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[Call To Order]
07:00 PM, AND I'LL CALL TO ORDER THE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING OF TUESDAY, AUGUST 18TH. WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH AN INVOCATION FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND THEN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.OF ALL THOSE THAT ARE ABLE, PLEASE JOIN ME IN STANDING.
LET US PRAY. ALMIGHTY GOD, WE GATHER THIS EVENING THANKFUL FOR ANOTHER DAY AND FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING THIS COMMUNITY.
HELP US TO REMEMBER THAT LEADERSHIP IS ABOVE ALL AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE OUR NEIGHBORS. GRANT US WISDOM TO LISTEN AND HUMILITY TO CONSIDER WHAT IS BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
IN ALL THAT WE DO, MAY GRACE AND PEACE BE WITH US ALL.
AMEN. WE WILL NOW PAUSE FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. MAY WE HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE? MAYOR KURETSKI.
THANK YOU. AND TONIGHT IS A SPECIAL NIGHT FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, AND WE ARE WELCOMING ONE OF OUR NEWEST EMPLOYEES, AND I'D ASK OUR TOWN CLERK TO INTRODUCE HER. YES, SIR.
THANK YOU. WE HAVE WELCOMING TO THE TOWN CLERK'S OFFICE A NEW ASSISTANT TOWN CLERK, CHRISTINE FANKHAUSER. SHE JOINS US FROM CHARLOTTE COUNTY AND HAS A TON OF GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE. SHE HAS A MASTER'S IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND A MASTER'S IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, AND SHE'S STILL CONTINUING TO GO TO SCHOOL TO LEARN. SO, WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE HER ON THE TEAM. WELL, WE ARE TOO.
WELCOME. OKAY WE BEGIN TONIGHT.
[1. JFRD Update. ]
WE HAVE A PRESENTATION ON JFRD FIRE CHIEF. FIRE CHIEF.OKAY, THE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THOSE ATTENDING HERE IN PERSON, THOSE WATCHING FROM HOME, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE HONOR OF ALLOWING ME TO SERVE HERE AT JUPITER FIRE RESCUE. TONIGHT'S UPDATE IS GOING TO FOCUS ON OUR JOINT TRAINING WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE JOINT TRAINING WE ARE DOING WITH PALM BEACH GARDENS FIRE RESCUE, THE ARRIVAL OF OUR LADDER TRUCK, AND JUPITER FIRE RESCUE'S INTEGRATION INTO THE NORTHCOM REGIONAL DISPATCH CENTER. SO JFRD HAS BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH JUPITER POLICE ON SEVERAL FRONTS. ON JULY 27TH, 28TH, AND 29TH, JUPITER FIRE RESCUE PERSONNEL PARTICIPATED IN A MULTI-DAY ACTIVE ASSAILANT MASS CASUALTY EXERCISE AT ONE OF THE LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. WE DID THIS ALONGSIDE OF THE JUPITER POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS INSTRUCTORS FROM A COMPANY CALLED FLORIDA TACTICAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SUPPORT. THIS EXERCISE STRENGTHENED OUR INTERAGENCY COORDINATION, JOINT INCIDENT COMMAND, TACTICAL MEDICAL RESPONSE, AND PATIENT CARE DURING WHAT WILL LIKELY BE OR COULD LIKELY BE ONE OF THE MOST COMPLEX AND CHALLENGING EMERGENCIES A COMMUNITY SUCH AS OURS COULD FACE. AND SO, THIS WAS DONE THROUGH A SERIES OF REALISTIC SCENARIOS WHERE JUPITER FIRE RESCUE AND JUPITER PD AND COMMAND STAFF FROM BOTH AGENCIES OPERATED TOGETHER IN A UNIFIED RESPONSE, REINFORCING COMMUNICATIONS, DECISION-MAKING, AND COORDINATED OPERATIONS UNDER VERY HIGH-STRESS, REALISTIC CONDITIONS. OUR SINCEREST THANKS GOES OUT TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE SCHOOL STAFF FOR OPENING UP THEIR BUILDING TO US. WITHOUT THAT TYPE OF ACCESS, WE COULDN'T DO THIS TYPE OF TRAINING. THE TRAINING WAS AN OVERWHELMING SUCCESS AND RECEIVED EXCEPTIONAL FEEDBACK FROM BOTH JFRD AND JPD PERSONNEL, AND THIS EXERCISE FURTHER STRENGTHENED THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN OUR AGENCIES AND SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCED OUR COLLECTIVE PREPAREDNESS TO RESPOND TO COMPLEX EMERGENCIES.
IN ADDITION, OUR FIREFIGHTERS HAVE BEEN RIDING WITH JPD OFFICERS TO GAIN A DEEPER INSIGHT INTO OUR COMMUNITY. NOTHING REPLACES GROUND-LEVEL KNOWLEDGE, AND OUR POLICE OFFICERS PATROL EVERY STREET, ALLEY,
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AND GATED COMMUNITY DAILY.SO, RIDING ALONGSIDE THEM HELPS OUR FIREFIGHTERS LEARN THE TOWN AT AN INTIMATE LEVEL. THIS INITIATIVE ALSO BUILDS FIRST-NAME BASIS TRUST BETWEEN OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND THE OFFICERS THEY WILL RELY ON DURING CRITICAL INCIDENTS.
MOREOVER, WORKING CLOSELY WITH JUPITER PD HELPS OUR PERSONNEL ABSORB AND ALIGNED WITH THE TOWN'S EXISTING CULTURE OF COMMUNITY POLICING AND CUSTOMER SERVICE, ENSURING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REFLECTS THE SAME HIGH STANDARDS RESIDENTS ALREADY EXPECT.
JUPITER FIRE RESCUE HAS ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE JUPITER POLICE DEPARTMENT MARINE TEAM. SO, WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO BE PREPARED FOR DAY ONE TO ENSURE OUR WATERWAYS HAVE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SERVICE POSSIBLE. WE'RE CONDUCTING JOINT TRAINING WHERE OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE PREPARING TO CO-STAFF THE JUPITER PD BOAT, POLICE BOAT, WITH A FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC.
AND WE'LL BE BRINGING ADVANCED EMERGENCY CARE RIGHT TO INCIDENTS ON THE WATERWAY.
OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH JPD TRULY WILL CREATE THE ULTIMATE LEVEL OF MARINE RESCUE AND ALS CARE FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO JUPITER. OUR MEMBERS HAVE ALSO SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITIONED INTO THE ADVANCED PHASE OF FIREFIGHTER TRAINING, COMPLETING COMPLEX HANDS-ON SKILLS AND SCENARIO-BASED EVOLUTIONS AT PALM BEACH GARDENS FIRE RESCUE'S TRAINING FACILITY. TRAINING IS FOCUSED ON BUILDING DECISION-MAKING, TEAMWORK, AND OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE UNDER REALISTIC CONDITIONS. WE CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH PALM BEACH GARDENS FIRE RESCUE AND WE'LL BE CONDUCTING JOINT LIVE-FIRE TRAINING EXERCISES WITH THEM SOON.
THESE EVOLUTIONS PROVIDE INVALUABLE EXPERIENCE OPERATING ALONGSIDE OUR NEIGHBORING AGENCY. WE'RE ALSO SENDING OUR MEMBERS TO RIDE WITH PALM BEACH GARDENS FIRE RESCUE.
THIS FACE-TO-FACE TIME HELPS DEVELOP STRONG RELATIONSHIPS THAT PAY DIVIDENDS WHEN OPERATING TOGETHER ON COMPLEX EMERGENCIES. WE'RE PREPARING FOR THE FULL RANGE OF EMERGENCIES THIS COMMUNITY CAN HANDLE. OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE RECEIVING SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTION IN TECHNICAL RESCUE, DIVE RESCUE, HELICOPTER OPERATIONS, AND WILDLAND FIREFIGHTING, PREPARING OUR PERSONNEL FOR THE MANY CHALLENGES AND EXPANDING ALL-HAZARDS CAPABILITIES.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ADMIRAL'S COVE MARINA, CREWS CONTINUE TO TRAIN ON MARINA OPERATIONS, BOAT FIRES, VESSEL EMERGENCIES, AND WATERFRONT RESCUE CONSIDERATIONS. THIS COLLABORATION ENSURES WE'RE PREPARED TO PROTECT ONE OF JUPITER'S MOST UNIQUE AND VALUABLE ASSETS. ITS WATERWAYS.
TRAINING REMAINS ON SCHEDULE ACROSS ALL DISCIPLINES, AND WE ARE CURRENTLY AHEAD OF OUR PROJECTED TRAINING BENCHMARKS. OUR MEMBERS' PROFESSIONALISM, COMMITMENT, AND PERFORMANCE CONTINUES TO EXCEED EXPECTATIONS AS WE PREPARE FOR OUR OCTOBER 1ST GO-LIVE DATE. SO ON AUGUST 4TH, OUR NEW PIERCE 105-FOOT LADDER TRUCK ARRIVED IN FORT MYERS FOR THE EQUIPMENT MOUNTING BRACKETS TO BE INSTALLED. ON AUGUST 10TH, IT WENT IN FOR GRAPHICS, AND JUST TODAY WE HAVE TAKEN DELIVERY OF OUR LADDER TRUCK.
I'M GOING TO FOLLOW SHAWN'S INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE THIS RIGHT. THERE.
SO, WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS A PICTURE OF THIS LADDER TRUCK.
IT'S RIGHT OUTSIDE. SO THIS, THIS TRUCK IS EXTREMELY SPECIAL. THE DESIGN WAS DEVELOPED IN-HOUSE BY SANDY MCCREADY, OUR GRAPHICS DESIGNER, AND I MIGHT MENTION THE EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR, AS WELL AS BATTALION CHIEF MIKE STALLINGS. TOGETHER THEY COLLABORATED ON THIS TO CREATE THIS DESIGN, WHICH IS IN HONOR OF FDNY STATION 10, THE STATION RIGHT NEXT TO THE TWIN TOWERS. AND, AND THIS IS THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY COMING UP OF 9/11. AND SO, THIS TRUCK IS IN HONOR OF THAT. OUR FIREFIGHTERS SPENT MUCH OF TODAY TRAINING ON THIS TRUCK, AS THEY WILL FOR MANY DAYS TO COME. WE'RE SO EXCITED TO HAVE THIS NEW LADDER TRUCK STATIONED HERE IN JUPITER. THIS IS A TRUE ENHANCEMENT TO THE SERVICES IN THIS TOWN. SOMEHOW, I SKIPPED A SLIDE. THERE WE GO.
NORTHCOM. SO NORTHCOM IS THE NORTHERN MUNICIPAL REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS CENTER AND PUBLIC SAFETY ANSWERING POINT, SOMETIMES CALLED A PSAP, FOR 911 CALLS IN THE NORTH END OF PALM BEACH COUNTY.
FOR MANY YEARS, NORTHCOM HAS PROVIDED 911 AND POLICE DISPATCH SERVICES FOR PALM BEACH GARDENS, JUPITER, JUNO,
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NORTH PALM BEACH, THE VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA, AND JUPITER INLET COLONY. TODAY, WHEN A 911 CALL COMES IN IN JUPITER, IT'S ANSWERED BY NORTHCOM AND THEN IT'S TRANSFERRED TO THE COUNTY'S FIRE DISPATCH CENTER.THAT IS A HANDOFF THAT IS A NORMAL FEATURE OF HOW THAT SYSTEM IS BUILT.
BUT IT COSTS TIME. BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, THAT STEP GOES AWAY FOR JUPITER AND PALM BEACH GARDENS. FIRE AND EMS CALLS WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO BE TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER DISPATCH CENTER, AND THEY'LL BE HANDLED DIRECTLY BY NORTHCOM. THIS WILL SAVE VALUABLE SECONDS AND PLACE BOTH POLICE AND FIRE IN BOTH OF THESE COMMUNITIES ALL ON THE SAME DISPATCH SYSTEM.
THE COMPUTER-AIDED DISPATCH SYSTEM HAS BEEN BUILT OUT AND TESTING IS COMPLETED, OUR JFRD MEMBERS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTING TRAINING WITH THE NORTHCOM DISPATCH CENTER TO GAIN A COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING OF DISPATCH OPERATIONS, EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS, RESOURCE DEPLOYMENT, AND HOW OUR FIELD OPERATIONS WILL INTEGRATE WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS CENTER DURING CRITICAL EMERGENCIES.
DISPATCH IS READY TO GO. SO WE'RE GETTING CLOSER, JUST 44 DAYS FROM NOW. JUPITER FIRE RESCUE WILL BEGIN PROVIDING FULL FIRE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES IN THE TOWN OF JUPITER. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM TONIGHT'S UPDATE, THIS DEPARTMENT IS PREPARING FOR EVERY POSSIBILITY. SO, MY MESSAGE TO YOU TONIGHT IS THE SAME AS THE LAST TIME. THE JUPITER FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT IS ON TIME, ON BUDGET, AND READY TO SERVE. THANK YOU.
I'LL TURN TO COUNCIL FOR COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.
COUNCILOR SUNDSTROM? NO, I JUST THANK YOU, AND IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE THAT YOU'LL BE RIDING WITH PALM BEACH GARDENS FIRE RESCUE. SO WONDERFUL. I HOPE YOU'RE STAYING COOL IN THIS HEAT. SO, THANK YOU ALL. THANKS FOR THE UPDATE.
THE TRUCK LOOKS BEAUTIFUL, THE GRAPHICS ARE FANTASTIC, AND I LOVE THE TRIBUTE TO THE FIREHOUSE UP AT GROUND ZERO AT 9/11. SO, THANK YOU, APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU AS WELL. THE TRIBUTE WAS HEARTFELT. GOOD SELECTION, GOOD NUMBER. JUST TELL ME QUICKLY ON NORTHCOM, HOW DO YOU DIFFERENTIATE THE COLLOQUIUMS IN THAT? WOULD BE JUPITER VERSUS PALM BEACH GARDENS? SO, WE'RE GOING TO TREAT ON THE FIRE SIDE, WE'RE GOING TO TREAT THE SYSTEM AS A SINGLE SYSTEM. ALL 10 OR ALL 9 STATIONS, THAT'S GARDEN, 6, AND OUR 3 STATIONS WILL FUNCTION SEAMLESSLY TOGETHER IRRESPECTIVE OF ANY BOUNDARIES. THE CLOSEST UNIT WILL GO TO THE CALL. WHEN THE CALL COMES IN, YOUR 911 NOW WITH THE CURRENT TECHNOLOGY, NEXTGEN 911, THE LOCATION THAT YOU'RE MAKING THAT CALL FROM ELECTRONICALLY GOES INTO A COMPUTER. THE COMPUTER ELECTRONICALLY POSITIONS THAT ON A MAP. AND THEN IT DETERMINES THE CLOSEST UNITS AND SENDS THE CLOSEST UNITS IRRESPECTIVE OF JURISDICTION.
FOR THE MOST PART, RIGHT, THE JURISDICTIONS WILL HOLD BECAUSE OUR STATIONS ARE JUST CLOSER TO OUR CALLS AND THEIRS CLOSER TO THEIRS. BUT IF ONE OF OUR STATIONS IS OUT AND ONE OF THEIRS IS CLOSER, THEY'LL FILL IN. ONE OF THEIRS IS OUT AND OURS IS CLOSER, WE'LL FILL IN AUTOMATICALLY.
THE COMPUTER WILL DO IT INSTANTLY. THAT'S GREAT. I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU.
JUST A FEW COMMENTS. I JUST WANT TO REFLECT, YOU KNOW, LIKE, OH MY, THIS IS JUST INCREDIBLE. JUST SEEING THAT LADDER TRUCK OUT THERE AND HAVING BEEN, HAVEN'T HAD THE PRIVILEGE WITH OUR TOWN MANAGER'S LEADERSHIP OF CREATING THIS FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE LEARNING THAT WE WENT THROUGH. I HAD NOTHING ABOUT, I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT, I'M NOT SUGGESTING I KNOW A LOT NOW, BUT NOTHING ABOUT IT. AND ALONG THE WAY JUST SHARE A FEW THINGS. NUMBER ONE, YOU KNOW, WE DID GET A TOUR OF THE PALM BEACH GARDENS TRAINING FACILITY. AND SO, I KNOW 3 OF US HAVE, AND BECAUSE IT HAPPENED 3 YEARS AGO, BUT IF THE VICE MAYOR OR COUNCILOR GUISINGER HADN'T HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY, I'D LIKE THAT FOR, DID YOU GET IT? NO. I'D LOVE TO. OKAY, I'D LIKE FOR THEM TO GET IT BECAUSE IT'S INCREDIBLE BECAUSE SEEING THAT AND KNOWING THAT WE HAVE A MUTUAL AID PARTNER THAT WE'RE COLLABORATIVELY WORKING WITH, BECAUSE WE DID WITH POLICE FOR DECADES VERY WELL, I'M JUST SO EXCITED. THOSE, YOU KNOW, 2 LARGE MUNICIPALITIES SIDE BY SIDE, AND THAT IS SUCH AN INCREDIBLE ASSET FOR TRAINING. YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST, I'M JUST THRILLED. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, AS THIS HAS EVOLVED THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SUCH A LADDER TRUCK AND WE HAVE A BRUSH TRUCK AND WE LEARNED WE'RE ORDERING A SECOND ONE AND WE'RE GOING TO BE A VALUED MUTUAL AID PARTNER BECAUSE WE CAN SEE US USING THOSE.
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WITHIN THE MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES. THE COUNTY HAD ONE IN JUNO BEACH AND WE MADE THE DECISION TO HAVE ONE, WHICH WAS CERTAINLY A PRUDENT DECISION, BUT I'M JUST THRILLED WITH HOW THIS IS COMING TOGETHER. I, I RUN IN OCCASIONALLY OUT AND ABOUT IN THE COMMUNITY TO TOWN FIREMEN AND FIREWOMEN AND PARAMEDICS, AND I GOT TO TELL YOU, CHIEF, THE ENTHUSIASM THAT I HEAR FROM THEM AND, AND THE CULTURE IS JUST INCREDIBLE. WHERE MAYBE I WAS FEELING A LITTLE BIT LIKE, GEE, ABACOA, SORRY YOU DON'T HAVE A STATION YET.NOTHING BUT ENTHUSIASM. I'M JUST THRILLED ABOUT THAT. AND THEN NORTHCOM, I REMEMBER WHEN WE VISITED AND GOT THE TOUR OF A GARDEN STATION. IT WAS THE ONE ON MILITARY TRAIL. AND I'LL NEVER FORGET THIS BECAUSE WHAT WAS EXPLAINED TO US BY THE PEOPLE WORKING IN THAT STATION. THEY SAID THEY SEE A POLICE OFFICER DISPATCHED, AND THEY LOOK AT THEIR WATCH AND THEY SAY, WE'RE GOING TO GET THE CALL IN ABOUT A MINUTE. BECAUSE THE DISPATCHING, AS WAS EXPLAINED TO YOU, THE 911 CALL GOES, WENT, GOES INTO NORTHCOM, AND THEN IT WAS GOING TO THE COUNTY TO BE DISPATCHED. SO, THERE WAS A 60-SECOND OR SO DELAY BEFORE IT WAS DISPATCHED. AND THAT'S A FACT. AND SO, THIS IS ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT PIECE I'M JUST SO THRILLED IS COMING TOGETHER, BECAUSE THAT'LL, YOU KNOW, THAT'LL CAN'T BUT HELP THE RESPONSE TIME.
AND SO, I JUST, AND THAT LADDER TRUCK, THAT IS, FIRST OF ALL, IT'S JUST AN INCREDIBLE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT. 105-FOOT LADDER.
I WOULD NEVER GET ON IT, CLIMB IT, BY THE WAY. I'M NOT SURE I WOULD HAVE EVER DONE IN MY YOUNGER YEARS, BUT SO GLAD THAT WE HAVE IT.
AND IT'S GOT TO BRING COMFORT TO PEOPLE FOR THE HIGH-RISES THAT WE HAVE AND THE HIGH-RISES IN, YOU KNOW, ADJOINING, YOU KNOW, TEQUESTA AND JUNO BEACH AND THE GARDENS, BECAUSE WE CAN PITCH IN AND MUTUAL AID.
SO, CHIEF, YOU'VE DONE A REMARKABLE JOB. YOU'VE GOT AN INCREDIBLE TEAM, AND WE'RE JUST ABSOLUTELY THRILLED AND EXCITED AND CAN'T WAIT. SO, THANK YOU.
AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT ALL THAT ENTHUSIASM THAT YOU SEE IN THOSE CREWS IS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T WAIT. THEY'RE VERY ANXIOUS TO GET OUT THERE.
UNDERSTAND THAT. THEY MAKE THAT CLEAR. THANK YOU. AND MOVING ON TO CITIZEN COMMENTS, DO WE HAVE ANY CITIZEN COMMENTS? NO, SIR. SEEING NONE
[2. August 6, 2026, Town Council Meeting Minutes. ]
MOVING ON TO THE MINUTES.COUNCIL, WE HAVE BEFORE US THE MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 6TH TOWN COUNCIL MEETING. I DON'T SEE ANY CORRECTIONS ON THE DAIS. IF THERE ARE NONE, I'LL TAKE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. SO, MOVED. SECOND. MOTION IS SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. AYE.
[CONSENT AGENDA ]
DOES ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WISH TO PULL A CONSENT AGENDA ITEM? NO, SIR. ANY MEMBER ON THE DAIS? SEEING NONE, UM FIRST WE HAVE 2 QUASI-JUDICIAL'S ONE ON ORDINANCE 3426 BEARERS CLUB PUA MAINTENANCE BUILDING PUD MODIFICATION. ANY QUASI-JUDICIAL'S TO REPORT? I HAVE NONE. NOT ON BEARERS CLUB. RESOLUTION 8626. DO WE HAVE ANY EX PARTE DISCLOSURES ON THAT? THAT'S SEA GLASS. I DID MEET WITH THE APPLICANT JUST FOR AN OVERVIEW. I MET WITH THE APPLICANT'S ARCHITECT FOR AN OVERVIEW. OKAY, AND I HAVE NONE. ALL RIGHT, SO WITH THAT, I'LL TAKE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.SO MOVED. SECOND. I THINK WE HAVE. I'D ASK MR. BAIRD TO READ ORDINANCE 34.
ORDINANCE 3426, AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF JUPITER, FLORIDA, APPROVING AMENDMENT TO THE BEARS CLUB PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT AUTHORIZING THE CONVERSION OF A PORTION OF THE COMMON AREA, TRACK B, TO FACILITATE THE WIDENING OF BEARS CLUB DRIVE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MAINTENANCE AREA, PROVIDING FOR WAIVERS REGARDING SETBACKS AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WE HAD A MOTION, I GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND, DIDN'T I? YEAH, YOU GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. YOU SECONDED, YES. ALL
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IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. MOVING ON[TOWN ATTORNEY ]
TO REPORTS. TOWN ATTORNEY.WELL, I SEE I HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO GIVE MY REPORT TONIGHT. I DISTRIBUTED TO YOU AN EXCHANGE OF EMAILS BETWEEN PHILIPPE JACK, WHO'S THE ATTORNEY FOR MR. MODICA'S LLCS, AND I DISTRIBUTED THEM BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED THAT THEY ARE NOT ADHERING TO THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT THAT THEY EXECUTED WITH THE TOWN. AND SPECIFICALLY, IF YOU LOOK AT THE EMAIL FROM MR. JACK FIRST, THE FIRST THING HE COMMENTS ON IS THAT THE WORDING OF THE COVENANTS THAT RESTRICT USES ON THE PROPERTIES THAT THE TOWN WILL BE ACQUIRING ARE NOT, ARE CONCEPTUAL ONLY IN HIS MIND. AND SO, AS A RESULT, HE SUBMITTED TO STAFF SOME COVENANTS THAT WERE FAR MORE DETAILED THAN WHAT THE TOWN AGREED TO WITH HIS CLIENT IN THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.
JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WENT INTO THE NEWLY CREATED BY MR. JACK, THEY WANTED TO, ON THE TOWN'S PARK PROPERTY, LIMIT THE ACTIVITIES THAT COULD OCCUR ON THE PARK, LIMIT THE HOURS OF THE PARK, AND A HOST OF OTHER THINGS THAT JUST WERE OUTSIDE OF THE LANGUAGE THAT THE TOWN AND MR. MODICA HAD AGREED TO. THE SECOND ISSUE THAT HAS ARISEN IS THAT THEY SUBMITTED TO THE TOWN STAFF IN MARCH A DOCUMENT THAT THEY REFER TO AS THE ESSENTIAL TERMS. THOSE ESSENTIAL TERMS DESCRIBE THINGS SPECIFIC TO THEIR SITE PLAN THAT WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THOSE PARTICULAR ITEMS, AND I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO DETAIL BECAUSE THIS IS A QUASI-JUDICIAL ITEM THAT MAY STILL COME BEFORE YOU.
BUT THE ESSENCE OF IT WAS THESE ARE NON-NEGOTIABLE. IF YOU DON'T ACCEPT THE PLAN THAT WE'RE ESSENTIALLY PRESENTING TO YOU, THEN WE SEE NO REASON TO CONTINUE TO PROCESS OUR APPLICATION.
SO, THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT REQUIRES, AND IT'S IN A SECTION ENTITLED OBLIGATIONS, IT REQUIRES THE SUBMISSION OF VARIOUS APPLICATIONS TO REALIZE THE CONCEPTUAL PROJECT THAT WAS APPROVED ONLY AS PART OF A CONCEPTUAL IDEA IN THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.
AND IT ALSO PLACES ON THE TOWN OBLIGATIONS TO PROCESS THAT SITE PLAN, TO THE TOWN STAFF TO REVIEW THE APPLICATIONS. IT BYPASSES THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION AS A CONCESSION AS PART OF THAT SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.
AND THEN IT REQUIRES THE TOWN COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THAT APPLICATION.
ONCE THE COUNCIL ENTERS INTO DELIBERATION UNDER THE TERMS OF THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, IF THERE IS A MATERIAL TERM, WHICH IS REFERENCED IN THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WHAT THOSE MATERIAL TERMS ARE, TO WHICH MR. MODICA OBJECTS, THEN HE CAN EITHER ASK FOR A POSTPONEMENT OF THE APPLICATION SO THAT THE ISSUES, WHATEVER THEY MAY BE, MIGHT BE FURTHER DISCUSSED AND BROUGHT BACK TO COUNCIL, OR HE CAN WITHDRAW THE APPLICATION. AND AT THAT POINT, WE EITHER RETURN TO THE FLUEDRA MEDIATION PROCESS, OR HE GETS TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH HIS LAWSUIT THAT WAS ESSENTIALLY OFFERED TO THE TOWN BEFORE WE ENTERED INTO THE FLUEDRA PROCESS. SO WHAT I HAVE DONE IS, I HAVE RESPONDED TO MR. JACK IN THE SECOND EMAIL THAT YOU SEE, AND MY RESPONSE IS, I THINK, PRETTY TO THE POINT. IT
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BASICALLY SAYS, UNDER THE TERMS OF THE MEDIATED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, WE AGREED TO WHAT THE LANGUAGE OF THE COVENANTS WERE. AND THE TOWN IS CERTAINLY WILLING TO LIVE BY ITS AGREEMENT IN THAT SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.AND SECONDLY, IT SAYS THAT WE AGREED THAT IT WAS OUR OBLIGATION TO PROCESS YOUR APPLICATIONS, AND WE AGREED THAT YOU WOULD SUBMIT AND PROCESS THE APPLICATIONS. AND THAT YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS TO FIND OUT WHAT THE COUNCIL'S FINAL POSITION IS ON THIS SITE PLAN AND PUD.
AT THIS POINT, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR POSITION IS. NO ONE KNOWS WHAT YOUR POSITION IS.
YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT YOUR POSITION IS BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET. SO, TO SUGGEST THAT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY AT THIS POINT IN THE PROCESS, WHICH IS REALLY AT THE BEGINNING, TO NOTIFY THE TOWN THAT THEY'RE SUSPENDING THEIR APPLICATIONS IS A THIRD PORTION OF THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT THAT IS VIOLATED.
SO, WHAT YOU MAY ASK IS THE REMEDY WHEN A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IS VIOLATED.
GENERALLY SPEAKING, SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS ARE TREATED LIKE CONTRACTS. WHEN A CONTRACT IS BREACHED, THE PARTY THAT DID NOT BREACH THE CONTRACT HAS A CAUSE OF ACTION AGAINST THE PARTY THAT DID BREACH THE CONTRACT. AND TYPICALLY, IT WOULD BE FOR, IN CASES LIKE THIS, IT WOULD BE FOR WHAT'S CALLED SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. IN OTHER WORDS, YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION UNDER THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT TO DO CERTAIN THINGS, AND YOU HAVEN'T DONE THEM, AND WE'RE GOING TO ASK THE COURT TO MAKE YOU DO THEM. THE OTHER PART OF THIS AGREEMENT THAT WILL BE BREACHED IF THAT HAPPENS IS THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO FINISH YOUR DELIBERATION BY THE END OF THE YEAR, AND THEY EITHER HAVE AN APPROVAL OR THEY DON'T HAVE AN APPROVAL.
SO, I'M UNSURE WHAT COUNCIL CAN DO AT THIS POINT. THIS IS KIND OF LIKE STATION 16. I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT IN OUR TOWN MANAGER'S HANDS AND MY HANDS TO SEE IF WE CAN PERHAPS PERSUADE MR. MODICA AND MR. JACK THAT THEY SHOULD HONOR THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT THEY ENTERED INTO. BUT IF WE CANNOT. WE'LL BE BACK. I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, ALTHOUGH I, YOU KNOW, NOT CONVERSANT IN THE SITE PLAN. I'VE BEEN THROUGH IT WITH STAFF, BUT AS I SAID, IT'S A QUASI-JUDICIAL ITEM, AND I CAN ONLY TELL YOU THAT THERE ARE PROVISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN REQUESTED THAT DON'T MEET CODE, OR WOULD NOT MEET CODE WITHOUT WAIVERS BEING GRANTED.
APPRECIATE THE UPDATE. I, I DON'T WANT TO BE CAREFUL, SO PAUSE ME IF I'M OUT OF LINE IN ANYTHING HERE. I APPRECIATE STAFF UNDER OUR TOWN MANAGER'S LEADERSHIP, YOUR GUIDANCE HAS BEEN TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROCESSING THIS APPLICATION, GOOD FAITH INTENT THAT WE ENTERED INTO IT.
I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT'S HAPPENING. I DON'T KNOW, I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THE APPLICANT'S ATTORNEY WOULD KNOW BETTER TO ASK FOR SOMETHING THAT IS OUTSIDE OF THE RESPONSIBILITY OF STAFF TO THE DEGREE THAT RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS WERE IN THE AGREEMENT. THEY COULD NEVER AGREE TO SOMETHING OTHER THAN THAT.
SO, I APPRECIATE YOUR EMPHASIZING THAT POINT. FIRST OF ALL, RECOGNIZING IT AND MAKING THAT POINT TO THEM SO THEY HAVE AN UNREALISTIC EXPECTATION THAT THE PROCESS COULD NEVER ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN. AND ALL OF US UP HERE REALLY CAN'T COMMENT MUCH MORE THAN THAT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING IN FRONT OF US.
BUT WE DO KNOW WHAT WAS IN THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.
IN FACT, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING OUR PARTS TO FULFILL IT. SO DISAPPOINTING, I'D SUBMIT. WE ALSO HAVE TAKEN ACTION IN GOOD FAITH BY ENACTING AN ORDINANCE A FEW MONTHS BACK
[00:30:02]
TO STRENGTHEN OUR RIGHTS TO TAKE ACTION IF THERE'S AFTER-HOURS ACTIVITY THAT SHOULDN'T BE IN OUR TOWN PARK. SO THAT WAS A QUESTION THAT I KNOW MR. MODICA HAD ASKED ABOUT, AND WE'VE PROCEEDED WITH GOOD FAITH ON THAT. SO IN ANY EVENT, I DON'T WANT TO TALK ANYMORE BECAUSE I WANT TO BE CAREFUL HERE. I DID WANT TO JUST SAY THAT I WOULD HOPE MR. JACK REALIZES THAT WHAT HE'S ASKING IS AN IMPOSSIBILITY FOR GOVERNMENT STAFF TO IGNORE THE KNOWN POSITION OF ITS GOVERNING BODY, THE TOWN COUNCIL, AS WE AGREED IN THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT. I AGREE. ANY? MAYOR, CAN I JUST SHARE WITH YOU THEN THE CONVERSATION THE TOWN MANAGER AND I HAVE HAD, WHICH IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE NEXT ROUND OF STAFF COMMENTS ON THEIR APPLICATION, AS STAFF TYPICALLY DOES.BUT GIVEN THE, SHALL WE CALL IT, THE LEVEL OF DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND THE TIMELINE THAT WE HAVE IN THE APPLICATION, I DON'T THINK THEY'RE EVER GOING TO REACH AN AGREEMENT WITH STAFF ON THESE ISSUES.
THEY NEED TO COME TO YOU AND YOU NEED TO SAY YES OR NO. AND SO, WE'RE GOING TO PROCESS THOSE COMMENTS, GIVE THEM A SHORT TIME PERIOD TO RESPOND IF THEY CARE TO RESPOND TO THOSE COMMENTS.
WE'RE GOING TO PUT IT ON AN AGENDA, AND THEN THEY CAN COME EXPLAIN TO YOU WHY THEY DON'T WANT TO MEET THE TERMS OF THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.
THAT'S THE PROCESS. I MEAN, SHORT OF THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE PROCESS IN ANY EVENT FOR ANYBODY SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION. I KNOW I'VE BEEN GETTING WORRIED FOR SOME TIME AS WE GET TO THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT AND WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME, AND THE ONLY WAY TO REMEDY THAT IS TO NEW TERMS THERE THAT ARE AGREED TO. SO, THANK YOU FOR THIS. NO, THANK YOU. I AGREE WITH YOU. THANK YOU. GREAT UPDATE. ANY, ANY OTHER REPORTS? JUST TO END ON A HIGH NOTE, THE LADDER TRUCK LOOKS GREAT.
[TOWN MANAGER ]
THANKS, TOM. MR. KITZEROW.THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE CHIEF DONATO FOR THE PRESENTATION.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE CHIEF HENNESSY, THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE JUPITER POLICE DEPARTMENT, MEN AND WOMEN OF THE JUPITER FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT, AND EVERY DEPARTMENT IN THIS TOWN. I DON'T, I WAS GOING THROUGH MY MIND AS HE WAS DOING HIS PRESENTATION.
I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S ANY DEPARTMENT THAT HASN'T TOUCHED THIS PROJECT AND HASN'T AT TIMES BORE THE BURDEN OF BEING THE ONE, I CALL IT THE ONE IN THE BUCKET. BECAUSE NOW IT'S YOUR TURN TO STEP UP. AND SO, IT HAS TRULY BEEN, AS WE'RE POISED TO LAUNCH JUPITER FIRE RESCUE, IT HAS TRULY BEEN A REMARKABLE JOURNEY. AND I'LL TELL YOU, THE STAFF, THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THIS TOWN STAFF HAVE READILY EMBRACED THE CHALLENGE.
THEY'VE NOT SHIED AWAY FROM IT. IT, FOR SOME, IT'S BEEN A PRETTY BIG TO-DO BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST NOT USED TO THE STRESS AND PRESSURES AND THINGS THAT POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS ARE USED TO. AND THEY REALLY ARE JUST TRULY HAVE DONE A REMARKABLE JOB. SO, TO ALL THE STAFF HERE TOO, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. I MEAN, THESE FOLKS HAVE JUST BEEN INCREDIBLE. AND, AND SO AS I MOVE ON, JUST A COUPLE OF UPDATES ON SOME THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING. THIS WEEKEND, THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT WILL UPGRADE THE TOWN'S UTILITY BILLING CUSTOMER SERVICE SOFTWARE. THE NEW SOFTWARE WILL MODERNIZE THE TOWN'S BILLING AND CUSTOMER SERVICE SYSTEMS, PROVIDING BOTH STAFF AND CUSTOMERS WITH GREATER CAPABILITIES IN USING THE SYSTEM. CUSTOMERS WILL HAVE ENHANCED ACCOUNT ACCESS, INCLUDING THE ABILITY TO RECEIVE ALERTS WHEN HIGH WATER USAGE IS DETECTED.
DURING THE UPGRADE, WE WILL BEGIN AT APPROXIMATELY 4:00 PM ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 21ST, AND GO THROUGH APPROXIMATELY 8:00 AM ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 25TH.
CUSTOMERS WILL NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR CUSTOMER PORTALS DURING THAT TIME WHILE WE'RE DOING THE UPGRADES. THOSE WISHING TO MAKE A PAYMENT OVER THE WEEKEND ARE ENCOURAGED TO USE THE DROP BOX LOCATED HERE ON THE MUNICIPAL CAMPUS.
AND THE TOWN IS USING ALL ITS COMMUNICATION METHODS, INCLUDING EMAIL, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND WEBSITE, TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR RESIDENTS THAT THE
[00:35:01]
CUSTOMER PORTAL WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE DURING THIS TIMEFRAME. AND SO, ALSO WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE ON THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE PLAYGROUNDS AT HEIGHTS OF JUPITER PARK, ABACOA COMMUNITY PARK, AND JUPITER COMMUNITY CENTER. AS A MATTER OF FACT, FROM MY OFFICE WINDOW, I CAN SEE THE PROGRESS BEING MADE ON THE PLAYGROUND RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET. AND MANY OF YOU, WHEN YOU COME IN FOR THE ONE-ON-ONE, OUR ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS, ARE PEEKING OUT THE WINDOWS AND COMMENTING ON THE PLAYGROUND. IT'S ACTUALLY PRETTY EXCITING TO WATCH IT HAPPEN. MOST OF THE NEW EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN INSTALLED AT ALL 3 OF THESE PLAYGROUNDS, AND THE ARTIFICIAL TURF IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN INSTALLATION NEXT WEEK.CURRENTLY ON TRACK TO REOPEN THESE PLAYGROUNDS IN EARLY OCTOBER AND ARE PLANNING RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONIES. AND WORK ON THE PLAYGROUND AT DALEY PARK IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN EARLY SEPTEMBER. FOLLOWING THE DIRECTION OF THE CRA COMMISSION, THE TOWN WILL HOLD A CONTINUATION OF THE CRA BUDGET WORKSHOP ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH. AT 6 P.M. THE TOWN HAS ALSO ADDED A CRA MEETING ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND AT 6 P.M. SO THE COMMISSION CAN VOTE ON THE ADOPTION OF THE CRA'S FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET. AND FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T HEARD, WE RESCHEDULED THE POPULAR NATIONAL NIGHT OUT EVENT, WHICH WAS RAINED OUT AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS MONTH. THE EVENT WILL NOW BE HELD ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13TH. WE WILL SEND OUT REMINDERS THROUGH ALL OF THE CHANNELS TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IN THE TOWN IS AWARE OF THIS CHANGE AS WE APPROACH THE DATE.
AND FINALLY, I WANTED TO, AS I ALWAYS DO, WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STAFF. AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE 2 EMPLOYEES WHO ARE CELEBRATING SIGNIFICANT WORK ANNIVERSARIES THIS MONTH. ADAM VONDERAU, OUR SERVICE WORKER SUPERVISOR IN PUBLIC WORKS, IS CELEBRATING 10 YEARS WITH THE TOWN. AND NICK SOCACCIO IS THE UTILITIES WORKER IN THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT, IS CELEBRATING 20 YEARS, AND YET ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE CLUB 20. AND WHICH IS REALLY REMARKABLE. AND FINALLY, I HAD ASKED THE FIRE CHIEF IF WE GOT OUT HERE A LITTLE BIT EARLY, WHICH IT LOOKS LIKE WE MAY DO, AND THERE'S STILL SOME DAYLIGHT, WHICH IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS, THAT I WOULD INVITE THE COUNCIL TO COME OUT AND WE CAN TAKE A PHOTO IN FRONT OF THE NEW LADDER TRUCK IF YOU'RE, IF YOU SO DESIRE. AND THAT'S MY
[TOWN COUNCIL – LIAISON REPORTS AND COMMENTS ]
REPORT, MAYOR. THANK YOU.VICE MAYOR? WELL, I THINK YOU'VE SAID IT ALL.
BUT AGAIN, I PERSONALLY WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO CHIEF DONATO AND CHIEF HENNESSY. THE OPERATIONS TOGETHER IS WHAT THE GOAL WAS. ALREADY IT HAS PUT SUCH PRIDE IN OUR STAFF AND A COMMUNITY, AND I KNOW EVERYONE ON THE COUNCIL. SO, THANK YOU.
GREAT ANNIVERSARY UPDATES. I LOVE HEARING THAT CLUB 20 KEEPS ADDING IN THERE. I'M KEEPING MINE SHORT SO WE CAN GET OUT THERE AND GET A PHOTO.
THANK YOU. COUNCILOR. YEAH, JUST TO KIND OF PIGGYBACK ON THAT THOUGHT, THE INTEGRATION OF THE 2 DEPARTMENTS IN THIS TOWN IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER LAYER OF SERVICE AND SAFETY THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD IN THIS TOWN, ALTHOUGH WE'VE HAD GREAT SERVICE, BUT WE'VE NEVER HAD THAT, THAT TIGHT-KNIT ORGANIZATION OF SORT OF MUTUAL AID BETWEEN THE 2 DEPARTMENTS. AND IT'S REALLY EXCITING. AND THE, THE RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE WITH THE GARDENS. LIKE, AS YOU SAID, WE, YOU KNOW, MAYOR AND I, WE DID THE TOUR DOWN THERE.
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT WAS 3 YEARS AGO. AND WE SAW A CLASS A IMMACULATE SERVICE AREA, TRUCKS, EMPLOYEES, JUST EVERYTHING, JUST, YOU KNOW, RAN JUST TOP-NOTCH ORGANIZATION.
AND WE'RE SORT OF DUPLICATING THAT AND WE SORT OF PARTNERED WITH THEM. SO THAT'S REALLY EXCITING. SO, AND BOTH CHIEFS, GREAT JOB. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. AND IT'S SO CLOSE. IT'S JUST REMARKABLE HOW CLOSE WE'RE GETTING TO THE DEADLINE. AND I KNOW ALL THE FOLKS INVOLVED, FIREFIGHTERS, THEY'RE CHOMPING AT THE BIT TO GET OUT THERE. I CAN, WHENEVER I TALK TO THEM, THE EXCITEMENT IS JUST THROUGH THE ROOF. SO GREAT JOB AND THANKS. AND THAT'S IT.
COUNCILOR SUNDSTROM. I AGREE WITH YOU. I THINK, I MEAN, THAT WAS THE DESIGN FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WAS POLICE AND FIRE TOGETHER. AND I THINK WHAT MANY TALKED ABOUT EARLY ON WAS, YOU KNOW, AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, YOU OFTEN HAVE THE SHERIFF AND PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE WORKING TOGETHER, SIMILAR CULTURE, THEY KNOW EACH OTHER. BUT IN JUPITER FOR A LONG TIME, WE HAD A TOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND A COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT. AND SO, THERE WERE DISCONNECTS. AND SO, TO HAVE THE TWO TOGETHER UNDER ONE ROOF TRAINING TOGETHER IS EXACTLY WHAT WE WANTED TO SEE. AND WE SEE THE BENEFITS FROM IT AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL.
AND IT'S SO EXCITING, TRULY. I CAN'T IMAGINE THE WEIGHT OF BUILDING THIS DEPARTMENT SPECIFICALLY. I DON'T KNOW OF MANY TYPES OF DEPARTMENTS THAT CARRY MORE RISK AND MORE RESPONSIBILITY THAN THIS ONE.
AND SO, IT IS A TRULY HEAVY LIFT, AND I AM GRATEFUL TO ALL OF OUR STAFF AND ALL DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE REALLY COME TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS GO SO WELL. I MEAN, I DON'T SEE HICCUPS. LIKE, I MEAN, WE, IT'S BEEN SUCH A SMOOTH RIDE,
[00:40:01]
BUT UNDER THAT, AT THIS LEVEL, I'M SURE THERE'S SO MUCH MORE THAT WE DON'T SEE.BUT WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THAT WORK. I MEAN, WE RECOGNIZE IT. WE KNOW IT'S NOT AS SMOOTH AS WE THINK IT IS, AND YOU'VE REALLY JUST PUT IN ALL THE TIME AND EFFORT TO MAKE IT, MAKE IT THAT WAY.
SO, THANK YOU. AND I DO, I DO HOPE TO CLIMB THE LADDER TRUCK. I HOPE YOU'LL DO A FIRE OPS 101. I'VE SEEN OTHERS CLIMB IT. AT HALFWAY UP, IT STARTS TO BOUNCE. JUST GOING TO WARN YOU, THAT FREAKS ME OUT, AND I'M AFRAID OF HEIGHTS, SO I'M NOT GOING TO BE, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE PRETTY. BUT I'D LIKE TO TRY, SO WE'LL SEE. I TRIED 105 FEET. I KNOW, I KNOW, IT'S 10 STORIES. I'VE SEEN PEOPLE DO ALL SORTS OF THINGS AND OTHERS, I MEAN, WE, I, I WILL TRY. I MIGHT, I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T PROMISE ANYTHING, BUT I WOULD TRY. SO JUST THANK YOU ALL, AND YEAH, EXCITED TO GET OUT THERE TONIGHT. THIS MIGHT BE OUR SHORTEST MEETING OF THE YEAR. IT'S INCREDIBLE. I DON'T THINK WE COULD ALLOW YOU ON THE LADDER. IT'D BE A SAFETY ISSUE. WE'D BE CONCERNED. NO OFFENSE MEANT, RIGHT? I MEAN, THERE'S SOME, YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE TO BE TRAINED. I'M NOT IMPLYING ANYTHING. I GET ON LADDERS TOO, BUT MR. KITZEROW, I APPRECIATE YOUR HAVING EMPHASIZED THE TEAMWORK, AND I SHOULD HAVE EMPHASIZED THAT MORE BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT, IT WAS YOUR VISION THAT ONE, AND WE SPOKE THE LANGUAGE, BUT YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN IT COME TOGETHER, AND YOU KNOW, I KNOW WHEN YOU TRIED TO FORM A MARINE UNIT WITH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE, WELL, YEARS AGO YOU HAD A, YOU KNOW, A JOINT MARINE UNIT. I KNOW YOU HAD SUPPORT FROM THE DISTRICT PERSON AT FIRE RESCUE, BUT THEN THE COUNTY OVERRULED IT. SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE INDIVIDUALS AT COUNTY FIRE RESCUE, MAYBE THAT THOSE THAT HAD GOOD INTENTIONS OVER THE YEARS, BUT THEY WERE HANDCUFFED WITH REGARD TO TRULY WORK SEAMLESSLY. AND WHEN I JUST THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, I'VE RUN INTO ONE OF THE TEACHERS OVER AT, RETIRED TEACHERS AT JUPITER HIGH SCHOOL A FEW TIMES RECENTLY, AND, YOU KNOW, HE SHARES WITH ME SOMETHING THAT I HAD FORGOT ABOUT.
CHIEF, YOU KNOW THIS. I MEAN, MR. KITZEROW, YOU KNOW THIS WELL. WHEN WE HAD TO EVACUATE THE HIGH SCHOOL, 03,000 KIDS HAD TO BE EVACUATED SOMEWHERE.
AND MR. FLEMING WAS IN CHARGE AT THE TIME OF KIND OF COORDINATING WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND JUST, YOU KNOW, HE SHARED THAT JUST RECENTLY ABOUT HOW 3,000 KIDS WERE SOMEHOW WENT OVER TO THE COMMUNITY CENTER, YOU KNOW. BUT THOSE KIND OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS THAT ARE BEING TRAINED FOR, I MEAN, SECONDS ARE PRECIOUS, RIGHT? AND SO, SEEING THE TEAMWORK, SEEING HOW, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST, WE'RE JUST DELIGHTED UP HERE SEEING, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT OUR JFRD STAFF ARE DOING RIDE-ALONGS. I MEAN, JUST TO TOTALLY BUILD, YOU KNOW, BUILD IN ADDITION TO DOING THE TRAINING EXERCISES THAT WE HEARD ABOUT AND WHATEVER.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE, YOU KNOW, LIVES ARE GOING TO BE SAVED, RIGHT? AND WOW. THANK YOU TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IN TOTAL AND OUR CHIEF, AND DITTO FOR FIRE, BUT, AND DITTO TO EVERYBODY ON STAFF, AS YOU PUT IT, RIGHT? IT'S COME IN THE COORDINATION WITH JUPITER MEDICAL CENTER. I'M JUST KIND OF SO THRILLED ABOUT THAT, RIGHT? I MEAN, CARE FROM THE MOMENT, YOU KNOW, OUR PARAMEDICS ARRIVE AT THE SITE, YOU KNOW, AND COORDINATION HAPPENED BEFORE THEY EVER GET TO THE HOSPITAL. I MEAN, ON AND ON AND ON. THINGS THAT, NO OFFENSE MEANT TO ANY OF US UP THERE, BECAUSE I'M GOING TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT, WE REALLY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, BUT IT'S HAPPENED, RIGHT? WE'RE, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND WITH THAT, THE TIME IS NOW 7:44, AND WE'LL ADJOURN THE MEETING.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.