[00:00:03]
[Call To Order]
I ASK EVERYBODY TO BE SEATED.AND I'LL CALL THE ORDER OF TOWN COUNCIL MEETING OF TUESDAY, JUNE 16TH.
WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH AN INVOCATION FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND THEN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
IF ALL THOSE THAT ARE ABLE, PLEASE JOIN ME IN STANDING.
ALMIGHTY GOD, WE GATHER THIS EVENING WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY.
MAY WE BE FAITHFUL STEWARDS OF THE TRUST PLACED IN US USING OUR TIME, TALENTS, AND RESOURCES WISELY FOR THE BENEFIT OF BOTH TODAY'S RESIDENTS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.
IN ALL THAT WE DO, MAY GRACE AND PEACE BE WITH US ALL.
WE WILL NOW PAUSE FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
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 KURETSKI? HERE.
[1. Waste & Recycling Worker Week, June 15 - 21, 2026.]
I HAVE A PROCLAMATION I'LL BE PRESENTING FOR WASTE AND RECYCLING WORKER WEEK, AND I WILL BE PRESENTING IT TO JEFF SABAN, MEGAN KOSSOFF, AND AVEDON BAILEY-TATE.AFTER I READ IT, IF YOU'LL COME UP AND RECEIVE IT.
OKAY, PROCLAIMING JUNE 15TH THROUGH 21ST, 2026 AS WASTE AND RECYCLING WORKERS WEEK. WHEREAS THE TOWN OF JUPITER IS A VIBRANT COASTAL COMMUNITY WHOSE QUALITY OF LIFE DEPENDS ON THE CLEANLINESS OF ITS NEIGHBORHOODS AND PROTECTION OF ITS NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE PRESERVATION OF ITS BEACHES, WATERWAYS, AND THE LOXAHATCHEE RIVER. AND WHEREAS APPROXIMATELY 30,310 RESIDENTIAL UNITS SERVING 63,000 RESIDENTS WITHIN THE TOWN RELY UPON THE CONSISTENT AND RELIABLE COLLECTION OF SOLID WASTE RECYCLING AND YARD WASTE SERVICES TO MAINTAIN A SAFE HEALTHY AND ATTRACTIVE COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS WASTE AND RECYCLING PROFESSIONALS PROVIDE ESSENTIAL PUBLIC SERVICES THAT FIRST AND FOREMOST PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH PREVENT POLLUTION AND SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY OF THE TOWN AND WHEREAS THESE DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS ROUTINELY PERFORM PHYSICALLY DEMANDING AND POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS WORK OPERATING HEAVY EQUIPMENT WORKING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO TRAFFIC AND FACING RISKS IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS TO ENSURE UNINTERRUPTED SERVICE TO RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.
AND WHEREAS THE WORK PERFORMED BY WASTE AND RECYCLING PERSONNEL PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN PROTECTING JUPITER'S ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS, INCLUDING COASTAL HABITATS AND WATERWAYS, BY REDUCING LITTER, SUPPORTING RECYCLING EFFORTS, AND PREVENTING DEBRIS FROM ENTERING NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS. AND WHEREAS THESE PROFESSIONALS DEMONSTRATE A LONG-STANDING COMMITMENT TO SERVICE, OFTEN BUILDING YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND STRONG FAMILIARITY WITH THE COMMUNITY, WHILE CONSISTENTLY SHOWING CARE, RESPONSIVENESS, AND CONCERN FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE TOWN OF JUPITER.
AND WHEREAS RESPONSIBLE WASTE MANAGEMENT AND RECYCLING EFFORTS CONSERVE NATURAL RESOURCES, REDUCE LANDFILL USE, AND CONTRIBUTE TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT COMMUNITY FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.
AND WHEREAS JUNE 17TH COMMEMORATES THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST SANITATION LEGISLATION IN THE UNITED STATES, SERVING AS A REMINDER OF THE ESSENTIAL AND ENDURING IMPORTANCE OF THIS PROFESSION, AND WHEREAS IT IS FITTING AND PROPER TO RECOGNIZE THE DEDICATION, PROFESSIONALISM, AND CRITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF WASTE AND RECYCLING WORKERS WHO SERVE THE TOWN OF JUPITER EACH DAY. NOW, THEREFORE I, JIM KURETSKI, MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF JUPITER, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 15TH TO 21ST, 2026 AS WASTE AND RECYCLING WORKERS WEEK IN THE TOWN OF JUPITER, FLORIDA, AND ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO RECOGNIZE, APPRECIATE, AND EXPRESS THEIR GRATITUDE TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO PROVIDE THESE VITAL SERVICES AND HELP PRESERVE, SAFETY, CLEANLINESS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY OF THE COMMUNITY.
[00:05:02]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I HAVE HEREUNTO SIT MY HAND AND SEAL THE 16TH DAY OF JUNE 16, 2026.AND I ALWAYS OFFER THIS, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE A WASTE MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL, SO YOU'RE WELCOME TO LEAVE AT ANY TIME.
DON'T FEEL FREE TO STAY TO THE END OF THE MEETING.
[CITIZEN COMMENTS]
TO CITIZEN COMMENTS.THIS IS THE TIME THAT WE HEAR ABOUT ALL NON-AGENDA ITEMS, AND THEY'RE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IS ASKED TO STATE HIS HER NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD PRIOR TO ADDRESSING TOWN COUNCIL.
WE GENERALLY DON'T DISCUSS THESE ITEMS THIS EVENING.
ANY ISSUES WILL BE REFERRED TO STAFF FOR INVESTIGATION AND REPORT WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE COUNCIL AND THE CITIZENS WILL BE CONTACTED.
SO WITH THAT, DO WE HAVE ANY CITIZEN COMMENTS? YES, SIR.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS KATHLEEN WADDELL, FOLLOWED BY LINDA MCDERMOTT.
MY NAME IS KATHLEEN WADDELL AND I LIVE AT 6502 WINDING LAKE DRIVE, JUPITER, FLORIDA.
MY HUSBAND AND I AND FAMILY MOVED HERE 33 YEARS AGO AFTER RETIRING FROM THE MILITARY FROM EL PASO, TEXAS.
WE GENERALLY APPRECIATED THE WORK OF THE TOWN COUNCIL AND THE POLICE.
I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE HAVE RECENTLY BEEN IMMIGRATION RAIDS WITH OUR JUPITER POLICE ACTIVELY INVOLVED.
A FEW WEEKS AGO, IT WAS REPORTED THAT 30 MEMBERS OF MY CHURCH HAD BEEN DETAINED.
I HAVE ALWAYS FELT SUPPORTED AND SAFE WHEN DEALING WITH THE JUPITER POLICE.
IF I HAD A CAR ACCIDENT, I FELT COMFORTABLE TO CALL THE POLICE.
WHEN THERE WAS A THEFT AT MY HOME, I WAS ABLE TO CALL THE POLICE.
IF THERE WAS A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OCCURRING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, I COULD CONTACT THE POLICE.
I WAS NOT AFRAID OF GIVING MY NAME AND HOME ADDRESS.
HOWEVER, THAT IS NOT TRUE FOR MY NEIGHBORS.
THEY ARE AFRAID TO HAVE POLICE COME TO A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT.
THEY ARE WORRIED THAT EITHER THEY OR SOMEONE IN THE CAR WILL BE DETAINED.
THEY ARE AFRAID TO SHOP FOR GROCERIES, GO TO FOOD BANKS, TAKE CHILDREN TO SCHOOL OR CAMP.
THEY STAY IN THEIR HOMES AFRAID IF THEY ARE ON THE STREET, THEY WILL BE STOPPED.
MY NEIGHBORS ARE AFRAID TO GO TO THEIR JOBS.
EMPLOYERS ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY KEEPING BUSINESSES RUNNING BECAUSE EMPLOYEES ARE CAREFUL ABOUT COMING TO WORK.
JUPITER IS CHANGING AND NOT FOR THE GREATER GOOD.
WHEN FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS ARE AFRAID OF THE POLICE, WE ALL SHOULD BE AFRAID.
I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY CHANGING.
WE NEED TO BE A COMPASSIONATE, WELCOMING COMMUNITY.
JUPITER WAS BUILT BY MANY NATIONALITIES AND IT WAS ALWAYS MADE.
AND IT HAS ALWAYS MADE JUPITER SPECIAL.
I DON'T HAVE A SOLUTION, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE GOODWILL IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
LINDA MCDERMOTT, 107 CHADWICK DRIVE.
SO I'M HERE BECAUSE I HAVE A LOVE OF THE SEA TURTLES, AND I KNOW THAT THE TOWN OF JUPITER DOES TOO.
SO, THERE IS DANCING ON THE BEACH AND...
I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST DANCING.
[00:10:01]
NOT TURTLE NESTING SEASON.I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING THAT I SAW ONLINE WRITTEN BY TREZZI OROZO.
IMAGINE THE GENTLE MOONLIGHT OVER A QUIET BEACH WITH SOFT SAND STRETCHING INTO THE SHADOWS.
SUDDENLY, THE CALM IS BROKEN BY LAUGHTER, BY DANCING, THE GLARE OF LIGHTS, THE THUMP OF MUSIC AND FOOTSTEPS ON OUR BEACHES.
FOR CENTURIES, THESE SANDY SHORES HAVE BEEN THE BIRTHPLACE FOR GENERATIONS OF SEA TURTLES.
THE STORY OF SEA TURTLE NESTING IS ONE OF RESILIENCE AND ONE THAT DESPERATELY NEEDS OUR ATTENTION AND CARE.
THE PRESENCE OF PEOPLE ON NESTING BEACHES, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT, CAN BE STRESSFUL FOR NESTING TURTLES.
SIMPLE ACTS LIKE WALKING SETTING UP BEACH UMBRELLAS CAN HAVE UNINTENDED AND IRREVERSIBLE CONSEQUENCES FOR TURTLE POPULATIONS.
NOISE, MOVEMENT, AND EVEN THE SCENT OF SUNSCREEN CAN CAUSE FEMALES TO ABANDON NEST ATTEMPTS.
SO BEACHGOERS SOMETIMES UNINTENTIONALLY STEP ON NESTS.
FOOT TRAFFIC CAN BE DISASTROUS FOR HIDDEN, UNMARKED TURTLE NESTS.
NESTS ARE DIFFICULT TO SPOT, AND EVEN A SINGLE STEP CAN COMPACT THE SAND.
OR CRUSHED EGGS BENEATH THE SURFACE.
NOW I WENT OUT THERE SATURDAY NIGHT AND I JUST LOOKED FROM THE SIDEWALK AND IT WAS PEACEFUL, BUT THERE WERE TORCHES IN THE SAND.
THERE WERE TABLES IN THE SAND.
THERE WERE UMBRELLAS IN THE SAND.
WHEN THEY LEAVE, THEY MAY NOT LEAVE BEER CANS OR WHATEVER IT IS.
BUT THOSE HOLES MAY STILL BE THERE.
THERE CAN BE AN IMPACT TO THESE TURTLES, AND YOU DON'T REALIZE IT.
I BELIEVE THAT THEY THINK THEY'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING WRONG.
I BELIEVE THAT IT'S OUR DUTY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, AND I THANK YOU, MALISE, BECAUSE WE DID HAVE A DISCUSSION.
I KNOW THAT THE TOWN OF JUPITER HAS BEEN MENTIONED AND IS GOING FORWARD TO LOOK INTO THIS.
I'M ASKING EVERYONE WHO'S LISTENING.
SO PLEASE, LET'S DO EVERYTHING TO PROTECT OUR SEA TURTLES.
THIS IS NATIONWIDE, THE WORLDWIDE, WE HAVE THE BEST BEACHES.
AND OUR TURTLES ARE KNOWN FOR NESTING HERE IN THE BIGGEST POPULATION THAT THERE IS.
SO PLEASE, I SPEAK BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT THEM.
MY VERY FIRST HOME HERE WAS IN THE BLUFFS, AND I LOVE THE TURTLES.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LEANNE LAUBECK, FOLLOWED BY ELIZABETH MURRAY.
I LIVE AT 17710 CARVER AVENUE.
I'M COMING UP AGAIN TO DISCUSS THE LIGHT THAT...
BEEN PUT OUT AT THE END OF CARVER AVENUE ON INDIAN TOWN ROAD.
ACTUALLY THERE ARE TWO OF THEM FOR SOME REASON TO FACILITATE, I'M GUESSING, THE NEW FIRE STATION.
HOWEVER, THE LIGHTS ARE BLINKING RED LIGHTS AND THE STREET ITSELF WAS A PREVIOUS STOP SIGN STREET.
THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN STOP AT THE END OF THE STREET AND TURN WILL BE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AND THEY HAVE THEIR OWN AUTHORIZATION TO GO THROUGH.
SO THE LIGHT ITSELF DOESN'T REALLY BENEFIT ANYONE OTHER THAN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
BUT IT'S AT A LOWER VIEW THAN A NORMAL STOPLIGHT.
AND SO WHEN YOU WALK DOWN THE STREET OR DRIVE DOWN THE STREET, IT'S DIRECTLY.
IN YOUR FACE AS WELL AS CAN BE SEEN FROM THE FRONT YARD OF MY PROPERTY AND I'M NOT THE CLOSEST RESIDENT TO THE NEW LIGHT.
IT'S DISTURBING FOR THE PEACE OF ENJOYMENT OF OUR PROPERTIES THERE.
AND I KNOW THAT I'VE ASKED THAT THIS BE LOOKED INTO AND FIGURED OUT WHAT OTHER ALTERNATIVES COULD BE PUT IN PLACE THAT WOULD ENSURE THE SAFETY WITHOUT IMPACTING THE HOMES ON THAT STREET.
SO I WOULD ASK THAT THAT CONVERSATION BE CONTINUED AND THAT WE FIND A DIFFERENT SOLUTION FOR THAT.
AND TO THE POINT THAT I GUESS ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS HAD MADE,
[00:15:01]
I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TAKING CARE OF THE LOCAL WILDLIFE, NOT ONLY FROM THE PEOPLE ENJOYING THE BEACHES, BUT FROM VISITING LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO, FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD, HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON THE BEACHES.I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S EDUCATION AND INFORMATION AWARE SO THAT THESE POPULATIONS AREN'T IMPACTED NEGATIVELY BY THIS.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ELIZABETH MURRAY, FOLLOWED BY BRETT LEONE.
HELLO, MY NAME IS ELIZABETH MURRAY.
I LIVE IN 100 PARADISE HARBOR BOULEVARD, NUMBER 301 NORTH PALM BEACH.
I'M SO GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU GUYS ALL CARE ABOUT WILDLIFE AND THE ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE THAT'S...
THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT.
IF I CAN TALK ABOUT TWO THINGS, I HAVE A SECOND TOPIC.
BUT MINE IS THE DANCING ON THE BEACH.
AND I'M A YOGI, I'M A DANCER, I'M AN OLD HIPPIE.
I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH THEM HAVING THEIR DANCE PARTY.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT THEY ARE IMPACTING THE TURTLE NESTING.
AND THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF DOCUMENTATION ABOUT THAT.
I DON'T THINK THEY'RE SAYING THEY'RE NOT DOING THAT.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN'T DO IT.
I HEARD THAT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, I HEARD THAT THE POLICE HAVE BEEN CALLED BUT SAY THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING, EVEN THOUGH IT IS ILLEGAL.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S TRUE OR NOT, BUT I'M JUST SAYING IT.
AND ALSO, EVERY TIME ANYBODY SAYS ANYTHING ON SOCIAL MEDIA, LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE HURTING THE ENVIRONMENT, YOU'RE KILLING THE BABY TURTLES, ETC.
ETC., THEN WE JUST GET ACCUSED OF BEING HATERS, WHICH THAT'S NOT REALLY THE CASE.
AND THEY SAY THAT THERE WILL BE MORE PEOPLE AND MORE EVENTS LIKE THIS AT THE SAME PLACE AT THE SAME TIME DURING THE TURTLE NESTING SEASON.
AND THEY'RE DOING IT ON SATURDAY NIGHTS BETWEEN 6 AND 10, I BELIEVE.
SO JUST ASKING THEM TO USE COMMON SENSE AND MOVE SOMEWHERE ELSE LIKE CARLIN PARK, WHERE THERE IS PLENTY OF PARKING.
BEEN ALL KINDS OF SUGGESTIONS FOR ALTERNATIVES FOR THEM, BUT THEY JUST SEEM TO BE SET ON DOING THIS.
AND THE SECOND PART OF MY THING IS TO BEG YOU NOT TO CLOSE DOWN EL SOL OR KICK THEM OUT OF THAT BUILDING.
I'VE BEEN USING THEIR WORKERS FOR YEARS.
MY MOTHER TAUGHT ENGLISH TO SPEAKERS OF ALL OTHER LANGUAGES IN MIAMI, AND I DO THE SAME THING.
WE NEED THAT COMMUNITY SERVICE.
SIR, AND THEY HAVE TAKEN A HUGE PROBLEM THAT WE HAD ABOUT, YOU KNOW, NO PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE TO GO AND FIND A JOB OR TO, YOU KNOW, HELP THEMSELVES.
AND THE SERVICE WAS ADDED, AND NOW YOU WANT TO TAKE IT AWAY, OR SOMEBODY WANTS TO TAKE IT AWAY.
AND I'M BEGGING THAT YOU DON'T DO THAT, BECAUSE WE NEED A GOOD, SAFE PLACE FOR EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST SOME PEOPLE BUT EVERYBODY SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OUR LAST SPEAKER IS BRETT LEON. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, CHOICE NOT HERE. COUNCIL TOWN ATTORNEY, TOWN MANAGER, EVERYBODY ELSE. FOR THE RECORD BRETT LEONE, 132 BARBADOS DRIVE.
HERE TO TALK TONIGHT AS WE JUST COME OUT OF MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATE FLAG DAY THIS PAST WEEKEND AND MOVE IT INTO THE 250TH BIRTHDAY FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
BACK IN AROUND 2018 OR SO, I HAD THE IDEA, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT EARLIER, OF ESTABLISHING A PERMANENT VETERANS MEMORIAL.
THAT CONVERSATION GOT STARTED WITH ROGER HELD, AND HAPPY TO SAY, YOU ALL AND THE TOWN AND EVERYBODY INVOLVED HAS HOSTED BEAUTIFUL VETERANS DAY CEREMONIES AND MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONIES, BUT SOMETHING WAS MISSING FROM THAT MEMORIAL.
JUPITER RESIDENT BOB SHANLEY HAD AN IDEA AND ANOTHER STARTED A GOFUNDME.
BUT MY IDEA BEHIND STARTING A VETERANS MEMORIAL HERE IN THE TOWN OF JUPITER WAS TO HONOR THOSE FROM JUPITER WHO PASSED AND GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR OUR COUNTRY.
SO I'D LIKE TO READ INTO THE RECORD 11 OF THE NAMES, 11 NAMES OF JUPITER RESIDENTS WHO SERVED IN WORLD WAR II, SERVED IN KOREA, VIETNAM, THE PERSIAN GULF WAR, AND ALSO DURING PEACETIME MILITARY SERVICE.
[00:20:01]
FROM INJURIES AND SOME OF THEM DIED DURING TRAINING EXERCISES.CAPTAIN DANIEL IRWIN FISHER, U.S. AIR FORCE.
CAPTAIN LANCE PENNOCK LIEB, U.S. MARINE CORPS.
FIREMAN JOSEPH FRANKLIN BENACK, U.S. NAVY.
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS HUGH ROBERT BOBBY FLEISCHMEISTER, U.S. ARMY.
CORPORAL CHARLES WALLACE, JR., U.S. ARMY.
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS WILLIAMS, U.S. ARMY.
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS JEROME WEHAG, U.S. ARMY.
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS HOMER ROOD, U.S. ARMY.
THESE MEN NEVER RETURNED HOME.
OTHER DIED IN WOUNDS RECEIVED IN BATTLE.
SOME LOST THEIR LIVES WHILE TRAINING TO DEFEND OUR NATION.
EACH ONE ANSWERED THE CALL TO SERVE AND EACH ONE PAID THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.
WITH THE GOFUNDME THAT WAS STARTED, IT WAS A GRASSROOTS EFFORT.
THE MONEY WAS RAISED TO INSTALL BRICKS AT THE VETERANS MEMORIAL TO FINALLY HONOR OUR 11 JUPITER RESIDENTS WHO PAID THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR OUR COUNTRY.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE RECOGNITION TO THOSE WHO GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE AND TO THOSE WHO STARTED THIS CAMPAIGN SO WE CAN FINALLY MEMORIALIZE THEM.
WHICH WAS MY INITIAL IDEA FOR THE VETERANS MEMORIAL RIGHT HERE OUTSIDE TOWN HALL.
AND I KNOW WE DON'T NORMALLY DO THIS, BUT I'D ASK TO THE DEGREE THAT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE, FIRST OF ALL THAT HAVE SPOKEN AND ALSO IN THE AUDIENCE, DANCING ON THE BEACH ISSUE.
CAN I ASK US TO TAKE OUT OF ORDER? AND I THINK, MR. KITCHELL, YOU HAD SOME KIND OF REPORT TO SHARE ON THAT? I DO, MAYOR.
I WAS GOING TO WAIT UNTIL MY TOWN MANAGER.
NO, BUT RATHER THAN, I JUST GIVE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY NOT TO HAVE TO WAIT TO THE END.
WELL, I SPOKE WITH THE POLICE CHIEF TODAY AND DEPUTY CHIEF KIM BARK TODAY, AND THEY HAVE CONTACTED ALL OF THE KEY STAKEHOLDERS IN THIS.
AND THE KEY STAKEHOLDERS HAVE AGREED TO MEET TOMORROW.
AND WE EVERYONE SEEMED VERY REASONABLE IN THE PROCESS.
WE'RE EXPECTING A PRODUCTIVE OUTCOME AND ALL OF THE PARTIES INVOLVED HAVE AGREED TO WORK TOGETHER.
SO WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT TOMORROW WE CAN HAVE SOME RESOLUTION THAT THAT WE CAN REPORT OUT TO YOU.
AND WE'LL DO THAT PROBABLY IN THIS FRIDAY'S REPORT AND THEN ALSO IF IT WORKS OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
I'M SORRY, BUT WE DON'T ENGAGE.
I WAS JUST TRYING, TO AS A COURTESY FOR PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE AND I SHOWED ANYONE, RECOGNIZE COUNTY COMMITTEE, FORMER COUNTY COMMISSIONER KAREN MARCUS FOR BEING HERE AND AND OTHERS AND I HAD UNDERSTOOD POTENTIALLY THEY WERE GOING TO WAIT TILL TOWN MANAGER REPORTS AT THE END AND NOW YOU DON'T NEED TO WAIT THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO GIVE YOU THAT. THANK YOU. I'M SORRY, WE DON'T HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE REPORTING UPON THAT TO THE PUBLIC.
[2. June 2, 2026, Town Council Meeting Minutes.]
SO WITH THAT, I MOVE ON TO THE MINUTES.COUNCIL, WE HAVE BEFORE US THE MINUTES OF THE JUNE 2ND MEETING.
THERE IS SOME CORRECTIONS ON THE DAIS.
IF THERE'S NO OTHER CORRECTIONS, I'LL TAKE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES AS AMENDED.
ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.WAS 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 IN A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
MOTION IN A SECOND I'D ASK MR BAIRD TO READ THE THREE ORDINANCES ORDINANCE 1126, AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF JUPITER, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 10 OF THE JUPITER CODE OF ORDINANCES, RENAMING IT FIRE PREVENTION, PROTECTION, AND COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION DIVISION, PROVIDING FOR AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE 1 TO CREATE NEW REGULATIONS IN SECTIONS 10-1 THROUGH 10-3, AND DESIGNATING A TOWN FIRE MARSHAL AS THE AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION, PROVIDING FOR THE AMENDMENT OF ARTICLE 02, SECTION 1019, ENTITLED FIRE PREVENTION CODE AND CREATING SECTION 10-20 PERTAINING TO UNIFORM SAFETY STANDARDS AND SECTION 10-21 REGARDING ACCESS
[00:25:02]
TO GATED SUBDIVISIONS OR PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENTS, PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.ORDINANCE 2526, AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF JUPITER, FLORIDA, AMENDING SUBPART A.
ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS CHAPTER 11 ENTITLED MISCELLANEOUS OFFENSES OF THE TOWN CODE CREATING SECTION 11 7 UNDER ARTICLE 1 GOVERNING TRESPASSING ON PUBLIC PROPERTY ESTABLISHING A PROCESS FOR ISSUANCE OF TRESPASS WARNINGS ON PUBLIC PROPERTY ESTABLISHING AN APPEALS PROCESS PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE ORDINANCE 2826 AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL TOWN OF JUPITER AMENDING CHAPTER 8 SECTION 838 GOVERNING THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATES JURISDICTION PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF ORDINANCES AND CONFLICT PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE THANK YOU UM SECOND ALL IN FAVOR OF THIS PROVEN CONSENT AGENDA PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE AYE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY
[13. Resolution 61-26, Adopting the Non-Ad Valorem Assessment for Fire Rescue Services.]
MOVING ON TO REGULAR AGENDA, PUBLIC HEARING, RESOLUTION 6126.SCOTT REYNOLDS, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER FOR THE TOWN OF JUPITER.
YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, THERE ARE FOUR OBJECTIONS THAT WE WANTED TO PLACE ON THE RECORD RELATING TO TONIGHT'S TOPIC.
THANK YOU, TOWN CLERK, THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY RECEIVED IN RELATION TO THE ORDINANCE THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU.
WE WANTED TO PUT THOSE ON THE RECORD SO THAT YOU COULD HAVE THOSE.
THE END OF THE OBJECTION PERIOD WAS YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, SO I GUESS WE RECEIVED A COUPLE LATE.
PROTEST AND WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THOSE IN FRONT OF YOU.
BUT IN RELATION TO THAT, WE SENT OUT APPROXIMATELY 30,000 NOTIFICATIONS TO ALL THE RESIDENTS IN THE TOWN TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY WAS AWARE OF WHAT THE TOWN WAS PROPOSING TO DO, TO MAKE SURE THE RESIDENTS UNDERSTOOD THEIR PROPOSED ASSESSMENT.
AND EVEN WITH THAT, I WILL TELL YOU, NO OFFENSE, MR. BAIRD, WE HAD A LEGAL LETTER THAT WENT OUT AND THAT THE ATTORNEY HELPED US DRAFT THAT MAYBE ADDED TO SOME OF THE CONFUSION.
SO I WANTED TO BRING UP THAT LAST WEEK AT THE ADVICE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, WE ACTUALLY DID A LITTLE BIT MORE PR.
WE DRAFTED A VIDEO THAT I WANTED TO PRESENT REAL QUICK TO JUST KIND OF SHED LIGHT ON, MAYBE CLEAR UP SOME OF THE MISNOMERS.
IF YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT JUPITER FIRE RESCUE, YOU MAY BE WONDERING, IS THIS GOING TO RAISE MY TAXES? THAT'S A FAIR QUESTION.
WHEN THE TOWN OF JUPITER FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT BEGINS SERVICE, ON OCTOBER 1, PROPERTY OWNERS WILL NO LONGER PAY PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE FOR THE FIRE RESCUE SERVICES THEY'RE RECEIVING.
STARTING NEXT YEAR, THE CHARGE CURRENTLY LISTED AS JUPITER FIRE MSTU ON YOUR TAX BILL WILL GO AWAY.
IN OTHER WORDS, YOU WON'T BE PAYING PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE ANYMORE.
INSTEAD, JUPITER FIRE RESCUE WILL PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES RIGHT HERE IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY.
LIKE MOST PUBLIC SERVICES, JUPITER FIRE RESCUE WOULD BE FUNDED THROUGH A COMBINATION OF REVENUE SOURCES RATHER THAN ONE SINGLE FUNDING SOURCE.
THE TOWN IS CURRENTLY CONSIDERING TWO FUNDING OPTIONS.
THE FIRST OPTION WORKS A LOT LIKE THE CURRENT SYSTEM.
THIS OPTION WOULD COMBINE AN ADJUSTMENT TO THE PROPERTY TAXES PAID TO THE TOWN, AN EMS TRANSPORT FEE, A PORTION OF THE SALES TAX DOLLARS CURRENTLY RECEIVED FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
THE SECOND OPTION WOULD COMBINE AN ADJUSTMENT TO THE PROPERTY TAXES PAID TO THE TOWN, EMS TRANSPORT FEES, AND A PER PROPERTY FEE ALSO CALLED A NON-EVALUABLE ASSESSMENT.
NO MATTER WHICH OPTION IS SELECTED, TWO THINGS REMAIN THE SAME.
FIRST, THE PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE CHARGE IS GOING AWAY.
AND SECOND, JUPITER PROPERTY OWNERS WILL PAY LESS.
THAN THEY HAVE PAID PREVIOUSLY FOR FIRE RESCUE SERVICES.
THAT MEANS JUPITER FIRE RESCUE ISN'T AN ADDED COST.
IT'S A REPLACEMENT AND A LESS EXPENSIVE ONE.
THAT'S BECAUSE JUPITER FIRE RESCUE IS PROJECTED TO COST APPROXIMATELY $25 MILLION ANNUALLY COMPARED TO THE ROUGHLY $35 MILLION JUPITER PROPERTY OWNERS WOULD HAVE PAID.
TO PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE.
SO THAT'S A $10 MILLION SAVINGS IN YEAR ONE TO THE JUPITER TAXPAYER.
WANT TO SEE WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AND YOUR PROPERTY? USE THE NEW JFRD SAVINGS CALCULATOR TO ESTIMATE YOUR POTENTIAL SAVINGS AND LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW JUPITER FIRE RESCUE WILL BE FUNDED BY VISITING JUPITER.FL.US BACKSLASH FUNDING JFRD.
[00:30:03]
POINT WE HAD RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 15 PHONE CALLS AND A TOTAL OF 13 EMAILS WHICH WE'VE MADE SURE TO REACH OUT TO ALL THESE RESIDENTS THAT HAVE MADE CONTACT WITH US.A LOT OF THEM THAT WE SPOKE TO ON THE PHONE.
WE DID THE CALCULATOR FOR THEM TO INDICATE WHAT KIND OF SAVINGS THAT THEY WOULD BE EXPECTING.
AND ALSO, MOST OF THE TIME WHEN IN FACT ALL THE TIME WHEN WE WHEN WE TOLD THEM ABOUT THE SAVINGS, THAT WAS REALLY THE END OF THEIR QUESTION. A LOT OF IT SURROUNDED PEOPLE THAT WERE CONFUSED, THAT FELT LIKE MAYBE THERE WAS AN ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT THAT WAS BEING DONE.
FOR THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS WRONG. IN RELATION TO LIKE IF YOU WERE IN A CONDO ASSOCIATION AND THEY NEEDED TO FIX THEM SOMETHING IN THE ASSOCIATION.
SO, THAT'S WHAT THEY EQUATED IT TO BUT, THE RESIDENTS THAT WE SPOKE TO, ONCE WE EXPLAINED TO THEM, AND THEN ESPECIALLY IF WE WERE ABLE TO ILLUSTRATE TO THEM HOW THE MECHANISM WAS WORKING IN JUNCTION WITH THE TAX DOLLARS, AND THAT THEY'RE ULTIMATELY GOING TO BE RECEIVING A SAVINGS, THEY WERE SATISFIED.
SO WITH THAT, I DO HAVE A SHORT PRESENTATION TONIGHT ON THE RESOLUTION.
TONIGHT'S RESOLUTION, 61-26 IS SEEKING COUNCIL'S AUTHORIZATION TO ESTABLISH THE PER-PROPERTY FIRE PROTECTION FEE TO BE ASSESSED STARTING OCTOBER 1 AND ENSURES A TRANSPARENT PROCESS FOR ESTABLISHING THE FEE, WHICH WE'VE DONE, AND WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS EVENING AS FAR AS COMMUNICATING WITH THE PUBLIC.
THERE ARE TWO FUNDING OPTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED THAT WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT AS WE GET INTO THE ACTUAL BUDGET WORKSHOPS.
PER PROPERTY, THE PROPERTY TAXES, EMS TRANSPORT FEES, AND THE PER PROPERTY FEE THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING THIS EVENING.
AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF FUNDING JFRD WOULD BE THE PROPERTY TAXES, EMS TRANSPORT FEES, AND SALES TAX.
THE SALES TAX AND THE PER PROPERTY FEE IS THERE PRIMARILY JUST TO PAY FOR THE DEBT SERVICE THAT WILL BE COMING ON BOARD EARLY NEXT YEAR.
SO AS YOU SAW IN THE VIDEO, THE IMMEDIATE SAVINGS FOR THE PROPERTY OWNERS, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR THREE YEARS, THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A SAVINGS, AND HERE IT IS.
WE'RE GETTING READY TO KICK OFF JUPITER FIRE RESCUE OCTOBER 1.
WE'RE ESTIMATING AT $35 MILLION FOR THE PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE NEXT YEAR.
THOSE WERE THEIR NUMBERS, ACTUALLY, THAT THEY GAVE US AS AN ESTIMATE FOR FY27.
WE'RE STARTING AT $25 MILLION, SO RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE, A $10 MILLION SAVINGS.
AGAIN, WE WANTED TO ILLUSTRATE A LITTLE BIT FURTHER HOW THE SAVINGS WORKS IN RELATIONS TO PEOPLE'S TAX BILLS.
SO WE GOT A COUPLE OF RESIDENTIAL HOMES.
THESE ARE ACTUAL HOMES IN THE TOWN OF JUPITER THAT HAVE THE FIRST RESIDENT HOME HAS A 2,500 SQUARE FOOT HOME, TAXABLE VALUE OF $300,000.
THE COUNTY ESTIMATED FEE FOR NEXT YEAR WILL BE $564.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE JFRD TAXES ALONG WITH THE NAV OR THE PER PROPERTY FEE WOULD EQUAL $421, A SAVINGS OF $144 ANNUALLY.
PROPERTY NUMBER TWO, A LITTLE BIT LARGER SQUARE FOOT OF $4,900, A LITTLE BIT LARGER TAXABLE VALUE OF $1.4 MILLION.
YOU CAN SEE THE COUNTY TAXES GO UP TO $2,733.
THE JFRD TAXES AND THE PER PROPERTY FEE ALONG WITH THE NAV WOULD BE $1,888, A SAVINGS OF $852 ANNUALLY.
WE ALSO WANTED TO SHOW COMMERCIAL PROPERTY BECAUSE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY IS ALSO, THEY'RE GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN THE SAVINGS AS WELL.
YOU CAN SEE PROPERTY NUMBER ONE HAS A SQUARE FOOTAGE OF 5,934 SQUARE FEET, TAXABLE VALUE OF $3.8 MILLION.
THE COUNTY TAXES WAS ESTIMATED AT $7,268.
AGAIN, THE REPLACEMENT, WHICH IS THE JUPITER PORTION OF THE BILL THAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT YEAR, JFRD TAXES AND THE NAV, $4,999.
SAVINGS TO THAT BUSINESS OF $2,271.
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY NUMBER TWO, AGAIN, THESE ARE REAL PROPERTIES IN THE TOWN OF JUPITER.
SQUARE FOOTAGE OF 11,595 SQUARE FEET, TAXABLE VALUE JUST UNDER $15,000.
YOU CAN SEE THEIR BILL FOR THE COUNTY FIRE RESCUE AT $27,844.
[00:35:01]
THE JFRD REPLACEMENT, $18,574.SO A SAVINGS FOR THAT COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OF $9,269 ANNUALLY.
SO IN SUMMARY, IF THE TOWN COUNCIL SELECTS THE PER PROPERTY FEE BY APPROVING THE RESOLUTION THIS EVENING, PROVIDE A STABLE FORM OF REVENUE GOING FORWARD, HELP SUPPORT THE DEBT SERVICE FOR THE JUPITER FIRE RESCUE, THE TWO NEW STATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED, I'M SURE EVERYBODY'S SEEN ON THE NEWS, AND IF YOU'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WALKING THROUGH THEM, THEY'RE VERY NICE.
IT'S NOT IMPACTED BY REDUCTIONS IN AVALORAN PROCEEDS OR OTHER REVENUE SOURCES CONTROLLED BY THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE.
THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT EVERYBODY'S BEEN TALKING ABOUT RECENTLY.
I WILL TELL YOU, SINCE THE PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION BILLS HAVE COME OUT, I'VE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF PHONE CALLS ABOUT WHAT WE WERE DOING WITH THIS FEE, AND ALSO OUR CONSULTANT IS BEING INUNDATED WITH CALLS AS WELL TO DO A SIMILAR FEE ACROSS THE STATE.
SO WITH THAT, THAT IS THE END OF MY PRESENTATION, AND ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE COUNTY WOULD HAVE CHARGED US THE FOLLOWING YEAR AFTER THE YEAR OF 35 MILLION? NO, SIR.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU, IF YOU REMEMBER RIGHT, WHILE WE EVEN STARTED THIS JOURNEY OVER THREE YEARS AGO, THEY WANTED US TO GO TO THE COUNTY-WIDE RATE, WHICH WAS DOUBLE, BASICALLY, THE RATE THAT WE WERE PAYING.
THAT RATE, I HAVE CALCULATED IT TO SEE WHAT IT WOULD BE NEXT YEAR.
SO THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY GOOD VIDEO, BY THE WAY.
THEY COULD HAVE PICKED A BETTER LOOKING GUY.
IT'S FAIRLY SIMPLE, BUT IF YOU DON'T, IF YOU'RE NOT INVOLVED IN THIS STUFF, IT GETS CONFUSING.
SO, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY RELATIONS DID A VERY GOOD JOB ON IT.
SO I HAD ASKED FOR, I DIDN'T GET A RESPONSE ON THIS, BUT I'D ASKED TO INCORPORATE IN OPTION 1A.
DO YOU RECOLLECT THAT EMAIL? YOU'RE INSINUATING ON THE...
WELL, I THINK THAT ONE ALTERNATIVE THAT FROM THE MOMENT THIS WAS PRESENTED TO US, THE ONE, LET ME MAKE SURE I'M LOOKING AT THIS, THE ONE, I GUESS, ON THE RIGHT, WHICH INCLUDED SALES TAX, THE REALITY OF IT IS, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD BE COLLECTING...
EITHER THROUGH AD VALOREM TAX OR A COMBINATION OF AD VALOREM AND NON-AD VALOREM, IN ADDITION TO TRANSPORT FEES, WE WOULDN'T BE RATING THE GENERAL FUND FOR SALES TAX.
SO I THINK THAT THE TRUE OPTION BEING THE ONE THAT I HAD EXPECTED THREE YEARS AGO.
TWO YEARS AGO, ONE YEAR AGO, WAS THAT OF THE $25 MILLION, $23 WOULD BE BY PROPERTY TAX OR 92%, AND THEN THE $2 MILLION, WHICH WOULD BE EMS TRANSFER FEES, WHICH IS THE SAME AS THE COUNTY HAS ALWAYS HAD.
SO WHY ISN'T THAT AN OPTION THAT WE OUGHT TO BE CONSIDERING? WE HAVE TO HAVE A MECHANISM FOR THE DEBT SERVICE AND THOSE MECHANISMS THAT IS ALLOWED TO BE APPROVED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL.
WOULD BE THE NON-ADVALORUM ASSESSMENT OR THE SALES TAX OPTION.
WHEN, ON THE TAX BILL, IS THERE GOING TO BE TWO DIFFERENT LINE ITEMS FOR THE TOWN ADVALORUM TAX? ONE FOR GENERAL FUND AND ONE FOR FIRE? NO, IT WILL BE ROLLED UP INTO ONE.
RIGHT, SO IT'S GOING TO BE ROLLED UP INTO ONE.
SO IF IT'S BEING ROLLED UP INTO ONE, I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND WHY.
IT ISN'T AS SIMPLE AS I'M SAYING.
SO ROLLED UP INTO ONE, THEN THE INCREMENTAL INCREASE THAT WE HAVE WHICH IS MUCH LESS THAN WHAT THE COUNTY WOULD HAVE BEEN, WOULD HAVE BEEN 92% OR $23 MILLION.
AND THEN WE CAN CHOOSE TO USE AD VALOREM TAXES TO FUND A BOND TO PAY FOR THE DEBT THAT WE KNOW WE NEED TO RECOVER AND INCLUDE IT IN THE COST THAT THE PUBLIC IS PAYING.
IS THAT NOT A VALID APPROACH? THE AD VALOREM PIECE, IF YOU WANT TO USE AD VALOREM DOLLARS TO PAY FOR A BOND ISSUE, THAT WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THE RESIDENTS TO BE VOTED ON.
NO, WHAT I'M SAYING IS EFFECTIVELY FIRE RESCUE GOES INTO THE GENERAL FUND.
IF YOU ELECT TO DO THE ASSESSMENT, IT WILL BE CONSIDERED A SPECIAL REVENUE FUND AND WILL STAND ALONE
[00:40:01]
SEPARATELY.THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS IS IT BE A STANDALONE.
AND THAT'S WHAT TRIGGERS THAT WITH THESE.
SPECIAL REVENUE FUND THROUGH THE NON-ADVALORUM.
I UNDERSTAND THAT'S AN OPTION.
BUT YES, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, IT VERY WELL COULD.
IN FACT, IF THE TOWN COUNCIL WISHES TO NOT DO THE NON-ADVALORUM ASSESSMENT AND TO USE THE SALES TAX TO HELP PAY THE DEBT SERVICE, IT WOULD BE ROLLED UP INTO THE GENERAL FUND, JUST LIKE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WOULD.
BECAUSE THE SPECIAL FUND GOES AWAY AT THAT POINT.
IN WHICH CASE, THE INCREMENTAL ADVALORUM TAX IS THEN $23 MILLION.
STILL BELOW WHAT THE EQUIVALENT OF THERE'S THERE'S STILL A SAVINGS IF THAT'S YOUR ULTIMATE QUESTION. YES, THERE'S STILL A SAVINGS. OKAY. EITHER WAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES.
SO, FOR NON-INVALOR ASSESSMENTS, WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO A COUNCIL LOOKING TO DO THAT SO WE'VE GOT PER PROP LIKE PER UNIT OR WHAT ARE ALL THE OPTIONS BECAUSE SOMETIMES I GET QUESTIONS FROM RESIDENTS OF, YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE STRUCTURED THIS WAY OR THAT WAY. WE CAN GET VERY CREATIVE, BUT REALLY LEGALLY, IT'S VERY RESTRICTED.
THE LETTER THAT WE SENT WAS A LEGAL LETTER THAT WE WERE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE, VERY SPECIFIC LANGUAGE.
WE'RE ONLY ALLOWED A CERTAIN NUMBER OF OPTIONS, SO IT'S VERY CAREFULLY, THE TOOL THAT WE HAVE IS KIND OF LIMITED IN A WAY.
CURRENTLY, THE PREDOMINANT MEASURE FOR THIS IS A FLAT FEE FOR RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL.
THOSE TYPES OF BUILDINGS IS BASED ON SQUARE FOOTAGE.
I'VE NEVER SEEN IT DONE ANY OTHER WAY FOR THOSE TYPES OF STRUCTURES. BUT FOR RESIDENTIAL, YOU HAVE THE FLAT FEE OR WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING WHICH IS BASED ON THE SQUARE FOOT AND THE REASON WE WENT FOR THE SQUARE FOOT AGAIN, JUST TO REMIND EVERYBODY WAS BECAUSE OF THE LARGE DISPARITY AND PROPERTY SIZES IN THE TOWN OF JUPITER. USUALLY, WHEN THEY THEY LOOK AT A COMMUNITY TO SET UP A FLAT FEE USUALLY, THERE'S A CLUSTER OF SIMILAR TYPE RESIDENTIAL HOMES THAT THE FLAT FEE MAKES SENSE.
BUT HERE IN JUPITER, BECAUSE OF THE LARGE DISPARITY IN THE SIZES OF THE STRUCTURES, APPLYING THE NFPA STANDARDS, WHICH IS THE FIRE PROTOCOLS, IT JUST MAKES SENSE TO DO IT ON A PER SQUARE FOOT BASIS.
OKAY, AND SO YOU'D SAID LIKE WE HAVE 1,000 SQUARE FOOT HOMES, BUT WE HAVE 40,000 SQUARE FOOT HOMES, SO THAT'S QUITE THE RANGE.
SO BOTH OPTIONS, I MEAN, THESE HAVE TO BE BASED ON PROPERTY.
THEY HAVE TO BE SEEN AS FAIR AND REASONABLE.
AND THESE TWO OPTIONS ARE ALLOWED BY THE STATE.
THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.
AND GIVEN UNCERTAINTY WITH AD VALOREM IN THE FUTURE, CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE MORE TO HOW THAT PLAYS OUT? PLAYS INTO IT OR HOW, IF THIS IS USED FOR DEBT SERVICE, WHAT THAT RELATIONSHIP LOOKS LIKE IN TERMS OF JUST CERTAINTY IN THE FUTURE? WELL, LIKE WE'VE SAID ALL ALONG, WHEN WE STARTED ON THIS PATH OF LOOKING AT THE NON-AVALORUM ASSESSMENT AS AN OPTION, WE ALWAYS SAW IT AS AN ALTERNATIVE REVENUE SOURCE.
GOING FORWARD, LOOKING FORWARD INTO THE FUTURE, NOT A ONE-YEAR TYPE SITUATION.
WE OBVIOUSLY WERE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING FOR THE DEBT SERVICE, BUT ALSO STABILITY IN THE RATES THAT WE CAN OFFER FOR THE FUNDING OF JUPITER FIRE RESCUE.
SO THIS WAS JUST ONE OF THE OPTIONS.
WHEN YOU START COMPARING IT BACK TO THE AD VALOREM, ESPECIALLY THE WORLD WE'RE LIVING IN NOWADAYS AND THE DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE OCCURRING SURROUNDING THE CURRENT LEGISLATION THAT'S OUT THERE, THE VOLATILITY IN RELATION TO THE AD VALOREM WHEN IT COMES TO BORROWING.
I WANT TO BE ABLE TO POINT TO SOMETHING WHEN WE GO ON THE MARKET THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE STABLE GOING INTO THE FUTURE AND NOT SUBJECT TO QUESTION ON WHAT REVENUES WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AVAILABLE GOING FORWARD.
SO I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT.
I'VE BEEN DISCUSSING THAT WITH OUR FINANCIAL ADVISORS, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE GETTING READY TO GO OUT ON THE MARKET FOR THE TWO STATIONS.
I THINK THIS DEFINITELY HELPS.
I MEAN, WE COLLECT AROUND $6 MILLION A YEAR, BUT THAT IS BASED ON ECONOMIC CONDITIONS.
YOU KNOW, SO, BUT WE DO HAVE ENOUGH THERE THAT IF WE WANTED TO USE THAT AS THE BOND FOR THE BOND ISSUANCE, I DON'T THINK WE'LL HAVE A PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF OUR AAA RATING.
THAT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO HELP US EITHER WAY.
BUT WE DEFINITELY, IF WE CAN SHOW A MORE STABLE REVENUE SOURCE, SUCH AS THE NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENT, THAT DEFINITELY HELPS OUR CASE.
[00:45:01]
WHEN WE'RE GOING OUT ON THE MARKET.WHAT IS THE TOTAL DEBT SERVICE WE HAVE FOR THE FIRE STATIONS? RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS WE'RE ANTICIPATING, WE HAVE AUTHORIZATION FROM THE COUNCIL TO BORROW UP TO $20 MILLION.
WE'RE LOOKING AT SAVINGS, HOPEFULLY, GOING FORWARD.
SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT $20 MILLION, BUT I THINK IT MIGHT COME IN A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN THAT WHEN WE COME BACK TO YOU.
IN THE NEXT MONTH AND A HALF TO SEEK AUTHORIZATION TO START GOING OUT ON THE MARKET.
SO THE CURRENT NAV FEE, HOW LONG DO YOU THINK IT TAKES TO PAY THAT OFF? IT'D BE 15 YEARS IS WHAT WE'RE PROJECTING.
I MEAN, THAT'LL BE A COUNCIL DECISION.
BUT YOU COULD DEFINITELY GO LESS.
BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE PROJECTING 15 YEARS.
AND I HAVE A QUESTION ON THE 30,000 NOTIFICATIONS SENT OUT, DIRECTOR REYNOLDS.
WHEN YOU SENT OUT THE NOTIFICATIONS TO THE NURSING HOME, HOW DID YOU CONVEY THAT? BECAUSE THEY'RE REALLY GETTING A BREAK, GETTING A COMMERCIAL RATE AS OPPOSED TO A NURSING HOME RATE.
WERE THERE ANY STIPULATIONS SPECIFIED TO THOSE NURSING HOMES WHEN YOU SENT THAT OUT? NO, SIR.
WE DID NOT DO ANY ADDITIONAL COMMUNICATIONS TO THEM SPECIFICALLY.
DID YOU LET THEM KNOW THEY'RE GETTING A COMMERCIAL RATE AND THEY HAD TO CONTROL THE AMOUNT OF CALLS THEY'RE GETTING? WE DID NOT COMMUNICATE THAT DIRECTLY WITH THEM, BUT I DO KNOW THAT CHIEF DONATO HAS INDICATED THAT HE WILL BE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM BECAUSE, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT IN THIS CHAMBERS BEFORE, THERE'S SOME MODIFICATION TO THEIR BEHAVIOR THAT WE'RE SEEKING.
AND I KNOW CHIEF DONATO IS GOING TO BE HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM PRETTY QUICKLY.
OKAY, I WAS JUST CURIOUS WHETHER OR NOT THAT WAS CONVEYED IN THE LETTERS THAT WENT OUT.
IT WAS NOT COUCHED IN THAT WAY.
THEY WILL SEE IT IN THEIR NOTIFICATION, THE RATE THAT THEY'RE GETTING, AND THAT IT IS A COMMERCIAL RATE.
BUT I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SPEAKING OF IS THAT THEY ACTUALLY RECEIVED A BUY-DOWN.
AND THAT'S THE COMMUNICATION THAT I KNOW CHIEF DONATO WILL BE HAVING WITH THEM.
WITH THAT, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? YES, SIR.
WE HAVE FIVE SPEAKER COMMENTS.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS MICHAEL LEVIS, FOLLOWED BY LEANNE LEVESQUE.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME HAVE THIS TIME TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK.
ON BEHALF ON THIS DECISION, WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO AS FAR AS THE EXTRA TAXES, MY CONCERNS ARE BASED ON WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH OUR GOVERNOR WITH ELIMINATING PROPERTY TAX.
NOW, DOES THAT MEAN THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE AN OPEN DOOR TO INCREASE THIS TAXATION, TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE ON THE PROPERTY TAXES THAT ARE GOING TO BE DROPPED? AND IF SO, HOW IS IT GOING TO IMPACT EVERYBODY ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS AND BEING ABLE TO PAY THAT? NOW, WHEN THEY SPOKE ABOUT PAYING TAXES FOR GOODS, 14% ACROSS THE BOARD, ANYTHING NEW, I WOULD LIKE TO MAYBE LOOK INTO THE FACT OF UTILIZING SOME OF THAT REVENUE AND OR THE REVENUE OF, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE VACATIONING HERE OUTSIDE FROM THE TOWN ITSELF TO MAYBE PAY UP THE DIFFERENCES NEEDED.
I HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE QUESTIONING ME, TOO, BECAUSE OF MY AREA OF TRADE.
FIRE DEPARTMENT BUILDING A FIREHOUSE ON THE INTERCOASTAL AND THE COSTS RELATED TO THAT, IF THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF WHY THEY HAVE TO INCREASE THE TAXES ALREADY FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND I DON'T MEAN TO CREATE ANY PROBLEMS WITH OUR FIRE RESCUE AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, IF ANYTHING IN THE FUTURE MAY COME OF THIS AND NEEDING EXTRA TAXES AS WELL.
I'M SURE I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF SEVERAL PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF JUPITER ON THIS.
ON JUST THAT OPENING UP THE TAXES, THAT THEY WILL INCREASE.
I MEAN, IT'S SMALL NOW, BUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN DOWN THE ROAD? WILL IT BE THAT MUCH MORE? AND ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL THAT, OR ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THIS BACK AND FORTH LIKE WHAT ALMOST TOOK PLACE WITH THE UNION AND BREAKING AWAY FROM FIRE RESCUE TO BEGIN WITH? THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LEANNE LABACK, FOLLOWED BY CRAIG MOWRY.
I FIND IT VERY INTERESTING THAT THE NON-AD VALOREM FEE IS APPARENTLY SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN ADVOCATED FOR FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, BECAUSE WHEN THE...
DISCUSSION OF THE FUNDING OF THIS CAME UP AND MANY PEOPLE WERE CURIOUS WHETHER OR NOT THERE WOULD BE A SWITCH TO NON-AD VALOREM TAXES.
[00:50:02]
WE DON'T KNOW.AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THE NON-AD VALOREM FEES WERE SOMETHING THAT WAS PART OF THE DISCUSSION FROM THE BEGINNING AND A DIRECTION THAT WE WERE HEADED FROM THE BEGINNING.
TRANSPARENCY WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE PRESENT DURING EARLIER DISCUSSIONS, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE NATURE OF RESIDENTS NOT BEING ABLE TO VOTE FOR THIS DESPITE THE PETITION ALLOWING OR REQUESTING THAT RESIDENTS BE ABLE TO VOTE WHETHER OR NOT TO MAKE THIS CHANGE.
AND THE LAWSUIT FOLLOWING THAT PREVENTED RESIDENTS FROM BEING ABLE TO VOTE ON THIS ISSUE.
HOWEVER, MY CONCERN WITH MOVING TO A NON-AD VALOREM FEE IS THAT THE MAIN PAIN POINTS FOR CHANGING THIS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING TO THE RESIDENTS.
I KNOW THAT THIS CHANGE TO BUILD THIS FIRE DEPARTMENT IS DIRECTLY HURTING MY FAMILY IN MULTIPLE WAYS.
IT'S BEEN A ROUGH YEAR DEALING WITH THE CONSTRUCTION.
AND IT'S BEEN VERY ROUGH ON MY CHILDREN.
IT'S BEEN ROUGH ON MY COMMUTE.
I MEAN, AN ADDITIONAL 15 MINUTES EACH WAY SOME DAYS WITH MY ACCESS TO THE MAIN ROADS BEING CUT OFF MULTIPLE TIMES.
AND IT'S JUST BEEN A LOT OF HEADACHES.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE WITH THE SWITCH TO THE NON-AD VALOREM TAXES, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE SHIFTING THE BURDEN OF THE FEES, OF THE TAXES.
EVEN THOUGH THERE'S AN OVERALL POTENTIAL SAVINGS, WHICH, BY THE WAY, IS STILL BASED ON NEGOTIATIONS BEFORE THEY HAD ENDED, NOT BASED ON WHERE WE WOULD HAVE ENDED UP ON THE PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE, SO THE SAVINGS CALCULATOR ISN'T NECESSARILY REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT THE ACTUAL SAVINGS WOULD HAVE BEEN HAD WE BEEN ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY AND PEACEFULLY NEGOTIATE A NEW RATE WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
MY CONCERN IS SWITCHING TO NON-ADVALORUM ACTUALLY SWITCHES THE CUT OF THE PIE TO BENEFIT THE BIG BOX RETAILERS, TO BENEFIT THE AIRBNBS, TO BENEFIT THE NON-RESIDENTS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE HOMESTEADED RESIDENTS.
WHILE THEY MIGHT BE PAYING A SMALLER PIECE OVERALL BECAUSE OF THE OVERALL SAVINGS, THEY MIGHT BE PAYING A LARGER PIECE OF THE PIE.
AND GIVEN THAT THE LONG-TERM RESIDENTS ARE THE ONES BEING HURT MOST BY THE DECISION, I THINK IT'S ONLY FAIR THAT THEY RECEIVE THE MOST BENEFIT FROM THE SAVINGS.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CRAIG MOWRY, FOLLOWED BY LINDA MCDERMOTT.
GOOD EVENING. CRAIG MOWRY, 230 BLANC ISLES LANE HERE IN JUPITER. I SPOKE AT TOWN COUNCIL LAST MEETING, AND YOU KNOW THAT I'M A PROPONENT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND I WAS NOT A PROPONENT OF THE MESSAGING THAT WENT OUT.
SORRY, MR. MR. BAIRD, THE LEGALESE IN THAT DID CREATE CONFUSION. I SAW AN AWFUL LOT OF IT ONLINE. SO THANK YOU TO THE STAFF FOR, I DIDN'T DO IT, BOTH THE VIDEO AND THE NEW EMAIL WITH THE CALCULATION.
AND I USED THAT EMAIL AND I RAN THE CALCULATION THAT WAS PROVIDED IN THERE FOR 37 RESIDENCES BECAUSE THAT'S ABOUT ALL I HAD TIME TO DO AT THE 15% OF THE ASSESSABLE COST THAT WAS BEING PROPOSED, AND NONE OF THE 37 THAT I RAN HAD AN INCREASE IN THEIR OVERALL TAXES DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY WERE HOMESTEADED.
AND I WILL REITERATE, I THINK IT'S VERY SMART THAT WE HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF FUNDING BECAUSE NONE OF US KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN NOVEMBER WITH THE PROPERTY TAX INITIATIVE THAT'S GOING TO GO ON THE BALLOT, EXCEPT CUTTING PROPERTY TAX.
CUTTING TAX OF ANY KIND IS VERY POPULAR, SO I WOULDN'T BE A BIT SURPRISED TO SEE THAT PASS. I DON'T THINK ANY OF US YET KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO FUND EVERYTHING THAT'S CURRENTLY FUNDED IF THE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION CONTINUES THE WAY THAT THE LEGISLATURE HOPES. AND JUST A REMINDER, THIS IS ONLY FOR FIRE, DOESN'T COVER EMS. IT'S ONLY FOR 8% OF THE ASSESSABLE COST, NOT THE ENTIRE COST. AND THE, I BELIEVE THAT THE FIGURES THAT MR. REYNOLDS SHOWED IN HIS PRESENTATION FOR TAXABLE VALUE, THAT'S AFTER ANY HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LINDA MCDERMOTT, FOLLOWED BY AMY TEICHIN.
[00:55:01]
GOOD EVENING, LINDA MCDERMOTT, 107 CHADWICK DRIVE.IN REFERENCE TO THE FIRE ASSESSMENT, PLEASE REFER TO IT AS AN ASSESSMENT AS...
I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS BECAUSE I DID IMPLEMENTATION FOR A CITY WHERE I WORK.
MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT I WAS AGAINST THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE BEGINNING, BUT WE HAVE IT NOW, AND WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S FUNDED PROPERLY.
THE ASSESSMENT IS THE BEST THING THAT YOU HAVE, BEING WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW WITH THE TAXES.
AND I I MUST TELL YOU THAT THE FIRE ASSESSMENT, IF IT'S 15 YEARS, TO PAY OFF THE DEBT.
15 YEARS FROM NOW WE'LL NEED NEW FIRE TRUCKS, WE'LL NEED MORE THINGS.
WE'RE STILL GOING TO NEED THINGS.
HOWEVER, IT IS GOING TO HELP, LIKE SCOTT SAID, TOWARDS YOUR DEBT TO BUYING NEW VEHICLES.
THEY WILL ASK YOU WHERE IS YOUR FUTURE FUNDING IF YOU'RE GOING TO BUY A FIRE TRUCK THAT IS 2.1 MILLION DOLLARS AND AMBULANCES.
WELL, NO, IT CAN'T PAY FOR AMBULANCES.
HOWEVER, THIS IS ONE FINANCIAL MECHANISM THAT'S GOING TO HELP YOU.
I AM FOR IT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE 2007 SQUARE FEET, MY NEIGHBOR HAS A LITTLE BIT LESS AND I'M PAYING MORE BECAUSE OF SEVEN FEET. I'M GOOD WITH IT AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FIRE PEOPLE GET PAID PROPERLY, GET THEIR RAISES IN THE END JUST LIKE POLICE AND EVERYBODY ELSE. THE ASSESSMENT IS JUST ANOTHER MECHANISM. THE TOTAL AMOUNT THAT WE'RE GOING TO PAY IS GOING TO BE THE SAME NO MATTER WHICH WAY YOU LOOK AT THAT PIE, LIKE THE MAYOR WAS TRYING TO SAY, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU WERE SAYING.
IT'S STILL, WE'RE GOING TO PAY WHETHER IT'S TAXES OR ASSESSMENT.
MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE FUTURE, WHEN WE NEED CAPITAL.
HOW MUCH IS THIS ASSESSMENT GOING TO GO UP? AND IT CAN GO UP AND UP AND UP THAT WILL BE VOTED ON EVERY YEAR.
SO WE WILL HAVE A VOICE EVERY YEAR.
STILL, IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S A FOREVER DEAL AND WE'LL NEVER HAVE A VOICE.
AND THE WAY SCOTT EXPLAINED IT IS EXACTLY THE WAY IT IS.
IT IS GOOD FOR OUR MUNICIPALITY.
OUR LAST SPEAKER IS AMY TEICHEAD.
HELLO, MY NAME IS AMY TEICHEAD.
I REPRESENT A MUCH YOUNGER GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T GENERALLY PARTAKE IN THESE THINGS, AND I'M LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE A HOMEOWNER.
EXTRA TAX THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO GET FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARE SUPER NECESSARY.
INITIALLY, IT WAS PRESENTED AS A NO EXTRA TAX, A SAVING OF $24 MILLION IN TAX.
THOSE ARE GREAT THINGS, BUT INEVITABLY, A $39 TAX ONCE A YEAR WILL GO UP.
NO ONE I KNOW GOT NOTIFICATION, AND I AM HERE AS A REPRESENT ON MY LITTLE BACK.
OF 15 PEOPLE THAT I PERSONALLY KNOW THAT WISH THAT THEY HAD MORE HEADS UP ABOUT THIS, HIDDEN IN, I ONLY NOTICED IT HIDDEN IN A LITTLE FLYER THAT WAS SENT OUT IN THE JUPITER THING BECAUSE I'M ONE OF THE RARE PEOPLE THAT READS MY MAIL.
THE TOWN NEEDS TO BE ALLOWED TO VOTE ON THIS.
REPLACING THE TAX, AN ADDITIONAL TAX SHOULD NOT GO UP IF WE ARE JUST REPLACING IT AND IT'S SAVING US MONEY.
AN AD VALOREM TAX, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, MIGHT BE THE BETTER WAY TO GO.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE FLOW OF THE U.S.
ECONOMY, EVERYBODY'S COMING TO FLORIDA.
TECHNOLOGY CHANGES OVER THE YEARS, AND WE NEED BETTER TECHNOLOGY TO KEEP OUR FIREFIGHTERS SAFE.
AND AS FAR AS PUTTING IT ONTO THE HOMES, YES, HOMES NEED FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES, BUT STICKING IT WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE IT'S COVERED I DON'T THINK IS NECESSARILY FAIR.
SO I THINK THAT YOU NEED TO ALLOW THE RESIDENTS AN ACTUAL CHANCE TO WEIGH IN WITH A VERY POIGNANT MESSAGE IN THE MAIL SOMEHOW SAYING THAT EVERYONE GOT AN EMAIL.
I DON'T REALLY KNOW MANY PEOPLE THAT CHECK THEIR EMAILS UNLESS THEY HAVE TO.
SO I THINK A BETTER EFFORT NEEDED TO BE MADE.
AND FRANKLY, THOSE 15 PEOPLE THAT KNOW ABOUT THIS THAT ARE NOT HERE ONLY KNOW ABOUT IT BECAUSE I TOLD THEM.
SO I WOULD REQUEST THAT THIS BE GIVEN A LITTLE MORE TIME AND PUT OUT TO THE PUBLIC TO WEIGH IN ON.
I'LL START OFF COMMENTS, BUT I REALLY WANT TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND MISUNDERSTANDINGS, AND I'M GOING TO GIVE MR. REYNOLDS AN OPPORTUNITY
[01:00:02]
AFTER I'M DONE IF HE WANTS TO ADD TO THAT.SO FIRST OF ALL, WE MADE THIS DECISION 34 AND A HALF MONTHS AGO.
THERE WAS NO LEGISLATIVE REFERENDUM EVER ANTICIPATED.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.
WE MADE THE DECISION BASED ON THE FACT THAT WE KNEW WE COULD SAVE AT LEAST FIVE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN YEAR ONE.
AND WE KNEW THAT WAS A CONSERVATIVE NUMBER, THAT THERE WAS NO WAY WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DELIVER THAT, AND WE FULLY EXPECTED THE NUMBER WAS GOING TO BE HIGHER.
SO JUST MAKE THAT CLEAR, THE DECISION THAT WE MADE.
THE CONVERSATION ABOUT NON-ADVALORUM TAXES, NO, IT WASN'T, IT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO DO FROM DAY ONE.
IN FACT, I STILL DON'T SUPPORT IT, SO I'M GOING TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.
NONE OF US COULD REALLY REACT TO IT.
WE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE AN OPTION PRESENTED TO US, AND IT WAS GOING TO BE PRESENTED ONLY AFTER A STUDY WAS DONE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR NON-AD VALOREM TAX TO BE CONSIDERED.
AN OFFICIAL STUDY HAS TO BE DONE, AND THEN THE FIRST TIME THE COUNCIL, ANY OF US, HEARD YOU WHAT THE NON-ADVALERABLE TAX, HOW MUCH IT WAS GOING TO BE, AND HOW IT WAS CALCULATED, ETC.
IT WAS REALLY ABOUT TWO OR THREE MONTHS BACK.
SO JUST THE NOTION THAT, GEE, WE WERE CONSIDERING THIS ALL ALONG, I JUST WANT TO BASICALLY DISPEL THAT.
AND THEN I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT ALSO, YOU KNOW, THIS LEGISLATIVE REFERENDUM I THINK, UNFORTUNATELY, KIND OF CONFUSES THINGS.
IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN ANY, FIRST OF ALL, IT'S SUBJECT TO THE PUBLIC VOTE IN NOVEMBER, AND NEXT YEAR MAY OR MAY NOT BE IMPACTED BY THAT REFERENDUM, DEPENDING UPON HOW PEOPLE VOTE.
SO THE WAY I THINK AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, AND I DID IN MY REGULAR PROFESSION, IS I'M NOT GOING TO BE, MAKE A DECISION ABOUT SOMETHING THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAPPEN.
AND SO, I JUST WANT TO SAY AND OTHERS CAN WEIGH IN BUT I'M JUST SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU SEE UP HERE AND I'M GLAD THAT MR. REYNOLDS LEFT THIS UP HERE IS THAT, AND AND THE OTHER ONE WAS THE FACT THAT AND THE NOTION BY THE WAY THAT WE COULD HAVE NEGOTIATED BETTER WITH THE COUNTY, ANOTHER ANOTHER MISUNDERSTANDING. WE SETTLED WITH THE COUNTY AND HAD A CONTRACT AND THAT CONTRACT INCLUDED PROVISIONS THAT HAVEN'T YET OCCURRED THAT WOULD RAISE THE COST.
IF THE COUNTY BUILDS A FIRE STATION OUTSIDE OF JUPITER THAT'S SERVED BY JUPITER AND THEY'RE PLANNING TO DO ONE RIGHT NOW, THEN THE TOWN WAS GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT STATION.
MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
AS WE GET BACK, YOU KNOW, THE ABACOA STATION, IT'S PRETTY CLEAR ALL THE STATIONS WOULD HAVE REQUIRED RENOVATIONS, SIGNIFICANT RENOVATIONS.
THE COUNTY'S GOT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS PER STATION BUDGETED, AND HAD THEY, SO HAD WE STAYED WITH THEM, IN ADDITION TO THE 35 MILLION, WE'D BE PAYING FOR ANOTHER STATION, WE'D BE PAYING FOR RENOVATIONS, AND NOW WE'RE STARTING OUT WITH A CLEAN, YOU KNOW, BRAND NEW, YOU KNOW, BUILDINGS, AND THE ABACOA ONE WILL BE RENOVATED.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE REALLY UNDERSTAND.
I THINK THE COUNCIL, 34 AND A HALF MONTHS AGO, MADE A GOOD AND THE RIGHT DECISION TO DELIVER TAX SAVINGS.
WE CAN'T REALLY, I'M NOT GOING TO TALK PER SE ABOUT HOW MUCH IN FACT IS IN TOTAL UNTIL WE GET THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS.
BUT I'M CONFIDENT WE'RE GOING TO BE WELL ABOVE THE FIVE AND A HALF MILLION AND MAYBE WE'LL REACH THE 10.
I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE WE'RE ENTERING THE BUDGET PROCESS.
10 MILLION IS A BEST CASE SCENARIO AND DOESN'T INCLUDE THE PROVISIONS IN THE CONTRACT FOR ADDED COSTS SO I JUST WANT THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THAT.
AND THEN, MY ISSUE WHICH I'VE SAID FROM DAY ONE ON THE NON-ADVALOR TAX. I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THAT IS THAT AND AGAIN, NONE OF US TO ABOUT FOUR THREE MONTHS AGO OR SO LEARNED ABOUT WHAT'S IN THE NON-AUDITORIUM TAX FROM THAT FIRST MEETING WHEN WE STARTED TO QUESTION, YOU KNOW, SOME OF US ON THE DAIS CAME TO REALIZE THAT THERE ARE SOME DISPARITIES.
AND SO, FOR ONE, SINGLE-FAMILY
[01:05:07]
HOMES ARE BEING ASSESSED BASED ON THE TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE, INCLUDING GARAGES AND PORCHES.TO ME THAT'S AN UNFAIR ASSESSMENT AND I PROVIDED 15 DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAD TOWNHOMES AND CONDOS THAT HAVE GARAGES, PORCHES, BALCONIES THAT ARE NOT BEING ASSESSED FOR THE HIGHER SQUARE FOOTAGE AND THEREFORE ARE GETTING COMPARATIVELY A LOWER FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE THAN SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTS.
SO THAT FUNDAMENTAL DISPARITY TO ME IS UNFAIR AND NOT EQUITABLE.
AND ON THAT BASIS, I'VE SAID EVERY TIME WE'VE GOTTEN TOGETHER, I CAN'T SUPPORT THAT.
THEN I'M OKAY AND WOULD HAVE BEEN OKAY WITH TAX ASSESSMENTS INCREASING BASED ON SQUARE FOOTAGE SIZES BUT THE WAY IT'S CALCULATED IS IT'S EXPONENTIALLY INCREASING WITH INCREASING SIZES, WHICH I BELIEVE IS ALSO UNFAIR AND NOT EQUITABLE.
SO, YOU KNOW, HERE TONIGHT, I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT I'M NOT SUPPORTIVE.
WE LEARNED WHEN THE STUDY WAS DONE, THE COUNCIL DIDN'T HAVE AN OPTION TO CHANGE ANYTHING.
IF WE, WHETHER WE GO AHEAD TONIGHT AND PROCEED OR WE DON'T, WE YOU LIKELY COULD BE DOING A STUDY NEXT YEAR THE YEAR AFTER WHATEVER BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S REQUIRED, YOU KNOW, THE CHANGE OF NON-ADVANCED ASSESSMENT FIRE ASSESSMENT. BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY, I'M ON THE RECORD. I'VE OPPOSED THIS AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY AND I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE THE VICE MAYOR ASKED ME TO COMMENT ABOUT THIS. SHE HAD SCHEDULED HER A GET A BEING OUT OF TOWN THREE MONTHS AGO ON THIS MEETING AND SHE REALLY WAS CONCERNED SHE DIDN'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO THINK THAT SHE WAS MISSING AN IMPORTANT MEETING BECAUSE SHE WOULD, SHE HAD HOPED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING IMPORTANT ON THIS AGENDA AND SHE HAD TALKED TO THE TOWN MANAGER ABOUT IT. SO JUST, I DON'T KNOW HOW BECAUSE WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT IT. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OR NOT BUT SHE REALLY WAS TROUBLED AND REGRETS THAT SHE WASN'T ABLE TO BE HERE. SO, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT ON THE RECORD AND U BEFORE I TURN OVER MY COLLEAGUES, MR. REYNOLDS DID YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING WITH REGARD TO TRYING TO CLARIFY SOME OF THE MISUNDERSTANDINGS WE HEARD FROM THE SPEAKERS TONIGHT? NO, I THINK YOU KIND OF RECAPPED A LOT OF THAT, MAYOR, ESPECIALLY ABOUT WHAT DISCUSSIONS THAT WERE HAD IN RELATION TO PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE AND EVEN SOME OF THE FUNDING SOURCES.
WE'VE ALWAYS KNOWN THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE SEEKING ALTERNATIVE REVENUE SOURCES.
WE'VE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT THE TRANSPORT.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, IF YOU GO BACK TO, I THINK IT WAS THE JANUARY MEETING IN 2023 WHEN WE WERE WORKING WITH CHIEF POZO.
AND WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE FINANCE PIECE OF THAT.
WE TALKED ABOUT SOME ALTERNATIVE, SEEKING ALTERNATIVE REVENUE SOURCES, BUT WE ALWAYS KNEW THERE WAS GOING TO BE AD VALOREM, TRANSPORT FEES.
THERE WAS GOING TO MOST LIKELY BE SOME FORM OF FEE RELATING TO PERMIT ISSUES OR INSPECTION FEES.
SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT AS WELL.
IN FACT, YOU ALL APPROVED THIS EVENING TO BE ABLE TO START LOOKING AT THAT.
THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE SOME ALTERNATIVE REVENUE SOURCES GOING FORWARD THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE SEEKING THOSE TO HELP FUND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
BUT MAYOR, I THINK YOU'VE HIT THE MAJORITY OF THEM.
WITH THAT, COUNCILOR, DO YOU HAVE ANY? MAYOR, YOU HIT A LOT OF POINTS.
BOTTOM LINE IS WE'RE GOING TO PAY $25 MILLION NEXT YEAR FOR FIRE SERVICE.
PALM BEACH COUNTY FRIDAY WOULD HAVE BEEN $35 MILLION.
SO JUPITER RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS I'M GOING TO SAVE $10 MILLION, AND THIS IS NOT A NEW TAX OR AN ADDED TAX.
INSTEAD OF IT COMING OUT OF THE AD VALOREM THAT YOU PAY THROUGH PRICE, IT'S JUST GOING TO BE THE 8% IS COMING OUT AND IT'S GOING TO GO ON THE LINE ITEM.
IT'S GOING TO BE THE SAME AMOUNT BUT FROM A DIFFERENT SOURCE.
THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE ON THAT.
AND, YOU KNOW, SCOTT, IS THAT PRETTY CLEAR? YES, SIR.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? IS THIS THING ON? YES, SIR.
AND ANOTHER GENTLEMAN MENTIONED FIRE STATION ON THE WATER.
THAT'S UP RIGHT NEXT TO BURT REYNOLDS PARK, RIGHT ACROSS FROM PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE STATION.
WE OFFERED TO PURCHASE, LEASE, TO USE THE BUILDING, AND ANY CALLS THEY WOULD SERVICE, WE WOULD SERVICE FOR FREE.
[01:10:02]
PLACE.THE TOWN'S OWNED IT FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
THE COMPANY THAT OWNED IT WENT BANKRUPT, AND WE SCOOPED IT UP FOR PROBABLY UNDER MARKET PRICE.
WE BUILT A FIRE STATION THERE AND THE COST OF THAT STATION WAS SIMILAR TO THE ONE AT CINQUEZ PARK.
SO IT WASN'T LIKE WE BUILT AN EXTRAVAGANT FIRE STATION WITH WATERFRONT VIEWS AND COCKTAIL HOURS AT 7 O'CLOCK OR WHATEVER.
IT'S A NEW MODERN STANDARD FIRE STATION.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL, BUT IT WASN'T AN EXTRA COST TO THE TOWN.
WE JUST KIND OF LUCKED OUT ON THAT.
AND SAME WITH THE CINQUEZ PARK FIRE STATION.
WE OWN THAT LAND AND WHEN WE PURCHASED THAT, THAT...
THE WHOLE DOG PARK WAS GOING TO BE A TARGET YEARS AGO, WAY BEFORE I WAS ON COUNCIL.
TOWN PURCHASED THAT LAND, BUT THAT OLD TOWN'S COUNCIL WAS BRILLIANT, AND THEY KEPT ONE PARCEL FOR ANY PUBLIC USE, AND IT WASN'T GREEN SPACE.
IT WAS FOR ANY PUBLIC USE, AND WE HAD THAT.
AND THAT PARCEL ITSELF IS IN THE, WHEN THEY LOOK AT ALL THE, WHAT DO THEY CALL THE TOWN MANAGERS, THE SORT OF A RED ZONE WHERE IT WAS CENTRAL, WHERE ALL THE NORTH, WESTERN CALLS COME OUT OF, THAT'S LIKE THE PERFECT LOCATION TO HAVE A FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AND ALSO PALM BEACH COUNTY WANTED TO KEEP STATION 16 UP ON CENTER STREET.
SO A LITTLE MORE IN THE WEEDS THAN I WANTED TO GO INTO THERE, BUT ALL IN ALL, THIS IS NOT A NEW TAX.
IT'S NOT AN INCREASE IN WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO PAY.
YOU FOLKS ARE GOING TO SAVE ABOUT $10 MILLION A YEAR FIRST YEAR OUT OF THE GATE, AND I KNOW GUARANTEED DOWN THE ROAD MORE THAN WHAT WE WOULD HAVE BEEN CHARGED BY PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE.
FIRST, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR THE COMMENTS THAT YOU MADE AND FOR THE CLARIFICATIONS, AND TO COUNCILMEMBER DELANEY ALSO FOR JUST CLEARING UP SOME OF THE COMMENTS.
I THOUGHT EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAID WAS VERY REASONABLE, WAS EXACTLY WHAT I REMEMBER HAPPENING.
AND, YOU KNOW, EVEN AS WE DISCUSS THIS, I THINK EVERYTHING THERE IS REASONABLE THAT I HEAR.
ONE THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT TO THE AUDIENCE QUICKLY AND WITH YOU, SCOTT, THAT I HEARD WAS THERE'S CONCERN ABOUT MAYBE RAISING THIS.
THIS IS AT THE 15% RATE, BUT IT COULD BE INCREASED IN THE FUTURE.
IS IT AN OPEN DOOR? THAT'S SOMETHING I'VE HEARD BEFORE AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS.
BUT WHAT I HAVE, YOU KNOW, WHO KNOWS WHAT THE FUTURE BRINGS, BUT I HAVE NO PLANS, AND WE'VE ALL TALKED ABOUT HOW WE HAVE NO PLANS.
TO DO THAT AND THAT THIS DEBT CAN BE RETIRED.
WE CAN CHANGE PLANS EARLIER IF WE WANT TO.
WE CAN RETIRE IT SOONER IF WE WANT TO.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY AND CAN CONTINUE TO LISTEN AND NAVIGATE THESE FINANCIAL WATERS AS WE GO.
I REMEMBER WE WEREN'T EXPECTING TO USE INTEREST EARNINGS TO PAY FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THAT WAS A HAPPY, YOU KNOW, SOME GOOD FORTUNE WE RAN INTO THERE AS WE NAVIGATE THESE FINANCIAL WATERS.
INCREASING THE RATE, I HAVE NO PLANS TO DO THAT, BUT WHAT WOULD THAT REQUIRE? BECAUSE IT'S REALLY A HYBRID.
I MEAN, WE WOULD HAVE TO SEND MAIL, I BELIEVE, TO EVERYONE.
I MEAN, THIS IS A REALLY RIGOROUS PROCESS, AND IT'S A VERY TRANSPARENT ONE, VERY MUCH FOCUSED ON COMMUNICATING WITH ALL RESIDENTS.
SO CAN YOU JUST GO OVER THAT? THE PROCESS THAT WE JUST WENT THROUGH OF THE NOTIFICATION PROCESS, YOU KNOW, EVERY YEAR.
WE TALK ABOUT THE AD VALOREM AND THE MILLAGE AND THEN WE SEND OUT A TRIM NOTICE.
THIS WOULD ALSO BE GOING ON THE TRIM BUT DURING THE BUDGETARY DISCUSSION IF THE COUNCIL DECIDED THAT THEY WANTED TO RAISE THAT THRESHOLD OF THE NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENT THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO RE-NOTIFY ALL THE RESIDENTS IN THE TOWN.
30,000 NOTIFICATIONS WOULD GO BACK OUT TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT WE ARE INTENDING TO DO.
AND IT IS A VERY RIGOROUS PROCESS.
SO, LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT A VERY STABLE REVENUE SOURCE, WHAT YOU'RE CURRENTLY SETTING IT OUT.
RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS.
OF COURSE, YOU CAN'T TELL WHAT FUTURE COUNCILS ARE GOING TO DO.
BUT AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THERE DOESN'T SEEM A NEED TO RAISE IT.
BUT IF YOU DECIDED YOU WANTED TO, IT'S A VERY TRANSPARENT PROCESS, LIKE YOU SAID.
WE HAVE TO HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON IT.
AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO SEND OUT NOTIFICATIONS TO ALL 30,000 RESIDENTS AGAIN.
AND THEN ANOTHER THING WE TALKED ABOUT IS NEITHER ONE OF THESE IS GOING TO BE PERFECT.
BUT WE DON'T WANT THAT TO GET IN THE WAY OF THE VERY, VERY GOOD.
THERE WAS A RESIDENT THAT CAME UP HERE AND JUST SPOKE SAYING THAT THEIR FEE WOULD BE $39 ONCE A YEAR.
SO THERE ARE TWO OPTIONS AVAILABLE IF YOU'RE DOING A NON-EVALORUM ASSESSMENT, THE FLAT FEE OR THE PER SQUARE FOOT.
FEE BASED ON THE PROPERTY APPRAISER DATA.
SO A LOT OF IT'S OUTSIDE OF US.
[01:15:01]
THOSE MEASUREMENTS, NOR COULD WE.SO IF IT WERE A FLAT FEE, THAT RESIDENT WOULD BE PAYING MORE THAN $39,000.
IS THAT CORRECT? WHEN I HAD THE CONSULTANT GO BACK TO LOOK AT IT, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE FLAT FEE, I HAD THE CONSULTANT GO BACK AND SAY, WELL, OKAY, WHAT WOULD THE FLAT FEE LOOK LIKE FOR THE RESIDENTIAL? AND WHAT SHE CAME BACK WITH, BASED ON THE DATA THAT WE HAVE, IS THAT YOU'D SEE 20% OF THOSE PEOPLE, THE RESIDENTIALS, THAT WOULD BE PAYING A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN WHAT'S CURRENTLY BEING PROPOSED.
50% WOULD ACTUALLY BE PAYING MORE THAN WHAT IS CURRENTLY BEING PROPOSED.
SO, AND AGAIN, IT'S RELATED TO JUST THE SIZE OF THE PROPERTY.
SO, 1,000 FEET OR SQUARE FEET VERSUS 40,000 SQUARE FEET.
AND THEN THE 15% THAT WE'RE ASSESSING AT, IS THAT COMMON FOR MUNICIPALITIES? BECAUSE WE HAVE A NUMBER, THIS IS BEING DONE BY A NUMBER OF OTHER MUNICIPALITIES IN PALM BEACH COUNTY.
SO WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? IT'S DEPENDING ON NEED.
EACH COMMUNITY IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, JUST LIKE THE MILLAGE RATE.
IT'S DEPENDING ON THE NEED OF THE COMMUNITY, AND THEY SET WHATEVER RATE THEY FEEL IS NEEDED.
FOR A VERY SPECIFIC PURPOSE THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO FILL RELATING TO FIRE.
SO EVERYBODY'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
OURS WAS PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON THE DEBT SERVICE NUMBER THAT WE WERE TRYING TO REACH AND ALSO TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RESIDENTS SAW SAVINGS.
SO THE 15% SEEMED LIKE THE SWEET SPOT IN RELATION TO FILLING THOSE NEEDS THAT WE WERE LOOKING TO FILL.
COUNCILOR KITZEROW? YEAH, JUST A COUPLE COMMENTS.
YOU MENTIONED, COUNCILOR SUNDSTROM, THAT NO APPROACH IS PERFECT.
I KNOW YOU'VE LOOKED AT DIFFERENT METHODOLOGIES FOR THE FLAT FEE OR PROPORTIONAL FEE, AND ONE THING THAT STRUCK ME WITH THE PROPORTIONAL FEE METHOD IS THAT IT DOES PROPORTION.
THE COST OUT BASED ON SQUARE FOOTAGE AND BUILDING CHARACTERISTICS, WHICH TO ME IS A PLUS.
I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT MY ASSESSMENT.
I'M PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, OUT OF ONE OTHER PERSON HERE, I PAY THE HIGHER ASSESSMENT.
SO I'M FINE WITH THAT BECAUSE THE SERVICE I'M GETTING FROM THE TOWN OF JUPITER IS, I THINK, OF HIGH QUALITY, SIMILAR IF NOT BETTER THAN WHAT WE GOT FROM PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE, AND WE'RE GETTING THAT AS SAVINGS OF $10 MILLION TO THE COMMUNITY THE FIRST YEAR.
SO I'M HIGHLY IN FAVOR OF THAT.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE $2 MILLION COLLECTED WITH THE NAV WILL BE FOR DEBT SERVICE, AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE NEED TO PAY THAT DEBT OFF.
I HOPE WE CAN DO IT IN 15 YEARS OR LESS.
ONCE WE PAY THAT OFF, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE NAV? IF THAT FUTURE COUNCIL DECIDES FOR IT TO GO AWAY, IT WILL GO AWAY.
THERE AREN'T ANY OTHER PLANS FOR THAT IN THE FUTURE? WELL, YOU CAN'T.
IF YOU HAD A CRYSTAL BALL, YOU PROJECT THE FUTURE.
IT WOULD BE A LOT EASIER OUT THERE.
COME NOVEMBER, TOO, RIGHT? RIGHT, THAT'S RIGHT.
RIGHT NOW THERE'S NO OTHER PLAN OTHER THAN TO PAY FOR THE DEBT SERVICE.
AGAIN, I THINK THE METHOD YOU'VE CHOSEN, OUT OF ALL THE METHODOLOGIES YOU'VE LOOKED AT, IS THE BEST AND FAIREST BECAUSE IT PROPORTIONS THE COST TO THE RESIDENTS OF JUPITER BASED UPON THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THEIR HOME OR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY, WHATEVER THE PROPERTY IS, AND THE BUILDING CHARACTERISTICS.
SO I APPLAUD THE TOWN FOR TAKING THIS STEP.
AND ALSO THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT WENT IN WITH THE CONSULTANT WE HIRED TO GET US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
JUST TO KIND OF WRAP UP WHAT I HEARD FROM MY COMMENTS, AND I FIRST ASK TO CONFIRM FOR MR. REYNOLDS, WHAT YOU SAID WAY EARLIER WAS YOU'RE HEARING FROM A LOT OF OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
YOU'VE HEARD THAT A LOT OF OTHER GOVERNMENTS MAY BE LOOKING INTO NON-ADVALORUM TAXES KIND OF IN CONSIDERATION FOR THE UPCOMING REFERENDUM BALLOT, CORRECT? THAT'S THE ASSUMPTION I'M MAKING.
I'VE RECEIVED EMAILS RELATING TO ASKING FOR ACTUALLY A COPY OF THE STUDY AND THAT THEY WERE CONSIDERING IT.
I'M ASSUMING IT'S RELATED TO THE PROPERTY TAX ISSUE.
I JUST WANT TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT HOWEVER WE VOTE TONIGHT THAT WE'RE CLEAR.
SO AGAIN, I GAVE MY POSITION THAT THIS REFERENDUM MAY OR MAY NOT PASS, AND I'M NOT MAKING A DECISION BASED ON IT.
I'M MAKING THE DECISION BASED ON WHAT I DECIDED 34 AND A HALF MONTHS AGO, THAT THE AD VALOREM TAX WAS THE FAIREST WAY IN WHAT WE HAD REPRESENTED BY CALCULATOR FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS UNTIL WE HAD ANY CONCEPT OF
[01:20:01]
WHAT THE NON-ADVALORUM FEE MIGHT BE.SO, AND QUITE FRANKLY, THE AD VALOREM TAX IS THERE BECAUSE SOMEBODY, EVERYBODY GOT THE SAME EXACT PERCENTAGE REDUCTION BECAUSE WHEN AD VALOREM TAX GOES DOWN, EVERYBODY, SOMEONE WHO OWNS A MORE EXPENSIVE PROPERTY, LARGER, WHATEVER, IS GOING TO GET A BETTER.
SOMEBODY THAT IS A LONG, LONG TIME HOMESTEADED PROPERTY OWNER LIKE MYSELF IS GOING TO GET LESS, BUT THAT'S FAIR.
IT WAS DISTRIBUTED PERCENTAGE-WISE, WHICH IS CONSISTENT THE WAY THE CONSTITUTION AS IT STANDS FOR FLORIDA CURRENTLY WOULD LEAD.
AGAIN, THE WORLD MAY CHANGE WITH THE REFERENDUM.
SO AGAIN, TO ME, THE AD VALOREM TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE...
PROPERTY VALUE WHICH TAKES INTO ACCOUNT SQUARE FOOTAGE.
SO I HAD NO ISSUE WITH THAT AND I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD ANY ISSUE QUITE FRANKLY WITH THE NON-AD OR WOULDN'T HAVE HAD AS MUCH IF THE NON-AD VALOREM WASN'T BEING DONE IN AN UNFAIR AND NOT EQUITABLE WAY SO THAT SOMEHOW CONDOS AND TOWNHOMES DON'T PAY FOR THE GARAGE AND PORCHES THAT SINGLE FAMILIES DO.
I IN GOOD CONSCIOUS WON'T SUPPORT THAT.
SOME MAY SAY ALL TAX SYSTEMS CAN BE UNFAIR AND CERTAIN.
AND SO ANYWAY, I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT AND WHY I'M NOT GOING TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.
BUT WITH THAT, YOU KNOW, UNLESS THERE'S NO OTHER COMMENTS, I'LL TAKE A MOTION IN A SECOND ON THE RESOLUTION 6126 BEFORE US.
MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 6126.
ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
THE MOTION CARRIES THREE TO ONE WITH MAYOR KURETSKI DISSENTING.
[14. Decorative and Aesthetic Element – A1A and Jupiter Beach Road Roundabout.]
OKAY, MOVING ON TO ROUNDTABLE.I'M SATO OKSANEN WITH THE ART COMMITTEE OR REPRESENTING THE ART COMMITTEE.
SO WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE ENHANCEMENT TO THE ROUNDABOUT LOCATED ON A1A AND JUPITER BEACH ROAD.
AS PART OF A TOWN STRATEGIC INITIATIVE, THE TOWN OF JUPITER ART COMMITTEE RELEASED A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE DESIGN OF A DECORATIVE AND AESTHETIC FEATURE AT A1A AND JUPITER BEACH ROAD.
CAPTURE AND CELEBRATE JUPITER'S UNIQUE FAMILY-FRIENDLY COASTAL AND SMALL TOWN ATMOSPHERE.
ON SEPTEMBER 4TH, 2025, THE TOWN COUNCIL APPROVED THE CRITERIA AND PROCESS FOR THE PROJECT.
THE TOWN SOUGHT SUBMITTALS FOR A PERMANENT SITE-SPECIFIC ENHANCEMENT TO BE INSTALLED IN THE INLET VILLAGES ROUNDABOUT WITH AN ALL-INCLUSIVE BUDGET OF $150,000.
THE DESIGN REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGNS WERE BE VISIBLE AND IMPACTFUL FROM ALL DIRECTIONS, CONSIDERING TRAFFIC SPEED AND SIGHT LINES, BE DURABLE, WEATHER-RESISTANT, AND LOW-MAINTENANCE, AVOID OBSTRUCTING TRAFFIC VISIBILITY OR VIOLATING FDOT SAFETY REGULATIONS, ALIGN WITH THE TOWN OF JUPITER'S BRAND IDENTITY AND GUIDELINES, DISCOURAGE ANY PEDESTRIAN ACCESS INTO THE ROUNDABOUT, AND BE AN ORIGINAL DESIGN AND PRODUCED BY THE APPLICANT.
SO THE RFQ WE RELEASED RESULTED IN 11 SUBMISSIONS THAT WERE FIRST REVIEWED BY STAFF AND THEN SIX OF THE 11 APPLICATIONS MET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS.
SECONDARY STAFF REVIEW WAS DONE BY DIRECTORS PLANNING AND ZONING AND ENGINEERING AND THE AND THE REMAINING FIVE SUBMISSIONS WERE DEEMED NON-COMPLIANT FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS.
TWO OF THEM WERE OVER THE BUDGET, TWO WERE SUBMITTED BY OUT-OF-STATE APPLICANTS, AND ONE WAS PROPOSING AN EXISTING SCULPTURE ALREADY SOMEWHERE ELSE.
SO WE MOVED ON TO THE EVALUATION PROCESS, WHERE THE
[01:25:04]
ART COMMITTEE ACTUALLY HAD A HUGE ROLE, AND I HAVE TWO OF MY MEMBERS RIGHT HERE, PENNY PAYNE AND ELIZABETH DASHIELL.SO WE LOOKED AT THE SIX SUBMISSIONS AND THEN SCORED THEM BASED ON THE FOLLOWING.
HOW DOES IT REFLECT THE INLET VILLAGE'S CHARACTER? DOES IT ALIGN WITH THE TOWN'S BRAND IDENTITY? THE OVERALL VISUAL ENHANCEMENT AND THE OVERALL QUALITY AND CRAFTSMANSHIP.
AND THEN WE ADDITIONALLY LOOKED AT DO THEY MEET THE PROJECT BUDGET.
SO WE ENDED UP WITH THREE FINALISTS.
AND WE DID, I PUT THEM IN ORDER HERE.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THE POINTS, HOW THEY SCORED, 240 WAS THE MAXIMUM POINT.
WE HAD DAWN ARNOLD WITH 187 OUT OF 240.
OSCAR ESTEBAN MARTINEZ WITH 174 OUT OF 240.
AND THEN ETHIER JOSEPH, 134 OUT OF 240.
SO DAWN ARNOLD, SHE'S PROPOSING 10 TO 12.
SCULPTURED FISH SWIMMING WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC AROUND THE TRAFFIC CIRCLE.
SHE'S ALSO ENVISIONING A MURAL THAT IS AN ABSTRACT BEACH WAVE MURAL AROUND THE LANDSCAPE CIRCLE.
AND SHE'S SAYING THIS DESIGN ELEMENT CAN BE REDESIGNED WITH SUGGESTIONS FROM TOWN COUNCIL, TOWN OF JUPITER, AND THE ART SELECTION COMMITTEE.
AND SHE'S ALSO SUGGESTING SOME SPOTLIGHTING FOR HIM.
THE SECOND ONE IS THE CURRENT KEEPER AND THIS IS BY OSCAR ESTEBAN MARTINEZ FROM MIAMI, FLORIDA AND HE IS PROPOSING A FORM OF IT'S A LARGE ASCENDING FISH AN ICONIC SYMBOL OF JUPITER'S MARINE ECOSYSTEM AND FISHING HERITAGE.
AND THE THIRD ONE IS ETHERE JOSEPH AND HE IS FROM JUPITER, FLORIDA.
AND THE SCULPTURE JUPITER NOW AND FOREVER IS A STAINLESS STEEL ELEMENT SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR THE A1A AND JUPITER BEACH ROAD ROUNDABOUT.
AND IT IS OBVIOUSLY A REFERENCE TO THE TOWN'S ICONIC LIGHTHOUSE.
ALL RIGHT, SO FOR THE PURPOSES OF TONIGHT, STAFF IS ASKING SOME GUIDANCE.
SO THE OPTIONS, AND OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE OTHERS, BUT THE OPTIONS THAT WE LISTED HERE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH ANY OF THE 11 SUBMISSIONS, REISSUING THE RFQ TO GET MORE SUBMISSIONS, OR CONSIDERING OTHER IDEAS FOR THE ROUNDABOUT, LANDSCAPING, SIGNAGE, DESIGNS, ETC.
AND I ACTUALLY THINK THE FIRST...
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SEE IT, BUT IT IS MOVING FORWARD WITH ONE OF THE THREE FINALISTS.
SO THAT'S DEFINITELY THE NUMBER ONE.
SO MOVING FORWARD WITH ONE OF THE THREE, MOVING FORWARD WITH ANY OF THE 11, REISSUING THE RFQ OR CONSIDERING ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE ROUND.
I'LL START AND GO DOWN THE LINE.
BUT FIRST OF ALL, I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE ART COMMITTEE AND FOR STAFF FOR HAVING COORDINATED THIS.
I THINK THE PRESENTATION WAS VERY WELL DONE AND ENABLES US INDIVIDUALLY TO WEIGH IN.
I'M NOT TRYING TO INFLUENCE ANYBODY ON SAYING THIS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STRUCK ME, OF COURSE YOU HUMANIZE YOUR THUMB AHEAD AND LOOK AT THE, YOU KNOW, THE OFFERINGS, WHICH I DID, AND THEN I WENT BACK AND READ THROUGH THE PRESENTATION.
BUT AS I PONDERED ABOUT IT, NUMBER ONE, I TOOK IN TOTAL WHAT I WAS GETTING FROM STAFF AND OUR ART COMMITTEE.
AND THE NUMBER ONE RANKED ITEM SCORED 78% OF TOTAL POINTS.
I WAS KIND OF HOPING TO SEE A WOW.
THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT, YOU KNOW, INVESTMENT THAT WE WERE GOING
[01:30:01]
TO DO.AND THAT'S NOT TO TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM THE ARTIST.
EVERYONE, YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE THAT AND I KNOW ART IS IN THE EYE OF THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER BUT BUT FRANKLY I INTERPRETED THAT BETWEEN STAFF AND THE ART COMMITTEE. WHAT YOU PRESENTED WAS MATCH WHAT MY GUT WAS THAT SEE IF I WAS GOING TO PROCEED WITH THIS KIND OF INVESTMENT, I THINK PARTICULARLY AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WITH ALL EYES ON SOMEONE SUGGESTING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SPEND THRIFTS, RIGHT? AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO HAVE A REFERENDUM.
YOU HEARD TONIGHT HERE, WE ARE WORKING TO LOWER TAXES SIGNIFICANTLY, BUT AND THEN ON THE NUMBER, THE FIRST ONE, I THEN AND I HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT THIS BEFORE AND THERE WAS ELEMENTS OF IT. I LIKE BUT I WAS A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR DAMAGE AT A ROUNDABOUT. ALSO AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE MADE THAT INVESTMENT AND IT WAS DAMAGED.
SO I'M NOT TRYING TO, HOPEFULLY, I DON'T THINK I'M BEING HEARD NEGATIVELY BECAUSE I'M NOT.
I REALLY WANTED TO DO SOMETHING.
BUT SO BASED ON, YOU KNOW, I'M INCLINED TO STAND DOWN BECAUSE I DIDN'T SEE THE WOW ONE AND OUR ART COMMITTEE DIDN'T FEEL IT WAS A WOW ONE OR WE WOULD HAVE HAD HIGHER POINTS IS WHAT MY TAKEAWAY WAS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO NOT PROCEED, BUT I WOULD.
AND MY THOUGHT IS LET'S JUST STAND DOWN FOR A BIT AND COME BACK OUT COME BACK PONDER ABOUT IT AND COME BACK AND GO AT IT POTENTIALLY AGAIN BUT YOU KNOW WITH THAT I'LL PASS IT DOWN TO DIAS. COUNCIL, DO YOU WANT TO... SO, TO CLARIFY, YOU WOULD WANT TO REISSUE IT OR? DO YOU WANT TO REISSUE IT? NO, I THINK IT'D BE PREMATURE AT THIS POINT IN TIME TO REISSUE IT BECAUSE WE JUST DID, RIGHT? YEAH, I THINK LET'S STAND DOWN. LET'S ANALYZE. LET THE ARC COMMITTEE WHICH, YOU KNOW, ALWAYS IN STAFF. OKAY, IF WE WERE TO, HOW WOULD WE GO ABOUT IT DIFFERENTLY, RIGHT? I CAN APPRECIATE THAT.
I COULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.
I THINK I'M SEEING A LOT OF FACIAL EXPRESSIONS HERE FROM OUR COMMITTEE, BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, I WAS SOMEWHAT SUPPORTIVE OF NUMBER ONE, BUT I AGREE WITH YOU.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A WOW FOR THE $150,000 INVESTMENT.
AND THEN JUST GOING INTO THE FUTURE, YOU HAD ASKED TO CONSIDER OTHER IDEAS FOR WHENEVER THAT MAY BE.
I HAD HEARD A NUMBER OF CONCERNS AROUND SAFETY FOR THE ROUNDABOUT AND VISUAL, OR BLOCKING, YOU KNOW, IT COULD MAKE THE ROUNDABOUT LESS SAFE.
SO I'D WANT TO CONFIRM SOME OF THAT OR UNDERSTAND HOW THAT WOULD FIT INTO A DESIGN.
BUT YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT, I THINK THOSE ARE GOOD POINTS THERE AND I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE.
YEAH, I WAS SUPPORTIVE OF THE FIRST ONE, BUT I DID HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ON IT.
IT SAYS THE ENVISION THAT THE FISH WILL APPEAR TO BE SWIMMING IN DIRECTION OF FLOW OF TRAFFIC.
WOULD THIS BECOME A SAFETY CONCERN FOR CARS? I MEAN, GETTING DISTRACTED, WATCHING IT GO AROUND, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU HAVE AN ACCIDENT.
SO I WAS A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
WAS THAT DISCUSSED BY THE ART COMMITTEE OR BY THE TOWN? I BELIEVE IT WAS, AND I DO BELIEVE THE IDEA WAS TO HAVE THESE FISHES MADE OUT OF MOSAICS, SO THEY WOULD PROBABLY REFLECT LIGHT, POSSIBLY CREATE GLARE AND THINGS, YOU KNOW, SPARKLE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO, I LIKE THE DESIGN, BUT I WAS REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS OF THAT DESIGN.
AND ALSO, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ROUNDABOUT, AND THIS APPLIED TO ANY ARTWORK, BUT DOES IT HAVE ELECTRICAL SUPPLIED TO IT? FOR SPOTLIGHTING AND THINGS LIKE THAT FOR ANY TYPE OF ARTWORK WE PUT THERE OR ENHANCEMENTS? NOT YET BUT OBVIOUSLY THE 150 000 WOULD BE ALL INCLUSIVE BUDGET. SO, ANY SIDE IMPROVEMENTS, ANY, ANY CHANGES THAT WOULD HAVE TO COME FROM THAT BUDGET. OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. THAT WAS ONE OF MY QUESTIONS. IS THERE POWER? THERE ISN'T POWER. THERE'S NO BOX OUT THERE FOR POWER. OKAY. WHEN WE HAD THE WHOLE MEETING WITH THE NEIGHBORS DOWN THERE AND, YOU KNOW, DECIDED, YOU KNOW, WHETHER TO PUT LIGHT STOP SIGNS, THERE WERE TRAFFIC ISSUES, SAFETY ISSUES, TRAFFIC JAMS. SO THE ROUNDABOUT WAS THE KIND OF CALMED EVERYTHING DOWN AND GIVES A LITTLE MORE OF A LESS URBAN FEEL.
SO I WOULDN'T WANT TO PUT ANYTHING THAT WOULD OBSTRUCT VISION, CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND GO BACKWARDS INTO THE SAFETY ISSUES.
SO, BUT SO, YOU KNOW, NUMBER ONE, LIKE GENERICALLY LOOKING AT IT,
[01:35:02]
IT'S LOW PROFILE, SO YOU COULD PROBABLY SEE OVER MOST, YOU KNOW, OVER THE HUMP, BECAUSE THE ROUNDABOUT USUALLY KIND OF RAISES UP A LITTLE BIT.IT WOULD PROBABLY BE SORT OF A DOME-ISH TYPE, I DON'T KNOW, WITH THAT LANDSCAPING AND EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW.
AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU FOLKS ARE TALKING ABOUT, DELAYING, OR WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU WANT TO DO? WELL, I WAS SUGGESTING, LOOK, THE OPTIONS WERE MOVING FORWARD WITH ONE, THE BULLET IS MISSING.
MOVING FORWARD WITH ANY OF THE 11.
WE'RE ISSUING THE RFQ OR CONSIDERING OTHER IDEAS.
AND SO I WAS SUGGESTING NOT MOVING FORWARD WITH THE ONE OR ANY OF THE 11 AT THIS POINT IN TIME, BUT SOMEWHAT PAUSING, IF YOU WILL, IS WHAT I WAS SUGGESTING.
AND, YOU KNOW, OUR COMMITTEE CAN HAVE CONVERSATION WITH STAFF.
BUT IF WE DIDN'T AGREE ON ONE TO DO ONE, THEN I WOULDN'T WANT TO JUST AUTOMATICALLY MOVE FORWARD WITH THE RFQ AND WE COME UP WITH THE SAME OUTCOME.
AND THEN I DO THINK THAT WE, IN LIGHT OF NOW THIS, WHICH WE HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT, WE SHOULD JUST TAKE QUESTIONING AND ANSWERS.
I WAS HEARING ABOUT THE NUMBER ONE RATED ONE IN THE ISSUES OF SAFETY, AND I STARTED TO THINK, AND I HADN'T BEFORE.
LOOK, WE PUT THIS BUDGET IN AND WE SAID, HEY, LET'S DO SOMETHING HERE.
AND NOW WE'VE LEARNED FROM IT, RIGHT? OKAY, SO I GET WHERE YOU WANT TO GO WITH THAT.
I JUST WANT TO, ON RECORD, SAY, LIKE, I THINK NUMBER ONE IS SORT OF WHAT I'D BE THINKING ABOUT, SO I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF THAT, A VERSION OF THAT DOWN THE ROAD, LOWER PROFILE KIND OF THING.
I FELL IN LINE WITH THE SAME RANKING THAT WE GOT, JUST TO MAKE IT PRETTY CLEAR.
BUT THEN I LOOKED AT THE NUMBER ONE, AND IT WASN'T A WOW, AND THEN I HAD ISSUES OF CONCERN ABOUT IT.
YOU KNOW, WHETHER OR NOT IT WOULD DISTRACT.
WELL, I LOVE THE IDEA IF IT WASN'T CARS DRIVING AROUND IT, RIGHT? I MEAN, IT REALLY DID.
I MEAN, ANYTHING THERE IS GOING TO DISTRACT TO A POINT.
BUT IF SOMETHING, A HIGHER PROFILE, IS GOING TO IMPEDE YOUR VISION, THAT'S WORSE.
BUT I THINK INEVITABLY THAT ONE IS GOING TO BE MOVED FURTHER OUT ALONG MORE OF THE PERIMETER OF THE ROUNDABOUT THAN A CENTRAL ITEM IN THE DEAD CENTER.
SO I JUST THOUGHT, AGAIN, THESE ARE THINGS THAT JUST SHOULD BE THOUGHT.
IT MAY CHANGE WHAT A FUTURE RFQ HAS, RIGHT, WHEN WE THINK THROUGH THOSE THINGS, RIGHT, WHEN STAFF LOOK AT IT.
AND THE VALID REQUIREMENTS MIGHT CHANGE.
WELL, I'D LIKE TO SEE IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT WE GET, LIKE, SAY, THE ONE RIGHT NOW, THE ONE WE ALL AGREE ON, PROBABLY THE BEST, WHICH IS THE NUMBER ONE, THE SCULPTURED FIST.
TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE ON THE ROUNDABOUT.
IS IT 10 FEET FROM THE ROAD, OR IS IT DIRECTLY CENTERED, OR IS IT OUT FROM THE ROAD? WHAT ARE THE, ANY ISSUES HAS BEEN ASSESSED FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT AS FAR AS CREATING A SAFETY DISTRACTION FOR DRIVERS GOING AROUND IT? SO, TO ME, IF...
GIVEN ANY DIRECTIONS BACK TO THE ART COMMITTEE IN THE TOWN, WE'LL GO BACK AND ASSESS THOSE AND THEN BRING THOSE BACK TO COUNCIL.
I'D LIKE TO SEE A CLEARER RENDERING OF ANY OTHER PROJECTS WE GET.
SOMETHING LIKE, THIS IS WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
JUST TO GIVE YOU A BETTER IDEA.
WOULD SOMEONE FROM THE ART COMMITTEE WANT TO COME UP AND SPEAK? PENNY PAYNE, VICE CHAIR OF THE ART COMMITTEE FOR THE TOWN OF JUPITER.
THE ART COMMITTEE AS WELL TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. I WAS LISTENING AND I APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR OPINIONS TONIGHT. OUR BIGGEST CONCERN WAS SAFETY. NUMBER ONE, OBVIOUSLY FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND OWNERSHIP OF THIS UNIQUE PIECE THAT THE TOWN WILL EVENTUALLY TAKE ON AND BEING FAIR TO PRIOR COMMITMENTS AND CONVERSATIONS WE DIDN'T WANT TO CHOOSE SOMETHING THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE A HAZARD OR A CHALLENGE.
OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THERE IS NOT ELECTRICAL OR OTHER CONDUITS CURRENTLY.
SOME OF US BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD BE MUCH TALLER THAN WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TODAY.
OTHERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE GLARE AND SOME OF THE IMPEDIMENTS THAT MIGHT HAPPEN ON A LOW VISIBLE TYPE OF SCENARIO LIKE YOU MIGHT SEE.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, THERE'S DAMAGE CONTROL.
OFTEN THERE MAY BE SOME ACCESS.
OR SOME PASSERSBY THAT COULD DAMAGE THE PIECE, AND THEN THERE'S AN ONGOING MAINTENANCE.
SO ALL OF THOSE CONCERNS MIGHT BE A PLANNING AND ZONING OR AN ENGINEERING DISCUSSION LONG BEFORE IT GETS TURNED BACK TO OUR COMMITTEE, SO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
THAT'S VERY HELPFUL TO US AND KIND OF CONFIRMS SOME OF WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.
AND THEN THE OTHER, JUST TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE OTHER COMMENTS ABOUT, THEY DID SUPPLY RENDERINGS, MANY OF THEM, WITH HOW IT WOULD LOOK THERE, COMPUTER GENERATED.
BUT THE IMPORTANT THING IS, WITH THIS OR ANY FUTURE, YOU KNOW, ART IN PUBLIC PLACES
[01:40:03]
FOR THE TOWN OF JUPITER THAT WE KNOW WILL HAPPEN, IT IS UNIQUE.SO EACH ARTIST, INCLUDING THE ONES THAT WERE PRESENTED, CAN BE MADE SPECIFICALLY SITE-SPECIFIC.
SO WHAT THEY ARE PROPOSING, THEY'RE ABLE, SINCE IT IS.
THEY'RE ABLE TO SHRINK IT, MAKE IT BIGGER, BUT IT DOES NEED, AS PENNY SAID, TO PROBABLY GO THROUGH ZONING.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT PROJECT.
WE'RE IN A TOWN HALL SURROUNDED BY LOCAL ART, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP ON ALL OF THAT, BUT VERY DIFFERENT FROM A TRAFFIC SITUATION, PRETTY INTENSE IN SEASON, MAINTENANCE, SAFETY, A NUMBER OF IMPACTS.
CAN I ASK ONE MORE QUESTION? HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED WITH ANY OF THE NEIGHBORING CONDOS AND HOMES AROUND THE AREA AS FAR AS DO THEY KNOW WHAT WE'RE CONSIDERING? NO.
WOULD IT BE GOOD TO PUT MAYBE ON THE ART WEBPAGE OR THE TOWN OUTREACH TYPE THING, ASK FOR SOME PUBLIC INPUT AS FAR AS THAT ROUNDABOUT? SO WE DID ORIGINALLY WHEN THE RFQ WENT OUT, THAT WAS PUT OUT IN SOCIAL MEDIA, AND WE DID GET QUITE A FEW COMMENTS THERE.
MOST OF THE COMMENTS WERE ABOUT...
HOW ABOUT A BEAUTIFUL TREE? THAT WAS PROBABLY THE NUMBER ONE THING AS FAR AS I COULD SEE.
BUT AT THE TIME, WE HAD NO CONCEPTUAL DESIGNS.
IT WAS JUST THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT AN RFQ WAS GOING TO GO OUT, AND WE WERE LOOKING FOR SOME KIND OF AESTHETIC, DECORATIVE ELEMENT FOR THAT.
IT MIGHT BE GOOD JUST TO SEND IT OUT THERE AND GET FEEDBACK FROM THE RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA WHO HAVE TO DRIVE THROUGH THAT ROUNDABOUT EVERY DAY.
SO I THINK IT WOULD BE WORTHWHILE HAVING THAT INFORMATION.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE ART COMMITTEE COMMENTS WE JUST HEARD BECAUSE THEY THEY NAILED IT.
IT'S GOT TO START WITH STAFF COMING UP WITH THE CRITERIA FOR ANY ART IN THAT SMALL ROUNDABOUT RIGHT AS AS GUIDANCE BACK TO THE SINCE I WAS HEARING THAT THEY ALONG WITH US AND STAFF.
WE'RE LEGITIMATELY CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY. WELL, THEN LET'S START AT THAT POINT. IS THIS A SPOT SOMETHING COULD GO HERE AND WHAT WOULD THE LIMITS LIMITATIONS ON THAT BE BECAUSE THEN THAT BECOMES A SPEC ITEM, YOU KNOW, GOING BACK OUT AGAIN. IF WE WERE TO GO BACK OUT AGAIN. SO, CAN YOU TAKE THAT AS A... KEEP IN MIND, THIS IS A VERY FLAT SCENARIO. CURRENTLY THERE IS NO UP BUILD TO THIS. UNDERSTAND.
YEP. YEAH. THE ONE PICTURE BECAUSE WE, MANY OF US HAVE GONE DOWN THERE, BUT THE ONE PICTURE OF ITEM NUMBER TWO, KIND OF LAYS PRETTY CLEAR. THEY SUPERIMPOSED WHAT WAS THERE AND REALLY NOTHING THERE BUT, YOU KNOW, OKAY, JUST, YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE DIRECTION? YEP.
THE ART COMMITTEE, THE TOWN STAFF, AND FOR THE ARTISTS WHO SUBMITTED THEIR RENDERS TO THE TOWN.
IT WAS A GREAT PRESENTATION, ART COMMITTEE.
AND I HOPE, BECAUSE I KNOW THE ART COMMITTEE HELPS US WITH THIS, IS THAT THE ARTISTS UNDERSTAND WE APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, THE EFFORTS THEY PUT IN TO SUBMIT SOMETHING.
[TOWN ATTORNEY]
MOVING ON TO REPORTS, TOWN ATTORNEY.I WANT TO REPORT TO THE COUNCIL.
YOU WILL RECALL THAT YOU HAD SOME CITIZENS HERE COMPLAINING ABOUT A NUISANCE ACTIVITY INVOLVING A LARGE NUMBER OF CATS ON A PROPERTY AND ROAMING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD THERE.
WE ARE REQUIRED BY LAW BEFORE WE ACTUALLY FILE A NUISANCE COMPLAINT TO...
SERVE THE PROPERTY OWNER WITH A NOTICE AND REQUEST THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER ABATE THE NUISANCE.
THE LAW REQUIRES US TO SERVE TWO NOTICES.
THE FIRST NOTICE WAS SERVED BY OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENT ON MONDAY.
THE PROPERTY OWNER HAS TEN DAYS TO ABATE THE NUISANCE.
IF THE PROPERTY OWNER DOES NOT ABATE THE NUISANCE, THE SECOND NOTICE GOES OUT AND THEY HAVE 14 DAYS TO ABATE THE NUISANCE.
IF THE NUISANCE IS NOT ABATED AT THAT POINT, WE WILL FILE A COMPLAINT AND SEEK A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION TO REQUIRE THAT THE NUISANCE BE ABATED.
THAT, OF COURSE, IS A LEGAL PROCEEDING IN FRONT
[01:45:02]
OF A CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE.AND WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT WE WON'T HAVE TO GO TO THAT EXTENT.
SINCE THIS PROBLEM, NUISANCE HAS EXISTED FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND A CODE ENFORCEMENT ORDER HAS BEEN ACCRUING A FINE FOR I BELIEVE IT'S TWO YEARS SINCE THAT WAS ENTERED.
IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER HAS QUITE YET GOTTEN THE MESSAGE.
BUT WE'VE DONE WHAT WE CAN LEGALLY AT THIS POINT AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO PROSECUTE THE TOWN'S DESIRE TO ABATE THAT NUISANCE.
JUST A COMMENT ON THAT, AND I'LL LET MY COLLEAGUES COMMENT ON IT, TOO.
FIRST OF ALL, WE DID GET A COPY OF THE LETTER THAT WENT IN.
THOSE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT HAVE COME UP TO US OVER THE YEARS, YOU KNOW, I SINCERELY APOLOGIZE AND REGRET WHAT THEY'VE GONE THROUGH.
I'M GRATEFUL TO OUR TOWN ATTORNEY, HAVE OFFERED TO STEP IN, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE PROCESS...
WITHOUT YOUR TAKING US DOWN THIS PATH, THIS COULD HAVE GONE ON FOR YEARS.
SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE HOW THIS TRANSPIRES, AND HOPEFULLY IT'LL BRING COMPLIANCE.
ALTHOUGH I'M NOT HOPEFUL OF THAT, ONLY BECAUSE I DO REMEMBER A CASE SOME YEARS AGO WHERE SOMEBODY WENT ON FOR A DECADE OR MORE.
I CAN'T REMEMBER WHERE THAT ONE WAS, SO THIS SEEMS LIKE...
AN INDIVIDUAL THAT YOU KNOW HASN'T BEEN, HASN'T BEEN AFFECTED BY A MAGISTRATE'S ORDER IN TWO YEARS OF FINES AND WHATEVER BUT BUT WE ALL HOPE FOR THAT'S WHY WE CALL IT CODE COMPLIANCE AS OPPOSED TO CODE ENFORCEMENT HOPEFULLY. SO, IN IN A MONTH'S TIME, AFTER TWO NOTICES THEN, IF WE DON'T HAVE WHAT YOU'VE JUST REPORTED, IF IT HASN'T BEEN RESOLVED THEN YOU GO TO...
ANY ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR FROM THE DAIS? I THINK THAT WAS A BIG DECISION AND I THINK I'M GRATEFUL TO YOU TOWN ATTORNEY FOR TAKING IT ON.
WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF INCIDENTS AROUND TOWN.
ONE ONE WENT AWAY BUT IT WAS AN INDIAN CREEK AND IT WAS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
SO IT'S JUST NICE TO SEE THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING TO BRING THIS TO A RESOLUTION AND IF IT WORKS.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE MANY CASES LIKE THIS.
THEY'RE PRETTY RARE, BUT IF THEY HAPPEN, WE MIGHT HAVE A COURSE OF ACTION TO MORE QUICKLY RESOLVE PROBLEMS LIKE THIS.
TO SOME DEGREE, BECAUSE IT INVOLVED PALM BEACH COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL, I THINK AT LEAST MY PERCEPTION WAS AT THE BEGINNING, IT WAS THEY WERE GOING TO MAYBE GET SUCCESS HERE.
AND I'M NOT TRYING TO PASS BLAME.
I'M JUST SUGGESTING THAT THAT'S THE WAY THIS PROCESS HAS GONE.
AND I THINK WE HAD TO FOLLOW THAT PROCESS ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO THE MAGISTRATE TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE NOW.
SO WE WOULD HAVE TO DO THAT REGARDLESS.
HAS PALM BEACH COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL BEEN RELUCTANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THESE ANIMALS? NO, THEY WEREN'T THERE.
I MEAN, THE POPULATION WAS, THERE WAS SOME SUCCESS FROM THAT.
THE POPULATION WAS REDUCED, BUT IT WAS STILL BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT IT'S STILL GOING ON.
SO I JUST WONDER WHAT ROLE THEY PLAY IN THIS WHOLE THING RATHER THAN.
THE TOWN HAD TO TAKE THE ACTION AGAINST THE HOMEOWNERS.
THE POPULATION, WE UNDERSTAND, WAS REDUCED.
YEAH, IT WAS QUIET FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
IT WAS REDUCED AND THEN REPLENISHED.
WELL, NEVER MANAGED, SO IT WAS REDUCED AND THEN IT...
WAS IT MANAGED TO THE POINT WHERE THEY REMOVED THE CATS, NEUTERED AND THEN RETURNED THEM TO THE SCENE, WHICH IS PRETTY COMMON PRACTICE? CORRECT? YEAH.
BUT OTHERS CAME IN AND THEY REPRODUCED AND I BELIEVE THEY'RE BUILDING A NEW FACILITY.
YEAH, I'VE SEEN SIMILAR SITUATIONS, SORT OF ONE OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THEY TOOK FERALS BROUGHT HIM BACK, YOU KNOW, NEUTERED, BROUGHT HIM BACK AND THEY JUST STAYED OUTSIDE ALL THE TIME AND THEY
[TOWN MANAGER]
SLOWLY JUST KIND OF DIED OFF THOUGH.NO ONE'S IN THE FILTER AND, SO.
TOWN MANAGER. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO START OUT WITH ABOUT A YEAR AGO TODAY, WE MADE THIS REALLY GREAT DECISION OF HIRING MARIANNE AS OUR TOWN CLERK, AND SHE'S CELEBRATING HER ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY WITH THE TOWN TODAY.
SHE'S BEEN A GREAT ADDITION HERE AND SHE'S DOING A GREAT JOB.
[01:50:01]
SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS ARE NOW IN FULL SWING, HARD TO BELIEVE, SERVING A TOTAL OF 554 CHILDREN THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.LAST WEEK, OUR SPORTS CAMP KICKED OFF, WELCOMING 211 PARTICIPANTS AGES 5 TO 14 AT FACILITIES ACROSS TOWN.
AND YESTERDAY, WE OFFICIALLY OPENED OUR SUMMER DAY CAMP PROGRAM WITH 343 CAMPERS, ALSO RANGING IN AGE FROM 5 TO 14.
THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE SAFE, ENGAGING, AND ENRICHING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUNG RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, AND I WANT TO THANK OUR PARKS AND RECREATION STAFF FOR THEIR HARD WORK IN MAKING ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL CAMP SEASON POSSIBLE.
IF YOU GET A CHANCE TO STOP BY, IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE ALL THE KIDS RUNNING AROUND OVER THERE.
THE WHOLE CAMPUS COMES ALIVE, SO REALLY, REALLY GOOD.
I WANTED TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT BUSH ROAD WILL BE CLOSED TO THROUGH TRAFFIC FROM THIS TIME.
THURSDAY, JUNE 18TH THROUGH FRIDAY, JULY 3RD.
THIS IS TO ALLOW THE SEAGLASS TOWNHOMES PROJECT BEING BUILT AT 550 BUSH ROAD TO TIE INTO THE WASTEWATER PIPE THAT RUNS DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.
RESIDENTS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR HOMES FROM INDIAN TOWN ROAD AND TONY PENDER DRIVE, DEPENDING UPON WHICH SIDE OF THE CONSTRUCTION THEY LIVE ON.
TOWN STAFF IS CLOSELY MONITORING THE WORK AND WILL ENCOURAGE THE EXPEDITED COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT.
THERE'S A STRONG CHANCE WE'LL BE ABLE TO CLOSE IT SOONER.
I MEAN OPEN IT SOONER, HOWEVER I DON'T WANT TO COMMIT TO THAT AND PUT THE WHAMMY ON MYSELF, SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM.
OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST THREE MONTHS, THREE LONG-TERM ANCHORED VESSELS HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM JUPITER'S WATERWAYS AS PART OF THE TOWN'S ONGOING STRATEGIC INITIATIVE AIMED AT PROTECTING JUPITER'S WATERWAYS.
SINCE THE BEGINNING OF 2024, 24 AT-RISK OR DERELICT VESSELS...
THEY HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM JUPITER'S WATERWAY, SO I WANT TO THANK THE CHIEF AND THE TEAM OVER THERE AT THE JPD.
I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE TONY DEKUA, WHO IS THE TOWN'S CHIEF WATER PLANT OPERATOR.
HE WAS NAMED THE SOUTHEAST DESALTING ASSOCIATION 2026 OPERATOR OF THE YEAR AT THE ORGANIZATION'S ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM LAST WEEK.
TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE SCOPE OF THIS, THIS ORGANIZATION INCLUDES WATER TREATMENT PLANTS FROM 11 STATES, FROM AS FAR NORTH AS WEST VIRGINIA AND KENTUCKY.
DOWN TO FLORIDA AND OVER TO LOUISIANA.
ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE HUNTER GAINES AND THE TOWN'S BUILDING DEPARTMENT FOR RECENTLY RECEIVING HIS LICENSE AS A STANDARD BUILDING INSPECTOR.
HUNTER WAS THE FIRST TOWN EMPLOYEE TO ENTER AND COMPLETE THE TOWN'S BUILDING INSPECTOR INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.
I WANTED TO REMIND EVERYONE OF THE UPCOMING SWEARING-IN CEREMONY FOR FOUR NEW POLICE OFFICERS WHO RECENTLY BEGAN THEIR CAREERS WITH THE JUPITER POLICE DEPARTMENT.
CEREMONY IS SET FOR MONDAY, JUNE 22ND AT 2 P.M.
AND FINALLY, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE SOME EMPLOYEES WHO ARE CELEBRATING WORK ANNIVERSARIES WITH THE TOWN IN JUNE. FREDERICK LEE, A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WITH THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT, IS CELEBRATING FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE.
JIM BROWN, A BUILDING OFFICIAL, IS CELEBRATING TEN YEARS WITH THE TOWN.
AND THIS ONE IS HARD FOR ME TO BELIEVE.
CAPTAIN JOE FARINACCI OF THE JUPITER POLICE DEPARTMENT IS CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF SERVICE DOWN AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THEM
[TOWN COUNCIL – LIAISON REPORTS AND COMMENTS]
ON THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS.THAT'S SWEARING IN CEREMONY FOR THOSE FOUR NEW JPD.
IT WASN'T ON OUR CALENDARS YET.
YEAH, I'LL GET WITH THE CHIEF.
AND THE ONLY OTHER THING, YOU STOLE MY THUNDER.
I WAS GOING TO CONGRATULATE TONY TAKUA FOR HIS ASSOCIATION, FOR HIS SELECTION AS THE OPERATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD.
AND ALSO, I THOUGHT THAT WAS PRETTY NEAT ABOUT HUNTER GAINES GOING THROUGH THE JUPITER.
WELL, WE HAD A, I GUESS, A FLORIDA-APPROVED BUILDING INSPECTOR, I MEAN, INTERN PROGRAM THAT HE VOLUNTARILY PARTICIPATED IN, WORKED SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH A MORE EXPERIENCED INSPECTOR.
AND RECEIVED HIS LICENSE FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES REGISTRATION.
SO THAT'S REALLY GREAT THAT WE HAD OUR OWN IN-HOUSE PEOPLE TAKE THAT TRAINING AND SUCCEED IN IT.
COUNSELOR, WE'RE DOING THAT AT SO MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS RIGHT NOW WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION, HELPING OUR EMPLOYEES GET TO THE NEXT LEVEL AND PURSUING THEIR CAREERS.
IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO WATCH.
ANOTHER THING I WANTED TO THANK THE TOWN STAFF, PARTICULARLY SCOTT REYNOLDS.
THEY'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK AND ALSO WITH SUPPORT OF JUPITER FIRE LEADERSHIP.
AS FAR AS IN THE LAST, I THINK, SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, AT LEAST THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS, PULLING TOGETHER THE STUDY, BRINGING FORTH THE NAV
[01:55:02]
PROPOSAL, THEN THE ASSESSMENT, A LOT OF HARD WORK IN THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS OF GOING INTO THIS.AND I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE EFFORT.
THEY'VE ANSWERED ALL THE QUESTIONS.
THE VIDEO THEY PUT OUT LAST WEEK IS PHENOMENAL.
IT ANSWERED SO MANY QUESTIONS THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAD.
HATS OFF TO THEM, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK THAT WENT INTO THIS.
COUNCILOR SUNDSTROM? WELL, DITTO.
I WILL SAY I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO OUR FINANCE TEAM AND TO STAFF ON NAV.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO US WHEN WE SPOKE ABOUT THE COMMUNICATION ISSUE, FOR PUTTING YOURSELVES OUT THERE WITH THE VIDEO, SCOTT, AND WITH THE CALCULATOR AND THE E-MAIL.
IT REMINDS ME A BIT OF OLD TIMES WITH FIRE RESCUE, AND I DO ALWAYS THINK MORE COMMUNICATION IS BETTER, SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS WONDERFUL.
ON HAPPY WORLD SEED TURTLE DAY, EVERYBODY, THAT IS TODAY, AND PERHAPS IT'S GREAT TIMING, BUT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE SAW A LOT OF THAT EARLY ON IN THIS MEETING, AND I THINK THERE'S JUST A LOT OF ANXIETY AMONG NEIGHBORS.
AND A FEW QUESTIONS, AS THE NEWS CAME OUT, CAME OUT CHANNEL FIVE HAD SPOKEN ABOUT A MEETING TOMORROW. I THINK MAYBE SOME RESIDENTS ARE PLANNING TO ATTEND. I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S A PUBLIC MEETING.
I THINK IT'S A STAKEHOLDER MEETING BUT I JUST WANTED TO ASK JPD BECAUSE YOU ARE THE EXPERTS. YOU'VE BEEN NAVIGATING THIS WITH US. I RECEIVED A BRIEFING FROM YOU TODAY. I UNDERSTAND NOW THE NUMBER OF LAYERS TO THIS JURISDICTIONAL, THE LEGAL VERSUS GUIDELINES, ALL OF IT BUT IF YOU COULD JUST KIND OF GIVE US LIKE A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THE MEETING IS AND KIND OF HOW YOU VIEW THINGS.
THAT MAY HELP ALL OF US AS WE CONTINUE TO LEARN AND DISCUSS THIS ISSUE.
MR. MAYOR, TOWN COUNCIL, DEPUTY CHIEF KIM BARKER WITH THE JUPITER POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AS YOU HEARD TODAY, THIS IS A VERY COMPLEX ISSUE, NAVIGATING VARIOUS CHALLENGES FROM JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES, LEGAL RIGHTS, PROPERTY OWNER RIGHTS, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PUBLIC TO GATHER IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE.
AS WE ASSESS THIS SITUATION, SO THESE PARTIES ARE OCCURRING ON SATURDAY NIGHTS FROM 6:30 TO 10, AS YOU MAY HAVE HEARD.
AND THERE'S VARIOUS CHALLENGES AS FAR AS STATUTORY LAWS AND THINGS ARE CONCERNED.
SO WE HAVE RESEARCHED, WE'VE BEEN OUT THERE, WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO THE FOLKS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THIS, AND THEN WE'VE COME UP WITH AN ACTION PLAN.
AND BEFORE WE GET INTO ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS AND TRYING TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THE CHALLENGES THAT HAVE PRESENTED THEMSELVES, WHAT WE DECIDED TO DO ULTIMATELY UNDER THE CHIEF'S DIRECTION IS JUST A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH.
WE'RE TALKING TO ALL THE DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS.
I'M TALKING TO PEOPLE WITH ERM.
I'M TALKING TO PEOPLE WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY.
AND I'M TALKING TO THE EVENT ORGANIZERS THEMSELVES.
WE NEED TO ALL GET TOGETHER, MUTUALLY TOGETHER, AND SAY, HEY, WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS? WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS? WHAT ARE SOME OF THE GUIDELINES? WHAT ARE SOME OF THE DIFFERENT STATUTES? I SPOKE TO THE EVENT ORGANIZER PERSONALLY, AND THEY SEEM VERY WILLING TO WORK WITH ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS SO THAT THEY CAN DO THEIR EVENT IF THEY CHOOSE TO DO SO.
AND HOW DO WE PROTECT? ALL THE RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED, PROTECT THE SEA TURTLES, PROTECT THE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO GO THERE, AND PROTECT THE PROPERTY OWNERS AT THE END OF THE DAY.
SO EVERYBODY SEEMED VERY WILLING TO WORK TOGETHER, SO WHAT WE DID IS A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH.
WE SAID, HEY, WHY DON'T WE ALL JUST MEET OVER AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT? SO IT IS A STAKEHOLDER MEETING SO THAT WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER.
AND SOME FOLKS SAID, HEY, CAN I BRING SOME GUYS ON MY SIDE OF IT? AND THEN WE JUST PARKED THAT RIGHT THERE, AND WE SAID, WE DON'T HAVE SIDES.
SO WE'RE GOING TO SET THAT ROOM UP SO THAT THERE'S NO SIDES.
WE'RE ALL WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS ISSUE.
THE FOLKS FROM LOGGERHEAD MARINE, THEY'LL BE THERE, AND THERE'LL BE VARIOUS DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS SO THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE GUIDANCE FROM THE EXPERTS AT LOGGERHEAD MARINE.
WHAT CAN WE DO WITH THIS EVENT? THEY'RE ALREADY VERY COMPLIANT AND WILLING TO WORK FROM VARIOUS DIFFERENT LIGHTING THINGS.
I DON'T BELIEVE THEY HAVE INTENTION TO CAUSE HARM, AND THAT'S A GREAT PLACE TO START FROM IS JUST COMMUNICATION WITH EVERYBODY INVOLVED.
SO WE'RE ALL GOING TO GET TOGETHER.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT LAWS.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT GUIDELINES.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE VARIOUS DIFFERENT CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE PRESENTED WITH.
AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO COLLABORATIVELY WORK TOGETHER TO COME UP WITH A RESOLUTION.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO START FROM BEFORE WE GO DOWN SOME OTHER ROADS.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA PERSONALLY, BUT I HEAR THERE'S A LOT OF BASHING BACK AND FORTH.
AND IF WE CAN JUST AVOID ALL THAT, COME TOGETHER, HAVE SOME COMMUNICATION, AND LET'S START FROM THERE BEFORE WE KIND OF GO DOWN THE OTHER ROADS.
ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS HAVE A LOT OF BUY-IN ON THIS.
AND THEY SAID, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
I HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY CONFLICT COMING BACK SAYING THEY DON'T WANT TO MEET.
SO WE'RE SETTING IT UP AND KIND OF, AS I SAID, THE KNIGHTS
[02:00:01]
OF THE ROUNDTABLE TYPE OF SITUATION.WE'RE ALL JUST GOING TO WORK TOGETHER ON THIS AND NOT HAVE OPPOSING SIDES.
I THINK IT'S VERY HELPFUL FOR RESIDENTS TO KNOW THAT.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU AND TO THE ENTIRE JPD JUST FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
FOR YOUR PROACTIVE APPROACH TO GO AHEAD AND REACH OUT TO ALL OF THESE PEOPLE AND TRY TO BRING THEM TOGETHER AND COME UP WITH A SOLUTION.
I MEAN, IT REALLY WAS COMPLICATED AS YOU BRIEFED ME ON IT, SO I'M SURE THERE'S A LOT TO LEARN TOMORROW.
AND I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST OF LUCK, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE ABOUT HOW THINGS PROGRESS, AND I'M SURE WE'LL KEEP EVERYONE POSTED.
I HAVE ONE COMMENT TO MAKE, AND I DON'T TAKE THIS AS A QUESTION.
SO I KNOW WHEN THIS HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS ALL OF US, SOME OF US REACHED OUT TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT ASKING WHAT CAN BE DONE.
AND FIRST STEP WAS TO SEE WHAT ARE THE LAWS, WHAT CAN BE DONE.
AND I'M VERY PROFESSIONAL HOW THAT'S ALL BEEN DONE.
AND MAYBE THERE'LL BE A HAPPY ENDING.
BUT THERE MAY BE ANOTHER GROUP.
SO ALONG WITH THIS PROCESS, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU NAVIGATE TOMORROW AND HOPEFULLY SOME SATISFACTORY SOLUTION, I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE'S LAWS OR GUIDELINES THAT WE, THE COUNCIL, SHOULD ENACT THAT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER TO DO SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE SOMEBODY ELSE COULD COME ALONG.
IN FACT, WE'VE HAD THEM IN THE PAST.
MAYBE IT WASN'T TURTLE NESTING SEASON.
SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO KNOW, IS THERE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT BOTH CODE COMPLIANCE AND OUR POLICE ARE LIMITED BY JUST WHAT'S ON THE BOOKS.
SO IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DONE, AND MAYBE THE TOWN ATTORNEY WOULD HAVE TO WEIGH IN, BUT WHATEVER, COME BACK TO US.
I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE THIS AS A HAPPY ENDING, ASSUMING THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS, AND THEN SOME OTHER EVENT HAPPENS.
IS THERE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO? CERTAINLY IF THOSE THINGS TAKE US TIME TO DO, BUT PERHAPS THERE'S SOMETHING WE COULD ENACT.
SIGNAGE WOULD GO UP THEY WOULD KNOW YOU KNOW INTERNAL SEASON NESTING SEASON AND NIGHTTIME AND WHATEVER MAYBE WE CAN'T BUT JUST PLEASE WE WANT TO DO OUR ROLE IF THERE'S A ROLE FOR US TO TAKE. YEAH. SURE.
YEAH. I THINK, I MEAN, WE ALWAYS, YOU GUYS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE THOUGHT LEADERS. YOU'VE COME TO US. YOU'VE THE ORDINANCE AROUND E-BIKES ALL OF THAT. SO, YOU'VE BEEN REALLY THOUGHTFUL ABOUT ALL OF THE SECOND, THIRD ORDER EFFECTS, HOW IT UNIQUELY FITS JUPITER. WHATEVER YOU COME TO US WITH, YOU KNOW THAT WE'LL SUPPORT, BUT THAT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY, THAT YOU HAVE OUR SUPPORT, AND IF YOU DO SEE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO, PLEASE BRING IT TO US.
YES, YOU'LL HAVE A FULL DEBRIEF ANALYSIS.
DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? YEAH, DON'T GO ANYWHERE.
YOU REMEMBER A BUNCH OF YEARS AGO, FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO, THE RADIO POLL DOWN IN THE BLUFFS WITH THE CONDOMINIUM FOLKS? YES.
REMEMBER ALL THAT WEEK, AND WE GOT ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER UPSTAIRS OF THE OWN TOWN HALL, AND WE WELL, YOU SAID ONE, MAYBE, I THINK ONE OR TWO MEETINGS, AND WE HASHED IT OUT, AND IT WENT UP, AND THERE WAS STILL A COUPLE STRAGGLERS THAT DIDN'T LIKE IT, BUT ONCE IT WAS UP, THEY REALIZED IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL, YOU DON'T EVEN NOTICE IT, RIGHT? SURE.
THE APPROACH YOU'RE TAKING IS THE BEST APPROACH TO TAKE.
THE INITIAL COMMUNICATION IS USUALLY THE BEST.
HASH IT OUT, AND THEN YOU GUYS FIGURE OUT THE CONTROLLING LEGAL AUTHORITY THING AND HOW WE'RE WORKING IT ALL OUT THAT WAY, SO I APPRECIATE THAT.
WHEN IS THE MEETING? WHAT'S THAT? WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO MEET? WE'RE MEETING TOMORROW.
WHAT TIME? TOMORROW AFTERNOON.
AT 2? WAS IT? I MIGHT GO TO THAT.
DO YOU NOTICE THAT IF I GO? YEAH, WE'LL TALK LATER.
MAYBE YOU DON'T WANT ME THERE.
IT MAY NOT BE FOR US TO BE THERE.
YEAH, THAT MAY BE A SENSITIVE CONVERSATION.
LIKE, YOU DON'T HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA.
THERE'S A LOT OF CONSTERNATION, AND THEY'RE GOING BACK AND FORTH, AND IT'S UGLY.
IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE A BALANCE BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, RESIDENCE RIGHTS.
THE WILDLIFE'S RIGHTS, IT'S AN ISSUE.
SO THERE'S A LOT GOING ON THERE.
AND THAT'S OUR GOAL IS TO LET'S FIND OUT EVERYBODY'S INTEREST AND THEN WHAT CAN WE DO TO MOVE FORWARD COLLABORATIVELY. THANK YOU.
COUNCIL SUNDSTROM, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? NO, THAT'S ALL.
AND I THANK YOU, JPD. MAYOR, I JUST HAD ONE MORE. SOME OF THE COMMENTS BROUGHT UP EL SOL. I KNOW ME PERSONALLY. I THINK I BROUGHT UP THE EL SOL AT SOME POINT. NEED TO MOVE ON BECAUSE YOU KNOW WE ALL APPRECIATE FORMER COUNCIL YOU KNOW GETTING THAT TOGETHER SOLVING THE PROBLEM DOWN ON ON CENTER STREET BUT IT WASN'T A FOREVER DEAL. IF YOU LOOK AT IT AND I THINK THE LADY THAT
[02:05:03]
BROUGHT IT UP WAS, SHE'S FROM NORTH PALM BEACH. WE REPRESENT THE TAXPAYERS OF JUPITER AND WE LEASED THAT BUILDING FOR A DOLLAR A YEAR TO EL SOL. SO, WE'RE SORT OF SUBSIDIZING EL SOL'S THEIR THEIR THEIR THEIR WORKPLACE AND WE DON'T DO IT FOR ANYBODY ELSE.SO, IT'S, THERE'S A FAIRNESS VALUE AND THAT'S A VALUED PIECE OF REAL ESTATE FOR THE TOWN THAT'S ON OUR CAMPUS. NO ONE WANTS TO CLOSE THEM DOWN. WE'LL HELP THEM MOVE. WE JUST WANT THEM TO GET AN ACTION PLAN TOGETHER, START PUTTING MONEY, START LOOKING. NO ONE'S KICKING THEM OUT. WE JUST RENEWED THE, WHAT WAS IT, A FIVE-YEAR LEASE WITH OPTIONS. SO NO ONE'S KICKING THEM OUT. SO IT'S NOT FOREVER AND JUST WANTED TO KIND OF GET THAT IN THEIR BUSINESS MODEL.
THAT'S ALL. AND THAT'S IT, MAYOR. I JUST HAD ONE SMALL ONE. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? WE HAVE A PHENOMENAL ENGINEERING PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR. SO, HE'S PROBABLY ALREADY DOING THIS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE AND IT'S ON THE BUSH ROAD CLOSURE IT'S JUST THAT I HAPPEN TO HAVE HAD THE LAST CLOSURE. I SPENT PERSONAL TIME GOING THERE AND OBSERVING.
AND SO, I KNOW THAT THE SANITARY SEWER LINE IS WAY DOWN IN THE CENTER OF THE ROADWAY.
SO, NOT SURPRISED THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THAT. WE'LL TELL YOU, OBSERVING THAT CONTRACTOR, IT'S SO DEEP THAT THEY HAD TO COME IN AND PUT A SECOND LAYER OF DEWATERING. SO HOPEFULLY, IF HE HASN'T ALREADY DONE SO, MAKE SURE THAT OUR ENGINEERING DIRECTOR MAKES SURE THAT LOCKS RIVER'S CONTRACTOR KNOWS.
AND THEY SHOULD KNOW BECAUSE IT'S THEIR LINE. SO QUITE FRANKLY, IF THEY'RE THE ONES DOING THAT, IN THE CASE OF THE PREVIOUS ONE, IT WAS THE CONTRACTOR. SO I'M NOT SURE WHO'S DOING THAT WORK. BUT HAVE THEM BE PREPARED BECAUSE THERE WAS A TIMEOUT HAD TO BE TAKEN AND THE FURTHER DELAY. UNTIL THEY CAME IN AND DID THE SECOND LEVEL OF DEWATERING, YOU KNOW IN ORDER TO FINISH THE TIE-IN SO I'M GRATEFUL. IT'S HAPPENING WITH SCHOOL OUT OF SERVICE, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S NOT AS IMPACTFUL BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU WITH THAT. THE TIME IS NOW 9:07, WE’LL ADJOURN THE MEETING.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.