[00:00:04]
>> GOOD EVENING. THE TIME IS NOW 7:00 PM,
[Call To Order]
AND I'LL CALL TO ORDER THE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING OF TUESDAY, APRIL 15TH.WE'LL BEGIN WITH AN INVOCATION, FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE, AND THEN A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
FOR ALL THOSE THAT ARE ABLE, PLEASE JOIN ME IN STANDING.
>> DEAR GOD, ENCOURAGE US TO ASSEMBLE TOGETHER IN A TRUE SPIRIT OF UNITY.
EMBRACE ALL RACES AND BELIEFS AND REFLECT EMPATHY AND COMPASSION FOR ALL. AMEN.
>> LET'S HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
>> CAN YOU JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> FIRST UP, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION ON THE TOWN OF JUPITER'S
[1. Town of Jupiter’s fiscal year 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) by CBIZ CPA Firm.]
FISCAL YEAR 2024 ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT BY CBIZ CPA FIRM.>> GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF TOWN COUNCIL AND CITIZENS OF THE TOWN OF JUPITER.
MY NAME IS MARISA WITH THE CPA FIRM OF CBIZ CPAS.
I'M HERE TODAY TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF PRESENTATION REGARDING THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE TOWN OF JUPITER FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024.
THIS IS A VERY LENGTHY DOCUMENT, NEARLY 150 PAGES.
I'M GOING TO DO MY BEST TO SUMMARIZE IT FOR YOU AND JUST HIGHLIGHT CERTAIN KEY ITEMS. FIRST BEING THE AUDITOR'S REPORT.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW ALONG, ON PRINTED PAGE 1, YOU'LL FIND THE REPORT ON THE AUDIT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
THE FIRST PARAGRAPH MAKES REFERENCE TO WHAT WE AUDITED, AND IN THIS CASE, THE TOWN OF JUPITER REPORTS GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES, BUSINESS-TYPE ACTIVITIES.
YOU HAVE YOUR MAJOR FUNDS AND ALSO THE AGGREGATE REMAINING FUND INFORMATION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024.
THE SECOND PARAGRAPH MAKES REFERENCE TO ALL THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, BOTH ON A FULL ACCRUAL BASIS AND A MODIFIED ACCRUAL BASIS.
MAKING REFERENCE TO THE FACT THAT THE ACCOMPANYING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, IN OUR OPINION, ARE PRESENTED FAIRLY IN ALL MATURE RESPECTS, THE RESPECTIVE FINANCIAL POSITION OF THE GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES, THE BUSINESS-TYPE ACTIVITIES, EACH MAJOR FUND AND THE AGGREGATE REMAINING FUND INFORMATION AS OF FISCAL YEAR, SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024.
THIS IS A CLEAN OPINION, AND IT'S THE ONLY OPINION YOU AS A TOWN COUNCIL WANT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH.
THE THIRD PARAGRAPH PROVIDES THE READER A DISCLAIMER TO THE FACT THAT WITHIN THIS DOCUMENT, THEY'RE GOING TO COME ACROSS INFORMATION REGARDING THE MUNICIPAL POLICE OFFICERS' RETIREMENT TRUST FUND.
WE MAKE THE READERS AWARE THAT THAT INFORMATION THAT RELATES TO THE POLICE OFFICERS' RETIREMENT TRUST WAS NOT AUDITED BY US BECAUSE IT'S AUDITED BY A SEPARATE AUDITOR THAT IS CHOSEN BY THE BOARD.
WE JUST MAKE REFERENCE TO THAT BECAUSE WE ARE RELYING ON THOSE NUMBERS AND THOSE STATEMENTS AND THEY'RE JUST INPUTTED INTO THE ACFR, BECAUSE IT'S A REQUIREMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD FOR YOU TO PRESENT THOSE FINANCIAL NUMBERS.
FOLLOWING THE OPINIONS PARAGRAPH, THE SECTION TITLE BASIS FOR OPINION SUMMARIZES WHAT WE AS YOUR EXTERNAL AUDITORS FOLLOW IN TERMS OF PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS.
WE FOLLOW TWO SETS OF STANDARDS.
UNITED STATES GENERALLY ACCEPTED AUDITING STANDARDS, AND BECAUSE WE ARE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, THE FLORIDA AUDITOR GENERAL REQUIRES US TO FOLLOW GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS, SO WE FOLLOW TWO SETS OF STANDARDS.
FOLLOWING THE AUDITOR'S REPORT, IF YOU TURN WITH ME TO PRINTED PAGE 5, MANAGEMENT OF THE TOWN PUT TOGETHER THE MANAGEMENT, DISCUSSION, AND ANALYSIS, AND I MENTIONED THAT THIS DOCUMENT IS OVER 150 PAGES, BUT THE MD&A IS NINE PAGES.
ALTHOUGH THE ENTIRE DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT, I STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT YOU READ THESE NINE PAGES.
THESE NINE PAGES WERE PUT TOGETHER BY MANAGEMENT, HIGHLIGHTING SEVERAL KEY ITEMS IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITY FOR THE TOWN AS OF FISCAL YEAR 2024 AS COMPARED TO 2023.
IT SEPARATES IT BETWEEN GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES AND BUSINESS-TYPE ACTIVITIES.
ALSO PROVIDES YOU A FORECAST OF SOME BUDGETARY HIGHLIGHTS AND ALSO THE ECONOMIC FACTORS AND NEXT YEAR BUDGETS AND RATES, AND SOME PROJECTS THAT ARE IN THE FOREFRONT OF TOWN MANAGEMENT IN TERMS OF PRIORITY.
[00:05:01]
AGAIN, SUMMARIZES IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITY OF THE TOWN OF JUPITER IN TERMS OF 2024, SOME HIGHLIGHTS, SOME KEY ITEMS, AS WELL AS COMPARING THE 2024 ACTIVITY VERSUS 2023, AND PROVIDING THE READERS THE UNDERLYING JUSTIFICATION, EXPLANATION OF WHAT IS CAUSING THOSE DRIVERS TO CHANGE.IF YOU TURN WITH ME TO PRINTED PAGE 15, YOU'LL FIND THE FIRST STATEMENT, THE STATEMENT OF NET POSITION.
ON PRINTED PAGE 15, WE SHOW THE READERS ALL THE ASSETS AND DEFERRED OUTFLOWS OF THE TOWN OF JUPITER BETWEEN GOVERNMENTAL AND BUSINESS-TYPE ACTIVITIES.
IN THIS STATEMENT, WE DO NOT CAPTURE THE PENSIONS IN FINANCIAL RECORDS BECAUSE THE PENSIONS ARE NOT AT THE PURVIEW OF THE TOWN.
THOSE ASSETS ARE NOT TO BE LIQUIDATED FOR YOUR USE, THEY'RE PROTECTED FOR MEMBERS OF THE PENSION.
FOLLOWING, ON PRINTED PAGE 16, YOU HAVE ALL YOUR LIABILITIES STARTING BETWEEN YOUR CURRENT LIABILITIES THEN YOUR NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES THAT ARE DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR AND THOSE THAT ARE DUE IN MORE THAN ONE YEAR.
AFTER YOUR LIABILITY, YOU HAVE YOUR DEFERRED INFLOWS AND THE AGGREGATE FORMULA AMOUNT OF CONSIDERING YOUR ASSETS PLUS YOUR DEFERRED OUTFLOWS, MINUS YOUR LIABILITIES AND DEFERRED INFLOWS, EQUATES TO NET POSITION, WHICH IN TERMS OF ACCOUNTING, IS ANOTHER WORD FOR EQUITY.
WITHIN THAT EQUITY, YOU HAVE DIFFERENT CLASSIFICATIONS.
WHAT IS NOT INVESTED IN CAPITAL ASSETS OR RESTRICTED IS UNRESTRICTED FOR THE USE OF THE TOWN OF JUPITER, WHICH IS AS OF FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024, WAS JUST SHY OF 188 MILLION IN TERMS OF UNRESTRICTED NET POSITION.
IN ESSENCE, WHAT IS NET POSITION? IF YOU WERE TO LIQUID ALL YOUR ASSETS AND PAY OFF ALL YOUR LIABILITIES, WHAT WILL BE THE RESIDUAL EQUITY OR NET POSITION AS OF YEAR END? THAT'S WHAT WE REFLECT IN TERMS OF ACCOUNTING.
IF YOU TURN WITH ME TO PRINTED PAGE 17, YOU HAVE YOUR STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES.
EVEN THOUGH IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A PROFIT AND LOSS STATEMENT, THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES.
IN TERMS OF GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING, WE START OFF WITH YOUR EXPENSES.
THAT'S THE FIRST COLUMN TO THE RIGHT OF THE FUNCTIONS AND PROGRAMS. THOSE ARE THE EXPENSES.
IN TERMS OF WHAT DID IT COST FOR US TO RUN GENERAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY, ENGINEERING, PUBLIC WORKS, AND THE BUSINESS-TYPE ACTIVITIES.
TO THE RIGHT OF THE EXPENSE COLUMN IS YOUR PROGRAM REVENUE.
IF THERE'S ANY CHARGES FOR SERVICES, OPERATING CONTRIBUTIONS, CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS, AND GRANTS THAT DERIVE FROM THESE TYPES OF FUNCTIONS AND PROGRAMS, AND AT THE BOTTOM, FOR ACCOUNTING PURPOSES, WE SEGREGATE GENERAL REVENUES WHICH ARE CONSIDERED TO BE NON-EXCHANGE TRANSACTIONS.
THE NET EFFECT OF YOUR OUTFLOWS, NET OF INFLOWS, THE DIFFERENCE OF THOSE TWO FACTORS EQUATES TO SOMETHING KNOWN AS CHANGE IN NET POSITION.
I DON'T WANT TO CALL IT A NET INCOME, BUT IF YOU WANT TO THINK OF IT AS A NET INCOME IS YOUR CHANGE IN NET POSITION, WHICH WAS A POSITIVE 35.2 MILLION FOR THE ENTIRE TOWN OF JUPITER FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024.
STARTING OFF WITH YOUR NET POSITION OF 558.1 MILLION, CONSIDERING YOUR NET CHANGE, WHICH WAS POSITIVE OF 35.2.
THE TOWN OF JUPITER ENDED THE YEAR JUST NORTH OF 593.3 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024.
FOLLOWING THE STATEMENT ACTIVITY, STARTING ON PRINTED PAGE 18, YOU HAVE YOUR GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS WHICH ARE REPRESENTED IN MODIFIED ACCRUAL.
WE SHOW THE READERS CURRENT YEAR ACTIVITY FOR ASSETS LIABILITIES IN PRINTED PAGE 18, AND THEN A STATEMENT OF REVENUES, EXPENDITURES, AND CHANGE IN FUND BALANCE ON PRINTED PAGE 20.
BETWEEN PRINTED PAGE 19 AND PRINTED PAGE 21, WE RECONCILE FOR THE READERS WHAT COMPONENTS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FROM GOING FROM MODIFIED ACCRUAL BASIS TO FULL ACCRUAL BASIS OF ACCOUNTING? IF YOU TURN WITH ME TO PRINTED PAGE 22, YOU HAVE THE MAJOR ENTERPRISE FUNDS, STATEMENT OF NET POSITION.
THESE ARE THE THREE ENTERPRISE FUNDS THAT ARE INTENDED TO AT A MINIMUM, COVER SERVICE COSTS, PROVIDING A SERVICE WHERE YOU HAVE A STRUCTURE BILLING RATE TO COVER THE COST OF RUNNING SUCH SERVICES FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE TOWN OF JUPITER.
THAT'S YOUR WATER SYSTEM FUND, YOUR STORMWATER FUND, AND YOUR BUILDING FUND.
IF YOU TURN WITH ME TO PRINTED PAGE 24.
FOR THESE THREE ENTERPRISE FUNDS, I COULD SHOW YOU THE CHARGES FOR SERVICES.
CHARGES FOR SERVICES ARE GENERATED FOR YOUR WATER SERVICES AND STORMWATER, AND THEN YOUR BUILDING FUND COLLECTS FEES FOR LICENSES AND PERMITS.
NET OF OPERATING EXPENSES, YOU HAVE YOUR OPERATING INCOME, WHICH IS THE THIRD CATEGORY IN THE STATEMENT OF REVENUE, EXPENSES, AND CHANGE IN NET POSITION.
FOR THESE ENTERPRISE FUNDS THAT WORK TO PROVIDE A BUSINESS WITH AN ASSOCIATED SERVICE FEE,
[00:10:03]
WE PROVIDE THE READERS WITH CASH FLOW STATEMENTS.WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF A CASH FLOW STATEMENT? IT SHOWS YOU ALL YOUR INFLOWS AND OUTFLOWS OF CASH, YOUR BEGINNING CASH AND YOUR ENDING CASH.
YOU START OFF WITH YOUR OPERATING ACTIVITIES.
CONSIDER CAPITAL RELATED FINANCING ACTIVITY AND THEN CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES.
THE NET EFFECT OF THOSE THREE CATEGORIES SHOWS YOU A NET INCREASE OR DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS.
FOR THE WATER AND SYSTEM FUND, IT WAS A DECREASE IN CASH DUE TO THE FACT THAT A LOT OF ITS CASH RESOURCES WERE USED FOR THE ACQUISITION AND CONSTRUCTION OF INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO AT THE BOTTOM OF PRINTED PAGE 25, WE SHOW THE READERS WE STARTED OFF WITH A BEGINNING CASH OF 61.7 MILLION, CONSIDERING THE CASH OUTFLOW AND THE NET DECREASE ON CASH-ON-HAND OF 17.8.
OUR ENDING CASH POSITION WAS 43.8 MILLION.
IF YOU TURN WITH ME TO PRINTED PAGE 21, YOU'LL FIND A STATEMENT OF FIDUCIARY NET POSITION FOR THE POLICE OFFICERS' RETIREMENT TRUST FUND.
ON PRINTED PAGE 27, YOU HAVE ALL THE INVESTMENTS OF THE POLICE OFFICERS' RETIREMENT TRUST.
NET OF ITS LIABILITIES AS OF YEAR END, HAVE A RESTRICTED NET POSITION FOR PENSION BENEFITS OF 114 MILLION.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE ADDITIONS AND DEDUCTIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR THE POLICE PENSION, THAT IS REFLECTED ON PRINTED PAGE 28.
FOLLOWING THE STATEMENTS, WE REACH THE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME KEY FOOTNOTES THAT I'D LIKE TO JUST TOUCH BASE.
THE PURPOSE OF THE FOOTNOTES IS TO PROVIDE MORE GRANULAR DETAIL IN REGARDS TO THE TOWN OF JUPITER'S ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND SOME OF THE NUMBERS WITHIN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE TOWN OF JUPITER.
IF YOU TURN WITH ME TO PRINTED PAGE 44.
ON PRINTED PAGE 44, WHAT WE TRY TO SHOW THE READERS IS A SNAPSHOT OF ALL THE CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND INVESTMENTS HELD BY THE TOWN AND THE POLICE OFFICERS' PENSION FUND AS OF YEAR END.
AS YOU CAN TELL, THE TOWN DOES HAVE HEAVY INVESTMENTS IN FLORIDA CLASS, FLORIDA TRUST, FLORIDA PALM, AND FLORIDA PRIME.
AS EXPECTED, THESE ARE HIGHLY LIQUID INVESTMENTS THAT THEY COULD BE LIQUID TO COVER CASH NEEDS OF THE TOWN AS OF YEAR END.
WHILE THE PENSION INVESTS IN WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER MORE LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS, GIVEN THE FACT THAT PENSION PLANS ARE TO OPERATE IN PERPETUITY FOR YEARS TO COME.
AS YOU CAN TELL, THEY HAVE MORE OF AN APPETITE FOR HIGHER RISK INVESTMENT SECURITIES AS EXPECTED.
FOLLOWING THAT FOOTNOTE, JUST SOME OTHER FOOTNOTES, I'D LIKE TO TOUCH BASE.
ON PRINTED PAGE 54 AND 55, THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITY IN TERMS OF CAPITAL ASSETS.
CAPITAL ASSETS IS THE TERM THAT WE USE IN ACCOUNTING FOR PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT.
ON PRINTED PAGE 54, YOU HAVE A ROLL-FORWARD SCHEDULE OF ALL YOUR ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS AND YOUR ENDING BALANCE FOR GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES.
ON PRINTED PAGE 55, YOU HAVE THE SAME SCHEDULE, BUT FOR BUSINESS-TYPE ACTIVITIES, YOUR WATER, YOUR STORMWATER, AND YOUR BUILDING FUND.
FOLLOWING THAT FOOTNOTE, STARTING ON PRINTED PAGE 56, YOU HAVE YOUR NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES.
WHAT WE SHOW HERE TO THE READERS IS ALL THE LONG-TERM LIABILITIES BETWEEN GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES AND BUSINESS-TYPE ACTIVITIES.
YOUR BEGINNING BALANCE, YOUR ADDITIONS REFLECT NEW DEBT THAT THE TOWN TOOK UPON ITSELF.
DELETIONS REFLECT REPAYMENT OF DEBT SERVICE PAYMENT, AND THEN THE ENDING BALANCE IS THE SECOND TO LAST COLUMN.
THE FINAL COLUMN IS WHAT PORTION OF THAT ENDING LIABILITY IS DUE WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR? WHAT THAT REFLECTS TO THE READERS, WHAT IS GOING TO BE MY CASH OUTFLOW IN THE UPCOMING 12 MONTHS? FOLLOWING THAT ROLL-FORWARD SCHEDULE, YOU HAVE ALL THE AMORTIZATION SCHEDULES OF EVERY NON-CURRENT LIABILITY, WHICH REFLECTS, IF I'M NOT GOING TO PAY A LIABILITY IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS, WHAT IS THE PAYMENT SCHEDULE GOING TO BE OR CASH OUTFLOW IN THE YEARS TO COME? FOLLOWING THAT, IF YOU TURN WITH ME TO PRINTED PAGE 65, THIS WILL BE THE LAST FOOTNOTE I TOUCH BASE ON, WHICH IS YOUR EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT PLAN FOOTNOTE.
THE TOWN OF JUPITER ADMINISTERS THE SINGLE-EMPLOYER MUNICIPAL POLICE OFFICERS' RETIREMENT TRUST, BUT IT ALSO COVERS OR PARTICIPATES IN THE FLORIDA RETIREMENT SYSTEM AND THE HEALTH INSURANCE SUBSIDY TRUST FUND, BOTH WHICH ARE MULTI-EMPLOYER COST-SHARING PLANS.
WHAT WE DO IN THIS FOOTNOTE, AND THE REASON I HIGHLIGHTED IS BECAUSE THE LARGEST LIABILITY, OF COURSE, OF THE TOWN OF JUPITER, JUST AS TO MANY MUNICIPALITIES,
[00:15:03]
IS THEIR PENSION LIABILITIES, WHICH AGAIN, ARE NOT DUE IN THE SHORT TERM, THEY'RE DUE IN YEARS TO COME BECAUSE PENSION PLANS OPERATE IN PERPETUITY.WHAT WE DO HERE IS WE SHOW THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT READERS, THE NET PENSION LIABILITY, THE SIGNIFICANT PLAN PROVISIONS, AND CHANGES IN SERVICE COSTS FOR ALL THESE THREE PLANS.
THAT TAKES YOU INTO PRINTED PAGE 65, WHICH IS SHOWING YOU THE NET PENSION LIABILITY PER PLAN.
WITHIN THE FOOTNOTE ITSELF, IT SHOWS YOU COMPONENTS OF WHAT ARE THE INVESTMENT POLICY AND THE ACTUAL ASSUMPTIONS THAT ARE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN CALCULATING THE NET PENSION LIABILITY, AS WELL A SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS OF THE FLUCTUATION OF POTENTIAL LIABILITY.
IF THE TOWN WAS TO ADJUST THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH ITS BOARD, THE DISCOUNT RATE THAT IT'S USING TO CALCULATE THE NET PENSION LIABILITY.
AGAIN, THAT'S THE NOTE 10, EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT PLANS.
FOLLOWING THE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, YOU HAVE HISTORICAL INFORMATION DATING BACK TO 10 YEARS REGARDING THE PENSION PLANS, THAT'S THE POLICE OFFICERS, YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE FRS AND HIS.
THOSE SCHEDULE START ON PRINTED PAGE 101, AND SHOW THE READERS 10 YEARS HISTORY OF NET PENSION LIABILITY, AS WELL AS PENSION COSTS.
ON PRINTED PAGE 101, YOU HAVE A 10-YEAR CHART FOR THE MUNICIPAL POLICE OFFICERS' RETIREMENT TRUST.
THEN ON PRINTED PAGE 104, YOU HAVE THE SAME SCHEDULE OR SIMILAR SCHEDULE, A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE THERE'S COST-SHARING PLAN FOR FRS.
>> ON PRINTED PAGE 105, YOU HAVE THE SAME SCHEDULE FOR YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE SUBSIDY PARTICIPATION, WHICH IS ALSO MANAGED BY FRS.
THE LAST LIABILITY SCHEDULE ON PRINTED PAGE 107 RELATES TO OPEB.
OPEB STANDS FOR OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, WHICH ARE REQUIRED UNDER FLORIDA STATUTE TO BE OFFERED.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO FUND IT, BUT IT HAS TO BE OFFERED.
THAT AGAIN, IS A SIGNIFICANT LIABILITY THAT'S REFLECTED ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE TOWN.
FOLLOWING THE RSI SCHEDULES, WE PROVIDE MORE GRANULAR DETAIL STARTING ON PRINTED PAGE 108 FOR THE NON-MAJOR FUNDS.
IN THE FACE OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, YOU HAVE YOUR MAJOR FUNDS, AND THEN THERE'S A COLUMN STATED AS A NON-MAJOR IN THE AGGREGATE.
BASED ON THE FORMULA THAT WE FOLLOW UNDER GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING STANDARDS, WE IDENTIFY WHAT IS A MAJOR FUND.
THOSE ARE NOT PRESENTED AS A MAJOR FUND, ARE PRESENTED IN THE COMBINING SCHEDULES WHICH START ON PRINTED PAGE 108, WHICH IS YOUR BALANCE SHEET, AND ON PRINTED PAGE 109 IS YOUR STATEMENT OF REVENUES, EXPENDITURES, AND CHANGES IN FUND BALANCE, WHICH COULD BE THOUGHT OF AS A PROFIT AND LOSS STATEMENT.
FOLLOWING THE COMBINING SCHEDULES, YOU HAVE YOUR STATISTICAL SECTION WHICH PROVIDES HISTORICAL INFORMATION REGARDING NOT ONLY ACCOUNTING RECORDS, BUT THEIR DEMOGRAPHIC, ECONOMICS, STATISTICS, A HISTORY OF HEADCOUNT REGARDING THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES THAT IT TAKES TO RUN THE TOWN FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS, AND ALSO CAPITAL ASSET STATISTICS.
FOLLOWING THE STATISTICAL TABLE, IF YOU TURN WITH ME TO PRINTED PAGE 136, YOU HAVE THE REPORTING SECTION.
THE REPORTING SECTION MAKES REFERENCE TO GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS.
AS MENTIONED ON PRINTED PAGE 106, WE DID NOT IDENTIFY AS YOUR EXTERNAL AUDITORS ANY DEFICIENCIES IN INTERNAL CONTROLS THAT WE WERE REQUIRED TO REPORT.
THEN ON PRINTED PAGE 138, WE MAKE REFERENCE TO THE FEDERAL SINGLE AUDIT, WHICH RELATES TO THE SCHEDULE OF EXPENDITURES OF FEDERAL AWARDS.
IF YOU COULD TURN WITH ME TO PRINTED PAGE 141, YOU'LL FIND THE SCHEDULE OF EXPENDITURES OF FEDERAL AWARDS.
WHAT THIS SCHEDULE REFLECTS IS ALL THE GRANT EXPENDITURES THAT INCURRED DURING THE FISCAL YEAR.
TO CLARIFY, IT DOESN'T INCLUDE EVERY GRANT THAT THE TOWN OF JUPITER RECEIVED.
IT JUST REFLECTS GRANTS THAT HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY A FEDERAL AGENCY THAT WERE EXPENDED DURING THE FISCAL YEAR.
ONCE THEY BECOME EXPENDED, THEY'RE SUBJECT TO AUDIT.
THE FACT THAT YOU RECEIVE AN AWARD BUT HAVEN'T COMMENCED EXPENDITURE OR THAT PROGRAM HAS NOT COMMENCED, IT IS NOT SUBJECT TO AUDITING UNTIL YOU ACTUALLY START USING THE FUNDS.
BASED ON THE RISK ASSESSMENT THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW UNDER FEDERAL LAW, THE FEDERAL GRANT THAT WAS SELECTED FOR TESTING WAS THE CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUND PROGRAM IDENTIFICATION 21027.
[00:20:03]
AS MENTIONED ON PAGE 143, THERE WAS NO ITEMS OR EXPENSES THAT WERE IDENTIFIED AS BEING IN NON-COMPLIANT IN TERMS OF THE MAJOR FEDERAL PROGRAM TESTING THAT WAS PERFORMED WHICH IS, I WOULD SAY, QUITE DIFFERENT THAN PERFORMING A FINANCIAL AUDIT.WHEN YOU PERFORM A FINANCIAL AUDIT, YOU HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT IS KNOWN AS MATERIALITY.
WHERE SOMETHING'S OFF BY 25 CENTS, YOU PROBABLY WON'T REPORT IT, OR 10 CENTS YOU WON'T REPORT IT.
WHEN IT COMES TO A FEDERAL SINGLE AUDIT, IT'S NOT SUBJECT TO HAVING A THRESHOLD OF MATERIALITY.
IT'S EITHER YOU'RE IN COMPLIANT OR YOU'RE NOT IN COMPLIANCE.
EITHER YOU SPEND THE FUNDS FOR WHAT THEY WERE INTENDED TO, AND DID YOU REPORT AND SUBMIT QUARTERLY OR MONTHLY REPORTS WHEN DUE? THERE'S NO EXCEPTION IF A REPORT WAS DUE ON THE 15TH OF THE MONTH AND IT WAS SENT ON THE 17TH.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT LEEWAY TO SAY IT WAS ONLY TWO DAYS LATE, IT'S OKAY.
AGAIN, VERY HIGH LEVEL OF REQUIREMENT AND COMPLIANCE TESTING THAT THE TOWN IS SUBJECT TO.
BUT AGAIN, AS MENTIONED HERE, BASED ON THE FACT THAT WE TESTED THAT ONE PROGRAM, WE HAD NO ITEMS TO REPORT.
SEPARATE AND APART FROM THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT ON MARCH 28TH.
WHEN WE RELEASED THIS DOCUMENT, WE ALSO RELEASED OUR COMMUNICATION LETTER SIMULTANEOUSLY.
THAT MAKES REFERENCE TO WHAT WE BELIEVE ARE THE SENSITIVE FOOTNOTES WITHIN THE DOCUMENT, WHICH ARE THE ONES I COVERED RELATED TO YOUR PENSION PLANS, GIVEN THE FACT THAT IT IS THE LARGEST LIABILITY OF THE TOWN.
WE MAKE REFERENCE TO GASB 68, WHICH IS THE ACCOUNTING STANDARD THAT COVERS RECORDING OF PENSION PLAN ACTIVITY.
WE ALSO MAKE REFERENCE TO GASB STATEMENT 75, WHICH COVERS RECORDING OF THE TOTAL OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT PLAN LIABILITY.
WITHIN THAT DOCUMENT OR THAT LETTER, WE ALSO MAKE REFERENCE TO IF WE HAD ANY ISSUES DEALING WITH YOUR TOWN MANAGEMENT IN TERMS OF THE AUDIT.
IN THIS CASE, WE PERFORMED THE AUDIT OF THE TOWN, WE PERFORMED THE AUDIT OF THE CRA, AND WE PERFORMED THE AUDIT OF THE FEDERAL PROGRAMS. WE HAD THREE AUDITS THIS YEAR.
I WOULD SAY, IT WAS A ROBUST YEAR DUE TO THE FEDERAL GRANT EXPENDITURES THAT WERE REPORTED BY THE TOWN.
AS MENTIONED WITHIN THE LETTER, WE HAD NO ISSUES OR ENCOUNTERED NO DIFFICULTIES WITH MANAGEMENT IN PERFORMING THE AUDIT, AND ONCE AGAIN, WAS COMPLETED IN A TIMELY MANNER.
YOUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND THE TOWN MANAGER'S OFFICE WERE VERY HELPFUL TO OUR TEAM.
WE'RE HERE TWICE A YEAR NOT ONLY DURING THE FIELDWORK OF TESTING THE ACTUAL ACTIVITY OF THE AUDIT, BUT WE'RE ALSO HERE DURING INTERIM DOING REVIEW OF INTERNAL CONTROLS.
AS ALWAYS, THEY PROVIDED US THE INFORMATION IN ORDER FOR US TO FINISH THE AUDIT ON TIME, WHICH WAS RELEASED IN THE MONTH OF MARCH.
I KNOW THAT WAS A LOT, BUT I'LL OPEN UP TO ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
>> JUST A COUPLE. I MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW THE ANSWER ALREADY BUT WE HAD SPOKEN AT THE AUDIT COMMITTEE MEETING EARLIER TODAY.
HOW MANY HOURS DO YOU THINK YOUR FIRM SPENT ON THIS AUDIT GIVEN THE SIZE OF IT?
>> CORRECT. IN TERMS OF THIS YEAR, WELL, WE HAD THREE AUDITS; WE HAD THE TOWN OF JUPITER ACFR AUDIT, WE HAD THE CRA STANDALONE FINANCIAL STATEMENT, AND THEN WE HAD A FEDERAL SINGLE AUDIT.
IT'S BETWEEN 500 AND 600 HOURS THAT WE WERE HERE, COLLABORATING WITH YOUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. ONE OTHER QUESTION WAS, WE HAD RECEIVED AND I BELIEVE WE'RE IN MORE THAN 31 YEARS OF RECEIVING THIS AWARD, IF I CAN PULL IT UP.
IT'S CALLED THE CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING.
HOW MANY PEOPLE CHOOSE TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS, WHICH IS SLIGHTLY MORE VIGOROUS?
>> CORRECT. THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
THE TOWN OF JUPITER PARTICIPATES IN A PROGRAM THAT IS ADMINISTERED BY THE GFOA KNOWN AS THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION FOR THE US AND CANADA, AND IT'S A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM.
FLORIDA STATUTE REQUIRES YOU AS A MUNICIPALITY TO RECEIVE AN AUDIT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, AN AUDIT UNDER GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS AND GENERALLY ACCEPTED AUDITING STANDARDS.
THAT AUDIT WOULD BE OF A COMPLETE SET OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
WHAT THE TOWN OF JUPITER HAS DECIDED TO DO IS TO GO BEYOND THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS AND PRODUCE THIS DOCUMENT, WHICH IS KNOWN AS AN ACFR; ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT.
THE REASON YOU PRODUCE THIS REPORT IS BECAUSE YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM.
NOT EVERYBODY PARTICIPATES IN THE PROGRAM BECAUSE IT IS A HEAVY LIFT, BECAUSE IT'S GOING FAR AND BEYOND, NOT ONLY INTO LOOKING AT FINANCIAL INFORMATION BUT SOME OPERATIONAL STATISTICS THAT MAKES THE DOCUMENT QUITE LENGTHY.
[00:25:03]
ONCE YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM, AFTER THE AUDIT IS COMPLETE, YOU SEND THIS TO THE GFOA AND THEN THE GFOA HAS A COMMITTEE THAT COMPARE THIS DOCUMENT TO THE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.IF YOU COMPLY WITH THE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS, THEN YOU RECEIVE YOUR CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE.
I WOULD SAY THAT IN SOUTH FLORIDA, WE AUDIT AND WORK WITH ABOUT 60 GOVERNMENT UNITS IN TERMS OF MUNICIPALITIES, PUBLIC UTILITIES, AND I WOULD SAY, JUST ABOUT HALF OF THEM PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM.
FROM OUR EXPERIENCE, NOT EVERYBODY PARTICIPATES IN THE PROGRAM FOR VARIOUS REASONS, BUT I WOULD SAY ABOUT 50-60% OF OUR CLIENTS PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM, THE REST ADHERE TO THE FLORIDA STATUTE WHICH IS NOT AS CUMBERSOME AS THIS REQUIREMENT.
>> ONE LAST QUESTION. THE STATISTICAL SECTION IN THE BACK, ARE YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT SECTION OR IT'S TOWN STAFF IN PREPARING THIS DOCUMENT? [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE TOWN STAFF IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STATISTICAL SECTION.
OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO READ IT AND TO SEE IF IT'S REASONABLE IN TERMS OF GOING BACK 10 YEARS IN HISTORY.
WE ARE NOT GOING BACK AND AUDITING 10 YEARS OF HISTORY THROUGHOUT THIS DOCUMENT, BUT WE DO READ IT AND IF SOMETHING SEEMS UNUSUAL OR NOT CONSISTENT TO OUR EXPECTATIONS, WE'LL HAVE THAT DIALOGUE WITH TOWN STAFF AND SEE IF THEY COULD HELP US RESOLVE ANY OF OUR INQUIRIES.
>> VICE MAYOR SUNDSTROM STOLE MY FIRST QUESTION.
IS THE AMOUNT OF HOURS YOU SPENT ON PRODUCING THE DOCUMENT WHICH IS THAT EXPENSIVE?
>> YES. SOMETHING THAT IS LESS EXPENSIVE IF THE TOWN WASN'T TO DO THE ACFR, IS THAT THE QUESTION?
I APPRECIATE IT, THE AMOUNT OF HOURS YOU'RE FOCUSED ON IT.
I'VE BEEN HERE FOR A FEW YEARS AND EVERY YEAR WE GET THESE PRESENTATIONS, AND IT JUST SHOWS THE EXCELLENCE OF OUR FINANCE STAFF.
THIS TRUE, TOTAL, TRANSPARENCY.
WE KNOW WHERE EVERY PENNY GOES.
EVERYTHING'S OUT IN THE OPEN WITH THE PUBLIC, SO SCOTT AND YOUR STAFF, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK YOU PUT IN.
I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU FOLKS PUT IN PRODUCING THE DOCUMENT ALSO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> I JUST WANT TO AGREE THE AMOUNT OF HOURS THAT'S PUT INTO PREPARING THIS DOCUMENT AND TO KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING ABOVE THE FLORIDA STATUTE.
COMMEND THE STAFF, COMMEND YOUR FIRM.
IT JUST SHOWS AGAIN, TOTAL TRANSPARENCY IN WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE TOWN OF JUPITER. THANK YOU.
YOU'VE INDICATED ONCE AGAIN, WE'VE ACHIEVED A CLEAN OPINION.
>> WHAT PERCENTAGE OF YOUR AUDITS END UP BEING CLEAN OPINIONS?
>> GOOD QUESTION. IN TERMS OF GETTING A CLEAN OPINION, THERE'S TWO PHASES TO THAT.
I WOULD SAY MANY OF OUR CLIENTS DO RECEIVE A CLEAN OPINION, BUT IS NOT UNUSUAL TO RECEIVE DEFICIENCIES.
THERE'S DIFFERENT LEVELS OF DEFICIENCIES.
THERE'S SOMETHING KNOWN AS A MATERIAL WEAKNESS, A SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCY, OR A DEFICIENCY, OR A GENERAL RECOMMENDATION.
IN TERMS OF WHAT WE PRODUCED HERE FOR THE TOWN OF JUPITER, WE HAD NO MATERIAL WEAKNESSES OR SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES.
I WOULD SAY THAT WOULD BE A MORE COMPARABLE UNITARY ITEM TO COMPARE YOURSELF AND I WOULD SAY, IT IS NOT COMMON TO RECEIVE NO DEFICIENCIES.
WE ARE NOT SHY TO REPORT DEFICIENCIES.
WE HAVE A JOB TO DO, WHICH IS REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL DEFICIENCIES THAT WE COME ACROSS, AND WE DO THAT QUITE OFTEN GIVEN THE FACT THAT THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.
THE FACT THAT WE DIDN'T REPORT ANY IS NOT THAT WE'RE SHY TO REPORT.
IT'S ACTUALLY VERY COMMON FOR US TO REPORT DEFICIENCIES.
>> IN THE COURSE OF YOUR WORK, ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH AND DO YOU EVER AT LEAST LOOK AT THE QUARTERLY REPORTS THAT OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT PUTS OUT?
>> CORRECT. AS PART OF INTERIM, SO INTERIM MEANING THAT WE COME BEFORE YOU CLOSE YOUR FISCAL YEAR-END, WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO A PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF YOUR FINANCIAL INFORMATION IN ORDER FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT CURING YOUR ACTIVITY THAT'S BEING TRANSACTED FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS IS IN LINE NOT ONLY WITH WHAT IS EXPECTED, BUT THERE'S ALSO TESTING THAT WE DO AGAINST YOUR BUDGET.
WHEN YOU PUT TOGETHER YOUR BUDGETARY DOCUMENT FOR THE TOWN, IT'S YOU PUT TOGETHER, IT'S VOTED ON BY THE ELECTED BODY THAT GOES UP TO PUBLIC NOTICE AND THAT BECOMES YOUR BUDGET OR YOUR APPROVED BUDGET.
SUBSEQUENT TO THAT, YOU MIGHT HAVE BUDGET AMENDMENTS BUT ONCE AGAIN,
[00:30:02]
THOSE BUDGET AMENDMENTS SHOULD GO TO YOU.IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT THE QUARTERLY ACTIVITY, ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT WE DO IS WE COMPARE THAT TO YOUR BUDGET BECAUSE YOUR BUDGET PRETTY MUCH TELLS YOU WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FOR THE TOWN OF JUPITER TO TRANSACT DURING THE FISCAL YEAR UNDER AUDIT.
>> HOW MANY OF THE FIRMS OR MUNICIPALITIES YOU AUDIT ACTUALLY DO THOSE QUARTERLY REPORTS?
>> IN DIFFERENT MANNERS, I WOULD SAY THE MAJORITY OF THEM PROBABLY DO THE MORE SEMIANNUAL.
IN SOME CASES, WHEN THEY DO PROVIDE THESE QUARTERLY OR SEMIANNUAL REPORTS, SOMETIMES IT'S NOT TO COVER ALL THE OPINION UNITS BECAUSE YOU HAVE GOVERNMENTAL UNITS, YOU HAVE MAJORS, NON-MAJORS, AND THEN YOU HAVE YOUR THREE ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
SOMETIMES, IT'S MORE CONDENSED INFORMATION, SO IT DEPENDS.
IT IS A COMMON, YES, BUT IT DOES NOT PROVIDE SUCH GRANULAR DETAIL TO WHAT WE'VE SEEN HERE.
>> I ASKED THAT BECAUSE I'M GRATEFUL FOR OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT WITHIN ONE MONTH AFTER A QUARTER IS OVER, WE GET A REPORT, SO THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THEN, WE FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE.
INFORMATION IS VERY TRANSPARENT AND AVAILABLE FOR US TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE HEADING.
ONCE AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS OF YOUR FIRM AND YOU.
IT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE.
IF SOMEBODY HAS WALKED THROUGH THE REPORT AS YOU DO, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN DOING IT SINCE YOU'VE BEEN DOING THE AUDITS, I DO FIND THAT HELPFUL.
WHEN I GET THE BOOK AHEAD OF TIME, I KNOW WHAT SECTIONS TO LOOK AT.
I'M ALREADY LOOKING AT THEM AND ACTUALLY COMPARING YEAR TO YEAR.
IN NO CASE DID YOU POINT TO ANYTHING I DIDN'T HAVE HIGHLIGHTED FROM THAT, SO WE APPRECIATE THAT. AGAIN, THANK YOU.
I'M GOING TO SAVE THE REALLY TOUGH QUESTION FOR OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR.
I TOLD HIM I DIDN'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT [LAUGHTER] YOU SEE SCOTT. HE THINKS I WAS JOKING.
>> I DIDN'T THINK I HAD TO ANSWER [NOISE] ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS, BUT OKAY.
>> NO, I COULD HAVE ASKED THE CONSULTANT, BUT IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO US.
VICE MAYOR MENTIONED THIS, BUT OUR AUDIT COMMITTEE REVIEWED THIS, MET EARLIER TODAY AND I THINK IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THAT ON THE RECORD.
WE HAVE AN AUDIT COMMITTEE AND THEY ENGAGE IN DOING A SEPARATE REVIEW AND WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME OF THAT, AND THEN ALSO ANY OF THOSE MEMBERS IN THE AUDIENCE BECAUSE WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THEM.
>> I DON'T THINK ANY OF THEM ARE HERE, BUT THEY ARE VOLUNTEERS, MAYOR.
>> I KNOW THEY ARE. I DID WANT TO RECOGNIZE THEM IF THEY WERE HERE AND I THINK THE VICE MAYOR GOES TO THAT.
>> I'D LIKE TO MAKE A QUICK COMMENT ON THAT TOO, BECAUSE WE DID MEET JUST BEFORE THIS MEETING, ALL OF US AND THEY DID HAVE A COUPLE OF GOOD INSIGHTS IN TERMS OF EXTRA METRICS THEY ADDED FOR THE NEXT TIME.
SCOTT QUICKLY TOOK A NOTE AND SAID WAS ADDED FOR THE NEXT TIME, SO WE'RE GOING TO BE EVEN MORE DILIGENT IF THESE ARE CPAS AND THEY ARE RESIDENTS OF THE TOWN, AND NOT EVERY TOWN HAS AN AUDIT COMMITTEE.
IT'S JUST ONE MORE LAYER AND CONTRIBUTION POINT FOR THE TOWN.
>> TO YOUR POINT, MAYOR, I THINK IT WAS BACK IN 2015, WE STARTED THIS PROCESS WITH THE FOUNDING MEMBER, WHICH HER NAME IS SUSAN PRESENT.
WE STARTED WITH ONE MEMBER AND THEN FROM THERE, WE ACTUALLY GREW THE COMMITTEE.
I KNOW YOU WERE HERE AND WE CREATED AN ORDINANCE AND APPOINTED THEM OR A RESOLUTION.
SUSAN HAS BEEN ON THE AUDIT COMMITTEE, IS ACTUALLY OUR CHAIRPERSON.
COULD NOT BE HERE FOR HEALTH REASONS TODAY, BUT IT'S A VERY DIVERSE GROUP.
THEY ASK A LOT OF VERY GOOD AND POINTED QUESTIONS SOMETIMES, WHICH IS WELCOMED.
LIKE MOE HAS INDICATED, THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.
THEY MULTITASK AND STAFF THAT'S THERE AS WELL, SO THEY'RE NOT ONLY THE AUDIT COMMITTEE, BUT THEY ALSO REVIEW THE SURTAX EXPENDITURES.
THEY'RE ALSO THE SURTAX COMMITTEE, SO GOOD GROUP THAT COMES TOGETHER AND THEY REVIEW ALL THESE DOCUMENTS AS WELL.
>> NEXT UP, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION ON OUR JUPITER FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT,
[2. Jupiter Fire Rescue Department (JFRD) update.]
AND UPDATE FROM OUR FIRE CHIEF.>> LOOKING FOR THE PRESENTATION HERE. THERE IT IS.
[00:35:05]
THIS WORK. THERE WE GO.GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
WE'RE HERE TONIGHT TO PROVIDE A PRESENTATION OR AN UPDATE ON JUPITER FIRE RESCUE.
BUT BEFORE I BEGIN THAT, I WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR NEWEST MEMBER OF OUR TEAM.
THIS IS DIVISION CHIEF, ROBERT RAMIREZ.
ROB IS OUR DIVISION CHIEF OF TRAINING, SAFETY, AND WELLNESS.
ROB'S BEEN IN THE FIRE SERVICE FOR 23 YEARS NOW.
HE HOLDS DEGREES IN FIRE SCIENCE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.
HE'S A STATE-CERTIFIED FIRE INSTRUCTOR 2, FIRE OFFICER 2, HEALTH AND SAFETY OFFICER, AND LIVE FIRE TRAINING INSTRUCTOR.
SINCE 2005, ROB HAS SERVED AS A RESCUE TEAM MANAGER FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY FEMA URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE TASK FORCE 2 TEAM OUT OF MIAMI.
HE'S DEPLOYED ON DOZENS OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL HIGH PROFILE USR MISSIONS, INCLUDING THE HAITI EARTHQUAKES IN 2010, AND MAJOR HURRICANES: KATRINA, HARVEY, FLORENCE, MICHAEL, AND IAN.
HE'S ALSO AN INSTRUCTOR OF FIRE MILITARY AND SPECIAL OPERATIONS CLASSES FOR AN ALL HAZARDS NATIONAL TRAINING COMPANY.
ROB IS ALSO THE FOUNDER AND LEAD INSTRUCTOR OF MAYDAY MINDSET CONSULTING, AND ROB TRAVELS NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY AS A GUEST INSTRUCTOR, SPEAKER, AND A KEYNOTE AT VARIOUS FIRE CONFERENCES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
ROB IS ALSO A PUBLISHED FIRE SERVICE AUTHOR.
HE RETIRED RECENTLY FROM MARGATE FIRE RESCUE AND HE RETIRED FROM THERE TO JOIN US HERE IN JUPITER, AND WE'RE SO EXCITED TO HAVE ROB AS PART OF OUR TEAM. ROB.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF. CHIEF, I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THIS UNPRECEDENTED OPPORTUNITY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU OVER THE NEXT YEAR OR SO, AND I AM EXTREMELY HONORED TO JOIN YOU ON THIS JOURNEY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>THANKS, ROB. APPRECIATE YOU COMING UP.
TONIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT A FEW OF THE MAJOR PROJECTS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON, AND WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON THESE CURRENT PROJECTS AS OPPOSED TO WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED IN THE PAST, INCLUDING OUR FIRE RESCUE TRANSITION OF SERVICES FROM PALM BEACH COUNTY, OBTAINING OUR COPCN FOR EMS, CONSTRUCTING OUR NEW FIRE STATIONS, ASSUMING OWNERSHIP, AND RENOVATION OF THE ABACOA FIRE STATION, ADOPTION OF A FIRE PREVENTION CODE BY ORDINANCE, OUR NEW FIREFIGHTER TRAINEE PROGRAM, AND OUR EFFORTS ON DEVELOPING THE PROPOSED FY26 BUDGET.
WE'LL BEGIN WITH A TRANSITION OF SERVICES, AND IT'S THE TOWN'S INTENT AND IT'S OUR TANGIBLE EFFORT TO CONTINUE TO BE A PUBLIC SAFETY PARTNER WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE IN THE INTEREST OF OUR RESIDENTS AND THE VISITORS OF JUPITER.
THE TOWN'S AGREEMENT FOR FIRE AND EMS SERVICES WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY INCLUDES A PROVISION THAT ALLOWS THE TOWN TO EXPLORE PROGRAMS AND ENHANCEMENTS THAT IMPROVE SERVICE DELIVERY.
BASED UPON THE TOWN'S DESIRE TO ENSURE A SEAMLESS TRANSITION OF FIRE AND EMS SERVICES, THE TOWN IS PURSUING A PHASED APPROACH TO TRANSITIONING THESE SERVICES FROM PALM BEACH COUNTY TO THE TOWN.
WHILE THE AGREEMENT OFFICIALLY TERMINATES AT MIDNIGHT ON SEPTEMBER 30TH OF 2026, AND THE TOWN OFFICIALLY ASSUMES FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR SERVICES AT 12:01 AM.
OCTOBER 1ST OF 2026, WE DON'T FEEL THAT IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC TO TRANSITION THESE SERVICES BY A FLIP OF THE SWITCH AT MIDNIGHT.
TO THAT END, THE AGREEMENT ITSELF PROVIDES FOR, AND WE'RE PROPOSING A PHASE TRANSITION OF SERVICES BETWEEN THE TOWN AND PALM BEACH COUNTY.
THE TOWN'S PURSUING A PLAN THAT WOULD INCLUDE JOINT TRAINING BETWEEN JUPITER FIRE RESCUE AND PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE PRIOR TO OUR ASSUMPTION OF SERVICES, AND A JOINT RESPONSE TO EMERGENCY CALLS BEGINNING IN AUGUST OF 26, PRIOR TO OUR FULL ASSUMPTION OF SERVICES ON OCTOBER 1ST OF 2026.
AS YOU'RE WELL AWARE, WE'RE WORKING OUR CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY, AND THE TOWN MUST OBTAIN THIS FROM PALM BEACH COUNTY TO PROVIDE EMS SERVICES.
THERE ARE SEVERAL STEPS TO THIS PROCESS.
THE TOWN FILED ITS APPLICATION OF PALM BEACH COUNTY IN DECEMBER OF 2024, AND ON MARCH 20TH OF 2025, THE PALM BEACH COUNTY EMS ADVISORY COUNCIL MET TO CONSIDER OUR APPLICATION, AND THEY UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION THAT THE TOWN OF JUPITER BE GRANTED A COPCN FOR EMS SERVICES.
THE PALM BEACH COUNTY COMMISSION IS GOING TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON JUNE 10TH TO CONSIDER OUR APPLICATION.
THEN ONCE APPROVED, JUPITER FIRE RESCUE CAN APPLY FOR ITS STATE EMS PROVIDER LICENSE.
WE ARE CONSTRUCTING TWO NEW FIRE STATIONS,
[00:40:01]
AND CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY AT BOTH PIATT PLACE AND THE AREA ADJACENT TO CINQUEZ PARK.I'M SURE YOU KNOW, SITE WORK AT PIATT PLACE IS ALMOST COMPLETE AND VERTICAL CONSTRUCTION SHOULD BEGIN VERY SOON.
THE SITE WORK AT CINQUEZ PARK IS UNDERWAY WITH A NEW ROAD FOR RESIDENT ACCESS THROUGH THE PARK EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED AND ACCESSIBLE IN MAY OF 2025.
BOTH STATIONS ARE STILL ON SCHEDULE TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED FOR THE TOWN BY APRIL OF 2026.
BACK IN 1999, THE TOWN ATTORNEY, MR. BAIRD, WISELY GUIDED THE TOWN THROUGH A PROCESS OF ESTABLISHING A REVERSIONARY INTEREST DEED FOR THE ABACOA FIRE STATION.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS DEED, OWNERSHIP OF THE ABACOA FIRE STATION WILL REVERT TO THE TOWN OF JUPITER WHEN PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE CEASES TO PROVIDE FIRE RESCUE SERVICES TO THE TOWN.
WE ARE WORKING WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE OWNER TRANSITION PLAN FOR THAT STATION.
WE'VE HAD SOME VERY MEANINGFUL DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM AND WE'LL BE MEETING WITH THEM AGAIN SOON TO PREVENT A VERY FORMAL TRANSITION PLAN.
A FIRE PREVENTION, FIRE PREVENTION CODE.
THE TOWN WITH THE ASSUMPTION OF FIRE SERVICES WILL ALSO BE ASSUMING FIRE PREVENTION AND FIRE CODE ENFORCEMENT SERVICES.
LIKE WITH FIRE SERVICES, THE TOWN IS PRESUMING A PHASE TRANSITION OF FIRE PREVENTION AND FIRE CODE ENFORCEMENT FROM PALM BEACH COUNTY TO THE TOWN.
WE'LL BE HIRING OUR FIRE MARSHAL SOON AND WE'LL BE PRESENTING YOU WITH A FIRE PREVENTION CODE TO BE ADOPTED BY ORDINANCE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
OUR FIREFIGHTER TRAINEE PROGRAM.
THE TOWN OF JUPITER HAS THIS VERY LONG-STANDING TRADITION OF PROVIDING ITS EMPLOYEES WITH PROFESSIONAL, DEVELOPMENT, AND GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES.
FOR OVER 20 YEARS, THE JUPITER POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS SPONSORED TRAINEES THROUGH THE POLICE ACADEMY.
OUR CURRENT DEPUTY POLICE CHIEF IS A BENEFICIARY OF THAT PROGRAM.
JUPITER FIRE RESCUE IS CONTINUING THAT TRADITION, AND WE'RE PROVIDING TOWN EMPLOYEES WITH THIS ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
FIVE TOWN EMPLOYEES HAVE ACCEPTED THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME THE TOWN'S VERY FIRST FIREFIGHTER EMTS.
IN AUGUST, THEY WILL BEGIN THEIR SCHOOLING.
THESE TOWN EMPLOYEES ARE ALL IN THE PREPARATORY PHASES FOR THEIR EMT AND MINIMUM STANDARDS PROGRAM, AND OUR TEAM IS MENTORING THEM AND WILL CONTINUE TO MENTOR THEM THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.
AGAIN, I JUST THINK IT'S SO REALLY NEAT THAT THE VERY FIRST FIREFIGHTERS FOR THE TOWN OF JUPITER, OUR EXISTING TOWN EMPLOYEES NOW.
THAT'S SO COOL TO ME. LIKE THE REST OF THE TOWN DEPARTMENTS, WE'RE WORKING ON OUR UPCOMING BUDGET FOR THE 2025-'26TH FISCAL YEAR.
JUPITER FIRE RESCUE WILL BEGIN PROVIDING SERVICES NEXT YEAR, AND WE MUST BUDGET, WE MUST PURCHASE ALL OF OUR EQUIPMENT, ALL OF OUR SUPPLIES, VEHICLE, SOFTWARE, AND WE HAVE TO HIRE ALL OF OUR PEOPLE IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
EVERYONE HAS TO BE ON BOARD AND THEY HAVE TO ALL HAVE COMPLETED TRAINING BEFORE OCTOBER 1ST OF 2026.
BACK WHEN THE TOWNS CONSULTANT DRAFTED THEIR PROPOSED PLAN FOR THE CREATION OF THE JUPITER FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT IN 2023, I MIGHT SAY, HE PROPOSED THAT OUR OPERATIONAL EMPLOYEES WOULD BE ON A 56-HOUR WORKWEEK.
WELL, AS PART OF OUR UPCOMING PROPOSED BUDGET, WE WILL BE PROPOSING TO THE COUNCIL A 48-HOUR WORKWEEK FOR OUR OPERATIONAL PERSONNEL.
YES, THIS WILL MEAN THAT WE'LL NEED TO HIRE MORE FIREFIGHTERS, BUT THAT WILL PUT US IN LINE WITH THE GENERALLY ACCEPTED WORKWEEK FOR FIREFIGHTERS ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA.
WHILE REQUIRED TO HIRE MORE FIREFIGHTERS, THIS INCREASE IN PERSONNEL WILL BE OFFSET BY SOME REDUCTIONS IN OVERTIME AND OTHER OPERATING COSTS THAT WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP US IN LINE WITH OUR FUTURE BUDGET PROJECTIONS.
I MIGHT ADD THAT THE SAVINGS THAT TAXPAYERS IN JUPITER WILL SEE IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE COST OF PALM BEACH COUNTY SERVICES AND THE COST OF JUPITER SERVICES ON A DOLLAR BASIS, AND IT'S ANTICIPATED THAT THAT DIFFERENCE WILL CONTINUE TO GROW OVER THE YEARS.
TAXPAYERS PAY PALM BEACH COUNTY, TODAY, $28.2 MILLION FOR FIRE RESCUE SERVICES.
PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE FUTURE SERVICE ARE EXPECTED TO GROW SIGNIFICANTLY.
THEIR MOST RECENT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT INCLUDED A 12% COST OF LIVING RAISE OVER THREE YEARS, A REDUCTION IN THE COUNTY'S WORKWEEK FROM 48 HOURS TO 42 HOURS, THAT'S MOVING TO A 24 ON 72 OFFSHIFT SCHEDULE OR A FOUR SHIFT SYSTEM, THAT'S IN JANUARY OF 27TH, AND A THREE-YEAR CUMULATIVE COST OF THIS AGREEMENT IS ESTIMATED TO
[00:45:02]
BE $106.2 MILLION COUNTY WIDE.BACK IN '23, AS WE SAID, THE CONSULTANT'S ORIGINAL PROJECTIONS FOR JUPITER FIRE RESCUE WERE $25 MILLION.
OUR CURRENT FY27 BUDGET PROJECTIONS FOR JUPITER FIRE RESCUE ARE STILL $25 MILLION.
REMEMBER, TODAY'S PALM BEACH COUNTY FY25 COST, 28.2 MILLION, AND PALM BEACH COUNTY'S FY27, WHICH IS OUR 25 MILLION COST TO TAXPAYERS, HAS EXPECTED TO BE 31.5 MILLION IF WE HAD NOT TERMINATED THE CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY.
THAT'S THE DIFFERENTIAL THAT WE CAN EXPECT IN SAVINGS.
SOME MIGHT ASK, SOME HAVE ASKED, HOW IS THE JUPITER FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT GOING TO MAINTAIN A $25 MILLION BUDGET WHEN WE'RE HIRING ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL TO IMPLEMENT A 48-HOUR WORKWEEK? INCLUDED IN THE CONSULTANT'S 2023 PROJECTIONS WAS BOTH MANDATORY OVERTIME THAT IS REQUIRED FOR FIREFIGHTERS ON A 56-HOUR WORKWEEK AND THE COST OF DEBT SERVICE ON THE LAND FOR FIRE STATIONS.
THE COST OF THE LAND WAS EXPECTED TO BE $23 MILLION.
WE'RE NO LONGER PURCHASING LAND FOR FIRE STATIONS.
THE ELIMINATION OF THE MANDATORY OVERTIME COSTS COMBINED WITH THE ELIMINATION OF THE DEBT SERVICE ON LAND AND SOME OTHER OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO MAINTAIN OUR PROJECTED $25 MILLION FY27 COSTS WHILE MEETING THE MARKET DEMANDS OF A 48-HOUR WORKWEEK.
IT'S ALSO RELEVANT TO POINT OUT, AGAIN, PALM BEACH COUNTY IS MOVING TO A 42-HOUR WORKWEEK AND THOSE COSTS WOULD HAVE BEEN PASSED ALONG TO JUPITER TAXPAYERS IF THE TOWN HAD NOT TERMINATED THAT CONTRACT.
AS YOU'VE HEARD TONIGHT FROM THE TOWN'S AUDITORS, THE TOWN'S IN AN OUTSTANDING FINANCIAL SITUATION.
IT'S POSITIONED WELL TO CREATE ITS OWN FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT.
THE TOWN HAS BEEN ABLE TO USE INTEREST EARNINGS TO FUND ALL THE FIRE RESCUE COSTS SO FAR.
THE TOWN WILL BE ABLE TO USE GENERAL FUND BALANCE TO FUND NEXT YEAR'S STARTUP COSTS WITHOUT JEOPARDIZING THE HEALTH OF THE GENERAL FUND RESERVES THAT THE TOWN MAINTAINS FOR ITS RAINY DAY.
I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS AS PAST UPDATES, THE JUPITER FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT REMAINS ON SCHEDULE AND ON BUDGET.
>> I DO. COULD YOU JUST EXPLAIN ON THE FIVE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY? EXPLAIN TO ME HOW THEY'RE GOING TO TRANSITION IN FROM AN EMPLOYEE TO TRAINING FOR FIRE?
>> CURRENTLY THEY'RE TOWN EMPLOYEES.
THEY'RE STILL TODAY, READING METERS, BUILDING PARTS OF THE TOWN AND MAINTAINING FACILITIES, WORKING AT PUBLIC WORKS.
IN AUGUST, THE BEGINNING OF THE EMT PROGRAM BEGINS.
THEY'RE ENROLLED IN WHAT'S CALLED A COMBINED EMT FIRE PROGRAM, SO THEY'LL GO FROM ONE PROGRAM STRAIGHT TO THE NEXT.
IN AUGUST, THEY'LL TRANSITION AWAY FROM THEIR CURRENT JOBS, AND THEY'LL BECOME TRAINEES AND EMPLOYEES OF JUPITER FIRE RESCUE AND THEY'LL BEGIN GOING TO SCHOOL, AND THEIR JOB WILL WE GO TO SCHOOL FULL-TIME.
THEY'LL GET THEIR EMT COURSES, CLASSES, TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION, AND ROLL DIRECTLY INTO THEIR FIRE TRAINING.
THEY'LL GO THROUGH THAT TRAINING AND GET THEIR CERTIFICATION THERE, AND THEN THEY'LL ROLL INTO BEING ACTUAL FIREFIGHTERS FOR US UPON COMPLETION OF THAT TRAINING.
>> I THINK THAT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
>> IT'S REALLY NEAT. I LOVE TELLING THIS STORY.
THIS IS THE ONE THAT TOUCHES MY HEART.
ONE OF THOSE TRAINEES, I DON'T KNOW IF I GET THE TIMES RIGHT, ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO, ON HIS OWN, HE WANTED TO BE A FIREFIGHTER.
THIS IS A LITTLE LONG THAN THAT, 10 YEARS AGO.
WENT TO FIRE SCHOOL AND EMT SCHOOL ON HIS OWN.
BUT AT THAT TIME, SOME PERSONAL SITUATIONS IN HIS FAMILY, HIS WIFE BECAME PREGNANT.
THEY WERE HAVING A CHILD. HE NEEDED TO GET A JOB RIGHT AWAY.
HE'S BEEN IN THE TOWN FOR EIGHT YEARS DUE TO FULLY SERVE IN THIS TOWN, ONE OF THE TOP EMPLOYEES IN TOWN, JUST A GREAT GUY.
BUT HIS LIFE DREAM WAS TO BE A FIREFIGHTER, AND NOW HE HAS THAT OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE OF THE TOWN.
>> ONE COMMENT. GREAT JOB, BY THE WAY.
I KNOW THIS IS A VERY HEAVY LIFT.
THE COUNTIES GOING DOWN GOING TO THE 42-HOUR WORK WEEK, WAS AN INCREASE OF, IS $102 MILLION OVER THREE YEARS?
>> YES. SO I THINK IT WAS 106, BUT I'D HAVE TO WORK.
MEMORY IS NOT THAT GREAT. 106.2 MILLION COUNTY WIDE.
NOT IN JUPITER, COUNTY WIDE, OVER THREE YEARS.
[00:50:02]
>> THAT JUST SHOWS ONE OF THE MANY HIDDEN COSTS THAT WAS INVOLVED IN THAT 10-YEAR CONTRACT IS, WE HAD STAYED ON BOARD WITH THAT.
THIS IS JUST A PERFECT TIME, PERFECT DECISION TO GO OUR OWN WAY AND I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK ALL YOU FOLKS ARE COMING IN AND WELCOME TO THE NEW MEMBER SITTING IN THE BACK UP THERE.
APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU.
>> COMMENT, QUESTION, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO ASK THE QUESTION HERE BECAUSE IT MAY BE ONE TO TAKE BACK, BUT I HAD SOME CONVERSATION WITH THE PERSONALLY ABOUT AND YOU HAD EXPLAINED TO ME HOW IT WAS GOING TO WORK WITH THE FIRE MARSHAL WITH THE TOWN.
THEN ALSO THE FACT THAT WE WILL BE ADOPTING OUR OWN FIRE PREVENTION CODE.
I DON'T KNOW WHEN WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT, BUT I KNOW YOU HAD AN IDEA ABOUT FOLLOWING THE STATE CODE.
>> IT JUST SEEMS TO ME THAT IN THE OVERLAP PERIOD OF TIME.
PERHAPS IT SHOULD BE LONGER FOR FIRE MARSHAL BECAUSE THEY REVIEW PLANS BEFORE CONSTRUCTION, CORRECT? IF THE COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL IS DOING A PLANS REVIEW ON SOMETHING THAT ISN'T GOING TO BE DONE UNTIL, AFTER WE TAKE OVER SERVICE, AND IT'S GOING TO BE REVIEWED TO POTENTIALLY A DIFFERENT STANDARD.
I'M SURE THAT THE BUSINESSES OR RESIDENTS OR WHOEVER THAT ARE IMPACTED BY THAT WOULD APPRECIATE GETTING THE REVIEW CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE TOWN WILL REQUIRE.
I KNOW IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS, IT'S A SMALL ITEM, BUT WE'RE ALWAYS HEARING ABOUT THE IMPACT ON THE FIRE MARSHAL.
YOU CAN SPEAK TO IT NOW, BUT CAN YOU ALSO TAKE IT BACK AND ONE OF YOUR NEXT UPDATES, EXPLAIN HOW EFFORTS ARE BEING DONE WITH THE COUNTY TO TRANSITION THAT BECAUSE IT SEEMED TO ME THAT NEEDS TO BE BEFORE AUGUST 1ST.
>> IT IS CERTAINLY ON OUR RADAR AND CERTAINLY A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION THAT WE'VE HAD WITH THE TOWN MANAGER'S OFFICE, AND IT'S ALSO A PART OF OUR PROPOSED TRANSITION PLAN THAT WE'RE WORKING ON WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY.
WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF MEETINGS WITH THEM AND PLANNING A FUTURE MEETING TO MAKE THOSE PROPOSALS MUCH MORE CONCRETE AND THAT IS INCLUDED IN THAT.
IT'S OUR DESIRE TO TRANSITION THOSE SERVICES TO BEGIN TO TRANSITION THOSE SERVICES PRIOR TO OCTOBER 1 OF 2026, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO TRYING TO WORK WITH THEM AND DOING WHAT WE THINK IS THE BEST FOR THE RESIDENTS, TAXPAYERS, AND VISITORS TO THE TOWN OF JUPITER.
>> AGAIN, I REALIZED THE PRIORITY IS THE FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDICS, THAT THAT TRANSITION IS HAPPENING.
THAT'S WHERE THE NUMBERS AND THE EMERGENCY CALLS.
BUT AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT ONE UP TO ASK THAT THAT ONE MAY NEED TO HAVE A SEPARATE TRANSITION DATE, IF YOU WILL, OR AT LEAST AS A GOAL, BUT I'M SURE YOU WORKED IT OUT WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY, BUT JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE US UP ON THE DIAS.
THAT'S NO LESS IMPORTANT TO US AS WELL.
>> MAYOR, THERE WAS A CITIZEN COMMENT FOR THIS ITEM.
[CITIZEN COMMENTS]
>> NORMALLY WE ACCEPT IT, BUT NORMALLY WE WOULD ACCEPT IT ON THEIR CITIZEN COMMENTS.
WE'LL ACCEPT IT HERE, BUT LET ME ALSO INTRODUCE ON CITIZEN COMMENTS THAT THAT'S FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS LIMITED TO 3 MINUTES AND ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IS ASKED TO STATE HIS OR HER NAME AND ADDS FOR THE RECORD.
>> GOOD EVENING, LINDA MCDERMOTT ONE OH SEVEN CHADWICK DRIVE.
I JUST HAVE ONE CONCERN ON THE UPDATE IS KEEPING WITHIN THE 25 MILLION, EVEN KNOWING THAT THE SCHEDULES HAVE TO BE CHANGED.
I REALIZE YOU CAN REDUCE OPERATING IN OVERTIME.
BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OTHER THINGS IN THE TOWN, ESPECIALLY POLICE AND OTHER EMPLOYEES, WE DON'T GO WITH NOT FILLING THEIR VACANCIES OR NOT GIVING THEM APPROPRIATE RAISES.
I DON'T THINK THAT WILL HAPPEN BECAUSE AGAIN, JUPITER IS IN A VERY GOOD POSITION, WHICH WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR.
BUT MY CONCERN IS WITH THE CHANGES IN POLITICS IN THE STATE AND LOOKING TOWARDS ALL THE TALK ABOUT REDUCING CERTAIN TAXES.
I'LL SPEAK MORE WHEN I TALK ABOUT THE FIRE ASSESSMENT.
BUT I APPRECIATE THE UPDATE, AND I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ON THE UPDATES, WHICH I THINK THAT WILL COME.
I AM STILL LOOKING AT THIS, AND I'M IN A POSITION NOW WHERE I WANT TO HELP MAKE IT WORK.
[00:55:04]
I WANT TO HELP WITH THE FIRE ASSESSMENT, I WANT TO HELP WITH THE BUDGET.I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE REALLY MOVED IT ALONG ON SCHEDULE, WHICH IS PRETTY GOOD FOR DOING A NEW DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU.
>> REGARDING THE MINUTES FOR APRIL 1 MEETING THAT TOWN COUNCIL HAD.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE OF THE CONCERNED CITIZENS OF ABACOA.
I'M HERE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CLARITY EARLY IN THIS NEWLY ELECTED MAJORITY AT TOWN COUNCIL ON THE NO INCREASED DENSITY FOR THE ABACOA TOWN CENTER SUB DISTRICT, ORGANIZATION, THE CONCERNED CITIZENS OF ABACOA WILL CONTINUE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOWARD A MORE APPROPRIATE SUITABLE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL FOR THE LAST VACANT LOTS IN TOWN CENTER. THANK YOU.
[3. April 1, 2025 Town Council Meeting Minutes.]
COUNSEL, WE HAVE BEFORE US THE MINUTES OF THE APRIL 1ST TOWN COUNCIL MEETING, AND ADDITIONALLY ON THE DIAS CORRECTIONS.IF THERE'S NO OTHER CORRECTIONS, I'LL TAKE A MOTION IN A SECOND ON THE AMENDED MINUTES.
ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> AYE. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVE IT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
THIS IS ITEMS 4-11 ON THE AGENDA.IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC THAT HAD WISHED TO PULL A CONSENT AGENDA ITEM?
>> ITEM 7. ANY MEMBER ON THE DIS WANTED TO PULL THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM?
>> SIX AND TEN. I'LL TAKE A MOTION IN A SECOND APPROVING THE AMENDED CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTING OF 4, 05, 8, 9, AND 11.
>> MOTION TO SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> AYE. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVING ON TO FIRST CONSENT AGENDA ITEM POLLED,
[6. Approving a purchase order to Treecycle Land Clearing, Inc. for exotic removal at the Town's Open Space property located at 500 North Delaware in an amount not to exceed $72,600.]
ITEM NUMBER SIX, POLLED BY COUNCIL DELANEY.>> JUST QUESTION FOR STAFF FOR YOU.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THE TAYLOR PROPERTY, YOU GO TO BE CLEARING EXOTICS, CORRECT?
>> YES. THAT'S NEB PLANNING AND ZONING.
I'M JUST SAYING MY NAME FOR THE RECORD.
>> I KNOW THERE WERE SOME SOME PLANS FOR WHAT USAGE OF THE PROPERTY AND SOME ENHANCEMENTS FOR WATER FLOW AND THE SHORELINE AND ALL THAT.
IS THERE ANYTHING LATELY? I HAVEN'T REALLY HEARD ANYTHING.
I WAS JUST CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT WAS THE IS IT JUST CLEARING EXOTICS, OR IS THERE ANY MOVEMENT OR CONSTRUCTION, NOT CONSTRUCTION, BUT ENHANCEMENTS OTHER THAN THAT.
>> THAT PLAN WAS JUST A DREAM.
IT WASN'T APPROVED BY COUNCIL, IT WAS RELATED TO JONES CREEK AND TRYING TO DO SOME WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS, BUT ANYTHING WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL.
ONCE WE GET IT CLEARED, WE'LL HAVE A GOOD IDEA OF WHAT'S THERE, AND THEN WE CAN LOOK AT RESTORATION.
THERE IS A BOBCAT THAT FREQUENTS THE PROPERTY, SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE MAINTAIN ANY HABITAT, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOING IT IN STAGES.
>> FORWARD TO THAT. I JUST HADN'T HEARD ANYTHING.
I WAS JUST CURIOUS, SO I'LL JUST WAIT TO HEAR AFTER YOU SEE WHAT YOU GUYS FIND. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.
THIS LIKE ANY OTHER PROPERTY WE ACQUIRED, WHEN WE GET AROUND TO COMING UP WITH AN IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD LIKELY COME THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS, CORRECT?
I MEAN, IN THE PAST, WHAT THEY'VE DONE WHAT HAS COME UP IS THROUGH EITHER THE STRATEGIC PRIORITY PROCESS, WHETHER OR NOT IT COMES THROUGH THE CIPS, WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE THERE IS ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY BECAUSE IT'S BOUNDED BY TWO RIGHTS OF WAY,
[01:00:04]
AND THEN ACTUALLY THE RIGHT OF WAY GOES TO THE NORTH AND PROVIDES DRIVEWAY ACCESS TO THOSE TWO SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.THAT IS ALSO THE TOWN'S RIGHT OF WAY.
THERE'S GOOD ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY, WHICH IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM OTHER PROPERTIES WHERE YOU WOULD HAVE TO MAKE YOUR WAY IN.
IT'S PROVIDING HABITAT AND FUNCTIONING PER THE GOALS OF THE OPEN SPACE PROGRAM.
>> THEN THIS PARCEL WAS ACQUIRED WITH A PARTNER, JUPITER INLET DISTRICT, AND WE'RE OBLIGATED IF WE WERE TO WHEN WE ARE TO DO IMPROVEMENTS TO BE COLLABORATING WITH THEM, CORRECT?
>> YEAH, I BELIEVE THEIR PARTICIPATION IS 20% OF OWNERSHIP.
WE HAVE BEEN IN COORDINATION AND WE COLLABORATE WELL WITH JUPITER INLET DISTRICT ON THIS AS WELL AS OTHER PROPERTIES.
THEY'RE GREAT BECAUSE THEY'RE RIGHT THERE, SO THEY HAVE GREAT SURVEILLANCE.
>> NO. I JUST WANTED TO PUBLIC GOT TO PULL TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WOULD BE THE PROCESS IN THAT CASE, IN THE DISTRICT WOULD BE INVOLVED AS WELL, SO COULD BE IN THEIR DISCUSSIONS AS WELL AS OURS.
>> THIS PURCHASE WAS A WHOLE RUN IN THE COLLABORATION WITH JID? I WAS PERFECT.
IT'S NEVER GOING TO GET DEVELOPED? IT'S JUST DONE CORRECTLY, SO VERY PROUD OF IT AND GREAT PROJECT.
>> I HAVE ONE SMALL QUESTION JUST THE PROCESS.
WE ARE WORKING WITH A PARTNER AND THEY WOULD BE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS, BUT IS THERE ANY FORMAL PROCESS WHEN WORKING WITH MULTIPLE PARTNERS? I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING FORESEEABLY WE COULD ALWAYS HAVE ON OUR RADAR.
IS IT SOMETHING THAT GOES BEFORE THEIR BOARD AFTER OURS OR IS THERE ANY?
I MEAN, I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE AGREEMENT THAT WE HAD WHEN THEY HELPED PARTNER WITH MONETARY FUNDING FOR THE PROPERTY.
BUT I MEAN, WE'VE GONE BEFORE THEIR BOARD TO REQUEST MONEY FOR OTHER PROJECTS.
WE LIKE TO DO THAT REGARDLESS.
WHATEVER THE COUNCIL WE CAN BRING THAT BACK OR POTENTIALLY PUT IT IN A WEEKLY UPDATE ONCE WE GET THE ANSWERS.
>> I THINK THAT WEEKLY UPDATE IS A GOOD APPROACH.
AND WE ALL DON'T KNOW THE FINE WORDS OF THE AGREEMENT, BUT I IMAGINE THEY COMMITTED 20% TO THE PURCHASE AND THEY COMMITTED 20% OF AN IMPROVEMENT THAT THEY AGREE WITH.
I IMAGINE WE'RE THE LATE OWNER AND IF WE HAD A PROJECT WE WANTED TO DO THAT THEY WEREN'T SUPPORTIVE OF, THEN I WOULD IMAGINE BUT REPORTING THE WEEKLY REPORT, THE PROVISION HAS, THEY DON'T HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE.
I'LL TAKE A MOTION IN A SECOND ON APPROVING AGENDA ITEM 6.
>> HAVE MOTION MOVED AND A SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
[7. Authorizing a piggyback contract from the City of Deerfield Beach with Accenture for the proposed Fire Non-Ad Valorem assessment study and associated fees.]
MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM 7.I THINK THAT WAS PULLED BY A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC.
>> LINDA MCDERMOTT 107 CHADWICK.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT SANDY NEW GARTH, WHO'S THE DIRECTOR OF ECCENTRA, WHO WAS SELECTED.
I'M REALLY PLEASED THAT THE TOWN SELECTED THIS COMPANY.
I'VE HAD YEARS EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH SANDY AND REVIEWING THE FIRE ASSESSMENT AND THE WAY THAT IT'S DONE.
WITH THAT SAID, I'M JUST ASKING FOR FULL TRANSPARENCY ALONG THE WAY, ESPECIALLY TASK NUMBER 8 IN PREPARING AND PRESENTING THE ASSESSMENT REPORT BEFORE ANY ORDINANCE OR INITIAL ASSESSMENT RESOLUTION TO ALLOW PUBLIC INPUT.
MAYBE LIKE A MEDIA BLITZ ANNOUNCEMENT, SUFFICIENT NOTIFICATIONS ARE IMPORTANT, SO THE TAXPAYERS WILL BE ABLE TO REVIEW THE IMPACT OF THE SELECTED APPORTION METHOD ON THEIR PROPERTY.
WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THEY'LL PRESENT YOU WITH VARIOUS DIFFERENT WAYS THAT YOU CAN DO A PARTIAL FIRE ASSESSMENT, IT'LL BE HALF OF A MILLAGE YOU'LL USE.
SOME OF IT WILL BE FIRE ASSESSMENT, DEPENDING ON HOW THE TOWN WANTS TO DO IT.
BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, EMS, YOU CAN'T COVER.
IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S GOING TO COVER THE WHOLE FIRE DEPARTMENT, 25 MILLION.
BUT IN MY EXPERIENCE AND WHERE I WORK, WE HAD THREE DIFFERENT PRICING CHANGES THROUGH MANY YEARS.
THERE IS A LOT OF WORK, AND I THANK SCOTT FOR STARTING THIS EARLY BECAUSE YOU WILL NEED IT.
THEIR CONTRACT IS VERY THOROUGH,
[01:05:01]
AND THEY BREAK OUT THE WHOLE SCHEDULE, WHICH I'M VERY PLEASED TO SEE.I ASKED THE PUBLIC IF YOU'RE REALLY INTERESTED TO READ THAT CONTRACT, WHICH WAS DISPLAYED IN THE DOCUMENTS TONIGHT BECAUSE IT IS VERY THOROUGH.
I WILL EXPLAIN IT TO YOU, SO THANK YOU FOR SELECTING THEM.
>> ANY OTHER. ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS ON THE DIAS.
I JUST WANTED TO INDICATE TO THE DEGREE THAT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF MISPERCEPTIONS OUT THERE.
THE COUNCIL HAS NOT MADE ANY DECISION ON THIS.
YOU KNOW, I TRUST MISS MCDERMOTT KNOWS THAT, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY TO THE PUBLIC.
WE ARE EMBARKING ON AN ASSESSMENT PROGRAM, NOT KNOWING WHERE WE'RE GOING TO END UP AND CONSIDER IT PART OF THE BUDGETARY PROCESS, SO WE'LL SEE WHERE IT GOES AND CERTAINLY THAT WHOLE PROCESS IS TRANSPARENT.
WITH THAT, I'LL TAKE A MOTION IN A SECOND APPROVING AGENDA ITEM SEVEN.
>> MOTION MOVED AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
[10. Approving the Town’s 2025 Neighborhood Matching Grant Program in the amount of $29,017.]
I BELIEVE THAT WAS PULLED BY THE VICE MAYOR?MY NEIGHBORHOOD IS ONE OF THEM.
>> MINE IS ALSO, BUT TOWN ATTORNEY, DO WE NEED TO ABSTAIN ON THAT IF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS INVOLVED?
>> THAT WAS MY ADVICE TO THE VICE MAYOR, SO THE SAME ADVICE GOES TO YOU?
>> DO WE HAVE A QUORUM WITH YOU? THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT. IS THAT NEW THAT YOU'D HAVE TO ABSTAIN ON SOMETHING THAT'S AFFECTING YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD? BECAUSE I DON'T RECOLLECT THAT.
>> WELL, IT'S ULTIMATELY UP TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER IF THEY ARE BENEFITING IN SOME WAY FINANCIALLY FROM THE APPROVAL OF A GRANT FOR THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, FOR A VOTE ON APPROVAL OF THE GRANT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD?
>> NOT HAVING A QUORUM THEN, WE CAN'T TAKE ACTION, CORRECT?
>> YOU CAN TAKE ACTION ON THE OTHER ITEMS.
>> THAT'S THE POINT I WAS TRYING TO GET TO.
>> YOU CAN PULL THOSE TWO ITEMS OUT AND VOTE ON THE REMAINING ITEMS.
>> IS THERE A WAY TO RESTRUCTURE IT SO THAT WE COULD?
>> WELL, WHAT I WE CAN MOVE AS WE WISH, PROVIDED IT'S LEGAL.
I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE DO A MOTION.
I'M GOING TO ASK FOR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE AN AMENDED MATCHING GRANT AWARDS, EXCLUDING THE TWO NEIGHBORHOODS WITH THE CONFLICT.
BUT WITH OUR GOAL TO COME BACK, I GUESS WHEN WE HAVE A THIRD MEMBER, WHEN WE FILL THE VACANT POSITION, WE CAN DO THAT.
I DON'T KNOW ANY OTHER WAY TO DO IT.
>> IS THERE A WAY TO SPLIT IT INTO TWO ITEMS OR TAKE TURNS? I DON'T KNOW.
>> OF COURSE, THE GOAL WOULD BE THAT WE COULD COME BACK A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND ACT ON THAT WHEN WE FILL THE VACANCY.
>> COULD THAT INTERFERE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS, THOUGH?
>> BEFORE THEY CAN REIMBURSE THEMSELVES.
>> IF THEY HAVE FUNDS [INAUDIBLE].
>> I THINK THE COMMITMENT IS, I WAS TRYING TO STRUCTURE IT SO THAT THERE'S THE COMMITMENT THAT WE'RE NOT ACTING ON IT.
WE ARE NOT TAKING ACTION TONIGHT WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF TRYING TO COME BACK ON THOSE TWO.
>> I'LL TAKE A MOTION IN A SECOND ON AN AMENDED MATCHING GRANTS FOR FOUR, TEMPORARILY TABLEING THE TWO ITEMS. EGER COVE AND VALENCIA AT ABACOA.
>> MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[01:10:03]
>> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
THE DIRECTION THERE TO STAFF IS THAT WE JUST TABLE THOSE OTHER TWO WITH THE GOAL OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN COME BACK ON THOSE.
MOVING ON TO THE REGULAR AGENDA.
[12. Resolution 36-25, U-Tiki - Quasi-Judicial - PUD Amendment to request a side corner setback waiver for accessory structures for Marine Max.]
AGENDA ITEM 12. THIS IS A QUASI JUDICIAL.DOES COUNSEL HAVE ANY EX PARTE DISCLOSURES?
>> YEAH. I STOPPED BY THE SITE AND I SPOKE WITH JACK THOMPSON, THE SERVICE MANAGER AND A FEW OTHER EMPLOYEES THERE.
>> I HAVE NO EX PARTE DISCLOSURES, AND I WOULD ASK THAT THIS BEING QUASI JUDICIAL, THAT ANY MEMBERS OF THE APPLICANT AND STAFF THAT WILL BE GIVEN TESTIMONY, IF YOU'LL PLEASE STAND UP AND BE SWORN IN.
>> DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT THE TESTIMONY YOU'RE ABOUT TO GIVE IN THIS HEARING IS THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH?
>> I GUESS IF THE APPLICANT WILL MAKE ITS PRESENTATION.
>> WELL, THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
FOR THE RECORD, THIS IS [INAUDIBLE] WITH COTLEUR AND HEARING IN JUPITER.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MARINE MAX IN JUPITER TO REQUEST A APPROVAL OF A PUD AMENDMENT TO REDUCE THE REQUIRED SIDE CORNER SETBACK ALONG THE WEST PROPERTY BOUNDARY FROM 35 FEET TO 17 FEET.
THIS WILL REALLY ACCOMMODATE THE STORAGE BUILDINGS THAT ARE OUT THERE TODAY, WHICH ARE NECESSARY TO FACILITATE THE SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS OPERATIONS OF MARINE MAX AND THEIR WORKING WATERFRONT USE, WHICH IS UNIQUE HERE IN JUPITER.
TO START OFF THE LOCATION, MARINE MAX OFFICES ARE LOCATED IN THE UTIKI PROPERTY JUST EAST OF THE NEW US ONE BRIDGE.
FROM AN OPERATION STANDPOINT, MARINE MAX TEAM CONSISTS OF TWO DEPARTMENTS, AT LEAST AT THIS LOCATION HERE.
FIRST BEING THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH STAFF IS MAINLY LOCATED AND WORKING IN THE BOAT YARD.
THEN THE SALES AND ADMIN TEAM, WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE 2000 SQUARE FOOT OFFICE SPACE.
RIGHT NOW, WITHOUT THE SERVICE SHEDS, SERVICE EMPLOYEES NEED TO BASICALLY WALK AROUND THE SITE AROUND THE PERIMETER FENCING BACK INTO THE OFFICE TO COMPLETE THE VERY MINIMAL INVENTORY LOGGING TASK OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES AS WELL TOO.
THIS APPROVAL OF THIS REQUEST HERE TONIGHT REALLY HELPS THE CONSUMER, THE CUSTOMER OF MARINE MAX TO ENHANCE THEIR SERVICE OPERATIONS.
THE REQUEST HERE TONIGHT IS TO ULTIMATELY REDUCE THE SIDE CORNER SETBACK, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, IN BLUE THE FOUR STORAGE BUILDINGS ARE 17 FEET AWAY FROM THE PROPERTY LINE, AND THEN 70 FEET AWAY FROM THE BRIDGE.
TECHNICALLY, IT'S ADJACENT TO A RIGHT AWAY.
THIS IS WHY IT'S DEEMED AND INTERPRETED AS A SIDE CORNER SETBACK, WHICH THE REQUIREMENT IS 35 FEET.
IF THIS WAS A SIDE INTERIOR SETBACK, THIS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO BE 10 FEET.
WE'RE EXCEEDING THE SIDE INTERIOR SETBACK, BUT WE'RE OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE SIDE CORNER SETBACK.
BUT IT REALLY READS AND CAN BE INTERPRETED MORE SO AS A SIDE INTERIOR SETBACK GIVEN THE INTENT OF THE CODE.
YOU CAN SEE THE ELEVATIONS HERE FOR OUR STORAGE BUILDINGS.
THEY'LL BE PAINTED CONSISTENT WITH THE UTIKI PROPERTY, AND IN CLOSING, WE'VE COLLABORATED WITH THE REEF BALL FOUNDATION TO INSTALL ARTIFICIAL REEF MODULES ALONG THE SEA WALL AT THE UTIKI PROPERTY.
I WILL DEFER TO STAFF AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ALL YOUR FEEDBACK AND HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL. FOR THE RECORD, GARRET WATTS WITH PLANNING AND ZONING.
THE APPLICATION YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE EXISTING SMALL SCALE PUD TO REDUCE THE SIDE CORNER SETBACK FOR ACCESSORY STRUCTURES TO 17 FEET FROM 35 FEET.
LAST MONTH, THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED UNANIMOUSLY APPROVAL OF THIS PROJECT.
THEY WANTED TO LIMIT THE LOCATION OF THIS WAIVERS APPLICABILITY.
THEY ALSO WANTED TO REQUIRE SOME ADDITIONAL SCREENING ALONG THE FENCE TO SCREEN FROM
[01:15:01]
THE BRIDGE AS WELL AS LANDSCAPING TO HELP SCREEN FROM THE US ONE SIDE.AT THE TIME OF THE MEETING, THERE WAS ONE ADDITIONAL SHIPPING CONTAINER THAT WAS NOT SHOWN ON THE PLANS, BUT THAT EXISTED ON SITE.
THE COMMISSION HAD LOOKED AT THE AREA WHERE THAT EXISTING CONTAINER WAS NEAR THE DUMPSTER.
IT MAY STILL BE OUT THERE TODAY.
I DID NOT DRIVE BY TODAY CHECK, AND THEY WANTED THAT WAIVER TO BE APPLICABLE FOR ALL OF THEIR STORAGE NEEDS.
SINCE THAT MEETING, THE APPLICANT REVISED THE PLANS THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IN ATTACHMENT B, AND THAT PROPOSES TO MOVE THAT SHIPPING CONTAINER UNDERNEATH THE EXISTING DRY RACK SYSTEM.
STAFF HAS MODIFIED THE AREA OF THE SCOPE OF THE APPLICABILITY FOR THAT SETBACK WAIVER TO JUST UNDER THE EXISTING DRY DOCKS.
THAT IS THE ONLY PLACE THE 17 FOOT SETBACK WILL EXIST FOR ACCESSORY STRUCTURES IF YOU APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TONIGHT.
AS PART OF THIS REQUEST, THEY'RE ALSO ASKING OR PLANNING TO INSTALL ARTIFICIAL REEF MODULES ON THE WATERFRONT TO ENHANCE THE ENVIRONMENT AND TO PROVIDE A PUBLIC BENEFIT IN EXCHANGE FOR THE WAIVER AS REQUIRED BY THE CODE.
STAFF INCLUDED A CONDITION WITHIN THE RESOLUTION THAT REQUIRES A MARINE STEWARDSHIP PLAN, WHICH WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF LATELY FROM DEVELOPMENTS ON THE WATER, AND THAT WILL MAKE SURE THAT THESE FACILITIES ARE MAINTAINED LONG TERM AND THEY'RE HEALTHY AND THEY SERVE THEIR PURPOSE.
THERE WAS AN ISSUE BROUGHT UP BY THE COMMISSION RELATED TO THE OCCUPANCY OF THE ACCESSORY STRUCTURES.
IT WAS PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED AS STORAGE.
WE FOUND THAT THERE'S SOME OFFICE OCCUPANCY IN THERE, WHETHER IT'S LIMITED OR NOT.
WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE REPORT AND WE'VE JUST NOTED AS ACCESSORY STRUCTURES FOR NOW.
WE HAVE A SITE PLAN APPLICATION THAT'S ADMINISTRATIVE THAT'S CURRENTLY ON HOLD.
IT'S ELIGIBLE TO BE REVIEWED ADMINISTRATIVELY.
WE'RE GOING TO BE APPLYING REASONABLE STANDARDS FOR THAT SPACE IF THERE'S SOME OFFICE SPACE AND MAYBE IT OPERATES MORE LIKE A CONTRACTOR'S OFFICE.
WE'LL APPLY PARKING RATES FOR THAT AND TRAFFIC RATES FOR THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ARE ACCOUNTED FOR AS PART OF THE SITE PLANNING PROCESS.
WE ALSO HAVE A CONDITION IN THERE THAT THEY UPDATE THE MASTER PLAN AND THAT WILL ESTABLISH THOSE USES AS PART OF THE MASTER PLAN ALONG WITH THE LOCATION OF THE APPLICABILITY OF THE WAIVER.
IF THIS REQUEST IS APPROVED TONIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THAT ADMINISTRATIVE SITE PLAN UNLESS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.
IF YOU WANTED TO SEE IT, YOU'D HAVE TO ADD A CONDITION IN THE RESOLUTION THAT IT COME BACK TO YOU ALL FOR APPROVAL.
ABSENT THAT, WE'LL CONTINUE WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE SITE PLAN PROCESS, ASSUMING THIS IS APPROVED WITH A 17 FOOT SETBACK.
AFTER THAT SITE PLAN IS REVIEWED AND APPROVED, WE'LL BE REVIEWING BUILDING PERMITS AND MAKING SURE THAT THE BUILDING RECEIVES CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPANCY THAT ALIGN WITH ITS USE AND THAT ALIGN WITH THE APPROVALS FOR TONIGHT AS WELL AS FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE SITE PLAN.
WITH THAT, I'LL CONCLUDE AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.
>> I COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL.
DOES ANY MEMBER ON THE DAIS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS DIRECTED TO STAFF OR THE APPLICANT?
>> APPLICANT FIRST. AS I STATED EARLIER, I WAS DOWN THERE FOR ABOUT A HALF HOUR TO WALK THE WHOLE PROPERTY.
THE CONTAINER THAT WAS IN QUESTION, THAT'S ALREADY MOVED BACK UNDER THE RACKS, CORRECT?
>> CORRECT. THE FOURTH CONTAINER THAT WE'VE ADDED ORIGINALLY AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION LAST MONTH, WE HAD THREE ON THE SITE PLAN.
NOW IT ACCURATELY IS REFLECTED AT FOUR.
>> WAS IT ON A DIFFERENT PART OF THE PROPERTY? WAS IT OUT IN THE CORNER?
>> IT WAS SHIFTED TO THE LEFT OF THE BOAT RACK SOUTH.
>> I DID STEP INTO ONE OF THE SHEDS OR THE BUILDINGS.
IT LOOKED LIKE THERE WERE TWO SMALL OFFICES, ONE LEFT, ONE RIGHT.
BUT I UNDERSTAND WHY THEY'RE THERE BECAUSE TO GO BACK AND DO ANYTHING ADMINISTRATIVE, YOU HAVE TO WALK ALL THE WAY AROUND THE CORNER.
IT'S ARDUOUS AND BACK INTO THE MAIN OFFICE TO DO THAT. I UNDERSTAND.
I AGREE WITH STAFF JUST CALLED THEM ANCILLARY STRUCTURES.
SMALL OFFICE IS NOT FULLY OCCUPIED.
I HAD ONE QUESTION ABOUT SAFETY, IS THE CONCERN WHEN YOU'RE RACKING A BOAT ON TOP OF THE RACK AND UNDER THE BUILDING OF FAILURE OR SOMEONE GETTING CRUSHED OR IS THAT COVERED OR HAS THAT BEEN LOOKED AT AT ALL OR IS IT DEEMED SAFE?
>> YEAH, I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN ON THAT.
I THINK THEY'RE ANCHORED CORRECTLY.
THAT IS ULTIMATELY A CONCERN FOR MARINE MAX, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A POINT ON, YOU UNDERSTAND WHY THEY ARE THERE TO FACILITATE OPERATION.
>> MAKE THE DISTANCE SHORTER TO TRAVEL INTO THE OFFICE.
[01:20:01]
BUT NONE OF THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE SOLELY WORKING OUT OF THERE.THE SERVICE STAFF MEMBERS ARE IN THE BOAT YARD WORKING ON BOATS ALL DAY.
IT'S REALLY TO COME IN AND LOG INVENTORY OR SOMETHING VERY MINIMAL, AND THEN GO BACK OUT.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING WHERE SOMEONE'S OCCUPYING AS AN OFFICE ALL DAY.
>> I OBSERVED THAT WHEN I WAS THERE.
I JUST STOOD OFF AND WATCHED AND I DIDN'T SEE ANYBODY GO INTO THE OFFICE, GUYS WHO WERE JUST, YOU KNOW, RUNNING AROUND DOING THEIR THING.
YOUR MANAGER WAS DOWN ON THE DOCK, ON A BOAT TALKING WITH SOMEONE.
I WENT DOWN AND SAW HIM AND IT'S NOT LIKE PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST OCCUPYING THOSE OFFICES 9:00-5:00.
IT'S NARROW, IT'S SMALL. IT'S FAIRLY TIGHT.
OBVIOUSLY, PEOPLE SHOULDN'T JUST WALK OUT THROUGH THERE INTO THAT YARD BECAUSE YOU HAVE [OVERLAPPING]?
>> NOBODY FROM THE PUBLIC IS ALLOWED INSIDE THERE.
>> THAT'S IT FOR NOW. WE'LL COME BACK.
WITH THAT, I GUESS MOVING ON TO BACK TO COUNCIL.
I'LL SEQUENTIALLY SOLICIT COMMENTS OR POSITION ON THE APPLICATION TO MOVE THIS ALONG.
>> I TRUST STAFF TO TAKE CARE OF ANY.
>> I THINK THIS IS VERY LIMITED IN SCOPE.
THE SITE PLAN, ALL OF THAT WOULD BE HANDLED BY STAFF WITH BUILDING PERMITS ON TOP OF THAT.
IF THERE WERE ANY ADDITIONAL USE THAT WE WEREN'T SEEING TO THE APPLICATION, THERE WOULD BE PARKING, EVERYTHING ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
WE KNOW OUR STAFF ARE VERY RIGOROUS WITH THAT.
>> FOR EFFICIENCY OF THEIR USAGE.
STATE PUBLIC SERVICES, THE ONLY PLACE TO LIFT A BOAT.
>> RIGHT. IT ALLOWS FOR THE WORKING WATERFRONT, WHICH WAS THE DESIRED OUTCOME ORIGINALLY.
>> NO, I AGREE WITH ALL OF YOU AND STAFF HAS DONE GOOD JOB HERE EXPLAINING IT.
>> AGAIN, LIKEWISE, TO MY COLLEAGUES, I RECOGNIZE THIS IS A LOGICAL EFFICIENCY ENHANCEMENT TO THE PROJECT THAT WE HAD REVIEWED.
GRATEFUL THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS EVEN COMES BACK, BUT REALLY IS CONSISTENT WITH, I THINK WHAT WE HAD ENVISIONED BACK.
THEN THE FACT THAT IT'S THE DISTANCE THAT IT IS FROM THE BRIDGE IS SIGNIFICANT, AND THIS IS A ONE STORY STRUCTURE.
ANY IMPACTS WOULD BE MINUSCULE.
>> IT'S NOT VISIBLE WITH THE GRADE, WHICH HAS BEEN DISCUSSED AT PLANNING AND ZONING.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR PLANNING AND ZONING ALSO FOR DISCUSSING BECAUSE WHAT WAS REPRESENTED WAS STORAGE AND WHAT WAS SEEN WITH SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
JUST CATCHING THAT, VISITING THE SITE, UNDERSTANDING THE GRADE, REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF OUR PLANNING AND ZONING FOR THE SCRUB, AND I THINK I FEEL BETTER BECAUSE OF THAT KNOWING COMING IN.
>> THEY REALLY DISSECTED EVERYTHING.
THEY WENT THROUGH IT VERY THOROUGHLY. I WATCHED THAT.
ONE POINT ABOUT IF YOU'RE DRIVING, IT'S NOT VISIBLE, BUT THE PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY, IF YOU LOOK DOWN, IT WILL BE VISIBLE, SO I WOULD APPRECIATE BECAUSE I KNOW FDOT HAS THE RIGHT OF WAY, THAT'S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.
BUT IF YOUR SIDE, IF YOU CAN KEEP IT NOT LOOKING URBAN OR RUNDOWN, JUST KEEP IT IN THE SPIRIT OF JUPITER, EVERYTHING LOOKS NICE.
I'D APPRECIATE IF YOU COULD WORK ON THAT, THAT'D BE FANTASTIC.
>> THAT WAS ONE QUESTION I HAD ACTUALLY BECAUSE I AGREE WITH PLANNING AND ZONING MODIFICATIONS FOR LANDSCAPING THERE AND JUST LOOKING AT SCREENING.
BUT THAT IS FDOT, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> ARE THERE ANY CONCERNS WITH THAT OR HAS THERE BEEN DISCUSSION WITH THEM OR IS THAT LIKELY TO BE ABLE?
>> I'LL RESPOND. I'LL DEFER TO GARRETT, BUT WE'LL HAVE TO COORDINATE WITH FDOT, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO INSTALLING LANDSCAPING UNLESS THERE IS SOME RESTRICTION BY THEM THAT WE CAN'T.
>> BUT THE LANDSCAPING YOU'RE DOING IS GOING TO BE ON YOUR PROPERTY, CORRECT?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS, BUT THANK YOU.
>> NO. I WOULD JUST ADD THAT WE'RE GOING TO REVIEW THE FDOT STANDARDS AND SEE IF THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES FOR LANDSCAPING.
THAT'S A DRAINAGE AREA ON THE CURRENT PLANS.
BUT WE'LL CERTAINLY BE WORKING AS PART OF THE SITE PLAN PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S APPROPRIATE SCREENING MATERIALS ON THE APPLICANTS SIDE FOR THOSE LOWER LEVEL STRUCTURES.
>> I'LL TAKE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON RESOLUTION 3625.
>> MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 3625.
>> MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[01:25:01]
>> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVING ON TO PUBLIC BUSINESS. THANK YOU.
PUBLIC BUSINESS AGENDA ITEM 12,
[13. Resolution 50-25, Approving the Health Insurance Fund Premium Holiday.]
13, EXCUSE ME, APPROVING THE HEALTH INSURANCE FUND PREMIUM HOLIDAY.I THINK THIS IS MR. REYNOLDS PRESENTING THIS.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL.
SCOTT REYNOLDS, THE FINANCE DIRECTOR FOR THE TOWN.
I HAVE ACTUALLY PRETTY EXCITED TO GIVE THIS PRESENTATION TO YOU THIS EVENING.
BEEN A LOT OF HARD WORK FROM THE TOWN'S PERSPECTIVE OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS. WHY ARE WE HERE? ANNUALLY, THE TOWN REVIEWS ITS BUDGETARY PROCESS, THE TOWN'S FUNDING NEEDS FOR ITS HEALTH INSURANCE AND BENEFIT PROGRAM FOR ITS EMPLOYEES.
THROUGH THE EVALUATION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL EVERY YEAR, WE'VE MAINTAINED THAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE A FUNDING GOAL OF OUR RESERVES OF $10 MILLION FOR THE FUNDING OF ITS RESERVE BALANCES.
THAT'S THROUGH THE LAST 10 YEARS.
WE'VE HAD UPS AND DOWNS, AND I'M GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT THIS EVENING.
SORRY. THOUGHT IT WAS ALREADY UP THERE. THANK YOU, SEAN.
BUT COUNCIL EXPRESSED THROUGH THE ANNUAL BUDGETARY PROCESS THAT THEY WISH THAT ONCE THE INSURANCE FUND REACHED ITS GOAL, THAT IT MAY BE APPROPRIATE TO PROVIDE WHAT'S CALLED A PREMIUM HOLIDAY FOR THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE EMPLOYEES OF THE TOWN, AND ALSO THE TOWN ITSELF HELPS FUND THE PREMIUMS. THROUGH THE ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 50-25, WHICH WILL ALLOW FOR THE PREMIUM HOLIDAY FOR THE MONTH OF MAY AND JUNE 2025 IS UP FOR CONSIDERATION THIS EVENING.
A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY. WE TALK ABOUT THIS DURING THE BUDGETARY PROCESS EACH YEAR.
BACK IN DECEMBER OF 2014, THE TOWN COUNCIL CREATED THE TOWNS INSURANCE FUND AND APPROPRIATED STARTUP FUNDING.
THAT FUNDING ACTUALLY CAME FROM REBATES FROM THE PREVIOUS HEALTH PROVIDER.
ON JANUARY 1, 2015, THE TOWN MOVES FROM A FULLY INSURED TO A PARTIALLY SELF INSURED MODEL.
THE TOWNS INSURANCE FUND INITIALLY STRUGGLED DUE TO LOW RATES AND HIGH CLAIMS COSTS INITIALLY.
MOST PLANS WHEN THEY START OUT NEW LIKE THAT, THEY DO STRUGGLE.
THEN IN 2018-2021, TO STABILIZE THE FUND, THE TOWN IMPLEMENTED A SERIES OF RATE INCREASES FROM 10% A YEAR TO THE LAST YEAR IN 2021 OF ONLY A 5% INCREASE TO HELP STABILIZE THE FUND.
THE RATE MODEL THAT WE FOLLOWED FROM INITIALLY WAS AN 80 20 SPLIT, MEANING 80% OF THE COST WAS BORE BY THE TOWN OR THE TAXPAYER AND 20% BY THE EMPLOYEES.
IN FY24, THAT MODEL CHANGED TO 19010 SPLIT, IF YOU REMEMBER, RIGHT BACK THEN, WE WERE HAVING INFLATIONARY PRESSURES.
I WANTED TO TRY TO HELP THE EMPLOYEES BY LESSENING THE COST OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE BURDEN ON THEM.
AGAIN THE HISTORY OF THE CLAIMS EXPENSES, YOU CAN SEE HERE IN THE MODEL DOWN BELOW BACK IN 2015, THE CLAIMS LINE HERE EXCEEDED THE FUNDING LEVEL OF THE RESERVES OF THE FUND.
THE TOWN AFTER WE IMPLEMENTED THE 10% RATE INCREASE, THE RATE INCREASE STABILIZED THE FUND AND ALLOWED IT TO MEET OR EXCEED THE STATE REQUIRED RESERVE FUNDING.
EACH YEAR, THE TOWN HAS TO HAVE AN ACTUARIAL EVALUATION OF THE FUND AND ITS RESERVES AND SEND IT TO THE STATE TO SHOW THAT WE'RE ABLE TO MEET THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE FUND.
IN FY24, THE CLAIMS COST WAS $4.9 MILLION, THE END RESERVE BALANCES, A 10.9.
ONE THING I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS IS THAT THE CLAIMS YEAR FOR THE HEALTH INSURANCE FUND IS JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER 31ST.
[01:30:01]
IF YOU WERE TO LOOK AT THE AUDIT, THE AUDIT WOULD END ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, THAT $10.9 MILLION WILL BE A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN THIS NUMBER THAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE IS BECAUSE THOSE ADDITIONAL THREE MONTHS OF ACCUMULATIONS.BUT OVER TIME, THE CLAIMS COSTS DID STABILIZE ALONG WITH THE RATES AND THE RESERVE BALANCES GREW.
AGAIN, WE DISCUSSED THAT EVERY YEAR THROUGH THE BUDGETARY PROCESS, AND WE ESTABLISHED THE $10 MILLION GOAL.
AT THE END OF EACH CALENDAR YEAR, THE TOWN REVIEWS ITS RESERVE TARGETS AND CLAIMS COSTS, WHICH ARE REPORTED TO THE STATE OFFICE OF FEDERAL OR STATE OF FLORIDA OFFICE OF INSURANCE REGULATIONS.
YOU CAN SEE TO THE RIGHT HERE, THE INCOME STATEMENT THAT WE PROVIDE TO THE STATE THAT WE'RE JUST JUST UNDER A MILLION DOLLARS OVER THE $10 MILLION GOAL THAT THE COUNCIL HAD TARGETED.
IT WAS STATED THIS PAST YEAR SPECIFICALLY, THAT IF WE EXCEEDED THE $10 MILLION GOAL, THAT WE WERE TO CONSIDER A PREMIUM HOLIDAY.
THAT'S WHY AGAIN, WE'RE HERE THIS EVENING TO DISCUSS THAT.
WE'RE CURRENTLY IN THE POSITION TO BE ABLE TO OFFER A TWO MONTH PREMIUM HOLIDAY FOR MAY AND JUNE OF 2025.
IF THE COUNCIL DECIDES THAT WE ARE TO DO THE HOLIDAY, WHO WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE PREMIUM HOLIDAY? IT WOULD BE ALL FULL TIME AND PART TIME EMPLOYEES THAT'S BENEFITS ELIGIBLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN THE TOWN'S MED RETIREES AND PLANS WHO OPT OUT ARE NOT ELIGIBLE.
ANOTHER QUESTION MAYBE, IS THE DENTAL OR VISION AFFECTED BY THE PREMIUM HOLIDAY? NO, THOSE WILL CONTINUE AS NORMAL.
WILL THE EMPLOYEES WHO CURRENTLY OPT OUT OF THE MEDICAL COVERAGE GET ANY EXTRA BENEFIT IN THEIR CHECKS? NO. CAN I EXPECT TO RECEIVE A PREMIUM HOLIDAY IN FUTURE YEARS? NOW, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
BUT IT'S PART OF THE REVIEW PROCESS THAT WE'LL DO EACH YEAR AND BASED ON THE LEVELS OF FUNDING THAT THE COUNCIL AGREES TO DURING THE BUDGETARY PROCESS? WHAT DOES THIS MEAN IF APPROVED FOR THE EMPLOYEES IN THE TOWN, TWO MONTHS PREMIUM HOLIDAY SAVINGS FOR THE EMPLOYEE ONLY PARTICIPANT OF THE HSA PLAN WOULD BE $172 FOR THE FAMILY HSA PLAN WOULD BE JUST OVER $505 FOR THE TWO MONTHS.
YOU CAN SEE OVER TO THE RIGHT, WHAT THE TAXPAYER IS EXPECTED TO RECEIVE.
YOU CAN SEE $1,561 FOR THE EMPLOYEE PORTION OF THAT COVERAGE AND THE FAMILY PLAN $4,627 IS WHAT WOULD BE EXPECTED TO COME BACK INTO THE TOWN COFFERS FOR THE TAXPAYER.
THE HMO PLAN, THEY WILL ALSO RECEIVE THE BENEFIT.
IF APPROVED, WE HAVE VERY MINIMAL AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE HMO PLAN.
WHEN I SAY MINIMAL, IT'S LESS THAN 20 PEOPLE IN THE WHOLE TOWN.
YOU'VE GOT $602 FOR THE EMPLOYEE ONLY AND JUST OVER $2,000 FOR THE FAMILY PLAN OF PEOPLE THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE HMO.
IF AUTHORIZED, THERE WILL BE A REDUCTION IN THE PREMIUM REVENUE TO THE FUND, WHICH WILL REQUIRE THE USE OF FUND BALANCE.
AGAIN, IT WOULD BE DRAWING DOWN THAT BALANCE BACK TO THE 10 MILLION MARK THAT THE COUNCIL HAS SET, AND THE USE OF THE RESERVES IS INTENDED TO REDUCE THAT BALANCE.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN AS FAR AS JUST THE OVERALL SAVINGS? YOU CAN SEE HERE FOR MAY, IT WOULD BE A TOTAL OF $56,000 FOR THE TOWN ITSELF, $486,000.
IN JUNE 56,429 IN THE TOWN 490.
THESE ARE BASED ON ESTIMATES OF PREVIOUS YEARS EXPENDITURES AND HISTORICAL ESTIMATES.
BUT JUST OVER A MILLION DOLLARS IN HOLIDAY SAVINGS, COMING BACK, A PORTION OF THE LARGEST PORTION TO THE TOWN AND ALSO THE EMPLOYEES.
NOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN AS WE GO THROUGH THE YEAR.
OBVIOUSLY, WE'LL ACCUMULATE ADDITIONAL FUNDS GOING INTO THE LAST PART OF THE YEAR.
WE WILL AGAIN START REVIEWING THAT AS WE GET CLOSER TO DECEMBER.
I KNOW DURING THE BUDGETARY PROCESS, THE COUNCIL INDICATE THAT IF POSSIBLE, THEY'D LIKE TO DO SOMETHING MAYBE AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
WE'LL LOOK AT THAT IF THE COUNCIL RECALIBRATES ITS GOAL, POSSIBLY DURING THE BUDGETARY PROCESS.
BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, ALL WE'RE ASKING IS THAT THE COUNCIL WILL ALLOW US TO DO THE PREMIUM HOLIDAY FOR THESE TWO MONTHS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED.
WITH THAT, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE COMMENTS IN ADVANCE OF MY COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
NUMBER 1 IS, I REMEMBER WELL HOW THIS PROCESS WORKED BEFORE WE WERE SELF-INSURED.
[01:35:02]
WE'D HAVE A HISTORY.EVERY YEAR, WE WOULD GO OUT AND GET INSURANCE QUOTES.
WE HAD A COMPANY THAT WOULD HELP US TO GET IN THEORY TO GET COMPETITIVE QUOTES.
IT WAS ALWAYS THE CASE MY RECOLLECTION THAT IF THE PRIOR YEAR WE HAD INCURRED LESS EXPENSES THAN THE YEAR BEFORE ON WHICH THE PREMIUM WAS BASED, INSURANCE COMPANY MADE MONEY.
>> THEN WHEN IT WENT THE OTHER WAY, AND BECAUSE RELATIVELY A SMALL POPULATION, I KNOW IT'S MORE THAN A SMALL BUSINESS, BUT RELATIVELY SMALL POPULATION ONE YEAR, WE HAD A COUPLE OF SIGNIFICANT MEDICAL SITUATIONS FOR EMPLOYEES.
THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S QUOTE FOR THE NEXT YEAR WAS ASSUMING THAT THAT HISTORY WAS GOING TO REPEAT ITSELF, SO IT WAS GOING TO BE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE, CORRECT?
>> AT THAT POINT, WE DECIDED, WELL, WE COULD LOOK IN HISTORY.
WE FELT THAT WASN'T A GOOD REPRESENTATIVE YEAR.
WE WENT DOWN THIS PATH TO SELF INSURE.
SEEM NOW INSURANCE COMPANIES NEVER LOSE MONEY THAT'S THE WAY WE LOOKED AT IT.
I THINK THE HEALTH HERE OF THIS PLAN TO ME, TELLS ME THAT WE MADE THE RIGHT DECISION BACK THEN, BUT I THINK YOU INDICATED THAT PARTIALLY INSURED, BUT I THINK WE HAVE.
>> IT'S IT'S CALLED STOP LOSS INSURANCE.
IT'S BASICALLY FOR CATASTROPHIC EVENTS THAT WE PAY ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR ABOUT $600,000 A YEAR.
>> I JUST WANTED TO BECAUSE THAT REALLY MITIGATES THAT EXTREME YEAR, IF YOU WILL, AS WE EXPERIENCED ONCE, CORRECT?
>> IT HELPS STABILIZE THE CLAIMS THAT ARE COMING INTO THE TOWN.
>> THEN YOU HAD INDICATED ON A SLIDE THAT A YEAR'S WORTH OF EXPENSES WAS JUST UNDER $5 MILLION, CORRECT?
>> IN FACT, WE'VE GOT $10 MILLION WE HAD ESTABLISHED A COUNCIL DID SOME YEARS AGO.
WE'VE HIT IT. NUMBER 1, WE'RE SOMEWHAT MITIGATED BY THE OTHER INSURANCE COVERAGE YOU HAVE.
BUT JUST FOR A NEWEST MEMBER AND ALSO THE PUBLIC.
THIS ACTUALLY CAME UP ON LAST YEAR'S BUDGET CYCLE.
I KNOW IN ONE ON ONE MEETINGS IT MIGHT HAVE COME UP IN OUR PUBLIC HEARING AS WELL BECAUSE WE FORESAW THE TREND AND WE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT DO WE DO WHEN WE HAD 10 MILLION.
THIS DIDN'T COME OUT OF LEFT FIELD.
THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS PREDICTED BY OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, AND SOME OF US HAD GIVEN GUIDANCE.
WE'RE OPEN TO THAT. TO THAT DEGREE, I'M CERTAINLY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.
IT'S CONSISTENT WITH POLICY CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD.
I'M GLAD IT'S WORKING OUT THAT WAY.
I WILL TELL YOU FROM THE EMPLOYEES AND FROM THE HISTORICAL BACK IN 2018, WHERE WE DID HAVE TO RAISE RATES.
BEFORE THAT, WE HAD AN EMPLOYEE COMMITTEE FOR THE HEALTH INSURANCE, AND THOSE DECISIONS WEREN'T TAKEN LIGHTLY TO RAISE THE RATES.
THEY SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH THE FUND.
IT WAS VERY TRANSPARENT AS WE TALK ABOUT THIS EVENING.
THEY WERE PART OF THAT PROCESS.
NOW ONCE WE GOT TO THE END AT 2021, WHERE WE'RE ACTUALLY ABLE TO STOP RAISING RATES.
NOW WE HAVEN'T RAISED RATES SINCE THEN AND WE'RE STILL ABLE TO ACCUMULATE FUNDS.
BUT NOW LIKE YOU SAID, THE COUNCIL HAS GIVEN A POLICY DIRECTION THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GIVE SOME BACK TO THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE PLAN LIKE A DIVIDEND.
>> WELL, I APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION HAD ANTICIPATED QUESTIONS AND GAVE ANSWERS, AND I'M SURE AND THE EMPLOYEES WOULD WANT TO KNOW DOES THIS SEND ANY PRECEDENT? NO, IT DOESN'T. HOWEVER, WE'VE GOT THE COMMITMENT ON 9010.
WE'VE GOT THE COMMITMENT ON A $10 MILLION BALANCE WE WANT TO MAINTAIN.
WHILE NOT AN OBLIGATION, I WOULD SUSPECT WE WOULD DEAL WITH IT SIMILARLY, BUT THAT'S FOR COUNCIL NEXT YEAR, YEAR AFTER IF AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS AGAIN.
>> I THINK I SAY THIS TOO DURING THE BUDGETARY PROCESS AND IF I'M REPEATING MYSELF, I APOLOGIZE, BUT WE DO MEET WITH THE BROKER PERIODICALLY AND OUR ACTUARY THAT REVIEWS OUR PLAN.
[01:40:08]
WE'RE VERY PROUD OF IT, AND THEY GIVE US KUDOS BECAUSE A LOT OF JURISDICTIONS ARE NOT IN THIS POSITION THAT THEY ARE FACED WITH THESE DOUBLE DIGIT RATE INCREASES EVERY YEAR.WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE WHERE WE ARE CURRENTLY.
>> JUST ONE QUESTION. I THINK THIS IS VERY POSITIVE.
IS THERE ANY CRITERIA FOR HOW LONG AN EMPLOYEE WOULD BE HERE BEFORE THEY WOULD QUALIFY?
>> IF THEY'RE HERE AND THEY'RE PARTICIPATING IN THE PLAN, THEY WILL RECEIVE THE BENEFIT.
>> THE 10 MILLION MILESTONE, BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS.
I THINK YOU ALL DECIDED TO DO THIS THE YEAR BEFORE I WAS ON COUNCIL.
ONE OF MY FIRST MEETINGS WITH YOU AND PROBABLY MIKE [INAUDIBLE] WHETHER YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SELF-INSURANCE AND ALL THAT.
YOU'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO GET THERE, SO I GIVE YOU CREDIT FOR THAT.
NICE JOB. EXCELLENT. THANK YOU.
>> I'LL SAY THAT AS WELL. I KNOW WE HAD DISCUSSIONS LAST YEAR, BUT I DO REMEMBER THIS DISCUSSION FOR YEARS, REALLY AND THE 10 MILLION TARGET VERY SPECIFICALLY.
WE MADE IT SOMETHING PLANNED FOR FOR MANY YEARS NOW. WONDERFUL.
>> I DON'T SEE. PERSONALLY FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE, I TALKED LIKE I HAD BEEN THERE AND I WAS, BUT IT CAME OUT OF STAFF AS A STAFF RECOMMENDATION WAY BACK.
WE HAD CONVERSATION ABOUT IT, SO GRATEFUL TO STAFF HAVING RECOMMENDED OR WOULD IT NEVER HAVE HAPPENED.
I DON'T FORESEE IN THE SHORT TERM OF YEARS A REASON WHY I WOULD WANT TO INCREASE THAT THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT FOR THE RECORD THAT I DO THINK THAT THE 10 MILLION THAT ESTABLISHED BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT, SOME OF THESE POLICY DIRECTIONS GET ESTABLISHED AND THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS COME AND THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW THEY WERE ESTABLISHED, BUT NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD KNOW THAT ANY POLICY DIRECTION CAN BE CHANGED AT ANY TIME.
YOU'RE NOT STUCK WITH THE DIRECTION THAT WAS GIVEN SOME TIME AGO, BUT I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF REACH OUT AND JUST HAVE WAIT IN READY IS, WHY IT'S LIKELY IF WE WERE TO HAVE THE CLAIMS HISTORY THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING THAT POTENTIALLY WE WOULD BE ABLE TO REPEAT THIS WITHOUT AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO INCREASE TO 10 MILLION.
I JUST WANT TO HAVE WEIGHT IN FOR EMPLOYEES AND YOU TO KNOW THAT.
I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE, WHENEVER WE DO THIS, WE TREAT ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES THE SAME, INCLUDING THOSE THAT ARE IN OUR BARGAINING UNIT.
IT NEVER WOULD OCCUR TO US THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULDN'T DO FOR AN EMPLOYEE BECAUSE THEY HAPPENED TO BE IN A BARGAINING UNIT.
I JUST REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT TO THE DEGREE THAT THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN THE POLICY OF THE COUNCIL AND THE TOWN MANAGER IN FINANCE TO TREAT IT THAT WAY.
I JUST WANTED OUR POLICE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THEY'RE APPRECIATED VERY MUCH.
>> CAN I GET A MOTION AND A SECOND ON APPROVING RESOLUTION 5025?
>> MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVING ON TO 14, SELECTING THE TOWN OF JUPITER VICE MAYOR FOR '25, '26.
[14. Selecting the Town of Jupiter Vice-Mayor 2025-2026.]
>> IF I CAN JUMP IN HERE AS VICE MAYOR CURRENTLY, I'D LOVE TO RECOMMEND COUNCILMAN DELANEY FOR THIS AS WE HAVE A NEW COUNCIL MEMBER, STILL GETTING USED TO THE DIES.
BUT I ALSO JUST WANT TO STATE THAT I REALLY LOVE THE TOWN'S TRADITION OF PASSING THIS HAT.
WE'VE BEEN VERY COLLABORATIVE AS A COUNCIL.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR THIS TRADITION.
WE HAVE A MAYOR THAT IS ELECTED BUT THE VICE MAYOR HAT GETS PASSED AROUND AND EVERYONE GETS A TURN.
IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL FOR TRAINING AND LEARNING.
IT CERTAINLY WAS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR ME.
THIS WAS MY FIRST TIME WEARING THIS HAT.
WHILE IT DOESN'T REALLY CHANGE MUCH IN TERMS OF A HERE AND OUR CONVERSATION,
[01:45:03]
IT CAN CHANGE HOW YOU ARE PERCEIVED OUT THERE.IT'S A WONDERFUL THING TO EXPERIENCE THAT WE ALL GET TO EXPERIENCE IT.
IT IS A WONDERFUL, UNIQUE JUPITER TRADITION.
IN THAT SPIRIT, I'D JUST LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION MAYBE GIVEN OUR LIMITED NUMBER CURRENTLY, THAT COUNCIL MEMBER DELANEY BE NAMED VICE MAYOR.
>> JUST TO ADD, THAT WAS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>> THERE WAS A MOTION THAT WAS MADE. DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>> JUST FOR DISCUSSION, I THINK GENERALLY THE PRACTICE HAS BEEN THAT, IN FACT, WE TAKE NOMINATIONS AND THEN WE VOTE.
GENERALLY SPEAKING, IT'S BEEN A CONSENSUS.
THIS IS A LOGICAL ONE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO HAVE SAID THAT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS AGO THAT WAS.
>> THAT'S GOOD TO KEEP IN MIND. YEAH, I FIGURED GIVEN OUR LIMITED NUMBER.
>> YEAH. I CERTAINLY SUPPORTED.
IF COUNCILOR TROY HADN'T SECONDED, I WAS GOING TO PASS THE GAVEL HERE AND SECOND.
[LAUGHTER] CERTAINLY WELL DESERVED.
WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND ON SELECTING COUNCILOR DELANEY AS VICE MAYOR FOR '25 '26.
ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> AYE. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
[15. Approving the Town's Charitable Donations for 2025.]
DO WE HAVE A STAFF PRESENTATIONS OR SOMEONE PRESENTING IT?SOUTH ANON WITH NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES, CHIPPER POLICE DEPARTMENT.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST MY FAVORITE THING OF THE YEAR, THE CHARITABLE DONATIONS.
ABOUT 20 YEARS NOW, THE COUNCIL HAS CONTRIBUTED IN SUPPORT OF TAX EXEMPT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION SERVING THE JUPITER AREA WHO SEEK TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE AND OFFER VALUABLE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO TOWN RESIDENTS THAT ARE NOT OFFERED BY THE TOWN.
FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR, THE BUDGET FOR THE PROGRAM IS $50,000.
THIS YEAR, 22 ORGANIZATIONS REQUESTED FUNDING TOTALING $179,300.
STAFF ANALYZED THE APPLICATIONS RECEIVED, DETERMINED THAT 20 OF THE 22 WERE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE FUNDING BASED ON THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS OF SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION BY THE DEADLINE AND BEING A FOR PROFIT BY IRS STANDARDS, SERVING THE TOWN OF JUPITER SERVICE AREA AND DELIVERING A SERVICE THAT IS NOT OFFERED BY THE TOWN OF JUPITER.
THE AVAILABLE $50,000 OF FUNDING WAS DIVIDED BETWEEN THE 20 ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS BASED ON THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS SERVED ANNUALLY TO DETERMINE POSSIBLE FUNDING LEVELS, AND YOU SHOULD ALL HAVE THAT CHART.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT STAFF HAS HANDLED THIS EVERY YEAR.
IT'S EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS, HOW THE EVALUATION HAS BEEN DONE BASED ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THAT YEAR.
AS I VIEW IT STAFF, PROPOSED AN APPROACH.
I'M RELUCTANT TO COMMENT ABOUT THAT APPROACH OTHER THAN TO ACCEPT IT.
BUT I'LL LEAVE IT IF ANYBODY ELSE HAS ANY SO I WOULD SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATION.
I REMEMBER WHEN THIS WAS A $25,000 BUDGET AND WE WERE CONSISTENTLY GOING OVER BUDGET, SO I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE RAISED THE BUDGET TO MATCH WHAT WE WERE ACTUALLY GIVING.
I'M ALSO GRATEFUL FOR JUST THE CLEAR CRITERIA TO SHOW THAT WE'RE BEING FAIR.
WE'VE LEARNED THAT THERE'S A BENEFIT IF WE DON'T FULLY FUND AN ORGANIZATION, JUST TO SHOW THAT THE TOWN OF JUPITER IS SUPPORTING AN ORGANIZATION CAN BE HELPFUL TO THEM AS THEY GO OUT FOR OTHER GRANTS OR OP, FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES.
A NUMBER OF THESE DO PROVIDE SERVICES ALSO THAT THE TOWN DOES NOT PROVIDE FOR THE BENEFIT OF RESIDENTS.
THE PALM BEACH SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL IS GREAT FOR RECREATION, FOR FULL TIME RESIDENTS IN THE SUMMER MONTHS.
SPECIFICALLY, BUT BUSH WILDLIFE ALSO AND ANIMAL RESCUE, THINGS LIKE THAT.
IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE THIS FORMULA WORK OUT AND THANK YOU SATO FOR THAT.
[01:50:07]
ALSO JUST AS A SIDE NOTE, I'M REALLY PLEASED TO SEE ANDRE REED HARRIS FOUNDATION BACK THIS YEAR.I KNOW THEY WERE NOT INVOLVED LAST YEAR.
I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE AS WELL.
>> YEAH, I AGREE. I LOVE THIS NEW PROCESS IN YEARS PAST.
IT WAS LIKE A FREE FOR A PAIR.
EVERYBODY'S TRYING TO FIGURE OUT AND WE ALWAYS WENT OVER THE BUDGET.
THIS IS JUST THAT I TRUST STAFF SPENT THE TIME, THEY HAVE THE JUDGMENT TO GET THIS DONE CORRECTLY.
I WOULD AGREE WITH THE MAYOR TO SUPPORT THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
>> I THINK I'M GRATEFUL THAT I'M NOT HERE FOR THE FREE FOR ALL BECAUSE I LIKE THE WAY THE STAFF HAS PRESENTED THIS.
I ALSO LIKE THAT YOU'VE GONE ACROSS THE SPECTRUM.
YOU'VE REACHED OUT TO MANY, MANY ORGANIZATIONS AND I THINK STAFF DID A GREAT JOB.
I WOULD SUPPORT THIS COMPLETELY.
>> I'LL TAKE A MOTION IN A SECOND TO APPROVE THE TOWN'S CHARITABLE DONATIONS FOR 25.
>> HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> AYE. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVING ON THE REPORTS, TOWN ATTORNEY.
[TOWN ATTORNEY]
>> JUST ONE REPORT. MAYOR, I HAVE PREVIOUSLY DISTRIBUTED A MEMORANDUM FROM MYSELF TO THE COUNCIL.
IN REGARDS TO THE APPOINTMENT OR THE FILLING OF A VACANCY IN THE COUNCIL.
IN THE MOST RECENT PAST WHEN THIS CAME UP, THE COUNCIL ESTABLISHED A PROCESS.
I'M SUGGESTING THAT YOU ESTABLISH THE PROCESS THIS TIME.
THE CHARTER PROVIDES THAT YOU HAVE TWO OPPORTUNITIES TO DISCUSS FILLING THE VACANCY BY APPOINTMENT.
IF YOU CAN'T REACH A DECISION ON WHO TO APPOINT, THEN IT WOULD GO TO A SPECIAL ELECTION FOR THAT SEAT.
AS COUNSEL KNOWS, THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTION DOESN'T FUND SPECIAL ELECTIONS.
SHE ONLY FUNDS THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.
THE COUNCIL WOULD HAVE TO FUND THAT ELECTION AND THAT'S A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL COST.
THAT'S NOT A REASON IN AND OF ITSELF, OF COURSE, TO NOT GO THAT ROUTE, BUT THE PROCESS IS YOURS.
YOU DECIDE HOW YOU WANT TO GO ABOUT IT.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. A FEW THINGS.
[TOWN MANAGER]
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK SCOTT REYNOLDS AND THE STAFF FOR ALL OF THEIR WORK ON THAT AUDIT AND I WAS REALLY GLAD TO HEAR THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL ASK, ESPECIALLY NOTING THAT THAT'S 150 PAGE REPORT WITH AUDITOR SPENDING CLOSE TO 600 HOURS ON SITE.HOW ABOUT BEING PUT UNDER THE MICROSCOPE, TRANSPARENCY.
I MEAN, THAT'S HARDER THAN ANY INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATION I'VE EVER SEEN.
I REALLY WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THEM.
THEY DO A GREAT JOB AND THEY WORK EXTREMELY HARD AT THAT.
ALSO THIS PAST WEEK, THE TOWN HELD ITS ANNUAL EMPLOYEE AWARD CEREMONY.
THE MAYOR AND SEVERAL OF YOU WERE THERE.
I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE FOLLOWING EMPLOYEES WHO ARE RECOGNIZED BY A COMMITTEE OF THEIR PEERS.
OUR EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR WAS KEVIN AL BONE FROM THE BUILDING MAINTENANCE AND JANITORIAL TEAM, WHICH IS PART OF OUR ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
OUR LEADER OF THE YEAR WAS OFFICER DIANA ZEITZ FROM THE JUPITER POLICE DEPARTMENT.
OUR TEAM OF THE YEAR WAS OUR BUILDING MAINTENANCE AND JANITORIAL TEAM.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK OUR EMPLOYEE, WARDS RECOGNITION COMMITTEE FOR REVIEWING ALL OF THE NOMINATIONS AND SELECTING OUR WINNERS AND THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT FOR PLANNING A GREAT CEREMONY.
I'VE BEEN AFFILIATED WITH THIS FOR A LONG TIME BOTH AS A POLICE CHIEF AND AS A TOWN MANAGER.
I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER SEEN SO MANY NOMINATIONS AS WE HAD THIS TIME.
I KNOW THAT COMMITTEE WORKED EXTREMELY HARD TO REACH THE CONCLUSIONS AND A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO OUR PLANNING AND ZONING DIRECTOR JOHN SICKLER, WHO'S CHAIRED THAT COMMITTEE AND I THINK FOR THE 20 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, HE'S BEEN CHAIRING THAT COMMITTEE, SO I'D LIKE TO THANK THEM FOR ALL OF THEIR WORK.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE ROGER HELD.
HE'S OUR SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, WHO EARLIER THIS MONTH CELEBRATED HIS 30TH YEAR OF WORKING WITH THE TOWN AND SO KUDOS TO HIM.
IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD, I'M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OPENED ALL LANES OF THE US ONE BRIDGE YESTERDAY.
[01:55:04]
THIS INCLUDES TWO LANES IN EACH DIRECTION FOR MOTORIST, A BIKE LANE, IN EACH DIRECTION FOR BICYST, AND A SIDEWALK IN EACH DIRECTION FOR PEDESTRIANS.THIS MARKS THE FIRST TIME ALL FOUR LANES OF THE BRIDGE HAVE BEEN OPEN TO TRAFFIC SINCE MARCH OF 2023.
COMMUNITY RELATIONS SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH THE PUBLIC THROUGHOUT THE TOWN'S WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS, AND EMAIL DISTRIBUTION LIST.
AS PART OF THE TOWN'S ONGOING EDUCATION OUTREACH PLAN, THE JUPITER POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS SCHEDULED TWO EBIKE SAFETY AND INFORMATION EVENTS FOR THE COMING WEEKS AND WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE AWARE OF.
THE FIRST WILL BE HELD THIS THURSDAY, APRIL 17TH FROM FIVE UNTIL 7:00 PM AT THE JUPITER COMMUNITY CENTER AND THE SECOND WILL BE ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24TH.
THESE EVENTS WILL PROVIDE CRUCIAL EBIKE SAFETY AND COVER RELEVANT LAWS AND REGULATIONS AND ATTENDEES WILL ALSO RECEIVE A FREE BIKE HELMET FITTING AND BICYCLE LIGHTS TO HELP THEM RIDE SAFER.
THE TOWN IS ALSO HOSTING A BIKE SAFETY FEST AT ABACOA COMMUNITY PARK ON MAY 17TH.
CONTINUING WITH OUR CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION THIS FRIDAY AT THE HISTORIC TRAIN DEPOT IN SAFFISH BAY PARK.
WE'LL HAVE AN OPEN HOUSE AND THE CHILDREN'S ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIG.
YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED ON YOUR WAY IN THAT THE TOWN GREEN IS NEAR IN COMPLETION AND IT LOOKS GREAT.
WE EXPECT TO CELEBRATE ITS OPENING IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS AND WE WILL SOON BEGIN WORKING ON AS A MATTER OF FACT, YOU SEE THE FENCED OFF BY THE PD FOR THE JUPITER POLICE DEPARTMENT MEMORIAL.
THEN THE TOWN COUNCIL MEMORIAL, WE'LL BE STARTING WORK ON THAT SIMULTANEOUSLY.
I CONNECT WITH COUNCIL OPEN HOUSE IS SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30TH.
IF YOU RECALL, I HAD TALKED ABOUT HAVING SOME BREAKOUT SESSIONS IN MY LAST REPORT.
THE BREAKOUT SESSION TOPICS WILL INCLUDE EBIKE SAFETY, PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN, AND PLAYGROUND RENOVATIONS, AND AN UPDATE FROM THE JUPITER FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT.
THEN FINALLY, I JUST WANT TO THANK SATO AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES TEAM FOR ALL THEIR WORK WITH THE CHARITABLE DONATIONS PROGRAM.
THAT'S A LOT TO LICIT THOSE REQUESTS AND THEN GRADE THEM AND EVALUATE THEM AND DISTRIBUTE THE FUNDS.
WE HELD THEM PRETTY TIGHT TO THEIR BUDGET AND THEY MANAGED TO MEET THE TASK. THAT'S MY REPORT, MAYOR.
[TOWN COUNCIL – LIAISON REPORTS AND COMMENTS]
>> WELL, I WANT TO TELL YOU THE LAST FEW WEEKS HAVE BEEN VERY BUSY FOR ME AND I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF.
I THINK I'VE MET WITH EVERY DEPARTMENT HEAD IN TOWN, AND I TELL YOU GRACIOUS AND IT WAS VERY HUMBLING FOR ME.
I'VE LIVED HERE FOR A LONG TIME, AND I CAN TELL YOU I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT REALLY WENT ON BEHIND THE SCENE.
BUT WE HAVE AN AMAZING TEAM, AND I AM SO PROUD TO SIT ON THIS SIDE OF THE DIAS AND REPRESENT THE RESIDENTS IN JUPITER. THANK YOU.
>> JUST QUICK. JUST THRILLED THAT THE BRIDGE IS COMPLETELY OPEN.
I JUST WENT OUT OF MY WAY TO GO.
I WAS DOWN AT THE MARINA, BUT THAT AND JUST A LOT OF GOOD THINGS HAPPENING HERE LATELY AND TONIGHT WE'VE COVERED A LOT OF GOOD GROUND, SO THAT'S IT.
IF YOU THINK OF ALL THE LONG TERM PROJECTS, FIRST, I WANT TO THANK STAFF THOUGH AND SCOTT WITH FINANCE.
I DIDN'T THANK HIM DURING THE AUDIT ITEM.
I'M REALLY WANTING TO DO THAT NOW IN OUR AUDIT COMMITTEE WHICH I REALLY APPRECIATE.
HE HAS DONE SO MUCH AND OUR FINANCE TEAM HAS DONE SO MUCH TO CREATIVELY SAVE THE TOWN MONEY.
I'M LOOKING AT PAGE 119 IN THE AUDIT INVESTMENT EARNINGS.
I MEAN, THAT WAS A BIG CHANGE THAT MEANT A LOT TO THE TOWN AND TO JUPITER FIRE RESCUE AND OUR HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM.
I'M ALSO ON A NUMBER OF BOARDS, ON THE LEAGUE OF CITIES.
I WAS ON A WATER TASKFORCE MEETING TODAY WITH THEM.
ONE QUESTION I'M GETTING FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE IS OUR EBIKE SAFETY PROGRAM. PEOPLE ARE WATCHING.
THEY'RE TAKING NOTICE, THEY'RE ASKING QUESTIONS.
I'M JUST REALLY PROUD OF OUR POLICE AND ALL THAT THEY'VE DONE FOR EBIKE SAFETY, AND THAT IS A HOT TOPIC FOR SURE.
I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE HOSTING IT WITH OUR CONNECTED COUNCIL.
I THINK THAT'S IT FOR RIGHT NOW.
>> MOVING ON TO THE DISTRICT 1 TOWN COUNCIL VACANCY.
WE WANTED TO FINALIZE THE PROCESS FOR FILLING THAT VACANCY.
[02:00:04]
I'M JUST FOLLOWING UP FROM LAST WEEK. DO YOU HAVE ANY?>> CRITERIA? I HAD MENTIONED CRITERIA THE LAST TIME WE APPOINTED, AND I'M GRATEFUL OUR CHARTER IS CLEAR THAT WE SHALL APPOINT.
THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE THAT WE KNOW.
IF WE CAN'T REACH A DECISION, THEN IT MAY GO TO ELECTION, BUT I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO.
IN THAT FIRST APPOINTMENT, WHAT I HAD SAID WAS DISTRICT 1 IS THE PREFERENCE, BUT MAYBE WE WANT TO SPECIFY THAT IT NEEDS TO BE DISTRICT 1 SO THAT WE DON'T GET A BUNCH OF DISTRICT 2 APPLICANTS, WHICH WE DID BEFORE.
I APPRECIATE ALSO THAT STAFF ARE CONFIRMING JUPITER RESIDENCY BECAUSE WE HAD NON-RESIDENTS APPLY, BUT THAT'S AN OBVIOUS ONE.
I WOULD SAY INVOLVEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT CAN BE IN A BROAD SENSE, JUST SOMEONE WHO'S VOLUNTEERING OR OUT AND ABOUT IN JUPITER SERVING, GIVING BACK, OR HAS A HISTORY OF GIVING BACK, WOULD BE SOMETHING TO LOOK AT.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE CAN BE VERY HELPFUL AS WELL.
CAN COME FROM A VARIETY OF BACKGROUNDS FROM WATER, SMALL BUSINESS, ENGINEERING, REALLY ANYTHING, BUT JUST HAVING A PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND THAT COULD CONTRIBUTE TO IT.
I THINK SOME UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE TOWN WORKS, OUR CODE IS DIFFERENT FROM THE CODES OF OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.
NOT EVERYONE ATTENDS OUR MEETINGS IN PERSON; MANY WATCH.
I REMEMBER BEFORE RUNNING, I WATCHED FIVE YEARS OF COUNCIL MEETINGS.
YOU CAN LEARN SO MUCH BY JUST FOLLOWING TOWN AFFAIRS AND SHOWING AN AWARENESS, MAYBE IN A LETTER OF INTEREST OF HOW THINGS WORK.
I'M TRYING TO THINK OF WHAT ELSE.
AN AFFECTION FOR THE TOWN, THAT WAS ONE MORE THING I HAD SAID.
THERE'S KNOWLEDGE OF A THING, BUT JUST AFFECTION FOR IT AS WELL.
WARMTH AND A TEMPERAMENT MAYBE THAT LENDS ITSELF TO THIS TYPE OF WORK.
GOVERNANCE REQUIRES A CERTAIN TYPE OF TEMPERAMENT.
IT REALLY REQUIRES COLLABORATION, IT REQUIRES LISTENING TO ALL RESIDENTS, THICK SKIN, AND SO HAVING THAT TEMPERAMENT IS HELPFUL AS WELL.
I HAD ASKED LAST TIME, AND COUNSEL DID SEND US THE PROCESS AND SCHEDULE BY WHICH WE HAD LOOKED FOR CANDIDATES, AND CERTAINLY, YOUR HEARING UP HERE.
I SECOND IT THAT LAST TIME, WE WEREN'T CLEAR ON WHICH DISTRICT RESIDENTS HAD TO RESIDE IN.
I SAID LAST WEEK IN LAST MEETING AND COUNCIL SUNDSTROM HAD JUST INDICATED LIKEWISE, ONLY ONES NEED APPLY OR THOSE THAT ARE FROM DISTRICT 1 LIVE IN THE TOWN WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO HAVE RUN FOR ELECTION, BUT I THINK THE SEAT SHOULD BE FILLED BY SOMEBODY THAT RESIDES IN DISTRICT 1.
I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW THE SAME SCHEDULED TIMELINE.
WE GOT A REASONABLE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS WITH RESUMES.
WELL, I DID WHAT COUNCIL SUNDSTROM HAD INDICATED, LEAVE IT UP TO EACH APPLICANT TO MAKE YOUR PITCH ON WHY IN YOUR RESUME OR APPLICATION LETTER, WHY YOU THINK YOU WOULD BE A GOOD CANDIDATE TO FILL THE VACANCY THROUGH THE MARCH OF '26, WHEN THAT SEAT IS UP FOR REELECTION.
JUST GOING ON DOWN TO DIAS, VICE MAYOR.
>> I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING STATED.
DISTRICT 1 RESIDENCY REQUIRED, OBVIOUSLY, TOWN RESIDENT.
DID THE TOWN ADVERTISE? HOW DID THEY SOLICIT THE RESUMES?
>> WELL, THEY STAFF ADVERTISED AND THEY GAVE US A BOOK OF ALL THE APPLICATIONS, AND WE HAD GOTTEN A TOWN MANAGER.
>> YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE'LL TAKE CARE OF ALL OF THAT.
I WOULD JUST NEED TO KNOW HOW LONG DO YOU WANT TO ADVERTISE FOR.
THEN IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE YOU'RE REQUIRING A COVER LETTER AND A RESUME.
IN THE ADVERTISEMENT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DISTRICT 1 RESIDENTS ONLY.
INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY, PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, UNDERSTANDING HOW THE TOWN WORKS, SHOWING AWARENESS OF THE INTEROPERABILITY COLLABORATION, THOSE TYPE OF THINGS TO INCLUDE IN
[02:05:03]
THE COVER LETTERS AS WE ANNOUNCE WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.I THINK THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING NOW; IS THAT CORRECT?
>> CAN I ALSO ASK, I BELIEVE THE TOWN SENT AN EMAIL OUT TO ITS EMAIL LIST, WHICH WAS HELPFUL, I THINK IN GETTING SOME OF THE NUMBER OF CANDIDATES WE GOT, BUT IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO HAVE, ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE SPECIFYING THE DISTRICT, THE MAP THAT'S ON THE ELECTION SITE, SO A VISUAL BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE IN JUPITER FARMS BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE JUPITER RESIDENTS, AND THEY'RE NOT.
FOR BOTH PURPOSES, AND I THINK THAT'LL SAVE A LOT OF STAFF TIME AS WELL AS THEY SORT THROUGH.
>> EVEN THE DISTRICT ONE STRICTLY CAN FIND COASTLINE.
>> YEAH. BECAUSE IT'S A BIT STRANGE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK IT'S NORTH OF INDIANTOWN.
IT'S TONY PENA AND THEN ROUTE 1 AS WELL, WHICH PEOPLE THINK IS A THIRD DISTRICT SOMETIMES.
I THINK THE VISUAL WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL IN ANY SOCIAL MEDIA OR EMAIL ADVERTISEMENT.
>> WE'LL INCLUDE THAT. TRYING TO REMEMBER, DID YOU HAVE 30 DAYS OR WHAT DID WE HAVE LAST TIME?
>> WELL, I WOULD SAY WE ACCEPTED WHAT THE TIME FRAME WAS LAST TIME.
>> SO JUST GO BACK TO WHATEVER THAT WAS.
>> BECAUSE WE ENDED UP WITH A GOODLY AMOUNT OF CANDIDATES.
>> I JUST WANTED TO PUT IN THERE.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WHOEVER IT IS, UNDERSTAND THAT GOVERNANCE IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE A TOP PRIORITY.
I THINK THEIR REPUTATION, CREDIBILITY, AND INTEGRITY WITHIN THE TOWN OF JUPITER, AND KNOW THAT THEY ARE COMING IN TO WORK WITH THE STAFF.
THEY CAN LEARN A LOT, BUT WILLING TO REPRESENT ALL THE RESIDENTS, NOT JUST A SPECIFIC ISSUE THAT THEY'RE MAKING COMMITMENT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR.
>> ONE LAST POINT, MAYOR, I'LL ASK OUR HR DIRECTOR, ASHLEY, TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH YOU, SO IF YOU DON'T MIND MAYOR, AND THE HR DIRECTOR OF THE COORDINATION POINT.
>> WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT.
A COUPLE OF OTHER ITEMS. NUMBER 1, IT WAS AWKWARD ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD GRANTS, BUT I WANT TO SUGGEST SOMETHING HERE, AND IT WAS LEFT FOR STAFF, MEANING THE TOWN MANAGER AND WHOEVER HE DETERMINES HIS STAFF, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD GRANTS, WE HAVE A BUDGET EVERY YEAR.
IT'S NOT FAIR THAT A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAPPENED TO HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER RESIDING IN BE HARMED, AND I AGREE WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION FROM AN ETHIC STANDPOINT, BUT I HADN'T RECOGNIZED.
I THOUGHT THERE WAS OPINIONS ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT I'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT.
I'M JUST GOING TO PROPOSE SOMETHING NOT FOR DISCUSSION, BUT TO ASK STAFF AND THE ATTORNEY, IS THIS APPROPRIATE? BECAUSE AGAIN, SEEMS LIKE IF THE TWO ITEMS WERE SPLIT UP ON THE CONSENT, SO ONE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEN THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD, SEEMED LIKE THEN WE WOULD HAVE A QUORUM TO BE ABLE TO VOTE ON THAT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT SUGGESTION, BUT AS AGAIN, I EMPHASIZE NOTHING'S BEING PULLED UP HERE BECAUSE WE WERE BELOW BUDGET ON THE GRANTS.
EVERYBODY THAT APPLIED FOR A GRANT WAS AWARDED ONE AND IT JUST SO HAPPENED THAT TWO OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS HAPPEN TO HAVE COUNCIL REPRESENTATION LIVING IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
I JUST PROPOSE THAT TOWN MANAGER, BECAUSE THEN YOU COULD BRING IT BACK ON THE AGENDA.
THEN IT SEEMS LIKE I'M SEEING A NODDING OF HEADS UP HERE IN AGREEMENT ON THAT APPROACH.
THAT'S THE ONLY WORKAROUND RIGHT NOW WHERE WE HAVE A FOUR-MEMBER COUNCIL, AND THAT COULD BE ON THE NEXT AGENDA.
>> I THOUGHT THAT THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN AN OPTION.
I HADN'T DONE ALL THE RESEARCH, OBVIOUSLY, WE WERE IN THE MOMENT, BUT I HAD THOUGHT THAT THAT MIGHT BE A WORKABLE SOLUTION AT THE TIME, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW THE STRUCTURING OF AN AGENDA WORKS.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF I COULD MAKE A MOTION TO CHANGE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] TO NEXT AGENDA.
>> I WANT TO. IT IS A SMALL SUM, SO I DO UNDERSTAND THE REIMBURSEMENT, AND THAT'S A WORKABLE OPTION TOO, IF IT GOES THROUGH BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW, AND IT SHOWS THE IMPORTANCE OF AN APPOINTMENT TOO, BECAUSE FOUR IS DIFFICULT.
>> WE'LL BRING BACK THOSE ITEMS ON THE NEXT AGENDA.
>> THANK YOU. THEN, JUST A QUESTION.
[02:10:04]
IT'S INTERESTING AND THIS COMES UP MORE THAN IT'S ALWAYS COME UP.PEOPLE ARE CONFUSED BY RESIDENTS BELIEVE THAT WHO'S MY COUNCIL MEMBER? WELL, I'M IN DISTRICT 2, WHO IS MY COUNCIL MEMBER? I PROBABLY SAID EASILY HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF TIMES, THE COUNCIL DISTRICTS ARE SIMPLY TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY DOESN'T LIVE IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD, PERIOD, BUT EVERYBODY COVERS THE TOWN AT LARGE.
EVEN JUST PUT THAT IN THERE, EVEN IN THE INVITATION, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THAT MESSAGE.
THEN SECONDLY, ANOTHER QUESTION THAT I GET, AND IF I GET IT, EVERYBODY'S GETTING IT, SO I'M NOT REALLY, BUT JUST SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FILLING.
CAN STAFF, IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS IN THE WEEKLY REPORT, JUST GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE DISTRICT BOUNDARIES? BECAUSE OCCASIONALLY, AND I KNOW THIS, BUT DO THEY EVER CHANGE? YES, THEY DO, BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN RELATIVELY 50% OF THE TOWN IS IN ONE DISTRICT AND 50% IN THE OTHER, BUT THE BOUNDARIES HAVE CHANGED, AND IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME, AND IT MAY BE BECAUSE THE POPULATION HASN'T CHANGED, BUT WHATEVER THAT CASE MAY BE, COULD YOU REPORT IN THE WEEKLY REPORTS, SO WE ALL KNOW THAT, AND COULD ANSWER THAT WHEN WE'RE QUESTIONED?
>> I THINK WE ACTUALLY HAVE A REQUIREMENT TO LOOK AT THAT.
>> WE MAY HAVE DONE IT IN THE 10 YEARS.
>> NO, BECAUSE I THINK IT MAY COME OUT AFTER THE CENSUS, BUT THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING STAFF JUST TO COMMENT ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST.
DISTRICT 1 WASN'T ALWAYS US 1 TO THE SOUTHERN.
>> SOMEBODY JUST DID THAT AS WELL, IT'S SPLITTING THE TOWN IN TWO.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IF WE WERE AT THE POINT THAT WE NEEDED TO CHANGE DISTRICT BOUNDARIES, OF COURSE, IT WOULDN'T AFFECT FILLING A SEAT NOW.
IT WOULD JUST MEAN THAT WE WOULD HAVE SOME ACTION TO TAKE BEFORE THE NEXT ELECTION.
>> WAS IT EVER DONE BY POPULATION, TRYING TO BREAK IT UP TO MAKE IT AN EVEN AMOUNT?
FOR MY RECOLLECTION, I'M HAVING STAFF GO BY MY RECOLLECTION, THE STAFF TO REPORT OUT, AND IS THERE A NEED IN THE NEAR TERM TO REVISIT THAT SINCE IT'S BEEN SO LONG?
>> IT CHANGED AFTER ABACOA WAS DEVELOPED?
>> YEAH, AS IT WAS BEING DEVELOPED. AT ONE POINT, EVEN US 1 WAS SPLIT ALMOST ALONG THE TON OF PENA LINE, IF YOU WILL, MY RECOLLECTION, BUT THEN AS ABACOA WAS DEVELOPING OUT, THAT PUT MORE VOTER POPULATION AND SOUTH BUT WEST OF THE INTERCOASTAL, AND IT WAS ADJUSTED, BUT THAT'S SO LONG AGO.
AGAIN, JUST THESE QUESTIONS WE GET ASKED IN THE INTERESTS OF TRANSPARENCY.
I JUST THINK IT'S GOOD TO GET AN UPDATE ON THAT.
I JUST WANT TO KUDOS TO FDOT ON THE BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION, THEIR MANAGEMENT.
ULTIMATELY, THEY INCENTIVIZE THE CONTRACTOR TO FINISH TWO LANES EARLY.
HAD THEY NOT DONE THAT, PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN DONE ON SCHEDULE BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU THAT CONTRACTOR WAS INCENTIVIZED AND FOR A WHILE, WAS TRENDING AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.
I'M REALLY GRATEFUL ON SUCH AN AMENITY TO HAVE BIKE LANES AND THOSE LIBERAL SIDEWALKS, PATHWAYS, SO THE BIKES THAT DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE.
[OVERLAPPING] IT'S INCREDIBLE.
I KNOW FDOT REALLY WORKED SOME DAYS 24 HOURS TO MAKE THAT SCHEDULE SO JUST A BIG THANK YOU TO THEM.
YOU MENTIONED THE TOWN GREEN TOWN MANAGER.
I'M ANXIOUS FOR WHEN THE NEW PARKING AREA IS GOING TO BE OPENING.
BECAUSE I DIDN'T GO THERE TONIGHT, BUT THAT'S REALLY GOING TO FREE UP PARKING SPACES FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTER WHEN WE CAN START USING THE PARKING SPACE BACK HERE.
IS THAT FOLLOWING THE SCHEDULE OF THE TOWN GREEN OPENING?
>> YES, MAYOR, THAT'S FOLLOWING THE SCHEDULE.
[02:15:02]
WE'RE ALREADY WORKING ON A PARKING PLAN FOR ALL OF IT, AND WE SHOULD HAVE EVERYTHING READY TO GO IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS.>> BECAUSE GENERALLY SPEAKING, I ALWAYS TRY TO LOOK, IS THAT DOOR OPEN? IS THAT PARKING SPACE OPEN? IT SEEM LIKE THEY WERE MARKED OFF, BUT THERE'S A FENCE UP.
>> THEY'RE MARKED OFF. WE'RE PUTTING FINISHING TOUCHES ON THINGS.
>> LET'S SEE. WE SHOULD HAVE THEM READY BY THE TIME THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING COMES.
>> GOOD. WELL, THAT'S WHY I WAS WONDERING.
>> I'LL PUT A SIGN OUT THERE FOR YOU.
>> NO. THE DIRECTION I COME IS I DON'T DRIVE THAT WAY BECAUSE I COME OFF OF INDIAN TOWN ROAD, AND I CUT IN BY THE POLICE STATION AFTER WENDY.
THEN DITTO ON E-BIKE SAFETY, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP THAT OUR POLICE HAVE DONE.
WELL, I HAD SEEN IN THE WEEKLY REPORT, AND I ASKED FOR SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SO I HAD SOME BACK AND FORTH WITH OUR POLICE CHIEF, BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, E-MOTOS WERE ILLEGAL TO BE ON ROADS, AND THEY WERE THE MOST DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF THE SPEEDS THEY CAN GO, UPWARDS TO 50 PLUS MILES AN HOUR.
IF WE NOTICE THE POLICE WERE STARTING TO TOW E-MOTOS.
BECAUSE IF YOU ARE ON THE ROAD, YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO AND THEY WERE TOWING THEM.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS NOBODY'S TAKING E-MOTOS TO SCHOOL ANYMORE BECAUSE THEY KNOW IF THEY LEAVE IT IN THE SCHOOL, IT'S GOING TO GET TOWED.
THE HIGHEST DANGER RISK HAS BEEN ELIMINATED.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT AND THE ONGOING E-BIKE INITIATIVE BY OUR POLICE AND OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT TO GET A MESSAGE OUT EVERY WEEK, REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
LIKE COUNCIL SUNDSTROM INDICATED, I THINK WE ARE CLEARLY LEADING.
THAT'S WHY OTHERS ARE LOOKING.
I KNOW WITH BEING ON THE TPA IS THAT WE HAD THE FIRST EDUCATION EFFORTS SIX MONTHS BEFORE EVEN THE TPA WAS PROMOTING THAT MUNICIPALITIES DO THAT.
WITH THAT, THE TIME IS NOW 9:17, AND WE'LL ADJOURN THE MEETING.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.