City of fort pierce commission, this is tuesday february 17th, 2026. Please stand for the
opening prayer by bishop craig cobb of city of faith church and remain standing for the
pledge of allegiance. >> s let us pray, father, we thank you for allowing us to
come out this evening, to discuss the challenges and the possibilities that lives within
this city. God, we thank you for allowing the cry of destiny to permeate through all of us.
there's a call on the inside that is demanding for us to be more, to receive more and to do
more. God, I pray that your grace, your power, your ability will enable us to do just that.
continue to give the creativity the wissdom and the power to our civic and our city
officials. So that they can be able to govern and guide us into the way of possibilitis
and increase that lies ahead. God, we thank you for all that you have done and we look
forward to what you are about to do. Expectation is great, limitations are behind us. We
give you glory in jesus' name. 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.
>> call the roll, please. >> mayor hudson present.
>> commissioner proceedic. >> present. >> commissioner dzadsovsky.
>> present. >> commissioner johnson? >> preponderant. >> commissioner gaines? >> present. >> the first eyewitness on the
agenda is a patrol of the minutes from the february 2nd, 23026 meeting.
>> motion and second, call the roll, please. >> commissioner board rick. >> yes. >> commissioner dzadsovsky. >> yes.
>> mayor hudson. >> yes, ma'am. >> we have approval of the minutes from the february 2nd swearing-in ceremony. >> move approval.
>> second. >> there's a motion and saiding, call the roll, please. >> commissioner broderic. >> yes. >> commissioner dzadsovsky.
>> yes, ma'am. >> commissioner gaines? >> yes, ma'am. >> mayor hurd? >> yes, ma'am. >> we have a proclamation for
the fes treasure coast engineering week. Whereas, joining is a dine nick and
vital profession that enhances the quality of life, drives innovation and could be
tributes to the health, safety and welfare of the public, through infrastructure,
technology, and environmental systems, and countless injured solutions. ; and whereas,
national engineers week observed february 22nd-28th, 2026 recognizes and celebrates
the contributions of engineers in shaping our modern world, inspires future generations to
pursue engineering and stem careers and raises awareness of the need for a I did verse and
well-educated engineering workforce; and whereas, events and activities during engineers' week provides opportunitis for engineers, educators, parents and
community leaders to engage students and engineering design, innovation and
problem-solving ensizing the importances of math, science, technology and creative therebying in every day life; and whereas, the florida treasure coast chapter florida
engineering society plays a vital role in advancing the engineering profession locally
by supporting professional engineers promoting ethical standards and edge gaging in
community outreach and educational initiatives that inspire students throughout the
treasure coast to pursue careers in engineering and related stem fields and
whereas, now I do hereby promaim february 22 hospital 28, 2026 as engineers' week in
the city of fort pierce and are proud to honor the contributions to society made
by engineers. >> congratulations! Would you like it to say a few words?
>> yes, I would. Council members and lady mayor. I want to say thank you all for this
proclamation and I do hope that you all take some time and look at your community and think, I
think we did some pretty good work here and improvements here and there. But I also wanted
to say that math -- the competition, in which students from all over the treasure
coast from indian river to martin will be competing this friday. I wanted to say that I
believe that this county, this city, this state of florida is probably one of the best
stateses for math in the whole of the u.s.. Math councilors have been going on since 1986
for the state and entirety of the u.s., and we're about to celebrate its quinteniel. I do
apologize, I can't remember what 50 years is. >> 50 years? >> 50 years, oh, okay. 50 years. Been aon the one hand since the
'80s. We want to say, well, I want it say that I do believe that this is one of the most
important process, like, I shouldn't say "process." most important competitionss that we
have for our young students. Many of these people who compete go on to become
nationally-recognized engineers, scientists, chemists, doctors and all forms of mathematicians. And I want to say thank you to all of you for this proclamation. And
have a wonderful night. >> congratulations to the engineers in our lives. Yes.
we appreciate them. Makes stuff work. Thank you very much . Okay, next we move on to
additions or deletions to the jean, and approval the agenda. >> madam mayor? >> yes. >> I would like to add one brief discussion item on the
13c. I would like for us as a commission to talk about the fort pierce garden club. I
have had some staff meets, but I have also been approached by the public and I think some
others have but a brief discussion and update, because it's one of our beloved jewels
that is used, and it's kind of been sitting there. I think we need to have a public
dicussion to see what we all know about it and make sure we're all informed what is going on there. And go from there. So I would like to add that 13c.
>> okay any objections to that in if not, is there a motion to approve the agenda with that
change? >> with that, I move to reset the agenda with one addition.
>> I have another addition. >> I'm sorry. >> sorry. >> I would like to add after that agenda item, additional agenda item regarding crabby's
restaurant. Lease status. >> you want to make that 13d? >> sure.
>> okay. >> so we have 13c and 13d. >> do I need a second on that
or motion? We are just approving the agenda with? >> who made the motion?
did you make the motion fort changes? >> I made it with c.
>> I will make the motion that we approve with both c and d. >> second.
>> anybody else want to add anything? So all right, we'll call the roll, please.
>> commissioner broderick yes. >> conscious dzadsovsky. >> yes, ma'am. >> commissioner gaines? >> yes, ma'am.
>> commissioner johnson? >> yes, ma'am. >> mayor hudson. >> yes, ma'am. >> there's a couple of things to
under my purview. >> next we have comments from the public. And we didn't have
anybody sign up, but we have two new items. So if anybody has anything that he they would
like to say on the garden club status, and the crabby's lease? Now would be the time to come
forward. >> any member of the public who would like to make public comment on things on the agenda? All right. We'll move on. >> so we'll move on to
miscellaneous reports that is youth council update on their participation in the 2026
florida league of cities youth legislative action daze and upcoming projects.
>> mr. Chess. >> ms. Moore is going to present the youth here today.
>> all right. Ms. Moore. >> good evening, mayor and commissioners. I am audray
moore and I'm the special projects coordinator in the city manager's office. We have
three of our youth council members, who are attended the youth legislative days
tallahassee a statewide youth council come together to learn how ogovernment works and they
meet leaders and practice advocating issues and practice work together as a team. There
were more than 100 youth from other cities that participated and first up we have mr.
timothy nixon. Each one of them will introduce themselves and tell you a little bit about
their experience. >> good evening. My name is timothy nixon, jr.. And during
the youth legislation days, we participated in various events, me and my fellow council
members. One of those events so happened to be a team-building exercise, where
we pitched the idea, we formulated an idea to pitch to the other youth all over
florida, all the other councils. We pitched an idea about youth listening session
for all of our youth in fort pierce. So that we can get their view and take on what is
happening in the city, because the future of our city is the youth. And we also have had
the time to take a tour of the student service building thanks to the help of commissioner
johnson. Thank you for that. And the highlight of the whole trip have been the part where
we were able to get out of our comfort zone and work with the other councils, and talk about
our goals, and what we should do in the future. We were able to speak with people that we
had no idea their background, or anything about them, and we were able to relate, and speak
on different things, and different ideas and bounce ideas off of each other. That
was the highlight of my trip. >> thank you, sir. Thank you. >> thank you.
>> hi. I'm bryana esmy, and I think the biggest takeaway from this trip was really seeing how
much you have cooperate with not only my fellow council members, but other councils and
how to work with other people and their methods and their work ethic. Also, sharing
ideas, and especially at this stage of local government, at this age, you have to
constantly, like, remind yourself this isn't a competition, and yes, are
giving ideas and getting ideas and work together to improve the world, and your own city,
and hopefully, helping each other better our own respective cities. I would say something
that really inspired me was also seeing how everybody worked together. It's, like,
being in the city and being in the event, the flow was so productive and purposeful and
everybody just connected immediately. I knew everybody so the whole city was working
towards a common goal. It's way different than school or even smaller summits and
events, and it was really fulfilling and I really appreciated it.
>> thank you, ma'am. >> hello. My name is clairise jane and during the summit we
also discussed issues that directly connect to our community and our city. These
include public transportation, transportation for schools, and equal access to resourcess for
students. Overall, this opportunity allowed us to be better engaged and try to build
a better youth council, and have better access for our community, and come up with new
ideas that can create innovation in our city. I would just want to say thank you for this opportunity. >> thank you, ma'am. >> right on time.
>> yes. >> my name is natalie and thank you again for allowing us
to experience the youth legislative action days. Any questions?
>> go ahead, commissioner. >> you know I'm going to say something. Guys, I just want
to say I heard great things about you guys when I go up there and I want to personally
say thank you for representing the city of fort pierce. You made us proud, and hopefully,
you will see what we go through, and what they go through in tallahassee and what
the young lady said, how to get other ideas and rinse instead of just firing back. It takes
time. I'm still learning. So it takes time. So don't worry if you didn't get it. I just
want to say how proud you amount of you for going out there and representing the city
of fort pierce. So thank you. >> I will quickly echo, it was cold in tallahassee, mayor. It was very cold. And we were
able to, you know, introduce the youth there and I'm glad you were able to make those
connections and hopefully stay in contact with the other youth councils. You know, these
seats up here belong to you guys. You guys are going to have to raise your hand one
day, if you desire to be in political leadership and certainly for our city and for
our county. I'm fortune and blessed to see this. I saw you guys and some young people from
port st. Luckie and I encourage you to reach ute to other delegations and get together
and share ideas and see what develops from that. And thank you for just having open mind
and being there and taking it all there. Because that is how it's done of you know? We go
to tallahassee. We advocate for things that we need for our city, and for our citizens are
asking us to advocate for, and you saw that. You saw all of the hustle and bustle and all
of the people throughout the hallways there talking to legislators. So that is what
it is. So thank you for what you have done. >> wonderful. Yes, sir?
>> I just want to add on these meetings that you are here at today are open to the public.
and so you can join us at any time, and the idea is bring people together, share your
ideas with the commissioners and the mayor in advance of the meeting if you have an agenda that you want to try to get forward. We call them lobbyists in tallahassee. We
call them lobbyists here too, but you can be your own advocate and lobbyist, if you have things that you want to accomplish. If there's a park that needs something fixed or
an agenda that you want to bring forward, new assets in the parks, or you want to have
a book club. You know going back to the school district or whatever the case, whatever the
issues that you may come up with in your youth councils you can come together and lobby and
meet with the commissioners and meet with the school district and have those conversations
privately, and try to push an agenda. But it's because you have the opportunity to have
that voice, use it. >> thank you. Commissioner? >> I find it remarkable at
your age that you are willing to commit the time, and the undertalking to go to an event
such as that. I credit you all. You are the future of the city of fort pierce. Continue
doing what you are doing, study, learn, observe, and you guys are the future leaders of
the city. I'm very excited for you. >> I want to thank you for coming here and having such a great presence, because I'm very, very impressed with the
way you presented yourselves I all remembered to say your names first. First I didn't
have to remind you. So it sounds like to me you learned a lot. I'm sorry I didn't see
you in tallahassee. Was shepherding another group, the treasure coast league of cities
and I wasn't able to break away. But I did see a lot of youth council people in the
halls of the capitol. You take civics in 5th grade, but this is civicks in action and
civics should be throughout your whole life, because in this country, we're all a part
of the government; right? So keep it up and thank you very, very much for coming here
tonight and for going to tallahassee. Thank you. >>
pins here, fort pierce pins, and I would like for you -- I have enough
>> you gave me several. So I have some in my pocket. >> we can take a photo, if you
all would stand please. >> sure. Sure. Sure. You want us to move in closer
here? >> I was good audria. >> thank you. Give me a
second. Hold on. Mr. Chess. Got to have the bling on. It's
so nice. That was a nice thing . Thank you.
thank you to the chaperones we have some of our own staff there, and a couple of parents
that were there. So also, they braved that code, too. It was cold that day. Whew.
>> yes. Okay. That is very, very nice. Feel-good moment. Yes, we'll
move on. >> } next we have the consent agenda. >> anybody want to pull anything from the consent agenda? If not, I will
entertain a motion to approve. >> madame mayor, I move approval of the consent agenda.
>> second. >> motion and second, call the roll, please (roll call)
>> I will ask you to pull your microphone a little closer. >> you have to get the papers
out of the way. >> moving on to public hearings we have the review and approval of an application for major site plan development and design review committed by
property owner lawnwood medical center, inc. And representative vanessa mahoney of kipley horn
to construct a five-floor parking garage with surface parking the parking garage
grossing an approximate 50,432 square feet footprint and surface parking grossing 34,866
square foot with associated site improvements at 1700 south 23rd street fort pierce,
florida the property is zoned planned development pd. >> so this is a quasi-judicial
hearing ands mr. Hedges would you outline the process for us, please.
>> the city commission serves legislative and quasi-judicial roll the commission engages in
lawmaking activity by passing laws and establishing policies. When acting as a
quasi-judicial body it's held to districter procedural requirements. Quasi-judicial
proceedings are less formal than proceedings before a circuit court, but are more formal than the normal commission meeting. Quasi-judicial proceedings must
follow basic standards of notice and you goo process and decisions must be immediate
based on competent substantial evidence and therefore, a duty to condition duct hearings more
like judges than limors and established the uniform procedures that will be
followed this evening. Finally no one should approach any member of the city commission on the dais. The city attorney or the city clerk during the hearing. If the documents --
if documents are to be given to the city clerk, please give them to the sergeant-at-arms
which are any of the police officers in the
compliance with advertising and notice requirements? >> yes, ma'am, the advertising richards have been met. >> would you ask commissioners about ex-parte communication.
>> commissioner broderick? >> know. >> commissioner zadosky? >> no. >> commissioner gaines? >> no, ma'am.
>> commissioner johnson? >> no, ma'am. >> mayor hudson. >> no, ma'am. Would you like to swear goodwill the witnessesment anyone wishing to
speak on this item please stand and raise your right hand. Do you swear or affirm to tell the
truth, the whole trudge and nothing but the trudge. Thank you. Proceed.
>> good evening, madam mayor, commissioners. My name is venice gillmor historic
preservation planner. The application before you is for a major site plan development
design review for the subject property located at 1700 south 23rd street, parcel I.d.
2414-054-0200-000-2. Project no. Pz site 2025-00025. The owner is lawnwood medical
center, inc. Representative vanessa mahoney and
kimley-horn. The applicant is requesting to construct a five-floor parking garage, with
surface parking the parking garage grossing approximately 50,432 square feet and surface
parking grossing 34,866 square feet with associated site improvements. The site area
consists of 3.44 plus or minus acres of the entire site of 22.36 acres. The current
future land use institutional. With the current zoning of planned development zone. This
is the overall pd phase 1 concept plan, the master plan. There were five subphase as
proved with the following: phase 1 construction of the 3-story medical tower. Phase
23, a third-floor shell build-out with an emergency department addition to the northern portion of the hospital. Phase 3 a fourth floor addition to the medical
tower. Phase 4 a 5th flower addition to the medical tower and this will be the last of
the master plan, which is phase 5 a parking structure. This is the final phase 1 site plan.
the one structure parking garage, pfeiffer floors, approximately actually 591
parking spaces. 109 surface parking spaces. 10 dedicated electric vehicle charging
spaces and four ada-compliant surface parking spaces. And for your reference, this is in
the southwest corner. The elevations of the proposed parking garage as you can see
showing all elevations north, south, east and west. And this is our rendering to show you
better look of how it will look . Ed new park garage is constructed primarily of
architectural pre-cast concrete. The total garage highlight is approximately 58.6
plus or minus the maximum building height for the parcel is 50' for the parapet and
elevation and stairs will go to 58.6. The aesthetics match the newer patient tower located on
the campus. And the garage will contain 3500-pound traction elevators. This is
proposed landscape of the subject site. And this is the planned schedule, which includes
southern live= , shrubs, koko palms, small leaf -- --
all affected departments have reviewed the proposed major site plan with regards to
consistency, with established ordinances and requirements of the city code, and
comprehensive plan. Conditions of approval that staff has created are three conditions.
one landscape maintenance agreement will be required and approved by the planning department prior to final certificate of occupancy. Two, landscape unspection will be
required and approved by the planning department prior to final certificate of occupancy.
and three, prior to issuance of any site clearing permits the applicant shall provide a
tree mitigation survey and coordinated with the city of fort pierce arborist with city
regulated tree proposed to be removed as the site's construction activity.
planning board at their january 12, 2026 meeting unanimously recommended approval of the
proposed site with three conditions: alternative recommendations recommended
modified approval, disapproval and with the three conditions, approval of the site plan with
changes or disapproval. And I also like to add that the applicant also has a
presentation to present to you all. >> thank you.
>> questions of staff, commissioner broderick. >> what are the three
conditions? I didn't see those on the slide? >> oh, right here. No. 1
landscape maintenance agreement requires and approved by the planning department prior to
final certificate of occupancy. The landscape inspection, and tree mitigation.
>> got it. Thank you. >> any other questions? >> madam mayor, I have a question, could you go back to the slide with the -- what is egress/ingress with this
parking facility, and access? Is it coming off of -- I see here and think it's going to do
a great job brightening the corner based on landscaping, but how do you access this
thing? >> quincy avenue and also. >> it loops around, is from a
cut-off of quincy? 33rd is the main entry is 33rd and quincey is the secondary entry.
>> got it. Just wanted to make sure. Thank you. >> you have questions, commissioner? >> just real quick, just for the record, since this is a
quasi, the three conditions are the same three conditions that the planning board agreed. You
said the planning board had three and we had three. >> same ones. >> just wanted to put that on the record. >> I have a question about the
handicapped spaces that obviously meets the requirements for -- and there
are probably other handicapped spaces in the surface parking? >> correct. And other parts
of the development, correct. >> yes, right. It meets the code for that?
>> so the number required, correct. >> yes, sir? >> just a question about fire the ev stations that we're seeing a lot of challenges with
ev stations around the country, and fire departments not being able to manage them as quickly
or, as well as they would like. Is there any consideration from the fire department for
that section whether it was or other fire retardantscenario? >> I haven't seen anything
from our fire distric. >> well, they had quite a few comments in the trc so they
have looked at this. >> yes, as far as the ev stations I hadn't seen anything.
>> all right. So any other questions? Are we good? Okay. I would like to call the
applicant up, please. Good evening everyone. My name is vanessa mahoney the project
manager and civil engineer with kimley-horn. With me today I have alex mcmillan.
>> good evening, chief operating officer at florida lawnwood hospital. Thank you
for having us today. >> thank you very much. >> good evening, I'm matthew
grifage the project architect, senior vice president for the design solutions we're the
architects and interior designers for the project. >> thank you for being here.
do any of you have any questions for staff? >> no questions at the moment.
I would like to address your question, commissioner about the ev parking spaces. So we
did coordinate with the fire department prior to submitting, and they requested that the ev spaces be placed outside of the parking garage to avoid any kind of fire hazard. So they
are currently on the surface in the northwest corner outside of the garage. >> thank you, because when they burn, they burn hot and there's new equipment produced
today that saves water. When ev goes you use an awful lot of water. >> thank you. >> we had the same concern and why it's all going to be
surface parking. >> very good. >> nothing within the garage. >> thank you. >> I do want to democracy this project before the team shows
this presentation, as you know city of fort pierce treasure coast in gener has grown
significantly in population. Hospital is trying to keep up with that demand. And you
know, we open 62 beds last year, and here we are holdsing today in the emergency room. We
have another 32 beds coming online by next year, to top off that 5th flower tower. With
that we have parking struggles. It's not just for our employees but our visitors our
patients and our community. We have the issue exists already. The company has supported us in
the sense that before expanding any more, the parking garage was a critical component to be
able to continue growing. As a result we did get this funding from the company. And that is
why we seek approval today. We seek approval for not just the parking garage, but we need
temporary construction parking also off-site from the hospital. We're currently in a
purchasing -- service agreement with the seller, with the property behind the hospital.
it's an 8-acre parcel that used to belong or belonged to mayfair. We plan to close on
that land next month. If everything falls in line, that land will be used temporary for
construction park and not just for constrution workers because weeds have over hundred
at any given time between the 5th floor and parking garage, but for those employees that
are losing the 300 plus surface parking that currently exists as a result just for the lay
down area. Today is why we seek approval. I will bring you in. Thank you.
>> thank you, sir. >> perfect. >> proceed.
>> thank you. So I have already introduced the team. And then some highlights for
lawnwood hospital has a huge impact on the community and only level 2 trauma facility.
so it's incredible important to the community to be able to service the hospital through
this parking garage. And then there's a couple more insights for the hospital. Venice did a
great job with the project officer and it's approximately $26 million. 591-space parking
garage. We are also including enhanced landscaping as part of the project. We're including a
screened electrical yard and emergency generator, and we're also proposing the relocation
of an existing water line that currently runs underneath the current parking garage. In
terms of form is water, a concrete box system will sit underneath the parking garage.
there's a similar system just east of the garage on the surface parking in the
southeast corner of the site. It's underneath the current parking lot. So we're very
familiar with the system. In terms of maintenance, once there's one inch of sediment
within the concrete structures, the hospital will contract a vendor to vacuum out the system
to make sure there's enough capacity, and it's serviced at least once a year. This system
was designed with south florida water management district requirements in mind. We also
have a south florida water management district permit. So they have reviewed the owner's
manual as well, and we should I be good to go on that end. Venice did a great job
summarizing the parking. So we'll have a surplus of approximately 400 spaces. As
alex mentioned we're going to be using the southwest corner the parcel that is highlighted
in blue that is the parcel that we are currently have a tempt use permit in the city for.
we're scheduled for the february 19th trc review. So that is currently underway.
we're going to be proposing temporary construction park overflow staff parking and
material staging as well. A 7.75-acre site. So it's pretty sizacle in nature. This
parking lot will be paved and temporary lighting provision and a fence around the site to
make sure it's secure. And then this is the layout we're proposing. We are going to
stripe it. There are are going to be wheel stop to provide organization to the parking
lot, and there's an existing paved parking -- sorry. Entrance into the parking lot
already. So we're just going to reuse that. And just so you guys are oriented correctly,
north is to the right, my right. I'm going to turn it over to matthew; who is --
>> chair, before you go on? So you have a lot of surface area there and I see a canal or
some kind of ditch. Is that where you are going to offdischarge the water from the
parking lot? >> it's going to be self-contained. So we're actually going to just use surface run-off into the north part where it's grass with
swales that provides temporary detention for stormwater. As part of the previous
development there it was already installed there and we'll reuse that convey
stormwater into the grassy areas. So we won't be discharging into the canal.
we'll be self-contained. >> thank you. >> matthew will talk about
the architectural components of the project thank you, vanessa. As you see on the screen this 1st proposed rendering for the project. This is actually a view that
faces internal to the campus. So as you pulling in from the main campus drive and turning
towards the facility, this is your main facade. The design intent of this building is
really it compliments the existing campus from color palate to materials. The brick
will match that brick. The lighter whitish beige color is a pre-cast panel. The metal in
the middle is where the main entry to the parking garage is. That is really meant to call
out your attention to know where the entrance is. That is a perforated metal panel to
give design intent and pop to the entrance there. As well as some glazing at the main tower
and the elevator tower. Again, that is the view that faces internal to the campus. The
other view here, so this would be a view from the corner of 23rd and quincey on the
backside of the garage. An entry exit point in the lower left-hand side. Again, that
perforated metal panel used as a design intent to make the entrance pop. It will be
branded with the hca florida lawnwood signage and logo to match the existing logos on the
hospital in a couple of strategic spots on the building. As I said, we're not
reinventing the wheel. It's meant to compliment the campus . Thank you, sir. Thank you.
>> and I have a question that may be for you? Is the parking going to be free in the garage?
>> so I will answer that. So the plan right now is to probably make it a dedicated
employee parking garage. >> okay. >> that way employees have one
location and everything else becomes surface. >> okay. >> it's close enough to the hospital for folks to walk, but I would rather have the
employees walk to the hospital and those that need to come and visit their family members or loved ones to be closer to the hospital. >> makes sense. Thank you, sir.
>> you're welcome. >> and last, but not least we have the planting materials,
similar to the ones with the previous project that we had go in front of you. So these are
the treess and pams and shrubs to enhance the outside facade. Thank you very much to your
time today and open for questions. >> who has questions? >> quick question. The sign that is facing the southwest corner, or south corner, will
it be lit at night and see that sign at night? I thought so. Just wanted to make sure.
>> a lot of thought went into that design, especially at night when folkses park in
there to make sure it's well-fit. We've tons of cameras that are actively
moderned and panic buttons and security there, because it's always a concern at night is
staff's safety. >> yes. >> absolutely. I think anybody that has been to the hospital to see somebody knows that you need a parking garage.
I think we all know that and we're very happy for you and very happy you are here.
commissioner broderick? >> as someone who unfortunately has seen the
inside of the hospital more than I care to admit over the last several years, the parking
situation there is extreme. So the commitment of the organization to dedicate this
type of solution and investment into the fort pierce community, I applaud you guys for doing
this. If certainly is needed for your operational perspective, but the consumers
of your services there, and their guests, et cetera, are going to be very grateful this
is taking place. So thank you for the undertaking and thank you for the continued
investment in the city of fort perce. >> anything else? Thank you very much. I'm going to see if there's any other member of the public that would like to come
forward, and share anything with us? Seeing no movement, I'm going to close -- unless
you have anything else to say, I'm going to close the parkway. >> thank you very much.
>> thank you the public hearing is closed. >> maimed mayor I make a
motion to approve. >> second. >> conditions? With the three conditions, thank you, commissioner. >> second.
>> call the roll, please. >> commissioner broderick? >> yes. >> commissioner
>> yes, ma'am. >> commissioner johnson? >> yes, ma'am. >> mayor hudson? >> yes, ma'am. >> congratulations and we're
so glad you are here. Thank you. >> next we have ordinance
26-003 an ordinance the city commission of the city of fort pierce, florida amending the
code of ordinances of the city of fort pierce, florida, amending chapter 2
administration article 5 finance to create section 2-4-27 city auditing services
to require an annual audit and establish how an auditor is selected. Contracting
requirements for ang auditor and limitations on the number of years an auditor may provide
services to the city repealing all ordinances, parts thereof and conflict, providing for
severability clause and providing for an effective date. This is the first
reading. This is first reading. Mr. Chess, do you have anything to add? Do you have any presentation on this? >> no, I don't. The purpose of this is simply that we have
rotating auditors at every 3-5 years to get a new set of eyes our books at the same time,
it's best practice. >> you were sharing with me that is best practice in
finance. So any questions of staff? Any questions? Okay. This is a public hearing.
anyone wishing to address the commission on this subject, please come forward. Seeing no
movement, I will come back to the commission for a motion. >> madam, move approval.
>> second. >> motion and second, call the roll, please. >> commissioner broderick y. >> commissioner dadosky.
>> yes, ma'am. >> commissioner campaignes? >> yes, ma'am. >> commissioner
>> yes, ma'am. >> resolution 26-r80 a resolution of the city
commission of city of the fort pierce, florida approving rate changes for fpuanet services as
contained in resolution no. Ua2026-06 adopted by the fort pierce utilities authority
board providing for severability conflict here with and providing for an ervingive date. >> mr. Chess, do you have any
lead into this. >> mr. Brotherford and mr. Mittler presenting from fpua.
>> welcome. Happy you are here. >> thank you, ma'am. >> I have heard this presentation, but I'm glad the commission is going to hear it.
>> thank you, mr. Chess. Good evening, madam mayor, city commissioners. Per our city
charter article 12 the fort pierce utilities authority all rate changes must be approved
by both fpua board and the city commission. Tonight we come before you for the adoption of
resolution 26-r08 for those new rates, as well as to provide you with a brief update on the
firework fibto home solution. Fiber is relatively new technology. So new goodbyer so
new, in fact, the efficiencies in construction continue to emerge, helping reduce capital
costs we have incotsereded these efficiencies to pass those savings to the customers.
this is just one of the ways that we keep our promise to provide economical reliable and
friendly service as part of our ongoing commitment to enhance the quality of life in our
community. At this time jason will present. >> mr. Miltler.
>> daniel rutherford. >> thank you, we're trying to get -- we're all learning.
thank you very much. Mr. Mittler. >> good afternoon, mr. Chess, madam mayor, members of the commission, my name is jason mittler, the fpuanet manager
and I am excited to share with you some of the progress that the fpuanet team has made and
I'm here to request a rate reduction and introduction of our fpua next new 5 gigabit per
second tier of service for both residential and commercial customers. Fpuanet is the 35th
utility of fpua, and we are a smart city internet service provider that provides fiber
services for the last 20 years. Since 2024 we started providing service to
residential and commercial customers in various areas of the fort pierce city. So the
broadband uses the term "parcels passed." as ang industry kpi and define
as having the necessary infrastructure in place to provide service to the home and
business with a standard srvice drop within a few days of their request. The top
right of the slideshows that fpuanet currently has a fiber available to 2748 parcels, and
they are shown in the orange shaded areas. The blue shaded areas show parcels in
construction and should be active in the next 90 daze. The purple area shades is
currently in design, and the green shaded areas are still in the planning stage. Finally
the chart shows that fpuanet is on target to doubling its service area by the end of
2026. That is fy'26. So september. With a total number of parcels passed by 5676
parcels and plans to add 2300 parcels per year for the next three years to a grand total of
12,500 parcels by the end of 2029. And so over the last two years the engineering and could
struction team has gained significant efficiencies and the design and construction of
our fiber network. This has allowed fpuanet to build faster at lower costs bringing
engineering and construction in-house. This has given fpuanet an competitive advantage and allowed us to be very agiggle to ensure fiber is being deployed in the fastest
way possible at the most cost-effective way. Seconding use the corning
technology, a newer technology that allows fpuanet to create customized cables for specific
route that eliminate splicing in the feed which is time-consuming costly and
introduces additional failure points in our network and this new technology eliminates those
things. The second major efficiency last year that the network engineering and planning team was able to complete a multi-year project to upgrade our core to increase
capacity from 40
its inbound and outbound track by 100% and reduces cost per gig to 16 3%. So as you can
see, fpuanet has gained significant efficiency in its fiber network design and
overall capacity and reduced unit cost and cost per gig. With that being said fpuanet is
a competitive business unit and competes on all levels from pricing, service quality,
reliability, and overall customer experience. In december, fpuanet updated the
business plan and financial model to reflect the efficiencis that fpuanet has
gained, and additionally market study was done in december, and was updated in january 2026.
-- on the 26th fpuanet has the same goal as fpua does to provide cuperts with economic
reliable and service to enhance the quality of life in our community and fpuanet's pricing
strategy to provide competitive pricing that is transparent and simple. This slide shows the
proposed rate reduction to all service tiers with no equipment fees for all commercial
customers in adding the 5 gig service teand fpuanet is the lowest cost and best service in
the market. This slide shows our residential offering, and this is a matrix showing the
market conditions of a january 26th. The proposed rate offering for fpuanet
residential market proposal is a rate reduction for all tiers and service in addition to
adding 5 gig service tier. As of december 17th fpuanet was going to be the lowest price in
all service tiers burb january 26th when we updated market study we found comcast added
promotional pricing for new customers through february 22 nd, 2026. Fpuanet far
surpasses es comcaster in every other service and to compete with at&t that is a service
provideser. The proposed rates position fpuanet to be lower in every tier, except for the
lowest tier, where we'll be the same price. With that being said, I want to thank you you
for your time, and would be happy to answer any questions that you may have. And again,
I'm requesting approval for the resolution no. Ua2026-06. >> questions?
>> madam. >> yes. >> can you go back to your map
where you were showing broadband available. I'm not seeing much in the kings
highway and this board is interested for that. Those types of businesseses acquire
high capability of bringing in information quickly, and for instance like amazon uses a ton
of gig space on being able to manage what is happening inside the space is fpuanet available
to meet those kinds of needs and have you looked at that as an opportunity going forward?
>> thank you, commissioner and congratulations on your election. Yes, so we have
fiber on kings highway and also on rock road, because we feed the jail and I.t.. They are
off of rock road and orange avenue. As well as the development. So we have the
capacity to feed some of those major providers, and their requests. So we're part of the
trc and drc review committees so we obviously communicate with those individual
businesses. But at the moment, we're not building out that infrastructure in those areas
and really focused mostly within inside our electrical footprint and connecting
working with the city and partnering with public wi-fi in various areas, as well as checking many of our utility assets predominantly with those businesses offering our
services and making sure that they understand that we can compete with any other service provider. >> that is why I asked the question, because some of the
companies that have looked to go into the kings highway to sort of area, comparing
electric power and this type of service is -- there were some needs projected to be one
megawatt just for one building over there. So whether it's fpua or the other company,
there's going to be a significant need for utilities especially electric power, but
being able to have the service and power for the net power is going to be incredibly
important for the success of those businesses out there. Just putting it out there in
advance, because those needs come very fast, and not having it on your front of mind gets
us behind the 8-ball. >> absolutely. >> and I would add also that the fpua is very much a part of the kings highway corridor, and also part of the plan. I think
they'll be presenting to the fpua soon, the adc. >> excellent.
>> it's on their radar. Absolutely. >> any other questions? >> when you are running this stuff past my house ? Know everybody wanted to ask
that question. >> thank you. >> so you asked that question.
I asked that question. And I said, how does one find out? How does one find out if they
are eligible? And so you go online, and you go to fpuanet and you sign up. And you --
and they respond right away and tell you whether you are eligible or if it's there or if
it's planned. And then I even got a call from one of your employees saying, we got your
request. We know that you want it, and so I know that what you were promoting for a while is
for everybody, if you are interested go in and sign up. Because that shows you where
there iss going to be a lot of interest from customers. >> absolutely. Is
>> is that right? >> you go to fpuanet.com and type in your address. If it's
available you can sign up immediately. If it's not, what happens ask it puts a dot for
us, and so commissioner johnson, we have seen that you recently submitted your
request. And so there'ses many areas that we look at from looking at where are we going
to build at? One of them are driving around the interests of the residents. And so we'd
enis youring you to talk to your neighbors, tell them about it, because the more dots that
are aggregated in this area, that is what we'll try to build first as long as the
infrastructure is there, the capacity, and all of the other different variables go into
that calculation. >> commissioner gaines. >> thank you, madam mayor. Just want to say, if I don't have a dot, pretty sure I did, but if I didn't, I have a doter
for my residents. >> thank you, commissioner gaines. >> I want to say thank you again to fpua, because very seldom do we get a request for
reduction. You never get requests and the next word is "reduction of fees." so I don't
know if that went past everybody because everybody had their head down, but you said
"reduction." so thank you for that and thank you for putting in the hard work. I remembered
when this first started, when we first started getting this together. So I love what I'm
seeing and let's keep up the good work and to everybody that is watching or going to review
this meeting, if you don't have it, go on the website and put your dot. So they know that
you want it, and we'll try to get it to you. Again, thank you.
>> yes. Thank you. >> a couple of weeks ago, in
my neighborhood, there was trenching -- not trenching but they were going underground and
I wad asks is this fpua with high-speed? I said I don't know. You are a city
commissioner, why don't you know? >> you know everything. >> I don't know and they asked the subcon stratingor crew and your competitor at&t
unfortunately. My wife is dropping a dot as we speak. So I'm hopeful that you'll get the
entire area that I live in and the mayor lives in covered as soon as possible.
>> yes, sir. Yes, we are in the process of building -- we are built out about half of the
beach at the moment. And so I'm assuming your area is just south of j.c. Park.
>> I'm actually just north it of. That meanses I'm already in your coverage area.
>> yours will be built soon. >> okay. >> we're waiting --
>> the mariner bags. >> in the atlantic area. That ordinary area has been
designed and we'll be constructing. >> my wife is doing a happy dance because she is watching the meeting. >> I would say within the next
45 days that should happen I will cancel my comcast knowing it's coming.
>> don't cancel yet, but definitely if you haven't put an address in, do it. With the
new rate reduction happening today, we're definitely going to be hitting the beach and other areas, too, because the beach is not the only territory we're building. You can see
over there next to garden terrace we're building an area there, they are waiting on
materials. As soon as these rate changes tomorrow, you know, we're going to begin to
reach out and pre-sign up volveds. Because the goal is to get these individuals know,
hey it's happening and it's happening within this timeframe. So we're really
excited and the team is ready to put together. >> I will be the first one on
my street to sign. >> thank you. >> and service to my house.
it's a charmed life, that is for sure. >> anything else? Yes, well,
it's rare that we have somebody that says we want to reduce the price on something. So we
thank you very, very much. All right. This is not a public hearing. So is there a motion?
>> mayor, I move to approve. >> second. >> a motion and second, call the
>> commissioner zadochingy. >> yes, ma'am. >> commissioner gaines? >> yes, ma'am. >> commissioner johnson? >> yes, ma'am.
>> mayor hudson. >> yes, ma'am. >> thank you very much. >> thank you. >> appreciate it. >> thank you.
>> next we have resolution 26-r09 a resolution of the city commission of the city of fort
pierce, florida extending the declaration of local emergency authorizing the city clerk to
file said resolution with the cerebing of circuit court and providing for an effective date.
>> mr. Chess, do you have anything you want to say about this? >> I will give a little background. Over the past several weeks the city has been
with the beach erosion, and february 5th, we really took upon the dune protection
project and brought this to the commission, I believe it was on the day meeting february 9th
and the following day we actually declared a local state of emergency. It was the fact
that goes back to february 5th it was only for seven days. So in actuality it expired
february 12th. So this resolution is for you to consider the extension of that
state of emergency. And I would like to say I don't think it's necessary, but you all can get more detail on why I feel that way. But I believe the emergency, which expired last
thursday, can be lifted -- should not be renewed or extendinged.
>> commissioners? Anybody have anything? >> madam mayor, mr. Chess, if we don't renew it and there are additional expenses, will we about able to go after those
without the state of emergency in place? >> well, there's no guaranty that the current state of emergency, local state of emergency will allow us to get
additional fundses, but based on the collaboration with the county, because what is taking
place now, the county and the city has been collaborating and the county is providing, I
think they call it a large bucket loader to move the sand from the jetty down on the
south beach where our area of concern is. We have actually have rented leased equipment
for 30 days to collaborate with them. We're looking at it on a daily basis, the county is that
it is and the city is really not out there anymore and the county is giving daily updates.
so when they decide we need to replace the sand, they will contact public works and public
works staff will go out there. It takes less than 30 minute and they return. From my
perspective, it's not worth paying the extra pay for the staff forever this emergency pay, when it's such a small project at this stage. So you are talking like 30 minutes or
less to get out there. The key for us, it's being monitored daily. If we decide to go out
there frequently we can all revisit the state of emergency, to determine pwe'll have
additional cause, extreme cause. As we see it now, it's not necessary. That is just my opinion on it. > any oth commissioners? >> I heard something that I
want to be clear, and thank you for asking the question, because if they do go out now,
because there is a state of emergency that was declared that triggers some different
level of pay/compensation for that employee? >> the employees receive their regular pay is at time-and-a-half. If they happen to go overtime that is
another time and-and-a-half and you are talking time-and-a-half pay. So removing the state of
emergency is regular pay. >> that is the concern that triggers for us, what we may or
may not get back. And that could be five years, seven years from now that the
government may decide. I think at this point, if it gets to that dire strait, I think we're
in a position, maybe to call a special meeting or do as needed. But to redo it and put
it in place and if I hear you right, that employee goes over there with a grader or load of
sand, that is double time-and-a-half for 30 minutes. >> that is if it's overtime.
time-and-a-half. >> whatever you just said. >> right. >> okay. Got it. >> thank you. >> you're welcome, sir.
>> commissioner broderick. >> this is a unique situation and I'm not debating the state
of emergency scenario. However, my assessment of the situation having been involved
in this daily, multiple times per day, for several weeks now is that we're in the middle of
a war against mother nature right now. And we may have won a few battles, but mother
nature is quickly reclaiming the work that we have performed. With the frontal
system that just came through, winds kicked up, erosion started, what is today? It
came through sunday night and erosion started sunday night again into monday and no work
was kong ducted yesterday yesterday. No work was conducted today. Temporary
measures put in place are now significantly deteriorated. And dune erosion is commencing
again. So the state of emergency, I agree with the analysis that paying 2.5 times
normal rate to get operators on-site is excessive from my perspective. Normal rate or
even overtime rate, I find to be acceptable. The collaboration with the county
has worked out better than I had hoped. The allocation of equipment, manpower and
resources has been 100% cooperative. So I have no complaints about local
interagency cooperation and support. I do have issues with other agencies such as the
state, federal government, et cetera. But that is not today's debate. So I don't
disagree with letting the lapse of the state of emergency continue. However, at a
moment's notice, we may need to institute this again, because we're still looking at
potentially another 4-6 weeks before nourishment of the beach commences on the island and to
get to the beach areas that are a quarter mile south of jetty is another several weekses
candidly. If we are able to hold off the tide, and these are just my personal
observations. I'm not an engineer. I'm not a coastal engineer, but I have worked in
this industry. I will be stunned if we're able to be successful in keeping back the
floodwaters until the permanent -- somewhat longer term beach nourishment program takes
place. I have very, very grave concerns as to our ability to stop that from happening and if
it happens, again, just my assessment of the situation is that potentially we're going to
lose several hundred feet of embankment which is just basically opening up the
floodwaters. The state of emergency doesn't deal with that in any capacity, but I'm
giving what my overview is, so if madam mayor has to call an emergency meeting on a sunday
morning to get us here to do whatever we need to keep to keep the island from being
inundated with seawater, don't be surprised. I personally believe within the next six
week timeline it's going to happen. That is just my person yap observation and I want the
public to understand I'm not a qualified expert by any
emergency imagine. Ation. >> we were given information from the charter that the mayor could call without having to call a spect meeting. I think
that takes care of some of that. >> ms. Hedges you can chime-in in here. I can do it without a
commission meeting. >> which I'm all in favor. >> but we probably would call
a special meeting so we could all know what was going on. Is that rightion ms. Hedges?
>> madam mayor, commissioners, correct. You are able to call what is the word I'm looking
for? Institute a local state of emergency on your own as the mayor to renew it. It does
require the resolution, which is what is here before you. It's in seven-day increments.
so your initial designation of a local state of emergency is for seven days. Anything past
that comes back to the city council. If something comes up again, and you feel that we
need to designate another local state of emergency, you have the authority to do that.
and/or call a special meeting. You can do that with I believe six-hours' notice. The
commission and fpua are different, so I confuse them somtimes. >> one follow-up comment. Thank you, ms. Hedges. I agree with the mayor having that
ability to make that determination is that -- what was the point? I lost my
point. Mr. Chess is correct, we have secured the necessary equipment that we need to make that operation as successful as possible. And our public works folks have worked heroically to
prevent the inevitable, potentially inevitable from happening here, but it is
essentially out of our control. So we'll continue collectively as the commission, county,
board of county commissioners, their staff, our staff working collaborative until this
problem is more permanently resolved. It's very serious, guys and I know you heard me
screaming from the rooftops, but it's getting, but from the hour. Every tide cycle we're
losing embankment and there's not much left to lose. >> so they have actually gone
every single day and this morning we did -- I will call it sand replacement. They call
it a fill. We did a fill on friday. We lost about 15' of sand, but 95% of the sands is
still this what we did on friday, given what happened the past couple of days. So they
are monitoring that is very, very closely >> they are keeping in touch?
are they keeping you informed? >> they are sending in pictures and giving daily
updates. So we're really getting good information. We're getting live information,
realtime information, I should say. They are actually sending photos and explaining what is taking place in the pictures. As soon as it appears that we need to go out there and add
more, as I said, we did a fill on friday. We lost 15', they said, but the 95% of what we
placed is still there. So we think that is a good sign for us today, as the commissioner
said. That can change overnight, depending on how high the winds are and how high
the tide comes in. The key for us, it's being monitored daily by mr. Landry's team.
>> and keeping you informed? >> absolutely. Getting updates. Public works is
getting updates, as well as myself and, as well as mr. Landry and his team are getting
the same information. >> I have one further thing. I met with josh on saturday,
and we had a rather ranging discussion. Josh and I were not on the same page at the
beginning of this process and we now find ourselves in a common theme as to what we need
to be doing currently. But I also asked josh that post-this scenario, when we get out of
this emergency situation and nourishment is completed, et cetera. There are two things that I want him to come before the city commission to report on two things. One, a
post-action report as to emergency and emergency response, but more importantly, and I know we have sign a letter of support for funding for a more permanent
installation scenario out there, who I'm dealing with the secretary of interior to speed
up the funding for this. So josh is the point man for the county on this. I would like
him to come in and give us a report to enlighten as what we can assist to move that project
forward. Josh is the one who is actually putting the grind through the mill to get the
work done. And all the engineers involved, he is managing all of that. So he is
the one, and he gave me an in-depth explanation why we're not a prioritization project
fort army corps of engineers and it's -- I will give you just one minute of it. Simply
because we don't have enough value in our real estate on south hutchinson island to
offset of the cost investment from the army corps of engineers. There's a ratio that they use and if you are beneath 1.0, your application gets put aside. We're at .7.
I'm not going to bor you with details, but to build 20-story towers --
>> right. >> I'm not going to go down that rabbit hole. Suffice to
say, it was a very enlightening discussion that I had with him to get an education on the army
corps of engineers manifestations how they calculate funding projects.
>> I think the nuclear power plant. >> they have some value, but
we have to annex it. We live in city of fort pierce. >> right. Right. So ms.
hedges, we do not -- if we vote not to renew this, we can always declare a new state of
emergency, is that correct? >> yes, ma'am. >> that is correct. >> so what is the will of the commission? >> so administrate mayor, I
move we not approval resolution 26-r09. >> is there a second?
>> I'm second that. >> call the ro, please. >> the motion to deny.
>> yes, motion to deny, yes. >> thank you, commissioner broderick? >> yes. >> commissioner zadosky. >> yes.
>> commissioner gaines? >> yes, ma'am. >> commissioner johnson? >> yes, ma'am. >> mayor hudson? >> yes, ma'am.
>> okay. Next we have item 13c, which is the garden club status.
>> madam mayor, fellore commissioners, so in my weekly staff learning, last week I
also met with some residents in the oakland park hibiscus stabbed a and one of the things
that they had questions about. I have gotten it also from other organizations in this
community that have rented the garden club for everything from wedding receptions to birth
announcements, et cetera. And so this building has kind of been in a state of disrepair
and not in use. So I inquired about it, that led to discussion in my staff meeting,
and then, mr. Chess, and I think the attorney, they went back and settled some things as
far as the rightful ownership, et cetera of this particular facility. It is a facility
that is owned by the city. And there's a plan, and I would ask mr. Chess to kind of have staff
prepare to bring us up-to-date, so we can get some communication to the public,
who is watching us as to what is the status? What to expect with this jewel in our
community that a lot of people like to use and rent. So that is kind of where I'm at.
>> mr. Chess. >> deputy manager is going to expand on some of the work that has to be done. This was identified back in july with our previous public works
director. And we had the garden center remediation and renovation project and there
was discussion about funds. For some reason the project was halted, but mr. Johnson, he is
going to go into detail, there are five main criteria that has to be done. I would say work
that has to be done. I will let mr. Johnson go into detail on that.
>> deputy city manager as stated. This project initially kicked off in july of 2025,
shortly after the retirement event. >> jack andrews.
>> exactly. Our facilities manager noticed some issues with the nearing and extremely
soft spots that were at-risk and danger/liability. After further investigation it was
much worse than they could imagine, not only soft spots, but water pooling under the
building with mold and quite a bit going on. I'm not the expert, but so the remediation
efforts and what they found and get up to speed where we are like now and what next steps to
get that building remediated fully and back on the market for availability and usage.
>> welcome, sir. State your name for the record. >> rick stafford, facilities
manager. It's an old facility and we put about as mr. Band-aids that we could in the
seven years I have been here. It's needed some work for a long time. We have all been
there, and for events and everything. It's built in the pit. It's built in a hole.
all the water around that area runs to that building. So that is created problems from under
the building holding moisture and the structural components happened from underneath on
that building. Like chase said, when we started peeling back the layers of this thing,
and we pulled up some the flooring we knew we had some soft spots for a couple of
years now. So we identified thosing and did some investigative restruction and
we went and tore the floors out and the restroom area. As we get in there, we found it
extended in through the kitchen area and under the kitchen cabinets and countertops, which
naturally made the project keep growing. So that is where we're at now. Then we always
run into the m-word when we get there and did the deconstruction -- destruction
of that. There was quite a bit of mold that we found behind cabinets, and in some wall
cavities. So that led us to do indoor air quality testing to test the mold and everything.
and that is where we are now. And then I started putting some numbers together, you know, on
this, and I have compiled a lot both outsourcing some of the work, as well as doing much
in-house as we can. I have always, my division always has con straints those basically
being capital and people we're a team of ten people in facilities right now. So we're
pretty limited what we can do in-house, but we can get a lot done. In a nutshell, I did put
some things out for bid on this. Naturally the mold remediation and demolition is
in there. The flooring. We could probably do that in-house and save some money. Big part
of the costs will be in the mold remediation and getting that portion taken care of, and
that is to the tune of $70,000. But what we have included in that is an encapsulation of the
underside of the building. I found only one company in florida that does this type of
work and they basically treat it like a crawl space or a basement, which we don't have
basements here in florida. But they will enclose that whole underside of it, encapsulate
it, install subpumps that get the water out and basically make that a conditioned space
underneath the building to prevent this kind of damage and rot after we go through the
process. >> so essentially we came up with a pre-plan, three options.
there's an in-house option where the city staff does most of the work. I have already
spoken with rick and his team and allocating a couple of guys to concentrate on that facility
and attempting to get it going. There's a hybrid option in which we contract out some of
it, which obviously will cost more, and then there's having it fully contracted out which
would obviously be the largest cost and currently rick is able to dedicate three guys there
and estimated 45-90 days with three guys dedicated daily with most of the work they can get
done in-house and offsetting there's' roof leak and some other things that the contractor will have to do for encapsulation and things of that nature. That is the
current plan to get this back up and operational. >> questions?
>> so at some point, and I asked for this publicly, as staff meets and you meet with
staff, I think we can get into the details of these three options to look at it and look
at funding source of where these funds could come with further conversations with our
cfo, et cetera. I wanted us to have a level set so we all know. Because I'm sure from
different areas people are asking what about the garden club? And now we all kind of have the same information. And it's not dire, but it's a challenge that we have, because
of how it sits on this property. And it's always been a concern, and when it rains
there it floodsing and the water sits for days sometimes. So if we encapsulate it, that
gives us a shell to protect it from that; right? >> correct. >> and that is a guaranty on it. Okay. I'm fine with it at this point. I wanted you guys
to hear this, if you have any questions. I'm pretty much done.
>> yes, sir? >> I have a little history with this facility. In 2004 I
became the president of the hibiscus park crime watch and we talked about this. There
was some question who had control of the building? Who thought they owned -- had
access and so and so forth? In 2004 we had the hurricanes and neighbors reinstituted the
crime watch to help other property owners and code enforcement, the citizens asked
for code enforcement sweep. I explained to them, be careful what you ask for, you may get
it. It ended up being 87% of the propertis in the park were on probation. It took us four
months to get it down to 25%. The garden center was actually a hub of opportunity whether we
had dumpsters out there, coordinating the clean-uped and neighborhood enhancement teams
were created with t-shirts. Because they had so much interest in making that
neighborhood better again, because it was one of the top growing neighborhoods in the
community. You know, attorneys and doctors and so on. Really were the ones living in
hibifickus park and oakland park was a big park of teaching hibiscus park how to be a
better community whether it's crime watch or improving their neighborhoods. So that is part
of the history why some of the folks think they own it, but it's long history there. I
came in front of the board back then and dennis beach was the city manager. And there being
charged $35 a meeting. And we asked for consideration at that time and part of the history
that they wanted to have it for free or reduced rates. So these are the types of things
that happened and the history that gets us here and sometimes helpful to hear that. I spoke
with the former president, who has significant professional skills, and he has offered to
provide those skills in-kind. He is an architect with a great deal --
>> that is in the neighborhood I bet I know who it is. >> he was a former president
until last year. So the citizens are willing to do whatever they can to help,
whether it's labor, whether it's maintaining an eye on it. And other professional
services. So they are available to have that conversation, and since I live
in the area I would be happy to be a liaison as well. >> thank you.
>> any other comments? I know the community is anxious to get back, especially the garden
club is anxious as you well know. I think they are meeting at the riverwalk.
>> we're interested to get it back as a space, a venue, you know? We were down one because
of the city annex building for a number of years and we're almost at a point that we're
getting that back online and we lost this one. >> yes, right. >> yes, ma'am. >> as long as when we're redoing it making sure that
water won't do damage again. It's worth fixing. >> the pump will pump the water out as can't stop it, but we can get it. The encapsulation will
protect the material that is there. Yes, ma'am. >> and also includes
dehumidifier that gets the moisture out. >> I saw on facebook they do that. I don't know why it's there, but it's there. >> you can believe everything
you read on facebook; right? >> sure >> thank you very much. Anything else from the commission? Thank you. So mr.
chess, you are going to move that along as much -- >> absolutely. Absolutely.
we have a plan. >> thank you very much gentlemen. Thank you.
. >> the next item is the crabby's lease status.
>> commissioner. Broderick. >> at the outset here I'm
going to just comment that I have a day job, and that day job is the administration of
commercial real estate, which involves leases, and construction and all that kind
of stuff. So I'm saying that because the comments I'm about to make I know of what I speak.
so I just want to put it out there, this is 40 some odd years experience in this
particular industry. I received the paperwork forwarded by city attorney
hedges, and I'm not a social media person, but I have been exposed to the social media
regarding this particular topic, and the dichotomy between fact and fix are
extreme. So I first want to set the issue straight to the consuming public and they can
send me all the emails and texts, that is fine. This is not an action taken by the city
of fort pierce. This is a tenant default. The tenant defaulted on their lease. You
can put that into the newspaper and into the news, the tenant defaulted on its lease and not
the city of fort pierce in regards to this institution. Having said that, I have some
very serious concerns as to the handling of this issue internally by the city of fort
pierce. And let me elaborate: as it stands right now, based on the documentation that ms.
hedges separate out and documentation by the city we notified the tenant when they
were four months in arrears in rent. Pi ran my commercial real estate company letting
tenants run four months in arrears, I'm going to apply for a job at the company cleaning
arnold's offices, et cetera. This is not a way to run commercial real estate assets that are owned by the city. However, the default is worse than that. It's now five
months rents. Let's be clear about that. The default is worse than that, in that the
provision of the lease I'm more concerned about, there's a real estate tax provision in the
lease, where the tenant pays the real estate taxes on the site. And this is
unconscionable to me, this default is three years old. Three years the real estate
taxes have not been paid and we're just making demand now for city owed to the city. I
had my team in my office today, who are lease administration people analyze these documents
and myself. So the lease is crystal clear, the city pays the tax bill and then bills the
tenant. The tenant issues reimbursement to the city of
not been paid for reimbursement for real estate tax for three years and the default provision
in that particular clause states that you are in default if ever we invoice you have not
paid within 15 days. So the city of fort pierce is now underwater in this thing,
$215,000 give or take a few dollars. $215,000 of income and costs that is supposed to
be covered by the tenant. The city has not received. From my perspective, that is now the
burden of the taxpayers of the city of fort pierce to make up that shortfall and I find this
to be a horribly mismanaged situation. I asked at last week's meeting for a break
duron of all tenant leases in the city and who is in default and what rent they are paying?
to-date we have not received that documentation. I have requested for the last two
years in the budget cycle for a lease administrator in the city, because as best I can
tell, nobody here knows what real estate is owned by the city of be challenged to say that any department in the city does not know what real estate is owned
by the city of fort pierce? We have leases in the city of fort pierce being administrated by
dean's organization at marina and being administrated by public works and being
administrated by engineering and by fpra and by the city manager's office. This is no
way to run a real estate company and the city has broad real estate assets throughout
the city. So many that we can't enumerate them and can't get a list of what the city
owners, how it's tenanted, who is paying rent and would isn't paying rent more importantly,
et cetera? That organizational capabilities does not exist. And this to me is a classic
example of a real estate company that has gone aria and the city of fort pierce as a
division of the city is a real estate company. We have no oversight in this area and I'm
very, very disturbed of this. This could just be the tip of iceberg as far as I'm concerned
and we know we have all kinds of tenant defaults on other issues that we hear about as it
becomes an egregious situation. When do we say enough is enough and properly manage the
assets owned by the city of fort pierce? I challenge this commission to respond to my
concerns because we're note going to recapture these funds. That money is gone and on that
matter I will discuss the response from a physical asset perspective. Question no. 1 is
this is an abandonment of the property. Correct? Under the abandonment capability state
statute, we have the ability to change the locks and secure the facility. Have we done so does
anybody know that we have changed the locks to take control of the facility and secure the facility? Have we done so? >> mr. Chess?
>> we were told and legal can jump into this, they are allowed to remove the assets
that they placed into the property. >> that is fine, but we can control the facility and allow them access to do that, correct, ms. Hedges? So
clearly we have the ability to do that. Secondly, my second concern, if we haven't
conducted an inspection of this facility, what make me not think a tenant has walked way
from their lease, walked away from the facility and not left their refrigerators and
freezers full of deteriorating and rotting material because we have not conducted an
inspection to determine what the condition is? So out of concern, I contacted fpua
myself. And I inquired to see if the power has been turned off. Fortunately to-date it
has not. I asked is there a standing order to turn it over to the city of fort pierce once
the tenant puts in notification to determinant electrical power? No, there is not. I
don't have the power to do that. How it workses if a tenant is going to shout shut
off the power and landlord gets there before that happens they say we want the account
turned over to us to have no disruption of service. That has not been done. My question
is the facility secured? Have we done an inspection? Have we done an inventory of what is in
there? Have we changed the locks and are we prepared to deal with the clean out that
subsequently has to take place? Guys, this is -- I think I said enough. You understand my
concerns here and relative to the standard of operation in the industry, we're so far out
of the standard, it's -- I don't want to say gross mismanagement of the asset, but
somebody has to be accountable for why we're receiving notification of this months
after the default takes place? In my company we have delinquency reports on the 10th
the month and rent not paid a demand letter is issued to the tenant. It's a 10-day demand
and statutory requirements is dele days. Why we're beyond the statutory requirements is
not for discussion today, but we issued a demand letter to take collection action, and
move to evict for non-payment. Fortunately the tenant decided because that works -- that is a
two edged sword. You issue the letter of demand, they pay the rent or vacate the
preponderance. They choose to vacate. So now we have an empty thy facility in my opinion that is not secured, and the outstanding financial duress that the city is going
to experience from this is horific. I will leave it at that. You will let everybody
else chime-in on this. >> commissioners? >> madam mayor, so as I
learned to the facts, I'm concerned, and challenged by the level of delinquency here.
and it's not -- it's years; right? And so this goes back to the initial lease, bringing
in the partnership. So we put this on tonight for discussion. For us up here, the five,
because we don't talk besides this. We have our staff meetings. We all kind of
caught this last week through social, then some of us may have had conversation with mr.
chess. But mr. Chess, I think this is going to warrant some immediate actions; right? So
I think that some that have been raised are legitimate, particularly have we secured
this actual facility and the status of that? I think that warrants some type of update to
us. So that we have an understanding; right? I'm not necessarily concerned about
social media and all of the stuff out there and people making comments. They are free to do that. That is their opinion, but here is an asset that is on the water, that in
essence belongs to the city of fort pierce. So it's important that we get that update. What
is more concerning though is as we look at internal procedures, I think this calls for an
immediate review of -- not only this, but all of our leases quite frankly, so much
so that we have to have some of the answers and I have to understand where did this fail?
because it set for so long without coming to our attention is quite frankly, unacceptable.
we have been in a state of change in complexity since two, three years ago, when we got
the call on the arrest of our city manager. This is a result of all of that turbulence over
that time of interim this, new people in and out between then. We have got to steady the
ship. Those that are in position in this city that have been here knew this.
>> somebody did. >> somebody knew this. And we need to understand and we
need staff to understand that everybody here is say leader. You cannot stick your head in
the sands right now, because it's all hands on deck. We have got to figure this out and
understand what do we need to do to support this? So I say it that way, because quite
frankly, mr. Chess was not here three years ago. >> I am not saying --
>> I understand that. I'm challenging staff here. >> somebody was.
>> somebody was here. And we need to understand that accountability and where that
is at because this is quite frankly unacceptable. The lease, they walked way.
>> yes. >> the tax bill thing, what I didn't -- okay. That kind of
caught me a little bit now. >> that is lee years. Three years.
>> that is three years, somebody should have known that. I'm looking forward to
answerses. >> commissioner dadosky. >> thank you. I understood
this was going to be coming to us, of course, social media, everybody calls everybody.
>> did you hear him? >> sorry. I just don't want to yell at you guys. So I saw
that this was coming. I sent every iterations of this property and what has
transpired. So I provided that for mr. Chess and for the attorney, and I thought my
first conversation was really going to be about the possibility of assignment of
the lease. Now commissioner broderick, you gave me a few more pieces of information I
did not have, and that is why we have these public meetings. The challenge that we have and
I'm going to share with you my position, since I was just running, and I'm sorry to keep
bringing it up. When you are running for a position, you bring up all of the ideas and
things you see as a challenge from outside saying you are going to fix them. These are
foundational issues with the city of fort pierce, because we have had changeover and so and
so forth. We had a lot of temporary folks and so on. The foundational management of the
city needs to be changed. That is going to be up to us to create the policies and the
procedures and providing the direction of the city manager; the clerk and the attorney to
move these things forward. Each of the departments are going to be absolutely going to have to be a part of the answer. There's plenty of blame to go around. The idea
is the blame is there, our job now is to provide the policies necessary to guide the ship. I
hate to say it because it's in the marina. Anyway, this is very serious. We need policies
from the purchasing department, finance, planning, there's plenty of opportunity if all
the departments that we have to start foundation planning and fixing these things going
forward. I have had my conversations with mr. Chess. I have explained to him my
position on things, and I think with the strategic planning process coming up that is going
to be a laundry room for all of the issues and starting the process of rebuilding this city
hall. We're no longer thepodunck little town fort pierce. The city is on the
rise and the city will see growth. These issues are not simply fort pierce's issues.
we had -- they had the same issues at the county. Airport properties with tenants for 3-4
years that never paid a dime. They did all kind of renovations on hangars that
weren't permitted until 3-4 years later, until we find out, we'll use the term
"whistle-blower." why are those people there and they are not paying lease? So cities and counties and government agencies are terrible, terrible landlords
because there's no central location to manage the leases, the oversight, and the
financial responsibility of making sure everything is being done properly. So yes, we can
all be angry, but our job now, the five of us with our staff is to develop the policies
necessary to change everything from the foundation up, and be the city we're going to be, and
have those stopgap plurs measures to be a prosperous city.
>> commissioner gaines? >> I will follow-up from commissioner dzadsovsky. The
milk has spilled, so to speak. Don't cry over spilled milk, the milk has spilled. From my
conversations with the city manager. Has put up a plan that we won't
see this again. He is already developing that plan. So commissioner board of
broderick, you said it better than I could. I didn't know how far to go
when you brought it up. This is a time now to start relying on whatever happened in the
past, whoever was here in the past, whoever knew, whoever knew this, this is the time
tonight, today, to say, going forward in fort pierce, if you do business with city of fort
pierce, here are the rules. Here are whatever and it's up to the five of us to make sure
that we have these rules listed 1, 2, 3, or a, b, c and we follow the rules. Like you
said, commissioner broderick. Any other business outside of the city, would have been
terminated this contract, would have never let it go this far. Don't know why -- we'll
probably find out. My job sitting in this seat is to make sure after february, what is
it? The 17th. The 17th. February 17th, you know, I don't come next year or if I'm
re-elected again, let's deal with it today and put parameters and rules in today. Let's staff know, hey guys it's not status quo any more. This is what we need to do, and this
is how we want to go. So you know, I have talked to mr. Chess. He understands how I
feel. And to staff that are listening, we got to do better. Don't know where the ball was
dropped. It was dropped. Let's pick it up and make sure it's not dropped again.
>> follow-up whenever you're ready. >> so I think you can't -- the
first thing you got to do is have the information. And one of the things that we -- this
commission has been asking for, and has said, is that we don't know where all the contracts
are? Who is managing them? Who is in charge? Who is following them? And even if we
said we had expectations, nobody seemed to be saying okay, now I'm going to enforce those -- make sure that people make those expectations. So mr. Chess and I had a
conversation just today about it. Because not only do we need to know, does he need to
know -- he needs to know to be able to tell us. And he, he needs to have that information,
and I think that you -- that you had told me that a department was putting together
a list of all of the contracts, and when they're expired, and what needs to be done with
them? And that, somebody needss to be paying attention to that, and the tax thing is
very concerning, because nobody was paying attention to whether they reimbursed -- nobody was
paying a attention and need accountability. So I think we need to set down some
expectations of things that this commission needs to know, and we need to know what the
plan is going forward. I know one of the things that you talked about, mr. Chess, today,
was an aging -- a document for aging in terms of aging receivables.
>> respond to you all. >> absolutely. Go ahead. You can respond.
>> certainly. I'm not happy about this as well. This is what I did in my prior life
intimately. I share your sentiments and the day I found out about it, five or six days
later, I sent a letter to cure. I didn't know we were behind in the lease payments and not
aware they were behind in the property taxes. The moment I found out I drafted a letter
with the city attorney and shared with the project manager and the manager of the marina
and collaborated and I had it sent out and return received. When they received that letter,
they had to cure it. We said the city will take further legal action , if
necessary.that is as strong as that language was in the cure letter. So very concerned that
I wasn't told about that. And the moment I pound out to commissioner gaines point, I
immediately shut it down. Give us our money. What is the plan going forward? In terms of
what we're doing internally. I don't know who is making the statement we don't know where
our leases are? We have a list of all the propertying and the managers responsible for
managing those properties. I have a contract tool, an excel sheet we have given to all
directors, that they share with managers. They are told to go through all their contracts,
and let me know when the contract expires? Are we going to put an rfp out? Are we
going to renew it? In a timely manner. We started this two months ago. So we'll get you
all the information we'll need. It's not fully update and populated yet. We know clearly
all our lease elements are, we have a tool to manage our leases, that the staff has
which they have been told to update and continuously collaborate with procurement on
that. The past two months the staff have done an phenomenal draft of giving me draft
policis and procedures across the departments and various disciplines. This notion that
we don't know where the leases are is not correct and the staff is putting together the
analysis to get rfps on the road. I did put a property manager position in the budget.
it was taken out. You all know that. I had that in there to get that position to
centralize the process. I'm still looking to bring on a deputy city manager to help me
with that process. We're not happy about this and this is not how we conduct business.
staff knows that I told them know, the next time they have department meetings. The
directors I want to talk directly to their staff and let them know this is not going to
be tolerated. It's the little mistakes and omissions that is not good for the city. We
shouldn't be here defending what somebody else did wrong. That is whateer doing. We have
these preventative measures to prevent things from happening with detection measures. We
have an aging schedule, 30-60-90-120-day schedule of those that did not pay us
anything and from accounting perspective with that 30-day schedule, you send a demand
letter. 60-day, you let them know you missed payment and goes to collections
90-day, collections and shuting it down. So there's a process dealing with aged receivables.
it doesn't work with 5-10 days but with the aging schedule, taking 30-60, 90-121 days. By
the time you get to 120 days you are not getting your money and that is where we're. When
that demand letter went out, october, november, december, january, four months, that is
the standard. So we should have been told about that. I discussed this with staff. I'm
not happy about it. I shouldn't be here discussing what we didn't do right when we
have someone who basically bailed on us and didn't pay their obligation. We have
discussed this with processs in place that we're looking at proceedwise and getting the age
schedule. I haven't come here to be a cfo, but to look at documents to know what is
outstanding, I will do that with the summer of heyses that you asked for. Staff is going
to do their job. I'm not doing staff's job, but I will monitor certain situations until we get
proper management in place in other areas. As far as the leases are concerned, we know
where they are. We know who is responsible for managing the leases. We're updating the due
dates of all leases and know it's a cumulative process in terms of pulling that together.
we do have a tool in place that detect someone's not paying, which is our aging
receive ables schedule to look at with the finance department. >> you need to have something
someplace so it doesn't get three years behind. These are monthly payments.
>> communication. Not to get too detailed with, our preventative and detective
measures. The connective measure behind it, which is the third measure is to communicate
that. That wasn't communicated so we knew it wasn't paid. >> somebody needs to trigger
that. Somehow. >> madam mayor, somebody needs to just talk to us, talk to me
at least and let me know what is going on. I shouldn't have to ask the question. I will
stop here because staff works really hard in other areas. I don't want to make it sound
like staff isn't doing their job in a widespread way, but somebody should have let me
know we were experiencing this situation with crabbies. >> you didn't know and we
didn't know. >> it was a communication with crabby's management and they
told us something and that just stayed there and went on for three more months. We have
addressed it and know what the issue is. We have a plan. We have a detection, it's
important to detect what the issues are. Once we detect it, we take action and move
forward. I will keep you involved and informed on anything that we detect, as
long as I know about it. As I said, with this particular situation, the moment I found
out, three, four days we had the letter that said stop, pay us our mon.
>> commissioner broderick, do you want to say something else? >> from my professional experience I'm going to suggest that we need this information domiciled in one location,
spreading across multiple departments seems nonsensickical to me
>> it's in one location, it's in procurement. All the contracts comes out of
procurement and what procurement's responsibility go to dinner departments. We have
two different processes, rfp process and project and procurement doesn't manager the
individual contracts. The departments and project manager does that. They should be
manage the contracts and dliverables and what is being executed and not being
executed. Procuriosity's job is to have all contracts and for renewal and for rfp. So they
have got all contracts together with individual department heads to update their section
of their department contracts, get them back to you, so you can start monitoring renewals.
as far as kong tract management, that is not procurement's role. That is
the department's role. Contract management and project management, that is what we
need to get on top of. We have issues with renewals. And I said, we think that we have ang
rfp problem. No, the rfps, they will get in line with our process. We have procurement
codes. We have a process with rfps. Contract management we have to deal with, because
contract management properly someone on the other sides as well, the project manager should have seen this as well. Finance is responsible. So we have two things going on, the
contract pmanager and project manager should have known my money isn't hitting the budget,
why am I not getting my revenue? We have checks and balances here. As a project
manager, I should know my revenues and expenses on a monthly basis. If I'm not
seeing revenues pop lated over 3-4--month period, go to the finance director and what is
going on? That is not their responsibility to post the entries. The finance department is to post the entries and if you are not getting the money let me know.
as far as procurement is concerned all the contracts come out of procurement. The
project managers are responsible for managing the contracts and procurement should be notified. When the contract expires, you should start the rfp process. So
we're on the same page with that, but to take it out of procurement to put in a
property management office would be the being empowered and safe bet with centralizing
this. I have done this as cfo accounting and auditing director, I know the controls
that must be in place to make this happen. Our staff must change their behavior.
>> I couldn't agree more. This there are multi-tiered failures here and talking about
funding of a property management position, we lost more money that that position
would have cost us. That leads me to my next question and I pose this question -- I'm
really not concern to whom. I have structure was built by the tenant. We own the land,
they built the structure. We need to find out immediately if there's some type of
subordination to a mortgage company and we have to give them notice. >> we have title work being done. >> so have we ordered title
search on this to determine if there is some type of subordination that we have to
default the mortgage holder? This could get very ugly very quickly. And we need all of
the facts in front of us to make it a clear plan to deal with the depalestine. I can
assure you somebody is owed money on the structure there. It's not the city of fort
pierce. So we'll have to deal with that as well. The idea of the organizational chart you
are getting to, except for commissioner department of dzadsovsky, I have asking for
this information for two years now as a list of property owned by the city, a spreadsheet as
far as rental, current vacancies, et cetera. For a portfolio of leases by
the city. I secure all the documentation relative to it. I do a deep-dive into every one
real estate situations that the city finds itself in. I must have 15 of these sitting on my
credenza right now. I am very frustrated with that as the city manager is indicating if
we have a delinquency, and I understand that. I'm a private enterprise you are delinquent
after ten days I'm coming after you, a good line about the movie good fellas about that.
I understand the 30-day, 60-day delinquency, four months before we take action is simply
unacceptable. There's multiple failures and those need to be addressed moving forward. The
other thing is guys, from a managerial perspective, which we are managerial people here,
we need to know what does the city own? What are we checking for income? Who is in
default? Who is not doing with a they are supposed to be doing with the real estate? We need
that analytickal data as well. You are saying the city is working on compiling all of that. That is not an easy undertaking because somebody has to analyze all of these
leases because these leases with all different. There's a stock, there's a form that we
use and it's docked up significantly. Every one is different. Feather about the
subordination that will come through in the title search, who is auditing the percentage leases? Are we auditing the numbers? >> making sure of that, yes.
>> we need someone with eyes on these very important issues. This is our money, our
taxpayer money. Income to the city. And god only knows we're desperate for income. I
will leave it at that. Mr. Chess has a solution to move this forward and get the
information that this commission needs. I will look at those spreadsheets and say I
think we need to add this or that and give the suggestions to mr. Chess.
>> I will give you the summary you have been asking for, the leases, rent amounts, rent
amounts that are due or overdue to us. I will put it in a simple form. Who the
tenant is? The amount they owe. >> yes. >> the amount they pay per
month, and whether or not they are overdue? >> payment status.
>> we can do that. >> every one of these lease s different. If I sound angry,
I'm pissed. That the city of fort pierce is getting hit for another quarter million dollars
just like that. That we're out. And to have a three-year default in a lease issue, guys,
this is no way to run our operations, period. Mr. Chess has a solution here that is
implementing and has been working on apparently that I was unaware of. I did not know
that information was being accumulated and digested, et cetera. That is a great start,
but we need to get serious about the assets of the city of fort pierce and how we're
managing those moving forward? This is serious business. I assure you if other tenants in
city-owned property think this high-profile tenant can get away with this, why can't I?
trust me, it's going to happen. This is not an isolated situation.
>> mr. Chess, one thing I want to point out though is that when we took that position out
you would have the new deputy city manager. >> that is still the plan. >> you are in the process of hiring that person, isn't that right? Right. Okay. So I
think this makes it even more imperative that you have help for that.
>> we're closing out the interviews this week. And when we make a decision and
recommendation on dcm next week. >> that person I'm thinking should be a big help to you in
this area, because that was the plan when we talked about the budget. >> exactly, and it's still the plan. >> anybody else want to
chime-in here? >> I'm going to close this out. You know, thank you for
putting this on the agenda, our discussion here; right? This is a tough part of one fort
pierce, the tough conversations that have to be had. These are the tough things that we have
to face as one commission and we have to fix this. And we will fix it; right? And so to
the residents that are out there that are watching this right now, this is how we have
to have public debate, we don't go into a meeting. We have the public debate in the public to
everybody can see exactly where we are. To different levels of degree, we all have our own way
of exhibiting our level of passion, and our level of frustration with this. I'm
somewhat better than I was a few minutes ago, knowing that we have a plan. And some of it
has been executed on. Obviously, because hey, staff is here every day. This is
your job. You are the leader of staff in this building. And staff has to understand that
leadership is just not you. Staff is also in leadership positions. And they need to
make sure that they -- you need to convey that they need to make sure that they are
conveying information. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Because for three years, this
ugly thing was sitting on somebody's area of responsibility, and they said
nothing. They really are not buying into what I call one fort pierce. One five fort
pierce is not just us, but staff too. We're here to support and defend staff, but
staff to understand I bo rather know it's not good and have a chance to fix it rather than
find out about it in the paper if I could make a statement, there was an issue with the
billing on the property taxes where they were not billed. We did not receive that from the
county. So there was a situation, I don't know if somebody could expound on it, but there was an issue that the county did not give us the property taxes for us to
invoice the tenant. And that is where there's a gap with that and that all happened at
one time. Although it sound like it happened over a 12 -month period. It doesn't
happen like that. When we received the late bill, that is when we sent it to the tenant
one-time. So it cascumulative. We never received the property taxess from the county to pay -- to bill the tenant. So I want people to understand, the audience and listening public
it wasn't a situation that went one, two, three years and didn't get the bill. The
county gave us three years' of bills at one time. We paid it and then we billed the tenant
and they didn't pay it. So I want to be clear. It's not on the staff whereas, they let
these bills go over 36 -month period. It doesn't happen that way. We had no documentation
to bill them, because we didn't receive the bill. >> I understand that. Thank
you for that clarification. >> it's important that we know that. >> I feel a little bit better. How do we go and we don't know there's a brand-new building
and we don't realize we're collecting property taxes? >> okay. >> it's more detail. I just wanted to put that out there. It's still not comfortable, but
that is what happened. >> commissioners, commissioner dzadsovsky.
>> this goes back to and let's understand, here is a clear example that we need full
transparency, full disclosure of everything going on and do a mea culpa, and say, there were
failures and move forward. The public will attack us and get on social media and grandstand
and that is not our worry. Our worry, our function is to create and fix the foundational
issues, giving mr. Chess the policies necessary to make the important changes that we need.
the procurement process, the purchasing process, you know, all of those things are
incrediblingly important to move this forward. So there is already public interest outside
investors, and commissioner broderick, going to lean on your expertise in the commercial lease side, because you have that experience. And I'm going to hope that you
bring that to the table when we're there our strategic planning process and help to
give that experience and information to mr. Chess and staff, so we can forego some of
the short-term challenges with your knowledge upfront will be very helpful from the strategic
planning sides. >> plane crashes don't just happen, they are 5, 6,7, 8, 10,
12 mistakes before they happen and we're seeing that is exactly happened here. Many
mistakes going through. The plane crashed. >> perfect storm. >> perfect storm. Let's just hope that we have sully on board and everybody survives.
>> so mr. Chess, are we -- we're clear? >> absolutely clear.
>> everybody clear? Okay. We're going to move on. >> next we have comments from
the public. >> this is an opportunity for members of the public to come before the commission and you have three minutes. Ms. Cox will give you a ten-second
warning, and state your name for the record. I know who you are, but the record needs to
know. >> floras johnson, fort pierce, 19th street. This was
good. I'm glad I stayed. I had another meeting to get to. And some words that come out
accountability, and looking at how things are run. I appreciate the issues that
commissioner broderick brought out, and of course, the comments from mr. Chess. I
have seen this on an interval-level with projects in africa even. There's a time
that things have to be shaken up, the old way of doing things cannot stay the same. So we
have got to look at ways of fixing things, working things and working with staff and
accountability is key. Communication is key. We live in a beautiful city. I was
born and raised here for most part and the one fort pierce concept is important. It's
critical. Looking at -- and I'm putting my little environmental hat on. The
garden club building. That whole area in there, I have driven when we had strong rain
events, and I'm just sitting there wondering how can there be studies? Because I was
taking a neighbor to work at one of those side streets there. I forget, but that
rain, and I have a honda pilot and it was above the wheel. That rain came, so the drainage
is real low slope in that. So over in lincoln park area, down avenue I from lincoln park, I
have witnessed that. So in the future with engineering, and stuff having a good, strong
look at our infrastructure as far as stormwater management. With the beach renourishment.
we have gone through that. Coastal resiliency is important when we are doing planning and
zoning and things come up with development. But we have to be careful, tuned in and talking
to one another. A couple of other points, but I will come back later. Thank you. >> thank you very much. Anyone else wishing to address the commission, please come
forward? Anyone else? >> do I have to say my name? >> please.
>> my name is germyeric mural. >> where do you live? >> fort pierce 916 avenue h.
I just wanted to state that I'm pretty pleased with the conversations that are being
had. You know, it sounds like we're on the right track. Me being a resident here, and I
personally just, you know, being aware of crabby situation. I personally
thought it was a nice attraction at that area. So again, I'm happy with the way
that things are going in spite of everything that has occurred, or that what has
recently happened of thank you. >> s thank you, sir. Anyone else wishing? Anyone else?
>> my name is dan kendal and live at 20 orange avenue and we have really been enjoying
crabbies. We had no idea this was going on of I do know the manager over there and couple
things. One is that -- this is just what I have heard. There were complaint about work that
somehow the city is supposed to have been doing along the way on that building. I don't know
if it's few or not and the whole $20 million deal on the marina. He was very concerned
about no parking, and no access to crabby's and my opinion, and this is strictly off the top
here is that they were doomed with the $21 million deal, because they weren't going to
have any access or any parking or anything. This was an opportunity for them to get out
of this, had no idea about the taxes. But we were really sad they're gone, because it was a
nice facility and we liked the people. I assume once you find out what the legal aspects are
you are going to put someone else in there, I assume you have that right. You own the
building at this point, don't you? >> we don't answer the questions here. I get a chance to talk. >> I hope another restaurant
goeses in there very soon and they get parking for this whole thing to be done with the
marina. Have no idea -- I can't even get a map what is going on there. I'm working on
that for myself. Thank you. >> thank you,, sir. Anyone else wishing to address the
commission, seeing no movement, we'll move on. >> okay. Next item is
comments from the city manager. >> mr. Chess. >> I just want to be sure that
we circle back around to securing the facility with the city attorney and the direction
to know what we can do and not do. We want to do that today, but we fell back. We started
to do that. >> about securing the facilitiess, is that what you
said? >> we fell back because with were instructed to get of their assets out of there. That is the first thing to do is go in and lock it down, you
are craig, sir. I understood that. With that being said, I had one commentary. Today
jesse jackson died he was 84 years old. And aside from his civil rights achievements and
him doing sit-ins when he was a freshman in college from greenville, north carolina,
where he was from. He encouraged voter participation and voter registration and for
our youth council who came in today, we all know martin luther king, jr. And reverend
jackson was a young guy at that time to mention that. I was a young kid during that time, but
I observed that. So it's important that as what our commissioners always say, it
doesn't matter who you vote for, go out and vote. He encouraged that and to keep
that history going, and keep that movement going. Because sometimes we get caught into
partisan issues and we lose sense that we need to participate. So I just wanted to say that on behalf of the reverend jesse jackson, may he rest in peace. He has done a
great deal for this nation. Thank you. >> thank you. >> mr. Ms. Cox, do you have anything? Nothing tonight, thank you.
>> ms. Hedges pursuant to section 286.011, subsection 8 of florida statutes, I do want
to advise you as the city commission that I desire your advice kening the currently
pending litigation in the pierce one marijuana, llc. Versus the city of fort pierce and the fort pierce redevelopment agency. That case no. 562024hcaz0167. I
think there's another zero that I missed. It's pending in st. Lucie county and the
subject-matter of the meeting shall be confined to settlement negotiations and strategy
related to expenditureses preponderant for the meeting is myself, outside counsel, john
stewart and alex russell or both or one ever them, the city manager and all members of city
commission. There will be a court reporter present at that meeting. I have worked with
the city clerk to find some time for this meeting that I am requesting. And I'm proposing
that it be set march 2nd, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. And that would be a special meeting
>> what was the date again? I'm sorry? >> march 2nd march 2nd at 3:00 p.m. >> do we have a meeting that night, is that right?
>> at 5:00, 5:05, yes, ma'am. >> you also have a special meeting at 4:30 for the same
subject, a public meeting. >> so this meeting would begin in the public, and then go into
the shade and then come back to the public. >> do you need any action
taken on that? >> I do not. I have it advise you that I need that meeting.
if you all could, if you are able to confirm march 2nd at 3:00 p.m. Would work for you.
think ms. Cox checked your calendars, but if anybody knows anything that is maybe not on a
calendar, that would be great to know now. >> I'm good.
>> I'm good. >> yes. >> I will make it good.
>> thank you. >> do you need anything else from you? >> no, ma'am, I do not. >> okay, we'll move on. >> next is comments from the
city commission. >> okay. Who would like to start?
>> madam mayor, I will start and I will be brief. Mr. Chess, thank you for the
comments for reverend jackson. We were all stunned to learn that news. He has ties to fort
pierce. His current wife is from fort pierce. Was born and raised here in the lincoln park
area. So I'm sure she -- I think she still has one or two remaining family members in the
area. So we share part of that history. Those of us that our parents knew her and her family
always let us know that as we would see her on tv with him; right? But she has ties here
to fort pierce. And you know, we will continue to remember his legendary and keep him and
his family in our prayers. This week we're going to open up a museum and recognize
highwaymen with a festival where those journeymen highwaymen are selling
paintings. I think that for all that we are challenged with and there's a mighty lift,
there's also a lot of great going on in our beautiful city of fort pierce. The last
couple of meetings we have approved new developments coming to our area, which will
bring housing. We have approved investment in our community, which is going to galvanize and pull our community together. And you know, I'm still very, very
optimistic about fort pierce and where we're going. We have hired new people to come into
the city of fort pierce to lend expertise. And you know, these are the tough times of
leadership. It's always there, no matter how, where, whatever. These are tough times. But I
do believe and I'm still optimistic that one fort pierce is the vision and all of
us pulling together, having accountability and fort pierce will continue to flourish and
we will be that shining city on the sun coast as the sunrises out of atlantic ocean right
here. So thank you all. Thank you all, staff. Thank you for all that you do. And let's go
one fort pierce. >> all right. >> I don't have a lot. Well,
let's see, I have been here 12 days. It's exciting. There's a lot of work to do, let's face
it. I'm going to share with you, I have had multiple conversations with mr. Chess,
and I saw him, his background whenever I was not being considered for city manager.
come on, you got to have a sense of humor. I'm not making fun, light of what we're doing
here. I looked at folkses would were seeking the city manager position and the area
of cfo, auditor, all that has been missing in fort pierce. I think that is critical
component that I think mr. Chess is actually going to be able to provide the opportunity
for creating departments that will be transparent, will be able to deliver that which we
need to protect the citizens, protect the taxpayers and protect the elements and
integrity of the city of fort pierce. All of those things will come through, and to and
give us the opportunity that outside investors will find fort pierce that we are
developing a whole new process. So that the development world, and I'm not saying 30-stories.
don't get crazy, folks will be saying I'm the developer buy guy and I'm not. We need
proper investment and need to know we're secure in our processes to have a definitive
answer at the end and not be blindsided along the way. All that is important. We'll have
to go through our comprehensive plan and through the planning department, the purchasing
department, the finance department the. All of those are foundational as you hear me
saying it and I'm going to keep saying it until we get the policies in place that help to
build a very strong base of government agency that the public can respect and believe
in. That being said, commissioner broderick, again, thank you for your time on the
beach, the time spent there. The process and having this, I thought that I had thought
through this lease issue and so on and so forth pretty thoroughly. When you brought
up your expertise, which I'm going rely on, because you do have that 40-years' experience.
how these leases work? The mortgages and subrogation of the mortgages is going to be
incredibly important. Just because we get the building back doesn't mean we have the access. I will share you on social media there is a significant interest by
investors that want to get into that building. So we're going to have to prepare whatever
we're going to do, and be prepared for those questions. Because that is going to be a
hot-topic not unlike little jim. This one can be a high end restaurant. I mean, we
know it has its challenges architecturally. I think whoever is able to get in there
is able to make changes to make it or acceptable for overseeing the marina. That is all to
come. We need to be prepared for how we're going to go forward with that process,
because the interest is there already. >> I will follow up on that.
I don't know much, but I do know my business. And I have done it my entire career. I
have never done anything else. So having said that, I'm sorry always as the balance of the
commission knows I'm always ready to lend my opinion on real estate issue as you
construction issues because that is all I have ever done that. Having said that, of
course I have input on these particular topics. Having said that, you are correct in that
we have an opportunity to take an asset, and improve upon it. So I'm looking forward to the
opportunity to weighing in on that discussion. We have clean-up to do, with the
subordination and get the facts on the table and hopefully there's nobody in front of us
with superior claims to this asset over us, which is very possible. The city attorney is
well-armed and we have had brief discussion about that and mr. Chess said that title work
has been ordered. So all that will come out and it could be a pile of crap that we have to
deal with, but we'll get through it. We're going to clear title, so we can manage
the asset appropriately. And secure a new vendor that the city of fort pierce will be
thrilled with. I'm very excited for the opportunity to weigh-in on that. Having said
that, I know I get charged up about these topics, because -- I was admonished for years
saying that the city of fort pierce like any other municipality, we need to run it
like a business. This isn't a business, this is government. That is the problem, I said. Government is the problem. Let's run it like a business operation and we can avoid
these types of issues. So I think we have identified that clearly as a motivational end
here to succeed in our revamping of our system and our operations to be more nimble
and run it like a business, where we have the taxpayers of the city at heart as to what
we're taxing them to run operations, et cetera. To maximize our income, through
city-owned assetses when appropriate, and to manage these assets appropriately on
behalf the citizens of fort pierce. That is what we're here to do amongst the other
thousands thing we're here to do. But that is critical from my perspective. I will continue to work with staff to see that we're successful in that endeavor moving forward.
it's critically important to me. As I said over and over, we have a 67 million dollar
budget to run this entire city. You tell the public that, you are kidding; right? Once they
find that out, they are how do you do it? Well, it's challenging. Why do you think
we didn't do x, y and z, because public safety to take care of, and public works to
take care of. Having said that, I agree, I'm very optimistic about the future
of the city of fort pierce and also take responsibility for this issue. I have been in
this seat for three and a half years and why this haven't been brought forward is mind numbing
to me. If the tax bills weren't billed to the city and couldn't bill to the tenant,
candidly that is not the tenant's fault. You have to follow the bouncing ball here.
you look forward to getting more information because I was speak out of term with a
36-month default, because they just got the tax bills. If that is truly the case and I
believe that is what it is, I withdraw my criticisms from that perspective, because they
were misplaced. However, there is still critical deficiencis in the process, that mr. Chess
has identified and he is looking to clean up and fix. His background as a cfo, and a
school-trained accounting, et cetera. Those skills are of critical importance to the city
of fort pierce as we're expanding. Is I'm grateful that we have that capacity
moving forward. I get angry and pissed. Because I get angry about things like this and say
this is another self-inflicted wounds that simply shouldn't have gotten to this and the
accountability for that is mr. Chess's to give us a post-action report. Let's get
the asset in our possession and whatever legal has do to accomplish that and shake
whatever is out the tree out this and let's move. Let's move on and make this situation
better. That is what I'm all about as of right now. I vented my position on it, and
you guys know I'm famous for that. I know that. So I will shut up.
>> commissioner gaines. >> madam mayor, commissioners, thank you for
allowing me to step away to take a call. Everything is all right, but I had to take a
call. I heard everything that was said. So I'm not going to harp on that again. I have
all confidence in our city manager to alleviate this problem, and get the city to
where we have to be. You know, for the longest when we're going through everything, to
hire a city manager, all we heards was fix the problem, fix the problem, fix the problems.
now you know, he is fixing the problems and some in the community don't like he how he
is fixing the problem. So I will just put it out there. It's not that way anymore in
fort pierce, and the commissioner broderick said we have to rely on his expertise.
I'm not a cfo, never want to be a cfo. So you know, we have to have his expertise to fix the
problem. The one thing I just want to reiterate is that our staff and our police work very
hard. What I don't want from anyone to takeaway is someone dropped the ball. However,
we're not blaming you or your work, but to have better communication so we know it
won't happen again. So staff you will be asked to step up to the plate. It's just that
simple, and if that makes you upset, then you know, you can deal with it however you want
to deal with it. But it's now the time to step up to the plate, because I'm tired of
getting a negative hit on everything that we do up here. It's like we take two steps
forward and five steps back. That is just how I feel on that. One thing, I don't know
if it was mentioned because I didn't hear it because I was talking. I lost a mentor
today. I had the privilege of working with and knowing the reverend jesse jackson and I
just want to say to his family, rest in peace. A lot of people don't know or maybe they do
know that mrs. Jackson was born in fort pierce. You shared she was born in fort pierce. So
you know, to her, you know, we're standing behind her. And I just wanted to say to the
family, rest in peace. The last thing I want to say is to my community. I don't know if
it's full moon, I don't know what is going on out here, but let's put the guns up and stop
the foolishness. People have a right to go somewhere and have a good time without worrying
about -- without worrying about running for their lives or losing their lives. Let's stop
this. So to our new chief, welcome. Don't know where to start. To the officers that I
heard all weekend, with your sirens on going everywhere, all over our city, and it just
wasn't one part of our city. It was everywhere, everybody's lights were on. Great job. Be
safe out there and thank you for what you are doing. To the community, we all have to come
together. The five of us up here to the sheriff, or the chief of police cannot stop all
of this violence. There has to be a community effort. And we need your help, the officers
need your help. The deputies need your help. We need your help. So let's put it down,
let's not start this again, and let's just keep our city growing as we have been, and
let's just stop it. So with that madam mayor, thank you. >> thank you. So I wanted to
go back to the staffing, and mr. Chess, one of the things that I think that your staff
needs to be encouraged is not to allow silos to keep them from communicating with one
another. And keep them communicating with you. Because that is, as
commissioner johnson said, one fort pierce is across lines, everybody is an ambassador for
this, every single staff person should be an ambassador for the city of fort pierce. I think
communication and there's so many situations, so many press points during this situation,
where better communication could have made it better. So people speaking up, and keeping
people informed, and working across staff lines, and helping each staff helping each other
is so important. We have got a great staff, and so we don't have a lot of them. So what
everybody needs to do is pull their fair share. So I want to just make sure that silos don't
arrive where one department is not working with another department. That is really
incredible. >> can I share in your sentiment? Because I'm new,
and this is -- I.t.'s going to be mad at me, silos I can't get into any door, in my office, to
any department to talk to anybody, because I only have access to one door. And if
somebody in finance had a challenge and they wanted to share that information with
someone in the clerk's office, or in purchasing, or mr. Chess's office and they can't
get through the doors, there is your silos, just my little two weeks here, I feel
claustrophobic. >> if a staff member wants to talk to another staff member or
somebody in finance, hey walk up to mr. Chess and walk in his office, and have that
conversation. I'm seeing silos, just because I can't get around the building and I'm a commissioner. I'm not a terrorist. >> we haven't checked that
yet. To say something. Seriously, the silos you make a very good point. Employees need to be
able to talk to other employees and sometimes they don't want to just broadcast it, because
somebody may get in trouble, but may anyway because of sharing the conversation. To
be able to talk to other employees and sharing information can be helpful to
break down silos. You make an excellent point and thank you for allowing me to chime-in.
>> sure. Sure. Sure. The other thing I was going say on a totally different project,
tonight we approved phase 5 forlawnwood's addition and they have put a lot of money into
this community and to remember that. They have seen is growing and gotten their home office to put the money in. They are building a garage, what five stories and it was
$29 million, is that right $24,000 per parking stall for future reference.
>> I was going to ask if they want to build a second one downtown? That is a legal two
trauma center, a really big deal for this area, because there isn't one -- another one on the treasure coast. And so their hca is investing in in community and there's a lot of
good things happening in this community. I think that we're on-notice now that we need to
do a better job of stewardship and we're all on-notice. That includes all of the staff. So
with that, unless there's anything else, we're going to be adjourning.
>> madam mayor, sorry, if I may, just briefly, commissioner gaines, I know you step out
while you were out of the room I advised the commission that I need your advice under section
286.011 subsection 86 florida statutes related to pierce one marina investors the city and
fpra. I wanted to make sure you could hear it out in the hall. Okay. And I was
proposing march 2nd at 3:00 p.m. For that meeting just wanted to make sure that works
for you. >> I'll be here. >> I just wanted to make sure
I got the case number right 562024-ca001627. >> thank you very much. We're
going to stay very, very legaled into to all the other things we're going to do. Are
we ready to adjourn, we're going to be adjourning and turning out the element lights
and if you want to