[ROLL CALL]
          [00:00:08]
          I ALREADY MISLAID IT. OH, HERE IT IS. I'M SORRY FOR. I'M SORRY. ROLL CALL PLEASE, MADAM. CLERK. 
          MAYOR RICH HERE. COMMISSIONER CLARK. HERE. COMMISSIONER COLLINS HERE. COMMISSIONER. JOB HERE. COMMISSIONER REID HERE. AND PROVIDING THIS EVENING'S INVOCATION IS PASTOR DARRELL ORMOND FROM THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF STUART. AND AFTER THAT, WILL YOU PLEASE LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS. FATHER, WE JUST WANT TO TELL YOU WE LOVE YOU TODAY, AND WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS COMMISSION. WE ASK YOU, PLEASE, ALMIGHTY GOD, TO IMPART WISDOM TO THEM AS THEY DELIBERATE THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY. AND WE PRAY, LORD, THAT YOUR SPIRIT WOULD REST UPON THIS CHAMBER AND, FATHER, WE THANK YOU THAT IN SCRIPTURE YOU TELL US THAT RIGHTEOUSNESS EXALTS A NATION, AND SIN IS A REPROACH TO ANY PEOPLE. AND FATHER, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WAY YOU MOVE IN THE LIFE OF OUR NATION, OUR COUNTRY, OUR CITY, OUR COUNTY. AND FATHER, I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU, PLEASE, RIGHT NOW TO PUT A HEDGE OF PROTECTION AROUND PRESIDENT ELECT DONALD TRUMP. AND THANK YOU, LORD, FOR HIS COURAGE AND PERSEVERANCE. WE ASK YOU, PLEASE, TO IMPART WISDOM TO HIM AS HE DIRECTS US IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, AND WE JUST WANT TO TELL YOU WE LOVE YOU AND PRAISE YOU IN JESUS NAME. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE 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. NO. NO PROCLAMATIONS, MISTER DAGGETT. SO YOU DO THAT FIRST, PLEASE. OF COURSE. SO, APPRENTICESHIP WEEK, NOVEMBER 17TH THROUGH THE 23RD, 2024. WHEREAS NATIONAL 
          [PROCLAMATIONS]
APPRENTICESHIP WEEK IS CELEBRATING ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF RAISING AWARENESS OF THE VITAL ROLE REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIPS PROVIDE IN CREATING OPPORTUNITIES BY ALLOWING APPRENTICES TO EARN WHILE THEY LEARN AND PREPARING A PATHWAY TO GOOD QUALITY JOBS AND WELL-PAYING CAREERS IN STUART AND ACROSS THE NATION. WHEREAS REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS ENABLE EMPLOYERS TO DEVELOP AND TRAIN THEIR FUTURE WORKFORCE WHILE OFFERING CAREER SEEKERS AFFORDABLE PATHS TO SECURE HIGH PAYING JOBS. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF STUART RECOGNIZES THAT REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP, A PROVEN AND INDUSTRY DRIVEN TRAINING MODEL, IS A KEY STRATEGY TO IMPROVING JOB QUALITY AND CREATING ACCESS TO GOOD PAYING, FAMILY SUSTAINING JOBS FOR ALL, STARTING WITH YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS, WHILE ADDRESSING SOME OF OUR NATION'S PRESSING WORKFORCE CHALLENGES, SUCH AS REBUILDING OUR COUNTRY'S INFRASTRUCTURE, ADDRESSING CRITICAL SUPPLY CHAIN DEMANDS, SUPPORTING A CLEAN ENERGY WORKFORCE, MODERNIZING OUR CYBERSECURITY RESPONSE, AND RESPONDING TO CORE ECONOMY ISSUES. NOW, THEREFORE, I, CAMPBELL RICH, THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF STUART, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 17TH THROUGH THE 23RD, 2024 AS APPRENTICESHIP WEEK AND ACCEPTING THIS PROCLAMATION FOR APPRENTICESHIP NAVIGATOR IS COLLEEN GIL. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? SURE, SURE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONERS, FOR RECOGNIZING NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK. MY NAME IS COLLEEN GIL. I'M THE APPRENTICESHIP NAVIGATOR FOR CAREERSOURCE RESEARCH COAST. WE SERVE INDIAN RIVER, SAINT LUCIE AND MARTIN COUNTIES. WE'RE YOUR LOCAL LOCAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD, AND WE CONNECT EMPLOYERS AND JOB SEEKERS. WE PROVIDE JOB FAIRS, JOB LISTINGS, RECRUITMENT ON THE JOB TRAINING GRANTS AND A WHOLE LOT MORE FOR NO CHARGE. REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP IS A TRAINING MODEL WHERE EMPLOYEES LEARN ON THE JOB WHILE THEY COMPLETE RELATED EDUCATION. WE ACTUALLY CAN PROVIDE GRANT FUNDING FOR REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIPS TO EMPLOYERS TO HELP OFFSET THE COST. AND THIS AMOUNTS TO 50% OF WAGES REIMBURSED FOR A PORTION OF THE APPRENTICESHIP. SO THIS IS A REALLY GREAT TRAINING MODEL. ANY BUSINESSES WHO HAVE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE AGING OUT OF THE BUSINESS, GETTING READY TO RETIRE, THEY HAVE JOB POSITIONS THAT ARE COMING OPEN THAT THEY NEED TO TRAIN FOR. I ENCOURAGE ANYONE TO CONTACT ME FOR MORE INFORMATION AND I CAN PROVIDE THAT TO YOU. YOU CAN REACH ME AT SEA. GIL AT CAREERSOURCE RC.COM. 
          OR YOU CAN LOOK ON THE CAREERSOURCE RESEARCH COAST WEBSITE. LOOK UNDER APPRENTICESHIP AND YOU'LL FIND ME THAT WAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WAS GOING TO SAY I RECOGNIZE 
          [00:05:02]
THIS GUY. MISTER MAYOR, DO YOU STILL HAVE THE PROGRAM AT THE 10TH STREET REC CENTER? ARE YOU STILL CURRENT? SOURCE IS NOT THERE ANYMORE. NO, NO. CAREERSOURCE RIGHT NOW IS LOCATED AT GARDEN CITY IN FORT PIERCE. AND WE ARE GETTING READY TO MOVE INTO THE RENAISSANCE CENTER, LOCATED AT THE OLD ORANGE BLOSSOM MALL IN FORT PIERCE. BUT WE SERVE THE THREE COUNTY AREA. OKAY, WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES ALL UP AND DOWN. YOU'RE WELCOME ON. OKAY, WE'LL MAKE IT OFFICIAL. I'LL MAKE. FOR THE PHOTOBOMBERS BEHIND YOU TO. GET. YOU. OKAY, OKAY. ALL RIGHT. 
          OKAY, LET ME GO. THANK YOU, MISTER CHLOROPHANE. GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU, MISTER BAGUETTES. MISS, PLEASE. WHEREAS FOR 70 YEARS, SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF STUART HAS BEEN A CORNERSTONE OF OUR COMMUNITY, FOSTERING FELLOWSHIP AND FRIENDSHIP AMONG ITS MEMBERS AS THEY WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL RESIDENTS. AND WHEREAS SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF STUART HAS A RICH HISTORY OF COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY, NOTABLY BY ESTABLISHING THE HOUSE OF REFUGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND STUART CHRISTMAS PARADE, AND DUTIFULLY SUPPORTING THESE ACTIVITIES FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS, WORKING WITH LOCAL SEX TRAFFICKING AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ORGANIZATIONS TO GET WOMEN THE LEGAL AND ECONOMIC RESOURCES THEY NEED TO BREAK FREE FROM THEIR FORMER LIVES. OFFERING FREE MAMMOGRAMS TO WOMEN IN NEED AND HOSTING THE WOMEN OF DISTINCTION CELEBRATION EVENT TO HONOR LOCAL WOMEN LEADERS. AND WHEREAS, SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF STUART HAS PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION BY AWARDING MORE THAN ONE HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS TO DESERVING GIRLS AND WOMEN IN MARTIN COUNTY, THEREBY OPENING DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY AND FOSTERING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS, INNOVATORS AND CHANGE MAKERS, AND EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS THROUGH THE GIFT OF EDUCATION AND KNOWLEDGE. AND WHEREAS, AS WE COMMEMORATE THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THIS ESTEEMED ORGANIZATION, WE HONOR ITS EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. WE EXTEND OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO THE MEMBERS, PAST AND PRESENT, OF SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF STUART, WHOSE UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO SERVICE, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CONTINUES TO UPLIFT AND INSPIRE US ALL. NOW, THEREFORE, I, CAMPBELL RICH, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF STUART, DO HEREBY CONGRATULATE AND PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 2024 AS SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF STUART 70TH ANNIVERSARY AND ACCEPTING THIS PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF THE SOROPTIMIST IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE SOROPTIMIST, MISS MARY ANN SEARLE. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT. IT'S NOT A NAME A LOT OF PEOPLE PRONOUNCE CORRECTLY FIRST, SO CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT. IT'S DOCTOR SEARLE. WELL, THAT TOO. COMMISSIONER CLARK OFTEN REFERS TO ME AS DOCTOR SEARLE. I DON'T USUALLY USE THAT TITLE AROUND HERE. WELL, WE ARE EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY AND GRATEFUL THAT YOU ALL ARE WILLING TO HONOR US ON OUR 70TH BIRTHDAY. AS YOU JUST HEARD, WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT INITIATIVES OVER THE YEARS, AND WE'RE PROUD OF OUR HISTORY HERE FOR 70 YEARS. AND WE HOPE TO HAVE MANY MORE YEARS HERE. AND SO YOU HAVE SEVERAL OF OUR MEMBERS HERE KIND OF SHOWING SUPPORT FOR THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING HERE IN MARTIN COUNTY. BUT WHAT I THINK IS INTERESTING ABOUT SOROPTIMIST IS THE FACT THAT WE WERE STARTED BY A MAN, ALTHOUGH WE'RE AN INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S SERVICE ORGANIZATION, SO IN 1921, A GENTLEMAN IN CALIFORNIA SAID WOMEN CAN'T BE MEMBERS OF SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS. SO WE NEED TO CREATE A SERVICE ORGANIZATION WHERE WOMEN CAN BE INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY SERVICE. SO IT BECAME KNOWN AS SOROPTIMIST. AND EVERY PERSON I MEET SAYS, WHAT DOES SOROPTIMIST MEAN? AND IT ACTUALLY TRANSLATES TO BEST FOR WOMEN. AND I THINK THAT'S KIND OF A GREAT A GREAT CAPTION OR SLOGAN FOR US BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO DO THE BEST WE CAN FOR WOMEN WORLDWIDE. SO WE'RE A LITTLE TINY CLUB HERE, YOU KNOW, WITH ABOUT 30 MEMBERS. BUT INTERNATIONALLY WE HAVE 120 COUNTRIES. I THINK IT'S INTERESTING THAT THE FASTEST GROWING CONTINENT FOR SOROPTIMIST IS AFRICA. I WOULD IMAGINE, RIGHT. AND RIGHT NOW WORLDWIDE, WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE OVER 70,000 MEMBERS. SO WE'RE AN INTERNATIONAL GROUP. AND SO WE'RE JUST KIND OF A SMALL PIECE IN A VERY BIG PUZZLE. BUT WHAT I FOUND VERY COMPELLING WHEN I GOT INVOLVED A FEW YEARS AGO IS OUR INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION SET A GOAL, A VISION TO HELP 500,000 WOMEN AND GIRLS GO TO COLLEGE OR 
          [00:10:07]
TECH SCHOOL IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS. SO WORLDWIDE, WE ARE COMMITTED TO TRYING TO HELP WOMEN AND GIRLS GO TO SCHOOL BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL AND SO WE DO OUR LITTLE PART HERE. WE ARE FOCUSED ON BARRIERS THAT IMPACT WOMEN AND GIRLS WHO CAN'T GO TO COLLEGE. SO WE DO EDUCATION ABOUT POVERTY AS YOU HEARD, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEX TRAFFICKING, THESE ARE ALL THESE ARE BARRIERS THAT OUR ORGANIZATION INTERNATIONALLY HAS DETERMINED ARE MAJOR BARRIERS FOR WOMEN TO PURSUE EDUCATION, TO BECOME ECONOMICALLY EMPOWERED, TO BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT AND RAISE THEIR FAMILIES. SO WE DO PROGRAMS THAT RELATED TO THAT WITH LOCAL PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS. WE ALSO ARE PART OF THAT 500,000 GOAL OF HELPING WOMEN AND GIRLS GO TO SCHOOL. SO HERE WE HAVE THREE FOCUSED AWARDS. THE FIRST ONE IS CALLED LIVE YOUR DREAM AND THIS IS TARGETED FOR SINGLE PARENT WOMEN. SO OF COURSE WE'RE LOOKING AT WOMEN THAT MIGHT HAVE EXTRA CHALLENGES GOING TO COLLEGE OR TECH SCHOOL OR AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM. AS WE JUST HEARD. ANY KIND OF POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION. WE ALSO HAVE A PROGRAM FOR WOMEN OVER 40 RETURNING TO SCHOOL, USUALLY AFTER MAYBE A DIVORCE OR SOME KIND OF, YOU KNOW, DIFFICULT SITUATION. AND THEN WE HAVE AN AWARD THAT HONORS YOUNG WOMEN GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY SERVICE TO TRY TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO CONTINUE TO BE INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY SERVICE. SO WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR AWARDS APPLICANTS FROM OUR DIFFERENT GROUPS. WE RAISE MONEY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO BE ABLE TO DO THOSE. OUR NEXT BIG FUNDRAISER IS NEXT THURSDAY NIGHT WHERE WE DO A HOLIDAY SIP AND SHOP. THE OTHER THING WE'RE GOING TO RESURRECT THIS YEAR, WE KIND OF DIDN'T ABLE TO DO IT THE LAST FEW YEARS WITH COVID AND WHATNOT IS A PROGRAM OUR INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION HAS CALLED DREAM IT BE IT, WHICH IS A PROGRAM FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS WHO MIGHT BE GIRLS AT RISK, WHO MIGHT BE IN POVERTY TO TRY TO SHOW THEM THAT THEY HAVE A FUTURE BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL. SO THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS WE'RE INVOLVED IN, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY HERE IN MARTIN COUNTY. 
          GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HANG ON. OH, LET'S GET THE PHOTO OUT. YOU WANT ALL OF US UP THERE OR GET ONE WITH YOU FIRST? YEAH. WILL YOU ALLOW MY MEMBERS TO COME UP, TOO? OKAY. AWESOME. 
          SO YOU CAN SEE OUR COLORS ARE BLUE. AND. YEAH. SO. THERE YOU GO. HOLD ON. OKAY. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. MISTER BAGGETT, HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE MONTH, PLEASE. WHEREAS MEDICARE'S FIRST PROVEN COORDINATED CARE MODEL, HOSPICE IS A PROGRAM THAT WORKS, OFFERING PERSON CENTERED COMPASSIONATE CARE, ENSURING DIGNITY, CHOICE AND QUALITY OF LIFE. AND WHEREAS THE HOSPICE, THE HOSPICE MODEL INVOLVES AN INTERDISCIPLINARY, TEAM ORIENTED APPROACH TO TREATMENT, INCLUDING EXPERT MEDICAL CARE QUALITY, SYMPTOM CONTROL, AND COMPREHENSIVE PAIN MANAGEMENT AS A FOUNDATION OF CARE BEYOND PROVIDING PHYSICAL TREATMENT, HOSPICE ATTENDS TO THE PATIENT'S EMOTIONAL, SPIRITUAL, AND FAMILY NEEDS AND PROVIDES FAMILY SERVICES LIKE RESPITE CARE AND GRIEF COUNSELING AND WHEREAS HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE ORGANIZATIONS ARE ADVOCATES AND EDUCATORS ABOUT ADVANCED CARE PLANNING THAT HELP INDIVIDUALS MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THE CARE THEY WANT. FOUNDED IN 1982, TREASURE COAST HOSPICE IS A NONPROFIT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION OF SKILLED PROFESSIONALS AND DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS WHOSE MISSION IS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO COMPASSIONATE, CARING, EXPERT AND PROFESSIONAL HOSPICE AND GRIEF SUPPORT SERVICES TO PATIENTS AND FAMILIES. AT THE END OF LIFE. AND WHEREAS TODAY, TREASURE COAST HOSPICE SERVES MORE THAN 4000 PATIENTS ANNUALLY, PROVIDING HOLISTIC, PATIENT CENTERED CARE AND COMFORT TO PATIENTS AND FAMILIES. IN MARTIN SAINT LUCIE AND OKEECHOBEE COUNTIES. THIS YEAR, TREASURE COAST HOSPICE 
          [00:15:04]
CELEBRATED THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS SPECIALIZED PEDIATRIC CARE PROGRAM, LITTLE TREASURES, WHICH IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF CHILDREN AND TEENS WITH A LIFE LIMITING ILLNESS BY PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY. NOW, THEREFORE, I, CAMPBELL RICH, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF STUART, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 2024 AS HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE MONTH. AND ACCEPTING THIS PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF WHO ARE YOU ON BEHALF OF MISS COOPER? WHAT TREASURE COAST HOSPICE SHANNON COOPER IS THAT CORRECT? IT IS CORRECT. YEAH. AND THAT WAS A MOUTHFUL. I DON'T REALLY HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH TO SAY AFTER THAT TALK ABOUT IT. THAT'S A GOOD PROCLAMATION. YES. 
          I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR RECOGNIZING TREASURE COAST HOSPICE DURING THIS HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE MONTH. AS AS MR. BAGGETT SAID EARLIER, WE DO SERVE MORE THAN 4000 PATIENTS EVERY YEAR IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL NONPROFIT HOSPICE THAT WAS ACTUALLY CREATED BY VOLUNTEERS IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SO WE JUST CELEBRATED 40 YEARS. WE ARE IN MARTIN, SAINT LUCIE AND OKEECHOBEE COUNTIES. WE SERVE MORE THAN 600 PATIENTS A DAY, AND THAT'S JUST THROUGH OUR HOSPICE PROGRAM, NOT FOR A PALLIATIVE PROGRAM. SO WE HAVE FAR REACHING OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY TO REALLY CARE AND SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. EVERYONE IN THE CENTER RIGHT. OKAY. THERE WE GO. THERE YOU GO. THANK. YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU. MR. BAGGETT, THE LAST PROCLAMATION, PLEASE. EPILEPSY AWARENESS MONTH, NOVEMBER 2024. WHEREAS EPILEPSY IS A BRAIN DISORDER CHARACTERIZED BY RECURRENT AND UNPROVOKED SEIZURES THAT CAN AFFECT ANYONE AT ANY AGE, AT ANY TIME. EPILEPSY IS A SPECTRUM DISEASE COMPRISED OF MANY DIAGNOSES, EXPERIENCES AND INCLUDES A WIDE RANGE OF SEIZURE TYPES, COMORBIDITIES, CONTROL, SEVERITY, AND OUTCOMES VARYING FROM PERSON TO PERSON, AND EPILEPSY IS THE FOURTH MOST COMMON NEUROLOGICAL DISORDER. 
          APPROXIMATELY 3.4 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES LIVE WITH ACTIVE EPILEPSY. PEOPLE WITH EPILEPSY NEED TO ACCESS NEED ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE CARE, COMPREHENSIVE PHYSICIAN DIRECTED AND PERSON CENTERED HEALTH CARE. AND WHEREAS, 426,000 FLORIDIANS LIVE WITH EPILEPSY, INCLUDING 88,000 CHILDREN IN FLORIDA AND GREATER EDUCATION AND IMPROVED ACCESS TO CARE IS NEEDED IN SCHOOLS, WHICH CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED BY PASSING A SEIZURE. SAFE SCHOOLS LEGISLATION NATIONWIDE. AND WHEREAS EPILEPSY AWARENESS MONTH IS A NATIONWIDE EFFORT IN NOVEMBER OF THE EPILEPSY FOUNDATION AND EPILEPSY ALLIANCE FLORIDA TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT AND CHANGES THE CONVERSATION AROUND EPILEPSY, SEIZURES AND SIDE EFFECTS, AS WELL AS TO IMPROVE AND SAVE LIVES THROUGH CARE, ADVOCACY, RESEARCH AND NEW THERAPIES, AND PUBLIC HEALTH AND EDUCATION. NOW THEREFORE, I, CAMPBELL RICH, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF STUART, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 20TH, 24 AS EPILEPSY AWARENESS MONTH AND ACCEPTING THIS PROCLAMATION IS THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE SPECIALIST, MARIA FERNANDEZ, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY. I WORK WITH EPILEPSY ALLIANCE, FLORIDA. I USED TO BE IN PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGY. I WORK WITH A LOT OF CHILDREN AFFECTED BY NOT ONLY THE DIAGNOSIS OF EPILEPSY, BUT ALSO SEIZURE DISORDER. THIS COULD AFFECT ANYONE AT ANY AGE, AT ANY TIME. AND WE ARE A NONPROFIT AND WE'RE HERE TO HELP EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S GREAT TO WORK WITH THE CITY OF STUART. I DO TRAIN ALL THE SCHOOL MEMBERS, TEACHERS, NURSES IN YOUR COMMUNITY SO THEY WILL BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE WHEN A CHILD IS HAVING A SEIZURE. MANY TIMES IT'S NOT VERY CLEAR DIAGNOSIS. THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH MANY TESTING AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS TO BE ABLE TO KNOW THAT THE CHILD OR THE ADULT IN MANY CASES, AS I SAID, IT COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME OF A VERY CLOSE FRIEND WHO'S 70 YEARS OLD AND RIGHT NOW SHE HAS JUST BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH EPILEPSY. AND BECAUSE IT WAS LEFT UNTREATED FOR SO LONG, IT'S AFFECTED HER HEART AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT GIVING HER MUCH MORE TIME TO 
          [00:20:03]
BE ABLE TO DO THE THINGS THAT SHE REALLY SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO, BECAUSE IT WAS LEFT UNTREATED. 
          MY GOAL IS TO BE ABLE TO HELP EVERYBODY IN OUR COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM THE CARE AND TREATMENT THEY NEED. IF THERE'S SOMEONE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT DOES NOT HAVE INSURANCE OR IS NOT ABLE TO GET INTO A NEUROLOGIST, THAT'S WHERE I PLAY THE ROLE IN YOUR CITY. TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEM GET THE PROPER CARE. WE WILL PAY FOR THEIR DIAGNOSIS, THEIR TREATMENT PLAN. 
          IF THEY CAN'T AFFORD MEDICATION. WE ARE HERE TO HELP THEM. WE ARE HERE TO HELP ALL THOSE AFFECTED BECAUSE THIS DOES NOT ONLY AFFECT THE PERSON WITH A DIAGNOSIS. IT AFFECTS US ALL AS A WHOLE AND WE'RE ALL HERE TO HELP ONE ANOTHER. AND THAT'S WHY I THANK YOU ALL TODAY FOR ALLOWING US TO BRING AWARENESS INTO THE COMMUNITY. AND AGAIN, NOVEMBER IS EPILEPSY AWARENESS MONTH AND PURPLE IS OUR COLOR. SO IF ANY OF YOU WANT TO WEAR PURPLE, YOU KNOW, FOR EPILEPSY, WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN FOR THE HONOR OF BEING HERE AND BRINGING AWARENESS INTO THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. OH, HOLD ON. THANK YOU. CENTERE. 
          THANK YOU. SERVICE AWARDS. WOW. I DON'T SEE TOO MANY OF THESE. DO WE? 35 YEARS IN PUBLIC WORK. 
          [PRESENTATIONS]
WILLIAM RIKER, WRECKER. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK. I'VE ONLY GOT 50 MORE TO GO. APPARENTLY, HE WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING THAT'S FREE INTERNET. I REALLY LIKE THE WAY YOU GUYS OPENED THE MEETING TODAY. I WANT TO SAY THAT AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE THE NEW FACES UP HERE. IT'S BEEN A BLESSING WORKING WITH THE CITY FOR 35 YEARS. AND, YOU KNOW, I'M ON MY WAY TO RETIREMENT. SO HE'S HAPPY. I'M REALLY DON'T WANT TO TALK ON THIS. I'M KIND OF SICK, BUT. YEAH, IT'S JUST A BLESSING BEING HERE, WORKING HERE. AND I GOT THE BEST BOSS IN THE WORLD BACK HERE. MILTON. AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL. YOU KNOW? THANK YOU. 35 YEARS. STANDS UP LIKE A CAN. THE CENTER A LOT. AFTER 35 YEARS, HE'S DOING WHATEVER HE WANTS. YEAH. THAT'S PERFECT. TAKE CARE. CONGRATS. THAT'S GOOD. THAT'S FANTASTIC. WELL, I SAY WE DON'T SEE THAT TOO OFTEN, BUT RIGHT BEHIND HIM, 30 YEARS. UTILITIES AND ENGINEERING, JEREMIAH WALTON. UNFORTUNATELY, JEREMIAH COULDN'T BE WITH US. MAYOR. MR. WALTON IS NOT HERE AT HOME. HE'S WORKING. HE GOT THE NIGHT SHIFT AND NEVER GIVE UP. MR. NOONE. 
          BUT FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE, YOU'LL GET THERE. AND UTILITIES AND ENGINEERING. IS HE HERE THIS EVENING, ROBERT NOONE? NO, BUT I'LL SAY. NO SERVICE AWARDS. I MEAN WE DID THOSE. SORRY. 
          SANITATION FLEET OVERVIEW. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR RICH. AND COMMISSIONERS. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS ANN HAWKINS. I AM IN THE UTILITIES AND ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT. AND TONIGHT WE'RE JUST GOING TO DO A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE SANITATION FLEET. YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED ON YOUR WAY IN, WE DO HAVE A SANITATION FRONT LOADER PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT. IT IS A 2023 MODEL. IT HAS THE NEWEST GRAPHICS THAT WE TRANSITION TO. SO IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE, I DO ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE A TAKE A PEEK AT THAT. THE SANITATION TEAM IS A FULL SERVICE TEAM. THEY PROVIDE SANITATION AND RECYCLING SERVICES TO OUR RESIDENTS. 
          [00:25:04]
CURRENTLY, THERE ARE 15 MEMBERS THAT SERVE ON THREE TEAMS OF BROKEN DOWN INTO RESIDENTIAL SERVICE. COMMERCIAL SERVICE AND OUR VEGETATION. IN 2008, WE BEGAN TO PUT GRAPHICS ON THE SIDE OF OUR VEHICLES THAT EMPHASIZED SAMMY SAILFISH AND THE RECYCLING EFFORTS TO TURN GARBAGE COLLECTION INTO A RESOURCE. AND THAT RESOURCE WAS RECYCLING. SO THE PROGRAM GRAPHICS TOOK A REFRESH. AND IN 2023, WE CAME UP WITH AND YOU'LL REMEMBER THIS FROM A FEW MONTHS BACK, DON MCINTOSH'S ARTWORK WAS ACCEPTED AND AWARDED TO BE THE NEW GRAPHICS EMPHASIS. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH PITCHING IN AND KEEPING STEWART BEAUTIFUL HAS A PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR COLLECTION TEAMS AND OUR RESIDENTS ALL CONTRIBUTING AND OUR VISITORS TO KEEP OUR CITY CLEAN AND BEAUTIFUL. I WANTED TO SHOW YOU NOT JUST THE NEWEST, SHINIEST VEHICLES, BUT WHAT VEHICLES ARE IN THE FIELD ON AN EVERYDAY BASIS. GOING THROUGH SERVICING THE ROUTES. SO PRESENTLY IN SERVICE BY VEHICLE TYPE IN THE UPPER LEFT HAND CORNER YOU'LL SEE THIS VEHICLE IS AN AUTOMATIC SIDE LOADER THAT IS USED IN SERVICING OUR RESIDENTIAL ROUTE. 
          THE OLDEST VEHICLE IS A 2016. IT DOES HAVE A TWIN. AND THOSE BOTH OF THOSE VEHICLES ARE SCHEDULED TO BE REPLACED WITH THIS CURRENT BUDGET. YEAR 2025. AND THEN THE LATEST VEHICLE, THE OLDEST VEHICLE WOULD THEN BE A 2020 ON THE TOP RIGHT SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN, YOU WILL NOTICE A REAR LOAD VEHICLE. THAT IS A 2009 AND IT IS EXPECTED TO BE REPLACED ANY DAY NOW. WE EXPECT THE NEW VEHICLE TO BE COMING IN PROBABLY SOMETIME THIS MONTH. THAT WAS BUDGETED IN 2024. ON THE BOTTOM LEFT, YOU WILL SEE A ROLL OFF TRUCK THAT WAS A REPURPOSED CAB BACK IN 1986 THAT WAS REFURBISHED AND RE GRAPHICS, AND IT IS CURRENTLY IN SERVICE ALONG WITH A MATE THAT IS A 2019 MODEL. AND THEN IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT SIDE THESE TRUCKS PROBABLY MAYBE SECOND HIGHEST SHOULD WE SAY USE AND ABUSE AS FAR AS THE MATERIALS THAT GO INTO THEM AND TRYING TO KEEP THEM IN GOOD, PRISTINE CONDITION. THESE ARE GRAPPLE TRUCKS AND THEY'RE USED IN SERVICE FOR THE VEGETATION ROUTES. SO THIS IS A 2016 MODEL. AND IT IS SCHEDULED TO BE REPLACED IN FISCAL YEAR 26. AND THAT BUDGET CYCLE AND THE NEXT, THE NEXT OLDEST MODEL WOULD BE A 23 THAT WAS PUT INTO SERVICE JUST A YEAR AGO. ON THIS SCREEN, I WANTED TO SHOW YOU OUR FRONT LOADERS. OUR FRONT LOADERS ARE USED PREDOMINANTLY IN OUR COMMERCIAL SERVICE. AND YOU'LL NOTICE FROM THE SIDE PROFILE THE FORKS ARE IN THE FRONT. SO IT'S A IT'S A IT'S A LOOK THAT YOU DON'T OFTEN GET A CHANCE TO SEE. 
          BUT THE FORKS WHEN THEY'RE LIFTING UP THE CONTAINERS, THE CONTAINERS ARE GOING TO GO OVERHEAD AND GET DUMPED INTO THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, DEPENDING ON WHERE THOSE VEHICLES OR THOSE CONTAINERS ARE LOCATED, THEY CAN BE RESTAURANTS. THEY CAN BE FULL OF RAINWATER, THEY CAN BE FULL OF TORN BAGS. SO THE FRONT OF THESE VEHICLES DO TAKE A LOT OF I DON'T WANT TO SAY ABUSE, BUT I MEAN, THEY CAN BECOME SOILED PRETTY QUICKLY AND JUST IN THE NORMAL SERVICE ROUTE OF THE EVERYDAY CONTAINERS. SO IF YOU LOOK ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT HAND SIDE, THE OLDEST VEHICLE THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN SERVICE RIGHT NOW, REGULAR SERVICE IS A 29 MODEL. AND THESE REQUIRE A LITTLE BIT MORE REFURBISHING AND UPKEEP JUST BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE SERVICE. SO IN 20 FISCAL YEAR 24, WE DID HAVE MONEY IN THE BUDGET, NOT JUST FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR, BUT FOR REFURBISHMENT. SO THE TUNE OF ALMOST $200,000, WE WERE ABLE TO REFURBISH SIX DIFFERENT MODELS AND OLDER MODELS THAT THAT MIGHT INCLUDE 
          [00:30:02]
REPLACING THE FLOORS OF THESE TRUCKS. IT MIGHT BE ADDRESSING RUST, IT MIGHT BE OTHER REPAIRS OR REFURBISHMENT THAT GETS INTO THE MECHANICAL SIDE. BUT THEN WE ALSO HAVE A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO REPLACING THESE VEHICLES BASED ON AGE. SO ANYWHERE FROM 8 TO 10 YEARS, WE THEY ARE NOW THEY ARE NOW SCHEDULED FOR REPLACEMENT JUST ON AGE AND MILEAGE. BUT ALSO WE ALSO LOOK AT CRITERIA SUCH AS THEIR GENERAL OVERALL CONDITION, THEIR MAINTENANCE COST, AND THEIR OPERATIONS COST. WHEN WE SERVICE THE USING THE SIDE LOADERS, OUR RESIDENTIAL CURBSIDE, WE MAY HAVE TO EMPLOY A SPARE VEHICLE THAT MIGHT BE EIGHT OLDER THAN THE VEHICLES THAT I JUST SHOWED YOU ON A ON A ONE TIME BASIS THAT WEEK. WHILE THE REGULAR TRUCK IS IN FOR A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE OR A REPAIR, WE DO NOT EVER SKIP SERVICE. IF WE HAVE A ONCE A WEEK COLLECTION, WE ARE GOING TO BE OUT THAT WEEK COLLECTING THOSE CARTS. DEPENDING ON IF IT'S A SOLID WASTE DAY, A YARD TRASH, IF IT'S BULK OR RECYCLE. IN THE INSTANCE OF A HOLIDAY, OUR DRIVERS ARE OFF. THEY DO FOLLOW A HOLIDAY SCHEDULE AS ALL EMPLOYEES DO. HOWEVER, THE PICKUP SCHEDULE IS DELAYED BY THE NEXT DAY FOR EXAMPLE, YESTERDAY BEING VETERAN'S DAY, THAT SERVICE FOR SOLID WASTE WOULD BE WOULD OCCUR TODAY. TODAY'S NORMAL SCHEDULE WOULD OCCUR TOMORROW, AND SO ON. 
          SO BY THE END OF THE WEEK, ALL OF OUR CONTAINERS ARE PICKED UP AND OUR SCHEDULE HAS BEEN MET. 
          WE DON'T LEAVE ANYTHING FOR THE FOLLOWING WEEK. WHEN IT COMES TO COMMERCIAL SANITATION, THOSE SCHEDULES ARE BASED ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS. DEPENDING. SOME ARE EVERY DAY, SOME ARE TWICE A WEEK, THREE TIMES A WEEK. WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF CONTAINERS. THE FRONT LOAD TRUCKS DO SERVICE THAT TOP LEFT MODEL WHERE THE FORKS GO IN AND DUMP. WE ALSO EMPLOY A SIDE LOAD OPTION IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA ON THE SIDE OF THIS EIGHT YARDER THERE'S A WINDOW. SO THE WINDOW IS THE DOOR IS SLID TO THE SIDE AND THEN THE BAGS PLACED INSIDE AND THE DOOR CLOSED. THIS PARTICULAR STYLE WORKS VERY WELL IN THE DOWNTOWN ENCLOSURES BECAUSE THE TOP MODEL, THE LIDS ARE NOT LEFT OPEN. THERE ARE NO LIDS LEFT OPEN ON THE SIDE OPTION, SO THEY'RE NOT VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC, OR AS YOU'RE DRIVING BY OR PARKING NEXT TO ONE OF THE DUMPSTERS. THE COMMERCIAL RECYCLING DOES USE THE CARTS, BUT IF THEY DO HAVE LARGE GENERATION OF CARDBOARD, THEN WE DO GIVE THEM A DEDICATED DUMPSTER JUST FOR CARDBOARD. OTHERWISE THEY DO HAVE A LARGER CART THAN OUR OUR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS. OUR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS ARE PROVIDED WITH A 65 GALLON CART AND THEN COMMERCIAL AND EVENT RECYCLING INCORPORATES THE 95 GALLON CART. WE HAVE OTHER OPTIONS FOR OUR RESIDENTS BESIDES COLLECTING WASTE AT THEIR CURBSIDE OFF OF GEORGIA AVENUE. WE HAVE A SELF-SERVICE E-WASTE COLLECTION POINT THAT IS OPEN DAWN TO DUSK, WHERE OUR CUSTOMERS CAN DRIVE UP, UNLOAD E-WASTE, ELECTRONIC WASTE THAT IS, APPLIANCES OR ELECTRONIC ITEMS THAT ARE EITHER BROKEN OR REACH THE END OF THEIR USEFUL LIFE BY RECYCLING THESE ITEMS, THEY DO NOT GO TO THE LANDFILL. THEY ARE REMANUFACTURED INTO THEIR COMPONENTS AND POSSIBLY RESOLD AS COPPER OR OTHER THINGS OF VALUE, SO THAT IS AT NO CHARGE TO OUR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES AND IT IS NOT MANNED. SO IT IS ON THE HONOR SYSTEM FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES TO BRING THE NECESSARY MUSCLE TO LOAD THAT INTO THE CONTAINER ITSELF. ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY THAT WE PROVIDE OUR RESIDENTS IS THROUGH A NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP, AND ONCE A YEAR, EVERY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD HAS A CHANCE TO PUT OUT AT THEIR CURB ADDITIONAL GARBAGE THAT WE WOULD PICK UP AND NOT CHARGE THEM FOR. THAT INCLUDES BULK ITEMS. THAT INCLUDES ANY SORT OF HOUSEHOLD GARBAGE, AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE DO PARTNER WITH THE MARTIN COUNTY MOBILE. SO THE MOBILE AND 
          [00:35:01]
THE CITY VEHICLE WOULD BE PARKED IN A CENTRAL LOCATION FOR THAT RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. AND WE INVITE OUR RESIDENTS BETWEEN THE HOURS OF EIGHT AND 11 TO BRING THEIR E-WASTE AND THEIR HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE, SUCH AS THEIR PAINT CANS, BATTERIES, PESTICIDES, CLEANERS, THINGS LIKE THAT. THEY DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE OUT TO THE LANDFILL TO DISPOSE OF THE BOTTOM LEFT HAND CORNER IS A MODEL OF OUR HOME COMPOSTING PROGRAM THAT WENT INTO PLAY ABOUT TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO NOW. SO WE DO PARTNER WITH ISIS, WHICH IS THE MARTIN COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA. THEY PROVIDE A ONE HOUR HOW TO SESSION. AND IN EXCHANGE FOR THAT, WE WILL GIVE OUR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS A BACKYARD COMPOSTER TO BE USED AS LONG AS THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO SO. IN THE MIDDLE PROGRAM, A MIDDLE SLIDE IS A REPLICA OF A SIGN THAT IS POSTED FOR AN AREA AT LEAST A BLOCK LONG WHERE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN ADOPT A STREET. FOUR TIMES A YEAR, THEY'LL GO OUT AND CLEAN UP THE SWALES AND THE SIDES OF THE ROADS. MARTIN KEEP MARTIN BEAUTIFUL. WILL GIVE THEM THE SUPPLIES OF GLOVES AND BAGS, AND THE CITY WILL GO THROUGH OUR STREETS AND PICK UP THAT TRASH THAT'S BEEN COLLECTED AND DISPOSE OF IT. SO IT'S A GREAT WAY TO BE COMMUNITY MINDED AND TO GET MORE MEMBERS OF YOUR EITHER YOUR BUSINESS OR YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO PARTICIPATE IN KEEPING YOUR AREA BEAUTIFUL. AND THEN IN OUR DOWNTOWN AREA, WE HAVE GARBAGE AND RECYCLING CANS PAIRED. WE LIKE TO SAY NO CANS STANDS ALONE AND WE WANT THE COMMUNITY TO BE MINDFUL THAT WE ALL DO NEED TO PITCH IN AND KEEP OUR COMMUNITY CLEAN. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TWO CANS, YOU WILL NOTICE A RECTANGULAR, SINGLE CYLINDER SHAPED THAT IS FOR THE COLLECTION OF CIGARETTE ASH. WE DO PARTNER WITH CITIZENS FOR H2O SO THAT CIGARETTE BUTTS STAY OUT OF EVEN THE BAFFLE BOXES. BUT OUR RIVER AND WE COLLECT THE CIGARETTE ASH. IT GETS SHIPPED FREE OF CHARGE TO TERRACYCLE, WHO FOR EVERY POUND THAT IS RECYCLED OF THIS ASH AND WASTE CONTRIBUTE A DOLLAR TO THE KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL CAMPAIGN AND THEN TO THE RIGHT, WE ALSO OFFER THE PET RECEPTACLE STATIONS, AND WE ENCOURAGE AGAIN THAT ALL OWNERS BE RESPONSIBLE AND CLEAN UP AFTER THEIR PETS, ESPECIALLY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREAS NEARBY THE RIVER, HOPEFULLY ALL AREAS OF THE CITY. BUT WE LIKE TO KEEP THEM HANDY SO YOU'LL SEE THOSE PERIODICALLY PLACED THROUGHOUT EVEN OUR PARK SYSTEM. AND THEN LASTLY, WE LIKE TO SPREAD THE GOODWILL ABOUT OUR CITY AND THE BEAUTIFICATION WITH SAMMY SAILFISH. SAMMY SAILFISH WAS BROUGHT IN IN IN 2008 WITH THE RECYCLING AND THE SINGLE USE CONVERSION FROM BINS TO RECYCLING FOR THE CITY. SO SAMMY APPEARS, IT GOES, HE GOES TO SCHOOLS, HE GOES TO HOA ASSOCIATIONS, HE PARTICIPATES IN PARADES. MOST RECENTLY OWNERSHIP OF SAMMY HAS TRANSFERRED TO THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT UNDER COMMUNITY SERVICES BECAUSE HE REALLY IS MORE KNOWN AS A COMMUNITY MASCOT NOW, SO HE APPEARS AT ALL SORTS OF EVENTS. SO YOU MAY SEE SAMMY AT JUST ABOUT ANYTHING, BUT THAT'S SAMMY IS VERY WELL KNOWN, VERY WELL REGARDED, IS HUGE IN PHOTO OPS, ESPECIALLY AT THE PARADES. I DID SEE HIM AT THE VETERANS DAY PARADE. HE WAS NOT AT THE VETERANS DAY PARADE. SO THAT'S JUST OUR SANITATION PROGRAM IN AN IN A NUTSHELL. WE DO HAVE A SYSTEMATIC WE ARE CONSCIENTIOUS ABOUT REPLACEMENT. WE ARE CONSCIENTIOUS ABOUT KEEPING OUR VEHICLES CLEAN. THE DRIVERS TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN THE VEHICLE THAT THEY ARE ASSIGNED TO, THE ROUTES THAT THEY DO, THE VEHICLES WHEN THEY COME OUT OF SERVICE EACH DAY ARE WASHED BY THE DRIVER AND WE ARE EMPLOYING THE DRIVER NAMES WERE USUALLY STENCILED ON THE VEHICLES. SO AS THE DRIVERS GO THROUGH THESE NEIGHBORHOODS AND ARE COLLECTING AND EVEN THE BUSINESSES, THEY KNOW THEIR ROUTES, THEY KNOW THE PEOPLE ON THE ROUTES, THEY KNOW THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, THEY ARE ARE REALLY, TRULY COMMUNITY PARTNERS. AND THEY ARE VERY PROUD ABOUT THE VEHICLES THAT THEY DRIVE. SO THEY TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN PUTTING THEIR NAMES ON THE DOOR. SO AS WE GET THE NEWER 
          [00:40:02]
VEHICLES IN, WE DO HAVE THEIR NAMES STENCILED. SO WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF CATCHING UP WITH THAT AND GETTING THE RIGHT NAME ON THE RIGHT DOOR, BECAUSE IT MATTERS A GREAT DEAL TO THEM. 
          AND THEN LASTLY, I WILL JUST SAY WE DID HAVE A COMMENT REGARDING THE CONDITION, YOU KNOW, OF ONE OF OUR VEHICLES, BUT WITHOUT SEEING IT, I BELIEVE OUR VEHICLE WAS MISIDENTIFIED AS BELONGING TO THE CITY OF STUART, WHEN IN FACT WAS NOT ONE OF OUR VEHICLES. BUT WE WELCOME COMMENTS. IF IT IS ONE OF OUR VEHICLES, I WOULD SAY IT'S NICE TO HAVE A NEW SYSTEM IN PLACE CALLED. IT'S AN APP CALLED SEECLICKFIX, WHERE A CUSTOMER OR RESIDENT OR VISITOR COULD ACTUALLY TAKE A PICTURE AND SEND IT VIA THIS APP THAT IS ON A EITHER AN APPLE OR A GOOGLE PLATFORM AND SEND IT TO THE CITY. SO WE CAN SEE WHAT THEY SEE AND WE CAN BE RESPONSIVE TO. 
          YES, IT IS ONE OF OUR VEHICLES. NO, IT ISN'T ON ONE OF OUR VEHICLES, BUT ADDRESS A SITUATION A LOT MORE QUICKLY AND PROBABLY ACCURATELY WITH THAT SYSTEM. SO IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT I PRESENTED TODAY, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE. OTHERWISE, I HAVE PROVIDED THE SANITATION MANAGER'S CONTACT INFORMATION IN MY OWN. DO YOU HAVE ANY FOLLOW UP THE E-WASTE PROGRAM? YES, I KNOW THAT LIKE A WEEK PRIOR TO THEM SHOWING UP, WE'LL PUT A SIGN, YOU KNOW, IN THE LOT WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE, RIGHT? CORRECT. AND DO WE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL NOTIFICATION IN THE WATER BILL OR. WE DON'T COMPLAIN TO ME OFTEN THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE THAT THAT THAT THEY DON'T AWARE OUR BEST NOTIFICATION ARE THE BANNERS THAT GO UP AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE PARTICIPATING NEIGHBORHOODS. WE HAVE THE CITY'S EMAIL IF THEY SUBSCRIBE. 
          THAT ALSO INDICATES WHICH NEIGHBORHOODS ARE GOING TO BE PARTICIPATING. WE ALSO PUT IT OUT ON STEWART LIFE. OKAY, I BELIEVE THOSE ARE THE THREE. WE DO THE BEST WE CAN, RIGHT? IT'S A CONSTANT PROBLEM CHALLENGE. WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON A WITH THE EMAIL LIST, A PROGRAM TO WHERE WE CAN SORT IT BY STREET NAME OR WHATEVER. SO IN THE FUTURE WE CAN SEND A SPECIFIC EMAIL OUT TO EACH NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S PARTICIPATING AS IT'S COMING FORWARD. OKAY. BECAUSE, I MEAN, THESE ARE SOME OF THE MOST TOXIC MATERIALS ANY HOUSEHOLD POSSESSES. YES. SO THE MORE EFFECTIVE WE ARE, WE ALL BENEFI. HOW DO WE MEASURE THE DO WE WEIGH ALL THE MATERIAL WE GET? I'M JUST WONDERING WE DO ARE WE DOING BETTER AND BETTER OR LESS AND LESS OR SO. TWO DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. THE HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE IS MEASURED AND WEIGHED AND AS WELL AS THE E-WASTE, WE DO MEASURE THAT BY IN TERMS OF BOXES OF GAYLORDS EVERY OTHER MONTH, I WOULD SAY WE HAVE A PICKUP OF ABOUT 16 GAYLORDS A GAYLORD WOULD BE EQUIVALENT TO MAYBE A SIX YARD DUMPSTER FULL OF E-WASTE THAT IS BEING DIVERTED FROM. SO YOU CAN IMAGINE 16 TO 20 OF THOSE EVERY OTHER MONTH. RIGHT? SO OUR ELECTRONIC SYSTEM, THE DISPOSAL, IF WE CAN KEEP EVEN A PORTION OF THAT OUT OF OUR LANDFILL, WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB. DO WE PROVIDE E-WASTE DISPOSAL FOR BUSINESS? FOR COMMERCIAL? YES. OUR OUR BUSINESSES ARE WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE WITH THE DROP OFF PROGRAM. SO THEY HAVE TO GO TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, KNOW THEY WILL THEY WOULD GO TO THE E-WASTE CONTAINER ON GEORGIA AVENUE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT, MR. MAYOR, COMMISSIONER CLARK. YES. THANK YOU. SO THAT'S AT THE GEORGIA AVENUE SITE, AS WELL AS THE WEEKEND NEIGHBORHOOD THINGS. 
          YES, COMMISSIONER. AND PLUS THE COMMERCIAL WITH THEIR E-WASTE. YES. THAT'S WHAT ADDS UP TO THOSE SIX LOADS. THE EVERY OTHER MONTH, E-WASTE PICKUP WOULD JUST BE WHAT'S COMING OUT OF THE SELF-SERVE CONTAINER ON GEORGIA AVENUE. WE DO HAVE ADDITIONAL COLLECTION WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP THAT THE MEN WILL COME BACK AND PUT IN THOSE GAYLORDS. OKAY, CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP IN TERMS OF THOSE SATURDAY MORNINGS WHEN VARIOUS GROUPS VOLUNTEER TO DO PARTICULAR PLACES, AS WELL AS THE ADOPT A ROAD CLEANUP TO YES. SO THE NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUPS WE SPONSORED THAT WITH THE CITY SPONSORS THAT OUR TRUCKS GO CURBSIDE TO THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS AND PICK UP THE ADOPTED STREET CLEANUPS THAT WE HAVE PARTICIPATED WITH OUR INDIVIDUAL GROUPS THAT MAY JOIN FORCES AND DO CONSECUTIVE STREETS IN A PARTICULAR AREA. AND THOSE VOLUNTEERS WILL COME IN, THEY'LL PICK UP THE AREA, BAG IT, AND THEN BRING IT BACK TO OUR DUMPSTER WHEREVER THE HOME BASE IS. SOMETIMES IT'S AT THE EAST 
          [00:45:02]
STEWART COMMUNITY CENTER, OTHER TIMES, IF IT'S JUST ALONG A STREET, THEY WILL NOTIFY US AND WE WILL GO ALONG AND PICK UP THOSE BAGS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO, YOU KNOW, DRAG THOSE BIG BAG FULLS BACK TO A DUMPSTER. SO THEY WILL PUT THEM NEXT TO THE STREET AND OUR TRUCKS WILL GO BY AND PICK THOSE UP AND DISPOSE OF THEM. BUT THERE'S PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR CLEANUPS. AND ADOPT A STREET PROGRAMS IF SOMEBODY IS INTERESTED IN ACTUALLY ADOPTING A STREET, THEY WOULD CONTACT THE KEEP MARTIN BEAUTIFUL, WHO ADMINISTERS THE PAPERWORK. PART OF IT FOR US. AND THEN MILTON'S TEAM DOES. ONCE THE STREET IS ADOPTED, HE GOES OUT AND PUTS THEIR NAME UP ON THE SIGN. SO HE COORDINATES THE SIGN POSTINGS FOR THAT. THANK YOU. AND ARE ALL THE TRUCKS? THEY ARE ALL COVERED WITH ARTWORK NOW. ARE YOU STILL HAVE. WE CURRENTLY HAVE SIX. SO WE JUST TOOK DELIVERY OF THE ONE TRUCK AND THAT WILL BE GOING FOR DECALS. THE NEXT STEP UP IS OF CONFUSION CORNER AND CAPTAIN ADAMS, SO THAT WILL MAKE THE SEVENTH TRUCK. WE EXPECT THE OTHER TRUCK TO COME IN THIS LATER THIS MONTH. THAT WILL BE EIGHT AND THEN TWO MORE THIS FISCAL YEAR WILL BRING OUR TOTAL UP TO TEN. FISCAL YEAR 26 SHOULD BE THE LAST TWO. WE USUALLY HAVE 12 REGULARLY ACTIVE TRUCKS IN PLAY, SO THAT WILL HAVE ALL OF THEM WITH THE NEW GRAPHICS PROGRAM. THEN IT WOULD JUST BE OUR SPARES THAT WOULD HAVE THE OLD DECALS ON THEM UNTIL THEY'RE NO LONGER USED AS SPARES. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THE ART WAS PROVIDED BY WHOM? MR. DONALD MCINTOSH. HE PROVIDED. YES. TO GIVE HIM CREDIT. HE DID A TERRIFIC JOB. 
          I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY I THINK SANITATION DOES A GREAT JOB. 
          ANYTIME I'VE EVER HAD AN ISSUE, WHETHER IT'S PERSONAL OR WITH THE BUSINESS, ANY TIME I'VE CALLED, THEY'VE ALWAYS COME OUT AND TAKEN CARE OF IT. AND I FEEL AS IF OUR VEHICLES ARE VERY CLEAN AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. COMMENTS BY CITY 
          [COMMENTS BY CITY COMMISSIONERS]
COMMISSIONERS. COMMISSIONER REED, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS THIS EVENING? SURE. I'LL KEEP IT SIMPLE. I DID ATTEND THE VETERANS DAY PARADE. I WAS ON EAST OCEAN WITH MY CONSTITUENTS. 
          I DID SEE YOU GUYS GO BY ON THE TRAM, THOUGH WHILE I WAS STANDING THERE. I ALSO WANT TO SAY FOR ANYONE THAT'S NEVER GONE TO THE AIR SHOW ON A FRIDAY NIGHT, THIS IS MY THIRD YEAR IN A ROW. IT WAS AMAZING. WHOEVER DOES THE FIREWORKS THERE, I'D BE CURIOUS WHO DOES THE FIREWORKS IN DOWNTOWN BECAUSE IT WAS AWESOME. I ALSO WANT TO SAY, JIM, FOR ANYONE THAT WAS THERE THAT NIGHT, HE REALLY KNOWS HOW TO PLAY SOME MUSIC. I KNOW BEN WAS THERE. I SAW LEE THERE, BUT YES, HE REALLY KEPT THE PARTY GOING DURING THAT. AND THAT'S ALL FOR NOW. THAT'S JIM PETROVSKI, COMMUNITY AFFAIRS DIRECTOR. YES, JIM CHARLESTON. COMMISSIONER JORDAN. YES. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. AS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT BE AWARE, MY DAUGHTER HAD EMERGENCY SURGERY SEVERAL WEEKS AGO WHEN I WAS IN CONNECTICUT. DURING THAT TIME. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF FOR THEIR CONCERN AND THEIR ASSISTANCE DURING MY FAMILY EMERGENCY. I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL OF THOSE IN STUART AND THE SURROUNDING AREA WHO REACHED OUT TO ME FOR PRAYERS AND SPEEDY RECOVERY FOR MY DAUGHTER. I WANT TO ADDRESS ALL OF THE NEGATIVE ITEMS THAT, MINUS ONE COMMISSION MEETING DUE TO A FAMILY EMERGENCY. WERE WERE SAID BOTH ON PUBLIC SOCIAL MEDIA AND RIGHT HERE IN THE CHAMBERS. I WANT TO ADDRESS FIRST THE NEGATIVE STATEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN STATED IN THE FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS RECENT OPINION PIECE. FIRST, I WANT TO SAY I AGREE WITH MR. KEMP. ANY ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO SAY WHATEVER ONE WANTS ABOUT ANYONE, BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT THE RIGHT THING TO DO. AND THE WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. TO DATE, I'VE IGNORED MR. PENNY'S OPINIONS OF ME, SINCE I WOULD HAVE TO VALUE HIS OPINION, WHICH I DO NOT. FOR THAT THAT MEANS NOTHING OR ANYTHING TO ME. BUT HE RECENTLY SKATED THE LINE. A FINE LINE OF LIBEL AND SLANDER, AND THAT I WILL NOT IGNORE. WHILE I WAS AWAY, I WAS SIGNED ON TO ONE PLATFORM BY THE STAFF FOR AN INITIAL MEETING. DUE TO SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES IN THE STAFF. ASKED ME TO SWITCH TO ANOTHER PLATFORM, WHICH I DID WHILE STAYING ON THE INITIAL PLATFORM IN AUDIO ONLY DUE TO TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES THAT I HAD AT MY LOCATION, I THOUGHT IT BEST TO SIGN OFF THE INITIAL PLATFORM AND REMAIN ON THE SECONDARY PLATFORM FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE ZIP, WHICH I DID. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT MR. PENNY UPDATE HIS CONTACTS AT CITY HALL, SO IN THE FUTURE HE CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THE FULL STORY. I FIND IT IRONIC THAT A PAST COMMISSIONER BROUGHT 
          [00:50:02]
UP MAKING STAFF JUMP THROUGH HOOPS WHEN HE HAD TO RESIGN UNDER ISSUES INVOLVING A CITY EMPLOYEE AND A CURRENT COMMISSIONER WHO WENT INTO A RANT AND RAGE ABOUT A COMMISSIONER DEMORALIZING AN EMPLOYEE WHEN THAT CURRENT COMMISSIONER WAS DEMOTED FOR DISPARAGING REMARKS ABOUT OUR MEN IN BLUE. WORD OF CAUTION TO ALL OF US. WE ALL LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES. BE NOT SO QUICK TO TOSS A STONE. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER CLARKE. OKAY, I DIDN'T GET TO GO TO THE VETERANS DAY, BUT I DID GO TO THE AIR SHOW, AND IT WAS VERY GOOD. NOT JUST THE IDEA OF THE HOW THE FIREWORKS WENT, BUT THEY SHOWED SOME IMAGES OF STEWART DURING THE TIME, AND IT REALLY MADE YOU FEEL THAT COMMUNITY, FEEL THAT HOMETOWN FEEL. AND I THINK THAT THAT WAS THAT WAS A GOOD THING TO, TO HAVE. AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK. BEN HOGGART, VERY GOOD WORK WITH YOU IN THE COMMITTEE AND ALL THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED. I KNOW THAT THE SOROPTIMIST WOMAN ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE IN THE AIR SHOW. EVERY YEAR. THEY DO HELP WITH THE COMMUNITY EVENTS, SO IT'S A GOOD THING I WANTED TO AFTER I LISTENED, ESPECIALLY TO THE WOMAN TALK ABOUT THE CAREER RESOURCES. I'M NOT SURE AS TO THE LINKS ON OUR WEBSITE, MR. CITY MANAGER, AND MAYBE IF THE COUNTY HAS SUCH A THING. BUT IF THERE'S SOME WAY THAT WE COULD LOOK INTO DOING MORE, I GUESS A LINK TO COMMUNITY SERVICES, MAYBE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE UNITED WAY OR OTHER PEOPLE MAY HAVE A QUICK LINK LIKE TO HOPE AND TO OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT. WE CAN'T COVER EVERYBODY, OF COURSE, BUT IF THERE'S SOMETHING TO SEND SOME PEOPLE TO SOME COMMUNITY SERVICES, I THINK THAT WOULD BE GOOD BECAUSE I LISTENED WITH THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM. I THINK THAT'S A THAT'S A GOOD THING. CHRISTMAS IS COMING UP, AND I KNOW THAT USUALLY WE EITHER PLAN TOO LATE OR NEVER DO OR SOMETIMES DO THE CAROLING WITH OUR STAFF. AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN SHOW SOME INTEREST IN THAT. IT REALLY HELPS WITH OUR COMMUNITY SPIRIT AND I KNOW THE PARADE, I THINK, IS ON THE SIXTH OR SO OF DECEMBER, BUT WHEN WE HAVE OUR EVENT ONE EVENING, I HOPE THAT WE'LL GO AROUND AND DO THE NURSING HOMES AND SOME OTHER PLACES. MAYBE THE HOSPITAL, AND IF WE COULD DO THAT AND, AND REALLY PARTICIPATE AND USE OUR STAFF TO HELP BRING SOME CHEER, I THINK THAT WOULD BE GOOD. TYPICALLY, I DON'T TRY TO ADDRESS THEM TO BE TOO COMBATIVE, BUT I KNOW THAT YOU JUST SAID SOMETHING AND I'M SURE THAT YOU WERE REFERRING TO MYSELF. I THINK WHAT I WAS REFERRING TO WAS THE EVENING OF THE 12TH, WHEN WE ACTUALLY AND EVERYBODY CAN SEE THE REPORT. AND I JUST THOUGHT THAT MAYBE, PROBABLY ALL OF OUR DECOR, MAYBE I WOULDN'T SAY JUST ONE PERSON AND THAT WAS ABOUT DECORUM AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE GOOD DECORUM AT OUR MEETINGS AND IF THERE'S ANY HURT FEELINGS OR ANYTHING, ESPECIALLY FOR COMMISSIONER COLLINS, BECAUSE I DIDN'T REFER TO YOUR NAME, BUT I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO. I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT I STILL THINK THAT ALL OF US STILL NEED TO HEED. AND I WOULD THAT THAT'S IT. I THINK THAT I IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO, I THINK THAT THAT WAS THE REFERENCE AND IT WASN'T DIRECTLY DISPARAGING ON ANY PARTICULAR PERSON. BUT I KNOW THAT I DEFINITELY NOTICED. AND MR. COLLINS JUST NODDED HIS HEAD BECAUSE HE HAD A LOT OF COMMENTS ON THAT DAY. AND I THINK THAT ALL OF US FELT LIKE THE DISCUSSION BACK AND FORTH WAS SOMETHING THAT PROBABLY COULD HAVE BEEN DONE IN A DIFFERENT MANNER FOR THAT TYPE OF DISCUSSION. SO THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CLARK. COMMISSIONER COLLINS YES. SO I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE AT THE MARTIN COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING TODAY, AT LEAST WHILE THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT BRIGHT LINE, BECAUSE I WAS CURIOUS HOW THAT WOULD GO. AND I WAS DISAPPOINTED, BUT NOT SURPRISED THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WOULD RUSH THE BRIGHT LINE ITEM THROUGH BEFORE OUR NEWLY ELECTED COMMISSIONERS ARE SEATED ON TUESDAY. AS COMMISSIONER HEATHERINGTON ALSO MENTIONED, SHE WAS UNAWARE THAT IT WOULD EVEN BE ON THE AGENDA. 
          SHE DIDN'T FIND THAT OUT UNTIL THURSDAY, BUT NEVERTHELESS, OUR MARTIN COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS VOTED FIVE ZERO TO COMPLETELY CHANGE THE 2018 SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, 
          [00:55:01]
EFFECTIVELY LETTING BRIGHT LINE OFF THE HOOK FOR PAYING 50% OF THE COST OF THEIR STATION AND HAMSTRINGING OUR INCOMING COMMISSIONERS AND THEIR ABILITY TO NEGOTIATE A BETTER DEAL FOR TAXPAYERS. SO AS IT STANDS, TAXPAYERS WILL BE FUNDING 100% OF THE COST OF THE BRIGHT LINE STATION, SPLIT UP BETWEEN THE COUNTY PAYING 15 UP TO 15 MILLION AND THE REST COMING FROM TAXPAYERS AT LARGE THROUGH GRANTS. BUT THE BRIGHT SIDE OF THIS IS IF YOU ARE A CITY RESIDENT, THIS COMMISSION SAVED, WORKED HARD, ARGUED, BROKE MUCH DECORUM. BUT SAVED YOU $30 MILLION. THAT CAN BE REINVESTED BACK INTO OUR COMMUNITY. AND IF YOU ARE VERY MUCH PRO BRIGHT LINE AND A BRIGHT LINE STATION, IT APPEARS THAT WHATEVER THE NAME OF IT, MARTIN COUNTY OR STUART, YOU WILL BE LOOKING AT A DOWNTOWN BRIGHT LINE STATION. SO WITH THAT, I'M VERY MUCH HAPPY TO SEE THAT WE'LL HAVE THAT 30 MILLION TO INVEST INTO OUR COMMUNITY INSTEAD OF GOING INTO BRIGHT LINES POCKETS. SO WITH THAT, THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU. WE'VE HAD A VERY IN THE MEETINGS RECENTLY. I'VE HEARD QUITE A FEW COMMENTS FROM OUR RESIDENTS ABOUT THIS THAT COMMISSIONERS ARE GETTING UP AND DOWN AND LEAVING THE MEETING AND TAKING MR. BAGGETT OUT OF THE MEETING, AND THEY'VE MADE SOME I'M, I FEEL ARE UNWARRANTED ASPERSIONS ABOUT THE BEHAVIOR. 
          AND THAT CONDUCT, ESPECIALLY WITH REGARD TO WHAT ROLE MR. BAGGETT MAY BE PLAYING. AND I KNOW THAT NOT BE THE CASE AT ALL. SO THE SIMPLE SOLUTION TO THAT IS IF A COMMISSIONER FEELS THE NEED TO LEAVE THE MEETING WHEN PEOPLE ARE SPEAKING, THEY SOME PEOPLE TAKE OFFENSE THAT WHEN THEY'RE UP MAKING A PRESENTATION, A COMMISSIONER LEAVES, THEY TAKE IT AS AN AFFRONT, WHICH IT'S NOT UP TO US TO SAY WHETHER THAT'S WARRANTED OR NOT. BUT IF YOU FEEL THE NEED, SIMPLY ASK FOR MY ATTENTION AND WE WILL ADJOURN THE MEETING FOR THAT TIME. SO THAT ALL THE RESIDENTS AND ALL THOSE IN ATTENDANCE AND ALL THE APPLICANTS WILL HAVE THE ATTENTION OF ALL THE COMMISSIONERS, WHICH IS ONLY FAIR. AND TO BE HONEST, I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHY YOU HAVE TO TAKE MR. BAGGETT OUT OF THE MEETING. WE'RE HERE TO SPEAK TO THE PUBLIC. I DON'T KNOW WHAT QUESTION YOU WOULD BE ASKING HIM THAT YOU COULDN'T ASK IN FRONT OF THE PUBLIC, BUT NONETHELESS, IF YOU FEEL THE NEED TO DO THAT, WE CERTAINLY WE WILL ADJOURN NOW TO ACCOMMODATE THIS IF YOU WANT TO. AND I'M ASKING THIS QUESTION, DO YOU WANT TO TAKE A RECESS EVERY 2.5 HOURS OR FOR DO YOU THINK THAT WOULD HELP? WE COULD GO FASTER. I MEAN, IF YOU'RE ASKING ME FOR INPUT, IF YOU'RE ASKING ME FOR INPUT, I THINK THIS IS A BIT RIDICULOUS. 
          IF ONE OF US WANTS TO GRAB OUR CITY ATTORNEY AND ASK HIM A QUESTION, I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE A BIG DEAL TO TAKE HIM ASIDE. IT HAPPENS AT THE COUNTY. IT HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, SCHOOL BOARD. THIS IS NOT A BIG DEAL. AND I DON'T WANT TO BE TOO HARD ON YOU, BUT IT'S TO ME, A LITTLE BIT TOTALITARIAN. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT AT NIGHT. THAT'S WHAT TOTALITARIAN FROM YOU. THAT YOU WOULD STOP THE MEETING ANYTIME. WE NEED TO HAVE AN ASIDE. NO, NO, IT'S. NO, IT'S ACCOMMODATING. YOUR ONE OF US NEEDS TO USE THE RESTROOM OR SOMETHING. YOU KNOW, IT SHOULDN'T BE THIS BIG OF A DEAL. IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL. THE MEETING EVERY TIME. IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL TO ADJOURN THE MEETING TEMPORARILY FOR A FEW MINUTES. SURE. DO YOU HAVE ANY FEELINGS ON THAT? AS MAYOR, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT, I GUESS, TO DO THAT. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE ATTORNEY A QUESTION. I DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE THE ROOM. IS IT AGAINST OR OUT OF ORDER WITH ROBERT'S RULES FOR COMMISSIONER TO ASK THE ATTORNEY TO STEP INTO ANOTHER ROOM FOR A QUESTION, I CAN REVIEW ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S EVEN IN THERE. BUT I IT WOULD BE MORE IN OUR RULES OF DECORUM THAT HAVE BEEN ADOPTED BY PRIOR COMMISSIONS. AND IT'S NOT. SO IT'S NOT REALLY ADDRESSED IN THERE. SO IT'S YOUR IDEA. WELL, IT'S BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE I SPEAK TO HAVE BROUGHT IT UP AND SAID THEY DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON THERE. AND, YOU KNOW, THEY FEEL THEY CERTAINLY FEEL THAT MR. BAGGETT SHOULD BE PRESENT TO HEAR ALL MATTERS UNDER DISCUSSION BY THE PUBLIC, AND THAT BECAUSE WHO KNOWS? YOU KNOW, WHEN HE'S OUT, WHO KNOWS WHAT IS SAID. IT MAY BE VERY RELEVANT TO HIS AREA OR NOT. WE DON'T KNOW. BUT THAT'S WHY. 
          [01:00:03]
WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE BREAKS MORE REGULARLY ON A PERIODIC BASIS IN ORDER TO. I JUST FEEL WE'RE ALL ADULTS IN HAVING TO ASK TO GO TO THE LADIES ROOM. IT'S NOT THAT, IT'S JUST EXACTLY. I MEAN, SOME OF THESE MEETINGS HAVE GONE SIX AND SEVEN HOURS NOW, AND THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING MEETINGS HAVE GONE THAT LONG. THERE USUALLY IS A BREAK SO THAT WE CAN GO TO THE RESTROOM. BUT BUT HAVING TO ASK FOR PERMISSION TO GO TO THE RESTROOM. NO, NO, YOU'RE NOT ASKING. YOU'RE JUST ASKING FOR AN ADJOURNMENT, A TEMPORARY ADJOURNMENT. OKAY. WE'LL SEE HOW 
          [COMMENTS BY CITY MANAGER]
IT GOES. THAT'S MY ONLY COMMENT. COMMENTS BY CITY MANAGER MR. MARTELL. VERY BRIEFLY, LET ME JUST PULL UP MY NOTES. I ACTUALLY WANTED TO COMMENT FIRST THAT WE HAVE A ZONING IN PROGRESS WORKSHOP SCHEDULED FOR NEXT THURSDAY AT 9 A.M. NOVEMBER 22ND, WHICH WE WILL BE GOING OVER CHAPTER THREE, WHICH IS THE URBAN CODES. I WANT TO MENTION THAT FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15TH IS THE TREASURE COAST LEAGUE OF CITIES ELECTED OFFICIALS WORKSHOP AT THE INDIAN RIVER STATE COLLEGE CAMPUS, AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY'S GOING, BUT I'VE HEARD IT'S PRETTY GOOD. 
          AND LASTLY, I WAS GOING TO COMMENT ON THE SANITATION OVERVIEW AND WANTED TO THANK YOU. ANNE, FOR DOING THE PRESENTATION. AND IT IT AROSE FROM THE JOINT MEETING IN WHICH A LADY AND SCHOONER OAKS HAD SEEN TRUCKS. SHE DESCRIBED AS THE CITY OF STUART TRUCKS AND SCHOONER OAKS, AND SAID THAT THEY NEEDED MAINTENANCE AND DIDN'T LOOK THAT GREAT, AND SHE WANTED US TO UPDATE THEM SO THAT THEY COULD REFLECT THE QUALITY OF WASTE MANAGEMENT. TRUCKS. AND IT WAS CLEARLY NOT THE CITY TRUCKS, BECAUSE WE'VE NEVER BEEN IN SCHOONER OAKS, BUT IT WAS ALSO SOUTH OF PORT SALERNO, SO IT WOULD BE OUTSIDE OF OUR JURISDICTION. BUT ON TOP OF THAT, AFTER THAT MEETING, I WANTED TO CLARIFY WITH HER, BUT THEN IT OCCURRED TO US THAT WE ACTUALLY TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN OUR TRUCKS BECAUSE THEY'RE ACTUALLY BEAUTIFUL AND THEY, THEY, THEY, THEY HOLD IT TO A HIGHER STANDARD. AND SO I'M HAPPY YOU'RE ABLE TO DO THE PRESENTATION AND PUT THE TRUCK OUT HERE FOR ALL TO SEE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. YES. 
          CAN I ADDRESS THE CITY MANAGER? YOU CERTAINLY MAY. OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW, MIKE, THAT I WILL BE ATTENDING THAT CONFERENCE ON FRIDAY. OH, GOOD. YES. MIKE, DID YOU SAY. DID YOU SAY THE 22ND FOR THE ZONING IN PROGRESS? THE 19TH. SORRY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M LOOKING OUT FOR YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU. I HAD THE WRONG DATE. WE ALL AGREED. AND I THINK SEVERAL 
          [APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
OF US HAVE SIGNED UP FOR THE IRS THING. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. MOVE APPROVAL. SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLARK AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COLLIN. 
          AND THE PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING THAT. IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR? HI. HI. HI. DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS 
          [COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC (Non-Agenda Related) (3 Minutes Max.)]
FROM THE PUBLIC ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS? MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY GREEN CARDS? I DO, MAX STUCKEY. IS THIS A NON AGENDA ITEM? £0.03 AND D WE DON'T DO PUBLIC. OKAY. MR. MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF, THIS IS I'M SPEAKING AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW. I KNOW THERE'S AN AGENDA ITEM LATER, BUT AND THAT'S SORT OF MY TOPIC. BUT I'VE LIVED IN STUART SINCE 1956 AND I'VE BEEN TRYING FOR OVER TEN YEARS TO GET WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA AS NUMBER 15. BUT I'M SPEAKING FROM MY HEART HERE. I KNOW THERE'S PEOPLE OBJECTING TO MY IDEA FOR A FULL TIME ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY TO WORK ON SAVING AND RESTORING THE SAINT LUCIE RIVER, AND BASICALLY ARE SAYING IT WON'T WORK. WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT COULD BE UNTIL WE HAVE SOMEONE WORKING FULL TIME TO FIND THE BEST WAY TO SUCCEED AT CLEANING UP THE RIVER. I HAVE 100% PROOF OF WHAT WILL NOT WOR, AND THAT IS EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE FOR THE LAST 90 YEARS. THE RIVER IS JUST AS POISONED AND DIRTY AS IT ALWAYS BEEN, AND GETTING WORSE EVERY TIME. AND LOATHSOME WILL NOT CHANGE THAT. IF YOU'RE TAKING ADVICE FROM THOSE WHO SAY WE CANNOT SUCCEED, WHAT ELSE CAN THEY SAY? THEY HAVE FAILED. THE PEOPLE OF STUART CANNOT AFFORD TO FAIL, AND WE HAVE TO DEVOTE A FULL TIME EFFORT TO RESTORE STUART'S GREATEST ASSET, WHICH HAS BECOME ITS GREATEST HEALTH HAZARD AND A THREAT TO PROPERTY VALUES. JUST SAYING. JUST FOR THE COMMISSION COMING OUT AND SAYING WE'RE GOING TO FIX THIS NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES, WILL STIMULATE THE LOCAL ECONOMY. I KNOW MANY PEOPLE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS WHO HAVE LEFT STUART BECAUSE THEY'VE GIVEN UP ON THE RIVER. WE CANNOT EVER GIVE UP. AND THIS IS A VERY SMALL 
          [01:05:05]
INVESTMENT FOR A HUGE RETURN. THIS WILL NOT COST MONEY. THIS WILL RETURN HUGE PROFITS IN PROPERTY VALUES, TOURISM AND QUALITY OF LIFE. WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THIS. THE BEST THING WE COULD DO IS WARN PEOPLE NOT TO COME TO STUART. I ALREADY TOLD MY OWN CHILDREN NOT TO COME BACK HERE BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID OF THE RIVER. IF WE DO THIS AND WE SUCCEED, MAYBE SOME OF MY GRANDCHILDREN CAN COME BACK IF WE DO THE RIGHT THING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WITH THAT, I WANTED TO INTRODUCE MR. PARSONS, WHO WAS SENT TO ME BY AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSOR AT FLORIDA STATE. I WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT THE TYPE OF ATTORNEY I AM LOOKING FOR REALLY DOES EXIST, AND HE'LL BE OUR FIRST APPLICANT. BOBBY PARSONS. I WANTED TO INTRODUCE MYSELF FORMALLY. BOBBY PARSONS AND WELCOME ANY KIND OF COMMUNICATIONS. YOU GUYS, OR ANY QUESTIONS YOU GUYS MIGHT HAVE REGARDING WHAT I ENVISION THIS POSITION TO BE? I DID COME INTO CONTACT THROUGH WITH MACK THROUGH OUR UNIVERSITY. I HAD REACHED OUT TO ONE OF MY FORMER PROFESSORS LOOKING FOR THIS TYPE OF JOB, AND HONESTLY, THIS WOULD BE A DREAM POSITION FOR SOMEBODY LIKE ME AND I DO LOOK FORWARD TO APPLYING TO IT ONCE YOU GUYS MAKE A DECISION. THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. OKAY, IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, WE DON'T NORMALLY DURING THE D AND D ALLOW PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT I DON'T SEE ANY PROBLEM WITH ALLOWING THAT THIS EVENING TO YOU WHEN WE GET TO THAT ITEM. OKAY. SO IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK REGARDING THE POSITION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY, IF WILL HOLD YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT UNTIL WE GET TO THAT ITEM 15. THANK YOU. MARY. ANY OTHER ELLEN MCBRIDE. ELLEN MCBRIDE FROM FLAMINGO AVENUE. AS I'VE SAID MANY TIMES, I'VE BEEN COMING TO THESE MEETINGS OVER 40 SOME ODD YEARS. AND IF WE WERE THE FIRST ONE WAS OVER THE FIREHOUSE OUT FRONT. BUT IT WAS ALWAYS A VERY FRIENDLY, CORDIAL MEETINGS. AND WHAT IS GOING ON NOW IS WRONG. 
          AND AT THE LAST MEETING, THE GENTLEMAN THAT GOT UP AT THE END OF THE MEETING AND RANTING IN MY OPINION, RAMPING AND RAGING AND CARRYING ON AND SAYING GET RID OF THE THREE ELECTED OFFICIALS BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE. AND I HAD DEAR FRIENDS THAT HAVE LOST ELECTIONS AND RUN FOR ELECTIONS. BUT WHOEVER, EVEN IN THIS LAST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, WHEN THE PEOPLE SPEAK, WE ALL BACK THE CANDIDATE. AND WOULD IT WAS REALLY HURTFUL WHEN I CAME TO THE MEET AND SAW A COMMISSIONERS CHAIR EMPTIED. I MADE INQUIRIES AND I FOUND OUT SHE HAD THE MOST TO ME AS A MOTHER. HORRIBLE PHONE CALL IN HER LIFE WHEN SHE GOT A PHONE CALL THAT HER CHILD NEEDED EMERGENCY SURGERY AND ANY MOTHER, ANY FATHER WOULD IMMEDIATELY DROP WHATEVER THEY'RE DOING AND FLY TO WHEREVER THEY HAD TO FLY TO BE WITH THEIR CHILD. AND FOR MANY YEARS NOW, AND. YOU YOU ALWAYS LET US KNOW IF YOU KNEW AHEAD, LIKE WHEN YOU WERE GOING TO GERMANY TO VISIT THAT BRAVE SON WHO'S FIGHTING FOR OUR COUNTRY. ONE COMMISSIONER, IT WAS HIS 25TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY, SO THEY WERE GONE. AND I DON'T BLAME HIM. I WAS HIS WIFE. HE BETTER TAKE IT OFF. BUT. WE HAVE MY OPINION. IS WHEN. AND I DON'T KNOW, MR. BAGGETT. I DON'T WANT TO TAKE YOUR JOB, BUT WOULDN'T IT BE BEST IF WHEN THE CITY CLERK DID ROLL CALL AND SHE NAMED EACH COMMISSIONER? AND WHEN SHE CAME TO COMMISSIONER JONES, SHE COULD SAY, ABSENT WITH EXCUSE ABSENT OR SOME SOME FORMAL. YOU DON'T HAVE TO GIVE THE LIFE HISTORY OF THAT, BUT LET'S BRING IT BACK INSTEAD OF. 
          [01:11:28]
THIS A STORY WE ALL SPEAK, WE ALL GO TO THE WELL. MAYBE WE ALL VISIT EACH OTHER'S CHURCHES. WE DO THINGS TOGETHER. THIS IS A GREAT ORGANIZATION RIGHT HERE. I WAS WITH THE HOSPICE WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED. THOSE SIX WOMEN WHO STARTED HOSPICE, I VOLUNTEERED. THIS IS STUART. 
          WE'RE A FRIENDLY AND I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE TRYING TO TELL YOU WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO DO IT. BUT DON'T LISTEN TO THEM. LISTEN TO WELL, NO, YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO THEM, BUT LISTEN TO EVERYONE AND DO WHAT YOU THINK IS BEST. AND AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. I'VE BEEN GOING. I MY BACK HAS GOT MORE KNIVES IN IT THAN ANYBODY. I THINK IN DETROIT. BUT YOU JUST GOT TO TOUGHEN UP AND DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE PEOPLE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS MCBRIDE. THANK YOU. HELEN. MARIE KENNEDY. SO. I'M MARIE KENNEDY, SOROPTIMIST. I THINK DOCTOR SEARLE AND THE PROCLAMATION SAID IT ALL VERY, VERY WELL. I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT BY SUPPORTING SOROPTIMIST OF STUART AND OUR MISSION TO HELP WOMEN AND GIRLS OVERCOME OBSTACLES TO EDUCATION, YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING THAT WILL ENHANCE YOUR COMMUNITY. AS PEOPLE HAVE SAID, IT OFTEN TAKES A VILLAGE TO ACCOMPLISH VERY IMPORTANT THINGS. WE ALL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER AND WE ARE HERE AS WOMEN AND ANY MEN THAT WANT TO JOIN US BECAUSE WE CAN'T DISCRIMINATE. YOU KNOW. AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THEIR YOUR PERSPECTIVE, BUT WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE TO SERVE THE WOMEN AND GIRLS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OF MARTIN COUNTY AS WELL. WE PARTNER WITH OTHER SOROPTIMIST CLUBS PORT SAINT LUCIE, PALM BEACH. THERE ARE TEN SOROPTIMIST CLUBS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA ALONE, AND WE DO WANT TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL OF HELPING A HALF MILLION WOMEN AND GIRLS BY 2031 OVERCOME THOSE OBSTACLES. WE ARE PART OF SOMETHING MUCH BIGGER. SO DON'T THINK OF US AS JUST A LITTLE PIECE OF THIS. WE ARE PART OF SOMETHING VERY, VERY LARGE AND ONE OF THE OLDEST WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS IN THE WORLD. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ROBERT HAMILTON. GOOD EVENING, ROBERT HAMILTON. THE 1895 CHURCH OF STUART, THIRD STREET. YOU GUYS KNOW WHY I'M HERE. THE CDBG PROGRAM AGAIN AND ARLENE WAS PUT ON OUR HOME. I KNOW YOU'RE AWARE OF THAT. WHY WAS THIS? LEON PUT ON THE HOME? THE LEON WAS PUT ON THE HOME BECAUSE OF MR. MARTEL'S CONTINUAL DELIBERATE INDIFFERENCE AGAINST US. HE ABUSED HIS POWER. HE COULD HAVE MADE THINGS RIGHT. HE DID NOT. IS THERE AN ISSUE? I DON'T HOW ARE WE DOING? TECHNICAL ONE, I GUESS. NOT THAT WE'RE AWARE OF. I'M SORRY, MR. HAMILTON. IT'S OKAY. BUT PLEASE DON'T REFER TO ANY INDIVIDUAL UP HERE BY NAME. YOU ADDRESS. WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE? WE'RE LISTENING TO YOUR CONCERNS, MR. HAMILTON. MY HOME. I WANT YOU TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY BECAUSE HE DIDN'T. THAT'S WHY I'M HERE. EXPLOITED US FOR WHAT POINTS MERIT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. 
          AND THEN, OH, WE'RE GOING TO GET RID OF THE CDBG PROGRAM BECAUSE IT WASN'T DONE PROPERLY BY THE PEOPLE ENTRUSTED TO DO IT. AND THEN YOU PUT OTHER PEOPLE AT RISK THAT HAVE JOBS IN THE CITY. 
          YOU KNOW, HE TELLS ME ONE THING. IT'S THE TO TELL DEAL. I GET ONE THING SAID TO ME, ANOTHER THING SAID TO OUTSIDE AGENCIES. SO HOW AM I EVEN WHEN IT'S IN WRITING? YOU KNOW, I GUESS IT'S COMING TO THE POINT WHERE HE STOOD HERE IN FRONT OF ALL OF YOU AND SAID, WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYTHING. WE JUST HAND THE MONEY. WELL, THAT TURNED OUT NOT TO BE TRUE. NOW THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS LOOKING OVER OUR CHURCH NOW AGAIN, THE LINE HAS TO BE LIFTED. NO TIME WILL WE ALLOW TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH ANYBODY HERE. SO TO ME THERE IS BACKROOM DEALING GOING ON. I'M NOT PRIVILEGED. MY WIFE TO SIT IN THERE WHEN HE'S DOING HIS TWO TALE DEAL, BUT BE THAT AS IT MAY, I GUESS, WHAT'S IT GOING TO COME DOWN TO? A WRIT OF MANDAMUS, A MONELL CLAIM? YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. 83 ACTION. IT'S TAKEN A YEAR OF OUR LIFE BY THE TIME THIS IS DONE. 
          AND FOR WHAT? DUE TO MISMANAGEMENT OF THE CDBG PROGRAM, INSTEAD OF SAYING, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE MADE A MISTAKE HERE. LET'S SIT DOWN AND LET'S WORK THIS OUT. AND REAL SERIOUS ABOUT THAT. I'VE BEEN IN HERE FOR MONTHS WITH MY WIFE MONTHS SUPPLIED EVERY BIT OF INFORMATION THAT COULD BE SUPPLIED FOR THE CITY TO TURN AROUND AND DO THEIR JOB AND SAY, MAN, MAN, IF WE MISSED THIS, WE GOT TO FIX IT. WHY DIDN'T HE JUST FIX IT? WHY THIS AGAIN AND 
          [01:15:02]
AGAIN? THE TORTURE IS WHAT YOU DO. YOU'RE PLAYING WITH OUR LIVES. WE LOST MERIT. YOU KNOW THAT. THE CITY HAS LOST MERIT. NOW THEY'RE GOING TO START LOSING POINTS. I'D LIKE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT IT. HAVE A MEETING. DO SOMETHING. THANK YO. THANK YOU, SIR OLGA HAMILTON. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, OLGA HAMILTON. 311 SOUTHWEST THIRD STREET. SORRY, STUART. SO YOU ALREADY WIN. PROBABLY YOU RECEIVED ALREADY A LETTER FROM MR. MARTEL REGARDING HOURLY RIGHT AFTER THAT LETTER OF HIS INSPECTOR GENERAL OF FLORIDA COMMERCE CALLED US TO CLARIFY THIS LETTER. SO NOW, AFTER ALL THIS MISMANAGEMENT OF THE PROGRAM, DENYING US THREE INSPECTIONS, DENYING, FOR WHATEVER REASON, COVERING UP FOR PATRIOT RESPONSE GROUP, NO PATRIOT RESPONSE GROU, SOME FILE IT WITH MARTIN COUNTY FRAUDULENT LEAN. THE LEAN IS FRAUDULENT AND I HAVE ALL THE EVIDENCE APPROPRIATE AGENCY ALREADY HAVE THEM AS WELL. ALL DAY LONG. I HAVE EMAILS WHEN THEY WILL FIRE IT, WHEN THEY LOST WORK, PERFORM, AND HOW MUCH OF WORK THEY DID. BUT WHAT HAPPENS NOW? THE CITY HAS TO PAY THAT LEAN, FRAUDULENT, LEAN OFF FROM NONFEDERAL FUNDS. IT MEANS THAT MONEY DOES NOT COME FROM OUR GRANT, WHATEVER CITY FUNDS. BUT THE STUART TAXPAYERS AND RESIDENTS, THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT FONT THE CITY WILL USE TO PAY THAT FRAUDULENT LEAN OFF. 
          ALMOST 50,000, AND HOW THE CITY IS GOING TO RECOVER IT. WHILE ALL OTHER AGENCIES DO. ALSO THEIR INVESTIGATIONS AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE RIGHT NOW DOING EVALUATION. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE FLORIDA GOVERNMENT NOTARY SECTION AS WELL. THEY DO THEIR INVESTIGATION ON CERTAIN DOCUMENTS, NOTARIZED AND SUBMITTED AND FILED BY PATRIOT RESPONSE GROUP, AS WELL. THE COMPLAINT WE PUT THE CITY ON NOTICE SINCE JULY 16TH, THE CITY OF STUART CDBG PROJECT MANAGEMENT. WE HAVE TWO MANAGERS, ONE ON THE CITY BEHALF. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, ANOTHER COMPANY HIRED BY THE CITY GUARDIAN COMMUNITY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. BOTH OF THEM IGNORED US WHEN WE COMPLAINED TALKING ABOUT COMMUNITY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, THEY COMPLETELY IGNORED OUR COMPLAINTS. WE ALREADY COMPLAINED IN JUNE THAT WE AFRAID THESE PEOPLE FROM PATRIOT RESPONSE GROUP, THEY ABUSED THEIR DISRESPECT. SO YOU HAVE REMEDY WITH WITH GUARDIAN COMMUNITY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TOOL. IT'S IN YOUR CONTRACT. THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE TO THE CITY OF STUART FOR ANY DAMAGES CAUSED ON THE PROJECT. AS WELL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU MRS. HAMILTON. GAIL GOLDIE. YES, I'LL BE ON NOW. YOU KNOW GOLDIE STUART, RESIDENT. FIRST I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE ELEPHANT THAT'S BEEN IN THIS ROOM FOR MANY, MANY MONTHS AND THAT ELEPHANT IS THE BRIGHT LINE AND I ALSO ATTENDED TODAY'S MEETING AT THE COUNTY COMMISSION. AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS WHO RESCINDED THE PAST AGREEMENT. MANY OF THE RESIDENTS HERE AREN'T AWARE, PROBABLY, OF THE COST THAT THAT WOULD HAVE COST EACH RESIDENT. YOU HAVE BEEN DOUBLE TAXED HAD THAT GONE THROUGH. WE SHOULD ALL BE THANKING THESE COMMISSIONERS FOR THEIR ASTUTE PAYING ATTENTION AND RESPONSIBILITY OF SAVING US MONEY. MANY OF US ARE ON FIXED INCOMES, HAVE BEEN RESIDENTS HERE FOR MANY YEARS, AND IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT THAT TAXES ARE NOT INCREASED. THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE WERE 
          [01:20:06]
GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR, WE WILL HAVE TO PAY AS COUNTY RESIDENTS. BUT THE CITY RESIDENTS ARE VERY FORTUNATE NOW THAT THEY WON'T BE DOUBLE TAXED. THEY WILL ONLY HAVE TO PAY TAXES ON THE COUNTY PARK PORTION OF THAT. SO I AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS FOR PAYING ATTENTION AND LISTENING TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS. THE TAX SAVING WAS A BOLD MOVE, AND THE CITY RESIDENTS WILL NOT BE VICTIMS OF DOUBLE TAXATION. AGAIN, I SAID, SO THAT'S ALL I WANT TO SAY, BUT I DO ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE BEEN COMING TO THE MEETINGS AND I AM HOPING THAT THE ATMOSPHERE IN THIS CHAMBER IMPROVES. I HOPE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT BEING SO PETTY THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE THE COMMISSIONERS ASKING FOR PERMISSION TO TALK TO THE CITY MANAGER DURING A MEETING OR THE CITY ATTORNEY. OFTENTIMES, SOMETHING COMES UP AND WE SHOULD BE THANKFUL THAT THESE COMMISSIONERS WANT TO ASK A QUESTION, AND POSSIBLY THAT THAT QUESTION IS SOMETHING THAT THEY NEED TO GET CLARIFICATION ON BEFORE THEY SPEAK ABOUT IT. SO I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO BE ASKING FOR PERMISSION RAISING OUR HANDS TO GO TO THE RESTROOM TO GET A DRINK OF WATER OR WHATEVER. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT MEETING. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU FRANK MCCRYSTAL. I TOO, WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COMMISSION FOR SAVING US A BOATLOAD OF MONEY THAT WE CAN USE SOMEWHERE ELSE. I ALSO WATCHED THE COUNTY MEETING TODAY AND I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK DOWNRANGE AND UNDERSTAND THAT TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT IS THE END GOAL OF THE GLOBALIST SCUMBAGS. BRIGHT LINE BEING A PART OF THEM. ON ANOTHER TANGENT, EVERYONE UP THERE NEEDS TO REALLY RESEARCH BRIGHT LINE IN THEIR PARENT COMPANY. AND IF YOU GO DEEP ENOUGH, IT'S UGLY. THE COMMUNITIES THEY HAVE PUT THE HOSE TO BEFORE US. THE COUNTY TODAY PROVED THAT IT'S NOT YOU GUYS THAT ARE THE LITTLE KIDS TABLE, BUT THEY ARE OKAY. AND SO AGAIN LOOK DOWN RANGE AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO TIE UP ALL THE IF THE COUNTY DOES END UP DOING THIS AND THAT PIECE OF LAND THAT THEY OWN, HOW DO WE TIE UP EVERYTHING AROUND IT, ESPECIALLY THE BALL FIELDS AND ANYTHING GREEN MAYBE. I DON'T KNOW, YOU CAN YOU CAN DEFINITELY DO SOMETHING FOR ZONING, BUT THE BALL FIELDS AND THE PARKS MAYBE SOME SORT OF REFERENDUM TO GET ANYTHING CHANGED THERE A REAL VOTE OF THE PEOPLE. SO LET'S LOOK DOWN RANGE AND MAKE SURE WE'RE READY FOR WHAT'S COMING AT US. ANYONE NOTICE WHAT HAPPENED LAST TUESDAY? IT'S CALLED NATIONAL POPULISM. POPULIST NATIONALISTS HAVE SWEPT THE NATION, OKAY. AND ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL. AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE GLOBALIST SCUMBAGS HAVE CHOSEN MARTIN COUNTY AS THEIR HOME BASE. THEY RAN OUT OF LAND DOWN SOUTH WHERE THEY RUINED IT, AND THEY CAN'T BUILD THEIR GOLF COURSES OUT WEST BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH WATER ANYMORE. SO THEY'VE GOT BIG PLANS FOR THE CITY OF STUART AND MARTIN COUNTY AND THANK YOU FOR BEING THE TRUE LEADERS OF MARTIN COUNTY AND THE BIG KIDS AT THE TABLE. THANK YO. THANK YOU. I HAVE NO MORE COMMENTS. MAYOR. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR, MR. MAYOR, 
          [CONSENT CALENDAR]
WHICH IS APPROVED BY THE WAY, JUST TO POINT OUT, IT INCLUDES BOTH THE MINUTES OF OUR LAST MEETING AND THE ZIP WORKSHOP MINUTES. YES. I'M SORRY. JOB, CAN I JUST. WOULD YOU LIKE TO PULL AN ITEM FROM THE CONSENT? WELL, I JUST WANTED TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT IT. SURE. OKAY. 
          THIS WOULD BE NUMBER 12. THE MOTOROLA LEASE. THAT'S PART OF THAT CONSENT CALENDAR, RIGHT. 
          WOULD YOU LIKE TO PULL THAT ITEM AND THEN WE CAN DISCUSS IT. THAT'S NORMALLY HOW THAT'S HOW IT PROCEEDS. OKAY. CAN I ASK TO PLEASE MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE THAT ITEM. AND WE CAN DISCUSS IT LATER. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER CLARK, DO YOU HAVE A MOTION? OKAY. MOVE. APPROVAL OF THE 
          [01:25:05]
CONSENT AGENDA. PULLING ITEM NUMBER 12. OKAY. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLARK AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COLLINS FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR. REMOVING ITEM 12. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE. ANY COMMENTS? ALL IN FAVOR? NO. A ROLL CALL. COMMISSIONER DOBEY. YES, COMMISSIONER. COLLINS. YES, COMMISSIONER. CLARK. YES, MAYOR. 
          [12. MOTOROLA LEASE FOR TEN (10) YEARS WITH CITY OF STUART FOR SIXTY-FIVE (65) N70S POLICE HANDHELD RADIOS (RC): RESOLUTION No. 118-2024; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF STUART, FLORIDA AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN EQUIPMENT LEASE-PURCHASE AGREEMENT WITH MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC. FOR A TEN (10) YEAR TERM WITH CELLULAR COSTS FOR SIXTY-FIVE (65) N70S PUBLIC SAFETY HANDHELD POLICE RADIOS; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.]
RICH. YES, COMMISSIONER. READ. YES. OKAY. MOVING ON TO ITEM 12. MR. BAGGETT, WILL YOU READ ITEM 12 FOR OUR CONSIDERATION, PLEASE? SURE. RESOLUTION NUMBER 118, DASH 2024, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF STUART, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN EQUIPMENT LEASE PURCHASE AGREEMENT WITH MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC. FOR A TEN YEAR PERIOD TERM WITH CELLULAR COSTS FOR 65 AND 70S PUBLIC SAFETY HANDHELD POLICE RADIOS PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS. 
          PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY. PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 12? WERE THERE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS YOU HAVE? YES, MR. MAYOR, I HAD A QUESTION REGARDING 12. OKAY, OKAY. SO THE ONLY THING AND I DID DO SOME RESEARCH, IT'S A TEN YEAR CONTRACT AND TECHNOLOGY CHANGES. SO QUICKLY. I'M WONDERING WAS THERE ANYTHING IN THAT CONTRACT WOULD IF THE MOTOROLA RADIOS THAT ARE GIVEN TO OUR POLICE, IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WILL BE REPLACED DURING THE CONTRACT. OKAY. SO THAT WAS WHAT I COULDN'T FIND THAT TWO YEAR. IT'S LIKE TWO YEAR RADIOS ARE REPLACED EVERY TWO YEARS. ALL RIGHT. THAT WAS MY CONCERN. TECHNOLOGY CHANGES SO QUICKLY. SO BASICALLY WHAT IT IS THAT THEY WE NEED TO UPDATE THE RADIOS TO KEEP UP WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE THAT'S READING THEIRS. AND BY GOING TO THIS LEASE, EVERY TIME THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE UPGRADES, THEIRS WILL BE ABLE TO TRADE OUT AND USE WHAT THE SHERIFF'S USES TO REMAIN CONSISTENT. THANK YOU. I COULDN'T FIND THAT IN THE END. THANK YOU. IT'S ALSO MY UNDERSTANDING AND I KNOW THE CHIEF'S NOT HERE. I DON'T KNOW IF CAPTAIN Z KNOWS, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE SERVICE AVAILABLE FOR THEIR HANDHELD RADIOS THROUGH THE COUNTY, IF I'M CORRECT ON THAT. FOR COORDINATION. YES, THERE'S SOME SERVICE THROUGH THE COUNTY, AND MOTOROLA ALSO PROVIDES SOME SERVICE CONTRACT FOR THE LIFE OF THE RADIO, OR AT LEAST DURING THAT TEN YEAR PERIOD. SO WE HAVE A GOOD SYSTEM WORKED OUT WITH THE COUNTY AND MOTOROLA. SO THEY KEEP US UP AND RUNNING. GREAT. THANK YOU. MR. CHAIRMAN. YES, COMMISSIONER. IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS WITH REGARD TO RESOLUTION NUMBER 118 2024, MOVE APPROVAL. SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLARK AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COLLINS FOR APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 118-2024. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS BY COMMISSIONERS REGARDING THIS ITEM? NO. SEEING NONE. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER CLARK. YES, MAYOR. RICH. YES. COMMISSIONER. 
          COLLINS. YES, COMMISSIONER. JOB. YES, COMMISSIONER. REED. YES. OKAY. COMMISSION. ACTION. MR. 
          [13. DEAUTHORIZING PACE PROGRAM AND PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS IN THE CITY OF STUART (RC): RESOLUTION No. 117-2024; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF STUART, FLORIDA, REPEALING RESOLUTION NUMBER 132-2020 AND DEAUTHORIZING PROPERTY ASSESSED CLEAN ENERGY (PACE) PROGRAMS WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF STUART; TERMINATING AGREEMENTS WITH THE FLORIDA GREEN FINANCE AUTHORITY, THE FLORIDA RESILIENCY AND ENERGY DISTRICT, THE FLORIDA PACE FUNDING AGENCY, AND THE GREEN CORRIDOR PACE DISTRICT PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 2024-273, FLORIDA STATUTES; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.]
BRACKETT, WILL YOU READ ITEM 13 FOR OUR CONSIDERATION, PLEASE? SURE. RESOLUTION NUMBER 117, DASH 2024, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF STUART, FLORIDA, REPEALING RESOLUTION NUMBER 132 DASH 2020 AND D AUTHORIZING PROPERTY ASSESSED CLEAN ENERGY, ALSO KNOWN AS PACE PROGRAMS WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF STUART. TERMINATING AGREEMENTS WITH THE FLORIDA GREEN FINANCE AUTHORITY, THE FLORIDA RESILIENCY AND ENERGY DISTRICT, THE FLORIDA PACE FUNDING AGENCY, AND THE GREEN CORRIDOR. PACE DISTRICT. 
          PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 2024, DASH 2000 OR 2 SEVEN THREE, FLORIDA STATUTES PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OR DO YOU WANT A PRESENTATIONGARTH? Y. COMMISSIONERS. GOOD EVENING, BEN HOGARTH. FOR THE RECORD, JUST WANTED TO I KNOW IT WAS A RATHER LENGTHY STAFF SUMMARY IN THE AGENDA. JUST WANTED TO REITERATE WHAT HAD KIND OF LED TO THIS MOMENT FOR STAFF TO MAKE THIS RECOMMENDATION. THE CITY MANAGER A FEW WEEKS BACK HAD ASKED STAFF JUST TO REASSESS KIND OF THE PACE PROGRAM AND OUR SUPPORT OF IT. THE FOUR AGREEMENTS THAT WE HAD IN PLACE SINCE 2020. WHAT I DID WAS I ENDED UP MEETING WITH BOTH MR. MARTELL AND THEN LATER ON WITH OUR BUILDING OFFICIAL TO KIND OF DISCUSS SOME OF THE TERMS THAT ARE IN THOSE AGREEMENTS. SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE MIGHT FACE AND MAY HAVE FACED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. I CAN'T SPEAK OF ANY SPECIFIC INSTANCE THAT WE'RE AWARE OF WHERE SIMILAR TO IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE, WE'VE HEARD SOME PRETTY, PRETTY ROUGH STORIES THAT OCCURRED BETWEEN ESPECIALLY 2010 AND 2020 HAD THAT HAD LED TO A SERIES OF LITIGATIONS IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, MORE OR LESS PROPERTY OWNERS FEELING LIKE THEY HAD BEEN SOMEWHAT DECEIVED, HAD BEEN CONFUSED, DIDN'T KNOW THE FULL WEIGHT OF WHAT THEY 
          [01:30:02]
WERE SIGNING WHEN THEY SIGNED UP FOR THESE PROPERTY ASSESSED CLEAN ENERGY PROGRAM LENDING'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT IT IS. SO WITH THAT SAID, THE STATE OF FLORIDA THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION THIS YEAR, IN 2024 MADE A REFORM BILL, AND IT WAS RATHER LENGTHY, RATHER EXTENSIVE. A LOT OF REALLY GOOD CONSUMER RIGHT PROTECTIONS WERE PUT INTO THIS BILL. I THINK PRETTY MUCH EVERY COMMUNITY IN THE STATE WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES, VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THOSE THOSE REFORMS. HOWEVER, WITH THAT SAID, WHEN I SPOKE TO OUR BUILDING OFFICIAL, THERE'S STILL A COUPLE OF CONCERNS THAT KIND OF REMAIN. ONE IS, IS FEASIBILITY FOR SOMETHING LIKE THE CITY OF STUART FOR SUCH A SMALL COMMUNITY. I DON'T WANT TO SAY WE'RE SHORT STAFFED. WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH STAFF ON HAND TO REALLY HELP LOOK AT THESE PROJECTS INDIVIDUALLY. HAVE SOMEONE OUT THERE WITH, YOU KNOW, PACE PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS, WITH ACTUAL CONTRACTORS REVIEWING CONTRACTOR LICENSES ON SITE MAKING SURE THAT IF A WINDOW IS SUPPOSED TO BE PLACED IN A IN A CERTAIN WINDOW FRAME, IT'S THE RIGHT SIZE, IT FITS THE CONTRACT. 
          THAT'S A LOT OF WORK. AND IT ALSO HAS A COST, A REAL OPERATIONAL COST THAT WE RIGHT NOW, IT JUST SEEMS INFEASIBLE, AT LEAST, TO HAVE SOMEBODY OUT THERE FOR EVERY PROJECT TO DO THAT. MY UNDERSTANDING, ACCORDING TO AN EMAIL THAT MR. BAGGETT RECEIVED FROM ONE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE GROUPS, IS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN, I BELIEVE, 26 GIVE OR TAKE PROJECTS IN THE CITY SINCE THE INCEPTION OF PACE THAT WE'RE AWARE OF FROM THE INCEPTION, 2010, I BELIEVE, IS ONE OF THE FIRST WASN'T A PACE LEGISLATION. IT WAS LEGISLATION THAT ESSENTIALLY LED TO PACE, BUT IT CREATED THE PROGRAM IN STATUTE. SO OUR AGREEMENT THAT TO MY KNOWLEDGE, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WAS ANY IN PLACE BEFORE 2020. SO THE 26 PROJECTS MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE ORIGINATED FROM 2020 ONTO TODAY. SO IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS, SO THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION AFTER AFTER KIND OF ASSESSING THIS IS THAT TO THE CITY'S SATISFACTION, WE CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT PACE PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS WILL FOLLOW EVEN THE NEW REFORMS, THE NEW CONSUMER RIGHTS. WE CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT THE CONTRACTOR ON SITE IS PROPERLY LICENSED. THAT HASN'T BEEN VIRTUALLY APPROVED SOMEWHERE WITHOUT SOMEONE REALLY, YOU KNOW, SEEING EVERYTHING IN PERSON. SO THERE'S STILL SOME CONCERNS THAT REMAIN. THIS ISN'T TO SAY THAT WE HAVE SPECIFIC EVIDENCE OR PROOF THAT OUR COMMUNITY, SOMETHING HORRIBLE HAS HAPPENED THAT WE MIGHT HAVE RESIDENTS THAT ARE ANGRY OR UPSET AT US FOR BEING A PART OF THE PROGRAM. THAT'S THAT'S NOT WHAT THE RECOMMENDATION WAS. THE RECOMMENDATION WAS SAYING THAT WE FEEL THE REFORMS AT THIS MOMENT DON'T REALLY FOR A SMALL COMMUNITY LIKE US, IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO CONFIRM WHETHER OR NOT A CONTRACTOR, WHETHER OR NOT A PROJECT HAD GONE THROUGH 100% AS AS THE LAW PROVIDES. AND WITH THAT STATED, IF A RESIDENT JUST LIKE IN OTHER COMMUNITIES, THIS HAS ALREADY OCCURRED. IF A RESIDENT EXPERIENCES AN ECONOMIC SHORTFALL WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE THEIR HOME, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES THEY'RE GOING INTO THEIR LOCAL COMMISSIONERS. 
          THEY'RE GOING TO THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES, AND THEY'RE BLAMING PEOPLE IN FRONT OF THEM FOR THE FOR THE SITUATION. SO WITH THAT STATED, IT WAS A RATHER LENGTHY STAFF SUMMARY. I JUST KIND OF WANT TO RESTATE WHY STAFF TOOK THIS POSITION AND, AND CERTAINLY REQUEST THE COMMISSION TO PROVIDE THAT FEEDBACK IN THAT GUIDANCE. THANK YOU. MISS HOGARTH. ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. HOGARTH? YES. THE COMMISSION OKAY. YES, YES. PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THIS, WITH PEOPLE TALKING TO ME. AND I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU AND MR. BAGGETT TO SEE IF SOMEONE WHO WAS IN THE CITY OF STUART, WHICH IS MARTIN COUNTY, AND MARTIN COUNTY, ADMINISTERS THAT PROGRAM FREQUENTLY. AND I THINK THAT THIS PARTICULAR PERSON HAD GOTTEN HELP THROUGH THE COUNTY. 
          SO EVEN THOUGH WE DID AUTHORIZE MR. BAGGETT, PEOPLE IN THE CITY CAN STILL APPLY TO THE COUNTY. 
          AND WE JUST WON'T BE RESPONSIBLE OR HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT AS WE DO NOW. I DON'T KNOW, I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE PROGRAM THAT THOROUGHLY, AND I'VE NOT LOOKED AT THE CONTRACTS FOR THAT ISSUE. SO I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER RIGHT NOW. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE AUTHORIZATION OR THE AUTHORIZATION OR WHATEVER IT IS, IS A MATTER OF THE LOCAL AGENCY ALLOWING THE TAX COLLECTOR TO ADD IT TO THE TAX ROLLS. SO IF IN FACT, MARTIN COUNTY HAS AUTHORIZED THE TAX COLLECTOR TO ACCEPT THESE LOANS IN MARTIN COUNTY AND ADD THEM TO THE TAX ROLLS, UNLESS THE CITY OF STUART TOOK AN ACTION TO PASS AN ORDINANCE THAT PROHIBITED IT FROM BEING ADDED TO THE TAX ROLLS, I WOULD BELIEVE, AS COMMISSIONER CLARKE'S POINTING OUT, THAT IT WOULD, IN FACT, STILL FALL WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF MARTIN COUNTY, AND THEY COULD DO WHATEVER THEY WANT. YEAH, BUT THANK YOU. AND, I MEAN, I KNOW THE STATUTE IS THERE, BUT BUT I THE OTHER SIDE OF IT IS IF WE DON'T IF IT DEAUTHORIZE IT, WE'RE NOT 
          [01:35:03]
PUSHING IT. RIGHT. IF SOMEBODY COMES TO US, WE CAN SAY WE'RE NOT INVOLVED. YEAH, YEAH. AND FOR CLARIFICATION, THE, THE NEED TO AUTHORIZE OR AUTHORIZE HAD NOT EXISTED IN, IN LAW UNTIL THAT REFORM BILL FROM THIS YEAR BECAUSE THERE IS ONGOING LITIGATION WITH THAT AS THE LEGAL QUESTION. STILL MANY COMMUNITIES SAYING PRIOR TO THIS YEAR THAT THAT THAT THERE WAS STILL A REQUIREMENT, IT JUST WAS AN IMPLICIT REQUIREMENT. LEON COUNTY JUDGE I BELIEVE IN THE LAST YEAR OR TWO HAD FOUND AGAINST THAT POSITION. SO A LOT OF COMMUNITIES ARE STILL KIND OF IN THIS LITIGIOUS PLACE. BUT AS A RESULT OF THE 2024 REFORM BILL THAT'S NOW IN LAW, IT'S NOW STATUTE. AND FROM THAT POINT ON, THERE HAS TO BE EITHER THIS AUTHORIZATION OR THE AUTHORIZATION. AND, MR. MAYOR, AND ALSO AS SOME TYPE OF FURTHER DISTINCTION, THE TYPE OF HOME IMPROVEMENT THAT THE CDBG DOES IS NOT THE PACE PROGRAM IS PUSHED AS A AS A ENERGY TYPE THING FOR THE MOST PART. AND PEOPLE BELIEVE, WELL, IF ALL THEIR HOLES ARE PATCHED UP AND THE ENERGY IS GOING TO BE MORE EFFICIENT AND THAT KIND OF THING THAT EVERYTHING IS QUOTE UNQUOTE, I WOULDN'T SAY FREE, BUT THEY THINK THAT IT'S FREE. I THINK IT THEY GO UP TO LIKE 20,000 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THEY HAVE A LIMIT. BUT AND THEY THINK THAT IT'S FREE, BUT THEY KNOW THAT THEY DO TELL THEM THAT IT'S GOING TO BE PAID FOR, AND IT'S GOING TO BE PAID FOR. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY THINK IT'S GOING TO COME OUT OF THEIR PROPERTY TAXES, WHICH IS ACTUALLY WHAT THEY PAY. IT'S KIND OF LIKE THIS WHOLE IDEA WITH TARIFFS OR NO TARIFFS, BUT THEY'RE ACTUALLY PAYING THE PROPERTY TAXES. AND THE THING ABOUT IT, AND I KNOW THAT I'VE TALKED TO THE, THE TAX COLLECTOR IS THAT WHEN THE PROPERTY TAXES COME AT A HOP OF $6,000 OR $8,000 AND THEY HADN'T BEEN PAYING IT QUARTERLY, THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING CRAZY BECAUSE USUALLY THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO OWN THEIR OWN HOMES, AND THEY DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A LARGE PROPERTY TAX IN THE FIRST PLACE. AND NOW THEY'RE PAYING FOR THIS LOAN. THAT'S A THAT'S A GOOD POINT, COMMISSIONER. I THINK JUST AGAIN, FOR THE PUBLIC'S EDIFICATION, SOME SOME OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS THIS LENDING WAS BEING SOLD AS KIND OF, HEY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING UP FRONT THAT COMES OUT OF YOUR TAXES. PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE HAD, YOU KNOW, TYPICAL. WE'RE USED TO MAYBE A 1500 OR $2000 ANNUAL TAX BILL. SUDDENLY, ONCE PACE KICKED INTO THEIR NEXT ANNUAL TAX ROLL, THEY WERE AT FIVE, SIX, $7,000 TAX BILL. THEY WEREN'T EXPECTING OR ANTICIPATING. AND THAT WAS CAUSING PEOPLE TO HAVE LIENS PLACED ON THEIR HOMES WITH THAT SAID, MY UNDERSTANDING IS IN THE RECENT, YOU KNOW, FEW YEARS, ONE OF THE MITIGATING SOLUTIONS IN THE INTERIM HAS BEEN TO END THOSE LIENS, HAVE THESE STIPULATION AGREEMENTS WHERE THEY'RE EFFECTIVELY IN LIEU OF HAVING A BANK LOAN OR PAYING A MONTHLY TOWARDS TOWARDS THAT PACE. YEAH. OKAY. CAN WE GET A MOTION FOR THIS AS WITH WITH AGENDA ITEM 118, IT'S ITEM NUMBER 13 SEVEN 2024 RESOLUTION REGARDING THE REPEALING AND AUTHORIZING THE PACE PROGRAM MOVE APPROVAL. SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLARK AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER READ. 
          IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? I DO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT. OKAY. JENNIFER ROJAS-SUAREZ. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JENNIFER SUAREZ. I AM WITH RENEW FINANCIAL, ONE OF THE PACE PROVIDERS OPERATING IN THE CITY OF STEWART IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA THROUGH THE FLORIDA GREEN FINANCE AUTHORITY. FGFA. THANK YOU FOR HEARING MY COMMENTS HERE AND THANK YOU TO THE GENTLEMAN FOR, YOU KNOW, SOME OF HIS COMMENTS REGARDING THE NEW LAW THAT DID PASS. IT'S IT SOUNDS TO ME, YOU KNOW, FROM FROM WHAT WE'VE REVIEWED FROM THE RESOLUTION AND THE COMMENTS TODAY, THERE DOES IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THERE'S SOME MISUNDERSTANDING ON WHAT THE OBLIGATION IS OF THE CITY, BUT IT ALSO SOUNDS TO ME FROM THE COMMENTS TODAY THAT THERE'S SOME CONCERNS OR OF UNDERSTANDING IN TERMS OF IF THE CITY COULD OPERATE, IF THE CONSTITUENTS IN THE CITY COULD OPERATE, IF YOU WERE DE-AUTHORIZED AND THE COUNTY DOES HAVE AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT CURRENTLY, WHAT I BELIEVE, WHAT I'M ASKING FOR AND MY COLLEAGUES AND THE INDUSTRY REALLY, IF WE COULD DEFER THE ITEM TO HAVE FURTHER CONVERSATION AND DISCUSSION REGARDING ALL THESE COMMENTS SO THAT WE COULD GET CLARIFICATION BEFORE WE BEFORE YOU ALL TAKE THIS BIG VOTE THAT WOULD AUTHORIZE THIS PROGRAM AND 
          [01:40:04]
REALLY LEAVE A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS THAT HAVE USED THE PROGRAM AND OTHERS THAT WOULD WANT TO USE THE PROGRAM WON'T BE ABLE TO USE IT. THE 26 PROJECTS THAT YOU MENTIONED ARE FROM RENEW FINANCIAL. THAT'S JUST A LOAN FROM OUR PACE, FROM OUR PROVIDER. THERE'S OTHER COMPANIES THAT MAY HAVE MORE PACE ASSESSMENTS OUT THERE, BUT AS NOT ONLY THAT, WITH THE NEW STATUTE CURRENTLY WITH THE PACE PROGRAM, YOU COULD USE IT FOR NOT ONLY RESILIENCY BUT ALSO FOR STORM HARDENING AND SO, FOR EXAMPLE, FROM THE 26 PROJECTS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE HERE IN THE CITY, MORE THAN HALF OF THOSE HAVE BEEN USED FOR STORM HARDENING. AND THAT MEANS ROOFING SHUTTERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO YOU CAN'T USE PACE TO GET A NEW KITCHEN. THESE ARE DEDICATED. THIS IS A DEDICATED PROGRAM FOR THESE TYPES OF IMPROVEMENTS. SO NOW WITH THE NEW LAW THAT JUST PASSED IT HAS ALSO EXPANDED TO ALSO ALLOW FOR SEPTIC TO SEWER CONVERSION WHICH IS ANOTHER BIG ISSUE. I BELIEVE NOT ONLY IN THE CITY BUT IN THE IN THE STATE. SO AGAIN, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF MORE DISCUSSION THAT WE HOPE WE CAN HAVE INSTEAD OF JUST AUTHORIZING THE PROGRAM. WE HOPE WE CAN DEFER THE ITEM AND WE ASK FOR IT TO BE DEFERRED SO WE CAN HAVE FURTHER COMMUNICATION AND DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM BEFORE IT'S TERMINATED. THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. I HAVE MARK SHUFFLE. GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS. MR. MAYOR, MARK SHUFFLE WITH GREEN ENERGY FUND, 6303 BLUE LAGOON DRIVE IN MIAMI. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THIS EVENING. I HEAR HIM TO AS WELL TO ADDRESS ITEM 13 AND YOUR PROPOSED DEAUTHORIZATION OF THE PACE PROGRAM. WHY GREEN ENERGY HAS OPERATED IN FLORIDA SINCE THE ENABLING LEGISLATION WAS PASSED IN FLORIDA, WHICH WAS IS 2000 WAS WAS 2010. WE'VE DONE OVER 85,000 PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, TOTALING IMPROVEMENT, INVESTMENT OF OVER $2 BILLION, ACTUALLY DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO MEET WITH YOUR STAFF, WHICH I'D BE HAPPY TO DO. WE ACTUALLY SHOW A OVER 100 PROJECTS HAVING FUNDED IN YOUR IN YOUR COMMUNITY, TOTALING CLOSE TO $3 MILLION. VAST MAJORITY OF WHICH ARE IN THE AREA OF HURRICANE HARDENING ROOF TIEDOWNS, HIGH IMPACT DOORS AND WINDOWS, HIGH IMPACT ROOFS. I TOO WOULD ENCOURAGE CAUTION. PACE IS A VERY, VERY SPECIALIZED PRODUCT FOR A VERY SPECIALIZED GROUP. IT'S NICHE, NICHE FINANCING THAT COMES IN AS A MIDDLE GROUND BETWEEN COMPLETE UNSECURED AT VERY, VERY HIGH INTEREST RATES AND VERY FAVORABLE TERMS. IT'S NOT FOR EVERYBODY. AND IT'S A SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED BY THE LEGISLATURE WHEN IT WAS FIRST ENACTED TO TARGET SPECIFIC IMPROVEMENTS. IT'S NOT BROAD FINANCING TOOL. PEOPLE AREN'T BUYING, YOU KNOW, SKI BOATS WITH THIS OR SWIMMING POOLS. IT'S A VERY, VERY SPECIALIZED PRODUCT. 
          IT'S BEEN POINTED OUT SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2010, 2024 WAS SEMINAL LEGISLATION THAT REALLY TOOK A DEEP DIVE. IT'S A EXTREMELY DENSE STATUTE RUNNING 39 PAGES LONG, WHICH IS FULL OF SPECIFIC ITEMS TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF PACE THAT HAVE ACCUMULATED OVER THE YEARS, CHIEF AMONG WHICH IS CONSUMER PROTECTION. I KNOW THERE IS A REFERENCE, AND I KNOW PART OF THE CONFUSION HERE WAS CONCERNING A REFERENCE TO THE REQUIREMENT OF CITIES AND COUNTIES TO ENGAGE IN CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION. I CAN ASSURE YOU, AS ONE OF THE FOLKS, AND IT WAS A BROAD STAKEHOLDER GROUP THAT ASSEMBLED IN TALLAHASSEE TO WORK ON THIS FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, CITIES, ALL OF THE INDUSTRY PARTICIPATED, FOLKS THAT WERE IN FAVOR OF CASE PACE, FOLKS THAT WERE AGAINST PACE. WE ALL CAME TOGETHER TO TRY TO IMPROVE THIS PROGRAM. THE SPECIFIC ITEM THAT CALLS FOR CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION HAS A VERY IMPORTANT COORDINATING CONJUNCTION IN THERE. AND OR IT SAYS THAT YOU ARE OBLIGATED TO PREPARE A REGISTRATION PROGRAM, OR YOU CAN WORK WITH PROVIDERS AND ADMINISTRATORS. AGAIN, WHY? WE OPERATE UNDER THE GREEN CORRIDOR. WE'VE WORKED WITH OTHER COURT, OTHER COUNTIES ON THIS VERY ISSUE. WE HAVE A PRO FORMA CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION THAT WE'RE HAPPY TO WORK WITH. YOU. I KNOW MY TIME IS SHORT. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO JUST TAKE A STEP BACK AND WORKSHOP. THIS INDUSTRY IS HERE. ALL OF THE COMPANIES THAT WORK IN THIS AREA ARE HERE AND WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH YOU TO GET THE RIGHT ANSWER AND BUILD THE BEST POSSIBLE PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF STUART. THANK YOU, THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU LEWIS. YES. EVENING, MAYOR. COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS LEWIS ROYER, 18471 SOUTHWEST, 1/23 
          [01:45:03]
PLACE PEMBROKE PINES, FLORIDA. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF HOME RUN FINANCING AND FORTIFY. THERE ARE TWO ADDITIONAL PACE PROVIDERS. IT'S CLEAR AFTER READING THE RESOLUTION THAT THERE IS SOME MISUNDERSTANDING WITH REGARDS TO THE CITY'S OBLIGATIONS VERSUS THE COUNTY'S OBLIGATIONS ON THE WITH REGARDS TO THE PACE PROGRAM, AND I TOO WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A DEFERMENT SO THAT WE, THE CITY AND THE INDUSTRY COULD GET TOGETHER AND CLARIFY ANY CONFUSION OR ANY ISSUES THAT MIGHT OCCUR OR MIGHT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP BY STAFF DURING THEIR REVIEW OF THE PACE PROGRAM. 
          THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU. THANK YOU. JAMES CHRISTIE. MR. CHRISTIE, GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. I WANT TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE, BUT I DO WANT TO HEAR THIS. I'M AT 373 SOUTHWEST EASTPORT CIRCLE IN PORT SAINT LUCIE, BUT I DO HAVE A HOUSE IN STUART. IT'S ON NASSAU, ON THAT STREET. I HAVE SOMEONE THAT LIVES RIGHT CLOSE TO ME THAT USED TO HAVE A TAX BILL OF ABOUT $115 A YEAR. NOW THEY HAVE A TAX BILL OF $2,600 THAT THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO PAY. THAT WHEN WE TALK, THEY CRY AND GET UPSET, NEVER BE ABLE TO PAY THAT BILL. AND IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, IT'S THE RESULT OF THIS PROGRAM. WHEN YOU DO A THING LIKE THAT. I'M NOT SAYING IT'S A BAD PROGRAM, BUT WHEN YOU ATTACH IT TO SOMEONE'S TAXES, IF THEY DON'T PAY IT, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THEY LOSE THEIR HOUSE. IF THEY HAVE TROUBLE PAYING IT. IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, IT'S VERY DEPRESSING. SOME PEOPLE HAVE PAID FOR THEIR HOMES AND OWN THEIR HOMES LIKE SOMEONE BROUGHT UP TODAY, AND THEY JUST NOT USED TO IT. AND THEY'D PROBABLY BE BETTER OFF PAYING A COMPANY A BILL THAT, RATHER THAN HAVE A 2 TO $3000 TAX BILL THAT THEY'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO PAY. SO IF THOSE WORKSHOPS ARE HELD, I WOULD LIKE YOU GUYS TO INCLUDE SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ACTUALLY GOT THOSE PIECE LOANS AND GET THEIR FEEDBACK TO YOU. THANK YOU. I HAVE NO FURTHER COMMENT. DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS BY COMMISSIONERS REGARDING THIS ITEM? I MADE A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE PROGRAM A SECOND, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE BOARD WANTS TO DISCUSS IT AND MAYBE LISTEN AND SEE IF WE NEED TO HAVE SOME A WORKSHOP OR IF WE NEED TO GO FORWARD. 
          COMMISSIONER REED, LET ME KNOW AND I'LL. SO FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, WITH PACE, YOU'RE GETTING A LOAN AND IT'S GOING ON YOUR TAX BILL. SO IF YOU HAD A REGULAR LOAN HOME LINE OF CREDIT EQUITY PULLED IT OUT. THAT WAY YOU JUST HAVE A LIEN AGAINST YOUR PROPERTY AND YOU WOULDN'T POTENTIALLY LOSE YOUR HOUSE. THEN UNLESS YOU CHANGED OWNERSHIP. AND THEN THAT LIEN HOLDER WOULD BE SATISFIED. AND I'M ASSUMING WITH PACE IT'S A LITTLE. IF YOU WENT OUT AND GOT A SECOND MORTGAGE ON YOUR HOUSE RIGHT NOW TO GET A NEW ROOF, THE BANK WOULD AMORTIZE THAT LOAN OVER. HOWEVER MANY MONTHS YOU GOT THAT MORTGAGE FOR, AND YOU WOULD RECEIVE A MONTHLY BILL UNDER THE PACE LOAN. AS MR. CHRISTIE WAS POINTING OUT, IF THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT DOESN'T HAVE A MORTGAGE AND WHOSE HOUSE WAS AT A VALUE THAT WAS SO LOW THAT IT WAS HOMESTEADED FOR SO LONG THAT IT ONLY HAD A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS A YEAR IN TAXES, WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT PERSON IS COME NOVEMBER, THEY GET THEIR TAX BILL AND IT'S $150. THEY SCRAPE TOGETHER THE $150 AND THEY PAY IT, AND ANOTHER YEAR GOES BY. BUT IN THE SITUATION OF THE PERSON HE'S DESCRIBING, NOVEMBER SHOWS UP AND THEY GET A TAX BILL FOR $2,600. THEY CAN'T SCRAPE IT TOGETHER. SO THEY DON'T PAY IT. BUT THERE'S NO REMINDER THAT SENT THERE'S NO FOLLOW UP THAT'S SENT. THERE'S NO THERE'S NO CREDIT PERSON CALLING ON THE PHONE SAYING YOU NEED TO MAKE PAYMENTS. THERE'S NO FORECLOSURE. NOTHING HAPPENS. THREE YEARS PASS. THEY DON'T PAY THE TAXES FOR THREE YEARS. IT AUTOMATICALLY. THE TAX LIENS HAVE ALREADY BEEN SOLD EVERY YEAR. IT'S ONE OF THOSE LIENS EXERCISES. THE RIGHT TO SEEK A TAX SALE. AND IF THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY DOESN'T HAVE THE AMOUNT THAT THE LIENS EACH SOLD FOR. SO NOW 2.5, 2.5, 2.5 PLUS INTEREST, YOU'RE LOOKING AT PROBABLY 9 OR 10 GRAND. THEY LOSE THE HOUSE. NOW, FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, IF A PERSON GOT A CONVENTIONAL LOAN AND DIDN'T PAY FOR THREE YEARS, IT'S VERY LIKELY THAT THEY WOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN FORECLOSED ON BECAUSE A CONVENTIONAL LOAN WOULDN'T LET THEM GET 90 DAYS 
          [01:50:01]
OVERDUE WITHOUT FILING A FORECLOSURE. THE QUESTION IS, HISTORICALLY, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT. I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LEGISLATIVE CHANGES AND STUFF, BUT HISTORICALLY, THE DESCRIPTIONS WERE THAT THE PEOPLE SELLING THE PACE LOAN SAID, JUST SIGN RIGHT HERE. YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING. IT'S JUST GOING TO COME OUT OF YOUR TAXES. AND LIKE THE PEOPLE'S PERCEPTION IS THAT IT'S THE GOVERNMENT TAXES, NOT MY MONEY, THAT I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE TO PAY IT. IT'S JUST GOING TO BE THIS I'M GETTING EFFECTIVELY A GRANT AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING. AND THEN THEY'RE SURPRISED BY IT. IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT ISSUE HAS BEEN CLEARED UP. 
          I'LL ALSO TELL YOU THERE'S LOTS OF SITUATIONS WHERE THE PACE LOANS HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL TO SOMEONE. SOMEONE NEEDS A NEW ROOF AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY HAD A CAR PROBLEM OR A MEDICAL PROBLEM. THEY DON'T HAVE STELLAR CREDIT, BUT THEY OWN THEIR HOUSE. THEY SIGN UP FOR THE PACE AGREEMENT. THEY GET THE $30,000 NEW ROOF LOAN. IT GOES ON THEIR TAX BILL, BUT BECAUSE THEY ALREADY HAVE A MORTGAGE, THE BANK ESCROWS THAT THE FOLLOWING YEAR INTO 12 EQUAL MONTHLY PAYMENTS AND THEIR MORTGAGE PAYMENT JUST GETS ADJUSTED AND THEY MAKE THOSE PAYMENTS, THEY GOT THEIR ROOF FIXED, THEY MAKE THE PAYMENTS, EVERYTHING GOES SMOOTHLY. IT GETS PAID OFF IN FULL, AND THEY GOT RELIEF THAT THEY WOULDN'T HAVE OTHERWISE GOTTEN BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T HAVE QUALIFIED FOR THAT LOAN IN A CONVENTIONAL MARKETPLACE. AND THEY NEEDED THE ROOF. SO I'M SURE FOR EVERY EXAMPLE OF ONE THAT BROKE BAD, THERE'S PROBABLY A HUNDRED THAT WENT WELL. THE REAL QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE PEOPLE THAT GO OUT AND GET THE MONEY AND GET THE BENEFITS AND GET EVERYTHING FROM IT, AND THEN WANT TO TURN AROUND AND BLAME THE CITY IF IT DOESN'T GO WELL. IS IT WORTH THE AGGRAVATION OF IT? MAKES SENSE. 
          THANK YOU. QUESTION FOR THE CITY MANAGER. SO IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, ACCORDING TO COMMISSIONER COX, THAT CITY RESIDENTS WOULD BE ABLE IF THEY WANTED TO. OH, I'M SORRY. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. ACCORDING TO COMMISSIONER CLARK, THAT CITY RESIDENTS WOULD BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THIS PROGRAM AS MARTIN COUNTY RESIDENTS. I MEAN, IT SEEMED, IN THEORY, AS IF MARTIN COUNTY RESIDENT, UNLESS THE CITY EXCLUDED THAT UNLESS WE PASSED AN ORDINANCE SAYING WE WOULDN'T ALLOW THAT. BUT WE'RE NOT. THAT'S NOT WHAT'S BEFORE YOU. NO, NO, I KNOW OKAY. NO. YEAH. 
          IF THE CITY OPTS OUT, THEN WE, YOU KNOW, THE MARTIN COUNTY AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE IS ONLY FOR UNINCORPORATED MARTIN COUNTY. SO THAT'S THE ONLY AREA THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO USE IT AT THIS POINT. IF YOU OPT OUT OF THE PROGRAM, THEN NOBODY FROM THE CITY OF STUART CAN USE THE PROGRAM. CAN I ASK A QUICK CASE, COMMISSIONER DOBEY? YES. THEN CAN I ASK A QUESTION? YOU WOULD CHANGE YOUR PROGRAM TO THEN INVOLVE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE INCORPORATED PORTION OF. 
          STUART. I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S UP TO US. I BELIEVE IT'S BECAUSE OF THE CHARTER, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. IN TERMS OF HOW IF YOU INVOLVE ALL THERE'S SOME AREAS OR COUNTIES THAT WOULD INCLUDE UNINCORPORATED AND INCORPORATED. BUT I BELIEVE THE WAY THAT MARTIN COUNTY IS, IS YOU CAN'T DO THAT. BUT IF WE COULD. ABSOLUTELY. I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE BUT I DON'T I DON'T KNOW. 
          THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING I THINK THE DISCUSSIONS NEEDS TO BE HAD. I WOULDN'T WANT TO SAY THE WRONG THING. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THE CITY OF STUART JUST DOESN'T HAVE THAT OPTION ANYMORE. BY BY OPTING OUT. THANK YOU. IS THERE BEN OR MR. BAGGETT? IS THERE ANY DEADLINE TO COMPLY WITH THIS STATUTE? IF WE WANT TO CHANGE ANYTHING OR IF WE DECIDED TO WAIT AND MAYBE DO THIS? COMMISSIONER, IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING, BASED ON THE LEGISLATION, THAT THERE'S THIS REQUIREMENT FOR THE LOCAL AGENCY TO BASICALLY RE-UP ANY EXISTING AGREEMENTS WITH WITH A REAUTHORIZATION. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A DATE, CERTAIN. I'LL HAVE TO GO BACK INTO THE LEGISLATION. IF THERE'S A DATE, CERTAIN WHERE IF NOTHING IS REAUTHORIZED, IT'S LIKE EFFECTIVELY DE-AUTHORIZED UNTIL THAT HAPPENS. SO NEW PROJECTS, NEW PROGRAMS. SO A LOT OF THE FOR PACE ADMINISTRATOR AGENCIES ARE KIND OF REQUESTING EVERY LOCAL AGENCY WITH EXISTING AGREEMENTS TO, TO SIGN THOSE REAUTHORIZATIONS RIGHT NOW. SO EVERY DAY THAT WE HAVEN'T SIGNED MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT'S NOT AUTHORIZED. EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE EXISTING AGREEMENTS, WE HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, COMPLY WITH THAT. I DO WANT TO REITERATE, BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE DISCUSSION HAPPENING HERE, I DON'T THINK THERE IS A MISUNDERSTANDING OF STAFF ON WHAT THE LEGISLATION STATES. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS PUT THE ONUS ON THE FOR PACE ADMINISTRATORS TO HANDLE CONTRACTOR COMPLIANCE TO MANAGE THESE PROJECTS, TO FOLLOW THE NEW CONSUMER RIGHT PROTECTION LAWS. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A WHOLE THING ABOUT TRUST AND VERIFY AND WHEN IT'S ALL IN THE HANDS OF PACE ADMINISTRATOR AGENCIES, THERE IS NO VERIFICATION ON OUR PART THAT THERE'S CONTRACTOR COMPLIANCE. THIS ISN'T TO SAY THAT PACE ADMINISTRATOR AGENCIES ARE ACTING OUT OF TURN OR ACTING ILLEGALLY, OR IMMORALLY OR 
          [01:55:04]
WHATEVER. IT'S JUST WE DON'T HAVE THE MEANS TO VERIFY. AND THAT WAS THE STILL AS WE SPEAK. 
          THAT IS STILL OUR CONCERN WITH STAFF NOT TO SAY THAT IT WILL BREAK ANYTHING, BUT THAT'S THAT WAS OUR POSITION WHEN WE WHEN WE ASSESSED THIS, ANY OTHER MAY ADD TO THAT, MR. BAGGETT, I DON'T I DON'T KNOW, I'M JUST THROWING THIS OUT, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME IT SEEMS TO ME FROM THE STAFF THAT IT'S A STAFFING ISSUE. MARTIN COUNTY OBVIOUSLY HAS A MUCH BIGGER STAFF SINCE I'M AWARE I USED TO WORK THERE. I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN WORK OUT SOME SORT OF INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR THEM TO, YOU KNOW, MANAGE IT AND YOU'RE SHAKING YOUR HEAD. NO, IT'S A TAX COLLECTOR ISSUE. IT'S THE COUNTY AND THE CITY DON'T MANAGE IT. THE QUESTION IS WHERE THE BLAME COMES IS THE COMMISSION. WHEN ONE OF THESE PEOPLE LEAVES THEIR HOUSE, LOSES THEIR HOUSE, AND THEY COME IN AND BLAME THE CITY COMMISSION FOR SETTING THEM UP, IS WHAT HAPPENS. I ALSO LIKE TO SAY, UNDER THE ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER, IF YOU WANT EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENED, IF YOU WANTED TO DO A MOTION TO POSTPONE TO A DATE, CERTAIN SOMEONE WOULD HAVE TO BRING A MOTION AND HAVE TO BE SECONDED AND DISCUSSED. OKAY, I THINK WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? THERE'S A MOTION. AND SECOND, WHERE IF THERE'S A MOTION, YOU CAN DO A SECOND IF YOU WANT ME TO, I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT. SO THIS CAME UP I SIT ON A BOARD OF 70 OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND THIS CAME UP LAST YEAR. THIS IS THE MOST REVILED PROGRAM I HAVE EVER HEARD A DESCRIPTION OF. WE ARE SO LUCKY THAT WE, OUR RESIDENTS, DID NOT SUFFER THE ABUSE THAT HAPPENED ALL OVER THE STATE. THE CHAIR FINALLY SAID, OKAY, AFTER 2.5 HOURS OF HORROR STORIES OF PEOPLE YOU KNOW, IT JUST THIS PROGRAM IN THIS FORM IS NOT WORKING. THAT IS CLEARLY THE CASE. AND FOR THE EXACT REASONS YOU JUST DESCRIBED, MR. HOGARTH, IS WE GET THE BLAME, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONTROL IT, TO VERIFY IT. IT'S THE WORST OF BOTH WORLDS. AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED. THIS WAS 70 OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS. IT WAS UNANIMOUS. THEY SAID, WE DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS PROGRAM IN THIS FORM. IT'S JUST I THINK WE JUST NEED TO WIPE THE SLATE CLEAN HERE. AND IF WE WANT TO FIND A MEANS OF ACCOMPLISHING WHAT THIS I'M SURE THE GOALS WERE NOBLE INITIALLY, BUT THE EXECUTION HAS BEEN TERRIBLE. IT'S LIKE THE CDBG AGAIN HERE. YOU KNOW, WE'RE AUTHORIZING IT BUT NOT CONTROLLING IT. BUT WE GET THE BLAME. AND THAT'S NOT A GOOD WAY FOR THE CITY TO PROCEED. SO I HAVE NO INTEREST IN POSTPONING THIS. I WOULD HOPE WE COULD VOTE ON THIS. AND IF WE WANT IN THE FUTURE, FIND A WAY TO IMPLEMENT THIS WITH GREATER CONTROL AND GREATER OVERSIGHT, BECAUSE WE ALL ARE WELL AWARE OF THE DOWNSIDE WHEN WE FALL SHORT IN THAT AREA. MR. MAYOR. YES, ONE OF THE THIS IS GOING TO BE A BACKHANDED ONE OF THE BEST REASONS FOR THIS PROGRAM. AND I HEARD THIS FROM A TAX COLLECTOR AND BECAUSE IT IS A SURE WAY FOR THE FINANCING AGENCY TO GET THEIR MONEY. SO AS MR. MARTELL WAS SAYING, THAT IF THERE WAS A MORTGAGE AND SOMEBODY COULDN'T PAY FOR THE MONTH OR SOMETHING HAPPENED, THERE'S GOING TO BE MRS. THIS IS A SURE WAY, BECAUSE PEOPLE PAY THEIR TAXES AND HOPEFULLY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO PAY THEIR TAXES TO KEEP THEIR HOMES, BUT IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT IT'S MOST SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO USE THIS PROGRAM ARE ONES WHO REALLY NEED HELP, AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY. AND THEN WHEN THEY HAVE THIS EXTRA 2 TO $4000 A YEAR, THAT COMES UP RIGHT WITH THEIR TAX BILL, WHICH HAS A WINDOW TO BE PAID. AND SO THAT I WAS TOLD BY A TAX COLLECTOR, BY A TAX COLLECTOR THAT THIS IS AND MAYBE THIS THE STATUTE NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO THE WAY THESE FINANCING AGENCIES WORK. BUT THAT IS A SURE WAY FOR THEM TO GET THEIR MONEY AND TO COLLECT THEIR MONEY THROUGH THE PROPERTY. THE TAX COLLECTOR'S OFFICE. AND PEOPLE ARE MISLED. YOU KNOW, IT'S THAT'S THE PROBLEM WE HAVE. IF CONSUMERS ARE PREYED UPON. AND TO CLARIFY, AS FAR AS THE AUTHORIZATION, THE AUTHORIZATION, THERE IS NOTHING THAT LIMITS US IN THE FUTURE OF REAUTHORIZING AT ANY POINT. SO. SO I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD WITH MY MOTION CLERK, AND WE HAD A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER REED. OKAY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ARE WE READY TO VOTE. CALL THE ROLL PLEASE. WE HAVE A MOTION. OKAY. THE MOTION WAS TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 117. DO YOU LIKE WE CAN. MR. BAGGETT, WOULD YOU REREAD THE MOTION SIMPLY TO 
          [02:00:03]
APPROVE THE RESOLUTION? SO IT WAS MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 117 DASH 2020 FOR A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF STUART, FLORIDA, REPEALING RESOLUTION NUMBER 132, DASH 2020 AND D AUTHORIZING PROPERTY ASSESSED CLEAN ENERGY, ALSO KNOWN AS PACE PROGRAMS WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF STUART. TERMINATING AGREEMENTS WITH THE FLORIDA GREEN FINANCE AUTHORITY, THE FLORIDA RESILIENCY AND ENERGY DISTRICT, THE FLORIDA PACE FUNDING AGENCY, AND THE GREEN CORRIDOR PACE DISTRICT. PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 2024, DASH 273, FLORIDA STATUTES, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. THANK YOU. ROLL CALL, PLEASE. MADAM CLERK, COMMISSIONER REED. 
          YES, COMMISSIONER. COLLINS. YES, COMMISSIONER. CLARK. YES, COMMISSIONER. JOB. YES, MAYOR. 
          RICH. YES. MOTION IS UNANIMOUS. SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SECOND READING. THIS IS QUASI 
          [14. 710 SE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. BOULEVARD - MAJOR AMENDMENT TO THE EXISTING COMMERCIAL PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT (CPUD) ZONING DISTRICT (RC): ORDINANCE No. 2532-2024; AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF STUART, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE CITY'S OFFICIAL ZONING MAP, TO REZONE A 2.4-ACRE PARCEL LOCATED AT 710 SE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. BOULEVARD, BEING MORE DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A" ATTACHED, FOR MAJOR AMENDMENT TO THE EXISTING COMMERCIAL PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT (CPUD) ZONING DESIGNATION TO ALLOW A VOCATIONAL TRAINING FACILITY ONLY; PROVIDING DIRECTIONS TO THE CITY CLERK; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.]
JUDICIAL. YELLOW CARD, PLEASE. ITEM NUMBER 14. MR. BAGGETT WILL YOU PLEASE READ IT FOR OUR CONSIDERATION? ORDINANCE NUMBER 2532 DASH 2024, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF STUART, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE CITY'S OFFICIAL ZONING MAP TO REZONE A 2.4 ACRE PARCEL LOCATED AT 710 SOUTHEAST MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR BOULEVARD, BEING MORE DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT A ATTACHED FOR A MAJOR AMENDMENT TO THE EXISTING COMMERCIAL PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT, ALSO KNOWN AS KPD ZONING DESIGNATION, TO ALLOW A VOCATIONAL TRAINING FACILITY ONLY PROVIDING DIRECTIONS TO THE CITY CLERK. PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF ALL ORDINANCES AND CONFLICT. 
          PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY. PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION. PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. DO ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS DO THE COMMISSION HAVE ANY EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS TO DISCLOSE IN CONNECTION WITH THIS ITEM? I DO, I SPOKE WITH MR. ZACCHEO AND CHRIS KRUEGER. I SPOKE WITH AS WELL. WHEN I RAN INTO THEM. OKAY. COMMISSIONER, DO YOU KNOW I SPEAK WITH MR. ZACH BUT BUT ON OTHER I SEE HIM IN TOWN. I HAVEN'T, I HAVEN'T TALKED TO ANY ANYBODY ABOUT THIS ITEM MUCH SINCE THIS LAST CAME UP FOR THE FIRST READING. AND I'M HERE WITH AN OPEN MIND, COMMISSIONER COLLINS. I'VE DONE I'VE SPOKEN WITH MR. ZACCHEO NUMEROUS TIMES REGARDING THIS ITEM, AND I'VE ALSO SPOKEN WITH JIMMY SMITH REGARDING THIS ITEM 2 OR 3 TIMES. SO AND I'VE SPOKEN WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY REGARDING THIS ITEM AS WELL. MR. BAGGETT, COULD YOU PUT ANY WITNESSES UNDER OATH, PLEASE? SURE. WE'LL ALL POTENTIAL WITNESSES FOR THE APPLICANT AND CITY STAFF, PLEASE STAND AND RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND BE SWORN IN. DO YOU AFFIRM THAT THE TESTIMONY THAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO PROVIDE IN THIS HEARING WILL BE THE TRUTH? THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, SO HELP YOU GOD? I DO. YOU MAY BE SEATED. WILL THE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT PLEASE PROVIDE A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE AGENDA ITEM, INCLUDING THE LOCATION AND SIZE OF THE PROPERTY, CURRENT ZONING, ZONING REQUESTED, AND LIST THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST TO DEVIATE FROM THE LAND USE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS. GOOD EVENING, MAYO. 
          COMMISSIONERS. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS CHRIS MCCRANE, PRINCIPAL PLANNER WITH THE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. AND TONIGHT I'LL BE PRESENTING AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 14 FOR A MAJOR AMENDMENT TO THE COMMERCIAL PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT ZONING DESIGNATION, WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR A VOCATIONAL TRAINING FACILITY WITHIN THE PUD. THIS IS THE SECOND AND FINAL ADOPTION HEARING FOR ORDINANCE NUMBER 2532 DASH 2024, PURSUANT TO LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE PUBLIC NOTICE REQUIREMENTS. ON SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2024, THE APPLICANT MAILED NOTICE TO ALL ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS LOCATED WITHIN 300FT OF THE SUBJECT PARCEL, WHICH PROVIDED DETAILS OF THE REQUESTED DEVELOPMENT AND THE DATE AND TIME OF TONIGHT'S PUBLIC HEARING. ADDITIONALLY, THE THREE THREE PUBLIC NOTICE SIGNS WERE POSTED ON THE PROPERTY WITH THE SAME INFORMATION. SO FOR CONTEXT, THE 2.4 ACRE PARCEL IS LOCATED AT 710 SOUTHEAST. MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR BOULEVARD. IT IS BOUNDED BY SOUTHEAST TARPON AVENUE TO THE EAST, SOUTHEAST LAKE STREET TO THE SOUTH, AND MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR BOULEVARD TO THE NORTH. THE SITE IS LOCATED WITHIN THE EAST STUART NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THE CRA OR COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AREA. THE SUBJECT PARCEL IS CURRENTLY ZONED COMMERCIAL PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT. THE PROPERTIES TO THE NORTH, SOUTH AND WEST ARE ZONED GENERAL RESIDENTIAL OFFIC. 
          THE PROPERTIES TO THE SOUTH ARE SOME OF THE PROPERTIES TO THE SOUTH ARE ALSO ZONED SINGLE FAMILY DUPLEX, AND THE PROPERTIES TO THE EAST ARE DESIGNATED BY THE BUSINESS MIXED 
          [02:05:03]
USE ZONING DESIGNATION. THE SUBJECT PARCEL AND ALL THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES ARE DESIGNATED BY THE EAST STUART FUTURE LAND USE, WHICH APPLIES TO AREAS WITHIN THE CRA AND IS SPECIFIC TO THE EAST STUART NEIGHBORHOOD. PERMITTED USES INCLUDE COMMERCIAL OFFICE, RECREATION, MIXED USE, LOW DENSITY, AND MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS. SO PROJECT LIFT WAS PRESENTED TO THE BOARDS BACK IN AUGUST. IT MADE IT THROUGH THE CITY COMMISSION OR CRB AND THE LPA WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR APPROVAL AT THAT TIME IT WAS A STRAIGHT ZONING PETITION TO THE BUSINESS, MIXED USE ZONING DISTRICT. ONCE WE GOT TO THE COMMISSION, IT WAS REQUESTED THAT WE BRING BACK THE APPLICATION AS A ZONING TO THE PUD, WHICH IS THE EXISTING ZONING DESIGNATION. SO WE BROUGHT BACK THE ITEM TO THE CRB ON OCTOBER 1ST, 2024. WE BROUGHT IT TO THE CITY COMMISSION FOR THE FIRST READING ON OCTOBER 14TH, 2024. AND WE JUST HAD THE LPA MEETING ON NOVEMBER 7TH, 2024. SO WE ARE HERE TODAY. STAFF HAS REVIEWED THE PETITION. 
          THE MAJOR AMENDMENT TO THE PUD, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CITY OF STUART'S LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AND COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND THE CITY. THE STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COMMISSION GRANT APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 2534 DASH 2024 AND ALLOW FOR VOCATIONAL TRAINING FACILITIES AS A PERMITTED USE WITHIN THE PUD. THIS CONCLUDES STAFF'S PRESENTATION. THE APPLICANT AND STAFF ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. IS THE APPLICANT DO THEY WISH TO PRESENT THEIR REQUEST TO THE CITY COMMISSION? IS THAT YOU? YES. OKAY. WE DON'T HAVE ANY CHANGES SINCE IT WAS LAST PRESENTED, EXCEPT WE ZONED IT TO KPD. CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE BOARD WANTED. WE DO HAVE THE SITE PLAN THAT THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO SEE, THE SITE PLAN OR ANY RENDERINGS OF THE BUILDINGS. 
          WE'RE STILL PROPOSING A 12,500 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING FOR A VOCATIONAL TRAINING SCHOOL, WHICH WILL INCLUDE ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING AND INCUBATORS SHOULD THE NEED BE IN THE COMMUNITY. BOB THACKER'S ALSO HERE. IF YOU'VE HEARD HIS PRESENTATIONS NUMEROUS TIMES AND WHAT HE HAS TO OFFER, WE ARE PARTNERING. PARTNERING WITH PROJECT LIFT TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE AT THE NEW FACILITY AND WE ALREADY HAVE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH PROJECT LIFT. 
          WHEN THIS PROJECT GETS APPROVED, WE'LL WORK ON A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH WITH BOB SACCO TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE IN THE NEW FACILITY TO ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS. HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF OR MR. ZACCHEO? MAYOR RICH, I DO, COMMISSIONER READ THIS WAS SENT OUT TO EVERYBODY IN THE ENTIRE EAST YORK COMMUNITY, I BELIEVE. RIGHT FOR LETTERS. CORRECT. OKAY. AND THEN WITH THE LPA, WERE THERE ANY CONCERNS RAISED ON THE SEVENTH THAT THE LPA BOARD MEETING AT ALL, THEY ASKED ABOUT DOING SOME WEEKEND CLASSES, CLASSES IN THE NEW FACILITY, MAYBE LOOKING AT DOING ADULT PROGRAMS. THOSE WERE SOME OF THE COMMENTS WE DID RECOMMEND THAT WE'LL COORDINATE WITH THE JIM CHARLES SKI BECAUSE RECREATION CENTER IS NOW AVAILABLE, SINCE WE DON'T HAVE THE AFTERCARE PROGRAM TO PROVIDE SOME SORT OF ADULT CARE, ADULT CLASSES. AND I KNOW JIM HAS ALREADY REACHED OUT TO MR. CHRISTIE TO, TO FIND OUT WHAT HE'S INTERESTED IN AND WHAT KIND OF CLASSES WE SHOULD DO FOR ADULTS. OKAY, SO THERE WAS DISCUSSION, I GUESS, FOR WEEKEND CLASSES. WHAT WAS PROJECT LIFT STANCE ON THAT FOR WEEKEND CLASSES? WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT UP? I DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY. EXCUSE ME, I'M NOT FEELING SO GOOD TODAY. YOU'RE DOING THE BEST I CAN TO. YOU HAVE COVID, MR. ZACCHEO. WHAT'S THAT? YOU HAVE COVID? NO, I THINK A LITTLE BIT OF ALLERGIES. YEAH, LIKE, HERE YOU GO. NOW VOTE ON IT. RIGHT. NO, IT'S. WE'VE HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS, BUT I CAN TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU PUT WEEKEND COMPONENTS IN PLACE, IT CAN BE IT CAN BE CHALLENGING. THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER ISSUES THAT CAN BE RAISED THAT ARE RELATED TO THAT. I'M OPEN TO THE DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW THAT COULD LOOK AND WHAT WE COULD DO TO HELP FACILITATE SOME OF THOSE THINGS. BUT IN TERMS OF STAFFIN, IT'S RELATED TO PROJECT LIFT IS THAT NOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BUDGETARY COMPONENTS THAT WOULD BE OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE OF WHAT OF WHERE WE'RE AT AND WHAT OUR MISSION AND VISION IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE. AND I ALSO REMEMBER THAT THE BEST TIMES TO SERVE. SERVE ADULTS IS IN THAT MORNING TIME. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THAT 9 A.M. TO THE TO 2:30 P.M, WE ARE SERVING UP TO 25 YEARS OLD. THAT'S IN OUR MISSION AND VISION AND OUR OUR SCOPE OF SERVICES. BUT WE ARE AGAIN OPEN TO OPEN TO ADDITIONAL 
          [02:10:06]
CONVERSATIONS RELATED TO HOW THAT COULD LOOK. I DIDN'T EVEN LOOK AT THAT. YEAH. I JUST DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU HAD PLANS ON THE WEEKENDS CURRENTLY. NO. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, RUNNING A COMPANY, YOU KNOW, ONCE YOU GET TO THAT 40 HOUR AREA AND WE HIT 40 HOURS WITH OUR STAFF RIGHT AROUND THURSDAY AT 6:30 P.M, TO BE PRECISE. YEAH. OKAY. AND THEN YOU AND MR. CHRISTIE WERE ABLE TO WORK THINGS OUT. MR. CHRISTIE AND I HAVE HAD SOME GOOD CONVERSATIONS. AND, YOU KNOW, BUT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK IT'S ABOUT PROJECT LIFT. YOU HAVE TO SPEAK ON IT ON HIS ON HIS BEHALF. I DON'T FROM THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE. AND HE WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, I'M SURE. IS THAT WE'VE HAD SOME GOOD CONVERSATIONS. HE CAME DOWN. HE AND HIS WIFE DID A TOUR OF PROJECT LIFT. I THINK THAT'S VERY AFFIRMATIVE. THAT THAT I DON'T THINK HE HAS AN ISSUE WITH US, BUT HE CAN SPEAK TO THAT. I THINK HE HAS AN ISSUE THAT'S TOTALLY SEPARATE, THAT I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE SEPARATE. 
          THAT'S ALL. OKAY. THAT'LL BE IT. THANKS. I COMMISSIONER READ. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. DO ANY COMMISSIONER JOB I HAVE NO QUESTIONS. I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR PUTTING UP WITH ME. THANK YOU ARE AMAZINGLY HARD. I MEAN, THE AMAZING AMOUNT OF WORK THAT SHE'S PUT INTO THIS AND HER ENTIRE TEAM, YOU GUYS SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF THAT TEAM. THAT AND THE STAFF. THANK YOU, MR. JACKIE, DOES THE PETITIONER WISH TO OFFER ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BEFORE CONCLUDING HIS PRESENTATION? NO. SAYS NO. OKAY. NO. HE'S SICK. OKAY. THE PRESENTATION OF EVIDENCE HAS ENDED AND THE HEARING IS CLOSED. DOES ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WISH TO MAKE A COMMENT? I DO HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT. OH, JAMES CHRISTIE OKAY. FEEL BETTER. MR. ZACCHEO. THANK YOU. WELCOME AGAIN, MR. CHRISTIE. IT'S NICE TO BE HERE AGAIN BECAUSE I'VE BEEN HERE A LOT. I'VE BEEN ABOUT EIGHT MEETINGS CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. AND EVERY MINUTE, EVERY MEETING PULLED THE TAPE. I AM OPPOSED TO THIS PROJECT GOING TO THE WILLIE GARY PROPERTY AT 710 SOUTHEAST MLK. AND YOU CAN PULL THE TAPE AGAIN. I NEVER SAID I WAS AGAINST THE PROGRAM. PROGRA. 
          GOOD. I TOURED, BUT I KIND OF RESENT THE FACT THAT MY NAME IS BEING DROPPED. REGARDING APPROVAL OF THE PROJECT. WHEN I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF THIS PROJECT GOING AT THIS SITE, LET ME MAKE THAT CLEAR. LET ME MAKE IT CLEAR ALSO THAT THERE WERE OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT CAME FORTH, NOT JUST ME, MOSTLY ME AND MY BIG MOUTH, BUT IT WAS OTHER PEOPLE CAME FORTH AND SAID THE SAME THING. THERE'S A FEW ISSUES AND THE CITY COMMISSION, THE LOCAL PLANNING AGENCY, THE CRB BOARD AND THE CRA BOARD, Y'ALL GOT TO BE GOOD WITH A FEW THING. FIRST, YOU GOT TO BE GOOD ABOUT HOW THIS WAS DONE, HOW IT WAS INITIATED. I PULLED IN A PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST ASKING FOR DETAILS ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE THAT'S IMPORTANT. YOU DO THINGS LIKE THAT TO MAKE SURE THINGS ARE FAIR. YOU GIVE OPPORTUNITY TO OTHER PEOPLE AND YOU CAN'T SAY, ALL THIS IS MY FRIEND. COME ON, YOU WANT TO PUT A BUILDING ON SOUTHEAST 17, MARTIN LUTHER KING BOULEVARD? I WILL GET YOU IN. YOU MAKE SURE YOU DO THINGS PROPERLY SO THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN. ALSO, THIS PROJECT WAS PUSHED TO THE PUBLIC. MY COMMITTEE THAT I'M REPRESENTING AND THE TOTAL REPRESENTATIVE TO TAKE CARE OF IT. PEOPLE HAVE OTHER OPINIONS. THAT'S FINE. BUT IT WAS PUSHED. THERE'S GOING TO BE A BUSINESS INCUBATOR, BUSINESS INCUBATOR, BUSINESS INCUBATOR. IT'S GOING TO SOLVE ECONOMIC INJUSTICE, ECONOMIC INJUSTICE, ECONOMIC INJUSTICE TO THE NEWSPAPER WITHIN THE CITY. DOCUMENTS. I GOT IT. IT WAS PUT IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. THE BIBLE. AND THEY GO FROM THAT TO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? A VOCATIONAL TAX IS GOING TO BE IN EXCLUSIVE TO ONLY 16 TO 26 YEAR OLDS. I WASN'T EVEN MY NEGOTIATORS THAT I TALKED WITH BOB ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE. THEY WERE NOT IN GOOD FAITH BECAUSE NO ONE EVER TOLD ME THAT ON THAT PROPERTY, YOU CANNOT HAVE ANYBODY ELSE ON THERE. IF YOU HAVE THAT PARTICULAR POPULATION. I LEARNED ABOUT THAT THE OTHER DAY. I ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT I SENT QUESTIONS TO THE CITY, BY THE WAY, I GOT TO PAY $7,000 TO GET ALL THE INFORMATION I WANT, BUT THE, THE END. THIS IS INJUSTICE FOR THE COMMUNITY. IT'S NOT 
          [02:15:05]
GOING TO SOLVE OUR PROBLEM OF ECONOMIC INCLUSION, ECONOMIC STIMULATION. IT'S NOT GOING TO DO THAT. IT'S GOING TO MAKE IT WORSE. THAT'S THE PROPERTY IS HISTORIC. IF YOU WANT TO SEE A BUSINESS INCUBATOR ON THERE AND NOT A QUASI AFTER THE FACT, OR WE'RE GOING TO DO WHAT WE WANT TO DO AND THEN WE'LL THINK ABOUT DOING SO. THANK YOU, MR. CHRISTIE. THANK YOU. AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, IF I CAN JUST PROVIDE A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON MR. CHRISTIE'S COMMENTS, HE IS ACCURATE THAT ORIGINALLY, WHEN DAVID DIAS FIRST STARTED PURSUING THE PROGRAM, A RELATIONSHIP WAS DEVELOPED BETWEEN THE CITY AND INDIAN RIVER STATE COLLEGE THAT THEY DID, IN FACT START TO PURSUE A BUSINESS INCUBATOR PROGRAM, AND THERE WAS GOING TO BE ADULT TRAINING. IT WAS GOING TO BE THROUGH THE COLLEGE AND THE COUNTY AT THE ALMOST IDENTICAL TIME, ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WERE DOING THE REACH PROGRAM AT THE AIRPORT, WHICH IS A BUSINESS INCUBATOR THROUGH THE INDIAN RIVER STATE COLLEGE PROGRAM. AND AS A RESULT, INDIAN RIVER STATE COLLEGE ULTIMATELY SAID THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO THE PROGRAM IN EAST STUART. AND WE HAD ALREADY APPLIED FOR THE GRANT UNDER THE PROGRAM THAT COMMISSIONER OR NOT, THAT MR. CHRISTIE WAS DESCRIBING. HOWEVER, WE HAD MULTIPLE MEETINGS AFTER THAT TO TRY AND FIND A SUITABLE CONCEPT TO PROVIDE BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY. AND WHEN WE WERE MATCHED WITH PROJECT LIFT, IT REALLY SEEMED LIKE THE MOST APPROPRIATE FIT. AND THE THEORY BEHIND IT WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN REACH THE KIDS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 25 AND TRAIN THEM, THAT AT THE END OF TEN YEARS THERE WON'T BE ANYBODY IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THAT ISN'T TRAINED, AND THEY'LL ALL HAVE JOBS, AND EVERYBODY WILL BE THAT THAT WANTS TO BE. AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WILL PROVIDE THAT ECONOMIC PROSPERITY. AND WITH PEOPLE WORKING IN FIELDS AND BEING TRAINED WITH EXPERIENCE, THAT THEY WILL ACTUALLY HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE SOME MONEY IN THEIR POCKET AND MAYBE CREATE THEIR OWN BUSINESSES OR, OR OR EFFECTIVELY INCUBATE NEW COMMERCE. NOW, I, IN MR. CHRISTIE'S DEFENSE, I AGREE THAT IT ISN'T THE JOB INCUBATOR THAT STARTED OUT, BUT THAT WAS NOT A DECISION THAT THE CITY OF STUART VOTED TO CANCEL AND GO A DIFFERENT WAY. IT WAS LITERALLY TAKEN AWAY AND IT WASN'T AVAILABLE ANYMORE. AND THE CITY STILL WANTED TO DO SOMETHING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND DO SOMETHING. AND WE AMENDED THE GRANT AND THE COMMISSION OBVIOUSLY VOTED ON IT ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS TO MAKE THE CHANGES AND TO PURSUE IT. AND IT'S ACTUALLY A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM RIGHT NOW SO FAR IN THE RELATIONSHIPS ARE GOOD, AND IT WILL, IN FACT, PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? MADAM CLERK, I DO NOT. DOES THE APPLICANT WISH TO MAKE CLOSING REMARKS? NO, NO, NO. OKAY. THE CITY OF STUART. THANK YOU, MR. I HAVEN'T CLOSED PUBLIC COMMENT. WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE NO. IF YOU COULD TELL US WHO YOU ARE, MA'AM. THANK YOU. 
          LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. ALAN MCBRIDE FROM FLAMINGO AVENUE. I WAS SITTING THERE LISTENING TO MIKE. I'VE BEEN HERE SAYING THAT WHEN IT WAS INDIAN RIVER COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND THAT SO I, YOU KNOW, I'M A LITTLE KNOWLEDGEABLE. NOT AS MUCH AS YOU ALL SITTING UP THERE, BUT SITTING HERE AND I'M THINKING IT'S NOT JUST FOR THE EAST, STUART YOUNG PEOPLE. IT'S FOR ALL OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF STUART THAT MR. CHRISTIE LIVES IN PORT SAINT LUCIE. IF THOSE KIDS WANTED YOUNG MEN, I SHOULDN'T CALL THEM KIDS. YOUNG MEN. SO. WHEN WE ALL SEE AND I KNOW WHERE I LIVE. I GREW UP IN DOWN 10TH STREET. FIVE DAYS A WEEK, I'M UP AND DOWN 10TH STREET. MAYBE 3 OR 4 TIMES. IF NOT MORE. THERE ARE YOUNG MEN, YOUNG MEN, AND YOU SEE THEM OUT THERE BY WITH THEIR TRUCKS, OR THEY'LL STOP AT THE DOOR TO CUT DOWN TREES AND NOT TRYING TO EARN EXTRA MONEY. AND I KNOW SOME OF THEM PERSONALLY, BECAUSE THEY WENT TO JD PARK WITH MY CHILDREN AND STUART MIDDLE SCHOOL, MARTIN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL. SO IF WE COULD GIVE EVEN THEM OR THEIR CHILDREN A HAND UP, I THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS REALLY BOILS DOWN TO. WE'RE GIVING THE YOUTH, NOT THE YOUNG PEOPLE, A HAND UP. NOW, IF THIS BUILDING GOES UP, IS THAT THE ONLY THING IT CAN USE BE FOR USE FOR, SAY, IN 20 YEARS? OR CAN IT BE CHANGED? WELL, THE PUD THAT 
          [02:20:08]
THE COMMISSION IS PASSING IS RESTRICTING THE USE OF THE PROPERTY TO THIS USE. ONLY THE BUILDING ITSELF CAN BE RETROFITTED FOR LOTS OF OTHER USES, BUT IT WOULD REQUIRE A PUBLIC HEARING TO COME BEFORE THE CITY TO AUTHORIZE THAT USE. WELL, SEE, YOU STILL HAVE THAT LITTLE DOOR OPEN THAT YOU CAN, BUT IT CAN BE USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES IF PURPOSES. IF IT IF IT TRAINS EVERYBODY AND YOU DON'T NEED THE USE ANYMORE AT ALL, THEN YOU COULD DO SOMETHING ELSE WITH IT. I THINK THE GRANT REQUIRES FIVE YEARS. RIGHT? RIGHT. WELL YEAH, THAT'S FIVE YEARS. GO BY VERY FAST. LET ME TELL YOU. I MEAN, WE OWN IT AND CITY. WELL, YEAH, WE OWN IT, I KNOW IT. IT'S SO THAT'S HOW I FEEL AS A PERSON THAT I LOVE KIDS. AND I'VE WATCHED THESE KIDS SINCE KINDERGARTEN GROW UP IN THAT. AND NOW I'M WATCHING THE GRANDCHILDREN. I THINK IT'S A IT'S FOR OUR FUTURE, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO ARE TRYING TO FIND A SCREEN GUY TO DO A SCREENING IN THAT IT'S KIND OF IT'S HARD TO FIND JUST LITTLE SOMEONE WHO'S WILLING TO WORK TO DO LITTLE THINGS, YOU KNOW, REPAIRS LIKE A REFRIGERATOR, AIR CONDITIONING. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. MR. YOU NEED TO FILL OUT A GREEN CARD, MISS MCPHERSON. MR. WHAT COMMENT? YOU MENTIONED YOU BROUGHT THE CDBG IN. IF YOU HAD READ, SIR, THE PAPERWORK AND THE CONTRACT, YOU KEEP MAKING THE SAME ECHOING. ARE YOU ARE YOU REFERRING TO THIS ITEM WE'RE CONSIDERING RIGHT NOW? AND YOU BROUGHT UP SOMETHING WITH THE CDBG AND YOU DIDN'T READ THE CONTRACT BECAUSE YOU MADE AN ERRONEOUS STATEMENT, BUT IT WAS THAT WAS ON THE LAST ITEM. WELL, YOU SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT IT UP ON THIS ONE. THEN. I DON'T I'M SORRY FOR THE OKAY. NO OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS. MADAM CLERK, MAY WE HAVE A MOTION, PLEASE? MR. MAYOR, I HAVE A QUESTION. 
          OKAY. I'LL JUST MAKE A MOTION SO THAT WE. I CAN ASK MY QUESTION CORRECT WITH REGARD TO ORDINANCE NUMBER 2532 DASH 2024, MOVE APPROVAL FOR THE LAND USE FOR THE ZONING CHANGE TO COMMERCIAL PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT TO ALLOW FOR A VOCATIONAL TRAINING FACILITY ONLY. SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLARK AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COLLINS REGARDING IT SAYS HERE WE HAVE TO. I THINK YOUR DESCRIPTION WAS SUFFICIENT TO SATISFY THE NEED TO CLARIFY THE MOTION. SO IS THERE A DISCUSSION BY THE COMMISSIONERS REGARDING THIS ITEM? YES, COMMISSIONER. I'M SORRY. COMMISSIONER CLARK, IS THE MOTION MAKER. YOU MAY GO. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANKS. I PROBABLY HAVE LIKE 2 OR 3 THINGS I DON'T THINK THAT MR. MARTEL KNOWS THE ANSWER TO THIS, BUT WITH REGARD TO MR. CHRISTIE'S COMMENTS AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE TYPE OF TRAINING PROGRA, MAYBE MR. MR. ZACCHEO, I THINK I WAS GOING TO SAY DOCTOR ZACCHEO. 
          MR. THE PROGRAM AT THE HIGH SCHOOL. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY STILL HAVE THAT, BUT THAT PROVIDES EVENING PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE OR USED TO WITH ELECTRICAL, TECHNICAL, ELECTRICAL AND OTHER THINGS. AND I THINK ALSO THE WHY NOT THE YMCA, THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB IS GOING TO BE DOING SOMETHING WITH PEOPLE, I THINK UP TO AGE 25 WITH SOME OF THESE OTHER SKILL AREAS TOO. SO THERE'S SOME THINGS THERE THAT WILL INTERFACE. THAT'S ONE THING, THAT PROGRAM. THE SECOND THING MR. MARTEL MENTIONED ABOUT THE REACH AT THE AIRPORT, AND I'M ASKING ABOUT THE INNOVATION HUB THAT WE SET OUT AS A LAND USE, ALONG WITH THE COUNTY, IN THE COMMERCE BOULEVARD AREA, TO HAVE SOME KIND OF A JOINT INNOVATION HUB AND TO DO SOME THINGS AND TO WORK WITH THE BUSINESSES IN THERE, AS WELL AS EVEN THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BOARD, WHEN THEY BRING IN NEW BUSINESSES INTO MARTIN COUNTY. I WANT MR. MARTEL, IF HE HAS ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THAT. YOU JUST KIND OF EXPLAIN HOW THAT ALSO WOULD COULD INTERFACE AS A TOOL THAT MAYBE PEOPLE NEED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TO GET THOSE RESOURCES TO PROBABLY THROUGH THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BOARD OR THROUGH THE CHAMBER OR THE COUNTY AS TO HOW THAT WHOLE INNOVATION HUB AREA CAN BE USED AS A BENEFIT FOR BOTH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY. AND MY THIRD THING IS WITH REGARD TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, I THINK SOMEBODY MENTIONED 
          [02:25:04]
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. AND IF THERE'S A MAJOR CONCERN AS TO WANTING TO DO SOMETHING TO ACTUALLY STIR SPECIFIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ESPECIALLY IN THE EAST STEWART AREA, MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY, ALONG WITH ANY FUNDS THAT COULD BE AVAILABLE FROM THE CRA THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY WORK ON DOING SOMETHING. I THINK MR. ONE OF OUR MEMBERS HAS SAID THAT THEY'VE TALKED TO STAFF A LOT AND COME TO US, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF ANY PLAN HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO SAY, HERE'S A PLAN THAT SOME OTHER COMMUNITY HAS DONE, AND MAYBE WE COULD TRY TO IMPLEMENT THAT TYPE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. AND IF WE DO HAVE THAT, THE FUNDING OR HAS AN IDEA THAT MAYBE ANOTHER YEAR SOMETHING CAN BE PROVIDED THAT SAYS THIS IS HOW IT WILL WORK, WHETHER IT'S SOME KIND OF A LOAN POOL, SOMETHING WITH THE BANKS IN THE AREA. SO PEOPLE CAN GET FUNDS FOR REDEVELOPMENT, THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF FLORIDA STATUTES THAT TALKS ABOUT COMMUNITY LOAN POOLING AND THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT IF WE NEED TO DO THAT, MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO WORK WITH AND SET THAT UP AS A PROJECT TO WORK AS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOL INSIDE THE EAST STUART AREA. SO MR. MARTEL, THE INNOVATION HUB, DO DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THAT? IT'S REALLY NOT RELEVANT TO THIS SUBJECT MATTER. RIGHT. YEAH. BUT IT BUT IT'S JUST BUT THEY MENTIONED HAVING THIS THE INNOVATION HUB, THE INCUBATORS AND THAT KIND OF THING. YEAH. INNOVATION HUB ISN'T AN INCUBATOR, RIGHT. IT'S AN INNOVATION HUB THAT THE COUNTY AND THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BOARD IDENTIFIED A CORRIDOR WHERE THEY WANTED TO MAKE IT KIND OF ITS OWN ZONING, WHERE DIFFERENT BUSINESSES AND COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES WERE TAKING PLACE IN A DESCRIBED AS A MIXED USE TYPE DEVELOPMENT WHERE PEOPLE COULD LIVE AND WORK IN A COMMUNITY THAT IS ALL NEW BUSINESSES THAT THEY'RE ATTRACTING TO THE TO THE AREA IN THAT CORRIDOR FROM WHAT BASICALLY THE FAIRGROUNDS, THE FLEA MARKET. AND THEN ALL THE WAY DOWN THROUGH THE INDUSTRIAL PARKS OR COMMERCE AREA. BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THERE WAS ANY SPECIFIC DO YOU WISH TO MAKE IT PART OF THIS MOTION? NO, I DON'T KNOW. I JUST WANTED THAT INFORMATION TO BE OUT THERE THAT PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT THAT INFORMATION. OKAY. AND THEN WITH REGARD TO COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN COME UP IN THE FUTURE. AND I THINK THAT WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. AND I'LL MEET WITH MR. CHRISTIE AND SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN PLAN TO DO SO THAT PEOPLE CAN LOOK AT SOME FUTURE PROJECTS TO HELP WITH SOME SPECIFIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. BUT NO, MY MOTION STANDS AS TO 25, 32, 22. COMMISSIONER CLARK. COMMISSIONER REED, ANY COMMENTS? YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO STATE OBVIOUSLY, I SPOKE WITH MR. ZACCHEO AND I'VE EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS AND I'VE LET HIM KNOW THAT I'VE NEVER BEEN IN 100% SUPPORT OF THE PROGRAM. I WOULD HAVE MUCH RATHER HAVE SEEN IRS SEE THEIR TO BRING TRADES BECAUSE IT WAS A BROADER AGE THAT THEY WOULD SERVE. AND MR. ZACCHEO AND I, WE HAVE SPOKEN. I BELIEVE HE WAS LIMITED BY HIS GRANTS AND HIS FUNDING FOR WHAT HE CAN SERVE. AND AS A NEW ELECTED OFFICIAL, WALKING INTO THIS IN AUGUST, MOST OF THIS STUFF WAS ALREADY DONE IN THE WORKS, AND A POTENTIAL NO VOTE WOULD MEAN US, THE CITY. I WOULD IMAGINE SELLING THE PROPERTY OR REPAYING BACK A CDBG GRANT TO THE TUNE OF 5 MILLION. WAS IT TOTAL 4.7? IT'S ACTUALLY ALMOST A LITTLE MORE. YEAH. SO THAT WOULD BE US REPAYING IT BACK. AND I RESPECT YOU, MR. CHRISTIE, FOR YOU COMING IN HERE WITH YOUR COMMENTS, BUT POTENTIALLY SELLING THE PROPERTY. ANOTHER APPLICANT COULD PURCHASE IT AND THEY COULD COME IN FOR SOMETHING ELSE THAT MIGHT NOT BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY AT ALL. WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD COME THERE THAT WOULD COME BEFORE THE BOARD. BUT YES, IRS WOULD HAVE 100% SUPPORT. I WOULD IMAGINE, FROM MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS IF THEY WERE STILL INVOLVED AND I THINK THE COMMUNITY WOULD FULLY SUPPORT IT MUCH MORE THAN PROJECT LIFT. 
          PROJECT LIFT, YOU KNOW, IS A SMALL NICHE BASICALLY FOR WHAT THEY'RE SERVING. AND I'VE EXPRESSED IT TO MR. ZACCHEO, I RESPECT WHAT YOU'RE DOING FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE SMALL PART THAT YOU ARE DOING, AND THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAD TO SAY. JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, MR. CHRISTIE, WHAT A NO VOTE WOULD MEAN FOR ME WALKING INTO THIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. 
          [02:30:03]
COMMISSIONER JOB. MISTER COMMISSIONER COLLINS, I'M NOT. APPRECIATE MR. CHRISTIE'S CONCERNS AND THIS DOESN'T PRECLUDE TO ADDRESS COMMENTS BY COMMISSIONER CLARKE. THIS DOESN'T PRECLUDE US FROM CONTINUING TO PUSH TO PROVIDE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESS INCUBATION. I WOULD URGE ANYONE TO GO TO ONE OF HIS GRADUATIONS. MR. AND I JUST ATTENDED ONE. I MEAN, I JUST MISSED ONE. I'M SORRY. I WENT TO THE ONE LAST, AND I WAS SO DELIGHTED. I MEAN, THESE KIDS, THESE YOUNG KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE THERE AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE, WELL AWARE OF HOW YOU HELP THEM TURN THEIR LIVES AROUND. AND THEY DID CREATE JOBS. THEY WERE SAYING, OH, I'VE STARTED MY OWN HVAC BUSINESS. I'VE STARTED MY OWN BEAUTY PARLOR. I MEAN, I MEAN, THESE ARE BUSINESSES. PERHAPS THEY'RE NOT WHAT YOU HAVE IN MIND, BUT THEY ARE BUSINESSES, AND IT IS A TERRIFIC OPPORTUNIT. MR. ZACCHEO PROJECT WILL NOW BE A MEMBER OF THE EAST STUART COMMUNITY. I THINK HE SHARES ALL OUR HOPES AND AMBITIONS AS REGARDS TO WHAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THERE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HIS ASSISTANCE THERE. THE CRA HAS A LOT OF MONEY. WE HAVE A LOT OF MONEY COMING INTO THE CRA. SO, MR. CHRISTIE, IF YOU HAVE IDEAS, WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HEAR FROM THEM. IRS UNFORTUNATELY, WE CAN'T COMPEL THEM TO DO ANYTHING. I KNOW MR. HAWKINS, WHO SITS ON THE LPA, IS WORKING HARD ON TRYING TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES IN HIGH TECH. SO THIS DOESN'T CLOSE THE DOOR. THIS IS REALLY OPENING THE DOOR FOR SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES, AND I HOPE WE'RE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM. ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? NOPE. SEEING NONE, WILL YOU TAKE THE ROLL, PLEASE, MADAM CLERK? YES, COMMISSIONER COLLINS. YES, COMMISSIONER. CLARK. YES, MAYOR. RICH. YES, COMMISSIONER. REED. YES, COMMISSIONER. GOBI. YES. 
          THANK YOU. CAN WE TAKE A TEN MINUTE BREAK? MAYBE. EXCUSE ME. CAN WE TAKE A BREAK? I GOT TO GO TO THE BATHROOM. SURE, CERTAINL. ABSOLUTELY. I VIOLATED MY OWN. LET'S TAKE A 15 MI WE'RE RECONVENING OUR MEETING. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. WASN'T SO BAD, WAS IT? OH, WE'RE ON THE D 
          [15. JOB DESCRIPTION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY POSITION]
AND D, ITEM 15. I DON'T THINK YOU NEED TO READ THIS, MR. BAGGETT, DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS REGARDING THIS ITEM? SHOULD WE START WITH PUBLIC COMMENT OR WHY DON'T WE DO YOU WANT ME TO SUMMARIZE WHAT TO REVIEW? I DRAFTED SUMMARIZE THE OKAY. GO AHEAD. MR. I PUT TOGETHER THE AGENDA ITEM AND ONE OF THE ATTACHMENTS TO THE AGENDA ITEM. 
          SO IF YOU RECALL AT THE REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON OCTOBER 14TH, CITY COMMISSIONERS RECEIVED A PRESENTATION FROM A LOCAL ATTORNEY, MAX STUCKEY, ON THE HIRING OF AN ADDITIONAL LAWYER TO BE AN ENVIRONMENTAL LAWYER, SPECIALIST AND ALSO TO AMEND OUR CITY CHARTER TO ADD THAT PARTICULAR ATTORNEY AS A CITY OFFICER OR CHARTER OFFICER. CITY COMMISSION HAD HAD SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT IT AND WE WERE TOLD BASICALLY TO HOLD OFF ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE CITY CHARTER. BUT LET'S MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROCESS OF HIRING AN ENVIRONMENTAL LAWYER. IN ADDITION, WE HAD STARTED BY DRAFTING THE PROPOSED JOB DUTIES AND OR JOB DESCRIPTION OF THE JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF SAID ENVIRONMENTAL LAWYER MR. STUCKEY. IN HIS PRESENTATION ON OCTOBER 14TH. HE HAD SOME PROPOSED POWERS AND JOB DUTIES IN HIS PRESENTATION, AND I DID ATTACH THAT AND IT IS LABELED PROPOSED POWERS AND JOB DUTIES BY MAX STUCKEY. I AFTER GETTING INSTRUCTION FROM THE BOARD, I WENT AHEAD AND DRAFTED A JOB DESCRIPTION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY, AND I'VE ALSO ATTACHED THAT TO THE AGENDA ITEM. THAT ONE IS 123, FOUR PAGES. I HAD ALSO SENT IT AND FORWARDED IT TO OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR. SHE SHE WENT THROUGH IT AND FROM HER END SHE SHE THOUGHT IT WAS GOOD. AND SHE CAN SPEAK FOR HERSELF ON THAT. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HER. OBVIOUSLY I WASN'T HERE WHEN YOU HIRED ME, SO I DON'T KNOW THE PROCESS YOU WENT THROUGH. I DID SPEAK TO MISS JOHNSON, OUR HR DIRECTOR, ABOUT THAT PROCESS. SHE COULD I 
          [02:35:07]
GUESS THERE ARE SOME COMMISSIONERS THAT WERE NOT HERE WHEN I GOT HIRED, SO THEY MIGHT LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT THAT PROCESS. SHE'S HERE. SHE COULD ENLIGHTEN US WITH THAT. AS FAR AS THE JOB DESCRIPTION, IT THE ONE I DRAFTED HAS IT'S MORE OF A FINAL FORM THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY USE. I THINK MR. STUCKEY JUST HAD SOME PROPOSED LANGUAGE TO BE INCLUDED IN A JOB DESCRIPTION. BUT THERE'S ALSO SOME OTHER LEGAL ISSUES THAT WE GOT TO DEAL WITH WITH AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY ACT AND STUFF LIKE THAT, WHICH THAT'S COVERED IN THE JOB DESCRIPTION. THAT I HAD DRAFTED. I TOOK SOME OF HIS LANGUAGE. I MADE SOME AMENDMENTS TO SEVERAL PARAGRAPHS TO WHAT HE HAD, AND I ADDED A BUNCH OF NEW PARAGRAPHS. ALSO, IN THE EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL FUNCTION, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT ME TO. I DOUBT YOU WANT ME TO READ THROUGH IT ALL. I HOPE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW IT BEFORE TONIGHT. YOU DID A GOOD JOB. ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER COLLINS. SO AGAIN, I THOUGHT YOU DID A REALLY GOOD JOB. LEE. THANK YOU. AND CAPTURING THIS IN TALKING TO CITY MANAGER, ACTUALLY TODAY, KIND OF BRAINSTORMING WITH HIM, HE HAD A REALLY GOOD IDEA THAT I WANTED TO PITCH YOU ALL ON. AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAD DISCUSSED KIND OF IMMEDIATELY GOING TO A CHARTER AMENDMENT, YOU KNOW, REFERENDUM TO HAVE THIS BE A THIRD CHARTER POSITION AND THEN SORT OF, OKAY, MAYBE LET'S DO FULL TIME HIRE AND THEN WE CAN DO REFERENDUM LATER. AND MIKE HAD BROUGHT UP THE CHARTER SAYS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE CITY ATTORNEY, BUT IT DOESN'T SAY YOU CAN'T HAVE TWO. SO BASICALLY, INSTANTLY WE COULD WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TO REFERENDUM, HAVE A SECOND CITY ATTORNEY. BUT WHOSE JOB WOULD BE THE ENVIRONMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ATTORNEY? THAT WOULD BE FUNCTIONING AS THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT? SO I SAW THAT ACTUALLY AS A BRILLIANT IDEA. AND IF YOU KNOW, IN THE FUTURE, WE WANT TO GET THAT BUTTONED UP AND GO TO REFERENDUM AND HAVE THAT BE A SEPARATE CHARTERED POSITION BEYOND THIS CHARTERED POSITION, WE COULD. BUT AT LEAST RIGHT AWAY YOU WOULD HAVE AN ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY, YOU KNOW, WITH AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT THAT IS WORKING DIRECTLY FOR COMMISSIONERS. IT'S A CHARTERED POSITION. IT'S NOT A FULL TIME HIRE. YOU KNOW, THAT MIKE IS HIRING. WE WOULD BE ABLE TO INTERVIEW AND HIRE THAT PERSON RIGHT OFF THE BAT WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TO REFERENDUM, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS REALLY COOL. BUT WITHIN THAT REFERENDUM, THE PROBLEM WITH REFERENDUM, YES, IS THAT YOU CAN NEVER GET RID OF THEM. SO IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET. SO IF YOU'RE SUCCESSFUL, YOU KNOW, OH WELL, WE DON'T NEED YOU ANYMORE. SO THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH CHARTER. SO I I'M GLAD YOU APPRECIATE SECOND STAFF MEMBER IF POSSIBLE. YEAH. MAKE MORE SENSE. THEY WOULDN'T BE. THEY WOULD BE STILL THOUGH. 
          CHARTERED AS A CITY ATTORNEY YOU WOULD TREAT THEM AS A CHARTER EMPLOYEE, NOT AS AN EMPLOYEE HIRED BY THE CITY MANAGER. YOUR CHARTER ALLOWS YOU TO HIRE A CITY MANAGER AND A CITY ATTORNEY. YOU COULD READ AND AGAIN, PROBABLY REQUIRE LEE TO GIVE AN OPINION, BUT THERE'S NOTHING IN IT THAT PREVENTS YOU FROM HIRING TWO CITY ATTORNEYS. UNDER THE CURRENT CHARTER, BECAUSE IT GIVES YOU THE ABILITY TO GET RID OF ONE OF THEM. YOU COULD, YES, BECAUSE IT ONLY REQUIRES ONE REFERENDUM. RIGHT? OKAY. AND IF IN FURTHER DISCUSSIONS, IF WE WANTED TO GO IN THAT DIRECTION, ABSOLUTELY SURE. BUT AT LEAST FROM DAY ONE, WE COULD BE THE ONES TO HIRE. 
          AND, YOU KNOW, WE MAKE THAT DECISION ON HOW WE WANT. NOT THAT YOU WOULDN'T DO A GREAT JOB JUST I'D MUCH RATHER HAVE IT BE YOU GUYS. SO I THINK WHAT'S ALSO REALLY NICE ABOUT THAT IS IT COULD BE VERY STREAMLINED, BECAUSE ROSS JUST DID ALL OF THIS. SO WITH LEE SO SHE COULD BASICALLY LEAN ON THE SAME SALARY AND WE JUST GET TO DO IT AGAIN BY THE SAME PROCESS. SO I WANTED TO ADVOCATE FOR HAVING A SIMILAR SITUATION WHERE, YOU KNOW, GIVEN I THINK, AGAIN, LEE DID A GREAT JOB WITH THIS, PUSHING THAT TO ROSS AND SAYING, YOU CREATE THAT, YOU KNOW, OFFICIAL LISTING AND GET THAT ALL BUTTONED UP AND AS APPLICATIONS ARE COMING IN, WE CAN HAVE A HIRING COMMITTEE LIKE WE DID LAST TIME, WHICH I WOULD REALLY ASK YOU ALL TO LET ME BE ON, BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET TO BE ON THE LAST ONE. BUT WITH SIMILAR SORT OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAD LAST TIME. WE HAD BRIAN. FOR THOSE WHO WEREN'T HERE, WE HAD RYAN, WHO'S THE PARALEGAL FOR LEE AT THE TIME, PAUL MICHELETTI, WHO WAS THE SITTING, YOU KNOW, ACTING CITY ATTORNEY IN THE INTERIM. SO IT WOULD BE RYAN, YOU SAY YOU WERE NOT INVOLVED IN HIRING MR. BAGGETT. 
          I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE, THE HIRING COMMITTEE. BUT YOU INTERVIEWED TROY. TROY 
          [02:40:01]
WAS ON IT. BUT YOU INTERVIEWED ME. YES, BUT THE COMMITTEE TO SORT OF WEED OUT THAT FINAL. NO, NO, NO. INITIALLY, THE SHORTLIST COMMITTEE, IT WAS LIKE 15 APPLICATIONS THAT CAME IN. AND THEN THAT COMMITTEE KIND OF WEEDED OUT AND GAVE US A SHORTLIST, A FINAL LIST. YEAH. 
          YEAH. OKAY. BUT RYAN LEE, I KNOW MAC DEFINITELY SHOULD BE ON THAT. THIS IS JUST MY THOUGHTS. 
          MAC WOULD BE ON THAT COMMITTEE. ALSO, ED KILLER WHO BETWEEN HIS WORK WITH TCPALM AND HISTORY IN THE CORPS OF WATER AS AN ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME KIND OF GROUP LIKE THAT, ASSUMING THERE WAS A LOT OF APPLICATIONS COMING IN, WE KNOW OF AT LEAST ONE THAT WILL BE COMING IN. SO THOSE ARE KIND OF MY THOUGHTS. IF YOU GUYS HAVE YOURS, CAN I, CAN I JUST FOLLOW UP ONLL THAT? SURE. CLAR. 
          SO JUST SO MR. BAGGETT AND MR. MARTELL, HAVING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ON THE, THE SELECTION COMMITTEE FOR A CITY EMPLOYEE POSITION, HOW DOES THAT WORK? HOW DOES THAT WORK? WHAT DID YOU SAY? HAVING MEMBERS HAVING A PUBLIC WE'VE HAD REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS BEFORE. IT GETS TO US BECAUSE WHEN WE HAD THE CITY MANAGER, WE DID HAVE LIKE A COMMUNITY. WE HAD COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WAS IT? IT WAS LEE, I HAVE IT. I OR SOMEBODY LIKE THAT. OKAY. THAT'S FINE. WE I'M JUST WANTING THE PUBLIC TO HEAR THAT. WE HAD THELMA WASHINGTON AND JERRY GORE AND OTHERS WHEN WE WERE DOING THE CITY MANAGER POSITION. JULY 24TH WAS COMMISSION DIRECTION. JULY 25TH TO AUGUST 15TH. WE ADVERTISED THE VACANCY AUGUST 16TH WE PREPARED A SUMMARY OF CANDIDATES. THERE WERE 12 RECEIVED. AUGUST 18TH. THE SUMMARY OF CANDIDATES AND CREDENTIALS WERE SENT OR DELIVERED TO THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, WHICH WERE PAUL NICOLETTI, ROSS SHIELDS, MCMANUS, SCOTT KONOPKA, MAYOR MCDONALD AND RYAN. OKAY, SO WE HAVE TWO PUBLIC ON THAT 1ST AUGUST 21ST, THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS ADVISED HR OF THEIR RANKING OF THEIR TOP FOUR. AUGUST 24TH AND 25TH. THE COMMITTEE INTERVIEWS, IN WHICH THE INDIVIDUALS HAD THE NUMBERS WERE SHORTLISTED, DETERMINED, NEEDED TWO DAYS TO INTERVIEW AND THEN THEY WERE SHORTLISTED AND THE COMMISSIONERS HAD THE 30 MINUTE INTERVIEWS EACH ON THOSE PARTICULAR DAYS WITH THE SHORTLISTED FOLKS. AND THEN THE COMMISSION DID THE ULTIMATE SELECTION. OKAY, VERY SIMILAR HERE. I MEAN, IT'S CITY ATTORNEY. IT'S THE SAME POSITION. IT'S THE SAME EVERYTHING. IT WOULD JUST BE INSTEAD OF JULY, IT WOULD BE NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER. AND IF WE COULD GET ONE PERSON FROM THE RIVERS COALITION, OR AT LEAST WE WOULD WANT MARK PERRY, I THINK WE'D WANT JIM MOIR. WE'D WANT AT LEAST GIL OR EVE. IT ISN'T IS ED KILLER THAT PERSON YOU'RE LOOKING AT? I DO AGREE WITH I THINK MARK WOULD BE A GREAT MARK. OKAY. I THINK MARK WOULD BE A GREAT CHOICE. OKAY. SO OPEN TO IT IF HE WANTS TO. OKAY. SO I THINK MARK I'VE SPOKEN WITH MARK. HE HAS A STRONG INTEREST IN PROVIDING AND YOU KNOW, SEEING IF WE CAN FIND A MEANS OF BEING SUCCESSFUL AND THEN ACCOMPLISHING IT. BUT YOU KNOW, THAT'S TO BE DEBATED. YOU KNOW, HE RUNS EVERYBODY'S CONFERENCE, WHICH IS THE LARGEST MEETING I WOULD LOVE FOR MARK TO BE ON IT. YEAH. OKAY. HE WAS HERE. HE WANTED TO SPEAK, BUT HE HAD TO LEAVE. SO CAN I RUN THROUGH MY OTHER ONES THEN? CERTAINLY MAKE SURE. OKAY, SO I WANTED TO KNOW IF IT WAS NECESSARY. AND I GUESS THIS IS A PART OF WHAT MR. STUCKEY HAS LOOKED AT. BUT WITH THE OUTLINE THAT MR. BAGGETT HAS PUT FOR THE, THE KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES AND SKILLS AND, AND THE REQUIREMENTS YOU KNOW, IT SAYS THE SAINT LOUIS RIVER ISSU. BUT I WAS WONDERING, ESPECIALLY MR. MARTEL, IF YOU KNOW OF IT, IT IMPLIES AND ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT AS A SECOND ATTORNEY NOW, IT IMPLIES THAT THERE WILL BE OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL LAW ISSUES THAT THEY WOULD BE DEALING WITH, NOT JUST THAT. AND I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF WE HAD AN ABUNDANCE OF ANYTHING IN THE PAST THAT OUR LEGAL STAFF HAS DEALT WITH, THAT WE COULD SAY, WELL, AT LEAST IT WOULD BE A THIRD OR A HALF OR WHATEVER. FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, I'VE I'VE INTENTIONALLY TRIED TO AVOID HAVING THE ENVIRONMENTAL LAWYER HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH LIKE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW OR DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS. THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO FIND OUT, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE INTENTION OF THIS POSITION IS TO BE KIND OF AUTONOMOUS AND NOT RELATED TO APPLICATIONS GETTING CAUGHT UP IN THE DAILY GRIND, BUT RATHER TO BE A COMPLETE, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT MATTER THAT I CAN ALWAYS LEAN ON THEM. WELL, AT LEAST WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS THAT YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING TO THIS. IS IT GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO CREATE THEIR DESCRIPTION BECAUSE I YEAH, I DON'T KNOW. I MEAN, AT THIS POINT, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE FILING SUIT OR IF 
          [02:45:01]
THEY'RE GOING TO BE RESEARCHING OR IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE EVALUATING, YOU KNOW, OKAY, I ADDED A PARAGRAPH 12 UNDER THE ESSENTIAL EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL OF THE FUNCTION, AND YOU'LL SEE IT. I HAVE KIND OF A BOILERPLATE PERFORM SUCH OTHER RELATED DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS AS MAY BE ASSIGNED BY THE CITY COMMISSION, CITY ATTORNEY, OR CITY MANAGER. OKAY. THAT IS SUFFICIENTLY VAGUE. COVERS IT. YEAH. OKAY. SO I KIND OF ATTORNEY AND CITY MANAGER DON'T ASSIGN OTHER ITEMS. YEAH. THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY THING I THINK SHOULD COME OUT. IS THAT YOU? YOU TWO WOULDN'T BE ASSIGNING THEM DUTIES. THAT WOULD COME. I WOULD JUST SAY, AS THE CITY ATTORNEY, YOU KNOW, AT TIMES I'M VERY BUSY. IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO HAVE SOMEONE TO COVER ME FOR, LIKE AN ADVISORY BOARD MEETING, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I HAVE TO BE AT THEM ALL AND THEY'RE SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE MONTH. I'M JUST SAYING THERE'S JUST CERTAIN THINGS THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER LAWYER HERE. WELL, I THINK WE SHOULD DECIDE. I THINK WE SHOULD DECIDE WHETHER HE HAS TO GET OUR APPROVAL BEFORE HE FILES A SUIT. OF COURSE, OF COURSE. OKAY. OF COURSE IT DOESN'T SAY THAT SORT OF THING WOULD HAPPEN INFORMALLY. YEAH, BUT YOU WOULDN'T. THE YOU'D HAVE TO BRING IT. WOULDN'T HAVE AUTHORITY OVER EACH OTHER. YEAH. 
          IN THE JOB DESCRIPTION I DON'T KNOW NOT DO THAT. BUT I GUESS AS MAY BE ASSIGNED BY THE CITY, I MEAN I. MAYBE CHANGE A SIGN TO AS REQUESTED TO THE CITY COMMISSION, JUST THE CITY COMMISSION AND THEN IF YOU GUYS AGREE ON IT, HE WOULD DO IT RIGHT. BUT OR SHE. YEAH, I WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE IT JUST SAYS ASSIGNED BY THE CITY COMMISSION ON THAT PART. ALL RIGHT. CAN I COME TO ANY OTHER COMMENTS. CAN I CONTINUE YOU CERTAINLY MAY. OKAY. SO THEN I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE ABOUT THIS WHOLE REASON FOR DOING THIS. AND I KNOW THAT WE WANT TO APPEAR STRONG AND WE WANT TO DO CERTAIN THINGS. AND WE KNOW THAT THE ARMY CORPS IS A VERY TOUGH NUT TO CRACK. AND WE DO NEED TO HAVE ENFORCEMENT. BUT I'VE BEEN HEARING THAT, YOU KNOW, LOATHSOME IS THERE. THE NEW POLICIES ARE IN THINGS ARE OKAY FOR NOW. YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE HIGH LEVELS OF WATER IN THE LAKE AND THAT HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE A CONTINUING THING. AND WE MAY NOT NEED IT. SO I'M THINKING, DO WE NEED TO. AND I KNOW THIS MIGHT NOT WORK WELL WITH MR. COUGHLIN. DO WE NEED TO LIKE WAIT AND MAYBE THE FIRST THING THIS PERSON DOES, IF THEY DO, COME ON, DO SOME KIND OF A FEASIBILITY THING OR DO WE NEED ANOTHER EXPERT OPINION TO SAY, DO WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE ONE PERSON AND SPEND THIS MONEY? IT'S NOT JUST FOR THE FIRST YEAR, IT'S FOR OTHER YEARS COMING FORWARD. BUT I THINK THAT I DON'T KNOW. ANYHOW, THAT'S THAT'S ONE THING THAT HAS COME UP THAT, THAT, THAT IF WE SHOULD WAIT AND SEE HOW LOW SOME WORKS AND SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME PROGRESS THROUGH EVEN THE WORK THAT THE COUNTY IS DOING WITH THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL STAFF, HOW THAT IS GOING. THAT'S ONE THING THAT THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP TO ME. 
          AND OF COURSE, THE CHARTER AMENDMENT THING. WE'VE WE'VE KIND OF DEALT WITH THAT AND TALKED ABOUT IT. AND THE OTHER I'VE TALKED ABOUT FUTURE BUDGETS. SO IF IT'S IN THEN IT'S GOING TO BE A JOB THAT WILL BE THERE FOR THE FOR THE FUTURE UNTIL WE DECIDE IF THEY'VE EITHER COMPLETED THEIR JOB OR AND WE DON'T NEED THEM ANYMORE. I TRYING TO THINK IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE BECAUSE THAT THOSE ARE THE BIG CONCERNS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT LOATHSOME IS ENOUGH FOR NOW. AND IF WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS TO REALLY AND TRULY, I KNOW THAT WE'VE SOUGHT MR. MACKEY, MR. STUCKEY'S OPINION, AND HE'S PROVIDED THAT OVER THE YEARS. HE'S COME IN HERE BEFORE AND TALKED TO US, AND HE THINKS THAT HAVING ONE ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY IS WHAT WILL WORK WITH THE CITY OF STUART. BUT I'M REALLY INTERESTED. THIS IS A REGIONAL ISSUE AND I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN KNOWING THAT WE'RE WORKING ALONG WITH THE COUNTY AND USING THEIR INFORMATION, OR WHY IS IT THAT WE'RE NOT USING THE COUNTY'S INFORMATION? AND MAYBE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ISSUES WHERE I'M PRETTY SURE THAT I'VE SEEN MR. MIELE AND OTHERS COME IN HERE, AND THEY'RE VERY GOOD WITH PROVIDING US WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION AND WORKING WITH WHERE THEY'RE GOIN. SO MAYBE WE'LL BE SHOULD WE GIVE THEM A DIRECT TASK TO SAY, TELL US IF THERE'S EVEN A NEED, NEED TO FILE A SUIT? AND WHAT IF IT THAT'S DONE AND WE DON'T NEED THEM ANYMORE. SO, MAYOR. YES, MR. COLLINS, SO I THINK I THINK YOU CAN GET A LITTLE BIT SCARY, YOU KNOW, WHEN THERE'S A LAWYER INVOLVED, WE GO RIGHT TO LAWSUIT. BUT I LOOK AT THIS POSITION MORE AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT. SO IT'S NOT JUST SOMEBODY THAT WE'RE HIRING TO GO SUING EVERYBODY. I AGREE WITH YOU RIGHT NOW. WE'VE MADE A LOT 
          [02:50:03]
OF PROGRESS WITH LOATHSOME. I TALKED TO MAJOR COREY BELL. I TALKED TO JEFF BROWDER. LIKE I HAVE NO DESIRE TO DAMAGE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AT ALL, BUT TO HAVE A PERSON THAT IS VERSED AND EXPERIENCED LEGALLY, THAT CAN BE LOOKING INTO ALL OF THE DIFFERENT AVENUES BY WHICH WATER QUALITY IS BEING DEGRADED LOCALLY, IT'S, YOU KNOW, A GOOD EXAMPLE IS RIGHT NOW WE'RE A BASICALLY A PARTY WITH THE CORE, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE GOAL IS NOT TO JUST START SUING THE ARMY CORPS. RIGHT NOW. WE'RE PARTY WITH THEM AGAINST SUGAR IN IN A WAY, YOU KNOW. SO WE'RE WE'RE WE FILED THAT BRIEF TO BE ALONGSID. AND REALLY THAT'S THE IDEA IS WHATEVER THE ISSUE THAT COMES UP, YOU ARE DOING THE BEST THING FOR THE SAINT LUCIE RIVER, POTENTIALLY GOING AFTER ENFORCEMENT OF BMPS, WHATEVER. WE DON'T EVEN KNOW EXACTLY. AND HAVING THAT PERSON HERE TO BE WORKING FULL TIME TO UNPACK THIS WHOLE THING AND GIVE US SOME SOME DIRECTIONS OF WHERE WE COULD HAVE HEADWAY, WHERE THERE COULD BE, YOU KNOW, ENDANGERED SPECIES OR WHATEVER IT IS TO HAVE THAT ASSET THAT RESOURCE HERE WOULD BE SUCH A BLESSING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GOING AFTER OUR STATED GOALS. RIGHT. ZERO DISCHARGES. WE WANT THAT MUCK TAKEN OUT OF THIS RIVER AND SO JUST TO SAY, IF I CAN QUELL ANXIETIES ABOUT LAWSUITS, THAT'S NOT MY INTENT RIGHT AWAY. IT'S REALLY TO UNPACK THIS AND HAVE SOMEBODY WITH THIS EXPERIENCE AND LEGAL PROWESS TO SEE REALLY, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE CAN DO HERE. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER JOB HAS SOMETHING. I JUST WANT TO ASK MR. BAGGETT. IT'S PROBABLY GOES WITHOUT SAYING, BUT MAYBE IF WE SHOULD INCLUDE SPECIFICALLY THAT THIS PERSON WILL WORK WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE RIVERS COALITION, THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT, WHATEVER IT IS, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ACTUALLY BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS PERSON KNOWS THAT THEY THAT IT WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THEIR SCOPE OF WORK TO GATHER AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE FROM THESE ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY. AND I DON'T REALLY PROBABLY, LIKE I SAID, IT MIGHT BE GENERAL PUBLIC NEWS MEDIA. I THINK THAT'S IMPLIED WITHOUT RESEARCH IS MAYBE MAYBE OKAY, MAYBE IT'S THE PROBLEM IS WHEN YOU HIRE AN ATTORNEY AND I'VE BEEN TOLD THIS DIRECTLY AND I'M TRYING TO TALK TO BRIAN ABOUT IT, THEY'RE GOING TO BACK AWAY FROM US. NO. YEAH. 
          OKAY. OKAY. THE CORPS IS GOING TO BACK OR THE COUNTY'S ALREADY SAID THEY'RE GOING TO BACK. IF THEY FEEL THAT WE ARE GOING TO TAKE THIS AGGRESSIVE LEGAL STANCE, THEY DON'T WANT WE'RE NOT TAKING THESE ARE WE'RE NOT TAKING THIS OKAY. THIS IS FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO GREATER CONCERN THAN THE WATER QUALITY IN THIS COMMUNITY. SO THAT'S UNFAIR OF YOU TO CHARACTERIZE THAT. I HAVE NOT HEARD THIS. OKAY, I HAVE WELL, THEN YOU NEED TO TALK TO MORE PEOPLE. AND THIS IS THE CONCERNS OF MARK PERRY, AND THIS IS THE CONCERNS OF GIL SMART. AND I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED HE WAS UNABLE TO MAKE HIS PRESENTATION TO THE RIVERS COALITION BECAUSE THERE'S HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF EXPERIENCE THERE, AND I'M SURE THEY WOULD HAVE HAD GOOD QUESTIONS AND PROVIDED GOOD FEEDBACK TO MR. STUCKEY. AND I HOPE YOU ARRANGE TO FIND SUFFICIENT TIME IN AN UPCOMING MEETING TO MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION TO YOUR POINT. JUST NOT NOT TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT I WENT AND MET WITH THE BOARD OF THE RIVERS COALITION AND HAD A VERY DIFFERENT ENCOUNTER WITH THEM THAN WHAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING. OKAY, WELL THEN LET'S HEAR THEY WERE VERY MUCH OPEN TO EXPLORING AND SEEING WHAT WAS THERE. I AGREE APPREHENSION THE APPREHENSION WAS THAT MAYBE THAT THERE AT THE TIME WASN'T ENOUGH SUPPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, WHICH SEEMS TO BE DIFFERENT NOW. SO I LIKE COMMISSIONER CLARK'S IDEA OF I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT POTENTIALLY SPENDING HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY. I MEAN, HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY. IF YOU'RE SUING THESE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, NOBODY'S TALKING ABOUT SUING. 
          OKAY, OKAY. BUT THAT'S WHAT IF HIS JOB DEPENDS ON THAT. THE LAWYERS GOING TO FIND A WAY TO SUE. PROBABLY. YOU KNOW, IF WE WANT TO SPEND 100 OR 2, IS THERE A GROUP THAT IS PURSUING THIS ALREADY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA THAT HAS EXPERIENCE THAT WE CAN HIRE ON AND MAYBE OUR ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY WILL BE ABLE TO WORK AND MAYBE COME FROM THERE? NO. BUT WHY DUPLICATE THAT EFFORT? WHY DUPLICATE THAT EXPERTISE WORKING FOR ME? I WANT ONE OF THESE GUYS WORKING WELL, YOU WOULD HIRE THEM TO WORK FOR US. IT'S GOT TO BE SOMEBODY THAT WORKS FOR US DIRECTLY. OKAY, WELL, THAT'S MR. MAYOR. YES. CAN I ADDRESS THAT ALSO? YES. THE REALITY IS, IS THIS WOULD BE A 
          [02:55:01]
PERSON DEDICATED TO US, TO THE TO THE SAINT LUCIE RIVER. DOESN'T MEAN THEY CAN'T WORK AND GAIN KNOWLEDGE AND PASS ON KNOWLEDGE TO THE OTHER ENTITIES. DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE GOING TO COURT NOW. MAY NEVER GET TO COURT. YOU KNOW A STATEMENT WHEN THIS PERSON COMES ON BOARD AND PEOPLE REALIZE WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO AND HOW TO SAVE THE SAINT LUCIE RIVER, THEY'RE DEDICATED TO THAT. IT'S NOT THE RIVER COALITION'S A GREAT ENTITY. I'VE BEEN THERE, EXCEPT THEY HAVE SO MANY OTHER AREAS THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO SAVE AND THEY'RE TRYING TO PROTECT. THIS WOULD BE JUST FOR THE CITY OF STUART. WE'RE THE ONES THAT THE SAINT LUCIE RIVER. THIS IS ON OUR BORDER HERE. YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHERE WE WOULD LIKE TO FISH. THIS IS WHERE OUR CHILDREN WOULD LIKE TO PLAY IN. SO THAT IS OUR MAIN CONCERN. AND THAT WOULD BE WHAT OUR ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY WOULD DO. AND I AGAIN FEAR MONGERING HAPPENS. MAYBE THERE'D BE A STATEMENT WHEN THIS PERSON IS HIRED. MAYBE THERE'S A STATEMENT THEY MAKE TO BRING THOSE LEVELS DOWN. I MEAN, THAT'S A POSSIBILITY. YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL ABOUT IT'S ALL ABOUT PR, IT'S ALL ABOUT ADVERTISING. 
          AND ONCE WE GET TO THAT POINT WHERE THEY HAVE THE RIGHT PERSON AND THEY PRESENT THEMSELVES TO WHAT THEY ARE AND WHO THEY WHAT THEY PLAN TO DO FOR THE CITY OF STUART. YEAH, I WOULD JUST, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LAWSUIT AGAINST THERE WAS A LAWSUIT AND THEY LOST BECAUSE AND LAKE OKEECHOBEE IS NOT A POINT SOURCE OF POLLUTION. I MEAN, THAT'S THE FIRST BOX OF GOLD THAT CAN BE HAS TO BE OVERCOME. THIS IS GOING TO BE A MUCH LESS ACCOMMODATING POLITICAL SYSTEM AS REGARDS ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLAINTS. I GOT TO BELIEVE THAT ESPECIALLY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, YOU KNOW, OKEECHOBEE IS VERY UPSET WITH THE LAKE LEVELS. IT'S WAY TOO HIGH FOR THEM. 
          THEY'RE THINKING OF SUING BECAUSE THE LITERAL JUST LET ME FINISH BECAUSE BECAUSE WE NEED AN ATTORNEY. BECAUSE THE LITERAL GRASSES ARE NOT ABLE TO GROW AT 17FT. THEY NEED IT DOWN TO 13FT. 
          BIG SUGAR IS SUING THE CALOOSAHATCHEE IS VERY UPSET AT THEIR REPRESENTATIVES BECAUSE THANKS TO BRIAN MAST, WE GOT A MUCH BETTER DEAL THAN LOATHSOME. AND THEY'RE THINKING, SO, YOU KNOW, LET'S GET IN THERE AND START SUING. GET IT CAN GET PRETTY CROWDED PRETTY QUICKLY. I JUST I DON'T KNOW WHY WE'RE OPPOSED TO A FEASIBILITY STUDY BEFORE WE UNDERTAKE THIS POTENTIALLY ENORMOUS EXPENSE THAT WOULD DWARF WHAT WE WOULD HAVE PAID FOR BRIGHTLINE TO SAY, HERE'S HERE'S A WAY FORWARD, HERE'S YOUR OPPORTUNITY, HERE'S A TIMELINE. I THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE WITH SO MUCH EXPERIENCE THAT WE COULD GAIN, AND IT DOESN'T PRECLUDE US FROM SAYING, OKAY, GOOD IDEA. LET'S DO IT. THAT'S ALL I THINK COMMISSIONER CLARK AND I ARE ASKING, I THINK YOU'RE MAKING A GREAT CASE FOR LOATHSOME IS GOING TO BE IRONED OUT IN THE COURTS. IT IS GOING TO BE CONTINUALLY IRONED OUT. AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR INTERESTS ARE ABLE TO BE REPRESENTED IN THOSE VARIOUS CASES. YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THIS GOING TO COURT, LIKE YOU SAID. 
          AND IF WE ARE SITTING ON OUR HANDS AND HAVE NOBODY THAT'S LEGALLY THERE TO VOUCH FOR US, LOATHSOME, VERY WELL, WE COULD LOSE GROUND. AND WHAT WE'VE GAINED IN OUR DEAL. THE GOAL IS NOT TO HAUL OFF AND START SUING EVERYBODY, BUT WE SHOULD MAKE SURE WE CAN REPRESENT OUR INTERESTS IN THE SAINT LUCIE RIVER. GOING FORWARD. SO YOU HAVE NO INTEREST IN GETTING A PROFESSIONAL OPINION ON THE VALUE AND DIRECTION OF SUCH A POSITION. I WANT MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION TO BE FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY THAT I HIRE. THAT'S WHOSE OPINION THAT I'M INTERESTED IN. I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO GAIL HARROW. I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO ERIC. MAY I? WHAT IF WE HAD, LIKE, A WORKSHOP OR SOMETHING? HERE'S THE DOWNSIDE. YOU START LOSING GRANTS. THAT'S A REAL DOWNSIDE. THESE ORGANIZATIONS GO WELL, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU FINES, IS NOT GOING TO IF WE FIND, YOU KNOW, IF WE IN FOR AN ADVERSARIAL POSITION, WE COULD POTENTIALLY LOSE GRANTS. AND I'D LIKE AN EVALUATION OF THAT. IS THAT TRUE? COULD THAT HAPPEN? HOW COULD YOU MEASURE IF GAIL HARRIS IS GOING TO PUNISH YOU WITH GRANTS OR NOT? IT'S IMPOSSIBLE. 
          RIGHT? MAYOR, I KNOW THAT. I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. COMMISSIONER REED WOULD LIKE. YEAH, YEAH. I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER REED. I THINK WE COULD GET A GROUP. I WOULDN'T BE OPPOSED TO HAVING A WORKSHOP. AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL THESE PROFESSIONALS ON WHAT THEY'VE TOLD YOU. LET'S GET THEM DOWN HERE AND LET'S HEAR THEM PUBLICLY WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY INSTEAD OF IT HAVING TO BE IN COMMUNICATION OUTSIDE OF THIS CHAMBER. IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GOING FOR, YOU CAN GET ALL THE PROFESSIONALS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DOWN HERE DURING A WORKSHOP, DURING THE DAY, LIKE WE HAVE RIVERS COALITION MEETINGS. ALL THE PROFESSIONALS ARE THERE. WHY NOT EXTEND THE WORKSHOP AND HAVE A BOARD MEETING AFTER AND THEY CAN HANG AROUND? I DON'T KNOW AND HEAR 
          [03:00:04]
WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY. I REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS LIKE GROWING UP ON THE RIVER THOUGH, AND I CAN SAY THERE WAS GRASS FLATS AT HOUSE OF REFUGE, AND I USED TO CUT MY FEET ON OYSTER BEDS WALKING AROUND JENSEN BEACH. THOSE TIMES ARE LONG GONE. I DON'T THINK ANYONE IN THIS ROOM WILL PROBABLY EAT A FISH FROM THE RIVER. I HAVEN'T CAUGHT A SNOOK IN TEN YEARS, LET ALONE EAT ONE. I UNDERSTAND THERE'S PEOPLE THAT WILL. I HAVE FRIENDS THAT ARE IN THE MARINE INDUSTRY THAT HAVE LOST THEIR BUSINESS THROUGH THE SUMMERS, AND THE DISCHARGES. THAT HURTS. 
          YEAH. YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT BUSINESSES BEING LOST TO A ZONING IN PROGRESS OR SOMETHING? WELL, WE'RE BUILT ON THE MARINE INDUSTRY AS WELL. AND I HAVE MULTIPLE FRIENDS THAT HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO THE HORRIBLE HEALTH CONDITIONS WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL HIGH TIDE TO GO ENJOY THE WATER AT THE SANDBAR. IT'S UNCALLED FOR. YEAH. MY MOM USED TO BAREFOOT WATER SKI BACK IN THE POCKET WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD. I DON'T THINK I'D WANT A WATER SKI OR JET SKI OR DO ANY OF THAT STUFF IN THE WATER. I TRY TO MAKE IT OUT ON HIGH TIDE, JUST TO GO OUT TO THE SANDBAR TO ENJOY WHAT LITTLE WE HAVE, OR WE'LL TAKE OUR BOAT AND RUN TO THE BAHAMAS, OR HAVE TO GO TO THE KEYS. CLEAN WATER? CORRECT. FOR CLEAN WATER, OR WE'LL GO TO THE WEST COAST AND RUN 100 MILES OFFSHORE TO THE MIDDLE GROUNDS IS THAT WHAT WE HAVE TO DO AS RESIDENTS IN THE CITY OF STUART TO ENJOY OUR LOCAL WATER? I PAY $7,000 A YEAR FOR A TWO BEDROOM HOUSE TO GET THIS KIND OF QUALITY OF WATER. IT'S DISGUSTING. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. YEAH, AND NOBODY WANTS THIS TOWN TO BE A GHOST TOWN BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, A RIVER, BAD RIVER. BUT I JUST THINK THAT THE I THINK THE IDEA OF HAVING THIS IS FOR DISCUSSION AND DELIBERATION TONIGHT. SO IF WE COULD GET SOME OF OUR EXPERTS IN HERE, ALONG WITH MR. STUCKEY, WHO HAS BEEN STICKING WITH THIS THING OVER THE YEARS, I THINK IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO US TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE A GOOD GROUNDSWELL AND WHAT THE CHARGE IS GOING TO BE FOR THIS PERSON WHO'S GOING TO BE WORKING ON THE RIVER. I APPRECIATE WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM, BUT IT IT'S MORE WASTED TIME. IT'S BEEN 100 YEARS. THIS IS NOBODY'S GOING TO SAVE US GAIL HARRELL'S NOT GOING TO SAVE US. TOBY'S NOT GOING TO SAVE US. 
          JOHN'S NOT GOING TO SAVE US. WE HAVE TO SAVE OURSELVES. WE HAVE A REALLY SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW TO DO THIS. AND I APPRECIATE THE RIVERS COALITION. I APPRECIATE GIL, I APPRECIATE ALL THESE GUYS. THEY'RE AWESOME. THEY'RE HUGE RESOURCES. I LOVE JOHN MAIL IN THE COUNTY. LIKE, YES, WE HAVE TO DO IT AND WE HAVE TO BE THE LEADERS HERE. WE HAVE TO TAKE THIS BY THE REINS AND NOBODY ELSE IS GOING TO GIVE US PERMISSION. WE DON'T I DON'T NEED GIL TO TELL ME IT'S A GOOD IDEA. I KNOW THAT THIS IS A GREAT IDEA AND THAT WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS A LONG TIME AGO. 
          I WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THI. I WOULD MOTION THAT WE HAVE, IF WE NEED TO, AN AGENDA ITEM. IF IT'S NOT A CONSENSUS THING THAT PUT IT ON ITEM, PUT AN AGENDA ITEM ON THE NEXT MEETING. WELL, THE NEXT MEETING, I HAD TO GO OUT TODAY. OKAY. SO THE NEXT MEETING IS THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM WILL BE DECEMBER 9TH. AND THEN IF YOU KNOW, THE GROUPS WANT TO COME AND SPEAK WHILE WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS, LET'S BE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS THOUGH AND BE WORKING ON IT. AND IF WE WANT TO TWEAK IT AS WE GO, INSTEAD OF WAITING AND WAITING AND GETTING PERMISSION FROM WHOEVER, THAT IT'S A GOOD IDEA, WHAT WOULD BE THE NEXT STEP, MIKE, TO HAVE ROSS TAKE THIS AND FORMALIZE THIS AS A JOB AND START PUTTING TOGETHER A RESOLUTION AT THE DECEMBER 9TH MEETING TO ADOPT THAT JOB DESCRIPTION AND POST IT FOR HOWEVER LONG IS APPROPRIATE TO BE POSTED, JUST LIKE WE DID IN JULY, SO THAT YOU COULD GET APPLICANTS AND THEY COULD POST FROM DECEMBER 9TH TO JANUARY 9TH OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND IS THAT SOMETHING YOU'D CONSENSUS FROM US, OR IS THAT SOMETHING YOU PUT IT ON? IF YOU'RE REQUESTING A CONSENSUS TO PUT IT ON THE DECEMBER 9TH, IS THAT A MOTION TO DO? WE NEED TO DO A MOTION TO DO A MOTION. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO PUT THAT ONTO THE DECEMBER 9TH MEETING, SO THAT WE CAN THEN APPROVE THAT. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GETTING THAT READY FOR THAT MEETING. SECOND VICE, MAY I HAVE A SECOND COMMISSIONER JOB AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLARK? MAYOR RICH MAY I IS THERE JUST I'M SORRY, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT WITH REGARD TO PUBLIC COMMENT FOR. ALAN MCBRIDE. MAC, IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM, I KNOW HE HE REMEMBERS. EXCUSE ME. WHEN WE FIRST MOVED HERE IN 73, EVERY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, THE MERCHANTS WOULD PUT A SIGN IN THE WINDOW GOING FISHING, AND IT WAS FISH FRIES EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT. I CAN REMEMBER WHEN BOB BOUGHT THE FIRST BOAT. WE WENT OUT CLAMMING AND OYSTERS, YOU KNOW, AND I'M NOT A BOAT PERSON, BUT I DID GO OUT AND I DID NOT 
          [03:05:03]
ENJOY WITH MY BARE FEET TRYING TO FIND THEM, BUT THEY WERE DELICIOUS EATING. BUT EVERY ONE OF YOU UP THERE, HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF HISTORIC WERE OUT GETTING CLAMS AND OYSTERS IN OUR RIVERS? OR DO THEY EAT THE FISH? DO YOU STILL ZERO ZERO? YEAH. I THOUGHT YOU WERE SAYING YOU GOT THEM. I WAS GOING TO SAY I DON'T THINK YOU'RE KNOWING YOUR MOTHER. I DON'T THINK SHE'D LET YOU DO THAT, YOUNG MAN. WELL, SHE WENT TO SCHOOL WITH MY ROBIN. THAT'S WHY I KNOW HIS MOTHER. IT SO YOU KNOW. AND WHEN YOU SAY MARTIN, YOU'RE THE WRONG PERSON TO SAY MARTIN COUNTY. 
          BECAUSE WHEN I FIRST STARTED GOING TO THOSE MEETINGS, I USED TO GET SO UPSET. AND THAT'S WHEN I STARTED SAYING, THIS IS HELEN MCBRIDE FROM THE CITY OF STEWART, WHICH IS IN MARTIN COUNTY, BECAUSE MARTIN COUNTY, NO DIGS ON YOUR FARMER BOYS, BUT THEY'RE NICE TO ME. BUT AS FAR AS THE CITY GOES, NO. SO LET'S THIS IS THE CITY OF STEWART. WE'RE OUR OWN PEOPLE. LET'S DO WHAT'S BEST FOR WE THE PEOPLE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. CAN I JUST GET CLARIFICATION? SO IT'S THE JOB DESCRIPTION THAT I DRAFTED WITH THE EDITS TO PARAGRAPH NUMBER 12 UNDER THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS REMOVING CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY MANAGER. YES. ALL RIGHT. MR. BRECHBILL. ANYTHING ELSE? COMMISSIONER CLARK HAD MENTIONED SOME OTHER THINGS ABOUT COMMUNICATING WITH, LIKE THE RIVERS COALITION AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. DO YOU GUYS PART AS PART OF THE JOB DESCRIPTION? I THINK IT'S IMPLIED ENOUGH WOULD BE MY OPINION. I HAVE TO ADD THAT I DON'T NEED TO SPECIFICALLY ADD THAT. OKAY, OKAY. ALL RIGHT. MARK BRACKBILL, 208 SOUTHEAST OSCEOLA STREET FOR ANOTHER THREE WEEKS AND THEN IT'S FINISHED. BUT ANYWAY, YEAH. 
          SO I JUST WANT TO I WANT TO JUST MAKE A COUPLE POINTS. I THINK WE'RE THINKING TOO SMALL. I THINK THIS IS A FANTASTIC THING, BUT WE'RE THINKING TOO SMALL. WE'RE THINKING LITIGATION. THIS IS GOING TO BE MULTI-PRONGED AND IT'S GOING TO BE MULTI-LOCATIONAL PRONGED. LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT I WAS TALKING TO NEGRON YEARS BACK WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW WE COULD SUE HIS POINT WAS, WELL, WE COULDN'T BRING SUIT BECAUSE WE WEREN'T SPECIFICALLY HARMED BECAUSE IT WAS HAPPENING AT THE DISCHARGE OUT AT THE LAKE. AND SO IT WAS ONE OF THOSE SO THERE'S SITUATIONS THAT ARE GOING TO OCCUR WHERE WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO USE LOBBYISTS. THE LOBBYING IS GOING TO BE THE ANSWER. THE POLITICAL ANSWER IS GOING TO BE THE ANSWER. THERE'S GOING TO BE SITUATIONS WHERE LITIGATION IS THE ANSWER. THERE'S GOING TO BE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF SITUATIONS. THE PERSON WHO'S GOING TO MANAGE THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE AN ATTORNEY, IS WHAT I'M SAYING. IF WE COULD GET MARK PERRY, FOR EXAMPLE, TO COME AND MANAGE ALL OF THAT, IF WE COULD GET EVE SAMPLES TO COME AND MANAGE ALL OF THAT, RIGHT, IT THEY KNOW WHAT ATTORNEYS TO HIRE, WHEN TO HIRE THEM, WHAT THEY NEED THE OTHER THING THAT I'M SAYING IS, AS A CPA, I KNOW IT WORKS IN MY OFFICE. I KNOW IT WORKS WITH ALL THE ATTORNEYS AS WELL. THE MORE YOU'RE PAYING THE ATTORNEY, THE MORE PEOPLE THEY'RE GOING TO NEED TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES. THE GUY, THE PERSON THAT'S EXPERIENCED DOESN'T DO THE PAPERWORK. THEY'RE NOT THE PARALEGAL, AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A SEPARATE PARALEGAL TO DO SOME OF THIS WORK, BOTH LITIGATION FROM THE OTHER, FROM SOME OF THE OTHER STUFF THAT'S BEING DONE FROM A REGULATORY STANDPOINT. SO I'M JUST SAYING THINK, THINK THIS IS IT NEEDS SOMEBODY FOR THE CITY TO BE CONSTANTLY IN THEIR FACE, BUT IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE AN ATTORNEY. IT COULD BE SOMEONE WHO HAS MAYBE LOBBYING BACKGROUND OR LIKE NEGRON BRING LET'S BRING NEGRON IN HERE AND LET HIM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I'M JUST SAYING THERE ARE MULTIPLE PEOPLE. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD LIMIT IT. I THINK THE IDEA IS WHAT WE SHOULD FOCUS ON. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD LIMIT IT TO THE JOB ITSELF. I THINK IT, YOU KNOW, AND THEN WE CAN BE SUCCESSFUL AND THEN WE HAVE MONEY TO GO ON TO OTHER LAWSUITS, BECAUSE IN SOME CASES WE MAY NEED TO GO ON LAWSUITS OUTSIDE OF THIS AREA COMPLETELY IN OTHER STATES TO PURSUE AN ANSWER THAT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO USE IT IN OUR DISTRICT, AND THAT MONEY THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEND OUR ATTORNEY TO DO THAT, WE'RE GOING TO SEND OUR MONEY TO DO THAT. WE'RE GOING TO JUMP ON THOSE LAWSUITS. SO ANYWAY, THAT'S JUST MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU. MARK, I'LL SHUT UP AND TAKE MY SON, MY GRANDSON FISHING. 
          YEAH. NO, NOT HERE ON THE RIVER. THAT'S A VERY GOOD ANALYSIS. AND I HOPE AT THE VERY LEAST WE GET A REALISTIC BEFORE WE SPEND THE TAXPAYERS MONEY THAT WE GET A VERY REALISTIC BUDGET OF HOW MUCH STAFF IS REQUIRED. I SEE IN THERE THERE'S REGULAR TESTING. HOW MUCH DOES HOW FREQUENT IS THAT TESTING? THE TESTING IS VERY EXPENSIVE. NOW TO GO TO THESE LABS. IS IT JUST SO THE CURIOSITY IS THE CITY ATTORNEY GOING TO BE DOING THAT TESTING. ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT. NO, HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO HIRE SCIENTISTS TO EVALUATE THAT. SO GREAT ROLE WITH MARK PERRY. YOU KNOW HE COULD DOVETAIL WITH MARK PERRY. BUT YOU KNOW WE DON'T HAVE THOSE NUMBERS. WELL I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE. WHAT IS THE BUDGET. YOU KNOW WHAT IS THE WHAT YOU CAN ANTICIPATE HOW THINGS COULD EVOLVE PATH. THEY'RE GOING TO GO. YOU DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S GOING TO BE TESTING IF IT'S GOING TO BE MORE. BUT THAT'S THE POINT. THAT'S THE POINT OF BUT THAT'S THE POINT OF HAVING A DUE 
          [03:10:02]
DILIGENCE BEFORE WE START DOWN THIS ROAD, BECAUSE THEIR ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR DECADES AND LAW FIRMS HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR DECADES, AND THEY AT LEAST CAN GIVE US SOME IDEA. I MEAN, IF YOU JUST WANT TO GO, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY. AND I MEAN, BUT IT JUST MAKES ME UNCOMFORTABLE TO NOT HAVE A CLEARER IDEA OF THE SIZE OF THE STAFF, THE SIZE OF THE DEPARTMENT, THE REQUIREMENTS. AS FAR AS I SEE IT, IT'S GOING TO BE AN ATTORNEY. IT'S GOING TO BE BEN HOGARTH AND RYAN. THAT'S HOW I SEE IT. AND BEN'S ROLE WILL BE EXPANDED TO DO SOMETHING, I'M SURE. I'M SURE HE'D MUCH RATHER BE DOING THIS AND MAYBE SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS HE ENDS UP DOING. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH FREE TIME BEN FEELS HE HAS, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY WORTH ASKING HIM. OKAY? IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY AND I JUST HOPE WE HAVE AS MUCH KNOWLEDGE WITH REGARD TO IT. CERTAINLY WITH REGARD TO COST, IT'S GOING TO BE WORTH EVERYTHING. SO JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, TO JUST FOR THE RECORD STRAIGHT, I, I THINK IT WILL BE LIKELY NOT. I MEAN, IT'D BE IT MIGHT BE BEN IF BEN LIKE IF THIS POSITION IS DESIGNED AND YOU GUYS CREATE IT AS AN AUTONOMOUS OFFICE, IT MAY BE THAT YOU WANT DIRECTLY AUTONOMOUS STAFF MEMBERS WORKING FOR IT. AND AGAIN, THAT CAN EVOLVE LATER. BUT I MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE JOB DESCRIPTION IS THAT IT WOULDN'T BE BEN AND RYAN BECAUSE THEY WOULD ALSO BE WORKING ON OTHER MATTERS, RIGHT. THAT WOULD BE CITY RELATED. BUT THAT AGAIN, WOULD COME FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL LAWYER, BECAUSE ONCE THAT PERSON IS HIRED, HE OR SHE WOULD HAVE TO COME BEFORE YOU AND SAY, LOOK, I NEED A BUDGET FOR X, Y, AND Z. AND THAT WOULDN'T BE THE CITY MANAGER'S BUDGET TO DECIDE. THAT WOULD BE KIND OF ITS OWN SUB BUDGET WITHIN THE BUDGET THAT THEY WOULD PRESENT TO THE BOARD, AND YOU GUYS WOULD APPROVE. YEAH, I JUST I THINK WE SHOULD JUST BE SPECIFIC. I MEAN, I APPRECIATE YOUR ENTHUSIASM, COMMISSIONER. 
          COUNCILMAN, AT YOUR AGE, I HAD IT TOO, WHEN I SUED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND SPENT YEARS AND YEARS DOING IT AND SPENT SO MUCH MONEY, IT WAS NOT PUBLIC MONEY. IT WAS MY OWN MONEY. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, GOT SQUASHED LIKE A BUG. AND THE CASE WHERE THEY TOOK TO THE DISTRICT COURT IN ATLANTA, THEY SPENT YEARS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, AND THE JUDGE SAID, NO, SORRY. THE LAKE OKEECHOBEE IS NON-POINT SOURCE OF POLLUTION, AND THE CORPS DOESN'T HAVE TO PROVIDE ANYBODY WITH ASK FOR PERMITS OR PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THEIR DISCHARGES. AND THAT'S WHERE IT CURRENTLY STANDS. SO THAT'S THE FIRST HURDLE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO OVERCOME. MISTER MAYOR, I'M SORRY, I THOUGHT YOU WERE FINISHED, BUT I EVERYBODY WANTS CLEAN WATER. EVERYBODY WANTS CLEAN WATER. WE JUST WANT TO FIND THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY FORWARD. WE WANT TO SAVE THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF STUART AS MUCH MONEY AS WE CAN. AND YES, IT IS AN INVESTMENT THAT IS ESSENTIAL. BUT LET'S JUST MAKE SURE WE'RE MAKING THE BEST DECISION WITH REGARD TO THAT. 
          COMMISSIONER GOBY. YES. I JUST WANT TO SAY AND AGAIN, WE'VE WE'VE BEEN TALKING EVERYONE'S BEEN SAYING THINGS, BUT WE KEEP BRINGING UP LAWSUIT, WHICH ISN'T WHERE WE'RE STARTING. SO UPGRADED THE OPTICS ARE WHEN THIS GETS OUT THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO SUE PEOPLE. THE MINUTE WE HIRE AN ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY, WHICH IS NOT THE CASE. SO I THINK THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO EVEN FROM THIS POINT FORWARD, THE OPTICS OF HOW WE PRESENT IT ARE SO IMPORTANT, RIGHT? I AGREE, WELL, THEN MAYBE WE DO HIRE A LOBBYIST IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SUE THE OTHER THING. THE OTHER THING I WAS GOING TO MENTION IS, IS THAT IF WE GO IF WE GO FORWARD, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE GO FORWARD WITH THIS, WE ALSO WANT TO LOOK WHERE WE CAN FUND IT. THE BEST. THIS ACTUALLY SHOULD COME OUT OF THE CRA BECAUSE WE GOT MONEY IN THE CRA AND YEAH, THERE'S NO REASON WHY CRA CAN HAVE STAFF. THE CRA CAN'T DO A GENERAL FUND MATTER. IT CAN'T THE RIVER IF THEY ONLY IF THE LAWYER CAN ONLY ADDRESS WATER IN THE CRA, THEN WE CAN DO IT IN THE CRA. BUT FRAZIER CREEK, POPOLOPEN CREEK, KRUEGER CREEK, AND THE RIVER ARE NOT IN THE CRA. BUT AS LONG AS THEY'RE AVAILABLE TO DO THAT, YOU CAN JUSTIFY THEM DOING THAT RESEARCH. THEY MAY HAVE TO DO OTHER WORK. I THINK WE COULD WE SHOULD LOOK AT THAT. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO THREATEN THAT FUNDING? NO, WE ACTUALLY COULDN'T HIRE WE. RIGHT. WE FUNDED THE PORTION OF THE STATION THAT WAS IN THE CRA, BUT WE COULDN'T PAY FOR PERSONNEL THAT WENT OUTSIDE OF IT. AND YOU ALSO UNDER THE CRA, CAN'T PAY FOR SERVICES. YOU WERE ALREADY PROVIDING THAT THIS WOULDN'T QUALIFY UNDER. BUT THE WHAT I'M READING IN THE JOB DESCRIPTION IS THAT IT'S ACTUALLY EXTRA JURISDICTIONAL RATHER THAN INTERJURISDICTIONAL, BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO BE IDENTIFYING POINTS 
          [03:15:04]
OF POLLUTION. THE ONLY EXPOSURE THE CITY OF STUART HAS TO THE RIVER IS FROM PALM CITY BRIDGE TO SNUG HARBOR. I MEAN, THE REST OF THE RIVER IS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY LIMITS. SO THIS PERSON'S POSITION IS LIKELY GOING TO BE ADDRESSING ISSUES THAT HAPPEN OUTSIDE OF THE CITY, NOT WITHIN THE CITY. BUT I LIKE WHERE YOUR HEAD'S AT. I LIKE WHERE YOUR HEAD'S AT. YEAH, I DO TOO. I FIND THE MONEY. OKAY, WELL, I'M GLAD WE'RE TAKING OUR TIME TO A DEGREE THAT IT'S NOT SUCH A EXTREME POSITION. WE'RE ASKING THIS POTENTIAL HIRE TO TAKE. IT PROVIDES THE COMMISSIONERS WITH OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO ALL THESE PEOPLE, AND PERHAPS BRING THEM BEFORE US. I DON'T THINK THAT'S NOT A BAD IDEA, COMMISSIONER REED. AND AGAIN, IT WAS. NO, NO, I KNOW, BUT I WAS REFERRING TO YOUR YOU KNOW, I REALLY I DON'T KNOW WHY MAC GOT PULLED FROM THE RIVERS COALITION, BUT I REALLY LIKE YOU TO GO BEFORE THEM, MAC, IF YOU CAN FIND THE TIME. I REALIZE THAT'S AN ASK. WELL, YOU YOU FELT YOU WERE TIME CONSTRAINTS. SO PERHAPS IF WE TALK TO THEM, WE CAN GIVE YOU A SUFFICIENT TIME. IT'S OKAY. YOU CAN COME BACK UP. YOU JUST WANT TO TALK. WE'VE BEEN TALKING FOR 90 FRIGGIN YEARS, ANDE'VE GOTTEN NOWHERE. THE COST OF LITIGATION, THE MAIN COST OF A LITIGATION IS A LAWYER AND LOTS OF LAWYERS AND LAW FIRMS. IF WE HAVE OUR OWN LAW FIRM LAWYER TALKING FOR THE CITY ON A CITY SALARY, THAT'S OUR ONLY EXPENSE. HE WILL BE INVOLVED IN ALL THE LOATHSOME DECISIONS. THE FIRST THING HE WILL DO IS LEARN EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED TO THE RIVER, AND HE WILL FIND AND RESEARCH THE BEST STRATEGY TO STOP IT. I WENT TO LAW SCHOOL TO RIGHT WRONGS. THE BIGGEST WRONG I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY COMMUNITY IS THIS POISON RIVER. YOU ARE WILLING TO GO OUT AND SPEND $9 MILLION TO BURY A FEW POWER LINES, $300,000 A YEAR IS A PITTANCE TO CLEAN UP THIS RIVER, AND I THINK IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE OF THIS COMMISSION. FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS, I'VE BEEN TALKING TO IT, AND NOW WE HAVE A CHANCE TO MOVE FORWARD AND HAVE AN ADVOCATE FOR THE CITY AND THE CITY'S INTERESTS. AND WE NEED TO HIRE THIS FELLOW, ANY FELLOW THAT'S GOT THE CREDENTIALS, AND WE NEED TO MOVE ON. YOU CAN TALK FOR ANOTHER HUNDRED YEARS IF YOU WANT TO, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE DEAD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. MR. MAYOR, COMMISSIONER JOB, COULD I JUST REMIND EVERYONE THERE IS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR? YES. OH, OKAY. OKAY. AND, MR. COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER REED, DO YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS REGARDING THIS MOTION? I SAW A SLIDE. I TURNED IT UPSIDE DOWN. I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY COMMENTS. RIGHT NOW BESIDES A WORKSHOP. I WOULDN'T BE OPPOSED TO THAT. GETTING THESE PEOPLE DOWN HERE. LET'S LET'S REALLY HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY. IF THEY'RE TELLING YOU THIS IS NOT THE WAY TO GO, GET THEM DOWN HERE PUBLICLY THEN SO I CAN HEAR IT FOR MYSELF. I'D LOVE TO HEAR IT ON WHO YOU SPOKE TO, BECAUSE THE ONLY NEGATIVES THAT I REALLY HEARD WAS POLITICAL REPERCUSSIONS. YOU SET THAT ASIDE, AND IT'S LIKE YOU GOT TO DO SOMETHING, BUT YEAH, ALL THESE. QUOTE UNQUOTE PROFESSIONALS THAT I KNOW REPRESENT MARTIN COUNTY AS A WHOLE AND GO TO TALLAHASSEE FOR US, GET THEM DOWN HERE. LET'S SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY. AND I'M NOT OPPOSED TO A WORKSHOP AS WELL, BUT I'D LOVE TO SEE A WORKSHOP. I DON'T WANT TO HOLD UP WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO. I DON'T THINK IT WOULD. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MOVING FORWARD IN THIS PROCESS, AND IF WE HAPPEN TO WANT TO SCHEDULE SOME KIND OF WORKSHOP OR WHATEVER, OR IF SOME OF THESE PEOPLE COME TO OUR NEXT HEARING WHERE WE'LL BE DISCUSSING THIS ANYWAY, WE CAN HEAR FROM THEM. BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MOVING FORWARD AND WE'RE NOT HOLDING OFF ON THIS. IS THERE A RIVERS COALITION MEETING THIS MONTH, OR IS IT NOT BECAUSE OF THANKSGIVING OR IT'S ALREADY HAPPENED SECOND OR THIRD? THIRD HAPPENED? DID IT HAPPEN IN THIRD THURSDAY? SO IT WAS IN OCTOBER THEN. SO THERE'S PROBABLY NOT ONE IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER. 
          I'M NOT SURE. DECEMBER. I'D HAVE TO CHECK. I'M SEARCHING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I MEAN, I THINK THAT'D BE GREAT JUST TO HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING RIGHT AFTER IT, EVEN BEFORE IT, DURING OR EVEN DURING IT. I HAVE BEEN TO THE MEETINGS AND THEY'LL SAY, THIS IS THE PRIMARY AND IT'S AND IT'S AND IT'S A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE. RIGHT? SO THERE'S SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE PART OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT FULLY SUPPORT IT. AND APPARENTLY THERE'S SOME NAYSAYERS THAT ARE PART OF THE ORGANIZATION. AND IF THEY'RE THE NAYSAYERS, WE'LL GET THEM DOWN HERE AND LET'S HEAR IT. I IT'S INCORRECT TO CHARACTERIZE THEM AS NAYSAYERS. THEY'RE JUST SAYING WE'RE NOT SURE OF THE 
          [03:20:01]
BEST WAY FORWARD AT THIS POINT. YOU KNOW, WITH THE NEW LOATHSOME. AND THEY'RE AWARE OF THE OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT ARE VERY UNHAPPY BECAUSE WITHIN YOUR RIVERS, TO OUR ADVANTAGE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT INTERESTS THERE. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE. SO IT'S GOOD TO HEAR THAT. YEAH. NO, I WOULD I WOULD ACTUALLY SAY OUR JOB IS TO DEFEND OUR INTERESTS. I'M NOT AS CONCERNED, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE EVERGLADES FOUNDATION OR IF THEY'RE CONCERNED WITH THE MICCOSUKEE, THEY HAVE THEIR OWN REPRESENTATION. I'M WORRIED ABOUT REPRESENTING US AND OUR INTERESTS. I DON'T NEED TO HEAR ABOUT HOW THE AG FEELS ABOUT IT. I UNDERSTAND WE ARE ALL VERY AWARE OF EVERYBODY'S INTERESTS. WE KNOW THIS IS THE 21ST OF NOVEMBER. THERE YOU GO, 21ST. 
          THANK YOU. YEAH. SO THEY DO HAVE ONE. THEY'RE PROBABLY SET THOUGH PROBABLY A LITTLE LATE. BUT I'LL TALK TO MARK THE BOARD. BUT I'M SURE WE'LL ALL BE TALKING. ARE WE DONE. SO CAN WE TAKE A NUMBER NINE VOTE? NOT YET. NO. WE'RE WAITING FOR A SECOND. WE'RE WAITING FOR THE. I NEED A MOTION IN A SECOND. YEAH, WE HAD A SECOND. WE HAVE A SECOND. THAT'S WHY WE'RE DISCUSSING IT. YEAH. 
          OKAY. MADAM CLERK, WE HAD A SECOND. YES WE DID. OH, OKAY. SO DO YOU MIND CLARIFYING? CLARIFYING THE MOTION ONE MORE TIME? I HAVE THE VOTING THAT YOU'RE BRINGING BACK A RESOLUTION FOR A JOB DESCRIPTION ON DECEMBER NINTH. DOES EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND? CORRECT. 
          ALL RIGHT. AND MR. BAGGETT, YOU FEEL YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC. YEAH. WITH WITH THE EDITS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DISCUSSED. OKAY. AND I CONFIRMED ON CAN I ADD SOMETHING? CAN I TALK TO PERSONNEL. YOU MAY TALK TO ANYONE YOU WISH LATER ON. DID YOU FOR THE RECORD, DID YOU FIND LIKE A DEPARTMENT OF LABOR QUALIFICATION THING? I MEAN, THE JOB RANGE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL LAWYER IN THE LIST OF, YOU KNOW, HOW YOU DO YOUR SURVEY THING. WE DID A SURVEY WHEN WE WERE RECRUITING FOR LEE BAGOT'S POSITION, AND THAT DATA IS STILL RELEVANT. AND WE ALSO HAD A PAY POINT STUDY RECENTLY. AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO WE'LL GATHER THAT INFORMATION FOR THE AGENDA ITEM. 
          OKAY. SO YOU'RE GOOD. SURE. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. AND YOU HEARD THE QUESTION ABOUT STAFFING I KNOW THAT'S PROBABLY A MIC ISSUE, BUT IT THAT WOULD BE LIKE ALMOST LIKE A DEPARTMENT WITH ADDITIONAL STAFF. YES. AND I THINK THE CITY MANAGER ARTICULATED THAT PRETTY WELL THAT. YEAH, IF THIS ATTORNEY NEEDS ADDITIONAL STAFF, HE WOULD NEED HE OR SHE WOULD NEED TO COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION TO SEEK THAT, BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE A POSITION REPORTING TO THE COMMISSION, NOT THE CITY MANAGER. YES. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. 
          THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. THAT WOULD COME BEFORE US AND EXPANDING THEIR THEY WORK FOR YOU. WELL I GUESS WELL HE WOULDN'T BE OUR DIRECT EMPLOYEE WOULD THEY. YEAH. ANY ADDITIONAL STAFF? RYAN'S NOT OUR DIRECTOR OF THE BUDGETING OF IT WOULD BE BECAUSE IT WOULD BE YOUR BUDGET. 
          RIGHT? OKAY. ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMISSIONER. JOB. YES, MAYOR. RICH. YES, COMMISSIONER. CLARK. 
          YES, COMMISSIONER. READ. YES, COMMISSIONER. COLLINS. YES. THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU. 
          SEEING IF I CAN. SORRY. SEEING NO OTHER ITEMS FOR OUR CONSIDERAT
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.