Feb 17, 2026 Town Council

[00:00:04]

GOOD EVENING. THE TIME IS NOW 7 P.M. AND I'LL CALL THE ORDER

[Call To Order]

WE'LL BEGIN WITH AN INVOCATION FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND THEN A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

IF ALL THOSE THAT ARE ABLE, PLEASE JOIN ME IN STANDING.

LET US PRAY. ALMIGHTY GOD, WE PAUSE THIS EVENING TO GIVE THANKS FOR THE BLESSING OF SERVING THIS COMMUNITY. AS WE CARRY OUT THE RESPONSIBILITIES BEFORE US, MAY WE BE GUIDED BY FAIRNESS, INTEGRITY, AND A GENUINE DESIRE TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR ALL.

AMEN.

WE WILL NOW PAUSE FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN A PLEDGE.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

MAY WE HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE? MAYOR KORETSKY? HERE.

VICE MAYOR DELANEY? HERE COUNCILOR CHOY? HERE.

COUNCILOR GUISINGER? HERE.

COUNCILOR SUNDSTROM? HERE.

TOWN MANAGER KITZEROW? HERE.

TOWN ATTORNEY BAIRD? HERE.

ALL RIGHT. WE BEGIN TONIGHT.

[1. Town-wide Flood Vulnerability Assessment ]

FIRST, A TOWN-WIDE FLOOD VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT. TURN IT OVER TO STAFF TO PRESENT.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS, REBECCA WILDER, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY. I AM EXCITED TO PRESENT TO YOU ALL THE SUMMARY AND FINDINGS FROM OUR TOWN-WIDE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT THAT MY TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING ON FOR OVER THE PAST YEAR. AS YOU MAY KNOW, A MORE IN-DEPTH VERSION OF THIS PRESENTATION WAS JUST GIVEN TO THE COMMUNITY, AND I WILL BE PRESENTING AN ABBREVIATED VERSION OF THIS PRESENTATION TO YOU TONIGHT. SO MY GOALS FOR TODAY ARE TO HAVE AN INFORMATIVE DISCUSSION ON HOW OUR COMMUNITY CAN BE IMPACTED BY FLOODING, TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WE ARE ENGAGED ON THIS TOPIC AND WORKING PROACTIVELY TO ENHANCE OUR COMMUNITY'S RESILIENCE. AND FINALLY, I WANT TO LOOK AHEAD AT FUTURE FLOOD RISK, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING SEA LEVEL RISE TO IDENTIFY MITIGATION STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS THE FLOOD VULNERABILITIES THAT WE FOUND.

SO LET ME START BY PROVIDING A SHORT BACKGROUND ON OUR JOURNEY TO COMPLETING THIS STUDY, WHICH WAS INITIATED DURING THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS, WHERE ONE OF THE STRATEGIC INITIATIVES WAS TO DEVELOP A SUSTAINABILITY PLAN DOCUMENT FOR THE TOWN. AS YOU KNOW, THE TOWN HAS A VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE COMPOSED OF JUPITER'S RESIDENTS, THE ENVIRONMENTAL TASK FORCE, WHICH LED THIS INITIATIVE.

BEFORE DIVING INTO DEVELOPING A SUSTAINABILITY PLAN DOCUMENT, WE FIRST LOOKED AT ALL THE EXISTING RESOURCES, PLANS, STUDIES, AND POLICIES THAT WERE ALREADY IN PLACE WITHIN THE TOWN. ONE OF THE LARGE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THIS SUSTAINABILITY PLAN DOCUMENT WAS THE BENEFIT OF COMPLETING A VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT. THIS IS WHERE WE ARE AT TODAY, AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS EFFORT. THIS VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT THAT I'M GOING TO PRESENT TODAY IS A GRANT-FUNDED STUDY THROUGH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION RESILIENT FLORIDA PROGRAM. SO WHY IS THIS THE RIGHT APPROACH? MANY COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING OUR NEIGHBORS, ARE LOOKING AT SUSTAINABILITY AND MAY APPROACH IT DIFFERENTLY. WHY DID WE FOCUS ON FLOODING? WELL, OUR STATE IS SURROUNDED ON THREE SIDES BY WATER, AND WE ARE SITTING LITERALLY AT THE FRONT DOOR OF EXTREME WEATHER AND SEA LEVEL RISE, MUCH OF WHICH WE'RE EXPERIENCING CURRENTLY.

JUPITER IS A COASTAL COMMUNITY, AND OUR LOCATION HERE INHERENTLY INCREASES FLOOD RISK. SO EVALUATION OF CURRENT AND FUTUREFLOODING USING THE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT OR VA PROCESS SUPPORTS PROACTIVE PLANNING AND LONG-TERM RESILIENCE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

FINALLY, OUR STATE UNDERSTANDS THE CHALLENGES WE ARE FACING IN THESE AREAS AND HAS CREATED CHAPTER 380, SECTION 93 OF FLORIDA STATUTES, WHICH PROVIDES THE FRAMEWORK FOR A STATEWIDE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT AND IS ENCOURAGING ALL COMMUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE THROUGH THE RESILIENT FLORIDA GRANT PROGRAM. AS I MENTIONED, THIS ASSESSMENT WAS 100% GRANT-FUNDED BY FDEP AS WE CONDUCTED IT IN ALLIANCE WITH THE STATUTE'S RECOMMENDATIONS. FURTHERMORE, NOW THAT WE'VE COMPLETED THIS ASSESSMENT, WE ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE GRANT FUNDING TO IMPLEMENT OR CONSTRUCT IMPROVEMENTS BASED ON THE FLOOD RISK FINDINGS FROM THIS STUDY. AND THEN FINALLY, THIS GRANT-FUNDED

[00:05:02]

SO THIS SLIDE ILLUSTRATES A STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS THAT WE UNDERTOOK TO COMPLETE THIS STUDY. EACH STEP FEEDS INTO THE NEXT TO PRODUCE A STATUTORILY COMPLIANT VA, WHICH WAS SUBMITTED AND ACCEPTED BY FDEP IN DECEMBER.

OUR ASSESSMENT WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO A LARGER STATEWIDE DATABASE. STEP ONE OF THIS PROCESS INCLUDED IDENTIFYING WHAT ARE REFERRED TO AS CRITICAL ASSETS. WHAT IS A CRITICAL ASSET? THE TERM IS ACTUALLY DEFINED IN STATUTE, WHICH GIVES US FOUR CATEGORIES TO CONSIDER. VERY SIMPLY, THESE ARE VITAL COMMUNITY ELEMENTS AND RESOURCES RANGING FROM ROADWAYS AND EVACUATION ROUTES TO CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT LANDMARKS LIKE SAWFISH BAY.

ALSO INCLUDED ARE ESSENTIAL FACILITIES LIKE FIRE STATIONS, UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE, PARKS, AND BEACHES. IN TOTAL, WE IDENTIFIED 587 FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

AFTER IDENTIFYING ASSETS, WE DEVELOPED A TOWN-WIDE STORMWATER MODEL TO SIMULATE FLOODING ACROSS 31 MODEL SCENARIOS.

THESE SCENARIOS INCLUDE CURRENT DAY CONDITIONS AND RAINFALL, AS WELL AS FUTURE PLANNING HORIZONS OUT TO AS FAR AS 2050 AND 2080. THE COMBINATION OF STORM EVENTS AND PLANNING HORIZONS IS LARGELY DRIVEN BY THE REQUIREMENTS IN STATUTE. ONCE OUR MODEL AND STORM SCENARIOS WERE ESTABLISHED, WE CONDUCTED AN EXPOSURE ANALYSIS TO IDENTIFY THE EXTENT OF FLOODING ACROSS THOSE SCENARIOS.

IN OTHER WORDS, WE WANTED TO UNDERSTAND HOW EXPOSED OUR ASSETS COULD BE. NEXT CAME OUR SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS. WE MEASURED THE IMPACT OF FLOODING ON ASSETS CONSIDERING THE LIKELIHOOD OF MODEL SCENARIOS. AGAIN, WE ARE LOOKING OUT IN SOME CASES TO 2080. WE ADJUSTED FOR THAT AS WELL AS THE CRITICALITY THAT THE ASSET PROVIDES TO OUR COMMUNITY TO PRODUCE A FINAL RISK SCORE.

THIS HAS BEEN A DATA-INTENSIVE STUDY. THE REAL CHALLENGE HAS BEEN DISTILLING ALL THIS INFORMATION DOWN INTO MANAGEABLE PORTIONS THAT APPROPRIATELY QUANTIFY RISK AND IMPACT FOR OUR COMMUNITY SO WE CAN MAKE DECISIONS TODAY WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING WHAT COULD OCCUR IN THE FUTURE.

TO DO THAT, OUR FINAL TASK WAS TO IDENTIFY FOCUS AREAS, TO FOCUS ADAPTATION PLANNING.

THIS WILL BE THE FOCUS OF MY PRESENTATION TO YOU ALL TODAY.

SO KEY TAKEAWAYS. OUR PROCESS IS DATA-DRIVEN AND ALIGNS WITH THE REQUIREMENTS IN STATUTE.

IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US TO COMPLETE A STATUTORILY COMPLIANT VA. WE ARE EVALUATING MANY SCENARIOS IN THE FUTURE, BUT NOT NECESSARILY LETTING THOSE RESULTS DRIVE TODAY'S DECISIONS AND INVESTMENTS.

MUCH OF THE RESULTS ALIGN WITH OUR UNDERSTANDING OF FLOOD RISK IN THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE A GREAT FOUNDATION FOR THE WORK THAT WE ARE ALREADY DOING.

SO HERE ARE SOME HIGH-LEVEL KEY FINDINGS. THE HIGHEST FLOOD RISK SCORES WE FOUND ARE CONCENTRATED IN THE NORTHERN PORTIONS OF JUPITER DUE TO COASTAL PROXIMITY AND THE LOWER ELEVATION REFLECTIVE OF THE OLDER DEVELOPMENT ERA.

OF OUR 587 CRITICAL ASSETS, 361, OR JUST OVER 60%, SHOWED SOME FLOODING VULNERABILITY IN AT LEAST ONE MODEL SCENARIO, INDICATING THAT WE HAVE ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. MORE THAN 50% OF ROADWAY SEGMENTS THAT WE LOOKED AT COULD BE AT LEAST 80% FLOODED IN ONE OR MORE SCENARIOS. AND THEN EMERGENCY POTABLE WATER INTERCONNECTS AND WELLS CRITICAL TO WATER SUPPLY, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN LOW-LYING AREAS, SHOWED HIGHER VULNERABILITY.

SO EVEN THOUGH I'VE PRESENTED THE FINDINGS OF THIS YEAR-AND-A-HALF LONG STUDY VERY SIMPLY HERE, WE HAD COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF DATA WITH VARYING FLOOD RISKS THAT WE NEEDED TO DISTILL DOWN INTO MANAGEABLE PORTIONS THAT WE COULD USE FOR COMMUNITY PLANNING. SO OVER THE NEXT FEW SLIDES, WE WILL REVIEW THE FOCUS AREAS THAT WE IDENTIFIED AT THE CONCLUSION OF OUR ASSESSMENT.

BEFORE I MOVE ON, I ALSO WANT TO CLARIFY THAT WHILE THIS EFFORT HAS BEEN COMPLEX, INCORPORATING LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF DATA POINTS, IT REALLY HAS BEEN DONE FROM A 10,000-FOOT LEVEL, WHICH IS INEVITABLE WHEN YOU'RE CREATING A TOWN-WIDE MODEL THAT WAS DONE IN THIS EFFORT.

OVERALL, WE ARE WELL-POSITIONED TO BUILD ON TO THIS ASSESSMENT WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO FURTHER LEVERAGE THIS TOOL THAT WE NOW HAVE IN OUR MODEL TO DIG DEEPER INTO ANALYSIS AND STRATEGICALLY IMPLEMENT RIGHT-SIZE PROJECTS WHILE BEING ELIGIBLE FOR GRANT FUNDING TO SUPPORT THOSE PROJECTS. SO FOCUS AREAS ARE GEOGRAPHIC AREAS WITH CRITICAL ASSETS HAVING HIGHER FLOOD RISK FOR WHERE WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ADAPTATION PLANNING.

WE'VE IDENTIFIED 11 AREAS FOR OUR TOWN, AND THERE WERE A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT DROVE THOSE DECISIONS. ONE IS FLOOD RISK,

[00:10:02]

SO THIS SLIDE PRESENTS THE 11 FOCUS AREAS THAT WE IDENTIFIED FOR OUR TOWN. THE ASSIGNED NUMBERS WERE ESTABLISHED DURING OUR ANALYSIS AND DO NOT NECESSARILY CORRESPOND TO ORDER OF PRIORITY.

SO AS YOU'RE LOOKING AT THIS MAP, A FEW QUESTIONS MAY COME TO MIND. MY HOME IS IN A FOCUS AREA.

DOES THIS MEAN I'M GOING TO FLOOD? WELL, NOT NECESSARILY. REMEMBER, THIS IS AN ANALYSIS OF FLOODING SPECIFIC TO CRITICAL ASSETS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND NOT NECESSARILY INDIVIDUAL HOMES OR BUSINESSES.

WE ARE ALSO ASSESSING FLOOD RISK FOR VARIOUS SCENARIOS BOTH TODAY AND MANY YEARS INTO THE FUTURE. AND THIS ANALYSIS HAS BEEN DONE FROM THAT 10,000-FOOT VIEW.

FOR SOME AREAS, WE FOUND THAT CERTAIN ASSETS HAVE A HIGHER FLOOD RISK, AND WE STILL NEED TO DIG IN MORE TO UNDERSTAND ALL THE FACTORS.

CONVERSELY, YOU MAY LOOK AT THIS AND GO, WELL, MY COMMUNITY IS NOT IN A FOCUS AREA. ARE YOU ONLY GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTING PROJECTS IN THESE AREAS IN THE FUTURE? THE ANSWER TO THAT IS ALSO NO. WE WILL CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT STORMWATER REPAIRS, MAINTENANCE, AND IMPROVEMENTS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY AS THOSE NEEDS ARE IDENTIFIED.

THIS ASSESSMENT PLACES SPECIFIC EMPHASIS ON FLOOD RISK THAT IS COMPOUNDED BY STORM SURGE AND SEA LEVEL RISE, WHICH IN PART BRINGS COASTAL AREAS TO THE FOREFRONT OF FLOOD RISK. BUT THIS STUDY IN NO WAY IMPLIES THAT WE ARE ONLY DOING STORMWATER PROJECTS IN THE FOCUS AREAS IN THE FUTURE. SO WE'VE DEVELOPED A DATA-DRIVEN STUDY TO PRIORITIZE AREAS FOR ACTION AND CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT. THE TOWN IS IN A GREAT POSITION TO DO SO. OUR STORMWATER UTILITY WAS CREATED 30 YEARS AGO AND HAS STAYED ON MISSION TO MINIMIZE FLOOD RISK AND IMPROVE STORMWATER QUALITY. WE HAVE INVESTED IN IMPROVEMENTS THROUGHOUT THESE FOCUS AREAS AND ARE POISED TO CONTINUE TO DO GREAT WORK WITH NOW THE POTENTIAL TO RECEIVE GRANT FUNDING TO IMPLEMENT FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS.

THIS SLIDE HERE LISTS A FEW OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE DONE RECENTLY. THE PICTURE YOU'RE LOOKING AT IS OUR NEWEST PUMP STATION LOCATED ON OLD DIXIE HIGHWAY. SO AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR FOCUS AREA MAP. THESE GREEN CHECK MARKS REPRESENT RECENTLY COMPLETED PROJECTS IN THOSE FOCUS AREAS, NOT NECESSARILY ALL THE STORMWATER PROJECTS THAT WE'VE DONE RECENTLY. SO WE HAVE BEEN HARD AT WORK. THIS MAP REPRESENTS PROJECTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN DESIGN OR PROPOSED FOR FUTURE CIP YEARS, WHICH ARE DENOTED BY THE YELLOW TRIANGLES. THE LIGHT BULBS REPRESENT AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR FUTURE INVESTIGATION, LEVERAGING OUR STORMWATER MODEL TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IMPROVEMENTS ARE FEASIBLE AND BENEFICIAL TO REDUCE FLOOD RISK. BEST OF ALL, FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS IN THESE AREAS CAN BE ELIGIBLE FOR GRANT FUNDING. SO TO SUMMARIZE, THE TOWN HAS COMPLETED OUR TOWN-WIDE FLOOD VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT. WE HAVE FOUND THAT FLOOD RISK IS DRIVEN BY A COMBINATION OF COASTAL STORM SURGE, HEAVY RAINFALL, AND ELEVATED GROUNDWATER TABLES.

FUTURE CONDITIONS ARE PREDICTED TO BE WORSE, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF SEA LEVEL RISE.

AND WE DO HAVE SEVERAL CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE ASSETS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED AS HAVING MODERATE TO HIGH VULNERABILITY UNDER CERTAIN SCENARIOS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT PROJECTS THAT UTILIZE DATA-DRIVEN ANALYSIS THROUGH OUR MODELING TOOL TO IMPLEMENT STRATEGIC IMPROVEMENTS AND PURSUE GRANT FUNDING WHEN IT MAKES SENSE TO DO SO.

SO WHAT DO OUR NEXT STEPS LOOK LIKE? OUR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE BROKEN OUT AS SHOWN HERE INTO NEAR, MID, AND LONG-TERM ACTIONS. IN THE NEAR TERM, WE ARE NOT NECESSARILY RECOMMENDING WHOLESALE CHANGES TO OUR PROCESS, BUT PERHAPS A FEW DEGREES OF SHIFT BUILDING ON WHAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING.

YOU CAN SEE THAT WE ARE COMPLETING PROJECTS IN THE RIGHT AREAS, CONSISTENT WITH OUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE FLOODING OCCURS. WE WOULD LIKE TO INTEGRATE THESE FINDINGS INTO EXISTING TOWN-WIDE PLANNING DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING OUR CIP PROCESS. WE HAVE PROJECTS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY OR PROPOSED IN THE FUTURE THAT ALIGN WITH OUR FOCUS AREAS. WE'RE ALSO PREPARING TO KICK OFF OUR FIVE-YEAR STORMWATER MASTER PLAN UPDATE, AND THIS ASSESSMENT WILL SEGUE BEAUTIFULLY INTO THAT PROCESS. IT'LL BE SMART TO REVIEW OUR CURRENT POLICIES AND STANDARDS, PARTICULARLY TOWARDS DEVELOPMENT AND MINIMUM CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS. AND THEN FINALLY, WE'D LIKE TO PURSUE GRANT FUNDING.

IN THE MIDTERM, WE RECOMMEND STRATEGICALLY IMPLEMENTING THOSE IMPROVEMENTS AND STAYING AHEAD OF THE CURVE.

INCORPORATING NATURE-BASED AND HYBRID SOLUTIONS, THIS IS A FASCINATING AND GROWING AREA OF PRACTICE WHERE YOU EMBRACE THE IDEA OF WORKING WITH NATURE'S NATURAL ADAPTIVE CAPACITY. WE WILL POSSIBLY UPDATE POLICIES AND STANDARDS BASED ON OUR PRIOR REVIEW, AND REALLY KEY IS PARTNERING

[00:15:01]

WE RECOGNIZE THAT SOME OF OUR FUTURE PLANNING HORIZONS REPRESENT SCENARIOS THAT ARE MANY YEARS INTO THE FUTURE.

CONDITIONS, ASSUMPTIONS, AND SCIENCE EVOLVE.

RE-EVALUATION IS PRUDENT. AND FINALLY, WE WANT TO BE FLEXIBLE, INTEGRATING ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT APPROACHES BASED ON THE UPDATES AND CHANGES THAT WE SEE AS WE CONTINUE. THANK YOU.

I'LL GO DOWN THE DAIS. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COUNCILOR GUISINGER? YEAH, I HAVE ONE QUESTION ON YOUR SLIDE THAT SHOWS FUTURE INVESTIGATION NECESSARY.

IS THAT, WE MEAN, WE NEED MORE DATA FOR THAT INVESTIGATION, OR JUST BETTER ENHANCED MODELING OF THOSE AREAS? IT WOULD BE BETTER ENHANCED MODELING OF THOSE AREAS.

OKAY. AND WHAT'S THE TIME FRAME FOR THAT? THE REASON WHY I'M ASKING, THOSE COULD FALL OUT TO RESULT IN A HIGHER VULNERABILITY. SO WHEN DO YOU EXPECT TO DO THAT? WELL, INITIALLY, WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IN OUR STORMWATER MASTER PLAN UPDATE IS TO DIG DEEPER INTO SOME OF THESE AREAS. IF IT TURNS OUT THAT IT MAKES SENSE TO PULL TOGETHER CONCEPTUAL PROJECTS, WE WOULD LOOK AT THE TIMING OF THOSE AND HOW THEY WOULD ALIGN WITH CIP. WE WOULD BRING THOSE BACK TO YOU, OF COURSE, FOR CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

SO THOSE WOULD NOT NECESSARILY BE IN YOUR FIVE-YEAR PLAN, BE MORE NEAR-TERM, LOOKING AT THOSE AREAS? THOSE WOULD BE IN THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN, DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY OF THE RESULTS THAT WE FIND.

OKAY. I'M MORE OR LESS LOOKING AT WHAT'S THE TIME FRAME FOR DOING THAT ENHANCED MODELING TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THOSE AREAS ARE HIGH RISK.

RIGHT. SO WE ARE PREPARED TO START THE FIVE-YEAR STORMWATER MASTER PLAN UPDATE THIS YEAR, WHICH IS TYPICALLY A YEAR'S LONG EFFORT. SO WE'LL AT LEAST DIG IN DEEPER INTO THESE AREAS DURING THAT PLANNING EFFORT, AND THEN, DEPENDING ON OUR FINDINGS, CONTINUE FROM THERE.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

WE'RE LOOKING AT A YEAR OR MORE.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT.

ONE QUESTION AND ONE COMMENT.

IN THE NEAR-TERM, MID-TERM, LONG-TERM, I AGREE WITH YOU.

THE WATER MASTER PLAN COULD NOT BE MORE PERFECTLY TIMED WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.

AND IT'S A VERY THOROUGH ANALYSIS TO REMEMBER A DOCUMENT ABOUT THIS THICK. COULD WE, IN THE NEAR-TERM, REVIEW AND UPDATE POLICIES AND STANDARDS THROUGH THE WATER MASTER PLAN? IS THAT FEASIBLE OR SOMETHING WE COULD EXPLORE? SO WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON AN UPDATE TO OUR CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS DOCUMENT THAT WE USE TO GUIDE DEVELOPMENT. IN TERMS OF POLICIES RELATIVE TO DEVELOPMENT, IT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE WOULD DO IN COLLABORATION WITH BUILDING AND PLANNING AND ZONING.

OKAY. THAT'S HELPFUL. AND THEN THE COMMENT WAS, I'M REALLY GLAD THAT WE WENT THROUGH THIS EXERCISE, NOT ONLY FOR THE OPTIONS AND THE DOORS IT OPENS FOR US TO ENHANCE OUR STORMWATER ACTIVITIES AND PROVIDE MORE RESILIENCE, BUT FOR THE REST OF COUNCIL TO KNOW, AND WE RECEIVED A REPORT ON THIS EARLIER THIS WEEK, WE SUBMITTED EIGHT PROJECTS TO THE STATE FOR APPROPRIATION AND APPROVAL.

AND WE HAVE FOUR OF THEM HAVE TO DO WITH DRAINAGE AND WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS.

SO IT IS A HIGH PRIORITY FOR THE TOWN. IT IS ALWAYS ON OUR MIND AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

VICE MAYOR? YEAH. ON THE FOCUS AREA MAP, AND I GUESS YOU WOULD CALL IT AREA FOUR, SECTOR FOUR, THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU CALL AN ANCIENT AREA OF JUPITER. WHAT SPECIFICALLY WOULD BE VULNERABLE IN THAT AREA? BECAUSE THERE'S CANALS AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, THE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE RAISED AND I LIVE IN THAT AREA. I'VE NEVER SEEN ANY FLOODING, HURRICANES, MAJOR RAINSTORMS. SO ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR OVER THERE? YES. SO THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. YOU'LL NOTICE MAPLEWOOD DRIVE HAS A LIGHT BULB. AND SO WHAT WE FOUND IN OUR MODELING EFFORTS IS THAT PORTIONS OF MAPLEWOOD DRIVE HAVE MINIMAL TO MODERATE FLOOD RISK. AND WE'RE STILL, WE'RE NEEDING TO DIG INTO THIS TO FULLY UNDERSTAND WHY.

PART OF THE REASON IS THE DRAINAGE HERE ULTIMATELY DISCHARGES INTO A TIDAL WATER BODY, SIMS CREEK.

AND MAPLEWOOD DRIVE ELEVATION COMPARATIVE TO INDIAN TOWN ROAD IS LOWER.

BUT YOU ARE CORRECT. WE DON'T HISTORICALLY SEE FLOODING ON MAPLEWOOD DRIVE. AND WE DID GO THROUGH THIS IN GREAT DETAIL THROUGHOUT THIS ASSESSMENT, REFINING AND ADJUSTING SOME OF OUR MODEL ASSUMPTIONS.

BUT IT WILL BE AN AREA THAT WE'LL DIVE INTO.

THERE'S ALSO THE EXFILTRATION TRENCHES ALONG THE ROAD AND ALL THAT, BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING SPECIFIC FLOODED AND, YOU KNOW,

[00:20:01]

SO I'M JUST CURIOUS.

YEP.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. AND LOOKING BACK, WE'VE BEEN DOING THESE STUDIES SINCE MID-90S. AM I CORRECT IN READING THIS? WHICH STUDIES? THESE VULNERABILITY STUDIES.

AND THE POINT I WANTED TO MAKE WAS UNDERSTANDING THAT SOME OF THE ROADS ARE TOWNS, SOME OF THEM ARE COUNTY. HOW IS THE RELATIONSHIP ADDRESSING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE NOW AND IN THE FUTURE? PARTICULARLY YOU TALKED EARLIER WITH OUR RESIDENTS WITH THE CANALS, WHICH WAS A GREAT UPDATE. JUST TRYING TO SEE HOW THE OVERLAP WORKS.

RIGHT. SO WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO WORK STRATEGICALLY WITH THE AGENCIES AND OTHER MUNICIPAL PARTNERS IN THESE AREAS. ONE ROADWAY THAT'S COME TO THE FOREFRONT THROUGH THIS ANALYSIS IS CENTER STREET. IT'S ONE OF THE ROADWAYS IN JUPITER THAT'S AT HIGHEST RISK. WE PROVIDED THIS FEEDBACK TO PALM BEACH COUNTY. AS YOU KNOW, THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS OF LOOKING AT ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS IN THAT CORRIDOR. WE SHARED WITH THEM THE FLOOD RISK SCORE FOR THIS AREA AS WELL AS THIS REPORT. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM SPECIFICALLY ON THIS ISSUE.

GREAT. GREAT REPORT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

A FEW ITEMS. NUMBER ONE, EXCELLENT REPORT. VERY THOROUGH. THE STORMWATER UTILITY HAS BEEN FOCUSING ON FLOOD-PRONE AREAS FOR ITS ENTIRE EXISTENCE. SO NO SURPRISE IN THIS MAP THAT WE HAVE IMPROVEMENTS. WELL, WE'VE DONE IMPROVEMENTS IN MOST OF THOSE AREAS. I THINK THAT'S A TRIBUTE TO THAT. I THINK EACH TIME, YOU KNOW, AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE, THOSE AREAS ARE STILL PRONE, BUT NOW BEYOND THE DESIGN BASIS FOR WHAT WE'VE DONE.

CORRECT? YES. THERE IS STILL IMPROVEMENT TO BE DONE, FOR SURE.

AND THEN ON NAPLEWOOD DRIVE, I THINK IT WAS COLOR-CODED AS BEING JUST THE SECTION NORTH OF TONOPENA TO INDIANTOWN ROAD. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. YEAH. THAT'S HAVING A MODERATE FLOOD RISK SCORE.

YEAH.

SO I THINK THE ANSWER IS YES, BUT I WANT TO CONFIRM, YOU LOOKED AT ALL UNINCORPORATED AREAS WITHIN THE ANNEXATION BOUNDARIES? THAT'S CORRECT, YES.

AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE I SAW LIMESTONE CREEK, AND I APPRECIATE THAT WE DID THAT.

NOW, TO PROCEED WITH SOME OF THOSE, WE'D HAVE TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY, BUT I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THAT WAS INCLUDED. SO I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS SPECIFIC, AND I KNOW IT'S TOUGH WHEN YOU'RE THERE AND YOU'RE HEARING A QUESTION, AND I'M SERIOUS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER IT IF YOU DON'T KNOW IT, BUT IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY TO THINK ABOUT THIS. I JUST WANT TO HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT IT ON A FEW OF THE HIGHER PRIORITY ONES.

SO THE SALINITY BARRIER STRUCTURE, I'M FAMILIAR WHERE IT'S AT. IS THAT GRAVITY OR PUMP? I NEVER REALLY LOOK CLOSE.

SO IT'S REFERRED TO AS AN AMALGATE, AND IT HAS A CONTROLLED ELEVATION, AND WHEN THE CANAL LEVEL UPSTREAM OF IT STAGES TO A CERTAIN LEVEL, IT OPENS AUTOMATICALLY. IT'S NOT NECESSARILY MECHANICAL, BUT THE GRAVITY OR THE HEIGHT OF THE WATER BEHIND IT CRACKS IT OPEN FROM THE BOTTOM.

WELL, WHAT STRUCK ME WITH THAT ONE, AND I REALIZE THIS IS REALLY COMPLICATED WHEN WE GET INTO IT, YOU FLAGGED IT, THAT THE SALINITY BARRIER, IS IT DUE TO SALINITY RISK OR OUTFLOW IS THE RISK? THE RISK, WELL, IT'S A CRITICAL ASSET FOR US.

ONE, BECAUSE IT HELPS RELIEVE FLOODING UPSTREAM, INCLUDING THE COMMUNITY OF THE HEIGHTS. HOWEVER, IT ALSO IS A CRITICAL ASSET FOR US BECAUSE IT PROTECTS OUR WELL FIELD IN PREVENTING SALINE WATER FROM INTRUDING INLAND. SO IT REALLY FUNCTIONS BOTH WAYS.

AND WHAT DRIVES THE RISK IS SIMS CREEK IS A TIDAL WATER BODY, AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THINGS LIKE SEA LEVEL RISE AND STORM SURGE, THE ABILITY FOR THAT GATE TO OPEN WHEN WE HAVE POTENTIAL FLOODING CONDITIONS IS IMPACTED BY HIGHER TIDE STAGES.

OKAY. YOU GET BACK WITH ME WITH THE REST OF THE ANSWER, AND I'M JUST LOOKING AHEAD.

SOME OF THESE, IT MAY BE AS WE'RE DOING MAINTENANCE OR WHATEVER, WE CAN BEGIN TO DO SOMETHING.

OTHER ONES LIKE THIS, IT MAY BE A MAJOR, BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO GET IN MY HEAD, IS IT THE RISK OF SALINITY GETTING UPSTREAM OR IS IT THE RISK OF FLOODING? BECAUSE THEN THAT TAKES ON A HIGHER, IT'S A HIGH PRIORITY BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF HOMES THAT ARE DEPENDENT UPON THAT OUTFLOW.

RIGHT. AND SO THE PRIMARY DRIVER FOR RISK IS FLOODING.

OKAY. THEN THE RIVER BEND REPUMP STATION, IS THAT DRAINAGE OR IS THAT WATER?

[00:25:03]

SO IN SOME CASES, FOR THE WELL FIELD ONES, IT'S THE CASE WE MAY NEED TO RAISE THE ELECTRICAL AND PUMPS AND SUCH. IS THAT WHAT THE SOLUTION WOULD BE? LIKE THE SEACOAST AND TEQUESTA INTERCONNECTS? IS THAT THE RISK THERE IS WE HAVE TO RAISE THE ELECTRICAL? ELECTRICAL GEAR, ELECTRICAL PANELS, YES.

OKAY. JUST IN GENERAL ON ROADS, WE ALL KNOW, MANY OF US KNOW THAT ROADS ARE NOT DESIGNED TO NEVER FLOOD. SO I SAW IN YOUR, NOW I PICKED UP IN THE PRESENTATION THAT ROADS ARE LISTED IF MORE THAN 80% OF THE ROAD IS UNDERWATER.

LET ME GO TO THE...

AGAIN, YOU GET BACK WITH ME, BUT...

MORE THAN 50% OF ROADWAY SEGMENTS COULD BE AT LEAST 80% FLOODED IN ONE OR MORE SCENARIOS.

AND AGAIN, THAT SCENARIO MAY BE IN YEAR 2080, ACCOUNTING FOR THE WORST CASE.

NO, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THE LEVEL OF INFORMATION THAT MAY BE BEHIND. I KNEW THAT I COULD LOOK THROUGH WHICH SCENARIO WAS THE ONE THAT WAS CRITICAL.

THAT'S IN THE REPORT. DOES IT GIVE ANY INDICATION OF HOW HIGH THE WATER LEVEL WOULD BE? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. SO WE CONSIDERED A ROAD TO BE SEVERELY FLOODED IF THERE WAS MORE THAN SIX INCHES OF WATER ON THAT ROADWAY DURING THE MODELED EVENT. AND THEN OUR EXPOSURE SCORE MOVED DOWN FROM THERE FOR LESSER AMOUNTS OF WATER SITTING ON THE ROADWAY.

AND THAT SIX INCHES IS CROWN OF ROAD? AT THE CROWN, CORRECT.

OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU AGAIN.

VERY THOROUGH. AND I'M SURE WE'LL GET...

CERTAINLY, AS YOU LIVE WITH IT, I'M SURE UPDATES WILL BE DONE.

BUT I'M REALLY COMFORTABLE THAT WE HAVE AT LEAST A ROADMAP THAT WE REFER TO ALL THE TIME IF WE'RE DOING WORK AT ONE OF THESE LOCATIONS. AND THAT'D BE THE TIME TO TRANSITION IN THE NEW DESIGN BASIS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

[2. JFRD Update ]

MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THOSE ATTENDING IN PERSON AND THOSE WATCHING FROM HOME, THANKS SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO YOU TONIGHT IN THE HONOR OF SERVING HERE IN JUPITER.

SAVING LIVES IS IMPORTANT TO US, AND WE TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY.

SO THIS IS A TIMELINE. WE'RE IN OUR FINAL YEAR OF BUILDING THE JUPITER FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT.

AND UNLIKE MOST OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE TIMELINE, I'M GOING TO DO THE OPPOSITE. I'M GOING TO BEGIN TONIGHT WHERE I WILL END, AND THAT IS THAT WE ARE ON SCHEDULE AND ON BUDGET.

TONIGHT, I'M GOING TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON OUR TRANSITION MEETING WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE, AN UPDATE ON THE CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS OF OUR NEW FIRE STATIONS, AND AN UPDATE ON THE TRAFFIC PREEMPTION SYSTEM, AS WELL AS AN UPDATE ON THE PROGRESS OF OUR HIRING OF 90 OPERATIONAL PERSONNEL.

SO ON JANUARY 14TH, WE HAD OUR LONG-AWAITED MEETING WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE TO DISCUSS THE OCTOBER 1 TRANSITION OF SERVICES FROM PALM BEACH COUNTY TO THE TOWN OF JUPITER.

AND I AM VERY HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THE MEETING WAS EXTREMELY COOPERATIVE, VERY COLLABORATIVE, AND VERY PRODUCTIVE.

WE ESTABLISHED A FRAMEWORK FOR BIMONTHLY MEETINGS WITH CHIEF ROWLEY TO WORK ON THE OPERATIONAL TRANSITION OF SERVICES, AND MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH CHIEF DORITA TO FINALIZE THE TRANSITION OF FIRE PREVENTION SERVICES TO THE TOWN OF JUPITER.

A TEAM FROM THE TOWN OF JUPITER WILL BE CONDUCTING A WALKTHROUGH OF THE ABACOA FIRE STATION ON FEBRUARY 20TH WITH MEMBERS FROM PALM BEACH COUNTY TO DETERMINE THE STATION'S CONDITION, WHAT WILL BE CONVEYED WITH THE STATION, AND WHAT THE TOWN WILL NEED TO DO TO MAKE THE STATION OPERATIONAL

[00:30:01]

AT OUR MEETING WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY, WE DISCUSSED JUPITER'S DESIRE TO BE A GOOD PARTNER IN PUBLIC SAFETY, AND TO ESTABLISH A MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY.

WE ALSO EXPRESSED OUR DESIRE TO WORK WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY TOWARDS AN AUTOMATIC AID AGREEMENT IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

MY SINCEREST THANKS TO CHIEF WOODSIDE, CHIEF ROWLEY, AND CHIEF DORITA FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO A SMOOTH TRANSITION OF SERVICES.

ON TO NEW FIRE STATION CONSTRUCTION, I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TOWN'S TWO NEW FIRE STATIONS REMAINS ON SCHEDULE AND ON BUDGET.

THE INTERIOR FINISH WORK IS TAKING PLACE NOW ON BOTH STATIONS, AS WELL AS SOME EXTERIOR GRADING, PAVING, AND DRAINAGE WORK.

THE MAST ARMS FOR THE EMERGENCY SIGNALS AT EACH STATION ARE BEING INSTALLED, AND THE MEDIAN CUT-THROUGH WORK FOR BOTH STATIONS SHOULD BEGIN SOON.

BOTH STATIONS ARE SCHEDULED TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED BY MAY 1ST OF 2026.

ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA IS AN ITEM THAT WILL ALLOW THE PURCHASE OF ALL THE FURNISHINGS FOR BOTH OF THESE STATIONS, AND THIS PURCHASE WILL ALLOW FOR DELIVERY OF THOSE FURNISHINGS DIRECTLY TO THE FIRE STATIONS AT THE BEGINNING OF MAY, WITH TIME FOR ASSEMBLY AND INSTALLATION BEFORE THE END OF MAY.

THIS IS JUST A PICTURE OF THE FIRE STATION'S INTERIOR.

THIS IS JUST A PICTURE OF THE FIRE STATION CONSTRUCTION AT THE TWO NEW STATIONS, AND BECAUSE OF AGENDA TIMELINES, THIS IS SOMEWHAT DATED.

IT'S UNBELIEVABLE THE AMOUNT OF PROGRESS THEY'VE MADE JUST IN THE LAST FIVE DAYS.

GLANTZ TRAFFIC PREEMPTION.

SO, WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS SEVERAL TIMES HERE AT THIS MEETING.

THE TOWN IS INSTALLING A TRAFFIC PREEMPTION SYSTEM TO HELP MITIGATE THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION THAT OCCURS ON WEST INDIAN TOWN ROAD AND TO SPEED OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

BY CLEARING TRAFFIC BLOCKS IN ADVANCE, EMERGENCY VEHICLES CAN MAINTAIN HIGHER SPEEDS WITHOUT WEAVING THROUGH GRIDLOCK, AND THIS CAN REDUCE RESPONSE TIMES BY UP TO 20%.

ALSO, VERY IMPORTANT IS THE DRIVERS DON'T FIND THEMSELVES TRAPPED AT A RED LIGHT WITH AN AMBULANCE BEHIND THEM WITH THE LIGHTS AND SIREN ON.

I'M VERY HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THE GLANTZ TRAFFIC PREEMPTION SYSTEM HAS BEEN INSTALLED AND IS NOW OPERATIONAL AT FIVE OF THE INTERSECTIONS ON WESTERN INDIAN TOWN ROAD, INCLUDING INDIAN TOWN ROAD AND ISLAND WAY, INDIAN TOWN ROAD AND 67TH ROAD NORTH, OR THE ALDIE PLAZA ENTRANCE, INDIAN TOWN ROAD AND CENTRAL BOULEVARD, INDIAN TOWN ROAD AND PALM ROAD, OR THE CHASEWOOD PLAZA ENTRANCE, AND INDIAN TOWN ROAD AND CENTER STREET.

MOREOVER, BECAUSE OF THE JUPITER US-1 BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, GLANTZ WAS PREVIOUSLY INSTALLED FOR THAT PROJECT AND IS STILL OPERATIONAL AT FIVE OTHER INTERSECTIONS IN JUPITER, INCLUDING INTERCOASTAL POINT DRIVE AND EAST INDIAN TOWN ROAD, ALTERNATE A1A AND INDIAN TOWN ROAD, A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION, ALTERNATE A1A AND CENTER STREET, ALTERNATE A1A AND RIVERSIDE DRIVE, AND ALTERNATE A1A AND US HIGHWAY 1.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY BIG DEAL FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE IN THE TOWN OF JUPITER, AND AGAIN, WE'RE VERY HAPPY THAT IT'S INSTALLED AND OPERATIONAL AT THIS TIME.

AND ON TO THE MOST EXCITING THING OF THE NIGHT IS THE HIRING OF OUR OPERATIONAL PERSONNEL.

SO THE TOWN IS IN THE PROCESS OF HIRING PERSONNEL TO FILL 90 OPERATIONAL POSITIONS.

WE BEGAN ADVERTISING FOR THESE POSITIONS IN DECEMBER OF 2025.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED, AND THE TOWN HAS RECEIVED OVER 1,500 APPLICANTS, APPLICATIONS FOR 90 POSITIONS.

SO WE'RE COMPLETING OUR FINAL SELECTIONS FOR OUR 12 CAPTAIN AND 12 LIEUTENANT POSITIONS NOW.

WE SHOULD HAVE ALL 24 OF THOSE SELECTIONS COMPLETED SHORTLY, AS IN THE COMING DAYS, AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE CANDIDATES THAT HAVE APPLIED.

AND OUR 66 DRIVER, ENGINEER, AND FIREFIGHTER POSITIONS ARE ALL CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH THE INTERVIEW PROCESS WITH SELECTIONS EXPECTED BEFORE THE END OF MARCH.

IN APRIL, WE'LL BEGIN THE HIRING OF OUR FIRE INSPECTORS.

AND LET ME JUST SAY THIS.

MY SINCEREST, SINCEREST THANKS GOES OUT TO THE ENTIRE HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR INCREDIBLE WORK AND THEIR EFFORT ON KEEPING US ON SCHEDULE WITH THIS.

WE DID NOT EXPECT THIS VOLUME OF APPLICANTS, AND THE QUALITY OF APPLICANTS IS INCREDIBLE.

SO IT'S BEEN A VERY HEAVY LIFT FOR HR, BUT THEY HAVE KEPT US NOT ONLY ON SCHEDULE, BUT WE ARE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE RIGHT NOW.

SO AGAIN, MY THANKS TO THEM.

IN LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS, THE TOWN OF JUPITER WILL HAVE ITS NEW FIRE STATIONS COMPLETED, ITS APPARATUS DELIVERED, AND ALL OF ITS FIREFIGHTERS ON BOARD.

THESE ARE EXCITING TIMES.

IN LESS THAN EIGHT MONTHS, JUPITER FIRE RESCUE WILL BEGIN PROVIDING FULL FIRE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY.

AND AS I ALWAYS END, WE WILL REMAIN ON SCHEDULE AND ON BUDGET, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SERVE.

THANK YOU.

ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?

[00:35:03]

THANK YOU.

NO, JUST THE GLANCE TRAFFIC PREEMPTION SYSTEM.

REALLY EXCITED TO SEE HOW THAT WORKS, AND IT'S AWESOME THAT IT'S ALREADY INSTALLED DOWN SORT WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE US-1 BRIDGE.

YEAH, AND SO ONE OF THE GREAT POINTS OF THAT IS THAT PALM BEACH COUNTY IS CURRENTLY USING THAT ON THE TRUCKS IN JUPITER, I BELIEVE.

CORRECT, RIGHT, BILL? AND SO BY GETTING THIS INSTALLED RIGHT AWAY, THEY'RE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT RIGHT NOW, AND SO THIS FEEDS THEIR RESPONSE AND THE SAFETY FOR THEIR APPARATUS AS WELL, AND SO WE'RE EXCITED FOR THAT.

GREAT.

THANK YOU.

COUNCILOR? SURE.

I WANTED TO SAY I'M REALLY GLAD THAT PALM BEACH COUNTY IS ABLE TO USE THIS NOW FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR RESIDENTS.

THAT'S EXCELLENT.

I WOULD BE CURIOUS, TOO, IF THERE'S ANY DATA ON RESPONSE TIME IMPROVEMENTS, IF GLANCE HAS THE IMPACT THAT WE ALL EXPECT.

SO I'M NOT SURE IF WE HAVE DATA SHOWING, BUT I WOULD JUST POSE IT AS AN ASK.

IF THERE IS ANY INFORMATION, I'D BE VERY INTERESTED IN IT.

BUT WONDERFULLY DONE.

THANK YOU.

AND I, TOO, WOULD LIKE TO THANK PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE FOR WORKING SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH US TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

I APPRECIATE ALL THE EFFORTS WENT INTO THIS, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO OCTOBER 1ST.

THANK YOU.

JUST BACK TO THE TRAFFIC PREEMPTION, IF YOU CAN GET BACK WITH US ON THIS ONE.

I WOULD EXPECT, AND SOME OF THIS IS FROM OBSERVATION, NOT KEEN OBSERVATION ON MY PART, BUT I WOULD IMAGINE IT'S NOT ALWAYS DEPLOYED TO GLANCE.

TRAFFIC PREEMPTION REALLY DEPENDS WHAT TRAFFIC IS, BUT CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT? WELL.

SO THE WAY IT WORKS IS WHEN YOU TURN, IT DEPENDS ON YOUR SETUP IN YOUR UNITS, FOR OUR UNITS.

WHEN YOU TURN YOUR EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON, THE SYSTEM IS ACTIVATED, AND IT BEGINS TO LOOK AT A GPS IN YOUR UNIT TO DETERMINE THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL OF YOUR UNIT, THE SPEED OF YOUR UNIT, AND THE INTERSECTIONS THAT ARE IN FRONT OF THAT IN A MAPPING SYSTEM.

AND THEN IT LOOKS AT YOUR TURN SIGNAL TO DETERMINE WHICH DIRECTION YOU MAY TURN AT THAT INTERSECTION OR TO GO STRAIGHT.

AND IN ADVANCE OF YOUR ARRIVAL, AND YOU SET TIME PARAMETERS, IT TURNS THE LIGHT GREEN FOR YOU AND RED FOR ALL OTHER PORTIONS SO THAT YOU CAN FLUSH THE TRAFFIC BEFORE YOU ARRIVE.

YOU ARRIVE AT THE INTERSECTION UNINHIBITED WITH TRAFFIC FLOWING.

AND AGAIN, IF YOU'RE TURNING, IT KNOWS THAT AND IT PROGRAMS THAT INTO YOUR SYSTEM.

AND THEN WHEN YOU ARRIVE ON THE SCENE OF AN EMERGENCY AND YOU PUT ON, WE CALL IT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, BUT IT'S JUST THE BRAKE ON THE VEHICLE, IT DISABLES THE SYSTEM AND IT TURNS IT OFF.

YOU KNOW, I LIVE NEAR STATION 19.

ONE OF MY LONG-TIME OBSERVATIONS IS THAT COUNTY FIRE RESCUE TRIES TO BE RESPECTFUL BEFORE THEY TURN ON THE EMERGENCY LIGHT.

IT SEEMS LIKE THAT DOESN'T GO ON UNTIL THEY'RE NEAR INDIAN TOWN.

IF THERE'S NOTHING IN FRONT OF THEM, THEY DON'T BELIEVE THEY TURN IT ON AS A PROTOCOL.

YEAH, IT'S NOT SIRENS, THOUGH, IT'S LIGHTING.

SO IT'S THE FLASHING LIGHTS.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

YES, SIR.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

MOVING ON FOR CITIZEN COMMENTS.

THIS IS THE TIME FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IS ASKED TO STATE HIS OR HER NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD PRIOR TO ADDRESSING TOWN COUNCIL.

WE DON'T GENERALLY DISCUSS THE ITEMS AT THIS POINT IN THE MEETING, BUT ANY ISSUES ARE REFERRED TO STAFF FOR FOLLOW-UP AND REPORTS GIVEN TO COUNCIL AND CITIZENS WILL BE CONTACTED.

[CITIZEN COMMENTS ]

WE HAVE TWO SPEAKERS, HEATH WENTZ FOLLOWED BY ERIC WHITE.

THANK YOU.

VERY GOOD.

HEATH WENTZ, 1114 SIOUX STREET.

MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU.

I COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL TODAY REPRESENTING JONES CREEK RESTORATION GROUP.

AS MANY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE AWARE, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS FACED CHALLENGES WITH POOR WATER QUALITY OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

WITH THE CAPITAL SUPPORT OF THE TOWN COUNCIL AND STORMWATER UTILITIES, OUR COALITION OF NEIGHBORS AGREED TO FUND ONGOING MAINTENANCE OF OVERGROWN VEGETATION ALONG JONES CREEK, INCLUDING REMOVAL

[00:40:01]

A CONTRACT WAS BID, AWARDED, AND COMMENCED IN NOVEMBER OF 2023.

AND IN SPRING OF 2024, WE RECEIVED WORD OF CONTRACT COMPLETION NEARING.

AS THIS TIME NEARED, A NEIGHBOR AND I TOOK MY JOHN BOAT TO REVIEW THE WORK THAT WAS PERFORMED.

WHILE GREAT IMPROVEMENTS HAD BEEN MADE, MANY AREAS DID NOT APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN TRIMMED TO THE EXTENT REQUIRED BY THE CONTRACT, WHICH WERE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF TOWN STAFF AND MARKED UP DRAWINGS.

WE WERE ADVISED AT THE TIME THAT SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION WAS ALREADY ISSUED AND FINAL COMPLETION WAS PENDING.

UNFORTUNATELY, NO INPUT WAS SOUGHT FROM PROPERTY OWNERS ALONG THE CREEK.

ADDITIONALLY, NO SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED TO CONFIRM THE WORK WAS COMPLETED AS REQUIRED.

WE WERE ASKED TO PLEASE BE PATIENT AND THAT THESE AREAS WILL BE ADDRESSED DURING THE NEXT TWO-YEAR CYCLE.

TWO YEARS HAVE NOW PASSED, AND IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR, MANY AREAS HAVE NOT BEEN TRIMMED TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED AND CONTRACTED.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT TOWN STAFF ARE GAUGING COMPLETION, AND WHILE WE BELIEVE THAT TOWN STAFF ARE VERY CAPABLE, WE BELIEVE THAT COMPLETION SHOULD NOT BE DETERMINED SUBJECTIVELY BY RESIDENTS OR STAFF, BUT OBJECTIVELY BY A THIRD PARTY.

SO AS A CONDITION FOR SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION, THE CONTRACT GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS REQUIRE THAT FINAL AS-BUILT DRAWINGS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED, CERTIFIED BY A PROFESSIONAL SURVEYOR.

SO MY QUESTION IS RATHER DIRECT.

HAS THE TOWN RELIEVED THE CONTRACTOR OF THIS CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION? IF SO, WHEN AND HOW? AND WITH THAT SAID, I WILL SAY THAT I UNDERSTAND THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME ADDENDA ISSUED TO THE CONTRACT DURING THE BIDDING PROCESS THAT I MAY NOT BE FULLY AWARE OF, SO I'LL LEAVE MYSELF ROOM TO BE WRONG, AS ALWAYS, BUT I'M LOOKING FOR SOME ASSISTANCE IN INTERPRETING THESE GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS THEY APPLY TO THE CONTRACT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

AND WE'LL GET A REPORT FROM STAFF, AND THEY'LL GET BACK WITH YOU.

ERIC WEITZ? GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING.

ERIC WEITZ, JUPITER OCEAN GRAND, 230 OCEAN GRAND BOULEVARD.

JUST A SHOUT OUT TO CHIEF DONATO FOR HAVING DONE A GREAT JOB FOR OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, MOVING ALONG REALLY WELL.

IT'S EXCITING.

I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE IN A WHILE, AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THE TOWNSHIP.

THE GRAPE LEAVES ALONG A1A WERE CUT REALLY NICELY ALL THE WAY OUT AS FAR AS THEY CAN GO.

IN THE PAST, THEY WOULD JUST CUT TWO FEET IN AND WALK AWAY, SO THAT WAS GREAT.

NEXT TIME, I'M GOING TO BUG YOU TO TRY TO CUT THOSE GRAPE LEAVES A LITTLE LOWER SO SHORTER PEOPLE AND KIDS CAN SEE OUT INTO THE OCEAN.

I WISH IT'S KIND OF LATE, BUT FURTHER DOWN A1A, WE'VE GOT GIANT TREES GROWING THERE.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE.

I MEAN, YOU CAN'T SEE THROUGH THE TREES.

YOU CAN SEE THE OCEAN, BUT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE IF THAT WAS KEPT LOWER FOR PEOPLE TO WALK AND SEE.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, I APPRECIATE WHAT HAS BEEN DONE THERE.

IT'S GREAT.

I THINK THIS WAS DONE ABOUT SIX WEEKS AGO OR SO.

IT'S CLEAN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MAYOR, WE HAVE NO OTHER

[3. February 3, 2026, Town Council Meeting Minutes.]

OKAY, COUNCIL, WE HAVE BEFORE US THE MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 3RD MEETING WITH SOME ADDITIONAL REVISIONS ON THE DAIS.

IF THERE'S NO MORE REVISIONS, I'D ASK FOR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS AMENDED.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS AMENDED.

SECOND.

MOTION AND SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

[CONSENT AGENDA ]

THIS IS ITEMS 4 THROUGH 11.

IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC THAT WISHED TO PULL A CONSENT AGENDA ITEM? NO, SIR.

ANY MEMBER ON THE DAIS WISH TO PULL A CONSENT AGENDA ITEM? SEEING NONE, I'LL TAKE A MOTION AND A SECOND

[00:45:02]

SO MOVED.

SECOND.

I WOULD ASK FOR, WE HAVE NINE ORDINANCES.

I'D ASK FOR THEM TO BE READ INTO THE RECORD.

OKAY.

ORDINANCE 426, AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF JUPITER, FLORIDA, PROVIDING FOR THE VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION OF A .36-ACRE PARCEL OF UNINCORPORATED LAND WHICH IS CONTIGUOUS TO THE BOUNDARIES OF THE TOWN OF JUPITER, PROVIDING FOR A REVISION TO THE TOWN'S BOUNDARIES TO INCLUDE THE PARCEL ANNEXED AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

ORDINANCE 526, AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF JUPITER, FLORIDA, AMENDING ORDINANCE 5789, WHICH ADOPTED THE TOWN'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, PROVIDING FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP TO ASSIGN A FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION OF LOW-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL TO .36 ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF CENTER STREET, APPROXIMATELY 1,500 FEET WEST OF THE NORTH PINNOCK LANE, PROVIDING FOR SOLUBILITY, PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF LAWS IN CONFLICT AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

ORDINANCE 626, AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF JUPITER, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE TOWN'S OFFICIAL ZONING MAP, WHICH IS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN SECTION 27473 OF THE TOWN CODE, TO ASSIGN THE ZONING DISTRICT OF COMPACTED, UNINCORPORATED, AND UNINCORPORATED LAND TO .36 ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF CENTER STREET, APPROXIMATELY 1,500 FEET WEST OF THE NORTH PINNOCK LANE, PROVIDING FOR SOLUBILITY, PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF LAWS IN CONFLICT AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

ORDINANCE 1226, AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF JUPITER, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 15, ARTICLE 04, PERTAINING TO THE POLICE OFFICERS RETIREMENT FUND, PROVIDING FOR THE AMENDMENT OF SECTION 15378 ENTITLED SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT BENEFITS TO OFFSET HEALTH CARE PREMIUMS FOR ALL ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE RETIREMENT FUND WHO RETIRE ON OR AFTER OCTOBER 1, 2025, PROVIDING FOR SOLUBILITY, PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT, PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

ORDINANCE 1326, AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF JUPITER, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 15, ARTICLE 04, PERTAINING TO THE POLICE OFFICERS RETIREMENT FUND, PROVIDING FOR THE AMENDMENT OF SECTION 15391 ENTITLED DEFERRED RETIREMENT OPTION PLAN, PROVIDING FOR THE AMENDMENT OF THE DROP FUNDING REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL ACTIVE POLICE OFFICER MEMBERS RETIRING ON OR AFTER OCTOBER 1, 2025, PROVIDING FOR SOLUBILITY, PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT, PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

ORDINANCE 1426, AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF JUPITER, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 15, ARTICLE 04, PERTAINING TO THE POLICE OFFICERS RETIREMENT FUND, PROVIDING FOR THE AMENDMENT OF SECTIONS 15328, 15377, AND 15379, PROVIDING FOR CORRECTIONS OF SCRIVENER'S ERRORS THAT OCCURRED DURING THE 2018 CODIFICATION OF THE TOWN CODE, PROVIDING FOR SOLUBILITY, PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT, PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

ORDINANCE 1726, AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF JUPITER, FLORIDA, PROVIDING FOR THE VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION OF 1.4-ACRE PARCEL OF UNINCORPORATED LAND WHICH IS LOCATED ON 174TH STREET NORTH AND WHICH IS CONTIGUOUS TO THE BOUNDARIES OF THE TOWN OF JUPITER, PROVIDING FOR A REVISION OF THE TOWN'S BOUNDARIES TO INCLUDE THE PARCEL ANNEX, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

ORDINANCE 1826, AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF JUPITER, FLORIDA, AMENDING ORDINANCE 5789, WHICH ADOPTED TOWN'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, PROVIDING FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP TO ASSIGN A FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION OF HIGH-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL TO APPROXIMATELY 1.4 ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED ON 174TH STREET NORTH, SOUTH OF INDIAN TOWN ROAD, AND WEST OF 68 TERRACE NORTH, PROVIDING FOR SOLUBILITY, PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF LAWS IN CONFLICT, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

ORDINANCE 1926, AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF JUPITER, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE TOWN'S OFFICIAL ZONING MAP, WHICH IS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN SECTION 27473 OF THE TOWN CODE, TO ASSIGN THE

[00:50:01]

THANK YOU. AT LEAST FROM MY RECOLLECTION, I THINK THAT'S A RECORD OF NINE ORDINANCES ON ONE MOTION RIGHT INTO THE RECORD. THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

[12. Resolution 40-26, Approving an Amendment to the Town Attorney Agreement.]

DO I TURN IT OVER TO THE TOWN ATTORNEY? AND THAT'S WHY I GET THE BIG BUCKS.

READING THOSE ORDINANCES. IT'S ACTUALLY PREPARING THE ORDINANCES.

BUT I HAVE PROPOSED AN AMENDMENT TO THE TOWN ATTORNEY AGREEMENT, WHICH INCREASES THE ADMINISTRATIVE RATES FROM 400 TO 450 AND THE LITIGATION RATES FROM 450 TO 500.

THE CONTRACT WAS LAST AMENDED IN 2023.

AND AS I HAVE NOTED IN MY OR IN THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, JUST LIKE ANY BUSINESS, OUR BUSINESS COSTS GO UP. SO AS THEY GO UP, WE ASK TO BE COMPENSATED AT AN INCREASED RATE TO COVER OUR COSTS FOR IT. I REALIZE THIS IS SORT OF MID-BUDGET YEAR.

AND IF COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO ADOPT THE AMENDMENT NOW, THAT'S FINE.

IF YOU WANT TO WAIT UNTIL YOU GET THROUGH YOUR BUDGET PLANNING AND WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE AT THAT TIME, I WOULD ALSO BE APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR CONSIDERATION OF AN INCREASE AT THAT TIME.

BUT WE HAVE ONE PENDING AMENDMENT.

IT'S A RATHER LARGE PENDING LITIGATION CASE.

SO THE ATTORNEYS WORKING ON THAT CASE HAVE COME TO ME AND SAID, WELL, LOOK, WE'RE WORKING FOR WELL BELOW OUR MARKET RATE ON THIS CASE.

AND WE'D LIKE SOME CONSIDERATION IN THAT REGARD.

AND I KNOW THERE'S NOT A LOT OF SYMPATHY FOR ATTORNEYS AND LAW FIRMS, BUT WE ARE A BUSINESS.

WE DO HAVE OVER 100 EMPLOYEES AND WE DO PAY FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, JUST LIKE THE TOWN DOES PAY FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES, HEALTH CARE COSTS AND PENSION AND OTHER THINGS.

WE DO THAT ALSO. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? NO COMMENT. IT'S A FAIR INCREASE. IT'S JUST BASICALLY KEEPING UP WITH INFLATION.

SO I'M IN FAVOR OF IT.

I'LL TAKE A MOTION IN THE SECOND. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 40-26 AMENDING MOTION IN A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

[TOWN ATTORNEY ]

AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNSEL, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THAT AMENDMENT.

I'M SORRY THAT MISS BARNES LEFT. I DID WANT TO REPORT ON THE LITIGATION CASE THAT WE HAVE FOR THE TOWN. AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, WE HAD A RAW WATER MAIN THAT WAS BROKEN BY A CONTRACTOR. THE DAMAGES ARE FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT TO THE TOWN.

I THINK IT'S APPROXIMATELY A MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS.

THE ATTORNEYS THAT ARE WORKING ON THAT CASE FOR THE TOWN ARE TWO ATTORNEYS THAT YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH. THEY'RE MIKE GORES, WHO HANDLED THE FIRE RESCUE REFERENDUM QUESTION.

AND THEN MIKE GORE, WHO HANDLED THE JUPITER SOCCER CASE.

BOTH CASES HANDLED VERY SUCCESSFULLY BY THEM.

AND THEY'RE VERY, VERY GOOD YOUNG LITIGATION ATTORNEYS.

AND I THINK YOU, COUNSEL, KNOW HOW MUCH THEY APPRECIATE

[00:55:01]

THEY'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO A LOT OF WORK WITH AMANDA, AND THEY'VE REALLY GOTTEN TO KNOW HER AND EVALUATE HER CAPABILITIES. AND THEY JUST THINK SHE'S REALLY OUTSTANDING.

I FEEL CONFIDENT BECAUSE OF THE ASSISTANCE THAT THEY'RE GETTING THAT WHEN WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE ARE GETTING A DECISION OF SOME SORT, THAT'S GOING TO BE A POSITIVE DECISION.

SO I WANTED TO JUST PASS THAT ALONG. OTHER THAN THAT, I HAVE NO FURTHER REPORTS TO GIVE YOU.

ANY SCHEDULE ESTIMATE WHEN IT'S GOING TO GET TO A COURT TO GET A DECISION? NO. WE JUST ADDED ANOTHER DEFENDANT IN THAT CASE, WHICH IS THE LOCATOR COMPANY.

THERE ARE MULTIPLE DEFENDANTS.

IT'S IN THE BEGINNING STAGES.

THERE'S LOTS OF DISCOVERY THAT HAS TO BE TAKEN, MULTIPLE PARTIES.

SO I WOULDN'T LOOK FOR THAT CASE TO BE ON A TRIAL DOCK AT ANY TIME IN 2026.

I'D JUST WORRY ABOUT THE CONTRACTOR GOING OUT OF BUSINESS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WELL, THERE ARE SEVERAL POCKETS TO PICK.

I BELIEVE THERE'S SURETY IN THIS CASE, SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO PURSUE IT.

AND IF THE CONTRACTOR GOES OUT OF BUSINESS, THEN WE'LL LOOK FOR THE SURETY TO STEP IN AND TAKE CARE OF THAT.

[TOWN MANAGER ]

I'M SURE, AS YOU PROBABLY ARE AWARE, THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION.

RECENTLY, BOTH THE FLORIDA HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE RELEASED THEIR INITIAL PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.

WE HIT THE GROUND RUNNING PRETTY QUICKLY IN THE MIDDLE OF SESSION.

SEVERAL PROJECTS THAT WILL BENEFIT JUPITER ARE INCLUDED IN THESE INITIAL BUDGETS.

SEVEN PROJECTS THAT THE TOWN HAS REQUESTED APPEAR IN THE INITIAL HOUSE BUDGET.

SOME OF THE NOTABLE PROJECTS INCLUDE THE SEMINOLE BASIN WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS, THE TONY PENNANT DRIVE AND CENTRAL BOULEVARD INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS.

THE INITIAL SENATE BUDGET HAS TWO PROJECTS, INCLUDING THE TONY PENNANT DRIVE AND CENTRAL BOULEVARD INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS, AND THE ATHLETIC FIELD REPAIRS AND RESTORATION.

PRETTY COMPREHENSIVE LIST.

GETTING THESE PROJECTS LISTED IN THE INITIAL PROPOSED BUDGET IS AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP IN RECEIVING FUNDING.

I WANT TO THANK THE BALLARD PARTNERS FOR ALL THEIR WORK ON THE TOWN'S BEHALF, AND ESPECIALLY OUR LOBBYIST THAT WE WORK WITH DIRECTLY, JEFF ATWATER.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK REPRESENTATIVE JOHN SNYDER, WHO HAS CHAMPIONED MANY OF THE TOWN'S REQUESTED PROJECTS, AS HE DOES EVERY YEAR.

IN JANUARY, A GRANT FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ALLOWED THE TOWN TO INSTALL A LOCAL WEATHER STATION IN JUPITER, AND WE PUT IT RIGHT ON TOP OF THE COMMUNITY CENTER.

THIS WEATHER STATION WILL PROVIDE REAL-TIME WEATHER DATA, INCLUDING WIND SPEEDS, RAINFALL, AND LIGHTNING PROXIMITY, RIGHT HERE IN JUPITER.

IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT TOOL FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AS WELL.

A LINK TO THE WEATHER STATION, WHICH INCLUDES A LIVE VIEW OF JUPITER, IS BEING ADDED TO THE TOWN'S WEBSITE.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK AND RECOGNIZE SOME OF OUR JUPITER POLICE DEPARTMENT STAFF, WHO WERE RECENTLY RECOGNIZED BY THE DEPARTMENTS.

RECORD SPECIALIST RAVEENA COSLEY WAS NAMED THE JPD CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE OF THE QUARTER FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER, AND THE DEPARTMENT'S CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR FOR 2025.

DETECTIVE JARED KENNERSON WAS NAMED THE INVESTIGATOR OF THE QUARTER.

OFFICER CHRISTIAN WYATT EARNED THE 2025 OFFICER OF THE YEAR AWARD, WHILE POLICE OFFICER FIRST CLASS LOUIS ROCHA WAS NAMED THE POLICE OFFICER FIRST CLASS OF THE YEAR.

AGENT BRANDON LOPEZ WAS NAMED THE INVESTIGATOR OF THE YEAR, SERGEANT MICHAEL NICHOLSON THE SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR, AND OUR BEACH UNIT WAS NAMED THE TEAM OF THE YEAR IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

A FORMAL AWARDS CEREMONY WILL BE HELD IN MARCH TO RECOGNIZE

[01:00:01]

IN ADDITION, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS WHO ARE CELEBRATING SIGNIFICANT MILESTONES WITH THE TOWN THIS MONTH.

BRIAN KARESTAS, WHO WORKS IN THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT, IS CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE TOWN.

THIS ONE'S HARD FOR ME TO BELIEVE.

POLICE OFFICER JEANINE ERCOLANO OF THE JUPITER POLICE DEPARTMENT IS CELEBRATING 20 YEARS.

HEATHER KEYS AND CAROL HABER, BOTH OF WHOM WORK FOR ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS, ARE CELEBRATING 20 YEARS.

AND JUSTIN HOLOHAN AND BRIAN CARLTON, BOTH OF WHOM WORK FOR ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS, ARE CELEBRATING 10 YEARS.

SO, AS YOU KNOW, MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MINUTE JUST TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM.

I THINK IT'S TRULY REMARKABLE THAT WE GET SO MANY TENURED EMPLOYEES WHO CHOOSE TO STAY WITH THE TOWN.

AND I THINK THAT'S SO REFLECTIVE OF THE RESULTS THAT YOU SEE IN THE CITIZEN SURVEY THAT WILL BE COMING FORWARD TO YOU HERE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

SO, KUDOS TO THEM, AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK THEM FOR ALL THE

[TOWN COUNCIL – LIAISON REPORTS AND COMMENTS ]

THAT'S MY REPORT, MAYOR.

VICE MAYOR, ANY COMMENTS? YEAH, ON THE FEBRUARY 9TH, I ATTENDED A MEETING WITH THE LOXAHATCHEE RIVER MANAGEMENT COORDINATION COUNCIL.

AND IT'S A GROUP OF LOCAL ENTITIES THAT MONITOR MINIMUM FLOWS AND LEVELS OF THE RIVER, WATER QUALITY, LAND MANAGEMENT, FLOOD CONTROL, RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.

AND WE GOT UPDATES ON THE LOXAHATCHEE HEADWATERS INITIATIVE.

AN EXCITING PART OF THAT IS THEY'RE UNDER CONTRACT FOR A PARCEL BETWEEN JONATHAN DICKINSON AND OLD BRIDGE ROAD TO ADD SOME MORE WATER STORAGE TO ENHANCE AQUIFER RECHARGE AND IMPROVE WATER FLOW AND FLOWS TO THE LOXAHATCHEE AND ST.

LUCIE RIVERS.

AND ALSO, I KNEW WE WERE IN SORT OF A DROUGHT, BUT IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, OUR WATER TABLE WAS DOWN ABOUT 10 FEET.

SO, WE'RE REALLY WAITING FOR SOME WATER TO COME IN, SO SOME WATER CONSERVATION WOULD BE HELPFUL.

IT'S A REALLY DYNAMIC GROUP OF PEOPLE AND ENTITIES, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, IN THE FUTURE, ATTENDING THEIR MEETINGS AND JUST KEEPING THE FLOW OF INFORMATION COMING TO THE TOWN.

THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU.

I WANTED TO SAY THAT THE JUPITER JUBILEE LAST WEEKEND WAS A SMASHING SUCCESS.

THE EMPLOYEES THAT WORKED, THEY HAVE THEIR HEART AND SOUL, BUT OUR RESIDENTS, THEY WERE JUST, THEY WERE TAKEN BY IT.

THEY LOVED EVERYTHING.

THE CHILDREN, OUR CANINES, THE FOOD, THE CEREMONIAL.

IT WAS A GREAT DAY.

LOOKING FORWARD TO IT EVERY YEAR, AND NOW THAT WE'RE PAST 100, WE GO ON TO 102 NEXT YEAR.

I WANTED TO THANK THE UTILITY DEPARTMENT FOR THE VULNERABILITY REPORT.

WE HAD A RESIDENT MEETING JUST PRIOR TO COUNCIL, AND ALTHOUGH THERE WASN'T A HUGE TURNOUT, MAYBE 10 OR 12, EVERYONE IN THAT ROOM WAS VERY PARTICIPATORY.

THEY ASKED QUESTIONS.

THEY WERE VERY INTELLIGENT AND LOOKED FORWARD TO HEARING EVERYTHING THAT AMANDA AND HER STAFF HAVE, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

ALSO, THANK YOU TO THE CITIZENS' COMMENTS.

IT'S ALWAYS NICE HAVING YOUR CITIZENS COME HERE, SPEAK WITH US, WHETHER IT BE POSITIVE OR SUGGESTIONS.

THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT, AND AGAIN, THE CELEBRATION OF OUR STAFF.

TALK ABOUT LONGEVITY AND LIKING WHERE YOU WORK.

WE APPRECIATE THEM, AND IT'S GREAT HEARING HOW LONG THE AVERAGE EMPLOYEE IS HERE.

THANK YOU TO OUR TOWN MANAGER.

ON LAST FRIDAY, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING WITH THE CHAMBER, AND I REPRESENT YOUR TOWN.

IT'S A GREAT COLLABORATION OF BUSINESS-MINDED PEOPLE, BUT WHAT'S NICE TO HEAR IS THE FEEDBACK THAT WE GET AS A TOWN.

PEOPLE IN OTHER MUNICIPALITIES OR OTHER LEADERS LOOK TO JUPITER, AND I'M VERY PROUD TO SERVE ON THAT COMMITTEE, AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT HONOR, MAYOR.

THANK YOU.

COUNCILOR SUNDSTROM? A FEW THINGS.

I'VE BEEN LOOKING AROUND SOCIAL MEDIA, AND I'VE NOTICED THAT THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT WHOLE FOODS, TOTAL WINE.

IT'S SOMETHING I'VE SEEN EVERYWHERE, SO I JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT THIS IS PLANNING TO COME BEFORE, POTENTIALLY.

IT COULD BE LATER, BUT THIS IS PLANNING TO COME BEFORE PLANNING AND ZONING IN APRIL.

THIS WAS ORIGINALLY SUPPOSED TO BE ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVED.

IT WASN'T GOING TO COME BEFORE COUNCIL, BUT BECAUSE OF CHANGES TO THE ARCHITECTURE, IT WILL GO BEFORE PLANNING AND ZONING AND THEN COUNCIL LATER ON.

SO THERE WILL BE ROOM FOR DISCUSSION, FOR SHARING OF INFORMATION, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST IN IT.

I WAS ALSO GRATEFUL TO THE JUPITER INLET DISTRICT, WHO

[01:05:03]

IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL BASED ON THE MAPS THEIR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHARED.

THAT IS THE ONLY PLACE THEY'RE PERMITTED TO DREDGE, SO I KNOW THAT THEY'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT SAFE NAVIGATION OUTSIDE OF THE INLET, AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT EVERY AVAILABLE OPTION, AND I'M GRATEFUL TO THEM FOR PROVIDING REGULAR UPDATES TO US AND TO OTHER MUNICIPALITIES IN THIS AREA THAT ARE IMPACTED, JUST SO BOATERS CAN BE SAFE GETTING IN AND OUT, AND THEY'RE AWARE OF IT.

THE THIRD IS THAT I AGREE WITH THE TOWN MANAGER. I'M SO PLEASED WITH OUR NEW REPRESENTATION AND LOBBYISTS AND BALLARD PARTNERS.

WE GOT THEIR MID-SESSION REPORT RECENTLY, AND IT WAS WRITTEN SO WELL IN A WAY THAT I COULD UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE.

I'VE BELONGED TO A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS AND TO THE TOWN, AND WE'VE SEEN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF REPORTS AND WAYS TO PUT IT TOGETHER.

THEY'RE INTERESTED IN MAKING IT MORE ACCESSIBLE TO US, SO IF WE HAVE FEEDBACK, THEY'RE OPEN TO IT.

BUT I WAS JUST GRATEFUL FOR THE BIGGER CONTEXT.

SO TO GET SO MANY OF OUR APPROPRIATIONS REQUESTS IN, I DIDN'T FULLY APPRECIATE HOW MUCH WORK WENT INTO THAT BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO MANAGE EXPECTATIONS, RIGHT? YOU'VE GOT A VETO PEN, YOU'VE GOT A LONG PROCESS AHEAD, BUT YOU GET A CHANCE AT IT.

IT CONTINUES IN THE PROCESS.

YOU CAN STAY IN THE GAME IF YOU GET IT IN.

AND LOOKING AT THIS REPORT, THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF SUBMITTALS IN THE HOUSE, THOUSANDS IN THE SENATE, AND SO TO SEE SO MANY IS REALLY WONDERFUL.

AND I WANT TO THANK REPRESENTATIVE GOSSETT-SIDEMAN AS WELL.

I THINK WE'RE VERY ACTIVE, AND EVERYONE'S WORKING SO HARD FOR OUR SHARED CONSTITUENTS, AND I'M JUST SO GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

SO I JUST WANT TO SHARE A NOTE OF PRAISE.

AND ONE MORE THING I DO WANT TO SAY.

THE UTILITY HAS BEEN WORKING INCREDIBLY HARD, OUR WATER UTILITY AND DIRECTOR AMANDA BARNES.

EVERYONE'S GIVING A SHOUT OUT.

I WANT TO SAY THE SAME.

THE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT WAS A LOT OF WORK.

I THINK WE GOT A THUMB DRIVE AND A DOCUMENT THIS THICK, AND THAT WAS LIKE A PART OF IT.

IT WASN'T EVEN FULLY DONE WHEN I GOT THAT ONE, AND I'M STILL READING IT.

SO JUST ALL OF THE DATA DIVING, THE CULTURE THERE, THEY'RE A REAL TEAM, THEY'RE CONNECTED.

I HAVEN'T VISITED THEM RECENTLY, SO I ASKED THEM IF I COULD VISIT AGAIN, AND SO THEY'RE WELCOMING ME, WHICH I'M GRATEFUL FOR.

BUT REALLY INCREDIBLE JOB OVER THERE, AND THEY'RE SO HEAVILY REGULATED, AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT.

IT IS THE HEALTH.

THEY'RE ANOTHER PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT.

YOU'VE GOT POLICE, FIRE, AND WATER, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, BECAUSE IT IS HEALTH AND SAFETY.

AND SO WITH ALL THAT THEY JUGGLE AND THE COMPLEXITY, IT'S INCREDIBLE.

NOT MUCH TO SAY ON YOUR LAST, BUT I'LL SEE WHAT I CAN THINK OF.

WELL, I'M LAST.

AGAIN, GREAT JOB BY THE TOWN STAFF, PARTICULARLY THE UTILITY DEPARTMENT ON THE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT.

A TESTAMENT TO THE FACT THAT THEY SUBMITTED IT AND GOT IT APPROVED OR ACCEPTED BY THE FDEP FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

SO GREAT JOB ALL AROUND ON THAT.

I, TOO, READ THE REPORT BY OUR LOBBYIST THAT WAS PROVIDED WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE DAYS.

VERY THOROUGH. I APPRECIATE ALL THE CONTENT OF IT.

SO IT REALLY DID A LOT FOR ME TO KEEP ME UP TO SPEED WHAT'S ALL GOING ON IN TALLAHASSEE AND HOW THAT AFFECTS WHAT TOWN OF JUPITER IS DOING.

AND A PARTICULAR THANKS TO JOHN SNYDER, REPRESENTATIVE SNYDER, FOR HIS LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT OF A LOT OF THE JUPITER'S APPROPRIATION REQUESTS.

SO ALL IN ALL, ALL AROUND GOOD JOB BY BOTH JET ATWATER AND REPRESENTATIVE JOHN SNYDER.

THANK YOU.

JUST A FEW QUICK ITEMS. NUMBER ONE, ON THE JUPITER JUBILEE, DITTO TO WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN SAID.

SO DELIGHTED ON HOW WELL THE NEW TOWN GREEN CAME INTO PLAY WITH THE DEMO THAT WAS JUST PHENOMENAL FROM OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE'VE NEVER HAD THAT KIND OF SET UP BEFORE.

SO I THINK EVERYBODY, FIRST OF ALL, I THINK THERE WAS A LARGER CROWD THAN COULD EVER HAVE BEEN THERE BEFORE BECAUSE YOU COULD DO 360.

BUT EVERYBODY WAS REALLY THRILLED AND AMAZED TO SEE THE CAPABILITIES OF OUR POLICE DEMONSTRATED.

ON THE MID-SESSION REPORT, I THINK I RECEIVED IT TODAY, BUT A QUICK SCAN, IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS VERY TAILORED TO US, WHICH IS REALLY APPRECIATIVE.

BECAUSE I KNOW IN YEARS PAST, I DON'T KNOW, AND I'D ASKED STAFF TO BRING TO MY ATTENTION WHICH ITEMS I SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO BECAUSE IT WAS VERY LONG.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT THIS ONE SEEMED TO BE TAILORED TO US.

SO THAT MEANS, YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT A PRINTED COPY

[01:10:02]

AND THEN LASTLY, ON THE FISCAL YEAR 27 BUDGET PROCESS, AND I'D ASK STAFF TO THINK ABOUT WHAT I'M GOING TO ASK.

AND THEN PERHAPS, YOU KNOW, WITH OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, JUST THIS PAST WEEK, I THINK ALL OF US GOT EMAILS ON THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT TOPICS.

WHERE OUR RESIDENTS WERE ASKING FOR US TO FUND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.

AND, YOU KNOW, THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE FOR ME DUE TO MY BACKGROUND THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL CAPITAL PROJECTS ARE DISCRETIONARY.

BUT, YOU KNOW, GOING INTO THIS BUDGET YEAR, THIS IS THE MOST DIFFICULT TIME THAT WE'D EVER HAVE TO PUT TOGETHER A CAPITAL BUDGET OR EVEN RESPOND TO RESIDENTS.

BECAUSE, LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MONEY AND IT WOULD APPEAR LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO GET A CHANCE TO VOTE ON WHETHER WE DO OR NOT.

SO THE ASK IS KIND OF, IT SEEMED LIKE IF WE CAN, STAFF CAN PROPOSE SOME LANGUAGE, WE OUGHT TO BE USING THAT NOW, RIGHT? BECAUSE WHAT DO YOU SAY TO SOMEBODY THAT WANTS US TO, FOR EXAMPLE, COMMENT ABOUT THE CONDITIONS OF MAPLEWOOD MULTIPURPOSE FIELDS AND, YOU KNOW, THE LIGHTHOUSE MULTIPURPOSE FIELDS, WHICH WE'VE ALL TALKED ABOUT.

WE'D LIKE TO BE DOING IT.

WE HAD TO MOVE MOUNTAINS TO GET STARTED ON THAT PROGRAM.

AND IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

AND SO I DO THINK THAT MAYBE JUST SOME HELP ON OR SOME SUGGESTIONS ON A NICE WAY TO CONVEY THAT.

RIGHT. BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT ANY OF US CAN COMMIT THIS CYCLE IF SOMETHING'S ALREADY NOT IN THE BUDGET.

AND EVEN IF IT'S IN THE BUDGET, YOU KNOW, CAPITAL.

I MEAN, SOMETHING GOES TO THE VOTERS IN NOVEMBER.

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH PUTTING TOGETHER THIS BUDGET THIS YEAR WITH THAT UNCERTAINTY, BECAUSE I WOULD EXPECT THAT BEFORE WE ADOPT THE BUDGET, THERE'LL HAVE BEEN A SPECIAL SESSION.

SOMETHING WILL PASS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW THAT.

BUT I THINK I MEAN, EVEN THOUGH RIGHT NOW THERE'S NOT A CONSENSUS.

SO, AGAIN, I'M.

AGAIN, I'M JUST ASKING, MAYBE YOU CAN FLOAT IT BETWEEN EACH OF US AND WE CAN HAVE SOME COMMON WAY TO SAY IT OR RESIDENTS TRULY UNDERSTAND.

RIGHT.

THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR WE'VE EVER FACED ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

I THINK I'M VERY GLAD THAT PEOPLE ARE SPEAKING UP AND WE'RE ABLE TO GET THAT INPUT ON CAPITAL PROJECTS.

BUT IT'S ALSO A REALLY WONDERFUL TIME BEFORE ANYTHING IS PROPOSED TO EDUCATE AND WHERE IT'S VERY RELEVANT AND VERY LOCAL.

I THINK THAT DOES PRESENT A GOOD OPPORTUNITY.

SO I'D BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.

WE'RE ALL GETTING THE SAME EMAIL.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO BE CAREFUL THAT WE DON'T COME ACROSS SAYING, HEY, WE DIDN'T HEAR YOU WHEN WE HAVE.

AND WE KNOW WE KIND OF HAVE A FEEL FOR WHAT THE COSTS ARE ALREADY.

AND WITH THAT, THE TIME IS NOW 08:13.

WE'LL ADJOURN THE MEETING.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.