May 12, 2025 Regular City Commission Meeting

OKAY. I'M CALLING THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE STUART CITY COMMISSION FOR THE 12TH OF MAY,

[ROLL CALL ]

[00:00:10]

OH. I'M SORRY. ROLL CALL PLEASE. MAYOR RITCH HERE.

VICE MAYOR COLLINS HERE. COMMISSIONER CLARK HERE.

COMMISSIONER HERE. COMMISSIONER REID HERE. SO WE DO HAVE A LAST MINUTE SUBSTITUTION FOR OUR INVOCATION.

WE'RE LUCKY HE'S HERE. AND PASTOR FREDERICK JAMES WILL PROVIDE OUR INVOCATION THIS AFTERNOON.

AND WILL YOU PLEASE LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AFTER.

JUST IN TIME. YEAH. LET US PRAY. FATHER, IN THE NAME OF YOUR SON, JESUS, WE COME THANKING YOU FOR THIS COMMISSION. WE THANK YOU FOR THIS MEETING.

WE THANK YOU FOR OUR CITY. LORD GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE THE ABILITY TO REASON TOGETHER.

LORD GOD, WE CAN AGREE AS WELL AS DISAGREE. AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SPIRIT IN THIS ROOM.

TONIGHT WE ASK YOU THAT YOU WOULD FALL FRESH ON ALL OF US.

THIS WE ASK IN YOUR SON JESUS'S NAME, AMEN, AMEN, AMEN.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU, PASTOR JAMES. PASTOR JAMES ALSO SERVES THE CITY BY SITTING ON THE CRB BOARD.

THANK YOU. WE HAVE AN ARCH MOMENT. WE HAVE A SONG PERFORMANCE, LAYLA BY LAYLA PIERRE.

HELLO. WELL, YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED, MISS BEER? YES. OKAY, GOOD. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING.

YOU'RE BROKEN DOWN AND TIRED OF LIVING LIFE ON THE MERRY GO ROUND.

AND YOU CAN'T FIND THE FIGHTER. BUT I SEE IT IN YOU.

SO WE GONNA WALK IT OUT AND MOVE. MOUNTAINS. WE WILL WALK IT OUT AND MOVE. MOUNTAINS. AND I'LL RISE UP.

RISE LIKE THE WAVES. I'LL RISE UP, I'LL RISE UNASHAMED.

I'LL RISE UP AND I'LL DO IT A THOUSAND TIMES AGAIN.

AND I'LL RISE UP. RISE LIKE THE WAVES. I'LL RISE UP IN SPITE OF THE ACHE.

I'LL RISE UP AND I'LL DO IT A THOUSAND TIMES AGAIN.

FOR YOU. FOR YOU. FOR YOU.

FOR YOU. WHEN THE SILENCE ISN'T QUIET. IT'S FEEL LIKE IT'S GETTING HARD TO BREATHE. AND I KNOW YOU FEEL LIKE DYING.

BUT I PROMISE WE'LL TAKE THE WORLD TO ITS FEET AND MOVE.

MOUNTAINS BRING IT TO ITS FEET AND MOVE. MOUNTAINS.

AND I'LL RISE UP. RISE LIKE THE DAY I'LL RISE UP.

IN SPITE OF THE ACHE I RISE UP. AND I'LL DO IT A THOUSAND TIMES AGAIN.

FOR YOU. FOR YOU. FOR YOU.

FOR YOU. ALL WE NEED. ALL WE NEED IS HOPE. I FORGOT WE HAD EACH OTHER. I FORGOT WE HAD EACH OTHER.

[00:05:01]

RISE. I'LL RISE UP. RISE LIKE THE DAY I'LL RISE UP. IN SPITE OF THE ACHE I WILL RISE A THOUSAND TIMES AGAIN.

AND WE'LL RISE UP. RISE LIKE THE WAVES. WE'LL RISE UP IN SPITE OF THE ACHE.

WE'LL RISE UP. AND WE'LL DO IT A THOUSAND TIMES AGAIN.

FOR YOU. WHO? WHO? WHO FOR YOU. FOR YOU.

FOR YOU. OH! OH! THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CAN I SING THIS PART FOR YOU GUYS ONE MORE TIME? AND I KNOW IT FEELS. WHEN THE QUIET IS IN SILENCE.

AND IT FEELS LIKE IT'S GETTING HARD TO BREATHE.

AND I KNOW WE FEEL LIKE DYING. BUT I PROMISE WE'LL TAKE THE WORLD TO ITS FEET AND MOVE. MOUNTAINS BRING IT TO THEIR FEET AND MOVE.

MOUNTAINS. SO PLEASE RISE UP. RISE UNASHAMED.

PLEASE RISE UP. IN SPITE OF THE ACHE. PLEASE RISE UP.

SO YOU'LL DO IT A THOUSAND TIMES AGAIN. FOR YOU.

FOR YOU. FOR YOU. FOR YOU.

GOOD JOB. MELISSA. AMBASSADOR AT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.

AND A COUNSELOR. OKAY, MAYBE PEOPLE CAN HEAR YOU.

OH, YOU TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF, LILA. OKAY. I AM A INTERVENTIONIST FOR THE PROGRAM AMERICORPS. IN THE MARTIN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

MY STATION IS HOBE SOUND ELEMENTARY. SO I BRING THE KIDS WHO ARE FALLING BEHIND, AND I TRY TO GET THEM UP BEFORE THE YEAR ENDS.

SO. YEAH.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. HE'S GOING, HE'S GOING TO PUT EACH OF THESE TO GET OUT.

OKAY, HERE WE GO. MR. BAGGETT. NOT A LOT OF WATER.

[PROCLAMATIONS ]

WHEREAS PUBLIC WORKS SERVICES PROVIDE PROVIDED IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR CITIZENS EVERYDAY LIVES.

AND WHEREAS THE SUPPORT OF AN UNDERSTANDING AND INFORMED CITIZENRY IS VITAL TO THE EFFICIENT OPERATION OF PUBLIC WORKS SYSTEMS AND PROGRAMS SUCH AS STREETS AND HIGHWAYS, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PARKS, BALL FIELDS, MICRO TRANSIT SYSTEMS, STORM SYSTEMS AND FLOOD CONTROL IN FLEET MAINTENANCE.

AND WHEREAS, THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND COMFORT OF THIS COMMUNITY GREATLY DEPENDS ON THESE FACILITIES AND SERVICES.

THE QUALITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE FACILITIES, AS WELL AS THEIR PLANNING, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, IS VITALLY DEPENDENT UPON THE EFFORTS AND SKILL OF PUBLIC WORKS OFFICIALS.

AND WHEREAS 2025 MARKS THE 65TH ANNUAL NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK, SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION.

[00:10:06]

PRESENCE AND FINISH IT. YES. NO. OH, YOU WANT ME TO CONTINUE IN THE CITY OF STUART? I'M SORRY. IN THE CITY OF STUART. AND CALLS UPON ALL CITIZENS AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS TO ACQUAINT THEMSELVES WITH THE ISSUES INVOLVED IN PROVIDING OUR PUBLIC WORKS AND TO RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS WHICH PUBLIC WORKS OFFICIALS MAKE EVERY DAY TO OUR HEALTH, SAFETY, COMFORT AND QUALITY OF LIFE. SO. PROBABLY THE BEST KNOWN PERSON IN THE CITY OF STUART IS THE HEAD OF OUR PUBLIC WORKS, MILTON. MILTON IS NOT ACCEPTING THIS.

IT IS MR. BOB CARLSON FROM THE CITY OF PORT SAINT LUCIE DRAINAGE.

BUT MILTON IS HERE. MILTON.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? I'LL DO THE PHOTO FIRST BEFORE.

NO. GO AHEAD. SIR. HELLO. CHRIS CARO, CHAIRMAN OF THE LOCAL TREASURE COAST APWA CHAPTER. ALSO WORK FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS OF CITY OF PORT SAINT LUCIE.

HONORABLE MAYOR. FELLOW COUNCIL PERSONS. ON BEHALF OF YOUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS TIME TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND ALL YOUR ALL OF YOUR CITIZENS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

THIS PROCLAMATION PERSONIFIES YOUR FAITH, TRUST, AND RELIABILITY IN OUR ORGANIZATION AND THIS TRULY IS TRULY MEANINGFUL WHEN CALLED UPON, WILL BE THE FIRST TO RESPOND, THE LAST TO LEAVE, AND WE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN.

THANK YOU. AMEN. HERE WE GO.

WELCOME BACK. THANKS.

SHE'LL CUT IT OUT. OKAY, MR. BAGGOTT.

SAFE BOATING WEEK, MAY 17TH THROUGH THE 23RD, 2025.

WHEREAS FOR OVER 100 MILLION AMERICANS, BOATING CONTINUES TO BE A POPULAR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY FROM COAST TO COAST AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN.

PEOPLE ARE TAKING TO THE WATER AND ENJOYING TIME TOGETHER BOATING, SAILING, PADDLING AND FISHING.

DURING NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK, THE US COAST GUARD AND ITS FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL SAFE BOATING PARTNERS ENCOURAGE ALL BOATERS TO EXPLORE AND ENJOY AMERICA'S BEAUTIFUL WATERS RESPONSIBLY.

AND WHEREAS SAFE BOATING BEGINS WITH PREPARATION, THE COAST GUARD ESTIMATES THAT HUMAN ERROR ACCOUNTS FOR MOST BOATING ACCIDENTS AND THAT LIFE JACKETS COULD PREVENT NEARLY 83% OF BOATING FATALITIES THROUGH BASIC FLOATING THROUGH BASIC BOATING SAFETY PROCEDURES.

CARRYING LIFE SAVING, EMERGENCY DISTRESS AND COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT.

WEARING LIFE JACKETS. ATTENDING SAFE BOATING COURSES.

PARTICIPATING IN FREE BOAT SAFETY CHECKS AND STAYING SOBER WHEN NAVIGATING.

WE CAN HELP ENSURE BOATERS ON AMERICA'S COASTAL, INLAND AND OFFSHORE WATERS STAY SAFE THROUGHOUT THE SEASON.

AND WHEREAS, ON AVERAGE, 550 PEOPLE DIE EACH YEAR IN BOATING RELATED ACCIDENTS IN THE US, 80% OF THESE ARE FATALITIES CAUSED BY DROWNING AND A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF BOATERS WHO LOSE THEIR LIVES BY DROWNING EACH YEAR WOULD BE ALIVE TODAY HAD THEY WORN THEIR LIFE JACKETS.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CAMPBELL RICH, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF STUART, FLORIDA, DO HEREBY COMMEND THE VOLUNTEER MEMBERS OF THE U.S.

COAST GUARD AUXILIARY FLOTILLA 59, STUART, FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN FURTHERING THE GOALS OF THE SAFE BOATING CAMPAIGN AND PROCLAIM MAY 17TH THROUGH THE 23RD, 2025, IN THE CITY OF STUART, FLORIDA, AS SAFE BOATING WEEK AND ACCEPTING THIS PROCLAMATION IN RECOGNITION OF SAFE BOATING WEEK IS MR. ROBERT HESS, COMMANDER OF FLOTILLA 59.

I AM DOCTOR ROBERT HESS, COMMANDER OF FLOTILLA 59.

ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AUXILIARY FLOTILLA 59, I WISH TO EXTEND MY SINCERE APPRECIATION TO THE CITY OF STUART FOR ITS OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK.

[00:15:01]

AS COMMANDER STUART'S FLOTILLA 59, I AM PROUD TO LEAD A TEAM OF DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS WHO WORK YEAR ROUND TO ADVANCE BOATING SAFETY THROUGH EDUCATION, VESSEL INSPECTION AND PUBLIC OUTREACH.

NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK IS NOT JUST A CEREMONIAL OBSERVANCE, IT'S A VITAL INITIATIVE THAT SAVES LIVES.

EACH YEAR WE SEE THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF PREPAREDNESS VOTERS WEARING LIFE JACKETS, CHECKING THEIR GEAR AND COMPLETING SAFETY COURSES WHO ARE FAR MORE LIKELY TO RETURN HOME SAFELY.

THIS YEAR'S THEME, WHERE IT REMINDS US THAT SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS DONNING A LIFE JACKET CAN BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRAGEDY AND SURVIVAL.

WE APPLAUD THE MAYOR AND THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL OF STEWART FOR CHAMPIONING THIS CAUSE.

YOUR LEADERSHIP REINFORCES THE IMPORTANCE OF SHARED RESPONSIBILITY AND SAFEGUARDING OUR COMMUNITY ON THE WATER.

AND PLEASE REMEMBER THAT WE PROVIDE A BOATING SAFETY COURSE EVERY THIRD SATURDAY OF THE MONTH THAT IS FREE FOR ANY YOUTH AGED 12 TO 21, PLUS A PARENT WITH THE SAME DAY FREE BOATING SAFETY CARD AS WELL.

TOGETHER, LET US CONTINUE TO FOSTER A CULTURE OF SAFETY, AWARENESS AND RESPECT ON EVERY LAKE, RIVER AND COASTLINE WE CHERISH. THANK YOU FOR PARTNERING WITH US IN THIS ESSENTIAL MISSION.

SEMPER PARATUS, ALWAYS READY. AND THIS YEAR'S THEME.

WEAR IT. AND WE'D LIKE YOU TO WEAR IT. ALL YEAR. COME ON, MR. MORTAL. OH, MR.. YES. SIR.

OH, SIR. IT IS GREAT. THANK YOU. YOU.

KNOW HOW TO PUT IT ON? GETTING IT ON SHOWS YOU HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE IT ON FIRST.

OH. VERY NICE. OH, YOU GOT THE FANCY LITTLE. YEAH.

OKAY. WHEN YOU HIT THE BUTTON, YOU RIGHT. LADIES.

YEAH. YEAH.

THIS IS. GOT ANOTHER ONE FOR ZEKE. ZEKE? YEAH.

HOW ABOUT YOU? YEAH. NOT THAT ONE.

THAT'S RIGHT. SEE, THIS IS THE ONE TIME I DON'T HAVE TO COME UP FOR YOU.

OH. THANK YOU. COME ON. SQUISH. TOGETHER, GENTLEMEN.

YES. LISTEN. WE NEED MR. HESSEN HERE. COME ON, MR. HESSEN. LOWER GOING BETWEEN RIGHT HERE, RIGHT HERE.

OKAY, EVERYBODY LOOK UP IS. HOW ABOUT SAFETY? READY? WHERE IT.

CAN I GET ONE OF THESE? THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

OKAY. YOU ALL LOOK MARVELOUS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NO. YOU'RE FINE. YOU DIDN'T PUT YOUR FEET ON IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR VOTING. JUST THE TWO OF US.

WE CAN MAKE IT IF WE TRY. JUST THE TWO OF ARE YOU IN? THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. WHERE'D IT GO? OKAY.

I WANT A PICTURE OF THAT. OH. MR. HAS ONE. MR. BAGGETT. THE NEXT PROCLAMATION, PLEASE. FAMILY ABDUCTION AWARENESS DAY, MAY 25TH, 2025. WHEREAS THIS DAY IS DEDICATED TO RAISING AWARENESS OF THOSE AFFECTED BY FAMILY ABDUCTION.

THESE ABDUCTIONS HAVE A DEVASTATING IMPACT, CAUSING DEEP EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA NOT ONLY TO THE ABDUCTED CHILD, BUT ALSO TO THE LEFT BEHIND PARENT AND EXTENDED FAMILY.

[00:20:01]

WHEREAS THE MONTH OF MAY SERVES AS A PIVOTAL, PIVOTAL TIME TO COMBAT FAMILY ABDUCTIONS, REUNITE MISSING CHILDREN WITH THEIR FAMILIES, AND RECOGNIZE THOSE DEDICATED TO PROTECTING SOCIETY'S MOST VULNERABLE.

THIS MONTH OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE AWARENESS, SUPPORT EFFECTIVE AFFECTED FAMILIES, AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY EFFORTS TO PREVENT FUTURE ABDUCTIONS.

AND WHEREAS, A FAMILY ABDUCTION OCCURS WHEN A CHILD IS TAKEN, WRONGFULLY RETAINED OR CONCEALED BY A PARENT OR OTHER FAMILY MEMBER, DENYING ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL THEIR RIGHT TO CUSTODY OR VISITATION, EVEN IN CASES WITH UNCLEAR OR ABSENT COURT ORDERS.

SUCH ABDUCTIONS ARE OFTEN DRIVEN BY THE PERPETRATOR'S FRUSTRATION WITH THE LEFT BEHIND PARENT, THE LEGAL SYSTEM, OR PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES, AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF STUART REMAINS DEDICATED TO PROTECTING CHILDREN BY RECOGNIZING FAMILY ABDUCTION AS A SERIOUS CRIME AND NOT JUST A CIVIL ISSUE.

LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES MUST HAVE CLEAR PROCEDURES TO RESPOND PROMPTLY TO SUCH CASES, ENSURING CHILDREN ARE WITH THEIR LAWFUL CUSTODIANS IN VERIFYING COURT ORDERS AS PROPER TRAINING AND POLICIES ARE ESSENTIAL TO SAFEGUARDING PUBLIC SAFETY.

NOW, THEREFORE, I CAMPBELL RICH, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF STUART, FLORIDA, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MAY 25TH, 2025, IN THE CITY OF STUART, FLORIDA, AS FAMILY ABDUCTION AWARENESS DAY AND ACCEPTING THIS PROCLAMATION IN RECOGNITION OF FAMILY ABDUCTION. ABDUCTION AWARENESS DAY IS LANDON ZSIROS.

I ASSUME THAT'S GREEK. HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE YOUR LAST NAME? ACERO'S FROM THE NATIONAL PARENTS ORGANIZATION.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? OH, IT'S MY MOM, BUT I'M GETTING IT FOR HER.

OKAY. OKAY.

DAD, DO YOU WANT TO GET IN THERE? NO. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY.

OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO SEE YOU FOR A MINUTE. OKAY.

MR. BAGGETT. THE NEXT PROCLAMATION, PLEASE. LUPUS AWARENESS MONTH, MAY 2025.

WHEREAS LUPUS IS AN UNPREDICTABLE AND MISUNDERSTOOD AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE THAT CAN CAUSE SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE TISSUE AND ORGANS IN THE BODY AND IN SOME CASES, DEATH. AND WHEREAS MORE THAN 5 MILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE SUFFER THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF THIS CRUEL AND MYSTERIOUS DISEASE IN EACH YEAR OVER 100,000 YOUNG WOMEN, MEN AND CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD ARE NEWLY DIAGNOSED WITH LUPUS.

THE GREAT MAJORITY OF WHOM ARE WOMEN. WOMEN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 15 TO 44.

AND WHEREAS, MEDICAL RESEARCH EFFORTS INTO LUPUS AND THE DISCOVERY OF SAFER, MORE EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS FOR LUPUS PATIENTS ARE UNDERFUNDED IN COMPARISON WITH DISEASES OF COMPARABLE MAGNITUDE AND SEVERITY.

MANY PHYSICIANS WORLDWIDE ARE UNAWARE OF SYMPTOMS AND HEALTH EFFECTS OF LUPUS, CAUSING PEOPLE WITH LUPUS TO SUFFER FOR MANY YEARS BEFORE THEY OBTAIN A CORRECT DIAGNOSIS AND MEDICAL TREATMENT. AND WHEREAS THERE IS A DEEP UNMET NEED WORLDWIDE TO EDUCATE AND SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AFFECTED BY LUPUS.

AND THERE IS AN URGENT NEED TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND COMMUNITIES WORLDWIDE OF THE DEBILITATING IMPACT OF LUPUS AND TO RECOGNIZE LUPUS AS A SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE. NOW, THEREFORE, I, CAMPBELL RICH, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF STUART, FLORIDA, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF MAY 2025 AS LUPUS AWARENESS MONTH.

AND ACCEPTING THIS PROCLAMATION THIS EVENING IN RECOGNITION OF LUPUS AWARENESS MONTH IS PAMELA KILLINGER MILAZZO OF THE LUPUS FOUNDATION OF AMERICAN AMBASSADOR. GOOD EVENING.

I'M FEELING VERY INADEQUATE. I ONLY BROUGHT YOU PINS AND THEY BROUGHT YOU JACKETS.

WELL, WE DIDN'T GET TO KEEP. THE PINS ARE YOURS.

I DON'T NEED THEM BACK. I'M AN AMBASSADOR FOR THE LUPUS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA.

AND TODAY, I HAVE A MISSION TO MAKE LUPUS MORE VISIBLE IN MY COMMUNITY.

[00:25:04]

I WAS BASICALLY HANDED A PRESCRIPTION FOR STEROIDS, TYLENOL AND AN ANTI-MALARIA MEDICINE WHEN MY HUSBAND ASKED ABOUT MY PROGNOSIS.

I WAS TOLD THAT PEOPLE SURVIVED TEN YEARS PAST DIAGNOSIS.

I WAS 32 AT THE TIME. SINCE THEN, WE'VE MADE PROGRESS.

WE'VE WAITED 50 YEARS FOR OUR FIRST LUPUS SPECIFIC MEDICATION TO BE FDA APPROVED IN 2011.

WE GOT OUR SECOND IN JANUARY OF 2021, AND A THIRD SPECIFIC FOR LUPUS KIDNEY DISEASE, LATER THAT YEAR.

A RECENT TRIP TO CAPITOL HILL AND THE NATIONAL LUPUS ADVOCACY SUMMIT SHOWS PROMISE IN THE RESEARCH PIPELINE.

AS LONG AS WE RECEIVE OUR FUNDING AND WHILE SCIENCE AND RESEARCH IS VERY IMPORTANT, IT DOESN'T ADDRESS THE LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND POTENTIALLY THOSE AT RISK THAT LACK A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF LUPUS, ITS SYMPTOMS AND POTENTIAL RISK FACTORS.

THE LACK OF AWARENESS CAN LEAD TO A DELAYED DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT, AS INDIVIDUALS MAY NOT RECOGNIZE THE SYMPTOMS OR SEEK APPROPRIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION.

SO HOW DO WE MAKE LUPUS MORE VISIBLE? AMBASSADORS LIKE MYSELF FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY COMMIT TO PARTNERING WITH THE LUPUS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA, AN ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL PEOPLE AFFECTED BY LUPUS THROUGH PROGRAMS OF RESEARCH, EDUCATION, SUPPORT, AND ADVOCACY. WE ENGAGE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY MOST AT RISK FOR DEVELOPING LUPUS, KNOW LUPUS, AND SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS TO EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY AT EVENTS.

WE ENCOURAGE OUR CITIES TO LIGHT UP FOR LUPUS, LIGHTING UP AREA LANDMARKS AND PURPLE, HOPING THAT SOMEONE WILL SEE THAT PURPLE LIGHT AND KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE IN FIGHTING THE DISEASE.

AND THEN WE COME TO PEOPLE LIKE YOU, THE LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE ASK YOU TO STAND WITH US WHILE WE ACKNOWLEDGE LUPUS AWARENESS MONTH IN THE FORM OF A PROCLAMATION. YOU EACH HAVE A PURPLE PIN. I HOPE YOU WILL WEAR IT AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT US WITH PROCLAMATIONS, ATTENDING EVENTS, AND WHATEVER YOU CAN DO TO HELP US GET OUR MESSAGE ACROSS.

AND I APPRECIATE MR. MAYOR AND THE COMMISSION FOR DOING THIS FOR US TONIGHT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

MR. BAGGETT. FLORIDA EMANCIPATION DAY, MAY 20TH, 2025.

WHEREAS ON JANUARY 1ST, 1863, PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN ISSUED THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION, FREEING ENSLAVED PEOPLE IN THE REBELLING SOUTHERN STATES, ANNOUNCING THAT ON THE FIRST DAY OF JANUARY IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD ONE 1863, ALL PERSONS HELD AS SLAVES WITHIN ANY STATE OR DESIGNATED PART OF A STATE, THE PEOPLE WHEREOF SHALL THEN BE IN REBELLION AGAINST THE UNITED STATES SHALL BE THEN THENCEFORWARD AND FOREVER FREE. AND WHEREAS IT WAS MORE THAN TWO YEARS LATER, AT THE END OF THE CIVIL WAR, ON MAY 20TH, 1865, THAT UNION BRIGADIER GENERAL EDWARD MS MCCOOK ANNOUNCED IN TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA, THE FREEING OF THE STATE'S AFRICAN SLAVE POPULATION.

ON THAT SAME DAY, SPECIAL ORDER NUMBER 63 ARRIVED FROM MAJOR GENERAL QUINCY A GILMORE AND STATED THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE BLACK RACE ARE FREE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES. NEWLY FREED SLAVES CELEBRATED THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WITH A PICNIC AT BULL'S POND, WHICH IS LOCATED IN TALLAHASSEE AND TODAY CALLED LAKE ELLA.

WHEREAS AFTER THE INITIAL PROCLAMATION, AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE CARRIED OUT CELEBRATIONS AS AS A WAY OF BOTH HONORING THE PAST AND CELEBRATING THE PRESENT. WHILE WHILE THE END OF SLAVERY IN TEXAS IS COMMONLY OBSERVED AS THE END OF SLAVERY IN THE US AND CELEBRATED AS JUNETEENTH, FLORIDA'S OWN DAY PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR THE HISTORY OF AND CONTINUED FIGHT FOR FREEDOM FOR HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. AND WHEREAS EMANCIPATION DAY HELPS SHED LIGHT ON THE CONTINUING CHALLENGES OUR COUNTRY FACES IN COMBATING RACISM, INEQUITY, AND INEQUALITY, NOW, THEREFORE, I, CAMPBELL RICH, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF STUART,

[00:30:02]

AND ACCEPTING THIS PROCLAMATION AND RECOGNITION OF THIS VERY HISTORIC FLORIDA EMANCIPATION DAY IS AGAIN REVEREND FREDERICK JAMES OF THE SAINT PAUL AME CHURCH. I GREET YOU AGAIN, AND I THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THIS COMMISSION, FOR RECOGNIZING FOR US THIS AWESOME, IMPORTANT DATE.

THANK YOU. OH, I DIDN'T BRING PINS AND I DIDN'T BRING A VEST, BUT I BROUGHT A THING.

MAYOR. YES. WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE HAVING A SERVICE AT SAINT PAUL AME CHURCH ON MAY 20TH AT 6 P.M.

ON TUESDAY, NEXT TUESDAY, TUESDAY, WE ASK YOU ALL TO PLEASE JOIN US.

IT WILL BE A WONDERFUL CELEBRATION. THANK YOU.

REVEREND WRIGHT. VERY. GOOD.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP, COMMISSIONER. MR. BAGGOTT, BRING IT UP AGAIN.

DECLARING HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH MAY 2025.

WHEREAS HISTORIC PRESERVATION IS AN EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR REVITALIZING NEIGHBORHOODS, FOSTERING LOCAL PRIDE AND MAINTAINING COMMUNITY CHARACTER.

AND WHEREAS HISTORIC PRESERVATION IS RELEVANT FOR COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION, BOTH URBAN AND RURAL, AND FOR AMERICANS OF ALL AGES, ALL WALKS OF LIFE, AND ALL ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS.

AND WHEREAS 2025 MARKS THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF MARTIN COUNTY, A MILESTONE THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING THE COUNTY'S RICH HISTORY, CULTURAL HERITAGE AND ARCHITECTURAL LEGACY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

AND WHEREAS HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR LIVES, AND WE SHOULD CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS IN HELPING TO PRESERVE THE TANGIBLE ASPECTS OF THE HERITAGE THAT HAS SHAPED US AS A PEOPLE.

AND WHEREAS THE MARTIN COUNTY HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD HAS PLANNED EVENTS THROUGHOUT MARTIN COUNTY DURING THE MONTH OF MAY TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND THE NEED FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION TO PROTECT OUR LOCAL TREASURES.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CAMPBELL RICH, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF STUART, FLORIDA, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 2025 AS DECLARING HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH AND ACCEPTING THIS PROCLAMATION IN RECOGNITION OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH IS JOETTE LORION RICE ON BEHALF OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD.

GOOD EVENING, MISS RICE. GOOD EVENING. HONORABLE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ADOPTING THIS PROCLAMATION, DECLARING THE MONTH OF MAY AS HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH AND FOR CELEBRATING IT, ALONG WITH MARTIN COUNTY AND THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.

THIS YEAR IS VERY SPECIAL TO US BECAUSE WE WILL BE COMMEMORATING MARTIN COUNTY'S CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY AND AND 100 YEARS SINCE THE CITY OF STEWART WAS NAMED THE FIRST COUNTY SEAT. SO WE HAVE A LOT TO CELEBRATE.

WE ARE LUCKY TO LIVE IN BOTH THE COUNTY AND THE CITY, WHERE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE RECOGNIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION TO OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. IN 2003, WHEN THE MARTIN COUNTY ADOPTED THEIR FIRST HISTORIC PRESERVATION ORDINANCE, ONE OF THE DUTIES THEY GAVE MY BOARD WAS TO PROMOTE AN AWARENESS OF THE BENEFITS OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION TO THE COMMUNITY.

SO FOR THE PAST 17 YEARS, ONE OF THE WAYS WE HAVE DONE THAT IS TO SPONSOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH.

THE FIRST YEAR WE DID IT WAS IN 2008, AND WE HAD SIX EVENTS, ALL PLANNED BY THE BOARD.

AND THEN WE THOUGHT, THIS ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH. SO THE NEXT YEAR WE JOINED UP WITH THE CITY OF STUART AND MANY OF THE ORGANIZATIONS, STUART HERITAGE AND MANY OF THE ORGANIZATIONS, YOU KNOW, AND WE STARTED DOING A BIGGER HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH, AND IT KEPT GROWING AND GROWING UNTIL AT 2019, WE WERE AT 40 EVENTS ON OUR CALENDAR.

BY THE WAY, THESE ARE OUT ON THE BACK TABLE. PLEASE TAKE THEM.

AND THAT WAS RIGHT BEFORE COVID HIT. SO WE HAD TO THE NEXT YEAR WE HAD TO CANCEL AND THEN WE HAD TO WORK OUR WAY BACK UP.

FIRST YEAR AFTER COVID, I THINK WE HAD TEN EVENTS AND THEN WE HAD 22.

SO THIS YEAR WE HAVE 33 SEPARATE EVENTS ON OUR CALENDAR.

SO WE'RE GETTING THERE. IT WAS THE BOARD'S HOPE WHEN WE STARTED CELEBRATING THIS VERY SPECIAL MONTH THAT THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION ABOUT OUR HISTORIC TREASURES, A PRESERVATION ETHIC WOULD TAKE ROOT IN MARTIN COUNTY.

THIS YEAR'S SCHEDULE OF EVENTS, PLANNED BY A DIVERSITY OF ORGANIZATIONS, SHOWS THAT A PRESERVATION ETHIC HAS INDEED TAKEN ROOT.

[00:35:01]

HISTORIC PRESERVATION VALUES LOCAL HISTORY. THROUGH OUR COLLECTIVE PRESERVATION PROGRAMS, BOTH MARTIN COUNTY AND THE CITY OF STUARTS, WE HAVE PRESERVED AND PLACED ON OUR LOCAL HISTORIC REGISTERS VERY VALUABLE HISTORIC TREASURES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS, AND I THINK WE SHOULD ALL BE PROUD OF THAT. EVERY BRONZE PLAQUE YOU PUT ON A BUILDING HAS SO MUCH SWEAT AND WORK AND EQUITY AND MONEY.

I MEAN, PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT LITTLE BRONZE PLAQUE COSTS A LOT AND MEANS A LOT.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION IS IMPORTANT NOT ONLY TO WHAT SOUTHERNERS REFER TO AS OUR SENSE OF PLACE, BUT TO OUR ECONOMY. THE VERY LAST STUDY DONE WAS IN 22.

I WISH THEY'D DO ANOTHER ONE, BUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA DID A STUDY AND SHOWED THAT 6.3 BILLION CAME ANNUALLY TO OUR STATE THROUGH HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACTIVITIES.

NOW, THEY DID DO A REPORT IN 2021 ON HERITAGE TOURISM, WHICH I THINK DOWNTOWN STUART IS USED TO BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE COME HERE TO SEE THE OLD THE BUILDINGS AND BEING HISTORIC DOWNTOWN STUART.

THEY SAID. HISTORIC TOURISM. HERITAGE TOURISM.

TOURISM IS A GREAT WAY TO BRING TOURISTS AND VISITORS TO MARTIN COUNTY, AND THAT PEOPLE THAT COME FOR HERITAGE TOURISM STAY LONGER AND SPEND MORE MONEY. THE BOARD'S WANTS TO THANK COMMISSIONER CLARK AND GOP FOR ATTENDING OUR KICKOFF EVENT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND WE ALSO WANT TO INVITE ALL OF YOU TO COME TO THE ELLIOTT MUSEUM ON MAY 15TH, WHEN OUR BOARD WILL HONOR THE 2025 PRESERVATIONIST OF THE YEAR, SADIYA SAFFARIDS, WHO DID SO MUCH WORK ON PRESERVING THE HISTORIC GOLDEN GATE BUILDING.

THE. THE BOARD WANTS TO THANK ALL OUR PARTNERS WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN THIS MONTH OF ACTIVITIES, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING THE REST OF THE MONTH WITH YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

EXCUSE ME. NEXT WEEK IT'S WITHIN 14 DAYS. SO THIS IS NOT A PROCLAMATION.

WE ARE HONORING A INDIVIDUAL. MR. BAGGOTT, PLEASE.

HONORING A VOLUNTEER WITH THE PRESIDENT'S VOLUNTEER SERVICE.

MAY 2025. WHEREAS THE SPIRIT OF VOLUNTEERISM IS THE CORNERSTONE OF A COMPASSIONATE AND THRIVING COMMUNITY.

INDIVIDUALS WHO ACTIVELY ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE CONTRIBUTE IMMEASURABLY TO THE BETTERMENT OF SOCIETY.

IT IS OUR PROFOUND, PROFOUND PLEASURE TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND EXCEPTIONAL VOLUNTEERISM EXEMPLIFIED BY A REMARKABLE INDIVIDUAL AMONG US.

WHEREAS THIS PROCLAMATION IS TO CELEBRATE THE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT OF A DEDICATED AMERICORPS SENIOR VOLUNTEER, WE PROUDLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND HONOR KENNETH MICHAEL MARKS, A 13 YEAR VOLUNTEER WITH THE PRESIDENT'S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD.

UNITED WAY OF MARTIN COUNTY IS PLEASED TO PRESENT A LIFETIME CERTIFICATE OF GOLD ACHIEVEMENT FOR VOLUNTEERING OVER 4000 HOURS, ALONG WITH A CONGRATULATORY LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, A PRESIDENT'S VOLUNTEER SERVICE GOLD MEDALLION, A LIFETIME COIN AND PIN, ALONG WITH OUR HEARTFELT THANK YOU FOR THIS.

FOR HIS ACCOMPLISHMENT. WHEREAS KENNETH MARKS HAS DEMONSTRATED REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS, SELFLESSNESS, AND A PROFOUND IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF THE RESIDENTS OF MARTIN COUNTY, HIS STEADFAST, STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO VOLUNTEERISM SERVES AS A SHINING EXAMPLE TO ALL, INSPIRING A COLLECTIVE VISION OF A BRIGHTER AND MORE COMPASSIONATE WORLD.

AND WHEREAS, THROUGH HIS EXCEPTIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO THE VALUES OF THE COMMUNITY, COMPASSION AND SERVICE, KENNETH MARKS HAS UPLIFTED AND ENRICHED THE SPIRIT OF MARTIN COUNTY.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CAMPBELL RIDGE, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF STEWART, DO HEREBY CONGRATULATE AND RECOGNIZE KENNETH MARK MARKS WITH THE PRESIDENT'S VOLUNTEER SERVICE. WOW! MR. MARK. WHERE IS MR. MARKS? IS IT THIS GENTLEMAN HERE? YES, IT IS THIS GENTLEMAN VOLUNTEER.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE SOME REMARKS, SIR? I WILL, OKAY.

THIS IS KENNY MARKS. HE'S BEEN A VOLUNTEER FOR OVER 13 YEARS, HE HAS VOLUNTEERED WITH UNITED WAY OF MARTIN COUNTY ALONG WITH THE SALVATION ARMY.

HE IS VERY DEDICATED, EXTREMELY HE UPLIFTS EVERYONE THAT HE COMES IN CONTACT WITH.

WE WE COULD NOT DO ANYTHING WITHOUT KENNY. WE ADORE KENNY.

[00:40:01]

I WOULD LIKE TO PUT THIS ON YOU, KENNY. OH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SO WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT KENNY. HE HAS BEEN.

HE IS JUST STEADFAST. DEPENDABLE. AND WE HONOR KENNY EVERY DAY WITH HIS SERVICE.

AND I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FOR YOU EXCEPT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES.

FEEL FREE TO JOIN US AT ANY TIME. MR. MARKS. WE DO LOVE MR. MARKS. HE IS A SHINING EXAMPLE. AND FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. AND HERE'S YOUR PROCLAMATION.

IF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US, WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU. WE HAVE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF KENNY'S WITH US AS WELL.

CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. WOW. HE DOESN'T HAVE A LINE ITEM VETO.

LET'S MOVE OVER TO REAL HAPPY GOLD. IS THAT YOUR MOM? YES. HE HAS OTHER. MOMS, TOO. BECAUSE THEY HAVE THEIR OWN SECONDARY. THE HAMMER. SORRY. ALRIGHT.

$4,000. IT USUALLY TAKES 15 YEARS TO GET 4000 HOURS.

AND HE DID IT IN 13. KENNY VOLUNTEERS MORE THAN WORK.

WELL, THAT'S QUITE IMPRESSIVE, MR. MARTIN. AND FINALLY, MR. BAGGOTT, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL THIS EVENING.

HOLD ON A SECOND, MR. MAYOR. I HAD PRINTOUTS OF ALL OF THE PROCLAMATIONS, BUT I'M MISSING THAT ONE.

AND I'M TRYING TO PULL IT UP ON MY IPAD. IT'S OKAY.

I CAN HAND YOU THIS ONE. I'LL TAKE IT AT ONCE IF YOU PROMISE TO GIVE IT BACK.

THANK YOU. IT'S. HONORING A STUDENT WITH THE PRESIDENT'S VOLUNTEER SERVICE.

MAY 2025. WHEREAS THE SPIRIT OF VOLUNTEERISM IS THE CORNERSTONE OF A COMPASSIONATE AND THRIVING COMMUNITY.

A YOUNG INDIVIDUAL WHO ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN COMMUNITY SERVICE SERVICE CONTRIBUTE IMMEASURABLY TO THE BETTERMENT OF SOCIETY.

IT IS OUR PROFOUND PLEASURE TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND COMMEND EXCEPTIONAL VOLUNTEERISM EXEMPLIFIED BY A REMARKABLE INDIVIDUAL AMONG US.

AND WHEREAS THIS PROCLAMATION IS TO CELEBRATE THE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT OF A DEDICATED AND ALTRUISTIC YOUNG STUDENT, WE PROUDLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND HONOR MORGAN MCKEEVER, A 14 YEAR OLD STUDENT OF EXCEPTIONAL CHARACTER AND COMMITMENT WITH THE PRESIDENT'S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD, UNITED WAY OF MARTIN COUNTY IS PLEASED TO PRESENT A CERTIFICATE OF SILVER ACHIEVEMENT, ALONG WITH A CONGRATULATORY LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, A PRESIDENT'S VOLUNTEERS SERVICE MEDALLION, SILVER COIN PIN, AND OUR HEARTFELT THANK YOU FOR FOR HER ACCOMPLISHMENT.

AND WHEREAS MORGAN MCKEEVER HAS DEMONSTRATED REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS, SELFLESSNESS AND LEADERSHIP, MAKING A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF THE RESIDENTS OF MARTIN COUNTY ARE STEADFAST.

COMMITMENT TO VOLUNTEERISM SERVES AS A SHINING EXAMPLE TO ALL, REMINDING US OF THE BOUNDLESS POTENTIAL WITHIN OUR YOUTH TO CREATE A BRIGHTER AND MORE COMPASSIONATE WORLD. AND WHEREAS, THROUGH HER EXCEPTIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO THE VALUES OF COMMUNITY, COMPASSION AND SERVICE, MORGAN MCKEEVER HAS ENRICHED THE SPIRIT OF MARTIN COUNTY AND PAVED THE WAY FOR A FUTURE OF EQUAL ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CAMPBELL RICH, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF STUART, DO HEREBY CONGRATULATE AND RECOGNIZE MORGAN MCKEEVER WITH THE PRESIDENT'S VOLUNTEER SERVICE. AND, MISS KATHLEEN STACY, APPARENTLY, YOU'RE GOING TO RETURN.

NO. GO AHEAD. HI. MY NAME IS MORGAN MCKEEVER.

I'M THE NATIONAL AMERICAN, MISS FLORIDA PRE-TEEN, FIRST RUNNER UP AND MISS STUART.

AND I'M TRYING TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS EVERYWHERE TO HELP VOLUNTEER.

SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH TO HOUSE OF HOPE FOR LETTING ME VOLUNTEER THESE PAST THREE YEARS.

IT'S BEEN SUCH NICE WORKING WITH THEM, AND IT'S THANKS TO THEM THAT I'M ABLE TO GET THIS AWARD AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS.

THANK YOU. AND THIS YOUNG LADY IS GOING FAR, SO KEEP AN EYE ON HER.

THIS ON YOU, YOUNG LADY? WOW. YEAH. THESE ARE NICE MEDALS.

[00:45:01]

AND MISS STEWART. YES, MISS STEWART. THE ANNALS OF HISTORY.

AND I HAVE YOUR PIN. ANY OTHER RECOGNITION YOU WANT TO HANG AROUND? ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE A PICTURE? DO I HAVE TO PUT IN THE HARD WORK? AND YOUR POINT IS IN HERE. PARENTS, I'M GOING TO GIVE THIS TO YOUR MOM.

YEAH.

CONGRATULATIONS, YOUNG LADY. THANK YOU.

GOOD LUCK. MORGAN. THANK YOU. EXCELLENT. STEWART.

REPRESENTATIVE. OKAY. YOU KNOW, THAT'S A NICE WAY TO END.

AND THANK YOU TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS FOR CONTRIBUTING SO MUCH TO THE LIFE OF THE CITY OF STEWART.

WE HAVE SERVICE AWARDS. I HAVE SERVICE AWARDS.

THE FIRST IS FOR MR. ROBERT JACKSON FOR FIVE YEARS OF CITY, FIVE 85 YEARS OF SERVICE AND UTILITIES AND ENGINEERING.

YOU DON'T WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS. MR.. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE FOR OUR GIVE AND TAKE MY SPOUSE AND JEFF AND MIKE FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH 18.

AND MILTON. MILTON. GOT TO DO MILTON NOW.

FOR. FIVE YEARS IS GOOD. AND THANK YOU, MR. JACKSON.

BUT HOW ABOUT 25 YEARS? OKAY. SHE'S HERE. KATHLEEN LENNON AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE A FEW REMARKS. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I WOULD NOT BE SUCCESSFUL IN MY POSITION WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF MY CHIEF, MY CAPTAINS, ALL OF THE OFFICERS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE CITIZENS OF SEWARD.

YOU ENTRUSTED YOUR TRUST IN ME WITH YOUR CHILDREN, MY JOY.

AND THAT I'M SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE OF YOU. THANK YOU.

OH, KATHLEEN. THANK YOU. KATHLEEN.

AND CAPTAIN, CHIEF AND CAPTAIN Z. HE'S STILL HERE? YES. LAST ONE. LAST ONE. OH, YEAH. YEAH.

LUNCH TOMORROW ON THE CHIEF. THAT'S FINE. OKAY.

COMMENTS BY CITY COMMISSIONERS. COMMISSIONER REED, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS THIS EVENING? WHAT ABOUT THE DISTRICT? OH, I'M SORRY, YOU'RE RIGHT. LEGISLATIVE. THANK YOU FOR KEEPING ME ON TRACK, COMMISSIONER.

WE HAVE AN FDOT DISTRICT FOR US. ONE IN PALM CITY.

[PRESENTATIONS ]

BETH IS HERE. GOOD EVENING. CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY.

NO, NO. LOOK AT IT. TAP IT AND SEE IF IT'S ON.

PLEASE. IT'S ON. IT'S GREEN. CAN YOU HEAR ME? BETTER NOW? HI. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JASON SOSA.

I'M PROJECT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

I'M HERE WITH RON KEEL. SHE'S TAKING A PICTURE AND JUAN CALDERON.

AND WE'RE HERE TO TO TALK ABOUT US. ONE AT SOUTHWEST PALM CITY ROAD, WEST OF SOUTHWEST PALM CITY ROAD CONCEPT.

[00:50:02]

AND THEN WE HAVE WEST PINE AVENUE. SO IT'S ABOUT 150FT JUST WEST OF US ONE.

CURRENT CONDITIONS. WE ANALYZE THE INTERSECTION AND IT PRESENTS A FREE FLOW SOUTHBOUND APPROACH.

SO IF YOU'RE COMING FROM THE NORTH ON US ONE.

YOU HAVE A FREE FLOW RIGHT EASTBOUND AND WESTBOUND AT THE INTERSECTION.

WEST OF US ONE, OUR STOP CONTROL AND THE NORTHBOUND IS CONTROLLED BY TRAFFIC SIGNAL.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU COME UP NORTH FROM PALM CITY, LET ME SEE IF I CAN USE THE POINTER PROPERLY HERE.

WHEN YOU COME UP NORTH, WE CAN'T HEAR YOU. CAN WE HEAR HER? SORRY. CAN YOU BRING IT TO YOU CLOSER TO YOUR.

OKAY. CAN SHE GET A WALK IN MIC? ACTUALLY, SHE JUST TILTS THE RIGHT.

I THINK IT'S I THINK IT'S SHE'S TOO TALL. IF I STAY HERE, IT'S GOOD.

OKAY. SO AS YOU COME UP NORTH, SOUTH, SOUTHWEST PALM CITY ROAD, THEN YOU YOU'RE CONTROLLED BY THE SIGNAL IF YOU WANT TO GET TO US ONE.

AND THIS IS NORTH OF KANNER HIGHWAY FOR ANYONE'S REFERENCE.

OH, OH. MAYBE I WENT TOO FAST. SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY AT THIS LOCATION.

THIS WAS. THIS CAME IN 2023. 23. THE MPO BOARD CONDUCTED A FEASIBILITY STUDY BECAUSE, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE SOUTHBOUND APPROACH HERE, CARS HAVE A FREE FLOW, RIGHT? AND THEY'RE SPEEDING. SO WHAT THE MPO BOARD WAS LOOKING AT WAS IMPLEMENTING TRAFFIC CALMING FEATURES ALONG PALM CITY ROAD TO AIM REDUCE VEHICLE SPEEDS.

THE NEW ALTERNATIVES WERE PROVIDED TO ENHANCE THE INTERSECTION WEST OF US ONE.

THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE AT THAT TIME WAS CONSIDERED ALTERNATIVE NUMBER FIVE.

THEN THIS CAME BACK IN 2024 TO FDOT. WE RECEIVED AN APPLICATION AND IT WAS PART OF THE LIST OF PRIORITY PROJECTS.

THE LTP. SO THIS WAS PRIORITY 9 IN 2024. PRIORITY SEVEN.

SO IT MOVED UP 2025 FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THIS INTERSECTION.

SO THAT'S JUST A RECAP OF WHAT I HAVE. THE STORY I HAVE BEEN TELLING IT WAS RECOMMENDATION NUMBER 5 IN 2023.

THEN IN SPRING 2024, IT CAME BACK AS PRIORITY NUMBER NINE.

AND WE VETTED IT SO THAT FOR THE RECTANGLE THAT YOU SEE HERE IS FDOT REVIEW.

SO WE CONDUCTED FIELD INSPECTIONS AS OF 2024.

WE REVIEW THE COST ESTIMATE. WE HAD MEETINGS WITH OUR SAFETY DEPARTMENT, TRAFFIC OPERATIONS DESIGN DEPARTMENT.

WE MET WITH THE MPO CONSULTANT TO THIS BECAUSE THE PRIOR RECOMMENDED ALTERNATIVE NUMBER FIVE.

AND WE CONSIDER OTHER ALTERNATIVES BECAUSE AT THE TIME THE DEPARTMENT DID NOT SUPPORT THE 2023 ALTERNATIVE.

NUMBER FIVE. SO WE LOOKED AT OTHER CONCEPTS WE COULD IMPLEMENT AT THIS INTERSECTION.

SO AS I WAS DISCUSSING PRIOR, THIS IS THE SOUTHBOUND APPROACH WHERE YOU HAVE THE FREE FLOW, RIGHT. YOU CAN SEE THAT ON THE LEFT. OOPS, SORRY.

OH, JEEZ. TURN IT OFF. PRESENTATION. OVER. OH, UP.

WE HAVE TO GO WAY BACK. NOW YOU SEE ALL THE PRESENTATIONS.

I DON'T HAVE TO TALK ABOUT IT. OKAY. YEAH. SO THIS IS THE.

THIS IS THE SOUTHBOUND WHERE THE HIGH SPEED ISSUE IS HAPPENING, AND IT HAS ALREADY BEEN ALTERNATIVES HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED.

THE RUMBLE STRIPS, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE PICTURE ON THE RIGHT AS A TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURE.

IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THE SPEEDING ISSUES ARE STILL OBSERVED AT THIS INTERSECTION SEGMENT.

THIS IS THE THE CONCEPT FROM 2023. THIS WAS ALTERNATIVE NUMBER FIVE.

IT ALSO INCLUDED A LANE SHIFT. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SEE IT FROM HERE.

WHERE'S MY POINTER? I DON'T SEE IT ON THE NORTH SIDE.

IT INCLUDED A LANE SHIFT SO CARS WOULDN'T BE FREE FLOWING SOUTHBOUND FROM US ONE, SO THEY WOULD SLOW DOWN APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION.

IT INCLUDED PEDESTRIAN FEATURES AND A SIGNAL CONTROL.

THIS IS PART OF THE CONCEPT FROM 2023. ELIMINATION OF THE FREE FLOW.

RIGHT NOW YOU CAN SEE IT WAS A STRAIGHT LEFT A STRAIGHT RIGHT SOUTHBOUND.

THE POINTER IS NOT I DON'T SEE IT WORKING, BUT YOU CAN SEE IT ON THE TOP OF THE PICTURE.

THE FIRST ARROW POINTING AND THEN THE INTERSECTION IS THE SECOND.

THE SECOND BOX THAT WE HAVE. AND THAT WAS TO CONSTRUCT A RAISED CROSSWALK WITH SIGNING PEDESTRIAN FEATURES.

THERE'S ALSO A RAISED ISLAND, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SOUTH.

AND THEN IT WAS GOING TO BE SIGNAL CONTROL. THE DEPARTMENT DID NOT SUPPORT THIS CONCEPT.

IT'S 150FT APPROXIMATELY FROM US ONE. SO IT'S ANOTHER SIGNALIZED INTERSECTION VERY CLOSE TO A MAJOR SIGNALIZED INTERSECTION ON US ONE.

[00:55:12]

IT'S A VERY SIMPLE ROUNDABOUT AS COMPARED TO OTHERS IN MARTIN COUNTY.

IT'S JUST APPROACHING ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION.

IT'S CONSIDERED A MODERN ROUNDABOUT BECAUSE IT WAS.

IT WILL BE CUSTOMIZED TO ACCOMMODATE THE TRUCKS.

AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE GREEN LINES, YOU CAN SEE THE TRUCK.

IT GOES IT GOES VERY CLOSE TO THE ROUNDABOUT, BUT IT'S MOUNTABLE.

IT'S NOT ENCROACHING MUCH. THE ONLY RIGHT OF WAY NEEDED IS ON THE SOUTHWEST CORNER.

THIS WAY WE WE WILL KEEP THE TRAFFIC FLOWING WITHOUT STOPPING.

SO CLOSE TO THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL. IT IS IT IS A DIFFERENT SHAPE.

IT'S NOT THE STANDARD ROUNDABOUT BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A SMALL RIGHT OF WAY THAT WE HAVE THAT WE HAD TO ACCOMMODATE AT THAT SMALLER SHAPE, THAT KIND OF CUSTOMIZED SHAPE. SO THIS IS OUR PROPOSED CONCEPT TO CONTINUE THE TRAFFIC FLOW, SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLES. OTHER. OTHER FEATURES WILL BE IMPLEMENTED, SUCH AS THE RUMBLE STRIPS AND PEDESTRIAN FEATURES.

THIS WILL ALSO, AS I DISCUSSED BEFORE, WILL ACCOMMODATE PUBLIX DELIVERY TRUCKS AND THERE'S NEED FOR RIGHT OF WAY ON THE SOUTHWEST CORNERS, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE. SO WE DID A COMPARISON OF THE CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE.

CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE RIGHT BOX.

AND WHEN YOU HAVE LEVEL OF SERVICE A IN A PERFECT WORLD YOU DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH TRAFFIC.

THE TRAFFIC FLOWS NO ISSUES. LEVEL OF SERVICE B MORE TRAFFIC, SAME LEVEL SERVICE C IS IDEAL FOR ALL THE DOT ROADS, BUT WE'RE IN SOUTH FLORIDA WHERE WE'RE TYPICALLY APPROACHING HIGHER LEVEL OF SERVICE.

D IS MORE CONGESTED. YOU'RE GOING TO FIND MORE SIGNALS.

YOU'RE GOING TO FIND MORE CONFLICT POINTS, SAME AS E IS ALREADY UNSTABLE AND FORCE FLOW LEVEL OF SERVICE.

F IS NOT WHAT WE WANT, WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE.

THEN THE TABLE ON THE LEFT THE CURRENT CONDITIONS IS LEVEL OF SERVICE C FOR THE EASTBOUND APPROACH IN THE MORNING AND WESTBOUND IS LEVEL OF SERVICE B NORTHBOUND AND SOUTHBOUND R A FOR THIS INTERSECTION.

AND THEN IN THE AFTERNOON IS LEVEL SERVICE C FOR WESTBOUND, EASTBOUND AND LEVEL SERVICE A FOR NORTHBOUND AND SOUTHBOUND.

THE ALTERNATIVE NUMBER FIVE THAT WAS RECOMMENDED IN YEAR 2023 PROVIDE A LEVEL OF SERVICE E FOR THE EASTBOUND, SO IT'S NOT PREFERRED. IT'S A IT'S NOT A BETTER LEVEL OF SERVICE OF WHAT WE WOULD HAVE TODAY.

AND B A AND A'S FOR THE NORTHBOUND SOUTHBOUND.

SO THE SAME FOR THE PM LEVEL SERVICE E FOR EASTBOUND.

SO THE AFFECTED MOVEMENT WOULD BE EASTBOUND. THE MOST AFFECTED MOVEMENT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASTBOUND FOR THE ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDED IN 2023.

NOW WITH THE MODERN RUNABOUT CONCEPT THAT WE HAVE TODAY.

IT PROVIDES A LEVEL OF SERVICE A AND ALL APPROACHES.

BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC CONTINUES FLOWING SO THERE'S NO STOP OR DELAYS.

SO THAT WAS OUR SHORT CONCEPT PRESENTATION. SINCE WE'RE IN THE MONTH OF MAY.

BE SAFE. THIS IS OUR SAFETY MESSAGE. BE SAFE ON MEMORIAL DAY.

DRIVE SAFE. DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE. THANK YOU.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF QUESTIONS? YES. OKAY.

VICE MAYOR. SO THIS MODERN ROUNDABOUT CAME FROM DOT.

YES. WHY DID WE GO THROUGH ALL OF THE WORKSHOPS AND PLANNING AND POSSIBILITIES AND EVERYBODY SAYING WHAT THEY WANT? IF DOT WAS JUST GOING TO COME BACK WITH A ROUNDABOUT AS A RECOMMENDATION.

CORRECT. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A PART OF THE FEASIBILITY STUDY IN THE PAST.

THERE WERE SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH DOT. THIS DID NOT COME AS PART OF THE LIST OF PRIORITY PROJECTS, SO OUR TEAM STARTED LOOKING WHEN IT CAME IN 2024.

AS THE LIST OF PRIORITY PROJECTS, WE WENT BACK TO OTHERS INVOLVED AND THEN WE DISCUSSED WITH WITH ALL THE DEPARTMENTS.

THE DEPARTMENTS AFFECTED TRAFFIC OPERATIONS, DESIGN, AND IT SEEMS LIKE THERE WERE RESERVATIONS ON THAT DESIGN THAT IT WASN'T SUPPORTED.

WHY THEY WENT THROUGH ALL THE WORKSHOPS? UNFORTUNATELY, I DID NOT PARTICIPATE AT THAT TIME.

I AM SURE DOT WAS INVITING TO REVIEW ALL THE POTENTIAL ALTERNATIVES, BUT ONCE IT WAS FINALIZED AND DOT STILL ENCOUNTER ISSUES, WASN'T IN FAVOR OF IT. SO IS THE PLAN NOW TO COME BACK IN FRONT OF RESIDENTS AND AND SHOW THEM WHAT WE'RE PITCHING VERSUS WHAT THEY SAID THEY WANTED? YES. OKAY. WE'RE COMING. WELL, WE'RE COMING BACK TO THE RESIDENTS WITH THE NEW CONCEPT THAT PROVIDES A BETTER LEVEL OF SERVICE

[01:00:03]

IS THIS A TYPICAL WAY THAT DDOT OPERATES WHERE THEY ASK FOR FEEDBACK FROM RESIDENTS, FROM COMMISSIONS, FROM THE MPO? AND THEN THEY LOOK AT IT, IT REACHES SOME KIND OF LEVEL, AND THEN THEY OVERRIDE AND SAY, LET'S DO THIS INSTEAD. IS THIS TYPICAL OR WAS THIS JUST WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY LIKE WHAT CORRADINO GROUP CAME UP WITH.

AND YEAH, I'M SORRY FOR ALL THE QUESTIONS I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.

OKAY. ONE CONSULTANT FOR FDOT WE TALKED TO CORRADINO GROUP, WHICH WAS THE CONSULTANT AT THE TIME FOR THE TPO.

THEY ARE NO LONGER I OKAY. I THINK THAT THEY ARE NOT UNDER CONTRACT ANYMORE.

I CANNOT ATTEST THAT. OKAY. WHAT WE UNDERSTAND IS THAT.

THEY DID NOT PROPERLY SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO DOT AT THAT TIME.

OKAY, SO DOT DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FULLY BET THIS APPLICATION.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY ANY MORE. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO MAKE A NEW CONCEPT.

SINCE IT CAME BACK, IT CAME OFFICIALLY ON 2020.

MY ONLY CONCERN IS THAT THAT RESIDENTS HAVE THE CHANCE TO LOOK AT THIS AGAIN, DO THEIR LITTLE STICKERS, AND MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THEY WANT TO DO.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE BRINGING IT HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. THAT'S OKAY.

ARE THEY PLANNING TO SET UP A COMMUNITY? WE CAN FOR THIS? OR WAS THIS THE PRESENTATION? THIS IS THE FIRST PRESENTATION WHERE WE CAN SET UP OTHER PRESENTATIONS.

THAT IS THE PLAN TO HAVE A COMMUNITY WORKSHOP LIKE WE DID THE LAST TIME.

OR WE UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE DID WAS WE HAD WE HAD A REQUEST FOR IMPROVEMENT OF THE INTERSECTION OF US ONE AT PALM CITY ROAD. AND TO BE ABLE TO I THINK THE RESIDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY AT THAT TIME SAID THEY REALLY WANTED TO DETER PEOPLE FROM GOING DOWN PALM CITY ROAD. AND THE SPEED IS A IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

AND AND SO BEFORE WE CAN THE OR THE MPO CAN PRIORITIZE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

THEY NEED TO DO A STUDY. SO THAT'S WHERE THE FEASIBILITY STUDY CAME IN.

AND WE DID HAVE PROBABLY THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT AS WE WE'VE EVER HAD WITH THE STUDY BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE WERE INTERESTED IN IT.

SO OUR FIRST OPEN HOUSE WE HAD IT WAS IN THIS ROOM AND WE HAD OVER 80 PEOPLE.

AND AT THAT PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE, WHAT WE WANTED TO DO IS JUST GET COMMENTS, YOU KNOW, IF YOU YOU'RE DRIVING ON THIS ROADWAY ALL THE TIME OR YOU LIVE THERE, WHAT DO YOU SEE? WHAT WORKS, WHAT DOESN'T WORK, WHAT'S YOUR CONCERN? AND SO THEY GAVE US THOSE COMMENTS. AND THEN WHAT WE DID, WE HAD A GENERAL PLANNING CONSULTANT AT THE TIME COORDINATE GROUP.

AND SO THEY TOOK THOSE COMMENTS AND LOOKED AT, AT WHAT PEOPLE WERE SAYING.

AND BASED ON THAT AND THE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS, THAT'S WHEN THEY CAME UP WITH THE FIVE ALTERNATIVES, BECAUSE WHAT THEY WERE TASKED WITH IS WHAT'S FEASIBLE AND WHAT'S NOT.

I MEAN, SOME OF THE ITEMS WEREN'T FEASIBLE, SOME OF THEM WERE.

AND HOW TO MAKE IT SAFE, HOW TO MAKE IT, HOW TO MAKE IT WORK EFFICIENTLY.

AND SO BASED ON THAT, THAT'S WHEN THEY CAME UP WITH THOSE FIVE ALTERNATIVES.

WE HAD OUR SECOND OPEN HOUSE ACTUALLY AT THE FLAGLER PLACE, BECAUSE THE FIRST ONE WAS SO WELL ATTENDED.

THEY WERE CLOSE TO 100 AT THAT OPEN HOUSE. AND WE GAVE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE FIVE ALTERNATIVES.

WE HAD A PRESENTATION AND WE GAVE THEM DIFFERENT COLORED DOTS, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THEY WHETHER IT WAS A GOOD ALTERNATIVE, WHETHER IT WOULD WORK, WHETHER IT WAS POOR. AND SO THEY TOOK THOSE DOTS AND RANKED THEM, IF YOU WILL.

AND THE HIGHEST RANK WAS ALTERNATIVE NUMBER FIVE.

AND SO THAT'S WE WE BROUGHT THAT BACK TO THE MPO BOARD.

AND ACTUALLY WE BROUGHT THAT HERE FIRST TO THE CITY OF STUART COMMISSION.

AND YOU ALL APPROVED ALTERNATIVE NUMBER FIVE AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE MPO BOARD MAKE IT A PRIORITY, SO IT WAS TAKEN TO THE MPO BOARD. THEY ACCEPTED ALTERNATIVE FIVE, MADE IT A PRIORITY AND SUBMITTED THAT PRIORITY TO FDOT.

US ONE IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FDOT AND SO. SO AT THAT TIME, THEY STARTED ANALYZING AND LOOKING AT THE ALTERNATIVE. AND AND SO BUT ANOTHER PROJECT WAS GOING ON AT THE SAME TIME, INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS AT US ONE AND CANTOR HIGHWAY.

AND THAT'S GOING TO THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT THIS PROJECT IN THAT THERE'S A TRIPLE LEFT ON CANTOR GOING ON TO US ONE TOWARDS ROOSEVELT BRIDGE THAT'S ACTUALLY FUNDED FOR CONSTRUCTION NOW. AND THEN THERE'S A DEDICATED RIGHT TURN LANE ON US ONE MAKING A RIGHT ON CANTOR HIGHWAY, WHICH IS GOING TO BE A ELONGATED TURN LANE. AND THAT'S GOING TO, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO PEOPLE USE PALM CITY ROAD RIGHT NOW OR MAKE THAT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT'S A FAST WAY. AN EASY WAY TO GET SOMEWHERE IF IT'S NOT, IS IF IT SLOWS THEM DOWN AND THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO UP TO CANTOR

[01:05:03]

AND SO PART OF ANYTIME FDOT KIND OF PARTNERS WITH THE MPO OR PARTNERS WITH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THEY ALWAYS HAVE A PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PROCESS.

AND ALWAYS ESPECIALLY WITH MARTIN COUNTY, I THINK WE WE PROBABLY HAVE A RECOMMENDATION OF REALLY ASKING THEM TO DO A LOT OF PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT.

THEY WERE THEY APPROACHED THE MPO AND WANTED TO DO A A PRESENTATION TO OUR ADVISORY COMMITTEES AND MPO BOARD.

AND OUR RESPONSE WAS WAS WHERE YOU REALLY NEED TO GO TO THE CITY COMMISSION.

FIRST, YOU NEED TO HEAR IF THEY HAVE ANY COMMENTS, ANY QUESTIONS, BECAUSE IF YOU JUST BRING IT TO THE MPO, OUR BOARD IS GOING TO OUR ADVISORY COMMITTEES ARE GOING TO SAY, WELL, WHAT DOES THE CITY THINK? AND SO THAT'S WHY THEY'RE HERE.

THAT'S THE FIRST STEP. SO DEPENDING ON WHAT YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS ARE, YOU ALL ARE GOING TO FACTOR THAT INTO WHEN YOU MAKE A PRESENTATION TO THE MPO ADVISORY COMMITTEE. SO YOU, AS AN MPO BOARD MEMBER WILL BE HEARING THIS PRESENTATION AND ANY, ANY CHANGES.

PROBABLY WITHIN THE NEXT YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MONTHS.

SO SO THAT'S KIND OF THE HISTORY AND KIND OF WHERE WE ARE NOW BECAUSE THIS IS OUT OF LEFT FIELD.

IS THIS GOING TO GO IN FRONT OF THE RESIDENTS AGAIN? IS THERE GOING TO BE SOME KIND OF WORK? THEY HAVE A PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT COMPONENT TO WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

SO PART OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEES THAT WE HAVE, I MEAN, THAT'S THAT'S PART OF THE PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT.

AND WE CAN WORK WITH FDOT IF THERE'S A SEPARATE OPEN HOUSE OR VISIONING SESSION OR LEARNING SESSION.

I MEAN, WE CAN CERTAINLY WORK WITH THEM ON ON HAVING ANOTHER.

THAT'S MY CONCERN IS FRUSTRATION THAT IF ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAID, IT WAS VERY WELL ATTENDED, THOSE MEETINGS CAME OUT AND EVERYBODY SAW STICKERS WERE ON FIVE.

AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WE START CONSTRUCTING A ROUNDABOUT LIKE, WHAT THE HELL IS THIS? WELL, NO, I MEAN, THERE WAS A ROUNDABOUT AS PART OF THE ALTERNATIVE FIVE.

THEY DID CHANGE IT A LITTLE BIT, BUT FDOT, THE US ONE, IS FDOT RESPONSIBILITY, AND WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE IT'S SAFE AND UNDERSTAND THEY WERE TASKED WITH WHAT THE RESIDENTS WANT, THEY WANT A SLOWER SPEED, AND THEY WANT TO DETER PEOPLE TO GO ON PALM USE PALM CITY ROAD.

AND SO THAT IMPROVEMENT AS WELL AS FDOT EXPEDITED THAT INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT AT US ONE AND CANTOR HIGHWAY THAT WAS, THAT WAS THAT WAS GOING TO NOT BE FUNDED FOR A WHILE, BUT THEY EXPEDITED THAT THAT'S FUNDED FOR CONSTRUCTION NOW.

AND THAT THAT RIGHT HAND DEDICATED RIGHT TURN LANE IS CERTAINLY GOING TO HELP PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, MOVE THROUGH THAT INTERSECTION. SO FOR CLARIFICATION, WE'RE NOT PLANNING ON DOING ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE WORKSHOPS. WE'RE SAYING THAT WE'VE ALREADY FOR CLARIFICATION, WE'RE NOT PLANNING ON DOING ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE WORKSHOPS WHERE WE INVITE ALL OF THOSE RESIDENTS OUT.

WE CAN DO THAT. WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT. WE'LL WORK WITH FDOT TO DO THAT.

THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COMMISSION IS AT LEAST MAKING SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT THE PLAN IS NOW.

ABSOLUTELY. AND THEN IF YOU COULD SEND ME THE.

BECAUSE I WAS JUST LOOKING FOR IT ON MY EMAIL, IT'S PROBABLY MY SERVER, BUT IF YOU COULD SEND ME THAT ORIGINAL YOU KNOW, WE HAD THE FIVE DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES. I THINK IF YOU SENT ME THOSE ALTERNATIVES, I COULD SHARE THEM WITH THE COMMISSION. BECAUSE WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT THIS, WHILE IT IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE IT KIND OF PROTRUDES OUT AND DOESN'T MAKE IT A STRAIGHT RUN, IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO TWO OF THEM, IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, BECAUSE EXHIBIT FIVE, FIVE, FIVE, FIVE HAD A LONG CENTER MEDIAN THAT WOULD BE EFFECTIVELY AROUND.

NO, NOT AT ALL. WELL, THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING IF SHE SENDS IT TO US, WE CAN SHARE IT AND SHOW IT TO THE COMMISSION.

YEAH. NO PROBLEM. DO WE NEED TO MAKE A MOTION? THIS IS REALLY AN MPO.

THIS IS A PRESENTATION, SO WE DON'T HAVE JURISDICTION OVER IT ANYWAY, RIGHT? BUT YOU'VE. WOULD YOU LIKE MORE CONSENSUS FROM US ON HAVING.

YES. SO SO NO NO NO, THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S FINE.

I MEAN, WE CAN I CAN CERTAINLY SEND THAT INFORMATION TO, TO MIKE AND AND WE CAN WHEN IT WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE MPO ADVISORY COMMITTEES AND BOARD.

WHEN I INTRODUCED THE ITEM, WHEN I INTRODUCED, YOU KNOW, I WILL SAY THAT THIS WAS PRESENTED TO THE CITY OF STUART COMMISSION BECAUSE THIS HAD A STUDY, FEASIBILITY STUDY AT THAT LEVEL HAD SO MUCH PARTICIPATION AT AN OPEN HOUSE LEVEL.

THEY'RE INTERESTED IN HAVING ANOTHER OPEN HOUSE LEVEL.

I'M SORRY I SAID BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU. BETH. OKAY.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER CLARK, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? YES. THANK YOU, I THANK.

HELLO, MISS BELTRAN. I HAD THE SAME IDEA AS COMMISSIONER COLLINS, WHICH IS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVEN THOUGH IT'S US, ONE IS A STATE ROAD. PALM CITY ROAD IS A COUNTY ROAD.

STILL THAT WE WE BOTH OF THOSE ROADS IMPACT OUR RESIDENTS IN THE CITY AND THOSE WHO TRAVEL THROUGH THE CITY.

SO WE DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR 84 FOLKS TO COME OUT AND LISTEN TO THIS NEW PLAN FROM THE DOT AND NOT BE CONVINCED.

I MEAN, CONFUSED AS TO WHAT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE.

AND I THINK, BETH, YOU HAD A GOOD GRASP ON HOW THIS THING PROGRESSES AND HOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET INPUT AT ALL LEVELS AND AT ALL TIMES,

[01:10:02]

SOSA. MISS SOSA. SORRY. OKAY. THANK YOU. MANY COMPETING INTERESTS.

IT'S A DIFFICULT JOB. YES. NOT PART OF TOWN. THANK YOU GUYS FOR ANY MORE QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. HOGARTH.

IS HE HERE? THERE HE IS. THE SESSION IS OVER.

LEGISLATIVE. BUT THEY'VE YET TO DO THEIR MOST IMPORTANT JOB, WHICH IS TO PASS A BUDGET.

BUT AS MIKE LIKES TO SAY, THE ONLY ONE. THEY'RE ACTUALLY REQUIRED.

LEGALLY OBLIGATED TO BE EVERY YEAR TO PASS. THROUGH MR. HOGARTH, FOR THE RECORD. SO I DON'T HAVE A POWERPOINT OR ANYTHING FORMAL TONIGHT.

THE CITY MANAGER JUST KIND OF WANTED TO DO A RECAP OFFICIAL ON THE RECORD HERE.

HERE IS KIND OF THE SCORECARD FOR FOR WHAT PASSED AND WHAT DIDN'T.

SO I'M GOING TO TRY AND LEAVE COMMENTS TO A MINIMUM. THERE'S A LOT THAT PASSED.

AND OBVIOUSLY EVERYONE HERE IS PROBABLY WELL AWARE.

I'M NOT SURE IF THE PUBLIC KNOWS. SO IT'S GOING TO BE MORE FOR, FOR THEIR BENEFIT. WHAT I SAY TONIGHT.

BUT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE COMMISSION MIGHT HAVE ABOUT ANYTHING. SO I'M GOING TO TRY AND SKIM THIS JUST FOR KEY BILLS THAT FAILED THAT WE WERE KIND OF SURPRISED THAT FAILED. AND A LOT OF IT WAS THIS BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE AT THE END.

AND I AND I DON'T ENVY ANYBODY THAT HAD TO WATCH THE SESSION AS, LIKE, A STAFF MEMBER FOR LIKE THE FIRST TIME, BECAUSE THIS WAS ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING SESSIONS TO FOLLOW.

IN 12 SESSIONS I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING. SO BILL DID DID FAIL, WHICH IS A GOOD THING FOR US.

I FULLY EXPECT THAT TO COME BACK NEXT YEAR. BILL GOT SO WATERED DOWN BY THE END IT WAS FUNCTIONALLY IRRELEVANT.

AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT MORE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HEAR.

OUR DELEGATION MEMBERS PERHAPS, BUT AROUND THE STATE, DIFFERENT REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS HAVING WITH THEIR DISTRICTS TO TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR, WHICH IS THE CRA STICK TO THE TO THE REDEVELOPMENT PLANS, THAT THEY COMPLETE PROJECTS ON TIME.

PERHAPS A FUTURE REQUIREMENT WHERE THEY DON'T ALLOW CRAS TO BOND BEYOND THE CRA SUNSET DATE.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT IN THE FUTURE. THE SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY BILL ALSO FAILED.

ANOTHER SURPRISE. IT GOT ALL THE WAY TO THE FINISH LINE, AND THEN THE SENATE KIND OF SAT ON IT.

GOOD FOR US, BECAUSE THE THE TORT ALLOWANCES WOULD HAVE GONE FROM 200,000, 300,000, RESPECTIVELY, TO AT THE WORST, THAT BILL WAS WRITTEN WAS UP TO $3 MILLION IN FIVE YEARS.

SO TEN TIMES WHAT WE'RE USED TO FOR THE LIMITS RIGHT NOW, THAT'S JUST EXORBITANT.

SO THAT DID NOT PASS THIS YEAR, BUT FULLY EXPECT TO SEE THAT ONE AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL BILLS THAT WOULD HAVE DELETED REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCILS THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE TO THE END.

SO THAT WAS A GOOD THING FOR US. FOR THE RECORD, REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCILS REALLY BENEFIT SMALLER CITIES LIKE THE CITY OF STUART.

NOT SAYING THEY NECESSARILY WERE SUBSIDIZED BY LARGER COMMUNITIES, BUT EVERYBODY THAT PUTS IN MONEY INTO THE POOL TO TO PROVIDE FOR THEM.

THEY PROVIDE KIND OF PLANNING SERVICES THAT WE MIGHT IN-HOUSE HAVE TO NORMALLY GO OUT OUTSIDE TO, TO PAY FOR, FOR A CONTRACT. THEY'RE KIND OF THEY'RE KIND OF PART OF THAT, OF THAT SERVICE.

SO ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS, THAT WAS A BILL THAT MOST OF US WERE VERY, VERY SURPRISED, DIDN'T PASS TO THE VERY END.

EVERYBODY EXPECTED IT TO PASS. AND THEN THE FLORIDA HOUSE AND SENATE JUST KIND OF KICKED IT BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN ASKING THE OTHER TO RECEDE OR INSISTING THE OTHER RECEDE, AND THEY JUST RAN OUT OF TIME. SO AGAIN, VERY ANYONE GOT THAT WRONG.

EVERYONE THOUGHT THAT WAS A SURE BET IT SHOULD HAVE.

IT WAS JUST IT CAME DOWN TO REALLY SEMANTICS IN A COUPLE OF WORDS.

AND I THINK JUST THERE WAS SOME PETTINESS BETWEEN THE CHAMBERS AND THAT BILL WAS USED FOR THAT.

SO IT'S NOT BACKED BY LARGE DEVELOPERS. YEAH, RIGHT.

SO IF YOU HAVE AN ADU WELL, I WILL SAY THIS BECAUSE THE ADU LANGUAGE DID SHOW UP IN A COUPLE OF OTHER BIG BILLS, ONE OF WHICH DID PASS. AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A MOMENT. LIVE LOCAL KIND OF REFORM PART TWO.

BILL. I EXPECT TO SEE THIS AGAIN NEXT YEAR, SO I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED.

SO OF THE BILLS THAT PASSED, THIS IS WHERE WE GET INTO REALLY THE MEAT OF EVERYTHING. I'LL START WITH SB 700.

IT'S A BIG KIND OF OMNIBUS BILL THAT DEALS WITH A LOT OF THINGS.

THERE'S A LITTLE VERY SMALL COUPLE SENTENCE SECTION THAT APPLIES TO US.

AND IT'S THE FLUORIDE BILL. THE BILL THAT ESSENTIALLY PROHIBITS FLUORIDE IN OUR WATER SUPPLY.

THE LANGUAGE IS VERY SIMPLE. I PROVIDED THAT TO MIKE AND LEE A WEEK OR SO AGO, I THINK.

I THINK IT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY KIND OF CONCERN ABOUT WHAT THE MEANING IS THERE.

I THINK IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. THAT GOES IT'S PROBABLY IMPORTANT FOR ME TO SAY THAT GOES INTO EFFECT JULY 1ST OFFICIALLY.

AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, CITY POLICY, THAT'S A DIFFERENT STORY. BUT JULY 1ST IS WHEN THAT'S LAW.

SO SB 784, THAT HAD TO DO WITH PLATTING. NOT SUPER IMPORTANT.

I WANTED TO BRING IT UP BECAUSE IT'S PART OF THIS THEME FOR THIS YEAR. ESSENTIALLY, PLATS THAT WOULD HAVE COME BEFORE YOU ALL ARE NOW BEING REQUIRED TO BE ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVED. I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD THAT THEME BEFORE WITH SOME OF THESE OTHER TYPES OF DEVELOPMENTS. SO ALL PLATS NOW NEED TO BE ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVED.

[01:15:01]

BUT YOU MIGHT KNOW THIS AS KIND OF THE SOBER HOME BILL.

THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF IRONY IN THIS AND THAT THERE'S A REQUIREMENT FOR US TO ADOPT A ORDINANCE IN, IN THE NEAR FUTURE THAT ENSURES THAT WE'RE NOT PROHIBITING OUTRIGHT RECOVERY RESIDENCES.

AND I'LL GET INTO WHY THAT'S IRONIC LATER, BECAUSE THE EMERGENCY BILL WE'RE GOING.

TO TALK ABOUT ESSENTIALLY PROHIBITS US FROM PASSING ALMOST ANY ORDINANCE AS LONG AS IT'S MORE RESTRICTIVE.

SO WE'LL GET INTO THAT. THE RECOVERY RESIDENTS BILL ALSO REQUIRES US THAT WHEN WE PASS AN ORDINANCE THAT WE HAVE TO ALLOW A PROCESS FOR REQUESTING REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FROM ANY LOCAL LAND USE REGULATIONS THAT SERVES TO PROHIBIT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF, OF THESE RESIDENCES. SO IT'S VERY LOOSE LANGUAGE, AND I'M SURE WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING, YOU KNOW, INTERNALLY ABOUT HOW THAT'S GOING TO BE APPLIED TO THE EXISTING LANGUAGE WE HAVE IN CODE RIGHT NOW, WHICH ISN'T SPECIFIC TO RECOVERY RESIDENCES. GENERALLY REQUIRES THE CODE TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE FAIR HOUSING AMENDMENTS ACT OF 1988 AND THE ADA OR THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. SO THOSE ARE A COUPLE OF THE OTHER ELEMENTS OF THAT BILL.

NOW GETTING TO THE THREE BIG LAND USE BILLS, LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS.

SENATE BILL 1080 NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH 180, WHICH I'LL TALK ABOUT IN A MOMENT.

THIS BILL MOSTLY AFFECTS OUR DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENTS TIMINGS.

WHAT WE WHEN WE CONSIDER AN APPLICATION COMPLETE FROM A DEVELOPER OR FROM AN APPLICANT WE HAVE CERTAIN TURNAROUND TIMES NOW THAT ARE GOING TO BE STRINGENT.

AND IF WE DON'T FOLLOW THOSE TIME FRAMES, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, PRETTY SEVERE CONSEQUENCES IF WE DON'T.

SO FIVE BUSINESS DAY REQUIREMENT FOR NOTIFYING APPLICANTS THAT WE'RE IN RECEIPT OF THEIR APPLICATION.

SO WE HAVE TO DO ALL THIS BY WRITING NOW. FOR SURE.

NOT THAT WE HAVEN'T. AND THERE'S A 30 DAY REQUIREMENT NOW WHERE WE HAVE TO NOTIFY EVERY APPLICANT IN WRITING WHETHER OR NOT THEIR APPLICATION IS MATERIALLY COMPLETE.

AGAIN, WE MIGHT ALREADY BE FOLLOWING MOST OF THESE POLICIES.

IT'S JUST THIS IS BECOMING LAW AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT FOLLOWING IT, OF SOMETHING SLIPPING THROUGH THE CRACKS ARE GOING TO BE PRETTY STRONG AT THE END.

ONE OTHER IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF THIS BILL. WE HAD A SEPARATE IMPACT FEE BILL THAT GOT TUCKED BASICALLY INTO HERE WITH SOME ADJUSTMENTS.

SO THE IMPACT PROVISION IN THIS BILL INCREASE.

SO IF YOU WANT TO, AS A BOARD INCREASE THE IMPACT FEES IN THE FUTURE, YOU HAVE TO DO SO NOW BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

IT CAN'T BE A TWO THIRDS MAJORITY VOTE. IT WAS IT WAS NOT A MAJORITY.

IT WAS A TWO THIRDS MAJORITY PREVIOUSLY. NOW IT'S A UNANIMOUS AND ANY INCREASE THAT YOU, YOU DO TO A IMPACT FEE HAS TO BE PHASED IN OVER 2 TO 4 YEARS.

AND IF YOU HAVE NOT INCREASED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS THE LOCAL AGENCY CANNOT INCREASE THE IMPACT FEE RATE ABOVE THE PHASE IN LIMITATION.

SO IT'S A IT'S A LITTLE BIT WEIRD. WE'VE ACTUALLY DECREASED OUR IMPACT FEES.

AND THEN IN MEETING WITH THE COUNTY ACTUALLY REDUCED THE COUNTY ROAD IMPACT FEE BY 50%, WHICH IS SUBSTANTIAL.

SO FOR US TO TO INCREASE THOSE IN THE FUTURE, IT WOULD JUST BE A LITTLE BIT MORE CHALLENGING.

SO THE FINAL TWO BILLS THAT DEAL WITH LAND DEVELOPMENT YOU ALL HAVE HEARD ME SAY MULTIPLE TIMES IN MY PREVIOUS PRESENTATION AND THEN YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY IN DISCUSSIONS, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BILL, WHICH WAS REALLY LIVE LOCAL PART THREE SB 1730 EXPANDS THE ORIGINAL LIVE LOCAL ACT FROM 2023 TO INCLUDE. AND SO REALLY WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS CLARIFYING LANGUAGE THAT MIXED USE MEANS IT INCLUDES PUDS.

IT MEANS IT INCLUDES OTHER MIXED USE ZONINGS THAT FOR EXAMPLE, NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIAL DISTRICT.

RIGHT. WE HAVE A FANCY ZONING TERM FOR, FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT REALLY FUNCTIONALLY WHAT IT IS, IS MIXED USE.

THE LANGUAGE HERE IS PERHAPS CLARIFYING THAT IT WOULD INCLUDE ANY OF ANY SUCH TYPES OF MIXED USES.

SO IT FREEZES THE RESTRICTIONS OF PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT DENSITY, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE FLOOR AREA RATIO, WHICH NOW ALSO INCLUDES LOT COVERAGE AND BUILDING HEIGHTS TO THE MAXIMUM THAT WAS ALLOWED ON JULY 1ST, 2023. THE REASON THAT THEY REVERTED BACK TO THEM IS ESSENTIALLY THAT WAS THE DATE THAT LIVE LOCAL FIRST WENT ACTIVE.

SO EVERYTHING THAT WE HAD AS THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE BACK IN JULY 1ST, 2023, IF YOU'RE DOING AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROJECT UNDER THE LIVE LOCAL, YOU ONLY HAVE TO COMPLY. AGAIN, STRAIGHT ZONING NO PUBLIC HEARINGS, NO PUBLIC COMMENT, NO DUE PROCESS IN THE ROOM, JUST STRAIGHT RIGHT BY ZONING. RIGHT IN DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.

THAT WOULD NOW INCLUDE MAX LOT COVERAGE. SO THAT'S REALLY LIKE I THINK OF THAT AS LIKE BUILDING DENSITY.

BUT THERE'S PROBABLY BETTER WAYS TO DESCRIBE THAT. SO ONE OTHER PROHIBITION IN THIS BILL WAS THAT IT PROHIBITS THE YOU KNOW,

[01:20:07]

SO IF YOU HAVE A MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS KIND OF COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL COMPONENT YOU CAN'T REQUIRE THE DEVELOPER TO HAVE 20% OR 30% BE COMMERCIAL. THE MAXIMUM YOU CAN REQUIRE FOR SOMETHING OTHER THAN RESIDENTIAL IS 10%.

SO THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE AS WE GO FORWARD.

PARKING AS WE KNOW THAT'S A CHALLENGE. THEY THEY PROVIDED ORIGINALLY A 20% REDUCTION.

IT DROPPED DOWN FOR WHATEVER REASON, TO 15%. BUT IF A IF AN APPLICANT REQUEST IT, WE REDUCE THEIR PARKING BY 15%.

WE'RE SORT OF REQUIRED IN THIS BILL TO, TO ALLOW FOR THAT.

REGARDLESS OF WHAT OUR CODES EXISTING SAY DEMOLITIONS ON SITES THAT ARE GOING TO BE USED FOR LIVE LOCAL ACT PROJECTS ARE NOW ALSO NEEDING TO BE ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVED ONLY.

SO NO LPA HEARINGS, NO COMMISSION HEARINGS FOR THOSE AS WELL.

ALLOWS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. AND SO THIS IS THIS GETS BACK INTO OKAY, WELL IS THIS GOING TO BE A REQUIREMENT BUT ALLOWS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO PERMIT ADJACENT PARCELS OF LAND TO BE INCLUDED IN A LOCAL PROJECT, IRRESPECTIVE OF WHAT THAT PARCEL OF LAND IS, IS LAND USE AND ITS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION, ALL THAT.

SO AGAIN, IS THAT IS THAT GOING TO BE SOMETHING WE SEE CHANGE NEXT YEAR IN PART FOUR? IT'S A CONCERN OR PROBLEM WITH ADJACENT IS EVERYTHING EVENTUALLY CAN BE ADJACENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LEAVE IT SO OPEN AND THERE'S NO.

YEAH. THEY DON'T THEY DON'T SPECIFY. IT'S JUST WHATEVER IT IS.

SO MORATORIUMS THAT HAVE THE EFFECT OF DELAYING CONSTRUCTION OR PERMITTING REALLY ALL OF THEM OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS REQUIRE A NEEDS ASSESSMENT ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRIOR TO INTRODUCTION, AND THEY CAN ONLY LAST A MAXIMUM OF 90 DAYS.

IN EXISTING LAW, YOU COULD EXTEND THE 90 DAYS ANOTHER 90 IN THE FUTURE.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT'S GOING TO BE A MAXIMUM OF 90 DAYS.

AND IF IF IT PASSED THE THE THREE YEAR REQUIREMENT, YOU CAN'T DO A MORATORIUM ONCE, BUT EVERY THREE YEARS IN THIS BILL, AND YOU HAVE TO DO A HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENT PRIOR TO EVEN ENACTING THE MORATORIUM IN THE FIRST PLACE.

SO THOSE THAT COST MORE MONEY TO DO THAT NEEDS ASSESSMENT. THAT'S ANOTHER THING WE'LL LOOK AT. AND IF THIS WASN'T BAD ENOUGH YOU KNOW, FOR THEIR INCREASING LEGAL EXPOSURES FOR ATTORNEY'S FEES UP TO $250,000 IF WE'RE SUCCESSFULLY CHALLENGED ON ANY OF THESE KIND OF PROCEDURES.

SO IF YOU THINK OF EACH ONE OF THOSE AS, LIKE A $250,000 POTENTIAL, FINE.

YOU KNOW, THEN THERE'S A REQUIRED ANNUAL NOTIFICATION TO THE STATE.

SO IF WE'RE SUED, PART OF OUR ANNUAL NOTIFICATION TO THE STATE IS GOING TO BE IN THAT SUMMARY LITIGATION RELATING TO LIVE LOCAL ACT.

SO THE STATE'S GOING TO BE KEEPING TABS ON EVERY MUNICIPALITY IN THE STATE, WHO'S GETTING SUED, WHO'S GETTING BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, ACCUSED OF NOT FOLLOWING IT. AND WHAT WAS REALLY, REALLY INTERESTING AT THE END OF THE BILL THAT WAS KIND OF TAGGED IN AND WAS RELATED TO HOSPITALS AND HEALTHCARE FACILITIES AND HEALTHCARE EMPLOYEES.

BASICALLY, THE STATE SAID IT'S IN THE STATE'S INTEREST THAT WE PROVIDE HOUSING FOR OUR HEALTH CARE EMPLOYEES AND OUR, YOU KNOW, HEALTH INDUSTRY MEMBERS. AND SO THERE ARE SPECIFIC PROVISION AT THE END BASICALLY ENCOURAGES COMMUNITIES TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO INCREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEAR AND AROUND HOSPITALS AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT AND SOME OF THE OTHER CONVERSATIONS WE MIGHT HAVE HAD IN THE PAST.

SO IN THE FINAL BILL THAT DEALS WITH DEVELOPMENT EMERGENCIES SENATE BILL 180, WHERE THIS PART DOESN'T REALLY SO MUCH PERTAIN DIRECTLY TO EMERGENCIES AS MUCH AS IT DOES LAND DEVELOPMENT. THIS IS THE BIG BILL WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST.

THERE ARE TWO SECTIONS IN THAT BILL, SECTION 18 AND SECTION 28.

I'M REFERRING IN THIS BILL TO SPECIFIC SECTIONS BECAUSE IT'S A MASSIVE BILL, AND THESE ARE THE SECTIONS THAT REALLY MATTER MOST TO US.

SO SECTION 18 RESTRICTS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM ADOPTING NEW ORDINANCES RELATED TO LAND DEVELOPMENT OR COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING, AND OR ISSUING A MORATORIUM ON DEVELOPMENT FOR ONE YEAR AFTER A HURRICANE HAS MADE LANDFALL, OF COURSE, IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, AND THAT LANDFALL ON TRACK WAS WITHIN 100 MILES OF OUR COUNTY.

SO THINK ABOUT WHAT KIND OF RANGE THAT IS. SECTION 28 RESTRICTS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM ADOPTING ANY NEW ORDINANCES RELATED TO LAND DEVELOPMENT OR COMP PLANNING, OR ISSUING A MORATORIUM ON LAND DEVELOPMENT THROUGH OCTOBER 1ST, 2027, IF THE JURISDICTION WAS UNDER A DISASTER DECLARATION FOR HURRICANES HELENE, DEMI AND OR MILTON IN 2024.

OF COURSE, MILTON WAS AT THE VERY LEAST ONE OF THE ONES THAT WE WERE.

THAT ALSO A RETROACTIVE POLICY BACK TO AUGUST 1ST, 2024.

SO ANY LAND USE DEVELOPMENT, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT CHANGE AND OR MORATORIUM THAT WE HAVE ENACTED SINCE AUGUST 1ST,

[01:25:02]

AND IF THAT'S NOT BAD ENOUGH, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WILL HAVE 14 DAYS TO CURE ANY LEGAL CHALLENGES THAT'S BROUGHT BEFORE THEM, BEFORE AN APPLICANT OR SOMEBODY WHO HAS A CONCERN OVER OUR LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE CAN SUE US AND BRING IT TO COURT OFFICIALLY.

SO THAT WAS THE LAST OF THE BILLS THAT PASSED.

WHAT'S STILL IN PLAY, OF COURSE, IS THE BUDGET.

WE'RE HOPING STILL FOR OUR APPROPRIATION FOR GUY DAVIS, WHICH WAS EITHER 500,000IN THE SENATE OR 250,000IN THE HOUSE, RESPECTIVELY. SO HOPEFULLY ONE OF THOSE WE CAN GET SOME MONEY.

AND THE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL BILL, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY REFERRED TO THAT, BUT HB SEVEN 7033 IS STILL IN PLAY.

AND THAT'S THE ONE YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD, WHERE 62 OF THE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT COUNCILS AROUND THE STATE WOULD EFFECTIVELY BE DEAD, AND THE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT TAXES WOULD BE USED AS A TAX CREDIT TOWARDS AD VALOREM.

AT LEAST THAT'S THE DESIGN THEY'RE GOING FOR. SO I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO REPORT.

I THINK THAT WAS ENOUGH. DO YOU HAVE A YOU HAVE A FORECAST ON THAT ONE? KIND OF LIKE TODAY. IT'S A LITTLE BIT RAINY. OKAY.

NO, I KNOW IT'S BEEN HARD. VERY HARD TO PREDICT EVERYONE.

THE EXPERIENCED WATCHERS HAVE BEEN VERY CONFUSED.

YES. AND AGAIN, THE INFIGHTING BETWEEN THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE.

I'VE ONLY SEEN ONE OTHER YEAR THAT WAS CLOSE TO THIS BAD, SO THAT WAS JUST A LITTLE WEIRD TO WATCH.

I HAD TO HAVE NOTES BECAUSE I'VE READ SO MANY DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF EACH OF THESE BILLS.

I CAN'T EVEN TRUST MYSELF TO KEEP IT ALL STRAIGHT. SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I COULD PRESENT THE FACTS AS BEST AS I COULD.

WHAT? SURE, CERTAINLY. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THIS BOARD.

YOU KNOW, AT THIS POINT, THE LAST SORT OF SHOT I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE AT MAKING THIS RIGHT.

THIS WAS A HUGE OVERREACH, THIS EMERGENCY BILL, IN MY OPINION.

I WOULD LIKE US TO WRITE A LETTER FROM THE CITY, FROM OUR COMMISSION TO GOVERNOR DESANTIS, ASKING HIM POLITELY TO PLEASE VETO THIS BILL BECAUSE HE CAN'T LINE-ITEM IT.

SO MY HOPE IS THAT IT GETS VETOED. LINE ITEM.

WELL, IT'S A IT'S IT'S A 55 PAGE BILL AND IT'S EMERGENCY BILL.

YOU CAN LINE ITEM A BUDGET VETO, BUT YOU CAN'T LINE ITEM A TEXT AMENDMENT OR A TEXT POLICY.

YEAH. SO THE PROBLEM WITH IT IS, IS THAT WE'RE SECTION 28 OF THE BILL.

IT'S THREE QUARTERS OF ONE PAGE OUT OF 55 PAGES.

I'M HAPPY TO WRITE THE LETTER, BUT I WOULD NOT TELL YOU GUYS TO GET TO.

YEAH, BUT IT'S, IT'S IT'S PROBABLY ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE, AND I THINK BEING ON THE RECORD FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE IN IS A GOOD THING ALWAYS, BECAUSE WE KNOW RESOLUTIONS ONLY GO SO FAR IN TALLAHASSEE ANYWAY.

BUT WITH THAT SAID, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE ALMOST THE WAY EVERY ONE OF THESE BILLS WENT THIS YEAR.

VOTE WISE, THEY WOULD HAVE ESSENTIALLY A VETO PROOF MAJORITY IF THE LEGISLATURE WANTED TO OVERRIDE A VETO WITH A VOTE.

CAN YOU SAY SOMETHING POSITIVE, PLEASE? IT'S ALMOST IT'S ALMOST SUMMER.

WHAT WERE THE WELL, WHAT WERE EACH OF THE RESPECTIVE VOTES ON THOSE TWO BILLS? I THINK THERE WAS ONE VOTE AGAINST IN THE HOUSE AND UNANIMOUS IN THE SENATE ON THAT SB 180.

SO ONE OTHER COMMENT IS ALONG THE LINES OF THE LIVE LOCAL BILL.

I THINK MY HOPE WAS THAT IT WOULD ACTUALLY GET WEAKENED THIS ROUND.

BUT SINCE IT HAS NOT, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT WE HAVE SOME SORT OF MECHANISM TO REALLY TEST THAT 40% OF THESE UNITS ARE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO AUDIT WHATEVER IS IN THE SCOPE OF OUR AUTHORITY. IF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THESE PROJECTS IS TO HAVE 40% OF THE UNITS BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, I THINK WE SHOULD BE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE THAT WE CAN TO HAVE CONSISTENT AUDITS OF THESE PROJECTS SO THAT IT'S NOT JUST AN EXCUSE FOR MORE DEVELOPMENT.

I DON'T I DON'T HAVE THE MOST CURRENT AM I FOR MARTIN COUNTY? BUT I KNOW THAT THE FIRST LIVE LOCAL ACT, THE ARMY WAS $84,000.

SO TIMES 1.2 EQUALS 100 AND $100,800 TIMES 0.3 DIVIDED BY 12. AFFORDABLE RENT IS $2,520 PER MONTH, INCLUDING UTILITIES.

THAT DOES INCLUDE UTILITIES. THAT INCLUDES UTILITIES. BUT DEFINING UTILITIES BECOMES COMPLICATED.

I PROBABLY SHOULD EXPLAIN THE MATH THERE. MIKE IS 120% OF AMI IS THE MEDIAN INCOME.

THE 30% WAS IN THEORY 30% OF YOUR TOTAL INCOME TOWARDS YOUR RENT.

IS IS WELL, IT CAME FROM INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.

ORIGINALLY, THE THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE ADOPTED THAT 30% REQUIREMENT FOR WHAT IS DEEMED TO BE AFFORDABLE.

SO THAT'S WHERE THE MATH CAME FROM. IS 120% OF THE MEDIAN INCOME IS CONSIDERED AFFORDABLE WHEN KIND OF TRADITIONALLY 80% WAS THE KIND OF THE MAX ON THAT.

[01:30:03]

WHAT WHAT KIND OF AUTHORITY DO WE HAVE, MIKE OR LEE, TO AUDIT THESE IF THE REQUIREMENT IS 40%? WE DON'T HAVE A SINGLE APPLICATION FOR A PROJECT OF THIS NATURE IN THE CITY YET ANYWAY.

BUT IF WE DO GET A PROJECT IN THE CITY. EACH PROJECT HAS TO BE DONE WITH WHAT'S CALLED A LAURA OR LAND USE REGULATION AGREEMENT.

AND I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT ON THAT.

AND IN THE LAURA, WE ARE PLANNING TO DEFINE WHAT UTILITIES ARE BECAUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, I DIDN'T THINK INTERNET WAS A UTILITY UNTIL COVID, AND THEN IT BECAME VERY CLEAR THAT THE STUDENTS INTERNET WAS CRITICAL.

SO WE'VE SAID INTERNET IS A UTILITY THAT HAS TO BE EITHER PROVIDED BY THE LANDLORD OR DEDUCTED FROM THAT $2,500 NUMBER.

ELECTRIC. WATER. SEWER. STORMWATER GARBAGE. AND SO YOU START GOING THROUGH AND WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT ALL THOSE THINGS. WHAT MAKES IT EVEN MORE COMPLICATED, THOUGH, IS WHEN I SAY $84,000, $84,000 IS FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR.

SO WHEN A UNDER HUD, A TWO BEDROOM, TWO BATHROOM CONDO IS DEEMED SUFFICIENT FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR.

SO IF THEY SAY WE'RE GOING TO RENT THIS TWO BEDROOM, TWO BATHROOM CONDO OUT FOR $2,100, THAT MEETS THE CRITERIA.

BUT IF ONLY ONE PERSON RENTS IT, DOES THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING NUMBER OR THE MEDIAN INCOME NO LONGER GET APPLIED AT A FAMILY OF FOUR? OR DOES IT NOW GET APPLIED AT A FAMILY OF ONE? THE PROBLEM WITH IT IS, IS THAT YOU DON'T GET TO DEFINE THE THE THE RENTAL NUMBER WHEN PEOPLE ARE RENTING IT.

YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO DEFINE THOSE TERMS BEFORE THEY GET THE PERMIT TO START CONSTRUCTION.

SO, AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, THE DEVELOPER IS GOING TO SAY THAT EVERY TWO BEDROOM, TWO BATHROOM APARTMENT IS INTENDED FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR BECAUSE THAT'S THE HIGH NUMBER FOR THE HUD VALUE FOR THE 120% OF THE AMI.

BUT IF THERE'S ONE PERSON IN IT THAT WELL, THAT'S THE THAT'S WHERE YOU GET INTO THE SEMANTICS.

SO ARE WE, BUT WE ARE WORKING ON THAT. HOW DO YOU I THERE'S NO MORE DAUNTING TASK THAN ENFORCING THIS.

WELL, FOR MUNICIPALITY, I WANT THEM TO BE LOOKING AT USING LEVERAGING THIS THESE STATUTES AGAINST US JUST TO CROWBAR IN MORE DEVELOPMENT.

I'M NOT SAYING IT CAN'T BE DONE, BUT JUST. DID YOU DID YOU SEE THE SAY IT'S NOT WORTH IT? DID YOU SEE THE BUILDINGS IN FORT PIERCE THAT HAVE COME FORWARD ON THE LIVE LOCAL ACT? IT'S 1080 APARTMENTS, A HOTEL, A HOTEL, I FORGET.

WITH 17 STORIES, 517 STORY BUILDINGS. IT WAS A PRETTY BIG DEVELOPMENT.

LET ME GUESS, KEV FREEMAN. NO, I WOULDN'T SAY THAT.

NO, BUT. BUT IT WAS A IT WAS A PRETTY BIG PROJECT.

AND OBVIOUSLY IT'S UNDER THE LIVE LOCAL ACT BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE HEIGHT.

MR. VICE MAYOR TRAVELING AND TALKING TO OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.

THEY ALL SHARE THIS CONCERN. AND NO ONE, I CAN'T THINK OF ANYONE WHO HAS COME UP WITH A PRACTICAL MEANS OF ACCOMPLISHING IT.

I'M NOT SAYING WE SHOULD MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO TRY AND ACCOMPLISH IT, BUT BOY, IT'S A SO I'LL TELL YOU, I WOULD WAIT UNTIL WE HAVE AN APPLICATION. WELL, WELL, WELL, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT BEFORE AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT.

AND I'VE GOT ABOUT SIX DIFFERENT LAURA AGREEMENTS AND DIFFERENT HYPOTHETICALS AND HAVE BEEN CONTEMPLATING DIFFERENT THINGS.

IS THAT SOMETHING YOU'RE GOING TO BRING BACK TO US? NO, IT'S WE CAN'T.

THAT'S AGAINST THE THAT WHAT MAKES IT WRONG. WE CAN'T HAVE YOU DO IT BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE ADMINISTRATIVE.

IF WE HAVE YOU GUYS DEFINE THE AGREEMENT, THEN IT'S A PUD AND WE VIOLATE THE STATUTE AND WE HAVE TO PAY LEGAL FEES.

AND THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF THE STATUTE. WE CAN'T BRING IT TO YOU.

NOT THE NOT THE PROJECT, BUT THE ACTUAL POLICY, THE DEVELOPMENT ORDER.

THE DEVELOPMENT ORDER IS THAT IS THE PROJECT.

THE DEVELOPMENT ORDER IS GOING TO DEFINE THE PROJECT.

THAT'S JUST LIKE THESE PROJECTS IN GENERAL. EVERY SINGLE ONE IS DIFFERENT AND EVERY SINGLE IT'S A IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN A PUD OR A SPECIFIC PROJECT.

I MEAN, THE BUT THE TERMS OF THE PUD OF, WELL, WE DON'T HAVE A PROCESS RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT. NO, I THINK THE DEVELOPER SHOULD HAVE THE PROCESS TO PROVIDE US WITH A WELL, THAT'S WHAT THEY DO. BUT BUT HERE'S LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

IF I OWNED IF I OWNED TEN APARTMENTS AND FOUR OF THEM HAVE TO BE AT THIS 40% RANGE.

SO I RENT OUT FIVE OF THEM FOR $5,000 EACH. I RENT OUT THE SIXTH ONE FOR

[01:35:02]

AND I SAY, YEAH, BUT THE FOUR UNITS AT $2,000 EACH WOULD ONLY BE $8,000 A MONTH.

THE OTHER THREE ARE SITTING EMPTY. I'M GETTING LESS THAN $8,000 A MONTH.

THAT'S PERCENTAGE OF UNITS, THOUGH. OKAY. SO.

RIGHT. SO THE IF I TOOK THE TEN UNITS AND I SAID I CAN ONLY GET $8,000 FOR FOUR OF THEM, AND I WAS GETTING 6000 FOR ONE AND ZERO FOR THREE, THAT WOULD STILL BE LESS THAN $8,000 FOR THE FOUR UNITS.

EVERY SINGLE VACANT UNIT IN THE BUILDING RIGHT NOW, YOU CAN REST ASSURED, IS GOING TO BE THE ONE THAT'S BEING APPLIED TO THE 40%, BECAUSE THAT'S A QUALIFYING UNIT, AND THAT'S FINE AS LONG AS WE CAN, YOU KNOW, AUDIT WHAT IT'S BEING.

BUT WHEN YOU SAY AUDIT THE COST TO US FOR AUDITING THOSE THINGS WILL BE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

IF WE'RE IF WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR A FULL TIME EMPLOYEE AND WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A SINGLE PROJECT IN STUART. WE'LL CROSS THE BRIDGE WHEN WE GET TO IT. I HAVE ANTICIPATION THAT WE MIGHT HAVE TWO THAT COME FORWARD, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF YOU PICK UP YOUR PHONE AND I DO IT ALL THE TIME, CALL THE APARTMENT BUILDINGS IN STUART YOU CAN RENT.

THEY'RE NOT LIVE LOCAL. THEY'RE NOT QUALIFIED FOR LIVE LOCAL AT ALL.

AND YOU CAN RENT AN APARTMENT FOR UNDER $2,300.

AT THE PLACE NORTH OF THE BRIDGE, YOU CAN RENT A22 AT MASON FOR $2,100, AND YOU CAN RENT.

I MEAN IT ALMOST ALL OVER TOWN. THE GOING RATE IS ABOUT 21 OR $2200 A UNIT, AND IF 2520 IS THE NUMBER, THEY'RE DOING 100% OF THE UNITS LIVE LOCALS SPECIFY THE COUNTY OR IS IT THE MUNICIPALITY? IT SAYS COUNTY. IT'S THE COUNTIES. AM I? YEAH.

AND IF IT. IF IT WEREN'T THE COUNTY, IT WOULD BE THE METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA.

WELL, IN FACT, THE PGA IS ACTUALLY LOWER THAN MARTIN COUNTIES.

AM I? AND SO IT DOES WHICHEVER IS HIGHER. SO OURS DOESN'T INCLUDE SAINT LUCIE COUNTY ANYMORE.

THE PGA OUR URBANIZED AREA. AND AGAIN WE'RE GETTING WAY IN THE WEEDS HERE.

THERE'S A DIFFERENT TAX CREDIT AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHERE THE STATE OF FLORIDA SETS THE RENT.

AND IN THAT SITUATION LAST YEAR THE MAXIMUM RENT FOR A22 WAS ABOUT $1,500.

BUT THAT'S UNDER THAT PGA URBANIZED AREA. AND THAT'S WHERE THEY GET THE AD VALOREM WAIVER ON THEIR TAXES.

THAT'S TAX CREDIT. HUD HOUSING WHERE THE WHOLE THING.

THIS IS NOT THAT. THIS IS WORKFORCE HOUSING. IT'S 120% OF AMI TAX CREDIT IS 80 TO 30% AMI.

AND THIS IS THEY JUST HAVE TO PROVIDE 40% OF THEIR UNITS FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING.

AND BECAUSE WORKFORCE HOUSING IS A MARKET TYPE THING, THE FACT IS THAT 120% OF MARTIN COUNTY'S AMI IS ACTUALLY HIGHER THAN THE CURRENT MARKET RATE.

BECAUSE DON'T FORGET, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO RENT YOU THE TWO.

TWO. THAT'S RIGHT ON THE POOL. YOU'RE GETTING THE ONE THAT DIDN'T RENT.

SO THE 40% ARE GOING TO BE THE LAST 40%. SO THEY'RE RIGHT NOW THAT'S BASICALLY MARKET.

IT DOES AFFECT FINANCING AND OTHER ISSUES. SO WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT.

BUT WE WILL HAVE CATCH ALLS IN IT. AND IF YOU WANT TO MAKE IT MORE COMPLICATED WHAT HAPPENS ON YEAR 31. RIGHT? BECAUSE NOW YOU HAVE A 200 UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT VIOLATES THE COMP PLAN AND THE ZONING.

DO YOU KICK OUT ALL THOSE TENANTS AND TELL THOSE RESIDENTS THAT HAVE LIVED IN STUART FOR 30 YEARS THAT THEY HAVE TO LEAVE? I MEAN, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WON'T HAPPEN OR WHAT HAPPENS IF WE HAVE A 200 UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX AND ALL THE PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN IT AND WE FIND OUT THEY'RE PAYING $100 A MONTH OVER, AND THE TENANTS ALL COME IN HERE AND FILL THE ROOM AND SAY, WE LIKE IT HERE.

WE DON'T WANT TO LEAVE. DON'T CAUSE US HEARTACHE.

I MEAN, IT'S LIKE YOU START GETTING INTO THE SITUATION THAT THE RESIDENTS ARE GOING TO BE THE ONES THAT BECOME THE VICTIMS. WILL YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THIS? YOU SAID YOU HAVE A FEW DIFFERENT OPTIONS AND GIVE US SOME KIND OF PRESENTATION ON THE BEST WAY YOU THINK TO PROCEED? SURE. AND THEN WITH REGARD TO THE EMERGENCIES BILL, IS THERE A CONSENSUS FROM THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS WITH REGARD TO YOU SENDING THE GOVERNOR A LETTER FROM US, ASKING HIM TO KINDLY VETO IT SO THAT WE CAN DELIVER TO VOTERS WHAT THEY VOTED FOR.

AND THIS LITTLE C, WE SHOULD AT LEAST SEND THE LETTER.

I MEAN, IT SHOULD BE ON RECORD. WITH NO OBJECTION.

[01:40:04]

YES, IN A WAY. BUT THE OTHER TWO ARE JUST PART OF THE INITIAL COMMENTS FROM FROM ME.

OKAY. OKAY. WE'RE NOT QUITE THERE YET. OKAY, BUT YOU ASKED ME IF I HAD A COMMENT.

SORRY, I THOUGHT I SAW YOUR LIGHT ON. I DID, BUT I WAS JUST REALLY KIND OF.

YEAH. QUESTIONS? MR. HOGARTH. SO, COMMISSIONER COLLINS SAID WHAT MR. HOGARTH IS SAYING. YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE IN HOME RULE, AND I KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN TALLAHASSEE.

BUT I ALSO KNOW WHAT WE DID DURING THE ZONING IN PROGRESS.

AND I KNOW THAT THAT HAS GONE THROUGH, AND I SEE THE PURPOSE WHEN THEY DID THE BILL TO GO BACK WITH THE COUNTIES THAT HAD STORM DAMAGE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE COMMUNITIES HAD A WAY TO REDEVELOP AND TO REENGAGE THEMSELVES WITHOUT HAVING ALL THESE OTHER STRICTURES ON THEM.

SO I, YOU KNOW, I AM TORN SOMEWHAT BECAUSE I, I BELIEVE IN HOME RULE AND AND WE'RE JUST BEING WATERED DOWN EVERY DAY.

BUT I, I UNDERSTAND, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL GO ANYWHERE.

IF THAT LETTER GOES OUT AND I'M SURE THAT THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO IF WE HAD TO VOTE ON IT, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE YOU KNOW, THE LETTER WILL GO OUT.

SO I GUESS. I JUST WANTED TO PUT IT ON THE RECORD THAT I IT'S A IT'S THEY PUT US IN VERY DIFFICULT SITUATIONS. YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE WONDER WHY WE'RE HERE WHEN THE LEGISLATURE NATURE IS DOING SO MANY THINGS THAT IS TEARING AT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEVEL. BUT THEN HOW FAST SHOULD THAT GO OUT? BECAUSE HE'S GOING TO BE REVIEWING THESE, RIGHT? WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET THE LETTER DONE TOMORROW.

YEAH. I MEAN, IF IF IN FACT, THE SESSION ENDED LAST FRIDAY, THEN SATURDAY, SUNDAY, MONDAY IS THREE DAYS.

HE HAS 12 DAYS LEFT. SO IT'S A WEIRD SESSION.

I'M NORMALLY USED TO THE SESSION BEING FULLY ENDED, AND WITHIN 2 TO 3 WEEKS HE STARTS TO GET THE FIRST BATCH OF BILLS TO HIS DESK.

THIS SESSION, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE EXTENDED WELL INTO JUNE, HE'S NOT PROBABLY GOING TO WAIT AROUND. HE'S PROBABLY GOING TO START TO VETO.

RIGHT. SO GIVING YOU MORE HOMEWORK TO DO TOMORROW.

I'VE BEEN WATCHING IT EVERY DAY BECAUSE I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY CALLS AND EMAILS AND REQUESTS, YOU KNOW, ASKING WHEN WOULD YOU PLEASE, IN THAT LETTER INCLUDE THAT THE WILL OF THE VOTERS OF THE CITY OF STUART WAS TO MOVE IN THIS KIND OF A DIRECTION.

OH, ABSOLUTELY. YEAH. I THINK I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY, FOR THE RECORD, TO FOR THE PUBLIC THAT MIGHT BE CONFUSED AND WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED. HERE IS THERE WERE MUNICIPALITIES AFTER AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER THAT WERE ADOPTING CODE, PROBABLY LIKE THEY ALWAYS DO. AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S THERE'S JUST ANNUAL CHANGES.

SOMETIMES IT'S, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO CALL IT POLITICS, BUT POLICY COMES UP AND THERE'S QUESTIONS, BUT ALSO TO SOME EXTENT, WE WERE TRYING TO ADAPT TO EVEN THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION WITH LIVE LOCAL.

RIGHT. MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE SHARED PARKING AND SOME OF THESE THINGS.

THAT'S WHY THEY DID IT. I KNOW. WELL, WELL IT'S YEAH, IT'S TO THE THE IRONY IS THE BILL SPONSORS AND WHAT THIS BILL WAS SPEAKING TO WAS EMERGENCY EVENTS. AND THEY WERE SAYING, WELL, AFTER AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, ALL THESE STORMS CAME THROUGH. AND THEN ALL THESE MUNICIPALITIES RUSHED TO TO PUT OUT ALL THESE MORE STRINGENT AND DAMAGING AND BURDENSOME MEASURES.

AND THE REALITY WAS IT WAS JUST KIND OF THE NORMAL BUSINESS AND IT WAS COINCIDENTAL TIMING.

AND, YES, THE STORMS CAME THROUGH. BUT AGAIN, IT'S IT'S WHATEVER SET IN TALLAHASSEE.

AND IF THERE'S NOT A MESSAGE TO KIND OF COMBAT THAT, THEN YEAH.

SO I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS HERE OFFLINE.

BUT THANK YOU ALL. MR.. YEAH. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A STATEMENT THAT, YOU KNOW, ORIGINAL EMERGENCY BILL WAS A GOOD BILL, BUT ORIGINALLY IT WAS ONLY TO AFFECT THE HOMES THAT WERE DAMAGED OR THE BUSINESSES THAT WERE DAMAGED, SO THAT IF WE DID PASS ANY ZONING CHANGES, THOSE WOULD HAVE BEEN GRANDFATHERED SO THAT THEY COULD GET THEIR HOMES BACK AND BACK UP TO, YOU KNOW, WORKING. SAME THING FOR BUSINESSES.

SO I THINK THE BILL WENT AWAY TOO FAR. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR MR. HOGARTH? THANK YOU, MR. HOGARTH. THANK YOU MR..

VERY MUCH. MR. REED, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS THIS EVENING?

[COMMENTS BY CITY COMMISSIONERS ]

SEAN I HAVE MORE TIME THEN I APPRECIATE IT. YOU'RE WELCOME.

I HAVE A LOT TO SAY. SORRY. FIRST I WANT TO SAY IT'S MUNICIPAL CLERKS WEEK, AND IT MARKS THE 56TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MUNICIPAL CLERKS WEEK.

THE MUNICIPAL CLERK IS ONE OF THE OLDEST POSITIONS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, SO A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR INCREDIBLE CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT, CITY CLERK MARY KENDALL, DEPUTY DEPUTY DEPUTY CLERK SUSAN MALECKI, AND ASSISTANT CITY CLERK NINA MULLEN.

ESPECIALLY AS A NEW COMMISSIONER, I APPRECIATE THAT YOUR WORK KEEPS EVERYTHING RUNNING SMOOTHLY.

[01:45:04]

OKAY. THE CITY OF STUART HAS TWO NEW LEADERS IN THE HOUSE, CAPTAIN DEREK HURTADO, OPERATIONS CAPTAIN STUART POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND SUSAN MALECKI, DEPUTY CLERK IN THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE.

BOTH HAVE GRADUATED FROM THE LEADERSHIP. MARTIN COUNTY, CLASS OF 34, 34TH CLASS.

LEADERSHIP IN MARTIN COUNTY IS A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM.

ITS MISSION IS TO IDENTIFY, EDUCATE, AND INSPIRE CURRENT AND EMERGING LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE AREA TO BECOME MORE INVOLVED AND EFFECTIVE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

WHILE BOTH DEREK AND SUSIE ARE ALREADY LEADERS WITHIN THE CITY OF STEWART.

THEIR POSITION IN THE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM FURTHER DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMMUNITY AND EQUIPS THEM TO MAKE MORE INFORMED DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.

CONGRATULATIONS BOTH TO DEREK AND SUSIE. THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS. OKAY, SO THAT WAS NICE AND LIGHT.

SO NOW I'M GOING TO GET KIND OF DOWN AND DIRTY.

OKAY. SO FIRST I WANT TO READ AN EMAIL THAT I RECEIVED THE OTHER DAY FROM A RESIDENT.

AND THIS IS THIS IS HIS WORDS. FELLOW MARTIN COUNTY, WE ARE DIFFERENT AND SMALL TOWN STEWART ACTIVISTS.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE READING THIS GARBAGE? DO YOU BELIEVE WHAT THEY READ? WHAT IMPACT WILL IT HAVE IN THE NEXT IMPORTANT COUNTY CITY ELECTIONS AND THE THE THE PERSON WHO WROTE THE EMAIL IS MAKING REFERENCE TO FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS TO MARTIN COUNTY. A NEWSLETTER AND A SOCIAL MEDIA OPINION PIECE THAT'S PUT OUT.

THIS GENTLEMAN IS STATING WHEN HE LIVED AND WAS A GOOD GOVERNMENT ACTIVIST IN MONROE COUNTY, THE FLORIDA KEYS, MANY OF THE FELLOW GOOD GOVERNMENT ACTIVISTS REFUSED TO READ THE FLORIDA KEYS KEYNOTER AND MIAMI HERALD AFFILIATE.

THEY HAD A VERY PRO OVERDEVELOPED VIBE BECAUSE OF THE EDITORS MANAGEMENT, WHICH I COUNSEL WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO READ, EVEN THOUGH I JUST TO KNOW WHAT THE ENEMY IS DOING.

I'VE HEARD THE SAME TYPE OF COMMENTS HERE IN STUART IN MARTIN COUNTY.

I WILL NOT READ THE CAMPAIGN CAMPAIGN CRAP AGAIN AS IT'S HARD TO READ HOW MUCH IT DISGUSTS YOU.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT THE ENEMY IS THINKING.

TAKE JOY IN KNOWING HOW ABSURD COMPANY IS AND UNDERSTAND HE'S A PRODUCT OF BROOKLYN.

I'M GOING TO INTERJECT A COMMENT HERE. I'M ALSO A PRODUCT OF BROOKLYN.

IT'S ONE OF THE LARGEST BOROUGHS IN NEW YORK CITY AND HAS MANY DIVERSE IDEOLOGIES, SO NO ONE CAN CERTAINLY TELL THE DIFFERENCE FROM MR. NOT-SO FRIENDLY NEIGHBOR. AND I ARE CERTAINLY AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE SPECTRUM TO GO ON TO THIS GENTLEMAN'S EMAIL WE NEED TO PREPARE TO DO IN THE 2026 ELECTIONS, AS WELL AS THE ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT WE DID IN 2024.

I ASSUME WE WERE ALL OVERLY PLEASED WITH VARGAS JOB, REID, AND OF COURSE, COLLINS, AND THAT IT SHOWS JUST HOW IMPORTANT LOCAL ELECTIONS ARE.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO PROTECT MARTIN COUNTY AND THE CITY OF STUART.

I READ THAT EMAIL BECAUSE I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE POWERFUL FORCES IN BOTH HERE IN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY THAT WANT TO DO MORE, NOTHING MORE THAN CONTINUE THEIR RIGHT TO BUILD WITHOUT THOUGHT OR CONSEQUENCE TO THE RESIDENTS, THE LAND OR THE WATER. WHILE LOCAL ELECTIONS ARE IMPORTANT, AND HOPEFULLY BOTH THE CITY AND COUNTY LEVEL VOTERS WILL CONTINUE TO ELECT OFFICIALS THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE RESIDENTS IN OUR FUTURE.

THE SAME NEEDS TO BE SAID AT THE STATE LEVEL.

MANY BILLS WERE PRESENTED AND PASSED IN THIS LAST 2025 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

SOME BILLS WERE PASSED AND BENEFITED ALL STATE RESIDENTS.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE STATE PARK BILL. BUT I AM DISAPPOINTED AND I AM ANGRY AT THE MANY OTHER BILLS THAT WERE PASSED AND ARE MEANT TO DISMANTLE HOME RULE FOR EVERY CITY AND TOWN IN FLORIDA. WHAT I MEAN IS THAT THESE BILLS PREVENT CITIES AND TOWNS AND COUNTIES FROM ENFORCING THEIR LOCAL ZONING AND BUILDING REGULATIONS IN REGARDS TO DEVELOPING IN ONE'S OWN CITY. OUR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES IN TALLAHASSEE HAVE BEEN THERE TOO LONG.

THEIR ALLEGIANCE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE FOR US, THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

THIS NOT ONLY AFFECTS US, BUT IT AFFECTS EVERY SMALL CITY AND TOWN AND RURAL AREA THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES HAVE DECIDED FOR US THAT ONE SIZE FITS ALL, WHICH IT DOES NOT.

THEY HAVE TAKEN THE FABULOUS OUT OF FLORIDA, AND WE ARE DESTINED TO BE JUST ANOTHER OVERCROWDED STATE WITH POOR INFRASTRUCTURE, POOR WATER SUPPLY AND INADEQUATE ESCAPE ROUTES IN THE CASE OF A DISASTER.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CLARK. THOSE ARE YOUR WORDS, NOT THE EMAIL.

WHAT I JUST READ WERE MY WORDS. YES. OKAY, THANKS.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. OKAY. WHO ELSE IS HERE? I LOST MY NOTES, BUT I'M GOING TO GO. I'M GOING TO WING IT.

YEAH. YEAH. SO, YOU KNOW THAT HOME RULE ISSUE AS USUALLY CUTS BOTH WAYS.

AND I, I SOMETIMES THEY DO GOOD THERE. AND WE'RE NOT ALWAYS AGREEING, BUT I KNOW THAT OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS,

[01:50:04]

AND THEY'RE NOT PUTTING ANY MONEY TO HELP US WITH OUR LOCAL ISSUES THAT WE HAVE MOST OF THE TIME.

SO IT'S IT'S VERY DIFFICULT. BUT I HEAR YOU WITH REGARD TO I'M WEARING GREEN TODAY BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT NAMI WAS GOING TO BE HERE. IT'S.

I'M DOING MENTAL HEALTH MONTH. I KNOW THAT WE DID LUPUS.

JUST TODAY. BUT THERE'S SO MANY ISSUES GOING ON WITH MENTAL HEALTH IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WITH YOU KNOW, FRIENDS, RELATIVES, JUST MANY THINGS HAPPENING.

AND NAMI HAS DONE A GOOD JOB IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I KNOW THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS GOING TO BE A BIG ISSUE.

COMING UP, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS NO TRESPASS ORDINANCE AND THE IMPACT ON THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS AND HOW THAT WILL AFFECT THEM AND AFFECT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. AND WE KNOW THAT, AGAIN, IT'S NOT ONE OF THOSE RULES THAT THE STATE IS BRINGING TO OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WE THINK WE HAVE A SECOND READING TODAY, MR. BAGGETT. YES. AND SO MAYBE WE'LL HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK AND DISCUSS THIS.

BUT AGAIN, IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S COMING TO US AND WE'RE TRYING TO ADJUST TO, TO, TO, TO ALIGN WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE STATE IS, IS, IS PUTTING ON US. BUT MENTAL HEALTH IS IMPORTANT.

AND WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE TO HELP SOMEBODY, LISTEN TO SOMEBODY, BE KIND TO SOMEBODY.

TODAY WE HAD WHERE IT I'D SAY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN THINK OF IS TO BE KIND.

SO I THINK THAT WE, WE, WE NEED TO FOLLOW THAT IN TERMS OF MENTAL HEALTH.

TOMORROW AFTERNOON, I THINK WE HAD THE WOMAN HERE FROM FROM HISTORIC PRESERVATION TOMORROW AFTERNOON AT THE WOMEN'S CLUB WILL BE A TIME TO LEARN ABOUT THE WOMEN'S CLUB AND TO SEE ONE OF THE HISTORIC MARKERS, ONE OF OUR MOST RECENT HISTORIC MARKERS THAT WE HAVE PUT DOWN IN THE CITY OF STUART. AND SO IF YOU IF YOU HAVE TIME TO COME OUT TO THE WOMEN'S CLUB.

TOMORROW THEY'LL HAVE REFRESHMENTS AND THEY WILL TALK TO YOU.

AND THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD WILL BE THERE.

AND PEOPLE FROM MARTIN COUNTY WILL BE THERE, SUPPORTIVE ALSO OF THE WHOLE CELEBRATION OF MARTIN COUNTY AND OF COURSE, HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH. SO PLEASE COME OUT TOMORROW AT 4:00 TO THE WOMEN'S CLUB OF STUART AT 723 EAST OCEAN BOULEVARD IS WHERE THE WOMAN'S CLUB IS LOCATED. WITH REGARD TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH ALSO AND DOING A HISTORIC PLAQUE OR MARKER WE HAD A STUDY IN MARTIN COUNTY, AND THIS AREA WAS PUT IN FOR A NATIONAL HISTORIC REGISTER OF PLACES, WHICH IS THE OLD THEY CALL IT THE OLD SALERNO COLORED SCHOOL IN NEW MONROVIA PARK.

AND THAT IS GOING TO HAVE A HISTORICAL PLAQUE DEDICATION ON THE 17TH OF MAY AT 11 A.M.

AT THE NEW MONROVIA PARK, WHERE THE COSTELLO WILLIAMS LEARNING CENTER IS LOCATED, IS ONE OF THOSE LITTLE BUILDINGS THAT MARTIN COUNTY REFURBISHED AND MADE AS A REPLICA OF AN OLD ONE ROOM CLASSROOM.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE DONE ON THE 17TH OF MAY, A SATURDAY MORNING AT 11 A.M..

SO IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE, PLEASE COME OUT FOR THAT HISTORIC TIME IN THE COMMUNITY AND CELEBRATION OF THAT MARKER.

ALSO, I HAVE IN COMING UP, THIS IS THE FIFTH YEAR, AND I LOOKED AT SEVERAL VIDEOS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS AND OTHER COMMUNITIES IN FLORIDA, AND MOST PEOPLE ARE CELEBRATING, EXCEPT FOR THE DEPARTMENT, THE DIVISION OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS.

MOST CITIES ARE CELEBRATING FOUR YEARS OF EMANCIPATION DAY FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA, MAY 20TH, 1865, WHEN THOSE WHO WERE ENSLAVED IN FLORIDA WERE TOLD THAT THE PROCLAMATION FOR EMANCIPATION HAD BEEN MADE IN 1863.

AND OF COURSE, WE KNOW THAT IF YOU'RE A HISTORY BUFF, THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS OF SEVERAL UPS AND DOWNS WITH THAT PARTICULAR EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION. BUT MOST PEOPLE TAKE JANUARY 1ST, 1863.

SO THIS GENERAL CAME TO TALLAHASSEE AND IT WAS DONE ON MAY 20TH.

[01:55:05]

I'VE WORKED WITH THE LEAGUE OF CITIES, AND I'VE WORKED WITH THE FLORIDA BLACK ELECTED OFFICIALS TO TRY TO HAVE THE CITY OF STUART CELEBRATE EMANCIPATION DAY. AND THIS IS GOING TO BE OUR FIFTH YEAR CELEBRATING MAY 20TH AS FLORIDA'S EMANCIPATION DAY.

LEARNING ABOUT THAT HISTORY IN FLORIDA AND LOOKING AT WHAT IS IN OUR FLORIDA STATUTES AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN TALLAHASSEE, AT THE COURTHOUSE IN TALLAHASSEE AND AT THE CAPITOL BUILDING IN TALLAHASSEE IN TERMS OF CELEBRATING THIS MILESTONE IN FLORIDA'S HISTORY. SO THIS, THIS I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS EVENT.

I DID IT LAST YEAR AND I WORKED ON IT AGAIN THIS YEAR WITH SOME MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND WE'VE SET A DATE WHICH SHOULD BE MAY 20TH 2025.

AND TO HAVE IT AT SAINT PAUL AME CHURCH, I THINK MONTHS AGO WHEN I WAS TALKING ABOUT PLANNING FOR THIS, I HAD MENTIONED THAT WE HAD DONE ONE YEAR, I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE SECOND YEAR IN JENSEN BEACH, AND SOMEHOW MAYBE THE THOUGHT WAS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IT IN JENSEN BEACH AGAIN THIS YEAR.

BUT NO, IT'S IN STUART AND WE'RE HOPING TO PLAN FOR THAT.

I'M ASKING THE COMMISSION. WE USUALLY HAVE A PROGRAM WITH A MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR, AND WE USUALLY HAVE SOMETHING WRITTEN FOR THE MAYOR TO REVIEW AND SIGN, AND ALSO TO HAVE THE PROCLAMATION, WHICH WAS DONE TODAY INCLUDED.

AND USUALLY BECAUSE I'M THE LEAGUE OF CITIES AND OTHER PEOPLE HAVE ENDORSED THIS AS A COMMUNITY EVENT, MOST COMMUNITIES PUT A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY AND EFFORT INTO INTO THIS PARTICULAR EVENT.

AND I'M ASKING, I DON'T KNOW IF I NEED A MOTION, BUT AT LEAST I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT THE CITY OF STUART PARTICIPATES IN THIS EVENT, AND THAT WE DO WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS EVENT GOES FORWARD AND REPRESENTS OUR CITY WELL IN TERMS OF CELEBRATING AND EDUCATING ABOUT FLORIDA'S EMANCIPATION DAY.

I, I, AS THE MAYOR, WILL BE HAPPY TO ATTEND COMMISSIONER CLARK.

OKAY. AND I CAN PREPARE SOME REMARKS FOR YOUR REVIEW, AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO PRESENT THOSE AT TOWN.

SO CAN I HAVE CONSENSUS, OR DO I NEED A MOTION, MR. CITY MANAGER, TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT CITY, SINCE THE SINCE THE BROCHURE IS GOING TO SAY THE CITY IS A SPONSOR AND INCLUDE A FORMAL LETTER FROM THE MAYOR.

I WOULD REQUEST A MOTION JUST SO WE CAN VOTE ON IT TO MAKE SURE THE CITY SUPPORTED IT.

OKAY. I'M MAKING A MOTION IN THE PAST THAT THE CITY SUPPORT EMANCIPATION DAY EVENT.

I'LL SECOND THE MOTION. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLARK AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER JOB.

DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS MOTION? SEEING NONE. QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BY THE COMMISSION.

SEEING NONE. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER JOB.

YES. VICE MAYOR COLLINS. YES, MAYOR. RICH. YES, COMMISSIONER.

CLARK. YES, COMMISSIONER. READ. YES. THANK YOU.

MAYOR. I HAVE ONE MORE COMMENT, BUT I'LL HAVE TIME TO TALK ABOUT IT WHEN WE GET TO ITEM NUMBER 15, THE RIVER OF GRASS PETITION AND THE UPDATED PAPERWORK, WHICH WE JUST GOT TODAY, BECAUSE I THINK THAT NUMBER 15 AND 16, THE WORK THAT'S GOING ON, THERE MIGHT BE SOME THINGS I JUST I THINK I WANT I'LL GET INTO THAT WHEN I DISCUSS ITEM NUMBER 15.

THANK YOU. YOU HOLD YOUR REMARKS UNTIL THEN. YES.

THANK YOU, MR. CLERK. MR. VICE MAYOR. YES. MIKE, MY COMMENTS WERE AROUND.

BRIGHT LINE PARKING. WHEN WE WERE AT THAT CONFLICT RESOLUTION MEETING, IT SEEMED LIKE THE THE MAJOR FOCUS WAS ON PARKING. AND IF THE CITY WOULD PROVIDE THE PARKING AND THERE WAS SOME BACK AND FORTH ABOUT, YOU KNOW, DON WAS SAYING WANTED TO HAVE YOU WORK THAT OUT WITH HIM.

AND THE MORE I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT COULD BE A HUGE ISSUE THERE IF THE COUNTY STAFF IS CURRENTLY PARKING ON THAT SITE AND THEN BRIGHT LINE WOULD BE TAKING THAT PARKING PUSHING THOSE PEOPLE OUT POTENTIALLY ONTO THE STREET ON STREET PARKING WHERE SOME AMOUNT OF THAT PARKING WITH CIVITAS AND ELIZABETH IS ALREADY SPOKEN FOR.

[02:00:07]

IT WAS MY INTENTION, AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK DON DONALDSON WAS TALKING ABOUT, BECAUSE I HAD SAID I WAS PLANNING TO DO IT BEFORE.

WAS THAT AT SUCH TIME AS BRIGHT LINE DID IN FACT OPEN? I WAS PROPOSING THAT THE CITY WOULD MAKE THREE HOUR PARKING ALL OF FLAGLER THE SECTION ON STATEMENT.

AND WHEN YOU SAY STATEMENT, WE TALKED ABOUT PAINTING THE STRIPES IN FRONT OF THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT ON STIP AND ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE BASEBALL FIELDS.

RIGHT NOW, WE'VE ESTIMATED 94% OF THE USERS OF THE BASEBALL FIELD ARE NOT STEWART RESIDENTS THAT ARE ACTUALLY MARTIN COUNTY OR OTHERWISE.

BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER. WE JUST ALLOW IT TO BE A PARK.

WHAT WE WANTED TO AVOID WAS THAT IF BRIGHTLINE WAS CHARGING FOR PARKING IN THAT PARKING LOT, WHAT HAPPENED IN BOCA RATON IS THAT PEOPLE WOULD GO PARK IN THE PUBLIC LIBRARY PARKING LOT, AND THEY WERE FLYING TO EUROPE, AND THEY'D LEAVE THEIR CAR IN THE PUBLIC LIBRARY'S PARKING LOT FOR TWO WEEKS, RATHER THAN PAYING $17 A DAY TO BE IN THE PARKING LOT.

SO MY PROPOSAL WAS THAT I WAS GOING TO MAKE THE PUBLIC SPACES THAT ARE FREE AND UNLIMITED NOW BE LIMITED TO THREE HOURS. AND THEN THE PROPOSAL ORIGINALLY WAS THAT I WOULD GIVE THE CLERK OF COURT STICKERS OR WHATEVER, SOME KIND OF IDENTIFICATION THAT WOULD ALLOW THOSE EMPLOYEES TO PARK THERE FOR LONGER THAN THREE HOURS SO THAT THEY WOULDN'T GET A CITATION. IF YOU GUYS DON'T WANT TO DO THE STICKERS THING, OR YOU WANT ME TO LEAVE IT AS AN UNLIMITED PARKING, I DON'T, THAT'S FINE WITH ME. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER IS GOING TO HAPPEN, THAT THIS BOARD IS ABLE TO DISCUSS THAT. SO BECAUSE I THINK IT VERY WELL COULD BE A MUCH LARGER ISSUE IF WE'RE DISPLACING ALL OF THOSE COUNTY EMPLOYEES ONTO ON STREET, YOU KNOW, AND ESPECIALLY IF SOMEHOW THE COUNTY WOULD BE ALLOWED TO USE THOSE CITY SPACES ON STICKMAN.

ANYBODY CAN USE THE CITY SPACES ON STICKMAN NOW, BUT THE COUNTY WOULD BE ABLE TO RESERVE THOSE SOMEHOW FOR LIKE STAFF.

NO, NO, NO, THEY WOULDN'T BE RESERVED I WOULDN'T I? NO MATTER WHAT I MEAN, I FIRST OF ALL, I THE ARTICLE SEVEN, SECTION TEN OF THE CONSTITUTION PREVENTS ME FROM RESERVING PUBLIC PARKING FOR PRIVATE USE, OR FOR SOMETHING OTHER THAN PUBLIC PURPOSE WITHOUT DEMONSTRATING SOME RFP OR SOME KIND OF PROPOSAL THAT HAS PUBLIC BENEFIT.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO GET OUT IN FRONT OF THIS BEFORE A POTENTIAL GRANT IS APPROVED.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S REACTIONARY, AND I'M TRYING TO STOP. OKAY.

YOU KNOW, I JUST I WOULD LIKE US TO REALLY. WELL. SO FOR WHAT ABOUT IT.

SO POTENTIALLY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THERE. FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, RIGHT NOW, IT'S MY INTENTION TO ACTUALLY MAKE IT THREE HOUR PARKING ON STILLMAN, ON FLAGLER, ON MLK, AND ON EAST OCEAN BOULEVARD IN FRONT OF THE COURTHOUSE SO THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE TRAVELING OR WHATEVER CAN'T JUST LEAVE THEIR CAR PARKED THERE FOR FOR TWO WEEKS. IF THE COMMISSION DOESN'T WANT ME TO DO THAT, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE TIME BECAUSE THERE ISN'T EVEN ANYTHING GOING ON THERE.

PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I WON'T DO IT. BUT THE INTENTION BEFORE WAS TO DO IT JUST TO PUSH THE PEOPLE THAT WERE GOING TO BE LEAVING CARS TO HAVE TO PARK IN THAT PARKING GARAGE.

SO WOULD YOU PUT TOGETHER A SOME KIND OF PROPOSAL FOR REVIEW TO LOOK AT FOR US, THAT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE HOW THAT MIGHT AFFECT BECAUSE DON KEPT REFERENCING STICKMAN.

WELL, IF YOU READ THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT THAT WE SIGNED WITH THE COUNTY, IT SAID THAT THE CITY WOULD AGREE TO PROVIDE 84 PARKING SPACES OR 54, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NUMBER WITHIN 2500FT OF THE COURTHOUSE.

RIGHT. BUT WE'RE ALREADY PROVIDING LIKE 300 PARKING SPACES WITHIN WITHIN 25FT OF THE COURTHOUSE BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL OF THE WELLS FARGO PARKING, ALL OF THE TENNIS COURT PARKING, ALL OF THE BASEBALL FIELD PARKING, ALL OF THE PARKING, ALL OF THE FLAGLER PARKING, ALL OF THE EAST OCEAN PARKING, ALL OF THE DENVER PARKING, ALL OF THE DETROIT PARKING.

SO THAT'S ALL WITHIN 2500FT OF THE COURTHOUSE.

SO THAT MEETS THE MEETS THE TERM OF IT. HOW DOES THAT WORK WITH RIGHT NOW THE COURTHOUSE HAVING ITS PARKING FOR ITS PROJECT THERE WHEN THEY

[02:05:04]

AND THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO UNPACK. IF YOU COULD BRING SOMETHING BACK, I DON'T WANT TO DO IT RIGHT NOW. OKAY. I'D LIKE TO TO LOOK AT THAT IN MORE DEPTH. I'D LIKE TO HAVE A D AND D ON THAT. I WOULD LOVE A DAD.

YES. OKAY. CAN WE DEFER IT TO SURE. SINCE NOTHING IS IMMINENT, THAT'S A REASONABLE DISCUSSION.

YEAH. YEAH. I WAS WONDERING ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE WITH THE PARKING GARAGE, BUT THAT'S OKAY.

WE'LL JUST WAIT UNTIL WE HAVE THAT. YEAH, A DEDICATED ITEM.

THAT WAS ALL. THANK YOU. OKAY. YOU HAVE NO OTHER COMMENTS, AND I HAVE NO COMMENTS.

MR. MORTAL, DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION TO SHARE?

[COMMENTS BY CITY MANAGER ]

NOPE. THERE HE IS. THIS MARKS CHIEF MINNELLI'S VERY LAST OFFICIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING.

OH. SHOULD WE CLAP? ARE WE HAPPY? MOVING FORWARD, THEY WILL RUN VERY SMOOTHLY.

OKAY. NO ONE WILL BE ARRESTED. HE WILL BE RETIRING ON MAY 23RD.

AND AS A RESULT, THIS IS OFFICIALLY HIS LAST MEETING.

AND JOE'S BEEN WITH US AS LONG AS EVERYBODY EXCEPT FOR MILTON.

AND HE WILL BE MISSED. BUT I'M SURE THAT IT'S BITTERSWEET FOR HIM.

AND HE OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T EVEN WEAR HIS UNIFORM TONIGHT.

AND THEN I WAS GOING TO MENTION THAT. DID YOU WANT TO TAKE SOME ACTION ON THE SENATE BILL 180? BUT BEN ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THAT THE BDB APPOINTMENT.

I DIDN'T GET ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FROM ANYBODY SUPPOSED TO SEND SOMETHING.

AND THEN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY VACANCIES. I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THAT.

I HAD A NICE MEETING WITH PEARLY CLARK TODAY, AND I'M STILL TRYING TO MEET WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY REPRESENTATIVE, AND WE'LL HOPEFULLY GET THEM TO COME MEET WITH YOU GUYS.

I WE'VE HAD SOME SUCCESS MOVING FORWARD ON THE 10TH STREET, TRAFFIC CALMING.

THERE'S CURRENTLY A WORKSHOP SCHEDULED FOR MAY 22ND FROM 5 TO 7 P.M..

RECOGNIZE THIS IS NOT A CITY COMMISSION MEETING.

IT IS NOT INTENDED FOR CITY COMMISSIONERS TO MAKE ANY DECISIONS, BUT RATHER, WE'RE NOTIFYING ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO COME IN AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO STAY FOR THE WHOLE TWO HOURS.

IT'S MORE OF ONE OF THOSE THINGS. THEY'RE GOING TO COME IN AND JUST EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS SO THAT WE CAN KIND OF DOCUMENT EVERYTHING AS IS KIND OF A FIRST STEP.

THAT INCLUDES DOLPHIN, MADISON, FLAMINGO, SEVEN, KRUGER, PALM BEACH ROAD, OCEAN AND SOME OTHERS.

AND WHERE IS IT? IT'S RIGHT HERE AT THE. IT'S GOING TO BE RIGHT IN THESE CHAMBERS.

THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. YES. MR.. MR.. CITY MANAGER.

I MEAN, I YOU PROBABLY WENT THROUGH A LOT TO SET THAT TIME UP, BUT I KNOW THAT IT'S GRADUATION TIME FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I'M NOT SURE WHOSE GRADUATION IS THAT WEEK, THAT TIME, BUT THEY'LL HAVE TO SEND US AN EMAIL.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. BECAUSE I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH ANY GRADUATIONS ON THURSDAY.

OKAY. I HAVE ONE IN PORT SAINT LUCIE, BUT THAT'S OKAY.

NORMALLY THEY'RE ON SATURDAYS, BUT IN ANY EVENT, WE CAN'T KEEP GUESSING AT THE TIME, SO WE CAN HAVE MORE IF IT'S NECESSARY.

ALL WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS GET SOME FEEDBACK SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.

AND I GOING THROUGH THAT. THAT'S ALL I REALLY HAVE.

I HAD SOME OF THE COMMENTS, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARY, SO I'M FINISHED. THANK YOU. MR. MARTEL.

CAN I GET A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA, PLEASE?

[APPROVAL OF AGENDA ]

ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? NONE. DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC?

[COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ]

IT'S FROM RON OSNER. YOU APPROACH THE LECTERN.

PLEASE, SIR, AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF. YOU'RE GOING THE WRONG WAY.

HE'S GOING TO GET HIS PAPER. OKAY. DID YOU STEAL, SIR? I'M. I'M NOT SURE THAT YOU ALL OKAY. IT'S OKAY.

OKAY, OKAY. THE MICROPHONE PLEASE GO ON THE MIC.

RON EISNER YOUR ADDRESS, PLEASE, SIR. NORTHWEST 13TH TERRACE.

STEWART, FLORIDA. THANK YOU. OKAY. THEY PUT THESE SIGNS UP FROM THE TREASURE COAST MALL ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF HOBE SOUND.

[02:10:05]

AS LONG AS YOU'RE PODIUM. PODIUM UP THERE. OKAY.

AND IT'S A BLIGHT. PLUS THE 15 FOOT FLAGS. THEY PUT HALF A DOZEN OF THOSE OUT. NOW THEY'RE PUTTING BLOW UP TUBES THAT ARE 20FT HIGH, AND THEY'RE WHIPPING OUT INTO THE ROAD WITH THE HEAVY WIND THIS WEEKEND.

NOBODY'S DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I ASKED SCOTT TWO WEEKS AGO, CAN YOU.

OKAY. I'M GOING TO GET RIGHT ON IT. NOTHING HAPPENED.

I SPOKE TO HIM FRIDAY. HE DIDN'T WRITE ANY CITATIONS.

OKAY. HE SAYS, WELL, I'M GOING TO. I GO. WHEN? WHEN? AFTER THEY GO OUT OF BUSINESS. THEY'VE BEEN PUTTING THESE UP FOR THREE MONTHS NOW.

I SAID, NOW EVERYBODY'S PUTTING SIGNS OUT. THE IF I COULD JUST TELL YOU THE WEST COAST.

THE WEST SIDE OF US. ONE IS NOT IN THE CITY LIMITS OTHER THAN THE VERY ENTRANCE TO PALM LAKE PARK.

AND I DROVE BY THERE, AND I DID SEE THOSE SIGNS.

AND I CAN HAVE CODE ENFORCEMENT REMOVE THE SIGNS THAT ARE IN CITY PROPERTY OR IF IT'S ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, OBVIOUSLY WE SITE THEM. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAP FROM THE FOOT OF THE ROOSEVELT BRIDGE ALL THE WAY TO LIKE THE HAMPTON INN AND THE ENTRANCE OF NORTH RIVER SHORES, RIGHT THERE IS IN.

BUT THEN RIGHT WHEN YOU GET PAST THAT PROPOSED DOG PARK OR DOG BAR, THAT EMERALD PLAZA BECOMES MARTIN COUNTY AGAIN AND IT STAYS DAYS MARTIN COUNTY JURISDICTION FROM THAT POINT FORWARD.

SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A COMPLICATION. NOT TO SAY THAT WE WON'T HAVE CODE ENFORCEMENT GO OUT THERE AND ADDRESS IT, AND WE WILL REMOVE THE SIGNS THAT ARE ON THE ROAD.

BUT SCOTT DOESN'T HAVE THE JURISDICTION TO CITE THAT PARTICULAR PROPERTY BECAUSE IT'S NOT ACTUALLY IN THE CITY LIMITS.

WELL, THAT'S JUST THE NEW PLACE THAT NEW TENANTS ARE GOING INTO THEIR ADVERTISING MATTRESSES AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

BUT YOU GET ON CANTER HIGHWAY AND US ONE, THEY'VE GOT A DOZEN SIGNS ON THAT CORNER.

THEN THEY HIRE PEOPLE WITH BACKPACKS THAT ARE COMING AND LIVING IN THE WOODS OVER BY THERE WHERE VERIZON WAS, AND THEY BRING THEM LUNCHES AND DRINKS. ALL THAT GARBAGE IS ON THE FLOOR ON THAT CORNER.

THEY'RE HANGING OUT THERE LIKE 3 OR 4 OF THEM TAKING TURNS TO HOLD THE FLAG, THE SALE.

FLAG UP. THEY'VE GOT A HALF A DOZEN SIGNS. THEN ACROSS THE STREET IN THE BANK, THEY GOT SIGNS UP DOWN IN FRONT OF THE HOLIDAY INN.

DOWN IN FRONT OF TSUCHIYAMA ON THE CORNER OF THE BANK, ACROSS THE STREET ON KANAU.

OVER THERE. THAT PLACE IS POLLUTED WITH SIGNS.

AND IF YOU WANT VIDEOS, I'VE GOT IT. OF IT? THEY'RE NOT PULLING THE SIGNS.

SCOTT'S NOT PULLING THE SIGNS. THE COUNTY PUT OUT PERMISSION TO PEOPLE.

PULL OUT THE SIGNS AND PUT THEM IN OUR DUMPSTER OVER AT THE CODE ENFORCEMENT.

AND THERE'S BEEN TRUCKLOADS OF THEM OVER THERE, AND THEY JUST KEEP PUTTING THEM OUT AND PUTTING THEM OUT.

NOBODY'S GETTING. TO THE POINT OF STOPPING THIS.

AND NOW THERE'S NEW SIGNS OUT. ROOFERS, HANDYMAN HOUSE CLEANERS.

THEY SEE THE OTHER PEOPLE GETTING AWAY WITH IT, AND NOW EVERYBODY'S PUTTING SIGNS OUT.

THIS IS NOT THE BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY THAT WE WANT IT TO BE.

IT'S TURNED INTO A ADVERTISING GARBAGE DUMP. THANK YOU.

SIR. CHIEF, DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT? IT'S BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT CAMPAIGN SIGNS.

THAT'S WHAT IT IS. THIS. THEY WERE CAMPAIGN SIGNS.

THEY'D BE GONE ALREADY. CAMPAIGN SIGNS ARE GOOD BECAUSE THEY DON'T GET ELECTED.

THEY GO AWAY. WAIT, WHAT'S YEAH. LAST, LAST WORD.

I'LL DEFINITELY HAVE GUYS GO OUT AND ADDRESS IT, BUT CAN WE GIVE HIM A CONTACT FOR THE COUNTY SO THAT THEY CAN? YOU WANT ME TO DO APPROACH? I MEAN, IT'S THEIR CODE ENFORCEMENT, TOO.

IT'S COMPLICATED AS FAR AS IT GOES. LIKE ON THE CORNER OF INDIAN STREET, ONE CORNER OF THE CITY AND THREE CORNERS OF THE COUNTY.

GIVING AWAY STOLEN PROPERTY HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS. BUT WE DID HAVE IT.

YOU GOT TO PUT HIM IN CUFFS, CHIEF. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? THAT'S.

THAT BACKFIRED. EXCUSE ME, EXCUSE ME. CHIEF, DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT? I DO, WITH REGARD TO THIS, SIR, WILL YOU ALLOW THE CHIEF TO GET THE MICROPHONE? THANK YOU. WE GOT WITH THIS GENTLEMAN OUTSIDE CAPTAINS, AND OLIVER IS GOING TO SEND COMMUNITY SERVICES UP TO US ONE TO SEE IF, IN FACT, IT IS CITY PROPERTY. AND IF IT'S NOT, WE'LL NOTIFY THE COUNTY.

WE'LL ALSO GET CODE ENFORCEMENT INVOLVED. SO THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ADDRESSED AND WE'LL MAKE SURE IT'S TAKEN CARE OF.

THANK YOU. AND WHEN HE REFERENCED SCOTT HE WAS REFERRING TO CODE ENFORCEMENT ALREADY. SO WE WILL ADDRESS IT.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING YOUR NIGHT TO COME OUT HERE AND MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU. IT'S GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE THEY'RE NEVER GOING TO CLOSE.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? NO THEY'RE NOT. NO. YEAH, RIGHT. BUSINESS IS GREAT. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR

[02:15:05]

OKAY. MISTER MAYOR, MOVE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PUBLISHED.

[CONSENT CALENDAR ]

DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. OPPOSED? END OF CONSENT.

COMMISSION ACTION. MR. BAGGETT, WILL YOU READ ITEM 14 FOR OUR CONSIDERATION, PLEASE?

[14. MARTIN COUNTY PUD MINOR AMENDMENT (QUASI-JUDICIAL) (RC): RESOLUTION No. 50-2025; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF STUART, FLORIDA GRANTING APPROVAL OF A MINOR PUD AMENDMENT TO THE “MARTIN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT PUBLIC SERVICE PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT” TO EXPAND THE MARTIN COUNTY BUILDING DEPARTMENT ON PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE SOUTHEAST SIDE OF S.E. WILLOUGHBY BOULEVARD AND S.E. RUHNKE STREET, THEREBY PROVIDING FOR CONDITIONS; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. ]

PUBLIC SERVICE. PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT TO EXPAND THE MARTIN COUNTY BUILDING DEPARTMENT ON PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE SOUTHEAST SIDE OF SOUTHEAST WILLOUGHBY BOULEVARD IN SOUTHEAST RADKE STREET, THEREBY PROVIDING FOR CONDITIONS PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU, MR. MAYOR, THIS IS A QUASI JUDICIAL.

KILLING. OKAY. DO ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS? YOU CAN'T MAKE MR. DOHERTY PICK UP THE SIGNS AS PART OF THE CONDITION OF APPROVAL.

DO ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY? NO, I HAVE NONE.

AND I'M HERE WITH AN OPEN MIND. I HAVE NONE, AND I'M HERE WITH AN OPEN MIND.

I HAVE NONE. ARE THERE ANY WITNESSES TO THIS CITY ATTORNEY? DO WE HAVE TO SWEAR? ANYBODY IN? YEAH. SO WE'LL ALL POTENTIAL WITNESSES FOR THE APPLICANT AND CITY STAFF.

PLEASE STAND, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND, 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? YOU MAY BE SEATED. AND WILL YOU PLEASE PROVIDE A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE 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.

I WILL. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.

FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS MICHELE ARBIZO, PLANNER ONE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.

TONIGHT I AM PRESENTING AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 14.

IT'S A REQUEST TO ALLOW AN AMENDMENT TO AN EXISTING PUBLIC SERVICE PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENT.

IT'S TO FACILITATE THE EXPANSION OF THE MARTIN COUNTY BUILDING DEPARTMENT FACILITY.

THE DEVELOPMENT WILL INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION, CONSTRUCTING A SMALL STORAGE BUILDING.

RELOCATION OF THE EXISTING DUMPSTER, CONSTRUCTING PARKING SPACES, AND UPGRADING THE MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL, AND PLUMBING SYSTEMS. PURSUANT TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE PUBLIC NOTICE REQUIREMENTS ON APRIL 23RD, 2025, THE APPLICANT MAILED NOTICE TO ALL ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 300FT OF THE SUBJECT SUBJECT PARCEL TO PROVIDE DETAILS OF THE REQUESTED DEVELOPMENT AND THE DATE AND TIME OF TONIGHT'S PUBLIC HEARING.

IN ADDITION, THREE PUBLIC NOTICE SIGNS WERE POSTED ON THE PROPERTY WITH THE SAME INFORMATION.

THE MARTIN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT PUBLIC SERVICE PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENT SPD, APPROVED VIA ORDINANCE NUMBER 17 0700, COMPRISES OF TWO PARCELS TOTALING 15.9 ACRES, OUTLINED IN RED.

THE MARTIN COUNTY FACILITY SITS ON THE PARCEL TO THE EAST, TOTALING THE 10.11 ACRES.

THE SUBJECT PARCEL IS ZONED PUBLIC SERVICE PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT.

THE PROPERTIES TO THE NORTH IS WITHIN MARTIN COUNTY'S JURISDICTION AND IS ZONED PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT.

THE PROPERTIES TO THE EAST IS ZONED BUSINESS LIMITED B1.

THE PROPERTIES TO THE SOUTH ARE ZONED COMMERCIAL PLANNED UNIT.

DEVELOPMENT AND MIXED USE. PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT AND THE PROPERTIES TO THE WEST ARE ZONED PUBLIC SERVICE, PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIAL PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT. THE SUBJECT PARCEL IS DESIGNATED BY THE INSTITUTION.

FUTURE LAND USE. THE PARCEL TO THE EAST IS DESIGNATED BY AN INSTITUTION.

FUTURE LAND USE PARCELS TO THE SOUTH HAS A DESIGNATION OF.

COMMERCIAL AND PARCELS TO THE WEST HAVE THE PUBLIC, PUBLIC AND COMMERCIAL FUTURE LAND USES.

PORTION OF THE PHASE TWO AND PHASE THREE, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY PART OF THE MASTER SITE PLAN,

[02:20:07]

THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING A MINOR AMENDMENT TO THE PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT TO EXPAND THE EXISTING BUILDING DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS AN OVERALL SQUARE FOOT REDUCTION OF PHASE TWO AND THREE.

AT THIS TIME, THE APPLICANT IS NOT LOOKING TO DEVELOP THE REMAINDER OF PHASE TWO AND THREE.

THE PROPOSED EXPANSION OF THE EXISTING BUILDING DEPARTMENT FACILITY WILL ADHERE TO THE ARCHITECTURAL STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS OUTLINED IN THE CITY OF STUART LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. THE DESIGN, FEATURES AND EARTH TONE COLOR PALETTE THAT COMPLEMENTS THE EXISTING STRUCTURE.

THE ADDITION WILL INCLUDE A HIP METAL ROOF, A PROMINENT TOWER ELEMENT, A COLUMN PORTICO AND ARCH ENTRYWAY, AND WINDOWS FRAME WITH STUCCO EXTERIOR FINISH TO MATCH THE EXISTING STRUCTURE.

THE PROPOSED BUILDING WILL CONSIST OF 6150 SQUARE FOOT EXPANSION TO THE EXISTING BUILDING DEPARTMENT, AND INCLUDES 39.33% WITH AN IMPERVIOUS SURFACE COVERAGE AND OF IMPERVIOUS OPEN SPACE OF 60.67%. THE ORIGINAL PUD ORDINANCE NUMBER 17 0700, ALLOWS FOR A TOTAL OF 65 IMPERVIOUS AREA AND TO BE MAINTAINED AT 25% OPEN SPACE.

THE PROJECT SURFACE WATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WILL CAPTURE SITE RUNOFFS THROUGH A SERIES OF INLETS, WHICH WILL THEN DIRECT THE RUNOFF TO THE DESIGNATED DRAINAGE AREA.

THE CITY OF STUART WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE WATER, SEWER AND SANITATION SERVICES TO THE SITE, ENSURING CONSISTENT AND RELIABLE INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT.

THE TREES IMPACTED WILL BE MITIGATED ON SITE AND WILL COMPLY WITH THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AND FPL GUIDELINES.

THE EXISTING PARKING LOT SITE CONTAINS 290 SPACES.

THE PROPOSED BUILDING EXPANSION WILL REQUIRE AN ADDITIONAL 21 SPACES.

THE PLAN INCLUDES 37 NEW SPACES TO ACCOMMODATE FUTURE NEEDS.

THE TRAFFIC STUDY IMPACT ANALYSIS SHOWS THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT WILL NOT CREATE OR EXCESSIVELY INCREASE THE TRAFFIC FLOW ON THE SITE.

THE PROJECTED TRIP GENERATION FOR THE PROPOSED ADDITION INCLUDES 139 DAILY TRIPS, WITH 20 TRIPS OCCURRING DURING THE AM PEAK HOURS AND 23 TRIPS DURING THE PM PEAK HOUR. A TRAFFIC ANALYSIS DETERMINED THAT THE PROJECT WILL NOT RESULT IN ANY DEFICIENCIES.

FURTHERMORE, A REVIEW OF INGRESS TURN LANES AT THE PROJECT DRIVEWAYS CONCLUDED THAT THEY ARE NOT WARRANTED BASED ON THE ANTICIPATED TRAFFIC VOLUMES.

STAFF DOES NOT FIND THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.

STAFF DOES FIND THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY'S LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. THE APPLICANT AND STAFF ARE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD MAY HAVE.

SO YOU'RE SURE YOU'RE IT DOES THAT IT FOLLOWS THE CITY LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.

I'M JUST PICKING ON YOU. DOES THE DOES THE PETITIONER WISH TO PRESENT.

AND BE A MOLD. I'D APPRECIATE IF WE COULD TURN THE LIGHTS ON.

THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JEFF DOHERTY, AND I'M A PROUD CITY RESIDENT, BUT I'M NOT HERE TONIGHT.

DO A CITY RESIDENT. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT OF MARTIN COUNTY.

OVER AT WILLOUGHBY BOULEVARD, IN BETWEEN MONTEREY AND INDIAN STREET IS PROBABLY THE LARGEST CONCENTRATION OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES IN THE ENTIRE COUNTY.

I HAVE 17 I KNOW RIGHT HERE BETWEEN THE SHERIFF, PUBLIC SAFETY, FIRE RESCUE PROPERTY APPRAISER.

TAX COLLECTOR. HEALTH DEPARTMENT, MARTIN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL, AND ON AND ON.

SO IT AFFECTS EVERYONE, PARTICULARLY RESIDENTS OF THE CITY AS WELL.

IN PARTICULAR A COUPLE OF THINGS ABOUT THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT. MANY PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT IS NAMED THE LARRY MASSING BUILDING.

LARRY MASSING, FOR THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW, WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL FIREFIGHTERS AT THE CITY OF STUART BACK IN THE 70S.

HE WORKED HIS WAY UP TO BE A FIRE, THE FIRE MARSHAL, AND THEN ALSO BECAME THE BUILDING OFFICIAL IN THE CITY OF STUART.

SO IT MARKS A SPECIAL PLACE NOT JUST FOR MARTIN COUNTY, BUT FOR THE CITY.

WE DEDICATED IT TO HIM AFTER HE PASSED AWAY ABOUT A YEAR OR SO AGO.

THE BUILDING IS DESIGNED EXACTLY TO MATCH WHAT'S THERE.

[02:25:03]

RS. HOWEVER, DURING THE CONSTRUCTION, AT SOME POINT THEY DECIDED TO KEEP THEM AT THE COURTHOUSE AND MOVE THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT OVER THERE, SO IT WAS NEVER REALLY CONSTRUCTED WITH THE FUNCTIONALITY OF A BUILDING DEPARTMENT IN MIND.

ADDITIONALLY, AS TIME MOVED ON, OUR FUNCTIONS WITH SECURITY AND GLASS AND SEPARATION HAVE CHANGED.

THERE IS A LARGE CONFERENCE ROOM THAT WE USE FOR TRAINING FOR MANY, MANY THINGS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE COME IN FROM THE COUNTY, BUT OUTSIDE THE COUNTY WE HAVE, AND I HATE TO SAY THIS CODE ENFORCEMENT IS IN THAT BUILDING.

SO. I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS GOING TO RUN INTO THAT ONE TONIGHT.

BUT IN ANY EVENT, WHEN WE PUT THIS BUILDING ON, LET ME GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF THINGS WE DO IN THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT.

WE DO CODE ENFORCEMENT. WE DO BUILDING CODE. WE ALSO PROVIDE BUILDING DEPARTMENT SERVICES TO THE VILLAGE OF INDIANTOWN AND TO SEWELL'S POINT CURRENTLY. WE ALSO BACK UP JUPITER ISLAND.

WE HAVE PROVIDED SERVICES TO THE TOWN OF OCEAN BREEZE, AND WE HAVE PROVIDED TO THE CITY OF STUART, AS THEY HAVE WITH US, PARTICULARLY WHEN LARRY WAS TRANSITIONING BACK AND FORTH.

SO THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT THERE HAS FUNCTIONED NOT ONLY FOR THE COUNTY, BUT EVERY MUNICIPALITY IN THE COUNTY AS WELL.

WE ALSO DO DERELICT VESSEL REMOVAL THERE. WE DID A COUPLE FOR THE CITY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AS WELL.

AND A CRITICAL ELEMENT OF THIS IS DAMAGE ASSESSMENT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE STORMS, SO THAT WE CAN REPORT TO THE STATE TO GET FEMA MONEY.

WITH THAT IN MIND, THIS WILL BE A CATEGORY FOUR BUILDING, NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH A HURRICANE.

CATEGORY FOUR. IT'S A STRUCTURAL DESIGNATION BY THE FLORIDA BUILDING CODE, WHERE IT IS SET FOR ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL TO STAY DURING A STORM.

CURRENTLY, THE EXISTING BUILDING IS NOT BUILT TO THAT LEVEL BECAUSE IT PREDATES A LOT OF THOSE REQUIREMENTS AND AGAIN, WAS NOT BUILT FOR THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT. THIS WILL SATISFY THAT.

WE'LL HAVE A GENERATOR AND WE'LL HAVE FULL CAPABILITY TO STAY THERE DURING THE STORM IF NEEDED.

SO THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT WITH THAT. AND WITH THAT, OTHER THAN ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT CODE ENFORCEMENT, I'D BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.

OKAY. DO ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? I HAVE NONE. SO THIS IS AN ADDENDUM TO PHASE ONE.

PHASE ONE I BELIEVE, WAS THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

PHASE TWO WAS THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT. OKAY. ALL OF PHASE ONE BUILD A HEALTH DEPARTMENT DID NOT GET BUILT.

THERE WAS A PHASE TWO AND PHASE THREE IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

THEY DID NOT GET BUILT. SO IF YOU TAKE THOSE OUT AND PUT THIS ADDITION ARE WE'RE ACTUALLY LESS THAN THE ORIGINAL APPROVAL.

I UNDERSTAND THAT POINT, BUT MY QUESTION IS IF THOSE OTHER PHASES DID NOT GET BUILT, THIS IS BEING ADDED ON TO AN EXISTING PHASE.

WHAT HAPPENS AT SUCH TIME WHEN THOSE GET BUILT? WELL, YOU GUYS ARE ADOPTING THE NEW SITE PLAN, WHICH WOULD ONLY BE THIS.

SO THOSE OTHER THOSE OTHER ONES ARE APPROVED, RIGHT? CORRECT. WELL THEY WERE. THE SITE PLAN WAS APPROVED, BUT THIS BUILDING WOULDN'T FIT WITH THEM HERE.

SO IT'S THE SITE PLAN IS BEING SUBSTITUTED WITH THIS SITE TO MOVE FORWARD.

WE ASKED MICHELLE TO COMMENT ON IT IF IF THE THEY DECIDE THE APPLICANT DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THOSE OTHER TWO PHASES, IT WOULD HAVE TO BECOME. IT WILL COME THROUGH WITH A MAJOR AMENDMENT TO THE PUD TO BE HEARD IN FRONT OF THE BOARD, AND A REDUCTION FROM THOSE OTHER PORTIONS WOULD BE CUSTOMARY.

OR WE'RE JUST GOING TO AT, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY HAVE MORE MASS HERE THAN JUST YOU'D ADDRESS IT AND START OVER.

YOU'D TREAT IT AS WHAT YOU HAVE. AND RIGHT, IT'S PUD.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE ONLY UNDER 40% OF IMPERVIOUS.

AND I THINK WE'RE ALLOWED UP TO 65. SO WE'RE WELL UNDER THAT THRESHOLD.

THE OTHER BUILDING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS REALLY A STATE RUN OPERATION, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY DIDN'T NEED THAT SPACE AT THE TIME.

I'M JUST THANKFUL IT'S NOT APARTMENTS, PERSONALLY.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CLARK. I JUST A GENERAL QUESTION.

THE PROPERTIES TO THE SOUTH LIKE THIS. I THOUGHT THAT THOSE WERE LEASED.

IS EVERYTHING OWNED BY THE COUNTY NOW? IT WENT WHEN THE CITY HAD TO.

THEY HAD TO COME BEFORE US AND AMEND THE PUD TO CHANGE THE LAND USE TO INSTITUTIONAL, TO ALLOW THE COUNTY TO PURCHASE THE BUILDING FROM WHAT USED TO BE A LAW FIRM. AND THAT'S WHY IT CAME BEFORE THE CITY.

BUT THOSE ARE CONDOMINIUMS THAT THE COUNTY OFFICIALS HAD PURCHASED THOSE SPACE.

THAT SPACE ACTUALLY, THE FIRST TIME WE CAME WAS TO PURCHASE A TAX COLLECTOR'S TWO BUILDINGS.

AND THEN LATER ON, WE ACTUALLY PURCHASED THE LAW FIRMS FOR THE UTILITY AND PROPERTY.

SO THERE'S ACTUALLY THREE BUILDINGS THE COUNTY OWNS THERE IN THAT COMPLEX.

[02:30:04]

THAT APPLICATION. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THAT'S THAT THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN THERE ALMOST 20 YEARS, AND THEY HAVE NOT ADDED ON AND HAVE NO PLANS TO ANYBODY'S KNOWLEDGE, THE UNDEVELOPED PHASE.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? RIGHT. THE UNDEVELOPED PHASE. BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT APPLICATION EXPIRED, AM I INCORRECT? IT'S PART OF THE PUD. IF THEY ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH DEVELOPING THE PHASE TWO AND THREE, THEY WOULD COME IN WITH A REQUEST FOR A MAJOR AMENDMENT TO THE DEVELOPER TO THE PUD.

IT IS FOR APPROVAL. LIKE THIS. PUD IS WHAT IT'S UNDER, SO IT CAN'T BE EXPIRED BECAUSE OTHERWISE YOU WOULDN'T BE HERE, SO IT WOULDN'T BE A NEW APPLICATION. IT WOULD BE.

WELL, IT WOULD BE THEY'D HAVE A NEW APP BECAUSE THIS IS FOR A MINOR AMENDMENT.

THEY'RE AMENDING IT TO LITERALLY DOWNSIZE IT RIGHT NOW.

THEN IF THEY WANTED TO COME BACK AND EXPAND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR BUILD APARTMENTS OR ADD A COSTCO, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, THEY'D HAVE TO COME IN FOR A MAJOR AMENDMENT.

AND THAT WOULD BE THAT WOULD BE TWO HEARINGS BEFORE THE COMMISSION AND THE LPA.

EXCUSE ME, WOULD YOU ALLOW MR. BAGGETT TO ANSWER? AND THE MAJOR AMENDMENT WOULD REQUIRE AN LPA MEETING AND TWO PUBLIC COMMISSION MEETINGS.

YES. WHEREAS A MINOR WE ONLY HAVE REQUIRE ONE SIMILAR TO EAST STUART COMING IN AND ASKING SEVERAL COMMITTEES.

COMMISSIONER REID YEAH, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR STAFF.

HOW COME THIS WASN'T A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PLAN APPLICATION VERSUS MINOR.

THIS IT IS COMING IN UNDER THE SQUARE FOOTAGE THRESHOLD.

THAT'S LESS THAN 10% IN A 10% INCREASE WOULD REQUIRE A MAJOR.

AND THIS IS ACTUALLY A REDUCTION. SO YES. SO I GET THAT PART.

SO WHEN YOU WHEN YOU COMPARE THE MAJOR VERSUS MINOR, OBVIOUSLY THE SQUARE FOOTAGE IS DIFFERENT.

BUT THEN IT TALKS ABOUT THE LAND AREA. SO WHEN WHEN THE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT DECIDES IF IT TRIGGERS ONE OF THOSE IS THAT APPLICABLE. THEN FOR EXAMPLE IT SAYS I'M SPECIFICALLY LOOKING AT A PUBLIC OR PRIVATE INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. LESS THAN ONE ACRE IN LAND AREA WOULD BE FOR A MINOR DEVELOPMENT PLAN APPLICATION.

AND THEN FOR MAJOR, IT'S 10%. IF THIS ISN'T THIS IS AN AMENDMENT.

THIS ISN'T AN APPLICATION. THIS IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE PUD.

THE PUD WAS ALREADY APPROVED. THEY COME IN AND LET'S SAY YOU'RE ENTITLED TO 100,000FT² IN YOUR PUD.

IF THEY WANTED TO GO TO 7000FT². IT WOULD REQUIRE A MAJOR.

BUT IF THEY WANTED TO GO TO 102,000FT² BECAUSE THEY WERE ALREADY AT 100, THAT 2000 WOULDN'T REQUIRE AN ENTIRE MAJOR PUD.

YOU COULD DO IT WITH A MINOR AMENDMENT. IN THIS CASE, THEY ACTUALLY WENT DOWN BY 10,000FT², SO IT WENT SMALLER. NOW, THE COMMISSION COULD REFUSE TO DO A MINOR AND COULD SAY, NO, WE WANT YOU TO GO TO THE LPA AND WE WANT YOU TO HAVE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER REED? ANY OTHER? YOU NEED A MOTION ON THIS? NO. WE NEED TO ASK THE PETITIONER IF HE WISHES TO OFFER ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NO. THANK YOU. OKAY. GOOD DECISION. SO, SO SO THE PRESENTATION.

SO THAT. OKAY. WHEN WAS THIS APPLICATION SUBMITTED TO COMPLETE THE MINOR AMENDMENT.

THIS CURRENT APPLICATION. IT WAS IN, I BELIEVE, JANUARY.

BUT LET ME TAKE A LOOK HERE. OF THIS YEAR. OF THIS YEAR.

AUGUST 24TH IS WHAT? OH I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY.

AUGUST 24TH. YEAH, 2024. THE ZONING IN PROGRESS DIDN'T DID NOT IMPACT THIS ONE.

OKAY. WELL, WE ACTUALLY CAME AND YOU EXCLUDED GOVERNMENT FROM THAT ZONING DID EXCLUDE GOVERNMENT IN THAT.

AT THAT MEETING, THE COMMISSION VOTED TO ALLOW IT TO GO FORWARD.

YEAH, BUT THE APPLICATION WAS AUGUST, WHAT, 24? SEPTEMBER 4TH. IT WAS BEFORE. BUT NO MATTER WHAT APPLICATIONS WE HAD, WE HAD TO STOP ALL OF THEM AND THEY WERE STAYED.

THEY MAY FALL UNDER THE PRIOR RULE WHEN IT WAS FINISHED, BUT THE COMMISSION VOTED IN SEPTEMBER TO ALLOW GOVERNMENT APPLICATIONS TO GO FORWARD AT ONE OF THE MEETINGS FOR THIS PROJECT. SO IF YOU SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION BEFORE THE ZONING IN PROGRESS, THEY STILL WOULD HAVE BEEN HELD UP. YES YOU WERE.

YOU GUYS STOPPED EVERYBODY SO NOBODY COULD MOVE FORWARD UNLESS THERE WAS AN EXCEPTION, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO BE CHANGED AND WHAT WASN'T GOING TO BE CHANGED.

[02:35:10]

OKAY, SO THE PRESENTATION OF EVIDENCE HAS ENDED.

THANK YOU. MR. DOHERTY, COULD I MAKE ONE COMMENT ON SOMETHING ELSE? JUST AS A POINT OF PRIVILEGE. IF THE CHIEF IS HERE.

HE WAS ABOUT TO RETIRE, AND THERE WAS AN ARTICLE IN THE PAPER HE TALKED ABOUT A.

SAVING A BOY'S LIFE. THAT WAS MY SON. OH MY GOODNESS.

I WANTED TO THANK HIM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

DOES ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WISH TO MAKE A COMMENT? MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY? I HAVE NONE, MAYOR.

YOU DO? I HAVE NONE. YOU HAVE NONE. OKAY. I'M GOING TO ASSUME YOU DON'T WISH TO PRESENT THE BOARD WITH CLOSING REMARKS. OKAY.

SO NOW WE'RE READY FOR A MOTION. MR. MAYOR, AS TO ITEM NUMBER 14 RESOLUTION NUMBER 50, DASH 2025, I MOVE STAFF RECOMMENDATION. SECOND. SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLARK AND A SECOND BY THE VICE MAYOR.

MR. BAGGETT, COULD YOU JUST. OR JUST REPEAT THE MOTION, PLEASE, FOR THE SAKE OF CLARIFICATION? SURE. FOR ME? YEAH. OKAY. SO COMMISSIONER CLARK HAD MOVED APPROVAL OF STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.

WHICH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION WAS APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF STUART GRANTING APPROVAL OF A MINOR PUD AMENDMENT TO THE MARTIN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT. PUBLIC SERVICE. PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT TO EXPAND THE MARTIN COUNTY BUILDING DEPARTMENT ON PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE SOUTHEAST SIDE OF SOUTHEAST WILLOUGHBY BOULEVARD AND SOUTHEAST RUNK STREET, THEREBY PROVIDING FOR CONDITIONS PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION? NONE. OKAY. WE MAY MAY WE HAVE ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

COMMISSIONER. YES, COMMISSIONER. YES, COMMISSIONER.

CLARK. YES, MAYOR. RICH. YES. AND VICE MAYOR COLLINS.

YES. THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. PUBLIC COMMENT.

GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU. YEAH. ITEM 15. FOR OUR DELIBERATION, PLEASE, MR.

[15. SUPPORTING THE RESCUE THE RIVER OF GRASS PETITION BY THE FRIENDS OF THE EVERGLADES, INC. (RC): RESOLUTION No. 51-2025; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF STUART, FLORIDA, IN SUPPORT OF THE RESCUE THE RIVER OF GRASS PETITION AS INITIATED BY THE FRIENDS OF THE EVERGLADES, INC.; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.]

I BELIEVE WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY MR. HOGARTH.

GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS. I'M ACTUALLY NOT GOING TO BE GIVING THIS PRESENTATION. I'M GOING TO BE INTRODUCING SOMEONE TO GIVE IT. WHO? I REALLY DON'T THINK NEEDS AN INTRODUCTION AT ALL, BUT EVE, SAMPLES FROM FRIENDS OF THE EVERGLADES IS GOING TO BE PROVIDING A PRESENTATION THAT SHE DID JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO DURING THE RIVERS COALITION.

SO I MIGHT HAVE TO MOVE THIS PRESENTATION FOR HER, BUT HERE IT IS.

THAT'S FINE. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO HEAR ABOUT OUR RESCUE THE RIVER OF GRASS INITIATIVE THIS EVENING. I'M EVE SAMPLES. I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FRIENDS OF THE EVERGLADES. WE WERE FOUNDED IN 1969 BY MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS.

I'M ALSO A PROUD RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF STUART, AND HONORED TO LIVE IN A CITY THAT HAS SUCH ENVIRONMENTAL CONSCIOUSNESS, AS EVIDENCED BY YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS PROCLAMATION TONIGHT.

SO FRIENDS OF THE EVERGLADES MOVED TO STUART SIX YEARS AGO FROM MIAMI, IN PART BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANCE THAT STUART PLAYS IN THE GREATER EVERGLADES ECOSYSTEM.

YOU ALL HAVE SEEN MAPS LIKE THESE. THE HISTORIC EVERGLADES WAS ALTERED AND WE ARE NOW DISCHARGED ON REPEATEDLY, DECADE AFTER DECADE, DUE TO LAKE OKEECHOBEE BEING REPLUMBED AND THE SOUTHERN FLOW OF WATER IN THE RIVER OF GRASS BEING DISCONNECTED.

SO FOR ABOUT A CENTURY WE HAVE BEEN ON THE RECEIVING END OF A DAMAGED PLUMBING SYSTEM.

YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE THEN. ALL OF YOU HAVE BEEN IN STUART FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF YEARS YOU'VE SERVED ON THIS COMMISSION.

SO YOU KNOW THAT IMAGES LIKE THIS WERE DEVASTATING.

CONDITIONS LIKE THIS WERE DEVASTATING IN OUR COMMUNITY BACK IN 2005.

THIS WAS SEWELL'S POINT, BUT AGAIN, WE RELIVED CONDITIONS LIKE THIS IN 2013, 2016, 2018.

[02:40:05]

WE LEARNED OVER THE YEARS THAT NOT ONLY IS THIS AN ENVIRONMENTAL THREAT, THIS IS A THREAT TO OUR ECONOMY.

IT'S A THREAT TO OUR PUBLIC HEALTH. IN FACT, COMMISSIONER CLARK, I REMEMBER YOU READING A TEARFUL POEM ABOUT THE SAINT LUCIE RIVER DURING ONE OF OUR RIVER RALLIES. DURING ONE OF THESE LOST SUMMERS WE EXPERIENCED.

SO YOU CAN ADVANCE THE NEXT SLIDE. AND OUR COMMUNITY REALLY ROSE TO THE OCCASION IN TERMS OF PUTTING A SPOTLIGHT ON THE SOLUTION.

YOU'LL RECALL THE BUY THE LAND MESSAGE THAT WAS SPELLED OUT ON THE BEACH AT STUART BEACH.

THE BOTTOM LEFT THERE IS ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS, BLAIR WICKSTROM, FORMER PUBLISHER OF FLORIDA SPORTSMAN MAGAZINE, BEHIND THEIR OLD OFFICES ON KANNER HIGHWAY IN THE CITY OF STUART.

THEY HAD TOXIC ALGAE BLOOMS IN 2016 2018 AND FOLKS TURNED OUT AND DEMANDED CHANGE.

AND WE GOT SOME OF THAT CHANGE. YOU CAN ADVANCE TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

AND IN FACT, THE CONDITIONS HAVE CONTINUED OVER THE YEARS.

IF YOU DON'T MIND MOVING AHEAD. ONE MORE PLEASE.

OKAY, SO 25 YEARS AFTER COMPREHENSIVE EVERGLADES RESTORATION WAS APPROVED, WHERE ARE WE NOW? WE HAVE A SERIES OF PROJECTS IN MOTION MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR PROJECTS, INCLUDING THE EAA RESERVOIR THAT'S UNDERWAY SOUTH OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE.

AND THEY WILL BRING SOME DEGREE OF RELIEF TO THE SAINT LUCIE RIVER.

BUT THEY WON'T BRING COMPLETE RELIEF. THEY WON'T COMPLETELY PREVENT DISCHARGES TO THE SAINT LUCIE RIVER, EVEN IF THE EA RESERVOIR AND ASSOCIATED PROJECTS FUNCTION EXACTLY AS INTENDED.

SO WE AT FRIENDS OF THE EVERGLADES SET OUT ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AND YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

BEN, PLEASE, TO ANSWER A QUESTION. WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO FINISH THE JOB? WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO COMPLETELY PREVENT DISCHARGES TO THE SAINT LUCIE RIVER ONCE AND FOR ALL? TO MAKE THE SYSTEM WORK AS MOTHER NATURE INTENDED IT, TO SAFEGUARD OUR ECONOMY.

TO SAFEGUARD OUR PUBLIC HEALTH, TO SAFEGUARD OUR ENVIRONMENT.

THE EAA RESERVOIR WAS A START. IT IS BEING BUILT, BUT IT DID NOT FINISH THE JOB.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. YOU CAN GO ONE MORE, PLEASE, BEN.

ONE MORE. OKAY. SO OUR SCIENCE TEAM, IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER EVERGLADES EXPERTS, PUT A FINE POINT ON THE SOLUTION.

AND THE ANSWER IS ABOUT 102,000 ACRES SOUTH OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE AND THE EVERGLADES AGRICULTURAL AREA.

WE NEED ABOUT 75% OF THAT LAND FOR A SHALLOW RESERVOIR, AND ABOUT 25% FOR MAN MADE MARSHES KNOWN AS STORMWATER TREATMENT AREAS.

AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS, IT'S ABOUT A MILLION ACRE FEET.

AN ACRE FOOT IS ONE FOOT DEEP OF WATER STORED ON AN ACRE OF WATER STORAGE.

AND AGAIN, THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE RESERVOIR THAT'S ALREADY IN PROGRESS.

THAT WILL BRING ABOUT 250,000 240,000 ACRE FEET OF STORAGE.

THE BENEFITS TO MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS SOLUTION ARE PREVENTING LAKE DISCHARGES.

AS I MENTIONED, SENDING ADEQUATE VOLUMES OF CLEAN WATER SOUTH TO FLORIDA BAY IN THE SOUTHERN EVERGLADES, WHICH NEED THE WATER, AND ALSO HELPING THE WEST COAST OF THE STATE.

SOMETIMES THE CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVER DOES NEED SOME FLOWS FROM LAKE OKEECHOBEE, LIKE RIGHT NOW, FOR INSTANCE. THEY'RE BEING DEPRIVED OF ADEQUATE FRESH WATER AND EXPERIENCING HYPER SALINITY.

IRONICALLY, AS WE GOT SOME WATER OVER THE WINTER MONTHS, WHICH THEY WOULD HAVE HELD IT IN THE LAKE AND SENT IT THAT WAY.

BUT NONETHELESS, IF WE HAD MORE STORAGE SOUTH, WE CAN HAVE A SINGLE SOLUTION FOR ALL OF THESE COMPONENTS OF THE GREATER EVERGLADES SYSTEM. AND WE CAN ALSO ACHIEVE WATER QUALITY STANDARDS FOR THE SOUTHERN EVERGLADES.

THE EVERGLADES ARE VERY PHOSPHORUS INTOLERANT, AND IF WE HAVE MORE MAN MADE MARSHES, WE CAN CLEAN THAT WATER NATURALLY AND SEND IT SOUTH.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, THIS IS SOMETHING BLAIR WICKSTROM LIKES TO TALK ABOUT. IF WE CREATE A SHALLOW RESERVOIR, A NATURE BASED SOLUTION SOUTH OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE, AND MAN MADE MARSHES, WE CAN ALSO HAVE AN OUTDOOR MECCA FOR PEOPLE TO GO AND ENJOY.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. OKAY, SO I'VE THROWN A LOT OF BIG NUMBERS AT YOU.

AND I PRESENTED THESE TO THE RIVERS COALITION TO ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO.

AND I'M SURE YOU'RE ASKING, HOW DO WE PAY FOR 100,000 ACRES SOUTH OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE? AND THERE IS A VERY OBVIOUS SOLUTION. SO YOU REMEMBER THAT IN 2014, VOTERS APPROVED AMENDMENT ONE, THE WATER AND LAND LEGACY AMENDMENT. OUR RESEARCH PUT A FINE POINT ON HOW MUCH MORE MONEY WE HAVE COMING FROM THAT AMENDMENT.

AND THE ANSWER IS 1.2 TO $1.6 BILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY FOR THE NEXT NINE OR SO YEARS.

AND THAT AMENDMENT WAS APPROVED BY 75% OF FLORIDA VOTERS.

AND THERE'S A VERY COMPELLING CASE FOR SPENDING A PORTION OF THAT MONEY SOUTH OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE SO THAT WE CAN GET THE GREATEST BANG FOR FLORIDIANS.

BUCKS. STOP DISCHARGES TO THE SAINT LUCIE RIVER ONCE AND FOR ALL, AND HAVE A SOLUTION THAT'S LASTING ACROSS THE REGION.

THERE'S A COST OF ACTION. THERE'S ALSO A VERY HIGH COST OF INACTION.

SO JUST TO REFRESH YOUR MEMORY, IN CASE IT'S BEEN TOO LONG NOW BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN A NUMBER OF YEARS.

IN 2018, WE HAD EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS IN MARTIN, SAINT LUCIE, PALM BEACH AND LEE COUNTIES DUE TO TOXIC ALGAE IN OUR WATERWAYS.

[02:45:06]

RED TIDE IS FUELED BY LAKE OKEECHOBEE DISCHARGES NOT CAUSED BY IT BUT EXACERBATED BY IT.

AND WE DID HAVE SOME RED TIDE ON THE EAST COAST IN 2018.

IT'S NOT TYPICAL, BUT WE DID EXPERIENCE IT THAT YEAR.

BEACH CLEANUPS ARE RUN IN THE MILLIONS WHEN WE EXPERIENCE MARINE LIFE DEATH DURING THESE TOXIC EVENTS AND REAL ESTATE VALUES TAKE A HIT.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE KNOW WELL ON THIS COAST.

AND THE RIVERS COALITION, WHICH I'M ALSO ON THE BOARD OF, HAS REALLY TUNED INTO $1.95 $5 BILLION POTENTIAL PROPERTY VALUE LOST IN MARTIN AND LEE COUNTIES IN 2013 AS A RESULT OF TOXIC ALGAE BLOOMS. OKAY, SO THIS FRIENDS OF THE EVERGLADES HAS REVISITED THIS SOLUTION BECAUSE THE EAA RESERVOIR WAS BUILT AND PLANNED ON EXISTING STATE OWNED LANDS, AND WE WANT TO FINISH THE JOB. BUT THIS IS NOT A NEW CONCEPT.

I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT BACK IN 2005, THE EVERGLADES COALITION, WHICH IS ABOUT 60 GROUPS ACROSS THE STATE, IDENTIFIED THE NEED FOR 150,000 ACRES SOUTH OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE.

THERE WAS ANOTHER RESOLUTION IN ZERO EIGHT, ANOTHER IN 2016.

SO THIS IS NOT A RADICAL IDEA. IT'S NOT A NEW IDEA.

IT'S AN OVERDUE IDEA, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH IT.

I'M REALLY EXCITED TO TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE SOME GREAT ALLIES ON BOARD.

THE RIVERS COALITION HAS SIGNED ON. AS I MENTIONED, THE INDIAN RIVERKEEPER HAS SIGNED ON CALUSA WATERKEEPER.

ON THE WEST COAST. MORE THAN 20,000 PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED THE PETITION SO FAR.

SO WHY NOW? WHY DO WE NEED TO ACT ON THIS RIGHT NOW? WELL, I TOLD YOU, THE CLOCK IS TICKING ON AMENDMENT ONE.

WE HAVE ABOUT NINE YEARS LEFT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE LAND ACQUISITION TRUST FUND DOLLARS ARE ACTUALLY SPENT ON LAND ACQUISITION THAT BENEFITS THE CITIZENS OF FLORIDA. AND UNFORTUNATELY, NOT ALL OF THOSE DOLLARS HAVE BEEN SPENT WISELY IN THE PAST.

BUT WE HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE THAT GOOD NOW. AND IMPORTANTLY TO TO YOU ALL AND TO OUR COMMUNITY.

WE CAN'T ALLOW ANYONE TO THINK THAT WHEN SERP, THE COMPREHENSIVE EVERGLADES RESTORATION PLAN PROJECTS ARE ALL COMPLETE, THAT WE'VE FINISHED THE JOB. BECAUSE EVEN WHEN SERP IS DONE, ONLY ABOUT 50% OF DISCHARGES TO THE SAINT LUCIE RIVER WILL BE PREVENTED.

SO LET'S MOVE FORWARD NOW. LET'S FINISH THE JOB.

WE HAD A START IN 2018 WHEN WE HAD SENATOR JOE NEGRON AS SENATE PRESIDENT, AND THE EA RESERVOIR WAS APPROVED AND EVENTUALLY AUTHORIZED.

BUT LET'S FINISH THE JOB NOW BEFORE THE LAND SOUTH OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE IS DEVELOPED IN OTHER WAYS, AND WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF PRESSURES THERE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

I MENTIONED WE HAVE MORE THAN 20,000 SIGNATURES, DOZENS OF ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES THAT HAVE SIGNED ON, AND WE WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY HONORED TO HAVE THE CITY OF STUART JOIN US IN SUPPORTING THIS RESOLUTION THAT WE BROUGHT TO YOU TODAY.

I'LL BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. I RECOGNIZE THAT GUY.

ANY QUESTIONS OF MISS SAMPLES FROM THE COMMISSION? I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTION, COMMISSIONER CLARK.

THANK YOU. SINCE MISS SAMPLES BROUGHT IT UP. AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE AN ITEM AFTER THIS TO DISCUSS, BUT THIS IS MY COMMENT. I HOPE IT DOESN'T GO OVER TWO HOURS OR SO.

IT'S THE TWO. YOU MENTIONED THIS. THANK YOU. EVE.

THIS WAS DONE BACK IN JULY 25TH, 2013. SAINT LUCIE RIVER, CRI STUART ON THE SAINT LUCIE SEE.

A PLACE OF SUCH CHARM AND AWESOME BEAUTY. A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT.

THAT'S WHAT THEY SAY. A QUAINT YET STIMULATING PLACE TO SPEND YOUR DAY.

SAVE OUR RIVER. OH, PLEASE SAVE OUR RIVER. SAVE OUR RIVER FROM POLLUTION AND EXTINCTION.

WE OWE IT TO OUR CHILDREN. DO IT WITH CONVICTION.

CLEAN UP THE RIVER. OH, PLEASE CLEAN UP THE RIVER.

EVERYONE. SCOUTS, TEACHERS, PARENTS, TOURISTS AND ENTREPRENEURS.

LET US MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE EARS OF THE ARMY CORPS.

EVERY MICKLE MAKES A MUCKLE. SO BUCKLE DOWN TIGHT.

WE ARE FIGHTING FOR THE RIVER WITH ALL OUR MIGHT.

SAVE OUR RIVER. OH, PLEASE SAVE OUR RIVER. CLEAN UP THE RIVER.

OH, PLEASE CLEAN UP THE RIVER. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER.

THERE'S A REASON I REMEMBERED THAT. SO HOW MUCH OF THAT ANNUAL AMENDMENT ONE MONEY WOULD YOU THINK WOULD BE REQUIRED? SO THIS INITIATIVE IS ABOUT GETTING THE LEGISLATURE TO APPROPRIATE AMENDMENT ONE MONEY SOUTH OF THE LAKE.

WE HAVE ANALYZED PROPERTY VALUES SOUTH OF THE LAKE AND THE RANGE.

THERE WAS A SLIDE. I MAY HAVE REMOVED IT FOR THIS PRESENTATION.

IT'S ANYWHERE FROM 1 TO $2 BILLION TOTAL. BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE 1.2 TO 1.6 COMING ANNUALLY FOR THE NEXT NINE YEARS.

[02:50:04]

WE WOULD NEED THERE. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WAYS TO DO IT DEPENDING ON HOW THE LEGISLATURE WANTS TO APPROPRIATE IT.

IT COULD BE A DESIGNATED AMOUNT FOR MULTIPLE YEARS.

AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN AWARENESS, PUBLIC AWARENESS BUILDING, MOMENTUM BUILDING PART OF THIS CAMPAIGN.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO TALLAHASSEE WHERE WE'VE GOT TO PUT THE PRESSURE ON SO THAT THESE LEGISLATORS THAT ARE A SIX HOUR DRIVE AWAY START DOING WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR COMMUNITY. SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WAYS TO HANDLE THE AMENDMENT ONE APPROPRIATIONS, AND WE'RE EXAMINING THAT WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE ALLIES.

OKAY. I THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. THANK YOU.

I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING HARD. THANK YOU. I KNOW A NUMBER OF YOU COMMISSIONERS COME TO RIVERS COALITION MEETINGS, AND WE WE HAVE A MISSION TO STOP THE DISCHARGES.

THAT IS THE CORE MISSION OF THE RIVERS COALITION. AND THANK YOU FOR PAYING ATTENTION TO IT.

I THINK THE CITY OF STUART IS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO REALLY ARE WILLING TO FIGHT THIS FIGHT.

AND THE LATE EDITOR OF THE STUART NEWS, ERNIE LYONS, FOR WHOM THERE IS A BRIDGE NAMED AFTER JOHN STUART, SAID WHAT MEN DO, THEY CAN UNDO. AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT'S TRUE.

WE KNOW THE SOLUTION. WE EVEN HAVE MONEY FOR THE SOLUTION.

NOW LET'S ACT ON IT AND WE CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN IN OUR LIFETIMES.

SO ARE YOU PRESENTING IT AS AN ALL OR NONE PROPOSITION, OR ARE YOU PRESENTING IT TO THE LEGISLATURE IN STAGES THAT THEY CAN START TAKING BITES OUT OF IT? RIGHT NOW WE'RE LOOKING FOR CONCEPTUAL SUPPORT OF THIS SCIENTIFICALLY BACKED SOLUTION, AND OUR PRECISE LEGISLATIVE STRATEGIES WILL BE MAPPED OUT AHEAD OF NEXT SESSION.

I HOPE THAT'S NOT TOO COY. NO, NO, THAT MAKES SENSE.

OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MR. MAYOR, THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS IN THE PACKAGE VERSUS WHAT WAS ON OUR DESK TODAY, IS THIS AN UPDATED VERSION? IF WE WANTED TO MAKE A MOTION AS TO RESOLUTION 51 DASH 2025.

MR. BAGGETT, IS THERE ANY DIFFERENCE IN THE. I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS A DIFFERENCE.

SO I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS AN UPDATE EITHER. I DIDN'T KNOW.

OKAY. I JUST HAVE A PRINTED ONE. MAYBE I'D ASK HER TO PRINT IT OUT.

THAT'S WHY I JUST THOUGHT MAYBE SHE HAD PRINTED OUT A DIFFERENT VERSION.

OKAY, SO, MR. MAYOR, CAN I MAKE A MOTION WITH.

CERTAINTY WITH REGARD TO RESOLUTION NUMBER 51 DASH 2025.

THAT WE APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF STUART, FLORIDA, IN SUPPORT OF THE RESCUE.

THE RIVER OF GRASS PETITION AS INITIATED BY THE FRIENDS OF THE EVERGLADES, INC., PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND FOR THE PURPOSES THAT WE APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION AND SUPPORT THE EVERGLADES FOUNDATION, THE FRIENDS OF THE EVERGLADES.

I'LL SECOND THE MOTION. WE HAVE A WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLARK AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER JOB.

IS THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON THIS ITEM? I HAVE NONE, MAYOR RICH. NONE. SEEING NONE, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS? YES. IF WE DO SOME WORK HERE IN THE CITY OF STUART, I GUESS, WILL WE HAVE YOUR CORPORATION AND YOU'LL WILL ASK OUR CORPORATION ALSO TO WORK TOWARDS THIS.

ABSOLUTELY. LAND PURCHASE AND THE ENTIRE WHOLE PROCESS.

WE WOULD LOVE TO BE PARTNERS IN THAT. I KNOW YOU HAVE AN IMPORTANT AGENDA ITEM FOLLOWING THIS AS IT RELATES TO PROTECTION OF THE SAINT LUCIE RIVER AND ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY.

WE WOULD BE HONORED TO BE PARTNERS WITH YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER REED.

YES. DOES THIS RESOLUTION MEAN THAT WE SUPPORT THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND LOATHSOME.

AND THEM DISCHARGE INTO OUR RIVER AT ALL? IT DEFINITELY DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT MEANS QUITE THE OPPOSITE OF THAT.

THE RESOLUTION AIMS TO FIND AN END TO THAT HARMFUL PRACTICE THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN FORCED TO LIVE WITH.

THE SERP, WHICH IS THE COMPREHENSIVE EVERGLADES RESTORATION PLAN, IS A LONG TERM PLAN WHICH INCLUDES THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE STORMWATER TREATMENT AREAS BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE LAKE AND ALSO INCLUDED WORDA.

BUT AS PART OF THE SERP THEY ADOPTED. LOATHSOME AND LOATHSOME IS A PHASE OF THE LONG TERM SERP PLAN.

CURRENTLY, LOATHSOME DOES HAVE LANGUAGE AS IT RELATES TO THE STARS AND DIRECTION TO THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS TO BALANCE THE DISCHARGES BETWEEN THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE HUMAN PEOPLE LIVING SOUTH OF THE LAKE, AND SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS NOT TO DISCHARGE INTO THE EVERGLADES, AND TO TAKE CONSIDERATION AS TO WHETHER THOSE DISCHARGES WOULD GO INTO THE SAINT LUCIE RIVER. SO IT IS CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER.

IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT IT'S NOT, BUT THIS RESOLUTION IS MORE DIRECTED TOWARD THE SERP PLAN AND THE STORMWATER TREATMENT AREAS TO

[02:55:05]

MR. MAYOR, IF I MAY JUST CLARIFY ONE POINT, LOATHSOME IS SEPARATE FROM SERP.

IT'S NOT PART OF THE COMPREHENSIVE EVERGLADES RESTORATION PLAN.

LOATHSOME IS A LAKE MANAGEMENT PLAN OF THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SOME INTERACTION, BUT IT IS SEPARATE. THIS WILL GIVE YOU. SORRY, MR. BREED. SORRY. OH, NO. SORRY, COMMISSIONER, WAS BEN HOGARTH.

I THOUGHT IT WAS MR. REED, SIR. OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO ALSO OFF OF WHAT EVE SAID, TO KIND OF CLARIFY IS I'M NOT PARTICULARLY CONCERNED WITH ANY KIND OF CONFLICT HERE. AND THE REASON IS VERY SIMPLE.

AND EVE SUBSTANTIALLY SAID IT, WHICH IS LOATHSOME IS AN OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE FOR YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR DISCHARGES. SERP IS REALLY THE PROJECT COMPONENT.

AND OUR, OUR POSITION WITH, FOR EXAMPLE, THE SAVINGS CLAUSE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY THAT THE, THE SUGAR COMPANIES THAT WERE FILING SUIT AGAINST THE CORPS WERE TAKING THE POSITION THAT THE OPERATIONS AND THE PROJECTS ALL ARE SYNONYMOUS AND ALL TOGETHER.

AND THAT WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL INTENT. SO IF WE'RE TAKING A POSITION THAT THE OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE IS SEPARATE FROM THE PROJECT COMPONENTS AND THE LAND AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE'VE SAID FOR YEARS AND IN THE PAST.

AND CONSISTENTLY, THE CITY OF STUART HAS ALWAYS SUPPORTED THE RESOLUTION THAT'S BEFORE YOU TODAY.

THERE'S THERE'S NO DISTINCTION. THE TIE IN HERE IS THAT THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM, YOU'RE GOING TO BE GIVING DIRECTION TO AN ENVIRONMENTAL LAWYER.

AND THAT DIRECTION COULD BE CONTRADICTORY TOWARD WHATEVER IT IS YOU'RE ADOPTING HERE.

BUT IT'S THE CITY HAS ALWAYS SUPPORTED STOPPING THE DISCHARGES, SAVING THE EVERGLADES AND CLEANING UP THE POLLUTED WATER.

AND AND, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THE STORMWATER TREATMENT AREAS ARE A SOLUTION THAT WAS APPROVED MANY YEARS AGO OR ADOPTED AS A CONSENSUS AS A MEANS TO GIVING THE WATER AWAY, TO GET FILTERED BEFORE IT GOES INTO THE EVERGLADES.

WE FOUND THAT THAT IT DOESN'T GET FILTERED AS WELL AS WE THOUGHT IT WOULD.

OBVIOUSLY, THE BETTER SOLUTION WOULD BE NO WATER BEING POLLUTED GOING INTO LAKE OKEECHOBEE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

BUT YOU KNOW, THERE'S LOTS OF HURDLES THERE. ONE BRIEF COMMENT, IF I MAY, MR. MAYOR. I THINK THAT OUR RESOLUTION IN THIS POSITION WILL BE VERY CONSISTENT WITH ANYTHING THAT AN ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY WOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH. WE KNOW THAT THE ONLY WAY TO STOP DISCHARGES COMPLETELY IS MORE LAND FOR WATER STORAGE AND TREATMENT SOUTH OF THE LAKE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE CAN TALK ABOUT ANY DETAILS THAT MIGHT NEED TO BE ADJUSTED OVER THE YEARS, BUT BUT THE CORE CONCEPT OF WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING NOW AND WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING NEXT, I THINK ARE VERY MUCH IN ALIGNMENT. AND GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER.

THIS TYPE OF SUPPORT WOULD ALLOW YOU TO WORK ON GETTING THOSE $1.2 BILLION.

YES, ABSOLUTELY. THE CITY OF STUART WILL BE OUR FIRST LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORTING THIS RESOLUTION, AND WE PLAN TO BRING IT TO MORE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

WE HAVE INTERESTS FROM SOME OTHERS ALREADY. SO YOU'RE LEADING THE WAY, AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THANK YOU. YEAH. UNFORTUNATELY, WE DO NOT HAVE THAT MUCH.

OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, COMMISSIONER REED? I HAVE ONE MORE FOR YOU, EVE. WITH ALL THIS WATER STORAGE, HOW MUCH WOULD IT LOWER THE WATER LEVEL IN LAKE OKEECHOBEE? SO RIGHT NOW, THE RESERVOIR THAT IS UNDER WAY WOULD LOWER THE LAKE BY ABOUT HALF A FOOT.

AND THAT TELLS YOU WHY IT DOESN'T STOP DISCHARGES RIGHT WITH WITH THE REST OF THE WATER STORAGE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

I'LL HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU WITH AN EXACT ANSWER TO THAT.

AND I KNOW EXACTLY THE EVERGLADES HYDROLOGIST WHO COULD ANSWER IT.

AND ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO COMPLIMENT. I JUST NOTICED YOU HAVE AN ERNEST LYONS QUOTE ON YOUR LAPTOP.

YEAH, I WAS JUST CURIOUS. I KNOW IT SAID SIX INCHES FROM WHAT WAS ALREADY APPROVED.

AND. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. MR. HOGARTH. IS THE LAKE IN DANGER OF GOING UNDER 11FT? IT IS CURRENTLY JUST UNDER 11FT RIGHT NOW. AND WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE NEW LOSS OF DIRECTION WHEN IT GOES UNDER 11FT? WELL, THE LAST PROJECTION WE HEARD FROM THE CORPS WAS THAT IT WOULDN'T POTENTIALLY THEIR FORECAST WAS NOT THAT IT WOULD TOUCH THE THE WATER SHORTAGE MANAGEMENT LINE.

IF IT DOES, OF COURSE, THAT THAT WOULD PREVENT THEM FROM DISCHARGING SOUTH LIKE THEY'VE CONTINUED THE WEST COAST IS CONCERNED BECAUSE THEY NEED SOME HYDROLOGIC FLOW TO ESTABLISH A BALANCE BETWEEN TIDAL MOTION. SO IF IF IT HITS THE WATER SHORTAGE MANAGEMENT LINE, THEY'LL THEY'LL HAVE TO CEASE ALL DISCHARGES SOUTH AND WEST.

TO MY UNDERSTANDING, OF COURSE TO US, THEY'VE STOPPED FOR A WHILE THERE SOME RESTRICTION ON THEM DISCHARGING THOUGH FOR FIVE YEARS IF IT GOES UNDER 11FT.

WELL, I DIDN'T WANT TO GET INTO THE MINUTIA OF. SO THAT WAS RECOVER, WHICH WAS RECOVER A SPECIAL COMPONENT THAT WE JUST DID THIS YEAR.

[03:00:03]

BUT WITH THAT SAID, THEY'VE MET THE TARGET SO FAR AND WE'RE JUST WAITING TO SEE IF IT STAYS UNDER A CERTAIN ELEVATION, MAYBE 12.5, BUT REALLY 12 11FT FOR 60, 90 DAYS, DEPENDING ON THE ELEVATION WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

AND WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HIT THAT UNLESS WE JUST START GETTING A MONSOON.

SO IS THERE A TRIGGER IF IT GOES TOO LOW? THERE'S A THERE'S BELOW SOME TRIGGERS RESTRICTIONS ON ADDITIONAL RECOVERY OPERATIONS.

CORRECT. YEAH. SO THE WHOLE POINT OF RECOVER FOR THE LAKE IS RECOVERY OF SAV, RECOVER FOR THE, FOR THE COASTAL COMMUNITY. SO THE CALOOSAHATCHEE AND THE SAINT LUCIE IS MORE SALINITY BASED.

THE WAY IT WORKS, IT'S VERY DIFFERENT BECAUSE WHAT WE NEEDED TO GET THE CORPS TO CONFIRM IS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE INTENTIONS TO DO RECOVER ANY MORE THAN ONCE EVERY FIVE YEARS AT A MAXIMUM, IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY SUCCEED AT MAKING THE TARGET, BECAUSE OUR CONCERN LAST NOVEMBER, TO CLARIFY WAS THAT ALL OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS HAD TO BE PERFECT FOR THEM TO REALLY BE ABLE TO ASSESS THE LAKE SAFELY.

SO AT A SAFE SPEED AND ALSO TO THE ELEVATIONS THAT THEY NEED, AND HOLD IT THERE FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME.

IF WE GET TORRENTIAL RAIN FALLS AND WE'RE NOT ALREADY AT LIKE WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, AND YOU WERE JUST AT 12.5FT, YOU MIGHT NEVER MAKE IT. SO THAT WAS OUR CONCERN IN NOVEMBER.

THANKFULLY, WE HAD A LA NINA THAT THAT HELD OUT FOR A LOT LONGER AND WE HAD ULTRA DRY, REALLY DROUGHT CONDITIONS.

THOSE FACTORS GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL RECOVER THIS YEAR.

BUT THAT CAN'T BE SAID EVERY TIME. SO THANK YOU.

OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? DO WE HAVE A SECOND? MADAM MAYOR, WE HAVE A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER CLARK AND IT WAS SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER.

JOB ROLL CALL, PLEASE. VICE MAYOR COLLINS. YES, MAYOR.

RICH. YES, COMMISSIONER. YES, COMMISSIONER. CLARK.

YES, COMMISSIONER. YES. MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. MR. BAGGETT, WILL YOU READ ITEM 16 FOR OUR CONSIDERATION,

[16. SELECTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY (RC): RESOLUTION No. 52-2025; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF STUART, FLORIDA, SELECTING AN ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY AND DIRECTING THE CITY STAFF TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT TO BE APPROVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]

DO WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY STAFF ON THIS? I THINK WE NEED ONE.

WHAT'S THAT? WE HAVE NO PRESENTATION BY ANY STAFF ON THIS.

DO WE? STAFF DIDN'T DO ANY INTERVIEWING. RIGHT.

OKAY. JUST CHECKING ON THE APPLICANTS IN ANY WAY.

CAN WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND? SO I JUST TO HAVE DISCUSSION OR TO FOR WHO TO SELECT.

JUST TO HAVE DISCUSSION WHICH WILL I ASSUME LEAD TO A SELECTION.

WE DON'T HAVE A MOTION. AND SECOND, THERE'S NOTHING TO DISCUSS AS PART OF THE MOTION. IT WOULD BE A PARTICULAR PERSON OR JUST.

IF. CAN I ASK ROSS TO GUIDE US A LITTLE BIT? CERTAINLY.

BECAUSE I DIDN'T FILL OUT A FORM TO GRADE ANYBODY OR DO ANYTHING, AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO DO IT WAS NOT A REQUIREMENT.

THAT WAS YOUR CHOICE, COMMISSIONER CLARK, I KNOW, YES.

THOSE FORMS WERE JUST TO GUIDE THE PROCESS IF YOU CHOSE TO USE THEM.

BUT YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO. SO TONIGHT WOULD JUST BE DISCUSSING THE CANDIDATES AS YOU ALL WISH AND THEN MAKING A SELECTION.

IF YOU ARRIVE AT THAT CONCLUSION AND WE WORK ON GETTING A NEGOTIATION GOING WITH THAT CANDIDATE.

SO FOR PURPOSES OF DISCUSSION, I WOULD MOVE THAT.

WE SELECT RUTH HOLMES AS OUR ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY.

I'LL SECOND THAT. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLARK I MEAN A MOTION BY THE VICE MAYOR AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER REED.

DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC REGARDING THIS ITEM? DO YOU HAVE ANY DO. MAYOR. MR. MACK STUCKEY.

COMMISSIONERS. MACK. STUCKEY. I THINK I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR TEN YEARS, AND WE'RE FINALLY AT THE POINT.

RUTH HOLMES IS, I THINK, THE BEST CHOICE FOR THIS.

SHE'S GOT THE MOST EXPERIENCE, ESPECIALLY WITH LEGAL EXPERIENCE IN MARTIN COUNTY AND THE CITY OF STEWART.

SHE'S VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE PROJECT, AND SHE'S PASSIONATE ABOUT SOLVING THE PROBLEM.

WHAT RUTH HAS PRESENTED 102,000 ACRES TO ACTUALLY RESTORE SOME OF THE EVERGLADES IS THE ANSWER.

WHAT THE CITY OF STEWART CAN DO WITH OUR ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY IS PUSHED TO STOP STEWART AS THE DUMPING GROUND FOR ALL OF THEIR MISTAKES.

[03:05:03]

DIGGING HOLES TO PUT DIRTY WATER IN IS NOT EVERGLADES RESTORATION.

BUT THE RIVER OF GRASS RESOLUTION IS FOR IS TO ACTUALLY RESTORE PART OF THE EVERGLADES IN THE CITY OF STEWART.

JUST THE BEGINNING FOR THE JOB, FOR OUR ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY IS TO STOP THOSE DISCHARGES PERMANENTLY, NOT JUST REDUCE THEM OR HAVE THEM EVERY FIVE YEARS, BUT PERMANENTLY, BECAUSE WE ARE A SALTWATER ESTUARY.

AND THE WORST POLLUTANT COMING OUT OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE IS FRESH WATER.

SO YES, THE GREEN ALGAE GOT OUR ATTENTION. OH, IT'S UGLY, IT STINKS.

BUT THE GREEN ALGAE IS JUST A SYMPTOM OF THE PROBLEM.

THE SALTWATER ESTUARY. WHEN YOU PUT TRILLIONS OF GALLONS OF FRESH WATER GUSHING THROUGH THE SAINT LUCIE LOCKS, THAT CAUSES SALINITY TO CRASH. WHEN I WAS A KID HERE, WHEN WE OPENED THESE GATES, THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF DEAD FISH ON THE SHORE.

NOW THERE'S NO DEAD FISH BECAUSE THERE'S NO FISH THERE EXCEPT FOR THE TRASH FISH THAT ARE LEFT.

SO OUR ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY FIRST JOB STOPPED THE DISCHARGES.

WORK WITH WHOEVER WE HAVE TO WORK TO TO STOP THEM.

THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE JOB. THE NEXT PART IS WHEN THEY PERMANENTLY STOPPED THE DISCHARGES, IS TO SAY, HEY, GUYS, COME IN AND CLEAN UP THE DESTRUCTION THAT YOU CAUSED OVER THE LAST HUNDRED YEARS.

AND THAT WILL TAKE LONGER. AND IT MAY BE THE GOVERNMENT THAT CLEANS UP THE RIVER, OR IT MAY BE FEDERAL AND STATE OR PRIVATE GRANTS THAT PARTICIPATE IN THAT. BUT THIS ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY POSITION IS A LIFETIME FOREVER POSITION FOR THE CITY OF STUART, BECAUSE THE CITY OF STUART HAS IMPACTED MORE BY MISMANAGEMENT OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE THAN ANY OTHER PART OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, WHICH IS WHY IT IS RIGHT AND PROPER FOR US TO TAKE THE LEAD IN STOPPING THIS.

AND I THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING DOING THIS, AND IT'S THE ONLY THING THAT WILL WORK.

NOTHING THAT WE HAVE TRIED FOR THE LAST HUNDRED YEARS HAS WORKED.

THIS HAS TO WORK. WE CAN NEVER GIVE UP. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. STUCKEY. ANYBODY ELSE, MADAM CLERK? I HAVE NO MORE MAYOR RICH. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BY THE COMMISSION REGARDING THIS MOTION? COMMISSIONER. YES. I JUST WANTED TO THANK MISS JOHNSON AND THE HR STAFF FOR MAKING THE PROCESS OF INTERVIEWING THE ATTORNEYS SMOOTH AND EASY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND OF COURSE, WANTED TO THANK ALL THE ATTORNEYS WHO SPENT TIME TO COME HERE AND INTERVIEW.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I ECHO THAT ALSO. YOU CERTAINLY MAY, COMMISSIONER CLARK.

I ECHO ECHO ECHO ECHO ECHO. OKAY. AND FOR CLARIFICATION, I'M ASSUMING THAT THE MOTION IS TO HAVE THE CITY ATTORNEY NEGOTIATE WITH THIS CANDIDATE AND RETURN WITH A CONTRACT FOR APPROVAL.

YES, IT'S THE CITY ATTORNEY. NORMALLY IT CAN BE WHOEVER YOU GUYS WANT IT TO BE.

ON TOP OF THAT YOU ALSO. DID YOU GUYS DID YOU GUYS HAVE A BEGINNING DATE THAT YOU WANTED THEM TO START ASAP? SO, I MEAN, SO DO YOU WANT HIM TO RETURN ON MAY 28TH? I MEAN, THAT'S OUR NEXT MEETING. THAT'S WHY I'M KIND OF BRINGING IT UP, JUST TO PUT SOME TIME FRAMES IN IT.

AND OBVIOUSLY THE CANDIDATE'S GOING TO HAVE TO HER SCHEDULE IS GOING TO HAVE AN EFFECT.

I KNOW THAT SHE WAS INVOLVED IN SOME LITIGATION THAT WITH SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT THAT SHE MAY NEED TO RETAIN FOR A WHILE, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT WILL BE CONFLICT AT ALL BECAUSE IT WILL BE CONSISTENT WITH HER POSITION.

COMMISSIONER CLARK. I MUST SAY THAT I, I HAD AT LEAST THREE, BUT DEFINITELY TWO CANDIDATES.

BUT I THINK THE MAIN THING WAS THE EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE IN THE LOCAL AREA AND THE FORESIGHT FOR A LOT OF POTENTIAL FUTURE THINGS AND CONNECTIONS. AND I THINK THAT THAT'S WHY I CHOSE THAT PARTICULAR CANDIDATE.

BUT WE HAD VERY GOOD CANDIDATES. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SPEAK OUT IN FAVOR OF MISS KELLY.

WE DID. WE HAD I WAS SURPRISED AT THE QUALITY OF THESE CANDIDATES.

I WAS VERY IMPRESSED BY THE GENTLEMAN WITH THE MOST EXPERIENCE.

YEAH, HE ACTUALLY SEEMED TO BE THE MOST CREATIVE THINKER AND THE MOST NOVEL IDEAS, WHICH IS WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE.

WE MIGHT BE GIVING THEM SOME. CONSULTANT. YEAH.

WHAT THEY ALL AGREED ON IS THE OPPORTUNITY EXIST BECAUSE OF THE SUPREME COURT CHEVRON DECISION,

[03:10:05]

AROUND THE CLEAN WATER ACT AT A FEDERAL LEVEL, BECAUSE THE STATE HAS SUPPLANTED US.

THAT'S THE REALITY OF WHAT IT IS NOW. AND CLEARLY, THE CANDIDATE WITH THE MOST EXPERIENCE AT THAT LEVEL WAS ALISON KELLY.

IN FACT, THAT'S WHERE SHE IS NOW. SHE HAS THE GREATEST VARIETY OF EXPERIENCE.

SHE'S WON LEGAL BATTLES ON A NATIONAL LEVEL. IF YOU READ HER CV, SHE COLLABORATED WITH INTERNAL SCIENTISTS AND OUTSIDE EXPERTS, POLICY ADVOCATES, AS WELL AS EXTERNAL COALITION PARTNERS TO FORMULATE STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS THE REST THE ADVERSE.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS JOB IS. AND SHE'S DONE IT.

SHE UNDERSTANDS COALITION BUILDING. SHE'S A BIT OF A NERD.

SHE WENT BACK AND GOT HER MASTERS OF LAW IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY LAW AT GEORGETOWN.

THIS IS A COMMITTED, ACCOMPLISHED WOMAN. I JUST I'M VERY IMPRESSED BY MISS HOLMES. SHE'S BEEN AT THE COUNTY FOR TEN YEARS.

SHE'S BEEN FIGHTING THIS BATTLE. NONE OF YOU ARE HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS.

AND SO TO ME, A PAIR OF FRESH EYES. SOMEONE WHO'S OPERATED AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, DEALING WITH THESE ISSUES, DEALING WITH THE NRDC, RAISING SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF MONEY.

THIS. THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THIS WOMAN'S WERE AMAZING.

YEAH. AND I JUST I WISH WE WOULD GIVE HER MORE SERIOUS CONSIDERATION.

AND THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY. I DON'T MEAN TO PUT DOWN ANY OF THE CANDIDATES, BUT THIS WAS A VERY AND VERY IMPRESSIVE WOMAN, AN ATTORNEY WHO'S BASICALLY HER CV DESCRIBES WHAT THIS JOB IS, AND WE'VE YET TO COME UP WITH A JOB DESCRIPTION, BY THE WAY, WHICH IS A SERIOUS SHORTCOMING ON OUR PART.

AND. OBVIOUSLY, THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE MUCH SENTIMENT, BUT I NEEDED TO SAY THAT.

WELL, I WOULD I WOULD SAY THAT, ALICE, YOU KNOW, IT'S A NICE PROBLEM TO HAVE WHEN YOU ARE STACKED WITH REALLY WELL QUALIFIED HUMAN BEINGS FOR A JOB, AND THEY ALL HAVE VARIOUS SUPERPOWERS.

I WISH I COULD SORT OF HAVE ALL OF THEM FOR VARIOUS PARTS OF WHAT I THINK THIS JOB WILL ENTAIL.

ALISON IS FANTASTIC. I WOULD NOT ARGUE WITH YOU AT ALL, BUT I SEE HER SUPERPOWER IN MORE OF A DIPLOMATIC ROLE, WHERE I SEE RUTH AS SLIGHTLY BEATING HER OUT FOR WHAT I PERCEIVE IS THE CONSENSUS OF THIS BOARD AND DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED.

SO I DON'T DISAGREE WITH YOU. I THINK ALISON IS FANTASTIC.

I THINK I LOVE HARVEY, LIKE ALL OF THESE THESE WERE GREAT CANDIDATES.

I JUST PERSONALLY THINK THAT RUTH IS EDGES OUT SLIGHTLY IN TERMS OF HER EXPERIENCE AT THE COUNTY, HER FAMILIARITY WITH THIS ISSUE, AND I HOPE SHE PICKS UP WHERE SHE LEFT OFF AT THE COUNTY AND IS ABLE TO TO DO WHAT YOU KNOW, SHE WAS WORKING ON DOING BEFORE SHE WASN'T ABLE TO DO IT, I DON'T SEE AS A DIPLOMAT.

I SEE HER AS A COALITION BUILDER AND SHE'S FOUGHT AND WON.

SHE STOPPED, SHE STOPPED DRILLING ON THE WEST COAST AND, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC LAND.

SO SHE'S FOUGHT THESE BATTLES. SHE'S THE NRDC FIGHTS BATTLES.

THEY'RE NOT DIPLOMATS. THEY'RE WARRIORS. THAT'S WHAT THEY DO.

AND SO I DISAGREE WITH THAT DESCRIPTION OF HER.

FAIR ENOUGH. IN FACT, THAT EXPERIENCE IS INVALUABLE.

COMMISSIONER GIOBBI. YES. I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK ATTORNEY STARKEY, WHO HAS GIVEN A GOOD PORTION OF HIS LIFE FOR A HOPEFULLY ARRIVING AT THE CLEANUP AND THE CLEAR WATERS IN THE SAINT LUCIE.

SO WE'RE HERE TODAY, AND WE'RE MAKING THIS DECISION BASED ON YOUR DETERMINATION.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU MARK. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS? AT SOME POINT ARE WE GOING TO COME UP WITH A JOB DESCRIPTION? WE HAVE ONE. TO ASSIST IN THE NEGOTIATIONS. WE HAVE A JOB DESCRIPTION.

[03:15:03]

ALL RIGHT. SO ROLL CALL PLEASE. THIS IS COULD YOU JUST REPEAT THE MOTION.

SO THAT'S QUITE SPECIFIC. SO THE MOTION WAS TO SELECT RUTH HOLMES AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY AND NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT TO BRING BACK THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING, WHICH IS MAY 27TH. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER JOB.

I'M SORRY. YES. I'M SORRY. I SAID 28TH EARLIER.

IS THAT SUFFICIENT? 27TH? IT'S THE 27TH. OKAY.

I WOULD JUST I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU. THAT'S OKAY.

COMMISSIONER. YES, COMMISSIONER. YES, COMMISSIONER.

CLARK. YES, VICE MAYOR COLLINS. YES. AND COMMISSIONER OR MAYOR RICH.

MY APOLOGIES. MY APOLOGIES, MAYOR RICH. YES. THANK YOU.

MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. MAC, WILL YOU READ ITEM 17 FOR CONSIDERATION?

[17. CODE AMENDMENT ADDING LANGUAGE RELATED TO TRESPASSING (RC): ORDINANCE No. 2542-2025; AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF STUART, FLORIDA AMENDING PART II, CHAPTER 30 (PARKS AND RECREATIONAL AREAS), SECTIONS 30-3 THROUGH 30-5, OF THE CITY OF STUART’S CODE OF ORDINANCES, BY ADDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS RELATED TO TRESPASS WARNINGS AND THE APPEAL PROCESS FOR TRESPASS WARNINGS UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES FOR PUBLIC PROPERTY AND OTHER PROPERTY GENERALLY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC; PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF PRIOR ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.]

PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION. PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY.

PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

WE HAD THE FIRST HEARING AT THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING AND THAT WE HAD GONE THROUGH, AND I EXPLAINED THIS TO YOU BEFORE.

THIS IS THE SECOND READING, SO THIS WILL BE THE FINAL READING. HOPEFULLY YOU WILL VOTE ON.

BASICALLY FLORIDA AND THERE MIGHT BE SOME CONFUSION.

THERE WAS FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 125 .0231, WHICH I'VE IDENTIFIED IN THE AGENDA SUMMARY THAT CAME UP WHERE THERE WERE NOW REQUIRING CITIES AND COUNTIES TO ENFORCE AND NOT ALLOW HOMELESSNESS OR SLEEPING IN PUBLIC ON PUBLIC PROPERTIES.

AND THERE'S A MECHANISM THAT WE CAN BE SUED IF WE DON'T DO IT.

WE ALREADY HAD AN ORDINANCE IN PLACE THAT PREVENTED THAT, PROHIBITED OVERNIGHT CAMPING AND SLEEPING IN OUR PUBLIC PARKS AND PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAYS AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS. WHAT I DID IS. AND WHEN THAT CAME UP, I REVIEWED OUR ORDINANCE.

AND TYPICALLY, IF ONE OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS FINDS SOMEONE THAT IS CAMPING IN OUR PARKS, THEY WOULD NORMALLY DO A WARNING, A TRESPASS WARNING, AND OUR ORDINANCE DIDN'T ADDRESS TRESPASS WARNING.

SO THE CASE LAW BASICALLY DICTATES WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IN A TRESPASS WARNING SITUATION.

AND THE CASE LAW REQUIRES THAT YOU HAVE AN APPEAL PROCESS TO GIVE ANYBODY.

IT'S BEEN ISSUED A TRESPASS WARNING. THEY HAVE THEIR DUE PROCESS RIGHTS AND CAN APPEAL THIS WARNING.

HEY, THIS WAS A MISTAKE. I SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ISSUED THIS WARNING.

I SHOULD BE ALLOWED IN THE PARK. SO THIS. WHAT WE DID IS WE ADDED THE APPEAL PROCESS.

FOR ANYBODY THAT HAS ISSUED A TRESPASS WARNING AND WHAT THAT THAT ENTAILS IS WITHIN 30 DAYS, THEY'LL HAVE TO SEND ME AN OBJECTION TO APPEAL WITHIN 30 DAYS OF BEING ISSUED A TRESPASS WARNING.

AND THEN WHAT I WILL DO IS SET IT UP ON THE NEXT MAGISTRATE HEARING.

SO WE HAVE A ONCE A MONTH, WE HAVE MAGISTRATE HEARS ALL CODE VIOLATIONS.

AND SO THAT WOULD BE SELECTED THERE. AND THAT INDIVIDUAL WILL BE ABLE TO PETITION AN APPEAL, THE TRESPASS WARNING. AND THAT'S THAT'S WHAT THE CHANGES ARE.

THE ADDITIONS TO THE CODE ARE HOW MANY TRESPASS WARNINGS HAVE HAS THE CITY ISSUED IN THE PAST? I DON'T KNOW, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP THAT I DON'T KNOW.

SO I DON'T KNOW THAT WE ISSUE. GO AHEAD AND COME UP IF YOU WANT.

BUT WHAT WE NORMALLY DO IS JUST THE POLICE OFFICER.

ASK THEM TO MOVE ALONG AND SAY, HEY, YOU CAN'T BE ASLEEP IN THE PARK.

OUR PARKS ALL CLOSE AT DUSK. SO I DON'T KNOW THAT WE ISSUE TRESPASS WARNINGS AS MUCH AS WE SAY THE PARKS CLOSED.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO HOME, BUT YOU CAN'T STAY HERE.

THAT'S CORRECT. WE. I DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC NUMBERS. I KNOW AT TIMES SOME TRESPASS WARNINGS HAVE BEEN ISSUED ON THE PUBLIC PROPERTY, BUT WE MORE SO USE THEM ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. IF THE WALMART SAYS WE DON'T WANT YOU ON OUR PROPERTY.

THEY ISSUE THE WARNING ISSUE TO THE PERSON THEY LEAVE.

NOW THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING IT WITH THE PUBLIC SPACES THROUGH THIS, WE WILL BE ISSUING A WRITTEN WARNING IN THE FUTURE TO HAVE DOCUMENTATION TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE LAW AND THE PURPOSE MOVING FORWARD. SO DO YOU REALLY THINK YOU WILL BE ISSUING TRESPASS NOTICES ON PUBLIC PROPERTY? WE HAVE TO. WE HAVE TO. WELL, THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE THIS LAWSUIT THAT CAN SUE US.

SO RIGHT NOW IT'S VERY INFORMAL. ALL OF THE POLICE OFFICERS THAT WORK IN THE CITY OF STUART CAN TELL YOU AN EXAMPLE OF A TIME THAT SOMEONE WAS CAMPING ON PUBLIC RIGHT OF

[03:20:10]

THEY DIDN'T GET ARRESTED. NOTHING HAPPENED. THEY JUST SAID, LOOK, MAN, YOU GOT TO MOVE. I CAN'T LET YOU STAY HERE. AND THE PERSON LEAVES.

THE PROBLEM IS, IF TWO YEARS FROM NOW, WE GET SUED BECAUSE SOMEONE'S CAMPING ON A BENCH ON THE SIDE OF THE STREET, AND THE LAWYER SAYS THE CITY HAS DONE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING SINCE THE ENTRANCE OF THAT ORDINANCE OR THAT STATE LAW.

AND WE DON'T HAVE A SINGLE WRITTEN WARNING TO A SINGLE PERSON FOR THE ENTIRE TIME.

IT'LL LOOK LIKE WE'VE DONE NOTHING. BUT BY WRITING THE NOTES OR BY GIVING THE NOTICE, IT'S ACTUALLY DOCUMENTING OR RECORD KEEPING THAT THEY ARE, IN FACT, ENFORCING THE STATE STATUTE AND APPLYING THE LAW.

THAT'S CORRECT. AND WE'VE UPDATED OUR POLICY AND TRACKING OF THE CALLS FOR SERVICE SO THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, PROPER DOCUMENTATION THAT IS BEING ADDRESSED WHEN IT'S BEING BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION.

DOES DOES THE TRESPASS NOTICE CARRY A FINE? IT'S CRIMINAL.

YES. I WAS GOING TO ASK IF IT'S A CIVIL BECAUSE YOU'RE SAYING YOU'RE BEING NICE, BUT IT'S A CRIMINAL ACT.

SO THE WARNING IS A WARRANT. IT'S A WRITTEN WARNING THAT YOU CANNOT BE ON THIS PROPERTY.

IF YOU RETURN TO THAT PROPERTY, THEN IT WOULD BE A CRIMINAL CHARGE FOR TRESPASS.

WARNING. SECOND NOTICE. IT WOULD BE THE FIRST NOTICE.

FIRST IS A WARNING NOTICE. OKAY, SO THE FIRST TIME IT'S A WRITTEN WARNING FOR DOCUMENTATION PURPOSES SERVED TO THE PERSON.

SO THEY'RE ON NOTICE. AND A WEEK LATER IF YOU ENCOUNTER THE SAME PERSON ON THE SAME PROPERTY, THEN YOU WOULD AFFECT AN ARREST FOR TRESPASS AFTER WARNING DUTY.

DO THE HOMELESS CARRY ID? ALL OF THEM? I MEAN, I MEAN, THERE'S MOST OF OUR OFFICERS ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH OUR WITH OUR UNHOUSED POPULATION AROUND TOWN. AND IF WE CAN'T VERIFY THE ID, WE HAVE OTHER WAYS.

IF THEY DON'T HAVE IT WITH THEM, WE HAVE OTHER WAYS OF TRYING TO VERIFY THEIR IDENTIFICATION. IT'S MORE COMPLICATED WHEN YOU GIVE THEM A WARNING FOR THE CITY RIGHT OF WAY, LIKE THEN YOU CAN'T SEE THEM ON ANOTHER ROAD.

WELL, THAT IS COMPLICATED. YEAH. I MEAN, LIKE, WE CAN GO DOWN THIS RATHOLE, BUT THERE'S NO RABBIT HOLE.

COMMISSIONER CLARK, WE DON'T NEED TO BE CAREFUL OF OUR LANGUAGE. THANK YOU.

SO YEAH, I WANTED TO FIND OUT HOW SPECIFIC THAT WAS LIKE HE MENTIONED, ABOUT THE RIGHT OF WAYS AND ANY RIGHT OF WAY.

OR THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION. AND THEN IS IT WITHIN 500FT OR SO MANY? BECAUSE WE. I MEAN, IF SOMEBODY IS, IF IT'S TO THAT SPOT OR THAT BUILDING OR, YOU KNOW, LET'S SAY.

WALMART IS A LARGE PLACE. SO I GUESS IT WOULD BE ANYTHING ON WALMART'S PROPERTY WOULD.

THIS IS THAT'S PRIVATE PROPERTY. I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I'M JUST USING THAT AS A.

STATE LAW PROHIBITS US FROM ALLOWING PEOPLE TO CAMP OR SLEEP ON PUBLIC PROPERTY.

RIGHT, RIGHT. IF SOMEONE'S SLEEPING ON A BENCH ON OSCEOLA IN FRONT OF CLEVELAND CLINIC IN THE RIGHT OF WAY, THE POLICE ARE GOING TO GO UP AND GIVE THEM A TRESPASS WARNING.

THAT TRESPASS WARNING IS GOING TO SAY THE STATE LAW SAYS IT'S ILLEGAL FOR YOU TO SLEEP OR CAMP ON ANY BENCH, ON ANY RIGHT OF WAY IN THE CITY. THEN THE DISCRETION WILL BECOME WHEN EXERCISING IT NEXT TIME.

HOW WILLFUL IS THE VIOLATION? AND DOES IT ARISE TO A JUSTIFICATION FOR SOMEBODY TO BE ARRESTED? AND AGAIN, IT'S GOING TO FALL UNDER THE DISCRETION OF THE OFFICER AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES. AND THERE'S A MILLION DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT COULD BE OR NOT BE A BASIS, YOU KNOW, IF THE PERSON WAS POLITE OR IF THE PERSON WAS RUDE OR WHATEVER.

NOT EASY. YOU KNOW THAT IT PRESENTS SOME CHALLENGES FOR US, BUT WE WORK WITH MR. BAGGETT AND UPDATING THE POLICY AND THE PROCEDURE.

AND AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING TO ADHERE WITH THE STATE LAW.

AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, BE REASONABLE IN OUR RESPONSES WHEN WE'RE OUT THERE DEALING WITH THE FOLKS OR AT LEAST OUR OFFICERS.

OKAY. ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL COMMISSIONER JOB? DO WE HAVE DO YOU HAVE ANYWHERE TO REFER THEM TO A CHURCH, A SHELTER, IF THERE ARE SOME RESOURCES OUT THERE? WE JUST HAD A GROUP IN AND I DON'T HAVE THE NAME OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

THEY THEY'RE OUT OF SAINT LUCIE COUNTY, BUT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR REFERRALS FOR UNHOUSED OR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS SO THEY COULD TRY TO HELPERS ARE HERE TO HELP.

AND I HAVE NOT SPECIFICALLY SPOKEN WITH THIS GENTLEMAN OR THOSE FOLKS MYSELF, BUT THERE'S A GROUP THAT JUST RECENTLY CAME TO TOWN THAT ASKED IF WE WOULD MAKE REFERRALS, AND I SENT ONE PERSONALLY MYSELF. THEY ASKED THAT THE OFFICER REMAIN THERE WITH THE PERSON TO DIRECT THESE FOLKS IN, BUT THAT SOMETIMES IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, TIME EFFICIENT.

[03:25:01]

AND IF THEY OFFER SERVICES OR CAN HELP THEM, WE'RE CERTAINLY HAPPY TO MAKE THAT REFERRAL.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CLARK.

YES. THANKS. SO LIKE ALONG THOSE LINES COMMISSIONER JOB I MEAN, IT'S NICE TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A REDRESS OR TO APPEAL OR WHATEVER, BUT, YOU KNOW, IF SOMEBODY'S HOMELESS WHAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT AS A CITY OR AS A COMMUNITY. AND I KNOW THAT IT'S NOT JUST THE CITY OF STUART THAT HAS THIS PROBLEM, BUT I THINK WHAT PEOPLE ARE WANTING TO FIND OUT IS THAT IF THE GOVERNOR AND EVERYBODY IS SAYING THAT YOU CAN'T BE ON THE SIDEWALKS, YOU CAN'T BE IN THE PARK, YOU CAN'T BE IN THE WOODS.

WHAT ARE WE DOING AND HOW CAN WE HELP PEOPLE? AND I THINK THAT THAT QUESTION HAS COME UP. PEOPLE HAVE ASKED FOR SUMMITS AND SEMINARS AND DISCUSSIONS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SERVING FOOD, PANCAKES AND OTHER THINGS ON SATURDAY MORNINGS IN THE PARK.

THEY'VE BEEN PROVIDING FOOD TO PEOPLE. THEY'RE WORRIED THAT, YOU KNOW, HOW DO THEY HELP? BECAUSE GENUINELY, PEOPLE NEED HELP. THE STATUTE ALSO INCLUDES SOME LANGUAGE, AND I KNOW THE COUNTY HAS BEEN LOOKING INTO IT.

THAT REQUIRES THE COUNTIES TO PROVIDE SOME FORM OF SHELTER OR SOME LOCATION IDENTIFIED, BUT THERE BUT THE STATE PUT IT ON A COUNTY LEVEL, BUT IT'S NOT A REQUIREMENT MADE THE RULING.

THE STATE SHOULD HELP PROVIDE SOME. I THINK AT ONE POINT SHERIFF SNYDER, WHEN HE WAS THE SHERIFF, HAD SAID THAT HE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING WITH SOME OF THE BUILDINGS THAT THEY USED TO HAVE FOR THE YOUTH OUT THERE TO SAVE THOSE FOR THOSE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

BUT IT WAS I HEARD THAT THE GENERAL IDEA WAS THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T WANT TO COME OUT OF THE WOODS AND LIVE IN A CONCRETE BUILDING AND HAVE A REGULAR BATH.

THEY WANTED TO STAY IN THE WOODS. THAT'S WHAT I HEARD.

AND I WILL SAY, MISS JOB, AS YOU SAID, THAT THE STATE CERTAINLY HAS IMPOSED THIS.

AND FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, I AGREE WE DO HAVE A PROBLEM.

MOST COMMUNITIES HAVE A PROBLEM WITH UNHOUSED FOLKS THAT ARE LIVING, WHETHER THEY'RE IN A DOORWAY OR THE WOODS.

I HAVE BEEN TOLD PERSONALLY, SOME PEOPLE JUST WANT TO BE LEFT ALONE AND LIVE WHERE THEY WANT TO LIVE. BUT WE KNOW THERE'S ALCOHOL ABUSE, SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES THAT GO ON MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. WE DO WANT OUR OFFICERS TO ENGAGE MORE WITH MAKING REFERRALS WHEN THEY CAN, WHETHER IT'S TO NEW HORIZONS OF THE TREASURE COAST OR ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, MENTAL HEALTH ORGANIZATION THAT COULD HELP, OR HOMELESS ORGANIZATIONS THAT MAY HELP SOME FOLKS OR TRY TO AT LEAST OFFER THEM HELP ALONG THE WAY.

WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY IN IT FOR ARREST FIRST AND THEN GET THEM HELP.

IT'S JUST SOMETIMES WE DON'T HAVE A RECOURSE.

THE REASON FOR OUR ACTIONS. LET'S PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE.

WE'VE HAD THIS LANGUAGE IN OUR CODE SINCE 1981 AND THEN UPDATED IN 1995.

SO IT'S BEEN THERE FOR 30 YEARS AND WE HAVE NEVER HAD ANY REAL PROBLEMS WITH IT.

THE LAW THAT BECAME EFFECTIVE ON JANUARY 1ST WAS FLORIDA STATUTE 125.0231, AND IT ALLOWS ANY CITIZEN OR BUSINESS TO SUE THE CITY OF STEWART FOR FAILING TO ENFORCE THE BAN.

AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY THEM A CIVIL PENALTY PLUS ATTORNEY'S FEES IF WE CAN'T DEMONSTRATE THAT WE WERE TAKING THESE ACTIONS AND FURTHER OVENS IN FURTHERANCE OF IT, SO WE CAN'T.

ONCE AGAIN, THE STATE FORCED OUR HANDS. ALL RIGHT.

AGAIN, I FEEL TALLAHASSEE PASSED THE LAW. THEY SHOULD AT LEAST THEN PROVIDE FUNDS TO PLACES LIKE TENT CITY, OR PROVIDE GOOD LUCK ON THAT UNFUNDED MANDATE.

THEY SHOULD. I DIDN'T SAY THEY WOULD. RIGHT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. AND SO FOR CLARIFICATION, THE NATURE OF THIS IS JUST THE APPEAL IS JUST ADDING LANGUAGE AROUND THE ABILITY FOR SOMEBODY WHO RECEIVES THAT WARNING TO MAKE AN APPEAL. THAT'S THAT'S THE ONLY CHANGE.

EVERYTHING ELSE IS ALREADY IN THE PLAY, RIGHT? EVERYTHING ELSE. THE BURDEN IS ALREADY CREATED BY THE LAW.

THIS IS JUST. IT'S ACTUALLY GIVING THEM AN APPEAL.

FINALLY. YEAH. WHICH HOW EASY IS THAT TO ACCOMPLISH? WELL, THE THAT MEANS THAT THREE WEEKS LATER, AFTER THEY'VE BEEN KICKED OUT OF THE PARK AT 3:00 OR WHATEVER, THEY'LL COME IN AND THE MAGISTRATE WILL SAY, YEP, YOU WERE RIGHT. YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED. WHAT DO YOU WIN IF YOU WIN THAT APPEAL? WE HAVE A PROBLEM. WE DON'T ADDRESS IT. EVERY DECISION, ALL THE DECISIONS WE MAKE UP HERE ARE MAKING HOUSING MORE EXPENSIVE.

SO WE CAN PRETEND THAT WE CARE. BUT WE'RE DOING NOTHING SO.

WELL, IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE DOING NOTHING. WE'RE WE.

WE ALL HAVE TO FOLLOW THE LAW. AND IT HAPPENS TO BE THE FOLLOW THE LAW.

IN THIS CASE, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE LAW. WE DON'T HAVE THAT CHOICE. WE SWORE AN OATH RIGHT QUICK.

OKAY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? IF NOT, ROLL CALL PLEASE.

WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT. OH I'M SORRY, WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.

YES WE HAVE. WE NEED A CITY HAS WAITED PATIENTLY.

[03:30:04]

YEAH. YES. OH, I THOUGHT WE HAD THAT ALREADY. DID WE? NO, WE DO NOT. NO, WE DO NOT.

ALL RIGHT. OH, THREE SECOND READING. WE NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND.

WE HAVE TO VOTE ON THIS, COMMISSIONER CLARK. THIS TIME I MAKE A MOTION FOR ORDINANCE 254220 2025.

FOR THE I PUT MY GLASSES AWAY. I'M SORRY. THAT'S ALRIGHT.

WE GOT IT. I THINK THAT'S ENOUGH. 25422025. MOTION FOR APPROVED.

OKAY. SORRY, MR. BAGGETT ALREADY READ IT. YES.

I MAKE A MOTION THAT ORDINANCE 25422025 BE APPROVED.

CAN I GET A SECOND? THAT'S FOR ME TO ASK. IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT. AND SECOND. BY COMMISSIONER? YES.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT AFTER THIS. OKAY, SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER JACOBY AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER REED.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENT, MADAM CLERK? WE DO. MISTER GUY CALVERT.

YES, REVEREND. DOCTOR CALVERT. GOOD EVENING, ESTEEMED MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS PASTOR GUY CALVERT. JENSEN BEACH CHRISTIAN CHURCH, HISTORIC JENSEN BEACH CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THE HOMELESS SINCE 2009.

HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COUNTY IS A COMPREHENSIVE PROBLEM.

WITH A COMPREHENSIVE PROBLEM, YOU NEED A COMPREHENSIVE ANSWER.

AND SO HOW WE'VE GONE DOWN THIS SITUATION IS IF WE HAVE ADDRESSED IT, INSTEAD OF TAKING A SLEDGEHAMMER TO THIS PROBLEM, WE TOOK A SCALPEL TO IT. WHEN WE DID A CENSUS PRE-COVID 2019, I WORKED WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND MARTIN COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

WE HAD 58 HOMELESS PEOPLE IN JENSEN BEACH, FLORIDA.

WE NOW HAVE FIVE. SO WHAT WE ARE DOING WORKS.

AND WHAT I MEAN BY COMPREHENSIVE PROBLEM WHEN WE WANT TO W A WHEN TO US IS WHEN WE CAN REUNITE THEM WITH THEIR FAMILY.

BUT YOU'RE LOOKING AT SOMETHING. WHEN WE LOOK AT HOMELESS, THE STIGMATISM IS THAT IT'S EITHER DRUG INDUCED OR ALCOHOL OR IT'S A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE.

NO, THIS IS NO LONGER THE TRUTH. THIS IS NOW AN ECONOMIC ISSUE.

I HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR FOOD PANTRY LINE. WE FED OVER A MILLION PEOPLE.

I HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR FOOD PANTRY LINE THAT JUST COULDN'T AFFORD THE RENT.

SO YOU'RE TELLING ME AND I'VE SEEN IT. I'VE SEEN IT WHERE THAT THAT THE THE MOTHER AND THE KIDS CAN GO STAY WITH THE PARENTS.

BUT THE FATHER'S ON THE STREET UNTIL HE CAN ACCRUE ENOUGH MONEY.

SO WE'RE GOING TO MAKE HIM A CRIMINAL FOR A GUY WHO LOST HIS JOB, LOST HIS HOUSE, LOST HIS FAMILY.

ARE WE GOING TO MAKE THAT GUY A CRIMINAL? WHILE HE TAKES TIME TO TRY TO ACCRUE MONEY TO GET ANOTHER PLACE TO STAY? BECAUSE THAT DOESN'T WORK. YOU CAN'T GO AFTER A WHOLE COMMUNITY WITH ONE ANSWER.

YOU HAVE TO TAKE THEM OUT ONE AT A TIME, LIKE MY WIFE AND I AND A FEW NICE VOLUNTEERS AND DOCTORS DO.

OUR WIN IS TO UNITE THEM WITH THE FAMILY. OR GET THEM HOUSING, OR GET THEM WORK, OR GET THEM HEALTH CARE, OR GET THEM MENTAL HEALTH CARE. SO I THINK I THINK I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER JACOBY.

THE STATE HANDED YOU SOMETHING THAT THEY DIDN'T EVEN ACT ON.

THEY'RE GIVING YOU A PROBLEM, AND WE'RE NOT GIVING YOU AN ANSWER. I COULDN'T BELIEVE I HEARD THAT TONIGHT.

MY SUGGESTION IS TO START THAT COMMITTEE. ASK PEOPLE WHO KNOW WE CALL THEM PEOPLE IN THE TRENCHES.

PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE TRENCHES. LIKE I SAID, WE'VE TAKEN OUR HOMELESS POPULATION IN JENSEN BEACH DOWN 95%.

WHEN I STARTED THERE, WE HAD WHAT WE CALL AGGRESSIVE PANHANDLING.

AGGRESSIVE PANHANDLING IS WHEN THOSE HOMELESS PERSON WILL GO TO AN ELDERLY AT AN ATM AND STARTED ASKING FOR MONEY.

WE NO LONGER HAVE THAT. OKAY, THAT'S NOT HAPPENING.

WHEN YOU GO INTO JENSEN BEACH, FLORIDA, YOU DO NOT SEE ANYBODY ON ANY CORNER WITH A SIGN ASKING FOR MONEY UNTIL YOU HIT STUART.

THEY DO IT IN STUART. WHEN YOU HIT STUART YOU'LL SEE THAT.

SO UNTIL WE LOOK AT THE PROBLEM FOR WHAT IT IS THAT IT'S A COMPREHENSIVE PROBLEM, IT NEEDS A COMPREHENSIVE ANSWER.

WE WON'T GET ANYWHERE. ONE THAT LIKE SAN FRANCISCO, WHICH IS A TRAGEDY BECAUSE IT USED TO BE ONE OF MY FAVORITE CITIES.

THAT'S A TRAGEDY. IF WE STILL IF WE GO THE COURSE THAT WE'VE BEEN GOING, IT WON'T WORK.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. ALL THE BELL.

YEAH. SORRY. THANK YOU. PASTOR, COULD YOU JUST. PASTOR. COULD YOU JUST.

GUY. PASTOR. GUY, COULD YOU JUST EITHER GIVE ME YOUR CARD OR JUST WAIT A FEW MOMENTS? WE'LL. ALMOST FINISHED. THANK YOU. OATS, RICE.

GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.

[03:35:03]

I'M ALSO ON THE BOARD OF TEN CITY HELPERS, A LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS THE HOMELESS PEOPLE, SPECIFICALLY IN MARTIN COUNTY. AND MOST OF OUR CLIENTS ARE IN CITY OF STUART.

LAST YEAR WE SAW ABOUT 400 HOMELESS PEOPLE THAT WE SERVED.

SO DESPITE THE TIMING IN THE COUNT, IN TIME THAT THEY MAKE EVERY YEAR, WE SEE A LOT MORE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE IN A HOMELESS SITUATION. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS ORDINANCE AND THE STATE MANDATED LAW IS THAT IT'S CRIMINALIZING BEING UNHOUSED. IT'S A CRIME TO SLEEP IN PRIVATE PROPERTY.

THAT WAS ALWAYS THE CASE. IT'S A CRIME TO SLEEP NOW IN PUBLIC PROPERTY.

AND THERE ARE NO SHELTERS IN MARTIN COUNTY. SO THERE'S BASICALLY NO PLACE FOR A PERSON TO SPEND THE NIGHT UNHOUSED NOW WITHOUT BECOMING CRIMINALIZED.

ROUNDING PEOPLE UP AND INCARCERATING THEM IS NOT A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.

IN FACT, IT MAKES IT WORSE FOR THE HOMELESS POPULATION.

A PERSON THAT SPENDS 3 OR 5 DAYS IN JAIL FOR TRESPASSING IS RETURNED BACK FROM JAIL INTO THE STREETS WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD, MAKE IT HARDER TO GET A JOB AND RENT A PLACE.

THEY WILL HAVE LOST ALL THEIR BELONGINGS DURING THEIR STAY, AND WITH THE LEGAL BILL FOR JAIL TIME AND $375 IN COURT CASES, MONEY THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO BEGIN WITH AND THAT THEY WON'T HAVE WHEN THEY GET OUT OF JAIL, IT'S ONLY PERPETUATES THE HOMELESS PROBLEM AND MAKES THE GOAL OF OBTAINING HOUSING EVEN MORE DISTANCE.

LIKE I SAID, THERE WAS MISCONCEPTION ABOUT THE UNHOUSED THAT THEY'RE LAZY, THEY'RE DRUNK, THEY'RE DRUG ADDICTS. WHAT WE'RE SEEING OUT THERE IN THE FIELD IS A GREAT INCREASE IN NUMBER OF HOMELESS PEOPLE.

A LOT OF THEM ARE SENIOR PEOPLE, SENIOR WOMEN AND FAMILIES.

THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN COSTED OUT OF RENTAL PLACES, DON'T HAVE FAMILY SUPPORT WHERE THEY CAN STAY.

SOME OF THEM HAVE LARGE MEDICAL BILLS AND ON TOP OF THAT, A LOT OF THEM HAVE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL DISABILITIES THAT ARE NOT ADDRESSED.

SOME OF THEM COME FROM A SPOUSAL ABUSE SITUATION WITH NO PLACE TO GO.

ARE ABUSED. WOMEN'S SHELTERS ARE VERY SMALL. WE'VE TRIED NOW FOR SEVERAL YEARS TO GET PEOPLE INTO THEM.

THEY'RE ALWAYS FULL. IN MARIN COUNTY, AND MANY OF THEM SUFFER FROM CHILDHOOD TRAUMA THAT PERSISTS THROUGH THEIR ADULT LIFE.

SO WE'RE BASICALLY MAKING CRIMINALS OUT OF THE VICTIMS BY TRESPASSING THEM AND INCARCERATING THEM FOR BEING UNHOUSED.

HOUSE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR LEADERSHIP IN ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE WITH AN APPROACH THAT EMPHASIZES IMPLEMENTING A HOUSING FIRST MODEL, NOT A JAIL FIRST MODEL, FOLLOWED BY ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION AND EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT SERVICES.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING. RENT ASSISTANCE FOR LONG TERM HOUSING.

JUST ONE MORE THING ABOUT THE APPEAL PROCESS.

THE APPLICATION PROCESS, WHICH REQUIRES AN ADDRESS, AN EMAIL AND A PHONE NUMBER IN ORDER TO APPLY.

I WILL NOT WORK WITH OUR HOMELESS POPULATION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GAIL. HI, I'M GAIL HARVEY.

I WAS RAISED IN MARTIN COUNTY, WENT TO JENSEN BEACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WENT TO MARTIN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.

MY FATHER WAS ONE OF THE FIRST SURGEONS IN MARTIN COUNTY AND HAD HIS WHOLE PRACTICE HERE IN MARTIN COUNTY.

I AM A SPECIAL ED TEACHER, AND WHAT REALLY HURTS MY HEART IS I HAVE STUDENTS OUT THERE WHO HAVE DISABILITIES WHO ARE HOMELESS, AND I HAVE STUDENTS NOW THAT ARE INCARCERATED FROM ADVANCING FROM HOMELESSNESS TO TRESPASSING TO BEING INCARCERATED. IN SCHOOL, WE TOOK CARE OF OUR HANDICAPPED PEOPLE HERE.

WE'RE NOT TAKING CARE OF OUR HANDICAPPED PEOPLE.

AND IT BREAKS MY HEART TO KNOW I LOVE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE SPECTRUM, BUT THEY CAN'T MAKE IT OUT THERE ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT SUPPORT, AND THEY'RE CONSTANTLY BEING VICTIMIZED. I HAVE SOMEONE IN JENSEN BEACH, MY FRIEND, MY BOYFRIEND.

HE'S CONSTANTLY TELLING ME OF PEOPLE STEALING THINGS.

HE'S BEEN TOLD NOT TO GO TRESPASS. WARNING HE WAS INCARCERATED.

HE WOULD NOT HURT A FLEA. HE HAS THESE BILLS HE HAS TO PAY BEFORE HE GETS HIS LICENSE BACK.

HE HAS NOT BEEN ALLOWED TO GO TO TACO BELL, TO MCDONALDS, TO BARNES AND NOBLES, TO THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

[03:40:02]

AND IT'S ALL BECAUSE EVIDENTLY HE STATES THAT HE'S BEEN FOLLOWED AND AND PEOPLE ARE PROMOTING HIM TO NOT BE ALLOWED TO GO TO THESE ESTABLISHMENTS. AND THIS IS JUST MORE OF THE SAME.

I HAD A WOMAN JUST LAST WEEK WHO WAS BEATEN BY A GUY IN THE WOODS.

SHE'S LIVING IN THE WOODS BY HERSELF. SHE CALLS THE POLICE AND THEN SHE THEN IS TRESPASSED.

SO SHE CAN'T EVEN TRUST WHEN SHE'S GETTING VICTIMIZED TO CALL THE PEOPLE NORMALLY WOULD CALL TO HELP IN THE SITUATION.

AND WITH THE HOUSE BILL 1365, THE COMMUNITY IS SUPPOSED TO BE DOING SOMETHING TO HELP THESE PEOPLE.

WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A SHELTER. WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A CAMPING AREA.

I HAVE WOMEN CONSTANTLY ASK ME, WHERE DO I PARK? WHERE DO I PARK? AND I HATE TO TELL THEM ANYWHERE, BECAUSE ANYWHERE THEY PARK IS, THEY CAN BE SUBJECTED TO SOMEONE KNOCKING ON THEIR DOOR AT 2 A.M. OR SOMETHING. SOMEONE WANTING TO KNOW WHERE THEIR ID IS.

WHAT IS THE STORY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? AND IT'S MORE OF PEOPLE BEING HARASSED TO WHERE THEY CAN'T EVEN GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP.

AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT IF I DON'T HAVE A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP FOR A COUPLE NIGHTS IN A ROW, IT MAKES ME CRAZY. AND THESE PEOPLE ARE SURVIVING ON VERY LITTLE SLEEP, OFTEN VERY HUNGRY AND LOOKING FOR A WAY TO MAKE A LIFE.

AND WE'RE NOT GIVING IT TO THEM. WE'RE BEATING THEM OVER THE HEAD. MY HUSBAND HAS CALLED IT THE WHACK A MOLE.

YOU KNOW, THEY POKE THEIR HEAD OUT AND THEY GET WHACKED ON TOP OF THE HEAD, AND THEN THEY GO HIDE SOMEWHERE.

BUT THEY ARE HERE AND THEY'RE OUT THERE IN THE WOODS AND THEY REALLY NEED HELP.

AND JUST TO CRIMINALIZE THE FACT THAT THEY ARE UNHOUSED INFURIATES ME BECAUSE THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN RAISED HERE. I HAD THEM AT JENSEN BEACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, I KNOW THEM. AND IT JUST BREAKS MY HEART. AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN BE A CARING, COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY, AS I'VE ALWAYS KNOWN STUART TO BE, AND DO SOMETHING SO WE CAN HELP THESE PEOPLE AND HAVE A PLACE THAT THE POLICE OFFICER CAN TAKE THEM SO THAT THE POLICE OFFICER TAKES THEM TO A SHELTER, TAKES THEM TO MARTIN COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS, TAKES THEM TO A PLACE WHERE OTHER RESOURCES ARE SO THAT THEY CAN GET HELP AND NOT TO JAIL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ALTHEA. WILEY.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME I WROTE DOWN WHAT I WANTED TO SAY.

AND I REMEMBER WHEN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOUR ADDRESS.

ALTHEA WILEY STEWART. WHEN TENT CITY HELPERS STARTED I WAS READING THE SITUATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

AND MY HEART REALLY GOES OUT BECAUSE I REMEMBER THEM STARTING AND I REMEMBER TONI SOLOMON AND HIS WIFE AND I WAS WORKING AT THE CHURCH FEEDING, COOKING DINNER. AND HE CAME TO ME AND HE ASKED ME, WHAT CAN I DO? SO SOME OF THE MEALS, THEIR FIRST MEALS WERE PREPARED BY MYSELF, AND THE CHURCH ALLOWED ME TO DO THAT.

SO MY QUESTION IS, WHERE DO THE HOMELESS RESIDENTS GO? WHAT IS THE PLAN? I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT SOMETHING WHILE WE'RE SITTING THERE.

AND WE'RE IN COMFORT. WE LOOK GOOD, SMELL GOOD.

WE'RE RELAXED. WE'RE ALL LAID BACK. I WANT YOU TO REALIZE AND UNDERSTAND.

YOU COULD. YOU YOURSELF COULD BE ONLY ONE SITUATION AWAY FROM BEING HOMELESS, REGARDLESS OF YOUR STATUS RIGHT NOW, REGARDLESS OF YOUR BANK ACCOUNT.

YOU COULD BE ONE SITUATION AWAY FROM BEING HOMELESS.

DUE TO HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, SOMETHING COULD HIT YOU SO HARD THAT YOU LOSE YOUR MIND, AND YOU MAY NOT KNOW WHERE YOU ARE AND HOW TO DO WHAT TO DO. DEPRESSION.

WRONG CHOICES OR EVEN KARMA BECAUSE OF THE SEEDS.

THE SEEDS YOU'VE PLANTED THROUGH YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER.

WHEN MAKING DECISIONS. I KNOW IT'S COMING FROM THE TOP, BUT WHEN MAKING DECISIONS IN THIS COMMUNITY, AS LEADERS AND GATEKEEPERS OF THIS COMMUNITY, I WOULD ASK YOU TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A PLAN TO HELP AS THOUGH IT WAS YOU OR YOUR FAMILY. THINK ABOUT IT AS THOUGH IT WAS YOU OR YOUR FAMILY IN THIS SITUATION OF HOMELESSNESS.

[03:45:10]

YOU COME OUT TO PETITION, YOU COME OUT TO CAMPAIGN.

WHY DON'T YOU TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO COME OUT TO THE PARK BEHIND WALMART WHERE THEY ARE, SIT DOWN WITH THEM AND UNDERSTAND. DON'T JUST LOOK AT THEM AS THOUGH, BECAUSE MY THOUGHT WHEN I GOT HERE, I THOUGHT THE PLACE WOULD BE PACKED.

AND THEN I HAD THE MINDSET OF HOW MANY I CAN GO AND BRING IN HERE AND LET THEM SIT IN HERE WITH YOU ALL AT WHEN YOU'RE COMFORTABLE NOW.

MAYBE PROVIDE SOME LUNCH FOR THEM. SOME DINNER, SOME BREAKFAST, SOME COFFEE.

SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH.

YEAH. THERE IS SOME THAT MAY WANT TO STAY THERE.

NO DOUBT. BUT THERE ARE SOME THAT THAT ARE THERE BECAUSE OF SITUATION.

AND I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER. YOUR ONE SITUATION AWAY FROM BEING HOMELESS. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU MA'AM. MISS WILEY.

THANK YOU ALTHEA. THANK YOU, MAYOR RICH. I HAVE NO MORE PUBLIC COMMENT.

OKAY. ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION? SO I KNOW THAT MR. MARTELL AND MR. BAGGETT HAVE ALREADY TOLD US THAT THIS IS JUST TO CREATE THE APPEAL PROCESS ON LANGUAGE THAT HAS BEEN IN THE BOOKS FOREVER, BUT IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THIS ALONE HAS BROUGHT UP THIS I THIS AGAIN TO OUR CITY AND THE NEED IN OUR CITY.

I KNOW THAT I'VE RECEIVED EMAILS FROM MR. CHRIS ENGLUND, WHO GOES TO SAINT MARY'S AND WHO HAS BEEN PROVIDING FOOD AND BRUNA POND AREA AND AND OTHER PLACES AND IF I'D LIKE TO SET SOME TIME JUST TO EITHER HAVE PEOPLE COME IN AND TELL US WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE, WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY, AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY WAY AT ALL THAT WE CAN PROVIDE SOME TYPE OF HELP. I KNOW THAT FAMILY PROMISE AND SOME OF THE OTHER CHURCHES, THE METHODIST CHURCH AND SAINT MARY'S, I THINK THEY ALLOW PEOPLE TO TO SLEEP OVERNIGHT.

THEY HAVE ARRANGEMENTS THAT THEY'VE MADE WITH ON SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES WHERE PEOPLE CAN SLEEP OVERNIGHT AND THEY HAVE FAMILIES THAT THEY ROTATE IN THESE AREAS. I KNOW THAT WE DON'T HAVE A SOCIAL SERVICE OMBUDSMAN AT THE CITY, BUT IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO WORK WITH THESE AGENCIES, I'VE WORKED WITH GERALDINE BREWER AND OTHER PEOPLE HAVE GONE OUT IN THE WOODS.

I'VE BEEN OUT THERE. I HAVEN'T DONE IT IN A FEW YEARS.

PROBABLY BECAUSE OF COVID AND OTHER THINGS. I'VE BEEN OUT THERE IN THE WOODS AND NOW THE WOODS HAVE BEEN CLEARED UP.

A LOT OF THE WOODS HAVE BEEN CLEARED UP. AND THE THE THERE'S NO SPACE THERE FOR PEOPLE TO, QUOTE UNQUOTE, FIND SHELTER ANYMORE. AND IT'S IT IS A TOUGH SITUATION.

AND IT'S NOT JUST STUART, IT'S MARTIN COUNTY.

AND BUT WE DO SEE IT IN OUR CITY WHERE PEOPLE ARE ON OUR CORNERS AND AT US ONE AND KENNER HIGHWAY.

THERE'S ALWAYS PEOPLE THERE WITH SIGNS AND THE GENTLEMAN WHO CAME HERE WITH THE FURNITURE SIGN.

APPARENTLY. I DIDN'T REALIZE I SAW MORE OF THEM THE OTHER DAY, AND I UNDERSTAND NOW THAT MAYBE THEY WERE THERE WITH THOSE SIGNS ON THAT CORNER.

BUT I DON'T KNOW, MR. MAYOR, IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED.

THIS IS NOT THE POINT OF THE MOTION TONIGHT, BUT AT LEAST IF THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN LOOK AT SOME TYPE OF A SOCIAL SERVICE MEETING OR TO GET BACK AGAIN WITH FAMILY PROMISE AND WITH THE THE HOUSING COALITION FOLKS, AND FIND OUT WHAT THE STATUS IS OF TRYING TO FIND SOME ALTERNATIVE HOUSING.

AND HERE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE ARE GROUPS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THAT, BUT I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE THE RESULT HAS BEEN SO FAR.

I DON'T KNOW IF IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO JUST TO CLARIFY THE STATUTE.

THE STATUTE WAS THE FINES, THE OBLIGATION ON THE COUNTY? CORRECT? CORRECT. YEAH. FLORIDA STATUTE 125 .0231, WHICH MR. MARTELL BROUGHT UP EARLIER. IN SUBSECTION THREE.

IT SAYS A COUNTY MAY BY MAJORITY VOTE OF THE COUNTY'S GOVERNING BODY, DESIGNATE PROPERTY OWNED BY THE COUNTY OR A MUNICIPALITY WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE COUNTY TO BE USED FOR A CONTINUOUS PERIOD OF NO LONGER THAN ONE YEAR FOR THE PURPOSE, PURPOSES OF PUBLIC CAMPING OR SLEEPING.

[03:50:01]

BUT I THINK THERE'S AN INSTANCE. AND THEN IF YOU DO. MR. CLARK, JUST.

I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT, BUT THAT WE NEED TO BE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY.

THIS IS ANOTHER INSTANCE WHERE WE NEED TO BE PARTNERS WITH THE COUNTY TO HELP SOLVE THIS.

TO HELP BECAUSE THE STATUTE DOES REQUIRE US TO PROVIDE.

NO, NO, NO, IT DOES NOT PROVIDE US TO. AND IN FACT, IT MANDATES THAT WE CAN'T ALLOW THEM.

WE WE CAN PROVIDE IF WE SO CHOOSE, BUT WE CANNOT ALLOW THEM TO SLEEP IN THE PUBLIC OR CAMP IN PUBLIC SPACES.

BUT THIS ISSUE CAME UP SEVERAL YEARS AGO, BEFORE THIS STATUTE PASSED, AND I WENT OUT ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS INTO WHAT WE DESIGNATED AS KNOWN HOMELESS AREAS.

IN FACT, ONE, WE ACTUALLY HAD A MURDER IN ONE YEAR.

AND WHEN WE WENT OUT, THE SOLE GOAL WAS TO TRY AND IDENTIFY WHO WE WERE HELPING.

AND SO IF THE CITY I MEAN, OUR OUR BUDGET IS WE GET $17 MILLION IN AD VALOREM TAXES AND THE COUNTY GETS ABOUT $330 MILLION IN AD VALOREM TAXES, TO PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE. AND WHEN WE WENT OUT ON ALL THREE OCCASIONS, WE WERE UNABLE TO FIND A SINGLE PERSON IN ANY OF THOSE CAMPS. THAT WAS FROM STUART. NOW, THAT'S NOT TO SAY THEY'RE NOT IN STUART NOW, BECAUSE THE VACANT LAND WAS IN STUART, BUT THE VACANT LAND IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE THERE.

WE'VE DEDICATED PALPATINE CREEK AND HANEY CREEK AND OTHER AREAS AS CONSERVATION.

AND AS A RESULT, BECAUSE THEY'RE VACANT, PEOPLE CAMP IN THEM.

BUT IF YOU GO AND ENGAGE WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING IN THE TENTS OR IN THOSE LOCATIONS WE WERE UNABLE TO FIND, AND THE THREE TIMES I WENT, I KNOW IT WASN'T SCIENTIFIC, BUT MOST OF THE PEOPLE WERE FROM UP NORTH, YOU NAME IT. EVERY STATE WAS COVERED. A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM PALM BEACH COUNTY, AND IT WAS VERY DIFFERENT.

THAT MAKES IT IT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE. IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BUILDING A HOMELESS CENTER AND SPENDING $10 MILLION WITH TAXPAYER MONEY TO HOUSE PEOPLE THAT AREN'T FROM STUART. WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO BUILD HOUSING FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE FROM STUART BEFORE WE START BUILDING HOUSING FOR PEOPLE THAT AREN'T.

THE STATUTE CONTINUES. IF YOU WANT ME TO. YES, PLEASE.

I'M SORRY. SO IF THE COUNTY DESIGNATES A LAND TO BE USED FOR THIS PURPOSE FOR NO LONGER THAN ONE YEAR FOR PUBLIC CAMPING OR SLEEPING, THE COUNTY DESIGNATION IS NOT EFFECTIVE UNTIL THE DEPARTMENT CERTIFIES THE DESIGNATION TO OBTAIN DEPARTMENT CERTIFICATION, THE COUNTY SHALL SUBMIT A REQUEST TO THE SECRETARY OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE CERTIFICATION OF AND DOCUMENTATION PROVING THE FOLLOWING.

NUMBER ONE, THERE ARE NOT SUFFICIENT OPEN BEDS IN HOMELESS SHELTERS IN THE COUNTY FOR THE HOMELESS POPULATION OF THE COUNTY TO THE DESIGNATED PROPERTY IS NOT CONTIGUOUS TO PROPERTY DESIGNATED FOR RESIDENTIAL USE BY THE COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND FUTURE LAND USE MAP. THREE. THE DESIGNATED PROPERTY WOULD NOT ADVERSELY AND MATERIALLY AFFECT THE PROPERTY VALUE OR SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OTHER EXISTING RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY IN THE COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY, AND WOULD NOT NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN, AND IN FOUR THE COUNTY HAS DEVELOPED A PLAN TO SATISFY REQUIREMENTS OF OF PARAGRAPH B.

THIS IS THE STATE STATUTE. YEAH. THIS IS THE STATE STATUTE.

I'M THERE'S A LOT MORE TO IT. AND IT REQUIRES THE COUNTY TO SUBMIT THE DESIGNATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

THANK YOU. CAN I HAVE A QUESTION, COMMISSIONER? JOBS, NEXT. ACTUALLY, I HAVE TO BE HONEST. I MEAN, THESE ARE TWO SEPARATE ISSUES.

ACTUALLY, WE'RE HERE TO UNFORTUNATELY PASS THIS AMENDMENT BECAUSE IT'S REQUIRED OR WE WILL BE SUED.

BASICALLY. THAT'S IT, RIGHT? THERE'S CASE LAW INDICATING THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO TRESPASS WARNING, WE HAVE TO HAVE AN APPEAL PROCESS SO THAT THAT IS JUST THE RECOMMENDATION, RIGHT? THAT IS JUST THE FUNCTION OF WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO. BUT WHAT EVERYONE'S TALKING ABOUT IS A SEPARATE ISSUE.

THIS IS AN ISSUE OF HOMELESS PEOPLE WHO NEED SOME ASSISTANCE.

NOW, MAYBE WHAT WE SHOULD DO IS INVITE STATE REPRESENTATIVES TO COME DOWN AND GO VISIT THE HOMELESS SHELTER THE HOMELESS WHERE THEY ARE, AND MAYBE THEY COULD SEE THAT. MAYBE THERE'S A WAY YOU PASS A LAW UP IN TALLAHASSEE.

YOU HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP. THEN WHATEVER THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THAT LAW ARE, AND THERE ARE RAMIFICATIONS RIGHT HERE IN STUART AND EVERY OTHER CITY.

[03:55:04]

WE'RE ABIDING BY IT. BUT WE HAVE TO ALSO ADDRESS THE EFFECTS OF YOUR LAW.

AND THAT IS WHAT AFFECTS ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS.

THANK YOU. MR. CLARK. YES. THANK YOU, MR.. MR. MAYOR. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR MISS HARVEY AND HER HUSBAND.

OR HER HUSBAND, IF YOU COULD ASK. SO I'M GOING TO GO LONG, BUT I HOPE THAT I CAN GET MY QUESTION OUT.

SO THERE'S LEHIGH THAT PROVIDES SERVICES, BUT THEY DON'T DO OVERNIGHT.

THEY PROVIDE SUPPLIES AND A SHOWER AND OTHER THINGS AND SOME FOOD.

THEY DON'T DO ANY OVERNIGHT SLEEPING. YEAH, YEAH.

AND THEN SO MY THING IS TO ASK YOU GUYS, LET'S SAY THAT WE HAD A PROGRAM, LET'S SAY THAT STUART POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS THEIR FUNDS. AND THEY JUST LIKE HOW THE THE SHERIFF GIVES MONEY FOR ONE NIGHT IN THE HOTEL OR SOME TIME AND THE THAT SUBURBAN LODGE OR SOME OTHER PLACES, LET'S SAY THAT WE HAD A FUND AND MONEY WAS GIVEN TO SOMEBODY AND THEY WENT TO SOMEPLACE LIKE PHIPPS PARK, WHERE THEY CAN STAY UP TO 30 DAYS IF THEY HAD A TENT OR EVEN MONEY WAS GIVEN TO SOMEBODY TO ACTUALLY GET A TENT.

SOME PEOPLE ARE RIDING AROUND WITH A CART AND NOTHING, NO, NO COVER OR ANYTHING.

SO AND I KNOW THAT WE DON'T WANT TO ENCOURAGE HAVING EVEN THOUGH YOU SAID TENT CITY HELPERS, WE DON'T WANT TO ENCOURAGE HAVING, YOU KNOW, A BIG BLIGHT IN OUR COMMUNITY, SO TO SPEAK.

BUT WOULD IT BE HELPFUL? PASTOR GUY SAID TAKE A SCALPEL TO IT.

WOULD IT BE HELPFUL IF PEOPLE OR THE THE PERSONS THAT PROVIDED, LET'S SAY, LIKE PHIPPS PARK, IF THEY WERE PAID X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS FOR SOMEBODY TO STAY OVERNIGHT, AND THAT WOULD AT LEAST KEEP THAT PERSON SAFE OFF THE STREET FOR A WEEK OR 3 OR 4 DAYS OR WHATEVER. WHAT IS IT THAT'S. AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT A SEMINAR ON HOW TO HELP TO HELP HOMELESS, BUT JUST GIVE ME ONE EXAMPLE OF ONE LITTLE THING.

SO THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS WE'VE WE'VE ALWAYS ADVOCATED THAT THERE SHOULD BE AN AREA WHERE PEOPLE CAN CAMP LEGALLY.

THAT'S ALL THEY NEED. YEAH. OKAY. THAT'S PHIPPS PARK HAS PARKS WHERE YOU CAN CAMP, BUT YOU'RE LIMITED TO A WEEK STAY.

OH, I THOUGHT IT WAS 30 DAYS. SAINT LUCIE COUNTY HAS PARKS.

THE ONE ON SAVANNAH ROAD. SAME THING. YOU'RE LIMITED TO TWO WEEKS THERE AND THREE WEEKS OUT OF THE YEAR.

SO IT'S SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO AVOID PEOPLE CONTINUING THEIR, YOU KNOW, ON SOME KIND OF TERM BASIS.

WE'VE ALSO SEEN NOW PALM BEACH COUNTY STARTING TO BUY OLD HOTELS AND USING THOSE AS SHELTERS.

OKAY. SHELTERS IN CONJUNCTION WITH AGENCIES THAT RUN THOSE CHURCH THAT WOULD RUN THOSE INDIAN RIVER COUNTY HAS APPROVED SEVERAL BUSSES THAT HAVE BASICALLY TEN, 10 OR 15 INDIAN RIVER.

INDIAN RIVER. SLEEPING PLACES IN THE BUSSES. AND THEY CAN PARK AND AND PEOPLE CAN COME AND SPEND THAT NIGHT.

MR. HARVEY, COULD YOU ALSO CONFIRM THAT INDIAN RIVER IS THE ONLY COUNTY THAT HAS A HOMELESS SHELTER? I KNOW THAT DCF USED TO SEND OUR PEOPLE UP THERE.

IN VERO BEACH, THEY HAVE THE SOURCE. YES, YES, WE DID A SEMINAR WITH THE SOURCE ON HOMELESSNESS, AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE SOURCE CAME TO ME AND SAID, MARTIN COUNTY NEEDS TO FIGURE IT OUT BECAUSE YOU'RE BRINGING YOUR MARTIN COUNTY RESIDENT. I USED TO SEND THEM TO THEIR RESOURCE.

YES, I HAVE. AND WE HAVE A STANCE. IT SEEMS LIKE HERE IN MARTIN COUNTY WE DON'T WANT IT HERE.

SO WE'RE GOING TO SEND IT TO SOMEWHERE ELSE. AND IT'S JUST IRRESPONSIBLE ON OUR PART TO NOT PROVIDE SOMETHING HERE BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE LIVE HERE AND I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG AGO YOU WENT BACK IN THE WOODS, BUT I'M BACK IN THE WOODS EVERY MONDAY.

AND THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE. ONCE OUT OF MAYBE 50 OR 60 PEOPLE, WE GET SOMEONE JUST PASSING THROUGH.

FAIR ENOUGH. WHATEVER. BUT THESE ARE NOT ILLEGAL ALIENS.

THEY'RE NOT PEOPLE FROM OTHER STATES. THEY'RE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE.

THAT I WAS THEIR TEACHER. SOME OF THEM. SO, YEAH, IT NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING HERE.

AND THE SOURCE IS IN VERO AND THEY ARE WONDERING WHY MARTIN COUNTY ISN'T DOING ANYTHING.

THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO TAKE THIS UP WITH COMMISSIONER KEMP AND SOME OTHER PEOPLE FROM THE COUNTY, AND I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN FOLLOW UP ON THIS BOTH FROM A CITY PERSPECTIVE AS WELL AS OUR COUNTY.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO.

[04:00:03]

NOW, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THAT. THAT'S NOT THAT'S NOT ACTUALLY BEING ADOPTED TONIGHT.

OKAY. THE ONLY THING THAT WAS BEING ADOPTED TONIGHT WAS THE APPEAL PORTION.

THE REST HAS BEEN IN THE BOOKS SINCE 1995, I THINK.

BUT, I MEAN, YOU'RE WELCOME TO ASK THE QUESTION. WELL, I MEAN, I CAN UNDERSTAND, LIKE A PERSON MAY SLEEP ON MEMORIAL PARK OVERNIGHT OR FLAGLER PARK AND GET TRESPASSED, BUT THEY SHOULD STILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS A BATHROOM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY OR GO TO THE GREEN MARKET IF THEY NEED TO BUY FOOD.

OR IN OUR CASE, AND FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, LET'S PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE.

WE'VE NEVER TRESPASSED ANYONE, AND WE'VE HAD THIS BOOK ON OUR BOOKS FOR KNOW.

WE'VE HAD IT ON OUR BOOKS FOR 30 YEARS. WE ARE FOLLOWING THE STATE LAW BECAUSE WE HAVE TO DOCUMENT IT.

THIS IS GIVING AN APPEAL PROCESS. THIS IS GIVING MORE DUE PROCESS AND MORE RIGHTS TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ENGAGING WITH OUR POLICE OFFICERS.

IT'S STILL MY HOPE THAT OUR POLICE OFFICERS ACT THE EXACT SAME WAY THEY'VE ALWAYS ACTED, WHICH IS VERY PROFESSIONALLY AND JUST EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT THEY CAN'T STAY AND THEY WRITE IT DOWN TO DOCUMENT IT. I AGREE WITH YOU GUYS.

THERE'S NO BENEFIT IN ARRESTING A HOMELESS PERSON AND PUTTING THEM IN JAIL AND MAKING THEM LOSE WHAT LITTLE THEY HAVE LEFT IN THERE BY WAY OF POSSESSIONS, BECAUSE THEY LOSE IT. THAT'S NOT THE INTENTION.

THE INTENTION IS TO GET THE CITY OF STUART TO NOT GET SUED.

THAT'S IT. SO WE'RE NOT PLANNING ON GOING TO WAR WITH ANYBODY HOMELESS OR CHANGE ANY BEHAVIOR THAT'S ALREADY BEEN IN PLACE.

BECAUSE IT'S IT'S SIMPLY NOT THE DESIRE TO DO THAT.

WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE COMPLYING WITH THE STATE LAW SO THAT SOME RANDOM RESIDENT DOESN'T JUST SUE US FOR THE SPORT OF IT.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S A THING. YEAH, THE RESULT OF THAT.

AND AND THE CHIEF HAS ALREADY MENTIONED THAT IS THAT THEY WILL BE ISSUING MORE TRESPASSERS NOTICES TO TO CITY OF STUART STEWART RESIDENCE.

THAT'S PROBABLY TRUE, BUT THEY NEED TO BE DOCUMENTED.

THAT'S THE REASON FOR ISSUING THE THE TRESPASS WE NEED TO DOCUMENT OR WE THE CITY COULD BE SUED.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE FEAR OF NOT BEING ABLE TO GO WHERE YOU'RE USED TO LIVING.

I'M NOT SAYING WE I DON'T. THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

THAT'S A GOOD POINT. YES, I UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM IS NOT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

WILL YOU COME TO THE MISS WILEY? WE HAD A COMMUNITY.

WE HAD A COMMUNITY SUNDAY DINNER. AND I NOTICE OUT IN MARTIN LUTHER KING NOT TO MAKE IT A RACE ISSUE, BUT KIND OF LOOKING AT A SITUATION HERE AT THE MARTIN LUTHER KING PARK, THOSE TABLES THAT WERE DESIGNED TO SIT ON, I MEAN, EAT ON THOSE TABLES WERE BOARDED WHERE YOU COULD NOT LAY ON IT OR WHATEVER ON THEIR YOUR TABLES THAT YOU HAVE IN MARTIN LUTHER KING PARK.

SO A BOARD IS THERE AND RIGHT ACROSS IT. BUT SO.

BUT I NOTICE NOW AT KIWANIS PARK, THERE'S NO BOYS THERE.

WHY IS WHY IS THAT? AT MARTIN LUTHER KING YOU HAVE THE BOYS RESIDENTS DOES NOT HAVE ANY PLACE TO, YOU KNOW, LAY, SIT, WHATEVER. BUT AT KIWANIS PARK, THE TABLES ARE ALL FREE.

THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. WE'LL FOLLOW UP ON THAT. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT UP, MISS WILEY.

WOW. MISS MCBRIDE. OH, SORRY. THANK YOU. ALTHEA.

HELEN MCBRIDE, RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF STEWART FLAMINGO AVENUE.

I'M SITTING HERE. I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. I UNDERSTAND WHY, WHAT THE STATE IS PUTTING ON THE CITY'S FIVE COMMISSIONERS.

AND I APPRECIATE THESE PEOPLE. IF THEY'RE DOING THEIR CHARITY, ALL OF THEM, BECAUSE I DO.

I HAVE AND I CONSIDER THEM A GOOD FRIEND. HE'S HOMELESS AND I, I KNOW THIS WINTER WHEN IT WAS SO COLD, I HAD A NICE. I GOT IT FOR A CHRISTMAS PRESENT.

I HAD WOOL IN IT, YOU KNOW, A BLANKET, AND I WASHED IT AND GAVE IT TO HIM, TRYING TO KEEP HIM WARM IN THAT.

BUT THIS SEEMS TO ME TO BE A COUNTY'S PROBLEM.

THE COUNTY HAS TO BUILD SOMETHING. NOW WE'RE SAYING AFFORDABLE HOMES.

WELL, I WAS LISTENING TO YOUR CITY MANAGER SAYING RENT IS $2,100 FOR A ONE ROOM APARTMENT A MONTH.

THAT'S WHY I'M LIVING IN A BIG HOUSE THAT I'M LIVING IN.

IT'S REALLY WAY TOO BIG FOR ME, BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO SELL THE HOUSE AND GO INTO THAT APARTMENT, BECAUSE I PROBABLY COULD ONLY AFFORD THAT APARTMENT RENT FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS.

AND THEN I HAVE, YOU KNOW, I'M A SENIOR. I'M WITH THE SENIOR GROUP IN THAT WE DON'T HAVE THOSE SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS COMING IN LIKE SOME PEOPLE DO.

BUT THIS WHY DON'T WE ALL GET TOGETHER AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO GO TO THE COUNTY MEETING IF YOU GUYS WANT TO GO ON THAT.

[04:05:01]

IF WE ALL GET TOGETHER AND GET DOWN THERE IN ALL THESE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND CHURCHES TO THE COUNTY, BECAUSE I AGREE WITH THEM, I ALWAYS THINK, YOU KNOW, THE FAIRGROUND, THERE'S PLENTY OF PLACES.

PHIPPS PARK IS TOO FAR AWAY FOR THEM TO RIDE THEIR BICYCLES TO.

I KNOW WE PROBABLY NEED TO WRAP THIS UP AT SOME POINT, BUT IT ALSO SAYS THE DESIGNATED PROPERTY WOULD NOT ADVERSELY OR MATERIALLY AFFECT THE PROPERTY VALUE OF ANY EXISTING RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY IN THE COUNTY.

AND WHAT THEY FOUND IS THAT EVERY SINGLE TIME THEY TRY TO IDENTIFY A SITE, ALL OF THE NOT IN MY BACKYARDS SAY THEY'RE GOING TO VIOLATE THAT STATUTE CRITERIA AND THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET SUED. SO I'M NOT BLAMING THE COUNTY EITHER.

NO, IT IS A VERY RESTRICTIVE LAW HERE. THAT PART.

YEAH. THAT, THAT THAT'S ANOTHER. RIGHT. BUT IT'S LIKE PUTTING THE BOARDS ON THE MARTIN LUTHER KING PARK TABLE, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN OVER THERE TO PARTIES AND I HAVEN'T BEEN IN A LONG TIME.

BUT WHY IS IT THERE? AND EVEN AT FLAGLER PARK, IT'S A PICNIC TABLE AND WE NEED A BETTER EQUIPMENT.

PLAY EQUIPMENT IN MARTIN LUTHER KING PARK. OKAY.

THANK YOU HELEN. THANK YOU. HELEN. OKAY, ONE MORE THING.

I'LL GO HOME. OKAY, SIR. WE'RE NEVER GOING TO LEAVE.

WE HAVE A BUS TO JENSEN BEACH. MISS MCBRIDE, YOU NEED TO FILL OUT A GREEN CARD.

I DID, I ALREADY DID. WHOEVER ASKED THAT? I KNOW THIS IS NOT THE FORUM FOR THAT.

YOU'RE HERE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT ON TRESPASSING, BUT THERE HAS TO BE ONE.

NOW, I KNOW OF, SINCE I'VE BEEN IN FLORIDA. NO DISRESPECT TO MR. MARTEL. THE REASON YOU DID NOT SEE MARTIN COUNTY RESIDENTS WHEN YOU WENT IN THE WOODS.

BECAUSE THEY SAW YOU COMING? NO, I SPOKE TO RESIDENTS.

WELL, I'M IN THE WOODS. I'M IN THE TRENCHES. HAVE YOU EVER.

MR. MARTELL AND I HAVE ONE FOR YOU. IF YOU EVER WANT TO FIND OUT HOW WE WENT FROM 65 TO 5.

OKAY, THAT'S A GOOD DISCUSSION TO HAVE. THANK YOU FOR WAITING.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. UNFORTUNATELY, HOMELESSNESS IS NOT A RACE ISSUE.

YES. THANK YOU, PASTOR GUY. IT'S ALL IT'S ALL ETHNICITIES.

ALL RACES SUFFER FROM HOMELESSNESS. SO DO YOU KNOW HOW TO STOP RACISM? STOP TALKING ABOUT IT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS? ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER. YES, COMMISSIONER.

CLARK. YES, COMMISSIONER. REED. YES, MAYOR. RICH.

YES. AND VICE MAYOR COLLINS. YES. MOTION PASSES.

SEEING NO OTHER ITEMS FOR OUR CONSIDERATION. THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.