[8. Resolution 104-25, Approving a contract to Lawrence Lee Construction Services, Inc. for Deep Injection Well (DIW) Phase II Improvements (W2313F) for an amount of $8,769,000.]

RESOLUTION 10425, APPROVING A CONTRACT FOR DEEP WELL INJECTION PHASE TWO IMPROVEMENTS.

I'LL TURN IT OVER TO WHOEVER HIS STAFF IS KICKING THIS OFF.

>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL.

FOR THE RECORD, I AM AMANDA ARNES, THE DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES FOR THE TOWN.

THIS EVENING, I AM REQUESTING YOUR CONSIDERATION TO AWARD A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR PHASE 2 OF THE DEEP INJECTION WELL SYSTEM PROJECT.

THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM FOR THE DEEP INJECTION WELL SYSTEM WAS ORIGINALLY ADOPTED IN 2022.

REFINEMENTS TO SCOPE AND BUDGET WERE MADE IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS WITH THE MOST RECENT BEING DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 CIP.

NUMEROUS MILESTONES HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED IN THE LAST THREE YEARS FOR THIS PROJECT, AND THIS SLIDE ON THE SCREEN ILLUSTRATES THE MILESTONES COMPLETED TO DATE AND A LOOK AHEAD TOWARDS COMPLETION OF THE ENTIRE CFP PROJECT IN THE SUMMER OF 2027.

A BRIEF REVIEW OF THE MILESTONES IN ENTERING INTO A CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL CONSULTING SERVICES FOR THE FULL SCOPE OF THE CIP PROJECT WITH JA GEOSCIENCES IN EARLY 2023.

COMPLETING DESIGN, OBTAINING REGULATORY PERMITS, AND RECEIVING PROPOSALS FOR BOTH CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS, PHASES 1 AND PHASE 2.

PHASE 1 CONSISTED OF SITE PREPARATION AND DRILLING OF THE DEEP INJECTION WELL AND THE ASSOCIATED DUAL ZONE MONITORING WELL.

PHASE 2, WHICH IS THE CONTRACT BEFORE YOU WILL CONSIST OF FINAL WELL HEADS FOR BOTH OF THE WELLS, SITE PIPING, AND PUMP STATIONS TO ROUTE THE WATER TO THE DEEP INJECTION WELL, AND FUNCTIONAL TESTING TO PLACE THE WELLS INTO SERVICE.

DRILLING OF THE WELLS BEGAN IN DECEMBER OF 2023, AND THE DRILLING CONTRACTOR, YOUNG QUIST BROTHERS, HAS ACHIEVED SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION ON BOTH THE DEEP INJECTION WELL AND THE DUAL ZONE MONITORING WELL.

THEY HAVE DONE THIS FOUR MONTHS AHEAD OF THE PROJECTED SCHEDULE.

THEY ARE CURRENTLY WORKING TOWARDS SITE RESTORATION AND INJECTION TESTING FOR PERMIT COMPLIANCE, WHICH THEY EXPECT TO COMPLETE IN EARLY 2026, WHICH WOULD BE POSSIBLY FOUR TO FIVE MONTHS OF THE FINAL CONTRACT COMPLETION DEADLINE.

TONIGHT WE ARE SEEKING APPROVAL FOR THE FINAL CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT, WHICH IS PHASE 2, THAT WILL ENABLE US TO PLACE THE DEEP INJECTION WELL AND THE DUAL ZONE MONITORING WELL INTO SERVICE AND FURTHER COMPLY WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS ORDER TO CEASE RO TREATMENT BY PRODUCT OR CONCENTRATE DISPOSAL VIA SERVICE WATER DISCHARGE PERMIT.

[00:45:07]

IF THE CONTRACT IS AWARDED TONIGHT, WE EXPECT THAT PHASE 2 IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE COMPLETED IN MAY OF 2027, I'M SORRY.

YOU MIGHT NOTICE ON THE CIP PROJECT THAT OUR CURRENT ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER OR PERMIT FROM FDEP HAS A COMPLETION DATE OF DECEMBER 2026.

WHEN WE STARTED CONSTRUCTION OF THE WELLS, WE HAVE BEEN REQUIRED AND HAVE BEEN SUBMITTING QUARTERLY REPORTS TO DEP TO KEEP THEM UPDATED ON THE PROGRESS OF CONSTRUCTION.

WITH OUR NEXT THEY'RE AWARE OF THE PROGRESS OF THE PROJECT, AND WE WOULD JUST SUBMIT A MINOR MODIFICATION TO OUR PERMIT TO REQUEST AN EXTENSION TO CEASE THE SURFACE WATER OUTFALL DISCHARGES, TO COMPLY OR AGREE WITH THE CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE.

AS LONG AS WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS TOWARD THAT END, THEY HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE.

ONCE WE DO PLACE THE DEEP INJECTION WELL AND THE DUAL MONITORING WELL INTO SERVICE, THEY WILL REMAIN THEY WILL OPERATE UNDER OUR CONSTRUCTION PERMIT FOR ONE YEAR, AND THEN AT THAT TIME, WE WILL TRANSITION THE PERMIT TO AN OPERATING PERMIT WITH DEP.

CONSTRUCTION OF THE PHASE 2 IMPROVEMENTS IS COMPLEX WITH HIGH RISK, IF IT'S NOT EXECUTED PROPERLY AND CAREFULLY.

IT INVOLVES MULTI DISCIPLINE INDUSTRIAL CONSTRUCTION, INCLUDING ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL, STRUCTURAL, INSTRUMENTATION, CONTROLS, AND SITE CIVIL WORK.

IT INVOLVES NEW INSTALLATIONS, MODIFICATIONS TO EXISTING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, HEAVILY CONGESTED PIPE CORRIDORS, EXTENDED EQUIPMENT LEAD TIMES, ALL WHILE KEEPING PLANT PROCESSES IN SERVICE, AND MINIMIZING DISRUPTION TO EXISTING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE FUNCTIONS.

WE DID PUT OUT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS, AND SCOTT REYNOLDS, OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR IS GOING TO DISCUSS THAT.

>> THANK YOU, AMANDA. SCOTT REYNOLDS, THE FINANCE DIRECTOR FOR THE TOWN OF JUPITER.

[NOISE] TWO THINGS, WE DID GO OUT FOR PROPOSALS.

WE RECEIVED TWO PROPOSALS, WHICH WERE EVALUATED BY A SELECTION COMMITTEE OF STAFF AND OUR CONSULTANTS.

THE SELECTION COMMITTEE THEY RANKED LAWRENCE LEE CONSTRUCTION SERVICES AS THE MOST QUALIFIED CONTRACTOR TO AWARD BASED ON THE RANKINGS.

JUST SO IT'S UNDERSTOOD THAT THE TYPE OF PROCUREMENT WAS THE BEST VALUE PROCUREMENT.

IT WASN'T SOLELY BASED JUST ON COST.

IT WAS BASED ON A POINT SYSTEM WITH THE COST BEING ONE OF THE HEAVIEST WEIGHTED OF THOSE POINTS AT 30 POINTS.

THEY REVIEWED AND EVALUATED LAWRENCE'S PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH SIMILAR TYPE PROJECTS, AND THEY DID REFERENCE CHECKS, WHICH ALL CAME BACK EXCELLENT.

THE PROPOSED FUNDING OPTIONS, IT IS BEING REQUESTED FOR A BUDGET AMENDMENT OF $3.2 MILLION BASED ON THE PROPOSAL THAT'S BEEN RECEIVED.

[NOISE] AT THE END OF FY 25, I WILL TELL YOU WE HAVE ADDITIONAL R&R FUNDS ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WE HAD TARGETED.

WE DO HAVE JUST OVER ALMOST SIX MILLION DOLLARS ADDITIONAL R&R FUNDING TO FUND THE SHORTFALL.

THAT'S BEING REQUESTED THIS EVENING.

BUT YOU CAN SEE THE ORIGINAL CIP PROJECT BUDGET WAS JUST OVER $30 MILLION.

THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL NEED FOR 3.2.

YOU CAN SEE THE ENCUMBRANCES AND WHAT'S BEEN SPENT TO DATE UNDERNEATH THE $24 MILLION.

THE CONTRACT THAT'S BEING REQUESTED FOR THIS EVENING FOR LAWRENCE LEE CONSTRUCTION AS $8.7 MILLION WITH SOME FUNDS FOR CONTINGENCY.

AGAIN, TOTAL REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING OF 3.2, WHICH WILL COME FROM THE ADDITIONAL R&R FUNDING AT THE END OF FY 25.

>> THANK YOU, SCOTT. THE ESTIMATED BUDGET DEVELOPED FOR THE PROJECT WAS LAST UPDATED IN MAY OF 2025 DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 CIP BUDGET PROCESS.

AT THAT TIME, DESIGN WAS SUFFICIENTLY COMPLETE AND THE DESIGN ENGINEER PROVIDED A DETAILED OPINION OF PROBABLE CONSTRUCTION COST BASED ON INPUT FROM MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT SUPPLIERS, AND LABOR AND EQUIPMENT COSTS FROM OTHER SIMILAR TYPE AND RECENT CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

[00:50:01]

AT THAT TIME, BOTH TOWN STAFF AND THE DESIGN ENGINEER FELT THAT THE OPINION OF PROBABLE CONSTRUCTION COST WAS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SCOPE OF WORK AND CONSTRUCTION MARKET INDUSTRY, AND THE CIP BUDGET WAS INCREASED TO REFLECT THE UPDATED COSTS.

THE INCREASED CONSTRUCTION PRICING IN ONLY FIVE MONTHS, AS REPRESENTED BY THE PRICING RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO THIS RFP IS A TESTAMENT OF THE EXTREME VOLATILITY IN THE CONSTRUCTION MARKET FOR INDUSTRIAL LABOR MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT.

PIPE AND VALVE MATERIALS FOR THIS PROJECT ARE PREDOMINANTLY REQUIRED TO BE HIGH GRADE STAINLESS STEEL FOR CORROSION RESISTANCE.

A COMPARISON OF BID PRICING TO THE COST ESTIMATE REVEALED THAT PIPE AND VALVE COSTS ARE NOW 20 HIGHER, PUMP COSTS ARE NOW 10 PERCENT HIGHER, ELECTRICAL COSTS ARE 77 PERCENT HIGHER, AND CONSTRUCTION LABOR FOR THIS TYPE OF PROJECT HAS NEARLY DOUBLED.

TARIFFS AS HIGH AS 50% ARE HAVING A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON STAINLESS STEEL AND ELECTRICAL MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING COPPER, STEEL, WIRING, PANELS, AND TRANSFORMERS, LEADING TO THESE HIGHER PROJECT COSTS, LONGER DELAYS, AND SHRINKING MARGINS FOR CONTRACTORS.

OTHER FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE INCREASE IN COST IS THE COMPLEXITY OF THIS PROJECT, WHICH HAS INHERENT RISK WORKING IN CROWDED UTILITY CORRIDORS WITH CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

FOR EXAMPLE, REROUTING EXISTING PIPING TO THE DEEP INJECTION WELL WILL REQUIRE THE CONTRACTOR TO NAVIGATE MORE THAN 25 UTILITY CONFLICTS IN LESS THAN 300 FEET.

LONG MATERIAL LEAD TIMES ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO THE INCREASED COSTS AS CONSTRUCTION DURATIONS ARE EXTENDED.

FEEDBACK THAT WE RECEIVED FROM OTHER CONTRACTORS WHO DID NOT SUBMIT PROPOSALS FOR THE PROJECT, REPORTED THAT THE PROJECT WAS EITHER TOO LARGE FOR THEM, TOO SMALL FOR THEM OR TOO COMPLEX FOR THEM TO TAKE ON AT THIS TIME, CONSIDERING THEIR OTHER WORKLOADS.

WHILE OTHER QUALIFIED CONTRACTORS FOR THIS TYPE OF INDUSTRIAL MUNICIPAL WORK ARE BIDDING ONLY CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AT RISK OR DESIGN BUILD CONTRACTS.

A SURVEY OF OTHER UTILITIES IN FLORIDA CONSTRUCTING DEEP INJECTION WELLS REVEALED CONSTRUCTION COSTS VARYING FROM $20.2 MILLION IN 2023 TO $48 MILLION.

OURS IS 33.

HISTORICALLY, THE WATER UTILITY HAS REFERENCED THE US BUREAU OF LABOR AND STATISTICS CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR ALL URBAN CONSUMERS, I KNOW THAT'S A LOT, BUT IT'S THE CPIU, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE CPIU.

WE HAVE TYPICALLY AND HISTORICALLY RELIED ON THE CPIU FOR INDEXING OUR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS FOR FUTURE BUDGETS.

THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT WE DON'T LOOK AT EACH PROJECT, THAT EACH PROJECT IN DETAIL TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CONSTRUCTION PRICING IS CORRECT, BUT FOR THOSE PROJECTS THAT ARE FIVE YEARS OUT, WE TYPICALLY APPLY THE CPIU.

BUT WE'RE FINDING THAT THE CPIU IS NOT SUFFICIENT, ESPECIALLY FOR PROJECTS IN OUR AREA OR FLORIDA, ESPECIALLY FOR INDUSTRIAL TYPE MUNICIPAL PROJECTS.

WE DID CONDUCT A REVIEW OF OUR CONSTRUCTION COSTS FROM HISTORICAL PROJECTS, WHICH WE INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA PACKET, AND IT REVEALED THAT CONSTRUCTION INDICES ARE ONLY EXPLAINING A PORTION OF THE INFLATIONARY COSTS FOR OUR INDUSTRY, AND THAT ACTUAL ANNUAL INFLATION RATES ARE MUCH HIGHER BASED ON ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION COSTS RANGING FROM 7% TO AS HIGH AS 24%.

WE FEEL THAT REBIDDING THE CONTRACT WILL LIKELY RESULT IN HIGHER PRICING AND WILL RESULT IN FURTHER DELAY OF THE PROJECT SCHEDULE.

SOME KEY TAKEAWAYS, PROPOSALS WERE RECEIVED AND EVALUATED ACCORDING TO THE TOWN'S PROCUREMENT PURCHASING POLICY.

LAWRENCE LEE CONSTRUCTION SERVICES WAS RANKED BY THE SELECTION COMMITTEE TO BE THE MOST QUALIFIED CONTRACTOR BASED ON THE PROPOSAL RANKING AND THE PROPOSALS RECEIVED.

LAWRENCE LEE HAS HAD AN EXPERIENCE MODIFICATION RATIO BELOW ONE FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS INDICATING THEIR ATTENTION TO A SAFETY, AND JUST A REMINDER, THE EXPERIENCE MODIFICATION RATIO MEASURES A COMPANY'S WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS AGAINST THE AVERAGE FOR A SIMILAR BUSINESS, SO ANYTHING BELOW ONE IS GOOD.

[LAUGHTER] RESOLUTION 104-25 BEFORE YOU, PROVIDES FOR AWARD OF A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO LAWRENCE LEE CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR AN AMOUNT OF $8,769,000 AND AN INCREASE TO THE CIP PROJECT BUDGET OF $3,216,563.

FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN

[00:55:02]

THE WATER ENTERPRISE RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT FUND TO MEET THE BUDGET NEED.

COMPLETION OF THIS CONTRACT, WE'LL SEE SURFACE WATER DISCHARGES OF REVERSE OSMOSIS CONCENTRATE TO THE C-18 CANAL AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY IN THE LOXAHATCHEE RIVER.

WITH THAT, I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.

>> I'LL START WITH COUNSELOR CHOY, QUESTIONS.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AS I SIT HERE AND I GO THROUGH WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING, I JUST WANT TO REITERATE AGAIN THAT WE'RE WORKING FROM POLICY AND PROCEDURES.

BEAR WITH ME IF I ASK A QUESTION THAT YOU'VE ALREADY GONE THROUGH.

YOU IN THE PRE-BID MEETING, THERE WERE FIVE INVITEES AND ONLY TWO AND ONE BEING LAWRENCE LEE, WHO ENDED UP WITH THE CONTRACT, AM I CORRECT?

>> CORRECT. FOR THIS PROJECT BECAUSE OF ITS COMPLEXITY, WE HAD A MANDATORY PRE-BID MEETING, WHICH HAD YOU ATTEND THE PRE-BID MEETING IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL.

>> CORRECT.

>> WE HAD FIVE ATTEND THE MANDATORY MEETING AND TWO SUBMITTED PROPOSALS.

>> THE THREE THAT CHOSE NOT TO WERE FOR THE VARIOUS REASONS THAT YOU'VE ALREADY STATED COST AND SO FORTH?

>> YES.

>> FOR VARIOUS REASONS.

>> THE PROCESS WAS HARD FOR THEM, TOO LARGE FOR THEM, OR THEY WERE TOO BUSY AT THE TIME.

>> MR. REYNOLDS HAS ALREADY TALKED ABOUT WHERE THE THREE MILLION PLUS IS COMING FROM, CORRECT?

>> CORRECT. THEIR MINIMUM REPLACEMENT.

>> BUT AGAIN, I'M JUST TRYING TO FOLLOW POLICY AND PROCEDURES HERE AS WE GO THROUGH IT. THANK YOU.

>> FIRST MAYOR.

>> WE'RE IN A PERFECT STORM OF CONSTRUCTION COST INCREASES, SO I'M NOT SHOCKED WITH THE INCREASES.

ONE QUESTION IS NOT OFF THE SUBJECT, BUT WHAT'S THE LIFE EXPECTANCY ONCE THIS IS COMPLETED OF THIS SYSTEM, AND DOWN THE ROAD, WHAT UPGRADES IS IT GOING TO NEED THEM?

>> THE DEEP INJECTION WELL ITSELF HAS A SERVICE LIFE OF 50 YEARS.

THIS STAINLESS STEEL PIPE AND EQUIPMENT WILL HAVE TO BE MAINTAINED AS LONG AS WE TAKE CARE OF IT ON A REGULAR BASIS.

>> DEPENDING ON THE GRADE OF STAINLESS STEEL ALSO.

>> CORRECT.

>> IS THERE A SUPER HIGH GRADE STAINLESS?

>> YES. IT'S SUPER DUPLEX.

IN SOME LOCATIONS AND IN OTHER LOCATIONS, IT'S JUST STAINLESS STEEL 316.

>> THANK YOU.

>> COUNSEL DAN SINGER?

>> YES. CAN YOU REMIND ME OF WHAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO BIDS IN TERMS OF PRICE? IT WAS SOMETHING LIKE?

>> IT WAS JUST IT WAS JUST OVER FIVE PERCENT.

IT WAS ABOUT A $500,000 DIFFERENCE.

FIVE PERCENT BETWEEN THE TWO.

>> A VERY SMALL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO.

I'M UNFAMILIAR WITH SOME OF THE PROCUREMENT VEHICLES THAT YOU LISTED.

I KNOW YOU TALKED ABOUT CMAR, AND THOSE ARE GETTING MORE BIDS, BUT THEY ALSO CAN DRIVE PRICE BECAUSE THEY'RE SOLELY BASED ON EXPERIENCE AND PERFORMANCE, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> CMAR, CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AT RISK IS TYPICALLY BASED SOLELY ON A CONTRACTORS QUALIFICATIONS.

ONCE THE SELECTION COMMITTEE SELECTS A CONTRACTOR BASED ON QUALIFICATIONS, THEN THEY WOULD NEGOTIATE PRICING.

IN SOME CASES, YOU'LL HAVE A POOL OF CONTRACTORS AND MAYBE YOU'LL SHORTLIST THEM AND NEGOTIATE, ASK REQUEST FOR PRICE PROPOSALS FROM EACH OF THEM.

BUT TYPICALLY, IN STANDARD CMAR, YOU ARE AWARDING A CONTRACT AND THEN NEGOTIATING PRICE.

>> YOU MAY HAVE MORE BIDDERS, BUT IT WOULD POTENTIALLY BE AT A HIGHER PRICE POINT?

>> IT COULD, THE BENEFITS OF CMAR IS THAT IT'S TYPICALLY A HIGHER PRICE, BUT THE CONTRACTOR IS INCENTIVIZED TO REDUCE CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE.

ONE OF THE DIFFICULTIES IN MY OPINION OF DOING THAT WITH THE TYPE OF WORK THAT WE DO IS SOME OF IT IS A DESIGN BUILDS WE'RE AT THE MERCY OF THE CONTRACTOR AND THE WAY HE WANTS TO DO IT.

NOT TO SAY WE DON'T HAVE INPUT INTO IT, BUT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY DESIGNED TO OUR STANDARDS.

WE HAVE NOT DONE CMAR FOR OUR PLANT PROCESSES.

>> I COULD SEE THAT GIVEN THE COMPLEXITY OF THIS AND THIS ISN'T ONE OF THE BUSIEST PARTS OF TOWN.

OUR WATER UTILITY IS SURROUNDED BY SHOPPING CENTERS, BY RESIDENTIAL, BY THE HIGHWAY.

WE SAW THE DEEP INJECTION WALL CONSTRUCTION GOING ON.

THREE HUNDRED UTILITY OR WHAT WAS IT? TWENTY FIVE UTILITY CONFLICT AND 300 FEET.

>> I HAVE PUT A LOT OF STUFF ONTO THAT SITE.

>> AN OUTSIDER LOOKING IN, I SEE A PHASE 1 AND PHASE 2, YOU WERE SAYING FOR SOME CONTRACTORS, IT'S TOO LARGE OF A PROJECT, FOR OTHERS TOO SMALL.

IS THERE A WAY THIS COULD BE BROKEN UP, OR IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE? I'M NOT A WATER EXPERT.

[01:00:02]

>> THE REASON WE BROKE PHASE 1 APART FROM PHASE 2, BECAUSE SOME UTILITIES WOULD DO THAT ALL AS ONE PROJECT.

THE REASON WE DID THAT IS BECAUSE WE KNOW PHASE 1 WAS A WELL DRILLER.

WE FELT WE WOULD NOT BE EXPERIENCING A MARKUP.

IF A GENERAL CONTRACTOR HAD WON THE PROJECT AND NEEDED TO HIRE A WELL DRILLER AND THEN OTHER SUBS, WE WOULD BE PAYING A MARK UP ON THE DRILLING CONTRACTOR.

SPLITTING THE CONTRACTS, WE FELT THAT WAS A MORE ECONOMICAL APPROACH TO THIS PROJECT.

SPLITTING PHASE 2, THE ONLY WAY I COULD SEE TO DO IT WOULD BE TO SPLIT THE UNDERGROUND WORK APART FROM EVERYTHING ABOVE GROUND.

THAT GETS COMPLICATED BECAUSE THEN YOU COULD HAVE FINGER POINTING WHEN THE ABOVE GROUND CONTRACTOR COMES IN AND THE UNDERGROUND CONTRACTOR DID PUT SOMETHING IN THE PLACE THAT HE WANTED.

IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR ME TO HAVE ONE CONTRACTOR DOING THE UNDERGROUND AND THE ABOVE GROUND SO THAT THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT, AND THERE'S NO FINGER POINTING.

>> WE HAVE SUCH A TIGHT DEADLINE.

>> AND SCHEDULE, RIGHT.

>> [INAUDIBLE] I'VE BEEN GRATEFUL FOR THE EXTENSIONS.

IT'S NICE TO HEAR.

NO MORE QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.

>> JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, DIRECTOR BARNES.

ON YOUR EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR APPROVAL AND AWARD OF A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO LAWRENCE LEE CONSTRUCTION FOR, I THINK, $8,769,000.

BUT UNDER THE AMOUNT OF THIS REQUEST, YOU HAVE 9,205,000.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE AT $435,000?

>> IF YOU LOOK ON ATTACHMENT 6 IS THE PROJECT BUDGET.

THE CONTRACT TO LAWRENCE LEE IS 08,769,000 AND THEN THERE'S $5,000 ALLOCATED FOR PERMITTING, CLOSING OUT THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS AND OTHER PERMIT REQUIREMENTS.

THERE'S GEOTECHNICAL TESTING, SO DENSITY TESTING THAT WILL NEED TO BE CONDUCTED DURING CONSTRUCTION.

WE'VE ALLOCATED SOME COSTS FOR THAT, AND THEN WE HAVE A 5% CONSTRUCTION CONTINGENCY.

>> ANOTHER QUESTION. I UNDERSTAND YOU WANT TO TRANSFER THE 3.2 MILLION CHANGE FROM YOUR WATER RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT FUND, WHICH IS RIGHT NOW AT 5.8 MILLION.

THAT LEAVES YOU WITH $2.6 MILLION REMAINING IN THE FUND.

THAT STARTS IN 2026.

>> HOW MUCH HAVE YOU BUDGETED OF THAT FUND FOR 2026 FOR OTHER CIP PROJECTS?

>> THESE ARE ACTUALLY ADDITIONAL ABOVE AND BEYOND. THEY ARE.

AT THE END OF FY25, SEPTEMBER 30TH, THERE WAS ADDITIONAL RNR FUNDS TO BE TRANSFERRED INTO THE RNR FUND FROM THE OPERATING FUND.

WE HAD ACCUMULATED ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM USER FEES AND CHARGES.

THERE WERE SOME SAVINGS AS FAR AS THE BUDGET GOES.

WE HAD THESE ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO TRANSFER TO THE RNR FUND, WHICH WILL HELP FUND THE SHORTAGE OF THE 3.2 MILLION THAT YOU'RE SEEING THERE.

>> NO IMPACT ANY CFE PROJECTS FOR NEXT YEAR THOUGH.

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT. IN FACT [OVERLAPPING]

>> ALWAYS A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR ME. THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT. NO FURTHER QUESTION.

>> JUST ONE QUESTION AS A FOLLOW UP TO WHAT COUNCIL TYSON HAD ASKED IN YOUR RESPONSE.

IN THE BID PRICE, THE REQUESTED CONTRACT AWARD, AND IT WAS IN THE RFP TO BE DONE THIS WAY, THERE'S AN ALLOWANCE OF A QUARTER MILLION DOLLAR FOR UNDEFINED CONDITIONS.

THAT EFFECTIVELY IS CONTINGENCY, CORRECT? THEY'RE NOT ENTITLED TO IT.

>> CORRECT.

>> YOU'VE ALREADY CONTRACTED FOR THE FIRST AMOUNT OF SURPRISES FOR ANY DEBATE TO BE FOUND.

I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT.

>> YES. IT'S AN ALLOWANCE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL TO US FOR.

WE WOULD HAVE TO REVIEW IT AND APPROVE IT.

ANYTHING REMAINING IN THAT ALLOWANCE GETS RETURNED TO THE TOWN BY A DEDUCTIVE CHANGE ORDER AT THE END OF THE PROJECT.

>> I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS UP HERE.

IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT?

>> NO, SIR.

>> TURNING TO COUNCIL.

I JUST HAVE SOME COMMENTS TO MAKE.

NUMBER 1, I AGREE GENERALLY WITH THE CONTRACTING APPROACH.

I BELIEVE I HAVE THE MOST EXPERIENCE IN THE ROOM ON CONTRACTING THIS TYPE OF WORK FROM 46 YEARS WITH FBL.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THE DESIGN-BUILD APPROACH IS OFTEN USED WHEN YOU'RE WITHIN

[01:05:06]

A COMPLEX PLANT SITUATION BECAUSE YOU REALLY MANAGE ALL OF THE, WHAT I'D CALL THE TECHNICAL AND OPERATIONAL RISK BY MAKING SURE THE DESIGN IS DONE SPECS OR COVER YOU.

THAT THEN SHOULD, IF DONE RIGHT, LIMIT THE RISK TO PURE CONSTRUCTION.

I JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT. THESE OTHER ALTERNATIVE METHODS ARE MOOT BECAUSE WE HAD PROCEEDED WITH THE DESIGN.

I ALSO THINK THAT THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK, WHICH WE'VE USED SUCCESSFULLY FOR PROJECTS LIKE THIS BUILDING, THE POLICE STATION, FIRE STATIONS.

THOSE ARE DIFFERENT, BUT I'M NOT SURE YOU WOULD HAVE ENOUGH BIDDERS EFFECTIVELY FOR IT IN PLANT TYPE OF PROJECT.

I'M JUST SAYING THAT FROM HAVING DECADES OF OPERATIONAL EXPERIENCE WITH PLANTS.

ANYWAY, MY COMMENTS, NUMBER 1, I'M REALLY SPEAKING TO MY COLLEAGUES HERE, THE RECOMMENDED CONTRACT AWARD FOR 08,000,769 REQUIRES A BUDGET INCREASE OF 3.2 MILLION, WHICH WE'VE HEARD.

NOW THAT REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT 54% INCREASE VERSUS THAT WHICH WAS INCLUDED IN THE FISCAL YEAR CIP BUDGET PLAN THAT WE ADOPTED A MERE THREE MONTHS AGO.

IN TOTAL, THE OVERALL COST FOR THIS PROJECT HAVE INCREASED $8 MILLION SINCE ADOPTION OF THE 24 CIP BUDGET PLAN.

I ONLY SHARE THAT AS A POINT OF PERSPECTIVE. IT IS WHAT IT IS.

THE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA PACKAGE WAS MISSING FUNDAMENTAL INFORMATION THAT I HAD TO REQUEST.

I THINK YOU'VE ALL HAVE GOT COPIES.

BID PROPOSAL EVALUATION CRITERIA TO THE COMPLETED BID COST PROPOSAL FOR ALL OTHER EVALUATED BIDDERS, IN THIS CASE, THERE WAS ONLY ONE.

THE PROPOSAL EVALUATION OF SCORING SHEETS FOR EACH BID EVALUATION TEAM MEMBER.

KIMLEY-HORN'S OPINION OF PROBABLE COST FOR THE PHASE 2 WORK PRIOR TO RECEIPT OF BID PROPOSALS, AND THEN KIMLEY-HORN'S EVALUATION OF BID PRICING VERSUS ITS PRE-BID OPINION OF PROBABLE COSTS.

I'D LIKE TO INFLUENCE FUTURE SITUATION.

I'M GOING TO ASK THAT THE TOWN MANAGER AND STAFF PROVIDE THE FIRST THREE ITEMS FOR ALL FUTURE REQUESTED CONTRACT AWARDS BASED ON THE BEST VALUE OF PROCUREMENT METHOD.

THIS HAS NOT BEEN CONSISTENTLY DONE BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS AND NOW WITH THE PROCUREMENT MANAGER, I TRUST IT CAN HAPPEN.

BUT I'M ALWAYS GOING TO NEED THAT TO SEE THAT AND I WOULD EXPECT ALL OF US WE WANT TO KNOW, SOMETIMES WE SEE THE COST, SOMETIMES WE DON'T. WE DIDN'T ON THIS ONE.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE EVALUATION CRITERIA WAS. ENOUGH SAT ON THAT.

THEN THE LAST TWO ITEMS ABOUT OPINION AND PROBABLE COST IN EVALUATION OF THE COSTS, THOSE SHOULD ALWAYS BE PROVIDED FOR CONTRACT REWARDS THAT REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT BUDGET FUNDING INCREASES.

THAT'S THE PURPOSE FOR DOING THAT.

I JUST WANT TO ASK THAT IN THE FUTURE, THAT'S AUTOMATICALLY PROVIDED AS INFORMATION BECAUSE I THINK THAT WE NEED THAT AS A COUNCIL TO FEEL LIKE WE UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE AT.

I RECEIVED THE REQUESTED INFORMATION, AND I KNOW IT WAS FORWARDED EVERYBODY, ALONG WITH A REMINDER FROM THE TOWN FINANCE DIRECTOR, THAT SOLICITATION WAS CONDUCTED AS A BEST VALUE OF PROCUREMENT, NOT A LOW BID AWARD.

THAT UNDER THAT METHOD, THE TOWN IS REQUIRED TO AWARD TO THE HIGHEST RANKING VENDOR, NOT NECESSARILY LOW BIDDER, AND A SEPARATE JUSTIFICATION FOR NOT AWARDING TO THE LOWEST BIDDER IS NOT REQUIRED BY TOWN PROCUREMENT PROCEDURES.

BY THE WAY, I DID NOT NEED THAT REMINDER. I KNEW WHAT THAT WAS.

GOVERNMENTAL BEST VALUE PROCUREMENT PRACTICES OFTEN, IN MY OPINION AND OBSERVATION, DO NOT PLACE APPROPRIATE IMPORTANCE ON THE OVERALL COST IMPACTS TO THE PUBLIC.

PUBLISH LOW BID EVALUATION WEIGHTINGS FOR COST REDUCE BIDDER MOTIVATIONS TO PROVIDE COST COMPETITIVE PRICING BECAUSE I REALIZE THEY CAN GET MORE POINTS DOING OTHER THINGS, AND THEY CAN ALSO LEAD TO REDUCTIONS IN THE NUMBER OF BIDDERS SUBMITTING PROPOSALS.

ONE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES I'M COMPELLED NOT TO SUPPORT AND NOT TO APPROVE THE REQUESTED BUDGET INCREASE OF 3.2 MILLION, AND IF AT LEAST TWO OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD AGREE, THEN THE REQUESTED CONTRACT AWARD WOULD BE DENIED OR AT LEAST POSTPONED PENDING STAFF CONSIDERATION OF ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO REDUCE PROJECT COSTS.

THERE MAY BE NO SUPPORT FOR THAT.

[01:10:01]

I'M SPEAKING TO MY COLLEAGUES HERE.

GOVERNMENTAL PRACTICES FOR BEST VALUE PROCUREMENT CONTRACTING MAY NOT REQUIRE A SEPARATE JUSTIFICATION FOR NOT AWARDING THE LOWEST BIDDER, BUT IN THIS CASE, THE SECOND BIDDER ON THIS PROJECT HAD A COST THAT WAS A HALF MILLION DOLLAR LOWER THAN STAFF'S HIGHEST RANKING BIDDER.

I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER, WHAT COST SAVINGS AMOUNT AND/OR WHAT BUDGET SHORTFALL DOLLAR AMOUNT THRESHOLDS SHOULD IT TAKE TO CHANGE SOME OF THE TOWN'S BEST VALUE PROCUREMENT PRACTICES? THIS REQUESTED CONTRACT AWARD AND HUGE BUDGET INCREASE REQUEST ARE ABOVE MY FISCAL MANAGEMENT THRESHOLDS FOR ACTION AND PERHAPS FOR OTHER TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS.

AT A LAST TOWN COUNCIL MEETING, THERE WERE TWO CONTRACT AWARD AGENDA ITEMS THAT RELIED UPON BEST VALUE PROCUREMENT APPROACHES.

THE SELECTION CRITERIA FOR GENERAL CONTRACTING AWARDS ASSIGNED A WEIGHTING OF 70% TO COST.

I ACTUALLY COMMENTED ABOUT IT AT LAST MEETING.

IN CONTRAST, THE SELECTION CRITERIA FOR THIS CONTRACT ASSIGNED A WEIGHTING OF ONLY 30% TO COST.

THE DIFFERENCES IN SELECTION CRITERIA, IMPORTANCE WEIGHTING FOR COST ARE SIGNIFICANT AND VERY IMPACTFUL.

I ANALYZE STAFF'S BID EVALUATION SCORES AND HAVE TWO TAKEAWAYS.

THE HALF MILLION DOLLAR LOWER COST BENEFIT WAS VALUED AT LESS THAN 4% OF THE MAXIMUM PROPOSAL EVALUATION SCORE.

HAD STAFF USED A WEIGHTING OF 55% OR HIGHER FOR THE COST, THE SECOND AND LOWER PRICE BIDDER WOULD HAVE BEEN DEEMED THE HIGHEST RANKED VENDOR.

ONE OF THE FIVE STAFF MEMBERS BID EVALUATIONS DID ALREADY RANKED THE LOWEST BIDDER AS THE HIGHEST RANKED BIDDER.

I SHARE IT IS JUST BECAUSE AS AN APPROACH, I START WITH ACCEPTING THE EVALUATIONS DONE AND NOT DEBATING HOW THEY CHOSE TO WADE IN INDIVIDUAL ITEM.

BUT JUST IN MY EXPERIENCE, KNOWING THAT COST OF THE CUSTOMER IS SO HIGH THAT I WOULD NEVER HAVE DONE A 30%.

THE PROJECT USED A DESIGN BID BILL CONTRACTING APPROACH, A MULTI-ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS TEAM WAS USED WITH OVER 2.3 MILLION CONTRACTED COSTS FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.

THE ENGINEERING TEAM DEVELOPED THE OVERALL DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS USED FOR BIDDING, THE CONSTRUCTION WORK.

THIS APPROACH, IN LARGE PART, ENSURES THE COMPLETED PROJECT WILL MEET ALL WATER PLAN OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS.

IT'S BEEN MY 46-YEAR WORK EXPERIENCE THAT BID EVALUATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION WORK WERE OFTEN PERFORMED SOLELY, NOT IN THE TOWN, PERHAPS, BUT ELSEWHERE ARE PERFORMED SOLELY BY THOSE ACCOUNTABLE TO OVERSEE AND MANAGE THE CONTRACTOR'S ASSIGNED WORK.

THEN I THINK, AND I'VE SEEN IT AND IT'S HELPFUL, ALONG WITH A PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST.

THE CONTRACTOR BID PRICES ARE ASSIGNED A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER BID EVALUATION WEIGHTING THAN 30% USED IN THIS CASE.

BY THE WAY, I'M NOT ADVOCATING FOR THE SECOND BIDDER IN THIS CASE. I'M JUST STATING.

LASTLY, THE TOWN'S PRACTICE TO SECURE KIMLEY-HORN'S OPINION OF PROBABLE CAUSE PROVIDES A FUNDAMENTALLY IMPORTANT BENCHMARK COMPARISON TO ASCERTAIN THE COST COMPETITIVE OF BID PROPOSALS.

EVERYBODY CAN HAVE AN OPINION ABOUT THIS, BUT THE $3 MILLION DIFFERENCE IN KIMLEY-HORN'S PRE-CONSTRUCTION COST ESTIMATE AND BID PROPOSAL PRICES REPRESENTED A SIGNIFICANT RED FLAG TO ME AND HOPEFULLY OTHERS ON TOWN COUNCIL.

THIS SHOULD BE, IN MY OPINION, TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT BEFORE AWARDING A CONTRACT TO THE STAFF TO THE HIGHEST RANK VENDOR.

WE HAVE A DECISION TO MAKE TONIGHT.

WE CAN INCREASE THE BUDGET, FORGE AHEAD WITH THE PROJECT THAT HAS THE HIGHEST COST IMPACT POTENTIALLY, BUT IT BRINGS CERTAINTY AND MOVE AHEAD WITH THE PROJECT.

JUST THAT BASED ON MY FISCAL MANAGEMENT VALUES AND PUBLIC SERVICE OBLIGATIONS, I'M JUST COMPELLED NOT TO SUPPORT AND NOT TO APPROVE THE $3.2 MILLION PROJECT BUDGET INCREASE BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE SOME ACTION, VALUE ENGINEER, AND REBID IT AGGRESSIVELY.

[01:15:04]

MY EXPERIENCE, WHEN YOU REALLY WANT TO GET BIDDERS, YOU HAVE MULTIPLE PRE-BID MEETINGS, YOU DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO GET PEOPLE TO BID ON THE PROJECT.

I BELIEVE IF YOU SHOW A HIGHER COST VALUE RATING CRITERIA, THEN THEY RECOGNIZE TO WIN THE JOB.

THEY GOT TO BE COMPETITIVE IN PRICE AS OPPOSED TO KNOW THEY CAN WIN ON OTHER ATTRIBUTES.

IF AT LEAST TWO OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE TO AGREE, THEN THE REQUESTED CONTRACT AWARD WOULD BE DENIED OR AT LEAST POSTPONED PENDING STAFF CONSIDERATION OF ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO REDUCE PROJECT COSTS.

I APPRECIATE THE WORK STAFF DID.

I SAID I GENERALLY AGREED WITH THE CONTRACTING APPROACH.

IT JUST MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN DIFFERENT ON WHAT YOU ASSIGNED THE COST.

IN FACT, I TELL YOU AS A PROJECT MANAGER, I PROCEEDED MANY TIMES WITH NOT THE CONTRACT I WOULD HAVE PREFERRED TO PROCEED WITH, AND I KNEW I WAS TAKEN ON HEADACHES AS A PROJECT MANAGER.

BUT AS A PROJECT MANAGER, MY JOB WAS TO DELIVER A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT AT THE LOWEST COST.

OVERWHELMINGLY, IT WAS ALWAYS SUCCESSFUL, MAYBE MORE HEADACHES IN MANAGING IT, BUT EVERYTHING WAS DELIVERED, HAS TO BE BY DEFINITION, TO MEET PLAN OPERATIONS REQUESTS.

WITH THAT, I TURN IT BACK TO MY COLLEAGUES.

NEXT PERSON WANT TO COMMENT.

>> THE WAY I VIEW THIS IS THAT WE HAVE AN FDEP PERMIT FOR OUR CURRENT DISPOSAL METHOD THAT'S RUNNING OUT OR WE'RE EVEN GETTING EXTENSIONS TO GET THE WORK DONE.

THERE IS A TIGHT DEADLINE.

I DON'T THINK WE HAVE THE LUXURY ON THIS.

I THINK WATER IS HEALTH AND SAFETY.

I THINK TIME IS VERY LIMITED IN WHAT WE CAN DO.

I THINK THE COST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO BIDDERS WAS NOT A VERY BIG DIFFERENCE, WHICH SAYS SOMETHING.

I DID ASK ABOUT THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE.

I KNOW IT WAS A SURPRISE TO THEM, BUT I'M ALSO NOT SURPRISED, AS OTHERS HAVE SAID THAT COSTS ARE GOING UP AND THE VOLATILITY IS VERY HIGH IN THIS INDUSTRY.

I'VE SEEN THAT MULTIPLE TIMES EVEN SINCE THE CIP DISCUSSIONS THIS SUMMER WHEN I FIRST ASKED FOR A LOT OF THIS INFORMATION.

I LOOKED AT THE EVALUATIONS PROVIDED, AND I DO ASK FOR THAT DETAIL, BUT NOT ALL THE TIME.

I THINK ON A BIG PROJECT LIKE THIS, IT'S WARRANTED AND WE NEED TO.

I DON'T KNOW IF I WANT TO DRILL SO DEEP UNLESS IT IS AN ESPECIALLY LARGE PROJECT, OR I SEE RED FLAGS.

BUT IN THIS CASE, THE DETAIL WAS PROVIDED.

I LOOKED AT THE EVALUATIONS, AND THE PERFORMANCE PIECE OF IT WAS CONCERNING ON THE SECOND BIDDER, I'LL SAY.

TO THINK OF 25 CONFLICTS AND 300 FEET IN DOWNTOWN JUPITER IN A VERY BUSY SPOT WITH THE MOST TRAFFIC, THE HIGHEST TRAFFIC QUADRANT.

I THINK ABOUT WHAT THE COST COULD BE IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT GOES WRONG IN A PROJECT, THIS COMPLEX, SO COMPLEX THAT BIDDERS AREN'T BIDDING ON IT.

COST OR NO COST.

NO MATTER WHAT THE CRITERIA ARE, THE NATURE OF THE WORK IS IN SOME WAYS DICTATING THE NUMBER OF BIDDERS WE GET IN THIS MARKET FOR INDUSTRIAL.

>> I THOUGHT THAT WAS INTERESTING.

I THOUGHT THE LEVEL OF DETAIL PROVIDED IN THE PROPOSALS.

I DID GO AND LOOK AT SOME OF THE CRITERIA.

I KNOW THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT PROCUREMENT VEHICLES, AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO TALK ABOUT THE CIP AND REFINE IT.

BUT I'M CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO HOLD THIS UP.

I THINK IT'S REALLY CRITICAL THAT WE GET THIS DONE.

I THINK THAT WE HAVE DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB WITH OUR EVALUATION PROGRAM, AND I'M SATISFIED WITH WHAT I READ IN THE EVALUATIONS, AND I CERTAINLY LEARNED A LOT FROM THEM.

I'M VERY CAREFUL ABOUT PERFORMANCE IN THIS CONTRACT.

I AM ABOUT COST AS WELL, AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE THE R&R TO COVER IT IN THIS CASE.

I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN ALWAYS LOOK AT IN THE FUTURE, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.

I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY LUXURY ON THIS.

I THINK STAFF DID A GREAT JOB.

I'M SATISFIED WITH THE EVALUATIONS.

I THINK I WOULD HAVE MADE THE SAME DECISION AND THAT'S ALL I'D SAY.

>> I WANT TO JUST, NOT DEBATING.

I RESPECT EVERYBODY'S WE ALL HAVE TO MAKE OUR DECISIONS.

NUMBER 1, I USE THE TERM TABLE BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE THERE IS A GOOD POSSIBILITY THAT THE FDP WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE AT A POINT AND WITH THE BIDS BEING SO HIGHER THAN EXPECTED THAT THEY WOULD BE OPEN TO THE IDEA THAT IF WE WERE TO DECIDE THAT WE WANTED TO REBID IT.

WE'D HAVE TO ASK THEM THAT, SO WE DON'T KNOW THAT TONIGHT.

NUMBER 2, THEY KNOW THAT WHEN WE TOOK ON THIS PROJECT,

[01:20:01]

THEY KNEW HOW YOU REALLY CAN'T COMPARE DEEP INJECTION ALL PROJECTS BECAUSE THE DEPTH OF THE INJECT THERE'S SO MANY BIG VARIABLES.

YOU CAN'T NONE ARE ALL, THEY FUNDAMENTALLY ARE DEEP INJECTION, BUT THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT'S COMMON ABOUT THEM.

BUT WE'RE TOLD THAT FDP WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROJECT.

THEY KNEW IT WAS A SIGNIFICANT COST, AND IN FACT, EARLY ON, WE WERE WHEN IT WAS THE PROJECT WAS 24 MILLION, WE THOUGHT WE'RE GOING TO GET FDP FUNDING ASSISTANCE, WHICH WE NEVER GOT.

AGAIN, AND I WASN'T ADVOCATING TO JUST GIVE IT TO THE SECOND BIDDER.

BECAUSE I THINK EVIDENCE IS WE DIDN'T GET COMPETITIVE BIDS, PERIOD.

THEY WOULD LOOK IN THE RFP AND CONCLUDE, WAS IT CLEAR? WAS THE SCOPE CLEAR OR WAS IT MAYBE VAGUE ENOUGH THAT THE CONTRACTOR HAD TO PUT ALL SORTS OF CONTINGENCY IN.

I CAN TELL YOU WHEN I GET A COMPLEX PLANT PROJECT, WE WENT TO EXTRAORDINARY EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE WE DEFINED EVERYTHING CRYSTAL CLEAR SO A BIDDER COULD COME IN AND REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE FACING.

I REALIZE THAT'S NOT A PERFECTLY DONE, BUT THERE'S AN EFFORT ON IT.

I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED IF WE WERE TO TAKE A TIME OUT THAT OUR CONSULTANT COULD GO BACK AND LOOK WHERE THE PRICES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER, AND THEY'RE THE ONES THAT PUT THE SPEC IN THE SCOPE DEFINITION TOGETHER TO LOOK.

SEE, IF IT'S A LOT HIGHER, COULD THERE BE A MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT THIS? IF THEY COME BACK AND SAY, I CAN SEE IT NOW, WE CAN IMPROVE THAT, THAT INCREASES THE CHANCES OF THEM GETTING MORE COMPETITIVE PRICING.

BUT THOSE ARE THE STEPS THAT WE'D HAVE TO TAKE, BUT IN ANY EVENT, I JUST WANT TO EXPLAIN THAT.

>> DIDN'T WE DO THAT STEP IN THAT PART OF THE PRE BID MEETING WE HAD WITH THE FIVE DIFFERENT CONTRACTORS GO THROUGH THAT LEVEL OF DETAIL? THAT HELPS US FORMULATE OUR PROPOSAL GOING OUT TO THEM, RIGHT? MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND.

>> I HAVE TO TALK ABOUT IT, BUT, THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH THAT CAN BE SAID IN THE PRE BID MEETING.

THE REST OF IT'S IN THE DOCUMENT.

>> MAYOR ARE YOU SAYING THAT THE BIDDERS DIDN'T KNOW THE COMPLEXITY AND THE SCOPE OF THE JOB?

>> NO. I'M JUST SAYING THAT IF I WAS THE ENGINEER OR THE ENGINEER WAS WORKING DIRECTLY FOR ME WHEN I WAS THE PROJECT MANAGER.

IS I WOULD CHALLENGE THEM SAYING, LOOK, IT'S ALMOST 50+% HIGHER THAN YOU SAID.

WHAT'S THE REASON FOR THE DIFFERENCE? THAT'S WHAT I HAD ASKED FOR.

I JUST WANT TO SEE WHAT HIS OPINION WAS.

ALL THEY DID WAS IN SOME CASE, SAY, WELL, THE BIDDER BID HIGHER THAN WE HAD.

THAT'S NOT AN EXPLANATION.

YOU TRY TO DO A DEEP DIVE OF IS THERE A CAUSAL FACTOR? DID WE MISS SOMETHING OR NOT? IN ONE CASE, THE ENGINEER SAID, HEY, THERE'S A SCOPE INCREASE WE DIDN'T ACCOUNT FOR.

THAT'S UNDERSTOOD. THE OTHER ITEMS HE DIDN'T.

I'M JUST SAYING IT'S BEEN MY EXPERIENCE ON COMPLEX PROJECTS.

>> I MEAN, SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, THIS IS THE MOST COMPLEX, UNIQUE PROJECT I THINK WE'VE DISCUSSED OR LOOKED AT.

BUT ALSO, I MEAN, MISS BARNES MENTIONED THAT THE COST INCREASE OF THE MATERIALS AND THE AGE THAT WE'RE LIVING IN, IT'S ACROSS THE WHOLE ECONOMY.

I MEAN, TO ME, THAT'S WHERE THE INCREASES AND I MEAN, I'M SURE THE CONTRACTORS DIDN'T BID ON THIS BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T GOING TO MAKE ENOUGH MONEY.

THEY'RE TOO BUSY TO SPREAD TOOTH AND IT'S ALL DENT DIFFERENT ARIAS, WHY THEY DIDN'T JUMP IN.

BUT YOU'RE SAYING BECAUSE THE WAY WE'RE WAITING THINGS YOU DON'T THINK THE WAY WE WAIT, THE BIDDING PROCESS. [OVERLAPPING]

>> IF YOU BIDDER, YOU LOOK AT THE POINTS.

ON THE BEST VALUE PROCUREMENT, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET CREDIT FOR? HECK, I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M GOING TO GET THE MOST POINTS I CAN, TO WIN THE EVALUATION.

UNDER THAT, TYPICALLY, THE CONTRACTOR IS GOING TO WIN IT.

BECAUSE YOU KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT THEM WHERE SOMEBODY NEW COMING IN HAS A INHERENT DISADVANTAGE.

I JUST TELL YOU INCLINATIONS.

I'VE EXPERIENCED MY 46 YEARS.

>> I UNDERSTAND YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR EXPERIENCE. I JUST TRYING TO-.

>> CAN I ASK YOU SPEAK TO SOME OF THAT IN TERMS OF THE PRE BID MEETING.

I KNOW WE HAD SPOKEN ABOUT THAT EARLIER, COUNCIL MEMBER [INAUDIBLE] AND [INAUDIBLE].

>> AMANDA BARNETTOR UTILITIES.

THE PLANS AND SPECS ARE DETAILED.

WE DID COMPLETE A DETAILED DESIGN OF THE PROJECT.

WE DID EXPLAIN THE PROJECT TO THE ATTENDEES AT THE PRE BID MEETING AND WE DID CONDUCT A [INAUDIBLE] VISIT.

DURING THE DESIGN PROCESS, WE DID VALUE ENGINEER THE PROJECT AND WE REDUCED PROJECT COSTS BY NEARLY 2 MILLION, MAYBE $2.2 MILLION.

[01:25:01]

I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT NUMBER RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE WE HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF VALUE ENGINEERING ON THIS PROJECT, AND I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE WE COULD VALUE ENGINEER OUT OF IT.

>> IT'S HELPFUL TO CONFIRM THAT LEVEL.

I KNOW YOU HAD SPOKEN ABOUT YOU HAD FIVE DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR A VERY SPECIFIC PART.

YOU AND I HAD SPOKEN ABOUT THIS EARLIER TODAY.

I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER THE EXACT.

MAYBE I'LL LEAVE IT. BUT NO, I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT CONFIRMATION. THANK YOU.

>> AS I SIT HERE, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I AM NOT AN ENGINEER.

I TAKE WHAT I'VE BEEN GIVEN.

I'VE EVALUATED IT.

WE'VE HEARD WHY THERE WERE ONLY TWO OUT OF THE FIVE ON THE PRE BID.

I'VE GOTTEN THE EXPLANATION ON THE 3 MILLION WHERE THIS MONEY IS COMING FROM.

I THINK OF OUR RESIDENTS, THE SAFETY, THE CALIBER OF THE FOLKS THAT YOU'RE HIRING, AND I WOULD SUPPORT THIS.

WILL THERE BE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROCUREMENT CHANGES THAT MAY NEED TO BE DONE? QUITE FRANKLY, IT COULD BE, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I AM NOT AN ENGINEER, AND I HAVE TO RELY ON WHAT'S GIVEN TO ME BY THE STAFF WHO KNOWS AND UNDERSTANDS.

AGAIN, THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS THAT I EVEN STARTED WITH IN THE BEGINNING, REGARDING THE PRE BID, I'M SATISFIED WITH THE ANSWERS THAT I'VE GIVEN.

>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

>> SECOND.

>> I HAVE A MOTION IN THE SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

>> AYE

>> AYE.

>> OPPOSED NAY. THE MOTION CARRIES FOUR TO ONE WITH MAYOR KRITSKI DISSENTING.

MOVING ON TO REPORTS, TOWN ATTORNEY.

[TOWN ATTORNEY]

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. ON FRIDAY OF THIS WEEK, THERE WILL BE A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION HEARING, ON THE SENATE BILL 180 LAWSUIT.

THE CITIES THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN THAT HAD TO IDENTIFY INDIVIDUALS TO FILE DECLARATIONS, WHICH IS ANOTHER NAME FOR AN AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT'S POSITION IN THAT LITIGATION.

I SUBMITTED A DECLARATION ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN OF JUPITER.

I ALSO SUBMITTED ONE ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN OF LAKE PARK.

AT A HEARING THIS MORNING THE JUDGE RULED THAT THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE LIVE TESTIMONY.

APPARENTLY, AT THIS POINT, THE JUDGE HAS RULED OUT TESTIMONY BY ZOOM, WHICH MEANS THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE PROVIDED DECLARATIONS BECAUSE A DECLARATION IS FROM AN EVIDENTIARY STANDPOINT, IT IS NOT LIVE TESTIMONY, ALTHOUGH IT'S TESTIMONY UNDER OATH, AND SO IT CAN BE CONSIDERED AS HEARSAY TESTIMONY.

WE DON'T WANT TO SUPPORT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT'S POSITION SOLELY BY HEARSAY TESTIMONY.

AT ANY RATE, SOME COMMUNICATIONS I HAVE WITH LEAD COUNSEL THIS AFTERNOON, IT MAY BE UNLESS THE JUDGE REVISITS HIS OPINION AND I'M TOLD THAT'S A POSSIBILITY.

I MAY BE TRAVELING TO TALLAHASSEE THURSDAY TO PROVIDE SOME LIVE TESTIMONY ON FRIDAY.

I'M HOPING THAT'S NOT THE CASE BECAUSE IT ESSENTIALLY TAKES TWO DAYS OUT OF THE WEEK TO GO TO TALLAHASSEE, SPEND THE NIGHT, GIVE A HALF HOUR OF TESTIMONY AND DRIVE BACK.

BUT I WILL LET YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW, AND AS I KNOW, THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT CASE.

THE LEGISLATION THAT'S BEEN PRE FILED IN TALLAHASSEE THAT, IS SUPPOSEDLY GOING TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES IN SENATE BILL 180.

FROM MY REVIEW OF THAT LEGISLATION, IT ADDRESSES A FEW ISSUES, BUT IT REALLY DOESN'T GET TO THE CORE ISSUE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OF HOME RULE, AND THEIR AUTHORITY TO MAKE DETERMINATIONS OF WHEN AND HOW, FOR EXAMPLE, TO AMEND YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLANS TO ADDRESS ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION HEARINGS, FOR THE MOST PART,

[01:30:02]

ARE HEARINGS THAT DECIDE CASES.

THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT IN ORDER TO PREVAIL ON A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION MOTION, YOU HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE TO THE COURT THAT THERE'S A LIKELIHOOD THAT YOU'RE GOING TO PREVAIL ON THE MERITS OF THE CASE.

IT'S ONE OF THE THREE STANDARDS THAT HAVE TO BE PROVEN.

IF A JUDGE FINDS THAT YOU'VE DEMONSTRATED THAT YOU'RE GOING TO THERE'S A LIKELIHOOD THAT YOU'RE GOING TO PREVAIL ON THE MERITS OF A CASE, THAT SAME JUDGE IS LIKELY TO MAKE A DECISION THAT YOU PREVAIL.

ON THE OTHER HAND, IF THE JUDGE'S DECISION IS, IT'S NOT LIKELY, THAT YOU CAN PREVAIL ON THE MERITS OF THE CASE FOR PURPOSES OF THAT PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION.

IT'S ALSO NOT LIKELY AT THE FINAL HEARING THAT THE JUDGE WILL RULE IN YOUR FAVOR.

I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I COULD BE HUMPING IN MY SLEIGH, ON THURSDAY AND MAKING THE TRICK.

NORTH, NOT GOING AS FAR AS THE NORTH POLE, BUT STILL GOING NORTH.

>> QUESTION. MAYBE YOU SAID IT, BUT I'M NOT SURE I HEARD IT.

I READ AN ARTICLE ONLINE, WHICH IS PROBABLY THE WORST PLACE TO GET INFORMATION BECAUSE IS THE ISSUE THE FIRST ISSUE WHERE THE STATE WAS SUGGESTING THAT NO ONE HAS STANDING, AND THEN THAT WAS THE FIRST ISSUE OF THE HEARING.

THEN THE INJECTION HEARING ONLY HAPPENS IF WE PASSED THE STANDING ISSUE.

WHAT CAN YOU COMMENT ABOUT THAT?

>> THE STATE HAS ASSERTED THAT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS DON'T HAVE STANDING.

THAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF REQUIRING THE DECLARATIONS.

THE DECLARATIONS, AND THE LIVE TESTIMONY, IF NOT A DECLARATION, DO GO TO THIS ISSUE IN PART OF STANDING.

THEY ALSO GO TO THE MERITS OF THE LEGISLATION, BUT WITHOUT STANDING, YOU DON'T GO ANY FURTHER.

THAT'S WHY THESE DECLARATIONS WERE IMPORTANT AND THAT'S WHY THIS HEARING IS IMPORTANT.

OTHER THAN THAT, I WILL SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

IF I DON'T SEE YOU BEFORE THEN. SEE YOU NEXT YEAR.

>> BEFORE YOU LEAVE YOUR REPORT, I JUST WANT TO STATE ON BEHALF OF I THINK I CAN SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ALL CONFIDE COUNSEL.

WE HAVE MOST CONFIDENCE IN YOU, AND IF YOU GIVE TESTIMONY, WE EXPECT YOU TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR AND THE JUDGE WILL ASSERT APPROVE STANDING. THANK YOU.

>> I'LL DO MY BEST.

>> TOWN MANAGER.

[TOWN MANAGER]

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. COUPLE OF THINGS ON MY REPORT.

FIRST OF ALL, I HAD MENTIONED IT AT THE LAST MEETING, BUT I'M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE OFFICERS AND SERGEANTS OF THE JUPITER POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE RATIFIED THE CONTRACT THAT THE TOWN.

THE PBA HAVE NEGOTIATED.

IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A YEAR.

I WANT TO THANK THIS COUNCIL FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I'M SPEAKING NOW AS A TOWN MANAGER AS A TENURED POLICE CHIEF WITH, MORE THAN A DECADE AS THE CHIEF OF THE JUPITER POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I'VE I'VE NEVER SEEN A CONTRACT LIKE THIS.

THIS COUNCIL'S COMMITMENT TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS JUST REMARKABLE.

I WANT TO THANK THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE JUPITER POLICE DEPARTMENT.

FOR THEIR VOTE, THE CONTRACTS THE TWO AGREEMENTS, WERE APPROVED WITH MORE THAN 85% VOTING IN FAVOR OF THE CONTRACT.

THE RATIFICATION BY THE OFFICERS WAS THE FIRST STEP IN THE CONTRACT APPROVAL PROCESS.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT AGAIN, THE COMMITMENT OF THIS COUNCIL BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS CONTRACT HAD ALREADY EXPIRED, THERE THERE WAS NO REQUIREMENT FOR THIS COUNCIL, TO FALL BACK TO THE CONTENTS OF THAT CONTRACT.

HOWEVER THIS COUNCIL HAS AUTHORIZED ME, TO GO BACK AND HONOR SOME SIGNIFICANT PIECES OF THAT PREVIOUS CONTRACT.

THE FIRST OF WHICH IS THE CLOTHING ALLOWANCE THAT EACH OFFICER GETS, AS PART OF THAT OLD AGREEMENT, BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE CONTRACT HAS BEEN RATIFIED.

I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, AND THOSE FUNDS WILL BE RELEASED AND THE OFFICERS WILL HAVE THEM IN THEIR CHECKS BY FRIDAY.

[01:35:01]

THAT IS A BIG ONE FOR THEM.

THE OTHER THING, I WILL TELL YOU THAT BASED ON THE APPROVAL, I'LL BE BRINGING THE CONTRACT FORWARD TO YOU WITH MORE DETAILS AT THE JANUARY 6 MEETING.

IN TERMS OF SCHEDULE, WHAT WE PLAN ON DOING AT THE MOMENT WILL BRING YOU THE CONTRACT ON JANUARY 6.

IF YOU APPROVE THE CONTRACT, THEN THE FIRST PAY CHECK AFTER THAT MEETING, THE OFFICERS WILL GET THEIR NEW GO TO THEIR NEW PAY RATES AND WE GET THEM ALL SETTLED IN AND THE CHECK RIGHT BEHIND THAT, BECAUSE SOMETHING ELSE THAT YOU ALL HAVE APPROVED, THEY'LL BE GETTING THEIR RETROACTIVE PAY BACK TO OCTOBER 1 WHEN THIS CONTRACT SHOULD HAVE GONE INTO EFFECT.

THE FINAL TAKEAWAY WHEN YOU ADD IT ALL UP AND THE RETIREMENT ISSUES AND GETTING RID OF THAT TIER 2, ALL THE THINGS THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS DONE HAS JUST BEEN TRULY REMARKABLE.

I'M GLAD IT'S DONE, AND WE GET TO MOVE FORWARD FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS, AND THANK YOU TO THE OFFICERS AND THE PBA AND ALL THOSE THAT WERE INVOLVED.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> ALSO, YESTERDAY, THE TOWN LAUNCHED A NEW PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST PORTAL CALLED JUSTFOIA.

THIS PORTAL WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR AN INDIVIDUAL TO SUBMIT AND TRACK THE PROGRESS OF A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST.

THE PORTAL ALLOWS USERS TO MAKE SECURE ONLINE PAYMENTS AND TO EASILY DOWNLOAD THE REQUESTED RECORDS.

INDIVIDUALS WISHING TO MAKE PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST CAN FIND OUT MORE AND ACCESS THE SYSTEM BY VISITING THE TOWN'S WEBSITE.

ON DECEMBER 10, THE JUPITER POLICE DEPARTMENT BEGAN ITS ANNUAL DRIVE SOBER OR GET PULLED OVER CAMPAIGN, WHICH WILL RUN THROUGH JANUARY 1.

DURING THIS CAMPAIGN, OFFICERS WILL CONDUCT ADDITIONAL IMPAIRED DRIVING ENFORCEMENT THROUGHOUT TOWN TO ENCOURAGE SAFE DRIVING DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

FINALLY, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE.

WELL, I GOT TWO THINGS.

I WANT TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE RECENTLY CELEBRATED SIGNIFICANT MILESTONES OF SERVICE WITH THE TOWN.

A DIRECTOR OF PLANNING ZONING JOHN SICKLER, WHO'S IN THE BACK OVER THERE, AND DAVID ROTAR, BOTH RECENTLY REACHED 30 YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE TOWN.

THANK YOU, JOHN, WE APPRECIATE THAT.

WHEN I WAS AT THE CELEBRATION OF THE DAY, I WAS REALLY SURPRISED TO SEE HOW MANY 30-YEAR EMPLOYEES WE HAVE.

IT'S ALMOST TO THE POINT WE HAVE TO START CLUB 30. WE WON'T, MAYOR.

BUT THERE WERE QUITE A FEW THAT HAD 30 YEARS OF SERVICE.

ALSO, KEVIN ALBON, A SERVICE WORKER TECHNICIAN IN PUBLIC WORKS, RECENTLY CELEBRATED 20 YEARS OF SERVICE.

FINALLY, PAUL ROMERO AND CHARLES BARKER OF THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS OFFICERS TYLER ROBICHAUD AND IRIS STAN OF THE JUPITER POLICE DEPARTMENT, ALL RECENTLY CELEBRATED FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE TOWN, SO THEY'RE ON THEIR JOURNEY.

FINALLY, I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THE COUNCIL, THIS IS OUR LAST MEETING OF THE YEAR, FOR ALL THE SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET DONE THIS YEAR BASED ON YOUR LEADERSHIP.

I WANT TO THANK THE TOWN STAFF.

IT'S BEEN A RELENTLESS YEAR.

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT 2026 IS GOING TO BE SLOWER, BUT IT'S NOT.

THE STAFF HAS JUST BEEN REMARKABLE.

WHEN YOU JUST THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED OVER THE LAST YEAR, WHETHER IT'S FROM JFRD, SHIFTING TO GET ALL THOSE PLAYGROUNDS DONE, UTILITIES PROJECTS, PARKS AND REC, ENGINEERING PROJECTS, E-BIKES, CROSSWALKS.

IF YOU LOOK AT MY BOARD IN THE OFFICE, YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF THOSE.

IT WAS TRULY REMARKABLE YEAR.

THANK YOU TO THE STAFF.

I HOPE EVERYBODY HAS MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

AS THE TOWN ATTORNEY SAYS, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> I TRY TO ALTERNATE, SO I WANT TO GO COUNCILOR SUNDSTROM FIRST.

[TOWN COUNCIL – LIAISON REPORTS AND COMMENTS]

>> LACK OF PREP. QUESTION, TOWN MANAGER.

THE NEW PORTAL FOR PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS.

IF SOME RESIDENTS ARE NOT AS TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED AS OTHERS AND DON'T WANT TO USE THE PORTAL, DO THEY HAVE THE OPTION OF DOING IT ANOTHER WAY?

>> THEY DO. THE OLD SYSTEM IS STAYING IN PLACE.

>> IT'S JUST FOR CONVENIENCE, NOT A BENEFIT?

>> FOR CONVENIENCE.

>> I STRUGGLE, REALLY. I JUST MADE THAT GUY UP.

I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE STAFF THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR 30 YEARS.

I WAS TALKING TO SOMEONE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN ABACOA.

THEY SAID, "WHAT HAPPENED WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN IT WAS BUILT, AND HOW WAS IT STRUCTURED?" I WAS LIKE, "YOU SHOULD GO TO OUR PLANNING AND ZONING DIRECTOR. HE HELPED TO BUILD IT".

BEEN A LONG TIME, BUT WE'RE SO GRATEFUL JUST FOR THE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND THE WISDOM.

[01:40:05]

THANK YOU FOR CHALLENGING US AND OFFERING DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES FROM THAT LONGER VIEW.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS STUCK IT OUT.

THAT'S NOT EASY TO DO, BUT I HOPE YOU'VE RECEIVED COMPOUND INTEREST ON YOUR INVESTMENT.

I HOPE YOU'VE BUILT RELATIONSHIPS THAT YOU VALUE.

WE CERTAINLY SEE THE VALUE THAT YOU ADD TO THIS TOWN, JUST DRIVING AROUND.

I VIEW THE TOWN DIFFERENTLY NOW.

I THINK WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE AND YOU DRIVE AROUND, YOU DON'T SEE.

I SEE EVERY UTILITY POLE AND CONFLICT AND POLICE OFFICER AND THE STORY OF EVERY BUILDING, AND I'M SURE A LOT OF YOU DO AS WELL.

I THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE PUT IN.

IT HAS BEEN A YEAR. I'M A WORRIED WORRIED.

I'M ALREADY WORRIED ABOUT 2026.

BUT IT HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL YEAR WITH THE PLAYGROUNDS, ESPECIALLY IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE TO GET TO GO THERE AND SEE THAT, BUT ALSO WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO REALLY SEE THAT COME TO FRUITION AND BE FLESHED OUT.

I KNOW WITH THE JTAA PARADE, I WENT TO QUICKLY SAY A QUICK HELLO TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BEFORE JUMPING ON THE BACK OF THE CAR TO THROW CANDY.

I THINK THEY DOUBLED OR TRIPLED IN SIZE.

I'M USED TO THE FIVE OR SIX OF THEM, AND THERE WERE 20 OF THEM, OR SOMETHING CRAZY, SO I WAS GLAD I COULD INTRODUCE MYSELF AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH THEM ALL WHEN THEY'RE HERE.

I'D LOVE TO SEE THEM ALL IN ONE PLACE.

MAYBE INVITE THEM TO TOWN HALL AND WELCOME THEM.

NO, IT'S BEEN A REALLY GOOD YEAR.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HANUKKAH, HAPPY MERRY EVERYTHING.

I LIKE TO SAY HAPPY NEW YEAR.

I THINK IT'S THE GREAT CLEAN SLATE FOR ANYONE WHO NEEDS IT.

ONE MORE COMMENT, ACTUALLY, KRISTI, THANK YOU FOR COMING.

WE ONLY KNOW WHAT PEOPLE TELL US.

MY HUSBAND KEEPS TELLING ME I'M NOT A MIND READER. I WISH YOU WERE.

WE'RE NOT EITHER. WE ONLY KNOW WHAT PEOPLE TELL US.

UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH YOUR BUSINESS AND WITH THE INLET VILLAGE, I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT PERSPECTIVE.

THANK YOU FOR THAT, AND I'LL CONTINUE TO THINK ON THAT AS TIME GOES ON. THANK YOU.

>> COUNCILOR GEISINGER?

>> AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE EMPLOYEES.

NOT ONLY THOSE IN DECEMBER THAT CELEBRATE ANNIVERSARIES, BUT TO ALL THE EMPLOYEES OUT THE YEAR HAD MAJOR ANNIVERSARIES, WOULD BE FIVE, 25, 20, 25 OR 30.

BUT ALSO, I READ SOMETHING IN ONE OF OUR WEEKLY REPORTS REGARDING JUPITER BEING THE FOURTH BEST PLACE TO LIVE IN STATE OF FLORIDA AND 124TH IN US.

I'D JUST PERSONALLY LIKE TO THANK ALL THE, FIRST OF ALL, THE TOWN STAFF AND ALL THE EMPLOYEES FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO THE TOWN, AND ITS RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT 2025.

YOUR HARD WORK, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, HAS NOT GONE UNNOTICED AND ATTRIBUTED TO JUPITER BEING RECOGNIZED AS BEING ONE OF THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE, NOT ONLY IN FLORIDA BUT ALSO IN THE UNITED STATES, AND THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO ALL THE WORK THAT THESE FOLKS, THESE EMPLOYEES OF THE TOWN PUT IN EVERY DAY TO MAKE IT A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE. THANK YOU.

>> I'LL GO NEXT AND THEN GO DOWN THE LINE HERE.

NUMBER 1, WE ALL ARE JUST DELIGHTED TO HAVE FINALLY REACHED SUCCESS ON THE POLICE CONTRACT.

MR. KITZEROW, YOU'RE ALWAYS KIND IN GIVING CREDIT TO THE COUNCIL AND OTHERS FOR OUR COMMITMENT.

BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY HOW GRATEFUL I AM FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW WAY THE PROCESS WORKS.

WE HAVE SUNSHINE LAWS, SO WE DON'T TALK TOGETHER ON THIS EXCEPT IN THE MEETING.

HE MEETS ONE ON ONE, BUT THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PROCESS, I KNOW THAT YOU AND STAFF WERE LOOKING FOR HOW WE COULD MOVE RAPIDLY AS AN EXAMPLE ON THE CLOTHING ALLOWANCE PAYOUT, WHICH I KNOW THAT OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT HAS GOT A LOT OF STUFF TO DO, SO ALL THAT IS AN IMPACT, BUT IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU AND THE STAFF FOR GETTING US TO THAT POINT, AND I HOPE WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED WHAT WE ALL WANTED, IS TO MAKE SURE OUR POLICE FEEL LIKE THEY'RE HIGHLY VALUED AND I BELIEVE BY A VOTE OF APPROVAL, IT DOES INDICATE THAT.

I WISH IT WAS 100%, BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS.

BUT THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO REFLECT, SINCE THE LAST MEETING THAT WE'VE HAD TWO EVENTS.

WE HAD THE SNOW PLACE LIKE JUPITER.

THAT WAS JUST, OH MY GOSH, THAT IS AN INCREDIBLE EVENT.

[01:45:01]

I THINK IT WORKED OUT REALLY NICE TO SEPARATE IT FROM THE TREE LIGHTING, WHICH REGRETTABLY I MISSED BECAUSE I WAS OUT OF TOWN, BECAUSE IT CREATES TWO EVENTS NOW, BUT IT WAS JUST INCREDIBLE THE TURNOUT AND THE ENJOYMENT OF THAT EVENT.

IT WARMS MY HEART BECAUSE IT JUST SHOWS HOW WE'RE STILL SUCH A FAMILY ORIENTED COMMUNITY WITH A SMALL TOWN FEEL.

I'M THE ONE THAT DOES REMEMBER YEARS BACK WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT MAINTAINING THAT, AND QUITE FRANKLY, HAD NO CLUE HOW YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT.

BUT CERTAINLY, STAFF, WITH ALL THE WORK THEY PUT IN WITH THESE EVENTS, HELPS TO DO THAT.

THEN JUST THE COMMUNITY AND THEN THE JTAA PARADE WAS JUST INCREDIBLE.

I JUST WANT TO THANK JTAA AND SOME OF THE KEY PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN RUNNING IT FOR YEARS, AND WE ALL SAW THAT ONE LONGTIME MEMBER WAS RETIRING FROM THAT ROLE.

IT'S HARD TO FIND PEOPLE THAT HAVE GIVEN THEMSELVES FOR 50 YEARS, NEXT PERSON TO STEP UP FOR ANOTHER 50, BUT ANYWAY, JUST GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

THEN I JUST WANT TO SAY AS A COMMENT, WITH REGARD TO KIMLEY-HORN, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEM HEAR A MESSAGE FROM ME.

WE PAY CONSULTANTS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY, AND 2.3 MILLION ON THIS PROJECT, KIMLEY-HORN GOT ALMOST $900,000.

THEY MAKE A LOT OF MONEY, SO WE SHOULD BE EXPECTING OUT OF THEM.

I JUST WANT TO SHARE, I'VE BEEN DISAPPOINTED WITH A NUMBER OF THINGS WITH KIMLEY-HORN.

I'M ON THIS PROJECT BECAUSE WHEN I SAW THEIR EVALUATION, THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE ALWAYS DID WITH MY OTHER EMPLOYER, WAS WE LOOK IN THE MIRROR FIRST.

I DIDN'T SEE ANY OF THAT ON KIMLEY-HORN, SO WE JUST ATTRIBUTED TO OUR PRICES ARE GOING UP.

THAT'S NOT WHAT I EXPECT.

SOMEONE MAY SAY TO YOU, WELL, IT WAS PERFECT, WHAT WE PUT TOGETHER.

THAT'S NOT PERFECT. I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THAT YOU LOOK LINE BY LINE, AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND, COULD THERE HAVE BEEN MISUNDERSTANDING? BECAUSE THE VALUE THEY THEN COULD HAVE BROUGHT BY GOING OUT WITH A REBID COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY SAVED SIGNIFICANT DOLLARS.

THEY WEREN'T PREPARED.

I JUST WANT THEM TO KNOW, UNTIL I SEE THEM STEP UP AND COMMIT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO IMPROVE, I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT ANY MORE CONTRACT AWARDS TO THEM, BECAUSE TO ME, I'VE SEEN A DROP OFF IN THE QUALITY OF WHAT WE'RE GETTING FOR THAT.

ULTIMATELY, OUR STAFF HAVE TO RELY UPON CONSULTANTS WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT.

THEN LASTLY, AS WE'VE ALL SAID, HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON, HANUKKAH, CHRISTMAS, JUST A WHOLE SEASON, AND I REALLY WISH BEST WISHES TO ALL IN THE NEW YEAR. THANK YOU.

>> IT'S BEEN PRETTY EXCITING YEAR, BUSY.

TOWN MANAGER, PBA CONTRACT. GREAT TO GET THAT DONE.

THANK YOU AND ALL INVOLVED STAFF FOR YOUR INGENUITY, ALL OF YOU.

IT'S COMPLICATED BUSINESS.

IT TOOK A LONG TIME THIS TIME, BUT I KNEW WE'D GET THERE.

WASN'T WORRIED ABOUT. I KNEW WE'D DO THE RIGHT THING.

WE ALWAYS TRY TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THAT BEING SAID, THANKS EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THAT.

CHIEF HENNESSY, DOING A GREAT JOB AS OUR INTERIM POLICE CHIEF.

TAKEN ON THAT TASK.

CHIEF DONATTO. GREAT YEAR.

OTHER BUSY ONE COMING UP.

FANTASTIC. JOHN SICKLER BACK THERE.

YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH VALUE YOU'VE ADDED TO THIS TOWN WITH YOUR EXPERTISE AND WHAT YOU DO.

REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO.

ALTHOUGH YOU'RE OUT OF THE BLUE SOMETIMES WITH QUESTIONS AND PROBABLY DRIVE YOU CRAZY, BUT ANYWAY, THANKS THAT YOU'RE HERE.

SCOTT REYNOLDS IS ALWAYS.

IS HE STILL HERE? THERE HE IS.

NEWLY MARRIED. CONGRATULATIONS. BUT GREAT YEAR, ANOTHER BUSY ONE COMING UP.

MAYOR, YOU MISSED THE TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY WAS GREAT ON OUR NEW TOWN GREEN, AND A NICE NICE TURNOUT.

I WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE THE SNOW EVENT, BUT CAN'T HIT EVERYTHING.

THE JTAA PARADE WAS FANTASTIC.

ANOTHER GREAT TURNOUT. THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE, I HEARD SOME THINGS SOCIAL MEDIA LIKE, WHY ISN'T IT BACK ON ITS USUAL ROUTE? BUT I GUESS MOST PEOPLE REALLY LIKE THE ABACOA, BECAUSE IT'S SHADED AND IT'S MORE CONDENSED.

>> IT'S ALSO THE BRIGHTLINE TRAIN.

I RECENTLY LEARNED, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT EVER GOT SHARED AROUND FACEBOOK, BUT THE BRIGHTLINE CONFLICT, SCHEDULED TRAIN A LOT OF TIME, IT'S VERY RISKY GIVEN THEN CHILDREN.

>> BUT PEOPLE WANT TO SEE IT OVER THE NEW BRIDGE BECAUSE THERE'S MORE ROOM AND ALL THAT,

[01:50:02]

WHICH WOULD BE GREAT, BUT THE BRIGHTLINE IS A MAJOR ISSUE.

JUST SO PEOPLE KNOW, WE DON'T MAKE THAT DECISION.

THERE'S A LOT OF ENTITIES INVOLVED THERE THAT HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT. ANYTHING ELSE HERE? THERE'S A LOT. I THINK THAT'S IT.

WELL, MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HANUKKAH HAPPY NEW YEAR, AND EVERYBODY BE SAFE AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT YEAR.

>> THANK YOU. FOR ME, PERSONALLY, 2025 HAS BEEN AN EXTRAORDINARY YEAR.

MY FIRST YEAR ON THE COUNCIL.

I'M LEARNING EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND WITHOUT THE STAFF, AND I INCLUDE OUR NEW FIRE, OUR POLICE, ALL OF THE DIRECTORS, OUR TOWN MANAGER, MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I THOUGHT I KNEW WHAT WAS BEFORE ME, AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU EVERY DAY I KEEP LEARNING.

BUT WE DO LIVE IN A TOWN WHERE IT IS ALL FAMILY.

PEOPLE THAT YOU DON'T KNOW WILL BECOME YOUR FAMILY.

YES, WE'RE GROWING, WE'RE GETTING BIGGER.

AS I SAT HERE TONIGHT, I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK THE PUBLIC, AND KRISTI YOU'RE STILL HERE, FOR YOUR INPUT.

THERE'S AN INSIGHT THAT I THINK, MOST OF US WILL SAY WE NEED TO ADDRESS.

WHATEVER WE CAN DO, WE'LL CONTINUE TO PURSUE IT.

HOLIDAYS BRINGING, I THINK, THE BEST IN EVERYBODY.

IN THESE PAST FEW WEEKS, IT HAS BEEN LIKE EVERYDAY IS A CELEBRATION.

I THINK IF YOU GO OUT INTO OUR GRAINS OUT THERE, DOESN'T IT LOOK LIKE DISNEYLAND? I'M GOING TO PUT YOU IN THAT SPIRIT THAT WE HAVE A LOT TO BE PROUD OF.

I'M VERY PROUD TO SERVE EACH OF YOU ON THIS DAIS.

I WISH EVERYONE, A REALLY SERIOUSLY, VERY HAPPY HOLIDAY.

BUT MOST OF ALL, A NEW YEAR FILLED WITH ONLY GOOD HEALTH.

WITHOUT IT, WE'RE NOT HERE. HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

>> I'M JUST GOING TO, AS PREROGATIVE FOR BEING THE CHAIR, ONE LAST ITEM AND WE ALL CAN KEEP COMING UP TO ONE LAST ITEM IN A MEETING LIKE THIS, BUT THE LIGHTHOUSE DECORATION.

THE TOWN, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, NEVER HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH LIGHTHOUSE DECORATIONS, BUT THE PUBLIC WAS DISAPPOINTED WHEN THEY GOT DISCONTINUED.

THEN STAFF STEPPED UP AND WAS ABLE TO, AND I GUESS THE PUBLIC SHOULD KNOW THIS.

I KNOW PROBABLY WE ALREADY HAVE A COVERED IN SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT STAFF WENT AHEAD IN THE TOWNS NOW DOING THE DECORATIONS OF THE LIGHTHOUSE.

THERE'S A CASE WHERE WE ARE TRYING TO CONTINUE SOMETHING THAT WAS CONSIDERED VERY IMPORTANT TO PROBABLY THE LONGER TENURED MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC.

I THINK STAFF, I KNOW THAT WASN'T AN EASY TASK.

>> MAYOR, IF I COULD. THAT WAS ROGER HELD.

WOULD LIKE TO GIVE HIM CREDIT.

>> I KNOW IT WAS, YEAH.

>> THANK YOU, ROGER.

>> THANK YOU. YOU'RE SO COMMITTED TO THAT.

[OVERLAPPING] TO CLIMB UP THE LIGHTHOUSE HIMSELF TO PUT THEM ON THERE. THAT'S OKAY. WE'LL DO THAT.

>> WHICH IS WHY I WANTED TO BRING IT UP.

I KNOW THAT WAS NO SMALL TASK, AND WE HAD TO GET THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN TO BE ABLE TO GET THE AGREEMENT WITH THE LIGHTHOUSE TO BE ABLE TO DO IT.

I KNOW HE WAS ON IT EVERY DAY.

THANK YOU. WITH THAT, THE TIME IS NOW 8:53 AND WE'LL ADJOURN THE MEETING.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.

Dec 16, 2025 Town Council

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