[00:00:01]
>> GOOD EVENING. THE TIME IS NOW 7:00 PM AND I'LL CALL TO
[Call To Order]
ORDER THE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING OF THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH.WE'LL BEGIN WITH AN INVOCATION, FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND THEN THE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE.
IF ALL OF THOSE THAT ARE ABLE, PLEASE JOIN ME IN STANDING.
>> LET US PRAY. ALMIGHTY GOD, AS WE GATHER HERE TODAY IN SERVICE, WE GIVE THANKS FOR THE MANY OPPORTUNITIES YOU HAVE PROVIDED US.
MAY OUR CHOICES REFLECT THE TRUST PLACED IN US BY OUR COMMUNITY, AND MAY YOU GUIDE OUR WORDS, OUR ACTIONS, AND OUR DECISIONS AS WE SERVE. AMEN.
>> WE WILL NOW PAUSE FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
>> PLEASE JOIN ME THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? MAY WE HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE?
>> WE BEGIN TONIGHT. WE HAVE OUR YEARLY FIRST READING PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET,
[Items 1 - 3]
AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO STAFF.SCOTT REYNOLDS, THE FINANCE DIRECTOR FOR THE TOWN OF JUPITER.
THIS EVENING, WE WILL BRING BEFORE YOU THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 PROPOSED OPERATING AND COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PLAN FOR THE TOWN.
THERE WILL BE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS IN ORDER TO ADOPT THE BUDGET.
AGAIN, THIS IS THE FIRST HEARING.
WE'VE HAD A LONG PROCESS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.
BACK, IF YOU REMEMBER IN JUNE 18TH, WE HAD AN OPERATING BUDGET WORKSHOP.
WE ALSO HAD ANOTHER WORKSHOP IN JUNE TO TALK ABOUT LEGACY CIP PROJECTS.
IN JULY 15TH, WE SET THE TRIM AND THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH IS THIS EVENING.
THE TRIM, FOR ANYBODY WATCHING, STANDS FOR TRUTH AND MILLAGE, WHICH IS SETTING THE OVERALL TAX RATE THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ON YOUR TRIM NOTICE THAT YOU WOULD RECEIVED IN THE MAIL.
ALSO ON AUGUST 21ST, WE HAD A CIP OPERATIONS UPDATE AND A CIP WORKSHOP.
THEN BRINGS US TO THIS EVENING ON SEPTEMBER 4TH, WHICH IS THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET.
THEN WE WILL HAVE THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING ON 18TH OF SEPTEMBER.
JUST TO GO OVER THE BUDGET OBJECTIVES AND ASSUMPTIONS.
WE'VE BEEN CHARGED WITH MAINTAINING THE TOWN MILLAGE RATE OF 2.3894.
WE'VE ENJOYED A VERY LOW MILLAGE RATE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
IN FACT, IF YOU REMEMBER RIGHT, THAT RATE ACTUALLY WENT DOWN A FEW YEARS AGO SO WE'VE CONTINUED THAT TREND OF MAINTAINING THAT LOW MILLAGE RATE.
AD VALOREM TAX REVENUES HAVE INCREASED AND THAT'S DUE TO FORECA INCREASES IN PROPERTY VALUES.
THAT'S THE GOOD THING IN JUPITER.
THE PROPERTY VALUES HAVE REMAINED HIGH, AND THEY CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THEIR VALUES.
WE'VE HAD SOME NEW CONSTRUCTION AS WELL.
WE'RE PROJECTING A WATER RATE INDEX OF 3%, ALSO A STORM WATER RATE INDEX OF 7%.
ONE THING WE DEFINITELY WANT TO CELEBRATE AND HIGHLIGHT IS THE NO GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND MILLAGE GOING INTO FY2026 SO RESIDENTS ACTUALLY WILL SEE A TAX DECREASE GOING INTO FY2026.
CURRENTLY, THE TOWN IS OUT OF DEBT.
THE EXPENDITURES HIGHLIGHTED GOING INTO FY2026, THERE'S A 5% INCREASE IN NON UNION EMPLOYEES SALARIES.
WE'RE MAINTAINING THE 9010 SPLIT FOR HEALTH CARE COST BETWEEN THE TOWN AND THE EMPLOYEES.
ALSO MAINTAINING THE LEVEL OF HSA FUNDING FOR THE EMPLOYEES.
[00:05:02]
AS YOU'RE CURRENTLY AWARE, WE ARE NEGOTIATING A UNION CONTRACT.WE'RE HOPING TO GET THAT CLOSED RELATIVELY SHORTLY.
ALSO STRATEGIC USE OF RESERVES FOR THE FINAL YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JUPITER FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT.
PROPERTY VALUE INCREASES, YOU CAN SEE HERE, THE VALUATION IN FY2026 WAS $17.2 TRILLION FOR FY2026, 18.4 TRILLION AN INCREASE OF $1,000,233,577,448.
YOU CAN SEE HOW THE OVERALL 77.15% INCREASE IS SPLIT UP, $105 MILLION FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION, AND THEN 1.1 TRILLION FOR VALUATION INCREASE OR A 6.5% INCREASE.
THIS IS ALL AGAIN, MAINTAINING THE CAP OF 3% FOR THE HOMESTEADED PROPERTIES, SO THERE IS A CAP LIMITATION FOR THEM.
THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE AS COMPARED TO THE STATE ROLLBACK RATE.
WE WERE REQUIRED TO SHOW THIS DURING THE ADOPTION PROCESS.
THE TAXES THAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE ARE COLLECTED AT 95% FOR THE 2026 PROPOSED RATE AT 2.3894, IS JUST OVER $44 MILLION IN TAX COLLECTIONS AT THE ROLLBACK RATE AT 2.2470.
THE PROPOSED RATE OVER THE ROLLBACK IS 2,630,997.
WITH THAT, LOOKING AT THE OVERALL BUDGET, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE PROPOSED FY2026 OPERATING BUDGETS REPRESENT A $43.9 MILLION INCREASE OVER THE FY2025 ADOPTED BUDGET.
A $20 MILLION INCREASE IN GENERAL FUND PRIMARILY DUE TO TRANSFERS OF THE JUPITER FIRE RESCUE.
WE TALKED EXCLUSIVELY ABOUT THAT DURING THE OPERATING BUDGET AND ALSO DURING THE CIP WORKSHOP, A $7.7 MILLION INCREASE IN FY2026 GENERAL FUND COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PLAN.
AGAIN, THE WATER FUND IS PROJECTING A 3% RATE INDEX AND A 7% INDEX FOR STORMWATER.
JUMPING INTO THE GENERAL FUND SPECIFICALLY, OVERALL INCREASE OF $2 MILLION BEFORE THE USE OF RESERVES TO FUND THE FIRE IMPLEMENTATION, INCREASES IN ASSESSED VALUES RESULTS IN A $2.3 MILLION INCREASE IN AD VALOREM REVENUE.
INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVENUES DECREASE BY $128,000, PRIMARILY DUE TO REDUCTIONS IN SALES TAX REVENUE, STATE SHARED REVENUES.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
WE'VE ANTICIPATED THIS REDUCTION GOING INTO NEXT YEAR.
THERE'S ALSO AN INCREASE OF $862,000 IN CHARGES FOR SERVICE THAT HAS TO DO WITH SOLID WASTE CHARGES AND SURCHARGE REVENUE, AND ALSO THE ALLOCATIONS OF COST THAT WE GENERATE THROUGH THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
BUT JUST WANT TO POINT OUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SOLID WASTE, IT'S ACTUALLY THERE'S THE NUMBER, YOU'LL SEE AN EXPENSE THAT EQUALS THE REVENUE COMING IN, SO IT'S NEUTRAL.
BUT THERE'S A DECREASE OF $1.6 MILLION IN INTEREST EARNINGS.
WE'VE BEEN WATCHING WHAT THE FEDS HAVE BEEN DOING WITH THE INTEREST RATES AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE MARKET.
WE'VE ACTUALLY ANTICIPATED THIS INTEREST EARNINGS, WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE HERE IN THE TOWN THAT WE'VE HAD SOME VERY HEALTHY INTEREST EARNINGS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
THAT ACTUALLY, I WANT TO POINT OUT AGAIN, THAT THAT'S ACTUALLY PAID FOR TWO YEARS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JUPITER FIRE RESCUE, SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT.
$17.7 MILLION IN FUND BALANCE USAGE DUE TO THE FUNDING OF THE FIRE OPERATING CAPITAL AND DEBT SERVICE FOR NEXT YEAR.
THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES, I'VE BEEN TOLD A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE THIS SLIDE TO SHOW THE ACTUAL PERCENT INCREASES OF THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF COST ITEMS. WE'D LIKE TO SHOW THAT AND WE ALSO BREAK OUT IF YOU SEE AT THE BOTTOM, THE OVERALL INCREASE FOR THE FIRE RESCUE PORTION OF THAT.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE MADE SURE AND WE DO THIS EVERY YEAR DURING THE BUDGET WORKSHOPS, AND WE TALK ABOUT IT GOING THROUGH THE BUDGETARY PROCESS OF ADOPTION IS HOW DOES ALL THIS AFFECT THE GENERAL FUND RESERVES? WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE HERE IN THE TOWN.
WE'VE DONE SOME EXCELLENT PLANNING LEADING UP TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH JUST OVER $54 MILLION IN RESERVES.
YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE SOME BRIDGE LOAN FUNDS
[00:10:01]
ANTICIPATED TO GO BACK BY THE END OF THIS YEAR OF $4 MILLION.THERE WILL BE AFTER THE RESERVE USAGE OF 4.2 THAT WE WERE ANTICIPATING FOR FY2025, THESE ARE EXPENDITURES THAT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL.
YOU'RE STILL LEFT WITH JUST OVER $54 MILLION IN RESERVE BALANCE.
THEN WE TRY TO TARGET THREE MONTHS WORTH OF OPERATING. WE TALK ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
THAT'S OUR RESERVE DOLLARS FOR EMERGENCIES, CATASTROPHIC TYPE STORM ACTIVITY.
MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH OPERATING DOLLARS TO OPERATE FOR THREE MONTHS.
STILL WOULD LEAVE AT THE END OF THE YEAR, JUST OVER $34 MILLION, IF THAT WERE THE CASE.
MORE THAN ENOUGH TO DO WHAT THE TOWN COUNCIL HAS ASKED US TO DO.
BUT WITH THAT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR IN FY2026, WE'VE ESTIMATED ENDING TARGET BALANCE OF $35 MILLION DURING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JUPITER FIRE RESCUE.
WE'RE ANTICIPATING HAVING JUST OVER $2 MILLION ABOVE OUR TARGET AT THE END OF THE YEAR, AND ACTUALLY, I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT, WE'LL PROBABLY BE A LITTLE BIT ABOVE THAT.
SPEAKING OF JUPITER FIRE RESCUE, THIS IS THE FINAL YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION IN FY2026.
THERE'S AN OPERATING BUDGET OF $16.8 MILLION BEING REQUESTED.
THERE'S SOME DEBT SERVICE, WHICH IS REALLY INTEREST ON THE LOAN THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE OUTSTANDING FOR THE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.
THERE'S SOME CAPITAL PURCHASES OF $2.7 MILLION THAT'S BEING REQUESTED A TOTAL OF $19.7 MILLION NEXT YEAR FOR THE FIRE FUND.
THE WATER FUND, AGAIN, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT, THE RATING INDEX 3%, WAY EVERY YEAR, ASSUME A POSSIBLE 3% BASE ASSUMPTION, AND NO ADDITIONAL NEEDED OVER THAT THIS CURRENT YEAR.
BUT WE ALWAYS START OUT WITH ASSUMING A POSSIBLE 3% RATE INDEX AND THEN HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO DIAL THAT BACK, OR IF WE NEED TO ADD MORE, WE DO.
ASSUMES A 0.4% CUSTOMER DEMAND ON GROWTH.
ALSO, WE'RE PROJECTING TO PUT MONEY BACK INTO THE R&R FUND OF $7.9 MILLION.
SO WE'RE PROJECTED TO MEET THE TARGET AT YEAR END IN FY2026, WATER EXPENSES, 5% SALARY INCREASES OF $274,000.
WE HAVE SOME REDUCTION IN DEBT SERVICE, INCREASE IN PROPERTY AND AUTO INSURANCE.
YOU'LL SEE THAT ACROSS ALL THE FUNDS, THERE WERE INCREASES IN PROPERTY AND AUTO INSURANCE.
UTILITY SERVICES INCREASE OF 10%.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE FEE INCREASES FROM REGULATORY DEMANDS AND WORK IN OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
THE STORMWATER FUND, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS EARLIER AS WELL, THE 7% STORMWATER RATE INCREASE, WHICH IS WE ASSUME 3% BASE AND A 4% FOR CONSTRUCTION COST, $485,000 DESIGNATED COMING FROM A RETAINED EARNINGS.
FY2026 PROJECTED AVAILABLE R&R CONTRIBUTION OF $600,000.
THAT'S ACTUALLY $161,000 SHORT OF THE 761 GOAL THAT WE HAVE IN OUR MASTER PLAN.
EXPENSES. THE SALARY INCREASES FOR EMPLOYEES, INCREASES IN MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT OF $92,000 INCREASES IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.
FOR THE MASTER PLAN UPDATE, THAT WILL BE FOR WATER AND STORMWATER NEXT YEAR, AND OVERALL INCREASE OF 6.74% IN THE OPERATING EXPENSES.
WE HAVE THE FIRST FULL YEAR OF THE JUPITER RIVER ESTATES NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENT.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNCIL HAD INDICATED THAT THEY'D LIKE TO SEE THIS SEPARATE AND MADE SURE THAT IT'S BEING SHOWN EVERY YEAR.
THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR OF ASSESSMENT OF $133,000.
THIS IS FOR THE TRIMMING AND MAINTENANCE COST. THE BUILDING FUND.
AGAIN, THE BUILDING FUND HAS ALWAYS OPERATED VERY WELL, VERY HEALTHY.
PERMIT REVENUE SHOWS A $100,000 REDUCTION.
THAT'S NOT AN ISSUE. GOING FORWARD, THERE'S STILL INTEREST EARNINGS, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S A DECREASE THERE.
BUT THAT AGAIN HAS BEEN ANTICIPATED, AND THERE'S A SMALL USE OF RETAINED EARNINGS.
WE'VE PROGRAMMED IN SALARY INCREASES FOR THE EMPLOYEES WITHIN THE BUILDING FUND, AND THERE'S A SLIGHT DECREASE IN DEPARTMENTAL EXPENSES.
BUT THERE IS AN INCREASE OF $80,000 IN CONTRACTUAL INSPECTION SERVICES AND A DECREASE OF $148,000 IN REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE.
THE HEALTH INSURANCE FUND STILL VERY HEALTHY.
WE ARE ON TRACK, IF YOU REMEMBER RIGHT, WE GAVE A PREMIUM HOLIDAY TO THE EMPLOYEES AND EVEN THE TAXPAYER THIS PAST SUMMER.
[00:15:02]
WE ARE ON TRACK TO TRY TO MEET THAT $10 MILLION TARGET FOR THE RESERVES.YOU'LL SEE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS, WE PROBABLY COMING WE HAD TALKED ABOUT MAYBE COMING BACK TO DO AN ADDITIONAL HOLIDAY PREMIUM AROUND THE HOLIDAYS AROUND DECEMBER, SO WE'LL BE COMING BACK TO YOU OFF WITH THAT.
THE TOWN'S HEALTH INSURANCE FUND, IT'S VERY STABLE, SELF SUFFICIENT.
NO INCREASE IN HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS THAT ARE REQUIRED.
IF YOU LOOK ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THAT'S NOT THE CASE IN ALL OTHER JURISDICTIONS.
WE'RE VERY HEALTHY HERE IN THE TOWN OF JUPITER.
CLAIMS COSTS HAVE REMAINED STABLE AND LOW.
THIS HAS ALLOWED US TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THE PREMIUM COST SPLIT OF 9010 FOR THE EMPLOYEES.
AGAIN, CLAIMS COSTS HAVE REMAINED, VERY LOW. WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE.
THIS IS IN THE MEANTIME, WE'RE BRINGING ON 96 NEW FIRE POSITIONS NEXT YEAR, BUT WE'RE STILL ON TRACK TO MEET OUR GOAL OF THE $10 MILLION.
BUT WE WILL BE RE EVALUATING THAT AS WE GO THROUGH THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF JUPITER FIRE RESCUE.
FIREFIGHTERS, ARE YOUNG AND THEY'RE VERY HEALTHY, SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING ON WITH THOSE LOW CLAIMS COST.
>> THE CIP LITTLE BIT ACTIVITY HERE SINCE THE WORKSHOP, ALSO MAYBE A DECISION POINT FOR THE COUNCIL THIS EVENING OUTSIDE OF JUST ADOPTING OF THE BUDGET.
YOU CAN SEE HERE, THE COUNCIL HAD GIVEN DIRECTION SPECIFICALLY IN RELATION TO THE SAWFISH BAY PARK, SEAWALL REPAIRS.
OUR ENGINEERING DIRECTOR FELT LIKE THERE COULD ACTUALLY BE A REDUCTION IN COST THERE BASED ON THE REPAIRS TO THE SEAWALL.
THE COUNCIL GAVE DIRECTION TO COMBINE TWO CIP PROJECTS.
THERE WAS AN ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORICAL CIP, AND THEN WE HAD THE SEAWALL CIP.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO COMBINE THOSE INTO THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND HISTORICAL ASPECT ALONG WITH REPAIRS TO THE SEAWALL THAT THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT FELT COULD BE ACHIEVED OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, AND STILL MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF THE WALL.
WHAT THAT DID WAS, IF YOU REMEMBER, DURING THE CIP WORKSHOP, THERE WAS A DEFICIT IN FUTURE YEARS.
THAT ACTUALLY HELPED CLEAN UP THE DEFICIT, AND I'LL SHOW YOU THAT ON THE NEXT SLIDE, BUT JUST APPROXIMATELY ABOUT $1 MILLION.
WE ALSO HAD SOME REDUCTIONS IN THE WATER FUND DUE TO REPRIORITIZATION OF WELL PROJECTS, MEANING SOME OF THEM GOT PUSHED OUT TO THE OUTSIDE THE FIVE-YEAR FUNDING WINDOW.
THEN THERE WAS A REDUCTION OF $230,000 IN THE STORMWATER FUNDING REQUEST DUE TO REPRIORITIZATION OF CURB REPLACEMENT AND FUTURE ALIGNMENT WITH STREET RESURFACING.
THE TWO DEPARTMENTS LIKE TO WORK TOGETHER, THE STORMWATER AND THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT WISELY IN RELATION TO ROAD REPAVING, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THE CURBING COMING FROM THE STORMWATER FUND.
ONE OF THE THINGS I ALSO WANTED TO POINT OUT IN RELATION TO THE SAWFISH BAY PARK SEAWALL.
AT THE END OF LAST WEEK, WE ACTUALLY WERE ABLE TO APPLY FOR A GRANT.
THAT WILL BE FORTHCOMING INTO THE NEXT READING OF THE BUDGET.
YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT OF $970,000 IN 27 AND $200,000 IN GRANT FUNDING AND 29, JUST OVER $1 MILLION.
THAT WILL BE SHOWN IN THE NEXT REITERATION OF THE CIP.
THAT WAS AT THE DIRECTION OF THE COUNCIL THAT WE UPDATE THESE SHEETS TO REFLECT THAT.
A LOT OF NEW THINGS WITH THE SAWFISH BAY, ALLOWING US TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE REDUCTION IN GENERAL FUND REVENUES, BUT ALLOWING US TO CONTINUE TO DO THE ENVIRONMENTAL THINGS THAT I KNOW THE COUNCIL SAID IS A PRIORITY ALONG WITH THE REPAIRS THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR THE WALL.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO POINT THAT OUT.
BUT THE BIG DECISION POINT OUTSIDE OF JUST THE ADOPTION OF THE CIP AND MILLAGE AND OPERATING BUDGET THIS EVENING IS THE CASH FLOW, WE WERE ABLE TO FIX THE DEFICIT THAT WAS IN THE FUTURE YEARS BASED ON THE MOVING OF THE REPAIRS TO THE WALL, BUT WE'VE BEEN BLESSED WITH A REFUND COMING IN FROM AN FDOT PROJECT.
THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION SURROUNDING THE ATHLETIC FIELDS.
WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY PROGRAMMED IN FY26 FOR ATHLETIC FIELD R&R, BUT WE'VE BEEN BLESSED WITH A REFUND THAT'S CAME IN FROM FDOT OF APPROXIMATELY $500,000.
IF THE COUNCIL SO WISHES, WE CAN ADD THAT IN TO DO A FIELD IN FY26,
[00:20:02]
AGAIN, I KNOW THAT THAT WAS A DISCUSSION THAT WAS HAD AT THE WORKSHOP.IF IT'S COUNCIL'S PLEASURE THIS EVENING, IF YOU ADOPT IT, WE CAN ADOPT IT WITH THAT CHANGE FOR SECOND READING IF YOU'D LIKE.
WITH THAT, STAFF IS SEEKING APPROVAL ON FIRST READING OF THE PROPOSED OPERATING MILLAGE RATE OF 2.3894 THROUGH ORDINANCE 14-25.
ALSO APPROVAL ON FIRST READING OF THE PROPOSED 26 THROUGH 2030 COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM THROUGH ORDINANCE 15-25, AND THEN DISCUSSION AND QUESTIONS AND INSPECTION OF THE OPERATING BUDGET THROUGH RESOLUTION 102-25, IT'LL BE VOTED ON THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 18TH.
WITH THAT, ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?
>> DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THESE ITEMS?
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILOR GUISINGER, GO AHEAD.
>> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS IF YOU DON'T MIND.
ON PAGE 7, THE OTHER TAXES, WHAT ARE THOSE, DIRECTOR REYNOLDS? THAT'S $4.3 MILLION.
WHAT'S THE SOURCE OF THOSE OTHER TAXES, REVENUE?
>> THOSE ARE TAX REVENUES THAT ARE RECEIVED IN RELATION TO LIKE SALES TAX AND STATE SHARED REVENUES, AND OTHER TYPES OF REVENUES THAT ARE RECEIVED, BUT PRIMARILY SALES TAX.
>> SALES TAX. ON PAGE 8, KNOWING THAT THE POLICE UNION CONTRACT HAS NOT BEEN NEGOTIATED, BUT YOU HAVE A 32 MILLION EXPENDITURE THERE.
IS THAT BASED UPON 25 DATA, 2025 COSTS WITH SOME ESCALATION, OR HOW IS THAT DETERMINED?
>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE POLICE BUDGET IN TOTAL?
>> YEAH, THE 32 MILLION SHOWN ON PAGE 8.
>> HOW IT WORKS, NOT JUST WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT.
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WHAT WE DO IS WE START THIS PROCESS VERY EARLY.
WE START DOING ESTIMATES ON OPERATING COST INCREASES, OR IF THERE'S GUIDANCE THAT COMES FROM THE COUNCIL OF THINGS THAT THEY'D LIKE TO SEE IN THE OPERATING BUDGETS, THE DEPARTMENTS THEY GATHER THESE EXPENDITURES.
THERE WILL BE SOME COST ESCALATORS, OBVIOUSLY.
WE'VE SEEN SOME INFLATION ON CERTAIN TYPES OF ITEMS, SO THEY MAKE SURE THAT ALL THOSE THINGS ARE CAPTURED.
WE ALSO SPECIFICALLY WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE THINGS LIKE NORTH COM THAT WE PARTICIPATE IN.
THAT'S OVER A $2 MILLION ITEM.
WE PARTICIPATE WITH THEM AND THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, WE WORK THROUGH SOME OF THOSE TYPE OF COST ESCALATIONS FOR PERSONNEL.
BUT THEN THE LARGEST PART, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE FOR THE SALARY, IS WE LOOK AT DATA FROM THE SOUTH FLORIDA AREA SPECIFICALLY, AS FAR AS INFLATIONARY RATES AND COMPETITION WITH OTHER JURISDICTIONS FOR POSITIONS TO BE ABLE TO SET WHAT THE SALARY INCREASES ARE GOING TO BE FOR EMPLOYEES.
WE ALSO LOOK AT HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS, LOOKING AT THE INSURANCE FUND THAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT COST OF INSURANCE AND REPLACEMENT OF CARS.
ALL OF THOSE TYPES OF THINGS GO INTO THE WHOLE OPERATING BUDGET, BUT PRIMARILY FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE LOOK AT THEIR CONTRACT, AND THEY'RE ON A STEP PLAN.
WE KNOW WHEN THESE OFFICERS THEIR ANNIVERSARY DATE IS GOING TO OCCUR AND THE AMOUNT OF INCREASE THAT THEY'RE PROGRAM TO RECEIVE.
I WILL TELL YOU I HAVE SOMEONE IN MY OFFICE.
THEY DO THE PAYROLL PROJECTIONS FOR THE WHOLE TOWN.
THEY ARE VERY ACCURATE ON THEIR PROJECTIONS.
I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT WHEN SHE GIVES ME A NUMBER IN RELATION TO PAYROLL.
IF YOUR QUESTION IS SURROUNDING MORE ON THE CONTRACT SIDE, BEING THAT WE'RE STILL UNDER NEGOTIATIONS AND GOING INTO OCTOBER WITHOUT POSSIBLY A CONTRACT, WE DO MAKE SOME ASSUMPTIONS GOING IN THAT THERE WILL BE SOME INCREASES, AND WE USE THE OLD MODEL, THE OLD CONTRACT BECAUSE WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING TO BE ADOPTED.
WE MAKE SOME ASSUMPTIONS OF INCREASES, SO WHEN WE DO ACTUALLY GET A CONTRACT, THAT THE IMPACT ISN'T AS LARGE WHEN WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO IMPLEMENT THAT.
>> ONE OTHER QUESTION ON PAGE 10.
UNDER EXPENSES FOR WATER FUND, WHAT IS A CONTINGENCY EXPENSE OF ALMOST 600,000?
>> WE HAVE CONTINGENCY DOLLARS.
WE HAVE IT IN THE GENERAL FUND AS WELL.
THE DIFFERENT FUNDS HAVE THESE AMOUNTS.
A CONTINGENCY FUND IS AVAILABLE FOR EMERGENCY-TYPE EXPENDITURES. SAME THING IN THE WATER FUND.
>> ONE LAST QUESTION, I ORIGINALLY HAD THIS LATER ON, WE GOT IN THE OPERATING BUDGET AND PAY PLAN, BUT YOU'VE SHOWN ON A COUPLE OF YOUR CHARTS THE 5% SALARY INCREASE.
HOW IS THAT DETERMINED? DO WE USE BUCKET DATA FOR SIMILAR TOWN, SIMILAR SIZE, NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES? HOW DO WE DETERMINE 5% ON A YEARLY BASIS?
[00:25:02]
LIKE I WAS JUST STATING, WE START OFF WITH LOOKING AT THE SOUTH FLORIDA MARKETPLACE, LOOKING TO SEE WHAT THE INFLATIONARY RATES ARE.
WE WERE VERY BLESSED THIS YEAR WITH THE INFLATIONARY RATE SEEM VERY LOW.
BUT WHEN YOU ACTUALLY LOOK INTO THE MARKET AND WHAT IT ACTUALLY COSTS TO LIVE, AND ALSO LOOKING AT THE SURROUNDING AREAS, WE USE COMPARABLES WITH OTHER JURISDICTIONS, OUR DIRECT PEERS, AND WE COMPARE THOSE DOLLARS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE STAYING COMPETITIVE IN THE MARKETPLACE.
JUST LIKE WE DO FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CONTRACT, WE MAKE SURE THAT THEIR SALARIES ARE STAYING COMPETITIVE.
WE SHOP THE MARKETPLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BEING COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER AGENCIES SO WE CAN ATTRACT AND RETAIN EMPLOYEES.
>> THANK YOU. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
>> AS WE MOVE DOWN TO DIAS TO COUNCILOR SUNDSTROM.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE TOTALITY OF THE PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS?
>> I REALLY JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION, AND THAT'S GOING BACK TO E2303 AND R1702, IT'S THE MERGING OF THE SAWFISH BAY ITEMS. JUST WANTING TO CONFIRM THAT THE SAVINGS IS FROM THE REPAIRING OF THE WALL, WHICH WE UNDERSTAND IS NEEDED.
>> REGARDLESS OF ANY GRAMS, THAT'S A NEEDED PROJECT.
WE'RE NOT REPLACING THE WALL, WE'RE REPAIRING WITH THAT'S SAVINGS, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE IS ON TRACK THAT I SEE.
HISTORICAL IMPROVEMENTS, ENVIRONMENTAL.
>> ALL OF THOSE ITEMS ARE STILL INTACT.
>> IT'S ALL JUST PLACED SOMEWHERE ELSE.
IT'S PLACED UNDER ENGINEERING NOW.
I KNOW THERE WAS A QUESTION EARLIER TODAY FROM ANOTHER MEMBER THAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR THE SAWFISH BAY CIP SHEET, WHICH WAS HOUSED IN THE P&Z SECTION OF THE CIP BOOK.
IT'S BEEN MOVED OVER TO ENGINEERING TO ALLOW THEM TO HELP MANAGE IT.
>> A LOT OF THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THIS PROJECT.
WE HAVE NATURAL RESOURCES HOUSED IN P&Z, BUT BECAUSE THIS IS A NATURE-BASED SOLUTION TO A SEAWALL REPAIR, IT'S NOT CREATIVE, I FORGET THE TERM THAT OUR NEW ENGINEERING DIRECTOR USED, BUT BECAUSE THERE'S THIS COMBINATION OF THE SEAWALL REPAIR WITH AN ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENT.
IT WAS A NATURAL PLACE TO PUT IT.
>> THAT WAS COMMUNICATED AT THE LAST MEETING.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THAT WAS A REQUEST TO THE COUNCIL, AND WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED THAT.
>> YOU HAVE. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL.
>> IN REGARDS TO SAWFISH BAY, I'M SEEING THAT WE'RE SAVING THE MONEY ON THE SEAWALL.
THE ACRE HOUSE IMPROVEMENTS, AIR CONDITIONING, AND ALL THAT, I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT PULLED IN TO SEE IF YOU GET THAT KNOCKED OUT OF THE WAY BECAUSE $200,000 IS PRETTY SHORT MONEY.
COULD WE PULL THAT IN CLOSER? I JUST WONDER IF MY COLLEAGUES WOULD AGREE ON THAT.
>> YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE AC.
>> THE ACRE HOUSE IS NOT USED RIGHT NOW.
WHEN WE GET THAT INTO SERVICE, IT'S JUST SITTING THERE, AND IT SEEMS LIKE HISTORIC IS GETTING LOST IN THE MIX HERE.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING MY COLLEAGUES WOULD AGREE ON THAT.
>> TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND. IT'S THE HISTORICAL IMPROVEMENTS CONSTRUCTION OF BATHROOMS, HISTORIC STRUCTURES, INTERIOR BUILD OUT OF ACRE HOUSE, $200,000.
>> MOVING IT FROM WHERE TO WHERE?
>> JUST BRING IT IN CLOSER, GET IT DONE QUICKLY.
>> I THINK THE QUESTION WAS JUST ABOUT CASH FLOW AND IF IT WORKS.
>> WELL, THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER QUESTION AND STEPHANIE IS HERE, WOULD THE ACRE HOUSE BE READY TO BE ABLE TO ACCEPT THE AC? THAT I WOULDN'T ANSWER.
WE GOT THE HOUSE DOWN THERE YEARS AGO.
THEY TRANSPORTED IT DOWN, GOT IT STABILIZED, AND I THINK THEY PUT THE NEW PORCH ON IT, AND IT'S JUST LANGUISHING, SO I DIDN'T KNOW IF WE COULD JUST GET THAT ONLINE SOONER THAN LATER. THAT'S ALL.
>> DO YOU THINK IT'S ON SCHEDULE? WHEN THEY COMBINE THE CIP SHEETS, THAT WAS SLATED IN THE P&Z ITEM FOR 2028, SO IT'S ON SCHEDULE COMPARED TO LAST YEAR'S CIP.
IT COULD BE MOVED, BUT WE CAN ALSO REVISIT NEXT YEAR TOO.
BECAUSE IT'S SO FAR OUT, WE COULD AT NEXT CYCLE, MOVE IT UP MAYBE WITH ASSESSMENT.
>> IF WE CAN GET IT TO IT THIS YEAR, MAYBE NOT START THIS YEAR, BUT PULL IT IN CLOSER, LOOK AT IT.
>> IF YOU'D LIKE, AGAIN, YOU'D INDICATED THERE'S SOME CONSTRUCTION GOING ON THERE RIGHT NOW.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS OR NOT.
STEPHANIE WOULD KNOW. QUESTION.
>> THE DECK IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION NOW.
>> IT'LL BE DONE BY THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER.
THE CONTRACTORS ALSO DOING SOME STRUCTURAL WORK TO THE HOUSE ITSELF WHILE WE'RE PUTTING IN THE DECK.
THE HOUSE ITSELF HAS BEEN AIR CONDITIONED PREVIOUSLY.
[00:30:04]
IT'S NOT AS DIFFICULT AS SAY THE TRAIN DEPOT TO AIR CONDITIONED, BUT WE DO HAVE PLANS FOR THE TRAIN DEPOT TO DO INTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS.WE JUST HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THEM AGAIN BECAUSE THERE WAS ISSUES WITH CONDENSATION THAT WE WANTED TO ADDRESS BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD.
WE DO NEED TO DO DESIGN NEXT YEAR, SO WE COULDN'T DO IT NEXT YEAR, BUT IF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO LOOK AT MOVING IT UP A YEAR, WE CAN DEFINITELY LOOK AT THAT.
I JUST WANTED AN UPDATE AND IF WE CAN JUST PULL IT 28 JUST SEEMED A LITTLE DOWN THE ROAD FOR THAT.
IT'S JUST BEEN SITTING OUT THERE. I KNOW IT'S JUST SITTING THEY'RE DOING WORK ON IT, BUT MOVE IT ALONG A LITTLE BIT.
>> YES, I WOULD SUPPORT THAT SAME EFFORT TO SEE IF WE CAN'T ESCALATE THAT IN SOME WAY.
QUESTION ON THE TWO GRANTS THAT YOU MENTIONED FOR SAWFISH, 27, YOU HAVE A $970,000 GRANT AND THEN 200,000 IN 29.
WHAT ARE THOSE GRANTS GOING TO BE USED FOR?
>> I'LL LET STEPHANIE ANSWER THAT AS WELL.
>> THEY'RE FOR THE SEAWALL REDEEMING WORK AS WELL AS THE ARMORING TO THE LIVING SHORELINE.
THAT'S THE MAJORITY OF IT, 870,000, AND THEN ADDITIONAL MONEY IS FOR WHAT WE ALREADY LOOKED AT FOR THE CONTRACT FOR THE DESIGN AND PERMITTING, WHICH CURRENTLY IT'S LIKE 254, BUT WE REQUESTED A GRANT FOR 150 FOR HALF OF THE AMOUNT.
IF IT GOES AND CHANGES BASED ON THE LATEST CHANGE BECAUSE IF YOU REMEMBER WHEN IT CAME TO COUNCIL EARLIER, IT WAS A FLUSHING CHANNEL AND THE SEAWALL REPLACEMENT.
WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT CHANGING THE SCOPE TO SEAWALL REDEEMING IMPROVEMENTS AND LIVING SHORELINE WITH THOSE CHANGES.
THAT'S WHAT'S AT THE RESILIENT FLORIDA GRANT.
JUST ONE EDUCATIONAL QUESTION, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, ON PAGE 12 JUPITER RIVER STATES ON THE ASSESSMENT.
IS THAT JUST A TWO-YEAR ASSESSMENT?
THAT'S JUST THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE IN THAT.
HOW MANY RESIDENTS PARTICIPATE IN SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
>> HUNDRED AND FORTY. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER COMMUNITY SIMILAR TO THAT?
>> NO. THIS WAS ACTUALLY WHAT WE CALL A PILOT PROJECT BECAUSE I KNOW THE COUNCIL AT THE TIME, IT WAS A PRIVATE AREA, AND THEY WANTED TO SEE IF WE CAN DO THE NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENT IN THIS AREA TO DO THE MANGO TRIMMING THAT CAN BE DONE, AND SO FAR IT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SEEN THE PICTURES.
IT WAS ACTUALLY BROUGHT BACK HERE.
WE ACTUALLY SAW AMENITIES AND SOME WILDLIFE IN THERE, SO IT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.
>> THANK YOU. AGAIN, IT WAS AN EDUCATIONAL QUESTION. I APPRECIATE IT.
>> JUST ONE THING TO ADD ON THAT ONE IN THE WAY OF INFORMATION.
>> THAT'S A PRIVATE CANAL, AND THE TOWN WAS ALWAYS INTERESTED IN TRYING TO HELP OUT AND WE THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE A MULTI AGENCY EFFORT TO DO.
THE OTHER AGENCIES WOULDN'T STEP FORWARD OR I SHOULD SAY EVEN BACKED OFF SO WE AGONIZED ABOUT INVESTING, AND I THINK IT WAS CLOSE TO $600,000 TO DO IT OF TOWN MONEY.
BUT IT WAS SUPPOSEDLY DONE A LONG TIME AGO AND IT WASN'T MAINTAINED SO THE RESIDENTS CAME FORTH, SAID, JIM, IF YOU'LL INVEST TOWN AND DOING IT THE FIRST TIME, WE'LL MAINTAIN IT.
THAT FEE IS WHAT EVERY TWO YEARS OR SOMETHING, WE ALREADY HAVE A CONTRACT, NOT EVERY YEAR, BUT EVERY TWO YEARS, AND WE CAN ADJUST AS IT GOES.
THAT JUST IS ENSURING THAT THE INVESTMENT THE TOWN MADE IS MAINTAINED, RIGHT GOING FORTH.
>> THAT WAS DEFINITELY GOOD. GREAT WIN WIN.
IT INVOLVED SOME COMMUNITY LEADERS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> CONCEPTUALLY, THAT'S WHAT I WAS TOLD WAS PUT TOGETHER. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THEY DID ALL THE FOOTWORK TO GET THE NEIGHBORS TOGETHER. IT WASN'T EASY.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY GOT IT DONE, AND IT'S BEEN WILDLY SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE I MET WITH A NEIGHBOR YEARS AGO.
HE TOOK ME AND HIS BOAT DOWN THE CANAL AND YOU HAD TO GO, MONKEY BRANCH TREE TO TREE TO GET THROUGH IT.
IT WAS CRAZY AND THEY CLEARED IT ALL OUT.
THAT'S BEEN A REAL PLUS FOR THE TOWN. GREAT WORKS.
[00:35:01]
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS THAT COULD LEAD TO QUESTIONS HERE AND JUST INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC.
THE CIP PLAN IS A FIVE YEAR INVESTMENT PLAN, AND BETWEEN CARRY FORWARD FUNDING AND PROJECTS, MEANING PROJECTS THAT WE DECIDED TO FUND BEFORE AND THEY'RE IN THE QUEUE AND NEW ONES THAT WE HAD, WE END UP WITH A NEW FIVE YEAR PLAN, BETWEEN THE CARRY FORWARD FUNDING AND THE NEW FUNDING FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, THE TOTAL MONEY IS ABOUT $250 MILLION INVESTED IN CAPITAL PROJECTS, AND IT'S MORE THAN 100 PROJECTS.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS OUR DELIBERATIONS ABOUT THAT.
I WOULD SUBMIT THAT CHANGING PRIORITIES FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS OR AN EVERY YEAR OCCURRENCE AND APPROPRIATE FOR POLICY DIRECTION AND GUIDANCE.
I EMPHASIZE THIS FOR THE NEWER MEMBERS BECAUSE THE WORLD'S CHANGING, THE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES ARE EXPECTING DIFFERENT THINGS, AND IT'S APPROPRIATE EVERY YEAR.
BUT YOU THINK THE SHEER MAGNITUDE OF THIS OF 100 PROJECTS AND THE CARRY FORWARD MONEY AND THE NEW MONEY WE'RE EARMARKING IS A QUARTER BILLION DOLLAR.
I DO THINK MAYBE NEXT YEAR, WE SHOULD HAVE AN EARLY WORKSHOP AND A SECOND ONE BECAUSE I DO THINK WHEN WE THINK ABOUT IT, THERE PERHAPS IS NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE COUNCIL PROVIDING POLICY DIRECTION GUIDANCE ON THAT.
THEN I SEE THIS OUT IN SOCIAL MEDIA, NOT THAT I PARTAKE MUCH IN THAT, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DELIBERATIONS WE HAD, WE'RE RESPONSIBLE ALL OF US, ALONG WITH OUR STAFF TO BE GOOD FISCAL STEWARDS OF THE PUBLIC'S MONEY.
THIS YEAR'S FISCAL MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES HAVE ABSOLUTELY, NO RELATIONSHIP TO THE CREATION OF JFRD.
I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE SAYING, JIM, BE MORE CAUTIOUS BECAUSE THE CREATION OF JFRD.
ABSOLUTELY NOT. I WANT TO DISPEL THAT.
WE'RE WITHIN THE PLAN WHEN WE MADE THE DECISION.
I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT FOR THE RECORD.
PEOPLE SAY, JIM, THE MAYOR'S WORRYING ABOUT COVERING FOR.
NO, IT'S NOT. WE'VE GOT THAT COVERED.
WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE INVESTING PUBLIC MONEY THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.
THEN THIS ISN'T A CRITICISM, BUT JUST TO MAKE SURE IT'S UNDERSTOOD.
PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE SERVICE CHARGES FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 ALREADY NOW $2 MILLION MORE THAN REPRESENTATIONS MADE WHEN THE TOWN WAS DECIDING ON WHETHER TO CREATE JFRD OR CONTINUE WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE.
THAT'S NOT A NEGATIVE TO PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE.
THEY GAVE A BEST CASE SCENARIO AND COSTS GO UP $2 MILLION HIGHER READY.
IT'S WHAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND THAT.
WE MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE AND WE'RE MOVING FORTH ON THAT.
THERE HAS BEEN MANY POSITIVE CHANGES IN THE OVERALL CIP FUNDING PLANS IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS DUE TO THE REVIEW CRITIQUE EFFORTS, AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
BUT I DO WANT TO SAY, AND I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY HERE FOR THE COUNCIL POTENTIALLY.
I'VE WATCHED THIS COUNCIL FOR 35 YEARS, 25 SERVING UP HERE, AND IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE THAT YOU REALLY CAN'T GET THREE PEOPLE TO WEIGH IN WITH CLARITY ABOUT PRIORITIES IN A MEETING WHEN IF SOMETHING FIRST COMES UP.
I'M BRINGING UP THE R 2503 BECAUSE OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR WAS TALKING ABOUT THAT ONE.
IT'S A DECISION THAT WE COULD MAKE.
NOW, I'VE BEEN VERY CONSISTENT OVER THE COURSE OF TIME.
I DO BELIEVE WE SOMEWHAT HAVE A CONSENSUS TO DEAL WITH THAT, BUT IT DIDN'T COME OUT IN THE LAST WORKSHOP.
AT LEAST NOT TO THE POINT THAT STAFF BELIEVED THERE WAS A CONSENSUS, BUT IN LAST YEAR'S PLAN, WE STARTED TO RE ALLOCATE MORE FUNDS TO RECREATION BECAUSE WE HAD KNOWN WE HAD NEGLECTED THAT.
MULTI PURPOSE FIELDS WERE A PRIORITY AMONG PLAYGROUNDS WITH SHADE AND ALL THAT.
IN LAST YEAR'S CIP, WE HAD IN 2026, WE WERE GOING TO RESTORE
[00:40:02]
MULTIPURPOSE FIELDS IN 2026 AND FOUR MORE IN 2027, SO THERE WAS A TOTAL OF EIGHT BY THE END OF 27 THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BY THE LAST YEAR CIP.I COMMENTED ON THIS. I'VE BEEN CONSISTENT.
I COMMENTED WHEN WE HAD THE RECREATIONAL MASTER PLAN.
I THOUGHT IT WAS CLEAR. I THOUGHT WE HAD CONSENSUS.
BUT WHAT IS IN THE BOOK IS ZERO FIELDS IN 2026 AND ONE IN 2027, SO I CAN JUST TELL YOU, LUCKILY PLAYGROUNDS WITH SHADE WERE IMPORTANT.
WE USED TO HAVE A PARKS AND REC DIRECTOR, AND I'M NOT SINGLING OUT ANYTHING AGAINST THE CURRENT ONES, BUT WAY BACK WHEN WE DID THE COMMUNITY CENTER REFERENDUM.
BRILLIANT. DO SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY.
BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR AND IT IS OUR JOB COLLECTIVELY.
WE DON'T HAVE TO AGREE, BUT WE HAVE TO COLLECTIVELY MAKE A DECISION.
BUT LAST YEAR, THE FIVE THAT WERE UP HERE DECIDED TO PLAN FOUR FIELDS IN 26 TO BE REDONE AND FOUR AND 27, WHAT CAME FORTH IS WE HAVE NONE IN 26 AND ONE AND 27.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS WHAT I WAS POINTING TO LAST MEETING.
I KNOW THIS IS A LOT TO GRASP WHEN YOU HAVE 100 PROJECTS.
I'M NOT FINDING FAULT WITH STAFF AS THEY MADE TOUGH DECISIONS.
BUT I WEIGHED IN OVER AND OVER AGAIN, BOTH IN THE MEETINGS AND OUTSIDE OF THE MEETINGS.
BUT IT DOES TAKE A CONSENSUS OF COUNSEL APPARENTLY.
FOR THE TOWN MANAGER WASN'T HEARING, THERE'S A CONSENSUS TO DO ANY MORE THAN THE ONE AND 27.
THAT'S WHY I WAS REALLY FOCUSED ON FINDING FUNDING.
THAT WAS NOT HARMFUL SO WE'D HAVE CAPITAL MONEY TO DO SOMETHING WITH MULTIPURPOSE FEELS THAT WE'VE NEGLECTED FOR YEARS.
I'M GOING TO JUST LEAVE THAT I'M GOING TO LEAVE THAT AS AN OPEN ITEM IF MY COLLEAGUES WANT TO ASK, AND THIS IS FIRST READING, DIRECTION COULD BE GIVEN.
BUT CLEARLY, MY DIRECTION I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT WOULD BE DIFFERENT THAN THE REST OF ALL BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED TO RESTORE WHAT WE'RE PLANNING TO DO.
BUT, I'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT.
>> WELL, I REVISITED THAT. I'M IN AGREEMENT.
DO YOU HAVE ANY SCHEDULE IN MIND, HOW YOU WANT TO DO ALL THREE?
>> WELL, I THINK WE NEED TO ASK OUR STAFF WHAT THEY CAN DO, GIVEN THAT NOT AND LET'S BE AGGRESSIVE ABOUT IT.
WE HAD FOUR AND FOUR, BUT I'M MINDFUL OF I DON'T WANT TO DIRECT AND STAFF CAN'T GET IT DONE, AND THERE'S LOGISTICS ABOUT IT.
SO PERHAPS THIS IS FIRST READING.
COUNSEL BEFORE, IF IT'S THE WILL AND OTHERS WEIGH IN.
BECAUSE PEOPLE THINK, THE MAYOR MAKES THE CALLS.
WELL, NO, THE MAYOR HAS BEEN SAYING AND GETTING OVER BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE TWO OTHERS JOINING IN.
BUT WHY DON'T WE HAVE STAFF COME BACK AND TELL US HOW MANY COULD WE DO, AND THEN WE HAVE INFORMATION BY WHICH TO MAKE A DECISION.
>> I WOULD TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT.
>> I'M GOING TO STICK WITH THAT ALSO. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I JUST WANT TO SPEAK TO IT REAL QUICK BECAUSE THAT WAS SOMETHING MAYOR THAT STAYED WITH ME IN THE COMMENTS FROM OUR WORKSHOP.
I CERTAINLY WANT TO SUPPORT THE 500 THAT WAS FOUND.
I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS AROUND BEING REALISTIC.
THAT WAS SOMETHING WE FOCUSED ON FOR CIPS.
LISTENING TO THE COST OF NEW TURF, NOT ARTIFICIAL TURF, BUT REGULAR.
THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT THIS AMOUNT WILL COVER TWO FIELDS, BUT STAFF DOESN'T WANT TO SAY THAT BECAUSE WHAT IF IT DOESN'T? WE DON'T KNOW.
IT DEPENDS ON THE FIELDS WHEN THEY GET OUT THERE AND THEY LOOK AT THEM, BUT THE AMOUNT MAY COVER TWO, THE 500.
WE'RE JUST NOT SURE WE HAVE TO GET OUT THERE AND ASSESS.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE HEIGHTS, IT'S UP BY 300,000.
SOME OF THESE PLAYGROUNDS HAVE GONE UP.
WE'VE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH THAT, BECAUSE I MADE A PRETTY CLEAR PITCH AND I THINK RESIDENTS HAVE MADE A PRETTY CLEAR PITCH ON PLAYGROUNDS, BUT WE ARE HAVING THESE CONSTRUCTION COSTS CHANGE YEAR OVER YEAR.
I THINK WITH THOSE, I WOULD BE HESITANT TO CHANGE THEM.
I'M TRYING TO THINK, WHERE WOULD WE PULL THE MONEY FROM? WE WOULD HAVE TO MOVE MONEY FROM OTHER PROJECTS TO COVER.
[00:45:02]
OR ELSE, THAT'S MY CONCERN IS WHERE DO WE PULL IT FROM? I AGREE.THE FIELDS ARE OUTDATED, EVERYTHING IS. WHERE DO YOU BEGIN? THAT WAS THE MASTER PLAN, AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE SEQUENCING.
WE'RE GOING TO REALLY HAVE TO THINK ABOUT PRIORITIES, AND IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE TO KNOW WHAT TO DO FIRST WHEN THERE'S SO MUCH TO DO.
I REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE RECREATION MASTER PLAN, WHAT I HAD SAID AT THAT MEETING WAS, I WANTED TO FOCUS ON CAPACITY AND LIGHTING AND SHADE JUST TO PROVIDE MORE FIELD SPACE FOR MORE KIDS BECAUSE THE DEMAND WAS SO HIGH.
I GOT THAT IDEA FROM TALKING TO JTAA AND OTHERS WHO AGREED THAT THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD COURSE OF ACTION.
I'M NOT WED TO IT, BUT I WORRY BECAUSE IT'S I'M OPEN TO IT, IF WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN, THAT'S GREAT.
I SUPPORT ALL INVESTMENT AND RECREATION.
I DON'T WANT TO PULL MONEY FROM RESERVES FOR IT.
I'M WORRIED ABOUT THAT IN CASH FLOW, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT PROJECTS WE WOULD TAKE FROM TO COVER IT.
THAT'S THE CONCERN. I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE 500.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK IN FUTURE YEARS AND PROBABLY CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT RECREATION AS A WHOLE AND HOW WE WANT TO PRIORITIZE THIS.
BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THERE WERE THREE HEADS NODDING ORIGINALLY ON THIS PER SE.
I THINK IT WAS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT CAPACITY.
I JUST WANT TO THINK ABOUT QUALITY VERSUS QUANTITY, THAT DISCUSSION.
WHAT DO WE ATTACK FIRST WHEN THERE IS SO MUCH TO DO? BUT I SUPPORT ALL OF IT. I THINK WE ALL DO.
MY ONLY CONCERN IS WHERE DO WE FIND THE MONEY TO COVER FOUR FIELDS.
WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO TWO THIS YEAR.
>> WELL, MY SUGGESTION IS, LET STAFF GET BACK WITH US ON THAT AND GET BACK WITH US.
WE GET ONE ON ONE BEFORE THE MEETING AND MAYBE A CONSENSUS GELS ON SOMETHING, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY WE HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC.
BEFORE I SAY WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY IS, OH MY GOSH, STAFF GOES OUT OF THE WAY TO BE EXTREMELY TRANSPARENT ON EVERYTHING WE DO.
BUT THIS ONE, I'LL SAY, AND IT'S TRANSPARENT BECAUSE I KNOW WHERE TO GO FIND IT.
BUT WE HAD 1.275 MILLION IN 26.
TO $50,000. DID YOU KNOW THAT? I DON'T AGREE WITH IT.
I UNDERSTAND AND I MESSAGE FROM THE MEDIAN THAT STAFF MADE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS, BUT THAT WAS A WRONG ONE.
SO FINE, I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THE CIP BUDGET ANYWAY, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT A MAJORITY OR CONSENSUS STILL GET THE CHANCE TO RIGHT OR WRONG HERE.
TO DO NONE IN 25 AND NONE IN 26 AND ONLY ONE IN 27.
THAT MEANS WE'RE GOING FROM EIGHT BEING DONE.
WE'RE SENSITIVE TO PAVING NEIGHBORHOODS THAT SOMEONE GOES IN THERE AND LOOKS.
WELL, I GUARANTEE IF PEOPLE WERE LOOKING AND EXCITED ABOUT EIGHT FIELDS BEING DONE BY THE END OF 27, AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ONE AND MAYBE HOWEVER MANY MORE.
WE REALLY HAVE MORE MONEY IN EVERYONE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE BALANCE DOWN BELOW, IN 2026.
SO WE COULD MAKE THE DECISION IN 2026.
IT'S PROBLEMATIC AS YOU GO FORTH.
BUT AGAIN, I SAID MY PIECE, I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THE BUDGET BECAUSE TO ME, THAT'S TOO SIGNIFICANT A MESS, AND I HAVE OTHER ISSUES, BUT WE ALL AGREE AND JUST LET STAFF GET BACK WITH US ON WHAT THEY CAN DO AND WHAT THE COSTS WOULD BE, AND THEN WE DECIDE ON SECOND READING.
OVER THE YEARS, MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS I'VE GONE ON PARKS IS BASICALLY THE MULTI USE FIELDS, BUT IT'S SORT OF GOT OVERSHADOWED BY THE PLAYGROUNDS IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO.
THERE WERE A LOT OF PUBLIC COMMENTS AND ALL THAT.
BUT I THINK THEY GOT LOST IN THE MIX, BUT IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A PRIORITY OF MINE, OBVIOUSLY THE MAYORS.
BUT I'D LIKE STAFF TO COME BACK AND SEE IF THE OPTIONS, WHAT WE COULD MAY OR MAY NOT PULL FROM AND SEE WHAT WE CAN GET DONE.
>> BUT WE DO NEED TO PRIORITIZE PLAYGROUNDS AND WE SHARE THOSE PUBLICLY.
>> THE DIFFERENCE IS LIKE THE FIELDS.
THERE ARE NO SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS SHOWING DRAWINGS.
WE'VE ALREADY DONE THAT FOR YEAR 2026 PLAYGROUNDS.
THE EXPECTATION HAS ALREADY BEEN CREATED THERE.
ONE HAS ALSO BEEN CREATED HERE.
MY ONLY CONCERN IS, I THINK SOME OF THE MONEY WAS MOVED IN PART BECAUSE OF COST INCREASES AROUND CONSTRUCTION. WE'RE NEW TO THIS.
THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME UPDATING RECREATION IN MANY DECADES.
BUT I THINK THEY PULLED FROM ONE TO COVER ANOTHER WITHIN RECREATION.
[00:50:01]
THEY'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS A MONSTER OF A RECREATION MASTER PLAN, AND THEY DO NEED DIRECTION FROM US ON WHAT TO PRIORITIZE.IF WE'RE MOVING THE PRIORITY TO FINISH PLAYGROUNDS IN 26 AND GET FIELD RENOVATIONS OR REPAIRS, THEN YEAH, WE'VE GOT TO FIND THE MONEY FOR IT. THERE'S A BALANCE FOR EVERYTHING.
>> BUT IT'S NOT NEW TO US BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS FOR YEARS.
WE LOOKED AT THIS YEARS AGO WHEN THE PRICE TAG WAS JUST TOO HIGH AND WE HAD TO SHELF IT. HERE WE ARE.
BUT I THINK PRIORITY GOT A LITTLE SKEW.
I JUST WANTED TO MAYBE SEE IF THERE'S SOME MORE OPTIONS FROM STAFF, AND SEE IF WE CAN PULL IT IN A LITTLE BIT.
>> BUT I THINK THE TAKEAWAY IS, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY ON COUNCIL REALIZED OTHER THAN MYSELF THAT I HAPPEN TO HAVE LOOKED.
TREE OF US WERE ON LAST YEAR AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT ALONG WITH PLAYGROUNDS.
BOTH WERE IN THERE, AND NOW IT GOT REMOVED.
AGAIN, IF STAFF CAN COME BACK AND WHATEVER.
IT STARTS WITH WHAT CAN YOU PRACTICALLY GET DONE AND THEN HOW MUCH IS IT, AND HOW MUCH COULD YOU PRACTICALLY GET DONE IN 2027 AND MAYBE THEY COULDN'T GET EIGHT DONE DESPITE THE PLAN.
I'M RECEPTIVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I THE FACTS TO MAKE A DECISION. THAT IS OUR JOB.
>> JUST PIGGYBACK ON WHEN YOU USED THE WORD EXPECTATION THAT WAS OUT THERE ALREADY.
I'D LIKE TO SEE THIS COME BACK AGAIN.
BUT A QUESTION, WILL THE FDOT MONEY BE INVOLVED IF WE CAN DO ANY OF THIS?
>> IF YOU SO WISH FOR THAT MONEY TO BE INCORPORATED, WE CAN DO THAT. IT'S AVAILABLE.
IT'S GOING TO BE SITTING IN THE 310 OR THE CIP FUND BALANCE AND AVAILABLE.
THAT WOULD DEFINITELY BE ONE FUNDING SOURCE THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO YOU.
>> YOU LOOK AT THE PRESENTATION, PAGE 16, THAT'S WHERE HE WAS SHOWING THE FUND BALANCE THAT EXISTS.
NOW, IT DIMINISHES IN LATER YEARS.
THAT'S AN ISSUE. BUT BETWEEN THAT, HE OFFERED UP THE RETURN ON WHAT WE GAVE FDOT, BECAUSE THE PROJECT WAS COMPLETED LESS THAN WHAT WE HAD CONTRIBUTED.
JUST FOR THOSE THAT DIDN'T KNOW, IN ORDER TO ACCELERATE THAT PROJECT TO BENEFIT THE PUBLIC, WE CO-FUNDED IT WITH FDOT.
>> WE MAKE THOSE DECISIONS AS OPPOSED TO.
WE COULD HAVE WAITED PROBABLY ANOTHER DECADE BEFORE THEY GET TO IT.
BUT THOSE SERIES OF DECISIONS WE HAVE TO MAKE.
THAT'S WHY WE WERE ELECTED TO MAKE THE DECISIONS. THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THEN I'LL TAKE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 1425 ON FIRST READING, WHICH IS THE FISCAL YEAR '26 MILLAGE RATE.
I'D ASK FOR THE ORDINANCE TO BE READ ON SHORT TITLE.
>> ORDINANCE 1425, AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF TOWN OF JUPITER, FLORIDA, ADOPTING A MILLAGE RATE TO BE LEVIED BY THE TOWN OF JUPITER ON TAXABLE REAL INTANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY WITHIN THE TOWN FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING IN OCTOBER 1, 2025, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2026, STATING THE ROLLED BACK MILLAGE RATE, STATING THE PERCENT BY WHICH THE MILLAGE RATE EXCEEDS, IF ANY, THE ROLLED BACK MILLAGE RATE, AND LEVYING AD VALOREM TAXES ON TAXABLE REAL INTANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY IN THE TOWN OF JUPITER FOR THE SAID FISCAL YEAR.
>> HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 1425 AND FIRST READING.
ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
I'LL TAKE A MOTION IN THE SECOND TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 1525 ON FIRST READING, WHICH IS APPROVING THE FISCAL YEAR '26-'30 COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM.
>> ASK FOR ORDINANCE 1525 TO BE READ ON A SHORT TITLE.
>> ORDINANCE NUMBER 1525, AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF JUPITER, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE TOWN'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO UPDATE THE FIVE-YEAR COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM, INCLUDED WITHIN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ELEMENT OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF LAWS IN CONFLICT, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON APPROVING ORDINANCE 1525, FIRST READING.
ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> OPPOSED. NO. MOTION CARRIES FOUR TO ONE, WITH MAYOR DISSENTING.
MOVING ON TO CITIZEN COMMENTS.
DO WE HAVE ANY CITIZEN COMMENTS?
[4. August 19, 2025, Town Council Meeting Minutes; and August 21, 2025, Town Council Workshop Meeting Minutes.]
[00:55:02]
COUNCIL, WE HAVE BEFORE US MINUTES FROM THE AUGUST 19TH TOWN COUNCIL MEETING AS WELL AS THE AUGUST 24TH WORKSHOP.
THERE ARE SOME CORRECTIONS ON THE DAIS.
UNLESS IF THERE ARE NO OTHER CORRECTIONS, I'D ASK FOR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THOSE TWO MEETING MINUTES AS AMENDED.
>> MOTION TO APPROVE AS AMENDED.
>> MOTION AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVING ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[CONSENT AGENDA ]
IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC THAT WISHES TO PULL A CONSENT AGENDA ITEM?>> IS THERE ANY MEMBER ON THE DAIS THAT WISHES TO PULL A CONSENT AGENDA ITEM?
>> YES. I HAVE THREE, 06, 8, AND 15.
>> WELL, NUMBER NINE WENT AWAY, SO THAT'S THE NEW ONE.
>> THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO MAKE SURE, SO THERE'S NO CONFUSION.
>> NUMBER FIVE. I'M PULLING NUMBER NINE.
THE AMENDED CONSENT AGENDA EXISTS OF 7, 10, 13, AND 14.
CAN I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE AMENDED CONSENT AGENDA?
>> MOTION A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> MOVING ON TO THE FIRST ITEM PULLED,
[5. Ordinance 16-25, First Reading, non renewal of the consent to continuing participation in the Jupiter-Municipal Service Taxing Unit (the Jupiter MSTU) for the purpose of receiving fire-rescue and emergency medical services from Palm Beach County. (Second Reading 9/18/2025)]
ORDINANCE 1625, FIRST READING PULLED BY THE VICE MAYOR.>> YEAH. COULD I JUST GET A BRIEF EXPLANATION FROM STAFF FOR THE PUBLIC? THERE'S BEEN SOME CONFUSION OVER THE MONTHS OF DATES WHEN THERE IS OVERLAPPING TAXATION FOR JUPITER FIRE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY.
JUST A BRIEF EXPLANATION FOR THE RECORD.
>> THE ORDINANCE THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, IT'S A NOTIFICATION PROCESS THAT'S REQUIRED BY STATUTE FOR THE JUPITER FIRE MSTU.
WHAT IT IS, THIS SPECIFIC ORDINANCE IS SAYING THAT WE ARE OPTING OUT FOR THE TAX YEAR OF 2026, WHICH WILL BE TAXES COLLECTED IN FISCAL YEAR '27 OR IN NOVEMBER OF 2026.
I UNDERSTAND THE CONFUSION, BUT THIS ORDINANCE NEEDS TO BE ADOPTED BEFORE JANUARY 1ST, 2026, BECAUSE YOU NEED TO NOTIFY THE PROPERTY APPRAISER, THE TAX COLLECTOR, AND ALSO THE COUNTY THAT WE WILL BE OPTING OUT OF THE JUPITER MSTU.
REMEMBER, THE CITIZENS HAVE WATCHED PRIOR MEETINGS WHERE WE'VE ACTUALLY ADOPTED TO BE INCLUDED FOR NEXT YEAR'S TAXES.
WE'VE ASKED, MEANING FY'27, WE'RE NOTIFYING THOSE ENTITIES THAT WE WILL NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE JUPITER MSTU.
>> JUST SO JUPITER RESIDENTS KNOW, THEY DON'T START PAYING FOR JFRD UNTIL OCTOBER 1ST OF THE STARTING FISCAL YEAR.
>> OCTOBER 1, 2026, WE WILL START.
>> THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.
>> SURE. I KNOW IT'S CONFUSING. IT DEFINITELY IS.
>> CAN I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 1625, FIRST READING?
>> CAN I HAVE ORDINANCE 1625 READ ON SHORT TITLE?
>> ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL, THE TOWN OF JUPITER, FLORIDA, STATING THAT THE TOWN COUNCIL DOES NOT CONSENT TO THE CONTINUING PARTICIPATION AND INCLUSION OF THE PROPERTIES WITHIN THE TOWN IN THE JUPITER MSTU FOR THE PURPOSES OF RECEIVING FIRE RESCUE EMERGENCY, MEDICAL, AND OTHER RELATED SERVICES FROM PALM BEACH COUNTY FOR THE TAX YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2026, AND THEREAFTER, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 1625, FIRST READING.
ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
[6. Abacoa - Workplace and Workplace Limited Subdistrict Master Site Plan and PAM Health Rehabilitation Hospital Individual Site Plan and Special Exception. A. Resolution 96-25, Quasi-Judicial - Abacoa Workplace and Workplace Limited Subdistrict master site plan amendment. ]
NUMBER SIX ON THE ABACOA WORKPLACE LIMITED MASTER SITE PLAN[01:00:04]
AND PAM HEALTH REHAB INDIVIDUAL SITE PLAN AND THE SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS.DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY EX PARTE DISCLOSURES?
>> IS THIS THE RENDINA PROJECT? I KNOW WE APPROVED THIS A FEW YEARS AGO.
>> I DISCUSSED WITH HIM ABOUT THIS THE OTHER DAY, JUST A BRIEF DISCUSSION.
>> I HAVE NONE. I KNOW THIS ONE WAS PULLED BY COUNCILOR GUISINGER.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR PLEASURE WAS ON THIS ONE, BUT I THINK THE APPLICANT HAD ASKED IF IT'S PULLED TO GIVE A PRESENTATION. IS THAT OKAY?
>> WELL, HE CAN. BUT I JUST HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, ONE FROM THE P&Z ANALYSIS, AND THE OTHER ONE WAS RELATIVE TO, MORE AMONG OURSELVES, THE WORKFORCE HOUSING LINKAGE FEE.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE REALLY NEED A PRESENTATION.
I ALSO SEEN THE PRESENTATION YOU MADE TO P&Z.
>> WELL, CAN WE JUST TRY THE QUESTION FIRST?
>> THE QUESTION WAS ONE OF THE CONDITIONS THAT STAFF HAD ON PAGE NINE, CONDITION APPROVAL REGARDING SHARED PARKING EASEMENT.
WHO MAKES THE DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER PARKING TO BE COMPLIMENTARY FOR SHARED PARKING? WHO MAKES THAT DETERMINATION? IS THAT THE DEVELOPER OR THE TOWN MAKES THAT DETERMINATION?
>> YEAH. I'M SORRY. CAN WE SWEAR IN THOSE THAT MAY BE GIVEN TESTIMONY?
>> DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT THE TESTIMONY YOU'RE ABOUT TO GIVE IN THIS HEARING IS THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH?
>> YES. GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL.
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, WE WOULD LOOK AT A SHARED PARKING ANALYSIS.
OUR CODE LAYS OUT VARIOUS USES, AND SO WE WOULD USE THAT AS A BASIS FOR UNDERSTANDING IF THEY'RE COMPLEMENTARY OR NOT.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF A PLACE GOES NEXT DOOR THAT HAS A RESTAURANT, THAT COMPLEMENTS VERY WELL WITH MEDICAL.
IF ANOTHER MEDICAL OFFICE MOVES THE NEXT DOOR, BOTH THOSE USES MAY PEAK AT THE SAME TIME, THE HOSPITAL AND THE MEDICAL OFFICE, AND THOSE WOULDN'T BE COMPLEMENTARY USES.
WE WOULD USE THAT SHARED PARKING THAT'S ESTABLISHED IN THE CODE AS THE BASIS FOR THAT.
>> THE TOWN HAS THE FINAL SAY ON THAT, THOUGH?
>> EXCUSE ME. I'M GOING TO ABSTAIN FROM THIS ITEM.
>> THANK YOU, MR. WATSON. APPRECIATE IT.
THE LAST ONE, THIS IS MORE TOWARDS COUNCIL.
I THINK RELATIVE TO THE WORKFORCE HOUSING FEE, I UNDERSTAND, AS PART OF THIS DEVELOPMENT, WE'RE COLLECTING LINKAGE FEES.
MY QUESTION IS, MAYBE THIS IS FINANCE, MIGHT BE ABLE TO ANSWER THIS.
HOW IS THAT RECORDED AS REVENUE, AND WHAT IS THE BALANCE OF THE CURRENT ACCOUNT? WHAT ARE THE PLANS FROM THE TOWN TO USE, WHAT WE'VE CAPTURED IN LINKAGE FEES TO DATE?
MAYBE MR. REYNOLDS CAN ANSWER THAT.
THERE IS AN ACCOUNT THAT THESE ARE PUT IN, AND THE LINKAGE FEES ARE PART OF THE CODE REQUIREMENT FOR PROJECT.
>> YEAH, I KNOW IT'S PART OF THE REQUIREMENT, BUT WHAT DO WE DO WITH IT?
>> WELL, IT'S THE COUNCIL'S DECISION.
THEY SIT THERE UNTIL WE DECIDE.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT BEFORE.
I THINK THERE'S OVER $2 MILLION IN THE ACCOUNT, BUT WE'D HAVE TO HAVE SOME PURPOSE FOR IT.
>> I THINK WE HAVE A ROUNDTABLE SCHEDULED.
>> WE DO HAVE A ROUNDTABLE SCHEDULED?
>> LATER ON, THERE IS A PLAN TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THAT.
>> I'M GOOD THEN. I'LL WAIT FOR THAT DISCUSSION. THANK YOU.
>> I DIDN'T ASK FOR THE PRESENTATION BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY UNRELATED.
>> I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE BOTH RESOLUTION 96-25 AND 97-25.
>> MAYOR, IF WE COULD HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL VOTE ON EACH RESOLUTION?
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 96-25.
>> MOTION TO SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> AYE. MOTION CARRIES FOUR TO ONE, FOUR TO ZERO, WITH THE VICE MAYOR ABSTAINING.
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 97-25.
>> MOTION AND THE SECOND TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 97-25.
[01:05:05]
ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.>> AYE. MOTION CARRIES FOUR TO ZERO, WITH THE VICE MAYOR ABSTAINING.
>> EXCUSE ME, MAYOR, WHEN THE VICE MAYOR RETURNS.
>> HE'S GOT TO GIVE HIS REASON.
UNDERSTAND. WE'RE DONE WITH THIS ITEM, SO IF THE VICE MAYOR WILL RETURN AND THEN DISCLOSE FOR THE RECORD, THE REASONS FOR ABSTAINING.
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT. WE APPROVED THIS A FEW YEARS AGO, AND I HAVE A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH RICHARD RENDINA.
I BELIEVE HE WAS THE APPLICANT IN THIS PROCESS.
SO JUST OUT OF FULL TRANSPARENCY, I ABSTAINED.
I BELIEVE THIS IS IN REGARDS TO THAT APPLICATION.
>> YEAH, BUT I DON'T KNOW HE'S THE APPLICANT FOR THIS ONE.
>> BUT IT'S JUST FOR COVERING ALL BASES. THANK YOU.
>> I APOLOGIZE TO MY COLLEAGUES AND TO THE PUBLIC.
I ALWAYS CIRCLE QUASI-JUDICIAL.
WE VOTED ON SEVEN, BUT WE DIDN'T DISCLOSE IF WE HAD QUASI-JUDICIAL.
SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE I'M FOR THE RECORD GETTING THOSE DISCLOSURES. I HAVE NONE.
>> NO, 27, WHICH IS THE ADMIRALS COVE SITE PLAN AMENDMENT.
>> FOR THE RECORD, MOVING ON TO NUMBER EIGHT,
[8. Approval of the Criteria and Process for a Decorative and Aesthetic Element for a Roundabout located at A1A and Jupiter Beach Road. ]
PULLED BY COUNCILOR GUISINGER.I THINK THE ART COMMITTEE HAS DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB AS FAR AS OUTLINING THE PROCESS.
THEY WANT TO USE IT FOR THIS ARTISTIC ENHANCEMENT TO THE ROUNDABOUT AT BEACH ROAD AND [INAUDIBLE] A1A.
THE QUESTION I HAVE, THEY'VE LAID OUT THREE THEMES, AND I'VE TALKED WITH THE ART COMMITTEE LIAISON.
WHAT THEY HAVE, THEY'VE LAID OUT THREE POTENTIALS, THEMES ON PAGE ONE OF THEIR DOCUMENT.
THE QUESTION I HAVE, DOES THE COUNCIL HAVE ANY OTHER DESIRES RELATIVE TO THE THEME THAT THEY'D LIKE TO ADDRESS? I THINK THEY'VE DONE A GOOD JOB.
I LIKE WHAT THEY HAVE HERE ON PAPER.
I JUST WANT TO OPEN THIS UP FOR ANY DISCUSSION.
ANYBODY ELSE ON THE COUNCIL HAD SOME OTHER IDEAS THEY WANT TO ADD TO IT.
THEY WANT A MEETING NEXT WEEK, NEXT MONDAY, TO CEMENT WHAT THEY WANT TO GO FORWARD WITH AS FAR AS PUTTING OUT FOR BIDS FOR THIS, SO THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'VE CONSIDERED EVERYTHING FROM THE COUNCIL THAT WE MAY HAVE.
>> UNDERSTAND. FOR THOSE OF US THAT HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE, I READ THIS AND KNEW THAT THIS IS YOUR TIME IF YOU HAD AN ITEM.
I DIDN'T PULL IT. I'M OKAY WITH WHAT THE ART COMMITTEE WAS RECOMMENDING.
IS THAT THE SAME FOR EVERYBODY?
I WAS GRATEFUL THAT THEY TOOK INTO ACCOUNT THE SAFETY AND VISIBILITY, AND THAT THEY LOOKED AT THE BRANDING GUIDELINES OF THE TOWN, TOO, SO THEY'VE REALLY COVERED ALL BASES.
>> I DID VERIFY WITH THEM ONCE THEY DO DECIDE TO GO FORWARD, AND THEY KNOW THEY HAVE FUNDING WHEN THEY DO THEIR SCORE, AND THEY'LL ALSO INCLUDE COST AND SCHEDULE WITH THAT.
>> YOU SEE ON THE SECOND PAGE, WE ULTIMATELY APPROVED THE FINAL SELECTION.
>> ART COMMITTEES REALLY DONE A GREAT JOB GENERALLY SPEAKING.
>> WE GET UPDATES LIKE THIS AND WHEN SOMETHING IS GOING INTO A PROCESS, IT'S GOING TO ULTIMATELY COME BACK TO US TO COMMENT IF WE NEED TO.
>> I'M GOOD WITH IT, AND I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> IT'S A PERFECT LOCATION FOR AN ART FEATURE.
IT SCREAMS NEEDS SOMETHING THERE AND IT'LL BE FANTASTIC.
>> I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> WE'RE APPROVING THE CRITERION PROCESS FOR A DECORATIVE AND AESTHETIC ELEMENT FOR THE ROUNDABOUT LOCATED A A1A ON JUPITER BEACH ROAD, CORRECT?
>> GOT A MOTION IN THE SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR. SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[9. Resolution 87-25, Approving contracts to Florida-Spectrum Environmental Services, Inc. (W2607A) and Advanced Environmental Laboratories, Inc. (W2607B) for Water Quality Laboratory Services.]
[01:10:04]
WHICH IS RESOLUTION 8725, WHICH I PULLED.AS I NORMALLY DO, I HAD HAD SOME COMMUNICATIONS WITH STAFF ABOUT THIS ITEM.
I WAS PRETTY CLEAR ABOUT MY FEELINGS ABOUT APPROVING BOTH OF THEM.
YOU ALL CAN DECIDE TO HEAR FROM STAFF, BUT I WILL SAY THIS IS SO I SECURED I HAD ASKED FOR AND SECURED THE BID EVALUATION SHEETS, DONE BY THIS IS A PROCESS THAT IS USED ON SOME PROJECTS.
I WANTED TO SEE THE DETAIL BECAUSE I WAS AND I'VE DONE THAT IN THE PAST BEFORE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STRUCK ME WAS THAT ONE BIDDER WAS 41% HIGHER THAN THE OTHER ONE.
I WAS JUST CURIOUS TO SEE HOW THEY EVALUATED COST IN THIS.
FIRST OF ALL, WHEN I LOOKED AT THE SCORING SHEETS, WHICH I WAS PROVIDED, THERE WAS AN ERROR ON ONE OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, WHERE FOR FLORIDA SPECTRUM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, WHEREAS ON THE SECOND CRITERIA, THEY SCORED IT IN 18 POINTS WHEN THE MAXIMUM POINTS WAS 15, THERE'S, COOL SCRIBES ERROR OR WHAT HAVE YOU, BUT THAT ERROR WAS KIND OF CARRIED ON THROUGH.
I THINK WHEN WE GET OUR PROCUREMENT MANAGER THAT WE'VE APPROVED IN THE BUDGET, MAYBE THERE'D BE QUALITY CHECKS ON THIS STUFF.
BUT SO THAT DOES ADJUST THE NUMBERS.
THE ONE THAT CAME IN TOP WAS ONE THAT WE'VE USED BEFORE AND ALSO WAS THE HIGHEST COST.
ONE OF THE COST CRITERIA, WHICH WAS ASSIGNED 15% OF THE SCORING, IT TURNED OUT THAT THE DIFFERENCE IN BEING 41% HIGHER ONLY AMOUNTED TO TWO POINT ADVANTAGE FOR THE SECOND BIDDER, WHICH THEY WERE RECOMMENDING A CONTRACT.
I'VE COMMENTED ON THIS BEFORE AND I'M JUST BEING CONSISTENT WITH IT IS, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE'RE ASSIGNING SUFFICIENT PRIORITY TO COST.
YOU WANT TO USE SOME OF YOU'VE ALWAYS USED, BUT THIS ISN'T FLORIDA SPECTRUM, WHO WERE USED BEFORE IS NOT THE ONLY TESTING COMPANY ON THE FACE OF THE PLANET THAT DOES THIS STUFF.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE EVALUATIONS, IT APPEARED THAT THE FOUR EVALUATORS FELT BASED ON THEIR RATINGS THAT ALL OF THEM APPEARED TO BE CAPABLE.
I'M JUST UNCOMFORTABLE WITH AND I WON'T SUPPORT ISSUING TWO CONTRACTS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT STAFF TO HAVE THE OPTION TO SPEND ANOTHER 50 GRAND TO GO WITH THE VENDOR THAT THEY'VE USED BEFORE, BECAUSE WHAT'S BEING ASKED IS TO AWARD TWO CONTRACTS.
I THINK COMPETITIVE BIDDING IS SO EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND IF YOU GET THE REPUTATION, THAT A NEW ENTRANT CAN'T GET IN.
YOU START REALLY GETTING HARMED.
I'M JUST NOT USED TO SUCH A LOW VALUE BEING ASSIGNED TO COST.
I'M WILLING TO DO ON THIS ONE IS TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT FOR ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL LABORATORIES, BUT I WILL NOT SUPPORT FLORIDA SPECTRUM BECAUSE I'M JUST UNCOMFORTABLE WITH GIVING STAFF THE OPTION TO GO WITH WHO THEY'VE GONE WITH BEFORE AND JUST SPEND MORE MONEY.
IF ANYBODY ON THE COUNCIL WANTS TO ASK THE QUESTION, BUT I'M NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THE RESOLUTION, BUT I WOULD BE ON AN AMENDED RESOLUTION TO AWARD TO THE ONE COMPANY.
>> ALL OF THIS IS ULTIMATELY CONTINGENT ON COUNCIL APPROVAL, REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS, THE FINAL THE BUCK STOPS WITH US.
I DO UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAD SOME REALLY DIFFICULT CONTRACTS,
[01:15:03]
THE ONE AT OLD TOWN HALL COMES TO MIND BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME REAL PERFORMANCE ISSUES.WE'VE HAD REALLY CRAZY PERFORMANCE ISSUES IN RECENT YEARS, AND THAT HAS BEEN A VERY HEAVY BURDEN ON STAFF.
COST HAS ALWAYS BEEN NUMBER ONE.
I KNOW PERFORMANCE HAS MOVED UP.
I'M NOT SURE IF COST HAS MOVED DOWN TO SUCH A LOW STATUS, BUT I KNOW STAFF WANTED TO REALLY I THINK THERE'S SO MANY COSTS IF YOU GET IT WRONG AND YOU GET THE WRONG CONTRACTOR AND YOU HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN OR YOU HAVE TO CLEAN UP, THOSE COSTS AREN'T TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT CAN PROVIDE MORE DETAIL ON THIS FOR THE TYPE OF WORK OR THE CHANGE IN CRITERIA BECAUSE I THINK I'VE HEARD THIS THAT WE REALLY CARE ABOUT PERFORMANCE OR TOWN MANAGER, MAYBE YOU COULD SPEAK TO IT.
THERE ARE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH GETTING IT WRONG OR HAVING TO COME BACK AFTER.
AGAIN, BECAUSE I AM OVER NEAR OLD TOWN HALL FREQUENTLY AND I REMEMBER THOSE RESIDENTS COMING UP AND HAVING THOSE CONCERNS.
I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND IT A LITTLE BETTER.
>> CAN I JUST JUST ADD ONE THING FOR SOME OF THE OTHER COLLEAGUES UP HERE? SOME BIDS WE DO WITH CONTRACTORS.
YOU JUST BID IT AND IT'S THE LOW BIDDER GETS IT, PERIOD.
THIS IS AN EVALUATED ITEM, AND I GET IT MORE WHEN IT'S EVALUATED, LIKE IF IT'S ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES, IT'S A STATE REQUIREMENT THAT YOU BECAUSE HOW CAN YOU JUDGE IF SOMEBODY'S GOING TO PROVIDE, BETTER VALUE SERVICES, SO THEY ALLOW YOU TO DO A EVALUATION, WHICH IS LIKE WHAT WAS DONE HERE.
BUT FOR ME, THIS IS TEST SERVICES, SO IT'S NOT A BUT I'LL LET OUR DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES TO COMMENT ABOUT THIS.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL, MAYOR.
AMANDA BARNES, DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE SCRIVENER'S ERROR.
WE TAKE THOSE INDIVIDUAL SCORES FROM THE SHEETS AND THEN WE PUT THEM INTO A SPREADSHEET.
THE ERROR WAS RECOGNIZED WHEN THE SPREADSHEET THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE BACK OF THE MEETING MINUTES, THAT'S IN YOUR AGENDA PACKET.
THOSE SCORES SHOULD BE CORRECT.
I'LL GO BACK AND JUST DOUBLE CHECK THAT.
THIS WAS A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS AND NOT AN INVITATION TO BID.
AN INVITATION TO BID IS TYPICALLY WHERE IT'S JUST BASED ON PRICE, WHERE YOU DO LOOK AT QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE, BUT YOU'RE NOT EVALUATING THE PROPOSAL BASED ON A SCORING SYSTEM FOR THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, WHICH IS WHAT THIS CONTRACT WAS, AND IT'S NOT A CONTRACTOR.
WE HAVE VARIOUS AND MANY REGULATORY PERMITS AT THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT.
WE ARE REQUIRED TO DO WATER QUALITY SAMPLING AND SUBMIT THOSE TO THE REGULATORY AGENCIES IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH OUR PERMITS, OUR OPERATING PERMITS, AND SOME OF OUR CONSTRUCTION PERMITS.
THAT'S WHAT THIS CONTRACT IS FOR.
IN AN RFP, YOU HAVE A SELECTION COMMITTEE THAT IT'S APPROVED BY THE TOWN MANAGER.
EACH OF THE SELECTION COMMITTEE MEMBERS, IN THIS CASE, THERE WERE FIVE, REVIEW THE PROPOSALS INDEPENDENTLY, DO THEIR SCORING SHEET AND THEN COME TOGETHER IN A PUBLIC MEETING, AND WE DISCUSS ANY QUESTIONS WE MAY HAVE, AND WE PUT ALL THE SCORES INTO THE SPREADSHEET.
AT NO TIME, DO ANY OF THE SELECTION COMMITTEE MEMBERS DISCUSS THE PROPOSALS OR THEIR SCORES.
IT'S COMPLETELY KEPT TO EACH INDIVIDUAL UNTIL WE GET INTO THAT MEETING AND PUT THE SCORES IN THE SPREADSHEET.
THEN THE SCORES ARE WHAT THEY ARE JUST BASED ON EACH INDIVIDUAL'S ANALYSIS.
THE FLORIDA SPECTRUM WAS THE HIGHEST RANKED SCORE BY THE FIVE PERSON SELECTION COMMITTEE.
THE SECOND HIGHEST RANKED FIRM TOOK EXCEPTION TO SOME OF THIS STANDARD METHODS THAT WERE SPECIFIED IN THE CONTRACT FOR TESTING, WHICH WE NAME EPA STANDARD METHODS.
THEY TOOK EXCEPTION TO SOME OF THOSE AND PROVIDED ALTERNATE METHODS, BUT THE ALTERNATE METHODS ALSO DID NOT MEET THE EPA ALTERNATE METHOD APPROVALS.
THE THIRD RANK FIRM BY THE SELECTION COMMITTEE IS THE ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL LABORATORY.
SELECTION WE DISCUSSED IT AND PRICE WAS CONSIDERED.
THAT IS WHY WE WERE BRINGING FORWARD TWO CONTRACTS.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE SPENDING DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY.
WE'RE STILL I BELIEVE THE FUNDING WAS LIKE 172,000 FOR THE YEAR.
THAT WOULD BE SPLIT AMONGST THE TWO LABORATORIES.
[01:20:01]
IF YOU DESIRE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH TWO LABS OR NOT.FLORIDA SPECTRUM HAS BEEN OUR LAB FOR MANY YEARS.
WE KNOW THEIR WORK, BUT TO SAY THAT THEY WERE SELECTED SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN WORKING FOR US, THAT I CAN'T SPEAK FOR ANY OF THE OTHER SELECTION COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND HOW THEY RANK THEIR SCORES, BUT THAT IS NOT HOW I RANKED MY SCORES.
BUT AGAIN, ULTIMATELY, IT'S UP TO THE COUNSEL WHAT THEY DESIRE TO DO.
ON THOSE 11 SERVICES YOU'VE NOTED IN THE IN THE PAPER.
ARE ANY OF THOSE NEW SERVICES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN DONE BEFORE THAT WE NEED A QUALIFIED VENDOR TO DO THEM?
>> YES. THE COMPLIANCE SAMPLING FOR P IS A NEW REGULATORY REQUIREMENT, THAT WAS NOT IN PREVIOUS CONTRACTS, AND SO THAT IS A NEW ADDED COST AND IT IS AN EXPENSIVE COST AS WELL.
FLORIDA SPECTRUM DOES NOT DO THAT.
THAT TESTING IN HOUSE, THEY HAVE TO SUB THAT TESTING OUT, WHICH IS PART OF THE REASON FOR THEIR HIGHER PRICE.
>> BUT ALL THE SUPPLIERS OR VENDOR YOU LOOKED AT ARE QUALIFIED TO DO THESE 11 TESTS OR NOT?
>> THE TWO THAT ARE INCLUDED IN OR IN THIS AGENDA ITEM FOR COUNSEL'S CONSIDERATION ARE ABLE QUALIFIED TO DO THE TEST WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FLORIDA SPECTRUM WOULD SUBCONTRACTED OUT INSTEAD OF DOING IT IN HOUSE.
ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL CAN DO IT IN HOUSE.
>> JUST ONE QUESTION. I WANT TO MAKE SURE I WAS INTERPRETING YOUR RESPONSE BACK TO ME.
FLORIDA SPECTRUM PRICING, YOU ACTUALLY NEGOTIATED A $13,752 REDUCTION IN A TOTAL BID PRICE, CORRECT?
>> WHAT YOU HAVE IN THE CONTRACT IS THE NEGOTIATED REDUCED PRICE?
>> ACTUALLY, I SAY 41% HIGHER, BUT WE STILL NEGOTIATED, WHICH MAKES ME UNEASY WHEN WHAT HAPPENS IS JUST EXPERIENCES THAT VENDORS YOU DO BUSINESS WITH ARE GOING TO BE HIGHER.
I DO APPRECIATE AND NOTED THAT.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THEIR BID CAME IN 60% HIGHER. THANK YOU FOR.
>> I'M SORRY. DISQUALIFYING THE 172 THROUGH 25 IS BETWEEN THE TWO.
>> WHAT DOES COUNSEL, SOMEONE WANT TO MAKE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM FOR DISCUSSION.
>> DID YOU SECOND? HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 7025, ANY DISCUSSION.
JUST AGAIN, I'M GOING TO SAY, I'M JUST DEEPLY CONCERNED WITH THE PROCESS.
AGAIN, I HOPE WHEN WE GET A PROCUREMENT MANAGER.
THE CRITERIA WE GO OUT TO BID IS GOING TO BE SCRUTINIZED A BIT MORE, PUTTING SOME HIGHER VALUE ON COST TO OUR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.
I WON'T BE SUPPORTING THIS ONE.
MOTION IN THE SECOND ON RESOLUTION 8725.
ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
THE MOTION CARRIES FOUR TO ONE WITH MAYOR KURETSKI DISSENTING.
[15. Resolution 108-25, Authorizing participation in a lawsuit regarding Senate Bill 180 and authorizing the Town Manager to retain the Law Firm of Weiss Sorata Helfman Cole + Bierman, PL, to represent the Town, for an amount up to $20,000. ]
MOVING ON TO NUMBER 15 THAT WAS PULLED.>> I DID. I APPRECIATE THE TOWN ATTORNEY PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
DO WE KNOW HOW MANY PLAINTIFFS HAVE JOINED THE LAWSUIT AT THIS CURRENT TIME?
>> AS OF LAST NIGHT, NINE CONFIRMED MUNICIPALITIES, TWO COUNTIES.
I SPEAKING WITH COUNSEL WHO IS GOING TO REPRESENT THE CLASS, THEY WERE EXPECTING ANYWHERE FROM 20-30 MORE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO COME IN OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.
AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, MUNICIPALITIES, THEIR TARGET IS MID SEPTEMBER.
[01:25:03]
MUNICIPALITIES MEET THE FIRST AND THIRD WEEK OF THE MONTH, THE SECOND AND FOURTH WEEK, SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF STAGNATION.BUT BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED BY MUNICIPALITIES, EVERYONE THAT IS CONSIDERING IT HAS PROBABLY PUT IT ON THEIR AGENDAS IN SEPTEMBER.
THE ORIGINAL GOAL WAS 50 CITIES.
THEY STILL MAY MEET THAT, BUT PREDOMINANTLY, SO FAR, I THINK IT'S BEEN THE METROPOLITAN AREAS BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE AREAS THAT HAVE THE MOST TO GAIN OR LOSE BY ADOPTING COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENTS AND LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS.
>> ONE LAST QUESTION. I THINK ONE OF OUR PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING, MAYBE WAS YOU, COUNCILOR SUNDSTROM, ASKED ABOUT THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH SB180, AND I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, HAS THE TOWN ATTORNEY COMPLETED THEIR COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF APPLICABLE ORDINANCE THAT THE TOWN MAY HAVE RISK IF THAT GO BACK TO AUGUST 1ST OF 24?
>> MR. SICKLER INFORMED ME IN AN EMAIL YESTERDAY THAT THE TOWN DOES NOT HAVE ANY IN THE WINDOW DATING BACK TO AUGUST OF 2024.
THERE IS ONE UPCOMING POTENTIAL PLAN AMENDMENT AND INTERNALLY, OUR VIEW OF THAT PLAN AMENDMENT IS THAT IT'S NOT A BURDEN.
WHETHER PROPERTY OWNERS WOULD VIEW IT AS A BURDEN OR MORE RESTRICTIVE WOULD BE UP TO THEM.
BUT OUR VIEW OF IT IS THAT IT'S AN IMPROVEMENT OVER THE EXISTING REGULATIONS WITH RESPECT TO THAT AREA.
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
>> TOOK A MOTION AND A SECOND ON APPROVING RESOLUTION 10825.
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION A APPROVE RESOLUTION 108-25.
>> MOTION AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR OF SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVE IT ON THE REPORTS. TOWN ATTORNEY.
[TOWN ATTORNEY]
AS YOU KNOW, WE CONTINUE TO PLOT ALONG WITH HOPEFULLY A RESOLUTION OF THE SUNNY SANDS CHALLENGE IN REGARDS TO THE CERTIFICATE TO DIG.
COUNCIL FOR THE PROPERTY OWNERS IS CURRENTLY ON VACATION.
I WOULD EXPECT TO HEAR BACK NEXT WEEK.
>> THANK YOU FOR FRAMING IT THAT WAY, SO WE ALL REMEMBER THIS WHOLE ISSUE WAS ABOUT THEIR CHALLENGE OF OUR CERTIFICATE TO DIG.
[TOWN MANAGER]
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST TO START OUT WITH A COUPLE OF REMINDERS ABOUT EVENTS COMING UP.
FIRST OF ALL, TOMORROW 3:30 P.M.
I REMINDED THE TOWN WILL OFFICIALLY CELEBRATE THE OPENING OF THE NEW PLAYGROUND AT JUPITER COMMUNITY PARK WITH THE RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY.
HOPEFULLY THE RAIN WILL HOLD UP.
WE INVITE EVERYONE TO COME OUT AND SEE THE NEW PLAYGROUND.
ACTUALLY, I HAVE TO SAY THAT THE WORK AND CONSTRUCTION ON THESE PLAYGROUNDS IS JUST REALLY REMARKABLE.
WAIT TILL YOU SEE THE FLAGSHIP PLAYGROUND.
IT'S REALLY PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.
ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 AT 10:00 A.M, THE TOWN WILL HOLD A SHORT CEREMONY OUTSIDE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, TO HONOR MAJOR EDWARD K HUMPHREY AND POLICE OFFICER FIRTH CLASS BRUCE ST. LAURENT, BOTH OF WHOM WERE KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.
ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, THE TOWN WILL HOLD A PUBLIC INPUT WORKSHOP IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS TO RESIDENT FEEDBACK ON TWO INITIATIVES IMPACTING THE CENTER STREET CORRIDOR.
THE WORKSHOP WILL FOCUS ON THE PALM BEACH COUNTY PROJECT TO IMPROVE THE CENTER STREET ROADWAY, AND THE TOWN INITIATED ZONING CHANGE THAT WILL AFFECT THE COMMERCIAL AREA ALONG CENTER STREET, AND ALTERNATE A1A.
THE EVENT WILL BEGIN WITH A RECEPTION AT 5:00 P.M, FOLLOWED BY THE WORKSHOP AT 6:00 P.M.
FINALLY, NEXT FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, THE TOWN WILL CELEBRATE THE OPENING OF THE NEW PLAYGROUND AT INDIAN CREEK PARK, AND THIS CELEBRATION WILL BEGIN AT 3:30 IN THE AFTERNOON.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONGRATULATE UTILITY SERVICES MANAGER CHRIS MCKENZIE, WHO RECENTLY CELEBRATED 35 YEARS OF SERVICE WORKING WITH THE TOWN OF JUPITER.
I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE HIM AND THANK HIM FOR ALL HIS SERVICE, AS WELL AS THANK OUR UTILITIES DIRECTOR AND THE ENTIRE STAFF OUT THERE FOR THE AMAZING WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO AND FOR ALL THE AWARDS THAT YOU'RE CONSTANTLY WINNING.
I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, I PROBABLY TO GET A BIGGER BUILDING TO PUT ALL THE AWARDS THAT YOU GUYS KEEP WALKING AWAY WITH.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT SERVICE.
[01:30:02]
I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE DEPUTY CHIEF STEVE SHAW OF THE JUPITER FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT WHO RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM THE NATIONAL FIRE ACADEMIES EXECUTIVE FIRE OFFICER PROGRAM.IT'S A PRETTY INTENSE PROGRAM, AND HIS CAPSTONE PROJECT, IMAGINES, FOCUSED ON BUILDING ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE IN A NEW FIRE RESCUE AGENCY.
> THE TOWN IS ONCE AGAIN PARTNERING WITH THE PALM BEACH COUNTY PROPERTY APPRAISER'S OFFICE TO HOST SESSIONS TO HELP RESIDENTS SUBMIT HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION APPLICATIONS AND GET ANSWERS TO PROPERTY VALUE QUESTIONS.
STAFF FROM THE PROPERTY APPRAISER'S OFFICE WILL BE AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER ON THE SECOND WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH THROUGH DECEMBER.
THE FIRST OF THESE SESSIONS IS SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1:30-2:30.
THEN JUST ONE REPORT TO THE COUNCIL.
I HAD AN INCREDIBLE MEETING TODAY WITH THE NEW COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, MR. BRUZO.
I HAD WRITTEN HIM A LETTER ASKING HIM IF WE COULD MEET.
NOT ONLY DID HE ACCEPT THE INVITATION WHILE HE'S DRINKING FROM A FIRE HOSE, BUT HE CAME HERE TO THE TOWN HALL, AND WE SPENT ABOUT AN HOUR MYSELF AND OUR ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER KATE MORETO AND MR. BRUZO TOGETHER.
I GOT TO TELL YOU, IT WAS JUST REFRESHING.
HE'S DEFINITELY WHAT I CALL A WINDSHIELD PERSON.
WHAT YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY THERE'S A REASON WHY THE REARVIEW MIRROR IS SMALLER THAN THE WINDSHIELD.
HE'S CONSTANTLY LOOKING OUT THE WINDSHIELD.
I FEEL WE MADE SOME PROGRESS ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ISSUES, AND IT WAS JUST A REFRESHING MEETING.
I WISH HIM WELL AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE OUR COLLABORATION INTO THE FUTURE.
WITH THAT, MAYOR, THAT'S MY REPORT.
[TOWN COUNCIL – LIAISON REPORTS AND COMMENTS ]
>> I JUST WANTED TO BRING UP DURING THESE PAST FEW WEEKS GOING THROUGH THE CRA AND CIP WITH OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR.
I WAS PLEASED TO HEAR FROM OUR MEETING OF TWO WEEKS AGO THAT THE SUNSHADES, THAT WE ALL HAD SERIOUS CONCERN, HOW DO YOU TAKE THEM DOWN, DURING HURRICANES AND SO FORTH, THAT OUR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT HAS PUT THAT UNDER THE DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PLAN.
WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT ANYMORE.
WE CAN CONTINUE THINKING PARKS WITH SUNSHADES.
THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE PUT ON OUR STAFF.
THAT WAS A BIG QUESTION, I WAS GREAT TO HEAR THAT THEY JUMPED ON THAT THE VERY SAME NIGHT.
AGAIN, GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS, AND HEARING WHAT WAS IN THE FIVE YEAR STRAT PLAN, TRYING TO PULL THIS ALL TOGETHER.
I APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMENTS FOR OR AGAINST ANY ITEM THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING BECAUSE IT IS A LEARNING CURVE.
IT IS A LIVING DOCUMENT AS WE'RE CHANGING THINGS, BUT AGAIN, THE STAFF HAS BEEN INVALUABLE.
ANSWER THE QUESTIONS IMMEDIATELY, AT LEAST TO GIVE US THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE NEED.
STILL SENATE BILL 180, THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG ONE.
I APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK AND LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES WILL DO TO JUMP IN AND GIVE US MORE IN OUR TOOLBOX TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.
>> COULD YOU JUST CLARIFY WHAT YOU SAW THE ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC'S WORK DID ABOUT SHADE STRUCTURES?
>> I WAS TOLD WITH SCOTT AS I WAS MEETING WITH HIM THAT THE SUNSHADE, THAT'S BEYOND OUR PARKS AND REC STAFF.
THAT SHOULD NOT BE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.
THE ENGINEERING STAFF IS GOING TO PUT IT UNDER THEIR HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS SO THAT WHEN FEMA, AND THEY GET REIMBURSEMENT FOR DISASTERS THAT COULD BE INCLUDED IN THERE.
NOW, I DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS TO ALL THE QUESTIONS.
HOWEVER, IT'S PUT THERE NOW FOR THEM TO DO THEIR HOMEWORK. DUE DILIGENCE.
>> THAT'S A GOOD ACT ON THEIR PART. I FELT.
BUT I JUST WANT TO FOR THE RECORD, HAVE SAID THAT I WEIGHED IN THE CULTURE THAT I COME FROM, AND THE PERSON THAT I AM, I DON'T THINK IT'S SAFE FOR OUR STAFF TO TAKE THEM DOWN.
>> NO, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT DIDN'T GET LOST, WHICH IS WHY.
NO, I HOPE WE FIND A SAFE WAY.
WE DON'T HAVE IT. I WANTED TO RELIEVE THEM OF WORRYING ABOUT IT THE HURRICANE S.
>> A HUNDRED PERCENT AGREE WITH YOU.
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT STILL IS THE CASE.
IT'S PART OF OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN AND BY MAKING IT PART OF THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN.
FIRST OF ALL, OUR STAFF IS NOT GOING UP AND DEALING WITH THOSE SHADES.
ANY EXPENSES THAT WE INCUR WITH SUBCONTRACTORS AND THOSE TO TAKE THOSE SHADES DOWN.
BECAUSE IT'S IN OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN, THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR FEMA REIMBURSEMENT.
[01:35:03]
THAT'S A REMOVING. WE'RE WITH YOU 100 PERCENT.IF YOU REMEMBER THE OLD TOWN HALL, WATCHING THOSE PEOPLE GET UP ON THOSE LADDERS AND PUTTING THOSE HURRICANE SHUTTERS UP.
IT'S A WONDER NOBODY GOT HURT DOING THAT EITHER. WE'RE NOT DOING THAT.
>> THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO BE SURE. VICE MAYOR.
>> A COUPLE OF THINGS. I WAS ON VACATION OUR LAST MEETING AND I THINK THE TOWN MANAGER MENTIONED HIS COMMENTS OF ANOTHER DICT VESSEL WAS REMOVED FROM OUR WATERWAYS, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> I DID. WE REMOVED ANOTHER ONE RECENTLY.
>> I WANT TO SAY, THANKS TO THE JPD AND ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN GETTING THAT DONE, IT'S AN ARDUOUS PROCESS, AND I KNOW YOU TAKE ONE OUT SOME MORE SHOW UP, BUT WE'RE CHIPPING AWAY AT IT.
IT'S A LOT OF WORK, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT WAS ONE OF MY STRATEGIC INITIATIVES YEARS AGO AND THEY'VE STAYED ON THE BALL ON THAT.
THEN RESIDENTS REALLY APPRECIATE IT, ESPECIALLY THE BOATERS.
ALSO, I SEE THAT ONE OF THE WORKFORCE HOUSING UNITS FROM THE CORNERSTONE PROJECT THAT WE APPROVED YEARS AGO, ONE'S GOING ONLINE AND ONE'S CLOSE, AND SO IT'S A NICE.
IT'S A LOT, BUT IT'S SOMETHING, SO IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT'S COMING ON BOARD. THAT'S IT.
>> I REALLY JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED WITH THIS BUDGET PROCESS.
WE'VE GOT ONE MORE MEETING, BUT THIS GOES TO OUR FINANCE STAFF, TO ALL STAFF.
THIS HAS JUST BEEN A HEAVY LIFT.
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF EXTRA MEETINGS OVER THE SUMMER.
I VIEW SUMMER AS BUSY SEASON FOR US.
WE HAVE A LOT OF EXTRA WORKSHOPS, THINGS LIKE THAT TO GO THROUGH.
WITH THE AMOUNT OF UNCERTAINTY WITH WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE STATE LEVEL, FOR BUDGET DISCUSSIONS, ALL OF SO MANY ASTERS PLACED ON OUR CIP AND ON OUR OPERATING BUDGETS.
IT'S A LOT TO DEAL WITH AND NAVIGATE AND THERE ARE A LOT OF STRESSES ON COUNCILS THESE DAYS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WERE EASIER IN THE PAST, BUT THEY'RE CERTAINLY NOT ESPECIALLY EASY NOW.
I REALLY JUST WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES, ALL OF YOU. WE ARE WORKING.
WE HAVE TO ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND WORK IN PUBLIC ON THIS. THESE ARE WORKSHOPS.
THERE WILL BE CHANGES AS WE RESPOND TO BOTH EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL ENVIRONMENTS.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS PRETTY, BUT WE HAVE TO RESPOND TO HYPOTHETICALS.
WE HAVE TO EXPERIMENT AND BE NIMBLE BECAUSE OTHERWISE, WE DON'T THRIVE.
WE THROW IT OUT THERE.I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SAID ENOUGH SOMETIMES, THAT'S ALL.
>> FIRST OF ALL, WANT TO EXTEND MY CONGRATULATIONS.
IT'S CHRIS VISIT MCKENZIE, FOR 35 YEARS OF SERVICE AND ALSO CHIEF SHAW FOR COMPLETING THE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM AT THE NATIONAL FIRE ACADEMY.
THAT'S A TREMENDOUS ACCOMPLISHMENT.
ALSO, AGAIN, THANKS TO THE ENTIRE STAFF FOR ALL THE WORK THEY'VE DONE DUE DILIGENCE AS FAR AS PULLING TOGETHER.
ONLY THE 2026, 2030 COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PLAN, BUT ALSO THE 2026 OPERATING BUDGET AND PAY PLAN.
ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF WORK GOING OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT GOING INTO IT.
A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT WENT INTO STAFF ANSWERING ALL MY QUESTIONS.
TALKING ABOUT DRINKING FROM A FIRE HOSE.
I FEEL LIKE I'LL JOIN THE CHIEF DONATOS ORGANIZATION.
BUT ALSO NOT ONLY ANSWERING A QUESTION, BUT INCORPORATING OUR COMMENTS.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FINAL MEETING ON THIS AND GETTING THIS BEHIND IT AND GETTING IT APPROVED, BUT HATS OFF TO EVERYBODY INVOLVED, A TREMENDOUS JOB. THANK YOU.
>> THREE QUICK ITEMS. I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO RECOGNIZE, ALL OF US TO RECOGNIZE OUR FIRE CHIEF'S SON FOR ATTENDING THESE MEETINGS.
I HOPE IT'S NOT PUNISHMENT, BUT WHATEVER.
I HAVE NEVER SEEN A STUDENT ATTENDING LIKE THAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ATTENDING.
SECOND OF ALL, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF HEARING A PRESENTATION IN Q AND A FROM THE FLORIDA CFO ABOUT HIS PHILOSOPHY ABOUT DOGE.
WE MAY HAVE OUR OWN OPINIONS ABOUT IT, BUT I HEARD WHAT WAS DRIVING.
WHAT STRUCK ME WAS ONE THING, AND I JUST WANT TO SHARE THIS A NUMBER OF THINGS, BUT HE SAID THAT HE IS A CONTRACTOR.
HE SAID SOME PEOPLE CALL THEM A DEVELOPER, BUT HE BUILDS HOMES.
BEEN DOING THAT FOR A LONG TIME.
[01:40:02]
ST. LUCY WHERE THERE'S LOTS THAT HAVE BEEN THERE FOR DECADES AND HE BUYS LOTS, SO HE DOESN'T CALL HIMSELF A DEVELOPER.BUT HE WAS REPORTING ON EARLY SUCCESSES IT STRUCK ME.
HE SAID CURRENT CONTRACTORS, THEY'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION.
HE TALKED ABOUT IN SOME COUNTY WHERE, THE CONTRACTORS WERE REVISING THEIR PRICING DOWNWARD DUE TO THE SCRUTINY.
HE EMPHASIZED GET MORE COMPETITIVE BIDS AND RELY UPON THE COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROCESS TO REDUCE COSTS.
THAT WAS REFRESHING TO ME BECAUSE WHERE I WORKED AT FPL FOR DECADES, WE DID THAT RELENTLESSLY.
THAT'S WHY I TAKE THE ACTIONS I DO WHEN I SEE AN EVALUATION THAT PUTS SO SMALL AMOUNT ON AND I JUST WANTED TO HAVE SHARED THAT PERSPECTIVE.
I HOPE THAT ONE DOESN'T COME BACK AS A DOGE FINDING. BUT WHATEVER.
THEN LASTLY, AND I JUST ASKED THIS STAFF, IT IS WHAT IT IS.
BUT I WAS LOOKING AT THE RECREATION FEE ATTACHMENT TODAY BEFORE THIS MEETING.
I DON'T IMMEDIATELY LOOK AT THEM.
MOST WAS LIKE JUST TUCK IT ASIDE, BUT I DID A QUICK SCAN.
THE NONRESIDENT USER FEES WERE $25 FOR RECREATIONAL SPORTS AND 50 FOR TRAVEL.
QUITE FRANKLY DON'T REMEMBER TALKING ABOUT A DIFFERENT AMOUNT.
AS I GO BACK AND LOOK, I'M JUST GOING TO AND IT CAN'T BE CORRECTED FOR FALL.
BUT I THOUGHT WE WERE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT A USER FEE WAS $50, AND I WAS STUNNED TO SEE FOR RECREATION AND SAID 25.
I DON'T REMEMBER, MAYBE MY MEMORY IS GETTING BAD, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER EVER TALKING ABOUT A LOWER FEE.
AGAIN, IT IS NOW, UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S BEEN USED.
BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE AS I'M GOING BACK, STAFF'S GOING BACK AND DID WE AUTHORIZE THAT? IF TOWN MANAGER CAN FOLLOW UP ON THAT, I APPRECIATE IT.
>> WE'LL GET ON THAT TOMORROW.
>> THANK YOU. WITH THAT, THE TIME IS NOW 8:42, AND I'LL ADJOURN THE MEETING.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.