>> NORMALLY GET ALL THE INSIGHTS,
[00:00:02]
BUT I DO VERY LITTLE NOW.>> GOOD EVENING. THE TIME IS NOW 7:00 PM,
[Call To Order ]
AND I'LL CALL TO ORDER THE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING OF TUESDAY, JANUARY 6TH.WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH AN INVOCATION FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND THE PLEDGE.
I JUST WANT TO SHARE AS A PROTOCOL, WE ADDED THE MOMENT OF SILENCE A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO SO THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN CHOOSE TO REFLECT UPON ANYTHING YOU THINK WE SHOULD BE REFLECTING UPON.
GENERALLY IT'S INDIVIDUAL, JUST SO EVERYBODY KNOWS, WE TAKE THAT MOMENT.
I ASK TODAY WE HAVE A TOWN EMPLOYEE HIGHLY VALUED THAT HAS SIGNIFICANT HEALTH ISSUES.
IT'S A PRIVATE MATTER, I MENTIONED THE PERSON OR THE SITUATION, BUT I'D ASK ANYBODY THAT CARES TO JOIN ME IN PRAYING FOR THAT PERSON DURING THE MOMENT OF SILENCE.
CAN WE HAVE AN INVOCATION, PLEASE?
>> LET US PRAY. ALMIGHTY GOD, AS WE GATHER HERE TODAY, WE GIVE THANKS FOR THE MANY OPPORTUNITIES YOU HAVE PROVIDED US.
MAY OUR CHOICES REFLECT THE TRUST PLACED IN US BY OUR RESIDENTS, AND MAY YOU GUIDE OUR WORDS, OUR ACTIONS, AND OUR DECISIONS, AS WE SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
AMEN. WE WILL NOW PAUSE FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
>> PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE.
>> MAY WE HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE?
>> WE BEGIN TONIGHT. WE HAVE A PRESENTATION,
[1. E-bike Safety Update ]
I BELIEVE, FROM POLICE CHIEF ON E-BIKE SAFETY.>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, TOWN COUNCIL, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
FOR THE RECORD, ACTING CHIEF DON HENNESSY OF THE JUPITER POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON SOME OF OUR E-BIKE SAFETY PROGRESS TOWARDS UPDATE ON THAT.
TONIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK A LITTLE BIT AT OUR EDUCATION ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS TO THIS POINT AND WHAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR.
WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH INITIATIVES WE'VE UNDERTAKEN TO MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY SEES WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT A NEW COMMUNITY TRAINING PROGRAM THAT WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING THAT WILL HOPEFULLY GET THE WORD OUT ON SOME OF THE E-BIKE SAFETY MEASURES.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ORDINANCES AND WHAT WE'RE PURSUING IN THAT REGARD AS FAR AS HOW WE CAN COME UP WITH SOME LEGISLATION TO BETTER REGULATE E-BIKES WITHIN THE TOWN.
THEN I'LL GO THROUGH SOME NEXT STEPS ON WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO FROM HERE.
TO START WITH EDUCATION ENFORCEMENT, AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN ON AN AGGRESSIVE CAMPAIGN TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND ENFORCE THE LAWS REGARDING E-BIKES.
I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THE STAFF HAS WORKED HARD SINCE MARCH OF 2025.
THEY'VE CONDUCTED OVER 145 TRAFFIC STOPS, ISSUED 178 CITATIONS AND WARNINGS, AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO LIMIT THE CRASHES INVOLVING E-BIKES TO SEVEN SINCE MARCH.
THOSE SEVEN CRASHES INVOLVING E-BIKES, THERE WERE EIGHT INJURIES IN THOSE CRASHES.
MEANING SOME OF THOSE MAY HAVE HAD MULTIPLE, SOME OF THEM MAY HAVE HAD NONE, BUT IT RESULTED IN EIGHT INJURIES IN E-BIKES.
ALONG WITH OUR CAMPAIGN FOR EDUCATION ENFORCEMENT, WE'VE ALSO DONE NUMEROUS THINGS TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
WE'VE CONDUCTED FIVE STANDALONE E-BIKE SAFETY EVENTS THAT WERE DESIGNED FOR PUBLIC MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO COME IN AND SPEAK WITH OFFICERS, RECEIVE EQUIPMENT AND GET INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR E-BIKES.
I'M HAPPY TO SAY WE ACTUALLY COMPLETED NUMBER 6 THIS MORNING.
OFFICERS FROM THE JUPITER POLICE DEPARTMENT WERE PRESENT AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS AS THEY RETURN TO SCHOOL TODAY FROM THEIR MIDWINTER BREAK.
WE WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE GOTTEN NEW E-BIKES THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS OR THOSE WHO HAD EXISTING E-BIKES JUST TO TAKE SOME TIME TO REMIND THEM OF THE RULES AND WHAT WE EXPECT ON E-BIKES AND HOW THEY'RE GOING TO USE THEM.
WE'RE ALSO CONTINUING OUR ONGOING INTEGRATION WITH REGULAR TOWN EVENTS AND ENSURING THAT E-BIKES HAVE A PRESENCE AT THOSE EVENTS.
[00:05:01]
SOME OF THOSE EVENTS COULD INCLUDE THE COFFEE AND CONNECT WITH COUNCIL EVENTS, ANY TOWN FESTIVALS THAT OCCUR.WE MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS AN E-BIKE COMPONENT PRESENT AT THOSE EVENTS.
ALONG WITH THE IN-PERSON THINGS THAT WE DO ACROSS THE COMMUNITY, WE'VE ALSO MADE A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE REACHING THE PUBLIC THROUGH VARIOUS MEANS.
THERE WERE 41 POSTS COMPLETED SINCE MARCH OF 2025 ACROSS ALL OF THE TOWN PLATFORMS. I WAS PRETTY ASTOUNDED WHEN I GOT THE RESULTS OF THAT, AND IT'S NOT JUST 41 POSTS THAT WENT OUT.
THERE WERE OVER 200,000 VIEWS OF THOSE 41 POSTS.
WE DO HAVE A WIDE REACH IN THOSE THINGS.
THOSE MESSAGES RANGED ANYWHERE FROM A VIDEO DEMONSTRATING PROPER E-BIKE SAFETY TO JUST GRAPHICS AND INFORMATION ABOUT E-BIKES AND HOW THEY CAN BE WRITTEN SAFELY.
IN ADDITION TO OUR SOCIAL MEDIA MESSAGING, WE ALSO HAVE AN E-BIKE WEBSITE.
DURING THE SAME PERIOD OF TIME, THERE WERE OVER 2,538 VIEWS OF JPD'S E-BIKE WEBSITE.
WE'RE GETTING A BROAD REACH IN THAT ASPECT AS WELL.
ASIDE FROM THE SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE DIGITAL STUFF, WE CONTINUE OUR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT THROUGH OUR TRAFFIC CONTACTS, CALLS FOR SERVICE AS WE INTERACT WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, EDUCATING BOTH THOSE ON E-BIKES AND THOSE CALLING TO ADDRESS CONCERNS ABOUT E-BIKES ON WHAT WE'RE DOING, WHERE WE'RE GOING TO WHAT EXACTLY THE LAWS ARE SO THEY ALL UNDERSTAND THEM.
IN ADDITION, WE'RE ALSO COLLABORATING WITH SCHOOL POLICE AT SCHOOL CAMPUSES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
THIS YEAR, WE COLLABORATED WITH SCHOOL BOARD.
THEY WERE PRESENT WITH US OUTSIDE THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS TO HELP US SHOW A JOINT EFFORT IN MAKING SURE THAT KIDS ARE RIDING TO SCHOOL SAFELY THAT CONTINUE TODAY WITH OUR EFFORTS OUTSIDE THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
WE CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE WITH SCHOOL POLICE.
THIS NEXT PORTION IS PROBABLY THE PART I'M MOST EXCITED ABOUT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE LEARNED AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS IS A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE LAWS, OR ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
WE CAN PUT THINGS OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
YOU SAW THE REACH THAT WE'RE GETTING THROUGH THOSE PLATFORMS. WE WANTED TO CREATE A MORE INTERACTIVE PROCESS TO GET THE WORD OUT TO PEOPLE ON HOW TO PROPERLY USE E-BIKES.
OUR STAFF, MEMBERS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, MEMBERS OF THE IS DEPARTMENT, AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS DEPARTMENT ARE ALL WORKING TOGETHER TO CREATE AN ONLINE E-BIKE SAFETY TRAINING CURRICULUM PROGRAM.
WHAT THIS PROGRAM WILL BE ABLE TO INCLUDE INFORMATION FOR PEOPLE SUCH AS E-BIKE CLASSIFICATION, HOW TO CARE FOR AND MAINTAIN YOUR BIKE, RULES OF THE ROAD, E-BIKE LAWS, AND CRASH AVOIDANCE.
ALL THESE THINGS WILL CULMINATE IN THE COMPLETION OF AN EXAM AT THE END, AND A PROOF OF COMPLETION WILL BE ISSUED TO THE PERSON WHO'S COMPLETED THE PROGRAM.
WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AS IT DEVELOPS.
WE'RE STILL WORKING ON FINALIZING THE CURRICULUM, FINALIZING THE EXAMINATION, AND MAKING SURE THAT IT IS SOMETHING THAT TRULY REFLECTS JUPITER IN THE TYPE OF PRODUCT THAT WE WANT TO PUT OUT.
ONCE WE'RE DONE WITH THIS, SOME OF OUR PLANS WITH THE NEXT QUESTION WAS, HOW DO YOU PUSH THIS OUT? HOW DO YOU GET THIS CURRICULUM OUT TO THE PUBLIC VERSUS JUST HAVING IT ON A WEBSITE? SOME THINGS WE'RE EXPLORING ARE THE CREATION OF A QR CODE, WHICH WILL WORK WITH LOCAL BIKE SHOPS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE QR CODE THAT COULD BE ISSUED AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE SO THAT THESE-BIKE SHOPS CAN THEN ISSUE A RECEIPT, THEY'D GIVE THEM A COPY.
HERE'S A COURSE FROM THE TOWN OF JUPITER ON HOW TO SAFELY RIDE THIS E-BIKE.
WE WILL WORK WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT QR CODE GETS TO THEM AS WELL, PLACE IT ON BIKE RACKS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE AROUND THE SCHOOLS TO GET A WIDE REACH WITH THIS PROGRAM.
WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE THAT. WE EXPECT THAT TO COME IN THE NEAR FUTURE AS WE STILL WORK TO COMPLETE THE FINAL DETAILS OF THAT.
THE NEXT PIECE IS AN ORDINANCE EVALUATION.
WE'VE DONE ALL THE EFFORTS THAT WE CAN DO AS FAR AS THE LAWS THAT ARE IN PLACE CURRENTLY.
THE NEXT STEP IS ALSO TO LOOK, IS THERE ANYTHING MORE WE CAN DO TO BETTER REGULATE E-BIKES FROM A TOWN PERSPECTIVE? I'LL TELL YOU, SENATE BILL 462 TOOK EFFECT IN JULY OF 2025.
WHAT THAT DOES IS THAT GIVES US THE AUTHORITY TO CREATE AN ORDINANCE FOR A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE IS MINIMUM AGE RESTRICTIONS ON OPERATING E-BIKES.
IT ALSO ALLOWS FOR US TO CREATE A REQUIREMENT THAT ANYBODY RIDING AN E-BIKE POSSESS A GOVERNMENT ISSUED IDENTIFICATION CARD.
THERE WERE ALREADY LAWS IN PLACE THAT ALLOWED US TO OPERATE THE REGULATION OF E-BIKES.
THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER OF AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE ALREADY PUT THESE ORDINANCES IN PLACE.
WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH THOSE MUNICIPALITIES.
I'VE PERSONALLY SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL CHIEFS ACROSS THE STATE TO FIND OUT ONE, WHAT ARE THEY DOING, TWO, WHAT HAS THE IMPACT OF THEIR EFFORTS BEEN? WE'RE STILL MONITORING SOME OF THAT TO SEE WHAT HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE.
WE'VE SEEN THINGS FROM ANYBODY UNDER 15 CANNOT RIDE E-BIKE AT ALL TO THEIR SPEED LIMITS THAT PEOPLE HAVE PUT ON E-BIKES AND
[00:10:01]
OTHER VARIOUS REGULATIONS AS FAR AS THE ACTUAL USE OF THE-BIKE.SOME OF THE CONSIDERATIONS AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO AN ORDINANCE, AND SOME OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO KEEP IN MIND ARE AGE LIMITATIONS.
WHAT IS THAT AGE? WHAT AGE ARE WE LOOKING AT? WHAT'S THE APPROPRIATE AGE TO PUT ON AN ORDINANCE TO PRESENT TO YOU? WE WANT TO LOOK AT THE PROCESS FOR CITATION ISSUANCE.
IF WE PUT A THING IN THERE SAYING ANYBODY UNDER 15 CAN'T RIDE AN E-BIKE AND WE HAVE A VIOLATION.
ARE WE ISSUING THAT VIOLATION TO A 14-YEAR-OLD? ARE WE ISSUING THAT VIOLATION TO A PARENT? WE'RE STILL LOOKING AND WE'RE WORKING WITH LEGAL STAFF FOR THE TOWN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION ON THAT.
THERE'S ALSO JURISDICTIONAL FACTORS, TOWN OWNED VERSUS STATE ROADS, AND AGAIN, WE'RE MOVING DOWN THE LEGISLATIVE ROAD TO SEE IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN REGULATE ON COUNTY ROADS, STATE ROADS, OR IF IT WOULD ONLY APPLY ON TOWN OWNED ROADWAYS FOR OUR ORDINANCE.
THE OTHER THING WE'RE LOOKING AT IS POSSIBLE INTEGRATION OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM. I MENTIONED TO YOU ALREADY.
IS THERE SOME WAY WE CAN TAKE THAT TRAINING PROGRAM AND MAKE THAT A REQUIREMENT COUPLED WITH THE AGE RESTRICTION TO SAY, IF YOU'RE UNDER A CERTAIN AGE AND YOU'VE COMPLETED OUR DEPARTMENT APPROVED TRAINING PROGRAM, IS THAT SOMETHING WE CAN INCORPORATE INTO THE ORDINANCE? THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE CURRENTLY EVALUATING AS WE LOOK TO CREATE A NEW ORDINANCE.
WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS? AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO EVALUATE MUNICIPAL ORDINANCE OPTIONS.
LOOKING AT THOSE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
MOST OF THE E-BIKE ORDINANCES THAT ARE IN PLACE NOW WERE RECENTLY ENACTED.
AGAIN, I WANT TO GET A PERIOD OF TIME WHERE I CAN SEE THE ACTUAL IMPACT AND SEE WHAT HAS WORKED AND WHAT IS NOT WORKING.
WE'RE GOING TO COMPLETE AND IMPLEMENT THE TRAINING PROGRAM.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR THAT HOUSE BILL, INCLUDING A NEW HOUSE BILL CALLED 243 THAT PUTS REGULATIONS ON RESTRICTIONS ON MODIFICATION OF E-BIKES, THE POSSIBILITY OF CREATING LICENSE REQUIREMENTS FOR CLASS THREE E-BIKES, AND INCLUSION OF E-BIKE CONTENT AND DRIVERS EDUCATION.
I THINK THAT THIRD ONE IS VERY IMPORTANT, THE INCLUSION OF E-BIKE CONTENT AND DRIVER'S EDUCATION TO MAKE SURE THAT MOTORISTS, NOT ONLY THE PEOPLE RIDING THE E-BIKES, SO THAT MOTORISTS ARE ALSO AWARE OF WHERE E-BIKES CAN AND SHOULD BE AND HOW THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO OPERATE.
THEN WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH THOSE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
SOME KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM TONIGHT.
WE DO CONTINUE OUR EDUCATION AND ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS, AS WE DID THIS MORNING, AND YOU'LL SEE OFFICERS OUT AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK REINFORCING THAT MESSAGE.
CREATION OF E-BIKE SAFETY AND TRAINING PROGRAM WILL REINFORCE E-BIKE SAFETY LAWS AND PRACTICES.
EFFORTS TO EVALUATE POTENTIAL MUNICIPAL SOLUTIONS WILL CONTINUE BETWEEN STAFF AND THE TOWN ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
IN CONCLUSION HERE, WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE BEST SOLUTION FOR JUPITER.
THERE'S BEEN ANOTHER NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT PUT ORDINANCES IN PLACE.
EACH MUNICIPALITY, EACH JURISDICTION HAS A DIFFERENT SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES, DIFFERENT TYPES OF ROADWAYS, DIFFERENT TYPES OF BIKE PATHS, DIFFERENT TYPES OF POPULATIONS.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD TOWARDS LOOKING FOR AN ORDINANCE SOLUTION, WE'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT WILL CLEARLY FIT JUPITER.
WITH THAT, I CAN TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT ANY OF YOU MAY HAVE.
>> WELL, I'LL GET STARTED, JUST DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ONE?
>> FIRST OF ALL, BEFORE I COMMENT, I REALLY JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE HOW GRATEFUL I AND THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC IS FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND OUR POLICE LEADERSHIP IN THIS MATTER.
TREMENDOUS EFFORT. I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO TAKE ANYTHING I MIGHT SAY OUT OF CONTEXT.
WE START FROM THAT POINT, GREAT.
YOU TALKED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS THERE HAVE BEEN THIS YEAR.
BUT IMMEDIATELY THINK TOO, FOR THOSE THAT DO KNOW WHAT'S CALLED A SAFETY PYRAMID, BELOW THOSE ACCIDENTS IS A HECK OF A LOT OF NEAR MISSES, UNSAFE BEHAVIOR AND WHATEVER.
PROBABLY EVERY ONE OF US IN THIS ROOM HAVE SEEN DOZENS OF TIMES THERE'S BEEN UNSAFE BEHAVIOR.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN'T EXPECT THAT OUR POLICE CAN HANDLE BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAPPEN.
PERSONALLY, I'M MOST EXCITED ABOUT THE COMPLETION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM, AND I APPRECIATE YOU'RE ALREADY THINKING ABOUT HOW DO YOU GET IT OUT, BUT I WOULD SUBMIT JUST ITS VERY EXISTENCE, PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, AUNTS, UNCLES, NEIGHBORS, MAY HELP TO GET ENCOURAGED FOR PEOPLE.
WE GOT AN E MAIL FROM SOMEONE IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY WHICH I HAD READ AND PERHAPS OTHERS HAVE HADN'T HAD A CHANCE YET, BUT IT WAS LISTING THE OBSERVATIONS THEY HAD MADE ABOUT SILLINESS, UNSAFE BEHAVIORS AND WHATEVER.
[00:15:01]
THOSE COULD HAVE BEEN ACCIDENTS AND COULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUS ONES, BUT WELL, I APPRECIATE GETTING THAT, WE'VE ALL SEEN THAT.WE WANT TO GET IT RIGHT, SO I'M NOT DRIVING TO GET IT DONE AND THEN IT'S NOT RIGHT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT.
BUT DO YOU HAVE A TARGET DATE FOR COMPLETION OF THAT?
>> AS FAR AS TARGET DATE, I DON'T, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE'RE WORKING.
I CALLED A COUPLE OF POLICE DEPARTMENTS YESTERDAY TO TRY TO GET SOME STATUS.
I DON'T WANT TO LET THIS SIT TOO LONG.
I WANT TO GET SOMETHING IN FRONT OF YOU ALL THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN LIVE WITH HERE IN JUPITER.
AGAIN, I MENTIONED BEFORE THERE'S SOME LEGAL THINGS WE NEED TO TACKLE AND UNDERSTAND FIRST, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE TOWN ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ON THAT.
>> BUT THAT'S ORDINANCE STUFF.
I WAS TALKING ABOUT JUST A TRAINING PROGRAM.
>> I'M SORRY, FOR THE TRAINING PROGRAM.
I WOULD SAY THAT WOULD BE DONE WITHIN MONTHS.
>> BUT IF YOU COULD COMMIT TO THAT IN THE WEEKLY REPORT.
>> OR GET A COMMITMENT. I KNOW TO DO IT RIGHT, YOU CAN'T GET IT DONE IN A DAY OR TWO, BUT FOR ME, THAT'S AN EXTREME PRIORITY FOR THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S NOT JUST THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DOING IT.
IF YOU COULD GET BACK WITH US ON THAT, I'D APPRECIATE IT.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I AND MY COLLEAGUES, WE'RE NOT WEIGHING IN ON THE NEXT STEPS, EVEN THOUGH WE MAY NOT BE THERE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T PROCEED WITHOUT THE TRAINING PROGRAM.
I THINK THAT'S A FUNDAMENTAL FOUNDATION.
BUT I AM INTERESTED IN DOING AN ORDINANCE, WHICH WOULD BE BUILT UPON HAVING A TRAINING PROGRAM.
WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THAT BEFORE.
I THINK IT MIGHT EVEN BEEN PRESENTED BY YOU THE LAST TIME, SO THAT'S ALREADY BEEN IN MY MIND.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LIMIT WOULD BE, BUT I'M INTERESTED IN THE AGE LIMITATION.
WE HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT IT OR TALKED ABOUT OR REACHED A CONSENSUS, BUT THAT'D BE A GIVEN IN THAT TRAINING REQUIREMENTS, AND ALL OF THE ABOVE.
I APPRECIATE ALL THE HOMEWORK YOU'RE DOING TO GET US TO THAT POINT.
BUT I'D BE REMISS IF WE DIDN'T JUST WEIGH IN ALREADY.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE EXPECTING WE WANT TO HAPPEN SO THAT SOMEONE'S NOT THINKING, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL YOU COME BACK.
EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING IS MOVING IN THE DIRECTION.
YOU'VE BEEN PROACTIVE. THANK YOU, AND WE'RE READY TO WEIGH IN WHEN IT'S TIME FOR US TO WEIGH IN AND SO WE ALL INDIVIDUALLY NEED TO PONDER, BUT USUALLY IS FOUNDED BY A STAFF RECOMMENDATION OR SOMETHING TOO ABOUT AN AGE LIMIT OR HOW YOU WOULD HANDLE TRAINING OR WHATEVER.
BUT AGAIN, I SUBMIT THAT JUST HAVING THE TRAINING AVAILABLE, IT'S GOING TO GET A LOT OF USE. I THINK IT IS.
>> LET ME GO DOWN THE AISLE TO MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL CHOY.
>> I AGREE, 100% THAT IF YOU COME FORWARD WITH AN ORDINANCE, WE'RE READY FOR IT.
BUT A QUESTION ON THE TRAINING PROGRAM, WILL THE PARENTS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUY INTO IT? SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHATEVER PERIOD OF TIME THEIR CHILD IS GOING TO GO THROUGH TRAINING.
THIS IS A RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR ON THEIR PART.
BUT I DON'T THINK ALL PARENTS SEE WHAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE DOING, AND IF THEY CAN GET A BUY IN ON YOUR TRAINING PROGRAM, WHETHER IT'S TO PARTICIPATE, WHETHER IT'S TO SIGN OFF, SOMETHING THAT HOLDS THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE ACCOUNTABLE AS WELL.
PARENTS TRY, BUT IT IS DIFFICULT.
THEY HAVE TO GET THAT MESSAGE OUT TO THEIR CHILD.
WE'VE ALL SEEN CRAZY BEHAVIOR.
AGAIN, ON THAT HOUSE BILL 462 AND THE AGE REQUIREMENT.
CAN ANY OF THAT CORRELATE WITH A DRIVER'S LICENSE REQUIREMENT PROCESS?
>> IT CAN. ONE OF THE THINGS, AND I'LL GIVE YOU SOME PRELIMINARY ON WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE.
MY PERSONAL TAKE FROM A POLICE DEPARTMENT AND SAFETY PERSPECTIVE IS, ANYBODY UNDER THE AGE OF 15, WE EQUATE 15 WITH AN INDIVIDUAL CAN GO AND GET THEIR DRIVER'S PERMIT, THEY HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO GO AND COMPLETE THE DRIVER'S ED PROGRAM.
ANYBODY UNDER 15 DOES NOT HAVE THAT ABILITY TO DO SO.
I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A STARTING POINT FOR AN AGE LIMIT, I THINK THAT'S APPROPRIATE, BECAUSE HOW ARE WE EXPECTING 13 AND 14 AND 12-YEAR-OLDS TO UNDERSTAND HOW THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO OPERATE AND WHAT CARS ARE GOING TO DO? WHAT DOES A YIELD SIGN MEAN FOR A 13-YEAR-OLD? HE MAY NOT KNOW THAT.
FROM A STARTING POINT, YES, I USE THAT AS A MARKER ON WHERE I WOULD START WITH AN AGE RESTRICTION.
>> WHAT ARE YOU SEEING WITH ANY OF THE MODIFYING OF THESE E-BIKES IN SO FAR AS ANY OF THESE CRASHES? IS THAT A BIG THING HAPPENING THAT THEY'RE SOPPING UP THESE E-BIKES TO DO MORE?
>> A LOT OF THE E-BIKE CRASHES WE HAVE HAD HAVE NOT HAD SOPPED UP. I WON'T SAY NONE OF THEM.
I'D HAVE TO REVIEW THE DATA TO FIND OUT HOW MANY OF THEM, BUT WE'RE NOT SEEING A TREMENDOUS PROBLEM WITH THAT AND THE CRASHES.
[00:20:04]
>> ALL RIGHT. THEN THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF RIDERS OUT HERE.
THERE ARE THE YOUNG ONES AND THEN THOSE ARE THE FOLKS THAT NEEDED AS THE VEHICLE TO GET BACK AND FORTH FOR TRANSPORTATION.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY, BECAUSE I KNOW I FOCUSED ON THE YOUTH WITH THE E-BIKE TRAINING PROGRAM.
THE E-BIKE TRAINING PROGRAM IS GOING TO BE OPEN FOR ALL RESIDENTS.
IT'S GOING TO BE A PUBLIC SOURCE THING.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A COST FACTOR.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ONLY ACCESSIBLE TO THE YOUTH.
IT'LL BE OPEN FOR ANYBODY, BECAUSE WE REALIZE THERE ARE LEGITIMATE USERS AND PEOPLE ARE USING THAT AS THEIR DAILY COMMUTE.
>> THANKS, CHIEF. I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOUR STAFF IS DOING.
HOW MANY MONTHS HAVE YOU GUYS BEEN DOING THIS NOW SINCE THAT FIRST LARGE MEETING WE HAD HERE? WAS THAT LAST SUMMER?
>> I'M NOT PUTTING YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO NOTICE ANY TANGIBLE DECLINE IN COMPLAINTS OR ACCIDENTS OR IS IT TOO SOON?
>> IT'S PROBABLY TOO SOON FOR THAT.
THERE'S ALSO SOME OTHER FACTORS THAT PLAY IN IF YOU LOOK AT TIME OF YEAR.
AS YOU GO INTO THE SUMMER MONTHS, I NOTICE A DECLINE.
A LOT OF TIMES ON THE E-BIKE, PARTICULARLY THE YOUTH, THEY'RE GATHERING TOGETHER AND RIDING TOGETHER IN PACKS AFTER SCHOOL.
WHEN SCHOOL BREAKS FOR THE SUMMER, PEOPLE GO THEIR OWN WAY.
[OVERLAPPING] WE SAW A DECLINE THERE, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT IT WAS A DECLINE.
I MIGHT WANT TO TRACK OVER A LONGER PERIOD.
>> IN REGARDS TO THE TRAINING PROGRAM, COULD WE LOOK AT SOMETHING WHERE WE PICK A CERTAIN AGE FOR MINORS WHERE TO LEGALLY RIDE A E-BIKE IN JUPITER, MANDATORY TRAINING PROGRAM THAT THE PARENTS HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY SIGN IN ON.
I THINK SOME PARENTS MAY NOT BE AWARE OF WHAT THE KIDS DO OUT THERE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T CONTROL.
>> KIDS ARE KIDS. THEY'RE AWARE OF THE HAZARDS OF THESE BIKES ON THE ROADS AND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THEM.
TRAINING PROGRAM, PARENTS HAVE TO SIGN IN FOR THE KID TO BE LEGAL TO GET HIS CERTIFICATE.
IT'S GOING TO BE A CERTIFICATE THING.
>> ALSO BE SOMETHING THAT THE POLICE OFFICERS CAN TRACK SO THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO VIEW AND SEE.
IF THEY DO STOP SOMEBODY, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO SEE IF THEY'VE COMPLETED THEIR PROGRAMMER OR NOT.
>> GREAT. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU.
>> CHIEF AMES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND FOR THE SAKE, I'M NOT REPEATING WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE SAID, WHICH I AGREE WITH.
I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
RELATIVE TO MONITORING THIS HOUSE BILLS 243, DO MUNICIPALITIES OR EVEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AROUND THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAVE INPUT INTO THESE HOUSE BILLS?
>> THEY DO. THERE'S A NUMBER OF WAYS THAT THAT HAPPENS TYPICALLY.
THIS CAN BE DONE THROUGH THE CHIEFS ASSOCIATIONS AND VARIOUS LOBBY.
THE LOBBYISTS CAN CERTAINLY WEIGH INTO THAT.
I DON'T HAVE A PERSONAL CONNECTION OR SAY IN THE STATE, BUT IT'S SOMETHING WHERE IF WE WANTED TO PUSH FOR A CERTAIN LEGISLATION, IT'S SOMETHING WE COULD CERTAINLY LOOK AT.
>> RELATIVE TO THE CITATIONS, 178 CITATIONS AND WARNINGS, ARE THERE CURRENTLY ANY CONSEQUENCES FOR SAY, A YOUNG RIDER GETTING A CITATION OR A WARNING?
>> FOR THE CITATIONS, IT'S LIKE A NORMAL CITATION.
THEY WOULD GO THROUGH THE NORMAL CONSEQUENCE OF A NON-MOVING VIOLATION FOR A BICYCLE VIOLATION.
>> THOSE CITATIONS ALSO GO TO THE PARENT?
>> NO. THE CITATIONS ARE ISSUED TO THE CHILD.
>> HOW DO THE PARENTS GET AWARENESS THAT THOSE CITATIONS WERE ISSUED?
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE IF WE'RE ISSUING A PARENT A CITATION THAT THE PARENT IS CALLED USUALLY TO THE SCENE OR AT LEAST NOTIFIED THAT IT OCCURRED.
>> DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO GIVE A COPY OF THAT TO THE PARENT SO THEY'RE AWARE OF IT?
>> IT COULD. OFTENTIMES, WHAT I RECALL FROM THE PAST IS, IF WE CALL PARENTS TO A SCENE, THEY'RE RIGHT THERE WHEN WE ISSUE THE CITATION.
>> LAST, WHAT HAPPENS WITH REPEAT OFFENDERS WHO HAVE MULTIPLE CITATIONS? IS THERE A THRESHOLD WHEN MORE SIGNIFICANT ACTION COULD BE TAKEN AGAINST THE RIDER?
>> NO. CITATIONS ARE DONE ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS.
EACH CITATION IS LIKE IF YOU SPEED.
YOU CAN GET A NUMBER OF SPEEDING CITATIONS. IT'S REALLY NO DIFFERENT.
THEY'RE DONE ON A UNIFORM CITATION.
NOW, I WILL SAY IF WE DO DECIDE TO GO THE ORDINANCE ROAD, THAT'S SOMETHING COULD BE BUILT INTO THE ORDINANCE.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ORDINANCES ACROSS THE TOWN THAT HAVE FIRST OFFENSE, SECOND OFFENSE, THIRD OFFENSE ESCALATIONS.
BUT NO, THERE'S NOTHING IN THE STATE LAW THAT ESCALATES.
>> I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT ESCALATION ALONG WITH PARENTS GETTING NOTIFICATION OF THE CITATION, SHOULD THEY NOT EVEN COME TO THE SCENE, WE'VE GOT TO FIND SOME WAY TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE AWARE THAT THEIR KID HAD A VIOLATION.
>> THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU.
I APOLOGIZE AND IT'S RESONATING HERE.
DO THE CITATION IMPACT FUTURE DRIVER LICENSE?
>> I'D HAVE TO CHECK ON BECAUSE THESE ARE STANDARD BICYCLE CITATIONS.
THE ONES I KNOW WE SPOKE AT THE E-BIKE TOWN HALL ON THE E-MOTORS AND RIDING WITHOUT A LICENSE, THAT ONE CERTAINLY WOULD.
I DON'T BELIEVE AN E-BIKE CITATION WOULD AFFECT A FUTURE LICENSE.
[00:25:02]
AS FAR AS JUST SOME COMMENTS, SOME THOUGHTS, AGAIN, WHICH YOU MAY ALREADY HAVE IN YOUR MIND, BUT JUST TO GET THEM OUT, NUMBER ONE, I SHARE, REMEMBER A COUPLE OF DECADES AGO, JTAA, IN TRYING TO MANAGE BEHAVIOR OF PARENTS IN REC PROGRAMS. THERE WAS A MANDATORY PARENT HAS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TRAINING BECAUSE IT WAS THE PARENTS THAT WERE NOT FOR REC PROGRAMS THAT WERE THE PROBLEM AND NOT THE KIDS.I DO THINK SOME WAY WE OUGHT TO AT LEAST ENCOURAGE IT.
YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MANDATE IT.
WHILE I USED THE WORD PARENT, IT WOULD BE WHOEVER IS THE RESPONSIBLE ADULT FOR A CHILD.
THE TRAINING PROGRAM SHOULD BE SET UP THAT THEY PARTICIPATE IN THAT ARE WELL AWARE OF THAT.
AGAIN, MAYBE YOU CAN'T ENFORCE IT EVEN WITH AN ORDINANCE, BUT I'D LIKE TO DO THAT.
AGAIN, I'M SURE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT IT, BUT I WOULD IMAGINE THIS TRAINING PROGRAM, CERTAINLY UNINCORPORATED AREAS TEQUESTA, ANYBODY THAT WOULD BE IN JUPITER WOULD STILL NEED TO TAKE IT.
I WOULD EXPECT THAT OTHER JURISDICTIONS LIKE TEQUESTA, FOR EXAMPLE, WOULD LOVE TO LEVERAGE THIS.
I COULD SEE IT REALLY ADDING A LOT OF VALUE, AND SO JUST TO REINFORCE WHAT OTHERS HAD WEIGHED IN.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE SOME ORDINANCE TEETH, IF YOU WILL, ON TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE JUST ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
NOT DIFFERENT THAN GETTING A LEARNERS PERMIT.
THAT'S WHAT'S REALLY LACKING HERE.
SOMEONE HAS TO KNOW THE RULES OF THE ROAD, WHICH IS WHAT YOU'VE GOT IN MIND TO PREPARE, AND THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME TESTS FOR UNDERSTANDING.
YOU'VE GOT TO PASS THAT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A CHANCE OF BEING RESPONSIBLE.
WITHOUT THAT, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO OBSERVE REALLY VERY RISKY BEHAVIOR, AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE ACCIDENTS AND EVENTS.
I APPRECIATE THE REGULAR UPDATES.
I APPRECIATE ALL THE ADVANCES THAT HAPPEN BETWEEN THE UPDATES AND STAYING ON TOP OF IT AS OUR POLICE ARE.THANK YOU.
>> MOVING ON TO CITIZEN COMMENTS.
DO WE HAVE ANY CITIZEN COMMENTS?
[2. December 16, 2025, Town Council Meeting Minutes.]
WE HAVE BEFORE US THE MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 16 MEETING.I DIDN'T SEE ANY CORRECTIONS ON THE DAIS.
IF THERE ARE NONE, I'LL TAKE A MOTION IN THE SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED.
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF DECEMBER 16, 2025, AS PRESENTED.
>> MOTION AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVING ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
THIS IS ITEMS 3-8.IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC THAT WISH TO PULL A CONSENT AGENDA ITEM?
>> WAIT A MINUTE. I'D LIKE TO PULL ONE.
NUMBER 4 I HAVE QUESTIONS ON AND NUMBER 8.
SECOND READING IS QUASI-JUDICIAL.
DO ANY MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL HAVE ANY EXPERTEE DISCLOSURES? I HAVE NONE?
>> SEEING NONE, I'LL TAKE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON AN AMENDED ORDINANCE CONSISTING OF 3, 05, 6, AND 7.
I'D ASK FOR ORDINANCE 2025 TO BE READ.
>> ORDINANCE 2025, AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF TOWN OF JUPITER, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE TOWN'S OFFICIAL ZONING MAP TO REZONE 1.19 ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT 100 AND 102 NORTH COASTAL WAY.
FROM THE INDIAN TOWN ROAD OVERLAY ZONING DISTRICT, US HIGHWAY ONE DISTRICT, WITH UNDERLYING GENERAL COMMERCIAL C2 TO US HIGHWAY ONE INTRACOSTAL WATERWAY, CORRIDOR DISTRICT, WATERWAY, COMMERCIAL AND ENTERTAINMENT SUBDISTRICT.
PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF LAWS IN CONFLICT, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND ON THE AMENDED CONSENT AGENDA.
ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM 4 APPROVED BY COUNCILOR GUISINGER.
[4. Approval of piggyback of State Term Contract No. 15100000-25-STC for the purchase of fuel with Pro Energy, LLC, for a 3-year term through December 30, 2028. ]
[00:30:03]
DID YOU SAY YOU JUST HAVE QUESTIONS.>> I JUST HAVE QUESTIONS, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
THIS IS REGARDING THE FLEET FUEL WITH PRO ENERGY.
I SEE WE BUDGETED 900K FOR THIS YEAR.
WHAT DO WE TYPICALLY SPEND ON A YEARLY BASIS FOR FLEET FUEL?
>> FOR THE RECORD, GEORGE DZAMA, DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS.
WE SPEND ABOUT THAT AMOUNT EVERY YEAR, 900,000 TO A MILLION.
>> ANOTHER QUESTION RELATIVE TO THE CONTRACT WITH PRO ENERGY.
DOES IT ACCOUNT FOR FLUCTUATIONS IN THE COST PER GALLON OF FUEL?
I GUESS OUR ADJUSTMENTS ALLOWED THROUGH THE YEAR, ARE THERE SET TIMES YOU CAN GO IN AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO ALL THIS?
>> YES. IT'S TYPICALLY THE CPI, THE INDEX, AND FUEL RATES.
BUT THIS IS THROUGH THE STATE CONTRACT, AND THEY HAVE THE PROVISIONS SET FORTH IN THE FLUCTUATIONS.
>> THEY MONITOR THE RATES AND THEY'LL MAKE?
>> MY LAST QUESTION, RELATIVE TO THE TOWN STANDBY GENERATORS, DO THEY USE GASOLINE OR DIESEL?
>> THEY ARE TYPICALLY DIESEL AND WELL, SOME ARE GAS, BUT WE HAVE DIESEL GENERATORS.
>> DO YOU KNOW FOR THE GASOLINE ONES, DO WE USE MARINE-GRADE FUEL OR 10% ETHANOL-BASED?
>> I KNOW FOR GENERATORS, THEY OFTEN TRY TO SWAY YOU AWAY FROM USING ETHANOL-BASED FUELS BECAUSE OF CARBONATION ISSUES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I CAN'T ANSWER THAT DIRECTLY, BUT I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
>> IF YOU WOULD, I'D APPRECIATE THAT.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE FOR USING 10% ETHANOL, WE'RE NOT GETTING INTO ANY SIGNIFICANT MAINTENANCE ISSUES WITH OUR GENERATORS.
>> THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAD THERE.
THE TOTAL OF THE NINE IS WITH THE GENERATORS AND THE FLEETS, CORRECT?
>> I HAVE ONE QUESTION, MAYOR.
>> GO AHEAD. WE OPENED IT UP. [OVERLAPPING]
>> JUST OPEN IT UP AND GO AHEAD.
>> [LAUGHTER] IN REGARDS TO JUPITER FIRE, THE NEW FLEET OF TRUCKS COMING IN PREDOMINANTLY DIESEL, THE LARGER ONES, CORRECT? IS THAT FACTORED IN INTO THIS AND DO WE EVER GO OVER? IF WE BUDGET 900, DO WE EVER GO OVER?
>> I CAN ACTUALLY ANSWER THAT. EVERY YEAR WE DO THE BUDGET, WE DO BASICALLY AN AVERAGE.
WE LOOK AT ALL THE VEHICLES IN THE TOWN AND THEIR USAGE AND COME UP WITH AN AVERAGE COST BASED ON THE COST OF FUEL IS WHAT WE ESTIMATE.
THIS PAST YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO BE RECEIVING OUR VEHICLES THIS YEAR, GOING INTO NEXT YEAR, WE HAVE ALREADY DONE THAT ESTIMATE INCLUDING THOSE VEHICLES.
>> FROM OCTOBER ON WITH THE NEW FIRE ESTIMATING.
>> WE'LL GO INTO THAT GOING INTO THE BUDGET SEASON THIS YEAR.
WE WILL ESTIMATE AGAIN FOR NEXT YEAR, WHICH THIS IS CROSSING FISCAL YEAR.
>> RIGHT. REGARDING THE THREE MONTHS WE'LL HAVE, IT GIVE YOU A BENCHMARK SEASONAL OBVIOUSLY, BUSIER SEASON, MORE MILES ON THE ROAD AND ALL THAT.
>> CORRECT. WE'LL KNOW WHAT THE DIESEL COST BASED ON THOSE AVERAGES, AND WE'LL KNOW WHAT THOSE VEHICLES APPROXIMATELY RUN.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU. THAT'S IT.
>> WELL, I DON'T HAVE TO ASK A QUESTION, BUT I WILL NOT TO COMPETE, BUT NO, THIS IS A PIGGYBACK OF A STATE CONTRACT, WHICH THERE'S PROBABLY NO BETTER GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW THAT ADDS VALUE TO THE REST OF US.
DO YOU WANT TO JUST COMMENT ABOUT THAT? WHILE WE HAVE CONFIDENCE HERE IS BECAUSE THIS STATE-WIDE CONTRACT THAT GETS PIGGYBACKED ADDRESSES ALL THE ISSUES WE'D HAVE CONCERN ABOUT, AND IT HAS INDICES TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT IF THERE'S CHANGES IN MARKET PRICING, CORRECT?
>> CORRECT. IT'S COMPETITIVELY BID.
THAT'S THE REASON THAT WE LOOK TO THE STATE THESE CONTRACTS.
IT'S AN EASY WAY FOR PROCUREMENT, AND WE KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN FAIRLY AND COMPETITIVELY BID, AND YOU GET THE BEST PRICES YOU'RE TRYING TO POINT OUT THERE.
>> I'LL TAKE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE PIGGYBACK OF THE CONTRACT FOR THREE-YEAR TERM, BASICALLY AGENDA ITEM 4.
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY, 4-0.
[8. Resolution 17-26, Approving the Interlocal Agreement for Fire/Rescue Dispatch Between the Town of Jupiter and the City of Palm Beach Gardens. ]
REMOVED FROM CONSENT.COUNCILOR GUISINGER, WHAT'S YOUR QUESTIONS?
[00:35:05]
>> FIRST AND RELATIVE TO THE COST, WHAT IS THE TOWN'S EXPECTED COSTS FOR ILA APPROVAL THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2026 OF THIS YEAR? I GUESS A COMMENT, IS THIS COST PRIMARILY STANDING UP EQUIPMENT, SOFTWARE, LICENSE TESTING, CERTIFYING THE SYSTEM DURING THIS TIME?
>> THIS COST STRUCTURE IS IDENTICAL TO THE COST STRUCTURE THAT TOWN CURRENTLY HAS FOR JUPITER POLICE WITH NORTH COM DISPATCH.
WE DON'T HAVE THIS VERY SECOND.
WHAT IT DOES IS IT ALLOCATES THOSE COSTS BASED ON A POPULATION BASIS, AGAIN, IDENTICAL TO WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE WITH JUPITER POLICE.
BUT YOU DON'T EXPECT TO BE USING THAT SERVICE BETWEEN NOW AND SEPTEMBER 30, UNLESS IT'S FOR TRAINING OR.
>> NO, SIR. WE WILL BEGIN USING THAT SERVICE ON A TRAINING BASIS ON JUNE 1.
>> JUNE 1. THAT'S WHY I WAS LOOKING FOR IT. THANK YOU.
ALSO, DOES JUPITER FIRE RESCUE HAVE INPUT TO NORTH COM STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES AND RESPONSE PROTOCOLS RELATED TO JUPITER?
>> IS THAT PART OF THAT GOVERNING BOARD THAT YOU'RE A PART OF?
>> GOT THAT. HAS JUPITER FIRE RESCUE REVIEWED EXISTING RESPONSE PROTOCOLS AND PROVIDED OUR CONCURRENCE? DO WE GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONCUR WITH THOSE PROTOCOLS?
>> THOSE PROTOCOLS ARE BEING DEVELOPED, AGAIN, WE HAVEN'T STARTED THEM YET.
THEY ARE BEING JOINTLY DEVELOPED.
WE ARE WORKING THOSE WITH PALM BEACH CARZANO, SIR.
>> GOOD. HAS JUPITER FIRE RESCUE AND THE TOWN BUDGET FOR THE PURCHASE AND MAINTENANCE OF ALL RADIOS, CLIENT SIDE SOFTWARE, LICENSE AND HARDWARE SOFTWARE, SERVER SOFTWARE, ETC TO RECEIVED SERVICE IN NORTH COM.
HAS THAT ALREADY BEEN BUDGETED FOR?
>> YES, SIR. I ALREADY HAS BEEN.
>> IS THAT HARDWARE ON PROCUREMENT AND NO SOFTWARE LICENSE?
>> IT'S HARDWARE, THERE IS SOFTWARE INVOLVED.
IT'S ALL PART OF STATION ALERTING SOFTWARE AND THOSE THINGS, AND THOSE ARE ALL WITHIN THE BUDGET THEY'VE ALL BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR.
>> I HAD ONE COMMENT ON READING THROUGH THE CONTRACT, RECOGNITION OF THE ILA.
THERE'S A RECOGNITION PARAGRAPH PERTAINED TO MISS ROUTED COMMUNICATIONS OR DISPATCH.
DO YOU KNOW HOW OFTEN THIS OCCURS? THAT'S JUST A MOTHERHOOD STATEMENT THROWN IN THERE OR IS IT AN ACTUAL ISSUE?
>> I WOULD SAY THAT'S A PRETTY RARE OCCURRENCE.
I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THAT ERRORS DON'T OCCUR, BUT IT IS A PRETTY RARE OCCURRENCE.
>> LET ME ASK THIS. DOES JUPITER'S POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE WITH MISS ROUTED COMMUNICATIONS?
>> NO. AS FAR AS MISS ROUTED, AS FAR AS LIKE INDIVIDUAL COMMUNICATIONS, THERE ARE MULTIPLE ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR WORLD ON ONE RADIO FREQUENCY THAT SHARE.
FOR EXAMPLE, GARDEN SHARES WITH NORTH PALM, WE SHARE WITH DEQUET, BUT WE'VE HAD NO ISSUES WITH NORTH COM MISROUTING INFORMATION OR CALLS FOR SERVICE.
>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS HOPING TO HEAR.
REGARDING FORCE MAZURE, THERE'S A PARAGRAPH THERE WHICH HAS PALMS GARDEN DISPATCH PERSONNEL EVER GO ON STRIKE? THERE'S A STRIKE WORD IN THERE THAT GOT MY ATTENTION.
>> I'M NOT THE LEGAL EXPERT HERE.
>> THAT'S A STANDARD PROVISION IN VIRTUALLY ALL FORCE MAZURE CLAUSES.
>> WELL, IT'S NOT PERMITTED, BUT IT'S PART OF THE STANDARD CLAUSE FOR FORCE MAZURE.
>> WHAT I WAS LOOKING AT, DO WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS IN OUR PROCEDURES OR TRAINING SHOULD IT OCCUR?
>> DO YOU CONCUR WITH THAT, CHIEF?
>> YES. AGAIN, I'M NOT THE LEGAL EXPERT HERE, BUT I DO BELIEVE UNDER FLORIDA STATUTES POLICE ARE PROHIBITED FROM GOING ON.
>> THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT TOO. I JUST WANT THAT APPLIED TO DISPATCH TOO.
COUNSEL, AS FAR AS I KNOW THAT DOES APPLY TO DISPATCH.
YOU CAN'T GO ON STRIKE AND ABANDON A 91 CENTER.
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
>> I DON'T WANT TO ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I DO THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO WEIGH IN AND THEN I ASK OUR TOWN MANAGER WHEN I'M DONE FROM MY POINT OF PERSPECTIVE ON THIS ONE BECAUSE I'M EXTREMELY COMFORTABLE WITH THIS.
I'VE HAD THE BENEFIT OF BEING UP HERE A LONG TIME, AND DURING THAT TIME, WE HAD SOME REALLY BOLD LEADERSHIP BY A POLICE CHIEF SOME YEARS BACK.
WE USED TO HAVE OUR OWN DISPATCH.
THE GARDENS AND JUPITER GOT TOGETHER, SAID, HEY, LET'S WORK TOGETHER.
ONE OF THE BEST EXAMPLES I CAN THINK OF GOVERNMENTS DOING THE RIGHT THING.
ULTIMATELY, WE CONSOLIDATED ALL EMPLOYEES WERE TRANSFERRED UNDER THE GARDENS.
THERE'S A MECHANISM SET UP WHERE I THINK IT'S
[00:40:01]
THE TOWN MANAGER CITY MANAGER AND JUNO BEACH MONITOR THIS, BUT I DON'T KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN AT LEAST A DECADE IN WORKING.I DO REMEMBER FOR THE FIRST ANXIETY THAT OUR DISPATCH FOLKS HAD, I THINK OUR CURRENT POLICE CHIEF WAS ON DISPATCH.
WE DIDN'T SEND HIM OFF, BUT THE DISPATCH STAFF MOVED UNDER THE CENTRALIZED DISPATCH.
IT'S BEEN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL, AND I SAY IT WAS BOLD BECAUSE WE WEREN'T COMPETING.
WE WERE FINDING WHAT'S THE BEST SOLUTION.
I'M GRATEFUL THAT BOWL POLICE CHIEF, BY THE WAY, IS OUR TOWN MANAGER.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THAT.
I REMEMBER, AND AGAIN, I'M NOT THE EXPERT, BUT JUST I LIVED THROUGH THIS AND KNOW THAT 911 CALLS GOES TO THIS DISPATCH CENTER FOR POLICE, AND THEN FIRE RESCUE GETS RE-ROUTED TO PALM BEACH COUNTY AND FIRE RESCUE.
THERE'S A MINUTE LAPSE. I REMEMBER MEETING WITH THE GARDENS AND THE FIREFIGHTERS WOULD SAY THEY SEE THE POLICE HEADING OFF SOMEWHERE AND THEY GO.
ABOUT A MINUTE WE'LL GET OUR CALL, AND THERE'S A DELAY.
THERE'S A LOT OF BENEFITS FROM GETTING THERE.
I UNDERSTAND FOR YOU BEING THE FIRST TIME TO READ ON THIS, IT'D BE DIFFERENT THAN MINE WITH THE CONFIDENCE OF THIS HAVING WORKED SO WELL FOR 10 YEARS.
ALL THESE ISSUES THAT OTHERS MAY ASK A QUESTION ABOUT, WELL, THAT'S WHAT OUR POLICE HAVE BEEN USING SUCCESSFULLY.
NOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE USING THE SAME COMMUNICATION MEANS SO EVERYBODY CAN TALK TO ONE ANOTHER.
WITH THAT, I JUST FEEL I'D BE REMISS NOT TO EMPHASIZE TO ME, JUST A CELEBRATION HERE BECAUSE OUR FIRE RESCUE FOLKS ARE GOING TO GET NOTIFIED EARLIER AND BE ABLE TO RESPOND EARLIER IN ADDITION TO ALL THE OTHER IMPROVEMENTS YOU'VE BEEN TELLING US ABOUT IT, YOU'RE PREPARING FOR.
I DON'T KNOW IF OUR TOWN MANAGER WANTS TO ADD ANYTHING.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR, JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS REAL QUICK.
NORTH COM CAME INTO BEING JUST FOR THE VERY REASONS YOU TALKED ABOUT, THE POPULATION CALLS FOR SERVICE, SAFETY DEMANDS IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT WORLD WERE INCREASING EXPONENTIALLY.
NOT TO MENTION HAVING REGIONAL SITUATIONAL AWARENESS, BEING ABLE TO SHARE RESOURCES, RESPONDING TOGETHER, ESPECIALLY ACROSS THOSE JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT, IF YOU REMEMBER, AT THE TIME, IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TIMES THAT WE'VE HAD FOUR COUNCILS ALL MEETING TOGETHER AT THE SAME TIME IN THE SAME ROOM TO GO OVER EVERYTHING.
WE'VE MAINTAINED OUR LEVELS OF SERVICE THERE.
WE USED TO CALL IT THE CAT AND THE TREE STANDARD.
MEANING IF THERE WAS A CAT STUCK IN THE TREE AND SOMEBODY CALLED 911, WE'RE STILL COMING.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO COME WE'RE TOO BUSY AND THAT THING.
THE POINT I'M MAKING HERE IS THE FACT THAT THIS IS PROVEN, IT'S TESTED.
WE'VE BEEN DOING IT PROBABLY CLOSER TO 15 YEARS OR SO NOW.
WE HAD HIGH EXPECTATIONS AT THE TIME.
THIS ENDEAVOR HAS FAR EXCEEDED ANY EXPECTATIONS THAT WE HAVE HAD FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE.
I'LL TELL YOU I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IT'S GOING TO DO THE SAME THING WITH FIRE RESCUE.
WE HAVE A STRONG WORKING RELATIONSHIP.
INITIALLY, IT WAS A GARDENS IN JUPITER.
THEN IT BECAME GARDENER JUPITER AND JUNEAU, THEN IT BECAME GARDENER JUPITER, JUNEAU, NORTH PALM.
THEN IT BECAME JUPITER GARDENS, NORTH PALM, TE QUESTA, JUNEAU, AND WE'VE HAD OTHERS THAT WE'VE HAD TO TURN AWAY.
THEY DO A PHENOMENAL JOB THERE.
WHEN YOU'RE TALKING TO A PERSON THAT KNOW DESIGN THAT, BUT IN THE PREVIOUS LIFE IN A LARGE COUNTY IN THE WASHINGTON DC I WORKED IN A 911 CENTER WHERE WE TOOK 1,000 911 CALLS A DAY AND HAD POLICE AND FIRE WORKING TOGETHER, AND IT WAS JUST SEAMLESS.
THE BOTTOM LINE AGAIN FOR US IS THAT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL BE WORKING SEAMLESSLY TOGETHER AND EXPANDING INTO THE REGION WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS AS WELL.
I WILL SAY THIS, WE WERE SO COMMITTED TO THAT AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW.
I KNOW CHIEF RALLY'S HERE, BUT WE EVEN TOOK OUR POLICE RADIOS AND PUT THEM IN PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE TRUCKS THAT SERVE JUPITER AND AND THEIR AMBULANCES.
AT ONE POINT IN TIME, WE HAD A EMS CAPTAIN, I THINK, WHO WAS REALLY WANTED TO BE A POLICE OFFICER IS REPORTING ALL THINGS OVER THE RADIO.
IT REALLY WORKS WELL. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
[00:45:06]
>> I JUST HAVE A COMMENT THAT I WANTED TO SAY, THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN OUR SERVICES AND THE MUNICIPALITIES IS WHAT CREATES QUALITY OF LIFE AND SAVES LIVES.
I SUPPORT THIS AND THE HISTORY.
I APPRECIATE HEARING THE HISTORY ON HOW IT BEGAN. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> I'LL TAKE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 17-26.
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 17-26.
>> MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVING ON TO REGULAR AGENDA ITEM 9,
[9. Approval of Contract & Memorandum of Agreement with Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association (PBA) A. Resolution 15-26, Approving a Contract with the PBA, Representing Officers and Sergeants, Effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2028. B. Resolution 16-26, Approving a Memorandum of Agreement with the PBA, regarding proposed changes to the Police Retirement Fund.]
WHICH I AM DELIGHTED ABOUT.I TURN IT TO STAFF TO PRESENT.
WE'LL TAKE THESE, WE NEED TO VOTE ON AND TAKE THESE MATTERS UP SEPARATELY.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT AFFECTS YOUR PRESENTATION, BUT GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNSEL, ASHLEY WILSON, HR DIRECTOR.
TONIGHT, STAFF IS PRESENTING TWO RESOLUTIONS RELATED TO OUR AGREEMENT WITH THE POLICE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION.
THE FIRST RESOLUTION RESOLUTION 15-26 APPROVES THE THREE YEAR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWN AND THE PBA REPRESENTING THE POLICE OFFICERS AND THE SERGEANTS.
AS THE PRIOR CONTRACT EXPIRED SEPTEMBER, 2025, THIS NEW AGREEMENT RETROACTIVELY BEGINS ON OCTOBER 1, 2025 AND WILL END ON SEPTEMBER, 2028.
THE CONTRACT SETS COMPENSATION BENEFITS, AND WORKING CONDITIONS FOR OUR OFFICERS AND SERGEANTS FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
THE CONTRACT INCLUDES UPDATED SET PLAN THAT RESULTS IN AVERAGE SALARY INCREASES WITH 19.9% IN YEAR 1, 9.4 IN YEAR 2, AND 9.1 IN YEAR 3 FOR A COMBINED AVERAGE INCREASE OF 38.4% OVER THE CONTRACT TERM.
THE KEY GOAL OF THE COMPENSATION UPDATES WAS TO ENSURE THE TOWN REMAINS COMPETITIVE WITHIN PALM BEACH COUNTY SO WE CAN RETAIN OUR EXPERIENCED OFFICERS AND ALSO RECRUIT QUALIFIED CANDIDATES.
THE ESTIMATED COST FOR YEAR 1 IMPLEMENTATION IS $2 MILLION, AND STAFF ANTICIPATES FUNDING THROUGH A COMBINATION OF OPERATING CONTINGENCY AND YEAR END SAVINGS.
KEY IMPROVEMENTS IN THE AGREEMENT INCLUDE INCREASED EXTRA DUTY PAY RATES, UPDATES TO ASSIGNMENT PAY FOR SPECIALIZED ROLES.
THE AGREEMENT ALSO INCLUDES A STEP 12 ANNUAL TENURE PAYMENT OF $3,000, ESTIMATED AT ABOUT $500,000 OVER THREE YEARS, ENHANCED SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT HEALTHCARE BENEFITS, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW YEAR'S EVE MIDNIGHT DIFFERENTIAL.
THE AGREEMENT ALSO INCLUDES INTENTIONAL LANGUAGE TO CLARIFY DEFINITIONS, ELIMINATE INCONSISTENCIES, AND REMOVE GRAY AREAS IN THE CONTRACT, SO IT CAN BE APPLIED CONSISTENTLY DAY TO DAY.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE SCOTT REYNOLDS, OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR TO COVER THE SECOND RESOLUTION 16-26, WHICH ADDRESSES THE MEMORANDUM FOR AGREEMENT RELATED TO THE POLICE RETIREMENT FUND AND LONG TERM RETIREMENT PLANNING BEGINNING IN 2030.
>> GOOD EVENING AGAIN, SCOTT REYNOLDS, I'M THE FINANCE DIRECTOR FOR THE TOWN OF JUPITER.
AS ASHLEY WAS JUST INDICATING, THIS IS A VERY LARGE FINANCIAL COMMITMENT BY THE TOWN, WHICH IS ALWAYS STATED BY THE COUNCIL THAT WE SUPPORT OUR MEMBERS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
THIS IS DEFINITELY A LARGE COMMITMENT TOWARDS THAT.
WHAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT TONIGHT IS WE TALKED ABOUT THE TIER PAY SYSTEM AND A FEW OTHER THE BENEFITS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT CONTRACT, BUT THERE ARE ALSO PENSION REFORM ITEMS. IF YOU'RE NOT AWARE, THERE IS A CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING THE PENSION THAT WILL HAVE TO BE UPDATED.
THERE WILL BE SOME ORDINANCE CHANGES THAT WILL COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MEETINGS.
BUT THIS CODIFIES IT IN THIS CBA, AND ALSO IN THE SECOND PART OF THIS WAS THE RESOLUTION FOR AN UPCOMING CHANGE THAT WE'VE AGREED TO IN THE PENSION ORDINANCE.
I WANT TO JUST QUICKLY TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF THE PENSION ORDINANCE CHANGES.
ONE IS THE HEALTHCARE SUBSIDY FOR OFFICERS.
WE'VE INCREASED THE HEALTH CARE SUBSIDY FOR ACTIVE OFFICERS CURRENTLY THAT ARE NOT IN DROP.
ALSO, THE DROP PARTICIPATION THAT NORMALLY AN OFFICER WOULD HAVE TO PAY ABOUT 10% OF THEIR PAY WHILE THEY'RE IN DROP, THAT WILL BE ELIMINATED.
THE BIGGEST ITEM RELATING TO RESOLUTION 16-26 THAT ASHLEY WAS JUST OUTLINING IS A REMOVAL OF TIER 2.
[00:50:01]
ACTUALLY, THE TIER 2 OF THE PENSION PLAN WILL BE REMOVED AT A FUTURE DATE.WHAT WE'RE COMMITTING TO IN THE MOA, RELATING TO THE RESOLUTION 16-26 IS THAT IN OCTOBER 1, 2030, WE WILL BE BRINGING BACK BEFORE THE COUNCIL AT THAT TIME TO MAKE THOSE PENSION REFORMS FROM THE TIER 1 TIER 2 BENEFITS.
I WILL TELL YOU ALSO THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT THAT'S ATTACHED TO THAT RESOLUTION.
ALSO, THERE'S WHAT'S CALLED 185 MONEY, WHICH HAS TO DO WITH INSURANCE DOLLARS THAT THE TOWN RECEIVES TO HELP OFFSET THE COST OF THE PENSION.
WE RECEIVE ANNUALLY APPROXIMATELY $1 MILLION. IT'S GROWING EVERY YEAR.
EVERY YEAR I'VE BEEN HERE, IT'S GROWN AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE RECEIVED LAST YEAR WAS OVER $1 MILLION.
RIGHT NOW, THE CBA IS COMMITTED THAT IF WE DO THIS IN 2030, THAT THEY WILL INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF THE 185 MONEY THAT CAN BE USED BY THE TOWN TO OFFSET THE TOWN'S COST BY $135,000.
CURRENTLY, THE TOWN RECEIVES $615,000 OF THE MILLION THAT I JUST SPOKE ABOUT, THAT WOULD INCREASE IT TO $750,000 IN 2030.
DEFINITELY AN OFFSET OF THE OVERALL COST OF THE TIER 1 TIER 2 IMPLEMENTATION, THAT'LL BE COMING AT A LATER DATE.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS IN RELATION TO THOSE ITEMS?
>> ANY QUESTIONS? I'M SEEING NONE.
>> JUST SOME KEY MESSAGES AND TAKEAWAYS.
TOGETHER, THE TWO RESOLUTIONS REPRESENT A MAJOR INVESTMENT THAT THE TOWN HAS INVESTED IN THE POLICE WORKFORCE, AND THIS IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR OFFICERS AND SERGEANTS TO SUPPORT RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, AND LONG TERM STABILITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES IN THE TOWN OF JUPITER.
APPROVAL OF THESE RESOLUTIONS WILL AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> I JUST WANT TO COMMENT ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL AND MYSELF.
I HAVE BEEN AN EXTRAORDINARY EFFORT.
I APPRECIATE, I KNOW HOW MUCH EFFORT THE TWO OF YOU HAVE PUT IN ALONG WITH YOUR STAFF.
THIS HAS BEEN ABOUT A YEAR'S WORTH OF WORK ALONG WITH OUR POLICE AND TOWN MANAGER'S OFFICE, ETC.
I APPRECIATE THE THOROUGHNESS, I APPRECIATE.
I REMEMBER WHEN WE BEGAN THIS PROCESS, AND I SAY WE YOU KNOW, TOWN.
>> WE WANTED TO ADDRESS ALL ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN LINGERING FOR A LONG TIME.
OBVIOUSLY, I WASN'T CLOSELY INVOLVED NOR SHOULD WE HAVE BEEN, BUT IT WAS NICE TO SEE THE RED LINE VERSION.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE ALWAYS GET THAT, BUT I DO THINK IT'S HELPFUL TO SEE THAT ALONG WITH THE CLEAN VERSION.
THANK YOU BECAUSE THAT MAKES IT PRETTY CLEAR THE SCOPE OF ISSUES THAT WE NEGOTIATED CHANGES ON TO NEEDED CHANGES, BUT SHOWING HOW MUCH WE VALUED OUR POLICE.
I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE TIME.
IT WASN'T A SIGNIFICANT EFFORT, BUT THE RESULTS, I THINK ARE IN A NEW CONTRACT THAT IS MUCH BETTER FOR ALL, SO THANK YOU.
WITH THAT, I'LL TAKE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON APPROVING RESOLUTION 1526, AND I'LL JUST ADD, I KNOW, I THINK IT WAS SAID, BUT IT'S NOT LOST, WHAT'S UNIQUE HERE IS WE'RE ALSO RECOGNIZING THAT THERE'S A $2 MILLION BUDGET SHORTFALL THAT IS EXPECTED TO POSSIBLY BE MADE UP OF CONTINGENCY IN UNDERRUNS.
BUT THE WAY OUR PROCESS WORKS, I'M JUST REMINDING US THAT IT STILL COMES BACK TO US AND WE DO QUARTERLY UPDATES.
IF FOR EXAMPLE, THE UNDERRUN, THAT WAS HOPED FOR OR DIDN'T HAPPEN, THEN WE'RE RECOGNIZING THAT THIS IS A $2 MILLION INCREASE ON WHAT WE AUTHORIZED.
I'M JUST WANT TO FOR THE RECORD, HAVE EMPHASIZE.
I'LL TAKE A MOTION IN A SECOND.
>> I WILL MAKE A MOTION. I MAKE ONE COMMENT.
I DID READ THROUGH THE ENTIRE CONTRACT.
I DID FIND THERE WERE SEVERAL GRAMMATICAL ERRORS AND TYPOS.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY WANTS TO CLEAN THAT UP, BUT IT'S ALREADY PROBABLY RATIFIED AS IS, BUT I DID WANT TO MAKE A NOTE OF THAT.
>> MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 1526.
>> MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
I'LL TAKE A MOTION IN A SECOND TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 1626.
[00:55:03]
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT RESOLUTION 1626 AS PRESENTED.
ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFIED BY SAYING AYE.
>> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU.
>> MOVING ON TO REPORT, TOWN ATTORNEY.
[TOWN ATTORNEY]
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. FIRST, I WANTED TO REPORT THAT I DID NOT TRAVEL TO TALLAHASSEE IN DECEMBER AND PERHAPS I SHOULD HAVE.
THE MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION WAS DENIED BY THE CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE.
THERE ALSO THIS IS ON SENATE BILL 180.
THERE IS ALSO A MOTION TO DISMISS THAT LAWSUIT THAT IS PENDING THAT THE JUDGE TOOK UNDER ADVISEMENT AND SO FAR NO ORDER HAS BEEN ISSUED IN REGARDS TO THAT.
IF THE MOTION TO DISMISS IS GRANTED, I SUPPOSE IT'S POSSIBLE THAT BOTH MOTIONS OR THE ORDERS ON BOTH MOTIONS COULD BE APPEALED, BUT THE CHANCES OF SUCCESS ON APPEAL ON A DENIAL OF A MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION ARE TYPICALLY NOT GREAT.
FOR NOW, THE LAWSUIT REMAINS LIVE, AND I THINK THAT ASIDE FROM THE FACT THAT 30 LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAME TOGETHER TO CHALLENGE LEGISLATION THAT MORE THAN 30 LOCAL GOVERNMENTS BELIEVED WAS VERY POOR LEGISLATION.
WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN TALLAHASSEE ARE BILLS BEING FILED TO AMEND THAT LEGISLATION THAT WILL GIVE MUNICIPALITIES SUCH AS JUPITER RELIEF FROM THE MORE ONEROUS PROVISIONS OF THAT LEGISLATION.
BY RELIEF, WHAT I MEAN IS THAT THE SCOPE OF THE EFFECT OF THAT RESTRICTIVE LEGISLATION WILL BE REDUCED.
YOU MAY RECALL FROM BILL SUMMARIES ON IT THAT LEGISLATION APPLIED TO A PATH OF 100 MILES FROM THE PATH OF THE THREE HURRICANES, MILTON, DEBBIE AND ONE OTHER THAT AFFECTED THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
THE LEGISLATION IS SUCH THAT THE SCOPE OF THE EFFECT OF THE RESTRICTIONS ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WILL BE REDUCED IF THOSE BILLS PASS OR IF ONE OR MORE OF THOSE BILLS PASSED.
IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN AND I'M SURE THAT THE THE VARIOUS LOBBYISTS FOR THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE STATE ARE WORKING HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LEGISLATION, AS IT HAS, FOR THE PAST YEAR, DOESN'T STOP PLANNING IN FLORIDA.
SECONDLY, I WANT TO BRING BACK TO THE COUNCIL A REQUEST FOR AN INCREASE IN MY HOURLY RATES FOR THE LAWYERS THAT WORK ON MATTERS FOR THE TOWN.
WE DO HAVE ONE PENDING CASE GOING ON AND I KNOW NOT ALL OF YOU HAVE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL AND NECESSARILY UNDERSTAND HOW MY FIRM WORKS.
BUT ALTHOUGH I AM YOUR TOWN ATTORNEY, YOU HAVE 50 LAWYERS FROM MY FIRM THAT ARE BEHIND ME OR SOME OF THEM ARE IN FRONT OF ME.
BUT THE ASSIGNMENTS ARE MADE BASED ON THE STRENGTH OF THE LAWYERS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN IT.
FOR EXAMPLE, LITIGATION, WHEN WE WERE LITIGATING THE ISSUES OVER THE BALLOT QUESTION AND FIRE RESCUE, YOU MAY RECALL THAT ONE OF MY PARTNERS, TRAVIS FOLES HANDLED THAT LITIGATION AND YOU KNOW THE RESULT OF THAT.
IN THE PAST, ANOTHER ONE OF MY PARTNERS, MIKE GORE, HAS HANDLED SOME VERY DIFFICULT LITIGATION, WHICH WAS THE WE CALL IT THE JUPITER SOCCER CASE WHERE A PRIVATE SOCCER CLUB ESSENTIALLY TRIED TO TAKE OVER A PORTION OF THE TOWN'S RECREATION FIELDS FOR ITS OWN USE.
MICHAEL WAS EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL AND THE, LITIGANT IN THAT CASE ACTUALLY DISMISSED THEIR LAWSUIT BECAUSE OF THE STRENGTH OF THE MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT THAT MR. GORE FILED.
[01:00:01]
I'D LIKE TO BRING THAT BACK.IT ONLY INVOLVES COMPENSATION, AND WE HAVEN'T REALLY ADDRESSED COMPENSATION FOR THE ATTORNEYS IN OUR FIRM FOR THREE OR FOUR YEARS NOW, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, OUR COSTS GO UP AND YOU CAN THINK OF IT AS A CPI INCREASE, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY CPI.
OTHER THAN THAT, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE COUNCIL IN THIS NEW YEAR AND FOR THE TOWN, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE LAST YEAR WAS AN INCREDIBLE YEAR CELEBRATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TOWN.
THIS YEAR, WE HAVE THE START OF OUR NEW FIRE DEPARTMENT COMING.
AS A RESIDENT OF THE TOWN AND SOMEBODY THAT'S SERVED THE TOWN FOR A LONG WHILE, IT'S INCREDIBLY REWARDING TO SEE THIS TOWN BECOME A FULL SERVICE TOWN IN TERMS OF ITS PUBLIC SAFETY. THANK YOU.
>> JUST TO RESPOND ON THAT ONE.
I WOULD EXPECT WHAT I'M GOING TO ASK FOR MY COLLEAGUES WOULD WANT AS WELL INDIVIDUALLY.
I'D ASK FOR YOU TO GET WITH US INDIVIDUALLY TO SHARE WHAT THE REQUEST IS.
WE REFLECT UPON THAT BEFORE IT COMES BACK BEFORE US.
I THINK THAT BEST WAY TO HANDLE IT IS MEET INDIVIDUALLY.
>> I KNOW WE HAVE INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS SET UP ON ANOTHER MATTER, SO I'LL DO THAT AS PART OF THOSE MEETINGS.
[TOWN MANAGER ]
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS FROM MY A OF RESPONSIBILITY.
FIRST OF ALL, I WAS NOT AWARE THAT THE TOWN ATTORNEY WAS GOING TO BRING THAT LAST TOPIC UP, BUT I DO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK OF THE TOWN ATTORNEY AND HIS STAFF, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT TRULY RESPONSIVE AND THE LAWYERS HE HAS WORKING WITH THEM AS WELL ARE REALLY REMARKABLE PEOPLE.
I CAN TELL YOU FROM THE TOWN MANAGER'S OFFICE, THEY'RE A GREAT RESOURCE.
OUR TOWN ATTORNEY PICKS UP THE PHONE, ANSWERS THE CALLS, AND THE TEAM DOES QUITE A JOB.
I WANTED TO THANK THEM AND ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR WORK.
ALSO I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT AND THANK ASHLEY, AND SCOTT, AND THE JUPITER POLICE DEPARTMENT MEMBERS AND THE PBA AND THIS TOWN COUNCIL FOR ALL THEIR WORK OVER THE LAST YEAR.
I COULD TELL YOU THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING NEGOTIATION, AS WE'VE MENTIONED BEFORE.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO FOLLOW UP, I POINT OUT THAT THE MAYOR HAD SAID JUST A LITTLE BIT AGO, IS THIS CONTRACT REALLY FIXES A LOT OF THOSE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HANGING OUT THERE FOR MANY YEARS.
I CAN SAY THAT AS A TOWN MANAGER AND AS THE FORMER POLICE CHIEF, THINGS THAT WE WERE NOT ABLE TO FIX BEFORE.
THE OVERALL DOLLAR INVESTMENT THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS MADE FOR THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT IS WE JUST CELEBRATED 100 YEARS.
I HAVEN'T GONE BACK AND DONE MY HOMEWORK, BUT I'D BE VERY CONFIDENT IN SAYING THAT THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST LUCRATIVE IN TERMS OF THE FINANCIAL INVESTMENT THAT ANY COUNSEL HAS MADE IN ITS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I WANT TO THANK ALL THOSE INVOLVED.
I WILL SAY A POINT OF OBSERVATION, NOT THAT I WANT TO PUT ANYBODY ON THE HOT SEAT, BUT TYPICAL POLICE.
THE PERSON THAT'S GUARDING US HERE TONIGHT THAT'S PROTECTING US IS ONE OF THE PBA REPS. BEFORE THE MEETING, I WENT UP AND SAID, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? HE LOOKED AT ME LIKE I ASKED HIM TO WALK IN FRONT OF SOMEBODY WITH A MACHINE GUN, AND HE GOES, NO, I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING, BUT I'M GOING TO SAY THANK YOU AND PLEASE THANK YOUR TEAM.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGING TIME.
ALSO, WHILE I'M ON THE SUBJECT, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AS YOU KNOW, CHIEF HENNESSEY HAS BEEN OUR INTERIM POLICE CHIEF SINCE OCTOBER THIS PAST YEAR.
I WILL TELL YOU WHEN DON TOOK THE JOB AS INTERIM, I HAD SPOKEN TO HIM ABOUT THE FACT THAT HE HAS TO EARN THIS JOB, AND HE HAS DONE A REMARKABLE JOB.
HE HAS FAR EXCEEDED ANY EXPECTATIONS THAT I HAVE HAD.
I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH DON, AS A MAYOR POINTED OUT, HE WAS A DISPATCHER WHEN I STARTED AND THEN SPONSORED HIM IN THE POLICE ACADEMY AND LOOK WHERE HE IS TODAY.
WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING THE INTERIM LABEL OFF OF HIM, AND HE WILL BE SWORN IN AS OUR POLICE CHIEF.
I THINK SOME OF YOU HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN THE INVITATION.
I'VE ASKED OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT TO HOLD OFF ON PUTTING OUT THE PRESS RELEASE TILL AFTER I COULD TELL YOU PERSONALLY, AND SO THAT WILL BE GOING OUT TONIGHT.
CONGRATULATIONS TO DON. WELL DESERVED.
ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND ANYONE
[01:05:01]
WISHING TO BE CONSIDERED FOR A TOWN BOARD OR COMMITTEE.YOU CAN NOW APPLY FOR THAT CONSIDERATION THROUGH THE TOWN'S WEBSITE.
THE TOWN HAS EIGHT VOLUNTEER ADVISORY BOARDS OR COMMITTEES THAT ALLOW RESIDENTS TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY, AND NOMINATIONS CAN BE SUBMITTED THROUGH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, AND TOWN COUNCIL WILL VOTE ON APPOINTEES LATER THIS SPRING.
FOR THOSE THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE'LL WALK YOU THROUGH THIS PROCESS TO SHOW YOU HOW IT WORKS BECAUSE A LOT OF WORK.
>> YOU DID LAST YEAR, SO YOU'RE GOOD? [OVERLAPPING] GOOD. MAYOR, WE DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING.
IT'S JUST GOING TO TAKE CARE OF ITSELF.
THEN AS YOU MAY BE AWARE THE TOWN HAS BEGUN ITS HIRING PROCESS FOR THE OPERATIONAL FIREFIGHTER POSITIONS FOR THE JUPITER FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT.
I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE SOME OF THESE NUMBERS WITH YOU.
THE JOB LISTINGS FOR CAPTAINS AND LIEUTENANTS OPENED ON DECEMBER 22.
TO DATE, WE HAVE RECEIVED 195 APPLICATIONS FOR THE CAPTAINS POSITIONS AND 177 APPLICATIONS FOR LIEUTENANTS.
ON DECEMBER 29, THE JOB JOB LISTING FOR DRIVER ENGINEERS WAS POSTED, AND THUS FAR WE HAVE RECEIVED 113 APPLICATIONS.
FINALLY, AT ABOUT 4:00 PM YESTERDAY, WE OPENED APPLICATIONS FOR OUR FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDICS AND FIREFIGHTER EMT POSITIONS.
IN JUST 24 HOURS, WE'VE RECEIVED 256 APPLICATIONS FOR THOSE POSITIONS AS WELL.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK CHIEF DONATO AND HIS STAFF AND OUR COMMUNICATIONS FOLKS AND HR AND EVERYBODY THAT'S BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN A VERY SIGNIFICANT UNDERTAKING.
I WANT YOU TO KEEP IN MIND, AND I THANK ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES ALL THE TIME FOR THIS BECAUSE MANY OF OUR APPLICANTS, INCLUDING OUR FIRE CHIEF WITH THEIR CREDENTIALS COULD GO ANYWHERE, BUT THEY CHOOSE US.
I THINK THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT OUR TOWN.
I THINK THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT OUR LEADERSHIP AND THE COUNCIL'S COMMITMENT TO THE EMPLOYEES AND TO PUBLIC SAFETY AS WELL.
WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT WHERE WE'RE GOING.
AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE ON A SPRINT.
OCTOBER 1 OF THIS YEAR WE'RE ROLLING OUT THAT DOOR, AND WE'RE GOING TO SET A BENCHMARK FROM THE SECOND WE ROLL OUT.
FINALLY, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF OUR EMPLOYES, AS I ALWAYS DO FOR CELEBRATING SIGNIFICANT MILESTONES OF SERVICE WITH THE TOWN.
ON JANUARY 2, POLICE OFFICER CHRISTIE COLEMAN CELEBRATED 25 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE JUPITER POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THIS THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, CHRIS CRAFT, A MEMBER OF OUR UTILITIES DEPARTMENT, WILL ALSO CELEBRATE 25 YEARS OF SERVICE.
THEY'RE ALREADY MEMBERS OF THE CLUB 20 CONTINGENT.
WITH THAT, MAYOR, THAT'S MY REPORT.
[TOWN COUNCIL – LIAISON REPORTS AND COMMENTS]
>> THANK YOU. TONIGHT, I SIT HERE AND I HOPE OUR RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND SAFETY.
EVERYTHING TONIGHT IS ABOUT OUR RESIDENTS.
THE SAFETY FROM EBIT TO OUR LISTENING TO FIRE FOR OCTOBER 1, SAFETY.
OUR CONTRACT AT LEAST SITTING ON THE COUNCIL, WE BELIEVE IN WHAT RESIDENTS NEED, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEIR SAFETY IS A TOP PRIORITY.
WE CLOSED 2025 WITH SO MUCH CELEBRATION.
IT WAS AMAZING TO BE PART OF IT.
AS WE ENTERED 2026 WITH THE BIRTHDAY OF OUR COUNTRY, I THINK IT'S JUST AMAZING THAT WE SIT IN A SEAT IN A TOWN CALLED JUPITER, THAT EVERYONE IS LOOKING AT US.
IT'S COLLABORATION, SAFETY IN OUR RESIDENTS.
>> MAYOR, YOU AND I HAVE BEEN THROUGH A FEW OF THESE POLICE CONTRACTS YOU MORE THAN MYSELF.
I WASN'T WORRIED ABOUT IT, BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK TOWN MANAGER AND STAFF, EVERYBODY INVOLVED AND EVERYBODY ON THE PBA SIDE, FOR GETTING IT DONE.
IT'S A BIG INVESTMENT, BUT IT JUST GOES TO SHOW HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE OUR OFFICERS AND CAPTAINS AND JUPITER POLICE.
WHAT WARMS MY HEART WHEN I LOOK AT THE FINAL VOTE WITH THE ACROSS THE STREET WITH THE FOLKS IN THE DEPARTMENT WAS 8412 FOR THE CONTRACT AND 8610 ON THE MOA, SO THAT REALLY THEY'RE HAPPY OVER THERE.
EVERY CONTRACT I'VE SAID BEFORE IN THE PAST WHEN WE PASSED DIFFERENT CONTRACTS, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE OFFICERS ARE HAPPY FEEL THEY'RE WELL COMPENSATED, THEIR SPOUSES ARE COMFORTABLE AND THEY CAN LIVE IN THE AREA AND THEY APPRECIATE WORKING IN JUPITER.
I KNOW THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO WORK FOR THEM.
[01:10:02]
OUR TOWN ATTORNEY, SOME OF THE HURDLES YOU'VE GOTTEN US OVER IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, ESPECIALLY THE ISSUE WITH THE ELECTION AND I CAN'T THINK THEM NOT THE MEMORANDUM, THE THE BALLOT INITIATIVE.THAT WAS THERE WAS A MAJOR FEAT THAT YOU GUYS WERE ABLE TO GET OVER.
I THINK WE MEET SOMETIME LATER NEXT WEEK, I BELIEVE SO.
ANYWAY, TO PIGGYBACK ON THE TOWN MANAGER STORY ABOUT JUPITER FIRE.
I HAVE A NEIGHBOR, HE'S IN THE INSURANCE BUSINESS, AND I WAS COMING INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD ONE NIGHT AND HE'S IN HIS DRIVE, HE RUNS OVER AND HE TAPS ON THE WINDOW.
HE'S LIKE I GOT A STORY FOR YOU.
HE WAS AT SOME CONFERENCE OUT IN THE MIDWEST SOMEWHERE.
IT HAD TO DO WITH FIRE EQUIPMENT AND HE WAS AT ONE OF THE SHOW BOOTS AND THESE FOLKS ARE SELLING, I THINK WITH THE JAWS OF LIFE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
HE MENTIONED WHERE HE WAS FROM AND THIS AND THAT.
HE SAID JUPITER IS DOING IT RIGHT.
THIS WAS LIKE THOUSAND MILES AWAY, BUT AROUND THE COUNTRY, THEY KNOW AND THAT'S WHY WITH OUR LEADERSHIP WE HAVE HERE, THAT'S WHY THEY KNOW IT'S BEING DONE CORRECTLY HERE.
I KNEW WE WERE DOING IT RIGHT ANYWAY, BUT THAT WAS JUST SOME OUTSIDE SOURCE OF LETTING YOU KNOW THINGS YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.
EVERYBODY THAT BEING SAID, EVERYTHING'S GREAT IN JUPITER, SO APPRECIATE IT. CAN I?
>> THANK YOU. FOLLOW UP WITH ALL THE THANK YOUS.
I TOO LIKE TO THANK BOTH THE TOWN MANAGER, THE TOWN STAFF, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL, THE PBA REPRESENTATIVES FOR ALL THE HARD WORK AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME PUT IN TO NEGOTIATE AND PULL TOGETHER THE CBA CONTRACT AND THE PENSION MOA LEADING TO TWO THINGS, WHICH I RATIFICATION BY BOTH OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND SERGEANTS.
SECOND, IT'S APPROVED TONIGHT BY TOWN COUNCIL WITHOUT REALLY ANY ISSUES.
WE'RE GLAD TO GET THIS BEHIND US.
I THINK IT WILL WORK OUT WELL KNOWING FOR THE TOWN, BUT ALSO FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SECOND, I'D LIKE TO THANK CHIEF HENNESSEY FOR HIS PRESENTATION TONIGHT, THE OUTREACH INITIATIVES HE'S WORKING ON WITH THE COMMUNITIES AND ALSO DEVELOPING THE E-BIKE TRAINING PROGRAM, WHICH I THINK MAKE THE STREETS A LOT SAFER FOR E-BIKE RIDERS, SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE EFFORTGOING INTO THAT.THANK YOU. GUISINGER.
>> I HAVE A NUMBER OF ITEMS. SO I'M GOING LAST.
NUMBER 1, I WANT TO SHARE TO THE TOWN MANAGER THAT I MIGHT HAVE A SCHEDULE CONFLICT WITH THE SWEARING IN CEREMONY, WHICH WOULD KILL ME.
I HAVE MY MPO MEETING IS USUALLY ON THAT THURSDAY, SO I NEED TO CHECK.
BUT I CAN'T MISS THE MMPL MEETING, BUT I PREFER THE SCHEDULE ISSUE GETS RESOLVED, BUT I JUST SHARE THAT NOW BECAUSE IT'S NOT- THURSDAY IS NOT A BAD AS THE TIME HAPPENS TO BE DURING THE MEETING.
THAT WASN'T REQUESTED JUST I'M JUST SHARING IT.
IF I'M A NOT GOING TO SHOW UP BECAUSE THAT'S THE TIME IT IS.
NUMBER 2, I DON'T KNOW, EVERYBODY KEEPS SAYING 10,1 FOR JFRD.
I KNOW 10 IS THE OFFICIAL DATE, BUT I'M STILL AN OPTIMIST AND COUNTY IS GOING TO WORK WITH US AND WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN TO TRANSITION EARLIER.
BUT I KNOW IT DEPENDS ON THEM, BUT THAT WOULD BE A WIN, SO I KNOW WE'LL BE READY ABOUT THEN, SO OTHERS CAN SAY 10,1.
MY WIFE SHOWED ME, BY THE WAY, THE OTHER DAY.
I WAS TELLING HER ABOUT THE CLOCK THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE COUNTDOWN CLOCK TO FULLY STAFFED AND TO THE 10,1 DATE, HOW MANY DAYS ARE LEFT.
SHE PROUDLY SHOWED ME SHE HAS AN APP ON HER PHONE.
SHE'S TRACK A GET SO THAT JUST SHOWS HOW MUCH AN IMPORTANT PERSON IN MY LIFE THINKS THAT'S A BIG DEAL MOMENT FOR THE TOWN.
>> A QUESTION. YOU MAY HAVE THE ANSWER NOW, MR. GUISINGER WILL GET BACK WITH US, BUT I THOUGHT THE RESIDENT SURVEY RESULTS WERE FORTHCOMING ABOUT NOW.
I HAVEN'T SEEN THEM, BUT I'M VERY INTERESTED IN THOSE.
AND I THINK WE WERE GOING TO GET A COPY AS SOON AS THEY WERE AVAILABLE BEFORE WE PUT IT ON AN AGENDA.
I'M VERY INTERESTED IN SEEING THE FEEDBACK IN PARTICULAR ON THE TARGETED QUESTIONS BECAUSE THIS COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PLAN IS MOVING FAST, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SHORT WINDOW TO GIVE INPUT IN ON.
AND I THINK ALL OF US WOULD WANT TO GET WHAT THE RESIDENTS RESPONDED TO FOR THOSE TARGETED QUESTIONS SOONER THAN LATER.
>> WE'LL GET THAT WE'LL GET THAT TO YOU, MAYOR.
WE'VE HAD TO JUGGLE THE PRESENTATION AROUND A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE OF THE PBA CONTRACT.
[01:15:03]
>> THEN WE HAVE A BIG MEETING.
>> BUT I THINK WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE, IT ISN'T SO MUCH THE PRESENTATION BECAUSE WE COULD GET AN ADVANCED COPY OF THAT.
THAT'S MORE WHAT I WAS ASKING FOR BECAUSE THAT'S A THICK BOOK.
WE ULTIMATELY SPEND DAYS OR CERTAINLY HOURS ON IT.
WE ALL HAVE HEARD FROM A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC A FEW MEETINGS BACK, AND I THINK WE ALL RECEIVED AN EMAIL TODAY, I WANT TO SHARE FOR MY COLLEAGUES THAT MAY NOT KNOW.
THEN IT'S AN ACTION ITEM FOR STAFF.
USE OF DOCKAGE IN THE VILLAGE, IF WE COULD EVEN DO IT IS A CRA MATTER.
YOU MIGHT THINK THAT THE PERSON HAD ASKED THAT QUESTION, WE MAY BE THE SAME PEOPLE, BUT IT'S A DIFFERENT HAT WE WEAR.
I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT IT IS NOT THE ACTION OF A COUNCIL, BUT THE ACTION OF A CRA.
NUMBER 1, NUMBER 2, WE HAD EXPLORED THAT BEFORE AND THE DOCKS WERE CONSTRUCTED WITH A GRANT THAT HAD FUNDING RESTRICTIONS.
I KNOW THAT THOSE FUNDING RESTRICTIONS AT LEAST FOR THE PERIOD THAT THEY ARE VALID, OR THAT WE COULD NOT USE IT FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN A PURE OF PUBLIC USE.
I JUST ASKED THAT, AND I ALWAYS DO THIS TOWN MANAGER, AND IF IT TURNS OUT TO BE AN UNREASONABLE REQUEST, FINE, TAKE ANOTHER WEEK, BUT I USUALLY SAY, PUT IT IN A WEEKLY REPORT BECAUSE I'M ASSUMING WHETHER SOMETHING IS EASY AND IT MAY NOT ALWAYS BE.
BUT IF YOU CAN IN THIS WEEK'S REPORT OR NOT, THEN THE NEXT WEEK, BUT THAT'S A GOOD VEHICLE TO COMMUNICATE.
BUT MY QUESTION IS ON BEHALF OF MY COLLEAGUES, OR I SHOULD SAY CRA MEMBERS.
[LAUGHTER] THAT ARE THERE FUNDING RESTRICTIONS THAT WOULD PREVENT US TO EVEN CONSIDER THAT? I'M NOT ADVOCATING FOR IT, BUT THE PUBLIC WAS ASKING.
THE FIRST STEP IS, COULD IT EVEN BE DONE? AGAIN, I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE, STAFF HAD INDICATED BEFORE WE GOT SIGNIFICANT FUNDS TO BUILD THE DOCKS, AND IT WAS JUST FOR PUBLIC USE.
WE WERE NOT ABLE IN THE PAST TO ALLOW IT TO BE USED BY ANY BUSINESS ENTITY.
AGAIN, I GUESS THE REAL SPECIFIC QUESTION IS, IF THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS, DO THEY EVER END? I WOULD IMAGINE THEY DO AND IF SO, WHAT THAT DATE IS.
IF I DIDN'T REALLY EMPHASIZE THIS.
I WANT TO SAY KUDOS TO THE VERY APPARENT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE BID EVALUATION, SELECTION OF SUCCESSFUL BIDDER AND COMPLETENESS OF THE AGENDA PACKAGE INFORMATION FOR ALL REQUESTED CONTRACT AWARDS TONIGHT.
OTHERS MAY NOT HAVE NOTICED IT OR YOU MAY HAVE, BUT I CERTAINLY DID.
THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND OUR PROCUREMENT MANAGER CONTRIBUTIONS TO THESE IMPROVEMENTS WERE APPRECIATED.
I'VE NEVER SEEN THE STANDARDIZATION BEFORE ACROSS THE DEPARTMENTS.
I'M SAYING THIS IS A CELEBRATION.
I JUST REALLY WANTED TO RECOGNIZE EVERYBODY.
I KNOW THAT DIDN'T JUST HAPPEN.
WE APPROVED IN THIS CURRENT BUDGET A NEW POSITION FOR PROCUREMENT MANAGER, AND THAT'S ENABLE OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE THOSE KIND OF THINGS HAPPEN.
SO THANK YOU. I CERTAINLY CRITIQUE, SO I THINK IT'S ONLY FAIR, I'M GOING TO HEAR ME JEEZ, JIM ALWAYS SAY, GREAT, NO, I'VE CERTAINLY BEEN PRETTY CHALLENGING ON THAT.
THEREFORE, IT'S IMPORTANT TO EMPHASIZE WHEN YOU SEE A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE. THANK YOU.
THEN JUST LASTLY, I THOUGHT I'D JUST GIVE CAREFULLY AN UPDATE.
THERE WAS A LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION MEETING TODAY CONSIDERING A SINGLE BILL THAT HAD NOT BEEN, VOTED UPON AND SO THAT MEETING HAPPENED TODAY.
I WAS DISAPPOINTED IN THE OUTCOME, BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS.
BUT I THOUGHT I'D JUST SHARE, AND I THINK THAT OTHERS MAY HAVE THE SAME INFORMATION I HAVE, BUT ONE NEVER KNOWS AND WE CAN'T TALK OUTSIDE OF SUNSHINE.
BUT I THINK I GOT IN A LETTER ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN.
EVERYBODY GOT A COPY, WHETHER YOU SAW IT YET OR NOT, AND THEN I SPOKE TODAY TO THE DELEGATION.
REALLY, COUNSEL SUNSTROM HAS BEEN RUNNING POINT ON THIS WITH HER POSITION IN THE LEAGUE AND BEING OUT OF TOWN AND WHATEVER.
[01:20:05]
OF COURSE, I STILL WOULD HAVE WEIGHED IN.I WAS MAYBE A BIT MORE INVOLVED, BUT I REALLY WAS THE WAY IT WENT DOWN TODAY IT WAS- THERE WAS MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION AND THEY WERE- THE OUTCOME WAS THEY HAD A VOTE ON WHETHER TO INCLUDE THIS OR NOT INTO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
THE REQUEST THAT MANY PARTIES HAD MADE WAS TO DEFER IT.
WE HEAR BY THE SPONSOR THAT IT'S STILL GOING TO CHANGE AND WHATEVER, BUT THE FACT WAS THAT IT HAD GONE THROUGH FOUR AND I'M READING FROM A SUMMARY BECAUSE BETWEEN PALMACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE POLICE CHIEF KENNEDY AND THE LEAGUE CITY'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EMILIA, WHICH ARE THE FIRST TWO SPEAKERS.
THERE WAS FOUR COMPLETE BILL ITERATIONS TO GET TO THE POINT.
WE HAD GOTTEN, I'M ASSUMING WE ALL DID, BUT I KNOW I GOT THE LEAGUE HAD PUT OUT A SUMMARY OF WHERE THEY WERE AFTER THREE ITERATIONS.
YOU COULD SEE AND CHIEF KENNEDY TALKED ABOUT, HEY, IT STARTED OFF AT ONE PARAGRAPH.
I'D BE WORKING TOGETHER IN THESE THESE ITERATIONS, AND I HEARD THE LEAGUE OF CITIES REP GET UP AND SAY, THEY STARTED OUT WITH AN OPPOSITION AND REQUEST TO DEFER TO THE 27 LEGISLATION.
THEY SAID THE FOURTH ITERATION OF THE BILL WAS THE WORST.
LEAGUE TOOK THE POSITION OF ASKING, I'D LIKE TO THINK PLEAD TO WAIT TILL THE 27 SESSION BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY A LOCAL ISSUE THAT FOR SOME REASON, SOME FEEL IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR STATE TO GET STICK THEIR NOSE IN A LOCAL ISSUE, THAT THINGS ARE BEST WORK THERE, BUT NONETHELESS.
BOTTOM LINE, IT'S DISAPPOINTING TO ME BECAUSE ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S GOOD DIALOGUE AND INFORMATION PROVIDED.
THE OUTCOME WAS THAT WHAT WENT IN THE BILL, WHAT CHANGED FROM WHEN THE LEAGUE LAST SAW TO WHAT WAS VOTED ON IT WENT FROM, I SAY AS AN EXAMPLE THAT ON ANNEXATION THAT THE COUNTY COULD POTENTIALLY CONTINUE TO GET FUNDED FOR FOUR YEARS, IT WENT TO EIGHT, THAT THEY WOULD GET EIGHT YEARS OF IMPACT FEES AFTER ANOTHER GOVERNMENT HAS ANNEXED THE AREA AND WHATEVER.
OH MY GOSH, I'M REALLY JUST TRYING TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON IT SO EVERYBODY HAS A PERSPECTIVE.
MANY TIMES WE DEAL WITH UNFUNDED MANDATES AND STUFF AND YOU WOULD HOPE ON A LOCAL ISSUE, THERE'D BE A LITTLE BIT MORE UNDERSTANDING.
BUT THIS IS A LOCAL BILL JUST UNIQUE TO PALM BEACH COUNTY DOESN'T APPLY ANYWHERE ELSE AND THEY DIDN'T SEEM TO BE AS MUCH SUPPORT FOR MUNICIPAL CONCERNS.
BOTTOM LINE, IT REALLY DOES REFLECT DOUBLE TAXATION, AND THIS DOES AFFECT THE TOWN.
MY WIFE AND I, WE GO TO MASS ON SUNDAYS AND WE GO TO MCDONALD'S AFTERWARDS AND I GO TO MCDONALD'S ON SUNDAY AND WHAT I LOOK THERE'S A VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION SIGN ON A PIECE OF PROPERTY.
I HADN'T EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT IT. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.
WE MAY NOT THINK ABOUT ANNEXATIONS HAPPENING, BUT THEY DO HAPPEN ALL THE TIME.
IN OUR CASE, THERE'S SMALLER SCALE, BUT NONETHELESS.
THIS BILL AS IT IS MOVING AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE KEEP HEARING, YEAH, IT'S GOING TO CHANGE, WHATEVER, BUT IT'S ONLY CHANGING FOR THE WORST.
WE COULD ANNEX AN AREA AND THEN THE WAY IT READS IS ACTUALLY HAVE TO PICK UP AND PAY PALM BEACH COUNTY FOR FIRE RESCUE SERVICES.
I WAKE UP THIS MORNING, AND THE HEADLINES I'M READING ONLINE IS LEGISLATIVE SESSION READY TO JUMP IN AND DEAL WITH HEAD ONE TAXES.
THE FIRST THING OUT OF THE BOX I DEAL WITH IN THE MORNING IS A LEGISLATIVE BILL BY OUR OWN DELEGATION TO INCREASE TAXES IN MUNICIPALITIES.
THAT'S IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.
HOPEFULLY, THIS IS HELPFUL. I REALLY JUST, I THINK WE ALL NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
THIS IS THE ONLY TIME I CAN WEIGH IN AND SHARE.
[01:25:01]
NORMALLY, LIKE I SAY, CREDIT TO COUNSEL SUNSTROM, BECAUSE SHE'S BEEN RUNNING POINT, I WAS REALLY PLEASED WITH THE REPRESENTATION BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.NEVER MET HER, BUT I THINK WE'RE BEING REPRESENTED VERY WELL THERE.
>> MAYOR IF I MAY, IT SEEMS LIKE AN INTENTIONAL ROADBLOCK TO ANNEXATION, BECAUSE NOW TOWNS WILL BE LARY TO ANNEX.
USUALLY THE RESIDENTS HAVE TO SIGN IN ON IT. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.
OVER THE YEARS, WE'VE TRIED TO GET DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE TOWN AND UNINCORPORATED INTO THE TOWN, AND HERE'S ANOTHER ROADBLOCK.
>> INTERESTINGLY, I AGREE, BUT ONE THING I DO WANT TO SHARE FROM POSITIVE NOTE IS BECAUSE IN OUR RESPONSE, I KNOW I WAS TRYING TO MAKE THIS POINT.
GOING BACK TO WHEN COMMISSIONER MARCUS WAS THE COMMISSIONER FROM NORTH COUNTY.
THERE WAS- SHE BUILT A CONSENSUS ON ANNEXATION BOUNDARIES.
WHICH MEANS YOU THEN COULD PLAN.
I WAS PLEASED QUITE FRANKLY HERE.
I'M JUST PICKING ON A FEW WORDS THAT I HEARD, BUT CHIEF KENNEDY TALKED ABOUT 16 STATIONS ARE IN ANNEXATION AREAS.
I ASSUME, I THEREFORE, ASSUME AT LEAST THERE IS AWARENESS THAT CONFLICTS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE RESOLVED, AND THEY WILL.
THAT'S OUR JOB, BUT THAT'S WHY I THINK IT'S A LOCAL ISSUE TO DEAL WITH.
>> I LOOK AT THE FIRE STATION IN BURT REYNOLDS AS AN EXAMPLE.
IF THAT HAD BEEN AN ANNEXATION ISSUE BECAUSE THEY TALK ABOUT A STATION BEING BUILT ACROSS THE STREET, WE MADE EVERY EFFORT TO NOT HAVE A STATION ACROSS THE STREET.
WE OFFERED TO BUY IT, REJECTED.
WE OFFERED TO PROVIDE IT TO MAKE THOSE CALLS AT ZERO COST OR MUTUAL AID, AND THERE'S STILL COMMITTED, THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP THAT STATION OPEN.
IF YOU READ THE LANGUAGE THAT WE SAW TODAY, WHICH GIVES THE COUNTY EIGHT YEARS OF REVENUE, IF THIS HAD BEEN AN ANNEXATION ISSUE, IT ISN'T, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN.
IF THEY BEHAVE LIKE THAT AND KEEP THE STATION OPEN FOR EIGHT YEARS, THEY'LL COLLECT- WE'LL BE PAYING THEM FOR EIGHT, WHOEVER ANNEX PROPERTIES, AND WRONGLY SO WHEN THERE'S A MORE COST EFFECTIVE SOLUTION FOR EVERYBODY.
ANYWAY, HOPEFULLY, I DIDN'T TAKE TOO MUCH TIME, BUT I DO THINK THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT I WANTED TO GIVE THAT DOWNLOAD.
I DON'T KNOW DID ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR PRETTY CLEAR?
>> I DID READ YOUR LETTER AND THANK YOU, IT WAS VERY WELL.
>> THAT WAS A GOOD LETTER. EXCELLENT.
>> I GOT SOME GOOD INPUT FROM OUR ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER ON THAT, TOO, SO I APPRECIATE THAT.
WITH THAT, THE TIME IS NOW 8:28 AND WE'LL ADJOURN THE MEETING.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.