##VIDEO ID:y7S_ROLhuYQ## >> GOOD EVENING! WE'RE GOING TO START IN ABOUT FIVE MINUTES SO IF YOU WANT TO START FINDING AN EMPTY SEAT, WE WILL GET STARTED?  STARTED IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT, GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. IF I COULD HAVE SILENCE, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH CITY COMMISSION MEETING. TODAY IS TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 3rd, 2024 AND THE TIME IS NOW 6:04 P.M. THIS MEETING IS OFFICIALLY CALLED TO ORDER. BEFORE WE BEGIN, I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY OF OUR RULES OF CIVILITY AND DECORUM. SPEAKERS MUST FIRST BE ADDRESSED BY THE CHAIR AND NOT INTERRUPT ANY OTHER SPEAKERS. PUBLIC COMMENTS MUST BE ADDRESSED TO THE BOARD AS A WHOLE AND NOT TO ANY PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL ON THE DAIS OR IN THE AUDIENCE. PUBLIC DISRUPTIONS, STAMPING OF FEET, YELLING AND SCREAMING ARE ALL STRICTLY PROHIBITED. INSULTS, PERSONAL ATTACKS, HATE SPEECH ARE LIKEWISE PROHIBITED. SHOULD YOU VIOLATE THE RULES, YOU WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE CHAMBERS AND NOT READMITTED TO THIS EVENING. PLEASE GOVERN YOURSELVES ACCORDINGLY. WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH ROLL CALL FOLLOWED BY INVOCATION BY PASTOR DWAYNE ROBERTS FROM CALVARY CHAPEL. IS PASTOR DWAYNE HERE? I DON'T SEE PASTOR DWAYNE. >> HE'S NOT FEELING WELL SO COMMISSIONER HAY WILL BE COULD G IT. >> MAYOR: ABSOLUTELY. ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER HAY, YOU'LL LEAD US IN OUR INVOCATION FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY COMMISSIONER CRUZ. LET'S ALL STAND FOR THE INVOCATION FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >> LET US PRAY. WE THANK YOU, LORD, FOR ANOTHER DAY. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME THIS AFTERNOON WITH HEARTS FULL OF GRATITUDE FOR YOUR MANY BLESSINGS. WE THANK YOU, LORD, FOR BOYNTON BEACH'S 82,000 PLUS CITIZENS, FOR THE CITY'S LEADERSHIP, THE STAFF, AND CITIZENS WHO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS A PLACE OF UNITY, PROGRESS AND CARE. ESPECIALLY THIS AFTERNOON, WE WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR CHAMPION, THE EAST BOYNTON BEACH LITTLE LEAGUE. WE ARE ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE LABOR DAY CELEBRATION THAT HAVE BROUGHT US TOGETHER IN FELLOWSHIP AND REFLECTION ON THE DIGNITY OF WORK AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALL WHO LABOR IN THIS CITY. AND AS WE TRANSITION INTO THE FALL SEASON, WE ASK FOR YOUR CONTINUED GUIDANCE AND WISDOM FOR OUR CITY COMMISSION, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND ALL WHO SERVE IN PUBLIC OFFICE. MAY THEY LEAD WITH INTEGRITY, COMPASSION, AND A VISION FOR THE COMMON GOOD. BLESS THE WORK OF THE HANDS OF THOSE WHO MAKE DECISIONS THAT AFFECT THE LIVES OF ALL WHO CALL BOYNTON BEACH HOME. WE ALSO PRAY FOR THE CITIZENS OF THIS CITY, THAT THEY MAY FIND PEACE, PROSPERITY, AND PURPOSE IN THE SEASON AHEAD. LET THIS TIME OF CHANGE BRING NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH, BOTH PERSONALLY AND COLLECTIVELY AS WE STRIVE TO BUILD A COMMUNITY THAT REFLECTS OUR LOVE AND JUSTICE. FOR IT'S IN YOUR HOLY AND MAJESTIC NAME, JESUS THE CHRIST WE DO PRAY AND ASK THAT ALL LET EVERY HEART SAY AMEN. >> Group: 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. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. CITY CLERK, IF YOU COULD PLEASE BEGIN THE ROLL CALL. >> MAYOR PENSERGA. >> MAYOR: HERE. >> VICE MAYOR KELLEY. >> HERE. >> COMMISSIONER CRUZ. >> HERE. >> COMMISSIONER HAY. >> HERE. >> COMMISSIONER TURKIN. >> PRESENT. >> MAYOR, YOU HAVE A QUORUM. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU SO MUCH, EVERYBODY. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO AGENDA APPROVAL, ADDITIONS, DELETIONS CORRECTIONS. MY ONLY REQUEST FOR THIS EVENING, WE HAVE DISCUSSED DURING OUR WORKSHOP IS TO MOVE SECTION 3 ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNITY AND SPECIAL EVENTS AND PRESENTATIONS. WE HAVE LOTS OF SPECIAL GUESTS THIS EVENING. WE HAVE SOME ALL-STARS IN THE ROOM. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE GIVEN THEIR TIME FIRST. AND IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION TO DO THAT. >> NO. >> MAYOR: WE'LL MOVE UP SECTION 3 TO RIGHT BEFORE 2. AND LET'S BEGIN WITH COMMISSIONER TURKIN, IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER REQUESTS OR ADDITIONS. >> THAT WAS ALL I HAD. >> MAYOR: COMMISSIONER HAY, ANY FROM YOU? >> NONE FROM ME. >> MAYOR: VICE MAYOR. >> MAYOR, THE ONLY ISSUE WITH THAT CHANGE IS 2A IS OUR INFORMATIONAL ITEMS. AND USUALLY THAT IS RIGHT AFTER AGENDA APPROVAL. SO I DIDN'T KNOW IF WE NEEDED TO DO THAT BEFORE WE GO INTO ALL THE ANNOUNCEMENTS OR DO THAT AFTER THAT, 2A IS OUR INFORMATIONAL ITEMS, OUR DISCLOSURES AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS. >> MAYOR: WE CAN HAVE IT RIGHT BEFORE. THAT SHOULDN'T TAKE TOO LONG. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS FOLLOWED BY THE PRESENTATIONS AND THEN WE'LL GO ON TO THE OTHER ITEMS. >> WITH REGARD -- >> MAYOR: COUNSEL, YES. >> WITH REGARD TO DISCLOSURES, THEY SHOULD GO BEFORE THE INDIVIDUAL ITEM. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS, YES, BUT DISCLOSURES ARE AT THE TIME OF PUBLIC HEARING. >> MAYOR: UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED. I THINK THAT WAS THE INTENTION, RIGHT? >> YES. >> MAYOR: VICE MAYOR. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: LET'S MOVE ON, COMMISSIONER CRUZ, ANY OTHER REQUESTS? >> NONE FROM ME. >> MAYOR: WITH THAT, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER TURKIN, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR TO AMEND THE AGENDA AS STATED, SAY AYE. [AYES] ANYONE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY, AGENDA IS AMENDED. LET'S BEGIN WITH INFORMATIONAL ITEMS. I'LL GO ON MY RIGHT THIS TIME. COMMISSIONER CRUZ, DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATIONAL ITEMS TO SHARE WITH THE BOARD OR THE PUBLIC? >> THE ONLY DISCLOSURE I WAS GOING TO MAKE IS THAT I SPOKE WITH THE FIRE CHIEF, A MEMBER OF THE FIRE UNION AS WELL AS RESIDENTS BEFORE THIS MEETING. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: OH, OKAY. YES, THAT'S REGARDING ITEM J, 6J, ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. VICE MAYOR. >> NO, I DON'T HAVE ANY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: OKAY. COMMISSIONER HAY. >> YES, I DID ATTEND THE BLACK ENTREPRENEURS HELD AT OUR CULTURE CENTER. IT WAS WELL ATTENDED. I DIDN'T SPEND ALL THE MONEY BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE IT LIKE THE MAYOR DOES. SO I JUST KEPT IT IN MY POCKET. [LAUGHTER] BUT IT WAS WELL ATTENDED. THEY HAD AN OVERFLOW OF BUSINESSES IN THERE. AND I WAS VERY PLEASED TO SEE THAT. ALSO THIS MORNING, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO -- EVERYBODY WON'T AGREE, BUT THAT'S OKAY. GO TO A KAMALA HARRIS RALLY AT BEN VENUTO AND THAT WAS ATTENDED BY MANY OF THE REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS. SO THAT WAS ALSO WELL ATTENDED. THAT'S IT FOR ME. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER TURKIN. >> I ALSO ATTENDED THE BLACK BUSINESS POP-UP EVENT. I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO OUR EVENTS TEAM AND SHEILA FOR PUTTING THAT ON. IT WAS VERY WELL ATTENDED. I DID SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY ON SOME KIESHA CAKES, CARROT, DELICIOUS. IT WAS A GREAT TURNOUT, A LOT MORE IMPROVEMENT FROM THE INAUGURAL ONE LAST YEAR. AND, YOU KNOW, HAPPY TO SUPPORT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. >> MAYOR, I'M SORRY. >> MAYOR: YES, VICE MAYOR. >> BEFORE YOU START, I WANTED TO JUST THANK OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM I WAS ABLE TO KIND OF KICK OFF OUR SMALL BUSINESS SUMMIT THAT WAS ON FRIDAY MORNING. IT WAS FULL. IT WAS A PACKED HOUSE AND OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM IS REALLY GOING FULL STEAM AHEAD WITH SUPPORTING OUR SMALL BUSINESSES WITH DIFFERENT GRANT PROGRAMS. SO I JUST WANTED TO JUST SAY THANK YOU TO THEM AND RECOGNIZE THEIR HARD WORK IN REALLY PROMOTING SMALL BUSINESSES AND MAKING SURE THEY SUCCEED. >> MAYOR: I WANT TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS ALL OF YOU HAVE SHARED. WE HAVE HAD WONDERFUL PEOPLE WORKING ON THESE WONDERFUL EVENTS. THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR STAFF. SHEILA AND OTHERS AND DANNY AND SO ON AND SO FORTH, IT'S BEEN GREAT. I'M HEARING POSITIVE THINGS FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT OUR EVENTS. SO LET'S KEEP THAT GOING. OKAY. THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY. WE'RE ■GOING TO KEEP GOING FORWARD. SO THAT'S WITH OUR DISCLOSURES SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO SECTION 3A, THE CITY COMMISSION IS RECOGNIZING THE EAST BOYNTON BEACH LITTLE LEAGUE 11 AND UNDER TEAM FOR WINNING THE 2024 FLORIDA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE. THESE TALENTED PLAYERS BEAT KEYSTONE LITTLE LEAGUE 11 AND UNDER ALL-STARS 8-2 FOR THE WIN. FOR THEIR HARD WORK, TALENT AND DETERMINATION, THEY MAKE THE CITY PROUD. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PLAYER CASH BROWN, DYLAN, MASON, SYLAS, BRAYDEN, ELIJAH, BRENT, ANTHONY, GIO, HUTTON, JACKSON AND KADEEN WONG AS WELL AS COACH CHARLIE, COACH BRENT, COACH ERIC AND MANAGER MARIO. CAN WE ALL STAND AND GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. [APPLAUSE] I'D LIKE TO ASK ANY OF THE LEADERSHIP OFFICERS FOR EACH BOYNTON BEACH LITTLE LEAGUE TO COME UP AND SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE TEAM AND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE AND THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. AND AFTERWARDS, WE'D LOVE TO GET A GROUP PHOTO WITH ALL OF YOU. ALL RIGHT? ANY OF THE PODIUM, EITHER ONE. >> IS THIS THING ON? FIRST OFF, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. REALLY APPRECIATE IT, TO FINALLY GET THESE KID THE FORMAL CONGRATULATIONS THAT THEY DESERVE. THEY HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD. YOU'VE GOT A GROUP OF KIDS WHO HAVE BEEN TOGETHER FOR THE BETTER PART OF 3 OR 4 YEARS OLD SINCE THEY WERE 8 YEARS OLD. WE WENT FROM NOT WINNING ANY GAMES IN THE DISTRICT TO AT 9 YEARS OLD AND THEN WINNING THE DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP AT 10 AND TAGING ANOTHER STEP FORWARD AT 11 AND WINNING THE DISTRICTS, SECTIONALS AND THE STATE. SO NOW WE PREPARE OURSELVES FOR 12U. WE JUST SAW LAKE MARY WIN THE LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES AND THAT'S ULTIMATELY OUR GOAL NEXT YEAR -- IS TO WORK THIS YEAR AND GET BETTER AS WE DID IN THE PAST. THE ONE THING THEY ARE LEARNING THROUGH BASEBALL AND WHAT EAST BOYNTON HAS BROUGHT TO THESE KIDS AND THESE FAMILIES, WE JUST SPENT AN ENTIRE SUMMER TRAVELING. ALL THESE PEOPLE HERE SPENT AN ENTIRE SUMMER TRAVELING. AND NONE OF THEM HAVE A NEGATIVE THING TO SAY ABOUT IT. IT WAS EXTREMELY ENJOYABLE. YOU KNOW, ALL THESE KIDS, 99% OF THEIR FRIENDS -- I MEAN 99% OF MY FRIENDS AS WELL HAVE BEEN FORMED THROUGH THE EAST BOYNTON BEACH LITTLE LEAGUE. AND IT'S BEEN ONE OF THE BEST, YOU KNOW, EXPERIENCES THAT I HAVE BEEN THROUGH, ONE OF THE PROUDEST MOMENTS I HAVE HAD HAS BEEN WATCHING THEM GROW, WATCHING THEM LEARN HOW TO FACE PERSEVERANCE, HOW TO FACE FAILURE IN THE FACE AND LEARN HOW TO ADJUST. BASEBALL IS MORE THAN JUST A SPORT. AND I THINK THAT'S THE BEST THING THAT'S HAPPENING HERE. YOU SEE KIDS THAT WENT FROM, YOU KNOW, LOSING AND DEALING WITH IT AND UNDERSTANDING THAT HARD WORK PAYS OFF, SO AFTER TWO YEARS, YOU KNOW, WE WIN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. NOW THEY KNOW IT'S NOT OVER AND I'VE GOT TO WORK HARDER. LIFE LESSONS COME THROUGH BASEBALL. AND I THINK THE COACHES, EVERY ONE OF THESE COACHES THAT HAVE COACHED WITH ME ON THIS ALL-STAR TEAM AND I KNOW THE OTHER ALL-STAR TEAMS AS WELL, WE TRY TO BRING MORE TO THESE KIDS THAN JUST THE GAME OF BASEBALL. WE WANT THEM TO LEARN LIFE LESSONS. WE WANT THEM TO LEARN THAT ANYTHING WORTH IT IS EARNED. IT'S NOT JUST GIVEN TO YOU. AND, LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, IT'S GIVING THEM A PLACE TO GO EVERY DAY. IT'S GIVING THEM A PLACE TO BE COMFORTABLE. THEY GET TO GO -- BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF PLACES TO GO AROUND HERE. IT'S VERY BUSY STREETS, YOU KNOW. THE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE DIFFERENT. SO THE OPPORTUNITY THEY GET IS TO ABLE TO GO TO EAST BOYNTON BEACH LITTLE LEAGUE EVERY NIGHT AND ON WEEKENDS. WHETHER THEY ARE PRACTICING OR THEY ARE WATCHING THEIR FRIENDS OR THEY ARE HANGING OUT WITH THEIR FRIENDS, IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THEIR CHILDHOOD. IT CREATES SO MANY MEMORIES THAT THEY ARE GOING TO REMEMBER FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. AND AT THE SAME TIME, IT KEEPS THEM OUT OF TROUBLE. IT KEEPS THEM FROM BEHIND THE VIDEO GAMES. AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE AS AN ASSOCIATION TO PUSH. AND EVERY YEAR, I BELIEVE THAT AS KIDS SEE WHAT WE HAVE DONE THIS YEAR, THEY WANT TO BE MORE OF A PART OF IT. WE HAVE ALREADY HAD MORE KIDS COMING UP TO ME SAYING, HEY, COACH, I WANT TO PLAY NEXT YEAR, I WANT TO BE ON THE ALL-STAR TEAM. SO THE EXPERIENCE GOES BEYOND JUST WINNING. IT GOES TO THEM LEARNING, IT'S LEARNING, ENJOYING OURSELVES AND I'M READY TO DO IT AGAIN. SO JUST LIKE EVERY CELEBRATION, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO GO SOMEWHERE THAT WE LOVE. WHERE ARE WE GOING, CASH? >> BUD'S CHICKEN. >> WE'RE GOING TO BUD'S CHICKEN. [LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] >> FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS MARIO MARCH iONE. >> MAYOR: WE WOULD LOVE TO GET A PICTURE WITH EVERYONE. ALL MEMBERS OF OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM AND CITY COMMISSION, IF WE COULD ALL STEP DOWN WITH THEM. [INDISTINCT CONVERSATION] >> MAYOR: BEFORE WE CONTINUE, I'D LIKE TO OPEN THE FLOOR. IF ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO WHILE WE HAVE THEM IN THE AUDIENCE. >> NEXT YEAR WHEN WE DO THIS, WORLD SERIES. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] [LAUGHTER] >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, EVERYBODY. IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP GOING. THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA -- WHAT IS IT? OH, PERFECT. THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS THE STATE OF EDUCATION REPORT BY DISTRICT 4 SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER ERICA WHITFIELD. GOOD EVENING, MS. WHITFIELD. ERICA WHITFIELD WILL GIVE A PRESENTATION ON THE STATE OF EDUCATION. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION FOR HAVING ME AGAIN TODAY. MY NAME IS ERICA WHITFIELD. I HAVE BEEN ON YOUR SCHOOL BOARD NOW FOR 10 YEARS AND THIS WAS A WONDERFUL NIGHT TO COME. I WANT TO JOIN LITTLE LEAGUE AFTER THAT. FUN TO SEE. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TEAM. I WANT TO TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT EDUCATION IN THE CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH. >> MAYOR: MS. WHITFIELD -- >> YES. >> MAYOR: COULD I ASK YOU TO PAUSE A BRIEF FEW SECONDS? >> YES, I AM NOT IN A RUSH. >> MAYOR: IN THE MEANTIME, I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE NEW PRINCIPAL OF POINCIANA ELEMENTARY IS IN THE AUDIENCE. I'M NOT SURE WHERE SHE IS BUT I HAVE HEARD SHE IS HERE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF AFTER MS. WHITFIELD, WE WOULD LOVE THAT SO THE COMMUNITY CAN GET TO KNOW YOU. >> SO AWESOME, BECAUSE I'M ABOUT TO MENTION HER IN THE PRESENTATION. >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT, PLEASE BEGIN. >> OKAY. SO TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR BOYNTON BEACH SCHOOLS TODAY. WE HAVE ACTUALLY HAD QUITE A BIT OF TURNOVER AT THE PRINCIPAL LEVEL SO I'M GOING TO MENTION ALL OF THOSE TO YOU. TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SCHOOL GRADES. AND THEN I WILL TALK TO YOU ABOUT AN ACTION ITEM THAT YOU ALL CAN TAKE HERE THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU GUYS TACKLE. WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE REFERENDUM COMING UP IN NOVEMBER. ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY. YOU GUYS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SO AMAZING TO ALLOW ME TO COME AND SPEAK ABOUT YOUR SCHOOLS. I KNOW WE HAVE THE SAME MISSION TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT THIS COMMUNITY IS A STELLAR PLACE FOR EDUCATION, NOT JUST IN PALM BEACH COUNTY BUT THE STATE. THAT I KNOW DRIVES PEOPLE WANT TO GO LIVE HERE SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US. SO YOUR SCHOOLS THAT I'LL BE TALKING ABOUT TODAY OR BOYNTON BEACH HIGH, CITRUS COVE, CONGRESS MIDDLE, CROSSPOINTE ELEMENTARY, FOREST PARK ELEMENTARY, FREEDOM SHORES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, GALAXY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, POINCIANA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND ROLLING GREEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. YOU GUYS HAVE A LARGE PORTFOLIO OF SCHOOLS WITHIN YOUR DISTRICT, SO THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. YOU HAVE BEEN SO AMAZING IN SUPPORTING THOSE SCHOOLS. I WANT TO ASK THAT YOU HAVE CONTINUE TO DO THAT. THIS PAST YEAR WE WERE SO HAPPY BECAUSE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS NOW AN A-RATED AGAIN. WE WEREN'T FOR A YEAR AND IT WAS TRAGIC FOR ALL OF US. WE DID NOT ENJOY IT. THE REASON IT WENT DOWN IS THE STATE MADE BECOMING AN A-DISTRICT A HIGHER PROFILE, HARDER TO GET. SO THEY RAISED THE SCORES THAT YOU NEEDED TO BE AN A-DISTRICT AND ALSO WE HAD A NEW TEST LAST YEAR. SO WE WERE ABLE TO FINALLY -- WE'RE IN OUR SECOND YEAR OF THAT TEST. WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUR GRADES BACK. AND NOW WE ARE BACK TO BEING AN A-DISTRICT. AND SO, MR. BURKE CAME OUTSIDE AND WAS VERY EXCITED TO TELL EVERYONE TO PUT THE SIGN BACK UP. SO IF YOU DRIVE BY FOREST HILL, IT SAYS WE ARE AN A-DISTRICT AGAIN AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE ARE VERY PROUD OF. THERE ARE ONLY TWO A-RATED URBAN DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND WE'RE ONE OF THEM. AND I BELIEVE IT REALLY GOES TO SPEAK TO THE COMMITMENT THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS TO OUR SCHOOLS AND THAT THEY WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO GO THERE. AND THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T NECESSARILY SEE IN EVERY DISTRICT THROUGHOUT THE STATE. SO I'M VERY, VERY PROUD THAT IS THE SITUATION FOR OUR SYSTEM. SO AS FAR AS YOUR SCHOOL GRADES, SOMETIMES I TALK A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH ABOUT THE DETAILS. I'M GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT LESS TONIGHT SO I CAN TALK ABOUT OTHER THINGS. THREE OF YOUR SCHOOLS DID GO UP IN GRADES THIS YEAR AS WELL. CITRUS COVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WENT FROM A "B" TO AN "A." VERY, VERY PROUD OF THEM. FREEDOM SHORES WENT FROM "C" TO "B." AND ROLLING GREEN WENT FROM A "D" TO A "C" WHICH IS A HUGE, HUGE STEP. WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF THAT. THE REST OF THE SCHOOLS MAINTAINED THEIR GRADES. ONE DID GO DOWN UNFORTUNATELY CONGRESS MIDDLE SCHOOL. BUT THAT'S WHERE I BRING THE GOOD NEWS. SO WE HAVE BROUGHT IN A BUNCH OF NEW PRINCIPALS INTO THE BOYNTON BEACH FAMILY. AND I WANT TO JUST LET YOU KNOW WHO THOSE PEOPLE ARE. SO WE HAVE BOYNTON BEACH HIGH SCHOOL HAD A SOMEWHAT RECENT CHANGE WITH DR. MOODY FULLER TAKING OVER. DR. LOCKHART HAD BEEN THERE MANY YEARS AND IS NOW DR. FULLER'S BOSS SO HE GOT PROMOTED. WE'RE PROUD OF HIM AND HE'S DOING AN AMAZING JOB AND OVERSEEING A PORTFOLIO OF SCHOOLS. AT CONGRESS MIDDLE WE HAD TO SEE GOOD-BYE TO MS. DENISE O'CONNOR WHO HAS BEEN THERE FOREVER AND A LIGHT IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE WELCOMED DR. BERNADETTE STANDISH WHO COMES TO US FROM HAGAN ROAD. SHE IS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO -- I JUST NOVEMBER YOU ALL ARE GOING TO LOVE IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO MEET HER YET. SHE IS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT JUST REALLY CARES ABOUT EACH INDIVIDUAL CHILD. AND I THINK THAT IS GOING TO JUST DO SO MUCH FOR CONGRESS MIDDLE SCHOOL AND REALLY RESPECTING EACH CHILD WHERE THEY ARE AND HELPING THEM TO GROW AND UNDERSTAND THEMSELVES. SO I'M VERY EXCITED TO HAVE HER THERE. CITRUS COVE, IT ISN'T EVEN PUBLISHED YET. IT'S ACTUALLY PENDING BOARD APPROVAL TOMORROW. I'M GOING TO VOTE YES IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING. BUT DR. NATALIE CROMWELL HAS LEFT AND SHE HAS BEEN PROMOTED TO THE DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT SO THAT'S VERY EXCITING TO HAVE HER THERE. SHE'S JUST AN AMAZING PERSON. AND WE ARE THRILLED, SHE DID SO MANY GOOD THINGS FOR CITRUS COVE. IVY SHELTON WILL BE JOINING US THERE. I WANT TO SAY QUICKLY, A.P. DR. OMYRA CREWS IS TAKING OVER BERNADETTE'S OLD SCHOOL AND SHE IS NOW AT HAGAN ROAD. CROSSPOINTE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WE HAD DR. ANN MARIE DILBERT PROMOTED AS WELL. SHE WAS THERE MANY, MANY YEARS AND CREATED AN AMAZING CULTURE. WE HAVE DR. VALERIE VALCORT TAKING OVER. SHE IS ONE OF OUR VERY FEW PRINCIPALS THAT ARE OF HAITIAN DISSENT AND SPEAKS CREOLE. AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY CRUCIAL FOR THAT COMMUNITY. I'VE BEEN TO MANY MEETINGS THERE WHERE WE HAVE TO BE TRANSLATED ALL THE TIME SO THE FAMILIES UNDERSTAND US. SO V DR. VALCORT SPEAK DIRECTLY TO HER FAMILIES WILL BE HUGE FOR THE COMMUNITY. SHE BRINGS IN A TON OF ENERGY. SHE'S ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL AND SHE'S GOING TO CONNECT SO WELL WITH ALL THE FAMILIES THERE. AND THEN JUST TO MENTION A COUPLE OF THE OTHERS PRINCIPALS THAT WE HAVE BEFORE I GET TO POINCIANA, WE HAVE SHERONDA ALLEN AT FOREST PARK, DR. VONDA DANIELS AT GALAXY E3 AND ALLISON MANNING AT ROLLING GREEN. AND THEN WE HAD TO SAY GOOD-BYE TO DR. TONYA McDOWELL. SHE ALSO GOT REQUESTED FOR HER SCHOOL BECAUSE SHE IS SO GOOD AT WHAT SHE DOES. AND SO WE NOW HAVE MS. SHANNON STOCKMAN, IF YOU WANT TO WAVE AGAIN, WHO IS TAKING OVER AT POINCIANA ELEMENTARY AND I'M EXCITED TO HAVE HER THERE AS WELL. SHE CAME VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED AND I HAVE HEARD NOTHING BUT GLOWING THINGS ABOUT HER. I'LL LET HER INTRODUCE HERSELF IN A MINUTE. I THINK WHAT YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION IS REALLY THE EMPHASIS BEING PUT ON BOYNTON BEACH SCHOOLS TO BRING IN REALLY AMAZING TALENT. THESE PRINCIPALS ARE NOT, YOU KNOW -- THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE SHY IN THIS FIELD. THEY ARE GOING TO WORK HARD. THEY ARE VERY DEDICATED. THEY ARE VERY EXCITED. AND THEY ARE HAPPY TO BE HERE IN BOYNTON AND REALLY GOING TO SHOW THE EXCELLENCE OF EDUCATION HERE IN BOY BOYNTON. SO THRILLED AND PROUD FOR THEM. AND VERY GLAD THAT WE HAVE THEM WANTING TO COME HERE. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS REALLY HAD JUST SOME AMAZING TALENT IN OUR PRINCIPAL POOLS. AND SO TO GET INTO A PRINCIPALSHIP REALLY DOES SPEAK A LOT TO THE EXCELLENCE THAT YOU BRING BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE TO CHOOSE FROM. THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY WONDERFUL PEOPLE. SO ONCE THEY GET IN HERE, THEY ARE PRETTY AMAZING. WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE THAT. NOW YOUR ACTION ITEM. IN RHODE ISLAND, WE HAD A GOVERNOR WHO DECIDED THAT HE WAS GOING TO FOCUS ON ATTENDANCE BECAUSE POST-COVID WE HAD A REAL BIG ISSUE IN THIS COUNTRY WHERE EVERYBODY STOPPED GOING TO SCHOOL. AND IT IS EVIDENCED BY THE FACT THAT IN FLORIDA, IN PALM BEACH COUNTY SPECIFICALLY, BEFORE THE PANDEMIC WE WERE IN THE TEENS ON OUR ABSENCES. RIGHT NOW THIS PAST YEAR, WE HAD 39% OF OUR STUDENTS MISS 11 DAYS OR MORE LAST YEAR. IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS, THAT'S WHAT WE CALL LIKE CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM. YOU ARE REALLY MISSING MORE THAN YOU SHOULD. THAT'S MORE THAN JUST GETTING A COLD. IT'S KIDS JUST WAKING UP IN THE MORNING, MAYBE HAVING TO GO TO A JOB IF THEY ARE OLDER OR TAKE CARE OF SIBLINGS WHICH HAS DEFINITELY BEEN AN ISSUE. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT DOES HAPPEN. ALSO WE HAVE KIDS THAT JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE IT. THAT TO ME IS KIND OF HARD. I HAD M MY 4-YEAR-OLD SAY TO ME, MAMA, I DON'T FEEL LIKE GOING TO SCHOOL TODAY. AND WE NEED TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH ALL OF OUR FAMILIES. THIS IS THE ACTION ITEM FOR YOU. IN RHODE ISLAND WHEN THE GOVERNOR DECIDED TO PUBLICIZE THE IDEA OF ATTENDANCE AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS, AND REALLY TALKED ABOUT IT WITH THE COMMUNITY, THEY WERE ACTUALLY ABLE TO SEE A DECREASE OF ABSENTEEISM BY 10% WHICH IS A HUGE NUMBER TALKING STATEWIDE. JUST FOR BOYNTON BEACH TO BE ABLE TO PUT OUT IN YOUR COMMUNICATIONS WITH RESIDENTS THE IMPORTANCE OF ATTENDANCE, JUST BRINGING THAT TO LIGHT. I KNOW I HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT IN THE PAST. BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE AN AMAZING THING. AND WE CAN DEFINITELY PARTNER. WE CAN SHARE DATA WITH YOU THAT IS SPECIFIC TO YOUR CITY IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IN YOUR COMMUNICATIONS. BUT I THINK THAT IS REALLY THE THING THAT WE HAVE TO DO AS A COMMUNITY. WE HAVE TO GET KIDS TO REALIZE AND THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR PARENTS TO REALIZE THE MOST IMPORTANT PLACE FOR THEM TO BE IS IN SCHOOL. THEY HAVE TO GO EVERY DAY BECAUSE WHEN THEY ARE NOT IN SCHOOL, WE ARE UNABLE TO MAKE ANY GAINS. THIS IS HOW WE GET EDUCATION TO CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD AND THAT'S HOW WE GET THOSE GRADES TO BE THE "A" GRADES THAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO SEE AT ALL THEIR SCHOOLS. KIDS HAVE TO SHOW UP AND WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT TIME TOGETHER. SO THAT IS YOUR ACTION ITEM. THE LAST THING I WANT TO MENTION BEFORE I TAKE ANY QUESTIONS IS I PASSED OUT TO YOU ALL UP THERE A LITTLE FLYER ABOUT OUR UPCOMING REFERENDUM AND PUT IT IN THE BACK IF ANYBODY IS INTERESTED IN GRABBING IT. THE REASON WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANS AGO I STARTED IN THIS JOB. A YEAR LATER WE ACTUALLY CAME TO THE COMMUNITY AND WE ASKED FOR A HALF PENNY SALES TAX TO BE ADDED ON TO THE MONEY THAT YOU PAY EVERY TIME YOU GO TO A COUNTER AND CHECK OUT. THAT HALF PENNY WAS TO GO TO IMPROVE OUR SCHOOLS. WE WERE ABOUT $2 BILLION IN THE HOLE ON MAINTENANCE. WE ASKED THE COMMUNITY FOR $1 BILLION. WE WERE ABLE TO COLLECT THAT $1 BILLION IN NINE YEARS INSTEAD OF THE 10 THAT WE PROMISED. AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO STOP COLLECTING THE FUNDS. UNLESS YOU SAY IT'S OKAY THAT WE KEEP GOING. AND SO THAT'S WHY WE ARE STILL ASKING. SO AT THE TIME THAT WE ASKED, THE COUNTY AND CITIES WERE ALSO COMING ALONG AND ASKING FOR A HALF PENNY. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DO THAT AT THIS TIME. RIGHT NOW THE SALES TAX IN PALM BEACH COUNTY IS 7%. IT IS GOING TO DROP DOWN -- IF YOU SAY YES TO OUR REFERENDUM, TO 6.5. IF YOU SAY NO, IT WOULD DROP TO 6. THE REASON WE CONTINUE TO ASK FOR THESE FUNDS IS BECAUSE THINGS ARE GOING SO MUCH BETTER NOW THAT WE HAVE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR FIXING OUR SCHOOLS. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PUT IN HVAC SYSTEMS, NEW ROOFS AND NEW FLOORS. WE HAVE BUILT NEW SCHOOLS WHICH IS CRUCIAL FOR MAKING SURE WE DON'T HAVE OVERCROWDED SCHOOLS OR THAT THEY ARE NOT IN SUCH DISREPAIR THAT NOBODY WANTS TO GO TO THEM. HAVING A BEAUTIFUL NEW SCHOOL REALLY DOES MAKE PEOPLE EXCITED ABOUT THEIR EDUCATION, WANT TO BE THERE, GETS OUR TEACHERS WANTING TO SHOW UP. IT IS CRUCIAL. AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT HAS BEEN REALLY HELPFUL FOR US WAS DURING THE PANDEMIC, WHEN EVERYBODY IN THE COUNTRY WAS PANICKING LOOKING FOR TECHNOLOGY FOR THEIR STUDENTS, WE WERE ABLE TO PIVOT IN WAYS THAT PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY WERE NOT ABLE TO BECAUSE WE HAD THIS REFERENDUM. WE HAD THESE FUNDS FOR TECHNOLOGY. AND WE HAVE PUT SMART BOARDS IN EVERY CLASSROOM. MR. PENSERGA KNOWS ALL ABOUT IT FROM HIS WORK IN ONE OF OUR AMAZING SCHOOLS. THOSE SMARTBOARDS HAVE REALLY MADE THE EDUCATION MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR OUR STUDENTS. AND USING GOOGLE CLASSROOMS AND EVERYONE HAVING A LAPTOP TO TAKE HOME THAT WE PROVIDE MAKES IT SO THAT IS REALLY ACCESSIBLE. PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO BRING THEIR HOMEWORK THERE AND DO IT THERE WITH THE COMPUTER WE PROVIDED. MY DAUGHTER USES HERS EVERY DAY. NOT THE 4-YEAR-OLD, OBVIOUSLY, THE BIG ONE. BUT TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT REALLY IS WONDERFUL. SORRY, MY PHONE THINGS I'M TALKING TO IT. AND SO THAT'S BEEN AN AMAZING THING. SO THAT WILL BE ON YOUR BALLOT ON NOVEMBER 5th TO BE ABLE TO ASK FOR PEOPLE TO DO IT. AND THOSE TAXES WILL GO DIRECTLY TO OUR SCHOOLS. WE HAVE AN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE CALLED THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE FOR SALES TAX. WE HAVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT SIT ON IT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SPENDING THE MONEY APPROPRIATELY. AND THEY HAVE CONTINUED TO SAY THAT THEY ARE VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING AND THAT THEY APPROVE. SO I WILL STOP THERE AND I WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL HAVE. >> MAYOR: WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, BOARD MEMBER. LET'S OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS. LET ME JUST BEGIN BY NUMBER ONE THANKING YOU AND EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR OUR CITIES. AND HEARING ABOUT THE INCREASES IN GRADES IS OBVIOUSLY A GREAT THING. IT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND WE COULDN'T BE HAPPIER ABOUT THAT. ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO ACCELERATE THAT, PLEASE LET US KNOW. THE DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN. WHEN YOU BROUGHT UP THE ATTENDANCE RECORD, I JUST WANT TO ASK -- AND THIS MIGHT BE A MUCH LONGER CONVERSATION WHICH WE CAN HAVE OFF-LINE. IS THERE ANYTHING MORE THAT WE CAN DO BESIDES GETTING THE WORD OUT IN OUR NEWSLETTERS TO KIND OF, YOU KNOW, FRAME THAT? ARE YOU SEEING SOME SUCCESS STORIES IN OTHER CITIES AND OTHER COUNTIES? WHAT ARE THEY DOING THAT'S REALLY WORKING OUT REALLY WELL? >> I THINK IT'S ABOUT REALLY REFOCUSING. I THINK DURING THE PANDEMIC WE HAD EVERYONE STAYING HOME. THEN THEY THOUGHT THEY DIDN'T NEED TO COME TO SCHOOL AND THAT HAS PERSISTED. I SEE THAT AMONG GOOD FRIENDS OF MINE THAT I HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH. THEY SAY, OH, IT'S FINE I DON'T NEED TO SEND MY KID TO SCHOOL TODAY. THE REALITY IS WHEN THEY ARE NOT THERE, THEY ARE MISSING. WE HAVE A SCHEDULE WE HAVE TO KEEP IN OUR TEACHING. AS WE GO THAT, THEY ARE MISSING SECTIONS OF LEARNING. IF THEY DO GET BEHIND, THEY WILL STAY BEHIND AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS. FOR SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS STRUGGLING AND STUDENTS STRUEL, ONE OF THE ISSUE IS YOU ARE ASKING A TEACHER TO TEACH A YEAR'S WORTH OF EDUCATION IN A YEAR. IF A KID SHOWS UP AND THEY ARE A YEAR BEHIND, THEN NOW THAT TEACHER HAS TO TEACH TWO YEARS OF EDUCATION IN ONE YEAR IN ORDER TO GET THAT KID BACK ON TRACK. SO MISSING SCHOOL FOR THOSE CHILDREN IS SO DETRIMENTAL TO THEIR LIVES BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CATCH THEM YOU UP. REALLY HAVING OUR COMMUNITIES UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF SHOWING UP EVERY DAY TO SCHOOL WITH THEIR CHILDREN -- IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO COME, MAKE A PLAN. MAKE A PLAN WITH YOUR GUIDANCE COUNSELOR, YOUR PRINCIPAL. TALK ABOUT WHAT THE ISSUES ARE. IS IT TRANSPORTATION? WE WILL WORK ON THAT IF THAT'S THE ISSUE. IS IT CARE FOR THE SIBLINGS? WE CAN ALSO HELP IN THAT WAY FIGURING OUT WHERE WE CAN GET CHILD CARE FOR THE SIBLINGS THAT NEED TO BE CARED FOR. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT EVERYONE ATTEND. THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS THAT IF FAMILIES ARE ABLE TO, I WOULD MAKE SURE TO PUT YOUR CHILD IN A VPK STARTING AT 4. IT'S FREE FOR THREE HOURS AND DEPENDING ON FAMILY'S INCOME, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO GIVE THEM ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THAT SO THAT THEY CAN STAY ALL DAY. HAVING A QUALITY EDUCATION, YOU CAN CALL THE EARLY LEARNING COALITION AND THEY HAVE A HOTLINE WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY CALL AND THEY WILL FIND YOU A PLACE TO BE ABLE TO PUT YOUR CHILD THAT IS SAFE AND AFFORDABLE AND WILL PROVIDE A QUALITY EDUCATION. I'M A BIG FAN OF THE EARLY LEARNING COALITION. I THINK WE CAN MAKE SURE WE ARE GETTING AS MANY FAMILIES INTO QUALITY EDUCATION AS WE CAN AND I THINK IT WILL MOVE THE WHOLE SYSTEM FORWARD. HELPING WITH THAT IS GREAT. ANOTHER THING YOU GUYS COULD DO IS JUST A VERY SMALL THING. WHEN YOU GO INTO YOUR SCHOOLS, CONSIDER RECOGNIZING STUDENTS FOR GOOD ATTENDANCE OR RECOGNIZE MOST IMPROVED ATTENDANCE. SOMETIMES THAT CAN EVEN BE MORE IMPACTFUL IF SOMEONE HASN'T BEEN COMING AS MUCH. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, A MAYOR OR COMMISSIONER COMES IN AND SAYS GREAT JOB, WE REALLY THINK YOU'RE DOING AWESOME, JUST LIKE YOU DID WITH THE LITTLE LEAGUE AND RECOGNIZING THEM. THAT CAN BE A HUGE THING THAT YOU CAN DO. ALSO ENGAGES YOU WITH THOSE FAMILIES AND THAT PART OF THE COMMUNITY THAT NEEDS TO SEE THAT YOU SEE THEM. >> MAYOR: THUF SO MUCH. LET ME TURN TO COMMISSIONER TURKIN. DID YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR BOARD MEMBER? COMMISSIONER HAY? >> THANK YOU, ERICA. JOB WELL DONE. >> MAYOR: VICE MAYOR. >> THANK YOU, ERICA. I DID HAVE ONE QUESTION. I KNOW I HAVE SEEN -- YOU AND I HAVE HAD THIS CONVERSATION AND I KNOW I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF BUZZ ON SOCIAL MEDIA -- THE NEW OR THE PROPOSED POTENTIAL SCHEDULES BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE IN THE LAW. AND I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO GET AN UPDATE FROM YOU ON WHERE THAT COMMITTEE IS IN KIND OF EVALUATING PUBLIC RESPONSE TO THOSE OPTIONS AND WHAT THE DISTRICT IS DOING. I KNOW THAT PRIMARILY THE REASON HERE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY FOR THE NEED FOR SUCH A DRASTIC SCHEDULE CHANGE IS DUE TO BUSSING AND BUS DRIVERS AND THAT UNAVAILABILITY. SO I JUST WANTED TO JUST BRIEFLY TOUCH ON THAT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I FEEL LIKE THERE WAS A BIT OF BUZZ ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR A LITTLE BIT AND NOW IT'S KIND OF DIED OFF. BUT IT'S COMING WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT. >> IT IS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BRINGING THAT UP. IT IS GOING TO BE THE HOT TOPIC OF THE FALL, I BELIEVE. WE DO NOT HAVE TO IMPLEMENT THIS UNTIL 2026. LUCKILY WE HAVE ONE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION BETWEEN NOW AND THEN. WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN GO TO OUR LEGISLATORS AND ASK THEM TO PLEASE ALLOW SOME FLEXIBILITY AROUND THIS OR THE ABILITY TO NOT PARTICIPATE AT ALL BECAUSE PALM BEACH COUNTY HAS BEEN PRETTY SUCCESSFUL IN, YOU KNOW, IMPLEMENTING A GREAT EDUCATION, GETTING PEOPLE TO COME. YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE TIME EXCEPT FOR EVERYTHING I WAS JUST SAYING EARLIER BUT MAKING SURE WE GET PEOPLE THERE ON TIME. AND IF WE ARE TO ADJUST THOSE TIMES -- RIGHT NOW THE PLAN IS THAT WE HAVE TO START ALL HIGH SCHOOLERS AFTER 8:30 IN THE MORNING. AND THE SHIFT WOULD MEAN THAT CERTAIN KIDS, MIDDLE SCHOOLERS PROBABLY WOULDN'T EVEN GO TO SCHOOL UNTIL 10:00. SO THE IMAGINATION IN MY MIND IS THAT, YOU KNOW -- OR WE CAN HAVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS GO REALLY, REALLY EARLY. AND NOBODY REALLY WANTS TO SEE AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLER OUT IN THE DARK WAITING FOR A BUS. SO I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. I'M A BIG FAN OF HEALTH. I REALLY THINK THAT CHILDREN NEED TO SLEEP MORE. THAT HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT I HAVE TAKEN ON AS A CAUSE FOR MANY YEARS -- HOW DO WE GET THE KIDS TO BE LATER? BUT THE REALITY OF THE FISCAL IMPACT OF HAVING TO MOVE THIS MANY CHILDREN, 100,000 STUDENTS HAVE TO CROSS THE WHOLE COUNTY TWICE A DAY AND WE DO IT WITH OUR BUSES AND OUR BUS DRIVERS ARE ALREADY DRIVING THREE ROUTES EACH IN THE MORNING AND THREE ROUTES IN THE AFTERNOON -- AT LEAST RIGHT NOW WE HAVE OUR MAINTENANCE WORKERS DRIVING NOW BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO FIND BUS DRIVERS. IF ANYBODY IS INTERESTED, WE ARE ONE OF THE BEST PAID IN THE STATE. WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE BUS DRIVERS COME. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO MAKE THIS SCHEDULE WORK. AND I THINK WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE, AS JUST A LAY PERSON IN THE COMMUNITY, IS AN INCREASE IN TRAFFIC BECAUSE WE ARE MOVING CHILDREN BEFORE PEOPLE REALLY DO GET ON THE ROAD. AND SO WHEN YOU START SEEING EVERYBODY SHIFT TO AN 8:30 START TIME, 8:00, 8:30, WE'RE GOING TO BE PUTTING THOSE BUSES OUT THERE RIGHT AT LIKE 7:30 AND THE TRAFFIC IS GOING TO KICK UP. YOU KNOW IT WHEN WE HAVE A DAY OFF. EVERYBODY CAN JUST DRIVE SO EASY IN PALM BEACH COUNTY. AND WHEN SCHOOL IS BACK IN SESSION, YOU CAN'T. I IMAGINE THAT WOULD DOUBLE AT LEAST. SO I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT ON OUR FAMILIES. ALSO SPORTS IS A REAL ISSUE. IF WE MOVE THE START TIMES LATER, THE SPORTS HAVE TO GO LATER. WE DO HAVE LIGHTS ON ALL OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL FIELDS. BUT ONE IS ACTUALLY BROKEN RIGHT NOW BUT WE'RE WORKING ON FIXING THAT. BUT MIDDLE SCHOOL FIELDS DO NOT. SO WE WOULD HAVE TO REARRANGE WHERE THOSE STUDENTS WERE. WE WILL WORK HOPEFULLY WITH THE REFERENDUM DOLLARS ON GETTING LIGHTS ON EVERY FIELD. BUT MOSTLY THEY ARE FOOTBALL FIELDS THAT ARE LIT SO YOU'RE NOT HAVING TENNIS LIT UP. YOU'RE NOT HAVING, YOU KNOW, L■ACROSSE GAMES LIT UP OR YOUR PRACTICE FIELDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT LIT UP. SO HAVING MUCH LATER STARTS FOR SPORTS CAN BE A REAL ISSUE. THEN SOME CHILDREN HAVE JOBS. SO THAT IS A REAL ISSUE IF THEY HAVE TO GO TO WORK AND FIT IN THAT TIME. SO I THINK WE'LL WORK WITH WHATEVER WE HAVE TO BUT WE ARE GOING TO THE LEGISLATURE AND ASKING FOR SOME FLEXIBILITY. THAT IS IN OUR PRIORITIES FOR THIS YEAR. AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING IT UP. AND HONESTLY, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SIGN ON A LETTER AS A COMMISSION SAYING THAT YOU WOULD SUPPORT THAT, THAT COULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL TO US AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WILL BE GOING IN THIS SESSION COMING UP IN THE SPRING -- WE'LL BE GOING. >> THANK YOU, ERICA. YEAH, I HAVE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH TEACHERS AND THEIR CONCERNS OF, YOU KNOW, BEING PARENTS AND HAVING TO DROP THEIR KIDS OFF BEFORE THEY HEAD TO SCHOOL AND JUST WHAT A LOGISTICAL NIGHTMARE IT WOULD BE FOR OUR TEACHERS AND I MEAN PARENTS AND EMPLOYEES. SO JUST THAT'S SOMETHING WHEN THIS CAME UP, I WAS SHOCKED TO HEAR IT PASSED SO QUICKLY BECAUSE THERE REALLY WASN'T ANY BUZZ THROUGH TEACHERS OR ANYTHING. IT JUST KIND OF PUSHED RIGHT THROUGH. AND SO IT'S BEEN A BIG CONCERN. >> IT'S BEEN LIKE TWO AND A HALF YEARS SINCE IT WENT THROUGH. AND I THINK THAT EVERYONE JUST REALIZED WE HAD A BIG LEAD-UP TIME TO IT. I WANTED TO ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT IT EARLIER BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT HEALTH IMPLICATIONS -- BUT NOW THAT I HAVE LEARNED ABOUT IT AND WHAT IT WILL DO TO US AS A COMMUNITY, I'M NOT FOR THE CHANGE. I THINK ANYBODY WHO GETS INVOLVED IN LEARNING ABOUT IT WOULD PROBABLY AGREE. >> YEAH, THANK YOU. I ALSO AM CONCERNED WITH INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I MEAN ON A HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, IT LITERALLY IMPACTS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT AT SO MANY LEVELS. WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, VERY BRIEFLY ABOUT THE STUDENTS WHO, YOU KNOW, HAVE TO GO TO WORK, STUDENTS WHO DEPEND ON INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS FOR COLLEGE. SO ALL OF THAT GETS PUSHED BACK AND WOULD THEY REALLY BE GAINING SLEEP. SO I'M SURE IT KIND OF BALANCES ITSELF OUT. THANK YOU. YES, WE CAN TALK OFFLINE MORE ABOUT THAT, TOO. I DO LIKE YOUR IDEA ABOUT THE ATTENDANCE AND RECOGNIZING STUDENTS. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THE CITY CAN DEFINITELY DO WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS. AND THAT MIGHT BE A FUN LITTLE EXERCISE TO DO WITH KID. SO THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER CRUZ. >> THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER WHITFIELD. THAT'S IT. >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT. I JUST HAVE ONE FINAL COMMENT, BOARD MEMBER. AND THAT IS THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY POSITIVE THINGS HAPPENING IN BOYNTON SCHOOLS. I HAD A MEETING WITH THE PRINCIPALS NOT TOO LONG AGO, SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. AND JUST TO FIND OUT WHAT THEIR INPUTS WERE. I THINK THE RECURRING THEME WAS WE HAVE SO MANY POSITIVE THINGS HAPPENING. WE HAVE AN AERONAUTICS PROGRAM. WE HAVE -- [LAUGHTER] I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN A CHAMPION OF THAT. I THINK WE'RE THE ONLY SCHOOL WITH THE PLANETARIUM IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. >> THERE'S ONE OTHER ONE. >> MAYOR: BUT ONE OF THE TWO, RIGHT. SO WE HAVE SO MANY EXCITING THINGS HAPPENING. LET'S GET THE WORD OUT AND LET'S LET THE CITY AND THE COUNTY IN GENERAL KNOW THERE ARE SO MANY EXCITING THINGS AND BOYNTON SCHOOLS ARE GREAT SCHOOLS TO GO TO. AND THE FRUSTRATION I HEARD WAS NO MATTER THE HARD WORK THEY DID, THERE WAS ALWAYS THIS DISCONNECT, RIGHT, THAT MESSAGE WASN'T GETTING CONVEYED. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SHAWN AND OUR PIO HERE COULD WORK ON. LET'S WORK TOGETHER ON THAT. >> I THINK IT IS ABOUT COMMUNICATION. WE HAVE A NEW COMMUNICATIONS CHIEF AS WELL AND NEW PEOPLE WORKING ON MARKETING. SO WE REALIZE THAT THIS IS A COMPETITION FOR GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE SEATS OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND SO IF THAT IS THE TRUTH, THEN WE HAVE TO PUT OUR WORD OUT THERE AS MUCH AS EVERYBODY ELSE DOES. AND IF IT'S OKAY, I'D STILL LIKE TO HAVE MS. STOCKMAN COME UP AND SAY HELLO. >> MAYOR: YES, ABSOLUTELY. COME ON UP. >> IT'S WONDERFUL THAT SHE CAME TODAY. >> MAYOR: WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN. >> YES. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT. >> HI, GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR THIS, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR WELCOMING ME INTO THE COMMUNITY. I HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUT TO SOME OF THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, SOME OF THE CHURCHES. AND EVERYBODY HAS BEEN SO WELCOMING AND SO SUPPORTIVE OF POINCIANA. IT REALLY IS A FANTASTIC PLACE. DR. McDOWELL HAS DONE A GREAT JOB AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO CONTINUE THE LEADERSHIP THERE. AND WE'RE GOING TO BE ON THAT LIST WHERE WE IMPROVE OUR SCHOOL GRADE. WE WILL BE AN "A." SO I'M EXCITED TO BE THERE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: AWESOME. CAN WE GIVE THEM BOTH A ROUND OF APPLAUSE? [APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS A REPORT ON FEMA FLOOD ZONES BY RICHARD RATCLIFFE OF THE PALM BEACH COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES. MR. RATCLIFFE GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME. DID WE HAVE POWERPOINT SLIDES FOR HIM? >> ABSOLUTELY NOT. >> MAYOR: THAT'S OKAY, TOO. [LAUGHTER] >> I BASICALLY CAME HERE TO THANK YOU, BUT I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU THE QUICK RUN-DOWN ON WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE FEMA FLOOD MAPS, ALTHOUGH IT SOUNDS FLOOD MAPS, IT IS IMPORTANT. WE ARE IN HURRICANE SEASON. PALM BEACH COUNTY DISPUTED THAT THE FLOOD MAPS COME OUT. THEY AFFECT EVERY ONE OF YOUR PROPERTY OWNERS THAT HAVE A MORTGAGE. IF YOU DON'T HAVE A MORTGAGE, YOU CAN GET FLOOD INSURANCE. BUT THE COASTAL MAPS WHICH ARE SEPARATE, THEY HAVE BEEN IN DISPUTE WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY FOR QUITE SOMETIME. BUT ACTUALLY, THEY COULDN'T GET ANYTHING OVERTURNED WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY. THE LAST TIME WE HAD BETTER SUCCESS, BUT THIS TIME NO CHANGES TO THE MAPS. AND AS OF DECEMBER 20th, THEY GO HARD. THEY BECOME CERTIFIED. WHICH MEANS ANYBODY THAT DOESN'T HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE -- AND THEY HAVE TO HAVE IT INSTATED. YOU CAN'T GO APPLY THE 19th OF DECEMBER AND THINK YOU WILL HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A POLICY THAT'S CURRENT AND ACTIVE ON DECEMBER 20th. AND THEN YOU ARE PROTECTED. YOU HAVE WHAT THEY CALL A GLIDE PATH. THE MOST THEY CAN RAISE YOU BECAUSE GLOBAL WARMING, WE KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING -- IT'S CONSTANTLY GOING ON. THE MOST THEY CAN RAISE YOUR POLICY IS 18% A YEAR. SO IT IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT FOR YOU, ESPECIALLY FOR 39 MUNICIPALITIES IN PALM BEACH COUNTY COUNTY. AND BY THE WAY, FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SEEING THE BACK OF MY BALD HEAD, I REPRESENT ALL 39. I WORK WITH ALL 39. UNFORTUNATELY, BUT FOR 23 OF THOSE 39 CITIES AND UNFORTUNATELY BOYNTON BEACH WAS ONE OF THEM WHERE THE MAPS EXTENDED MORE INTO YOUR AREA. SO IT WILL BE AFFECTING YOUR COMMUNITY. THAT BEING SAID, THE COUNTY HAS GONE OUT. WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER. WE'RE GOING TO PUT TOGETHER ONE NIGHT. WE DIVIDED FOR THE 23 CITIES. WE'RE GOING TO DIVIDE UP INTO THREE SECTIONS AND HAVE FEMA. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE EVERYBODY THERE. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE YOUR CITY REPRESENTATIVE. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE INSURANCE PEOPLE THERE. WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND GET ALL THE MEDIA. THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING AND PALM BEACH COUNTY IS WORKING VERY HARD AT THIS. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO SEND INDIVIDUAL LETTERS OUT. BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. THAT'S A THREE-HOUR PERIOD AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE -- TO THANK YOU. BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE IN YOUR FACILITY AND IT WILL BE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF BOCA, BOYNTON, BRINY BREEZES, HYPOLUXO, SOUTH PALM BEACH, WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 11th FROM 5:00 TO 8:00. SO YOU HAVE TO GET YOUR PEOPLE OUT THERE. THERE ALL THE FEMA IS GOING TO BE THERE. THEY WILL BE ABLE TO CLICK ON THEIR HOUSE, TELL WHAT IT IS. THERE WILL BE INSURANCE PEOPLE THERE THAT WILL GIVE THEM AN IDEA. THEY WILL ALSO HAVE SOME OF YOUR CITY PEOPLE. SO IF YOUR HOUSE, GOD FORBID, SOMETHING HAPPENS AND YOU HAVE TO BUILD IT AGAIN, WHAT'S THE ELEVATION, CAN YOU REBUILD. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS INVOLVED HERE. BUT THE PROBLEM IS DECEMBER 20th IT ALL KIND OF GOES HARD. AND YOU KNOW AS WELL AS I DO THAT THE MINUTE SOMEBODY MISSES THE MEETING OR DIDN'T GO OR DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT IT OR THE MORTGAGE COMPANY DIDN'T TELL THEM, THEY ARE GOING TO COME HERE AND BLAME YOU. SO THAT'S WHY WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER. AND I'M HERE BASICALLY TO THANK YOU FOR MAKING YOUR COMMUNITY CENTER AVAILABLE. THAT'S THE ONE ON HYPOLUXO ROAD SEPTEMBER 11th. SO THAT'S A REAL BORING SUBJECT BUT I HOPE I COVERED IT ENOUGH SO YOU UNDERSTAND WHY I'M THANKING YOU. AND YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION BY SEPTEMBER 11th TO GET YOUR PEOPLE TO KNOW AND GET THEM OUT THERE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES. AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE IN A FLOOD ZONE TO GET FLOOD INSURANCE. THERE ARE MANY, MANY CASES WHERE 40% AND 50% OF PEOPLE LIVING UNDER WATER DIDN'T HAVE THE PROTECTION. ANYBODY CAN GET THE PROTECTION. SO THIS IS THE TIME. AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I DARE YOU -- NO, GO AHEAD. [LAUGHTER] AND THANK YOU AGAIN. YOUR MANAGER STEPPED UP RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE WE ARE UNDER A TIME CRUNCH. >> MAYOR: EXCELLENT. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU. BEFORE YOU GO, WERE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. RATCLIFFE? GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER CRUZ. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND BRIEF OVERVIEW. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES. AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY WAY FOR US TO POST THE ACTUAL FLOOD MAPS WHERE PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY CHECK. I KNOW THERE'S A WEBSITE, BUT I'D LIKE US TO SHARE THAT. I KNOW WE SHARED LIKE A POSTER AND PICTURES EARLIER ON FACEBOOK. >> WE SENT THAT OUT. YOU CAN JUST GO -- THE COUNTY HAS A SITE. THE COUNTY WORKED VERY HARD BECAUSE THE FEMA SITE WAS NOT USER-FRIENDLY. THE COUNTY -- I HAVE TO GIVE THE COUNTY CREDIT. AND THEY PUT IT TOGETHER WHERE YOU CAN -- AND THERE'S A SITE AND IT'S BEEN SENT OUT WHERE YOU CAN GO ON A HOUSE AND YOU CAN SEE IF YOU'RE IN THE ZONE OR NOT. AND I HAVE TO GIVE KUDOS TO PALM BEACH COUNTY FOR PUTTING THAT TOGETHER. >> PERFECT, YEAH. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST IF WE CAN ADD THAT LINK IN ITSELF. I KNOW WE HAVE MADE A POST ALREADY ABOUT THE MEETING. IF WE COULD ADD A POST ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT THE ACTUAL MAP IN ITSELF SO PEOPLE CAN GO IN AND CHECK ON THEIR OWN, THAT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT. THANK YOU. >> AND ONE OTHER THING BEFORE I LEAVE, AND I SAW YOU ALL DOWN AT THE CONFERENCE. AND I DON'T KNOW YOUR AGES. AND I LOVE YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE ALL GOOD PEOPLE. YOU'VE GOT TO COME -- OUR NEXT MEETING IS SEPTEMBER 25th, THE GERMAN CLUB. WE NEED PEOPLE -- WE NEED SOMEBODY FROM BOYNTON. BUT THE GERMAN AMERICAN CLUB, I GUARANTEE YOU'RE GOING TO LIKE THE FOOD. BUT THAT BEING SAID, I KNOW YOU GO TO NATIONAL. I CAN'T GET A LOT OF PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES. BUT FOR THEIR CENTENNIAL, THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING AND IT'S AN UNDER 40 IMPACT AWARDS FOR ELECTED PEOPLE UNDER 40. I'M NOT ALLOWED TO ASK ANYBODY'S AGE BUT I KNOW SOME OF YOU HAVE IMPACTED YOUR COMMUNITY AND FOR THE CENTENNIAL NLC IS MEETING IN TAMPA AND THEY ARE GOING TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE YOUNGER ELECTED PEOPLE. SO THE INFORMATION IS THERE. AND YOU NEED TO -- IF ANYBODY IS, YOU HAVE DONE A LOT OF WONDERFUL THINGS HERE IN BOYNTON. YOU SHOULD GET CREDIT FOR IT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, RICHARD. RICHARD, BEFORE YOU GO, WAS THERE ANYTHING ELSE FROM ANYBODY? I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY WHILE YOU WERE HERE. >> RICHARD, THIS MEETING ISN'T VIRTUAL. IT'S IN-PERSON ONLY, CORRECT? >> CORRECT. >> AND IT'S AT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT ON HIGH RIDGE? >> YES, YES. >> YOUR COMMUNITY ROOM THERE. >> RIGHT, PERFECT. VERY GOOD. >> AND FEMA WILL BE THERE, EVERYBODY IS GOING TO BE THERE, YOU KNOW. >> YEAH. >> BUT IT'S DEFINITELY IN PERSON. >> VERY GOOD, AWESOME. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: ANYTHING ELSE FROM MY COLLEAGUES? NO? >> NO. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM WHICH IS A PROCLAMATION. THIS WAS REQUESTED BY VICE MAYOR KELLEY SO I'M GOING TO ASK HER TO READ IT AND PRESENT IT. IT SAYS HERE THAT THIS EVENING WE HAVE AIMEE TALBOTT FROM FEEDING SOUTH FLORIDA. >> SHE'S AN ORANGE. >> MAYOR: OF COURSE, SHE'S AN ORANGE. VICE MAYOR, IF YOU COULD TAKE IT AWAY. >> THANK YOU. WHEREAS SINCE 1981 FEEDING SOUTH FLORIDA HAS WORKED TO END HUNGER IN THE CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH BY PROVIDING OUR COMMUNITY IN NEED WITH IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD. WHEREAS HUNGER DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE. IT KNOWS NO RACE, RELIGION OR AGE. IN SOUTH FLORIDA, APPROXIMATELY 1 MILLION INDIVIDUALS FACE HUNGER. FOOD SHOULD NOT BE AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE FOR THE COMMUNITY OF THE CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH. WHEREAS FEEDING SOUTH FLORIDA LEADS HUNGER AND POVERTY ADVOCACY EFFORTS IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHILE TRANSFORMING LIVES THAT YOU INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING AND EDUCATION THAT PROVIDES ECONOMIC GROWTH AND OVERALL WELL-BEING. WHEREAS THE CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH IS THEREFORE COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING FEEDING SOUTH FLORIDA SO THAT TOGETHER WE CAN ACHIEVE A HUNGER-FREE SOUTH FLORIDA. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT I, VICE MAYOR AIMEE KELLEY AND TY PENSERGA MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, CALL SEPTEMBER HUNGER ACTION MONTH. AND AMY, IF YOU WANT TO COME UP AND SAY I FEW WORDS, I'LL COME AND PRESENT THE PROCLAMATION. >> HELLO, THANK YOU SO MUCH. MY NAME IS AMY TALBOT AND I AM THE PALM BEACH COUNTY DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT FOR FEEDING SOUTH FLORIDA. AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF OUR ENTIRE TEAM, THE CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH FOR RECOGNIZING SEPTEMBER AS HUNGER ACTION MONTH. JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT DURING HUNGER ACTION MONTH, WE ARE ENCOURAGING 1 MILLION ACTIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO END HUNGER WHETHER BY DONATING, ADVOCATING, VOLUNTEER, OR SPREADING THE WORD ONLINE. AND EVERY ACTION COUNTS. OUR INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS MAY SEEM SMALL, BUT TOGETHER THEY CAN BECOME A POWERFUL MOVEMENT THAT CAN CHANGE HISTORY. SO FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, OUR FACILITY IS ACTUALLY LOCATED HERE IN BOYNTON BEACH ON PARK RIDGE BOULEVARD. THERE WE PROVIDE EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE. WE HAVE WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAMS. WE DISTRIBUTE FOOD TO 64 COMMUNITY PARTNERS, SOUP KITCHENS, CHURCHES, SHELTERS. WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON THERE. WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED. AND YOU ARE WELCOME TO STOP BY ANY TIME. WOULD LOVE TO GIVE YOU A TOUR. JUST COME IN. WE'RE ON PARK RIDGE ROAD. MY NAME IS AMY, YOU CAN ASK FOR ME. AND WE'LL SHOW YOU WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU, AMY. [APPLAUSE] I HAVE TWO MORE ANNOUNCEMENTS AND THEN THAT'S NEXT. ALL RIGHT. SO THE LAST TWO ITEMS FOR THIS SECTION IS JUST TWO ANNOUNCEMENTS. THE FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT IS ANNOUNCE THE SECOND BUDGET HEARING. THE SECOND PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING TO ADOPT THE FISCAL YEAR 24-'25 BUDGET WILL BE HELD DURING THE CITY COMMISSION MEETING THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 23rd, 2024 AT 6:00 P.M. IN THE CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS. THAT'S OUR FIRST. >> YOU HAD THE OLD AGENDA, IT'S SEPTEMBER 23rd. >> MAYOR: LET'S CORRECT THAT FOR THE RECORD. SEPTEMBER 23rd. >> THE VERSION ONLINE IS CORRECT. >> MAYOR: IT'S JUST THE PRINTOUT THAT'S BEHIND. ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT ANNOUNCEMENT, THE CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH 9/11 CEREMONY, THE CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH WILL HOST A 9/11 MEMORIAL CEREMONY ON WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 11th, 2024 STARTING AT 8:00 A.M. THIS COMMEMORATION WILL BE HELD AT CENTENNIAL PARK AT 120 EAST OCEAN AVENUE NEXT TO CITY HALL TO RECOGNIZE THE 23rd ANNIVERSARY OF THE TRAGIC EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER 11th, 2001 AND TO HONOR THE FIRST RESPONDERS WHOSE LIVES WERE LOST AND THE RESILIENCE DEMONSTRATED BY THE UNITED STATES IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY. THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THAT CONCLUDES ALL THOSE ITEMS IN THIS SECTION. WE'RE NOW GOING TO GO BACK TO SECTION 2, THE VERY FIRST ITEM OF SECTION 2 IS A COMMISSION DISCUSSION AND PRESENTATION BY POONAM KALKAT, DR. POONAM KALKAT ON RATES AND REVISIONS ON FISCAL YEAR '24-'25. THIS WAS PREVIOUSLY TABLED FROM AUGUST 20th, 2024. I'D LIKE A MOTION FROM MY COLLEAGUES TO MOVE THIS FROM THE TABLE. >> SO MOVED. >> MAYOR: THERE IS A MOTION TO REMOVE THIS TITLE. IS THERE A SECOND TO REMOVE THE ITEM FROM THE TABLE? >> SECOND. >> MAYOR: WITH THAT, WE HAVE A MOTION TO REMOVE FROM THE TABLE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AY[AYES] ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THAT MOTION PASSES. GOOD EVENING, DR. KALKAT, PLEASE BEGIN. >> GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS. I'M POONAM KALKAT, THE UTILITIES DIRECTOR. AND HERE WITH ME IS RYAN SMITH. HE IS OUR RATE CONSULTANT. AND NONE OF THE INFORMATION FROM THE JULY MEETING THAT WAS PRESENTED FOR CHANGING THE TIERS AND THE MISCELLANEOUS FEE AND INCREASING THE WASTEWATER CAP HAS BEEN CHANGED. SO IT'S THE SAME INFORMATION. WE CAN PRESENT IT AGAIN AS WHATEVER THE COMMISSION DESIRES. AND THEN WE ALSO HAD A REQUEST FROM COMMISSIONER CRUZ TO DO SOME COMPARISONS ON TIERS STRUCTURES. AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF SLIDES FOR THAT, TOO. SO IF YOU JUST WANT US TO GO TO THE TIER STRUCTURE COMPARISON, WE CAN JUST DO THAT. IF YOU WANT US TO SHOW AND PRESENT THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PRESENTED IN JULY, WE CAN PRESENT THAT AGAIN. SO WHATEVER YOU DESIRE, WE WILL WORK THROUGH THAT. >> MAYOR: I WOULD RECOMMEND IF WE COULD DO A QUICK OVERVIEW, IT'S BEEN A WHILE. A REFRESHER IS ALWAYS GOOD. AND THEN FOCUS ON THE SLIDES THAT WAS REQUESTED. IS THAT ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER? >> CAN I REQUEST TO CHANGE THE SLIDES TO THE RATE STRUCTURE REVISIONS? AND I'LL LET RYAN LEAD THE DISCUSSION. AND THEN I'M RIGHT HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, TOO. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME MY NAME IS RYAN SMITH WITH RIPER WATER ANALYTICS. I'M HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS SOME OF THE RATE STRUCTURE REVISIONS. I'D LIKE TO MENTION THAT LAST YEAR WHEN WE DISCUSSED RATE ADJUSTMENTS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS DISCUSSED IS LOOKING FOR OTHER ALTERNATIVE METHODS TO KIND OF REDUCE SOME OF THE IMPACT FROM SOME OF THE FUTURE PROJECTED RATE INCREASES AND HOW THEY MAY IMPACT OUR CUSTOMERS. SO THAT'S WHEN WE WENT BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND LOOKED FOR WAYS THAT WE COULD COME UP WITH COST JUSTIFIED REEF VIS -- REVIS TO THE STRUCTURE TO HELP US MEET OUR GOALS WITHOUT OVERLY BURDENING OUR CITIZENS HERE IN BOYNTON BEACH. A COUPLE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDED LOOKING AT THE MISCELLANEOUS FEES, DISCUSSIONS WITH WHAT WE DID WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE MISCELLANEOUS FEES WAS WE DID A COST JUSTIFIED RATE ANALYSIS TO IDENTIFY SPECIFICALLY WHAT IS THE ACTUAL COST OF PROVIDING THESE ONE-OFF, ONE-TIME SERVICES. FOR INSTANCE, YOU KNOW, METER INSTALLATIONS FOR NEW CUSTOMERS, YOU KNOW. RIGHT NOW THE CITY WAS CHARGING $220 TO INSTALL A 3/4 INCH RESIDENTIAL METER. HOWEVER, JUST THE COST OF THE METER ALONE, NOT INCLUDING THE VAULT, THE TEES, THE TAPS, THE LABOR, THE PLAN REVIEW AND WHAT NOT, JUST THE METER ALONE WAS $270. SO WE LOOKED AT COMING UP WITH WHAT'S THE ACTUAL COST FOR DOING THESE INDIVIDUAL SERVICES SO THAT WAY WE COULD RECOVER AT A MINIMUM OUR COST AND REDUCE SOME OF THE BURDEN THAT'S BEING RECOVERED THROUGH OUR RETAIL OR MONTHLY SERVICE RATES FROM THOSE MISCELLANEOUS TASKS. THE SECOND ITEM WAS LOOKING AT THE WASTEWATER BILLING CAP OR A BILLING THRESHOLD. WHAT'S THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF BILLED WASTEWATER THAT A RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER WOULD BE BILLED FOR ON A MONTHLY BASIS. WE DID DO A SURVEY OF OUR OTHER NEIGHBORING UTILITIES AND KIND OF IDENTIFIED WHAT'S A REASONABLE LEVEL FOR OUR JURISDICTION, OUR GEOGRAPHICAL AREA. THEN WE LOOKED AT ONE OF THE LARGER ONES WAS REVISING THE LEVEL OF CONSUMPTION THAT WAS AVAILABLE FOR EVERY CUSTOMER WITHIN THE CONSERVATION TIERS. NOW, THIS IS A REQUIREMENT IN YOUR CONSUMPTIVE USE PERMIT, YOUR PERMIT WITH THE STATE THAT YOU HAVE A CONSERVATION TIER OR RATE STRUCTURE IN PLACE. AND OUR RECOMMENDATION WAS TO SET THAT THRESHOLD WHERE YOU WOULD MOVE FROM ONE TIER TO THE NEXT IN 7,000-GALLON INCREMENTS. AND THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH YOUR LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT A CUSTOMER PURCHASES WHEN THEY PAY THEIR IMPACT FEE OR THEIR INITIAL FEE TO HAVE SERVICE PROVIDED TO THEM. AND THEN LASTLY WAS TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPACT OF ALL OF THESE CHANGES AND WHO WOULD BE IMPACTED. BUT ALSO WHO WOULD NOT BE IMPACTED. AND WHAT WE ENDED UP FINDING WAS THAT BY DOING THESE THREE SEPARATE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO RECOVER, YOU KNOW -- I THINK IT WAS $2.3 MILLION OF A TOTAL OF ADDITIONAL REVENUE AND WE WOULD NOT IMPACT 81% OF OUR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS. AND SO OUR GOAL WAS TO FIND THESE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF ALTERNATIVE METHODS TO RAISE REVENUES WITHOUT RAISING RATES. AND I'VE GOT A COMPARISON HERE OF THE ONE OF MISCELLANEOUS FEES CALCULATIONS JUST FOR A 3/4 INCH METER. AS YOU CAN SEE OUR PROPOSED FEE IS $645. AND THIS IS REALLY ONLY BILLED TO NEW CUSTOMERS. THEN WE HAVE A COMPARISON OF OUR WASTEWATER BILLING CAP. WE LOOKED AT -- >> I CAN ADD ONE THING. WHEN WE SAY NEW CUSTOMERS, IT'S ONLY WHEN A NEW PETER IS GETTING INSTALLED. SO SOMEBODY IS JUST BUYING A HOUSE OR RENTING A HOUSE, EVEN IF THEY ARE COMING UP AS A NEW CUSTOMER, THEY DON'T GET CHARGED THIS. THIS IS FOR REALLY REMOVING A METER THAT THERE IS NO METER THERE AND A NEW METER IS GOING TO GET PLACED. THAT'S WHEN THIS COST COMES IN. USUALLY IF IT'S SOMEBODY IS RAISING A HOUSE AND BUILDING A NEW HOUSE, THAT'S WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT -- >> VERY GOOD POINT. THE NEXT THING WE LOOKED AT WAS THE WASTEWATER BILLING CAP, RAISING THAT THRESHOLD FROM 7,000 TO 10,000 GALLONS. AS YOU CAN SEE, COMPARED TO OUR OTHER PALM BEACH COUNTY UTILITIES, GENERALLY THEIR CAP OR BILLING THRESHOLD IS IN BETWEEN 10,000 AND 15,000 GALLONS, EXCEPT FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY AND RIVIERA WHICH BILL FOR ALL GALLONS. THE NEXT ONE WAS TO REVISE THE COMMODITY TIER, SO THIS IS HOW MUCH CONSUMPTION IS BILLED AT EACH ONE OF OUR DIFFERENT INCLIMBING BLOCK TIERS. THERE'S NO CHANGE TO THE ACTUAL RATES FOR THESE CUSTOMERS. REALLY IT WOULD IMPACT CUSTOMERS UTILIZING MORE THAN 7,000 GALLONS PER MONTH. HOWEVER, WE DID WANT TO NOTE THAT 81% OF OUR CUSTOMERS ARE USING AT OR BELOW THIS LEVEL OF MONTHLY CONSUMPTION. SO, YOU KNOW, WE THINK THAT'S PRETTY REASONABLE. AND ADDITIONALLY, IT DOES LINK TO THE SERVICE THAT THEY HAVE PURCHASED WHEN THEY ORIGINALLY PAID THEIR IMPACT FEE. SO WE THINK IT'S COST JUSTIFIED AND WITHIN INDUSTRY NORMS. AND THEN ONE OF THE ADDITIONAL REASONS THAT WE LOOKED AT THIS WAS A DISCREPANCY IN THE AVERAGE REVENUE THAT WAS COLLECTED AMONGST THE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL CUSTOMER CLASSES. RIGHT NOW THERE WAS ABOUT A 25% DELTA. AND IMPLEMENTING THESE REVISIONS WOULD REDUCE THAT DELTA WITHOUT IMPACTING THE MAJORITY OF OUR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS. WE HAVE GOT THE COMPARISON OF THE OVERALL NUMBER OF BILLS RENDERED AND THE OVERALL CHANGE IN THE MONTHLY BILL FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS. SO THAT'S REALLY JUST THE 19% HIGH USE CUSTOMERS. AND THEN A RESIDENTIAL BILL COMPARISON, YOU KNOW, KIND OF POINTING OUT THAT WE'RE STILL ONE OF THE LOWEST IN THE AREA. NOW, YOU COULD SEE THERE'S REALLY DELRAY AND INDIAN RIVER COUNTY ARE BELOW US. I DO KNOW THAT INDIAN RIVER COUNTY IS RIGHT NOW IN THE PROCESS OF DOING A VERY LARGE RATE STUDY, SO THERE'S VERY LIKELY THEY ARE GOING TO RAISE RATES GOING FORWARD. AND WE WANTED TO MENTION THAT WE PREPARED THIS SAME CHART AND PRESENTED IT TO YOU LAST YEAR. DURING THAT ONE YEAR CHANGE, LOOKING AT THE EXACT SAME UTILITIES. ALL OF THESE OTHER UTILITIES ON AVERAGE WENT ACROSS 6.3% WHERE MAKING THESE ADJUSTMENTS, 81% OF OUR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS WILL NOT SEE AN IMPACT. AND THE OVERALL ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT WILL BE PRODUCED FROM THESE TIER REVISIONS, APPROXIMATELY $2.3 MILLION. THANK YOU. GO TO THE NEXT ONE? >> YEAH. CAN WE GO TO THE NEXT SET OF SLIDES? >> HERE WE JUST -- WHAT I ASKED OR TASKED RYAN TO DO WAS DO SOME COMPARISONS WITH SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORING UTILITIES TO LOOK AT WHERE OUR COMMODITY TIERS ARE VERSUS OTHERS. AND IT'S NOT THE EASIEST THING TO COMPARE BECAUSE EVERY UTILITY DOES IT SLIGHTLY DIFFERENTLY. SO IT'S NOT ALWAYS THE MOST CONVENIENT WAY. BUT WE ARE SHOWING WHAT OUR PROPOSED TIERS ARE ON TOP. AND THEN OTHER UTILITIES, WHAT THEIR TIERS ARE. AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE ARE ALL KIND OF DIFFERENT WAYS THAT PEOPLE CREATE THESE TIERS. NOW, WHEN YOU ARE HAVING A BLOCK OF TIERS, WHERE YOUR HIGHER TIERS HAVE TO PAY MORE, THAT ALSO GOES TOWARDS TRYING TO GET MORE CONSERVATION WATER. SO THINK ABOUT IT LIKE THAT. IF YOU ARE TRYING TO CONSERVE SO WE DON'T HAVE TO INCREASE THE DEMAND SO MUCH OVER YEARS, EVEN IF OUR CUSTOMERS -- NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS INCREASE, THEN THE CAPACITY AT THE PLANT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE INCREASED. SO YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE COST CAN BE CONTAINED A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAT WAY. SO THAT'S ANOTHER REASON WHY THE CONSERVATION BLOCKS WORK A LITTLE BIT IN THIS WAY. I KNOW THIS IS A LOT OF NUMBERS THERE. BUT THE MAIN THING THAT WE ARE TRYING TO SHOW HERE IS IF YOU COMPARE GREEN IS WHEN IT SHOWS YOU THAT THOSE ARE THE LOWEST COSTS PER THAT GALLONAGE OF USAGE. SO IF YOU LOOK AT IT PRETTY OF BOYNTON BEACH, EVEN THE PROPOSED ARE THE LOWEST THROUGHOUT OUR AREA OF WHAT WE CHARGE FOR EACH OF THOSE. IF IT'S 1,000 GALLONS UP TO THE 13,000, 14,000 GALLONS. SO JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT INFORMATION BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE MOST OF OUR CUSTOMERS USAGE IS. I THINK THERE'S ONLY ONE PLACE WHERE I THINK DELRAY IS $1 LESS THAN BOYNTON. >> AND CAN I JUMP IN HERE? >> SURE. >> CAN I GO BACK TO THIS SLIDE? >> ABSOLUTELY. >> AND ONE THING I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT IS WHEN WE LOOK AT -- HONESTLY WHEN I LOOK AT TIERS, I ALWAYS LIKE TO LOOK AT THE FIRST TIER, RIGHT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THE CONSUMPTION IS REALLY GOING TO BE RENDERED FOR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS. AND IF YOU LOOK ON HERE, OUR PROPOSED TIER WHICH IS 7,000 GALLONS, THAT'S RIGHT IN THE RANGE FOR THE MAJORITY OF THOSE UTILITIES. YOU HAVE PALM BEACH COUNTY WITH ZERO TO 4 AND THEN THE SECOND BLOCK FROM ZERO TO 10. THAT ONE IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT. ON THE FAR END YOU REALLY HAVE BOCA. BOCA IS A HIGH CONSUMPTION UTILITY. THE MAJORITY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS, THEY HAVE A HIGHER LEVEL OF SERVICE AND HIGHER MONTHLY CONSUMPTION COMPARED TO OUR RESIDENTS, YOU KNOW. BOYNTON BEACH IS VERY MUCH WITHIN THE NORM FOR THE STATE. AND THE SECOND THING I WANTED TO POINT OUT IS RIGHT NOW YOUR TOP TIER REALLY BEGINS AT 50,000 GALLONS AND ABOVE. AND WE'RE BRINGING THAT THRESHOLD DOWN TO 21,000 GALLONS. AND THAT'S VERY MUCH IN LINE WITH THE MAJORITY OF THESE OTHER UTILITIES. YOU KNOW, THEY ARE ALL AROUND, YOU KNOW, 25,000, 28,000, YOU KNOW. BUT RIGHT AROUND THAT 25,000-GALLON RANGE. HOWEVER, BY THE TIME WE GET TO THERE, IF YOU THINK ABOUT OUR CUSTOMERS' CONSUMPTION PATTERNS, BY THE TIME YOU GET TO 21,000 GALLONS, EFFECTIVELY 90 PLUS PERCENT OR 95% OF YOUR RESIDENTIAL BILLS HAVE BEEN RENDERED AT THAT POINT AND BELOW. SO THERE'S REALLY NOT A WHOLE LOT OF CONSUMPTION UP THERE. SO THERE'S A BASIS TO KIND OF REDUCE THOSE TIERS, BE MORE IN LINE WITH, YOU KNOW, OUR PEERS AND WITH WHAT OUR LEVEL OF SERVICES ON BOTH A CAPACITY BASIS, WHICH KIND OF LINKS TO OUR INFRASTRUCTURE COST AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY HAVE PURCHASED WHEN THEY CONNECTED TO OUR SYSTEM ORIGINALLY. ADDITIONALLY, KIND OF LIKE WHAT POONAM NOTED, WE DENOTED THE GREEN NUMBERS AS THE USAGE INCREMENT. THIS KIND OF GIVES YOU A BILL COMPARISON. BUT AT EVERY SINGLE USAGE LEVEL. AND EFFECTIVELY, EVEN UNDER THE PROPOSED STRUCTURE, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE RANGE, WE'RE EFFECTIVELY GOING TO BE THE LOWEST IN THE AREA EXCEPT FOR 9,000 GALLONS WHERE DELRAY IS STILL 97 CENTS OR $1 LESS -- EXCUSE ME, $1 LESS THAN US. HOWEVER, REALLY, YOU KNOW, THE MAJORITY OF THESE OTHER UTILITIES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE ENTIRE RANGE COMPARED TO OUR PROPOSED BILLS THAT WILL BE RENDERED UNDER FISCAL YEAR 2025. ONE OTHER THING THAT WAS REQUESTED WAS FOR US TO PREPARE A SURVEY OF KNOWN OR ESTIMATED OTHER UTILITY RATE ADJUSTMENTS AND WE WERE SPECIFICALLY ASKED TO LOOK AT A NUMBER OF UTILITIES INSIDE PALM BEACH COUNTY. SO WE REACHED OUT TO OTHER UTILITY DIRECTORS, OTHER RATE CONSULTANTS THAT I KNOW TO TRY TO PULL TOGETHER A SURVEY. SO THE MAJORITY OF THESE MAY NOT BE ADOPTED YET, HOWEVER, THIS IS THE BEST INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO US, WHETHER IT'S FROM, YOU KNOW, BOCA. I THINK POONAM FOUND THAT FROM THE UTILITY DIRECTOR. WEST PALM BEACH WE DISCUSSED WITH STAFF AND THEIR RATE CONSULTANT. PALM BEACH COUNTY, THEY HAVE PUBLISHED THEIR CPI INFLATIONARY RATE ADJUSTMENTS. I SPOKE TO THE UTILITY DIRECTOR AT SEACOAST UTILITY AUTHORITY WHO SERVES PALM BEACH GARDENS. WE SPOKE TO DELRAY, POMPANO HAS FIVE YEARS OF 10% RATE INCREASES AS WELL AS WELLINGTON AS WELL. THEY ARE IMPLEMENTING A 10% RATE INCREASE AS WELL. SO OVERALL, THIS KIND OF ALSO, YOU KNOW, ILLUSTRATES THAT THE AVERAGE RATE ADJUSTMENT FOR YOUR AREA RIGHT NOW IS ABOUT 6%. AND BY DOING SOME OF THESE ALTERNATIVE METHODS FOR RAISING REVENUES WITHOUT RAISING SPECIFICALLY OUR MONTHLY RATES, WE ARE ABLE TO PUSH OURSELVES IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION WITHOUT HAVING TO, YOU KNOW, DO ACROSS THE BOARD RATE ADJUSTMENTS THAT WOULD IMPACT OUR CUSTOMERS. AND THEN BACK TO THE RESIDENTIAL BILL COMPARISON, EVERY BILL THAT'S SHOWN ON HERE, BESIDES OURS, IS UNDER FISCAL YEAR 2024 RATES. SO RECOGNIZING WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT OTHER UTILITY AVERAGE THAT'S ABOUT $82.37, YOU COULD THINK THAT NEXT YEAR, KIND OF RECOGNIZING IF THAT 6% ASSUMPTION OR ESTIMATE HOLDS TRUE, THE AVERAGE FOR OTHER NEIGHBORING UTILITIES IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE CLOSER TO, YOU KNOW, $87 TO $90 COMPARED TO OUR CURRENT BILL AT $57 A MONTH. AND WE CHOSE THIS CHART WE SET AT 5,000 GALLONS PER MONTH. AND WE DID THAT BECAUSE THAT'S THE AVERAGE MONTHLY CONSUMPTION FOR ALL OF OUR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS. >> AND I WOULD LIKE TO -- I THINK THAT'S THE LAST SLIDE WE HAD. AND I'D LIKE TO END WITH JUST LETTING YOU KNOW SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS. AND THAT WILL GIVE US A MUCH BETTER IDEA ABOUT WHAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS ARE GOING TO BE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. SO WE HAVE AN RFQ OUT. THERE IS A KOHN SO I'M NOT GOING TO SAY MUCH ABOUT IT EXCEPT WE ARE GOING TO GET A CONSULTANT ON BOARD TO LOOK AT OUR SOURCE WATER AT BOTH PLANTS, WATER TREATMENT PLANTS AND WHAT THE NEEDS ARE FROM REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS AS INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS. THESE PLANTS ARE GETTING OLD. WHAT DO WE NEED TO INVEST IN THESE PLANTS IN ORDER TO KEEP GOING? ALL OF THAT INFORMATION, HOPEFULLY BEFORE THIS TIME NEXT YEAR, WE WILL HAVE SOME BIG -- IT WILL PROBABLY BE 30 PLUS, 30 MINUS PERCENT BUT AT LEAST SOME COST AND HAVE SOME IDEA. WE ARE ALSO GOING TO BE DOING SOME INFRASTRUCTURE RISK ASSESSMENTS LIKE WE SAID THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING THAT COMING UP. AND THAT ALONG WITH A COUPLE OF OTHER STUDIES WILL ALSO TELL US WHAT OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS WILL HAVE TO BE THERE. AND THAT WILL GIVE US AN IDEA ABOUT HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO BE. JUST LOOKING AT SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORING UTILITIES THAT ARE BUILDING SOME PLANTS, SOME OF THESE PLANTS, I'M LOOKING AT NUMBERS OF CLOSE TO 100 MILLION OR MORE FOR SOME OF THESE PLANTS BASED ON WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE GOING TO BE FOR REGULATORY EPA REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE COMING DOWN THE PIKE. SO JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND, THAT WE DON'T WANT TO TRY TO RAISE SOMETHING REALLY HIGH AT ANY GIVEN YEAR. IT WAS A DIRECTION THAT WAS GIVEN TO US BY COMMISSION AND BY THE MAYOR TO LOOK AT WAYS THAT WE CAN SLOWLY KEEP HAVING ENOUGH MONEY TO BE ABLE TO DO THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO TO KEEP THIS UTILITY WORKING WELL, PROVIDING THE LEVEL OF SERVICE TO OUR CUSTOMERS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE INVESTING IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE AS NEEDED IN A TIMELY FASHION. SO THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO. AND WE ARE LOOKING AT EFFICIENCIES ALL THE TIME, TOO. WHERE CAN WE GET BETTER MORE OUR MONEY? WE ARE GOING TO KEEP DOING ANALYSIS AS TO WHERE OUR MOST SPEND IS. LOOK AT ROOT CAUSES OF THOSE. SO WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE DOING THOSE THINGS, ALSO. I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE NEEDS ARE GOING TO BE. AND I'LL HAVE THOSE NUMBERS A LITTLE BIT BETTER NEXT YEAR. AND EVEN IF WE THINK ABOUT GOING AND NOT INCREASING THE RATES BUT TAKING A BOND OUT, WE STILL NEED TO HAVE RESERVES TO GET GOOD INTEREST RATES AND BE ABLE TO DO THAT. WE WILL START TALKING TO OUR BOND CONSULTANTS SOON TO LOOK AT WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE GOING TO BE AND WHAT THEY WOULD SUGGEST HOW SHOULD WE GO ABOUT IT. WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND WE WANTED TO PRESENT ALL THOSE FACTS TO YOU AS YOU MAKE THESE DECISIONS SO YOU HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ASKING US TO COME IN AND PRESENT THIS INFORMATION. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU, DR. KALKAT AND RYAN. COMMISSIONER CRUZ, THIS WAS YOUR REQUEST. LET'S BEGIN WITH YOU IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR EITHER OF THEM. >> THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR WORKING ON THIS. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SHOW THE PUBLIC WHERE WE STAND IN REGARD TO THE REST OF THE COUNTY. COULD WE GO BACK ONE SLIDE? CAN YOU REMIND ME WHAT PERCENTAGE THE CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH IS? >> WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR A RATE INCREASE THIS YEAR AT ALL. >> NOTHING AT ALL. SO WE'RE JUST CHANGING -- I GUESS INDIRECTLY CHANGING IT FROM 9,000 TO 7,000. >> CORRECT. >> WE WOULD INDIRECTLY DO THAT FOR CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS BUT NOT 81% OF THE CITY. >> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. WE HAVE MADE NO RATE ADJUSTMENTS WHICH IS TYPICALLY WHERE YOU WOULD MAKE ACROSS THE BOARD LIKE WE DID LAST YEAR, 10%. HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, WE LOOKED AT KIND OF LIKE, HEY, YOU KNOW, HOW IS OUR RATE STRUCTURE IMPACTING OUR INDIVIDUAL CUSTOMER CLASSES, RESIDENTIAL, MULTI-FAMILY AND COMMERCIAL. AND THAT'S WHEN WE KIND OF IDENTIFIED BECAUSE OF THIS, YOU KNOW, VERY LARGE, YOU KNOW, RANGE OF OUR TIERS, THAT OUR COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS ON AN AVERAGE COST BASIS WERE PAYING ABOUT 25% LESS THAN OUR RESIDENTIAL CLASS. AND SO THAT KIND OF, YOU KNOW, PUSHED US DOWN THAT PATH TO SAY WE SHOULD MAKE SOME INCREMENTAL ADJUSTMENTS TO PRODUCE SOME ADDITIONAL REVENUE WITHOUT IMPACTING OUR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS. >> GOT IT, OKAY. THAT MAKES IT CLEAR. THANK YOU. SO THE REASON -- [AUDIO DIFFICULTIES] >> TIER 1 BEING ZERO TO 9,000 GALLONS AND NOW CHANGING TIER 1 BEING ZERO TO 7,000 GALLONS. ONE THING THAT OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW WE HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD AND YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD -- AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT -- TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION WITH THE METERS. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I THINK REALLY WHAT I WANTED TO FOCUS ON WAS SEEING IF WE COULD MAINTAIN THE TIER 1 THE SAME WAY THAT WE HAVE KEPT IT THE LAST 100 YEARS WHICH IS FROM ZERO TO 9,000 GALLONS OF WATER TO BE THE TIER 1 PRICE. AND THEN FROM 9,000 UPWARD THE CHANGES THAT WE'RE MAKING IN THE TIERS TO ALLOW FOR THOSE TO BE INCREASES. BUT BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL -- I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO THE DETAILS OF IT. BUT THE DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD ABOUT THE METERS AND SUCH, I REALLY THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAINTAIN THAT AS MUCH AS WE CAN. AND, YOU KNOW, GO AHEAD WITH THE CHANGES FOR TIERS 2, 3 AND 4. BUT IF WE CAN KEEP TIER 1 FROM ZERO TO 9,000 GALLONS THE SAME WAY IT'S BEEN DONE FOR THE LAST 100 YEARS, THAT'S KIND OF, YOU KNOW, THE POINT THAT I WANTED TO BRING UP. AGAIN, IT'S UP TO THE REST OF THE BOARD, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S WHERE -- THIS IS WHERE A LOT OF FAMILIES THAT HAVE MORE KIDS ARE GOING TO BE USING MORE. SMALLER FAMILIES WON'T BE AFFECTED AS MUCH. WE KNOW THAT. THIS WOULD ALSO AFFECT, YOU KNOW, OUR CAR WASH BUSINESSES AND SUCH. IT WOULD INCREASE THEIR COSTS WITH THE WATER CONSUMPTION. BUT THAT'S KIND OF OUT OF OUR CONTROL. AND YEAH, THAT'S IT. THAT'S KIND OF MY PURPOSE WITH BRINGING THIS UP. >> AND JUST ONE THING. AND I THINK WE HAVE HAD THIS CONVERSATION, SO EVERYBODY I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT WHEN IT GOES FROM ZERO TO 7,000, IT'S ONLY GOING TO BE THAT INCREMENTAL. SO ZERO TO 7,000 PEOPLE WILL STILL PAY THE SAME. THEN IF THEY USE MAYBE 7500, SO THE 500 GALLONS WILL BE AT THE HIGHER RATE SIMILARLY. SO IT'S NOT LIKE YOUR WHOLE RATE IS GOING TO GO UP. IT'S JUST GOING TO BE FOR THAT WHATEVER 500 GALLONS OR 1,000 GALLONS, WHATEVER EXTRA YOU USE? AND AGAIN, I THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR DOING THE RESEARCH. IT'S HIGHLY APPRECIATED. I KNOW IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK TO GO BACK AND CHECK MUNICIPALITIES. I TRIED TO REACH OUT TO OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AND GIVE YOU GUYS THE DATA SO IT WAS EASIER AS WELL. BUT YEAH, THAT'S MY PURPOSE. I'LL LET THE REST OF THE BOARD DISCUSS. >> CAN I ADD ONE THING? ONE OTHER REASON -- BECAUSE YEAH, I HEAR YOU ABOUT, YEAH, WANTING TO KEEP IT FROM ZERO TO 9,000, HAVING THE LEAST IMPACT TO OUR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS. >> CORRECT. >> THAT'S WHEN WE KIND OF WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT WHAT'S CALLED A FLOW FREQUENCY, WHICH IS WHERE ALL OF OUR BILLS RENDERED. AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE NODED -- I THINK WE BROUGHT THIS UP. ONLY ABOUT 4% OF THE RESIDENTIAL BILLS THAT FALL BETWEEN 7,000 AND 9,000 GALLONS. SO THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPTICK FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS USING IN BETWEEN 7,000 AND 9,000. BUT REALLY WHERE MORE OF THE IMPACT IS REALLY ON THE COMMERCIAL SIDE. BECAUSE IF WE KEEP IT AT 9,000, THAT MEANS EACH ONE OF THESE OTHER TIERS GETS PUSHED A LITTLE BIT. AND THAT KIND OF REDUCES SOME OF OUR REVENUE RECOVERY. AND WE WANT TO KEEP THE STRUCTURES CONSISTENT AMONGST BOTH THE RESIDENTIAL AND THE COMMERCIAL CLASSES. AND THEN THE OTHER REASON AND THE REASON WE KIND OF PROPOSED 7,000 GALLONS IS RIGHT NOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF LAWSUITS THAT HAVE BEEN CHALLENGING CONSERVATION TIERS, SPECIFICALLY IN CALIFORNIA. NOW, WE'RE NOT IN CALIFORNIA. IT HASN'T HAPPENED HERE. BUT THESE CONSERVATION STRUCTURES, THEY ARE A REQUIREMENT OF OUR PERMIT. BUT IN CALIFORNIA, THEY HAVE BEEN STRUCK DOWN. AND TYPICALLY THEY HAVE BEEN STRUCK DOWN BECAUSE THERE HASN'T BEEN A RATIONAL NEXUS THAT LINKS THE SERVICE THAT'S BEING PROVIDED TO THE LEVEL OF THE TIER OR THE AMOUNT THAT'S BEING BILLED IN EACH TIER. SO THAT'S WHY WE WANTED TO STICK TO OUR LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT 25. AND THE WAY THAT WE CAME UP WITH 7,000 GALLONS, IF YOU TAKE 250 GALLONS A DAY TIMES 31, YOU KNOW, 30 AND A HALF DAYS A MONTH, YOU'RE RIGHT AROUND 7600 GALLONS, 7500 GALLONS. WHEN WE BACK OFF OR WE EQUATE WHAT IS THE CONSUMPTION THAT YOU'RE PROVIDED AT YOUR HOUSE VERSUS WHAT HAS TO BE PRODUCED AND TRANSMITTED FROM THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT, YOU KNOW, THAT DIFFERENCE THERE IS REALLY UNBILLED REVENUE OR UNBILLED WATER, YOU KNOW. IT'S THROUGH LINE LOSS. GENERALLY IN MOST UTILITIES, IT'S ABOUT 10%. I THINK THAT'S RIGHT AROUND YOU ALL. >> YEAH, WE ARE AROUND 8 RIGHT NOW. >> SO YOU ARE A LITTLE UNDER THERE. SO THAT'S WHY WE KIND OF LANDED AT THIS 7,000 INCREMENT BECAUSE WE WANTED IT TO BE COST JUSTIFIED AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS A BASIS FOR WHY WE WERE SETTING THIS LEVEL AT 7,000. AND WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE CLEAR ABOUT HOW WE CAME UP WITH THAT THRESHOLD. >> I THINK YOU DID A REALLY GOOD JOB EXPLAINING. I DON'T THINK THAT, YOU KNOW -- AND I APPRECIATE LOOKING AT, FOR EXAMPLE, DELRAY BEACH, OUR DIRECT NEIGHBOR TO THE SOUTH, THEIR TIER 1 IS ZERO TO 12,000 GALLONS. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR RESEARCH, FOR PRESENTATION. DID YOU A REALLY GREAT JOB. AND I WILL JUST, YOU KNOW, ALLOW THE REST OF THE BOARD TO SPEAK. BUT MY PURPOSE WITH THIS IS TO MAINTAIN THE TIER 1 AS IT IS. AND THEN ALLOW FOR ANY CHANGES TO BE MADE WITHIN TIER 2, 3 AND 4 BECAUSE FROM 7,000 TO 9,000, THE WAY THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE RIGHT NOW WITH LARGER FAMILIES, THEY WILL PAY THE PRICE. WE HAVE SEEN INCREASE IN INFLATION, INCREASE IN CAR INSURANCE, HOME INSURANCE. NOW A LOT OF HOMES HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE. I WANT US TO THINK AGAIN ABOUT OUR RESIDENTS AND WHAT BENEFITS THEM THE MOST. AND I THINK THAT KEEPING AT LEAST A TIER 1 FOR HOUSEHOLDS THAT HAVE CHILDREN, THE SAME WAY WE HAVE BEEN HAVING IT THE LAST 100 YEARS WOULD BE THE RIGHT WAY TO GO. HOWEVER, AGAIN, IT'S UP TO THE REST OF THE BOARD. BUT I WOULD FEEL THAT IT WOULD BE A DISSERVICE IF I DIDN'T EXPRESS KIND OF MY THOUGHT ON THAT. BUT YOU'VE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB WITH YOUR RESEARCH AND YOUR PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. LET'S KEEP GOING. WERE THERE ANY OTHER REQUESTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? GO AHEAD, VICE MAYOR. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, RYAN. THANK YOU, POONAM. REMIND ME -- AND YOU MAY NOT KNOW IT OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD. YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR WHEN WE WERE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION, THE RECOMMENDATION WAS AN INCREASE TO OUR RATE ADJUSTMENT EVERY YEAR FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. IN ORDER TO BUILD THAT REVENUE, SO THAT WE HAD THE FUNDS TO DO UTILITY PROJECTS. DO YOU REMEMBER, WAS IT AROUND 5% OR 6%? I FEEL LIKE IT WAS 8%. >> YES. IT WAS LIKE WE DONE 10% THE FIRST YEAR AND 6% AFTER THAT IS WHAT WE HAD SUGGESTED. THAT WOULD KEEP US ON THAT. AND WE TRIED TO USE THIS AS A WAY TO OFFSET THAT. >> RIGHT. AND I MEAN MY POSITION IS THAT, YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR LOOKING AT DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE COULD AVOID DOING A RATE INCREASE EVERY YEAR. WE KNOW THAT UTILITIES ARE NECESSARY. AND WE KNOW THAT OUR RESIDENTS DESERVE CLEAN WATER AND NOT BUSTED PIPES AND UTILITY STRUCTURES. YOU KNOW, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS KEPT UP. SO, YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE THE WAY THAT YOU HAVE GONE ABOUT LOOKING AT HOW WE CANNOT INCREASE THE RATE THIS YEAR, BUT STILL INCREASE REVENUE. AND SO JUST LIKE WHEN WE HAD THIS PRESENTATION BEFORE, I SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE LOWER -- TO DECREASE OUR TIERS BECAUSE IT AFFECTS VERY FEW, AS YOU JUST SAID, RYAN, IT AFFECTS SO FEW ACTUAL RESIDENTIAL -- YOU KNOW, OF OUR RESIDENTS. SO I WANT TO JUST BE MINDFUL THAT, YOU KNOW, NEXT YEAR WE'RE LIKELY GOING TO BE LOOKING AT A RATE INCREASE IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE TO THE RESIDENTS THAT THEY DESERVE AND DESIRE TO HAVE. SO THIS YEAR, YOU KNOW, I THANK YOU FOR REALLY WORKING HARD TO GET CREATIVE AND TO FIND A WAY WHERE WE COULD AVOID RAISING THE RATES, BUT STILL INCREASE REVENUE TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SERVICE. SOY THAT'S MY POSITION ON THAT, AND THAT'S >> CHAIR: THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR. ANYTHING ELSE IS  EVERYONE HAS A GREAT INTENTION HERE. EVERYONE'S TRYING TO HELP THE RESIDENTS JUST MORE THAN ONE WAY TO DO THAT. AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE TODAY. ALL RIGHT, SO WE WILL, I'M SORRY. >> THANK YOU FOR PROTECTING THE 81%. >> YEAH. MM-HMM. >> AND JUST ONE LAST COMMENT. THAT A LOT OF INCREASES THAT PEOPLE HAVE IN USAGE IS USUALLY DUE TO IRRIGATION, SO IF PEOPLE USE THE IRRIGATION SMARTLY, YOU CAN REALLY REDUCE YOUR USAGE A LOT. THAT'S THE MAXIMUM WAY YOU LOSE WATER. >> CHAIR: ALL RIGHT AND IF ANYONE HAS ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, THIS IS NOT THE FINAL ITEM. THIS IS JUST A PRESENTATION. THERE IS STILL TIME TO CONTINUE EXPLORING. THANK YOU BOTH OF YOU. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD TO THE NEXT PORTION OF THE AGENDA. WE HAVE TWO ITEMS UNDER 2B. WE HAVE PROPOSED RESOLUTION NUMBER R24-189 IT IS ADOPT THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE FOR THE GENERAL FUND FOR FISCAL YEAR 24-25. AND THE SECOND RELATED ITEM IS PROPOSED RESOLUTION R24-190, ADOPT THE TENTATIVE BUDGET FOR THE GENERAL FUND, AND ALL OTHER FUNDS FOR FISCAL YEAR 24-25, AND COUNCIL CAN I JUST ASK YOU, IS IT ALL RIGHT IF WE HAVE A ONE-PUBLIC COMMENT FOR, FOR BOTH? DO YOU WANT TO DO IT SEPARATELY? I KNOW THE VOTING HAS TO BE DONE SEPARATELY. THIS IS 2B. >> CHAIR: YOU WANT TO DO PUBLIC COMMENT SEPARATELY FOR THESE TWO ITEMS? >> YES, SEPARATELY BECAUSE THEY REQUIRE A PUBLIC HEARING. SOUNDS GOOD. LET'S ADDRESS THE FIRST ADOPTION. THIS IS ADOPTING THE PROPOSED RATE FOR THE GENERAL FUND IF THE FI -- FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 24-25. DO WE HAVE ANYBODY FROM STAFF TO INTRODUCE THIS OR EITHER ONE? GREAT, WE'VE GOT PEOPLE COMING UP. >> BOTH PETER AND TONY ARE COMING AND THEY HAPPEN DO THE PRESENTATION. >> CHAIR: SO THE ORDER WILL BE WE WILL HEAR A QUICK PRESENTATION. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME WE'RE SEEING IT. THIS IS A PROCESS. WE'LL GO TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT LT WE'LL GO TO COMMISSION FOR DISCUSSION AND THEN WE'LL DO VOTING, OKAY? GENTLEMEN, GOOD EVENING. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND COMMISSIONERS. THE PRUD AD VALOREM TAX RATE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 24-25 IS 7.8 MILLS PER 1,000 IN REAL ESTATE PROPERTY. WHICH ASK A REDUCTION IN -- WHICH IS A REDUCTION IN .5 MILL FROM LAST YEAR. CONTINUEY, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? >> THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A PRESENTATION. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS HAVE IT IN FRONT OF YOU. I DON'T KNOW IF THE FOLKS -- I.T. >> CHAIR: YEAH, IF I.T. COULD QUICKLY PULL IT UP AND LET'S SEE IF WE HAVE IT. WE DO. IS IT ON THERE? OKAY. >> IF NOT, I CAN PROCEED IF YOU WANT ME TO. >> THERE WAS SOME HANDOUTS ALSO SO I COULD PROCEED IF YOU WANT ME TO. ALL RIGHT, JUST TO REITERATE, IF YOU GO TO PAGE 3, AGAIN, WE'RE HERE TONIGHT TO ADOPT THE MILLAGE RATE AND THE TENTATIVE BUDGET. >> CAN WE GET PAGE ON THE POWERPOINT? WE DON'T HAVE PAPER AND THERE IS NO POWERPOINT. >> ADAM JUST WENT BACK TO GO FIGURE THAT OUT, COMMISSIONER TURKIN. >> CHAIR: I DON'T KNOW WHAT STAFF IS PREPARED TO DO NEXT BUT IT DEPENDS ON WHAT IS AVAILABLE -- >> I.T., ARE YOU PREPARED TO BRING UP THE FIRE ASSESSMENT PRESENTATION? DO YOU GUYS HAVE ACCESS TO THAT? SO WE CAN GET IT ON THE MONITORS, PLEASE? >> SO BASICALLY WHATEVER THEY HAVE READY FIRST WE'LL DO THAT SO SOMETHING'S MOVING. SO IN ADDITION TO THESE T TWO ITEMS WE HAVE THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FEE SCHEDULE RATE CHANGES, AND THE FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE ITEM AS WELL. SO WHAT IS THAT? COMPREHENSIVE? OKAY, THAT'S THE FEE SCHEDULE SO THAT'S 2C. WHICH ITEM? OKAY. THANK YOU. WE'RE BACK TO THE MILLAGE. ALL RIGHT, THAT WORKS OUT. >> OKAY. THIS IS THE OLD ONE. ALL RIGHT. AS YOU -- AS YOU CAN SEE, THE THURSDAY DATE, THE 12th, HAS BEEN CHANGED. EVERYONE KNOW TO THE 23rd SO I JUMP PAST THAT. THE LAST BULLET AS YOU CAN SEE WE'RE ALSO HERE TO DISCUSS THE FIRE ASSESSMENT, IN ADDITION TO THE MILLAGE RATE AND THE TENTATIVE BUDGET. AS YOU CAN SEE, AS PETER SAID EARLIER, YOU GUYS BACK IN JULY WENT WITH A 7.8 MILLS YOU ACTUALLY REDUCED IT BY .05. FROM THE CURRENT YEAR WHICH IS .785. ALSO AS YOU CAN SEE, BY LAW WE ALSO HAVE TO STATE THE ROLLED BACK RATE WHICH IS 7.429 VERSUS WHERE WE'RE GOING, WHICH IS 7.85 AND THAT GIVES YOU A DIFFERENCE OF 5.08 PERCENT AS COMPARES TO THE ROLL BACK RATE. YOU GUYS ARE NOT HEADING IN THAT DIRECTION JUST FOR THE RECORD. NEXT SLIDE SHOWS YOU A COMPARISON BASICALLY OF WHAT IF YOU DECIDE TO GO FROM THE 7.8 TO THE 7.4229 IT WOULD MEAN THAT STAFF WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND TRY TO FIND $2.8 MILLION. ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT SLIDE? ALL RIGHT. HERE'S A HIGHLIGHTS WHICH REGARDS SO SINCE WE'RE AT THE WORKSHOP, WE HAD VARIOUS DIFFERENT REVENUE ADJUSTMENT AS YOU CAN SEE BECAUSE OF THE LOWERING OF THE MILLAGE RATE TO SAVE ..-- 7.80 WE HAD TO ADJUST THE REVENUE, AD VALOREM TAXES DOWN. ALSO THE STATE SHARED REPORTS CAME BACK AND WE LOST 159K. THE SALES TAX REVENUES CAME BACK FROM THE STATE AND WE HAD TO REDUCE THOSE REVENUES BY 144K. AS A RESULT OF GOING TO THE PROPOSED $120 TO $145 WE HAD TO MEET THE CHANGE FOR THE INCREASE FIRE ASSESSMENT REVENUES BY A GAIN IN $1.3 MILLION IF THAT WAS TO BE ADOPTED. IN TALKING TO OUR SPECIAL EVENTS DIRECTOR, SHE FELT SHE COULD HELP THE GENERAL FUND SOME MORE AND FIND $80,000. AND THEN CRA STEPPED IN AND COVERED ONE OF THE POSITION WHICH WAS A PROJECT MANAGER BY THE TUNE OF 260K. WITH ALL OF THESE ADJUSTMENTS WE WERE ABLE TO BRING BACK THE BUDGET NOT TAKING ANYTHING FROM FUND BALANCE. SO THE BUDGET IS BALANCED AND IT'S BALANCED WITHOUT USING ANY FUND BALANCE. OKAY. SLIDE NUMBER 7 PRETTY MUCH HIGHLIGHT ALL THE RECOMMENDED I CALL THEM REORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES, SOME OF THESE AFFECTED THE CURRENT YEAR THAT WAS NOT IN THE ADOPTED BUDGET. AND SOME ACTUALLY AFFECT FISCAL YEAR 24-25. THE FIRST ONE AS YOU CAN SEE WE'RE REMOVING AN FTE. THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER POSITION PRINTING WE HAD TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL 45K FOR ADDITIONAL SPECIAL EVENT PRINTING NEEDS: RECLASS OF SPECIALIST EVENT COORDINATOR AND AN ADDITIONAL $5,000 THAT'S, AND THEN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT ADDED A ACCOUNTING POSITION. WE HIRED A NEW PURCHASING DIRECTOR THAT BY MARKET WE HAD TO FIND AN ADDITIONAL 18K TO COVER THAT HIRE. THERE WAS SOME SALARY ADJUSTMENTS AS IT PERTAINS TO POLICE FOR POLICE OFFICER PROGRAM, WHICH COMMISSION APPROVED. THERE WERE SOME OTHER STAFF COMPRESSION ISSUES THAT WE FOUND AS WE REVIEWED THE BUDGET. THAT WAS ADDRESSED BY THE 269K. WE ADDED A BEAUTIFICATION SUPERVISOR PARKING SERVICES PICKED UP INFORMATION DESK COORDINATOR POSITION. WE REINSTATED THE RECREATION MANAGER AND THEN DECIDED TO RECOGNIZE SOME COST SAVINGS BY LOWERING THE VALUE OF THAT POSITION TO A SPECIALIST. ANOTHER MOVE THAT WE MADE STRUCTURALLY TO HELP THE GENERAL FUND WAS TO CHANGE ALLOCATION ON SOME OF THE ENGINEERS BY HAVING THE BUILDING FUND SUBSIDIZE SOME OF THOSE COSTS. ADDITIONALLY, WE NEED, WE NEEDED PUBLIC WORKS. >> EXCUSE ME, I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHERE THE VOICES ARE COMING FROM, THERE IS ECHOING HAPPENING. IF YOU COULD PLEASE WHISPER A LITTLE BIT MORE SO WE CAN HEAR STAFF. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> PUBLIC WORKS NEEDED AN ASSISTANT PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR TO OVERSEE ALL THE CIP PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE. WE ADDITIONALLY WERE ABLE TO REDUCE THE CIP TRANSFER FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND ALSO SOME FLEET FROM TRANSFER -- FLEET FUND TRANSFER TO ACQUIRE SOME OF THE VEHICLES FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HENCE YOU SAW THAT NET REDUCTION AT $450,000. WE THOUGHT ADDITIONALLY WITH THIS $130 MILLION BUDGET THAT WE ALSO NEEDED TO ADD SOME DOLLARS TO THE CONTINGENCY FUND. THE NEXT PAGE DEALS WITH FUNDS. IN ADDITION FOR THE HANDOUTS, FUND 122 IS ACTUALLY THE COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT FUNDS SO IT WAS, THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED INSTEAD OF SAYING RECREATION DEPARTMENT. IT'S ACTUALLY THE COMMUNITY DEPARTMENT FUND. AGAIN THAT PROGRAM THAT I HIGHLIGHTED EARLIER IN THE GENERAL FUND ALSO AFFECTED THE TRAFFIC FUND. WHICH IS WHY YOU SEE THAT ADJUSTMENT. >> CHAIR: TONY, I'M SORRY JUST ONE MOMENT. 182 I MAY JUST -- I'M HAVING A MOMENT. I DON'T SEE 182. >> NO 122. >> CHAIR: I MISREAD IT. AND YOU'RE SAYING THATT SHOULD BE WHAT INSTEAD. >> THE TITLE OF THAT FUND IS CALLED THE COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT FUND. >> MAYOR: GOT IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT IS WHY RJN AND CONSTRUCTION COORDINATOR SITE. AND THEN IN THE BUILDING FUND AGAIN THAT DOLLARS, THOSE DOLLARS WE SEE IS AS A RESULT OF THE ENGINEERS IN THE GENERAL FUND WE WERE ABLE TO SORT OF ENGINEER THE FACT THAT WE COULD GET THEIR COST TO BE COVERED ALSO BY THE BUILDING FUND. PARKS AND RECREATION OF THE TRUST FUND WERE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE COUPLE PROJECTS IN THERE, AND WE WERE ABLE TO TRANSFER MONEY FROM THAT FUND TO THE CIP FUND. TO HELP FUND A LITTLE LEAGUE PROJECT. PARK IMPACT FEE, THE SAME THING OCCURRED. WE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL PROJECTS THAT MAY COME IN IN THE NEW FISCAL YEAR, AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO TRANSFER $200,000 FROM THAT FUND. AND THEY WERE REA RELATED TO FIRE PROJECTS AND THE 302 FUND AS YOU CAN SEE AN INCREASE OF $17 MILLION WAS ATTRIBUTABLE TO VARIOUS FUNDS. VARIOUS PROJECTS RATHER. SOMEWHERE THE AUDITORIUM PROJECT FOR $2.5 MILLION, JC PARK FOR 450K, CENTENNIAL FOR $500,000. ECHO PARK FOR 875K, PAINS PARK FOR $400,000 AND VARIOUS DIFFERENT MISCELLANEOUS PAVING PROJECTS. THE SURTAX FUND THAT REDUCTION WAS AS A RESULT OF MOVING PROJECTS FROM THE 303 FUND TO THE 302 FUND. AND SIMULTANEOUSLY CONVERSELY YOU HAVE THE INCREASE IN THE 302 FUND. UTILITY DECIDED TO MAKE A, A PERSONNEL CHANGE WHICH REGARDS TO THE SALARY FOR ONE OF THEIR EMPLOYEES, AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'VE SEEN THERE FOR THE FINANCE SUPERVISOR. THE 403 FUND AND 403 FUND, THEY HAD PROJECTS WHERE THEY THOUGHT FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR THEY COULD EITHER REMOVE OR PUSH TO THE FUTURE AND THAT'S WHAT REPRESENT THOSE TWO DEGREES. THE GOLF FUND HAD AN INCREASE OF $20,000. THE BENEFITS FUND AS BY MERE FACT THAT WE'RE SELF-INSURED WE MUST HAVE RESERVES. THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT BENEFIT FUND ALSO INCREASED, WITH RESPECT TO THE CARE ECT CLINIC. STAFF IS NOW IN CONVERSATION WITH REGARD TO SORT OF HOPEFULLY MITIGATE IN SOME OF THOSE COSTS. THAT'S AN ONGOING PROCESS. AND THEN IN THE CEMETERY WE DECIDED TO ADD A PARKS MAINTENANCE WORKER. TO THE TUNE OF 60K OR 59K. NEXT SLIDE YOU SEE THOUGH IT'S TINY, I WOULD JUST HIGHLIGHT IT'S ALL THE FUNDS RP IT'S BASICALLY SHOWING YOU THE NET POSITION WHEREBY WE'RE AT -- WHERE IF YOU LOOK AT THE BOTTOM IT'S A TOTAL BUDGET OF $327,804,000. THE BIGGER CHANGES THAT YOU'LL SEE IS THAT THE GENERAL FUND LEVEL AS YOU CAN SEE, IT INCREASED $11.3 MILLION, AND MOST OF THAT WAS BASICALLY PENSION AND CONTRACTUAL AND ALSO SALARY ADJUSTMENTS. THE FLEET FUND, THE REDUCTION OF $5.3 MILLION, THAT WAS TIED TO CITY ACQUIRING LESS VEHICLES. THE TRAFFIC SAFETY FUND AS A RESULT OF THE SPEED ZONE PROJECT THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE OR PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE, SOME OF THE GENERAL FUND EMPLOYEES WE WERE ABLE TO RECODE SOME OF THE OPERATIONAL COSTS TIED TO THAT PARTICULAR FUND, AND AGAIN THE SAME THING WITH REGARDS TO AS FAR AS THE NET CHANGE BETWEEN THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT CIP AND SURTAX IS ALSO US MOVING PROJECTS FROM ONE FUND TO THE NEXT. THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THAT SWITCH. UTILITY, DECREASE IN THE CIP, WHERE YOU SEE THE $17 MILLION AGAIN THAT'S THE RECOGNITION OF STAFF EITHER PROJECTS WERE COMPLETED OR THEY'RE MOVING THEM OFF TO THE FUTURE. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE NET DIFFERENCE FROM ONE FISCAL YEAR TO THE NEXT WAS $2.9 MILLION. FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT. NEXT SLIDE. ALL RIGHT. SO THIS, THIS IS THE LAST OF THE TWO SLIDES THAT SHOWS THE IMPACT TO THE RESIDENTS AS IT PERTAINS TO THE MILLAGE RATE AND ALSO THE ASSESSED VALUES THAT THE CITY REALIZED THIS YEAR IN GENERAL, THE CITY HAD 8.7% INCREASE FROM ONE YEAR OVER TO THE NEXT IN TERMS OF THE ASSESSED VALUES BUT AS IT PERTAINS TO THE RESIDENTS, WE ONLY CAN ASSESS 3%. SO THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FIRST EXAMPLE WHICH SHOWS ASSESSED VALUE BEING AT 300,000 AND 3% BSK T -- ABOVE THAT NUMBER WOULD PUT YOU AT 309 AND THEN THE TAX RATE WHICH IS WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED IS 7.8 SO THIS PARTICULAR HOMEOWNER THAT HAS A $300,000 HOME WOULD RECOGNIZE A TAX OF $2,020. NET DIFFERENCE ON THE ANNUAL BASIS IS AN INCREASE OF 57.70. AND THE MONTHLY CALCULATION IS THERE AND THE SAME IS FOLLOWED THROUGH IF THE HOMEOWNER HAD A $500,000 HOME AT 3% CAP. THIS HOMEOWNER WOULD EXPERIENCE A NEW BILL INSTEAD OF 3500 IT WOULD NOW BE 3600, AND NET DIFFERENCE ON ANNUAL BASIS OF $95. FLIP TO THE NEXT SLIDE WHICH IS FROM A COMMERCIAL PERSPECTIVE. AGAIN, THE CITY EXPERIENCED AN 8.7% INCREASE, HENCE THAT'S WHY THIS IS APPLIED TO THIS SCENARIO. AGAIN, IF THE PROPERTY WAS 300,000, FROM 23, IN 24 IT WOULD MOVE IT TO 326. APPLYING THE SAME MILLAGE RATE OF 7.8, THAT OWNER INSTEAD OF PAYING $2355 THEY WOULD PAY 2544. WHICH IS INCREASE OF $188. ON THE FIRST EXAMPLE, MOVE TO SOME, TO A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY AT $500,000, NEW YEAR, THERE WOULD BE REALIZING A VALUE OF 543 AND WITH THE SAME MILLAGE RATE OF 7.8 MILLS, AND THE ANNUAL WOULD BE INSTEAD OF 3900 FOR 23, IT WOULD BE $4200 FOR 24, AN INCREASE OF $314. AND THAT'S THE FINAL SLIDE. ANY QUESTIONS? >> CHAIR: THAN >> MAYOR: THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MY COLLEAGUES, FOR EITHER OF THEM? ALL RIGHT, SO AGAIN, WE ARE -- NOW JUST GOING TO ADDRESS ONE RESOLUTION AT A TIME. THE FIRST RESOLUTION THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING IS THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE. WE'LL TURN NOW TO PUBLIC COMMENTS, SPECIFICALLY ON THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN OTHER ITEMS, WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER ONE FOR THE GENERAL FUND. IF YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT, OR IF YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON SOMETHING NOT ON THE AGENDA, THERE IS A SEPARATE SECTION FOR THAT. SO LET'S BEGIN WITH THOSE IN THE CHAMBER IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS REGARDING THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE, AFTER WHICH WE'LL GO TO THOSE ONLINE AND LET'S DOUBLE CHECK EVERYTHING HERE. THERE'S NOBODY ONLINE. ALL RIGHT, SO THE RULES ARE ALWAYS THE SAME. IT'S THREE MINUTES PER PERSON. STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, WHEN YOU BEGIN. INDUSTRIES YOUR COMMENTS TO THE -- INDUSTRY YOUR COMMENTS TO THE COMMISSION AS A WHOLE. WE ARE TAKING DOWN NOTES. THIS IS NOT A Q&A, BUT WE ARE TAKING NOTES AS YOU ARE SPEAKING. WHERE IS MY TIMER? GIVE ME ONE SECOND. ALL RIGHT, YOU MAY BEGIN WHEN YOU'RE READY. >> CINDY FALCO DECORRADEO. I'M APPALLED AT THE PRICES. EVEN THE BEAUTIFICATION SUPERVISOR, 103K A YEAR? THAT'S INSANE. THIS IS HIGHWAY ROBBERY. YOU'RE HITTING THE PEOPLE VERY HARD ON THINGS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARY AND ARE ABSOLUTE FLUFF AND PUFF FOR MILLAGE RATE. I'D WORK FOR THAT FOR HAF THE MONEY BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY. WHO PAYS FOR ALL THESE THINGS? DID YOU SEE THE ITEMS UP HERE? A GOLF FUND? ALL THESE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE NON-ESSENTIAL, NONIMPORTANT TO ANYBODY LIVING HERE IN THE CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH. I ASK YOU LOOK OVER IT VERY CLEARLY AND WE WATCH WHO VOTES FOR WHAT BECAUSE THIS IS HIGHWAY ROBBERY AND WE THE PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF BEING ROBBED. WHEN DO THE MILLAGE RATES STOP GOING UP? WHEN DO OUR SALARIES THAT WE WORK SO HARD THAT YOU LIVE OFF OUR BACKS GOES UP? IT DOESN'T. STOP ROBBING US. THANK YOU. I WANT TO CLARIFY FOR THE RECORD THAT THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE IS GOING DOWN. LET'S GO TO THE NEXT SPEAKER. STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. >> I'M TOM AR RUMEECHIO. I LIVE IN HISTORIC KNOLLWOOD. COMMISSIONERS, OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS THAT YOU'VE BEEN DISCUSSING THE BUDGET, I REALLY HOPE THAT AS YOU PLAN FOR NEXT YEAR THAT YOU'LL COME UP WITH A DIFFERENT PROCESS BECAUSE WHEN I SEE I WAS HERE THERE WAS JUST A HANDFUL OF US HERE DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, AND AS YOU WERE DISCUSSING, IT WAS BROUGHT TO YOU ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON, MONDAY MORNING, YOU STARTED DELIBERATIONS, AND THEN AFTER LITERALLY JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS, YOU MADE A DECISION TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY, BUT TO SEE  ALL OF THESE ADJUSTMENTS IN THIS SHORT PERIOD OF TIME CONCERNS ME. I WOULD HOPE NEXT YEAR YOU COULD START WITH A LITTLE DIFFERENT PROCESS WHERE YOU ALL ARE INVOLVED EARLIER IN THE PROCESS SO IT BECOMES YOUR BUDGET ALONG WITH THE STAFF. I WANT TO GIVE YOU A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF WHY I'M CONCERNED ABOUT SPENDING. I HAVE NO ISSUE WITH YOUR PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE TONIGHT. I WOULD SUPPORT THAT MYSELF IF I WAS ON THE COMMISSION. BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE LEVEL OF SPENDING, $12 MILLION OF NEW SPENDING. IN 2018, YOUR MILLAGE RATE WAS 7.9. YOU HAD AN 89 MILLION BUDGET JUST SIX YEARS AGO. AND THEN 1920 YOU WENT TO $96 MILLION. 2021, $99 MILLION, ALL 7.9 MILLAGE RATE ALL UNDER INEXPERIENCE OF A VERY EXPERIENCED CITY MANAGER. AS SOON AS WE HAD A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP, THE SPENDING DRASTICALLY CHANGED AS WE WENT THROUGH THE INTERIM MANAGERS IN 20 -- 21, 22, 22-23, 102, 107, NOT BAD, YOU STARTED TO LOWER THE MILLAGE RATE, BUT YOU CONTINUED TO SPEND. LAST YEAR 23, 24 YOU WENT TO $118 MILLION WHICH WAS A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF NEW SPENDING, AND NOW THIS YEAR AN ADDITIONAL $12 MILLION, GUYS WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THIS LEVEL OF SPENDING, SO I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER ADOPTING NEXT YEAR A PROCESS WHERE YOU START WITH A ZERO BASED BUDGET OR A BASELINE BUDGET AND YOU'RE INVOLVED IN ALL OF THAT PROCESS SO THAT YOU CAN JUSTIFY EACH ONE OF THOSE EXPENDITURES TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS. SO THAT IT'S NOT JUST WINDOW DRESSING THAT WE'RE LOWERING THE MILLAGE, YOU'RE ACTUALLY LOWERING SPENDING, AND IT CAN BE DONE, IT ABSOLUTELY CAN BE DONE. AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO, TO HAVE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS, I WOULD BE G GLAD TO SIT WITH EACH ONE OF YOU INDEPENDENTLY AND TALK ABOUT HOW NEW REVENUE, THERE'S LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW REVENUE. FOR SURE. AND SOME OF THOSE HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD MOST RECENTLY. BUT PLEASE, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. YOU WORK VERY, VERY HARD ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, AND I HOPE THAT YOU'LL TAKE THESE ITEMS INTO CONSIDERATION. >> CHAIR: THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANYONE ELSE FOR ARE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS SPECIFIC ITEM? WHICH IS THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE. ALL RIGHT, SEEING NO ONE, LET ME JUST DO A FINAL CHECK IF ANYONE'S ONLINE. AND I SEE NO ONE ONLINE. WITH THAT, PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED. SO LET ME TURN TO MY COLLEAGUES IF THEY HAVE ANY FINAL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, OTHERWISE, WE'LL BEGIN THE VOTING PROCESS BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? >> NOPE, I AM GLAD THAT WE HEARD ZERO BASED BUDGETING, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I DID BRING UP AT THE BUDGET WORKSHOP, SO I'M GOING TO SAY THIS IS A REMINDER TO THE CITY MANAGER AS WELL, ZERO BASED BUDGETING AS WELL. THANKS. >> CHAIR: ALL RIGHT, ANYTHING ELSE? MAYLEE, FIRST OF ALL, WE'LL HAVE A MOTION. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION? >> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> CHAIR: WE HAVE A MOTION. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR: WE HAVE A SECOND. SO THE MOTION I HEARD FROM VICE MAYOR, THE SECOND CAME FROM COMMISSIONER CRUZ. MAYLEE IF WE COULD DO A ROLL CALL SINCE THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. >> COMMISSIONER HAY. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER TURKIN. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER CRUZ. >> YES. >> VICE MAYOR KELLEY. >> YES. >> MAYOR PENSERGA. >> YES. >> ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ONTO THE NEXT RESOLUTION THAT'S ATTACHED TO THIS ITEM. PROPOSED RESOLUTION R24-190, THIS IS AGAIN ABOUT THE TENT TSK BUDGE -- TENTATIVE BUDGET FOR THE GENERAL FUND AND ALL OTHER FUNDS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 24-25, AND I BELIEVE THAT PRESENTATION COVERED ALL OF IT. I JUST WANT TO DOUBLE CHECK WITH STAFF. WAS THERE ANYTHING ELSE RELATED TO THIS? ANY OTHER PRESENTATIONS? I JUST WANT MIKE SURE I DIDN'T MISS ANYTHING? THAT WAS IT OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WITH THAT WE'LL TURN NOW TO PUBLIC COMMENT, SPECIFICALLY ON THE BUDGET. AGAIN, THIS IS R24-190. BEGINNING WITH THOSE IN PERSON AND THEN ONLINE, THE RULES ARE THE SAME. LET ME SWITCH TO THE TIMER, BEGIN WHEN YOU'RE READY, SUSAN BOYAR, BOYNTON BEACH. FIRST OF ALL YOU SHOULD BE SAVING MONEY WITH HALF THESE LIGHTS OUT SO I'VE BEEN TEXTING DAN THE WHOLE TIME. EVERYBODY'S IN THE DARK. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SEE US ON TV, ALL OF THE SPEAKERS ARE IN THE DARK OVER HERE. SO I AGREE WITH THE ZERO BASED BUDGET. WE NEED TO BE DOING SOMETHING. I LOOK AT THE WHOLE BUDGET OVERALL NOT JUST THE SMALL NUMBERS YOU GUYS ARE TALKING ABOUT. OVERALL APPROXIMATELY FIVE YEARS AGO THIS WAS LIKE $220 MILLION BUDGET. IT'S NOW A THIRD OF A BILLION DOLLARS SO WE'VE GONE FROM A QUARTER OF A BILLION TO A THIRD OF A BILLION IN APPROXIMATELY 5 OR SO YEARS WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL THE FUNDS AND ALL THE BUDGET. THIS IS REALLY OUTRAGEOUS. I THINK IT CAN BE LITTLE STUFF, LIKE NO MORE TAKE HOME CARS. UNILOUS YOU ARE A POLICE OFFICER -- UNLESS YOU ARE A POLICE OFFICER OR THE FIRE CHIEF, YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE TAKING HOME A TAKE HOME CAR. THAT NEEDS TO END. I'VE BEEN SAYING THAT FOR YEARS AND YEARS. I'VE SAID IT TO LORI TOO AND I'M SAYING IT TO YOU, DAN. >> CHAIR: PLEASE ADDRESS THE COMMENTS TO ME. >> I AM AND -- AND NO TAKE HOME CAR FOR YOU EITHER. >> CHAIR: I DON'T HAVE ONE. >> I KNOW BUT I'M MAKING A POINT. IT NEEDS TO START SMALL. AND CINDY WAS RIGHT AND YOU KNOW ME I'M ALL FOR BEAUTIFICATION AND MOVING FORWARDS ON THIS BUT WHY WOULD YOU HIRE SOMEONE AT $103,000. WHY IS IT PAY START RATE NOT $75? YOU HAVE NOW COLLAPSED AND GOTTEN RID OF TONS OF DEPARTMENT MANAGERS BECAUSE YOU HAVE AMANDA AND CRAIG RUNNING LIKE HALF THE FREAKIN' CITY. I DON'T KNOW WHO ELSE SHOWS UP TO WORK, IT JUST APPEARS TO BE THEM IN CHARGE OF MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS. SO I'M GOING OKAY YOU PUST BE SAVING A WHAT OF MONEY ON PERSONNEL BECAUSE YOU HAVE TWO PEOPLE DOING THE JOBS OF TEN PEOPLE ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO. SO THERE HAS GOT TO BE SOME KIND OF PERSONNEL SAVINGS IN THERE, AND WHERE IS IT AT? YOU HAVE NOT HAD A, AN HISTORIC PLANNER IN YEARS, AND YET WE WERE A CITY THAT WON NUMEROUS HISTORIC AWARDS. YOU'RE SAVING MONEY THERE, APPARENTLY, 100,000, ALL THESE THINGS ADD UP. YOU'VE LOST ALL THESE EMPLOYEES, THERE SHOULD BE TONS OF PAYROLL SAVINGS. I JUST DON'T SEE WHERE WE'RE GETTING A BUDGET THIS BIG, SO I THINK IT'S TIME TO ACTUALLY HAVE THE MEETINGS AT NIGHT WHEN PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO WORK CAN COME AND EVERYONE ELSE AND WE CAN ACTUALLY SIT HERE AND LOOK AT IT. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A LINE ITEM BUDGET. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT THAT. AND I DON'T SEE WHY THE COMMISSION DOESN'T HAVE LINE-ITEM VETO ON SOME OF THIS. THE PRESIDENT DOES. THE GOVERNOR DOES. WHY CAN'T YOU? YOU ARE THE ELECTEDS. NOT THE CITY EMPLOYEES. YOU ALL SHOULD BE THE ONES NIT-PICKING THROUGH EVERYTHING. THANK YOU. >> CHAIR: THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> IS THIS ABOUT THE PROPOSED TAXED? >> CHAIR: NO, NOT THE TAXES, WE ALREADY DID THAT. THIS IS ON THE BUDGET. >> IS THE FIRE ASSESSMENT ON THE BUDGET? >> CHAIR: THERE'S A SEPARATE ITEM ON THAT. ANYONE ELSE ON THE GENERAL BUDGET OR FUNDS RELATED TO THAT? LET ME CHECK ONLINE. THERE IS NO ONE ONLINE. WITH THAT PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE GENERAL BUDGET IS NOW CLOSED AND LET'S, WE HAVE A MOTION IF THERE IS NOTHING ELSE FROM MY COLLEAGUES, MOTION TO APPROVE R24-190. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> CHAIR: WE HAVE A MOTION FROM VICE MAYOR, I HEARD A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER HAY, AND MAYLEE, CITY CLERK IF YOU COULD BEGIN ROLL CALL. >> COMMISSIONER HAY. COMMISSIONER TURKIN. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER CRUZ. >> VICE MAYOR KELLEY. >> YES. >> MAYOR PENSERGA. >> MAYOR: YES. >> IN ROLL CALL VOTE THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. >> CHAIR: THANK YOU SO MUCH. WITH THAT WE WILL MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, 2C, PROPOSED RESOLUTION R24-191. THIS IS THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FEE SCHEDULE RATE CHANGES FOR FISCAL YEAR 24-25. IS THERE A PRESENTATION FOR THIS ITEM? OR IS THERE SOMEONE FROM STAFF WHO CAN PRESENT ON THIS? ANY UPDATES? OVERVIEW? THIS IS NOT ENFIRE ASSESSMENT. THIS IS -- MY VERSION, I THINK WE -- WE ESTABLISHED THAT MY VERSION OF THE AGENDA, THE PRINTOUT THAT I RECEIVED ON THE DAIS, IS I GUESS IT'S MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OLD. THIS IS COMPREHENSIVE -- 2D BUT SAME ITEM, ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FEE SCHEDULE RATE CHANGES FOR FISCAL YEAR 24-25. THE LETTERING IS JUSTATE LL DIFFERENT -- JUST A LITTLE DIFFERENT. BUT SAME ITEM. >> TONY, WHERE'S PETER AT? ARE YOU GUYS PRESENTING ON THIS ITEM. >> MAYOR: ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FEE SCHEDULE RATE CHANGES FOR FISCAL YEAR 24-25. >> IT'S A DOCUMENT THAT IS FROM -- THE PRIOR YEAR. THERE ARE ONLY THREE DEPARTMENTS AS THAT I HAVE AFFECTED CHANGE, WHICH IS UTILITY AND YOU JUST HEARD FROM UTILITY. THE NEXT ONE IS SOLID WASTE, AND THE LAST ONE WOULD BE ENGINEERING. >> MAYOR: WHAT YOU SEE ARE THOSE CHANGES? >> ANNALEE IS GOING TO STEP UP TO ADDRESS SOLID WASTE. >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT, GOOD EVENING. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, RESIDENTS. I HAVE A SMALL PRESENTATION THAT I'D LIKE TO PRESENT. >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT, BEGIN WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. >> OKAY. IN JULY OUR RATE CONSULTANT RYAN SMITH PRESENTED THE FINDINGS OF OUR RATE STUDY. AND THERE ARE TWO MAJOR CHANGES I JUST CHOSE A SLIDES THAT HIGHLIGHTED THOSE CHANGES AND I'LL GO OVER THEM FOR YOU NOW. THE RESIDENTIAL RATES ARE GOING TO INCREASE FROM $21 TO $21.95 SO THAT WILL BE 95 CENTS PER MONTH PER RESIDENT. SO THAT'S A TOTAL OF $11.40 PER YEAR. AND THIS SLIDE'S HIGHLIGHTS THE RATES FOR SIMILAR MUNICIPALITIES AND IT SHOWS WHERE WE ARE, WHERE WE WERE, AND WHERE WE WILL BE WITH THIS INCREASE. THE SECOND INCREASE WILL BE A CHANGE IN THE ROLLOFF OR CONTAINER RATES, AND IT'S JUST GOING TO INCREASE TO $100. THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT, SAY, I THINK LIKE 31 CUSTOMERS, COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS ONLY. AND I THINK THAT'S IT. I CAN TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. >> MAYOR: ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. HOLMES? IS THAT RIGHT, HOLMES? >> HOLMES. >> MAYOR: GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER. >> THIS ONE, COMMISSIONER? OKAY. IMP AND IN THE MEANTIME IF STAFF COULD PREPARE THE OTHER PRESENTATION -- IF THERE ARE OTHER PRESENTATIONS. BARE MINIMUM I WANT TO HEAR WHAT THOSE CHANGES ARE AND THAT SHOULD COVER IT. GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER. SOMEBODY JUST GO. >> WHAT HAS BEEN -- DUMP THAT. YOU KNOW, BEEN THERE, DUMP THAT. >> I'M SORRY? >> GO TO YOUR NEXT SLIDE THERE. >> OH, IT'S ANOTHER ROLLOFF COMPANY I THINK. THOSE ARE ALL DIFFERENT -- RIGHT THERE. >> OKAY. >> FUNNY NAME. >> RIGHT? >> WHAT IS THAT? BEEN THERE DUMP THAT. >> OH, THAT'S THE NAME OF A COMPANY. [LAUGHTER] >> WHAT. >> IT'S ANOTHER ROLLOFF COMPANY -- YOU CAN LIKE RENT A ROLLOFF. >> IT'S ANOTHER COMPANY. >> IT'S A COMPANY? >> YES. >> YOU NEED ME TO GO BACK? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> NONE FROM ME AT THIS TIME. >> IT'S GOOD. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. OKAY, DO WE HAVE THAT RESOLVED? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, TONE. >> SO ON BEHALF OF ATONY, AMANDA IS GOING TO FILL IN. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION. SO RECENTLY THE CITY HAS DONE A LITTLE BIT OF AN REORG WHERE WE MOVED THE ENGINEERING DIVISION UNDER AMANDA AND I. WHEREAS PREVIOUSLY THERAPY HELD UNDER PUBLIC -- THEY WERE HELD UNDER PUBLIC WORKS AND THE THOUGHT BEHIND THAT WAS WE WANTED ENGINEERING TO FOCUS ON SOME OF THE PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT, SO IT MADE SENSE TO MOVE THEM UNDER PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT. SO AS PART OF THAT WE ANALYZED ENGINEERING FEES THAT ARE BEING CHARGED TO PRIVATE DEVELOPERS AND APPLICANTS AND THE DEVELOPMENT WORLD AND CONSTRUCTION AND SO WHAT AMANDA'S PROPOSED IS ADOPT A FEES PROPOSED FEES THAT ARE SIMILAR IN NATURE TO PLANNING AND ZONING, SORRY, I WAS JUST OUT BACK SO RUNNING OUT OF BREATH. SHE'S PROPOSED FEES SIMILAR TO HOW WE HAVE THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT STRUCTURE AND THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT FEE, SO SO THAT WE CAN RECOVER COSTS FOR THOSE PLAN REVIEW SERVICES FOR RIGHT-OF-WAY PERMITS AND LAND DEVELOPMENT PERMITS AND SO FORTH. WHERE ARE WE? WE'LL TAKE A MOMENT? SO WHILE EVERYONE IS WAITING I'LL GIVE A HEADS UP, THE NEXT ITEM IS THE FINAL FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE FOR FISCAL YEAR 24-25. SO THAT IS COMING UP. >> MAYOR, REAL QUICK. >> MAYOR: VICE MAYOR? >> ADAM, WHILE WE'RE WAITING, THE FEES THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING OF PRIMARILY HAVE TO DO WITH NEW BUILDS OR NEW COMPANIES THAT ARE COMING IN, CORRECT? >> CORRECT. >> SO IT'S NOT FOR OUR GENERAL RESIDENTS. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A POINT. >> SOME OF THEM, SOME OF THEM MAY BE IF THEY ARE -- IF THEY REQUIRE ENGINEERING REVIEWS AND INSPECTIONS. CURRENTLY CERTAINLY, CURRENTLY THOSE ARE BEING SUBSIDIZED. THERE IS NO COST RECOVERY AT ALL FOR ANY OF THOSE. ALL RIGHT. SO ENGINEERING SOME OF THE -- SOME OF THE ENGINEERING FEES, SO ARE FOR LAND DEVELOPMENT FEES. THOSE FEES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH, THOSE ARE PERCENTAGE BASED BASED ON CONSTRUCTION VALUE, SIMILAR TO OUR BUILDING DEPARTMENT. WHERE THERE'S A MINIMUM REVIEW AND A, AND A, AND A PERMIT FEE AS WELL. AND THEY'RE BASED ON CONSTRUCTION VALUES. AND THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE PREDOMINANTLY SOME OF THE LARGER CONSTRUCTION WORK THAT'S TAKEN PLACE WITHIN THE CITY. THAT'S YOU KNOW THE BELOW GROUND AND ABOVE GROUND SITE WORK. THEN THERE'S RIGHT-OF-WAY PERMIT FEES. AGAIN A LOT OF THESE FEES ARE PAID BY FOLKS THAT ARE DOING WORK WITHIN THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY LIKE OTHER UTILITIES. AND THEN THERE'S FEES ASSOCIATED WITH PLATTING. WHICH IS AGAIN DONE, DONE AS PART OF A DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS TYPICALLY. THERE'S PLATS THAT COME BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION, SO WE'RE LOOKING, SO WE'RE REQUESTING TO CHARGE THOSE, TO CHARNLG THOSE FEES TO RECOUP -- CHARGE TH THOSE FEES TO RECOUP MONEY ON THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH DOING PLATS. AND THEN SOME OF THE OTHER, SOME OF THE OTHERS ARE JUST MINUSCULE REPLACEMENT OF PERMIT CARDS WHEN THEY'RE LOST AND THE NEED FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SEE THEM UP ON YOUR SCREEN. BUT A MAJORITY LIKE VICE MAYOR KELLEY MENTIONED, A MAJORITY OF THESE FEES ARE GOING TO BE CHARGED TO PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS. >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH, ADAM AND STAFF. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE FROM MY COLLEAGUES THEN? I REALLY JUST WANTED JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW OF WHAT THOSE CHANGES WERE. DID THAT COVER IT? YEAH,. >> MAJORITY OF THEM ARE NEW FEES. THE CITY WASN'T PREVIOUSLY CHARGING FOR FOR THOSE SERVICES. >> MAYOR: OKAY, ANYTHING ELSE? WITH THAT LET'S JUST TURN TO PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE FEE SCHEDULE. AGAIN SPECIFICALLY ON THIS ITEM, WE'LL GO IN PERSON THEN ONLINE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, SPECIFICALLY ON THE FEE SCHEDULE NOT NOW IS THE TIME TO APPROACH THE PODIUM AS ALWAYS, STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD WHEN YOU BEGIN. ALL RIGHT, SEEING NO ONE APPROACHING THE PODIUM, LET'S GO TO THOSE ONLINE, AND I SEE NO ONE ONLINE. WITH THAT PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, IF THERE'S NO OTHER COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE. THIS IS RESOLUTION R24-191. I HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER TURKIN, I HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER HAY. LET ME TURN NOW TO OUR CITY CLERK FOR THE ROLL CALL. >> COMMISSIONER HAY. >> YES. >>  TURKENING -- TURKIN.G. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER CRUZ. >> YES. >> VICE MAYOR KELLEY. >> YES. >> MAYOR PENSERGA. >> MAYOR: YES. >> IN ROLL CALL VOTE THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THE NEXT ITEM ON THE JAND WHICH IS I GUESS IS -- AGENDA, WHICH IS I GUESS E ON YOUR VERSION, IT IS PROPOSED RESOLUTION R24-192. IT IS ADOPTING THE FINAL FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE FOR FISCAL YEAR 24-25. AND LET'S BEGIN WITH THE FIRE CHIEF. IS THAT RIGHT? OKAY. FIRE CHIEF TAKE IT AWAY WHEN YOU'RE READY. AFTER WHICH WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENTS. >> THANK YOU, CAN YOU, I THINK YOU HAVE MY PRESENTATION FROM THE JULY HEARING, PLEASE, IF YOU COULD BRING THAT UP. AND GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. HUGH BREWDER FIRE CHIEF. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING PLEA TO CONTINUE TO PRESENT. IF THOSE OF YOU ON THE COMMISSION WERE LISTENED TO MY PRESENTATION -- >> MAYOR: ONE SECOND, CHIEF, IF WE COULD MUTE THE PHONES, PLEASE. REALLY APPRECIATE IT. OR TAKE IT OUTSIDE. EITHER ONE. >> FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HEARD MY PRESENTATION IN JULY YOU HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT A FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE IS WHY WE NEED THESE ADDITIONAL FUNDS IN ORDER TO NOT ONLY BRING OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT UP TO THE CURRENT CENTURY BUT TO CARRY US BEYOND. BEFORE THE PRESENTATION COMES BACK UP ANDAL RR GO BACK TO THE PRESENTATION -- AND I'LL GO BACK TO THE PRESENTATION, I WANT TO ADDRESS COUPLE OF THINGS. SO WHEN WE PROPOSED THE INCREASE IN THE FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE, A LETTER WENT OUT TO THE RESIDENTS, THE OWNER PROPERTY OWNERS. WE REALIZED AFTER THE LETTER WENT OUT TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS THAT THE LETTER THAT WAS SENT OUT BY THE VENDOR, BY THE INDIVIDUAL THAT'S HIRED BY THE CITY TO DO THAT, THAT LETTER WAS VERY CONFUSING TO RESIDENTS. SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID WE TOOK SOME EXTRA STEPS SO THAT WE COULD EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THIS ITEM. THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ITEM, AND EXACTLY WHAT IT IS AND WHY. SO WHAT WE DID WAS WE WENT AHEAD AND WE PUT A VERY DETAILED BRIEFING ON THE CITY'S WEB SITE WITH WHAT A FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE IS, WHY WE NEEDED THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT THIS ADDITIONAL REVENUE WAS GOING TO BE GOING FOR. BECAUSE WE FELT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE DIDN'T JUST PUT A FEE OUT THERE AND THEN THROW DARTS AT IT. WE WANTED YOUR CONSTITUENTS. >> MAYOR: I'M SORRY, W WHOEVER THAT IS, COULD YOU JUST TAKE A STEP OUTSIDE AND HANDLE IT, ALL RIGHT? THIS IS THE SECOND INTERRUPTION, POSSIBLY THE THIRD, AND IT IS RUDE AND DISRESPECTFUL TO OUR FIRE CHIEF AND TO ALL OF US HERE. ALL RIGHT, JUST HANDLE IT OUTSIDE. ALL RIGHT, CHIEF. I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT. >> THAT'S OKAY. STAFF, MYSELF, THE REST OF STAFF, WANTED YOUR CONSTITUENTS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS FEE IS AND WE DIDN'T FEEL THAT LETTER WAS ADEQUATE. SO WE UPDATED THE CITY WEB SITE WITH A THOROUGH EXPLANATION OF WHAT A FIRE FEE IS, WHY WE NEEDED THE INCREASED REVENUE, AND AGAIN, NOW IDENTIFYING WHAT THE MONEY WAS GOING TO BE GOING FOR, SO IT WAS CLEAR AND DELINEATED. ADDITIONALLY, WE PUT MY POWERPOINT PRESENTATION FROM THE JULY HEARING THERE ON THERE AS WELL, SO THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN GO AHEAD AND THEY CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. WE TOOK ANOTHER STEP BY HAVING THE VENDOR COME IN AND TRAIN ALL OF THE FINANCE BUREAU AS WELL AS P MY EXECUTIVE AND MY ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF SO THAT HIS CALLS WOULD COME IN FROM THE COMMUNITY WE WOULD BE ABLE TO FIELD THOSE CALLS AND BE ABLE TO PROPERLY EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON EXACTLY WHAT WE WERE DOING WITH RESPECT TO THE FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE. I THINK WE ARE STILL HAVING SOME ISSUES FINDING IT, SO THE POINT THERE IS THAT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THIS COMMISSION TO UNDERSTAND THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE FIRE FEE, IT WAS IMPORTANT TO EDUCATE YOU KNOW YOUR CONSTITUENTS. I'LL GO AHEAD AND GET INTO THE PRESENTATION A LITTLE BIT WITHOUT IT BEING UP HERE JUST SO THAT YOU KNOW THAT THE FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE CAN GET KIND OF GET A GRASP ON WHAT'S HAPPENING UNLESS WE CAN GET I.T. TO GET IT UP. >> MAYOR: CAN I MAKE A SUGGESTION TO MY COLLEAGUES? IF IT'S ALL RIGHT WITH EVERYBODY. COULD WE TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE RECESS WHILE STAFF GETS IT READY AND THIS WAY I CAN TAKE A BATHROOM BREAK. >> MM-HMM. >> YES. >> MAYOR: IT LOOKS LIKE THEY NEED MORE TIME TO TAKE CARE OF THE POWERPOINTS. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO A FIVE-MINUTE RECESS. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH, EVERYBODY. WE'LL BE BACK IN FIVE MINUTES OR SO. LET'S GIVE THEM TIME TO GET EVERYTHING TOGETHER. >> MAYOR: WE'LL BEGIN ANY MOMENT AS SOON AS COMMISSIONERS RETURN TO THEIR SEATS SO MAYBE ANOTHER MINUTE OR TWO. >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT, ALMOST ALL OF US HAS RETURNED, SO LET'S BRING THIS MEETING BACK TO ORDER, AND GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. AGAIN WE ARE GOING TO HEAR THE PRESENTATION FROM OUR FIRE CHIEF REGARDING THE FINAL FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR 24-25. CHIEF BRUDER I KNOW YOU ALREADY GAVE AN INTRODUCTION, BUT NOW WE'VE GOT THE SLIDES GOING. >> THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SORRY FOR THE CONFUSION, EVERYBODY. HERE WE GO. OKAY, SO WHY THE NEED FOR A FIRE ASSESSMENT? SO FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT A FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE IS, IT'S A FUNDING MECHANISM THAT WAS CREATED MANY YEARS AGO WHEN FIRE CHIEFS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY REALIZED THAT THE MAJORITY OF FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE BEING FUNDED FROM AD VALOREM TAX REVENUE. SO IN ORDER TO BE OUTSIDE OF THE REALM OF AD VALOREM REVENUE AND NOT BE HELD TO THE WILD FLUCTUATIONS OF THE REAL ESTATE MARKET, TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR CITIZENS HAVE NOT ONLY TOP NOTCH FIRE-RESCUE SERVICE BUT WE GET THERE AND WE GET THERE AS A WHOLE. I MEAN OBVIOUSLY IF YOU HAVE TIMES OF ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, AND YOU'RE BASING ALL OF YOUR FIRE DEPARTMENT BUDGET ON AD VALOREM TAX REVENUE AND WE WHAT HAPPENED BACK IN 2007, WE COULD SEE FIRE STATIONS CLOSING DOWN, WE COULD SEE LAYOFFS OCCURRING, AND NONE OF US WANTS TO SEE THAT HAPPENING. I MEAN, WITH THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN OF ANY MUNICIPALITY BEING PUBLIC SAFETY OBVIOUSLY WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES AND IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES, WE HAVE TO HAVE A VERY SOUND FUNDING SOURCE. SO THAT, THAT'S WHAT AN EXPLANATION OF THE FIRE FEE IS NOW WHAT CAN WE USE THE FIRE FEE FOR. NOW STATUTORILY THE ONLY THING WE CAN'T USE FIRE FEE FOR IS ANYTHING EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES RELATED I CAN'T BUY AMBULANCES WITH IT, I CAN'T PAY PARAMEDIC PAY WITH IT. I CAN PAY REGULAR FIREFIGHTER PAY BUT IN OUR CASE, WITH WHAT PRURPOS THE -- PROPOSING THE USE OF THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE FOR AND YOU'LL SEE IT IN A FEW MINUTES ARE FOR DEDICATED INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS THAT WE'VE HAD FOR MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS. WHAT WE NEED IN FACT ARE FOUR MAJOR PROJECTS. THE FIRST IS REPLACEMENT OF FIRE STATION 3 WHICH IS A 40-YEAR-OLD BUILDING THAT'S A $10 MILLION COST. AND THAT PARTICULAR BUILDING ALSO WE'VE HAD A LOT OF ROOF LEAKS, WE'VE HAD SOME MOLD, AND WE'VE HAD SOME, ISSUES WHERE WE'VE HAD TO GO AND CLEAN THE STATION, AIR FILTRATION SYSTEM AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE A AIR SCRUBBER THERE BUT OBVIOUSLY OUR CONCERN IS TO THE MEN AND WOMEN FIGHTING FIRE AND WITH THAT IN MIEWND WE'RE MAKING SURE THE AIR IS BEING SCRUBBED, THE FILTRATION IS OCCURRING AND AT THE SAME TIME I'M WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES TO TRY TO BUILD A NEW FIRE STATION FOR THESE MEN AND WOMEN AND FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS. SECONDARILY IS THE HARVEY OYER MARINE COMPLEX, NOW THIS IS A FACILITY THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY, WAS BUILT IN THE 1950s, WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE MOVING AN ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT TECHNICAL R RESCUE COMPANY FULLY TO THIS FACILITY AND WE'LL ACTUALLY BE DOING THAT IN THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS. IN THE NEXT TEN MONTHS WE WILL BE RECEIVING THE SECOND ONLY TRUE FIRE BOAT IN THIS COUNTY NORTH OF BOCA AND THAT WILL BE HOUSED ALSO AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMPLEX THERE AT HARVEY OYER PARK. AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND PARAMEDICS WHO ARE STATIONED THERE 24/7 WILL BE ABLE TO TEND THAT FIRE BOAT AND BE ABLE TO RESPOND QUIBBLING QUICKLY INSTEAD OF CURRENTLY WHERE OUR WATER RESCUE ASSETS ARE BEING HOUSED AT OUR HEADQUARTERS SPECIAL OPERATIONS, EXCUSE ME, MAYOR, I'M HAVING A LOT OF CHATTER BEHIND ME THAT'S INTERRUPTING ME, CAN YOU PLEASE -- >> PLEASE BE QUIET. PLEASE BE QUIET. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO, SO TO GET BACK TO THE MARINE COMPLEX. SO THE MARINE COMPLEX IS ABOUT 70 YEARS OLD. WE DO HAVE SOME SMALL AMOUNT OF FUNDS RIGHT NOW THAT WE'RE MAKING IT HABITABLE FOR THREE FIREFIGHTERS. AND IN THIS CASE, WE FEEL THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING 24-HOUR FIRE PROTECTION THERE NOT ONLY WILL IT INCREASE THE FIRE PROTECTION OF THIS CITY BY AN ADDITIONAL FIRE TRUCK, BUT IT ALSO ALLOWS US TO IMMEDIATELY RESPOND TO ANY WATER RESCUE INCIDENT NOT ONLY WITHIN OUR WATER WAYS AND AGAIN LET ME REITERATE, WE HAVE, WE HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR 11 MILES OF INTRACOASTAL AND OCEAN FRONT WATER. NO ONE ELSE IS GOING TO DO THIS. THIS IS OUR TERRITORY, WE'VE BEEN RESPONDING FOR 30 YEARS TO THIS TERRITORY, WE HAVE RIB WATERCRAFT, WE HAVE JET SKIS AND WE HAVE UN OF THE LARGEST -- ONE OF THE LARGEST DIVE RESCUE PROGRAMS IN SOUTH FLORIDA. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PERPETUATE THAT PROGRAM, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE BEST EQUIPMENT POSSIBLE FOR OUR MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE OUT THERE DOING THIS WORK EVERY DAY TRYING TO SAVE INDIVIDUALS' LIVES BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RISK ANALYSIS OF THIS COMMUNITY, WATER IS A BIG PART OF THIS COMMUNITY. SO AS YOUR FIRE CHIEF, AS YOUR HEAD RISK ANALYZER FOR PUBLIC SAFETY ON THE FIRE SIDE, IT'S MY JOB TO MAKE SURE WE'RE COVERING EVERY ASPECT OF FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES AND THAT INCLUDES YOUR WATERWAYS. THE THIRD PART OF THIS FIRE FEE ASSESSMENT FEE INCREASE IS GOING TO GO TO RENOVATE OUR FIRE AND LOGISTICS FLEET BUILDING ON CONGRESS. THIS IS OLD FIRE STATION 2. NOW THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BECAUSE RIGHT NOW OUR FLEET FACILITY IS, IS OVERBURDENED BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH OF THE CITY. THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ROOM AND NO WHERE TO GO SO BY TAKING FIRE FLEET AND MOVING IT TO OLD STATION 2, WE'RE NOT ONLY MAKING OUR FIRE FLEET MORE STABLE WITH IDENTIFIED EVTs, EMERGENCY VEHICLE TECHNICIANS THAT ARE GOING TO WORK ON OUR APPARATUS, EVENTUALLY WE WANT TO MOVE PD OVER THERE AS WELL. SO WE'LL HAVE A PUBLIC SAFETY FLEET COMPLEX. BUT IT TAKES A HUGE BURDEN OFF OF OUR FLEET RIGHT NOW, AND ALSO ALLOWS US TO MAKE SURE WE TAKE CARE OF OUR APPARATUS, WHICH EVERY YEAR AS YOU ALL KNOW THE COST OF REPAIRING THE ELDERLY FLEET IS GETTING TO BE MORE AND MORE COSTLY. AND THEN LASTLY ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT I THINK EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED IN HAVING IS THAT WE WANT TO REPLACE OUR 40-YEAR-OLD STATION ALERTING SYSTEM: IT'S AN $800,000 ITEM, THIS, WHEN PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT A STATION ALERTING SYSTEM, SO WHEN YOU GET A 9-1-1 CALL A DISPATCHER WILL HIT A BUTTON ON A CONSOLE AND THAT BUTTON WHEN ALL OF YOUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE IN THE STATION ALERTS THAT FIREFIGHTERS TO THAT CALL THE NEW FIRE STATION ALERTING SYSTEM THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT PURCHASING WILL SHAVE AS MUCH AS 60 SECONDS OFF RESPONSE TIMES. NOW, RIGHT NOW BOYNTON BEACH FIRE-RESCUE HAS AN AVERAGE 4 MINUTE AND 22 SECOND RESPONSE TIME WHICH YOU PROBABLY HEARD ME UP HERE ON THIS DAIS SAY BEFORE IS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE COUNTY. IF NOT IN THE TRI-COUNTY AREA. SO YOU CAN IMAGINE AN ADDITIONAL 60 SECONDS WHERE YOU'RE IN THAT 4 TO 6-HADN'T WI WIND -- 4 TO SIX EMPTY WINDOW FOR -- FOUR TO SIX-MINUTE WINDOW ALLOWS US TO GET THERE QUICKER AND ALLOWS US TO AFFECT THOSE R RESCUES SO THESE ARE FOUR VERY, VERY DESPERATELY NEEDED ITEMS WE ARE LOOKING FOR. THERE HAS BEEN COMMENT BEFORE. YOU ALL IN QUESTIONING AS WELL HAVE ASKED, WELL, WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN DONE BEFORE. WE CAN MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK ALL WE WANT AND WE CAN LOOK AT THE PAST AND BLAME THE PAST OR WE CAN GO AHEAD AND ATTACK THE PROBLEM AND DO WHAT'S NECESSARY TO ENSURE YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE SERVICED PROPERLY. THAT'S WHY WE BROUGHT THIS BEFORE YOU. WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING, THE CURRENT RATE RIGHT NOW IS $120 PER HOUSEHOLD. WE'RE PROPOSING THE RATE GO TO $145 PER HOUSEHOLD. THAT IS A 2.08 PER MONTH PER HOUSEHOLD INCREASE. AND AS I'VE INDICATED IN MY PRIOR PRESENTATIONS, THATT ADDITIONAL ADDITIONAL REVENUE OF $1.465 MILLION WILL BE USED TO PAY THE DEBT SERVICE BECAUSE IN ORDER FOR US TO DO ALL THESE PROJECTS, WE ARE GOING TO BE TAKING ON SOME DEBT AND THAT, THOSE FEES WILL PAY FOR THE DEBT TO PAY THOSE, THE BUILDING OFF, AND TO TAKE CARE OF ALL THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE A LOT OF PEOPLE MIGHT SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, LET'S, LET'S DO THIS NEXT YEAR. LET'S DO THIS TWO YEARS FROM NOW. LET'S DO THIS THREE YEARS FROM NOW. BUT EVERY YEAR THAT WE WAIT, A $10 MILLION FIRE STATION IS GOING TO GO UP CONSIDERABLY IN PRICE. YOU KNOW, WE LOOK AT BUDGETS FROM FOUR YEARS AGO AND WE QUESTION WHY THE CITY'S BUDGETS' GONE UP SO MUCH OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS. WELL, ALL OF US JUST HAS TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING WE BUY EVERY DAY AND WE REALIZE IT ISN'T JUST WHAT THIS CITY HAS DONE TO ITS CONSTITUENTS, IT'S WHAT EVERY CITIZEN IN THIS UNITED STATES HAS HAD TO PAY FOR. WHICH IS INCREASES THAT WE REALLY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH. BUT IT IS OUR JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE, THAT WE MAINTAIN THE SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS. I THINK THIS IS A REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT SLIDE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HERE TO LOOK AT. IF YOU LOOK AT OUR PROPOSED INCREASE IN OUR FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE, EVEN WITH THE INCREASE TO $145, THAT MAKES THE CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH AND BOYNTON BEACH FIRE-RESCUE THE SECOND LOWEST FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE IN THREE COUNTIES. I KNOW HERE IT SAYS TWO COUNTIES, BUT IF YOU WANT TO ADD DADE COUNTY IN THERE IT'S THREE COUNTIES. FIRE ASSESSMENT FEES ARE NOT GOING AWAY. EVERY SINGLE MUNICIPALITY CHARGES FIRE FEES. THEY EITHER CHARGE A FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE OR THEY INCREASE THEIR MILLAGE TO COVER THE DIFFERENCE. THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE OR YOU'RE COVERED UNDER AN MSTU TAX RATE. AND YOU'LL NOTICE AT THE END, THE, THE MSTU TAX RATE IS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OR IF YOU LOOK AT THIS LIST, THIS IS A LIST OF EVERY MUNICIPALITY IN THE COUNTY WHO IS PART OF THE MSTU3.4581 MILLS. NOW, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THAT MAY BE GOING DOWN A LITTLE BIT PROPOSED NEXT YEAR, BUT IF YOU GO BACK, AND YOU LOOK AT THIS SLIDE, AND YOU LOOK AT THE FINE PRINT ON THE RIGHT, WHAT EVERY CITIZEN HERE SHOULD UNDERSTAND IS THAT IF THEY WERE AN UNINCORPORATED PALM BEACH COUNTY, THEY WOULD BE PAYING TWICE WHAT THEY'RE PAYING FOR FIRE-RESCUE SERVICES IN BOYNTON BEACH. AND THEY ARE RECEIVING WORLD CLASS FIRE-RESCUE SERVICES. SO I THINK THAT'S EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THESE FIRE ASSESSMENT F FEES ARE SOMETHING THAT'S VERY NORMAL, NOT ONLY THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTY BUT THROUGHOUT ALL OF SOUTH FLORIDA. I DO WANT TO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF OTHER SMALL THINGS, AND THEN I'LL BE OPEN TO QUESTIONS. AS PART OF NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, WE, AND WHICH YOU ALL HAVE HEARD AND PASSED IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE FUNDING SOME ADDITIONAL RESOURCES BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN CALL VOLUME AS YOU KNOW, WE, WE DO FROM TIME TO TIME HAVE TO GO INTO MUTUAL AID AND NO ONE WANTS TO GO INTO MUTUAL AID. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SERVICE OUR OWN COMMUNITY. AND SO ALL OF YOU WERE GRACIOUS ENOUGH AND YOU UNDERSTOOD THE NEED THAT MOVING INTO NEXT YEAR THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO BE FUNDING A PEAK HOUR RESCUE. SO IF YOU IMAGINE, AND THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE, BUT I BRING IT UP BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOUR CONSTITUENCY TO UNDERSTAND WITH THE CHANGES IN THE FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE, AND THE CHANGES WE'RE MAKING IN HOUSE, WE'RE ADDING AN ADDITIONAL ENGINE COMPANY AND NOW WHEN WE MOVE INTO NEXT BUDGET YEAR, FOR PEAK HOUR, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE TRAINING, THE MAJORITY OF THE TIMES WHEN WE NEED MUTUAL AID IS WHEN WE'RE TRAINING. EVERY FIRE DEPARTMENT IN SOUTH FLORIDA HAS TO TRAIN AND WE SHARE MUTUAL AID FOR THIS SPECIFIC REASON. SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT PEAK HOUR UNIT AVAILABLE SO THAT WE HAVE SIX RESCUES ON THE ROAD AND SIX DEPRESSION COMPANIES WITH A MINUSCULE IF NOT EQUALING TO THE BUDGET. SO I'M OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE AT THUS TIME. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU, CHIEF. IT LOOKS LIKE COMMISSIONER HAY'S ALREADY READY TO GO. GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER. >> NO, JUST ONE COMMENT. WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE DISCUSSIONS, CHIEF, ON THIS, AND I DO UNDERSTAND IT BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO COMMENT ON WEST PALM BEACH BEING THE LARGEST MUNICIPALITY OUT OF 39, AND THEY HAVE THE LOWEST OF $100 WE'LL BE AT 145. >> WELL, THE ONLY THING I COULD SAY IS I'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THEIR MILLAGE RATE. YOU'RE PAYING FOR IT SOMEHOW. THEY HAVE EIGHT FIRE STATIONS AND THEY HAVE HAZMAT UNITS AND STAFFING -- >> [OFF MIC] >> PARDON ME, THEIR MILLAGE RATE IS 9. SO AS I INDICATED BEFORE, YOU EITHER HAVE A HIGHER -- YOU EITHER HAVE A HIGHER FIRE ASSESSMENT RATE OR YOU HAVE A HIGHER MILLAGE RATE. YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR FIRE SERVICES. AND EVEN IF YOU CONTRACTED WITH A PRIVATE ENTITY YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO GET -- YOU KNOW THE SERVICES THAT YOU'RE GETTING, YOU KNOW, WITH A MUNICIPAL FIRE SERVICE SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THE DIFFERENCE IN WEST PALM IS MADE UP THROUGH A HIGHER MILLAGE RATE. >> THANK YOU. >> YOU'RE WELCOME, SIR. >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE IN THE MEANTIME BEFORE PUBLIC COMMENTS? GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER. >> SO THIS WEEKEND I HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THIS, AND I THINK THERE WAS CONFUSION BY THE LETTER AS WE STATED EARLIER. PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT WE'RE PAYING 120 AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO PAY 145. AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE. IT'S 120 AND IT'S PROPOSED A $25 INCREASE THAT'S BEING PROPOSED TO BE 145. SO WE'RE NOT DOING 120 AND 145 JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE FOR THE RECORD. AND THEN ALSO QUESTIONS THAT RESIDENTS ARE ASKING ME AND I THINK IT'S FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CITY AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS, IS, AND I D I DON'T WANT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT BUT THEY'RE ASKING ME LIKE WHAT HAPPENED. TO THE MONEY THAT THEY'VE BEEN PAYING FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS, RIGHT? AND WE UNDERSTAND YOU KNOW WE'RE MAKING CHANGES NOW. AGAIN, DON'T WANT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT BUT I'M JUST REIT RAITING QUESTIONS THAT I -- REITERATING QUESTIONS THAT I GOT FROM CONSTITUENTS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW WE'VE UTILIZED THE FIRE ASSESSMENT IN THE PAST. ARE WE PUTTING IT BACK INTO FUND BALANCE OR DO WE KNOW POTENTIALLY WHAT WE'VE BEEN UTILIZING IT FOR? >> ABSOLUTELY. AND I UNDERSTAND ALSO FROM BEING UP AT THIS DAIS SEVERAL TIMES ON THIS ISSUE THAT YOU KNOW IT'S A CONCERN. YOU KNOW BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THIS BODY INITIALLY HAD SAID AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF THE FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE HERE, THAT THE IDEA OF CREATING THE FIRE ASSESSMENT HERE WAS TO EVENTUALLY SUNSET IT. AND I THINK THAT YOU HEARD ME IN MY JULY PRESENTATION INDICATE THAT IT HAS TO BECOME A CONVERSATION WHERE IT WHENCOMES, IT'S A PERMANENT -- IT BECOMES, IT'S A PERMANENT FEE. IT WA CAN'T GO AWAY. IT HAS TO BE A PERMANENT FEE. WE EVENTUALLY HAVE TO SEE WHERE UP AND TO A CERTAIN POINT BECAUSE WE CAN'T COVER EMS, WE CAN ONLY COVER FIRE, EVENTUALLY YOU THINK TO SEE THE FIRE -- YOU HAVE TO SEE THE FIRE BUDGET COVERED BY THIS FEE BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, AND YOU HAVE AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, YOU'RE GOING TO BE LAYING OFF FIREFIGHTERS AND IF THERE IS A FIRE AT YOUR HOUSE OR YOUR MOTHER'S HOUSE AND YOU DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE RESOURCES, SOMEONE CAN DIE. THAT'S WHY FIRE ASSESSMENT FEES WERE CREATED. BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION IN A LITTLE BUT MORE I THINK BROAD NATURE, RIGHT NOW THE $10 MILLION OR I THINK THE $8 MILLION, $8.5 MILLION THAT'S GENERATED GLOWS TOWARDS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BUDGET. IT GOES TOWARDS EVERYTHING THAT THE FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE IS STATUTORILY ALLOWED TO BE UTILIZED. THAT IS FOR PERSONNEL, FIRE RELATED, EQUIPMENT, FIRE TRUCKS, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, WE ARE STATUTORILY ALLOWED TO USE THESE FUNDS FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INCLUDING TRAINING, VEHICLES, AND EVERYTHING THAT I OUTLINED TO YOU BEFORE. IT'S THE ADDITIONAL $25 THAT IS NEEDED TO COVER THESE VERY NEEDED CAPITAL OUT LAY THAT IF WE DON'T PAY FOR, I MEAN HOW ELSE DO WE FUND THEM SO I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION. >> THANK YOU, CHIEF, YOU'RE ALWAYS VERY GOOD AT ANSWERING QUESTIONS BUT I GUESS JUST WANTED TO PUT IT OUT THERE SINCE THERE'S PLENTY OF RESIDENTS ASKING ME THE SAME QUESTION AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE IT CLEAR FOR THE RECORD THAT THERE ARE NOT TWO FEES IT'S JUST ONE, AND THERE'S A PROPOSED INCREASE OF $25. I ALSO WANTED TO STATE AS I MENTIONED AT THE LAST MEETING WHERE WE DISCUSSED THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT I WOULD LIKE TO DECREASE THAT AMOUNT TO $20 A YEAR. IF THE ENTIRE COMMISSION AGREES,  IT'S UP TO THE REST OF THE BOARD BUT I WANTED TO PROPOSE THAT BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANGE IN, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE YEARS, AND JUST TO BE CONSIDERATE WITH THE RESIDENTS I THINK THAT IT WOULD KIND OF BE HAPPY MEDIUM WHERE, YOU KNOW, THE FIRE ASSESSMENT WOULD GET A BUMP TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THAT NEW FIRE STATION AND ALL THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT TO REALLY MAKE RESPONSE TIME FASTER AND SAFER FOR THE COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO BE IT A REASONABLE AMOUNT WHERE RESIDENTS CAN FEEL BETTER ABOUT IT. >> RIGHT, AND I FULLY UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, YOUR COMMENT. I WOULD, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT YOU KNOW WHEN WE LOOKED AT WHAT WE NEEDED TO ASK FOR, WE ASKED FOR EXACTLY WHAT WE NEEDED. WE DIDN'T ASK FOR $30 HOPING YOU WERE GOING TO COME BACK AND SAY WE NEED $25. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO REALIZE WE'RE BO BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. WE'RE BEING TRANSPARENT. WE'RE IDENTIFYING --ESHCUSE ME, MAYOR, CAN YOU PLEASE ADDRESS THE INDIVIDUALS BEHIND ME? THEY'RE INTERRUPTING ME AND THEY'RE -- >> THIS HAS HAPPENED TOO MANY TIMES. WE HAVE GIVEN THE WARNERS. THIS IS THE POINT WHERE I ASK THE INDIVIDUAL TO LEAVE THE CHAMBER AND PLEASE BE ESCORTED OUT BY OUR OFFICER. ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES TO DO THIS? >> MAYOR, IF -- >> MAYOR: YOU'RE GOING TO OBJECT? >> IF I -- WE CAN JUST LEAVE THE INDIVIDUALS SIT AT THE PODIUM PLEASE. >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE SUFFICIENT OBJECTION FROM MY COLLEAGUES, SHE'S LEAVING ANYWAYS. ALL RIGHT. >> [OFF MIKE] >> MAYOR: MA'AM, YOU HAVE BEEN PROVIDED NUMEROUS WARNINGS, ALL RIGHT? THIS IS ABOUT BEING RESPECTFUL TO OUR FIRE CHIEF AND OUR STAFF, THE SPEAKER. YOU HAVE BEEN PROVIDED NUMEROUS WARNINGS. >> [OFF MIC] >> WE CAN LET HER BACK IN DURING PUBLIC COMMENT. >> OKAY. >> IF SHE'S STILL AROUND. >> COUNCIL'S RECOMMENDING GO AHEAD, COUNCIL, SAY IT ONE MORE TIME. >> I'M SORRY, YOU KNOW, IF SHE DOES HAVE QUESTIONS, AND THERE WERE OBJECTIONS, BUT SHE LEFT, MAYBE I SUGGEST WE SEE IF SHE'S STILL HERE AND LET HER BACK IN DURING PUBLIC COMMENT SO SHE CAN ASK THOSE QUESTIONS. >> ALL RIGHT. WELL, OKAY. SO WE HAVE TO STRIKE A BALANCE HERE, OBVIOUSLY, RIGHT, BECAUSE WE CANNOT HAVE INTERRUPTIONS TO OUR SPEAKERS OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND HAVE SOMEONE MAKE A MOCKERY OF OUR RULES, AND WE DO HAVE OBJECTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES, I KNOW THEY HAVE THEIR REASONS FOR DOING THAT, BUT WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN SOME ORDER HERE. CHIEF, I APOLOGIZE FOR ALL THE INTERRUPTIONS FOR YOU. THAT IS NOT FAIR FOR ANYBODY. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE FROM MY COLLEAGUES? YES, JUST WANTED TO FINISH ON A POSITIVE NOTE. >> I'M SORRY, I WAS STILL ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION, UNLESS YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE OKAY. SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE ITEMS THAT NEED TO BE INFRASTRUCTURE ITEMS THAT NEED TO BE REPAIRED THAT NEED TO BE RESTRUCTURED THAT NEED TO BE FIXED THAT NEED TO BE PUT IN PROPER WORKING ORDER. SO ANY OF THESE ITEMS THAT ARE CUT AND THAT'S AGAIN COMPLETELY UP TO THIS COMMISSION TO SEE WHATEVER IT SEES FIT. BUT AGAIN, AS YOUR RISK MANAGER AS MY JOB TO TELL YOU THAT THAT'S FINE YOU CAN DO THAT. BUT AT WHAT POINT IN TIME THEN ARE WE GOING TO ADDRESS THOSE ITEMS AND HOW DOES THAT ITEM AFFECT THE SERVICE LEVEL OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT? AND THAT SIMILAR SOMETHING THAT I THINK -- THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK IF WE MAINTAIN PUBLIC SAFETY AS OUR NUMBER ONE CONCERN THEN WE NEED TO MAINTAIN THAT. AND I THINK THAT, I THINK THAT AGAIN THAT'S UP TO YOU BUT AT LEAST I PUT IT ON THE TABLE FOR YOU. I'M GIVING IT TO YOU IN AN HONEST, OPEN, TRANSPARENT FORMAT OF WHAT THE NEEDS ARE AND WHAT IT COSTS TO FIX THEM AND IT'S UP TO YOU THEN TO MAKE THAT DECISION. >> ALL RIGHT, WAS THERE ANYTHING ELSE FROM MY COLLEAGUES? QUESTIONS FOR THE CHIEF BECAUSE WE DO NEED TO TURN TO PUBLIC COMMENTS. GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER. >> NO, I'LL JUST LET MY POSITION BE KNOWN. YOU KNOW I KNOW I DISCUSSED THIS WITH YOU. I UNDERSTAND WHOLEHEARTEDLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE. I GET IT. WHEN I CAMPAIGNED, I HEARD ABOUT THIS ISSUE, AND I WAS, YOU KNOW, I WAS INFORMED ABOUT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO SUNSET AND SO ON, SO ON, AND YOU KNOW IF IT WAS UP TO ME, RIGHT I WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM DOING THIS. BUT I'M NOT UP HERE FOR ME. I'M UP HERE FOR MY CONSTITUENTS AND MY CONSTITUENCY DOES NOT WANT TO SEE AN INCREASE IN THAT ASSESSMENT SO I'M GOING TO STICK TO MY GUNS AND BE A MAN OF MY WORD AND YOU KNOW FOR ME PERSONALLY I GOT NO PROBLEM PAYING IT. I UNDERSTAND IT. YOU KNOW TIMES ARE TOUGH. PEOPLE CAN'T MAKE BILLS YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN PEOPLE MISSING CAR PAYMENTS INSURANCE ALL SORTS OF THINGS. AND YOU KNOW WE SEE FEES ADD UP YOU KNOW WE JUST TALK THREE OR FOUR FEES, RIGHT? AND THAT STUFF ADDS UP AND YOU KNOW WE ONLY DECREASE THE MILLAGE RATE BY HALF A MILL, SO IN GOOD CONSCIENCE I CAN'T GO AGAINST MY CONSTITUENCY AND VOTE YES ON THIS. MAYBE NEXT YEAR YOU KNOW WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THIS, BUT YOU KNOW AGAIN CHIEF, YOU KNOW, I SUPPORT WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO HERE, AND I KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF IT. I JUST CAN'T IN GOOD CONSCIOUS GO AGAINST MY CONSTITUENCY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH, EVERYBODY. WE STILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS, SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY ON THE FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE, NOW IS THE TIME TO APPROACH THE PODIUM AND AGAIN THIS IS JUST ABOUT THE FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE. LET ME SWITCH THE TIMER AS ALWAYS, THE SAME RULES APPLY SO STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD WHENEVER YOU'RE READY AND LET'S GO BACK AND FORTH. SIR, JUST GO AHEAD AND BEGIN. >> I'M DAVID MURKER, LIVE IN SOUTH PORT, FORMER COMMISSIONER, THIS ISSUE TO ME BY WHERE I LIVE AND HAVING SERVES THE PEOPLE OF BOYNTON BEACH IS COMMON SENSE. THAT IT SHOULD BE VOTED UPON FOR THE PEOPLE. MONEY IS ONE THING. BUT YOUR SAFETY AND YOUR LIFE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING. AND HOW ANYBODY IT'S MINUSCULE THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY WOULD QUESTION WHAT THE FIRE CHIEF AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS SAYING IS ABSURD. IT'S CHILDISH. IT'S STUPID. AND I'LL BEHAVE. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT ANYONE WOULD QUESTION THIS FOR THE PEOPLE. I'M NOT ALLOWED TO TALK ABOUT ANOTHER SUBJECT, RIGHT? >> MAYOR: NO, ADDRESS YOUR COMMENTS TO ME, SIR? >> THAT'S IT. >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT, THAT WAS IT. NEXT PERSON. >> DEBBIE MATCHIA, BOYNTON BEACH. I ACTUALLY HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE FIRE CHIEF. BASICALLY THERE ARE LOT OF VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS NOT IN THIS AREA OBVIOUSLY. THEY DO NOT HAVE A ASSESSMENT FEES. THAT IDO FUND-RAISE -- THEY DO FUNDRAISING, LOTS OF IT, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO BUY QUITE EXPENSIVE FIRE TRUCKS, REDO THEIR FIREHOUSES AND SO FORTH, WHAT DO I MEAN, THEY COULD BE PAID, THEY'RE PAID FIRE PEOPLE TO GO OUT AND FUND-RAISE AS WELL AND DO FUNCTIONS FOR THE TOWN, THE COMMUNITY, GET THE KIDS INVOLVED, GET MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED. I THINK A LOT MORE FUNDRAISING, THEY COULD, ASK FOR DONATIONS. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT THEY CAN DO TO OFFSET SOME OF THIS EXTRA EXPENSE THAT'S BEING PUT ON THE CONSTITUENTS. MY EX-HUSBAND WAS FIREFIGHTER FOR FORTY FIVE YEARS. FIRE-RESCUE AND VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE CORPS. SO THERE ARE WAYS THAT THEY CAN DO IT. IT'S, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE ULPOLICIES ARE AS FAR AS VOLUNTEER VERSUS PAID. BUT I THINK THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT CAN BE WORKED OUT THAT THEY CAN GET THE MONEY TO GET FIREHOUSES, FIRE TRUCKS OR ANYTHING THEY NEED. VOLUNTARILY WITHOUT HAVING TO PUT IT ON THE CONSTITUENTS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR THE FIRE CHIEF, THE FIRE CHIEF IS IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM, SO FEEL FREE TO ASK HIM DIRECTLY. NEXT PERSON GIVE ME ONE SECOND. ONE SECOND. ALL RIGHT NOW YOU MAY BEGIN. STATE YOUR FRAME FOR THE RECORD. >> CHRISTY, I'M FROM BOYNTON BEACH RIGHT HERE IN THE FOREST PARK AREA. MY HUSBAND AND I ARE ON FIXED BUDGETS. AS A A LOT OF THESE RESIDENTS HERE AND I AM ONE FOR HER TO SAY WHY CAN'T THEY DO FUNDRAISING LIKE THEY USED TO DO, WHY CAN'T THEY DO DIFFERENT RECREATIONAL THINGS THAT YOU, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE THE RESIDENTS COME OUT AND SEE THESE CHIEFS AND SEE THESE FIRE OFFICERS OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL THEM, AND SEE THAT WHAT THEY'RE DOING LET THEM SHOW US WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND THEN WE DO THE DONATIONS, WE DO THE, GET THEM TO DO THE FUNDING AND STUFF LIKE THAT. WITHOUT HAVING TO TAKE IT OFF BECAUSE THAT'S ALL I'VE BEEN HEARING SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE. WE'RE RAISING THIS, WE'RE RAISING THIS, WE'RE RAISING THIS, WE'RE RAISING THIS. HOW MUCH MORE DO YOU THINK YOU CAN RAISE OUT OF US WITHOUT HAVING US TO LIVE ON THE STREES BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY THAT A LOT OF THESE RICH PEOPLE COMING ENTI INTO THIS COUNTY AND PAYING FOR AND WE ARE STILL HERE AND YOU PEOPLE ARE JUST RAISING IT EVERY TIME YOU GET A CHANCE. THOSE PEOPLE CAN PAY IT BUT WE CAN'T. BECAUSE WE'RE ON A FIXED BUDGET, WE'RE ON MOST OF ARE US SENIOR CITIZENS. AND WE CAN'T PAY ALL OF THIS STUFF THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING. WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO? LIE OUT IN THE STREETS? I MEAN, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO BE -- THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING AND ALL THESE SENIOR CITIZENS YOU'RE GOING TO FIND LAYING OUT IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSES BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO WATER, NO ELECTRICITY, AND NOTHING ELSE FOR THEM TO TAKE CARE OF. WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO -- ALL THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO IS SIT OUT ON THE STREETS AND MAYBE EAT THEIR PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY SANDWICHES THEY'VE GOT BECAUSE THEY'VE HAD TO PAY EVERYTHING ELSE THAT EVERYBODY ELSE WANTS. I THINK THAT I AGREED WITH HER WITH DOING THE FUNDRAISINGS AND GETTING US TO KNOW ALL THESE FIREMEN AND THESE, THE DEPARTMENTS THAT WAY WE CAN SEE WHAT THEY'RE DOING INSTEAD OF THEM JUST TELLING US WHAT THEY WANT US TO DO. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR: THANK YOU. NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT SPEAKER. >> CINDY FALCO D DECORRADO. WE DO HAVE COAST GUARDS, RIGHT ISN'T IS THEIR JOB TO TAKE CARE OF THE WATERWAY? IS I SIT OUT HERE SOMETIMES AND WATCH THE WATER OF BOYNTON BEACH INLET. I SEE BOATS WITH THE COAST GUARDS ON THEM AND THEY'RE JUST LIKE HAVING A GOOD DAY, BOATING. YOU KNOW, I WATCH AND SEE AND THEY COME BACK THERE IS LIKE NO SITUATIONS THAT ARE TRANSPIRING AND THEY'RE HAVING LIKE A REALLY GOOD DAY I'M LIKE GEE I'M SURE LIKE TO HAVE A BOAT UNDER THE GUISE OF BEING A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL. I DID ALSO WANT TO BRING UP AGAIN I HAVE ONLY SEEN THESE VEHICLES I SHOULD CALL THEM TOYS WHEN WE HAVE OUR FAIRS. I SEE ATVs I THINK THEY'RE CALLED, I SEE LITTLE GOLF CARTS, WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, I NEVER SEE THEM USING THOSE FOR ANY RESCUE THESE ARE TOYS. AND IT'S RIDICULOUS TO SEE HOW MUCH MONEY IS BEING WASTED FROM THIS FIRE DEPARTMENT TO KEEP THEIR BOYS HAPPY AND THEIR TOYS. IT'S DISGUSTING. AND I'M SURE YOU'VE SEEN THEM SITTING OUT THERE DURING THE MUSIC AND THE DIFFERENT THINGS ALL THESE LITTLE TOYS I'M LIKE GEE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT ANOTHER TOY. LISTEN, WE THE PEOPLE HAVE TO LIVE AND SURVIVE. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE GOTTEN YOUR TAX BILL BUT WHAT IS MY THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR TAXES FOR THE MUNICIPALITY AREN'T THEY INCLUDED IN THAT? WHY ARE WE BEING ASSESSED? I DON'T LIVE IN AN HOA. WHY AM I BEING ASSESSED ALL THE TIME? AND HAVING THESE THINGS PUT ON MY BILL? THIS IS CRIMINAL. THIS IS REALLY ATTACKING WE THE PEOPLE. I WORK HARD. THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WORK HARD. EVEN A HAMBURGER, JUST TO GET A SMALL PACKAGE HAS TRIPLED. YOU'VE GOT TO START THINKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE. YOU HAVE BEEN VOTED IN. YOU NEED TO WATCH OUR DOLLARS. YOU NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT'S BEING PISSED AWAY FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE THEIR TOYS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE, THEY'RE TOYS YOU'VE SEEN THE MOBILES, YOU'VE SEEN THE ATVs, YOU'VE SEEN ALL THESE LITTLE TOYS. THEY DON'T NEED THE TOYS. THE COAST GUARD COVERS THEIR WATER. IT'S NOT NAR JURISDICTION. IT'S GOT TO STOP AND IT'S GOT TO STOP NOW. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER. EITHER SIDE OF THE ROOM. >> THANK YOU. SUSAN OYER, BOYNTON BEACH. SO I'M GOING TO SAY, START OUT WITH SAYING I'M FOR THIS, AND BUT I DO HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THE CHIEF. SO LET'S SEE, FIRST OF ALL, WILL THE BUILDING AT HARVEY OYER PARK OR WHATEVER THEY'RE DOING AND RENOVATING, IS THAT WHERE THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT IS OR IS THAT OVER THE INTERCOASTAL PARK CLUBHOUSE? BECAUSE WILL THAT HOLD EVERYTHING? I'M TRYING T TO FIGURE OUT HOW YOU'RE GOING TO PUT ALL THESE PEOPLE AND ALL THIS EQUIPMENT IN A PARK THAT IS SET ASIDE TO BE FOR PEOPLE TO USE AND BOAT IN OR DID I COMPLETELY MISUNDERSTAND -- THE SCREEN YOU'RE SHAKING YOUR HEAD YES. I MISUNDERSTOOD THE SCREEN SO I'LL MOVE ON. THANK YOU FOR CATCHING MY MISTAKE. SO ARE THEY GOING TO THE INTERCOASTAL PARK CLUBHOUSE THEN? IS THAT WHERE THEY'RE HOUSING ALL THESE PEOPLE? THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS. >> MAYOR: CAN I JUST PAUSE YOU FOR ONE MOMENT. >> YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER THAT BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS NOT Q&A. >> MAYOR: I WANT TO RECOMMEND IF YOU ALL HAVE QUESTIONS, THE FIRE CHIEF IS IN THE BACK AND HE CAN GIVE YOU MORE DIRECT ANSWERS. >> NO, I KNOW BUT IT'S APPROPRIATE TO ASK HIM IBPUBLIC BECAUSE THEY COULD BE SOMEONE ELSE'S QUESTIONS TOO. SO IF THESE THINGS ARE GOING INTO THOSE ASSORTED BUILDINGS THOSE ASSORTED BUILDINGS ARE ALREADY BEING USED FOR ART CLASSES AND FOR KIDS SO ARE THOSE KIDS BOU BOUNCED AND WHERE ARE THEY GOING? WHERE ARE THOSE ART CLASSES GOING AND ALL THE WEEKEND THINGS GOING. SO I WANT TO BRING THAT UP. AND WHAT ARE WE DOING TO HOUSE OR STORE ALL THESE AS CINDY SAYS TOYS, I WOULD TEND TO SAY CRAFT FOR THE WATER, HOW ARE THEY BEINGSTORIED SO THAT THEY'RE NOT -- BEING STORED SO THEY'RE NOT  IN THE WAY OF ALL THE BOATERS COMING IN AND OUT? ARE THEY GOING TO HAVE THEIR OWN SECTION OF THE DOCKS, ARE THEY STORED IN AND OUT OF THE WATER, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET THEM OUT OF THE WATER IN AN EMERGENCY SO I'M TRYING TO ASK SOME PRACTICAL QUESTIONS THAT I THINK MAYBE OTHER PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE AS WELL. AND I WILL REMIND EVERYONE IF YOU THINK YOU TRULY DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY THIS FEE THERE ARE YOU KNOW FIRE ASSESSMENT EXEMPTION FORMS THAT YOU CAN FILL OUT SO Y YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY IT IF YOU ARE TRULY IN THAT POSITION AND I DON'T THINK ANYONE E NECESSARILY SAID THAT BEFORE AND I WANT TO REMIND EVERY THAN WN THAT IS AN OPTION -- EVERYONE THAT IS AN OPTION. I AM FOR THIS. PLEASE VOTE YES. EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE MY COMMISSIONER I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU'RE NOT, BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE DON'T. I'VE LIVED HERE AND I UNDERSTAND WHY WE HAVE THIS FEE AND IT'S ONE OF THE FEW THINGS I CAN LIVE WITH WITHOUT FIGHTING ABOUT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. BEGIN WHEN YOU'RE READY AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. >> HI. I'M SNYDER. I'VE BEEN LIVING IN BOYNTON FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS. >> MAYOR: EXCUSE ME, SIR, CAN YOU CHECK THAT THE MIC IS ON? >> CAN YOU HEAR ME? I SAID MY NAME IS SNYDER AND I'VE BEEN LIVING HERE IN BOYNTON FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS. AND IT'S MY FIRST TIME BEING ONE OF THE MEETING, AND YOU GUYS GET TO VOTE, YOU KNOW ON CERTAIN THINGS PUT IN FRONT OF YOU, GREAT, I MEAN, I HEAR A LOT OF STUFF HERE TODAY, AND MOST OF THEM SOUND GOOD. AND EVERYONE JUST SAYING IT'S GOING TO MAYBE A DOLLAR OR $2. YOU KNOW, I THINK MAJOR. BUT YOU GUYS GET TO VOTE ON THIS, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD CERTAIN THINGS EVEN THOUGH IT SEEMS LIKE WELL IT'S A DOLLAR A MONTH OR COUPLE DOLLARS HERE. BUT LIKE I GET -- I WORK IN AN AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY, AND I GET A CHANCE TO SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE YOU KNOW SEE WHAT THEY MAKE, AND I MIGHT BE WORKING WITH ONE OW QLOFGUE -- ONE OF YOU GUYS SOME DAY OR SOMEONE ELSE WHO ACTUALLY CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY CERTAIN THINGS AND A LOT OF TIME I SEE CERTAIN PEOPLE WHAT THEY'RE MAKING IT'S LIKE HOW DO YOU REALLY LIVE SO WHEN YOU GUYS ARE VOTING YES TO CERTAIN THINGS, BE MINDFUL, I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND WHAT SOME OF YOU GUYS PROBABLY MAKING, THAT'S NOTHING FOR YOU GUYS TO DO, BUT A LOT PEOPLE HERE CAN'T REALLY AFFORD THAT. I MEAN EVEN THOUGH IT MIGHT SEEM SMALL IT'S ONLY A COUPLE DOLLARS BUT WHEN YOU'RE VOTING YES I MEAN I'M GLAD THIS GENTLEMAN SAY YOU KNOW TO HIM IT'S NOTHING. BUT HE HAS A JOB TO THE PEOPLE THAT PUT HIM IN PLACE TO LOOK OUT FOR THEM. SO I'M NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT ANYTHING. I HEAR -- I'VE HEARD TODAY. SOUNDS GREAT. BUT JUST BE MINDFUL WHEN YOU GUYS ARE VOTING THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE TRULY, TRULY CANNOT AFFORD IT. THAT'S ALL. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, NEXT SPEAKER, AGAIN, THIS IS ABOUT THE FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE. BEGIN WHEN YOU'RE READY AND STATE YOUR FLAME FOR THE RECORD. >> GOOD -- NAME FOR THE RECORD. >> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS TRINETTA, AND I WANTED TO ECHO HIS SENTIMENTS. AS A RESIDENT HERE IN BOYNTON BEACH, IT DOES SEEM LIKE, YOU KNOW, SMALL ASSESSMENT FEES HERE AND THERE. I'M A RESIDENT. I'VE BEEN HERE FOR A VERY LONG TIME IN MY OWN HOME FOR ABOUT EIGHT YEARS NOW, AND THESE ASSESSMENTS REALLY DO MATTER. EVERY LITTLE BIT DOES COUNT, AND IT ADS UP. I WORK TWO JOBS, AND THE OTHER NIGHT WHEN IT WAS RAINING, I HAD TO THANK GOD FOR ACTUALLY HAVING A ROOF OVER MY HEAD BECAUSE IT IS THE BIGGEST BILL THAT YOU'RE GOING TO PAY. THAT THE CONSTITUENTS ARE GOING TO PAY, AND SOMETIMES IT'S HARD. SOME, I HEARD SOMEONE SAY THAT THAT ASSESSMENT FEE WAS ABSURD. MAYBE IT'S ABSURD FOR THAT PARTICULAR PERSON, ALL OF US ARE TRYING TO RECUPERATE SINCE COVID. AND SOME OF US ARE STILL DOING OUR ABSOLUTE BEST TO MAKE IT. AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS PAID AND PAID ON TIME AND YOU KNOW NOT HAVING TO YOU KNOW TAKE OUT LOANS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. SO I WANTED TO ECHO HIS SENTIMENTS JUST PLEASE KEEPING IN MIND THAT SOME PEOPLE ALTHOUGH IT IS $2.08 I THOUGHT HE SAID PER MONTH, AS THESE FEES ARE ASSESSED THEY DO ADD UP, THEY DO COUNT, AND IT IS VERY, IT CAN BE DIFFICULT FOR SOME OF US OUT HERE. I WANTED TO JUST SAY THAT. THANK YOU, GUYS. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR: THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE IN THE CHAMBERS? SEEING NO ONE ELSE APPROACHING THE PODIUM LET ME LOOK ONLINE. AND I SEE NO ONE ONLINE. WITH THAT, PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED. YOU KNOW WE'VE HEARD FROM CHIEF, WE'VE HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC, LET'S HEAR FROM MY COLLEAGUES BECAUSE I'M, WE'RE READY RED TO MOVE FORWARD. VICE MAYOR YOUR HAND IS UP, GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. AS MS. OYE OYER BROUGHT UP DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, IT WAS SOMETHING I WAS GOING TO BRING UP AS WELL, THERE IS AN EXEMPTION, IT IS USES A CERTAIN CRITERIA. THERE IS AN APPLICATION THAT CAN BE FILLED OUT. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE RESIDENTS IN OUR CITY WHO STRUGGLE, AND SO WE HAVE ESTABLISHED THAT EXEMPTION FOR THAT PURPOSE AND FOR THOSE RESIDENTS THAT ARE YOU KNOW THAT ARE ON FIXED INCOME AND ARE STRUGGLING AND SO I JUST WANTED TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT APPLICATION IS ON OUR WEB SITE AND IT'S EASILY ACCESSIBLE. IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT I BELIEVE CAN BE PICKED UP AT CITY HALL AS WELL FOR THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE ONLINE ACCESS. SO I WANTED TO MAKE THAT POINT YOU KNOW CLEAR. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU KNOW ALSO AS A REMINDER TO MY COLLEAGUES, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT OBVIOUSLY RENEWS EVERY YEAR SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN EVALUATE AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW FOR ME THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I CAN LOOK TO THE CHIEF AND KNOW THAT HE'S DOING WHAT HE PROMISED ME THAT HE WAS GOING TO DO AND THE RESIDENTS IN PARTICULAR FIRE STATION 3 IS IN DISTRICT 4. AND NOT ONLY DO OUR RESIDENTS DESERVE A FIRE STATION THAT CAN MEET THE NEEDS OF THE RESIDENTS BUT ALSO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WORK IN THAT STATION YOU KNOW WE HAVE BEEN PUTTING BAND AIDS ON THAT STATION FOR A L -- LONG TIME AND YOU KNOW JUST LIKE THE CHIEF HAD SAID WE CAN YOU KNOW LET'S, WE'RE NOT GOING TO, YOU KNOW, MONDAY QUARTERBACK THIS, BUT YOU KNOW THERE ARE FINANCIAL DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE IN THE PAST THAT THIS MONEY WAS NOT ALLOCATED TOWARDS THAT PURPOSE, BUT IT'S TIME TO MOVE FORWARD, AND IT'S NOT GOING TO GO AWAY. IT'S NOT GOING TO GET CHEAPER TO BUILD A FIRE STATION IT'S NOT GOING TO GET CHEAPER TO BUILD A FIRE STATION THE FURTHER DODOWN THE ROAD WE GET. SO I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER TURKIN'S POSITION, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS IMPORTANT TO OUR RESIDENTS. AND ALTHOUGH WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT KEEPING -- YOU KNOW, LOWERING THE MILLAGE RATE, KEEPING RATES DOWN, NOT INCREASING UTILITIES, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT TRULY IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP THE FIRE DEPARTMENT MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. SO THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS WITH REGARD TO THIS ITEM. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR. ANYTHING ELSE FROM MY COLLEAGUES? ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER CRUZ, WAS THAT A HAND UP? >> YEAH. I'M STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW, CHIEF. I'M GOING TO BE HONEST WITH YOU BECAUSE I HAD CONVERSATIONS OVER THE WEEKEND AND ON THE HOLIDAY. AND THE FEEDBACK THAT I GOT FROM MULTIPLE OF MY CONSTITUENTS IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T WANT THE INCREASE. AND I'M HERE TO REPRESENT THEM. AT THE SAME TIME, I COMPLETELY WHOLEHEARTEDLY UNDERSTAND AND SUPPORT THE FACT THAT WE DO NEED A FIRE STATION IN DISTRICT 4 AND WE HAVE BEEN NEEDING THAT FOR A REALLY LONG TIME. IF WE CAN GET TO SOME SORT OF AN AGREEMENT WHERE I COULD JUSTIFY TO MY CONSTITUENTS WHO I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH, 145 IS NOT A NUMBER THAT THEY CAN DO. AND I UNDERSTAND IF THE REST OF THE BOARD WANTS TO GO THAT WAY. AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, THAT'S OKAY. BUT THEN IN THAT CASE I CAN'T SUPPORT IT. I WOULD BE WILLING TO SUPPORT UP TO $20 AND NO MORE THAN THAT. AND BECAUSE WHEN I WENT TO HUNTERS RUN, WE HAD A PRESENTATION. AND I THANK YOU FOR COMING WITH ME AS WELL AND HAVING THAT DISCUSSION. $20 A YEAR, IT'S ONLY ABOUT $1.88 A MONTH. MULTIPLE OF MY CONSTITUENTS ARE 55 PLUS. AND MANY OF MY CONSTITUENTS ARE SENIORS LIVING ON FIXED INCOMES. I UNDERSTAND SOME OF THEM WILL BE ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR THE EXEMPTION. BUT THE EXEMPTION IS NOT ONLY BASED ON AGE, IT'S BASED ON INCOME. SO YES, FOR THE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT THE MOST, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOOD THAT WE DO HAVE THAT EXEMPTION. AND IF THIS DOES PASS, I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT, YOU KNOW, I GO TO MY COMMUNITIES -- FOR EXAMPLE, LEISURE VILLAGE IS A 55 PLUS COMMUNITY. NOT ONLY DO WE TALK ABOUT AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC, BUT ALSO COME WITH, YOU KNOW, IF NOT ONE OR MULTIPLE STAFF MEMBERS TO BE ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE APPLY TO THE EXEMPTION, SO THAT WE CAN BE THERE FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO APPLY ON THE SPOT AND NOT JUST SAY HERE'S THE WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN DO IT. BUT ACTUALLY WE GO TO THEM AND WE HELP THEM IN THE PROCESS. AND THAT WOULD BE A WAY WHERE I'M TRYING TO FIND A HAPPY MEDIUM WHERE I CAN -- YOU KNOW, IT'S PALATABLE FOR MY CONSTITUENTS AND WE'RE COVERING OUR SENIORS AND LOW-INCOME SENIORS AT THAT SAME TIME. SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I'M AT. A HEAR FROM THE REST OF MY COLLEAGUES ON WHERE YOU'LL STAND ON THIS SO WE CAN KIND OF MOVE FORWARD AND CLOSE OUT. >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. FINAL COMMENTS FROM ANYONE ELSE? YES, COMMISSIONER HAY. AND THEN WE'LL MOVE FORWARD. >> YES. MY POSITION IS THIS. OVER THE YEARS THAT I HAVE BEEN HERE, SINCE 2007, WE HAVE PRIORITIZED OUR WISH LIST. AT THE TOP OF THE LIST IS SAFETY. IT HAS BEEN THAT WITH THIS COMMISSION. IT HAS BEEN THAT WITH PREVIOUS COMMISSIONS. AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE GUY RIGHT BEHIND ME WHOSE NAME IS JASON. TO HEAR HIM SAY IT -- I HEARD HIM SAY IF THEY HAD GOTTEN THERE MAYBE A MINUTE EARLIER, MAYBE HIS TOTAL HOUSE WOULDN'T HAVE BURNED DOWN. WHEN IT HITS YOUR HOUSE, THAT'S WHEN IT REALLY COUNTS. YOU WOULD WISH THAT EVERY SECOND WAS AVAILABLE TO YOU TO SAVE A LIFE. I HEARD THE CHIEF SAY THAT THIS COULD COME PRETTY CLOSE TO A MINUTE OF SHAVING OFF THE RESPONSE TIME. I THINK THAT'S FANTASTIC, OKAY. FOR $2.08 MORE A MONTH, I SUPPORT THAT BECAUSE I SEE MANY OF US BUYING SODAS AND CANDY BARS AND EVERYTHING THAT COSTS A LOT MORE THAN THAT. AND YOU WOULDN'T BOYNTON BEACH, WHICH IS THE THIRD LARGEST MUNICIPALITY OUT OF THE 39 IN PALM BEACH COUNTY TO BE SELF-SERVICE, WHICH MEANS WE PAY FOR OUR OWN SERVICE, THEREFORE, WE HAVE A VOICE WHEN IT DOESN'T WORK RIGHT. WE CAN SAY SOMETHING. WHEN WE GO OUTSIDE OF THAT, WE HAVE NO SAY SO. AND SO FOR ME, I'VE HEARD BOTH WAYS. BUT A LOT OF MY CONSTITUENTS TELL ME THAT EVEN THOUGH IT'S A LITTLE BIT HERE AND A LITTLE BIT THERE, FOR WHAT THE PACKAGE CONTAINS AND FOR THE RETURN ON THAT KIND OF AN INVESTMENT OF $2.08 A MONTH MORE, TO HAVE THAT TYPE OF RETURN ON MY INVESTMENT IS WORTH IT. SO I JUST SAY TO THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE THINKING ABOUT IT, YES, I WANT TO SUPPORT MY CONSTITUENTS. BUT A LOT OF THEM ARE SAYING, YOU KNOW, LET'S JUST BE REAL. WE WASTE THAT FOR NOTHING HARDLY. SO TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, I AM FOR THE ASSESSMENT AT THE $25. NOT THE 20, OKAY. AT THE $2.08. AND THAT'S WHERE I AM AND I WILL BE VOTING FOR IT BECAUSE I SEE THE BENEFITS ACROSS THE BOARD. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU. MY FINAL COMMENTS AND THEN WE'LL MOVE FORWARD. WHEN IT COMES TO LIFE AND SAFETY SERVICES, NEVER WILL I EVER COMPROMISE ON AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THOSE SERVICES. IT IS JUST NOT WORTH IT. AND MY HEART ALSO GOES OUT TO THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY. WE DO HAVE EXEMPTION FORMS. THERE'S A WAY TO PROCESS THAT. VICE MAYOR HAS ALREADY MENTIONED THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER, AS WELL. BUT MY HEART ALSO GOES OUT TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE AFFECTED. AND WHAT YOU DON'T EVER WANT TO HEAR, AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, IS A FAMILY CRYING BECAUSE OUR SERVICES DID NOT GET THEIR FAST ENOUGH. SO I DON'T NEED TO BELABOR ALL THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN SAID BUT THAT IS NOT ONE THING I'M WILLING TO COMPROMISE. FOR $2.08 A MONTH, THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS ABSOLUTELY WORTH IT. AND FURTHERMORE, I WILL NOT ALLOW -- AND I HAVE BEEN UNCOMFORTABLE WITH HAVING A FIREFIGHTER STAY IN A FIRE STATION THAT HAS BEEN DILAPIDATED AND THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF, YOU KNOW, PIECES THAT HAVE WATER DAMAGE AND THAT ARE JUST OLD AND REALLY NEED TO BE REPLACED -- I THINK MAYBE AT ONE POINT I HEARD THERE WAS SOME GROWTH THAT NEEDED TO BE REMOVED. WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, THEY WORK SO HARD FOR US. WE DON'T NEED TO KEEP THEM IN THOSE CONDITIONS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT FOR THE MONEY THAT WE INVEST WILL RETURN MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF DIVIDENDS FOR FAMILIES. AND THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO HEAR IS THAT YOU HAVE TO BE ONE OF THOSE FAMILIES THAT HAVE TO SEE THESE VEHICLES AND PERSONNEL. YOU DO NOT WANT TO SEE THEM BECAUSE IF YOU DO, THAT MEANS YOU ARE HAVING AN EMERGENCY IN YOUR LIFE. SO I SUPPORT THIS WITHOUT QUESTION. AND LISTEN, IT'S NOT THAT I WANT TO RAISE FEES. I DON'T WANT THAT. BUT WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE AND IF YOU HAVE TO MAKE A TOUGH DECISION, WE HAVE TO DO IT, RIGHT. WE HAVE TO SAVE PEOPLE'S LIVES AND ENSURE OUR SERVICES ARE UP TO PAR. AGAIN, IF YOU ARE HAVING FINANCIAL STRUGGLES, WE DO HAVE WAYS TO PROCESS THAT SO YOU CAN BE EXEMPT, RIGHT. IT IS NOT A LACK OF COMPASSION THAT THESE MECHANISMS ARE IN PLACE. THE FIRE CHIEF IS IN THE BACK SO PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU SPEAK WITH HIM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE? WITH THAT, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? >> MOTION TO APPROVE PROPOSED RESOLUTION NUMBER R24-192. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR: WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER HAY. WE HAVE A SECOND FROM VICE MAYOR KELLEY. LET ME TURN TO OUR CITY CLERK FOR THE ROLL CALL VOTE. >> COMMISSIONER HAY. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER TURKIN. >> NO. >> COMMISSIONER CRUZ. >> NO. >> VICE MAYOR KELLEY. >> YES. >> MAYOR PENSERGA. >> MAYOR: YES. >> OKAY. IN A ROLL CALL VOTE THE MOTION PASSED 3-2 WITH COMMISSIONERS TURKIN AND COMMISSIONER CRUZ DISSENTING. >> MAYOR: THAT'S RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, EVERYBODY. WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON. CHIEF, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND TO YOUR HARD WORK INCLUDING TO ALL OF THE STAFF THAT SUPPORT YOU. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. LET'S TAKE A MOMENT. I KNOW SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS ARE ABOUT TO LEAVE SO LET'S JUST TAKE A MOMENT. ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT PORTION OF THE AGENDA IS PUBLIC AUDIENCE. THIS IS THE TIME TO BE HEARD ON ANY ITEM UNDER CONSENT OR NON-AGENDAED ITEMS. SAME RULES APPLY, THREE MINUTES PER PERSON. ADDRESS ME, THE CHAIR, COMMISSION AS A WHOLE, AS A BODY. ALL RIGHT. PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. >> HI, MY NAME IS MELISSA HAGINS, 2240 NORTHWEST SECOND STREET. I WAS HERE I THINK LAST WEEK ABOUT THE POLE BEING IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. ME AND MR. MACK APPARENTLY KEEP MISSING ONE ANOTHER. SO IF HE'S HERE, HE CAN JUST TEXT ME ON WHAT HE CAN DO ABOUT THAT POLE, YOU KNOW. I'M ASSUMING -- NOW, THIS IS JUST AN ASSUMPTION THAT EVERYBODY HERE IS FOR ENDANGED SPECIES. I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, I FEEL LIKE ONE. THEY ARE WIDING GATEWAY BRIDGE. I LIVE RIGHT THERE. ALL THE FUMES, THEY HAVE CUT DOWN ONE OF THE BIGGEST FICUS WHICH I'M GLAD IT'S GONE. WE NEED THOSE TREES. I NEED SOMETHING TO CLEAN THE AIR. I DON'T GO TO THE WATERS ALL THE TIME. I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE FOR THE WATERS BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SIT ON MY PORCH WITHOUT GETTING SICK. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT POLE CONSISTS OF OR WHAT IT'S ABOUT. I HAVE SEE IT DEVALUE MY PROPERTY FROM THAT PAPER IT SAID IT DEVALUED IT. SO I'M HOPING MY TAXES GO DOWN. AND I REALLY WAS HOPING -- I ASKED WHEN THEY WAS TALKING ABOUT ENLARGING, WIDENING THE BREJ, THAT THEY WAS GOING TO BUY US OUT. AND, OF COURSE, I WANTED THE PEOPLE THAT WAS IN TRAILERS GOT 1 MILLION FOR THE WATERS. I WANTED MY MILLION. BUT I'M HOPING THAT YOU GUYS -- SOMEONE HELP US ON THIS END BECAUSE I MEAN I GET ALL THE -- I HEAR ABOUT THE WATERS. EVERYTHING IS GOING UP. I HEAR EVERYTHING IS GOING UP. BELIEVE ME, I DIDN'T MAKE A COMMENT ON THE FIRE BECAUSE WE DO NEED THAT. BUT WE ALSO NEED THEM TO BE ABLE TO TURN AROUND AT THE END OF THE STREET AND NOT, YOU KNOW -- THEY USE -- JUST LIKE I SAID LAST TIME, THEY USE MY PROPERTY. AND I DON'T STOP THEM. I HAVE CRACKS. I HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT. I HAVE TO REPLACE MY DRIVEWAYS WHEN THEY GET CRACKED. THEY ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES. I DO HOPE YOU GUYS NEED TO PUT A DEAD END SIGN BACK UP AT THE BEGINNING OF THE STREET. IT WAS ONCE THERE. IT WAS THERE ONCE BEFORE WHEN I MOVED INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I ASKED THEM TO PUT ONE. THEY DID PUT ONE. I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT WENT. BUT THEY NEED ONE. BUSES, EVERYTHING COMES DOWN THAT WAY. CONSTRUCTION, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY. AND USUALLY IF YOU ARE NOT HOME, THEY ARE GOING TO USE YOUR DRIVEWAY. SO I'M ASKING YOU GUYS TO HELP ME. ONCE BEFORE THEY WAS SAYING THEY WAS GOING TO PUT UP TREES. I DON'T NEED -- THE LAST MAYOR WAS TALKING ABOUT PUTTING A SIDEWALK. HE DON'T NEED TO PUT A SIDEWALK DOWN ON MY END. PEOPLE DESTROY YOUR PROPERTY, ALSO. SO THEY HAD ONCE PUT A FENCE UP THERE. THEY CUT IT DOWN. FORTUNATELY I DIDN'T HAVE THE CAMERAS. NOW I HAVE THE CAMERAS AND THE POLICE KNOW I GIVE IT TO THEM. [TONE] >> EXCUSE ME ONE MOMENT, MAYOR. >> MAYOR: YES. >> WOULD YOU GIVE ME YOUR ADDRESS? >> 2240 NORTHWEST SECOND STREET. >> NORTHWEST SECOND. THANK YOU. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU. LET'S GO BACK AND FORTH OR WHOEVER IS READY. SOMEBODY JUST GO. ALL RIGHT. >> KRISTY MOMONT, BOYNTON BEACH, RIGHT OVER IN THE FOREST PARK. ACTUALLY OUR DEED SAYS SIERRA HEIGHTS AND THAT SOUNDS A LITTLE BIT MORE RITZY. BUT I HAVE TWO ISSUES. ONE OF THEM IS THE POLICE. I TRAVEL FROM LAKE WORTH TO BOYNTON BEACH EVERY DAY. I GET TO CONGRESS AVENUE AND OLD BOYNTON AND THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE JUST A TURNING LANE. IT'S NOT A TURNING LANE. THESE PEOPLE GO STRAIGHT. AND IF SOMEBODY IS GOING ACROSS THAT -- ACROSS CONGRESS TO GO INTO WHERE J'S DELI, JASON'S DELI, YEAH, TWO J'S, THEY ARE GOING TO GET HIT BECAUSE THESE ARE GOING STRAIGHT INSTEAD OF TURNING LIKE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO. THEY ARE SPEEDING OVER IT. THEY ARE NOT JUST RIDING OVER IT. THEY ARE SPEEDING OVER IT. THEY ARE GOING 40 AND 50 MILES AN HOUR. I KNOW BECAUSE I GO 35 ON THAT STREET AND THEY ARE PASSING ME LIKE I'M STANDING STILL. I HAVE ASKED TO HAVE THE POLICE OUT THERE TO USE THEIR GUNS TO SEE HOW FAST THEY ARE GOING, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE TURNING RIGHT AND NOT GOING STRAIGHT SO THESE OTHERS THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TURN AFTER THEY GET OFF OF CONGRESS -- I MEAN PAST CONGRESS, THEY CAN TURN. THAT'S ONE OF MY ISSUES, IS BECAUSE THEY ARE JUST SPEEDING PAST EVERYWHERE. THE OTHER ISSUE IS THE CARS IN FOREST PARK NEIGHBORHOOD. IT LOOKS LIKE SOME OF MY NEIGHBORS HAVE A PARTY EVERY DAMN NIGHT. EXCUSE ME. I'M SORRY. [CLEARING THROAT] BUT THEY HAVE GOT SO MANY CARS OUT THERE IT'S LIKE A PARKING LOT. AND THEY ARE NOT PARKING ON THE SWALES. THEY ARE PARKING OUT IN THE STREET. AND WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ROOM FOR PARKING OUT ON THE STREET. WE BARELY HAVE ENOUGH ROOM FOR A CAR TO GO THROUGH THERE MUCH LESS ONE STANDING ON THE SIDE OF THE STREET. AND THEY DON'T MOVE. THEY KEEP THEIR LIGHTS ON. IT'S HORRIBLE! I DON'T KNOW WHO IS SUPPOSED TO BE GOING IN THAT AREA AND WHO'S SUPPOSED TO BE CHECKING OUT WHATEVER WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO AND WHAT WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO. BUT THEY ARE NOT DOING THEIR JOB APPARENTLY BECAUSE THE CARS ARE STILL OUT THERE AND WE CANNOT MOVE TO GO AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMEBODY GO OUT THERE AND LET THEM KNOW THAT FIVE CARS IN YOUR DRIVEWAY DON'T NEED TO BE THERE. FIVE CARS IN YOUR DRIVEWAY IS NOT FITTING SO YOU'RE PARKING OUT ON THE STREET. SO SOMEBODY ELSE CAN EITHER HAVE TO GO WAY AROUND YOU OR EITHER THEY ARE GOING TO HIT YOU BECAUSE THEY CAN'T SEE YOU. SO IT'S GOING TO BE ONE OR THE OTHER. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST -- I'M JUST A COUNTRY GIRL. I'M IN A LITTLE CITY. BUT I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. I NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND I'VE BEEN IN THIS -- [TONE] >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> FOR 14 YEARS. >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. HOPEFULLY OUR STAFF WILL BE REACHING OUT TO YOU. LET'S MAKE SURE THAT YOU LEAVE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION WITH THEM. ALL RIGHT. MS. OYER. >> SUSAN OYER, BOYNTON BEACH. I BROUGHT THE SAME TWO COMMENTS UP REPEATEDLY. IT'S GOTTEN ME NOWHERE SO GOOD LUCK TO YOU GETTING IT RESOLVED. FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO THE EAST BOYNTON LITTLE LEAGUE. CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM. THAT WAS SPECIAL. I'M TALKING SEVERAL THINGS TODAY, SORRY I'M GOING QUICK. I WANT TO POINT OUT IF YOU SAW TODAY'S PALM BEACH POST, JAMES GADDIS, I THINK IS HIS NAME SHOULD BE YOUR NEW HERO BECAUSE HE'S THE WHISTLE-BLOWER THAT BROUGHT OUT EVERYTHING ON THE STATE PARKS. AND SINCE WE NOW HAVE PROBLEMS AT OUR COUNTY-LEVEL PARKS WITH THEM TRYING TO STEAL OUR LAND AND OUR CITY WITH OUR PARKS, LET ME SAY THAT THE PEOPLE OWN THESE PARKS WHETHER THEY ARE CITY, COUNTY OR STATE. SO WHEN IT'S TIME TO PUT SOMETHING IN, MAKE CHANGES, YOU KNOW, BUILD CONDOS, RESTAURANTS, WHATEVER IS COMING UP, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT NEEDS TO GO TO A REFERENDUM BECAUSE IT BELONGS TO US. IT DOESN'T BELONG TO THE CITIES. IT DOESN'T BELONG TO THE COMMISSIONS. IT BELONGS TO WE THE PEOPLE AND THAT GOES FOR THE CITY AND COUNTY AND STATE PARKS ALL CURRENTLY ENDANGERED. I THINK IT'S TIME FOR US TO LOOK AT THE LDRs AND LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO OUR PARKS. WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR PARKS NOT JUST FOR NOW BUT FOR THE FUTURE. WE DON'T HAVE NEARLY ENOUGH PARK SPACE. BE THE COMMISSION THAT PROTECTS OUR PARKS AND LET THIS CITY BE THE EXAMPLE TO THE COUNTY AND THE STATE THAT ARE DROPPING THE BALL. BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU, JAMES GADDIS WHO IS MY NEW HERO TODAY. I WANT TO POINT OUT IN DOING SOME CAMPAIGNING AND DOOR KNOCKING THE LAST WEEK, TWO WEEKS, I'VE BEEN TALKING TO PEOPLE. IT TURNS OUT CODE ENFORCEMENT IS COMING AFTER PEOPLE WITH CARPORTS AND THEY ARE CITING PEOPLE WHO HAVE STUFF IN THEIR CARPORTS BECAUSE, LET'S FACE IT, WE ALL HAVE STUFF WE NEED TO HAVE, WHETHER IT'S A BOX OR, YOU KNOW, YOUR SCUBA GEAR, WHATEVER IT IS. AND THEY ARE ACTUALLY GOING AND CITING PEOPLE FOR HAVING STUFF IN THEIR CARPORT BECAUSE THEY ARE TELLING PEOPLE, OH, THE ONLY THING THAT SHOULD BE IN YOUR CARPORT IS YOUR CAR. SO I THINK IT'S TIME FOR YOU ALL TO ADD THAT TO YOUR LIST OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DISCUSSED. AND AS FAR AS PEOPLE WHO WERE COMMENTING ABOUT THE USE OF WATER DURING THE UTILITIES PRESENTATION, THERE'S LOTS OF WAYS TO USE LESS WATER. AND I THINK ONE OF THEM IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU, COMMISSIONER TURKIN, ARE GOING TO BE BRINGING UP SOON. AND WE REALLY NEED TO BE EXAMINING THAT IF WE ARE NOW LOWERING THE AMOUNT OF MINIMUM WATER THAT YOU CAN HAVE FOR A CERTAIN PRICE. THEN WE NEED TO EXPAND OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE. AND YOUR YARD SHOULD LOOK LIKE MY YARD WHERE I USE VERY, VERY, VERY LITTLE WATER AND I'M FORCED TO PAY THE MINIMUM. I PROBABLY USE HALF THE WATER EVERYONE ELSE DOES. EVERYONE IN THE HOUSE DOESN'T NEED TO TAKE TWO TO FIVE SHOWERS EVERY SINGLE DAY EITHER. THAT'S PART OF OUR PROBLEM, TOO. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. >> CINDY FALCO DiCORRADO. I'D FIRST LIKE TO SAY I DID PUT A FOIA IN TO GET THE INSIDE FILM FROM MY ATTACK FROM THAT POLICE OFFICER WHO RUDELY TOLD A STORY I WAS AT THE PODIUM WHEN HE ATTACKED ME. I ASKED FOR THE INSIDE VIDEO. I SENT FOIA'S OUT AND STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE VIDEO FROM INSIDE THIS ROOM MARCH THE 5th AS YOU WITNESSED WHEN I READ YOU THE INCIDENT REPORT, YOU SAW THE TWO OFFICERS THAT LIED ON THAT REPORT. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S BEEN ANY KIND OF RESOLVE. THAT LETS ME KNOW THE POLICE OFFICERS IN THIS COMMUNITY ARE LIARS. ALSO, TALKING ABOUT THE FIRE CHIEFS AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THAT'S A FEAR FACTOR THAT YOU USED -- ONE OF YOU UP THERE ON THE DAIS. AND THAT'S NOT RIGHT BECAUSE WHAT REALLY THE FIRE TAX IS, FIRE ASSESSMENT IS A TAX. JUST LIKE THE UTILITIES BILL HERE, WHICH I HAVE. BY THE WAY, I THINK WE SHOULD GET AN OUTSIDE COMPANY TO DO OUR PICKUP. I SEE MINE HAS GONE UP TO $200 AN ASSESSMENT. I'M BEING CHARGED FOR GARBAGE PICKUP. I THISTLE WE COULD DO BETTER. MAYBE HAVE AN OUTSIDE COMPANY GET SOME BID AND SEE HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO LOWER THE ASSESSMENT FEE. AGAIN, IT'S A TAX. AND AS YOU KNOW TAXES ARE VOLUNTARY. PEOPLE THINK THEY NEED TO PAY FOR IT BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNEE THE PROPER FORMS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO FILL OUT BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOESN'T WANT TO ISSUE IT. BUT TAXES ARE VOLUNTARY. I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION IN REGARDS TO THE UTILITIES WHICH GAVE A BIG PRESENTATION. HOW MUCH GOES TOWARD THE SEWAGE AND HOW DO YOU PROVE IT'S GOING INTO THE GUTTER FOR THESE NEW ASSESSMENTS THEY ARE CHARGING WITH THE WATER COMPANY WITH THE PRESENTATION WE WATCHED TODAY? YOU HEAR ME TALK ON LOTS OF THINGS BECAUSE THESE THINGS CONCERN THE PEOPLE. AND AS SOMEONE JUST STATED, YOUR PROPERTY IS YOUR PROPERTY. NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO TELL YOU WHAT TO DO ON YOUR PROPERTY. NOW, IF YOU LIVE IN AN HOA, YOU SIGN A DOCUMENT THAT SAYS YOU'RE GOING TO ABIDE BY THEIR RULES. IF YOU DON'T LIVE IN AN HOA, YOU HAVE NO RIGHT SENDING CODE ENFORCEMENT OUT TO ANYBODY'S HOME. THAT IS THEIR PRIVATE PROPERTY AND THERE SHOULD BE NO TRESPASSING. AND NOBODY SHOULD SAY A WORD EXCEPT FOR LIKE IF THERE'S THINGS THAT ARE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY OR THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO CAUSE HARM TO THOSE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. PRIVATE PROPERTY MEANS PRIVATE PROPERTY. RESPECT THAT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. I SEE SOMEONE ELSE IS APPROACHING THE PODIUM. GOOD EVENING, GABBY. >> HI. GOOD EVENING, GABRIELLE -- >> MAYOR: GO AHEAD. >> GABRIELLE FAVITTA, EVENTS DIRECTOR. I DID WANT TO TAKE A QUICK MINUTE TO ADD THAT FP&L WILL PROVIDE A FREE BREAKFAST FOLLOWING THE 9/11 CEREMONY. STARTS AT 8:00 AS ANNOUNCED EARLIER. THE BREAKFAST WILL BE FOLLOWING THE CEREMONY. IT WAS FINALIZED AFTER IT WAS ADDED TO THE AGENDA BUT I DID WANT TO GIVE THANKS TO FPL. >> MAYOR: GABRIELLE, VERY NICE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. LET ME TURN TO THOSE ONLINE. I SEE NO ONE ONLINE. WITH THAT, PUBLIC AUDIENCE IS NOW CLOSED. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE PORTION OF THE AGENDA. THE FIRST ITEM HERE IS COMMUNITY SUPPORT FUNDS. AND WE HAVE REQUESTS FROM VICE MAYOR KELLEY, COMMISSIONER TURKIN AND COMMISSIONER HAY. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NOTHING? I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE REQUESTS. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR: TO BE CLEAR, COMMISSIONER, IT IS FOR ALL OF THE ITEMS. >> YES, MOTION TO APPROVE ALL THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT FUND REQUESTS. >> MAYOR: ALL THOSE IN FAVOR TO APPROVE ALL THE REQUESTS SAY AYE. [AYES] ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 5B, DISCUSSION REGARDING CHANGING THE DATE OF THE FIRST COMMISSION MEETING IN NOVEMBER DUE TO THE NATIONAL ELECTION. I HAVE NO OBJECTION. CITY MANAGER DUGGER, IF YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS. >> IT'S UP TO THE BODY. WE CAN CHOOSE TO COMBINE THE MEETING, CANCEL IT ALTOGETHER OR CHOOSE TO RESCHEDULE IT. WE JUST WANT I GUESS SOME AVAILABLE DATES FROM THE COMMISSION. >> MAYOR: I HAVE NO OBJECTIONS EITHER WAY. I'M COMFORTABLE WITH EITHER ONE. >> I THINK IN OUR WORKSHOP WE DISCUSSED MONDAY. >> RIGHT, MONDAY THE 4th. >> MAYOR: WE DID TALK ABOUT IT. >> OKAY. SO MONDAY? >> MAYOR: YEAH. >> MONDAY THE 4th. >> YEAH, IT'S GOING TO BE THE 4th. >> MAYOR: SO NOVEMBER -- THE DAY BEFORE ELECTION DAY. >> WHAT DATE ARE WE TALKING HERE? >> THEY DID MENTION THE 6th. >> YEAH, I THINK IN THE AGENDA WORKSHOP, COMMISSIONER HAY -- >> COMMISSIONER HAY HAD A CONFLICT ON THE 6th. >> WEDNESDAY WE COULDN'T DO, RIGHT? SO MONDAY, I'M GOOD WITH MONDAY. >> MONDAY THE 4th. >> GOOD WITH ME. >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT. >> FINE. >> MAYOR: COUNSEL, DO WE NEED A FORMAL MOTION ON THIS SETTING IT TO THE 4th? SOUNDS LIKE WE ARE ALL IN AGREEMENT. >> I DON'T BELIEVE SO. I THINK A DISCUSSION ITEM IS FINE. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU SO MUCH. CONSENT AGENDA, MOVING ON TO CONSENT, ARE THERE ANY ITEMS YOU'D LIKE TO PULL FROM CONSENT? ANY REQUESTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? NONE FROM YOU. ANYBODY ON THE RIGHT? WITH NO ITEMS BEING PULLED, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ENTIRETY OF CONSENT AGENDA. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR: MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER TURKIN. I DON'T KNOW WHO WAS SECOND. COMMISSIONER HAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE CONSENT AGENDA, SAY AYE. [AYES] ANYONE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO CONSENT BIDS AND PURCHASES OVER 100K. ANY ITEMS YOU'D LIKE TO PULL, ANY REQUESTS? HEARING NONE, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT BIDS AND PURCHASES OVER 100K. >> SO MOVED. >> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> MAYOR: MOTION CAME FROM VICE MAYOR. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR: AND SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER TURKIN. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING CONSENT BIDS AND PURCHASES OVER 100K SAY AYE. [AYES] ALL RIGHT. ANYONE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THAT MOVES US TO REGULAR AGENDA, 10A. THIS IS PROPOSED ORDINANCE 24-012. COUNSEL, DO YOU WANT TO BEGIN? >> I HAVE MS. RYAN HERE IN CASE THERE ARE FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS FOLLOWING THE AGENDA REVIEW. >> MAYOR: YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE. >> MAYOR: ACTUALLY, THIS ITEM WAS PREVIOUSLY TABLED. FOR US TO CONTINUE, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO REMOVE FROM THE TABLE? >> SO MOVED. >> MAYOR: MOTION FROM VICE MAYOR. IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> MAYOR: FROM COMMISSIONER HAY. >> JUST A QUESTION. >> MAYOR: SO THE MOTION IS NOW REMOVED FROM THE TABLE. >> I JUST HAVE A QUESTION. IF COMMISSIONER HAY WAS THE ONE WHO TABLED IT, DOES HE HAVE TO BE THE SAME PERSON TO REMOVE FROM THE TABLE OR NO? >> MAYOR: I DON'T THINK SO, NO. >> NO. >> MAYOR: WE'RE SURE, COUNSEL? THANK YOU, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF REMOVING THIS ITEM FROM THE TABLE, SAY AYE. [AYES] ALL RIGHT. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. SO THIS ITEM IS NOW BEFORE US. CAN WE GET AN INTRODUCTION REALLY BRIEF. WHO WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT? WOULD YOU LIKE TO FIRST READ THE ITEM? GO AHEAD, MAYLEE. >> PROPOSED ORDINANCE NUMBER 24-012, FIRST READING, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA AMENDING PART II CHAPTER 2 ADMINISTRATION, ARTICLE II CITY MANAGER SECTION 2-30 POWERS AND DUTIES GENERALLY BY CREATING A NEW SUBSECTION "K" AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO CUTE CERTAIN CONTRACTS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY AND PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION, SEVERABILITIES, CONFLICTS AND EFFECTIVE DATE. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU SO MUCH. I KNOW THIS ITEM HAS BEEN BEFORE THIS BOARD A NUMBER OF TIMES. JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NOTHING ELSE FROM COUNSEL TO ADD. ANYTHING? ANY CHANGES, ANYTHING LIKE THAT? >> NO, BUT AGAIN IF THERE'S ANY OTHER QUESTIONS -- >> MAYOR: MS. RYAN IS ALSO HERE. >> CORRECT. >> MAYOR: ANYONE FROM THE BOARD WANT TO CALL US MS. RYAN OR ARE WE GOOD? >> JUST ONE QUESTION FOR MS. RYAN OR SHAWNA. SO WITH THIS IN FRONT OF US, DOES THIS GIVE THE MAYOR OR ANY INDIVIDUAL ANY POSSIBILITY FOR PROCUREMENT TO GO OUT FOR BIDS OR ANYTHING WITHOUT COMMISSION APPROVAL? BECAUSE I'M SEEING SOME STUFF ON SOCIAL MEDIA GOING AROUND. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S PEOPLE SAYING THAT THE CITY MANAGER WANTS TO DEVELOP THE PARKS, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. AND I'M SICK OF THIS MISINFORMATION. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S ON THE RECORD AND THAT THIS DEFAMATORY AND SLANDER CAN FINALLY STOP. >> TO CLARIFY, THERE ARE PROJECTS THAT COME FORWARD UNDER BIDS AND APPROVALS. BUT AGAIN, A BID AND AN APPROVAL IS RELATING -- YOU KNOW, IT HAS A $50,000 PER YEAR THRESHOLD. NOW, THERE IS CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS OVER $200,000, BUT TO MAKE ANY CHANGES TO CITY PROPERTY, CORRECT, IT WOULD NEED COMMISSION APPROVAL. ADDITIONALLY, YOU KNOW, ANY CHANGES TO ANY OF THE CITY PARKS IS ALSO GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH A LAND DEVELOPMENT CHANGE BECAUSE IT'S NOT ZONED FOR THAT. THAT WOULD ALSO COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION. SO THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE. >> OKAY. SO NO, THE ANSWER IS WHETHER IT'S -- WHOEVER IS AUTHORIZED WITH THAT SIGNATURE AUTHORITY CANNOT MAKE ANY CHANGES TO PUBLIC OR CITY-OWNED PROPERTY WITHOUT GOING TO -- >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> THE COMMISSION FIRST. >> AND JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, WITH REGARD TO ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ARE ALLOWED HAVE NO EXPENDITURE BY THE CITY EXCEPT FOR WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN AUTHORIZED THROUGH THE PROCUREMENT POLICY, WHICH IS VERY SPECIFIC AS TO, YOU KNOW, EXPENDING CITY FUNDS OF $50,000 PER YEAR. >> AND THEN I SAW AN EMAIL THE OTHER DAY ABOUT LIKE AN EMERGENCY GRANT THAT NEEDED TO BE SIGNED. CAN I GET SOME INFORMATION ON THAT? >> I'M SORRY. I MISSPOKE. LET ME CLARIFY. I WAS THINKING I JUST MISSPOKE. I DIDN'T HEAR YOUR LAST QUESTION. >> THAT'S FINE, GO AHEAD. >> IT ISN'T $50,000 PER YEAR, IT IS $50,000 TOTAL. IF YOU GO INTO A FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT, THE MAXIMUM EXPENDITURE CAN BE UP TO $50,000. SO JUST TO CLARIFY. >> FOR THOSE FIVE YEARS? >> CORRECT. SO IT'S NOT 50,000 PER YEAR. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE INCREMENTS OF $10,000 BECAUSE ANYTHING OVER THAT HAS TO COME TO COMMISSION. NOW, I'M SORRY. YOUR QUESTION? I DIDN'T HEAR YOU. >> GOSH, WHAT WAS MY QUESTION. >> THE EMAIL. >> YES, THERE WAS AN EMAIL ABOUT AN EMERGENCY GRANT THAT NEEDED TO BE SIGNED. I THINK ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO AGO. >> WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT SIGNED. >> YOU GOT IT SIGNED. >> IT DID COME DOWN. WE HAD TO SCRAMBLE A LITTLE BIT. >> RIGHT. >> CORRECT. >> I THINK ONE THING WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHEN WE DISCUSS THIS IN GENERAL IS LOOKING AT LIKE E-SIGNATURE, YOU KNOW. WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAYBE MAKE THINGS MORE EFFICIENT SO ANY INDIVIDUAL DOESN'T HAVE TO RUN DOWN AND SIGN SOMETHING. I THINK THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY. >> WELL, GENERALLY, THE WAY GRANTS HAVE COME FORWARD IS YOU GUYS APPROVE THE GRANT AND THEN AT THAT TIME YOU DESIGNATE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ANY ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS AS NEEDED UPON THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY ATTORNEY. SO THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO COME BACK EACH TIME BECAUSE OF THE -- THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALREADY DONE. AND THIS JUST CLARIFIES THAT HE CAN SIGN THOSE DOCUMENTS IF ALREADY AGREED TO BY THE COMMISSION BECAUSE YOU GUYS APPROVED THE GRANTS. >> YEAH. YEAH, YOU KNOW, MY POSITION ON THIS IS I DON'T THINK IT MATTERS WHO SIGNS WHAT. I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT WE'RE BEING OPERATIONALLY EFFICIENT AND WE SIGN AND THAT WE INSTILL SOME TYPE OF FAIL SAFE SO IF WHOEVER THE DESIGNATED INDIVIDUAL IS TO SIGN IS NOT AVAILABLE, THAT THERE'S A MECHANISM SO THAT SOMEONE ELSE CAN SIGN AND APPROVE. THAT IS MY ONLY WORRY. THAT IS MY ONLY CONCERN. I DON'T CARE WHO SIGNS WHAT. I CARE THAT IT GETS SIGNED AND WE DON'T PUT THE CITY AT RISK FOR LIABILITY OF PARKING AGREEMENTS OR ANY OTHER AGREEMENTS. AND THAT WE DON'T LOSE OPPORTUNITY ON GRANT FUNDING FOR, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER REASON. SO THAT'S MY POSITION -- IS, YOU KNOW, CREATING A MECHANISM SO THE TAXPAYERS AND RESIDENTS DON'T SUFFER FROM AN OPERATIONAL FAILURE, WHETHER THAT'S ONE INDIVIDUAL SIGNING A BACKUP, A THIRD, A FOURTH, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE. I THINK THAT'S RESPONSIBLE. IT'S PRACTICAL, AND IT'S WHAT WE OWE TO THE TAXPAYERS AND RESIDENTS TO OPERATE AT A VERY STANDARD FUNCTION AND STANDARD LEVEL. THANKS. >> MAYOR: BEFORE -- THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER TURKIN. I HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR LEGAL STAFF REGARDING E-SIGNATURES. I THINK OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE THAT. SO I SUPPORT THAT. WHEREVER WE CAN DO THAT, WE SHOULD BE DOING THAT. HAVING REDUNDANCY IS A GOOD THING SO I SUPPORT THOSE COMMENTS AS WELL. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME HEARING ABOUT SOME EMERGENCY GRANT OR SOME -- SO IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE SIGNED, I DON'T REALLY KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. BUT USUALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS THE CITY ATTORNEY, BEING THAT ALL THESE DOCUMENTS GO FOR LEGAL REVIEW, NOTIFIES ME. I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. WHAT IS THIS EMERGENCY GRANT? WHAT IS THAT ABOUT? >> UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN WHEN YOU WERE AT THE TRAINING IN HARVARD. SO YOU WERE OUT OF TOWN. >> MAYOR: YES. BUT DURING THAT TIME, I MUST HAVE SIGNED DIGITALLY ABOUT 15 DIFFERENT ITEMS AND NO ONE TOLD ME THAT -- NO ONE SAID ANYTHING THAT WE COULDN'T DIGITALLY SIGN IT. WHY WAS IT NOT MENTIONED? >> THAT DIDN'T COME TO MY OFFICE. THAT WAS PRIOR TO WHEN WE CHANGED THE PROCEDURES. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT CAME TO BE. >> MAYOR: SO YEAH. THIS IS LIKE MY CONCERN BECAUSE THERE IS SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENING WHERE I'M NOT BEING NOTIFIED OF WHATEVER THIS EMERGENCY GRANT IS. AND ALL SOMEBODY HAS TO DO IS SHOOT ME A TEXT OR EMAIL, RIGHT. DURING THAT TIME, I HAD SIGNED NUMEROUS DOCUMENTS. >> SURE. I THINK ONCE WE CHANGED THE PROCESS WHERE IT COMES THROUGH MY OFFICE FOR A SIGNATURE, IT'S BEEN A LOT MORE EFFICIENT. AND THERE'S A POINT PERSON. SO, YOU KNOW, DEPARTMENTS KNOW THEY CAN COME TO ME AND THEN WE COORDINATE THE SIGNING. IT'S BEEN MORE EFFICIENT. BUT ALL OF THAT TOOK PLACE AFTER, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THAT. SO I THINK WE HAVE FIXED THAT PROCESS. >> MAYOR: SO THE PROCESS IS NOT MY CONCERN AT THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE. IT IS THE FACT THAT I SIMPLY WASN'T NOTIFIED. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IS TALKED ABOUT. IF THERE WAS SUCH A THING, WHY WASN'T I NOTIFIED WHEN I CAME BACK? >> MA >> I THINK YOU ULTIMATELY DID SIGN T. MAYOR. >> MAYOR: SO IT WAS HANDLED. >> YEAH, YEAH. >> MAYOR: WHAT IS THIS EMERGENCY THING? BECAUSE THE IMPLICATION HERE IS THAT THESE DOCUMENTS ARE COMING ABOUT AND THEY ARE NOT GETTING SIGNED BY ME. AND ALL SOMEONE HAS TO DO IS JUST SAY SOMETHING, RIGHT. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, TODAY YOU TEXTED ME JUST THERE ARE SOME CHECKS I NEED TO SIGN, IT'S VERY URGENT. SO I WAS NOTIFIED TODAY AND HAD TO BE SIGNED TODAY. AND WE HAVE A SYSTEM OF COMMUNICATING AND IT WORKS. RIGHT? SO THAT IS JUST MY CONFUSION. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ALLEGATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS AND JUST COMMUNICATE WHAT THESE ARE. >> YEAH, THERE'S NO IMPLICATION. >> MAYOR: I'M NOT SAYING YOU ARE, COMMISSIONER. BUT I HAVE HEARD -- NO, NO, NO. I HAVE HEARD OTHER PEOPLE. I HAVE EVEN HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT THERE WERE SUPPOSEDLY SOMETHING I DIDN'T SIGN THAT HAD TO BE RENEGOTIATED. IF THAT WAS TRUE, RENEGOTIATED CONTRACTS WOULD COME BACK BEFORE THIS COMMISSION? >> RIGHT. >> MAYOR: I'M JUST WONDERING WHERE THIS IS COMING FROM. ALL SOMEBODY HAS TO DO IS SAY SOMETHING. SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT THAT'S GOING ON HERE. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED WHAT WAS THE STORY BEHIND THAT. AND IT WAS SO THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO THROW ONE OF OUR PERSONNEL UNDER THE BUS, WHICH I HAVE NO INTENTION IN DOING SO. BUT IT MAKES ME LOOK BAD WHEN IT WAS ACTUALLY SOMEONE ELSE. SO I'M GETTING A LITTLE WORKED UP, I APOLOGIZE. I PRIDE MYSELF ON NOT GETTING WORKED UP. IT MIGHT JUST BE BECAUSE I HAVE HAD A LONG DAY AND I AM TIRED. BUT WE NEED TO PUT THIS TO AN END BECAUSE IT'S VERY SIMPLE. JUST SAY SOMETHING. JUST TEXT, EMAIL. ANYWAYS, LET'S KEEP MOVING FORWARD. COMMISSIONER CRUZ, YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP AND I'LL MAKE MORE COMMENTS AS NECESSARY. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. I WASN'T AWARE ABOUT ANY -- I HAVE BEEN HEARING MULTIPLE TIMES AGAIN ABOUT GRANTS NOT BEING SIGNED. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP BEFORE. I MEAN I DON'T SIGN ANYTHING, SO IT'S NOT REALLY OF MY CONCERN PER SE. BUT IT'S NOT REALLY FAIR TO BLAME SOMEONE FOR NOT BEING HERE IF I'M JUST FINDING OUT NOW THAT WASN'T BEING COMMUNICATED. SO JUST FOR THE RECORD, BECAUSE THE WAY THAT THE LAST MEETING WENT KIND OF MADE IT APPEAR THAT YOU WERE AN ABSENT MAYOR AND YOU ARE NOT. SO I JUST WANT TO PUT ON THE RECORD THAT LIKE IF THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE SIGNED, AS YOU STATED -- WHAT? LIKE A FEW MINUTES AGO, IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE SIGNED, THEN SEND AN EMAIL, PUT IT IN WRITING. AND IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO DO IT, REPLY AND THEN MAYBE THE VICE MAYOR CAN SIGN, YOU KNOW, WORST CASE SCENARIO. BUT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IN WRITING, NOTHING GETS LOST. AND IN WRITING, YOU HAVE A RECORD TO SHOW THAT YOU WERE NOTIFIED OR IF IT'S NOT IN WRITING, THEN YOU WERE NOT NOTIFIED. AND THAT WAY EVERYBODY IS SAFE AND THERE'S CLEAR GUIDELINES HOW TO HANDLE ANYTHING. >> MAYOR: HOW EASY WAS THAT? >> I AGREE. TO MY POINT, IF ONE INDIVIDUAL CAN'T SIGN IT, WE NEED A MECHANISM SO SOMEONE ELSE CAN. WHAT A CONCEPT. AND THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING FOR -- IS TO CREATE A MECHANISM SO THAD BEEN. WE'RE BUSY. WE HAVE LIVES OUTSIDE OF HERE. WE WORK FULL-TIME JOBS. THE PRESSURE SHOULDN'T BE ON ONE INDIVIDUAL, YOU KNOW. SO I THINK IF THE MAYOR OR THE COMMISSIONER OR THE VICE MAYOR IS NOT THERE OR THEY ARE BUSY OR THEY ARE OUT OF TOWN, WE CANNOT STOP CITY BUSINESS OR CITY FUNCTIONS -- >> AS LONG AS IT'S NOT ABLE TO BE SIGNED. >> I DON'T INTERRUPT YOU. >> MAYOR: GO AHEAD AND FINISH. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. WE SHOULDN'T STOP CITY BUSINESS IN ORDER TO WAIT. I THINK THAT THERE'S A HEALTHY BALANCE HERE. THERE'S A HAPPY MEDIUM TO WHERE WE CAN CONTINUE TO FUNCTION AS A CITY IF SOMEONE IS AWAY. IF SOMEONE NEEDS TO -- IF SOMEONE IS LIVING THEIR LIFE, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? THAT PRESSURE SHOULDN'T BE ON ONE PERSON. AND ORGANIZATIONALLY, IT'S A FAILURE IF ONLY ONE PERSON IS ALLOWED TO SIGN. THERE NEEDS TO BE A BACKUP. THAT'S MY PERSPECTIVE, YOU KNOW. AND THEN AGAIN NOT ONE PERSON -- YOU CAN'T BLAME ANYBODY, YOU KNOW. WHEN YOU HOLD EVERYONE ACCOUNTABLE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T BLAME ONE INDIVIDUAL. THERE'S NONE OF THAT CHATTER AND NONE OF THE GOSSIP THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, MAYOR, THAT CAN ACTUALLY HAPPEN BECAUSE YOU HAVE CREATED A LEGAL MECHANISM TO ELIMINATE THAT. AND YOU HAVE CREATED A LEGAL MECHANISM TO ESSENTIALLY ALLOW THE CITY TO FUNCTION AND NOT RELY ON ONE INDIVIDUAL, RIGHT. I MEAN WE HAVE BEEN PRETTY VOCAL THAT ALL THE MONETARY, YOU KNOW, ISSUES AND AGREEMENTS COME BEFORE US FIRST. AND SO I'M JUST -- I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF THE CITY MANAGER IS TO DO THAT. MAYBE IT'S THE VICE MAYOR AND THEN IF THE VICE MAYOR CAN'T DO IT, ANOTHER COMMISSIONER. ANY COMMISSIONER, WHO CARES. I THINK THE POINT HERE IS MAKING SURE THAT THE CITY STILL FUNCTIONS, STILL OPERATES. WE OWE THAT TO OUR TAXPAYERS AND RESIDENTS. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER HAY, BEFORE I GET TO IT, LET ME ALSO SAY THAT ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY MADE IS THERE ARE SOME DOCUMENTS THAT ARE SO TIME SENSITIVE IT NEEDS TO BE SIGNED RIGHT AWAY. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THIS ORDINANCE. AND WHAT ARE THE NINE ITEMS HERE THEY WANT AUTHORITY OVER? LET'S LOOK AT THE NINE ITEMS. IF IT'S REALLY SO TIME SENSITIVE, ITEM ONE, CORPORATE AND MEDIA SPONSORSHIPS OF CITY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS. TELL ME HOW TIME SENSITIVE THAT IS. PARKS AND RECREATION, ADOPT A PARK OR ADOPT A ROAD AGREEMENTS AND SPECIAL EVENT PERMITS, WHAT IS HAPPENING? OKAY. PUBLIC ART LOAN AND DISPLAY AGREEMENTS INVOLVING NO EXPENDITURE OF CITY -- OKAY. TELL ME THE TIMES. LIKE WHY DOES THIS NEED TO BE SIGNED TODAY? >> LET ME -- >> MAYOR: I'LL LET YOU EXPLAIN, THAT'S FINE. I AM JUST TRYING TO MAKE THE POINT THAT LET'S TAKE ANOTHER EXAMPLE. WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE TEMPORARY PARKING AGREEMENTS, THE ARGUMENT WAS MADE LAST MEETING. I LISTENED TO IT. I HEARD THE AGREEMENT AND I UNDERSTOOD. SOMETIMES THE OTHER PARTY CAN MAKE LAST-MINUTE CHANGES. I UNDERSTAND. BUT HAVE WE NOT HAD LARGE EVENTS FOR MANY YEARS? DO WE NOT KNOW WHEN THE CHRISTMAS PARADE IS COMING? DO WE NOT KNOW WHEN PIRATES FEST IS HAPPENING? PEOPLE SHOULD BE ORGANIZING THESE AGREEMENTS IN ADVANCE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. AND IF THERE'S A PROBLEM, WHERE WAS IT TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO? FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO? WE HAVE HAD THESE EVENTS OVER AND OVER AGAIN. SO I JUST WANT TO SQUASH THE IDEA THAT THERE IS SOME TRULY TIME SENSITIVE AGREEMENTS HERE, VOLUNTEER AGREEMENTS THAT'S ITEM 6 ON THE ORDINANCE. WHAT IS THAT ABOUT? VOLUNTEER AGREEMENTS NEEDS TO BE SIGNED TODAY? CAN'T FIND THE MAYOR. VOLUNTEER AGREEMENTS? SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THESE THINGS BECAUSE IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THAT I'M OPPOSED TO THE LANGUAGE, BUT SOME OF THE ARGUMENTS I HEARD WERE JUST RIDICULOUS. OKAY. SO WE CAN DISAGREE. BUT TO ME, WE HAVE HAD THIS WORKING FOR MANY YEARS. AND I AGREE WITH STAFF. I AGREE WITH YOUR COMMENTS. AND I THINK ALSO STACY HAD SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THE NEED TO CLARIFY. I AGREE, WE SHOULD CLARIFY THESE THINGS. BUT DON'T DO IT ON THE BASIS THAT THE MAYOR ISN'T SIGNING DOCUMENTS. DON'T DO IT ON THE BASIS THAT, YOU KNOW, THINGS ARE SO URGENT, YOU KNOW. IT'S BEEN WORKING ALL RIGHT. SO ANYWAYS, I AGREE THAT WE NEED TO CLARIFY THESE. I DO AGREE WITH THAT, SO DON'T GET ME WRONG. OKAY. COUNSEL, DID YOU WANT TO CHIME IN? AND COMMISSIONER HAY. >> I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY. THE ITEMS THAT ARE ON THERE ARE NOT NECESSARILY ABOUT TIME SENSITIVITY. THEY ARE SO BASIC TO THE OPERATION OF THIS, DO WE NEED TO BRING THOSE ITEMS FOR YOU GUYS TO APPROVE? >> MAYOR: RIGHT. >> THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT'S ABOUT. >> MAYOR: YES, I AGREE WITH YOU. >> IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU SIGNING. AND THE REASON YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT IN THE LAST 30 YEARS IS BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU HISTORICALLY YOUR CITY MANAGER, PRIOR TO ME BEING HERE, WAS TOLD TO SIGN THEM. AND I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED IN WRITING WHAT HE IS AUTHORIZED TO SIGN AND WHAT HE IS NOT AUTHORIZED TO SIGN, NO GRAY AREAS. SO IT'S CLEAR TO STAFF WHAT NEEDS TO BE COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION AND WHAT DOES NOT. BECAUSE IN LOOKING BACK, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT I WOULD ARGUE SHOULD HAVE GONE TO THE COMMISSION THAT YOUR PRIOR CITY MANAGER DID NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SIGN. AND THAT'S WHY YOU'RE NOT SEEING THEM. THAT'S WHY THIS SEEMS NEW BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING. SO WE JUST WANT CLARIFICATION AS TO WHAT IS ALLOWED AND NOT ALLOWED. AND THAT PUTS PARAMETERS IN PLACE SO THERE IS NO ARGUABLE POWER GRAB OR ANYTHING OF THAT SORT. SO I THINK THIS SETS UP THOSE GUIDELINES AND ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, SETS THOSE PARAMETERS. AND YOU CAN CHOOSE TO ADD OR REMOVE OR WHATEVER YOU SEE FIT. >> MAYOR: EVERYTHING YOU HAVE SAID I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH, RIGHT. THE NEED FOR IT, ABSOLUTELY. COMMISSIONER HAY, LET ME TURN TO YOU. YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP EARLIER. >> WELL, I GUESS I'M FROM THE OLD SCHOOL. THERE WAS A TIME THAT WE ALL SIGNED. WE ALL HAD TO SIT HERE AFTER THE MEETING WAS OVER WITH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR SIGNATURES, ALL FIVE SIGNATURES WAS ON THE DOCUMENT. I DON'T SAY GO BACK TO THAT. BUT I'M SAYING THIS WHOLE DISCUSSION, OKAY, IS UNNECESSARY. WE NEED TO ESTABLISH, LIKE I HAVE HEARD, A PECKING ORDER OF WHAT THAT SHOULD BE. IF WE'RE GOING TO DESIGNATE OTHERS TO SIGN IN OUR STEAD, AND IT SHOULD BE THE MAYOR FIRST. MAYOR NOT AVAILABLE, SHOULD BE THE VICE MAYOR. VICE MAYOR NOT AVAILABLE, IT SHOULD BE ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS. ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS NOT AVAILABLE, THEN GO TO THE CITY MANAGER. BUT WE DON'T NEED TO BE SITTING HERE. AND I UNDERSTAND WHERE THE MAYOR IS COMING FROM. I UNDERSTAND WHAT EVERYBODY IS SAYING. BUT TO ME, IT IS TOTALLY UNNECESSARY. WE CAN AUTHORIZE FROM THIS BOARD ANYBODY WE WANT TO TO SIGN. IF YOU GET THREE TO VOTE, THREE COMMISSIONERS TO VOTE ON IT, OKAY, THEN THAT'S WHO THE SIGNATURE WILL BE. SO LET'S COME AS MEN AND WOMEN AND AGREE WHAT THE PECKING ORDER IS GOING TO BE AND MOVE ON. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HAY. I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU HAVE SAID AND SUPPORT WHAT YOU HAVE SAID. YEAH. OKAY. LET'S KEEP MOVING. >> SORRY. >> MAYOR: VICE MAYOR. I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER CRUZ, GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER. >> GO AHEAD. >> MAYOR: SOMEBODY JUST GO. >> THERE WAS A VERY BIASED COMMENT MADE EARLIER DURING THE BEGINNING OF OUR DISCUSSION HERE. AND I FORGOT THE WORD THAT WAS USED -- SOME SORT OF ATTACK OR WHATEVER. BUT THE QUESTIONS THAT I ASKED AT THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING TO THE DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY WERE, IF WE HAD AN RFP TO BE USED IN THE HARVEY OYER PARK FOR SOMEONE TO TAKE OVER THAT SPACE -- AND I ASKED BECAUSE THOSE AMOUNTS ARE USUALLY UNDER $50,000 WHICH IS THE PROCUREMENT AMOUNT OF THE CITY MANAGER UNDER $50,000, WOULD THEN IN THAT CASE ALLOW THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN SUCH AN RFP. AND STACY SAID POTENTIALLY, WHICH MEANS THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. SO JUST FOR THE RECORD, WHATEVER WAS STATED EARLIER WAS CORRECTLY INCORRECT. IT WAS A VERY EXTREMIST AND UNWELCOME COMMENT. >> HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU. >> MAYOR: LET HER FINISH. >> I'M SPEAKING FACTS. I AM NOT GIVING OPINIONS. I AM SPEAKING FACTS BASED ON THE FACTS THAT I ASKED, BASED ON THIS PAPER RIGHT HERE THAT I WROTE AND I READ AND I ASKED ON THE RECORD. AND IT'S BEEN RECORDED. IF YOU WANT TO WATCH THE MEETING, YOU CAN COME BACK. BUT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT ANYBODY IS MAKING UP. THERE ARE NO OPINIONS. THERE ARE ONLY FACTS. AND THE FACT IS THAT WOULD BE A POSSIBILITY. THE CONCERN THAT I SHARED AT THE LAST MEETING WAS THERE IS A CONCERN WITH HAVING THE SAME HAND W WHO'S HANDLING OR MANAGIG THE PROCESS BE THE SAME HAND WHO IS SIGNING THE FINAL DOCUMENT BECAUSE THAT REDUCES CHECKS AND BALANCES. THERE'S A REASON WHY WE HAVE A COMMISSION. WE AUTHORIZE AND WE EXECUTE DOCUMENTS. WE, AS IN LIKE THE MAYOR, WE AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE DOCUMENTS. BUT THE PURPOSE FOR  DOING THAT IS YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT SET OF EYES. AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING IN THE CONTRACT THAT MIGHT NOT BE -- THERE'S ALWAYS THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR QUESTIONS. SO JUST TO CLARIFY, IT'S A FACT, NOT AN OPINION. AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT PART OF THE RECORD, THANK YOU. >> I HAVE TO RESPOND TO THAT. >> MAYOR: PLEASE, VICE MAYOR HAS BEEN WAITING. >> THAT'S INCORRECT BECAUSE MY COMMENT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER CRUZ. ABSOLUTELY NOT YOU AT ALL. IF YOU FEEL THAT WAY, I'M SORRY. NOTHING TO TO WITH YOU AND I CAN SHOW YOU THE RECEIPTS. >> MAYOR: THIS BACK AND FORTH, WE'RE GOING TO PUT THIS TO AN END. >> LEGAL AGAIN. >> MAYOR: COULD WE HAVE VICE MAYOR GO FIRST? SHE'S BEEN WAITING. >> GO AHEAD. >> MAYOR: YOU WANT TO WAIT. >> THAT'S FINE. >> DID WE NOT JUST STATE THAT IF IT'S OF A MONETARILY AMOUNT THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK TO TO US? >> YES. >> YOU GUYS CONTROL THAT. >> YEAH, WE HAVE CONTROL OF THAT. SO IF THERE'S ANY MONEY INVOLVED, IT HAS TO COME BACK HERE. >> NOT -- YOU HAVE ALREADY AUTHORIZED UNDER YOUR PROCUREMENT POLICY THAT THE CITY MANAGER CAN SIGN PURCHASES. >> THEY AUTHORIZED THAT. THEY DID. >> THEY ALREADY DID, CORRECT. YOU HAVE ALREADY AUTHORIZED THAT. >> YOU GUYS AUTHORIZED ME TO HAVE $50,000 THRESHOLD. AND A $200,000 THRESHOLD FOR CONSTRUCTION. IF YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT AWAY, YOU CAN TAKE IT AWAY. >> RIGHT. THAT'S ALREADY BEEN AUTHORIZED. ALL THIS ORDINANCE SAYS IS HE IS ALLOWED TO SIGN BECAUSE YOU HAVE AUTHORIZED HIM TO DO THAT. YOU NEED TO CLARIFY THAT, AUTHORIZE AND SIGN. AND THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN IS THAT IF THOSE THRESHOLDS CHANGE AND YOUR PROCUREMENT POLICY, THEN WE DON'T HAVE TO CHANGE THE ORDINANCE BECAUSE WE FOLLOW THE PROCUREMENT POLICY WHICH YOU GUYS APPROVE. >> BUT I'M GOING BACK TO COMMISSIONER CRUZ'S POINT, OKAY. I DON'T WANT THE AUTHORIZING PERSON AND THE SIGNATURE PERSON BEING THE SAME PERSON. >> OKAY. >> WE NEED TO TALK. >> MAYOR: I'M SORRY. >> THAT'S WHAT WE DO. >> MAYOR: SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME. WHAT DID YOU SAY? YOU DON'T WANT THE SIGNATURE PERSON TO BE THE SAME AS -- >> YOU'RE SAYING THAT WE HAVE ALREADY AUTHORIZED HIM TO SPEND $50,000 BASICALLY ON WHATEVER HE FEELS IS GOOD FOR THE CITY. >> MAYOR: YES. THAT'S WHAT I HEARD, YES. >> WELL, THE MAJORITY RULES BUT I JUST -- I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THAT. >> MAYOR: YEAH, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE ANOTHER LAYER OF CHECKS. OKAY. SO I THINK, COMMISSIONER HAY, YOU HAVE ALREADY PROPOSED A SOLUTION. I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THAT SOLUTION. WITH THE EXCEPTION THAT ONE OF THE NINE ITEMS IN THIS ORDINANCE INVOLVES EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS OF WHICH WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT BECAUSE THE CHARTER GIVES ALL EMPLOYMENT MATTERS, HIRING AND FIRING TO THE CITY MANAGER. >> YES. >> MAYOR: THAT'S THE ONLY EXCEPTION ON THIS LIST THAT I CAN THINK OF. BUT OTHERWISE EVERYTHING ELSE IS SOMETHING WE CAN -- AM I CORRECT, COUNSEL? >> I'M SORRY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. >> MAYOR: OF THE NINE ITEMS IN THE ORDINANCE, ONE OF THEM SAYS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS. >> CORRECT. >> MAYOR: NO MATTER WHAT, I DON'T THINK -- CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG BUT I DON'T THINK THE MAYOR OR THE VICE MAYOR OR ANY ONE OF US COULD SIGN THOSE DOCUMENTS. >> THAT IS CORRECT. >> MAYOR: BECAUSE ALL HIRING AND FIRING BELONGS -- >> JUST TO POINT OUT, THAT MEANS IF YOU DON'T AUTHORIZE, YOU WILL SEE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE THINGS THAT HAVE NO FISCAL EXPENDITURE. SO EVERY TIME YOU HAVE A SPONSORSHIP -- FP&L WANTS TO GIVE PA SPONSORSHIP. >> WE CAN PUT IT ON CONSENT THE WAY WE PUT A LOT OF THINGS UNDER $100,000 ON CONSENT. >> YEAH, WE CAN DO THAT. WE JUST MAKE THE AGENDA LIKE 10 PAGES OR 13. >> THAT'S OKAY. >> LET'S TRY IT. AND THEN WHEN WE TRY IT OUT, WE'LL READJUST. [LAUGHTER] >> MAYOR: VICE MAYOR, YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING PATIENTLY. >> WE'RE GOING DOWN A COMPLETE AND UTTER RABBIT HOLE. SO THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT ARE ON THIS LIST THAT WE ABSOLUTELY CANNOT SIGN. 100%. I DON'T PERSONALLY NEED TO SEE AN ADOPT A HIGHWAY OR ADOPT A ROAD AGREEMENT. I THINK THAT WOULD BE A WASTE OF MY TIME, THE MAYOR'S TIME, ANYONE'S TIME TO SIGN SOMETHING THAT HAS NO FINANCIAL BURDEN. THEY ARE ACTUALLY PAYING US TO PARTICIPATE IN A PROGRAM. WHY WOULD WE ADD A LEVEL OF CHECKS AND BALANCES TO SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE PAYING US TO PARTICIPATE IN? SO I MEAN I GUESS MY THOUGHT PROCESS SAYS INSTEAD OF US GOING BACK AND FORTH AND BACK AND FORTH IN CIRCLES FOR 500 MORE TIMES, IF THERE ARE CERTAIN ITEMS THAT ANYONE ON HERE DOESN'T WANT THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN, THEN SAY I DON'T WANT NUMBER 3. I DON'T WANT NUMBER 5. AND THEN WE'LL AGREE TO HOW THIS IS GOING TO WORK. BECAUSE WE CAN SIT HERE AND TALK ABOUT THIS FOR ANOTHER 20 MINUTES OR AN HOUR AND GET ABSOLUTELY NOWHERE. >> THIS IS THE FIFTH TIME. >> AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I'M SPEAKING ON IT. SO I AM -- THIS IS -- THESE AGREEMENTS AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAME BEFORE US ARE GENERAL EVERYDAY KEEPING THINGS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION THAT DON'T COST THE CITY ANY MONEY. CORPORATE MEDIA SPONSORSHIPS, I DON'T NEED TO SEE THAT. I DON'T THINK THE MAYOR NECESSARILY WANTS TO SEE THAT. BUT I THINK THEY HAVE NARROWED DOWN THE ITEMS IN THIS TO MAKE IT THINGS THAT HE ABSOLUTELY SHOULD HAVE AUTHORITY TO SEEN THAT DO NOT COST OUR RESIDENTS ANY MONEY, DO NOT COST US ANY MONEY. IF THERE'S ANY WORDING, CITY ATTORNEY, THAT YOU THINK WE NEED TO ADD TO ADD -- AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE'RE DISCUSSING OR TALKING ABOUT AMENDING THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS OR MAKING THAT EVEN STRONGER. AND SO MAYBE THE ISSUES OR THE FAIL SAFES THAT PEOPLE WANT ON THE PROCUREMENT END ARE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ADDRESS IN THAT AGREEMENT THAT MAYBE THEN IT GOES TO THE CITY MANAGER AND THE MAYOR HAS TO SIGN OR ME IN HIS PLACE OR WHATEVER. I MEAN I HAVEN'T -- YOU KNOW, MAYOR, I KNOW YOU GOT REALLY UPSET ABOUT THE TIME SENSITIVE ITEM. >> MAYOR: I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT. THAT WAS ALL. >> NO, NO, NO. AND I'M ALWAYS AVAILABLE, TOO. SO, YOU KNOW -- >> MAYOR: THAT'S GOOD, THANK YOU. >> I HAVE BEEN HERE AND I HAVE SIGNED STUFF AND I DON'T MIND COMING AND SIGNING STUFF. SO THAT'S MY THOUGHT. AND THAT'S MY POSITION -- IS THAT WHAT THEY HAVE PUT IN THIS AGREEMENT ARE BASIC EVERYDAY THINGS THAT DO NOT INVOLVE ANY EXPENDITURES. ON THE PROCUREMENT END, IF WE NEED TO AMEND THAT TO ADD AN EXTRA LAYER SO THAT THE MAYOR OR I OR SOMEBODY ELSE SEES THE CITY MANAGER IS PAYING $5 FOR EXTRA TOILET PAPER, THEN THAT'S WHAT WE DO. BUT WE NEED TO -- YOU KNOW, THAT'S MY POSITION ON THIS. I THINK THESE THINGS ARE THINGS THAT WE EITHER CANNOT SIGN AND SHOULD NOT THINK ABOUT SIGNING, OR THEY ARE THINGS THAT DON'T INVOLVE ANY FUNDING AND WE NEED TO JUST -- BUT IF THERE'S A PARTICULAR ONE, THEN BRING THAT ONE ITEM UP. BUT THERE'S THINGS THAT ARE ON HERE THAT WE CANNOT SIGN AND DO NOT AND WILL NOT COME BEFORE US. SO THAT'S MY THOUGHT ON THAT. WE NEED TO GET THIS MOVING. AND SO -- >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT. >> CAN I SAY ONE LAST THING, MAYOR? >> MAYOR: YES, YOU MAY. LET'S DO THAT. >> WE HAVE HEARD FROM THREE SEPARATE ATTORNEYS ON THIS MATTER. WE HAVE HEARD FROM PAM, STACY, AND SHAWNA. IN THEIR BEST LEGAL OPINION POSSIBLE THAT WE'RE PAYING THEM MONEY TO PROVIDE US WITH LEGAL ADVICE AND THEIR INTERPRETATION OF THE CHARTER. AND WHAT THEIR BEST LEGAL OPINION WOULD BE -- I'M GOING TO LEAVE IT AT THAT. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU. LISTEN, I DON'T OBJECT WITH THE LEGAL OPINION. I UNDERSTOOD EVERYTHING THEY HAVE SAID AND THE ARGUMENTED MADE. MY PURPOSE WAS TO CLARIFY THE REASONING BEHIND IT AND THE MOTIVATION. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS THE CASE AND THERE WAS NO MISUNDERSTANDINGS. >> I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 24-0122 AND END DEBATE. >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT. SO THERE IS A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? >> SECOND FOR DISCUSSION. >> MAYOR: IS THAT YOUR DISCUSSION ITEM OR YOU -- FOR HER. GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER. >> I JUST WANT TO -- I WANT TO MAKE A QUICK COMMENT THAT FOR THE LAST 100 YEARS, THE CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH AND THE ATTORNEYS THAT HAVE REPRESENTED THE CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH HAVE INTERPRETED THE CHARTER THE WAY THAT THE CHARTER IS WRITTEN. I HAVE THE MOST RESPECT FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE ATTORNEYS WHO HAVE BROUGHT THEIR OPINION AND I APPRECIATE IT. HOWEVER, IT IS STILL AN OPINION. THE ONLY AUTHORIZED PERSON OR INDIVIDUAL TO MAKE DETERMINATIONS FOR MUNICIPALITIES OR JUDGMENTS IS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. I HAVE NO PROBLEM ASKING FOR AN OPINION IF THAT'S THE CASE. IT'S NOT COMPLICATED TO DO. YOU JUST ASK A QUESTION AND THEY RESPOND. THEY HAVE DONE IT. THEY DO IT ALL THE TIME FOR MULTIPLE MUNICIPALITIES. HOWEVER, I JUST, YOU KNOW -- ALTHOUGH I APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, YOUR EXPERTISE AND EVERYTHING, IT IS STILL AN OPINION. AND PEOPLE CAN DIFFER IN OPINIONS. I DON'T WANT TO GO INTO A DANGEROUS PATH OF INTERPRETING THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH, WHICH HAS THE SAME STRENGTH AS THE U.S. CONSTITUTION FOR THE CITY, TO, ALL OF A SUDDEN, AFTER 100 YEARS CHANGE THE WAY WE DO THINGS BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. SO AGAIN, I'VE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS. OUR ATTORNEYS HAVE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH AND WE APPRECIATE IT. HOWEVER, AS MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE WAS A COMMENT MADE THAT IT WAS THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS THAT WERE THE ONES THAT THE COMMISSION OR THE MAJORITY WANTED TO HAVE SIGNED. UNLESS THERE IS MORE DISCUSSION. SO WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT AND FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS THAT YOU ALL WANT SIGNED OR NOT. >> I MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE AS WRITTEN. THAT IS MY POSITION. >> MAYOR: OKAY. >> SO THAT'S MY POSITION. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: OKAY. >> SO THE ORDINANCE AS WRITTEN INCLUDES THE PROCUREMENT CONCERNS THAT I HAD EARLIER THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS WHERE WE WOULDN'T HAVE ANY ACCOUNTABILITY ON PROCUREMENT. AND FOR THE RECORD I DO NOT SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE AS WRITTEN. AND I AM NOT GOING TO VOTE YES ON THIS. I'M GOING TO VOTE NO ON THIS BECAUSE -- >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT, OKAY. >> CALL THE VOTE. >> THERE NEEDS TO BE A SECOND. >> I ALREADY DID. >> MAYOR: FROM COMMISSIONER TURKIN. ALL RIGHT. SO THIS MOTION IS TO APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE AS WRITTEN, NO MODIFICATIONS. LET ME JUST SAY THAT IS NOT MY PREFERENCE. I HEARD A PERFECTLY DECENT COMPROMISE FROM COMMISSIONER HAY. BUT THAT'S ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE APPROVING THIS ITEM, AS PRESENTED WITHOUT ANY MODIFICATION, SAY AYE. [AYES] I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY. ROLL CALL, I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. WE DO HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND. GO AHEAD, MAYLEE. >> COMMISSIONER HAY. >> NO. >> COMMISSIONER TURKIN. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER CRUZ. >> NO. >> VICE MAYOR KELLEY. >> YES. >> MAYOR PENSERGA. >> MAYOR: NO. >> IN A ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION DOES NOT PASS 3-2 -- OR 2-3. >> I WANT TO CLARIFY, ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE CHANGES? OR JUST NO ALTOGETHER? >> MAYOR: I WOULD HAVE PREFERRED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES. I HEARD A DECENT COMPROMISE. >> YOU CAN MAKE ANOTHER MOTION AT THIS TIME. >> MAYOR: IF THERE WAS ENOUGH SUPPORT FOR IT. >> MOTION TO APPROVE WITH THE PECKING ORDER THAT COMMISSIONER HAY HAD MENTIONED WHERE WE HAVE A FAIL SAFE WHERE THE MAYOR CAN SIGN -- >> NO, NO, NO. >> MAYOR: ONE SECOND. LET HIM FINISH. HE'S MAKING A MOTION. LET HIM FINISH. HE'S MAKING A MOTION. [INAUDIBLE] PLEASE, COMMISSIONER, GO AHEAD. >> ALL RIGHT. MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE WITH THE AMENDMENT OF ESTABLISHING A PECKING ORDER OR A FAIL SAFE TO ALLOW THAT SIGNATURE AUTHORITY FOR ANOTHER COMMISSIONER, RIGHT, NOT THE CITY MANAGER, BUT ANOTHER COMMISSIONER OR VICE MAYOR. SO THEN THAT WAY THE CONCERN OF THE OPERA OPERATIONAL SIGNATURET MEETING THE LEGISLATIVE SIGNATURE IS THERE. I MEAN THAT'S WHAT I THINK GENERALLY ALL OF US AGREED ON -- WAS ESTABLISHING A FAIL SAFE. I'VE BEEN VERY VOCAL THAT, LISTEN, WE JUST WANT BUSINESS TO RUN. AND THAT'S IT. AND SO IF THERE'S ANY OTHER ADDITIONS YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE, COMMISSIONER CRUZ, PLEASE LET'S MAKE THEM. LET'S JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THIS BUSINESS HERE AND GET THE CITY MOVING FORWARD. >> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE CITY MANAGER HAS TO SIGN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS. AND EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS ARE ON HERE. SO WE NEED TO REMOVE THAT. >> WE NEED TO REMOVE THAT. >> WE NEED TO REMOVE THAT SO REMOVE THE EMPLOYMENT >> NO, IT HAS TO STAY ON HERE,  BECAUSE HE HAS TO SIGN IT. >> I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE  CITY MANAGER SIGNING IT. >> YOU'RE SAYING, WE'RE CREATING A WHOLE SEPARATE ORDINANCE AT  THIS POINT. >> THAT'S A DIFFERENT ORDINANCE. THAT WOULD BE A WHOLE NEW  ORDINANCE. WITH REGARD TO THIS, YOU CAN  STRIKE EVERYTHING EXCEPT FOR THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, THERE  STILL NEEDS TO BE CLARIFICATION  ON WHAT HE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO  SIGN. WHAT I'M HEARING IS. IF I'M HEARING THIS CORRECTLY. THE MOTION WOULD BE TO STRIKE  ITEMS 1, 2, 3, 4, EMPLOYMENT  AGREEMENTS, ITEMS 5, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THAT ON THERE FOR THE  CITY MANAGER, 6, 7, 8, 9. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THAT TO A  SEPARATE ORDINANCE. IS THAT CLEAR? >> YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE  EVERYTHING TO A SEPARATE  ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH APECING  ORDER. EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS HAVE TO  BE --  >> HOW MANY PEOPLE DO WE WANT TO HAVE -- BE ABLE TO SIGN THAT. THESE WON'T BE THINGS THAT WILL  GO TO COMMISSION, THESE WILL BE  THINGS THAT THE MAYOR AND VICE  MAYOR HAVE AUTHORITY TO SIGN. > >> MAYOR: IF NONE OF US ARE  AVAILABLE. WE'LL GO IN NUMERICAL ORDER,  DISTRICT 1, 2, 3. IF NONE OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE  AVAILABLE. >> MAYOR: THEN FINE. >> THE CITY MANAGER. >> MAYOR: BUT THAT'S FOR A  SEPARATE ORDINANCE. >> BEFORE. >> MAYOR: WE HAVE A MOTION TO  STRIKE ALL THOSE ORDINANCES. THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE THIS  ITEM. IS THERE A SECOND TO THIS  MOTION? COMMISSIONER HAY. >> MAYOR: LET'S TRY THIS AGAIN. >> COMMISSIONER HEY? >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER TURKIN? >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER CRUZ? >> HE WHY. >> VICE MAYOR KELLEY? >> YES. >> MAYOR PEN SERG GA. >> YES. >> MAYOR: IT IS 10:00, WE HAVE  SOME UPDATES AFTER THESE  ORDINANCES. PROPOSED ORDINANCE 020-15. THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT YET. 10-B IS ORDINANCE 017  >> MAYOR: FIRST READING. >> YOU SAID 15. JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY. PROPOSED ORDINANCE NUMBER  24-017, FIRST READING OF THE  ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH, AMENDING THE CITY OF  BOYNTON BEACH'S CODE OF  ORDINANCES, CHAPTER 15 OFFENSES  MISCELLANEOUS. >> TO PREVENT HAZARDS AND ISSUE  PUBLIC SAFETY. TO GIVE THE CITY AUTHORITY. TO REGULATE CITIZEN SAFETY  CONCERNS, REGARDING TREE  MAINTENANCE NEAR OVERHEAD POWER  LINES TO CREATE A HAZARD. WHILE WE'RE IN THIS SECTION OF  THE ORDINANCE. WE TOOK IT UPON OURSELVES TO  UPDATE SOME UPDATED REQUIREMENTS AND CLARIFY EXISTING  REQUIREMENTS. SO WHAT I HAVE HERE IS JUST A  HIGHLIGHT OF SOME OF THE  CHANGES, BECAUSE THERE WASN'T A  LOT OF CHANGES. SO WE AMENDED THE MINIMUM  STANDARDS OF THE TREE  MAINTENANCE NEAR OVERHEAD POWER  LINES AND TREE PRUNING  STANDARDS. SPECIFY WRITTEN APPROVAL AND  REQUIRE PRIOR TO ANY  MODIFICATION TO SWALES OR  RIGHT-OF-WAY ARE MADE. PREVIOUSLY, ONLY STATE APPROVAL  WAS REQUIRED. ADDED MORE CLARITY, THE WORD  KEEPING WITH THE WORD VOID. ADDED MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR  SHRUBS, HEDGES TO BE MAINTAINED  IN A NEAT AND HEALTHY  APPEARANCE. ADDED MINIMUM STANDARDS TO  INCLUDE THE DISCOLORATION OF THE EXTERIOR. AND AMEND THE GRASS HEIGHT TO 6  INCHES. THE ORDINANCE IS CURRENTLY AT 12 INCHES. SOME OF THESE CHANGES ARE JUST  TO UPDATE FOR CLARITY, WE  ALREADY ENFORCED THESE. WHEN SOMEONE READS THE  ORDINANCE, THERE'S NOT A DOUBT  WE'RE CITING FOR. AND THERE ARE SMALL CHANGES. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU, MISS STONE. COMMISSIONER HAY? >> YEAH, I HAVE A QUESTION ON  THAT LAST ONE, MINIMUM STANDARDS TO ADD DISCHORATION. INCLUDING THE ROOF? >> YES. >> HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MEASURE  THAT? >> SO THERE ARE CERTAIN ROOFS  WHERE YOU CAN TELL ARE  DISCOLORED, USUALLY IT'S THE  CLAY ROOFS AND THE TOWER ROOFS. IT WOULD BE A STANDARD LIKE THE  OTHER ONES WHERE IT'S 20%, IF  IT'S MORE THAN 20% DISCHORATION, WE WOULD ASK THE HOMEOWNERS TO  PRESSURE CLEAN THEIR ROOFS. >> ARE YOU GOING TO KEEP A  RECORD OF WHAT THE ORIGINAL  COLOR WAS? >> IT'S NOT THE COLOR, IT'S THE  DISCOLORATION THAT DIRT BUILDS  UP. MANY OTHER CITIES HAVE THE SAME  STANDARD. >> I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. YOU HAVE SHINGLES, FOR EXAMPLE. >> CORRECT, SHINGLES WOULD BE A  GREAT EXAMPLE. AND I STILL -- HELP ME TO --  >> WHEN A ROOF IS BRAND NEW,  LET'S SAY LIKE A RED ROOF, YOU  HAVE A LOT OF RED COLORED  SHINGLES. THEY START TO BUILD A  DISCOLORATION.  >> TAKE MY HOUSE. A LIGHT GRAY ROOF, IT WILL START TO TURN BLACK IF -- TYPICALLY  YOU CAN SEE, I COULD READ YOU,  DO ANOTHER PRESENTATION THAT  SHOWS YOU WHAT A DISCOLORED ROOF LOOKS LIKE, I DON'T HAVE BEFORE  ME THOSE EXAMPLES, BUT I SAID,  WE -- THIS IS THURSDAY, I'VE  BEEN IN OTHER CITIES, THEY HAVE  THOSE AS PART OF THEIR  STANDARDS. MANY CITIES DO. >> I'LL TALK WITH YOU, BUT WHAT  I'M HEARING, THAT COULD HAVE A  PERFECTLY GOOD ROOF AFTER 10  YEARS, BUT IF IT'S --  >> DISCOLORATION, IT'S JUST  DISCOLORATION. >> I COULD BE CITED. >> WELL, THERE'S ALREADY IN THE  ORDINANCE, WHICH I DID NOT  TOUCH, THERE ALREADY IS 20% OF  TILES MISSING THAN WE COULD SAY  FOR THAT AS WELL. WE'RE JUST ADDING DISCOLORATION  ON THERE. >> OKAY. I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND. >> IT'S EASIER TO SHOW. >> MAYOR: I WANT TO REMIND  EVERYONE, IT'S ONLY FIRST  READING, IT WILL COME BACK  AGAIN. IF YOU CAN ADDRESS THOSE  QUESTIONS WITH PICTURES? >> YES. >> MAYOR: COMMISSIONER TURKIN? >> THE EARN TENT FOR THIS --  INTENT WITH THIS WAS THE TREE  TRIMMING. I SEE A LIST OF OTHER THINGS  THAT ARE IN HERE, SO THE GRASS. I THINK -- I'M GOING TO HAVE TO  DISAGREE WITH THE GRASS, YOU  KNOW, SOMETIMES -- LIKE WE'VE  SEEN IN THE LAST WEEK, WE GET A  LOT OF RAIN. A LOT OF RAIN, IF I'M OUT OF  TOWN OR SOMEONE IS OUT OF TOWN,  AND THEIR GRASS GROWS, MAYBE  THEIR LAWN GUY OR PERSON DIDN'T  COME, OR THEY DIDN'T GET A  CHANCE TO CUT IT THEMSELVES, NOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE TAGGED BY  THE CITY, BECAUSE THEY WERE OUT  OF TOWN AND WE CAN'T CONTROL THE WEATHER. I'M GOING TO DISAGREE WITH THE  12 TO 6, PROBABLY KEEP IT AT  WHAT IT IS FOR ME AT 12, MAYBE  8, BUT, YOU KNOW, I JUST  DON'T -- I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT PORTION OF IT. AND THEN THE ROOF THING, I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER HAY, I DON'T  KNOW HOW YOU'RE GOING TO MEASURE THAT. MY INTENTION WITH DISCUSSING  THIS ITEM WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT  FIRST AND FOREMOST, AS  NEIGHBORS, WE PROMOTE SAFETY  WITH EACH OTHER, WHICH IS, WHEN  THOSE TREES HANG OVER THE POWER  LINES, IT CREATES A SAFETY  HAZARD, AND SOMETIMES FPL WILL  COME OUT AND CUT THEM ON THEIR  OWN WITH THEIR EASEMENT, IT'S  VERY RARE. IT'S HAPPENED IN MY HOUSE, ONCE  OR TWICE IN THE LAST TEN YEARS,  SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS -- WE HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE AND MAKE  SURE WE'RE NOT PUTTING OTHER  PEOPLE AT RISK. AND SO, YOU KNOW, ALL THESE  OTHER THINGS ARE IN HERE, AND I  WANT TO DO A DEEPER DIVE INTO  THIS. >> AND THAT'S FINE. WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE GRASS. I MIRRORED THE COUNTY, THEY'RE 6 INCHES. MOST CITIES WHEN I DID MY  RESEARCH AROUND 8 INCHES, RIGHT  NOW, WE GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS  FOR GRASS, 12 INCHES IS HIGH. IT'S PRIMARILY THE ABANDONED  PROPERTIES THAT ARE THE ISSUE. WE CAN'T SITE FOR AN ABANDONED  PROPERTY UNTIL IT'S 12 INCHES. BY THE TIME WE GET A VENDOR OUT  THERE, IT NOW IS 2 FEET, 3 FEET  HIGH. SO IT WON'T REALLY AFFECT THAT  MUCH OF THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE  MOWING THEIR LAWNS. I UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERN, WHEN  THEY GO OUT OF TOWN, THOSE ONES, WE MAKE ALLOWANCES, WE DO A DOOR HANGER WHERE THERE'S NO FINES OR FEES OR ANYTHING ATTACHED TO IT, AND GIVE THEM TIME TO CUT IT. WE LOOK INTO IT AND MAKE SURE  IT'S AN ABANDONED PROPERTY  BEFORE WE CITE. SOME OF THE OTHER UPDATES THAT  ARE IN HERE, EVEN THOUGH YOUR  CONCERN WAS THE OVERHEAD  UTILITIES, THESE ARE OTHER  COMPLAINTS THAT WE RECEIVED  ALSO. WE RECEIVE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS,  IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS OF  THE CODE. SO WHILE WE WERE IN HERE, I  WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE MADE  THOSE CHANGES TO APPEASE THE  ENTIRE CITY. WITHOUT OVERDOING IT. THERE STILL COULD BE MUCH MORE  STRICTER STANDARDS THAT WE COULD HAVE. AND THESE ARE OPINIONS THAT I  GOT NOT JUST FROM MYSELF, BUT  OTHER DEPARTMENTS AS A GROUP, WE WENT OVER THIS, UTILITIES,  PLANNING, ZONING, AND WHAT'S THE OTHER ONE, PUBLIC WORKS. WE ALL WENT INTO THIS AND  LOOKED. >> THAT'S FINE. THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO STICK WITH THE 8  INCHES ON THE GRASS. NOT THE 6, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE  PALM BEACH COUNTY WAS 6, BUT  OTHER MUNICIPALITIES ARE 8? IS THAT WHAT I HEARD? >> PALM BEACH -- THE COUNTY IS 6 INCHES, AND WE'RE AT 12. >> OKAY. WE'RE AT 12. >> COMMISSIONER CRUZ, I'M SORRY, TURKIN, YOU -- AND JUST TO THROW IT OUT THERE, YOU COULD HAVE NOT TO EXCEED SIX INCHES NOR -- FOR  MORE THAN A TWO-WEEK PERIOD. THAT WOULD BE A COMPROMISE, SO  THAT WAY IF THE PERSON IS OUT OF TOWN, THEY DOCUMENT THE FIRST  DAY IT'S OVER 6 INCHES, AND THEN TWO WEEKS LATER, IF IT'S STILL  OVER 6 INCHES, THEY CAN CITE  THEM. >> I'M OKAY WITH THAT SUGGESTION IF MY COLLEAGUES ARE. THAT'S REASONABLE. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, CONCERNS OR COMMENTS? >> GO AHEAD. >> IS THERE A RULE ON THE BOOK,  ONLY A CAR CAN BE IN THE CARPORT LIKE SUSAN HOYER BROUGHT UP? >> SO YES, THAT CURRENTLY IS IN  THE CODE AS IT IS, I DID GO  AHEAD AND UPDATE THAT PART OF  IT, JUST TO CLARIFY, CARPORTS  ARE INCLUDED IN THAT. BECAUSE IT'S OUTSIDE STORAGE,  IT'S CONSIDERED OUTSIDE STORAGE, A CARPORT IS FOR A CARPORT, JUST THAT, WE DO NOT GO SO HARD ON  RESIDENTS, TO WHERE IF THEY HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF STORAGE NEATLY  IN THE CORNER. THAT'S OKAY. BUT WHAT WE FIND AND TYPICALLY  SITE FOR, WHEN THERE'S JUNK ALL  OVER THE PLACE, AND THEY'RE  USING THEIR CARPORT FOR JUNK,  AND THEY'RE PARKING IN THE  GRASS. AND THEY'RE PARKING IN THE ROAD. >> AND I AGREE WITH YOU, BUT AS  I RIDE AROUND THE CITY, I SEE A  LOT OF -- IT'S A VERY  SUBJECTIVE, OKAY? AND WHAT I SEE OVER HERE IS  EVERYTHING NEAT, YOU CAN'T SEE  ANYTHING. BUT OVER HERE IS REALLY JUNKY,  BUT THAT ONE GETS CITED, AND  THIS OTHER ONE DOES NOT. WE NEED TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS AND BEING CONSISTENT. >> CONSISTENCY IS --  >> DO A BETTER JOB, BECAUSE  WE'RE NOT BEING CONSISTENT. >> CONSISTENCY IS SOMETHING I'M  WORKING WITH WITH THE DEPARTMENT AND ALL THE ORDINANCES, JUST  KEEP IN MIND TOO, THAT SOMETIMES THAT PERSON MAY HAVE ALREADY  BEEN CITED. AND THEY MAY NOT COMPLY WITH  WHAT THE ORDINANCES, THEY MAY BE GETTING DAILY FINES. NOT SAYING THAT'S THE CASE FOR  ALL OF THEM, BUT JUST KEEP IN  MIND, THEY COULD HAVE ALREADY  BEEN CITED, THEY DON'T CARE,  THEY WANT THEIR FINES, AND  THEY'LL LIVE THERE UNTIL THEIR  LIEN GOES AWAY. YES, I WILL MAKE SURE AND ENSURE CONSISTENCY IS ACROSS THE BOARD. >> I'LL LEAVE HER ALONE FOR  RIGHT NOW. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU. IT'S ONLY FIRST READING. ANYTHING ELSE FROM ANYONE? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE  IN.  >> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR:  >> WITH THE AMENDMENT, THE 6  INCHES --  >> YOU'RE THE MAKER OF THE  MOTION, ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THAT? >> YES, THAT'S FINE. >> ALL RIGHT. >> COMMISSIONER HAY.  >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER TURKIN? >> YES. >> COMMISSION CLOOUZ? >> YES. >> VICE MAYOR KELLEY? >> YES. >> MAYOR PENSERGA? >> YES. >> MAYOR: NEXT ITEM, GO AHEAD. >> PROPOSED ORDINANCE 24-018,  FIRST READING AN ORDINANCE OF  THE CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH,  FLORIDA. AMENDING CHAPTER 18 ARTICLE IV  PENSIONS FOR FIREFIGHTERS. >> MAYOR: CHIEF, IF YOU COULD  GIVE US AN OVERVIEW. >> GOOD EVENING AGAIN. WE DIDN'T DISCUSS THE ITEMS  DURING CONSENT, BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO INFORM YOU OF, BETWEEN  THE RESIGNING OF THE UNION  CONTRACT FOR THE NEXT THREE  YEARS, AND ALONG WITH THE 20  YEAR PENSION, WHAT WE WANT THE  COMMISSION TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT WE'VE ACHIEVED REVENUE  NEUTRALITY, AND HOW WE'VE  ACHIEVED REVENUE NEUTRALITY IS  BY CONCESSIONS FROM THE  BARGAINING UNIT, AND A VERY  SMALL -- IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS,  THERE'S A SMALL AMOUNT THAT WE  WILL USE FROM REVENUE, BUT IT'S  SMALL. THE MAJORITY OF HOW WE CAME TO  THE TABLE TO NOT ONLY COMPLETE  THE CHANGES TO THE UNION  CONTRACT, BUT TO RESTORE THE 20  YEAR PENSION, WHICH IS CRITICAL  FOR OUR MEMBERS, AGAIN, I THINK  IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IT  WAS ACHIEVED THROUGH REVENUE  NEUTRALITY. ANY QUESTIONS? >> EXCELLENT. >> MAYOR: COMMISSIONER CRUZ? >> I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A  POSITIVE COMMENT. I KNOW WHEN WE STARTED TALKING  ABOUT THIS, WE WERE GOING BACK  AND FORTH, AND YOU WERE TELLING  ME YOU WERE GOING TO BE TOUGH IN YOUR NEGOTIATIONS, I APPRECIATE  YOU FOR KEEPING THIS BUDGET  NEUTRAL. THIS IS A POSITIVE CHANGE FOR  OUR FIREFIGHTERS, THAT IT'S  SOMETHING THAT WAS NECESSARY AT  THIS POINT. AND NOW WITH THE HELP OF STAFF  AND ALSO YOU HELPING WITH THE  NEGOTIATIONS, WE'RE MAKING  CONDITIONS BETTER, BUT AT THE  SAME TIME, WE'RE BEING VERY  FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND BUDGET  NEUTRAL, THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> MY PLEASURE, THANK YOU,  COMMISSIONER. >> MAYOR: ANYONE ELSE? >> NO, I WANTED TO SAY I SPOKE  WITH GEORGE, THE PRESIDENT OF  THE UNION REGARDING THIS ITEM. I WANTED TO DISCLOSE THAT. >> DISCLOSE AT THE BEGINNING. >> I ALREADY DISCLOSED MINE. >> MAYOR: LET'S MOVE ON, IS  THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS? >> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> COMMISSIONER HAY? >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER TURKIN? >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER CRUZ? >> YES. >> VICE MAYOR KELLEY? >> YES. >> MAYOR PENSERGA? >> YES. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THE MOTION PASSED  UNANIMOUSLY. >> MAYOR: WE'RE MOVING ON TO  24-019 ANOTHER FIRST READING. >> I'M SORRY, I HAVE TO READ IT. PROPOSED ORDINANCE 24-019, FIRST READING AMENDING PART II OF THE  CODE OF ORDINANCES, CHAPTER 26,  WATER SEWER AND CITY UTILITIES,  TO PROVIDE THAT ALL WATER SEWER  AND CITY UTILITY FEES SHALL BE  SET BY THE CITY COMMISSION AND  AUTHORIZING AN ANNUAL CPI  ADJUSTMENT, PROVIDING FOR  CONFLICT, SEVERABILITY,  CODIFICATION AND AN EFFECTIVE  DATE. >> GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS,  MAYOR, VICE MAYOR. THIS IS BASICALLY JUST TAKING  OUT ALL THE FEES AND CHARGES,  AND THE RATES OUT OF THE  ORDINANCE, AND ASKING THE  COMMISSION TO ADOPT THEM BY  RESOLUTION EVERY YEAR. YOU SEE IT ALREADY, THE FEE  SCHEDULES COME TO YOU. WE'RE JUST PULLING THESE OUT,  BEING IN THE ORDINANCE, IT'S  HARD TO DO ANYTHING, OR IF  THERE'S ANY CHANGES WE NEED TO  MAKE, THE WHOLE ORDINANCE NEEDS  TO BE BROUGHT IN AND CHANGE  INSTEAD OF GOING THROUGH A  BUDGET PROCESS. THE OTHER THING WE ARE  REQUESTING HERE IS THE CPI  ADJUSTMENT, AND THE CPI  ADJUSTMENT TO THE UTILITY RATES. WE'RE SAYING PER CAPITA, 3.5%. WE'LL BRING IT IF SOMETHING MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE, OR IF YOU'RE  NOT NEEDING ANY CHANGES,  OTHERWISE, AUTOMATICALLY HAVING  A 3.5% INCREASE TO THE UTILITY  RATES BASED ON THE CPI. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU SO MUCH, I  DON'T REMEMBER WHICH MEETING IT  WAS, AT SOME TIME IN THE PAST, I MENTIONED THERE'S NO REASON FOR  US TO ARGUE ABOUT RATES DUE TO  INFLATION. INFLATION SHOULD BE BUILT INTO  THAT, THERE'S NOTHING ANY OF US  CAN DO AT THIS LEVEL. I SUPPORT THIS. DOES ANYONE HAVE QUESTIONS? >> NO. >> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR: MOTION FROM VICE  MAYOR, SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER  HAY. >> I'M SORRY. I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT, I  JUST DIDN'T WANT TO  >> MAYOR: GO AHEAD. >> QUICK QUESTION. NORMALLY WE DO THIS BY  ORDINANCE. WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW, WE'RE  AMENDING THE LAW TO ALLOW US TO  CHANGE THE RATES THROUGH --  >> MAYOR: BY RESOLUTION. >> THROUGH RESOLUTION INSTEAD OF BY ORDINANCE. IT MAKES IT FASTER, I GUESS. >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> OKAY. >> AND IT WILL BE PART OF YOUR  BUDGET HEARINGS AND BUDGET  WORKSHOPS AND EVERYTHING, SO  YOU'LL SEE EVERYTHING THEN. >> THERE'S STILL AN OPPORTUNITY  FOR THE COMMISSION TO SAY, I  DON'T WANT A 3 1/2% INCREASE  THIS YEAR. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> OKAY. >> THAT WAS MY QUESTION. >> SOUNDS -- ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE FROM ANYONE? THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND,  GO AHEAD. >> COMMISSIONER HAY? >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER TURKIN? >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER CRUZ? >> I'M GOING TO VOTE NO ON THIS  ONE. >> VICE MAYOR KELLEY? >> YES. >> MAYOR PENSERGA? >> YES. >> THE MOTION PASSED 4-1 WITH  COMMISSIONER CRUZ DISENDING. >> MAYOR: MOVING ON, THE  DISCUSSION REGARDING THE  FORMALIZED TREE PLANTING  PROGRAM. THIS IS ONE OF MY ITEMS. I WON'T MAKE THIS TOO LONG, I  PROMISE. I WANT AN UPDATE AND SEE WHAT  ELSE WE CAN DO MOVING FORWARD. >> NO PROBLEM, I'LL DO MY BEST  TO KEEP IT SHORT AS WELL. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, ALANNA IRWIN. TONIGHT I'M HERE TO DISCUSS SOME UPDATES ON OUR TREE CANOPY  PROGRAM WE COMPLETED OUR FIRST  URBAN TREE CANOPY ASSESSMENT IN  JULY 2020. IT WAS ESTIMATED OUR TREE CANOPY WAS AROUND 60%. THIS WAS FROM THE INITIAL  ASSESSMENT. AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM, THE  COMMISSION ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2020  ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY THE CITYWIDE GOAL OF PLANTING 3,000 TREES PER YEAR TO INCREASE THE CANOPY TO  20% BY 2035. AND THAT WAS THROUGH RESOLUTION  R-20091. SINCE 2020, THE CITY HAS PLANTED A TOTAL NUMBER OF 6,350 TREES  THROUGH THE PROGRAM. THIS DOES NOT ACCOUNT FOR TREES  INSTALLED THROUGH PRIVATE  DEVELOPMENT OR RESIDENCE, THIS  IS JUST STRICTLY WHAT THE CITY  HAS DONE TO DATE. ALSO IN 2023, THE STATE OF  FLORIDA COMPLETED THEIR OWN  URBAN TREE CANOPY ASSESSMENT FOR THE ENTIRE STATE, AND ESTIMATED  OUR CANOPY TO BE AROUND 20%. IT'S NOT EQUITABLE ACROSS THE  CITY, BASED ON THE REPORT. THERE ARE SOME AREAS THAT HAVE  HIGHER TREE CANOPY, FOR EXAMPLE, AT THE INTERSECTION OF MINOR AND HIGH RIDGE, THAT CENSUS TRACK  HAS ABOUT 35%. WHEREAS THERE'S LEISUREVILLE AND THE AREA ON WOOL BRIGHT ROAD  BETWEEN 95 AND MILITARY TRAIL  HAS LESS THAN 10%. THERE'S A HUGE DISPARITY STILL,  ACROSS THE CITY, WHILE WE MAY  HAVE AVERAGES OF AROUND 20%,  WE'RE NOWHERE NEAR WHERE WE NEED TO BE IN SOME OF THOSE AREAS. CURRENTLY, WE'RE HOSTING FOUR  TREE GIVEAWAYS ANNUALLY, WE  TYPICALLY HOST THOSE AT OUR FALL FESTIVAL. WE HOST IN JANUARY, WE DO ANN  ARBOR DAY TREE GIVEAWAY, ALSO AT OUR EARTH DAY EVENT IN APRIL. AND WE TYPICALLY WILL DO  SOMETHING IN JULY AROUND THE  TIME OF THE NIGHT MARKET. WE GIVE AWAY 200 TO 225 TREES AT EACH OF THOSE EVENTS FOR  RESIDENTS WITHIN THE BOYNTON  CITY LIMITS TO TAKE. WE HAD TO HALT MAJOR TREE  PLANTING RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE SOME AREAS, HOA'S AND SOME RESIDENTS  THAT TAKE PART IN THEIR TREE  PLANTINGS IN THE COMMUNITY. WE HAD TO HALT THEM DUE TO SPACE LIMITATIONS, AND WE HAVE TO  RE-EV RE-EVALUATE. AS I STATED, WE HAVE  SUCCESSFULLY INCREASED OUR  CANOPY TO SOME DEGREE, THE  METHODOLOGY THAT WAS USED IN THE STATE'S ASSESSMENT IS SLIGHTLY  DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE DID, IN  OUR PREVIOUS ASSESSMENT, AND WE  DON'T HAVE A GOOD WAY TO TRACK  HOW MANY TREES ARE BEING  PLANTED, OTHER THAN WHAT WE GIVE AWAY TO THE RESIDENTS OR WHAT  WE'RE PLANTING AS A CITY,  BECAUSE WHAT WINDS UP HAPPENING, RESIDENTS WILL TAKE THE TREES,  YOU DON'T -- ONCE THEY LEAVE THE EVENT, WE CAN'T TRACK IF THEY'RE PLANTING IT AT THEIR HOME OR  GIVING IT TO A FAMILY MEMBER OR  RELATIVE OR SOMETHING OF THAT  NATURE, SO IT'S HARDER FOR US TO REALLY TANGIBLY SAY, YES, THESE  ARE ALL THE TREES THAT ARE GOING IN THE CITY LIMITS. HOWEVER, FOR OUR NEXT STEPS, FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE HAVE IT ON  OUR AGENDA TO TO CONDUCT A  REASSESSMENT OF THE TREE CANOPY  FOR OUR CITY. IT WAS RECOMMENDED IN THE  PREVIOUS ASSESSMENT TO DO THAT  EVERY 4 TO 5 YEARS. SO WE'RE DUE. WE ARE PLANNING TO DO THAT, AND  PART OF THE NEW ASSESSMENT,  WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING TO  IDENTIFY AND PRIORITIZE AREAS  THAT HAVE THE LOWEST TREE  CANOPY. AND TARGET THESE AREAS FOR  FUTURE PLANTING EVENTS. WE'D LIKE TO GET A BETTER IDEA  OF HOW WE CAN TRACK THE TREES,  THERE ARE SOME PARTNERS LIKE THE ASHER DAY FOUNDATION, WHERE THEY CAN HELP RESIDENTS FROM CRADLE  TO GRAVE WHERE THEY TAKE THE  TREES FROM OUR EVENTS AND THEN  THERE'S AN APPLICATION THAT  HELPS THEM PLANT THE TREES AND  TAKE CARE OF THEM IN THEIR  HOMES. THEY CAN SEE WHAT THE TREE LOOKS LIKE. THERE ARE SOME APPLICATIONS OUT  THERE THAT MAY BE ABLE TO HELP  US BETTER TRACK SOME OF THE  TREES THAT ARE BEING GIVEN AWAY, AND MAKING SURE THEY'RE STAYING  WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS. WE'RE LOOKING AT WAYS TO HAVE A  MORE TARGETED APPROACH TO  ENHANCE THE TREE CANOPY. WE HAVE A LOT OF PALM TREES IN  THE CITY, PALM TREES YOU MAY OR  MAY NOT KNOW, DON'T HAVE A LOT  OF SHADE COVERAGE. WE'RE LOOKING AT WAYS WE CAN  REASSESS SOME OF THE TREES AND  RELOCATE SOME OF THOSE PALM  TREES WITH SHADE TREES THAT ARE  A LITTLE MORE EFFECTIVE. WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH  PUBLIC WORKS REGARDING THE  ROADWAYS AND SEEING IF WE COULD  PUT MEDIANS WITH TREES OR SOME  KIND OF STUFF IN THERE. THOSE ARE IN PRELIMINARY STAGES, THOUGH, BUT THOSE ARE  DISCUSSIONS THAT HAVE BEEN HAD. WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING A NATIVE SPECIES ASSESSMENT, TO HELP  ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT IMPACTING  OUR UNDERGROUND UTILITIES TO  FIND TREES THAT ARE DROUGHT  RESISTANT, LESS ROOT INTRUSIVE,  AND WE'D LIKE TO PROVIDE A LIST  OF THOSE TREES TO THE RESIDENTS. IF THEY HAVE TO HAVE TREES TAKEN OUT BECAUSE THEY'RE IMPACTING  THE UNDERGROUND UTILITIES,  THEY'LL BE ABLE TO REPLACE THEM  WITH ONE OF THE SUGGESTED TREES  WE HAVE, SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO  LOSE THAT COVERAGE IN THEIR  HOMES AS WELL. SO THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE  THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON. FOR THE TREE CANOPY. AND I'M OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS. >> MAYOR: ALANNA, THANK YOU SO  MUCH. THAT WAS A LOT. YOU SAID SO MUCH, I WAS A LITTLE WORRIED. YOU'RE A ONE PERSON SHOW? >> NO, I HAVE A SUSTAINABILITY  PERSON AS WELL. >> MAYOR: IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE  ON IT. I WANTED TO KNOW, IF YOU DON'T  MIND, REPEAT SOME OF THE  FIGURES. IN 2020, YOU SAID THE GOAL WAS  HOW MANY TREES PER YEAR? >> THE GOAL WAS TO PLANT 30,000  TREES PER YEAR. UNTIL --  >> MAYOR: 30,000? >> 3,000, I'M SORRY. IT'S VERY LATE. >> MAYOR: 3,000. >> IT WAS A TOTAL OF 45,000  TREES WHICH EQUATED TO 3,000 PER YEAR FOR 15 YEARS. >> MAYOR: AND HOW ARE WE KEEPING UP WITH THAT, HOW MANY HAVE WE  DONE SINCE 2020? >> I DO HAVE A BREAKDOWN, WE  HAVE 3,651.  >> MAYOR: THE GOAL WAS 3,000 IN  ONE YEAR, AND IN THIS FOUR YEAR  PERIOD. >> THE ASSESSMENT WAS DONE PRIOR TO MY TIME HERE, I'M NOT SURE  HOW THEY CAME UP WITH THE  METHODOLOGY. ONE OF THE THINGS I'M HOPEFUL,  WHEN WE DO THIS ASSESSMENT, WE  CAN SEE -- ACCORDING TO THE  STATE, TREE CANOPY ASSESSMENT,  WE HAVE 20% CANOPY, WHICH IS  ULTIMATELY OUR GOAL. SO I'D LIKE TO SEE WHERE MANY  SOME OF THE DISCREPANCIES ARE,  MAYBE WE USED A DIFFERENT  METHODOLOGY THAN WHAT THEY USED  AT THE STATE LEVEL, IT'S  SOMETHING WE CAN INCORPORATE IN  THIS ASSESSMENT TO MODIFY THE  BASELINE THAT WE WERE AT OR  MAYBE JUST SEE HOW FAR WE'VE  COME IN OUR CERTAIN AREAS, SO  MAYBE WE WERE CLOSER TO 20% THAN WE THOUGHT. BUT EITHER WAY, IT'S STILL  PRETTY LOW. THE AVERAGE TREE CANOPY IN URBAN OR SUBURBAN TYPESETTING IS  BETWEEN 30 AND 35%. MOST OF THE AREAS WITHIN THE  CITY I WOULD SAY, ARE BETWEEN 17 AND 20, WITH SOME AREAS BEING AS LOW AS 6% AND OTHERS BEING AS  HIGH AS 40. THERE'S A HUGE DISPARITY ACROSS  THE CITY, AND WE NEED TO GET OUR TREE CANOPY UP FOR TREE  COVERAGE. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU SO MUCH. I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THIS  ITEM, FOR ANYONE LISTENING, IT  MAY SEEM SILLY, BECAUSE WE'RE  TALKING ABOUT TREES. BUT TREES AFFECT NEIGHBORHOODS  AND COMMUNITIES AND ECONOMICS. AND PUBLIC SAFETY IN WAYS YOU  WOULD NOT IMAGINE. SO ONE PROSPECTIVE IS, THERE'S A CLIMATE CONCERN. BUT ALSO ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE IS, THE COOLER OUR WALKWAYS ARE,  MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE  OUTSIDE, MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING  TO BE SHOPPING, MORE PEOPLE ARE  GOING TO BE HEALTHIER. I COULD GO ON AND ON, BUT THERE  ARE SO MANY BENEFITS, NOT TO  MENTION BEAUTIFICATION. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS, VICE  MAYOR, YOU MENTIONED IT. THERE ARE SOME MEDIANS THAT WE  COULD PUT SOME TREES IN THERE,  THAT COULD TOTALLY BEAUTIFY THE  WHOLE AREA. WE'VE DISCUSSED THAT, YOU'RE  ALREADY ON THE RIGHT TRACK, IT  SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE DOING  EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO DO, I  DON'T NEED TO SAY MUCH MORE. ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO GET OUR  GOALS CLOSER, EVEN BETTER. COMMISSIONER CRUZ? >> ALANNA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I LOVE THAT YOU MENTIONED  LEISUREVILLE. IS THERE ANY SPECIFIC IDEA YOU  THINK, LIKE MAYBE WE COULD DO  SOMETHING WITH THE COMMUNITY TO  ENHANCE THE TREES TO MAYBE PLANT TREES AS AN EVENT OR SOMETHING  LIKE THAT? >> YEAH, WE DID USED TO DO TREE  PLANTINGS. BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT WE WERE RUNNING OUT OF SPACE, OR WE WERE ENCOUNTERING SITUATIONS WHERE WE WOULD PUT TREES IN AND LATER ON  A PROJECT WOULD COME UP AND WE'D HAVE TO REMOVE THE TREES OR  RELOCATE THEM. WE STARTED ARE WILL ENCOUNTERING THESE ISSUES, IF WE HAVE A  FORMULATED PLAN TO GET THE  COMMUNITY INVOLVED, THAT ARE  VERY LOW TREE CANOPY, AND AS  LONG AS WE CAN MEET OUR  GUIDELINES, WE'RE NOT IMPACTING  UTILITIES, MAKE SURE WE GET ALL  THE REQUIRED AUTHORIZATIONS. >> AND HOA'S AGREE TOO? >> YEAH, THAT'S IT. >> ANYTHING ELSE FROM MY  COLLEAGUES ON THIS? I LOOK FORWARD TO AN UPDATE. LET'S MOVE ON TO DISCUSSION  REGARDING YOUTH STUDENT  ATTENDANCE AT A NATIONAL LEAGUE  OF CITIES CONFERENCE. >> I REACHED OUT TO THE NLC  AGAIN, I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM  ANYONE. JUST TO KIND OF GET SOME MORE  INFORMATION, ASCERTAIN WHAT THE  YOUTH ATTENDEES INTERACTION WITH THE COUNCIL HAS TO BE. EITHER THE SUMMIT OR THE  CONGRESSIONAL CONFERENCE. I DID FIND A CITY TO THE SOUTH  THAT HAS A PRETTY ROBUST PROGRAM FOR THE YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL. THAT I COULD SHARE WITH YOU  GUYS. THEY BASICALLY ALLOW THEIR  SOPHOMORES AND JUNIORS TO  PARTICIPATE IN A YOUTH COUNCIL,  AND THEY WORK WITH THEIR LOCAL  HIGH SCHOOLS, THEY GET ABOUT TWO TO THREE STUDENTS PER HIGH  SCHOOL. THERE'S AN APPLICATION PROCESS,  A PANEL WITH THEIR CHIEF OF  POLICE AND THEIR MAYOR, AND THEY KIND OF HELP SELECT THE -- YOU  KNOW, THE FINAL -- THEY HAVE 14  MEMBERS OF THEIR COUNCIL, I  SHOULD SAY. AND SO THAT'S HOW THEY DECIDE  THEIRS, THERE'S AN ESSAY PORTION ABOUT KIND OF WHY THEY WANT TO  PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM. AND THEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR,  THEY HAVE TO ATTEND THE TWO  DIFFERENT -- THE SUMMIT AND THE  CONGRESSIONAL CONFERENCE FROM  THE NLC. THEY HAVE TO SHADOW, STAFF. THEY SHADOW THE MAYOR, PD, THEY  HELP AT CITY EVENTS, SO THEY GET IMMERSED IN CITY GOVERNMENT. THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO  FIND THUS FAR. I NEED TO SEE WHAT THE COMPONENT IS OF WHAT THE NLC IS LOOKING  FOR AS FAR AS THEM  PARTICIPATING. HOW ROBUST DOES OUR PROGRAM HAVE TO BE TO DO THAT. LIKEWISE FOR THEIR CONFERENCES,  THEY ALLOW 250 TO 300 YOUTH  ATTENDEES PER CONFERENCE. AS THEY GET MORE INTEREST, I'M  ASSUMING THEY'RE GOING TO  BROADEN THAT. THAT'S SOMETHING I'M STILL  LOOKING FOR. THE $1700 THAT WAS IN THE AGENDA ITEM IS KIND OF WHAT I THINK  SHOULD BE ACCURATE. LIGHTS ARE USUALLY LIKE 25 FROM  FT. LAUDERDALE. WHEN YOU WENT, THE ROOM BLOCK  WAS ABOUT $509. IT'S AVERAGING $300 FOR THE  YOUTH ATTENDEE AND THE CHAPERONE THAT'S NEEDING TO GO WITH THEM. AND THE PAPERWORK, THEY SAID ONE CHAPERONE PER FOUR YOUTH. AND TYPICALLY, IT'S 14 TO  17-YEAR-OLDS THAT ARE GOING. SO THEY'RE CUTOFF. >> OKAY, THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF MY PET PEEVES, BECAUSE I NOTICE  OTHER CITIES AND THEIR KIDS,  WHEN I GO TO THESE CONFERENCES. AND I THINK THERE'S A GREAT  BENEFIT HERE FOR BOYNTON TO  BE -- WE CAN SEE THE BIG PICTURE IN TERMS OF GROOMING SOMEHOW  KIDS INTERESTS. YOUTH INTEREST IN DOING CITY  WORK. WHETHER IT BE IN THE CAPACITY  FROM CITY COMMISSIONERS, MAYORS, RIGHT ON DOWN THE LINE. TO EMPLOYMENT. I THINK MANY IN HIGH SCHOOL,  HAVE A LOT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE  KIDS THAT WOULD LOVE TO -- I  TALKED WITH KIDS IN GENERAL. THEY'RE ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT  HOW DOES IT WORK, I GO TO  DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, AND A LOT OF  THE QUESTIONS THAT I GET FROM  KIDS IS ABOUT, HOW DOES IT WORK? WHAT DO YOU DO? WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT. I THINK IT WOULD BE AROUND  OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS CITY TO  INVEST IN OUR YOUTH IN SOME WAY, THAT'S WHY I ASK YOU THE CITY TO LOOK INTO IT, SEE WHAT OTHER  CITIES ARE DOING, AND HOW  THEY'RE DOING IT, AND THE COST  AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS. BUT I THINK IT'S -- WE LOOK AT  ALL OTHER KINDS OF INVESTMENT,  LET'S INVEST IN OUR OWN YOUTH,  TO SEE HOW WE CAN UTILIZE THE  TALENT THAT'S OUT THERE THAT WE  MAY BE MISSING. SO I THANK YOU FOR THE JOB THAT  YOU'RE DOING, CANDACE, AND  CONTINUE TO -- I WOULD LIKE FOR  THIS TO CONTINUE TO GET A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION. FOR WHATEVER QUESTIONS YOU GUYS  MAY HAVE FOR HER AT THIS POINT. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU,  COMMISSIONER HAY. I SUPPORT YOUR REQUEST, I THINK  IT'S A GREAT IDEA. SO LET'S KEEP MOVING FORWARD, I  AGREE. >> I THINK AT THIS POINT IT'S  ABOUT $17 PER ATTENDEE, IF YOU  NEED FOR BUDGETARY PURPOSES,  NEED TO THROW OUT AN AMOUNT, I'M SURE THAT THIS PART OF THE  INFORMATION, I'M TRYING TO  ASCERTAIN FROM THEM, WE CAN MAKE HAPPEN. IT'S JUST PUTTING IT IN THE  ACTUAL BUDGET SO WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH TO GO. THIS PARTICULAR CITY SENT 12 OF  THEIR 14. I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY FULLY  SUPPORTED THAT. BUT JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND FOR  BUDGET. >> THAT MAY BE SOME GRANT  FUNDING AVAILABLE, MAYBE? >> I'M GOING TO ASK THEM ABOUT  THAT. I'D HAVE TO CHECK TO SEE IF  THERE IS, OR MAYBE THEY  FUND-RAISED. I'M NOT SURE. I KNOW ONE OF THEIR COMPONENTS  IS AFTER THEIR PARTICULAR  STUDENTS, FINISH THEIR PROGRAM,  WHICH THEY WANT THEM TO DO TWO  YEARS OF IT, THEY'RE ELIGIBLE  FOR LIKE A THOUSAND DOLLAR  SCHOLARSHIP AT THE END OF IT, I  CAN REACH OUT TO THIS PARTICULAR CITY AND ASK THEM HOW THEY DO  THAT, AND GIVE YOU MORE  INFORMATION  >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR. >> YEAH, COMMISSIONER HAY, I  SUPPORT YOU, I HAD LONG  CONVERSATIONS WITH -- I BELIEVE  THEY'RE FROM SPRCORAL SPRINGS. I KNOW IT'S A BROWARD CITY I  SPOKE TO. THEY WERE AT THE FLORIDA LEAGUE  OF CITIES RECEPTION, AND I GOT  TO SPEAK TO SOME OF THE HIGH  SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND THEY'RE  ACTUALLY -- THEIR MENTOR WHO IS  A CITY OFFICIAL, SHE FORCES THEM AS PART OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY  WHEN THEY'RE AT NLC, TO APPROACH AND SPEAK TO OTHER COMMISSIONERS AND OTHER CITIES, AND THEY HAVE  TO CREATE QUESTIONS THAT THEY  ASK. AND THERE'S A WHOLE FEEDBACK. SOY THINK THIS IS REALLY  BENEFICIAL TO OUR YOUTH, AND I  SUPPORT YOU ON THAT, I'M HAPPY  TO, WHEN I GO TO NLC, IN  NOVEMBER, TO PIN DOWN SOMEBODY  ON THE BOARD, TO TELL US WHAT WE CAN DO, AND IF -- YOU KNOW, I'M  SURE I'LL RUN INTO HER FROM THAT CITY TOO, I'M HAPPY TO KIND OF  GET YOU THE RIGHT CONTACT SO  YOU'RE NOT SPINNING YOUR WHEELS  TOO. >> COMMISSIONER HAY, I COMMEND  YOU FOR THINKING ABOUT THE KIDS  AND THEIR FUTURE AND EVERYTHING. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I THINK  ABOUT ALL THE TIME, BECAUSE I  DON'T HAVE KIDS, BUT I  DEFINITELY COMMEND YOU FOR DOING THAT, IT'S ADMIRABLE. AND REALLY -- I GUESS MY  QUESTION IS, DO YOU -- ARE YOU  THINKING THAT WE SHOULD HAVE AN  APPLICATION PROCESS? OR WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON  THAT? >> YEAH. THEY WOULD HAVE TO -- LIKE DOES  IT HAVE TO BE --  >> SOME TYPE OF SCREENING, SOME  TYPE OF APPLICATION, SOME TYPE  OF -- MEET SOME TYPE OF STANDARD REQUIREMENTS. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO PUT  TOGETHER. >> IF WE COULD MAKE IT MAYBE TO  BE FROM ONE OF OUR LOCAL HIGH  SCHOOLS, LIKE BOYNTON BEACH HIGH SCHOOL OR --  >> YES, BOYNTON BEACH HIGH  SCHOOL, I'LL START THERE IN A  HEARTBEAT. >> AWESOME. >> THEY HAVE A STUDENT  GOVERNMENT, SO I FIGURED WE  COULD START THERE. >> MAYOR: COULD YOU SAY HOW  MANY? DID WE DETERMINE EXACT NUMBER? >> NO. >> MAYOR: TO BE DETERMINED. SOUNDS GOOD. WITH THAT, ARE WE DONE? WE'RE DONE. THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON. THANK YOU, CANDACE. THE NEXT TWO ITEMS WERE UPDATES  I REQUESTED, UPDATES ON ARPA  FUNDS AND THE TOWN SQUARE  SETTLEMENT FUNDS. LET'S MAKE THIS BRIEF, BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION JUST YET, I JUST WANTED TO SEE  THE INFORMATION. >> SURE, THIS IS JUST QUICK  PRESENTATION ON ARPA FUNDS. I HAVE WITH ME OUR GRANTS  MANAGER. AFTER PANDEMIC, THE FEDERAL  GOVERNMENT ISSUED STATE AND  LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS,  WHICH IS AMERICA RESCUE PLAN,  AND SENT IN TWO TRANCHES TO  BOYNTON BEACH IN THE AMOUNT OF  $6,833. OOPS. THIS ONE, $6,823,925. THE FIRST TRANCHE WAS  DISTRIBUTED IN 2021 IN JULY, AND THE SECOND TRANCHE WAS  DISTRIBUTED IN 2022, IN AUGUST. THE CITY QUALIFIES AS A TIER 2  REPORTING ENTITY, WHICH IS  METROPOLITAN CITY WITH THE  POPULATION BELOW 250 RESIDENTS,  AND THAT WAS ALLOCATED MORE THAN 10 MILLION -- A LOT OF FUNDS. ARPA FUNDS HAS TO BE ALLOCATED  BY DECEMBER 31, 2024. IF NOT, THE REMAINING FUNDS WILL BE LOST, AND WE HAVE TO TURN IT  BACK TO THE TREASURY. ARPA FUNDS HAVE TO BE EXPENSED  BY DECEMBER 31, 2026. IF IT'S NOT EXPENSED BY THE  DEADLINE, YOU HAVE TO RETURN THE FUNDS TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. CURRENTLY, WE REPORTED -- THE  SECOND QUARTER OF 2024, BOYNTON  BEACH REPORTED 14 PROJECTS IN  THE UNITED STATES -- IN THE  AMOUNT OF 8,365,458 THAT WAS  OBLIGATED -- ACTUALLY, ADAPTED  BUDGET, AND ACTUAL EXPENSES OF  THESE FUNDS WERE $7,023,048. THE REMAINING FUNDS ARE  $5,282,445. AND HERE ARE THE PROJECTS THAT  WE'RE REPORTED TO TREASURY. CURRENTLY WE HAVE 723,048  EXPENDITURES FOR THOSE FUNDS. AND WE HAVE GRANT BALANCE  BETWEEN 6,624,865 WHICH  BASICALLY NOT RESTRICTED BY ANY  PROJECTS OR ANYTHING, SO --  >> ALL RIGHT. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> NO QUESTIONS. >> MAYOR: I PERSONALLY HAVE NO  QUESTIONS, BUT THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE. I'LL CIRCLE BACK WITH YOU  PRIVATELY, THANK YOU FOR THE  PRESENTATION. LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM,  SETTLEMENT FUNDS, SAME THING,  BRIEF UPDATE. AND I'LL RESERVE THE DISCUSSION  AT ANOTHER TIME. >> SURE. WE HAVE RECEIVED $4.5 MILLION IN SETTLEMENTS FOR TOWN CENTERS  SETTLEMENT, THEY WERE DEPOSITING TWO FUNDS, AND ALSO ON CAPITAL  PROJECT FUNDS. 2.6 MILLION WAS DEPOSITED TO THE GENERAL FUND AND 1.8 MILLION WAS DEPOSITED TO THE CAPITAL PROJECT FUNDS. ANOTHER 100,000 IS FOR ATTORNEYS FEES. WHICH AGAIN, WAS DEPOSITED IN  THOSE TWO FUNDS. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU. >> DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER  QUESTIONS? >> MAYOR: I DO. WHEN YOU SAY DEPOSITED, HAVE  THEY BEEN SPENT OR ARE THEY JUST SITTING THERE? >> THERE'S A FUND BALANCE, THE  FUND BALANCE CONSISTS ON SOME OF THOSE FUNDS. I'M NOT SURE WHICH ONES ARE  SPENT OR NOT. >> THE ATTORNEYS FEES FUND THAT  ARE DESIGNATED FOR THE  LITIGATION IS 100% SPENT. >> MAYOR: THAT I REMEMBER. >> YOU GUYS HIRED OUTSIDE  COUNCIL. WHO IS CHARGING US $405 AN HOUR. AT THIS POINT THEY'RE ON THEIR  FOURTH ITERATION OF THE  COMPLAINT, SO WE ARE VERY EARLY  IN THE LITIGATION. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'LL GET A  FIFTH BITE AT THE APPLE, I THINK THEY DID, THEY'LL PROBABLY FILE  ANOTHER MOTION TO DISMISS, IF IT SURVIVES, SO THOSE ADDITIONAL  FEES HAVE TO COME OUT OF MY  BUDGET, WHICH WAS NOT BUDGETED  FOR. SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT  OUT TO YOU GUYS, THAT SOME OF MY BUDGET WENT UP SKPENEN SHALI  TO -- EXPONENTIALLY TO WHY THOSE THINGS. MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT  PERHAPS A DIFFERENT, MAYBE MORE  ECONOMICAL -- JUST AS QUALIFIED  ATTORNEY IS CONSIDERED, IF THE  LITIGATION CONTINUES PAST THE  PLEADINGS STAGE. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT'S THE LEGAL EXPENSES. WHERE'S THE REST OF THE MONEY? >> THE MONEY IS SITTING IN FUND  BALANCE. >> MAYOR: BUT THEY'RE NOT SPENT  OR ARE THEY SPENT? >> NO, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN SPENT. WE WERE WAITING ON DIRECTION  FROM THE COMMISSION AS A WHOLE,  BEFORE WE EXPENDED ANY OF THOSE  FUNDS. >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. >> CURRENTLY IN GENERAL FUND. ABOUT $30 MILLION AND PART OF IT IS THAT MONEY. AND ALSO, CAPITAL PROJECT FROM 6 MILLION, AND PART OF IT IS THAT  MONEY TOO. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATES. THE LAST ITEM HERE, DISCUSSION  REGARDING INFRASTRUCTURE  SPECIFICALLY PAVING IN THE CITY. IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S ALREADY A  PRESENTATION ON THE SCREEN. ARE YOU GOING TO ROUND US OUT  FOR THE EVENING? ALL RIGHT. >> MAYOR, VICE MAYOR,  COMMISSIONERS, PUBLIC WORKS  DIRECTOR, KEVIN RAMSEY. I'M HERE TO DISCUSS ASSET  MANAGEMENT AND FUTURE POSSIBLE  PAVING. SO SINCE WE STARTED DOING ROADS  AS OF LATE, WE HAVE THIS  PLANNING TOOL GIS, AND IT'S  PRETTY MUCH, REAL QUICK, IT'S  WHAT WE'VE DONE AND OUR ASSETS  AND INVENTORY OF ALL THE  STREETS, WHERE THERE'S SIGNAGE  OR STRIPING, AND ROAD MILES, IT  HELPS US TO MANEUVER THROUGH OUR STREETS TO WHERE THERE'S NO  UTILITIES, CONFLICTS, WHICH  YOU'LL SEE IN A MINUTE WHY  THAT'S IMPORTANT. PRIORITIWISE OF WORDS, WORST TO  BEST IN THE ORDER THAT WE WOULD  DO THEM AS A PUBLIC WORKS, OF  COURSE, IT'S UP TO YOU WHICH WAY WE GO. ROLLING GREENS NEIGHBORHOOD,  $1.1 MILLION, THAT'S ONE OF THE  WORST AREAS WE HAVE, SOUTHEAST  3rd STREET, FOR $600,000. THAT'S THE NEXT ONE. AND I'LL COME BACK TO --  >> YOU'RE SAYING FROM WORST --  LIKE THESE ROADS ARE F RATED, D  RATED? >> YES, I HAVE THE A, B, C AND  D'S HERE, I CAN SEND ALL THOSE  FILES TO ALL OF YOU. NEXT WOULD BE SKY LAKE  NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT ONE IS MICRO SURFACED AND  IT HAS A LOT OF TRAFFIC AND IT'S BEAT UP PRETTY BAD. SEACREST HEIGHTS IS ANOTHER ONE. THAT ONE'S BEEN ABANDONED FOR  QUITE SOME TIME. NEXT? IT'S NOT GOING, THERE WE GO. ALL THESE AREAS I'M TALKING  ABOUT RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NO  CONFLICTS WITH THE UTILITIES, IT COULD BE DONE PRETTY  EXPEDITIOUSLY. MEADOWS NEIGHBORHOODS, THERE'S  FOUR LEFT, IN THIS LATEST BID WE HAD, WE'RE DOING 2 OF THE 6,  STILL FOUR LEFT TO GO. IT WOULD BE NICE TO GET THAT ONE DONE SO WE COULD BE ON A SOLID  ROTATION FOR THESE AREAS. AND THEN THE LAST WOULD BE  CHAPEL HILL. A SECTION OF IT, BECAUSE THE  GREEN AREA THAT'S SHADED. OH, MAN, I'M SORRY. NO, I DID THAT, DIDN'T I? WHERE IS THAT? THAT LITTLE SECTION THERE LIKE  $610,000. THE GREEN AREA, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE BY UTILITIES. NOW, WE DON'T REALLY CARE TO DO  PARTIAL JOBS, BUT SOMETIMES WE  DO. THE NEXT FEW THAT -- THE LAST,  WE HAVE SOME UTILITIES AND  CONFLICTS WITH, IT WILL BE GULF  VIEW HARBOR. THE DRAINAGE AREA, THEY'RE DOING AT SIDEVIEW HARBOR. CHAPEL HILL, I DON'T KNOW WHEN  THAT ONE'S GOING TO HAPPEN, IT  WILL BE 1.57 LEFT TO DO THAT  PROJECT TO COMPLETE ALL OF  CHAPEL HILL ONCE THE UTILITIES  GETS THEIR PROJECTS DONE. REDWOOD HILLS, THAT WHOLE AREA  NEEDS SIDEWALKS AND DRAINAGE. IT'S A REALLY LARGE UNDERTAKING. WE'RE NOT SURE ABOUT THOSE TIME  FRAMES. I THINK I NEED TO ADDRESS AN  EMAIL, DO I -- MRS. KELLEY AND  TURKIN ABOUT GULF VIEW HARBOR? I DIDN'T ANSWER THE EMAIL  BECAUSE I HAD A LOT OF KIDS, I  DON'T LIKE TO REPEAT MYSELF SIX  TIMES, I THOUGHT I WOULD SAVE IT FOR THE MEETING HERE. I GOT AN EMAIL --  >> I LIKE YOUR STYLE. >> YOU HAVE TO LIVE THROUGH IT. FOUR KIDS AND 15 GRANDKIDS. I GET TIRED OF SAYING HAPPY  BIRTHDAY. THAT'S AWFUL. GOT AN EMAIL FROM A DISTURBED  PRESIDENT OF GULF VIEW HARBOR,  ASKING, WHY ARE WE ONLY DOING A  PARTIAL AREA. THERE'S MORE MOBILIZATIONS,  SHE'S RIGHT ON MOBILIZATIONS,  AND SHE'S RIGHT ABOUT THE WORK  GOING ON, I'LL TELL YOU THIS,  THE GULF VIEW HARBOR, WHAT WAS  DONE, WAS SUPPOSED TO BE NOTHING IN THERE, BECAUSE UTILITIES SAID THEY HAD A BIG PROJECT. AFTER NEGOTIATIONS, THEY GAVE UP THE STREETS WE ARE GOING TO DO. SO GREAT, WE GOT A BIT OF A PIE  OF GULF VIEW HARBOR. AS FARES ATHE ROADS BEING USED  TO ACCESS THE NEXT FUTURE PART,  I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THAT, THE  FIRST TWO YEARS OF THE ROAD, THE MORE TRAFFIC YOU GET, THE BETTER THAT ROAD GETS. I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE  DISCOLORATIONS BETWEEN TWO YEARS FROM NOW AND THIS YEAR, IT'S ALL GOING TO BE GRAY, THE SUN IS  GOING TO BLEACH IT ALL OUT. THAT'S NOT AN ISSUE. THAT'S WHY IT WAS DONE THAT WAY. BECAUSE EVERYBODY GOT A PIECE OF THE PIE. EVERY DISTRICT GOT SOMETHING. IT COULD BE AWAY TWO YEARS, BUT  THAT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN THAT  WAY, SINCE IT'S A CATCH 22. THAT'S WHY GULF VIEW HARBOR WAS  DONE THE WAY IT WAS DONE. THE ROADS I SHOWED YOU 6.1  MILLION THAT WE'RE READY TO GO  FOR, ESTIMATED. IF WE HAD IT, WE WOULD DO IT. THAT'S YOUR CALL, AND YOUR  ORDER, SO THERE'S MY  PRESENTATION. ALL WE HAVE. >> MAYOR: OKAY. THANK YOU. QUESTIONS FOR KEVIN? IS THAT A HANDOUT? >> I DO HAVE ONE FOR ANDREW. DOES THIS NEGATIVELY IMPACT WHAT WE HAD PLANNED FOR SOUTH OF MLK, THAT AREA IN THERE? DOES THIS HAVE ANY KIND OF  IMPACT ON THAT, AS FOR THE  SCHEDULING OF WHAT WE HAVE  PLANNED? THIS WORK THAT THEY'RE TALKING  ABOUT NOW. >> THE WORK HE'S SHOWING YOU NOW IS STUFF THAT WE'D LIKE, THESE  ARE OUR WISH LIST ITEMS OF THE  NEXT PROJECTS. THE NEXT LOCATIONS THAT ARE  WORSE IN THE CITY, F RATED  ROADS, D RATED ROADS. THESE WOULD BE THE NEXT ONES WE  SELECT. THE NEXT ONE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS ALREADY SLATED TO GET DONE. I BELIEVE. >> OKAY. I JUST --  >> I BELIEVE THEY'RE ALREADY  WORKING. HE'S TALKING ABOUT --  >> CORRECT. >> IF IT WAS ALREADY ADOPTED AND APPROVED, IT'S JUST IN -- WE'RE  EITHER IN SOME PHASE OF  PROCUREMENT AND/OR DESIGN, I  KNOW THERE'S AN AREA IN THE  HEART OF BOYNTON WE'RE DOING  SURVEY ON, AND GETTING STUFF IN  THAT AREA. THAT PROJECT IS SUPPOSED TO COME OUT LATER. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: COMMISSIONER? GO AHEAD. >> THANKS, KEVIN, FOR THE  UPDATE. YEAH, I THINK WE SHOULD USE ARPA FUNDS TO PAVE THESE ROADS. I'M JUST GOING TO SAY IT. WE CAN DO IT, WE'VE DONE IT,  SO --  >> WE CAN'T. >> HERE'S WHAT WE CAN DO. THE REVENUE LOSS WITH THE 5.2  MILLION, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T  EXPEND THOSE FUNDS BY THE  CERTAIN DATE, AND I DON'T WANT  ANY MORE CONFUSION GOING-FORWARD WITH THE ARPA FUNDS LIKE WE HAVE THIS PREVIOUS TIME. ONCE WE GET THE GREEN LIGHT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY, WE  IDENTIFY THE ARPA FUNDS. AND PUT THEM INTO FUND BALANCE. THERE'S GOING TO BE A PROCESS  FOR THAT. AND IF WE NEED SPECIFICS, I'M  SURE TONY CAN WALK US THROUGH  THE ACTUAL GRANULAR DETAILS OF  DOING THAT, BUT THAT'S STAFF'S  RECOMMENDATION ON HOW TO HANDLE  THEM, ONCE THOSE ARE IN FUND  BALANCE, IT'S GOING TO BE UP TO  THIS BODY, HOW MUCH YOU GUYS  WOULD LIKE TO PULL FROM FUND  BALANCE. KEEP IN MIND, THAT FUND BALANCE, IT'S SITTING THERE ABOUT 30, 31  MILLION, SO OF THAT, WE HAVE THE 17% FROM THE DAVENPORT  RECOMMENDATION, WHICH IS 12% FOR OUR FUND BALANCE, AND THEN 5%  RAINY DAY FUND CONTINGENCY, SO  ABOUT 17%. I WOULDN'T WANT TO SEE THE CITY  DIP BELOW THAT. SO I -- THE GENERAL FUND IS SO  WE PROBABLY WANT TO KEEP RIGHT  AROUND 24 MILLION, BEAR MINIMUM  IN FUND BALANCE. SO YOU PROBABLY HAVE ABOUT $6  MILLION TO EXPEND FROM THAT. BUT AGAIN, UNDERSTAND THAT IF WE TAKE THE $6 MILLION TO PAVE  ROADS, YOU'RE GOING TO BE AT THE BEAR MINIMUM FOR THE  RECOMMENDATION -- OR WHAT THE  CITY'S POLICY IS. >> JUST TO BE CLEAR, THOSE  FUNDING FOR THE ARPA FUNDS HAVE  TO BE ALLOCATED BY THE END OF  2024, AND HAVE TO BE ACTUALLY  SPENT BY 2025? >> ONLY IF YOU KEEP THEM AS ARPA FUNDS. THE INSTANT YOU IDENTIFY THEM AS A REVENUE LOSS, YOU'LL HAVE  THOSE FUNDS IN PERPETUITY OR  UNTIL YOU EXPEND THEM. ALL I'M TELLING YOU GUYS IS HOW  TO LIFT THE VEIL OF RESTRICTIONS ON THE ARPA FUNDS. I'M TRYING TO TREAD LIGHTLY ON  THE OVERALL VERBIAGE THAT I'M  USING. IT'S RECOMMENDED THAT WE  IDENTIFY THOSE ARPA FUNDS AS A  REVENUE LOSS AND THEY'RE PLACED  IN THE FUND BALANCE, AND THEN WE CAN KIND OF GO FORWARD AND  IDENTIFY -- AGAIN, IT'S JUST  LIKE YOU AND YOUR SAVINGS  ACCOUNT. YOU DIP INTO THAT ACCOUNT, ONCE  IT'S EXHAUSTED TO THE POINT  WHERE IT TEETERS ON A -- I GUESS A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY WITH  THE COMMISSION, WITH THE FUNDING OF THE CITY, THAT'S ULTIMATELY  WHAT YOU'RE DOING. YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY USING MONEY  FROM YOUR SAVINGS ACCOUNT. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU, ANYONE  ELSE? COMMISSIONER CRUZ? >> SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR  PRESENTATION. YES, THAT EMAIL WAS FROM GULF  VIEW HARBOR. I'M GETTING A LOT OF ANGER FROM  RESIDENTS, BECAUSE IT APPEARS  THAT THE ROADS THAT ARE BEING  PAVED ARE -- I GUESS THEY FEEL  LIKE IT'S NOT ENOUGH. HOWEVER, I KNOW WE'RE WORKING  ON -- AND DOING WHAT WE CAN ON  OUR END. I HAD A QUESTION, THOUGH. AND I THINK I SENT YOU AN EMAIL, ANDREW. IT WAS ABOUT, COULD YOU PROVIDE  THE INFORMATION OF WHAT WE  APPROVED FOR FISCAL YEAR '23? BECAUSE I REMEMBER DURING FISCAL YEAR '23. THE COMMISSION APPROVED PAVING  FOR GULF VIEW HARBOR AS WELL AS  MANY OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY,  BUT IT WAS -- FOR GULF VIEW  HARBOR SPECIFICALLY, WAS ABOUT  $780,000. AND THIS PROJECT THAT'S  HAPPENING AT GULF VIEW HARBOR  NOW, IT'S ABOUT 300-ISH THOUSAND DOLLARS, I WANTED TO GO BACK IN  HISTORY AND SEE WHAT WE APPROVED BACK IN FISCAL YEAR '23 AND SEE  WHAT HAS CHANGED FROM THAT UNTIL NOW. >> I'LL TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT  CHANGED. WHEN THAT FIRST CAME OUT, THAT  WAS BASED ON THE WHOLE AREA  GETTING DONE. AND THAT WAS THE INITIAL HIT. HERE'S GULF VIEW HARBOR, HERE'S  CHAPEL HILL, ALL THESE OTHER  AREAS. ONCE WE STARTED GOING-FORWARD,  WE WERE STOPPED. HEY, I HAVE A PROJECT HERE, YOU  CAN'T DO THIS. THEN WE HAD TO REVAMP AND  DOWNSIZE THAT A LITTLE BIT, AND  WHAT ROADS WE ARE DOING, IS THE  MAXIMUM WE CAN DO, BECAUSE  THERE'S GOING TO BE ISSUES WITH  UTILITIES ON OTHER ROADS. >> THEY'RE GOING TO BE BREAKING  EVERYTHING, EVENTUALLY. >> WE CAN DO EVERYTHING WE  CAN --  >> DOES ANYONE KNOW WHEN THE  UTILITY IS HAPPENING? >> I HEARD THAT NO TALKING WITH  THE UTILITIES, IT'S GOING TO  HAPPEN IN '24/'25. >> IT'S THAT SOON? >> CORRECT. HOPEFULLY WE CAN POP IN  AFTERWARDS IF WE HAVE THE  FUNDING. WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT AT THE  TOWN MEETING.  >> YEAH, THANK YOU. THE POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE IS, DURING FISCAL YEAR '23, WE  ALLOCATED ARPA FUNDS FOR GULF  VIEW HARBOR, AND IT WAS ALREADY  UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY THE  COMMISSION. COULDN'T WE KEEP SOME OF THAT  MONEY TO FINISH GULF VIEW HARBOR AS IT WAS PREVIOUSLY ALLOCATED  IN THE BUDGET TO BE DONE? >> ALL THE MONEY IS GONE. THAT'S THE OTHER THING WITH THE  ARPA, IN THE VERY BEGINNING, THE PROCESS WAS DONE WRONG, SO WE  USED OUR 1.9 MILLION. AS WE WENT FORWARD, THAT WAS  FOUND MONEY, RIGHT? THERE'S NO MONEY LEFT, THE TRUTH OF IT. >> WE JUST SAID THERE'S MONEY TO POTENTIALLY BE USED IN THE  FUTURE. >> CORRECT. I THINK WHAT CRUZ IS SAYING  IS --  >> MAYOR: ONE PERSON AT A TIME. >> I THINK THE CONFUSION IS, WE  INTENDED TO USE ARPA FUNDING FOR THE PAVING, AND WE WERE NOT ABLE TO DO SO, SO WE REALLOCATED  FUNDS FROM CIP BALANCE TO COVER  THOSE PROJECTS, NOW WE HAVE THIS ADDITIONAL DOLLARS THAT THE  COMMISSION -- WE'RE ASKING THE  COMMISSION, WE'D LOVE TO SEE YOU TAKE THE ALLOCATION UNDER THE  LAW, WHICH WOULD PUT IT INTO  FUND BALANCE, THEN AS THESE  PROJECTS COME BACK, WE CAN PULL  FROM FUND BALANCE OR ADOPT AN  AMENDMENT OR WHENEVER KEVIN'S  READY TO GO FORWARD WITH HIS  PAVING. THESE DOLLARS, I THINK ROUGHLY  5.2, IT WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO  THE COMMISSION GOING-FORWARD  NEXT FISCAL YEAR. >> SO THEN WE COULD DISCUSS IT  AT THAT POINT IN THE.  >> YES. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. I'M SURE THEY'RE WATCHING, SO  I'M JUST -- JUST FOR THE RECORD, I'M TRYING TO ASK QUESTIONS ON  THEIR BEHALF, THEY'VE BEEN  ASKING ME, AND IT'S MY JOB. THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE. AND THAT'S IT. >> MAYOR: VICE MAYOR, YOU HAD  YOUR HAND UP? >> I DID. I AGREE, COMMISSIONER CRUZ, THAT OBVIOUSLY, IF WE HAD ALLOCATED  OR SET ASIDE MONEY OR HAD A  PROJECT THAT THEN ONCE THESE  MONIES BECOME AVAILABLE, THAT  THEN THOSE FUNDS WOULD YET AGAIN BE KIND OF SET ASIDE AND  ALLOCATED FOR THIS PROJECT, WHEN UTILITIES ARE READY TO DO IT. I SUPPORT YOU ON THAT, THAT'S  SOMETHING THAT WE -- I DON'T SEE WHY WE WOULDN'T RESUPPORT THAT  AGAIN, TO GET THIS PAVING  PROJECT DONE. I MEAN, I -- I MEAN, THAT SEEMS  LIKE A REASONABLE ASK. IS THAT WE PREVIOUSLY AGREED TO  SPEND THE MONEY, SO WE'LL  PREVIOUSLY AGREE TO SPEND THE  MONEY AGAIN, ONCE WE'RE READY TO DO THAT PROJECT. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE? ARE WE DONE? THANK YOU, KEVIN. WE HAVE COMPLETED ALL THE ITEMS  FOR THIS EVENING. IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. >> MOTION TO ADJOURN. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR: ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU EVERYONE  WATCHING AND LISTENING. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.