Sep 16, 2024 Special City Commission

[ROLL CALL]

[00:00:06]

ROLL CALL. MAYOR RICH. HERE. COMMISSIONER CLARK. COMMISSIONER COLLINS. H COMMISSIONER.

JOB. HERE. COMMISSIONER. REED. HERE. LET'S ALL STAND, PLEASE. AND I WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. 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. COMMENTS BY CITY COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER REED, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS

[COMMENTS BY CITY COMMISSIONERS]

I KNOW TYPICALLY WE DO REORG IN DECEMBER, BUT REVISITING WHETHER OR NOT MR. CAMPINI SHOULD BE OUR CRB AT LARGE APPOINTMENT, SINCE THE AT LARGE IS WHO IS VOTED ON BY THE FIVE OF US. SO I JUST WANTED TO OFFER THAT UP FOR A POTENTIAL D AND D OR AND OR VOTE ITEM AT AN UPCOMING MAYBE NEXT MEETING. THAT'S, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE BROUGHT UP AT THE CRB MEETING? CORRECT I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH HOW WE, THE CITY COMMISSION, APPOINTS THE CRB MEMBERS, AND AS A RESULT, IT WOULD BE A CITY COMMISSION ITEM BECAUSE IT'S RELATED TO THE AT LARGE MEMBERS. IT WOULD REQUIRE A MOTION FROM A CITY COMMISSIONER, A SECOND FROM ANOTHER, AND A VOTE OF AT LEAST THREE MEMBERS TO REMOVE THE AT LARGE POSITION. THANK YOU, I JUST HAVE ONE BRIEF COMMENT. AND FIRST OF ALL, I AM NOT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. I'M A 70 YEAR OLD GUY, AND I JUST MISSED THAT. SO. BUT, I AM MY WIFE OCCASIONALLY WILL SAY TO ME, YOU HAVE TO READ THIS. YOU HAVE TO READ THIS. AND I WOULD AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER COLLINS THAT THE TONE CAN BE QUITE UNPLEASANT WITH BOTH SIDES, BUT JUST MY INTERACTION WITH THIS COMMUNITY, I HAVE NEVER SEEN IT LIKE THIS AT THIS LEVEL. SO MANY PEOPLE, SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO HAVE WHO ARE VERY ANGRY, VERY DISAPPOINTED, VERY CONFUSED ABOUT THE ACTIONS. WE'RE TAKING, BOTH WITH REGARD TO THE BRIGHT LINE AND THE POTENTIAL DECISIONS WE MAKE WITH REGARDING THE ZIP.

I WOULD JUST ASK THAT WE TREAD CAREFULLY. THESE DECISIONS CAN HAVE SOME VERY SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES, ESPECIALLY FOR BUSINESSES WHO ARE THE LIFEBLOOD OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND I HOPE WE CAN BE COURTEOUS TO EACH OTHER AND LEAD BY EXAMPLE, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS WE CAN FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CITY OF STUART. FOR THE LONG TERM. THANK YOU. MAYOR.

YES. SO, MIKE, DO YOU NEED ME TO ASK SPECIFICALLY TO HAVE THAT AGENDA FOR NEXT TIME IF THE COMMISSION WANTS THAT AS AN AGENDA ITEM, I NEED DIRECTION FROM YOU OR CONSENSUS FROM THE STAFF OR FROM THE BOARD THAT YOU GUYS WANT ME TO BRING THAT BACK FOR MONDAY NIGHT. AND I CAN ADD IT TO THE MONDAY NIGHT MEETING. WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK? IS IT REQUIRED? I'M SORRY. YOU CAN ASK. OH, YEAH. OKAY, CAN I SPEAK? COMMISSIONER GOBY? YES, YES. AGAIN, THAT WAS MY QUESTION. WOULD IT BE SOMETHING THAT TAKES PLACE HERE TONIGHT OR IT TAKES PLACE? IT WOULD NOT TAKE PLACE. THIS EVENING. OKAY. SINCE IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA, THE BETTER PRACTICE IS DUE PROCESS WISE. BECAUSE THE BOARD IS VOTING ON SOMETHING IS TO DIRECT ME, TO BRING IT BACK AND PLACE IT ON THE NEXT AGENDA. THANK YOU. HAS IT EVER HAPPENED, MR. MARTEL, THAT SOMEONE'S BEEN REMOVED FROM THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF? LAST YEAR, THE CITY ADDED THE LANGUAGE TO THE CODE THAT

[00:05:03]

AND TO ME, JUST SO WE'RE CLEAR WHAT WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT, THE BASIS FOR REMOVAL TONIGHT. IT'S JUST IS THE BOARD. I'M SORRY, IS THE BOARD DIRECTING ME TO PUT THAT ON THE AGENDA? AND IF SO, WHAT I WOULD PROBABLY DO IS PUT THERE'S TWO AT LARGE POSITIONS ON THE LPA AND TWO AT LARGE POSITIONS ON THE CRB. SO I WOULD PUT FOR NOTICE PURPOSES, I WOULD PUT ALL FOUR POSITIONS ON THE AGENDA FOR YOUR DISCUSSION AS A BOARD. AND THEN YOU GUYS WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO VOTE AT THAT TIME, WHETHER OR NOT YOU WERE GOING TO REMOVE THEM OR NOT, BECAUSE THEY ARE, IN FACT THE BOARD'S APPOINTEES. BUT IT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE ALL FOUR. IT COULD BE JUST ONE. WELL, YOU COULD WRITE, YOU COULD DO WHATEVER YOU WANTED, RIGHT? NOW, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD TO IT THAT, THE RENEWALS THAT THEY, THE ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS SERVE FOR ONE YEAR. AND SO THOSE RENEWALS WILL COME UP IN DECEMBER. AND SO WE WOULD RECONSIDER ALL THE APPOINTMENTS AND YOU HAVE YOUR NEW APPOINTMENTS COME DECEMBER. JUST SO YOU'RE AWARE OF THE NORMAL COURSE OF EVENTS FOR ME, FOR ME, JUST THE DEROGATORY NATURE OF DISPARAGING THE COMMISSIONERS PERSONALLY LIKE THAT WAS TO ME OUTSIDE OF THE REALM OF OKAY, WELL, THAT'S NOT AS AS MR. MARTEL SAYS, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE SPECIFIC ALLEGATIONS.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE GENERAL IDEA OF BRINGING UP PRIOR TO THE REORG, WHICH IS IN THE CHARTER, AN EXTRAORDINARY MEASURE TO REMOVE A SERVING BOARD MEMBER. MR. MAYOR? YES. OKAY. SO BASICALLY, THEY COULD JUST NOT BE RENEWED AS OF DECEMBER WHEN THE REORGANIZATION TAKES PLACE.

THAT IS CORRECT, BECAUSE WE ALL VOTE ON THOSE. MAYOR RICH, MAY I? YES SO I'M NOT OPPOSED FOR IT BEING A DISCUSSION ITEM AT THE NEXT, COMMISSION MEETING. I ACTUALLY SPOKE WITH CITY MANAGER MIKE MARTEL ABOUT MYSELF REMOVING A BOARD MEMBER THAT IS MY APPOINTEE. I THINK BOARD MEMBERS SHOULD CONDUCT THEMSELVES PROFESSIONALLY INSIDE THE CHAMBER AND OUTSIDE OF THE CHAMBER. AND MY SPECIFIC APPOINTEE WAS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL, NOT TALKING SO NICELY ABOUT MYSELF. SO I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THE AT LARGE MEMBERS BEING DISCUSSED AT THE NEXT MEETING.

AND POLICY WISE, AN INDIVIDUAL APPOINTEE CAN BE REMOVED BY THEIR INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONER PRIVATELY, WITHOUT BOARD ACTION, WITHOUT HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING. THE REASON THAT THE AT LARGE REQUIRE THE DUE PROCESS AND THE PUBLIC HEARING IS BECAUSE IT REQUIRES THREE VOTES OF THE COMMISSION TO MAKE THAT DECISION, AS IT RELATED TO YOUR INDIVIDUAL APPOINTEE. YOU HAVE THE DISCRETION TO DO THAT ON YOUR OWN. CORRECT. DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE CONSENSUS? I HAVE CONSENSUS TO BRING IT BACK. I CAN CAN YOU READ THE CONSENSUS OF THE CONSENSUS IS THAT THE CONSENSUS IS JUST TO BRING BACK THE ITEM FOR THE FOUR POSITIONS OF THE LPA, THE TWO LPA AND THE TWO CRB. IT'S NOT THAT ANYBODY IS MOVING TO REPLACE ANYBODY. IT'S JUST TO PUT THE DISCUSSION ON THE AGENDA. THANK YOU. TREAD CAREFULLY HERE. OKAY. BEFORE WE APPROVE THE AGENDA, I'M GOING TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN WHAT THIS MEANS BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME VERY NASTY THINGS SAID

[00:10:06]

[COMMENTS BY CITY MANAGER]

[00:15:06]

I'M LOOKING FOR BRIGHT LINE TO PAY THAT OTHER HALF OF THE STATION AS AN ANCHOR POINT AND INITIAL INITIAL NEGOTIATION. SO IT'S NOT IT'S NOT THE 2018 SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BECAUSE THAT ACTUALLY THE CITY WAS NOT PART OF THAT. SO IT WOULD THEN BE, AM I CORRECT IN ASSUMING IT WOULD BE THE DECEMBER 23RD AGREEMENT? MR. BECKER, YOU WANT ME? YEAH, IT SEEMS CONFUSION.

AND THERE'S A LOT ALL THESE AGREEMENTS. SO THERE'S THE 2018 SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND BRIGHT LINE, WHICH DID NOT INCLUDE THE CITY OF STUART, NOT INCLUDE THE CITY AND THEN IN DECEMBER OF 2023, THE COUNTY AND THE CITY ENTERED INTO AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT. THE INITIAL INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, IN WHICH NOT INCLUDE BRIGHT LINE. IT'S NOT CORRECT. YEAH. NO. AND I GUESS THAT'S WHY HE'S THE MAYOR IS ASKING FOR. I JUST NEED VERIFICATION ON WHICH ORIGINAL AGREEMENT IS BEING MADE, REFERENCE TO SO THAT WE HAVE A BASIS TO MOVE FORWARD. OKAY, MR. MAYOR, COMMISSIONER JOB? YES. WE'RE AT THE POINT OF RENEGOTIATION, SO. YES WE MIGHT REFERENCE AN ORIGINAL AGREEMENT FROM DECEMBER, BUT I THINK NOW IT'S REALLY AT THE TIME WE SHOULD BE NEGOTIATING FOR NEW TERMS WITH BRIGHT LINE. AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S AT THIS POINT YOU LIST THOSE OR ARE THEY PUT ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT THERE. I'M LOOKING FOR YOUR GUIDANCE. DO THEY GET PUT ONTO THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT MEETING TO BE DISCUSSED? IT'S UP TO US.

WELL, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR OUR GUIDANCE, I MEAN, MR. MARTEL HAS ASKED US. SO DO WE AGREE TO PUT WHAT SORT OF AGENDA ITEM? MIKE, WOULD YOU I MEAN, I CAN I CAN SCHEDULE A D AND D FOR NEXT MONDAY. I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF MEMBERS OF OUR PUBLIC THAT CONTINUE TO BE INTERESTED IN THIS ISSUE, AND I INTENTIONALLY DIDN'T PUT IT ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA BECAUSE I WAS CONCERNED THAT WE ALREADY HAD AN ISSUE THAT WAS GOING TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC COMMENT ALREADY. BUT I'M HAPPY TO PUT IT ON, FOR A, D AND D FOR NEXT MONDAY, AND I CAN HAVE WITH ME THE DECEMBER 11TH INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, AS WELL AS THE, 2018 SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT. THAT BRIGHT LINE ENTERED WITH, THE COUNTY, AS WELL AS THE MARCH 4TH LETTER. THAT BRIGHT LINE RESPONDED TO THE RFP, A COPY OF THE RFP, AND THEN ALSO A COPY OF THE MARCH 25TH LETTER WHERE THE COUNTY RESPONDED TO THE MARCH 4TH LETTER. AND I CAN WALK THROUGH THAT. AND THEN YOU GUYS CAN KIND OF DISCUSS AND GIVE ME DIRECTION ACCORDINGLY. IF THAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD, WE'LL DO IT NEXT MONDAY AS A D AND D AND D, SO OKAY, OKAY, I'D LIKE TO OKAY WITH THAT I'M SORRY I'M OKAY WITH THAT. YES I'D LIKE TO DO THAT. I'D LIKE TO OPEN UP IN THAT MANNER PLEASE. GREAT THANK YOU, I ONLY HAVE SEVEN OTHER ITEMS TO TALK ABOUT. NO, I'M JUST KIDDING. IT'S ANYTHING

[APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

[COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC]

I USED TO KNOW ALL THE COMMISSIONERS BY NAME AND SITE, I KNOW ONLY THE MAYOR AND MR. MORTEL. AND PART OF MY CONCERN IS IT TOOK ME 11 MINUTES TO GET HERE FROM MY OFFICE, WHICH IS A

[00:20:02]

SWANN. I LIVE AT 1173 NORTHWEST PINE LAKE DRIVE IN STUART. OKAY, OKAY, GOOD, IN 1970, 54 YEARS AGO, A BUNCH OF US KIDS GOT TOGETHER AND WE HAD THE FIRST EARTH DAY. WE CELEBRATED IT BY HAVING A FUNERAL FOR THE RIVER AND THE ESTUARY, NOW WE'RE OLD LIKE YOU. WE'RE 70 YEARS OLD OR SO WE'VE SEEN OUR CITY AND COUNTY DETERIORATE OVER THE DECADES, AND FIVE DECADES. IT WAS THE FIVE DECADES AGO. IT WAS THE LOSS OF OUR PRISTINE WATER. AND TODAY IT'S THE STEADY DRUMBEAT OF CONTEMPT FOR WHAT LITTLE REMAINS OF THE FORMER PARADISE. WE HAD A REAL NEWSPAPER AT THE TIME. I WAS TALKING TO SOME PEOPLE HERE WHO USED TO BE PART OF THAT. TODAY, WE HAVE NO JOURNALISM LEFT WHATSOEVER, I DRIVE TWO MILES TO AND FROM WORK EVERY DAY. IT USED TO TAKE ME THREE MINUTES. NOW IT TAKES ME ABOUT 12. I GO OVER THE ROOSEVELT BRIDGE WHERE I'M AT CRUISE CONTROL AT 45 MILES AN HOUR, AND I AM ALWAYS LAST BECAUSE EVERYBODY ELSE IS GOING BETWEEN 60 AND 70. IT'S ALMOST COMPLETELY UNENFORCED, YOU CAN EVEN SEE THE CARS HAVE BEGUN FLYING OFF THE BRIDGE. I NOTICED THAT RECENTLY. VARIOUS LANDS AROUND US HAVE BEEN HUNGRILY ANNEXED BY THE CITY. THE APPETITE FOR TAX REVENUES HAS BECOME A BIT OF A SPORT, IT'S NOT JUST THE EXPANSION AND THE DENSITY. IT'S THE NOISE AND THE SAFETY. WHEN I FINALLY GET INTO MY OFFICE IN TOWN, WHICH IS ON US ONE, THE ROAD NOISE IS SO GREAT THAT WE OFTEN STRUGGLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR PEOPLE ON THE TELEPHONE. SO BACK TO OZ, I MAY HAVE MISSED MY NOTES HERE, BUT I WILL POINT OUT THAT NOW WE HAVE A YELLOW BRICK ROAD THAT'S IN CONTROVERSY. WANTS TO PAUSE IN STUART AND THREE OF OUR COMMISSIONERS HAD THE TEMERITY TO RECONSIDER THE IDEA. I ACTUALLY GOT THE COWARDLY LION, THE SCARECROW. THE TIN MAN HAS NOT YET ARRIVED, AND I GOT THE WICKED WITCH AND THE FLYING MONKEY. AND FOR THOSE WHO OF YOU HAD THE TEMERITY AND THE COURAGE AND THE LOVE OF THE LOCAL AREA, YOU CAN WRESTLE FOR THE FOR THE NICE PUPPETS AND FOR YOUTHS WHO WANT TO BE THE BAD GUYS. YOU CAN WRESTLE FOR THE BAD PUPPET, BUT I HAVE A ANYWAY, JUST. IS THAT MY TIME? THAT IS YOUR TIME. AND I'M DONE. THANK YOU. THANKS VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. SWAN. I.

OKAY. MR. EDWARD LUCENTE. I USED TO WORK WITH HIM. USED TO WORK WITH. I'M EDWARD LUCENTE. I LIVE AT 51 SOUTHEAST SEMINOLE STREET HERE IN STUART, AND I'D LIKE TO START BY READING TO YOU A PETITION THAT WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CIRCULATING. YOU'LL HAVE A COPY OF IT. TOMORROW IN YOUR MAIL, IT IS TO THE HONORABLE CITY COMMISSIONERS OF STUART, FLORIDA. REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF THE BRIGHTLINE TRAIN STATION, DATED SEPTEMBER 16TH. DEAR COMMISSIONERS, WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, RESIDENTS OF STUART, FLORIDA, RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE DECISION TO TERMINATE THE BRIGHTLINE TRAIN STATION PROJECT AND RESCIND THE CONTRACT BE RECONSIDERED. THE PROPOSED BRIGHTLINE TRAIN STATION IN DOWNTOWN STUART HAS GENERATED SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC INTEREST AND DEBATE. MANY RESIDENTS BELIEVE THAT THIS PROJECT WOULD PROVIDE SUBSTANTIAL ECONOMIC BENEFIT AND ENHANCE THE OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY. DESPITE THE OVERWHELMING DESPITE THE OVERWHELMING POPULAR SUPPORT FOR THE TRAIN STATION, THE CITY COMMISSION VOTED 3 TO 2 TO TERMINATE THE PROJECT. WE BELIEVE THAT SUCH A DECISION, WITH LONG TERM IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR TOWN, SHOULD NOT BE MADE WITHOUT DIRECT INPUT FROM THE RESIDENTS. WE URGE THE CITY COMMISSION TO RECONSIDER THE DECISION TO TERMINATE THE BRIGHTLINE TRAIN STATION PROJECT AND SUBMIT THE ISSUE TO OPEN PUBLIC DEBATE, ALLOWING RESIDENTS OF STUART TO PUBLICLY VOTE ON THIS IMPORTANT MATTER. WE BELIEVE THAT A PUBLIC DEBATE AND VOTE IS THE MOST DEMOCRATIC WAY TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE, IN A MANNER THAT ENSURES THAT THE VOICES OF ALL RESIDENTS ARE HEARD AND RESPECTED. IT WOULD PROMOTE TRANSPARENCY AND TRUST

[00:25:07]

WE LOST OUR JEWELER. WE LOST OUR ART STUDIO. WE DID GET A DISTILLERY. RETAIL SPACE HAS BEEN AVAILABLE FOR OVER TWO YEARS. WE ENDURE 32 HIGH SPEED TRAINS, 128 CROSSING GATE CLOSURES AND 512 MISERABLE WHISTLE WHISTLES. DAY AND NIGHT. WE HAVE TO ENDURE THAT. WE HAVE NO CHOICE. WHAT WE NEED IS THE BENEFIT OF A STOP HERE IN STUART. THANK YOU, MR. VINCENT.

HELEN MCBRIDE. HELEN MCBRIDE. MISS MCBRIDE, I'M HERE. I'M ALWAYS HERE. HELEN MCBRIDE FROM FLAMINGO AVENUE. I'VE SPOKEN BEFORE ABOUT THE CONDUCT OF OUR COMMISSIONERS. I WAS HERE LAST MONDAY NIGHT AND I WAS APPALLED AT THE CONDUCT. TUESDAY MORNING. I WAS SITTING THERE. I TURNED ON CHANNEL 20 BECAUSE I WATCHED MARTIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AND THEY BROUGHT UP ABOUT MY COMMISSIONERS AND HOW YOU ACTED. AND I'VE BEEN HERE 51 YEARS. I'VE BEEN GOING TO THE MEETINGS.

I, AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE FIRST ONE WAS OUT UP OVER THE OLD FIREHOUSE NEXT TO STUART DEPARTMENT STORE. I'VE BEEN TO SCHOOL BOARD, COUNTY COMMISSION, SEWALL'S POINT, JUPITER ISLAND, AND HONEST TO GOD, YOU REPRESENT US. YOU ARE ELECTED. AND EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU WILL BE THE CHAIRPERSON. IT'S NOT JUST ONE PERSON. AT THE LAST CHAIRPERSON, SHE WAS BULLIED AND IT STARTED AGAIN AT THIS ELECTION. YOU HAVE TO READ ROBERT'S RULES OF LAW AND FIND OUT. OR MAYBE YOU COULD FIND A PROFESSIONAL TO TEACH YOU HOW A MEETING IS TO BE CONDUCTED AND WHAT GOES ON. AND THE NEXT BOOK YOU SHOULD READ IS MANNERISM BULLIES. ARE WE HAVE PROBLEMS IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM WITH BULLIES. WE DON'T NEED THEM. IN CITY HALL, YOU REPRESENT ME AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF STUART. PLEASE RESPECT US. THANK YOU. MR. MARTIN.

GOOD EVENING. I SEE MR. LUCENTE MADE MADE THE TRAIN SO NICE JOB HERE, MY NAME IS MARTY BALICKI.

I LIVE DOWN SEMINOLE STREET. YES, I'M A TEACHER. A HALL OF FAME VOLLEYBALL COACH. I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT BECAUSE I LIKE EVERYBODY. SEAN, YOU SPOKE FOR US AT SEMINOLE IN THAT. GET RID OF THAT HORRIBLE RESTAURANT THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT ON THE CORNER, WE TALKED, CHRIS, ABOUT, YOU KNOW, GETTING HER. YOU CANNOT REFER TO ANYBODY UP HERE INDIVIDUALLY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. AND I KNOW THAT RULE. YEAH. BUT ANYWAY, I JUST WANT TO SAY I WAS, YOU KNOW, DISAPPOINTED AT LAST WEEK'S VOTE. VERY DISAPPOINTED. AND SO WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE. I WENT TO ONE STORE OWNER AND HE WAS ABOUT IN TEARS ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING TO UNFOLD. AND I HEAR I HAVE FRIENDS HERE TONIGHT. THANK YOU FOR ALL SHOWING UP AND, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DECIDE THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE. IT MAY NOT COME AGAIN. WHO KNOWS? I'VE TRAVELED AROUND THE WORLD.

EVERYBODY HAS A TRAIN STATION EXCEPT MARTIN COUNTY. I DON'T KNOW, HOPEFULLY YOU RECONSIDER.

I GOOD WORDS, I HEARD ABOUT, RENEGOTIATING. I THINK THERE IS A WORD OUT THERE. I HATE TO USE

[00:30:05]

AND I THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MISS VALERIE JONES. VALERIE JONES, VERO BEACH ALTHOUGH TONIGHT I WAS ASKED IF I WAS MOVING BACK TO STUART, REFERRING TO LAST WEEK'S MEETING. I'VE BEEN I'VE BEEN COMING TO MEETINGS LIKE THIS SINCE I WAS ABOUT 22 YEARS OLD.

AS A YOUNG REPORTER AND I'VE COVERED CITY AND COUNTY COMMISSION MEETINGS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. AND LAST WEEK WAS THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER FELT, FEARFUL ABOUT GOING OUT TO MY CAR. AFTER THE MEETING, I STOOD IN THE IN THE LOBBY. AFTER THE MEETING AND WAS LISTENING TO PEOPLE CALLING THE COMMISSIONERS TRAITORS AND WORSE, A LOT OF LOT OF SWEAR WORDS GOING ON. I TURNED AROUND TO ONE GENTLEMAN AND COMMENTED ON THE LANGUAGE HE WAS USING, AND, HE SAID THREATENING THINGS TO ME AND, PROBABLY IN PART BECAUSE I WAS, SUPPORTIVE OF THE THREE COMMISSIONERS AND, WHEN PEOPLE ARE FEELING THREATENED AND USING WORDS LIKE TRAITOR AND WORSE, ABOUT, OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS IN A LITTLE TOWN LIKE STUART, WE'RE LIVING IN PRETTY SCARY TIMES, AND, PEOPLE NEED TO THINK ABOUT, THEIR VALUES AND, BEING ABLE TO GET ALONG AND RESPECT OUR DIFFERENCES OF OPINION AND BE A LITTLE MORE ADULT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MISS JONE.

MR. GILMORE. DON'T WORRY. I'M NOT GOING TO READ ALL THESE PAGES, MY NAME IS BILL MOORE, I OWN KILWINS CHOCOLATES AND ICE CREAM HERE IN DOWNTOWN STUART. 41 SOUTHWEST OSCEOLA STREET. I'M ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION OF STUART, WHICH REPRESENTS ABOUT 50 BUSINESSES HERE IN DOWNTOWN STUART, ABOUT FIVE, 600 EMPLOYEES. BACK THIS WEEK TO ASK SOME OF THE SAME QUESTIONS I ASKED LAST WEEK TO SAVE THE BRIGHT LINE, STOP OR KEEP IT.

BUT NOW WE'RE TRYING TO SAVE IT, LAST WEEK I THINK WE SAT HERE FOR ABOUT 6.5 HOURS, AND ABOUT SIX OF THOSE HOURS WERE PEOPLE IN SUPPORT OF THE TRAIN STOP. ABOUT 30 MINUTES OF THOSE HOURS WERE PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T SUPPORT IT. SO THE VAST MAJORITY OF, SUPPORTED THE BRIGHT LINE TRAIN STOP LAST WEEK, I THINK. AND WE'VE HEARD ALL THOSE WE HEARD GREAT COMMENTS. WHY IT SHOULD COME HERE A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. AND IT MEANS DIFFERENT THINGS FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE. BUT ONE THING I WANTED TO GET TO TONIGHT WAS HOW IS IT GOING TO BE PAID FOR ONE OF THE COMMENTS WE HEAR AND IT'S CONFUSING, IS THIS OLD BRIGHT LINE DEAL THAT WE'RE NOT INVOLVED WITH, BUT WE WANT TO GO BACK TO NEGOTIATE WITH. SO THAT'S CONFUSING FOR ME. BUT THE MONEY WAS SAID. MIKE DID A GREAT PRESENTATION. HE SAID IT'S GOING TO COST STUART AROUND $30 MILLION MAX FOR THIS TRAIN STOP TO HAPPEN RIGHT NOW. SO THE QUESTION WAS, WILL THE TAX, WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR IT. RIGHT. AND WE HEAR THE TAXPAYERS, THE TAXPAYERS, TAXPAYERS. MIKE TOLD EVERYBODY HOW IT'S GOING TO BE PAID FOR. BUT IT'S CONFUSING. WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR IT. IT'S THE IT'S THE RESIDENCES AND THE BUSINESSES AND THE CRA WILL PAY FOR THE BRIGHT LINE STOP AND THEY'VE ALL AGREED TO IT. WE PULLED 89 OUT OF 89 BUSINESSES. ALL 89 SAID THEY WANT THE STOP. THESE ARE THE TAXPAYERS IN THE CRA. THE TIF MONEY THAT'S BEEN RAISED OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS, ALMOST 30 YEARS, IS AMOUNTING TO 4 OR $5 MILLION A YEAR NOW. THAT'S WHAT WILL FUND THE TRAIN STOP. I'M A TAXPAYER HERE IN DOWNTOWN STUART. I'VE AGREED TO PAY THAT MONEY. EVERYBODY THAT WAS HERE THE OTHER NIGHT, MOST OF THE RESIDENCES AND EVERY BUSINESS I PULLED IN DOWNTOWN. STUART WANTS THE TRAIN STOP. THEY'RE WILLING TO PAY FOR IT. WE HAVE THE MONEY. IT'S THERE. IT'S NOT THE ENTIRE CITY OF STUART. IT'S THE CRA, WHICH IS THE MONEY THAT PEOPLE HAVE INVESTED. THEY BOUGHT BUSINESSES, THEY BOUGHT PROPERTIES. THEY'VE INVESTED BUSINESSES. THEY'VE BOUGHT RESIDENCES. THEY WANT TO BE IN DOWNTOWN STUART. THEY WANT TO WALK OUT THE FRONT DOOR, GO TO A RESTAURANT. THEY WANT TO WALK OVER TO A BRIGHT LINE, STOP AND GO TO AN AIRPORT. GO TO THE DOCTOR, GO VISIT FAMILY IN ORLANDO, MIAMI OR WHEREVER IT MAY BE. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE PAYING THE TAXES FOR THE BRIGHT LINE STOP. AND I JUST WANT THAT TO BE UNDERSTOOD BY EVERYONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. JOE KOTOWSKI. I'M NOT SURE THEY

[00:35:12]

MICHAEL KOTOWSKI. MICHAEL BARTOWSKI, FIFTH STREET. STUART I AM A RESIDENT OF THE CITY, A FORMER BUSINESS OWNER, AND I WOULD HAVE COMPLETED A YEAR ON THE CRB OR THE CRA, BUT THAT'S MY HUSBAND. HE GOT SICK LAST YEAR. WE DROPPED OUT, REASONABLE MINDS DIFFER. I THINK MOST OF US HERE AGREE THAT WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL CITY THAT WE'RE PROUD TO CALL HOME. I THINK WE EACH WANT TO SEE THE CITY CONTINUE TO FLOURISH. REASONABLE MINDS MAY DISAGREE ON HOW BEST TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT WE ARE ALL ULTIMATELY WORKING FOR THAT GOAL. IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, A TRAIN NOT STOP AND STUART WILL EXCUSE ME BE AN ECONOMIC BOON TO THE CITY OF STUART AND A WONDERFUL AMENITY FOR ITS RESIDENTS. I UNDERSTAND THAT IS NOT AN OPINION SHARED BY ALL OF MY FELLOW RESIDENTS, BUT I DO KNOW IT IS SHARED BY MANY.

WHAT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT AND WHAT CONTINUES TO CONCERN ME IS THE MANNER IN WHICH THIS COMMISSION HAS PROCEEDED TO BACK OUT OF ITS COMMITMENT IN THE NAME OF, QUOTE UNQUOTE, FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. THIS COMMISSION HAS EXPOSED THE CITY AND ITS TAXPAYERS TO LEGAL JEOPARDY AND POTENTIALLY LARGE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS. WHILE SINGLE MINDEDLY PURSUING THIS REVERSAL.

THIS COMMISSION BLATANTLY IGNORES STUART'S OWN COMP PLAN. I UNDERSTAND THE BRIGHTLINE STATION HAS GENERATED A LOT OF COMMENTARY ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND THERE IS AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF, MURKINESS REGARDING HOW MUCH THE STATION WOULD COST, EVEN THOUGH IT ACTUALLY IS KNOWN, YOU KNOW, I'VE HEARD IT WOULD BE FREE FOR US, WHICH IS CLEARLY NOT TRUE, OR IT WOULD BE $100 MILLION, WHICH IS ALSO NOT TRUE. PEOPLE SWEARING UP AND DOWN THAT THEY KNOW THE TRUTH. PEOPLE ALSO JUST WANT TO ARMCHAIR QUARTERBACK AND DEVELOP THESE LIKE CRAZY THEORIES OVER MOTIVATIONS OF ELECTED OFFICIALS, LIKE WHO'S IN THE POCKET OF PRO-GROWTH DEVELOPERS AND THEY WANT TO SELL THE SOUL OF THE CITY, OR WHO'S JOCKEYING TO SET UP A NO GROWTH OR NEW BUSINESS, OR WHERE NO NEW BUSINESSES ARE ALLOWED. THEY'RE PROTECTING THEIR OWN BUSINESS.

IT'S ALL MALARKEY. I MYSELF BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE RARELY ANY SHADY BACKROOM DEALS. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY GRAND PUPPETEERS HERE, AND I RATHER HOPE I'M LOOKING AT A BUNCH OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR A CITY THEY LOVE AND CARE ABOUT. I REMAIN DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT YOU ARE MAKING A MISTAKE, AND YET YOU DON'T REALIZE THAT IN MY LESS

[00:40:04]

I DID NOT MENTION YOUR NAME. I'M HERE TO SAY THANK YOU, I'VE DONE MY OWN POLLING SINCE THE VOTE OUT THERE AMONGST THE COMMON PEOPLE. EVERYWHERE I GO, LITTLE PLACES LIKE WAWA AND FRESH MARKET AND THE SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, OUT THERE AMONGST THE COMMON PEOPLE WHO GOT YOU ELECTED AGAIN, THE COMMON PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE DON'T HAVE TIME TO BE HERE TONIGHT. I SEE I LOOK AT THIS ROOM, I THINK OF THE BRAVEHEART MOVIE, AND I GO, THE FINEST OF PEOPLE RIGHT HERE THEY ARE. AND THEY DID NOT GET YOU ELECTED. ALRIGHT. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY, YEAH, DEATH THREATS. AT THE COUNTY MEETING LAST TUESDAY, THE TONE WAS, OH, THOSE IGNORANT BRAND NEW CITY COMMISSIONERS.

THE TONE OF JUST DISRESPECT FOR YOU ADULTS WHO WE ELECTED IS JUST DISGUSTING TO THE BUSINESS OWNERS DOWNTOWN, IT SEEMS LIKE YOU WANT IT BOTH WAYS. I MEAN, I HEAR ABOUT THIS THRIVING DOWNTOWN, HOW IT USED TO BE NOTHING VILLE, AND NOW IT'S THIS THRIVING DOWNTOWN AND YOU'RE GOING TO RELY ON A TRAIN STOP IF YOU HAVE TO RELY ON THAT, YOU MIGHT WANT TO CHANGE YOUR BUSINESS PLAN AND RECOGNIZE IN THIS ECONOMY A TRAIN STOP IS NOT GOING TO HELP YOU. SO ANYWAYS, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOIN.

ALL RIGHT? AND I WANT YOU ALL TO PACE YOURSELVES. THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG THING. AND, TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILIES, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES. AND, HOPEFULLY YOU WON'T NEED POLICE PROTECTION ANYMORE. HOPEFULLY NO MORE DEATH THREATS. YOU KNOW, MY TRUMP TARD FRIENDS, OVER HERE AND MY FRIENDS OVER THERE, MY TRUMP TARD FRIENDS SAY, DON'T EVEN TALK TO THOSE PEOPLE. AND I'M LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? THEY'RE PEOPLE. OKAY BUT I GOT TO TELL YOU, PEOPLE, YOU'RE SHOWING YOURSELVES. EVERYBODY IS AMENABLE. EVERYONE GETS ALONG UNTIL WE DON'T. OKAY.

AND THIS CITY AND COUNTY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DIVIDED. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE NOW IS IT'S NOT JUST THE FINEST OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE A VOICE. IT'S THE PEOPLE. AND THE PEOPLE ARE COMING. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. CHRISTOPHER VITALE. GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER VITALE. I LIVE ON ALAMANDA WAY HERE IN STUART. I JUST WANT TO SAY SOMETHING BRIEFLY IN REGARDS TO THE COMMISSION'S DECISION LAST WEEK TO RESCIND THE BRIGHTLINE AGREEMENTS, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR NAVIGATING ALL THE PUBLIC DISCUSSION AND DEBATE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I KNOW IT MUST BE REALLY DIFFICULT TO, YOU KNOW, HEAR ALL OF THE MANY, MANY VOICES ABOUT THIS. SO LAST WEEK YOU VOTED TO KILL THE DEAL, ARGUING THAT IT WAS A BAD DEAL FOR TAXPAYERS AND IMPLYING THAT HAD IT BEEN A BETTER DEAL FOR TAXPAYERS, YOU MAYBE NOT WOULD HAVE STRUCK IT DOWN, THE COMMUNITY HAS SPOKEN AT COMMISSION MEETINGS AND THROUGH MANY HUNDREDS OF EMAILS SENT TO THE COMMISSIONERS, AND THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMUNITY HAS DISPLAYED OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FOR HAVING A BRIGHTLINE STATION HERE IN STUART, YOU HAVE INDICATED THAT STUART SHOULD RENEGOTIATE FOR A BETTER BRIGHTLINE DEAL. SO NOW I'M URGING YOU JUST TO PLEASE DO THAT. RENEGOTIATE WITH BRIGHTLINE, SPEAK WITH THEM, ACTUALLY WORK WITH THEM. TALK WITH THEM, OUR CITY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN MANDATES THAT THE COMMISSION MUST SUPPORT THE REESTABLISHMENT OF A TRAIN STATION IN DOWNTOWN STUART. SO PLEASE DO NOT JUST STAND BY AND LET THE STATION GO TO FORT PIERCE OR SOMEWHERE ELSE. IF THAT HAPPENS, THE BRIGHTLINE SERVES ONLY AS AN INCONVENIENCE TO THE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS OF STUART. I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE

[00:45:01]

GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE BRIGHTLINE STATION. I SPOKE LAST WEEK. I WAS REALLY, REALLY SHOCKED THAT YOU GUYS VOTED THE WAY YOU DID WITH AN AGREEMENT THAT WAS IN PLACE. IT WAS UNDERSTOOD BY THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THE RESIDENTS HERE, THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A STATION. I THINK A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS WERE THEY LEFT IN THE SPRING, HALF OF OUR RESIDENTS PROBABLY LEFT IN THE SPRING KNOWING WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A TRAIN STATION. AND WHEN THEY COME BACK IN THE FALL, THEY'RE GOING TO NOW BE IN A COMMUNITY THAT DOESN'T HAVE A TRAIN STATION. SO I THINK THAT WAS WRONG. I DON'T THINK 3000 VOTES IS IN ANY WAY A MANDATE, WITH 12,000 REGISTERED VOTERS. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T REALIZE WHAT THEY WERE VOTING FOR. I COULD BE WRONG, BUT BASED ON WHAT I'VE SEEN THE PEOPLE TURNING OUT IN FAVOR OF THE TRAIN, I THINK THAT THAT WAS A MISCALCULATION, WE HAVE 60,000 PEOPLE IN THE CITY AND 120, 160,000IN THE COUNTY THAT WOULD BE SERVED BY THIS TRAIN STATION, IT'S AN ECONOMIC ENGINE, I WANTED TO JUST BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT THE LOSSES THAT WE ARE GOING TO SUFFER AS A RESULT OF THAT VOTE. IT STARTS WITH THE TWO AND A HALF ACRES THAT YOU WILL LOSE RIGHT HERE IN OUR CITY. THE COUNTY WAS GOING TO GIVE THAT TO US. WE HAD THE MONEY IN THE CRA TO BUILD THE STATION. WE'RE GOING TO LOSE THE INCOME AND THE TIF FUNDS FROM THAT STATION. WE'RE GOING TO LOSE, I DON'T KNOW, 12, $15 MILLION A YEAR IN ECONOMIC IMPACT. WE ARE GOING. TO. LOSE A $30 MILLION ASSET THAT WILL ONLY GROW OVER TIME. WE'RE GOING TO LOSE THE CONNECTIVITY TO THE COMMUNITIES NORTH AND SOUTH OF US, WHERE WE ALL PROBABLY HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS OR PLACES WE LIKE TO GO, LIKE AIRPORTS, STADIUMS, CRUISE TERMINALS. I COULD GO ON HOSPITALS, UNIVERSITIES. AND BY BEING ABLE TO GO TO THOSE PLACES, IT ACTUALLY KIND OF LIMITS THE NEED FOR THAT GROWTH TO BE HERE. IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, I HATE TO THINK, BUT WE COULD LOSE SOME OF THAT BRIDGE FUNDING. BRIGHT LINE WAS VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN BRINGING US 130 MILLION IN FEDERAL GRANTS, 22 MILLION FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND THEN BRIGHT LINE IN THE FEC PUT IN ANOTHER 23 MILLION. I BELIEVE OUR CONTRIBUTION WAS $250,000 OF LAND. SO THAT JUST TELLS YOU WHEN PEOPLE SAY THEY DON'T HAVE ANY SKIN IN THE GAME, IT'S JUST BULL CRAP. SORRY YEAH. YEAH. THESE DECISIONS, THESE LOSSES WILL PROBABLY BANKRUPT US IF YOU CONTINUE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ELLEN MURPHY. I THINK I. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR RICH. COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS ELLEN MURPHY. I'M VERY NERVOUS. THAT'S WHY I'M LOSING MY VOICE. BUT I LIVE AND PAY TAXES AT 328 ORIOLE AVENUE WITHIN THE CITY. I MOVED HERE IN 1982. DURING THAT GHOST TOWN ERA. I AM NOT A DEVELOPER. I'M NOT A REALTOR, BUT I AM A MICROBIOLOGIST. RIGHT NOW. THE CITY COMMISSIONERS ARE PUTTING OUR TOWN INTO A COFFIN, SOMETHING THAT WILL HAVE CONSEQUENCES FOR BOTH THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE CITY. I AM HERE TO BEG THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND BRIGHT LINE TO PLEASE, PLEASE WORK TOGETHER. WE NEED ROCK STARS RIGHT NOW. WE NEED HEROES. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND BRIGHT LINE,

[00:50:04]

THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO RETURN TO A DESOLATE GHOST TOWN OF THE 1980S, THEN THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE WOULD BUY A NEW CITY COMMISSION AND REBUILD DOWNTOWN AS A NATIONAL MALL. AND FINALLY, THEY WOULD MAKE THE CITY BUILD BRIGHTLINE STATION AT FULL COST. IT'S ONLY TEN YEARS AWAY. MARTIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, PLEASE SAVE US FROM OURSELVES. MAKE A DEAL NOW WITH BRIGHTLINE WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM STUART, HERE'S A PLAQUE. FOR THE NEW MARTIN COUNTY BRIGHTLINE STATION, I'M GOING TO REPEAT THAT. THIS IS A PLAQUE FOR THE NEW MARTIN COUNTY BRIGHTLINE STATION, TELLING THE STORY OF HOW THE MARTIN COUNTY COMMISSION COMMISSIONERS SAVED OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MR. PATEL. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. I'M RAJ PATEL, PROPERTY OWNER IN STUART FOR OVER 15 YEARS. PALM CITY RESIDENT. I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE LISTENING INTENTLY ON THE LIVE FEED RIGHT THERE. I'M GOING STRAIGHT INTO THE FACTS ABOUT THE COMPANY THAT'S ON OUR MIND. I DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME, SO I'M GOING TO MOVE REAL FAST.

BRIGHTLINE IS THE FIRST AMERICAN PRIVATE PASSENGER RAIL COMPANY IN MORE THAN A CENTURY. A MULTI-GENERATIONAL PROJECT THAT IS IN ITS INVESTMENT AND RAMP UP PHASE. THEY WILL NOT MAKE MONEY FOR A WHILE AS A COMMERCIAL BORROWER MYSELF, I DON'T MAKE MONEY FOR MANY YEARS, BUT THAT'S THE PLAN. IF ONLY OUR DEAR COMMISSIONERS KNEW THAT BRIGHTLINE IS CREATING A SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM. ROUTES THAT ARE TOO LONG TO DRIVE AND TOO SHORT TO FLY MAKES SENSE. IN TEN YEARS, THEY'VE OPENED UP SIX WORLD CLASS STATIONS WITH FOUR MORE TO GO, INCLUDING THE ONE THAT'S UP IN THE AIR. STUART, THE BRIGHTLINE INTERNAL COMMUTER NETWORK IS IN THE WORKS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THAT. MIAMI TO FORT LAUDERDALE WITH TEN STOPS IN BETWEEN AT RUSH HOUR. MOST RIDERS ARE COMMUTERS AND THE TRAINS ARE REGULARLY SOLD OUT. FDOT IS PUTTING $74 MILLION INTO JUST THE FIRST PHASE OF THIS COMMUTER PROJECT. WEST PALM BEACH IS NEXT. BRIGHTLINE WEST HAS STARTED CONSTRUCTION FROM LA TO VEGAS. COMPLETE COMPLETION DATE 2028. BRIGHTLINE HAS ANNOUNCED THAT THEY'RE TOO LONG TO DRIVE, TOO SHORT TO FLY NETWORKS IN TEXAS, SPECIFICALLY CHICAGO, GEORGIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, JOINING MAJOR CITIES AND THAT HAVE CLOGGED HIGHWAYS FOR DECADES. SIEMENS IS OPENING AMERICA'S FIRST HIGH SPEED RAIL FACTORY IN NEW YORK WITH 300 JOBS. IMAGINE IF THAT FACTORY WAS IN MARTIN COUNTY. I WONDER IF MY COMMISSIONERS ARE IN FRONT

[00:55:04]

MR. VITALE. GOOD EVENING. COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS STEVEN VITALE, AND I HAVE MY SONS, CHRISTOPHER AND AIDEN WITH ME HERE TODAY. YOU ARE LOOKING AT THREE GENERATIONS OF A FAMILY THAT HAS DEDICATED THEIR TIME, TALENT AND TREASURE TOWARDS IMPROVING HISTORIC DOWNTOWN.

STUART, YOUR EGREGIOUS VIOLATION OF OUR CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN LAST WEEK WILL SERIOUSLY IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO CONTINUE DOING WHAT WE DO WITHOUT A STRONG TOURIST BASED ECONOMY IN DOWNTOWN STUART, FAMILIES LIKE OURS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO OPERATE OUR TREASURED LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES FAR INTO THE FUTURE. IF THE TOURISTS GO TO FORT PIERCE AND OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE STATIONS DOWNTOWN, STUART WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPAIRED. TONIGHT. HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS ISSUE. FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF AN ATTORNEY. I HAVE BEEN PRACTICING REAL ESTATE LAW IN THIS AREA FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS. I RECENTLY RECENTLY REVIEWED THE 2018 SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN MARTIN COUNTY AND BRIGHTLINE. I REQUEST THAT ANY COMMISSIONERS WHO HAVE FALSELY STATED THAT BRIGHTLINE RENEGED ON AN OBLIGATION TO PAY HALF THE COST OF A TREASURE COAST STATION IMMEDIATELY RETRACT. THAT STATEMENT, AS POINTED OUT BY BLAKE FONTENOT IN HIS RECENT STUART NEWS ARTICLE, PARAGRAPH SIX OF THE AGREEMENT PROVIDES NO SUCH OBLIGATION ON THE PART OF BRIGHTLINE. YOU HAVE MISLED THE PUBLIC ABOUT THIS AND SHOULD MAKE AN IMMEDIATE PUBLIC CLARIFICATION AND APOLOGY. YOU HAVE ALSO INAPPROPRIATELY MISLED THE CITIZENS INTO BELIEVING THAT THEY WILL HAVE A BIG TAX INCREASE, WHEN IN FACT THERE IS ENOUGH MONEY IN THE EXISTING CRA FUNDS TO COVER THE CITY'S PORTION OF THE STATION. THESE TYPES OF MATERIAL MISREPRESENTATIONS WILL ONLY CAUSE FUTURE LEGAL NIGHTMARES FOR YOU. FURTHERMORE, AS AN ATTORNEY, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE DOWNTOWN STAKEHOLDERS WHO HAVE PAID THESE CRA FUNDS AND HAVE TAKEN ACTIONS RELYING ON THE CITY'S COMP PLAN MAY HAVE LEGAL RECOURSE THAT WILL BE FINANCIALLY DETRIMENTAL TO THE CITY. THEN THERE ARE THE POTENTIAL LAWSUITS THAT MAY COME FROM COUNTY AND BRIGHTLINE OVER THIS DEBACLE. RATHER THAN EXPOSE YOURSELVES AND THE CITY TO NEEDLESS AND COSTLY LITIGATION, NOW IS THE TIME TO SETTLE THIS MATTER. I KNOW HOW STRESSFUL, STRESSFUL AND COSTLY LITIGATION CAN GET. JUST LOOK AT THE RECENT MARTIN COUNTY LAKESIDE LAWSUIT THAT COST THE CITY ABOUT $50 MILLION IN DAMAGES. HOW MANY MILLIONS MORE WERE PAID TO ATTORNEY ETHAN LOEB, WHO PREVAILED IN THE LITIGATION? SETTLING NOW ALLOWS YOU TO CONTROL YOUR DESTINY WITH A SPECIFIC OUTCOME THAT YOU CAN LIVE WITH, AS OPPOSED TO FILLING THE POCKETS OF HIGH PRICED LAW FIRMS. FURTHERMORE, SINCE THE COUNTY HAS TAKEN CONTROL OF THE SITUATION, YOU WOULD BE WELL SERVED TO SETTLE THE MATTER NOW AND RETAIN CONTROL OF THE SITUATION. FOR ALL WE KNOW, THE COUNTY COULD STRIKE A DEAL TO PUT THE STATION SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTY. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO HISTORIC DOWNTOWN IF A NEW DEVELOPMENT, IF A NEW DOWNTOWN AREA WERE EVER DEVELOPED AROUND A STATION LOCATED ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTY? IN THAT EVENT, THE COUNTY WOULD STILL OWN THE LAND BEHIND THE COURTHOUSE, BUT YOU WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OVER ANY POTENTIAL PARKING GARAGE IN THAT AREA WITHOUT SETTLING. YOU ALSO LOSE CONTROL OVER THE $130 MILLION GRANT FOR THE NEW BRIDGE. IF THAT FALLS THROUGH, YOU JUST COST THE TAXPAYERS $130 MILLION. TALK ABOUT BANKRUPTING THE CITY. THE POINT IS THAT YOU LOSE ALL CONTROL WITH REGARD TO THESE MATTERS AND POTENTIAL LAWSUITS. IF YOU FAIL TO ACT NOW TO SETTLE THE MATTER AND CONTROL THE CITY'S DESTINY IN CLOSING THE DOWNTOWN STAKEHOLDERS DEMAND TO HAVE AN ANSWER FROM YOU TONIGHT AS TO WHETHER YOU WILL BE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER AND ATTORNEY TO OFFER A DEAL TO BRIGHTLINE. AND IF SO, WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU WILLING TO OFFER A WISE SETTLEMENT OFFER WILL ALLOW YOU AND THE CITY TO CONTROL YOUR DESTINIES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. MR. DUET PRICE. GOOD EVENING, MR. PRICE, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR.

[01:00:20]

WHEN FOLKS COME UP HERE TO EXPLAIN WHERE THEY ARE NOW, TRYING THESE THINGS IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA SPHERE, COME ON, THAT'S NOT WHERE IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN HERE.

OKAY. AND IF YOU DON'T FEEL YOU CAN DO THAT, YOU DON'T BELONG UP HERE. YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU REPRESENT ALL OF US THAT PAY TAXES. WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY AND ARE WILLING TO SACRIFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BEING FAIR IN HOW WE'RE LOOKING AT ITEMS, ADDRESSING ITEMS, STAFF MEMBERS OF EACH, EACH ONE OF YOU ON THE BOARD, EVERYONE. I'M NOT PICKING ANYONE OUT. EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE RESPECTFUL. ALL RIGHT? I'M A MILITARY GUY. I'M A VETERAN. I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT. IF ANY OF YOU GUYS ARE MY SOLDIERS, YOU'RE OUT IN A HEARTBEAT. I'M TELLING YOU THAT, RIGHT NOW YOU'LL BE OUT. I WOULD NOT GO DOWNRANGE AT YOU BECAUSE YOU'LL BE PUTTING ALL MY MEN IN DANGER. SO THINK ABOUT IT. SIT WITH YOUR CITY MANAGER. YOUR CITY ATTORNE.

UNDERSTAND THE RULES THAT GOVERN THIS BOARD BEFORE YOU COME UP HERE, BECAUSE YOU HAVE BASICALLY CHOSEN THAT POSITION BY PUTTING YOUR NAME ON THAT BALLOT. AND YOU ARE HERE TO SERVE US. THANK YOU. MR. JOSH MARINO. GOOD NIGH. I DON'T KNOW. GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS JOSH MARINO, HOMEOWNER AND STEWARD. I'M INVESTED IN STEWARD. AND BECAUSE THE BRIGHT LINE CHOSE STEWARD AS THEIR LOCATION, I CONVINCED MY BUSINESS PARTNERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS TO INVEST IN STEWARD AS WELL. MANY OTHERS HAVE CHOSEN TO LIVE AND INVEST IN STEWARD BECAUSE OF THE BRIGHT LINE. DUE TO STEWARDS COMP PLAN, I KNEW THE TRAIN WAS A SURE THING. I'VE NEVER SEEN A MORE SPECIFIC DIRECTIVE FOR A COMP PLAN THAN STEWARDS TO HAVE A TRAIN EXACTLY WHERE IT'S BEEN APPROVED. THEN, OUT OF NOWHERE, A NEWLY ELECTED COMMISSION GETS ELECTED AND WITHIN TEN MINUTES COMPLETELY IGNORES THEIR OBLIGATION TO UPHOLD THE PLAN. THAT LITERALLY TOOK DECADES TO CREATE. AND THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENS. THEY CANCELED THE ALREADY APPROVED BRIGHT LINE.

I'M HERE TODAY TO REMIND ALL OF US THE CRITICAL ROLE, THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PLAYS IN SHAPING OUR CITY'S FUTURE. THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS NOT JUST A DOCUMENT, IT'S ESSENTIALLY THE BIBLE FOR HOW YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT AFFECT STEWARD. IT REPRESENTS A COLLECTIVE VISION DEVELOPED WITH CARE, REFLECTING THE VALUES AND PRIORITIES OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. WHEN WE STRAY FROM IT, WE DON'T JUST VIOLATE POLICY, WE JEOPARDIZE THE VERY FOUNDATION OF TRUST BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE. THE PLAN ENSURES THAT DEVELOPMENT IS BALANCED AND OUR ECONOMY IS SUPPORTED. IT PROVIDES A ROADMAP THAT GUARANTEES SMART GROWTH WHILE MAINTAINING THE CHARACTER OF OUR BELOVED CITY. IGNORING THE PLAN IS NOT ONLY ILLEGAL, BUT ALSO SHORTSIGHTED. IT OPENS THE CITY TO LEGAL RISK. MANY FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES, AND A LOSS OF PUBLIC CONFIDENCE. I URGE YOU TODAY TO FOLLOW THE PLAN AND DO WHAT'S BEST FOR STUART'S FUTURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND THE LAST COMMENT CARD I HAVE IS MISS GAIL GOLDIE.

[01:05:14]

BUT BY THE TIME THE PROJECT IS READY, THE GRANTS MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE. I WANT TO APPLAUD THE COMMISSION FOR TAKING THE TIME TO REALIZE THAT THIS WAS NEGOTIATED, NOT WITH TRANSPARENCY AND NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE TAXPAYERS. WE NEED TO RENEGOTIATE THIS. IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IN ORDER TO RENEGOTIATE, THIS HAD TO BE RESCINDED. AND AS FAR AS TRANSPARENCY, YOU KNOW, I BROUGHT UP SOMETHING AT THE LAST MEETING ON MONDAY, AND THAT WAS THE FACT THAT THE THING THAT REALLY GETS ME WITH THE TRANSPARENCY IS I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY OUR MAYOR OR THE MAYOR SIGNED THE AGREEMENT PRIOR TO THE SIGNING IN OF THE THREE NEW OR THE SWEARING IN OF THE TWO NEW COMMISSIONERS. WHY WAS THAT DONE BEFORE THEY WERE ACTUALLY PUT ON THE BOARD? AND BECAUSE OF THAT, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT AGREEMENT THAT HE SIGNED, UNBEKNOWNST TO THE NEW COMMISSIONERS AND THE PUBLIC, THAT THAT WAS NULL AND VOID. SO I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHY WE ARE NOT BEING GIVEN ALL OF THE FACTS. AND THESE ARE FACTS. AND I UNDERSTAND MR. PATEL AND PATEL AND, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE THE NUMBERS AND THE FACTS. AND I WOULDN'T ARGUE WITH THAT AT ALL. I BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE WILL BE MONEY TO BE MADE. AND I THINK THAT DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES SHOULD ALSO BE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF THIS ISN'T RENEGOTIATED AND IT'S A GREAT DEAL AND EVERYBODY'S HAPPY, THAT TRAIN STATION ISN'T GOING TO BE BUILT IN THREE MONTHS. IT'S GOING TO TAKE YEAR. SO IT'S FOR YOUR BUSINESSES THAT ARE SUFFERING. I HOPE YOU HAVE A LONG TERM PLAN, AND I HOPE YOU'VE GOT YOUR LOANS IN ORDER, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET SOMETHING TO FINANCE YOUR BUSINESS UNTIL A TRAIN STATION IS BUILT. AND I WOULD ALSO JUST LIKE TO SAY TO THE COMMISSIONERS THAT I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR TAKING THE STEP FORWARD TO PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. MR. MR. MAYOR, MAY I SPEAK ON SOMETHING? YES. GO AHEAD, I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR AS IF MY SOME OF MY LANGUAGE LAST WEEK WAS NOT CLEAR. THAT AND THERE SEEMS TO BE ALLEGATIONS OF NEFARIOUS ACTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR, THE MAYOR DOES NOT WORK HERE EVERY DAY. THE MAYOR COMES HERE FOR THE MEETINGS, I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE LESS THAN A YEAR, AND I THINK WE'VE HAD THREE MAYORS DURING THAT TIME. AND IT'S PRETTY COMMON THAT WE HAVE THE MAYOR SIGN A BUNCH OF DOCUMENTS WHEN THEY'RE HERE, THE LEASE AGREEMENT THAT WAS SIGNED, THE DAY BEFORE THE COUNTY VOTED ON IT, WE HAD THE MAYOR SIGN IT. I SIGNED IT, AND THE CITY CLERK SIGNED IT BECAUSE THE MAYOR WAS HERE. OTHERWISE WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE HIM COME BACK DAYS LATER TO RE SIGN THE DOCUMENTS HE SIGNED MANY DOCUMENTS THAT DAY WHEN HE WAS HERE. BECAUSE THAT'S JUST WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS DONE WITH ALL THE MAYORS. THERE'S NOTHING NEFARIOUS ABOUT IT. THE DOCUMENT, THE AGREEMENT WAS NOT EVEN BINDING UNTIL THE COUNTY VOTED ON IT, WHICH WAS NOT UNTIL THE NEXT DAY, THE COUNTY UNFORTUNATELY DID NOT VOTE ON IT. THE NEXT DAY THEY THEY THEY CONTINUED THEIR MEETING, BUT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY WAS DEMANDING FROM US TO GET US A COPY OF THAT LEASE AGREEMENT.

IT WAS MISTAKENLY SENT TO BRIGHTLINE AND THE COUNTY, BUT IT STILL WASN'T IN EFFECT UNTIL

[01:10:05]

EVEN VOCALLY, WE COMMUNICATED WITH THEM PRIOR TO THAT. BRIGHT LINE. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE CLEAR THAT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ALLEGATIONS, ABOUT THE MAYOR DOING SOMETHING NEFARIOUS BY SIGNING THE AGREEMENT THE DAY BEFORE, AND AGAIN, NO, NOT NOTHING TRUE ABOUT THAT AT ALL.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT. I DID NOT SAY THAT IT WAS NEFARIOUS. I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY.

I'M SORRY. I WOULD SAY IT WAS INFERRED, BUT I'M. I'M NOT STUPID. AND I GO ONLINE SOMETIMES, AND THERE WERE A LOT OF ALLEGATIONS FROM OTHER PEOPLE, NOT NECESSARILY YOU,

[COMMISSION ACTION]

[01:15:04]

AND, WE HAVE TO SUBMIT ALL SORTS OF BILLING TO FEMA, AND WE GET REIMBURSED FOR SOME OF THE THINGS. AND BACK IN 2004 AND FIVE, WE HAD BILLING THAT TOOK PLACE AFTER THOSE HURRICANES. WE GOT REIMBURSEMENT FROM FEMA. AND THEN AFTER AUDITING, LITERALLY, WE'RE WRITING CHECKS BACK TO FEMA LATER AND RECOVERING MONEY WAS VERY COMPLICATED. THIS PROGRAM BY FEMA IS NOT NECESSARILY TO TEACH US HOW TO DO THE AUDIT TRAIL PERFECTLY, BUT INSTEAD WHAT THIS IS IT IT GOES HAND IN HAND WITH THE MANDATE BY THE STATE TO DO THE RESILIENCE PROGRAMS AND TO ADDRESS THE FUTURE, HURRICANE HARDENING FOR LACK OF A BETTER DESCRIPTION OF THE CITY. AND, BECAUSE IT WAS AT A NO COST TO THE CITY, WE BROUGHT IT FORWARD BECAUSE WE FIGURED THE, TWO THINGS. NUMBER ONE, ANY CONTACT AND RELATIONSHIP YOU CAN BUILD WITH FEMA IN ADVANCE OF A EVENT IS HELPFUL BECAUSE THEN YOU HAVE THAT MUCH OF AN ADVANTAGE WHEN YOU NEED TO CONTACT THEM OR WHEN YOU NEED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEM, OR WHEN YOU NEED TO TELL THEM WHERE TO SEND SUPPLIES OR DO WHATEVER. AND NUMBER TWO, OBVIOUSLY, ANY ADVICE THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE AS IT RELATES TO, RE REINFORCING OR, OR CREATING RESILIENCE TO THESE TYPES OF STORMS, IS, IS HUGE FOR US. THE THE REALITY OF IT IS, IS THAT IT WOULD BE THROUGH OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT THAT WOULD WORK WITH THEM AND, YOU KNOW, IT CAN RANGE. YOU HAVE TO RECOGNIZE ALSO THAT THE FLORIDA DEP ALSO SETS THE, FLOODPLAIN MAPS AND THE DEP IS THE ONE THAT REQUIRES THAT UNDER OUR BUILDING CODE THAT ALL HOUSES BE BUILT 18IN ABOVE THE CROWN OF THE ROAD AND THAT THOSE TYPES OF THINGS TAKE PLACE. AND THAT'S ALL IN LINE WITH THESE SAME TYPES OF PROGRAMS. SO WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS AND THEY THEY THE FLOODPLAIN MAPS, I THINK IT'S ABOUT EVERY FOUR YEARS. THEY ACTUALLY DO COME THROUGH. AND INVESTIGATE. AND LAST TIME THEY CAME THROUGH WE ACTUALLY HAD A RESIDENT WHO HAD BUILT A GARAGE AND THE GARAGE DIDN'T HAVE VENTED, HOLES IN THE SIDES OF THE GARAGE. AND THEY WERE IN THE NEW FLOODPLAIN AND THEY REQUIRED THIS RESIDENT TO LITERALLY CUT HOLES IN THEIR GARAGE. AND IF THE CITY OF STUART ALLOWS PEOPLE TO BUILD IN THOSE FLOODPLAINS OR VIOLATE THOSE FLOODPLAIN REQUIREMENTS, IT THEN CANNOT QUALIFY FOR FEMA FUNDING WHEN IN FACT AN EVENT OCCURS. SO BY WORKING WITH FEMA IN THESE TECHNICAL THINGS, WE CAN LEARN EXACTLY WHAT IT IS WE SHOULD AND SHOULDN'T BE DOING. NOW, FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, THEY DON'T GIVE US ANY MONEY TO BUILD A GIANT SEAWALL AROUND THE CITY OR BUILD PUMPS LIKE NEW ORLEANS HAS. INSTEAD, THEY WOULD MAKE THEY WOULD MEET WITH OUR STAFF AND WORK WITH OUR STAFF AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO STAFF. ANY RECOMMENDATIONS THEY MAKE, WE WOULD HAVE TO BRING BACK TO THE BOARD, AND YOU GUYS WOULD HAVE TO AUTHORIZE. BUT THIS IS JUST WHAT THIS DOCUMENT IS AUTHORIZING US TO ENTER INTO THE DOCUMENT THAT'S ATTACHED SO THAT THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT COULD MOVE FORWARD WITH FEMA AND AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED, IT'S, AT NO COST. ALL RIGHT, MR. MAYOR. MAY I COMMENT TOO, ON THE AGREEMENT? YES, IT'S TITLED A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING. IT'S KIND OF A BROAD AGREEMENT.

IN FACT, IN THE AGREEMENT ITSELF, IT'S NOT A BINDING LEGAL AGREEMENT. AND IT KIND OF GIVES KIND OF BROAD TERMS. I THINK, OBVIOUSLY, IF THE CITY WOULD REQUIRE TO GET ANY GRANT MONEY FROM FEMA, THEY WOULD ENTER INTO A SEPARATE, MORE DETAILED AGREEMENT ON THOSE TERMS. I JUST THOUGHT I'D POINT THAT OUT. IT IS A NON. MAYOR, MAY I? WELL, FOR THE PURPOSES OF DISCUSSION, WE NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR US TO CONSIDER THE MATTER. CAN WE NOT HAVE DISCUSSION? YES.

WITH A MOTION AND A SECOND. I'LL MOVE FOR A MOTION OF APPROVAL. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 80 3-2024 BY COMMISSIONER READ. IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE FOR

[01:20:04]

SO THIS THE COMMISSION AT THIS TIME DOES NOT WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM.

MAYOR RICH, MAY I? YEAH. CAN I ASK A QUESTION TO CITY MANAGER, SO THIS THIS IS BASICALLY A COMMISSION ACTION FOR THE CITY MANAGER OR THE CITY TO EVEN APPLY FOR THIS, MIKE OR. NO, THE CITY HAS BEEN SELECTED ALREADY. THIS IS TO ACTUALLY DO IT. THIS IS A THIS IS TO ENTER INTO THE MEMORANDUM OR THE AGREEMENT WITH FEMA TO DO IT. MR. MAYOR. YES, THE QUESTION. SO, COMMISSIONER, IF THE IF THE MOTION DIES, CAN IT BE BROUGHT BACK UP AS A NEW MOTION? YES. WITH MAYBE HAVING WELL, MAYBE WITH CAVEATS OR IT HAS TO BE ON ANOTHER AGENDA. WELL, WELL, IF YOU ANTICIPATE WANTING TO MAKE CHANGES TO IT, THEN YOU WOULD SECOND THE MOTION. AND THEN THAT'S THE EXACT TYPE OF DISCUSSION WE WOULD HAVE WITH REGARD TO IT. BUT ANY CHANGES YOU WOULD LIKE TO THEN IT WOULD BE AN AMENDED MOTION. IF THERE WAS A MOTION AND A SECOND AND YEAH, TO THE TO YOUR PROPOSED AMENDMENT. YES YOU DON'T HAVE TO VOTE TO APPROVE IT. IF YOU SECOND IT, YOU'RE SIMPLY SAYING, I THINK THE BOARD SHOULD CONSIDER IT IN DETAIL AND GET ALL OUR OPINIONS A SECOND.

WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S NO SECOND IT'S OVER A MOTION DISPOSED OF. WHAT IS THE MOTION DISPOSED OF? YEAH. SEEING. NO SECOND. OKAY. THE MOTION FAILS. SO I WOULD IF I'M RECOGNIZED.

YES, COMMISSIONER. I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT. WE TABLE THIS FOR NOW, AND I'D LIKE TO GIVE SOME MORE COMMENTS TO THAT, BUT MAYBE I SHOULD WAIT FOR A SECOND. WELL, IF YOU TABLE IT, I DON'T BELIEVE YOU HAVE THIS. THE TABLE IS SIMPLY TO MOVE. I THINK WE HAVE DISCUSSION ABOUT TABLING, BUT YEAH. I'M SORRY. DID YOU SECOND IT? NO. OKAY. THE MOTION HAS FAILED. OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION TO TABLE THE DISCUSSION. MOTION? WE WOULD HAVE A SECOND. WE CAN DISCUSS TABLING IT. A MOTION AND A MOTION TO TABLE WITH A SECOND IS A VOTE. DO YOU CALL AND VOTE? YOU CALL THE VOTE UNDER THE ROBERT'S RULES. BUT IT DOESN'T. I MEAN, AS OF RIGHT NOW, CAN WE JUST TALK ABOUT THE AGENDA? RIGHT. IT'S ON MAKE A MOTION AND YOU GET A SECOND. YOU CAN TALK, BUT ABSENT THAT, NO, I MEAN, WE HAD ALL OF THAT DISCUSSION LAST MEETING WITHOUT A MOTION. NO, WE DID HAVE OKAY.

WE HAD PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN WE HAD NO, THIS THIS IS NOT A COMPLICATED ELEMENT OF ROBERT'S RULES. OKAY. MR. BAGGETT, PLEASE READ THE NEXT ITEM FOR OUR CONSIDERATION. FOR THE RECORD, THE ITEM FAILS FOR LACK OF A SECOND. OKAY RESOLUTION NUMBER 95, DASH 2024, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF STUART, FLORIDA, DECLARING, QUOTE, ZONING IN PROGRESS, UNQUOTE, UNDER SECTION 1.04.04 STUART LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT, EXCEPT FOR SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS OR REQUEST THAT DO NOT INCREASE THE DENSITY OR INTENSITY OF AN EXISTING USE OR STRUCTURE. DIRECTING CITY STAFF TO REVIEW AND PROPOSE CERTAIN AMENDMENTS TO THE STUART LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THE CODE OF ORDINANCES PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. IS THERE A PRESENTATION THAT ACCOMPANIES THIS? MR. MARTELL, THERE ISN'T REALLY MUCH OF A PRESENTATION. YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY FREE TO SPEAK TO THE CITY ATTORNEY FURTHER ABOUT IT, BUT ESSENTIALLY, THIS MOTION OR THIS RESOLUTION WAS

[01:25:04]

[01:30:06]

[01:35:02]

WE'VE DONE IT FOR JUPITER ISLAND. WE CURRENTLY SERVE AS A BACKUP FOR SEWALL'S POINT. WE'VE DONE IT FOR OCEAN BREEZE, AND WE'VE DONE IT WITH THE CITY OF STUART, AS A MATTER OF FACT, OUR BUILDING IS NAMED AFTER THE FORMER BUILDING OFFICIAL AND FIRE MARSHAL, LARRY MASSING. WE DID THAT WITHIN THE LAST YEAR. WHAT ELSE DO WE DO? WE DO DAMAGE ASSESSMENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PROPERTY APPRAISER SO THAT WE ARE FEMA ELIGIBLE FOR THE WHOLE COUNTY. IF WE DON'T MEET A CERTAIN THRESHOLD IN A CERTAIN TIME FRAME, WE DON'T GET IT. NO ONE IN THAT COUNTY GETS IT. SO

[01:40:04]

GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS NEIL EFRON. I'VE BEEN A PROPERTY OWNER IN STUART FOR THE PAST 27 YEARS, MY CONCERN IS THE WAY THIS, IS WORDED IS AFFECTS, VACANCIES. WE OWN A SHOPPING CENTER. WE HAVE VACANT SPACES. WE HAVE A TENANT WHO WANTS TO COME IN AND DO SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO PUT IN A SPACE. IT SEEMS LIKE THAT IS NOT WHAT IS INTENDED, BUT I THINK THE WAY YOU READ IT, IT WOULD AFFECT US AS PROPERTY OWNERS, TAXPAYERS, AND WOULD AFFECT, TENANTS WHO WANT TO COME IN AND, START A BUSINESS AND THAT'S IT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND IF I CAN JUST TELL THE BOARD WE DID DISCUSS THAT WITH THE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, AND THIS MIGHT CURTAIL SOME PUBLIC COMMENT AS WELL. YOU DISCUSSED THIS GENTLEMAN'S COMMENT. YES, I DID JUST THAT. I'M DISCUSSING THE VACANCIES CONCEPT. OKAY, WE USING THE FRESH MARKET AS AN EXAMPLE. THIS WAS THE DISCUSSION WE HAD WITH THE DEVELOPMENT JUST FOR THE SAKE OF IT. IF FRESH MARKET WANTED TO EXPAND BY 20,000FT■!S, IF THEY WANTED TO BUILD TOWARD THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING, WHICH WOULD BE AN EXPANSION OF THAT PLAZA, THAT WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED, BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ACTUALLY AREA TO EXPAND INTO THAT WOULD REQUIRE NEW CONSTRUCTION OF NEW SQUARE FOOTAGE. ON THE OTHER HAND, IF THERE WAS A VACANCY IN THE PLAZA AND THE SQUARE FOOTAGE ALREADY EXISTED AND THEY WANTED TO EXPAND TOWARD THE DOLLAR STORE, OR IN THAT DIRECTION WITHIN THE ENVELOPE OF THE BUILDING THAT ALREADY EXISTS AND IS BUILT. THE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WOULD BE ALLOWED TO EXPAND THAT USE BECAUSE THE PLAZA ITSELF IS BEING LOOKED AT AS THE TOTAL USE, AND THEREFORE THE PLAZA COULDN'T ADD SQUARE FOOTAGE TO IT. BUT WITHIN THE PLAZA, THE SUBTENANTS, AS LONG AS THEY DIDN'T EXCEED THE TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE ORIGINAL APPROVED PLAZA WOULD BE ALLOWED TO SHIFT AND COULD CHANGE SO IT WOULD ALLOW THOSE VACANCIES TO BE FILLED AND ALLOW SOMEBODY IN POSSESSION TO EXPAND INTO ONE OF THOSE VACANCIES. AS LONG AS THAT EXPANSION DID NOT INTENSIFY THE USE OF THE PLAZA. AND WHEN I SAY THAT AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE IF YOU HAD A PLAZA THAT THE USE WAS A YO YO STORE, AND THEY WENT OUT OF BUSINESS AND A MEDICAL DOCTOR WANTED TO COME IN AND USE THAT.

BUT THE PARKING REQUIREMENT FOR THAT SAME SPACE REQUIRED TEN EXTRA PARKING SPACES. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ALLOWED TO BUILD THE TEN EXTRA PARKING SPACES. SO AS LONG AS THE PLAZA HAD THE SUPPORTING PARKING SPACES FOR WHATEVER THAT NEW USE WAS, IT WOULD BE ALLOWED TO GO IN AND THEY COULD RENOVATE AND CHANGE THE WALLS OR DO WHATEVER. BUT IT JUST HAS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NEW USE IS A USE THAT'S COULD BE ABSORBED BY THE EXISTING PARKING AND THE EXISTING PLAZA THAT'S THERE AT THE TIME. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, MR. MATT SCOTT. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR.

COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS MATTHEW SCOTT. I'M A LAND USE AND ZONING ATTORNEY AT THE LAW FIRM OF GREENSPOON MARDER, WITH AN ADDRESS OF 200 EAST BROWARD BOULEVARD IN FORT LAUDERDALE, I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF FLOOR DECOR, MY CLIENT IS IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO LEASE THE SPACE FROM THE GENTLEMAN THAT JUST SPOKE TO 50,000, GIVE OR TAKE 50,000 SQUARE FOOT, SHOPPING CENTER OR SHOPPING CENTER BUILDING AT 2130 SOUTHEAST FEDERAL HIGHWAY. IT USED TO BE A WINN-DIXIE, SO IT'S BEEN SITTING VACANT FOR ABOUT A YEAR, TO THE CITY MANAGER'S POINT, WHICH I THINK MAYBE IS A LITTLE CONFUSED HERE, WHICH I'M HOPING WE CAN CLARIFY TONIGHT.

WE HAD AN APPLICATION READY TO SUBMIT LAST WEEK OR, EXCUSE ME, TWO WEEKS AGO, FOR WHAT'S CALLED A MINOR SITE PLAN APPLICATION. SO WE WERE MAKING SOME SMALL CHANGES TO THE PARKING AREA,

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THAT'S THE APPLICATION THAT WE ARE SUBMITTING. AND I DON'T THINK THAT THE TOWN REALLY WANTS TO AVOID ALL OF THAT FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MARCELLA CAMPBELL. GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS. MARCELLA CAMPBELL FOR THE RECORD PROPERTY OWNER AND BUSINESS OWNER IN THE CITY FOR OVER 30 YEARS. RESOLUTION 95 DASH 2024 IS INVALID AND NEEDS TO BE RESCINDED. I'M NOT SAYING YOU CAN'T HAVE A ZONING IN PROGRESS. PEOPLE ARE JUMPING UP HERE SAYING, OH, YOU FORGOT THIS. YOU SHOULD EXCLUDE THAT. I'M TELLING YOU THAT WE NEED TO TAKE OUR TIME IF THIS IS WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO IT PROPERLY. THIS RESOLUTION REFERENCES SECTION 1.0, 4.04 OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. THE LANGUAGE THERE MAKES IT VERY CLEAR THAT THIS SECTION OF THE CODE RELATES TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. IT RELATES TO MAKING TEXT AMENDMENTS AND DISTRICT MAP AMENDMENTS TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. IT DOES NOT EXTEND AUTHORITY FOR STAFF TO MAKE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN REVIEWS OR AMENDMENTS. THE LANGUAGE IN THE RESOLUTION OVERSTEPS THE ELDERS BECAUSE IT UNLAWFULLY DIRECTS STAFF. YOU READ IT, CITY ATTORNEY. IT UNLAWFULLY DIRECTS STAFF TO REVIEW AND PROPOSE CHANGES TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. SO AS WRITTEN, LET'S START BY THAT IT IS OVERSTEPPING WHAT THE SECTION THAT IS MENTIONED ON THAT RESOLUTION IS AUTHORIZING. SO FOR TRANSPARENCY, WHICH WAS A THEME TONIGHT, IF A RESOLUTION OF THIS EXTENSIVE NATURE IS NEEDED, NUMBER ONE, IT NEEDS TO BE PROPERLY WRITTEN. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I AM GOING TO PUT THIS IN FOR THE RECORD, ALTHOUGH UNFORTUNATELY THE RULES AND THE COMP PLAN AND, YOU KNOW, APPEAR TO NOT BE MATTERING ANYMORE, BUT IT SHOULD BE PROPERLY WRITTEN.

NUMBER TWO, IT SHOULD BE PROPERLY OUTLINED. HERE. YOU HAVE WE DIDN'T MEAN I HOPE YOU DIDN'T MEAN GOVERNMENT BUSINESS. I HOPE YOU DIDN'T MEAN VACANT SPACE. I HOPE I HOPE IT WAS RUSHED. SO I URGE THE CITY TO CLARIFY WHY WE NEED THE LARGEST ZIP IN HISTORY. WE JUST DID TWO MAJOR OVERHAULS TO OUR OUR LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS. EAST STUART WITH A NEW FORM BASED CODE AND THE ARTS DISTRICT WITHOUT A ZONING IN PROGRESS, WITHOUT FREEZING PROPERTY RIGHTS. I WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW COME IN THE LAST THREE JOINT MEETINGS WITH MARTIN COUNTY, THE STUART COMMISSION, THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE VILLAGE OF INDIANTOWN, THIS GOES BACK TO THE REPORTS FROM JUNE OF 2023. THE CITY REPORTED ZERO RESIDENTIAL UNITS BEING APPROVED OR IN REVIEW. IT REPORTED. 21,445FT■!S OF NON RESIDENTIAL N REVIEW, AND ONLY 58,600 OF

[01:50:07]

ZERO UNITS. SO HOW IS THIS A RUSH? ANYWAYS I'D LIKE TO SIT IN FOR THE RECORD BECAUSE MAYBE ONE DAY WE'LL FOLLOW THE RULES THAT MR. DUET PRICE. ALL RIGHT. GOOD NIGHT AGAIN. DUET PRICE AGAIN FOR THE RECORD PROPERTY OWNER WITHIN CITY OF STUART. I TRY TO SERVE MY COMMUNITY THE BEST OF MY ABILITY EVERY CHANCE I GET. RIGHT SO RIGHT NOW, I'M HERE IN REGARDS TO THIS ZONING IN PROGRESS, BASICALLY MORATORIUM THAT THE CITY HAS, THAT YOU HAVE YOU HAVE IMPLEMENTED AND IS IN EFFECT HAS NO REAL CLEAR OBJECTIVE STATED WITHIN THAT ZIP. AND IT'S IMPACTING I THINK YOU JUST HEARD IT. NO ONE HAS A CLUE OF WHAT WAS WRITTEN HERE. AND I THINK THAT IT GOES BACK TO MY THING OF WHEN YOU GUYS ARE SITTING UP HERE TRYING TO MAKE DECISIONS, YOU GOT TO TALK TO THE ATTORNEYS BEFORE YOU GET HERE. OKAY? SO THAT WAY YOU CAN MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS AND DISCUSSION ON THIS ZIP. A GOOD EXAMPLE, MR. MARTELL CLEARLY STATES SINGLE FAMILY HOMES ARE ALLOWED OR IMPROVEMENTS. IF YOU GO UP THERE, THERE'S AN EXISTING USE AND ALL THAT. I'M NOT A PLANNING EXPERT, BUT I PLAY ENOUGH IN THIS FIELD TO REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW YOU DO THE ZIP AND I WORK IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY, THE STATE, THE COUNTRY, AND BASED ON THE WRITING OF THIS, THIS RESOLUTION, IT IMPACTS AND IS A LOT MORE DETRIMENTAL, MORE THAN WHAT PEOPLE ARE THINKING SITTING UP HERE AND WHAT THE COMMUNITY HAS NO CLUE OR UNDERSTANDING. BECAUSE IF THEY DID, THIS ROOM WOULD BE PACKED JUST LIKE IT WAS. IF IT WAS BRIGHT LINE. CASE IN POINT. OKAY ALL THESE GUYS ARE GOING MAYBE, MAYBE, MAYBE I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A FACTUAL REFERENCE OF WHAT HAS OCCURRED TO ME THIS WEEK. I OWN A PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF STUART. IT'S PLATTED LOTS. I GOT MY ORDER, MY ORDINANCE THAT SAYS, HEY, FIVE PLATTED LOTS. I CAN DEVELOP IT. OKAY. I GO, WELL, I'D LIKE TO COME IN FOR THE VACANT LOT. I NEED TO GO GET MY PC AT THE COUNTY SO I CAN GET AN ADDRESS. SO I CAN GO AHEAD AND BUILD THIS PROPERTY OUT.

OKAY. I WENT THROUGH HEARTBREAK TO GET THAT ZONING APPROVED BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE IN THAT AREA, IT WAS MULTIFAMILY AND I WANTED TO GO SINGLE FAMILY TO GO BACK TO THE 1923 PLAT, WHICH IS BASICALLY GOING BACK IN HISTORY TO REDUCE WHAT WAS THERE. I GOT A BIG FIGHT IN THAT I HAD AN INTERVENOR. RIGHT NOW I'M SAYING I WANT TO DO WHAT I PROMISED STAFF SAYS, SORRY, I CANNOT.

IT'S A SINGLE FAMILY HOME. IT'S PLATTED, BUT BECAUSE THERE'S TWO ADDRESSES ON THE PCN, PER THE COUNTY, IT'S AN EXISTING USE. AND IF YOU'RE GOING TO ADD ANOTHER HOME, IT'S NOW MULTIFAMILY. I ASKED FOR THE DEFINITION OF MULTIFAMILY VERSUS RESIDENTIAL. THERE'S HUGE ITEMS THAT NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED HERE. STAFF DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO GOVERN OR BE DIRECTED PROPERLY. THE ATTORNEY JUST SAID THERE NEEDS TO BE CLEAR DIRECTION IN THIS ZIP, RIGHT? BASED ON WHAT I'VE SEEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA, CANTER AND US ONE ARE THE ONLY PLACES THAT YOU NEED TO WORRY ABOUT. I DON'T SEE HOW THAT IMPACTS SINGLE FAMILY HOMES. THERE'S ONE PROPERTY IN KENNER THAT IS VACANT RIGHT NOW THAT WOULD APPLY TO IT. THANK YOU, MR. PRICE. MR. WALTER ODIN. MAYOR.

RICH. COMMISSIONERS MY NAME IS WALTER ODIN. THE SECOND MY FAMILY HAS BEEN HERE IN STUART SINCE THE 1930S. I WAS BORN IN MARTIN MORROW HOSPITAL, ONE OF DOCTOR PERRY'S MIRACLE KIDS. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE MORE MATUR, YOU MAY REMEMBER MY FATHER'S RADIO SHOW, THE BONGO PARTY ON WZTU. MY PARENTS WERE EDUCATORS HERE, AND I'VE OWNED PROPERTY HERE FOR OVER 30 YEARS. I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR CONTINUED RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT IN STUART AND TO PROVIDE MY PERSPECTIVE REGARDING THE PROPOSAL TO PLACE A MORATORIUM ON DEVELOPMENT BEYOND SINGLE FAMILY HOMES. I OWN 12 PROPERTIES RIGHT NOW IN EAST STUART. WHILE I BELIEVE IN I UNDERSTAND THE INTENT OF THIS MEASURE, I BELIEVE IT IS ESSENTIAL TO CONSIDER THE BROADER IMPLICATIONS AND THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH A DECISION ON STUART'S LONG TERM ECONOMIC VITALITY, AS WELL AS ITS QUALITY OF LIFE LIMITING DEVELOPMENT TO THESE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES ALONE WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY HINDER OUR ABILITY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF A DIVERSE AND GROWING POPULATION, FOSTER A THRIVING LOCAL ECONOMY, AND CREATE SUSTAINABLE, WELL PLANNED

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THEY PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES TO GROW, CREATE JOBS, AND GENERATE A HIGHER TAX BASE WHICH CAN BE REINVESTED INTO CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC SERVICES, AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION EFFORTS. I'M SUGGESTING A BALANCED APPROACH TO DEVELOPMENT CAN SPUR ECONOMIC GROWTH WHILE PRESERVING THE AREA'S NATURAL BEAUTY AND COMMUNITY CHARACTER.

I RESPECTFULLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO END THE COMMISSIONERS TO CONSIDER THE LONG TERM BENEFITS OF A MORE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO DEVELOPMENT THAT ADDRESSES BOTH THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF OUR GROWING COMMUNITY AND THE FUTURE VIABILITY OF STUART. WE CAN BALANCE GROWTH WHILE PRESERVING THE CHARACTER CHARM THAT MAKES STUART SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU SIR. MR. PAUL STIERS. MAYOR. RICH COMMISSIONERS. GOOD AFTERNOON, I'M PAUL STIERS. I REPRESENT THE TAYLOR PROPERTY IN EAST STUART AND OTHER PROPERTIES IN EAST STUART. THAT MAY, THROUGH THE ASSEMBLAGE OF PARCELS, BE ELIGIBLE FOR MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT. THIS MORATORIUM HAS KILLED THAT EFFORT. BUT IN SO DOING, YOU WILL THROUGH UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. GENTRIFY EAST STUART BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO RAISE THE PRICES UP BECAUSE CONSTRUCTION PRICES CONTINUE TO GO UPWARDS. THERE'S IT'S AN UNFORTUNATE SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN AND THE ECONOMY, THE ECONOMICS ARE SUCH THAT IF THE COST OF BUILDING A HOUSE CONTINUES TO RISE, THE RESIDENT, WHETHER THEY BE A TENANT OR AN OCCUPANT WHO IS AN OWNER, WILL HAVE TO BEAR THE BRUNT OF THAT. IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO BRING WORKFORCE TYPE INDIVIDUALS INTO STUART, PEOPLE WHO PAY MORE TAXES THAN A RETIREE, IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO EXPAND THAT INCOME BASE FOR TAXATION PURPOSES SO THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE AMENITIES LIKE FIRE AND POLICE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES, I THINK YOU'RE LOOKING AT AN UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE THAT PERHAPS THIS, THIS MORATORIUM HERE DIDN'T ANTICIPATE. IF YOU WANT TO REVIEW AND MAKE CHANGES, THAT CERTAINLY IS WITHIN YOUR PURVIEW. THAT'S CERTAINLY WITHIN YOUR PREROGATIVE. BUT MY ENCOURAGEMENT, MY ASK OF YOU, IS NOT TO STOP CURRENT DEVELOPMENT IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THAT REVIEW, MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON WHATEVER POLITICAL PRESSURES YOU'RE UNDER. BUT BUT DO NOT GENTRIFY A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS ALREADY LOST SO MANY OF ITS RESIDENTS THAT COULD CONTRIBUTE HEALTHILY FINANCIALLY FROM A TAXATION STANDPOINT, TO THE WELL-BEING AND WELFARE OF US HERE IN EAST STUART, OF US IN STUART, IN GENERAL. I SUSPECT THAT AS YOU AS YOU IMPACT THE OTHER COMMUNITIES, I KNOW I'M ONLY SPEAKING ABOUT EAST STUART. NOW, YOU'LL FIND THAT THERE'S SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THIS MORATORIUM. AND I DON'T THINK THIS IS WHAT YOU INTENDED. I REALLY DON'T THINK THIS IS WHAT YOU INTENDED. I THINK YOU INTENDED YOU WERE WORRIED WITH THE GROWTH THAT WAS UNBRIDLED ON ON ON WHAT? AND YOU WANTED TO CLOSELY REVIEW THAT EXPANSION TO ENSURE THAT IT MET WITHIN WHAT I WOULD CALL SMART GROWTH AND SMART DEVELOPMENT. THIS THIS MORATORIUM DOESN'T GIVE YOU THAT WHAT YOU NEED TO BE DOING IS REVIEWING IT WHILE THIS WHILE THIS PROCESS CONTINUES SO THAT YOU CAN SEE WHAT UNINTENDED UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES YOU YOU'VE INTRODUCED INTO THE FORMULA AS A RESULT OF I DON'T WANT TO SAY RUSHING, BUT BUT BEING AGGRESSIVE IN TERMS OF SATISFYING THE NEEDS OF THE CONSTITUENTS THAT HAVE ASKED YOU TO SLOW DOWN GROWTH HERE IN EAST EUROPE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR. JEREMY LEMASTER.

[02:00:13]

BUYER OF THAT PROPERTY HAD PLANS TO INVEST IN MUCH NEEDED EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS. ON OUR ADVICE, HE CAN TALK, HE CONSULTED A LOCAL ARCHITECT WHO LIVES AND WORKS IN OUR CITY AND PLANNED TO ENGAGE A LOCAL CONTRACTOR FOR THIS WORK, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN OUR DOWNTOWN. HOWEVER, WHEN THE ARCHITECT CONTACTED THE CITY ON SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2024, HE WAS INFORMED, WE ARE NOT ACCEPTING ANY COMMERCIAL PERMIT APPLICATIONS THIS MESSAGE, DELIVERED ON BEHALF OF THIS ZIP INITIATIVE, MADE IT CLEAR THAT CERTAIN INTERESTS DO NOT WANT THIS INVESTMENT COMMISSIONERS, WHILE I UNDERSTAND THE DESIRE TO MANAGE DEVELOPMENT, THE ZIP GOES TOO FAR. THE ECONOMY ITSELF HAS ALREADY COOLED. THE MULTIFAMILY

[02:05:03]

THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER USED THE WORD BALANCE. I THINK YOU REPRESENT BALANCE, THE COMMON SENSE PEOPLE THAT PUT YOU IN THOSE CHAIRS LOOKED AROUND AND SAID, PLEASE HELP US. IT'S ONLY 90 DAYS. THERE'S NOTHING NEW HERE. EVERYONE WHO SPOKE BEFORE ME HAS A VESTED INTEREST AND NOT HAVING A ZIP. THE COMMON PEOPLE THAT WANT YOU TO SLOW THINGS DOWN, OR AT LEAST THE BALANCE OF TAKING SOME TIME OUT TO LOOK AT WHAT EXACTLY THE PREVIOUS 1 OR 2 COMMISSIONS THAT WERE RESOUNDINGLY VOTED OUT OF OFFICE HAVE PUT IN THE PIPELINE. IT SOUNDS LIKE IT NEEDS SOME TWEAKS, BUT IF YOUR OVERALL CONCEPT IS TO SLOW DOWN A LITTLE BIT AND SEE WHAT'S IN THE PIPELINE, THEN THANK YOU FOR THAT. MR. JOSEPH COOPER. GOOD EVENING, MR. COOPER. GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS, JOSEPH COOPER, 906 SOUTHEAST NINTH STREET, ALSO G.R. CONSTRUCTION GROUP. I'M A LICENSED GENERAL CONTRACTOR LOCAL RIGHT HERE IN EAST STUART, A COUPLE OF THINGS.

WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING THIS ZIP IN PLACE, IT'S VERY DETRIMENTAL. IT DOES HIT TO THE HEART AS, WE JUST MENTIONED ABOUT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF DOING THIS. I'M IN THE BUSINESS OF, YOU KNOW, BUILDING AND PERMITTING AND STUFF LIKE THAT. AND IF I CAN'T GET THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS GOING IN THIS, THIS, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO KIND OF FEED MY KIDS AND EVERYBODY. IF YOU'VE GOT KIDS, YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS, I THINK THIS, THIS WHOLE PROCESS OF UNDERSTANDING THE INTENT OF THE ZIP IS, IS, IS UNFAIRLY BEING DISCUSSED TONIGHT WITHOUT THE PERSON WHO'S, WHO'S WHO HAS THE BACKGROUND TO REALLY TO KIND OF DISCUSS THIS IN DETAIL IN THE COMMISSIONERS COMMISSIONER JULIA CLARK, WHO HAS A PLANNING BACKGROUND, WITHOUT TO TAKE UP THIS MATTER, WITHOUT HER BEING PRESENT, IS REALLY DERELICT AS, AS A COMMISSION BECAUSE NO ONE UP ON THIS DAIS HAS THE EXPERIENCE AND THE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THIS MEANS. AND TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS IT IN DETAIL, SO I DON'T THINK THIS MATTER SHOULD BE TAKEN UP IN, IN HER ABSENTEE AND SO, SO WE NEED TO KIND OF, YOU KNOW, I, YOU KNOW, GROWING UP HERE, EVERYBODY TALKED ABOUT THE BOOGEYMAN COMING FORT LAUDERDALE MIAMI. IT DID NOT COME. IT'S NOT GOING TO COME, DID WE HAVE SOME SOME DEVELOPMENT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS? WE NEEDED IT. WE WERE UNDER DEVELOPED. WE NEEDED THE IMPROVEMENTS. AND SO THEY'VE BEEN POSITIVE. THEY'VE BEEN IMPACTFUL. AND SO IF YOU IF YOU MIGRATED TO THIS AREA, YOU DON'T GET TO TELL PEOPLE NOT TO COME TODAY. SO BUT IF YOU WERE BORN AND RAISED, MAYBE YOU MAY HAVE AN ARGUMENT, OKAY. YOU DON'T GET TO COME TO MY TOWN.

WHEN I WAS BORN IN MARTIN MOORE, RIGHT DOWN THE STREET, GREW UP ON NINTH STREET, STILL THERE. MY DAD'S 93. WHAT IF WE WERE TO CUT THE BORDERS OFF AND SAYS, NO MORE DEVELOPMENT? I WOULDN'T BE HERE. I HAD TO GO TO SOUTH FLORIDA BECAUSE TO JUST EARN MONEY AS A AS A BUILDER. NOW I'M

[02:10:03]

THE COUNTY OF MARTIN. WE'RE UNIQUE. WE'RE A COASTAL TOWN. WE'RE NOT. NO CRIME IS NOT OUT OF CONTROL. BUILDINGS ARE NOT OUT OF CONTROL. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT BEING OVERZEALOUS IN TRYING TO CREATE A PROCESS WHICH IS GOING TO STYMIE ECONOMICALLY FOLKS LIKE MYSELF.

AND IT'S NOT. AND WE'RE DOING THIS, WE'RE TAKING UP A DISCUSSION, AND YOU DON'T HAVE THE MOST TENURED, MOST, EXPERIENCED PERSON TO DISCUSS THIS MATTER OF ZIP WITHOUT HER BEING HERE. I THINK IT'S A TRAVESTY TO TAKE UP THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS MATTER AND VOTE ON I.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE'RE ALL DONE. MAYOR THANK YOU. DISCUSSION MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO SLIGHTLY AMEND MY MOTION BY EXEMPTING GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS. PER MARTIN COUNTY'S REQUEST. SO.

SO THERE'S A MOTION TO THAT WOULD REQUIRE A SECOND PROVIDE AN EXCLUSION. YES. I'M JUST STATING THE. IS THERE A PROPER FORM HERE, MIKE, OR. IT'S A MOTION TO AMEND HIS ORIGINAL MOTION AND YOU WOULD NEED A SECOND TO. OKAY, I SECOND AS AMENDED. OKAY. SECOND TO BE AMENDED. SO WE HAVE A MOTION. AND SECOND AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER JOB. DO YOU WISH TO TALK ABOUT THAT AMENDMENT. WELL WE CAN TALK ABOUT THEM ALL. WELL NOW YOU HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FOR A AMENDMENT PROGRESS WITH AN EXCEPTION TO THE MOTION WAS AMENDED. AND THE SECOND WAS AMENDED. SO THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR NOW IS A MOTION FOR THE ENTRANCE OF A ZONING IN PROGRESS. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS. OKAY DO YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THAT? YES, I DO, MAYOR RICH, MAY I? YEAH COMMISSIONER, WHAT ABOUT ANY APPLICANTS THAT HAVE PRE-APPLICATION MEETINGS WITH OUR DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT ALREADY? PART OF THE BOARD MEMBERS A PRE-APPLICATION MEETING IS NOT SUFFICIENT. IT HAS TO BE A SUBMITTED APPLICATION. APPLICATION. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER READ. HOW WAS THAT? NO QUESTIONS. OKAY. YOU KNOW, AFTER LAST WEEK'S MEETING, I WAS HOPING HOPING TO BE ABLE TO CONCENTRATE ON BRIGHTLINE AND SEEING IF WE CAN FIND A WAY FORWARD. BUT THE NUMBER OF CALLS I GOT REGARDING THIS ISSUE FROM SOME OF THE OLDEST BUSINESS PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN AND THE ANGER THAT THEY EXPRESSED TO ME, AND THEN USUALLY FOLLOWING THAT WAS, YOU'RE GOING TO GET SUED, YOU KNOW THAT, RIGHT? DEALS HAVE BEEN THREATENED AND I KNOW BUSINESS PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO WORK VERY, VERY HARD TO KEEP THEIR FINANCING, TO KEEP THEIR PARTNER. IT'S NOT ONLY THE PRACTICAL REALITY OF BUSINESS, AND BUSINESS LIKES TO GET DONE, IT'S ALSO THE TONE WE'RE SETTING WITH SOME OF THESE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, I VOTED FOR THE FIRST ZIP OR NOT THE FIRST ONE, BUT THE ZIP TWO YEARS AGO, AND YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW POWERFUL THESE ARE SINCE WE PUT THAT ZIP IN PLACE FOR MULTIFAMILY HOUSING. NO NEW APPLICATIONS, NO NEW APPROVAL.

NONE. ZERO. YOU THINK? OH, JUST 90 DAYS? NO. IT SETS A TONE. IT CREATES AN ATMOSPHERE. AND YOU HAVE TO, AS I SAID, TREAD VERY CAREFULLY. AND THE POINT WAS MADE TO IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN OUR OWN ABILITY. I'M VERY CONFIDENT THAT THIS GROUP, IF THERE'S A NON-CONFORMING USE THAT COMES FORWARD, THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO SAY NO. BUT RATHER THAN US, THIS MOTION, WE'RE JUST SAYING NONE OF IT. WE'RE NOT GOING TO WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT IT, RATHER THAN IT SHOULD BE OUR JOB TO EVALUATE THEM ONE AT A TIME. I MEAN, IF YOU WANT TO PUT A AWNING ON YOUR BUSINESS, YOU CAN'T DO THAT, RIGHT? WALMART WANTS TO EXPAND THEIR ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO SAFELY PICK UP THEIR ORDERS. AND WE'RE NOT ALLOWING THEM TO DO THAT. THIS IS A JOBS KILLER, AND THIS IS A BUSINESS KILLER. AND I DON'T SEE THE NEED FOR IT. THIS

[02:15:06]

COMMISSIONER. READ. YES BROTHER. WE HAVE A DAD HERE. I DON'T THINK I DON'T KNOW IF WE DO. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANYTHING TO DAD, DO WE? MR. MOTEL. SEEING NO OTHER ITEMS FOR OUR CONSIDERATION.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.