TOWN, DO WE HAVE TO SET RULES ON HOW WE CAN USE THEM OR IS YOUR RULES ALREADY SET FOR THAT?
>> MR. BARR COULD PROBABLY ANSWER THAT, BUT YES, THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS.
THOSE ARE RESTRICTED FUNDS IN RELATION TO ANY COLLECTION OF IMPACT FEES.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF ACTUAL STUDIES. I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO HIT ON WAS THERE'S A NUMBER OF STUDIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER AND GOING INTO NEXT YEAR.
ONE OF THEM WILL BE EXACTLY THAT.
WE HAVE TO DO AN IMPACT FEE ANALYSIS AND STUDY IF THE COUNCIL WISH TO DO IMPACT FEES, ALSO FOR AMBULATORY FEES, ALSO ANY FEE COLLECTION FOR PLAN REVIEW.
SO THERE'S THOSE TYPE OF FEES THAT WE'LL HAVE TO DO A STUDY AND BRING BACK BEFORE THE COUNCIL TO SET THOSE FEES GOING FORWARD ALONG WITH THE NON AVALORM ASSESSMENT REVIEW AS WELL.
>> I ASKED THAT BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A SHAME BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING IMPACTS AND BE THE COSTS THAT WE'RE COLLECTING ARE BEING SWEPT FOR OUTSIDE OF JUPITER, SO I'M CERTAINLY ANXIOUS WHEN THEY START ACCRUING TO THE TOWN, AND THEN WE CAN USE THEM FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW. ANYWAY, THANK YOU.
>> YES. CURRENTLY, I YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE COUNTY'S COLLECTION, THAT IS NOT PART OF OUR CURRENT CONTRACT TO UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS.
>> THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE COMMENTS AND I'LL TURN IT TO MY COLLEAGUES, BUT I REALLY PROBABLY SHOULD ADDRESS IT FIRST TO OUR TOWN MANAGER.
YOU TOOK ON THIS TASK TO DELIVER A STANDING FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT BY 10126, AND I'M EXTREMELY CONFIDENT.
INCREDIBLE STAFF HIRES THAT WE'VE GOT.
THE LEADERSHIP TEAM IS JUST INCREDIBLE.
THE PROGRESS THIS UPDATE WAS THOROUGH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, INCLUDING PROVIDING ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS THAT YOU'RE HEARING AS YOU GO AROUND.
MAYBE WE OUGHT TO DO IT ON SOME CADENCE TO REMEMBER.
I DON'T KNOW WHY PEOPLE ARE SAYING WE HAVEN'T BEEN TRANSPARENT.
I DON'T KNOW ANY LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN MORE TRANSPARENT THAN WE HAVE.
SO THESE PRESENTATIONS ARE HELPFUL TO DISPEL THAT FALSE CLAIM, IF YOU WILL.
OUTSTANDING BOTH YOU AND TO MR. REYNOLDS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THE DIS?
CAN YOU HEAR ME? HOW ABOUT NOW? GREAT JOB.
GREAT JOB LEADING TO WHERE WE ARE NOW.
AND WHEN I SEE THESE DATES, OCTOBER 1, 2026.
IT'S GOING TO BE HONEST VERY QUICKLY OUTSTANDING.
WHEN THIS ALL STARTED WHEN I FIRST GOT INVOLVED, THERE ARE THREE MAIN AREAS OF CONCERN.
ONE WAS THE COST OF THE STATIONS.
WHAT WE WERE SUGGESTING WAS BEING DESCRIBED AS LUDICROUS, HOW DO WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE THAT CHEAP? YOU'RE DOING IT FOR HALF OF WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT DOING IT.
IT OUTSTANDING. THE SECOND BIGGEST COMPLAINT WAS EQUIPMENT.
WE WERE CRAZY OUT OF WHACK WITH OUR ESTIMATES FOR EQUIPMENT.
SIX MONTHS EARLY UNDER BUDGET.
OUTSTANDING. THE THIRD WAS SERVICE.
ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A SERVICE? THAT STILL REMAINS THE ONE UNKNOWN, BUT I DON'T REALLY THINK IT IS.
YOU'VE DESCRIBED NOW BEFORE WE'VE EVEN PUT IT OUT FOR SOLICITATIONS THAT WE'VE GOT 100 APPLICATIONS.
HOW MANY POSITIONS ARE WE TRYING TO FILL ULTIMATELY?
>> THAT NUMBER WILL BE DETERMINED BY YOU AS YOU DO THE BUDGET, AND SO I'M GOING TO LEAVE IT AT THAT.
ULTIMATELY, WE HAVE TO CREATE A BUDGET FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEARS, AND YOU GUYS WILL MAKE THOSE DECISIONS THEN.
SO IT MAY BE A LITTLE FLUID DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU DECIDE.
>> WHAT WOULD YOU JUST A ROUGH ESTIMATE TO STAFF THE DEPARTMENT?
>> SO WE'VE ALREADY GOTTEN APPLICATIONS TO COVER THE HUNDRED THAT WE'RE ANTICIPATING.
>> YEAH, I'LL TELL YOU 158 PEOPLE LAST WEEK WERE ON THE LIST INTERESTED IN WORKING HERE, AND THEN WHETHER WE HIRE THEM ALL OR NOT, I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE INTEREST HAS BEEN HIGH AND WE HAVEN'T ADVERTISED YET.
>> WELL, I CAN JUST SAY FROM AN EMPLOYER STANDPOINT, HAVING 50% MORE PEOPLE ALREADY APPLYING FOR THE JOB THAN I'M GOING TO NEED ALLOWS ME TO PICK THE BEST.
[00:30:01]
I THINK YOU'VE CREATED AN ATMOSPHERE WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE TO REALLY PICK AND CHOOSE REALLY GOOD PEOPLE.I HAVE EVERY FAITH IN YOUR ABILITY TO PULL THAT OFF.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. EXCELLENT PRESENTATION.
EXCELLENT NEWS. THANK YOU, FRANK.
SCOTT AS WELL, ALL YOUR NUMBERS ARE COMING IN PERFECTLY.
THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE ESTIMATED ARE SPOT ON.
THANK ALL THREE OF YOU AND YOUR STAFF.
>> I AGREE WITH BOTH MY COLLEAGUES HERE. I GUESS I'LL START.
I KNEW IT WAS A HEAVY SUPER HEAVY LIFT TO START SOMETHING LIKE THIS, BUT EVERYBODY'S ANXIOUS ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT'S NEW.
BUT WITH THE LEADERSHIP TEAM WE HAVE, AND THEN THE HIRING OF OUR CHIEF AND THE DEPUTY CHIEF, THE EXCITEMENT LEVEL IN TOWN HALL, AND JUST WATCHING YOU GUYS WORK.
THEN I'VE MET SOME OF THE NEWER FOLKS YOU BROUGHT IN.
I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE ARE BEATING THEIR DOOR DOWN TO COME WORK HERE.
I AM NOT SURPRISED AND SCOTT AND YOUR STAFF, EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, EVERYTHING'S ALWAYS SPOT ON.
YOU KNOW WHERE EVERY PENNY GOES, AND I JUST HAVE ALL THE CONFIDENCE IN THE WORLD THAT WE'LL BE READY TO GO EARLIER THAN OCTOBER 1ST.
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK, KEEP WORKING HARD.
I SEE YOU GUYS WHEN I'M IN HERE.
YOU GUYS ARE WORKING HARD, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. GREAT JOB.
>> IS THIS WORKING? THIS IS BETTER? JUST FOR A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.
WE HAVE BEEN GOING TO A LOT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS WITH YOU AND WE HAVE SEEN THEM FOR A LONG TIME.
BUT I THINK THE MOST RECENT ONE WAS REALLY A GOOD EXAMPLE OF JUST HOW FAR WE'VE COME.
I BELIEVE IT WAS A CHARTER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER, AND YOU RECEIVED A STANDING APPLAUSE.
IT WAS A WONDERFUL THING TO SEE YOU ANSWER QUESTIONS.
I THINK THERE WAS SOMEONE YOU SERVED WITH IN THAT MEETING, WHO LIVES IN JUPITER AND WORKED WITH YOU IN RIVERA BEACH.
LEARNING FROM HIM AND HEARING FROM OFFICER DIAZ TOO AND HOW THE POLICE ARE WORKING WITH FIRE, I THOUGHT THAT WAS JUST A WONDERFUL MEETING AND AN EXAMPLE OF ALL THEY ARE DOING TO EXPLAIN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND HOW FAR WE'VE COME AND WHERE WE'RE GOING.
THANK YOU FOR THAT, AND THANK YOU ALSO TO SCOTT.
THIS IS ONE OF THE CLEAREST PRESENTATIONS.
I THINK FINANCE CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR MANY PEOPLE.
IT'S LIKE A BACK OF THE ENVELOPE, JUST UNDERSTANDING WHERE WE STARTED, WHAT THE TOP LINE NUMBER WAS AND HOW EACH OF THESE LINE ITEMS IS ADDING UP TOWARDS IT. THANK YOU.
>> THANKS FOR THE UPDATE. I TOO HAVE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND SPECIFICALLY, WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE HAZMAT RESPONSE.
THE REGIONAL TEAMS COVER THE HAZMAT, YOU PAY FOR THAT SERVICE, THOUGH.
WHAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO HELP DO IS DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN WHERE WE RECEIVED THE HAZMAT RESPONSE SERVICE FROM AND WHAT A TRT TEAM WOULD DO.
I WOULD THINK THAT WITH THE SQUAD TRUCK THAT WE ORDERED, THAT WE WOULD BUILD THAT ONE OUT FOR A TRT RESPONSE FOR HIGH ANGLE RESCUE DIVE CALLS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
I WOULD EXPECT THAT THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GET OUR TECHNICAL RESCUE ABILITIES FROM UTILIZING THE SQUAD TRUCK. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES, SO WE ARE BUILDING THAT IN RIGHT NOW AS OUR PLANS FOR PURCHASING OF EQUIPMENT GO.
WE'RE PLANNING ON BUILDING THAT TRUCK OUT TO INCORPORATE A NUMBER OF TRT TYPE ACTIVITIES.
WE'RE ALSO IN CLOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR PARTNERS JUST TO THE SOUTH, PALM BEACH GARDENS, WHO THEY'VE JUST CREATED A FULL TRT TEAM, AND WE'VE BEEN IN TALKS WITH THEM ABOUT HOW WE CAN PARTNER WITH THEM.
THEY'VE AGREED TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE TO US ANYTIME WE WANT IT.
BUT WE WANT TO HAVE THAT RIGHT HERE IN JUPITER.
WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING THAT OURSELVES AS WELL AND WORKING JOINTLY WITH THEM, SO WE CAN AUGMENT EACH OTHER SERVICES FOR TRT SERVICES.
>> I DEFINITELY WOULD SUPPORT US HAVING OUR OWN IN HOUSE TRT TEAM.
IT'S SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF, TOO.
IT'S A NEAT THING TO HAVE AND HAVE IT RIGHT HERE IN THE TOWN.
THE ONLY OTHER QUESTION I HAVE, HAVE YOU GUYS LAID OUT ANY PLAN FOR WHEN WE DO START HIRING THE FIREFIGHTERS, WHAT OUR TRAINING ACADEMY TIMELINE WOULD LOOK LIKE? HOW LONG WOULD THE ACADEMY FOR THESE FIREFIGHTERS BE TO GET THEM TRAINED UP READY TO GO DAY 1?
>> I'LL TELL YOU, I HAVE A PERSONAL VISION FOR THAT.
I'VE COMMUNICATED IT WITH THE BOSS, BUT THE BOSS AND I HAVEN'T REACHED AGREEMENT.
I'VE JUST SAID, HEY, THIS IS MY THOUGHT.
THE DISCUSSION IS, WE'RE COMING INTO BUDGET.
WE'RE COMING INTO THIS BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, AND WE'RE GOING TO REFINE THAT AS WE GO.
MY PERSONAL THOUGHT, I'LL TELL YOU IS THAT IT'S ABOUT A FOUR MONTH PROGRAM.
PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE WE DON'T JUST HAVE TO TRAIN FOLKS.
WE HAVE TO GET THEM FAMILIAR WITH THIS COMMUNITY.
[00:35:01]
I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY IS TO GET THESE FOLKS DURING TRAINING INTO ALL OF OUR TARGET HAZARDS SO THAT THEY INTIMATELY KNOW THOSE BUSINESSES, THOSE BUILDINGS BEFORE THEY RUN THEIR FIRST CALL ON THEM.THAT'S MY GOAL AND DESIRE, BUT WE WILL WORK WITH THE TOWN MANAGER AND THE TOWN COUNCIL AND HOW TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
>> I'M HERE. I DON'T MIND ASSISTING WITH THAT WHEN YOU GUYS GET THE PEOPLE ON BOARD.
I OBVIOUSLY WORK AND DO THAT TYPE OF WORK IN THIS AREA.
IF YOU NEED ME TO COME AND HELP OUT WITH ANY OF THAT, I'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO LEND A HAND.
>> I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
>> THE MAYOR, I DO HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS ITEM.
>> GOOD EVENING, LINDA MCDERMOTT 107 CHADWICK DRIVE.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I JUST WANT TO SAY, I THINK MOST PEOPLE KNOW MY VISION ON THE FISCAL END OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THE TIMELINE, WHAT'S BEEN DONE HAS BEEN EXCELLENT FOR A CAPITAL PROJECT, I'VE GOT TO SAY THAT.
I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE HIRING AND EVERYTHING WILL HAVE GOOD PEOPLE.
BUT MY CONCERN AGAIN IS ON THE FISCAL TRANSPARENCY.
I READ THIS BEFORE COMING HERE TONIGHT, AND THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT I STILL WOULD LIKE ANSWERS, NOT FOR ME, BUT FOR THE PUBLIC.
WHEN WE STATE THAT THE INTEREST EARNINGS, THE SURTAX REVENUE, AND THE USE OF RESERVE FUNDS IN FY 2026, IT IS AT A COST OF NOT REDUCING THE MILLAGE RATE, NOT REDUCING DEBT AND OF DELAYING OTHER CAPITAL PROJECTS OR NOT INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF STAFF PAY TO KEEP UP WITH THE COST OF LIVING IN JUPITER.
WE DID ELIMINATE A SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATOR.
IT WAS A VACANCY, NO ONE LOST A JOB.
THE TOWN I THINK NEEDS IN A SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATOR.
BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT WERE NOT DONE OR HELD BACK TO ACCELERATE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
BUT IN THE 2026 BUDGET TO BE DEVELOPED USING RESERVE FUNDS, WE NEED MORE DETAILS.
THERE'S BEEN NO LONG RANGE FINANCIAL PLAN, AND I'VE HAD A DISCUSSION WITH SCOTT.
2027 JUST NOTES PROJECTED BUDGET OF 25 MILLION, BUT NO PLAN, WHAT FUND? WHAT IS THE JUPITER MILLAGE RATE GOING TO BE? I'VE ASKED ABOUT FIVE TIMES IN PUBLIC ON A LONG RANGE BUDGET PLAN, AND STILL I HAVE NOT GOTTEN ANSWERS.
WILL THERE BE A FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE? WHAT WILL THE MILLAGE RATE INCREASE BE FOR JUPITER? WILL THERE BE MORE CAPITAL PROJECT CUTS TO ACCOMMODATE ANNUAL COST INCREASES? THE UNKNOWNS AND THE REAL NUMBERS ARE ALL I'M ASKING FOR, AND THE CITIZENS NEED TO KNOW, NOT JUST WHAT YOU WANT THEM TO HEAR, IT'S WHAT THEY NEED TO HEAR.
IF YOU WANT TO BUILD CONFIDENCE, WE NEED TO GET THIS LONG RANGE FINANCIAL PLAN.
THE OTHER THING I WANT TO SPEAK OF IS IF YOU WANT A SEAMLESS POLICE AND FIRE TO BLEND TOGETHER, NOT THAT PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE DID NOT BECAUSE OUR POLICE OFFICERS WORK WELL WITH EVERYONE.
I THOUGHT THEY BOTH WORKED WELL TOGETHER.
THEN WHAT ABOUT DISPATCH? I REALLY HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT DISPATCH.
WHEN I WAS IN DISPATCH, YES, IT WAS VERY NICE TO DISPATCH FOR BOTH OUR FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I'M IMAGINING THAT COULD BE A FUTURE.
IF YOU WANT CONTROL OF YOUR FIRE, WHY NOT CONTROL YOUR DISPATCH AS WELL.
>> THAT'S EFFECTIVELY A CITIZEN COMMENT, I'M GOING TO TAKE IT.
WE DON'T NORMALLY HAVE COMMENTS IN THE PRESENTATION, BUT I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE TO JUST QUICKLY ADDRESS THIS TO THOSE TWO ITEMS. MR. REYNOLDS, CAN I JUST ASK YOU BECAUSE THE DECISION ON WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE AND THEN IT WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE IMPACTS ON ALLOWING A LOWER AD VALOREM TAX RATE, CORRECT?
>> WE'VE BEEN CLEAR IN MEETINGS THAT WE HAVE NOT YET MADE THAT POLICY DECISION, AND WE HAVE IT IN THE PLAN THE COMMON THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COUNCIL WILL HAVE DIALOGUE ABOUT IT TO BE IN PUBLIC MEETINGS, CORRECT?
>> WHEN ARE WE PLANNING TO DO THAT?
>> WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO START THIS SUMMER.
WE WILL HAVE TO NOTICE OUR INTENT TO THE PROPERTY APPRAISER BY DECEMBER 30TH.
WE WILL START THAT PROCESS THIS SUMMER BECAUSE IT'S A PRETTY LONG STUDY.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT BEFORE.
WE WILL BE STARTING THAT THIS SUMMER.
[00:40:01]
THERE WILL BE A NUMBER OF PUBLIC MEETINGS THAT ARE REQUIRED BY STATUTE TO IMPLEMENT THAT, EVEN IF YOU WISH TO.AT THE END, YOU MAY DECIDE NOT TO DO IT.
WE WILL BE COMING BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
THE COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS ON WHAT YOU WANT THE FEE TO BE LIKE IF YOU WISH TO GO FORWARD.
THE OTHER THING, I JUST WANT TO SAY, I'VE BEEN HEARING FROM SOME RESIDENTS THAT THEY'RE CONCERNED THAT RIGHT NOW THEY DON'T PAY ANY TAX.
THERE ARE CARVE OUTS THAT ARE ALLOWED VIA THE NON AD VALOREM ASSESSMENT.
WHICH MEANS YOU WOULD HAVE TO DO WHAT'S CALLED A BUY DOWN OF THE RATE.
YOU CAN'T JUST IGNORE IT, BUT YOU CAN BUY THAT RATE DOWN FOR THESE CITIZENS.
THEY WON'T GET PENALIZED, SO TO SPEAK, IF THEY'RE CURRENTLY NOT PAYING TAX, AND IF THE COUNCIL SO WISHES, THEY CAN DO THESE CARVE OUTS.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A NUMBER OF DECISIONS THAT THE COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO MAKE AND A NUMBER OF PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN.
THAT'S BEFORE WE IMPLEMENT AN FY27, BUT WE'RE GOING TO START THAT THIS SUMMER.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF STUDIES THAT WE HAVE PLANNED FOR AND THAT ONE OF THE MAIN ONES.
>> THANK YOU. YOU'VE TOLD US THAT FOR A WHILE, I KNOW IT'S COMING.
I PERSONALLY, FIVE PEOPLE UP HERE MAKE A FINAL DECISION.
I HAVEN'T REACHED ANY FINAL CONCLUSION ON WHETHER WE SHOULD HAVE A FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE, AND THAT'S WHY THAT HASN'T BEEN DECIDED.
NOT JUST BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE STUDY TO COME BACK TO PONDER ABOUT IT.
RIGHT NOW, EFFECTIVELY, WE COULD ESTIMATE WHAT THE AD VALOREM TAX RATE IS.
ASSUMING THERE WAS NO FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE.
IF WE HAVE A FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE, THEN IT WOULD BE LOWER.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC IS HEARING THIS RIGHT.
THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO BOTH AND COLLECT MORE MONEY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE BY GOSH, YOU'LL BE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, PROBABLY IT IS ALREADY SUGGESTING THAT.
>> WELL, IF YOU'LL REMEMBER RIGHT BACK WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT IT WITH THE CONSULTANT, WE HAD TO MAKE SOME ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING WHAT THE TAX RATE WOULD BE USING $28 MILLION FOR THE COUNTY FIRE, $25 MILLION FOR THE TOWN, USING THE SAME TAXABLE VALUE OF THE TOWN.
OBVIOUSLY, JUST BECAUSE THE ANNUAL EXPENSE IS LESS, THE MILLAGE IS GOING TO BE LESS.
THAT'S JUST HOW IT WOULD WORK.
>> UNDERSTAND. AGAIN, I APPRECIATE SINCE THERE'S A QUESTION, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE REALIZE WE DON'T HAVE IT.
WE HAVEN'T MADE THOSE POLICY DECISIONS.
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT HAS BEEN SAID, JUST TO CLARIFY EVERYBODY'S NET BILL IS GOING TO GO DOWN.
>> EVERYBODY'S NET BILL IS GOING TO GO DOWN.
>> IT'S JUST A MATTER OF LIKE I SAID, IF YOU WERE JUST BASED IT ON THE MILLAGE, I WAS JUST PURELY MILLAGE BASED, PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE, $28 MILLION, $25 MILLION IN FY27.
BASED ON THE VALUE OF THE TOWN, THE MILLAGE IS GOING TO BE LESS, JUST WITH THAT.
BUT THEN YOU START THROWING IN THE TRANSPORT FEES THAT WILL BUY DOWN THE RATE AS WELL.
THEN IF WE HAVE A NON AD VALOREM ASSESSMENT, IF THE COUNCIL DECIDES TO DO THAT, THAT'S ALSO GOING TO BUY DOWN THE RATE.
BUT THERE'S ALSO OTHER FEES THAT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THAT WILL ALSO HELP BUY DOWN THAT RATE.
OVERALL, YES, THE RATE IS GOING TO BE LESS.
>> I DO THINK IT GETS CONFUSING FOR RESIDENTS BECAUSE WE THINK ABOUT THE TOTAL TAX LEVY TOO.
THERE'S THE TOWN'S AD VALOREM RATE, BUT THEN THE TOTAL TAX LEVY ON THE TOWN FOR ALL OF IT OR ALL OF ITS TAXES AND FEES.
WHEN YOU SEE JUPITER FIRE RESCUE ON YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL AS A SEPARATE LINE ITEM, YOU ASSUME IT'S JUPITER FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT.
BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T BEEN FULLY FORMED YET AND WE'RE NOT OPERATING.
THE JUPITER FIRE RESCUE PEOPLE SEE ON THEIR TAX BILLS TODAY ARE ACTUALLY THE JUPITER FIRE RESCUE MSTU, IS THAT CORRECT? THEN THAT GOES DIRECTLY TO THE COUNTY.
IT IS A SEPARATE ITEM THAT WILL BE ELIMINATED.
WE ARE RESTRUCTURING THIS AND THERE WILL BE CHANGES THAT WE WILL DISCUSS.
BUT THAT LINE ITEM WILL BE ELIMINATED FROM TAX BILLS.
>> WE WILL START TALKING ABOUT THAT DURING THE BUDGETARY PROCESS AS WELL THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE TO SEND A NOTIFICATION OVER TO THE COUNTY.
AS YOU REMEMBER EVERY YEAR, THE COUNCIL HAS TO VOTE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE MSTU? WE ALSO HAVE TO DO AN ORDINANCE TO SAY THAT WE NO LONGER WISH TO PARTICIPATE.
WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THAT THIS YEAR AS WELL.
>> OKAY. MOVING ON TO CITIZEN COMMENTS,
[CITIZEN COMMENTS ]
FOR NON AGENDA ITEMS AND IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES.ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IS ASKED TO STATE
[00:45:01]
HIS AND HER NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD PRIOR TO ADDRESSING TOWN COUNCIL.>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ANNA [INAUDIBLE].
I'M HERE TO DISCUSS ELECTION INTEGRITY.
I WAS HERE LAST YEAR AND I SPOKE TO YOU ALL A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME RESULTS IN YOUR MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.
I DON'T KNOW WHO UP HERE AS A CANDIDATE AND RUNNING.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT PARTIES YOU ALL HAVE OR WHAT YOU WERE, BUT I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE FEEDBACK ON WHAT WE THE CITIZENS WOULD LIKE TO SEE.
HISTORICALLY, THE CURRENT SUPERVISOR HAS PROVEN TO HAVE A VERY BAD TURNOUT FOR MUNICIPAL ELECTION, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 10 AND 20%, WHICH IS REALLY NOT A GOOD RESULT TO BE ELECTED ON, IN MY OPINION.
COUNTY ELECTION COSTS WILL NEVER GO DOWN, AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE OVER 20 MILLION SINCE 2020.
WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IS SEE ALL MUNICIPALITIES SET A BENCHMARK FOR DIAMOND STANDARD ELECTIONS.
IT IS 100TH YEAR OF MANY MUNICIPALITIES, AND WHAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE ALSO IS THAT YOU REVIEW THE THINGS THAT ARE WORKING IN YOUR ELECTIONS AND THAT DO NOT WORK.
I AM A GRANDCHILD OF FIREFIGHTERS AND AIR FORCE COLONELS.
RIGHT NOW, I'D LIKE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY COUSIN'S HUSBAND, WHO IS IN UP IN JACKSONVILLE AND IS A NAVIGATOR.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE CALAMITY THAT JUST HAPPENED IS NOT A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE MILITARY THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, AND HE WORKS VERY HARD TO PROTECT US.
WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS MUNICIPALITIES CANVASSING THEIR OWN ELECTIONS.
YOU WILL SAVE YOURSELF A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY, AND IT WILL PROMOTE TRANSPARENCY.
HOW DO YOU DO THIS? YOU IMPLEMENT VOTE WATCHERS, AND YOU PUT POLL WATCHERS AT YOUR POLLING LOCATIONS.
AS A CANDIDATE, YOU SHOULD BE IN CHARGE OF THIS, NOT PAWNING IT OFF TO A SUPERVISOR.
THE MUNICIPALITIES NEED TO CLEAN THEIR OWN VOTER ROLES.
I WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH LAURA AND SEE HOW THAT COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED.
THOSE SOE AGREEMENTS ARE ON THE BALLOT.
YOU CAN VOTE NO, AND IN LOXAHATCHEE, IT'S ACTUALLY ON THERE, AND IT SAYS THE PALM BEACH CANVASSING BOARD WILL CANVASS YOUR BALLOTS, BUT ACTUALLY IT'S HER STAFF.
THEY DO NOT SEE MAYBE 5%, THE DUPLICATIONS ARE HAPPENING ON YOUR VOTE BY MAIL WITHOUT ANY POLL WATCHERS AT ALL.
DO NOT SUBCONTRACT OUR ELECTIONS, PLEASE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW THIS, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE EARLY VOTING DROP BOXES, FEBRUARY 24TH THROUGH MARCH 10TH.
THAT'S OVER TWO WEEKS OF CHAIN OF CUSTODY BALLOTS THAT ARE NOT BEING OBSERVED.
THERE'S NO TIME STAMPS ON THE ENVELOPES AND NO OVERSIGHT.
THERE'S TWO ADDITIONAL DAYS AFTER ELECTION DAY THAT BALLOT ENVELOPE SIGNATURES WILL BE CURED.
WILL YOU BE THERE AS CANDIDATES TO OBSERVE THIS AS YOUR VOLUNTEERS? PLEASE DO THIS.
WE SUGGEST YOU DO A PREMISE CHECK AS WELL.
I HAVE ALL THE PAPERWORK FOR YOU, IT'S ON THE WEBSITE FOR YOUR SUPERVISOR HAS, FOR YOU TO SUBMIT DESIGNEES TO DO SIGNATURE INSPECTIONS.
WE'LL BE FOLLOWING UP TO SEE IF ANY OF THE CANDIDATES ACTUALLY DO THIS BECAUSE AGAIN, YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE PAYING A HIGH COST FOR ELECTION INTEGRITY THAT'S NOT HAPPENING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> LINDA MCDERMOTT 107 CHADWICK.
I'M PLEASED ABOUT THE 100TH AND THE JUPITER JUBILEE.
BUT I'M JUST WONDERING WHERE EVERYBODY'S GOING TO PARK.
A NEIGHBOR OF MINE ASKED ME AND I'M LIKE, I'M NOT QUITE SURE IF THERE'S OTHER ARRANGEMENTS BECAUSE I KNOW PARKINGS A LITTLE HARD IN HERE.
THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO KNOW IS THE WATER REFILLABLE STATIONS.
I'M HOPING THAT THEY'LL BE THOSE, AND CAN WE BRING OUR REFILLABLE CUPS TO SAVE PLASTICS.
BUT I AM EXCITED TO COME THERE, AND I THINK THE TOWN HAS DONE A VERY GOOD JOB IN THAT AND WE'LL CONTINUE FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.
SINCE THIS IS COMMENTS, I JUST WANTED TO RESPOND TO THE 1.7 MILL THAT IS THE MSTU.
YES, THAT WILL BE ELIMINATED FROM THE COUNTY, BUT OUR MILLAGE RATE IS GOING TO GO UP IN 2027 AT LEAST.
JUPITER HAS HEALTHY RESERVES, THAT'S WONDERFUL.
WE COULD NOT DO THIS WITHOUT HEALTHY FINANCES.
YOUR MILLAGE RATE IS NOT GOING TO STAY WHAT IT IS NOW BECAUSE PALM BEACH COUNTY IS ONLY CHARGING US THE 1.7,
[00:50:05]
NOT THE 3.4, NOW, IT'S 1.7.PLEASE DON'T MISUNDERSTAND THAT.
I JUST HAPPEN TO KNOW HOW TO READ TAXES BECAUSE OF MY BUDGET EXPERIENCE.
IT IS GOING TO JUST TRANSFER OVER.
WHEN WE GET TO DOING THE FIRE, IF WE DO AN ASSESSMENT OR HOWEVER WE'RE GOING TO DO THE PLANNING.
ALL I'VE ASKED FOR IS I WANT TO KNOW A LONG RANGE PLAN, EITHER YOU'RE GOING TO INCREASE OUR MILLAGE OR YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE US A FIRE ASSESSMENT.
HOW DO YOU MAKE A DECISION ON DOING SOMETHING SO MAJOR WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT YOUR LONG RANGE FINANCES ARE, WHAT FUND YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE IT FROM? I'M JUST REALLY CONCERNED.
I'M NOT AGAINST ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO GO ON ANYMORE.
I WANT TO SEE US HAVE THE BEST, I'LL FIGHT FOR THE BEST.
I JUST WANT TRANSPARENCY ON THESE FINANCES.
SCOTT IS GOOD. BELIEVE ME, SCOTT. I KNOW YOU KNOW.
I JUST THINK THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW.
NO MISREPRESENTATION, THERE'S GOING TO BE AN INCREASE, BUT WHERE'S IT COMING FROM? ASSESSMENT, ADDED MILLAGE, RESERVES, WHAT FUND IS IT COMING FROM? THANK YOU.
>> ANSWER, AND WE DON'T KNOW WE DO THIS.
BUT PARTICULARLY ON JUPITER JUBILEE, I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE TO ANSWER.
THE PUBLIC KNOWS, THE JUPITER HIGH SCHOOL PARKING LOT IS BEING SET UP FOR THE PUBLIC SINCE, WE DON'T HAVE PARKING HERE AND THERE'S GOING TO BE TRAMS THAT ARE GOING TO CARRY THE RESIDENTS FROM THE PARKING LOT OR SOME BUS SERVICE, CORRECT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT, MAYOR. WE HAVE PARKING AT JUPITER HIGH SCHOOL.
WE WILL HAVE THE SHUTTLE BUSES.
THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF SIGNS DIRECTING PEOPLE WHERE TO PARK AND WE HAVE OVERFLOW STRATEGIES, ALL BUILT INTO OUR OPERATIONS PLANS, AND SO WE'LL BE SURE THIS WEEK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE RE-ADVERTISE THAT TO THE PUBLIC, SO THERE'S NO QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, BUT CERTAINLY YOUR NEIGHBORS CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE AND I'LL MAKE SURE TOMORROW MORNING WE GET IT UP THERE, LINDA.
>> THEN I JUST WANT TO RESPOND TO THE OTHER ITEM BECAUSE I'M NOT GETTING INTO A DEBATE.
I RESPECT WE MAY HAVE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION AND WHATEVER, AND THAT'S FINE.
BUT NUMBER 1, OUR AD VALOREM TAX IS NOT GOING TO GO UP OVER WHAT WE PAY THE COUNTY.
YOU JUST HEARD FROM OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR THAT IT GETS ADJUSTED BASED ON TAX BASE, BUT THE COUNTIES IS HIGHER, OURS WILL BE LOWER.
I'VE TAKEN THE POSITION FROM DAY 1 THAT IT'S GOING TO GO ALL IN AD VALOREM TAXES, AND THERE IS GOING TO BE NO SO FAR ASSESSMENT FEE, BUT I'M OPEN-MINDED TO HEAR ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF THAT FEE.
THEREFORE, IF WE DO THAT, THEN THE AD VALOREM TAX IS LESS.
I UNDERSTAND WEST PALM, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS THE FEE, OTHER MUNICIPALITIES DO.
I WANT TO BE OPEN-MINDED ABOUT IT, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC, WE'RE NOT COMING UP WITH SOME OTHER WAY TO RAISE MONEY AND REALLY HAVE HIGHER COSTS.
SECONDLY, OUR CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY IS TERMINATED.
IT ENDS ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026.
WE, THE COUNCIL, AND OUR WAY WE'RE GOING TO MANAGE JUPITER FIRE RESCUE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE SUBSIDIZING THE REST OF THE COUNTY.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR OWN IMPACT FEES.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BUILD FIRE STATIONS OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY AND CHARGE JUPITER RESIDENTS, SO THE COUNTY WOULD UNDER THE CURRENT CONTRACT.
WE'RE GOING TO BE SAVING MONEY FROM DAY 1.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LISA VALEN, AND I LIVE IN THE HEIGHTS.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE JUST A FEW MOMENTS TO ADDRESS SOME COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE AT THE CANDIDATE FORUM LAST NIGHT.
THIS IS REALLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING ONLINE OR WE'LL VIEW AT THEIR CONVENIENCE.
CONTRARY TO WHAT WAS SAID LAST NIGHT, THERE WERE SOME COMMENTS THAT WE DON'T GO TO COUNCIL MEETINGS, AND WE DON'T HAVE THE TIME.
I AM NOT STRANGER TO THIS PODIUM.
YOU ALL KNOW THIS OR TO THIS AUDIENCE.
I KNOW SEVERAL PEOPLE AND OTHER CANDIDATES OR CANDIDATES IN THIS RACE WHO HAVE COME UP BEFORE YOU.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WATCH WHEN THEY'RE ABLE TO.
BUT WHAT I CAN AGREE ON IS THAT THERE WAS A TIME WHEN RESIDENTS DIDN'T FEEL THE NEED TO HAVE TO WATCH SO OFTEN BECAUSE WE HAD FAITH IN OUR LEADERSHIP TO DO THE RIGHT THING ON OUR BEHALF.
BUT THAT SHIP HAS SAILED, AND THERE ARE A FEW COMMON DENOMINATORS HERE.
PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR TRUST IN THIS COUNCIL AND QUITE FRANKLY HAS HAD ENOUGH.
JUST LIKE MR. PUZZ SAID AT THE FORUM LAST NIGHT FOR THE DISTRICT 1 AND DISTRICT 2 CONVERSATIONS,
[00:55:04]
THAT THERE WERE FIVE RESIDENTS AND ONE INCUMBENT UP THERE, AND PEOPLE WANT CHANGE AND THEY WANTED IT YESTERDAY.THERE WAS A COMMENT ABOUT EXPERIENCE MATTERS. I AGREE.
BUT THE COUNCIL'S EXPERIENCE IS NOT THE ONLY EXPERIENCE THAT MATTERS.
RESIDENTS THAT ARE ELECTED TO SERVE WILL HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES THAT WERE AFFORDED TO YOU WHEN YOU WERE ELECTED.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY THERE WAS A COMMENT LAST NIGHT REGARDING SUNI SANDS BY MR. WESTON, CALLING IT A GARBAGE DUMP AND MR. WESTON, YOU COULD NOT BE MORE WRONG.
THAT IS SACRED LAND, BIRTHPLACE OF THIS TOWN, AND FOR IT TO BE REFERRED TO AS A GARBAGE DUMP IS ONE OF THE MOST DISRESPECTFUL THINGS I'VE EVER HEARD FROM A CANDIDATE.
FOR THE RECORD, I'VE NEVER HEARD A RESIDENT CALL IT AS SUCH.
THE FEARMONGERING ABOUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMENTS THAT WE MUST PUSH THROUGH, OTHERWISE, YOUR SAFETY IS AT RISK IS JUST NOT ACCURATE.
THE RESIDENTS, TO SERVE A COUNCIL THAT IS GOING TO BE HONEST WITH THEM, AND THAT'S WHERE THIS COUNCIL GETS AN F FROM ME.
THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT BEING BLINDSIDED.
WELL, LET ME REMIND YOU THAT THE PUBLIC WAS BLINDSIDED WHEN IT WAS JUST SUPPOSED TO BE A PRESENTATION AND NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS GOING TO BE VOTED ON.
SAYING THAT WE WEREN'T BLINDSIDED DEMONSTRATES HOW OUT OF TOUCH THIS COUNCIL HAS BECOME.
RESIDENTS, PLEASE, I URGE YOU TO COME VOTE ON MARCH 11TH.
>> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I'M A LONG-TERM RESIDENT OF JUPITER.
I MOVED HERE OVER 20 YEARS AGO BECAUSE I LOVE THIS TOWN AND IT'S GOTTEN BETTER AND BETTER AND BETTER.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME IS SAFETY AND SECURITY.
IT'S ONE OF THE PRIMARY REASONS I MOVED HERE.
I LIVE IN A COMMUNITY THAT'S GOT ITS OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT, NOT SOCIAL SECURITY.
OUR COMMUNITY WORKS VERY CLOSELY WITH THE POLICE AND EVERYTHING I HEAR IS WE GOT A GREAT WORK RELATIONSHIP. THAT'S GREAT.
EVERYTHING I HEAR ABOUT A NEW FIRE CHIEF IS TERRIFIC.
EVERYBODY WELCOMES HIM, LOOKING FORWARD TO HIM BECOMING ON BOARD AND DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT COST AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
I'M A FINANCE GUY, AND I'VE BEEN WATCHING THIS THING PRETTY CLOSELY FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS BECAUSE MONEYS BE IMPORTANT TO ME AND PAYING MONEY OUT OF THE POCKET FOR TAXES IS NOT SOMETHING I LOVE TO DO, BUT IF YOU GET SERVICES, THAT'S FINE.
I THINK EVERYTHING THAT WE HEARD FROM OUR FINANCIAL DIRECTOR TONIGHT IS CONSISTENT WITH MY UNDERSTANDING, WHICH GOES BACK A FEW YEARS.
I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT AS A CITIZEN, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND SO FORTH.
I FEEL I'VE BEEN INFORMED, AND I FEEL FOLLOWED ALONG THE WAY AND TONIGHT WITH THE FIRE CHIEF AND THE FINANCIAL DIRECTOR, I THINK THEY BILLED IN A FEW BLANKS THAT IT WASN'T AWARE OF.
I'M TOTALLY COMFORTABLE WITH THE PROJECTIONS, AND I'M TOTALLY SUPPORTIVE WHAT WE'RE DOING.
I THANK THIS COUNCIL FOR DOING A GREAT JOB BECAUSE I THINK YOU'D HAVE.
I HAVE A COMPLIMENT, NO COMPLAINTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO THE MINUTES.
[2. January 21, 2025 Town Council Meeting Minutes. ]
COUNSEL, WE HAVE BEFORE US THE JANUARY 21ST MINUTES WITH SOME MINOR CORRECTIONS ON THE DAIS.IF THERE'S NO OTHER CORRECTIONS, I'D ASK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE AS AMENDED.
ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> AYE. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVING ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[CONSENT AGENDA ]
IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC THAT WISH TO PULL A CONSENT AGENDA ITEM?>> ANY MEMBER ON THE DAIS WISH TO PULL ONE?
>> FOUR. I'LL TAKE A MOTION IN A SECOND TO APPROVE THE AMENDED CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTING OF AGENDA ITEMS 3 AND 5.
I WANT TO FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> AYE. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVING ON TO THE ITEM PULLED AGENDA ITEM 4,
[4. Approving a piggyback contract with Rep Services, Inc. (RSI) (Agreement No. 2023/2024-284) for playground materials and construction at Indian Creek Park, Jupiter Community Park, and Maplewood Park. ]
FIRST TURN TO THE VICE MAYOR AND[01:00:02]
THEN COUNCILOR CAM FOR HAVING PULLED IT AND WHAT IS YOUR PLEASURE?>> I THINK GIVEN THE COMMUNITY INTEREST, I'D LIKE TO REQUEST THE PRESENTATION.
>> GOOD EVENING MAYOR, COUNSEL.
MY NAME IS MIKE HOFFEN. I'M THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SERVICES.
JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THIS AGENDA ITEM, IT IS ACTUALLY THE TOWN IS SEEKING APPROVAL FOR THE PIGGYBACK CONTRACT THROUGH REP SERVICES INCORPORATED WHICH IS RSI THROUGH CLAY COUNTY AND THAT CONTRACT IS GOING TO GET MATERIALS AND THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS FOR PLAYGROUNDS AT INDIAN CREEK PLAYGROUND, EXCUSE ME, INDIAN CREEK PARK, MAPLEWOOD PARK, AND ALSO JUPITER COMMUNITY PARK.
THOSE THREE PLAYGROUNDS ARE ALL WRAPPED BUNDLED TOGETHER IN A PACKAGE AND FROM A FUNDING STANDPOINT, WE HAD FUNDS FROM LAST FISCAL YEAR THAT HAVE ROLLED OVER INTO THIS FISCAL YEAR.
SO WE'VE COMPILED THOSE FUNDS TO ACTUALLY ENHANCE AND COMPLETELY REDO ALL THREE OF THESE PLAYGROUNDS.
SO JUST A REAL QUICK OVERVIEW FROM A TIME STANDPOINT, WE'RE LOOKING AT BREAKING GROUND SOMETIME HERE IN THE SPRING AND HOPEFULLY FINISHING THESE PLAYGROUNDS SOMETIME IN THE FALL.
AND I'D LIKE TO ALSO GIVE KUDOS TO OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT.
THEY'VE ACTUALLY CREATED A WEB PAGE DEDICATED TO A ROADMAP FOR ALL THESE PLAYGROUNDS.
SPECIFICALLY OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, THERE'S 11 PLAYGROUNDS TOTAL THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO COMPLETELY REDO.
SO IF COUNSEL WISHES, I'D BE HAPPY TO SHOW THAT WEB PAGE.
>> EXCELLENT. LET ME MOVE THIS AROUND.
>> REAL QUICK. WHILE YOU'RE PULLING THAT UP TOO, I JUST WANT TO REQUEST JUST FOR ONE OF THE PLAYGROUNDS, MAPLEWOOD PARK SPECIFICALLY.
THAT PLAYGROUND IS HEAVILY UTILIZED AFTER SCHOOL DURING THE WEEK.
I KNOW I THINK INDIAN CREEK PARK AND PROBABLY JUPITER COMMUNITY NOT AS MUCH, BUT I KNOW MAPLEWOOD SPECIFICALLY IS VERY UTILIZED BETWEEN THE HOURS OF PROBABLY 2:00 AND 5:00 IN THE AFTERNOON.
SO IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO DELAY THE CONSTRUCTION OF THAT ONE UNTIL SCHOOL IS OUT AND THEN HOPEFULLY, IF WE CAN WORK TO GET IT DONE BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS AGAIN IN AUGUST, THAT'D BE A BETTER TIME FRAME, JUST FOR THAT SPECIFIC PARK IF POSSIBLE, IF WE CAN TRY TO WORK ON THAT.
>> YEAH. I MEAN, THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE A CONVERSATION WITH THE TOWN MANAGER AND UNDERSTAND WHAT WE HAVE.
BUT YEAH, I DON'T SEE WHY IF THAT'S SOMETHING THE PUBLIC OR THE COMMUNITY IS INTERESTED IN THEN, YEAH.
IT'S RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AND SO BOTH COUNSELOR MAY AND I GO THERE.
>> I CAN TELL YOU, THE FIRST PLACE HIS SON RUNS AND HE SPRINTS IS THE PARK.
AND THE KIDS JUST SO IT'S A NATURAL.
SO IT MAKES SENSE THAT A PARK LIKE THAT THAT'S USED EVERY SINGLE DAY, WE REALLY DO NEED TO TRY TO SCHEDULE IT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
>> WE'LL LOOK AT THAT AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT.
BUT CERTAINLY WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A GOOD SOLID PLAN TO ADDRESS THE TRAFFIC AND THE PARKING AND ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE OVER THERE, VERY FAMILIAR WITH IT.
AND SO WE'LL WORK TO ACCOMPLISH THE REQUEST.
SOMETIMES IT'S A LITTLE CHALLENGING WITH ALL THE CONSTRUCTION AND TIMELINE.
>> ABSOLUTELY. AGAIN, COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT HAS DONE A TERRIFIC JOB.
THEY'VE ACTUALLY CREATED THIS JUPITER PLAYGROUND RENOVATIONS ROADMAP.
AS YOU CAN SEE, OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, THERE'S GOING TO BE 11 DIFFERENT PLAYGROUNDS THAT ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED.
THE FIRST THREE THAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY ON THE AGENDA ITEM TODAY IS THE INDIAN CREEK PARK PHASE 1, AND I'LL HIGHLIGHT PHASE ONE IS JUST THE PLAYGROUND.
IF YOU LOOK AT 2026 THERE IS A PHASE 2, WHICH IS GOING TO INCORPORATE A SPRAY GROUND.
I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT WITH INDIAN CREEK, WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING AND ACTUALLY CONSTRUCTING A BATHROOM FACILITY AS WELL.
CURRENTLY, THERE IS NO BATHROOM FACILITY THERE, SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THAT'S GOING TO BE OUR FLAGSHIP PLAYGROUND, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PARENTS IN THE COMMUNITY ARE TAKEN CARE OF AND HAVE AN AREA TO USE THE FACILITIES.
JUST REAL QUICK, IF YOU GO UNDERNEATH HERE, THERE IS ACTUALLY A INTERACTIVE MAP HERE THAT OUTLINES ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT PLAYGROUNDS THROUGHOUT JUPITER.
AS YOU CAN SEE, IF YOU CLICK THESE, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLICK INDIAN CREEK REAL QUICK.
AND RIGHT HERE, YOU SEE A QUICK PREVIEW AND BRIEFING OF WHAT THAT PLAYGROUND PROJECTIONS ARE.
AND THEN ALSO IF YOU CLICK THE PICTURE, IT BRINGS UP THE CURRENT RENDERINGS.
NOW I HAVE TO APOLOGIZE, THE AGENDA ITEM HAD ATTACHED RENDERINGS THAT WERE WITH THE PROPOSAL
[01:05:01]
THAT DIDN'T INCORPORATE THE COMPLETE HOLISTIC VIEW OF THE ENTIRETY OF THE PLAYGROUND.SO THESE RENDERINGS ARE ACCURATE AND UP TO DATE THAT INCLUDE ALL OF THE TREES, THE BENCHES, AND ALSO THE TRASH RECEPTACLES.
SO THERE'S A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PLAY ELEMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE INCLUDED IN EACH OF THESE PLAYGROUNDS.
SOME OF THE ELEMENTS THAT WERE HIGHLY REQUESTED WERE THE CLIMBING ELEMENTS.
OBVIOUSLY, FLORIDA GETS VERY HOT.
SO I FEEL LIKE WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED THE SHADE PORTION AND ALSO JUST ADA, ANY TYPE OF DISABILITY INCLUSIVE ELEMENTS AS WELL.
SO WE'VE TRIED TO INCORPORATE ALL THOSE THINGS WITHIN ALL THE PLAYGROUNDS.
IF YOU ALSO NOTICE THAT THERE ISN'T ANY FENCING CURRENTLY AROUND THESE, THAT WAS MAINLY JUST FOR THE OBSTRUCTION, THE VIEW OF THE PLAYGROUNDS, WE DIDN'T WANT TO OBSTRUCT THE VIEW.
SO ALL THESE PLAYGROUNDS ARE ALSO GOING TO HAVE FENCING AROUND THEM AS WELL.
SO REAL QUICK, YOU'LL SEE AGAIN SPINNERS.
THIS IS BASICALLY FOR CHILDREN TO GET IN AND SPIN AROUND.
THEY HAVE CLIMBING, THEY HAVE SLIDE TUBES.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S BENCHES.
WE PLAN ON MOVING OBVIOUSLY, THE BENCHES AND THE RECEPTACLES AREN'T GOING TO BE NEXT TO EACH OTHER, BUT THIS IS JUST TO SHOW THAT THEY ARE INCORPORATED INTO THE PLAN.
SOME CLIMBING ELEMENTS AS WELL.
AND ALSO AGAIN THERE WILL BE A SPRAY GROUND COMING HERE IN 2026.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT INDIAN CREEK? NO.
>> I JUST THINK FOR THE PUBLIC.
I KNOW THE ANSWER, BUT YOU REFER TO A FLAGSHIP PLAYGROUND AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW THAT WAS PICKED AT THAT LOCATION BECAUSE IT'S THE MOST USED, SO WHY ARE WE GETTING A FLAGSHIP PLAYGROUND? CAN YOU JUST SPEAK TO THAT RIGHT?
>> OF COURSE. YEAH, IT'S A FREQUENTLY USED PLAYGROUND AND WE FELT THAT IT HAD THE MOST POTENTIAL TO BE ENHANCED TO THE STANDARD OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY EXPECTS AT THAT PLAYGROUND?
>> KNOWING THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TRAVEL THERE THAN OTHERS SO THEREFORE, WE'VE PUT EXTRA AMENITIES THERE.
>>> AND I KNOW IT'S TOO LATE NOW ON THIS ONE, BUT WHAT KIND OF FENCING WAS IT BECAUSE I HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF WHEN IT WAS SOME RESIDENTS MAY REMEMBER IMAGINATION STATION AND PICKETS WERE SOLD AND IT WAS ALL FAMILY NAMES BECAUSE THEY WAS PUT TOGETHER BY, IT WAS A COMMUNITY PROJECT.
ANY CHANCE AND YOU COULD GET BACK WITH US BECAUSE I DO THINK PEOPLE JUST FONDLY REMEMBER THAT AND THERE MIGHT BE INTEREST IN THAT BY THE PUBLIC.
WE CAN DEFINITELY LOOK INTO THAT AND INCORPORATE MAYBE SOMETHING SIMILAR.
>> YEAH I THINK AN ODE TO THE ORIGINAL IMAGINATION STATION AT THIS PARK TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT WOULD BE A PERFECT IDEA.
>> YEAH. ABSOLUTELY. SO INDIAN CREEK PARK AND THEN WE HAVE MAPLEWOOD RIGHT HERE AND MAPLEWOOD ALSO AGAIN, LOTS OF SHADE, RECEPTACLES, BENCHES, LOTS OF PLAY ELEMENTS.
BUT THIS IS ON ONE OF THE SMALLER PARKS, BUT AGAIN, FREQUENTLY USED AS YOU STATED.
BUT YEAH, THERE'S ALSO AGAIN SWINGS.
ONE THING ALSO THROUGHOUT ALL OF THESE PARKS, YOU HAVE SYNTHETIC TURF, THAT'S GOING TO BE YOUR PREDOMINANT SURFACING ELEMENT, THAT'S GOING TO BE FOR THE SURFACING FOR THE PLAYGROUNDS.
WE'RE ALSO INCORPORATING MULCH, THAT'S PREDOMINANTLY UNDER THE SWING SETS AND THESE THREE SETS.
I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A VARIETY OF OTHER SURFACING MATERIALS THOUGH MOVING FORWARD WITH THE OTHER PLAYGROUNDS.
MAINLY FOCUSING ON THE SYNTHETIC TURF MAINLY BECAUSE OF THE COST AND THE UPKEEP OF IT, BUT ALSO INCORPORATING MULCH AS WELL WHERE WE CAN.
BUT YEAH, I THINK THE RENDERINGS TURNED OUT EXCELLENT.
TRIED TO INCORPORATE A LITTLE MORE SHADE HERE AT MAPLEWOOD CONSIDERING THAT THERE'S NOT AS MUCH NATURAL SHADE AS YOU HAVE INDIAN CREEK PARK AND ALSO JUPITER COMMUNITY PARK.
SO THESE ARE ALL UP ON THE WEBSITE FOR EVERYONE TO VIEW.
I BELIEVE WE ALSO LAUNCHED A POST TODAY, SENT OUT A POST TODAY AND WE'RE GOING TO BE ACTUALLY MOVING FORWARD INQUIRING FOR MORE FEEDBACK FOR THESE ADDITIONAL PARKS THAT ARE TO BE COMING DOWN THE ROAD.
[01:10:01]
>> YEAH. NORTH OF LIMESTONE CREEK. THERE YOU GO.
>> SORRY. I'M NEW THE AREA. I'M STILL LEARNING.
I APOLOGIZE. SO THIS IS JUPITER COMMUNITY PARK.
THIS ONE IS MAINLY A SPORTS THEME CONSIDERING WHERE THE PARK IS.
THEY HAVE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PLAY ELEMENTS, SLIDES, SPINNERS, AGAIN MORE ADA INCLUSIVE BENCHES.
YEAH, LOTS OF DIFFERENT VARIETIES.
I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A HUGE HIT WITH THE COMMUNITY.
I THINK THERE ARE GOING TO BE HUGE UPGRADES.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE EXCITED ABOUT IT AND WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF IT.
SO DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> JUST REAL QUICK, THE MULCH ELEMENT OF THE PARKS.
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT WE COULD LOOK INTO USING THE RECYCLED RUBBER MULCH AS MORE I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S MORE SUSTAINABLE, BUT DON'T HAVE TO REPLACE IT AS MUCH, DOESN'T GET BLOWN AWAY AS EASY AND IT'S UTILIZING RECYCLED TIRES AND IT'S A PRETTY SOFT SURFACE FOR THE KIDS, SO NOT SURE IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE LOOKED INTO OR NOT.
>> SURE. YEAH, THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN ABSOLUTELY LOOK INTO.
>> YOU AND I HAD DISCUSSED THAT EARLIER WHEN I WAS SAYING TO TRY TO SHY AWAY FROM IT.
>> SAFETY CONCERNS. RECYCLED TIRES HAVE TOILING, MAGS, LEAD.
THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS THAT CAN COME OUT IN THE CHIP MULCH OR RUBBER MULCH.
THERE ARE CERTAIN TYPES THAT CAN BE PURCHASED WITHOUT THOSE TYPE OF DANGEROUS INGREDIENTS.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THE SUGGEST IS MAKE KIDS WASH THEIR HANDS AFTERWARDS OR DON'T LET THEM PLAY OUT TOO LONG, I DON'T LIKE THAT IDEA AT ALL.
IF WE CAN DO BOTH BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS IT RECYCLING WHICH IS A GOOD THING.
BUT IS A GOOD SURFACE FOR KIDS TO FALL ON.
AND THAT FALL HAZARD IS A VERY REAL HAZARD.
THE MOST COMMON WAYS PEDIATRIC INJURIES OCCURS.
AND ANOTHER THING YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS?
>> NEED TO HAVE A SAFETY ENGINEER.
I'M A FORENSIC ENGINEER AS WE TALKED ABOUT.
I'VE STUDIED PEDIATRIC INJURIES AND FATALITIES IN PARKS.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S A THING THAT DOES HAPPEN.
STRANGULATION IS GOING DOWN SLIDES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
THERE NEEDS TO BE A SAFETY ENGINEER THAT DOES A COMPLETE INSPECTION BEFORE THIS IS TURNED OVER TO THE PUBLIC AND YOU ASSURED ME THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
>> THAT IS CORRECT. THERE ARE SAFETY STANDARDS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
SO THAT WILL BE A PART OF THIS PROCESS.
ALSO INTERNALLY, WE HAVE A CERTIFIED PLAYGROUND SAFETY INSPECTOR WHICH IS THROUGH THE NRPA WHICH IS THE NATIONAL RECREATION AND PARKS ASSOCIATION.
SO WE'RE VERY PROUD THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE ON STAFF THAT ALSO MEASURES THESE STANDARDS AND ENSURES THAT WE'RE UP TO DATE AND AND CHECK WITH ALL OF OUR PLAYGROUNDS.
>> ONE OTHER SUGGESTION, WE KICKED THIS AROUND A FEW MONTHS AGO IS POSSIBLY PUTTING EMERGENCY CALL BOXES AT OUR PARKS.
IS THAT SOMETHING ANY OF THE OTHER COUNSELORS ARE INTERESTED IN? A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE CELL PHONES NOW, THIS NEEDS TAPERING OFF.
BUT IT WOULD BE NICE IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY CALL BOX.
I MAKE A PUSH A BUTTON, BOTH FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH REASONS.
>> I THINK OUR FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT IS ACTIVELY LOOKING AT THAT.
I KNOW THEY'VE ADDED AEDS TO THE PARKS.
I KNOW THAT THEY'RE WORKING WITH PARKS AND RECREATION TO MAKE OUR PARK SAFER.
>> SO HOW DO YOU GUYS FEEL ABOUT A SAFETY CALL BOX, SOME TYPE OF EMERGENCY CALL BOX?
>> I'D DEFER TO FIRE RESCUE FOR IT, BUT I'D BE INTERESTED AND OPEN.
>> POSSIBLY PRICING IT OUT ANYWAY.
>> SO COULD WE POSSIBLY DO THAT THEN?
>> WELL CERTAINLY LOOK INTO THAT, COUNSEL, BUT ALSO WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK INTO THE FEASIBILITY OF THAT LINKING TO NORTH COM TO 911 CENTER.
>> IT'S NOT AN EASY THING TO DO AND THAT'S WHY MANY CASES WE DEFER TO CELL PHONES.
BUT WE MAY BE ABLE TO INTEGRATE SOMETHING IN WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS AED PROGRAM AND SO I'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. OKAY.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY, I THINK THE HILL HERE IS VERY EXCITING ON THIS PARK.
I JUST HAVE TO SAY THAT. THERE'S AT THE SCIENCE CENTER IN WEST PALM.
THEY HAVE A HILL AND THE KIDS THAT'S THE BEST FEATURE FOR SOME REASON. I LOVE IT.
I DO WANT TO SAY THE LAST TIME WE SHARED THESE RENDERINGS OR RENDERINGS IN GENERAL WITH RESIDENTS, WE HAD USED DIFFERENT TYPES OF RENDERING, IT'S AN AI RENDERING THAT DIDN'T INCLUDE ALL THE TREES, SHADE, AND WE HAD TALKED ABOUT SUN AND SHADE STUDIES TO SEE HOW THE LIGHT HITS AND WHEN TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STRUCTURES ARE COVERING WHAT THEY NEED TO COVER.
BUT WE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS THAT WE REALLY NEEDED TO PRIORITIZE BOTH THE EQUIPMENT AND THE SHADE.
AND SO WE DID INCREASE THE BUDGET FOR THESE PARKS.
I KNOW INDIAN CREEK PARK IS GOING TO SEE THINK SOMETHING LIKE TWO MILLION DOLLARS
[01:15:03]
WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE BATHROOM PLUS WITH THE PHASE 2 SPLASH PAD, NOT INCLUDED IN THAT.SO THESE ARE MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS AND INVESTMENTS IN OUR PARKS.
I DO THINK WE'VE BEEN LISTENING TO RESIDENTS, NOT ONLY IN THE MASTER PLAN SURVEY THAT WE DID, BUT ALSO ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
I UNDERSTAND THAT RESIDENTS ARE PROVIDING FEEDBACK ON SOCIAL MEDIA, STAFF ARE COLLECTING, CATEGORIZING, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THE NEED IS SHADE IS THE OVERWHELMING DESIRE.
SO THIS HAS BEEN RESPONSIVE TO THAT, AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
THESE ARE MUCH IMPROVED AND I THINK ARE GENERATING A LOT OF EXCITEMENT.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> THANK YOU. I THINK THE PUBLIC WILL BE EXCITED ABOUT THIS, SO I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.
>> THE MOST I'VE EVER HEARD OVER THE YEARS, I SAY COMPLAINTS FROM THE PAST, ARE SHADE ISSUES, AND I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THAT THEY'RE IN THERE AND ALL THE EQUIPMENT LOOKS GREAT SO THANKS A LOT. WELCOME TO JUPITER.
>> JUST TO ADD, AND I APPRECIATE VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL PULLING THIS ITEM TO GET THIS PRESENTATION.
JUST A GENERIC ASK, BECAUSE IT'S GOOD FOR US, AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC TO SEE PLEASE CONSIDER IN THE FUTURE AUTOMATICALLY DOING A PRESENTATION.
I THINK WE WOULD BENEFIT FROM THAT, AND THE PUBLIC WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THAT.
JUST AS A STANDARD, HADN'T DAWNED ON ME, SHAME ON ME, BUT IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO DO A PRESENTATION.
I KNOW AND I APPRECIATE THE COMMUNICATION ONLINE.
I SAW THAT TODAY AS WELL SO I LOVE HOW TRANSPARENT, OUR STAFF TRIES TO BE WITH COMMUNICATING ALL THIS STUFF, BUT INEVITABLY, NOT EVERYBODY LOOKS EVERY PLACE.
YOU EVEN SHOWED US WHERE TO GET TO IT AND I KNOW THERE'D BE A LINK AND WHATEVER SO IT WAS BENEFICIAL.
>> I'D BE HAPPY TO DO A PRESENTATION MOVING FORWARD.
>> JUST ONE LAST THING, I KNOW I ASKED ABOUT THE PICKET FENCE AND I KNOW THAT OUR EFFORTS ON PARKS ARE SO MUCH MORE COMPREHENSIVE THAN THEY EVER HAVE BEEN, AND WE HEARD THIS IN A PREVIOUS PRESENTATION AND OUR POLICE MAKE SURE FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT, HOW THEY'RE LAID OUT AND WHATEVER.
PERHAPS IT'S THE CASE AT A PICKET FENCE, THERE'S A CONCERN ABOUT THAT SO I JUST WANTED TO HAVE EVEN SAID THAT WHILE I ASKED.
THE ASK IS IF IT COULD BE ACCOMMODATED.
BUT IF THE ANSWER IS, G, NO, IT WOULD BLOCK LINE OF SIGHT AND WHATEVER, BECAUSE WE LEARNED THAT RECENTLY.
THEN KNOW THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S AN ENHANCEMENT, DOESN'T HAVE ANY NEGATIVES.
BUT PEOPLE WERE JUST FOND OF THOSE SPONSORING A PICKET ON THE FENCE WITH THEIR FAMILY NAME AND WHATEVER AND AT THAT LOCATION, THE FIRST ONE.
IT WASN'T TALKING ABOUT EVERYONE, BUT AT THE FLAGSHIP PARK. THANK YOU.
>> THAT COULD BE AN ART PROJECT, POTENTIALLY, IF NOT A FENCE.
>> OH, YEAH. I'LL HAVE A TAKE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THIS AGENDA ITEM.
>> MOTION AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE.
>> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVING ON THE REPORTS, TOWN ATTORNEY.
[TOWN ATTORNEY]
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I DO NOT HAVE ANY REPORTS OTHER THAN TO SAY, I WAS QUIET ON THE LITIGATION FRONT.
>> GOOD. THAT'S WHAT WE'D LIKE TO HEAR. TOWN MANAGER.
[TOWN MANAGER]
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS REAL QUICK.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK MIKE AND KRISTEN GEORGE.
I SEE THE REST OF THE TEAM OUT THERE ON THE PLAYGROUND TEAM FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE.
THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO THIS SO APPRECIATE THAT.
THE OTHER THING, I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE LEADERSHIP TEAM, AS YOU MENTIONED BEFORE ABOUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND PUTTING OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT TOGETHER.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT THIS HAS BEEN A MONUMENTAL LIFT.
WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.
AS I REMIND THE TEAM, IT'S NO LONGER 2026, IT'S NEXT YEAR.
WE'LL BE HERE BEFORE YOU KNOW IT AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT NOT ONLY WILL WE MEET THE MARK AND RISE TO THE OCCASION, BUT WE'RE GOING TO SET A BENCHMARK FOR EXCELLENCE AS WE DO WITH EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE DO IN THIS TOWN.
I DID WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO FOLLOW UP IN A COUPLE OF POINTS THAT CAME UP LAST WEEK.
THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT PUTTING AEDS AT THE LIGHTHOUSE.
LET'S SEE. DIVISION CHIEF ROCHE MET WITH THE FOLKS AT THE LIGHTHOUSE, AND THEY'VE WORKED OUT CRITICAL LOCATIONS ON WHERE TO PUT THEM SO IN THE BARRACKS,
[01:20:03]
MUSEUM, AND THE GIFT SHOP, THE BASE OF THE LIGHTHOUSE, AND A FEW OTHER PLACES.WE'RE SET AND READY TO GO AND WE'RE JUST WAITING APPROVAL FROM THE LIGHTHOUSE MANAGEMENT TEAM REGARDING THAT SO JUST WE KNOW WE CHECKED THAT OFF THERE.
THEN YOU SHOULD ALSO HAVE AT YOUR DAIS HERE, A LETTER THAT I SENT TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR REGARDING THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL UP THERE AT THE CORNER OF TONY PENNA AND CENTRAL, AND THE URGENCY OF THAT ALONG WITH ANOTHER ISSUE RELATING TO OUR UTILITIES, AND SO WE SENT THAT OFF TODAY AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET A SIGNIFICANT RESPONSE BACK SOON.
WE ATTEMPTED ORIGINALLY TO MEET WITH THE COUNTY AND REQUESTED THAT MEETING IN DECEMBER AND THE EARLIEST WE COULD GET ON ANYONE'S CALENDAR IS APRIL.
WE JUST CAN'T WAIT ANYMORE WITH THAT LIGHT SO WE'RE MOVING AHEAD.
REMINDED THAT THE JUBILEE IS THIS SATURDAY AND I'VE ALREADY BEEN ASSURED THAT UPDATING OUR DIRECTIONS AS WE SPEAK SO GETTING THAT INFORMATION OUT TO OUR RESIDENTS.
THE EVENT RUNS FROM 11:00 AM UNTIL 4:00 PM.
IT'S HELD HERE AT THE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX, AND I LIKE TO REFER TO IT AS THE HUNDRED YEAR BLOCK PARTY.
I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE REALLY PLEASED WITH WHAT YOU SEE.
AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO MAKE IT TO CHRISTIAN GEORGE KNIGHT, BUT THANK YOU, KRISTEN FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE, YOU AND YOUR TEAM ON MAKING THIS GO AND FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, CAPTAIN SCOTT KIMBAK WHO'S OUR SAFETY INCIDENT COMMANDER AND A LOT OF WORK INVOLVED IN THAT SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND CELEBRATE KING WINKMAN WHO LAST TUESDAY, CELEBRATED 50 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE TOWN,50 YEARS.
MATTER OF FACT, I SAW HIM TODAY AND HE HAD A PIN ON HIS ID, A 50 YEAR PIN. I GO, WHERE DID YOU GET THAT? HE GOES I HAD TO BUY IT MYSELF BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY SO WE'RE GOING TO REIMBURSE HIM FOR IT IT WAS AN AMAZON PURCHASE.
FIFTY YEARS AND CONGRATULATIONS TO HIM AND STILL GOING STRONG.
YOU'LL DEFINITELY SEE HIM AT THE HUNDRED YEAR ANNIVERSARY.
DON'T ASK HIM MANY QUESTIONS OR STORIES BECAUSE THE TIME LIMIT STILL HASN'T EXPIRED ON HIS STORIES.
BY THE WAY, HE STARTED AS A POLICE OFFICER, JUST SO YOU KNOW, AND HE WAS A POLICE OFFICER FOR 28 YEARS.
I LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE PLANNING AND ZONING STAFF THIS PAST WEEK COMPLETED THE SECOND PHASE OF THE SAWFISH BAY PARK MARINA RESTORATION PROJECT, FOCUSING ON EXTENDING THE NATURAL ROCK AND PLANTING MANGROVES.
OF COURSE PHASE 1 WAS COMPLETED AT THE END OF 2023 AND WE'RE ALREADY SEEING THE RETURN OF MARINE LIFE TO THIS AREA.
I PROBABLY SAW SOME PICTURES IN YOUR FRIDAY REPORT.
THIS PROJECT IS IN SUPPORT OF OUR STRATEGIC INITIATIVE TO PROTECT LOCAL SEAGRASS AND THE LOXAHATCHEE RIVER.
THEN I WILL ALSO TELL YOU FINALLY, I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TAKE IN THE ART COMMITTEE'S NEWEST ART EXHIBIT CALLED LEGACY OF LIGHT, 100 YEARS OF JUPITER, AND THE ART IS ON DISPLAY AT THE JUPITER COMMUNITY CENTER THROUGH MARCH 9.
A LOT HAPPENING AND I'M SURE I'LL SEE ALL OF YOU AT THE 100 ANNIVERSARY THIS WEEKEND. THAT'S MY REPORT, MAYOR.
[TOWN COUNCIL – LIAISON REPORTS AND COMMENTS]
>> I GOT TO GET BACK TO WORK, SO I'M GOING TO KEEP IT SHORT.
I'M JUST GOING TO SAY GO EAGLES.
>> I JUST WANT TO THANK KRISTEN AS WELL.
I THINK WE FORGET HOW MANY EVENTS RECREATION PUTS ON EVERY YEAR, AND THIS IS A BIG ONE, THIS IS THE ONE.
WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING THEY'RE DOING.
WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE AN EXCELLENT EVENT. THANK YOU.
IN REGARDS TO THE NEW BRIDGE AND THE JUPITER COVE CONDOMINIUM.
FDOT HAS MADE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE RESIDENTS THERE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO REPLACE SORT OF A NATURAL LANDSCAPE BUFFER BETWEEN THE ROAD AND THEIR EAST FACING BUILDING, AND THEY PUT ASIDE $60,000 FOR IT.
I'M JUST GOING TO STAY ON THAT AND JUST WANT TO LET THE RESIDENTS KNOW THAT WE'LL FOLLOW UP ON THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS.
MAYBE A COLLABORATIVE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WANT TO PUT THERE, MATURE TREES OR PLANTS OR FAST GROWERS OR WHAT, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD STAY ON TOP OF THAT. THAT WAS IT.
>> KUDOS TO KRISTEN AS WELL, BIG LIFT THIS TIME, BIG BIG LIFT.
BIG EVENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.
[01:25:02]
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR TOWN MANAGER FOR GETTING RID OF THAT AWFUL NO RIGHT TURN SIGN ON RIVERSIDE DRIVE.THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC THAT ARE PROBABLY VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
I LIVE ON RIVERSIDE JUST A QUARTER OF A MILE FROM THERE.
IT REALLY WASN'T HELPING ANY IMMEDIATE ISSUE THAT I COULD SEE.
I THINK THEY WERE MORE INTERESTED IN PEOPLE JUST NOT STOPPING BEFORE THEY TURNED RIGHT AND THE GUARDS SHOULD DO THAT.
PROBLEM WE HAVE WITH BRIGHT LINE IS THERE'S NOT MUCH TIME BETWEEN WHEN THE GUARD COMES DOWN AND WHEN THE TRAIN COMES SO PEOPLE JUST HAVE TO GET USED TO THAT.
IF THERE'S NOT ROOM IN FRONT OF YOU, DON'T GO ACROSS, DO NOT DWELL ON THE TRACKS.
ASSUME THAT IT'S LIKE A LOADED GUN.
MY DAD TAUGHT ME THAT ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A SAFETY.
THOSE TRAIN TRACKS FOR A REASON THERE'S A TRAIN THAT COMES BY THERE EVERY 15 MINUTES OR LESS.
ASSUME THAT ANYTIME YOU'RE GOING TO GO OVER THOSE TRACKS, THAT THERE'S A TRAIN BARRELING.
DON'T DWELL ON THE TRACKS DO NOT STOP ON THEM.
AGAIN, IF YOU DON'T HAVE ROOM TO GET BEYOND IT, DON'T GO OVER IT.
BUT OTHERWISE, THANK YOU FOR GETTING RID OF THAT SIGN. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. FOR BEING HERE FOR THE WHOLE MEETING, I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE TIP.
THE POLICE ARE AT THAT LOCATION, WORKING TRAFFIC, SO PLEASE DON'T STOP ON THE TRACKS BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO GET PROBABLY A LITTLE VISIT THAT YOU WERE NOT EXPECTING.
MAYOR, IF I COULD, ONE MORE THING.
SHE'S COMPLETING, I THINK, TOMORROW, HIS 25 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE TOWN OF JUPITER, AND SHE'S ONE OF THOSE MORE THAN ONE THIRD [APPLAUSE] I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SO CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ANNIVERSARY.
>> THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR GOOD SERVICE.
>> MAYOR I WANT TO ADD ONE THING ON COUNCILMAN FORE'S COMMENT.
WHEN YOU'RE CROSSING THAT RIVERSIDE, LOOK SOUTH IF THAT [INAUDIBLE] UP, REALLY SHOULD GET YOUR ATTENTION.
>> I DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE ANYBODY AN EXCUSE BUT YOU'RE RIGHT.
I'M NOT SAYING RUN THE RED LIGHT, BUT ANYWAY, IF THAT THING IS UP, YOU JUST BE CAUTIOUS.
>> THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE ON THE KNOW DO ON RIVERSIDE.
WE KNOW IF IT'S UP AT LEAST IF THE TRAIN IS GOING NORTHBOUND, IT'S GOING TO PLUMMET INTO THE RIVER SO THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.
ONE OTHER FINAL ITEM I DID WANT TO BRING UP WAS ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND THE WORD TRANSPARENCY AND HOW THAT'S KICKED AROUND SO MUCH.
THERE'S AN IMPLICATION I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN SET OUT RIGHT IN A WHILE BUT WAS A YEAR AGO WHEN WE FIRST STARTED DOING THIS.
THERE'S AN IMPLICATION THAT YOU'VE NOT BEEN TRANSPARENT AND I THINK THAT'S FAR FROM THE TRUTH.
>> I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ANY LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, A BUDGET THAT HADN'T BEEN CREATED YET.
IT'S NOT THAT YOU'RE NOT BEING TRANSPARENT, THE GLASS IS CLEAR, YOU CAN SEE THROUGH IT.
THERE'S JUST NOTHING IN THERE YET.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN DECIDED YET AND HAVE TO BE DECIDED A GREAT DEAL UPON COUNCIL WORK.
I DON'T IN ANY WAY BELIEVE THAT YOU'VE BEEN NON TRANSPARENT, SCOTT.
I BELIEVE YOU'VE DONE EVERYTHING WE'VE ASKED YOU TO DO IN THE TIMELINESS IN WHICH WE ASK YOU TO DO IT.
YOU'VE BEEN COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT IN MY VIEW FOR EVERYTHING WE'VE ASKED FOR.
YOU DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS FOR EVERYTHING YET.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE COLLUDING IT OR BLOCKING IT FROM THE PUBLIC'S VIEW, WE JUST DON'T HAVE THOSE ANSWERS YET.
YOU'VE BEEN VERY BUSY AND A LOT HAS BEEN GOING ON WE APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT.
>> I JUST HAVE ONE ITEM QUICK, BUT I'D LIKE TO ASK THE TOWN MANAGER TO ADDRESS JUST AGAIN IN THE WAY OF RESPONDING TO PUBLIC.
MISS MCDERMOTT DID ASK ABOUT DISPATCH INTENTIONS I DO THINK IT'S HELPFUL.
MR. KITZEROW, IF YOU WOULD GIVE A QUICK SUMMARY OVERVIEW OF HOW THE MUNICIPAL DISPATCH CENTER HAPPENED BECAUSE THAT WAS UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP.
THEN HOW IN RESPECTING THAT THE GARDENS IS FIRST, WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THAT TO HAPPEN TO BE ABLE TO MAKE ANY DECISIONS ON OUR PART ON DISPATCHING FIRE.
COULD YOU PLEASE TALK ABOUT THAT?
>> CERTAINLY, MAYOR. OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE A LOT MORE DECISIONS TO MAKE ON THAT.
BUT SHE IS CORRECT DISPATCH IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL.
THE TIME WE CALL IT THE HELLO TIME FROM THE TIME YOU GET THE HELLO ON THE 911 LINE TO THE TIME YOU SEE SOMEONE THERE TO SAY HELLO TO YOU BY FACE.
WE CURRENTLY ARE WORKING ON AGREEMENT WITH
[01:30:01]
PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE DISPATCH TO INCLUDE THEM TO WORK THROUGH THEM, AND THEN TAKE LOOKING AT RESPONSE TIMES AS WE MOVE DOWN THE ROAD, AND THEN EVALUATING WHAT OUR FUTURE OPTIONS MAY BE.BUT CERTAINLY IT'S NOT ONLY THE HELL TIME, BUT IT'S ALSO THE INTEGRATION WITH THE POLICE AS WELL.
I THINK AND I SAW CHIEF RALLY HERE, BUT I DON'T SEE HIM ANYMORE.
WHEN I WAS POLICE CHIEF HERE, WE BUDGETED TO PUT OUR POLICE RADIOS IN ALL OF THE FIRE TRUCKS AND AMBULANCES, AND I BELIEVE THEY STILL HAVE THEM.
NOT ONLY ON THE 911 COMMUNICATION IS THAT IMPORTANT, BUT ALSO THE INTEGRATION BETWEEN THE FIRST RESPONDERS AND POLICE AND FIRE THAT COMMUNICATION PIECES, WELL ABOVE WHAT MOST HAVE IN PLACE SO YES, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
FIRE DISPATCH AND FIRE COMMUNICATIONS WITH POLICE IS ONE OF THOSE CONSTANT EVOLVING THINGS.
>> THANK YOU. WITH THAT, THE TIME IS NOW 8:31 AND I'LL ADJOURN THE MEETING.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.