[Call To Order] [00:00:03] JIM KURETSKI: PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE. COUNCIL MEMBERS: 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. JIM KURETSKI: MAY WE HAVE ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COUNCIL MEMBER: MAYOR KURETSKI. JIM KURETSKI: HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER: VICE MAYOR CHOY. PHYLLIS CHOY: HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER: COUNCILOR DELANEY. RON DELANEY: HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER: COUNCILOR GUISINGER. DAN GUISINGER: HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER: COUNCILOR SUNDSTROM. MALISE SUNDSTROM: HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER: ACTING TOWN MANAGER HOFFMAN. MICHAEL HOFFMAN: HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER: ACTING TOWN ATTORNEY LASHLEY. BRETT T. LASHLEY: HERE. [1. Honorable Palm Beach County School Board Member Matthew Lane, Esq., Board Vice Chair — 2025-2026 School Ratings Update. # ] JIM KURETSKI: TONIGHT THIS IS A SPECIAL NIGHT FOR US. WE WILL BE GETTING A PRESENTATION FROM OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, MATTHEW LANE, BOARD VICE CHAIR. BUT BEFORE DOING SO, THE COUNCIL AND THE TOWN, BEING DELIGHTED WITH THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT WE HAVE IN JUPITER, DID WISH TO PRESENT A PROCLAMATION TO THOSE FROM THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT. AND LET ME READ IT FOR THE RECORD. PROCLAMATION. CELEBRATING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IN JUPITER'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WHEREAS THE TOWN OF JUPITER RECOGNIZES THAT STRONG PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE ESSENTIAL TO A THRIVING COMMUNITY, PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD SUCCESSFUL FUTURES. AND WHEREAS ALL NINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SERVING THE JUPITER AREA OPERATED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PALM BEACH COUNTY EARNED AN A RATING FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR THE '25-'26 SCHOOL YEAR, DEMONSTRATING AN EXCEPTIONAL COMMITMENT TO ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT. AND WHEREAS THESE OUTSTANDING SCHOOLS INCLUDE BEACON COVE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL, LIGHTHOUSE ELEMENTARY, JERRY THOMAS ELEMENTARY, JUPITER ELEMENTARY, LIMESTONE CREEK ELEMENTARY, INDEPENDENCE MIDDLE SCHOOL, JUPITER MIDDLE SCHOOL, JUPITER HIGH SCHOOL, AND WILLIAM T. DWYER HIGH SCHOOL, AND WHEREAS THIS ACHIEVEMENT REFLECTS NOT ONLY THE CONTINUED EXCELLENCE OF SCHOOLS MAINTAINING THEIR A RATINGS, BUT ALSO THE DEDICATION AND PROGRESS OF SCHOOLS THAT IMPROVE THEIR PERFORMANCE, INCLUDING JUPITER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHICH ADVANCED FROM A B RATING TO AN A RATING. WHEREAS AT THE HEART OF THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT ARE JUPITER STUDENTS WHOSE HARD WORK, DETERMINATION, CURIOSITY, AND COMMITMENT TO LEARNING HAVE MADE THIS REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT POSSIBLE. AND WHEREAS THE TOWN RECOGNIZES THE INVALUABLE ROLE OF PARENTS AND FAMILIES WHOSE ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT IN THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL ACTIVITIES AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH EDUCATORS HELP CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE STUDENTS CAN SUCCEED. AND WHEREAS THE TOWN ALSO RECOGNIZES THE EXTRAORDINARY DEDICATION OF TEACHERS, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, AND SUPPORT STAFF WHO WORK TIRELESSLY TO INSPIRE STUDENTS, ENCOURAGE ACADEMIC GROWTH, AND PROVIDE A SUPPORTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT EACH DAY. AND WHEREAS THESE A-RATED SCHOOLS ARE A SOURCE OF TREMENDOUS COMMUNITY PRIDE AND DEMONSTRATE WHAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WHEN STUDENTS, FAMILIES, EDUCATORS, AND SCHOOL LEADERS WORK TOGETHER TOWARD A SHARED COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE. WHEREAS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PALM BEACH COUNTY IS DESIGNATED AS AN ACADEMICALLY HIGH-PERFORMING SCHOOL DISTRICT AND EARNED AN A GRADE FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. NOW, THEREFORE, OUR JIM KURETSKI, MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF JUPITER, ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN COUNCIL AND THE RESIDENTS OF JUPITER, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR JUPITER AREA PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS TO THE STUDENTS WHOSE HARD WORK AND DETERMINATION MADE THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT POSSIBLE, TO THE PARENTS AND FAMILIES WHOSE INVOLVEMENT AND ENCOURAGEMENT SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN'S SUCCESS, AND TO THE TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND SCHOOL STAFF WHOSE DEDICATION HELPS MAKE JUPITER PUBLIC SCHOOLS A SOURCE OF PRIDE FOR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I HEREUNTO SET MY HAND AND CAUSE THE SEAL OF THE TOWN OF JUPITER TO BE AFFIXED THIS 20TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2026. AND I'D LIKE TO COME DOWN AND PRESENT IT. AND I'D ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME. THESE ARE ALL PRINCIPALS. [LAUGHTER] SO YOU GUYS, LET'S SEE, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED IN A COUPLE OF ROWS. [00:05:02] LET'S GET THESE GUYS UP HERE IN THE BACK. LET'S JUST PUT THEM TOGETHER. IF YOU'RE A LITTLE BIT TALLER, GET TO THE BACK. IF YOU'RE A LITTLE BIT SHORTER, GETS TO THE FRONT. AND I'M GOING TO BACK UP A LOT. PHYLLIS CHOY: I'M A SHORT GUY. [LAUGHTER] DAN GUISINGER: YOU GOT THE MEMO. MALISE SUNDSTROM: NO, THE RED DRESS. DAN GUISINGER: SHOULD WE SAY. JIM KURETSKI: WE'LL TAKE A COUPLE, OK? I'LL SAY ONE, TWO THREE, AND SMILE. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] MATTHEW LANE: MAYOR KURETSKI, VICE MAYOR CHOY, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, AND MY FRIENDS ON THE DAIS, I'M MATT LANE, AND I'M VICE CHAIR OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PALM BEACH COUNTY. AND I WANTED TO COME BY AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR RECOGNIZING THE FACT THAT EVERY SCHOOL THAT SERVES CHILDREN IN THE TOWN OF JUPITER IS AN A-RATED SCHOOL. [APPLAUSE] GREAT SCHOOLS DON'T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT. THEY'RE THE RESULT OF OUR TEACHERS WHO COME TO WORK EARLY, STAY LATE, AND DEDICATE THEIR LIVES TO MAKING SURE THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE SUCCESSFUL. IT'S THE RESULT OF PRINCIPALS, LIKE THE PRINCIPALS WHO YOU SEE TODAY, WHOSE LEADERSHIP, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND GUIDANCE CREATES ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. IT'S THE RESULT OF OUR SCHOOL POLICE TO WHOM WE ENTRUST OUR CHILDREN'S LIVES EVERY DAY. AND IT'S THE RESULT OF OUR STAFF WHO TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING AND MAKE ALL OF THIS HAPPEN. AND TONIGHT I HAVE WITH ME NINE OF OUR EXCEPTIONAL PRINCIPALS, AND I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THEM BY NAME. THEY ARE DEDICATED TO PROVIDING THE CHILDREN OF JUPITER WITH AN OUTSTANDING EDUCATION. AND WE HAVE LAUREN HANTMAN, PRINCIPAL, JERRY THOMAS ELEMENTARY; ELIZABETH BARE, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, JUPITER ELEMENTARY; LISA HASTEY, PRINCIPAL, JUPITER MIDDLE SCHOOL; MELISSA DIPASQUALE, PRINCIPAL, LIMESTONE CREEK ELEMENTARY; AMBER SANDERS, PRINCIPAL, JUPITER HIGH SCHOOL; SHARI BREMEKAMP, PRINCIPAL, INDEPENDENCE MIDDLE SCHOOL; COREY BROOKS, PRINCIPAL, DWYER HIGH SCHOOL; AND PAMELA BUCKMAN, PRINCIPAL, BEACON COVE. LET'S GIVE THEM ALL ROUND OF APPLAUSE. [APPLAUSE] AND NOT ONLY ARE ALL OF THE SCHOOLS THAT SERVE THE STUDENTS OF JUPITER A-RATED. SCHOOLS, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PALM BEACH COUNTY IS AN A-RATED SCHOOL DISTRICT. [APPLAUSE] THIS WEEK WE FOUND OUT THAT ONCE AGAIN, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PALM BEACH COUNTY WAS DESIGNATED BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AS BEING ONE OF FLORIDA'S ACADEMICALLY HIGH PERFORMING SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THIS YEAR, OUR GRADUATES WERE ADMITTED TO HARVARD, YALE, STANFORD, THE WHARTON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, BROWN, PRINCETON, DARTMOUTH, NORTHWESTERN, VANDERBILT, DUKE, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, FLORIDA STATE, UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, JOHNS HOPKINS, AND MIT, AMONG OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING. AND THIS DEGREE OF EXCELLENCE IS BROUGHT ABOUT AS A RESULT OF THE 1 MIL LEVY THAT'S CURRENTLY ON THE BALLOT. IT'S CURRENTLY IN PLACE, AND WE'RE JUST ASKING TO RENEW THAT. AND HERE'S HOW WE SPEND THAT REFERENDUM MONEY. 50% OF THE MONEY GOES TOWARDS TEACHER SALARIES. [00:10:04] 25% OF THE MONEY GOES TOWARDS SCHOOL SAFETY, AND THE OTHER 25% GOES FOR CHOICE PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND ALSO LITERACY PROGRAMMING, BECAUSE IF A CHILD CAN'T READ, THEY CAN'T LEARN. AND WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS THAT WE'RE CLOSE TO THE BOTTOM IN PER STUDENT FUNDING. THEY SPEND MORE MONEY PER STUDENT IN KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA, AND ARKANSAS, ARKANSAS, THAN WE SPEND HERE PER CHILD IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. AND THE WAY THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BRIDGES THE GAP BETWEEN WHAT WE GET FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND WHAT IT TAKES TO MAINTAIN AN A RATING IS THE REFERENDUM FUNDING. AN A RATING IS IMPORTANT. IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY BECAUSE ONE OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS BUSINESSES ASK BEFORE THEY COME INTO COMMUNITY ARE, HOW ARE THE SCHOOLS? IT'S IMPORTANT TO THOSE OF US WHO OWN PROPERTY AND OWN OUR HOMES BECAUSE OUR HOME VALUES ARE DIRECTLY TIED, DIRECTLY TIED TO THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION. AND TO THE EXTENT THAT THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION DETERIORATES, WHICH IT WILL IF THIS REFERENDUM DOESN'T PASS, THE VALUE OF OUR HOMES WILL ALSO DETERIORATE. IT'S BEEN SAID THAT CHILDREN ARE 20% OF OUR POPULATION BUT 100% OF OUR FUTURE. A VOTE FOR THE REFERENDUM IS A VOTE FOR THE FUTURE. SO I'M ENCOURAGING YOU TO INVEST IN OUR TEACHERS, IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IN OUR CHILDREN, AND SUPPORT THE REFERENDUM ON NOVEMBER 3RD. AND I'D LIKE TO INVITE EACH ONE OF YOU TO COME WITH ME AND VISIT ONE OF THE SCHOOLS HERE IN JUPITER, AND YOU'LL SEE WHAT A GREAT JOB OUR TEACHERS ARE DOING, EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN AND PREPARING THEM FOR THE FUTURE. SO IN CLOSING, I JUST WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR RECOGNIZING THE FACT THAT NOT ONLY IS JUPITER A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE, IT'S ALSO A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LEARN. AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES JUPITER UNIQUELY JUPITER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] JIM KURETSKI: WELL, A FEW COMMENTS I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE TO SHARE. FIRST OF ALL, FOR THOSE THAT MAY NOT KNOW THIS, WHEN I HAD A YOUNG FAMILY, NONE YET AT A FULL SCHOOL AGE, WE CHOSE JUPITER BASED ON ITS PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, BOUGHT A LOT IN 1990 AND BUILT OUR HOME THERE IN 1992 AND WE MOVED IN. AND MY OLDEST DAUGHTER STARTED AT LIMESTONE CREEK IN FIRST GRADE, AND THREE DAUGHTERS WENT THROUGH LIMESTONE CREEK, JUPITER MIDDLE, AND JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL. AND I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE DR. LEE HERE BECAUSE I FIRST-- [APPLAUSE] I FIRST HAD THE PLEASURE OF GETTING TO KNOW HIM. HE WENT TO EVERY MIDDLE SCHOOL PTO MEETING. I THOUGHT, WHAT IS THIS GUY COMING TO ALL THESE MEETINGS? BUT HE WAS DEDICATED WAY BACK THEN. AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT. MY THREE DAUGHTERS WENT THROUGH THE MEDICAL PROGRAM AT JUPITER HIGH SCHOOL. AND AS A RESULT OF THE INSPIRATION THEY GOT, ALL THREE DAUGHTERS HAVE DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE DEGREES TODAY THAT I ATTRIBUTE TO THAT PROGRAM AND THEN THE CONNECTION WITH JUPITER MEDICAL CENTER. [APPLAUSE] IN ADDITION TO THOSE SCHOOLS, I HAVE FIVE GRANDCHILDREN LIVING IN JUPITER, THREE OF SCHOOL AGE. SO I'M WELL FAMILIAR WITH JERRY THOMAS AND INDEPENDENCE MIDDLE SCHOOL. I HAVE GRANDDAD DUTY TO DROP OFF PICK UP. SO I DO THAT A FEW DAYS A WEEK. SO I JUST THOUGHT IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO WEIGH IN. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE, AND I KNOW THAT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, WE DON'T GET STRAIGHT A'S. BUT IT HAS BEEN FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. AND SO IT MAY DIP, BUT I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. AND I JUST THOUGHT SHARING THAT PERSPECTIVE. SO THANK YOU TO ALL THE PRINCIPALS THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT. THANK YOU FOR OUR SCHOOL BOARD REPRESENTATIVE FOR COMING HERE. AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE AN INVITATION. MANY YEARS AGO, SOMETIMES OUR SCHOOLS CAME AT A MEETING AND WOULD PRESENT WHAT WAS HAPPENING. [00:15:02] SO MAKE SURE THAT YOU FEEL WELCOME IF YOU WANT TO COME BACK, NOT JUST TO TALK ABOUT GETTING AN A, BUT SHARE WITH US WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS. YOU'D BE WELCOME. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND IF MY COLLEAGUES WANT TO ADD ANYTHING. PHYLLIS CHOY: THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO ECHO THE MAYOR'S SENTIMENTS. I MOVED HERE 30 YEARS AGO, AND JUPITER WAS CHOSEN BECAUSE OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I AM AN ADVOCATE OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND MY CHILDREN ARE ADULTS, VERY SUCCESSFUL. COACH LEE'S BEEN AROUND OUR FAMILY FOR A LONG TIME, AND YOU'VE DONE AN AMAZING JOB WITH ALL THE CHILDREN. AND AS I SAY, PEOPLE-- AND, MR. LANE, YOU SAID IT VERY SUCCINCTLY. PEOPLE MOVE HERE BECAUSE OF OUR SCHOOLS, BECAUSE OF YOU. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU. WE'D LOVE TO SEE MORE OF YOU. BRING THE STUDENTS. WE'D GIVE THEM A CIVICS LESSON. WE'D BE HAPPY. RON DELANEY: YEAH. I SEE WHY WE MOVED HERE IN 2005. AND WE CHOSE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. IT WAS ACROSS THE STREET FROM JERRY THOMAS SCHOOL. IN THOSE DAYS IT HAD A RATING ALSO. AND BOTH MY KIDS WENT TO JERRY THOMAS INDEPENDENCE AND JUPITER HIGH. AND MY SON GRADUATED. HE GOT ACCEPTED TO FLORIDA POLYTECH, AND HE GRADUATED WITH THE COMPUTER SCIENCE ENGINEERING DEGREE. AND MY DAUGHTER WENT TO UF, AND NOW SHE HAS A JOB OVER WPBF. AND THE KIDS ARE DOING GREAT. AND I TOO, I DROVE MY KIDS TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY, EVERY SCHOOL. AND ONE THING I MISS MOST IS DRIVING TO SCHOOL AND TORTURING THEM IN THE MORNING WHEN THEY'RE HALF ASLEEP WITH DAD JOKES. I REALLY MISS THOSE DAYS, BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL YOU DO. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US. APPRECIATE IT. MALISE SUNDSTROM: I WANT TO SAY I'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO VOLUNTEER IN A NUMBER OF YOUR SCHOOLS. I REMEMBER THE ART DRAWN IN THE MEDIA CENTER IN LIMESTONE CREEK ELEMENTARY. I LOVE JUPITER ELEMENTARY. I HELPED WITH THE MARKET THERE. IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING TEACHING THE CHILDREN HOW TO BUY AND THE MATH NEEDED FOR IT. JUPITER HIGH SCHOOL, GETTING A TOUR OF INDEPENDENCE MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS WONDERFUL. I GOT TO BE PRINCIPAL FOR A DAY THERE AND SPEND THE DAY WITH WHO IS NOW THE PRINCIPAL OF JUPITER HIGH SCHOOL, BUT THEN AT THE TIME, INDEPENDENCE MIDDLE. SO IT'S JUST BEEN A WONDERFUL TIME SEEING THE BANDS COMPETE FOR JUPITER HIGH SCHOOL. THAT WAS A REALLY WONDERFUL TIME HOSTING SO MANY HERE IN THE TOWN. SO YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN SUCH A POINT OF TOWN PRIDE, AND WE'VE REALLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO CELEBRATE YOU ALL. I'LL MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THAT. AND WE CERTAINLY INVITE YOU TO COME BACK. WE'D LOVE TO STAY IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH YOU AND HEAR WHATEVER YOU'D LIKE TO SAY AND CELEBRATE. IF THERE'S A STUDENT OR A TEAM OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, WE'D LOVE TO BE A PART OF IT. BRETT T. LASHLEY: WELL, I'D LIKE TO SAY I MOVED HERE BECAUSE OF THE SCHOOLS, BUT I DIDN'T. BUT THERE'S A REASON. I MOVED HERE BECAUSE MY WIFE WENT TO JUPITER HIGH SCHOOL AND ALSO JUPITER ELEMENTARY, AND WE DECIDED TO PUT ROOTS DOWN HERE BECAUSE WE KNEW HOW GOOD THE SCHOOLS WERE. I WAS HEAVILY INVOLVED AT JUPITER MIDDLE, PRESIDENT OF THE SAC AND ALSO JUPITER HIGH SCHOOL FOR SEVERAL YEARS, PRESIDENT OF THE SAC. I REALLY ENJOYED VOLUNTEERING FOR THE SCHOOLS AND SEEING MY KIDS FLOURISH IN THE JUPITER SCHOOLS. BOTH ARE VERY SUCCESSFUL PROFESSIONALS NOW. AND I ATTRIBUTE ALL THAT TO JUPITER. SO HATS OFF TO ALL OF YOU AND ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR THIS AREA-- OUR STUDENTS, OUR PARENTS. IT'S JUST PHENOMENAL. AN A RATING FOR ALL NINE SCHOOLS. THAT'S PRETTY SPECTACULAR. I THANK ALL THAT YOU DO VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. JIM KURETSKI: SO NOW AS WE CONCLUDE THIS ITEM, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE HERE FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FEEL WELCOME TO GET UP AND LEAVE. [LAUGHTER] AS YOU DON'T NEED A CIVICS LESSON. BUT THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] [CITIZEN COMMENTS] OK. NOW WE HAVE CITIZEN COMMENTS. DO WE HAVE ANY CITIZEN COMMENTS? COUNCIL MEMBER: YES, SIR. WE HAVE TWO CARDS. OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS ALANA FAEDO. AUDIENCE: HELLO. IT'S ELENA FAEDO. I LIVE IN THE INDIAN CREEK AREA OF JUPITER, AND THIS IS MY SECOND TIME SPEAKING AT COUNCIL. MY FIRST TIME WAS JULY 7TH WHEN WE HAD ABOUT 25 PEOPLE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE SEA TURTLES. SO I'M BACK TO READDRESS SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS TONIGHT. THE FIRST THING THAT I'D LIKE TO BRING UP ARE FIREWORKS ON THE BEACH DURING 4TH OF JULY. I WAS ON THE BEACH THIS YEAR DURING 4TH OF JULY AND WITNESSED TEENS SETTING OFF WHAT SEEMED TO BE PROFESSIONAL GRADE, PRETTY LARGE AND SCARY FIREWORKS, SCARY FOR ME EVEN TO BE THERE. I CAN'T IMAGINE TRYING TO LAY EGGS DURING THAT. SO MY ASK OF THE COUNCIL IS TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE THAT [00:20:01] FOLLOWS SOME OTHER COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE OUTLAWED FIREWORKS ON THE BEACH DURING TURTLE NESTING SEASON WITH NO 4TH OF JULY EXCEPTION. SATELLITE BEACH UNDER SECTION 26-209 OF THE SATELLITE BEACH CODE OF ORDINANCES, FIREWORKS ARE PROHIBITED ON OR SEAWARD OF THE PRIMARY DUNE DURING SEA TURTLE NESTING SEASON. ALSO, MIAMI BEACH, UNDER SECTION 46-203 OF THE MIAMI BEACH CODE OF ORDINANCES, FIREWORKS DISPLAYS ARE PROHIBITED ON THE BEACH AT NIGHT TIME DURING SEA TURTLE NESTING SEASON, INCLUDING ON 4TH OF JULY. ON JULY 1 OF THIS YEAR, THE FWC ISSUED A 4TH OF JULY ADVISORY URGING PEOPLE TO KEEP FIREWORKS OFF OF THE BEACH. THE AGENCY WARNED THAT BRIGHT LIGHTS AND SOUNDS, LOUD SOUNDS FROM FIREWORKS, CAN SIGNIFICANTLY DISRUPT NESTING SEA TURTLES AND HATCHLINGS. THEIR NOTICE SAID, QUOTE, "BE A HOLIDAY HERO FOR NESTING SEA TURTLES AND WATER BIRDS THIS 4TH OF JULY", END QUOTE. WHY SHOULD YOU HAVE TO BE A HERO? WHY CAN'T WE ENACT AN ORDINANCE, LIKE OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE, TO PROTECT OUR SEA LIFE? AND SPEAKING OF BRIGHT LIGHTS AND LOUD NOISES AND LARGE GATHERINGS, THE BEACH DANCERS ARE BACK. THEY WERE RECORDED DANCING ON SEPTEMBER 12TH IN THE EVENING ON VIDEO. THERE'S APPROXIMATELY 20 PEOPLE WITH STROBING LIGHTS, BLASTING MUSIC, TABLES, CHAIRS, BICYCLES AT NIGHTTIME AT NUMBER 55. THEY'RE ALSO PLANNING A HALLOWEEN PARTY. THAT'S FINE. IT'S THE LAST DAY OF TURTLE NESTING SEASON, BUT THE SEASON BEGINS AGAIN IN MARCH. AND SO MY ASK TONIGHT IS THAT COUNCIL WORKS TO GET AN ORDINANCE IN PLACE BEFORE THE NEXT SEA TURTLE NESTING SEASON STARTS, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO END UP HERE AGAIN. THANK YOU. JIM KURETSKI: THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER: OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PENNY PAYNE. AUDIENCE: ON BEHALF OF MY SON, I HAVE TO SAY, GO, PANTHERS. I'M AN ALUM OF ALL THE JUPITER SCHOOLS. SO GO WARRIORS. I HAVE SEEN BOTH THE HIGH SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND OF COURSE, THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS SUCCEED, AND I'M SO GLAD TO BE PART OF IT. I SERVE AS BOTH THE PRESIDENT OF THE FINANCE ACADEMY'S FOUNDATION, AS WELL AS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF ATHLETICS FOR DWYER HIGH SCHOOL'S WE ARE DWYER FOUNDATION. SO PRETTY INVOLVED. SO HAPPY TO SEE THEM. IT WAS A SURPRISE TO SEE THEM HERE TONIGHT. MY REASON FOR BEING HERE IS YET BECAUSE OF THE TURTLES AND THE HAPPY BEACH DANCING. AND I JUST WANT TO SHARE A FEW THINGS IF I CAN FIND MY NOTES HERE. AND I APOLOGIZE. SORRY. I CAN'T FIND IT. THE REASON I'M HERE TONIGHT IS TO ECHO WHAT ALANA WAS MENTIONING, IS WE CLEARLY HAVE SOME ISSUES GOING ON IN OUR TOWN. HAPPY BEACH DANCING WAS SEEN NOT ONLY DANCING BUT ALSO AMPLIFYING SOUND. QUITE A FEW RESIDENTS LEFT THE BEACH WAY THE LAST TIME THEY WERE HERE. WE SEE FIREWORKS HAPPENING, AND WE NOTICE THAT THEY'RE STILL ON THE BEACH ON TOP OF THE SEA NESTING. WE KNOW THAT TURTLES DON'T CARRY THE SAME CALENDARS WE DO. WE KNOW THAT OCTOBER 31ST IS AN ARBITRARY NUMBER. NOVEMBER 1 ISN'T THIS MAGIC DATE ON THE CALENDAR THAT THE SEA TURTLES WON'T COME UP ON OUR BEACH WAYS. AND WE ALSO KNOW THERE'S STILL HATCHLINGS. QUITE A FEW NESTS ARE STILL OUT THERE WAITING TO SURFACE FOR US. SO WHAT I ASK OF YOU IS TO PLEASE CONTINUE YOUR EFFORTS. DEPUTY CHIEF KIMBARK HAD SHARED WITH ME THAT THE BEACH COMMITTEE WAS WORKING ON SOMETHING. I CAN ASSURE YOU THEY ARE NOT. I HAVE MET WITH THE CHAIRPERSON MYSELF. I HAVE SUGGESTED SOME RESOURCE AND SOME EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS BE SOLICITED THROUGH THE BEACH COMMITTEE. WE ARE HAVING A SEPARATE CONVERSATION DURING THE BEACH COMMITTEE MEETING ON MONDAY. HAPPY TO BE A RESIDENT AND BE PART OF THAT CONVERSATION. I'M WILLING TO ADVOCATE AND TO WORK WITH ANY FOCUS GROUP OR ANYTHING THAT YOU ALL MIGHT WANT TO PUT TOGETHER ON THIS, BUT LOOKING AT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, TAMPA, SOME OF THE OTHER REGIONS ACROSS FLORIDA, THERE'S NO REASON WE DON'T HAVE AN OVERLAY PERMITTING OR SOME MANDATE THAT JUPITER ITSELF CAN LOOK AT THIS PATCHWORK QUILT OF JURISDICTIONS AND LOOK AT THE RESIDENTS AND THE COASTAL COMMUNITY AND SAY, WE NEED TO DO BETTER. WE KNOW THAT THE COUNTY HAS SOME JURISDICTION. [00:25:01] WE KNOW THAT THE TOWN HAS SOME. WE KNOW THERE ARE PRIVATE WALKWAYS AND OVER WALKS THAT CHALLENGE YOU WITH FINDING THE RIGHT SOLUTION. WE KNOW ACCESS TO PERMITS CHALLENGES YOU, BUT WE KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT, AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. AND IT WON'T JUST BE THIS ONE GROUP OF HAPPY BEACH DANCING. IT WILL BE MANY GROUPS THAT FOLLOW. THERE HAVE BEEN YOGA GROUPS. THERE HAVE BEEN JUST GENERAL GROUPS OF PARTY GOERS. THERE ARE PEOPLE WITH FIREWORKS. THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT JUST WANT TO BRING HUNDREDS OF PEOPLES TO OUR BEACHES. AND WHAT WE'RE ASKING IS THAT YOU FIND A SOLUTION FOR GROUPS OF 10 OR OVER. THANK YOU. JIM KURETSKI: THAT WAS IT. COUNCIL, WE HAVE BEFORE US THE MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 6 TOWN [2. October 6, 2026, Town Council Meeting Minutes.] COUNCIL MEETING. I DON'T SEE ANY REVISIONS ON THE DAIS. IF THERE ARE NONE, I'LL TAKE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. PHYLLIS CHOY: I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF OCTOBER 06, 2020, AS PRESENTED. DAN GUISINGER: I'LL SECOND. JIM KURETSKI: MOTION IS SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING, AYE. COUNCIL MEMBERS: AYE. JIM KURETSKI: MOTION CARRIES 5-0. MOVING ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. [CONSENT AGENDA] IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WISH TO PULL THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBER: NO, SIR. JIM KURETSKI: ANY MEMBER ON THE DAIS? SEEING NONE, I'LL TAKE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. ITS AGENDA ITEMS 3, 4, AND 5. MICHAEL HOFFMAN: SO MOVED. DAN GUISINGER: SECOND. JIM KURETSKI: MOTION IN A SECOND. I'LL ASK THE TOWN ATTORNEY TO READ ORDINANCES, THE TWO ORDINANCES. BRETT T. LASHLEY: THANK YOU, MAYOR. ORDINANCE NUMBER 15-26, AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF JUPITER, FLORIDA, PERTAINING TO THE REGULATIONS GOVERNING FALSE PUBLIC SAFETY ALARMS PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF ARTICLE I OF CHAPTER 3 OF THE TOWN OF JUPITER, CODE OF ORDINANCES ENTITLED ALARM SYSTEMS IN ITS ENTIRETY, PROVIDING FOR THE ADOPTION OF A NEW ARTICLE I, INCLUDING DEFINITIONS, DUTIES, AND MAINTENANCE, FALSE ALARM DETERMINATIONS AND EXCLUSIONS. A FEE SCHEDULE, A CORRECTIVE ACTIONS, ENFORCEMENT, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ORDINANCE NUMBER 42-26, AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF JUPITER, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 19 OF THE TOWN OF JUPITER CODE OF ORDINANCES, ENTITLED TRAFFIC AND MOTOR VEHICLES. ARTICLE 2, STOPPING, STANDING, AND PARKING, AND CREATING SECTION 19-38 PAYMENT AND APPEAL PROCESS FOR PARKING VIOLATIONS TO AUTHORIZE THE PALM BEACH COUNTY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT AND COMPTROLLER TO PRESIDE OVER PARKING CITATION APPEALS AND COLLECTIONS OF PARKING FINES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. JIM KURETSKI: WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING, AYE. COUNCIL MEMBERS: AYE. JIM KURETSKI: THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. MOVING ON TO THE REGULAR AGENDA. [6. Resolution 130-26, Joining the Palm Beach County League of Cities in Its Opposition to Florida Constitutional Amendment 3, the Proposed Property Tax Reform Amendment.] PUBLIC BUSINESS RESOLUTION 130-26. I'M NOT SURE IF STAFF SPEAKS TO THIS ONE OR COUNSELOR SUNDSTROM. MALISE SUNDSTROM: I CAN SPEAK TO IT IS IT'S OK. THERE IS NO STAFF PRESENTATION JUST TO CONFIRM. THIS IS A RESOLUTION THAT HAS BEEN PREPARED A NUMBER OF TOWNS, CITIES, VILLAGES ACROSS PALM BEACH COUNTY ARE OFFERING SUPPORT OR CONSIDERATION OF THIS RESOLUTION JOINING THE PALM BEACH COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES AND ITS OPPOSITION TO THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 03, THE TAX REFORM AMENDMENT. SO ON NOVEMBER 3RD, FLORIDA VOTERS ARE VOTING ON THIS. IT'S A PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX AMENDMENT, AND IT MAKES MAJOR CHANGES TO PROPERTY TAXES THAT COULD AFFECT HOW MUNICIPALITIES AND SPECIAL DISTRICTS PAY FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES COUNTIES AS WELL. ON AUGUST 28TH, THE PALM BEACH COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES ADOPTED AN OFFICIAL POSITION OPPOSING THIS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, CITING CONCERNS REGARDING THE ANTICIPATED IMPACT UPON PROPERTY TAX REVENUE BUT ALSO WANTING A MORE DATA-DRIVEN SOLUTION. SO THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE SPECIAL PROPERTY TAX COMMISSION THAT IS MEETING NEXT YEAR AND JUST ASKING THAT THERE BE A THOUGHTFUL, TRANSPARENT AND DATA-DRIVEN PROCESS THAT FULLY INFORMS THE PUBLIC BEFORE ADVANCING A CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE OF THIS MAGNITUDE. SO THEY ISSUED A STATEMENT, AND THERE ARE RESOLUTIONS GOING AROUND AROUND THE COUNTY, AND THIS IS ONE THAT THE TOWN CAN CONSIDER JOINING. I KNOW GARDENS, PALM BEACH GARDENS RECENTLY ADOPTED ONE A NUMBER OF CITIES HAVE. SO THIS IS ONE THAT JUPITER CAN CHOOSE TO ADOPT IF IT WISHES TO. JIM KURETSKI: ANY COMMENTS ON IT? PHYLLIS CHOY: YES, MAYOR, I DO. IN FULL DISCLOSURE, I WANT TO STATE THAT I AM ON THE FLORIDA REALTORS ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND I DO NOT SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION FOR MULTIPLE REASONS. [00:30:02] WE DEFINITELY NEED TAX RELIEF FOR OUR HOMEOWNERS. THERE IS NO QUESTION WHATSOEVER. PART OF THIS BILL DOES NOT FAVOR MUNICIPALITIES. I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT AT THIS POINT RIGHT NOW, HOMEOWNERS NEED SOME KIND OF RELIEF. UNFORTUNATELY, IT CAME OUT OF THE BOX TOO LATE. MAYBE THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT MORE LANGUAGE IN THIS, BUT I DO WANT TO DISCLOSE THAT AGAIN. I AM ON ANOTHER BOARD FOR WHO ARE SUPPORTING THIS. MALISE SUNDSTROM: SO I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I THINK WE'RE ADDRESSING A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THIS NONPARTISAN GROUP, THE PALM BEACH COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES. AND I'M THE REPRESENTATIVE MEMBER OF IT THIS YEAR, BUT IT CAN CHANGE ON ANY GIVEN YEAR. AND I SPEAK TO THIS RESOLUTION AS A MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL IN THE TOWN OF JUPITER, FOCUSING ON THE IMPACTS TO THE TOWN OF JUPITER, BUT ALSO TO ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNTY AND ALL OF THESE OTHER ENTITIES THAT COULD BE IMPACTED BY AMENDMENT 3. SO WE HAD A WORKSHOP ON AMENDMENT 3, AND WE HAD LEARNED THAT 8 TO 10 MUNICIPALITIES COULD FOLD. WELL, WE MAY HAVE IN OUR LOCAL AGREEMENTS WITH SOME OF THOSE MUNICIPALITIES OR SOME OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS OR WITH THE COUNTY THAT COULD BE IMPACTED BY HOW IT IMPACTS THEM. WE'VE LEARNED ABOUT SPECIAL DISTRICTS, WHICH ARE NOT CITIES, TOWNS, VILLAGES THAT ARE SOME OF THEM. ONE OF THEIR MAIN SOURCES, I THINK, FOR THE CHILDREN'S SERVICES COUNCIL, OVER 90% OF THEIR FUNDING IS AD VALOREM REVENUE. SO THEY'RE NOT A CITY, BUT THEY ARE BEING HEAVILY IMPACTED, AND THEIR SERVICE IS BEING IMPACTED. AND THAT WOULD IMPACT ANY SERVICE IN JUPITER. SO I THINK I'M KEEPING IT JUPITER SPECIFIC IN THAT HOW WILL THIS IMPACT OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE ENTITIES THAT PROVIDE SERVICES TO JUPITER, MUCH LIKE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT PROVIDES SERVICES TO JUPITER THAT WE RECOGNIZE THIS EVENING. AND IS THIS SOMETHING WE WANT TO SHARE IN OUR EFFORT TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT THERE ON HOW THAT IMPACTS US. JIM KURETSKI: I THINK JUST I'LL ADD MY PERSPECTIVE ON IT. FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO STATE ON THE RECORD THAT PART OF THE RESOLUTION UNDER SECTION 3 INDICATES THAT THE RESOLUTION WE DIRECT OUR TOWN CLERK TO MAKE SURE THAT COPIES ARE FURNISHED TO, AMONG OTHER ENTITIES, THE FLORIDA TAXATION AND BUDGET REFORM COMMISSION. THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT WHY WE'RE DOING THAT IS THEY MEET EVERY 20 YEARS, AND THAT'S THE APPROPRIATE GROUP TO GET IT RIGHT. AND I'M JUST GOING TO SAY, AS AN INDIVIDUAL, I THINK THAT THE AMENDMENT 3 IS A TRAIN WRECK ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT. LOCAL GOVERNMENT WILL CEASEFIRE TO EXIST. SO I CAN'T SUPPORT IT AND WILL NOT BE VOTING FOR IT, BUT I JUST EMPHASIZE THAT BECAUSE EVEN HELP IT'S GOING TO HURT RENTERS WHO CAN LEAST AFFORD IT. THAT'S A FACT. AND QUITE FRANKLY, IT DOESN'T CORRECT-- ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT I'VE HAD UP MY ENTIRE TENURE AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL. I BENEFITED FROM SAVE OUR HOMES PROTECTION WHICH BEGAN IN 1994. AND THE BIGGEST ISSUE HAS BEEN DISPARITY BETWEEN SIDE BY SIDE NEIGHBORS. AS MY SMALL CUL-DE-SAC, ONE PERSON LEFT, AND THE NEXT PERSON LEFT. MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR PAYS 35% MORE THAN I DO. MY DAUGHTER, WHO LIVES FOUR DOORS DOWN, SPENDS 70% MORE THAN I DO. SO AFTER AMENDMENT 3 GETS PASSED, MY DAUGHTER IS NOT GOING TO SPEND 70% MORE THAN I DO. SHE'S GOING TO SPEND 105% MORE. MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR IS GOING TO GO FROM 45% MORE TO 50 SOMETHING MORE. SO I THINK THE REFORM COMMISSION CAN DO A BETTER JOB OF THAT AND REALLY ADDRESS THE DISPARITY THAT EXISTS FOR HOMESTEADED PROPERTY OWNERS. SO I'M FOR IT. AND I DO THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT I MADE THOSE REMARKS JUST TO SHARE AS A POINT OF PERSPECTIVE AND IN PARTICULAR. SO NONE OF US UP HERE ARE OPPOSED TO GETTING IT RIGHT. I'VE WONDERED FOR YEARS, WHEN ARE WE EVER GOING TO GET IT RIGHT FOR THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN HOMESTEADED PROPERTY OWNER'S SIDE BY SIDE. THAT'S OUTRIGHT UNFAIR. IF AMENDMENT 3 PASSES, THAT'LL NEVER GET FIXED. THEY NEED TO GET IT RIGHT. AND WITH THAT, I'M NOT TRYING TO PUT ANYBODY ON THE SPOT. BUT IF MY OTHER TWO COLLEAGUES WANT TO WEIGH IN, YOU CAN. DAN GUISINGER: I WILL. WELL, GO AHEAD. RON DELANEY: I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING SAID UP HERE. I THINK THIS WAS SORT OF I KNOW THE GOVERNOR HAD LANGUAGE [00:35:01] TO THIS AMENDMENT, AND THEN IT GOT CHANGED. AND HE EVEN SAID HE'LL SUPPORT IT, BUT HE'S NOT GOING TO ADVOCATE FOR IT. SO RIGHT THERE, I THINK IT WAS TOO HASTILY PUT TOGETHER. AND I DON'T THINK THEY CONSIDERED THE DOWNSTREAM EFFECTS OF WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO ALL THE MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES. LIKE COUNSELOR SUNDSTROM SAID, SOME ARE GOING TO BE INSOLVENT OVERNIGHT. AND THERE'S JUST A TOTAL UNFAIRNESS AS EVERYTHING STANDS RIGHT NOW. SO I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT AMENDMENT THREE. I WON'T VOTE FOR IT. I UNDERSTAND EVERYBODY WANTS A TAX BREAK. I AGREE. I ALSO LOOK AT IT AS A GOVERNMENT SHOULD START FROM LOCAL UP. AND I LOOK AT THIS AS JUST AN UNFUNDED MANDATE. AND SO THEY MAKE THE MANDATE. WE HAVE TO SCRAMBLE AND LEARN HOW TO DEAL WITH IT. SO THE MONEY FOR FIRST RESPONDERS IS THERE, HOPEFULLY THERE. AND THEN ALL PERIPHERAL THINGS THAT HAVE TO-- MONEY HAS TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE. SO I JUST DON'T THINK THIS WAS THOUGHT THROUGH TO THE END, AND I'D LIKE TO SEE IT IN A MORE CONSCIENTIOUS WAY AND JUST REALLY MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE FAIR DOWN THE ROAD FOR EVERYBODY. DAN GUISINGER: YEAH, I WON'T SUPPORT AMENDMENT 3 ALSO. HOWEVER, I WILL SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION. MY ONLY WISH FOR THIS RESOLUTION, SINCE PALM BEACH COUNTY ENACTED THEIR LEAGUE OF CITIES ON AUGUST 28TH, WERE SEVEN WEEKS LATER. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS DONE EARLIER TO GET THIS MORE OUT IN FRONT OF THE PUBLIC, RATHER THAN WE'RE ALL IN THE MIDDLE OF ABSENTEE VOTING. WE'RE ALL IN THE MIDDLE OF EARLY VOTING. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS SEVERAL WEEKS AGO TO GET OUT MORE PUBLIC TO OUR RESIDENTS OF JUPITER. BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I ALSO SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION AS WRITTEN. MALISE SUNDSTROM: I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ONE MORE THING. I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT THE MAYOR MADE ABOUT HOW SECTION 3 OF THIS RESOLUTION SAYS THE TOWN CLERK IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED TO DIRECT FURNISH COPIES OF THE RESOLUTION, NOT ONLY TO THE FLORIDA TAXATION AND BUDGET REFORM COMMISSION, BUT THE PALM BEACH COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION AS WELL. SO THIS IS PRODUCTIVE IN THAT NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, THIS IS GOING TO BE A DISCUSSION FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE SHARE OUR PERSPECTIVE AND EDUCATE THOSE LEGISLATORS AROUND US ON ITS IMPACTS TO US AND THOSE AROUND US SO THAT THEY CAN GET IT RIGHT. I VIEW IT AS PRODUCTIVE AND WORKING TOWARDS A SOLUTION. SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT AND SAY THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE ATTENTION TO THAT. JIM KURETSKI: AND THANK YOU FOR ADDING THAT. THAT'S GOOD. SORRY I MISSED THAT. AND JUST IN CLOSING, I DON'T KNOW THAT MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS-- I THINK MOST RESIDENTS GET THEIR PROPERTY TAX BILL AND PAY IT AND DON'T REALLY LOOK AT IT YEAR TO YEAR. BUT THE TOWN HAS REDUCED ITS MILLAGE RATE FOR 15 CONSECUTIVE YEARS. IT'S A FACT. IN FACT, OVER THOSE 15 YEARS, INCLUDING WHAT WE'VE DONE THIS YEAR, WE'VE REDUCED OUR MILLAGE RATE BY 28%. WE'VE REDUCED OVERALL ALL OF THE TAX AND ENTITIES ON A JUPITER HOMESTEADED PROPERTY'S PROPERTY TAX MILLAGE. WELL, EVERYBODY GET BENEFITS FROM MILLAGE RATE REDUCTION. THE MILLAGE RATE REDUCTION HAS BEEN 23%, WHICH IS WHY WE SAVE OUR HOMES PROTECTION WHEN WE HAD AN 8% INFLATION A FEW YEARS BACK, AND YOUR HOME ONLY GOES UP 3%. QUITE FRANKLY, PEOPLE MAY NOT REALIZE THIS, BUT THAT YEAR WHEN WE SUFFERED FROM AN 8% INCREASE, WE DECIDED TO REDUCE THE MILLAGE RATE 3% IN THAT YEAR BECAUSE WE WERE COMMITTED AS A COUNCIL SO THAT HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY WAS GOING TO SEE A BREAK AT THE WORST TIME WE WERE GETTING AN IMPACT. AND THEN TRUTH BE KNOWN AND YOU KNOW WHAT? I'VE GOT A REPUTATION FOR THIS. I'M NOT SHY WHEN I SPEAK. IT'S A COP OUT ON THE PART OF THE STATE. 38% 15 YEARS AGO, 38% OF OUR PROPERTY TAXES IS SCHOOLS. IT'S STILL 38%. AND YOU HEARD US. WE'RE ALL SUPPORTIVE OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SO THIS IS NOT AN ATTACK ON OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE FUNDING. IT'S NOT. BUT WE'RE DONOR COUNTY. STATE MAKES US A DONOR COUNTY. SO WE PAY 50% MORE IN PROPERTY TAXES TOWARDS THE STATE FOR SCHOOLS THAN THE STATEWIDE AVERAGE. SO OUR LEGISLATORS COULD DO A BETTER JOB. TO ME, IT WAS A COP OUT TO DO AMENDMENT 3. GEE, THAT WAS EASY. WHAT THEY'RE ACCOUNTABLE FOR AT THE STATE LEVEL. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING. SO ANYWAY, WITH THAT, I JUST WANTED TO GET THAT ON THE RECORD FOR THOSE THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE KNOWN THAT. THAT'S ANOTHER REASON WHY I KICK IT BACK TO THE REFORM COMMISSION. IF PEOPLE ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES AS WE ALL ARE, DO IT RIGHT. EVERYBODY SHOULD PITCH IN, INCLUDING THE STATE. AND SO WITH THAT, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND ON RESOLUTION 130-26. ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING, AYE. [00:40:03] DAN GUISINGER: DID ANYONE MAKE A MOTION YET? MALISE SUNDSTROM: THERE WAS NO MOTION. JIM KURETSKI: I'M SORRY. THANK YOU. MALISE SUNDSTROM: I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 130-26. DAN GUISINGER: I'LL SECOND. JIM KURETSKI: THANK YOU FOR CORRECTING ME. THAT'S WHAT I COUNT ON. HAVING A MOTION AND A SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING, AYE. COUNCIL MEMBERS: AYE. JIM KURETSKI: OPPOSED. THE MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1, WITH VICE MAYOR DISSENTING. THAT CONCLUDES THE REGULAR AGENDA. MOVING ON TO REPORTS, TOWN ATTORNEY. BRETT T. LASHLEY: NOTHING TO REPORT FROM THE TOWN ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. JIM KURETSKI: TOWN MANAGER. [TOWN MANAGER ] MICHAEL HOFFMAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST A COUPLE THINGS. WE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESSFUL EVENTS THIS PAST WEEK. WE HAD NATIONAL NIGHT OUT ON OCTOBER 13TH WHERE WE GOT OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND VERY SUCCESSFUL. THE COMMUNITY GOT TOGETHER AND MAKE UP THAT EVENT DATE. WE ALSO HAD HARBOURFEST THIS PAST WEEKEND, WHICH WAS A GOOD TURNOUT DESPITE THE INCLEMENT WEATHER. I KNOW SATURDAY THERE WAS A RAIN-OUT, BUT FRIDAY THEY GOT TO ENJOY THEIR TIME. AND THEN ALSO ON SATURDAY, WE HAD SPOOKTACULAR AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER. IT WAS LARGELY ATTENDED, EVEN WITH THE RAIN. WE HAD TO MOVE THINGS INSIDE, BUT THE KIDS AND THE FAMILIES REALLY ENJOYED THAT. ALSO WE HAD GFRD'S FIRST STRUCTURAL FIRE, AND I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT IT WENT FLAWLESSLY. THE TEAM HANDLED IT EXTREMELY WELL AND HANDLED IT FLAWLESSLY. AND THEN LASTLY, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE HAVE A WORKING BATHROOM AT INDIAN CREEK PARK. AND I KNOW THE FAMILIES ARE VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT. SO NO RIBBON CUTTING FOR THAT. BUT WE'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO-- I KNOW THE FAMILIES WILL ENJOY THAT. SO THAT'S MY REPORT. JIM KURETSKI: OK. MOVING ON TO COUNCIL. [TOWN COUNCIL – LIAISON REPORTS AND COMMENTS] COUNCILOR GUISINGER. DAN GUISINGER: SECOND, WHAT MIKE SAID. ALL THREE EVENTS I ATTEND-- THE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, THE HARBOURFEST, SPOOKTACULAR, ALL FANTASTIC. AND THE KIDS I NEVER SEEN HAD SUCH A GREAT TIME. IT WAS A HECK OF A TURNOUT AT THAT SPOOKTACULAR. IT WAS AS CROWDED. AND THE POLICE WAS REPRESENTATIVE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, EVERYBODY HANDING OUT HATS. MY GRANDDAUGHTER GOT HER THIRD OR FOURTH HAT I THINK IT WAS SO. BUT REALLY FINE EVENTS, ALL THREE OF THEM. AND I APPRECIATE THE TOWN TAKING THE TIME TO PUT THIS ON FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND MAKE SURE ALL THE RESIDENTS ENJOYED IT TOO. SO THANK YOU. JIM KURETSKI: COUNCILOR SUNDSTROM. MALISE SUNDSTROM: I AGREE. IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL SEASON OF RIBBON CUTTINGS AND CELEBRATIONS. SO A NATIONAL NIGHT OUT WAS IT FELT BIGGER THAN EVER. IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE COOLER WEATHER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT THERE WAS CERTAINLY AN ENERGY IN THE AIR. SO THAT WAS WONDERFUL TO SEE. I DID JUST WANT TO CALL ATTENTION TO-- AND THIS WAS IN THE CONSENT AGENDA, BUT ORDINANCE 1526. I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE THIS COME FORWARD, AND I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE WORK PEOPLE HAVE DONE. FALSE ALARMS TAKE UP 700 CALLS A YEAR IS WHAT WE SAW IN OUR BRIEFING MATERIALS. AND SINCE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STARTED, WE'VE ALREADY HAD 15. SO IT'S A LOT. IT'S A LOT IF IT'S LATE AT NIGHT. IT'S A LOT WHEN SOMEONE COULD BE IN A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION SOMEWHERE ELSE, AND YOU HAVE TO TRY TO GET SOMEWHERE ELSE. AND SO THIS IS THE KIND OF DATA I LOVE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. I LOVE THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS. WITH ALARMS, I LOVE THAT WE'RE EDUCATING AROUND FALSE ALARMS SO THAT WE CAN TRY TO PREVENT THOSE CALLS. I KNOW THERE ARE A FEW USERS THAT ARE VERY HEAVY USERS WITH THAT TYPE OF CALL. SO JUST REALLY LOOKING AT THAT AND DIGGING INTO IT A LITTLE BIT MORE PROTECTS OUR FIREFIGHTERS, PROTECTS OUR FAMILIES, ALL OF US. THE ONLY CALL I'VE EVER MADE TO FIRE RESCUE WAS FOR A FALSE ALARM LATE AT NIGHT. AND THEY WERE ALL CONNECTED. SO ALL LIKE 18 OF THEM WENT OFF AND WOKE UP EVERYONE, AND WE WERE REALLY STRESSED ABOUT IT. IT TOOK A LITTLE WHILE TO SOLVE. BUT I LEARNED A LOT AT THAT MOMENT HOW TO MANAGE AND SERVICE AND TAKE CARE OF THEM. IT'S ONE OF THOSE GROWN UP THINGS I DON'T ALWAYS ENJOY LEARNING. AND MAYBE I TOOK TOO LONG TO LEARN, AND NOW I DO. BUT IF WE ALL STEP IN, AND ESPECIALLY THESE USERS THAT THEY WORK WITH STEP IN, IT'LL MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE PEOPLE THAT WORK IN OUR JPD AS WELL WITH BURGLAR ALARMS, OTHER ALARMS. SO THIS IS WHAT I LOVE TO SEE MORE OF THIS PLEASE. LET'S LOOK AT EVERYTHING, QUESTION EVERYTHING. HOW CAN WE WORK SMARTER, NOT JUST HARDER? SO THANK YOU. JIM KURETSKI: COUNCILOR DELANEY. RON DELANEY: JUST I WANTED TO THANK SERGEANT ROB GIVENS FOR DRIVING ME AROUND ON NATIONAL NIGHT OUT. IT WAS A GREAT NIGHT, TREMENDOUS TURNOUT. AND IT'S JUST ENCOURAGING TO SEE THAT ALL THE RESIDENTS COME OUT WITH THEIR KIDS, THE WHOLE FAMILY, JUST IN SUPPORT OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. IT'S JUST IT'S REALLY NICE TO SEE THE DEPARTMENT DESERVES IT. IT'S A GREAT FORCE, AND JUST I THINK EVERY YEAR IT JUST GROWS WHICH IS A GREAT NIGHT. JIM KURETSKI: VICE MAYOR. PHYLLIS CHOY: THANK YOU. AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT, THE STAFF, MR. LANE. WE'RE VERY PROUD THAT ALL OF OUR CHILDREN HAVE GONE THROUGH THE JUPITER PUBLIC SCHOOLS. NATIONAL NIGHT OUT WAS AMAZING. IT WAS ELECTRIC. I'VE NEVER SEEN SO MANY RESIDENTS JUST SO HAPPY [00:45:03] AT THAT HOUR OF NIGHT. AND THEY STOOD THROUGH THE DARK. AND I THINK THE TIME OF THE YEAR WAS REALLY EFFECTIVE, HAVING IT IN OCTOBER. THANK YOU. 20 DAYS TO OUR JUPITER FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT. SO MUCH HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. BUT WHAT I SEE CLEARLY-- AND WE'VE REPEATED THIS OVER AND OVER-- IS THE COLLABORATION WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT ITSELF. THEY ARE AN AMAZING TEAM. I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE BOTH TO CALL OUR OWN HERE IN JUPITER. THANK YOU, ALL. JIM KURETSKI: THREE ITEMS. ONE ON THE EVENTS, I WANT TO SAY, NUMBER ONE, THAT I'M ALWAYS DELIGHTED BY NATIONAL NIGHT OUT. WITH THE TIME CHANGE THIS YEAR, IT WAS DONE LATER THAN, OR NOT LATER, BUT THERE WAS SOME MORE DARK TIME, NIGHT TIME, THAN IF IT HAD BEEN EARLIER BECAUSE OF THE FURTHER INTO THE SEASON. BUT JUST THE TURN OUT IS JUST INCREDIBLE. AND I REMEMBER LAST YEAR I HAD A CHANCE TO RIDE LAST YEAR WITH TWO MEMBERS OF OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. AND I REMEMBER HOW STRUCK THEY WERE THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. AND SO THAT NATIONAL NIGHT OUT REALLY THE TURNOUT WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN MAINTAINING A SMALL TOWN FEEL. AND THEN THIS YEAR, I THINK WE ALL JUST GOT AN EMAIL REMINDING US OF THIS. BUT IT'S THE 50TH YEAR COMING UP FOR THE JUPITER TEQUESTA CHRISTMAS PARADE. AND IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN TO THAT, WE HAVE BANDS FROM ALL THE WAY DOWN IN RIVIERA BEACH THAT COME UP HERE BECAUSE NOT MANY PEOPLE HAVE A SMALL TOWN PARADE. AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM. SO JUST SO DELIGHTED AT THAT. HARBOURFEST, I JUST WANTED TO REFLECT ON THAT. AND I ALWAYS LIKE TO GIVE CREDIT. COUNCILOR SUNDSTROM HAD PUSHED WHEN WE COULDN'T GET ARTIGRAS TO COME BACK TO GET OUR OWN EVENT. AND THIS YEAR'S WAS SUCH A STEP UP FROM LAST YEAR. THE FACT THAT IT WAS SET UP TO ENGAGE THE ENTIRE HARBOURSIDE PLACE SITE, AND PEOPLE MAY NOT FULLY REALIZE THIS, BUT I'M IN A POSITION TO SAY IT. BACK WHEN HARBOURSIDE WAS APPROVED-- AND I NEVER VOTED FOR IT. BUT IT WAS APPROVED WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT EVENTS LIKE THAT WERE GOING TO HAPPEN. AND I GOT TO SAY, I WAS THERE FRIDAY NIGHT. AND IT'S THE BEST EVENT TO COME CLOSEST TO MEET WHAT WAS EXPECTED WHEN HARBOURSIDE WAS APPROVED. SO I'M GRATEFUL THAT IT GREW UP FROM ITS BEGINNING IN YEAR ONE TO YEAR TWO. BECAUSE FIRST OF ALL, YOU COULD GO FOR FREE. IT'S UNFORTUNATE THERE WAS A RAIN-OUT ON-- WELL, RAIN BOTH DAYS, BUT A RAIN OUT ON THE SECOND DAY. BUT NONETHELESS, I'M GRATEFUL TO THE CHAMBER IN THE SPONSORS TOWN AND JUPITER MEDICAL CENTER AND WHOEVER ELSE TO PUT IT ON BECAUSE WOW, IT'S TURNED INTO AN INCREDIBLE EVENT. WE LOST ARTIGRAS. I THINK THIS ONE COULD BE BETTER, ACTUALLY, BUT I'M BIASED. SO THE SECOND ITEM-- AND THIS MAY HAVE BEEN COVERED IN A-- I'M JUST KIND OF SPEAKING TO THE TOWN MANAGER ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL. WE GET THESE PHENOMENAL TOWN MANAGER WEEKLY REPORTS. AND MAYBE IT WAS IN THERE, AND I MISSED IT OR CAN'T RECOLLECT IT, BUT WE DID ASK AND WE'RE EXPECTING THEN THE SEA TURTLE NESTING ISSUE THAT WE WERE GOING TO SEE SOME KIND OF CODE REGULATIONS. SO CAN WE GET A REMINDER ABOUT THAT AND APPRECIATE THE TWO LADIES COMING OUT TONIGHT ABOUT THAT. BUT WE WERE EXPECTING SOMETHING. AND THESE THINGS DO TAKE TIME AND WHATEVER. BUT I'M GOING TO ASK FOR AN UPDATE FOR US. AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE IN THIS WEEK'S REPORT, BUT WE WERE EXPECTING. I THINK ALL OF US HAD WERE EXPECTING SOME KIND OF ORDINANCE. SO IT'S STILL BEING WORKED ON FINE. BUT GET US A STATUS. AND CERTAINLY WE OUGHT TO TARGET IT TO BE DONE AND IN PLACE BEFORE NEXT TURTLE SEASON. AND THEN LASTLY-- AND I'M GOING TO ASK TO SEE IF I CAN GET COUNCIL SUPPORT ON THIS ONE ITEM. BUT, THE ABACOA FIRE STATION, HOPEFULLY ALL TOWN COUNCIL [00:50:05] MEMBERS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO INSPECT AND TOUR THE EXISTING BUILDING. DID EVERYBODY GET A CHANCE? RON DELANEY: NOT LAST WEEK, BUT I HAD PREVIOUSLY. JIM KURETSKI: OK. SO ANY EVENT, IF YOU DID AND WE DID, BASED ON THAT TOUR, WOW, IT WAS EVIDENT TO ME THAT THE SCOPE OF RENOVATING AND THE ADDITIONS WILL NEED TO BE SIGNIFICANT, AND IT WILL EXCEED THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET ESTIMATES. THAT'S A GIVEN. AND I'M GOING TO ASK THE TOWN COUNCIL. I'VE SAID I BROUGHT THIS UP DURING THE BUDGET STUFF IN MEETINGS I THINK AT LEAST FIVE TIMES. I THINK THERE WAS A CONSENSUS. BUT IF YOU ALL DON'T REALIZE, IF SOMEONE DOESN'T SPEAK UP, I CAN'T ALWAYS SEE THE BODY LANGUAGE PUT ON THE $2 MILLION IN SURTAX FUNDS THAT I WAS PROPOSING TO REMOVE FROM ISLAND WAY SOUTH. AND NOW THAT WE'RE DOING PROPORTIONATE FAIR SHARE. I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER PROJECT TO EARMARK IT TO THAN JUPITER FIRE STATION 11 WORK. WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH BUDGET MONEY. SO IF COUNCIL IS PREPARED TONIGHT TO SUPPORT THAT, THAT'LL BE A MESSAGE THAT THE TOWN LEADERSHIP WHEN THEY COME BACK WILL TAKE. BUT I DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE TO. I MEAN, I KNOW ENOUGH FROM MY EXPERIENCE, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY THERE. AND WE WILL REGRET. IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE UPGRADE STATION 11 TO AN APPROPRIATE STANDARD OUT OF THE BOX. I DON'T WANT STAFF TO-- SO I DIDN'T WANT STAFF TO HAVE TO COME AND SAY, GEE, WE NEED MORE MONEY. WE KNOW IT. LET'S GO AHEAD AND SEED IT WITH. AND I'M NOT SURE. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S GOING TO BE ENOUGH. BUT LET'S TAKE THE 2 MILLION SURTAX FUNDS AND-- SO IS THERE A CONSENSUS ON THAT TO GIVE THE DIRECTION TO DESIGNATE THAT TO THE FIRE STATION? RON DELANEY: I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT. MALISE SUNDSTROM: YEAH. I AGREE WITH THAT. AND I AGREE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT THE FINANCING PLAN GOING FORWARD, ESPECIALLY. RON DELANEY: EXCUSE ME. I WAS APPALLED BY THE CONDITION OF THAT FIRE STATION. I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY COULD HAVE LIVED IN THAT THE WAY IT WAS. SO I SUPPORT THE SURTAX, YOUR RECOMMENDATION 100%. JIM KURETSKI: SO I DON'T THINK WE NEED A CONSENSUS. WE DON'T NEED A VOTE BECAUSE IT REALLY IS DIRECTION FOR STAFF TO BRING IT BACK. AND THEY ALREADY HAD THAT DIRECTION. BUT BRING IT BACK. BUT NOW THEY'LL KNOW THAT WE ALREADY HAVE FIVE ZEROS SUPPORTING THAT EARMARK. AND YOU'RE HEARING A CONSENSUS THAT WE'RE RECOGNIZING THAT EVEN THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO DO IT RIGHT. NONE OF US WANT TO REGRET. KIND OF JUST WE DID THE FIRST TWO STATIONS CORRECT. I KNOW THIS ONE MAY HAVE SOME SITE PLAN LIMITS ON WHAT IT CAN BE DONE, BUT WE JUST WANT TO SEND A MESSAGE TO THE CREWS. AND IT'S ABACOA STATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO GET THEM THE SAME AMENITIES, BENEFITS, PLACE TO LIVE, WORK SAFELY AS THE OTHER STATIONS HAVE. SO THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR AGREEING WITH THAT. PHYLLIS CHOY: THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT UP. JIM KURETSKI: AND WITH THAT, THE TIME IS NOW 7:54, AND WE'LL ADJOURN THE MEETING. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.