Town Council - Regular Meeting

Got it. Thank you.

Good evening. The time is now 7 p.m. and I'll call to order the town council meeting of Thursday, September 18th. We'll begin with an invocation followed by a moment of silence and then a pledge of allegiance. If those that are able, please join me in standing. [Applause] Let us pray. Almighty God, we are grateful to be here today, united in our shared goals for the betterment of the town. We ask for wisdom in our decisions, understanding in our discussions, and compassion for the needs of all. Amen. Amen. We will now pause for a moment of silence.

Please join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. We have a roll call, please. Mayor Kitzky here. Vice Mayor Delaney here. Councelor Choy here. Councelor Gisinger here. Councelor Sunstrom here. Town Manager Pitzero here. Assistant Town attorney Okconor

here. Okay, tonight uh we begin with the second public hearing on adopting uh our fiscal year 26 budgets and rates, mill rates. Uh and I'll begin by turning over to our staff. Good evening, Mayor Scott Reynolds, the finance director for the town of Jupiter. Uh as you just indicated, uh we're here on the uh second and final public hearing of the town's proposed operating and community investment plan and also uh to adopt the uh uh FY26 uh millage rate. So we again we've had a uh pretty active summer. We started off in June with a uh operations budget workshop. Uh we've also set the trim in July uh which is stands for truth and millillage. That's where we set the millage rate uh uh to be heard uh and sent out to the residents on their trim notifications. Uh they should have received those in the mail uh in August. Uh and then on August 21st we had our community investment program workshop and any kind of updates that we had in the operations budget from the June 18th meeting. Then we've uh held our first public hearing which was on the 4th of September. And then that brings us to this evening uh September 18th for the second and final public hearing. Uh the objectives and assumptions uh that went into the budget uh was to maintain the millage rate of 2.3894 uh the abalorum tax revenue increases due to forecasted increases in property values uh and some uh increase in new construction a uh water rate index of 3% a storm water rate index of uh 7%. uh wanted to point out uh as we have uh this uh summer and uh the last hearing

uh no geo bond millage for FY20 uh6 so there was a reduction in the uh the overall millage uh for the residents no debt service uh for the expenditures there's a 5% increase in non-un employee salaries uh maintaining of the 9010 split in health care cost uh between the town and the employees and maintaining the level of HSA funding uh for all the employees Uh as the uh council is aware, we're still under negotiations with the police union. Hopefully that will be resolved very shortly. And uh we have a strategic use of the reserves for the uh Jupiter fund fire rescue department. And again, that's been something that's been discussed over the last uh 2 and 1/2 years. And we're implementing our plan on how we're going to fund and implement the Jupiter Fire Rescue. So the first thing we need to discuss is uh the millage and the property values and also the uh what's called the roll back rate which I'll talk about in a second. Uh just to indicate the property values so the residents can see that it was 17.2 billion in 25 $18.4 billion uh valuation for 26 a total increase of $1.2 billion in valuation. So, how does that equate to uh new construction and the valuation increases? We had $105 million uh increase in new construction and the remainder of 1.2 billion was uh due to evaluation increases. A total of 7.15% increase over last year's values. So, how does that compare to the roll back rate? You can see here the uh for FY26 the proposed millage rate of 2.3894 uh would have brought in $44 million and the as it compares to the roll back rate of 2.2470

4.1 million for actually 4.2 and what is that uh increase over the roll back? That's $2.6 million. That's actually a 6.3% increase over the roll back rate. based on the millillage that's being proposed. Diving straight into the operating budget, the overview for the operating budget, you can see the proposed uh 26 operating budget represents a $41.5 million increase over FY25 adopted budget. $20 million of that increase is for the Jupiter Fire Rep Rescue implementation. Uh again, that's something that's been planned. We've talked about it for the last 2 and 1/2 years. And then a 5.2 $2 million increase uh in the general fund community investment plan. The water fund uh saw an increase of 3% in its rate index and a 7% index for the storm water. But uh you can see there it goes from $147 million uh in FY25 to $189 million being proposed for FY26. The general fund revenues saw an increase of $2 million before the use of reserves to fund the fire uh implementation. The increase in assessed values that we just discussed, $2.3 million in Avalorum revenue increases. Uh intergovernmental revenues decrease by $128,000. That's something that's been planned. We've been watching that over the last year and a half. There's uh decreases in sales tax and state shared revenues. increase of $862,000 in charges for service. That has to do with the solid waste charges and searchcharge revenue and also allocation cost uh coming in from the utilities. There's a decrease of $1.6 million in interest earnings due to anticipated reduction in interest rates and cash balances. That was also anticipated uh

$17.7 million in fund balance usage and that is primarily to fund the fire fire operating and capital and debt service. the general fund expenditures. Uh we've talked about that at length throughout the summer. Uh you can see here uh there's a uh total of a 20.7 million 20 million over a $20 million increase over the last year. And you can see here on the right hand side uh what's uh driving those uh expenditures. You can see the fire is predominantly the largest portion of that increase uh going into this upcoming year. But what does that how does that react in relation to the unassigned fund balance? One of the things that we've discussed for the fire department, we keep we keep reemphasizing this uh that we have uh $54 million in our reserves. Uh and we have enough money that we will be utilizing this to fund the uh uh fire rescue for next year. And then the following year, they'll be on their own. They'll have their own revenue stream. Uh but at the end of this, we had anticipated of having about $35 million remaining. Right now, based on what we're projecting to spend, uh we'll have just over $2 million in excess of that at $37 million. So, speaking of the Jupiter Fire Rescue, uh this is the second year of operating uh for the Jupiter Fire Rescue going into 26, I'm sorry, uh actually it's uh going into the third year of implementation. Uh you can see here in total $19.7 million which consists of $16.8 for the operating $29 million from some debt service cost and $2.7 million in capital purchases. The water fund uh we've already emphasized that there was a 3% rate index u that was proposed and adopted

assumes a4% growth in customer demand. Uh for 26 there's RNR funding projections of $7.9 million. Uh we are projected to meet our target. And for water expenses uh again a 5% salary increase for non-UN employees. There's been a reduction in debt service cost. Uh there's an increase in property and auto insurance. That's across all the funds. Uh also the utility services. Uh we see an increase there. and uh professional service fees increases from regulatory demands in FY26. the storm water fund, a 7% rate index, uh 3% base and a 4% for construction cost, uh $485,000 designated from retained earnings, and in FY26 for projected available RNR contribution of just over $600,000, which is $161,000 shorter of our goal of $761,000. uh expenses. Again, a 5% increase for employees, $92,000 increase in machinery and equipment. Uh there's an increase in professional services uh for a update of the uh facility or the I'm sorry, the uh utility master plan and uh 6.74% overall increase in operating expenses. The Jupiter River Estates, uh we continue to show this each year. There's this is the second year of the assessment. uh $133,000 being paid by the residents uh in Jupiter River Estates for the uh mangrove trimming. Uh the building fund uh is is self- sustaining. Uh we see permit revenue shows a slight reduction of $100,000 on our projections. Uh interest earnings. There's also a slight decrease and there's a small use of retained earnings. uh slight decrease in

departmental expenses over last year and an increase of $80,000 in contractual expenses. The health insurance fund, we've talked about that throughout the summer as well. Uh it remains to be healthy at this current time. Uh we continue to watch that as we bring on additional firefighters going into next year. Uh we will be monitoring the fund, but you can still see uh it's maintaining a very healthy fund balance and maintaining the goal as outlined by council of a minimum of $10 million in its reserves. The CIP funding summary, we've had a lot of discussion about that uh leading into the CIP workshop. Uh we we've had a lot of direction from council and we've also uh been tasked to come up with uh some alternatives which I'll talk about here in a second. Uh but uh there was some direction in to reduce uh the Sawfish Bay Park seaw wall by just over a million dollars. That's been done helped resol uh resolve a deficit that was in the uh CIP. Uh we there was also a reduction of $3.9 million in wander funding uh and also a reduction of $230,000 in storm water funding uh that we discussed with that. Uh at the last meeting, uh the the council had requested uh that we review and come back with different options uh for the um the athletic field repair and restorations uh capital improvement. Uh for FY26, we didn't have any funding in there for any of the fields. uh the council felt like uh and I'm paraphrasing what was uh requested that they wanted to see something uh into FY26 and for us to present options. Uh we have done that and how we were going to uh fund that those options. We

provided three options that we sent out to the council and requested feedback. Um and actually we got quite a few questions that came back from members of council which we were able to answer. But uh the option one was to do one turf field uh and some irrigation uh actually maintenance of a pump uh at JCP. Also for option two, two turf fields with uh irrigation uh maintenance of a pump at there as well. And then option three was again a JCP uh the replacement or two athletic turf artificial turf fields uh for fields nine and 10. Now how would we pay for those? The first option was uh just over a million. The option two, which would include the two uh turf fields with uh a pump replacement, was $1.5 million. And then the final one, the artificial turf was $1.5 million. Uh the feedback that I'd received was that option two seemed to be the uh the prevailing option and wanted to make sure that uh the council agreed with that in whole. Uh and we can modify the budget that's before you this evening if you so wish. You can see right now what we have on the screen right now the general fund cash flow. It's healthy. Uh it is balanced. Uh and if you wanted to add this uh option, it would remain to be balanced and we have it paid for. So this evening, outside of seeking guidance on the options that I just presented to you, we're seeking approval on second reading of the proposed operating millillage of 2.3894 through ordinance 14-25. also seeking approval on second reading

uh for the community investment program through ordinance 15-25 and then also seeking approval of res ordinance I'm sorry resolution 102-25 to approve the operating budget and pay plan for the town for FY26. So seeking uh direction from the town council the obviously the other option is to do nothing. Uh everything is balanced but uh right now from the prevailing uh feedback that I've received option two was uh seemed to be the way that the council that I'd received feedback from wanted to favor.

Okay. Um, I'd ask I I'll go down the row um if you have any questions and and then as we go down the row at the same time indicate whether you support option two. So, councelor Joy, I have no questions and I do support option two. Vice Mayor, uh, no questions. I also support option two, I just have two uh, questions uh, really for public benefit. Um, does the roll back consider inflation rate? No, sir. God, that's odd, isn't it? You don't need to comment about that. I just Okay. Thank you.

You know, we do this, you know, roll back rate, which the state has us do for years, and they don't even see fit to allow inflation adjustment. But I just wanted to get that on the record. Next. And you did uh talk about the fact that this year our residents and businesses will benefit from a tax savings due to the uh the debt u having gone away. How much debt does the town have for its general fund? Right now as it stands there is no debt. We have we have obligated to seek debt with a commercial paper issuance but right now we have no debt. Okay. How many other governments, local governments do you know have no debt?

I don't know that right off the top of my head. Top of your head. You don't I would say the majority of them have some sort of debt, general obligation debt. No, I just want to emphasize that because the town inherently has been uh you know great financial stewards to the point that we can sit here at some point in time we need to take on debt. But there are certain there are some governments, local governments that have to always have debt. Correct. um and then they're living on that debt and then they extend it and whatever. So with everything we have, I just think that's a celebration. So I just wanted to get that on the record and I support option two. No questions and I support option two.

No questions for me and I also support option two. Very good. Thank you. Do we have any public comment on this item? Yes sir. Okay. Seeing none, um I will take a motion and a second on uh approving ordinance 1425 that assets the millage rate. Motion approve. Motion to approve ordinance 1425 and second reading. Second. Uh, may we read 1425 title?

An ordinance of the town council, the town of Jupiter, Florida, adopting a millage rate to be levied by the town of Jupiter on taxable, real, and tangible personal property within the town for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025. and ending September 30, 2026, stating the rolled back millage rate, stating the percent by which the millage rate exceeds if any the rolled back millage rate and levying advalorum taxes on all taxable real and tangible personal property in the town of Jupiter for the f said fiscal year. We have a motion and a second on uh approving uh ordinance 1425 on second reading. All in favor signify by saying I.

I. The motion carries unanimously. I'll take a motion and a second on ordinance uh approving ordinance 1525 on second reading. Motion to approve ordinance 1525. Second. I have a motion and second. Will you read uh ordinance 1525 on short title? I will. An ordinance of the town council, the town of Jupiter, Florida, amending the town's comp comprehensive plan to update. Do we have the budget ordinance? Hold on.

Sorry. An ordinance of the town council of the town of Jupiter, Florida, amending the town's comprehensive plan to update the 5-year community investment program included within the capital improvements element of the comprehensive plan, providing for the repeal of laws and conflict, providing for severability and acts from such plan construction phase schedules will be significant and unacceptable to them and me. The CIP project sponsors must assume greater accountability for ensuring that CIP project sheets are accurate and updated. There are a few significant changes that should have been incorporated in the CIP documents that have not yet been made. There are some projects with high cali forward fund dollar amounts that staff requested and was granted additional funds in fiscal year 26 that appear doubtful that staff will actually need. For illustrative purposes, one of the CIP projects has a project management track record of five consecutive years with more than 1.1 million in carry forward in unspended funds every single year. At what point does town leadership say no? There are two large ongoing utility CIP projects that have forecast scheduled durations of eight years and 15 years that have grown to a total of approximately $20 million each. Construction work is fully funded unnecessarily three years ahead of forecast and service dates. I have other unresolved concerns with this CIP plan. I've spent about 50% of my professional career in project management, fiscal management of capital improvement projects, having annual carry forward unencumbered

and unspent funds for capital improvement projects that equates to 5 years of actual CIP project spending is problematic. I've advocated for improvements in the project and fiscal management practices for a number of years. Each year I hear that it is being worked on and will improve in the coming year. I just can't accept that excuse again this year. I did try this year to suggest town policy changes to improve project and fiscal management practices with little immediate success. I am hopeful that the town manager will consider implementing at least some of them over the coming year and before the start of work on the next CI plan PI plan update. We have a motion and a second on uh ordinance 1525. All in favor signify by saying I.

I. Opposed? Nay. The motion carries 4 to one with uh Mayor Kitky dissenting. I'll take a motion and a second on resolution 102-25. So moved. Second. Second. Have a motion, a second. Um, all those in favor signify by saying I. I.

Opposed? Nay. The motion carries 4 to one with Mayor Kitky dissenting. Um, just want to emphasize in closing, I very much appreciate the uh work done by staff, particularly our finance department. It's an incredible uh intensive effort every year to go through this. Um, and I'm grateful for that effort. With that, we'll move on. We have a presentation tonight uh by our fire chief. Um, Chief [Applause] Good evening, Mayor, council, members attending in the audience tonight, as well as those watching virtually. Uh we're honored to share an update tonight on the Jupiter Fire Rescue Department. So, in just a little over 12 months from tonight, Jupiter Fire Rescue will begin providing fire and emergency medical services to the community. So, tonight I'm going to provide an update on three items. Uh Jupiter Fire Rescue's upcoming major milestones, uh an update on our fire apparatus, and an update on station construction. And so what you see here is a uh timeline of some upcoming milestones as we look forward. Uh and and again, we're we only have about a year left, right? Uh we have two new stations that are going to be topped off at the end of October of this year. Our four new ambulances will be received in January of 2026 or possibly a little before that. Our three new fire engines will be will be be received in April of 2026. In May of 2026, a lot will be happening. Our fire stations will be substantially completed. Uh our temporary fire station in the Abicoa Community Park will be

online and we'll be receiving our new ladder truck that month. By June of 2026, we will have hired have hired all of our operational firefighters. Uh by the end of July of 26, we will have completed phase one of our training, including familiarization with all of our equipment and apparatus, as well as the first part of our EMS training program. By the end of August of 2026, we'll have completed the second phase of our training program, including our EMS training, and we'll be doing scenario-based training and some activities on multi-comp uh drills and drills for large scale situations. By September of 2026, we will be fully operational ready. And uh and then just a few days over 12 months from now, as I stated earlier, we will begin providing full fire and emergency medical services here in the community. So, uh an update on apparatus. So, back in October of 2023, a little before I arrived, the council authorized the purchase of three fire engines and 105 foot ladder truck. Uh, and thank goodness that you did because the build time is about 3 years on these things, right? Uh, so some members of our team uh, traveled to Pierce Manufacturing in Wisconsin for a pre-build meeting to review the trucks to go over every single detail on these trucks and the specifications. That was just a few weeks ago. Uh, they went over these specifications in depth with the manufacturer. They finalized a few details uh mostly where tools are mounted, some of the trays there will be there and some of the lighting placement. And just this week, we sent a team up to Pierce Manufacturing again in Wisconsin where they uh reviewed the details and specifications on the ladder

truck and they should be on their way back tonight. Actually, I have to say back in 2023, the town's consultant did a tremendous job of designing these trucks. These trucks are perfect for the town of Jupiter and we really look forward to receiving them in April and May of next year. Uh so an update on stations. So construction of the Piatt Place fire station is on schedule. The outer bay walls have been completed. The first floor area walls are nearing completion. The remainder of the exterior block wall should be completed within the next few weeks. And the top out for piet place is scheduled at the end of October. And if you'll notice these pictures that I took a a couple weeks ago uh to meet the deadlines for submission of this presentation uh on the agenda. And then these are pictures that I took just yesterday. And you can see just the tremendous amount of work that's been done in just uh a little over a week's time and at that Piatt station. And it's really looking uh very good. Um and for the Sinquaz fire station uh which is just a short bit behind uh this station is on schedule. The outer bay walls nearing completion. First floor walls are going up. The remainder of the exterior block walls will be completed in the next few weeks and top out is also scheduled for the end of October. And I want you to notice these pictures and I'm going to show you a picture that I took yesterday to see the amazing amount of work. So the top picture that you see here, that's the front of the apparatus bays facing um the road there. And and you can see the low level of block. And then the picture below it is kind of the uh the area just to the south of those bays where they're just finishing the pad. And these are pictures that I took yesterday. And you can see that that block has made it all

the way up. They've got the tide beam going across and they've got block almost completed over on that south side. So, tremendous progress and Sinquz is uh really catching up and and being uh close to meeting the timelines of Piatt. So, we're moving into our final year of creating the Jupiter Fire Rescue Department. Just a little over 8 months, imagine that, a little over eight months from tonight, we we will have hired all of our operational personnel. Our fire stations will be completed. We'll have all of our apparatus and equipment in place and we'll be preparing to transition services to Jupiter Fire Rescue. And in a little over 12 months from tonight, the Jupiter Fire Rescue Department will begin providing full fire and emergency services to the town of Jupiter. So, as I do with most updates, I'm going to leave you with this. Jupiter Fire Rescue remains on schedule and on budget. If you have any questions, be happy to entertain those. Any questions? No.

Yes, I have a few I think might be of interest to our our residents. Um, can you provide me with um the status of your recruiting for firefighters and paramedics and what are the number of applicants you've received to date for these positions? Yes. So, uh, great question. Uh, so we have not begun recruiting for firefighters and paramedics, but we have over a thousand names on an interest list of folks who have indicated that they would like to come work at Jupiter Fire Rescue. Our intentions for recruiting will probably begin in January, uh, coming up. Okay. Uh, another question. What do you expect the percentage of experience for the new hire will be personnel for the come day one?

Yeah. So, you know, I'm going to give you some round numbers instead of exact numbers. About 40% of the members that are operational line folks out out there on the streets, about 40% of them uh must be experienced folks. Those are folks that are required to drive the fire trucks and supervise the activities on the firet trucks and the ambulances. Supervisory level folks are technically capable folks. They have to have experience to do those jobs. So about 40% of our operational folks must have experience coming in. The balance or about 60% of the firefighters that we'll be recruiting from around the state um don't have to have experience, but as indicators from the folks that have put in interest cards and that have reached out to us, I'm going to guess that probably um maybe up to half of the folks that we hire for firefighter positions will have some experience already.

Okay. And my last question, uh, on day one, uh, how will the Jupiter fire rescue capabilities compare to those of Palm Beach County?

Yeah. So, listen, I I will tell you, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue does a outstanding job of providing service to Jupiter, and Jupiter Fire Rescue is going to provide an outstanding service. Uh, currently, there are three stations that are operated by Palm Beach County within the town of Jupiter. Uh, we're going to have three stations. They currently have three fire engines in the town of Jupiter. We will have three fire engines. They currently have three ambulances in Jupiter. We'll have three ambulances. Uh we will have a ladder truck in the town of Jupiter, a fourperson ladder truck. That truck will operate out of the station on the east side. Right now the the ladder truck that services the town of Jupiter is coming out of Juno Beach. So we will have that additional four-person unit here in the town. And um and we're also going to have uh a paramedic who will staff co-staff the police boat with the police department uh when the police boat's out operating on the waterways. We'll we'll have paramedic service on our water rays when we begin service.

Thank you, Chief. Appreciate it, sir. Thank you.

Just one item. Um, and I'm not sure if it I had asked this question recently in a text that maybe it wasn't completely understood, but you know, I was delighted when I saw my wife and I drove by U Squ and saw people working on a Saturday. And as you mentioned, they were behind and or behind Piatt Place, but they were working hard. And I saw evidence of that on a Saturday. Appeared to be a full crew. U I remember when we went to the Piatt Place uh uh groundbreaking learning that uh the two sites are headed up by a project manager. One's the father and one's his son.

So there's some nice competition there. Which one has which station? The father has a pi place. Okay. So, the son's working to catch up. Well, and and look, it you know, the the Sinquest station is on schedule. It's a little behind pi, but it's on schedule. The difference being that we had to uh revise the roadway through there. Um and they had a plan to move it forward and catch up. And uh and I do have to say, you know, um those folks are are working hard and doing a great job and and the folks in our building department are really working hard to help get their permit. I mean, their uh inspections done and and you know, they're moving on

now. And thank you for clarifying that that we're on schedule. I misspoke in saying it it's behind as far as if you look at the building and the very fact that the sun has had this team working on a Saturday to catch up, you know, shows, as they told me when I met with them, some friendly competition on who gets done first. So that benefits us greatly. Yes, sir. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, moving on to citizen comments.

Yes, sir. We have one citizen comment, Andy Weston. Good evening, Andy Weston, 949 Dolphin. uh talking about dolphin the water water pipe uh I think it's buried in the ground and we you know we're getting close to the end. Uh I would still maybe you can take some of this construction money that's uh buried in uh the savings account someplace. Uh there everybody up and down the street has been talking to the project manager on this Alberto and if you want to hear what the comments are, it's what I've been coming up here saying. You need to widen the street. And um I I implore you to if you don't have the money, then don't put the driveways back on the west side. Don't put sod down until you have the money. And if you think about it logically, if if you had a 20 foot uh road there right now, you'd be putting it back to 20 feet. And then you should have had a 20ft road there. It's the town's property. They own the property. They own the road. It's their financial responsibility. And that's the way we feel. Uh if you say that, well, we asked the uh community if they wanted the road. Well, they want the road, but you asked them, "Do you want to pay $800,000?" And they said, "No." It wasn't no to the road. It was no to it's it was yes. That it's the town's responsibility. It's not ours. So,

uh it it it is destroyed. The road is on on the edges and it's getting worse. I got a 15 foot. No, swale. I gota I got to hit this one. A swale sounds exotic. It's sort of like midden. You know, a miden's a garbage dump. A swale is a ditch. And I now have a 15 foot wide ditch in my front yard. And I'm a I think I'm the only one that's got 15 feet. Some of them is very narrow swelles that they put in. and it's going to collect water and it's going to uh grow dollar weed and it's going to create mosquitoes. It's just it's it's swailes are I think more appropriate for rural areas not in the town. And you did the drainage in on Elsa away and I don't think you assessed them a dime. And you put in valley curbs. You didn't you didn't widen the road, but you put in valley curbs which effectively did widen that road. And if you want to put valley curbs on dolphin and you know so you can mentally think I'm only doing a couple of feet then fine do that and I appreciate it but don't don't cover up those driveways again and um then have to come back and and redo that road. Appreciate it. That was the only public comment. Yes, sir.

Okay. Uh, moving on council. We have before us the minutes of the September 4th town council meeting. I don't see any corrections on the dis. If there's no corrections, I'll take a motion in a second to approve uh the minutes as presented. So moved. Second. Have a motion and second. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Motion carries unanimously. Uh, moving on to the consent agenda. This is items six and seven on the agenda. Uh, is there any member of the public that wish to pull a consent agenda item? No, sir. Is there anybody on the dis that wish to pull a consent agenda item? No.

No. Seeing none, um, I'll take a motion, a second to approve the consent agenda. Motion to approve the consent agenda. Second. Motion a second. It asks uh for ordinance 1625 uh to be read title to be read

an ordinance of the town council the town of Jupiter, Florida stating that the town council does not consent to the continuing participation and inclusion of the properties within the town and the Jupiter MSTU for the purposes of receiving fire rescue, emergency, medical, and other related services from Palm Beach County for the tax year beginning October 1, 2026 and thereafter and providing for an effective date. I have a motion in the second on approving the consent agenda. All in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Motion carries unanimously. Moving on to reports. Town attorney. Nothing for me. Town manager.

Thank you, mayor. Just a few things. First of all, I want to uh congratulate and say thank you to Scott Reynolds, Don Clark, and all those in the finance department who have done such a tremendous job uh preparing this year's budget and uh and to thank the council for its direction and input and um and um advice on moving forward. Um I don't think people realize that the amount of work that goes into this budget prep. They start this in January and it goes all year long. uh we now get the budget approved, they'll take a little breather and we'll prepare for audits and then we'll turn around right after the holidays and start all over again. So, not that I want to uh bring that great news, but uh surely want to thank them uh for all of the hard work. Um also, as many of as many of you know, our chief of police, uh Chief Barbara is going to be retiring on October 2nd. uh his celebration will be here in the council chambers at 10:00 a.m. Um and he he's going to be missed obviously and just you know as I've said before I've had the opportunity to work very closely with Chief Barbara and promote him as he started his journey up the supervisory ranks and he's truly a remarkable chief and and um and has done a great job. Uh, fortunately for us, we do have uh, you know, a great deal of talent within the police department. And so I'm appointing uh, Deputy Chief Don Hennessy as the interim chief of police for uh, the Jupiter Police Department. He's been with the Jupiter Police Department for 23 years, demonstrated a strong commitment to public safety, and he's risen through the ranks from communication officer to deputy chief, and have no doubt he'll excel during his time as interim chief. um for me is a very in and for both of us probably a very interesting journey because uh when

I first became chief, Don was a dispatcher and uh and I sponsored him in the police academy and swore him in as a police officer

and here he is today as the interim chief of the Jupiter Police Department. So Don, extremely proud of you and I know you work hard to uh to earn the job. Um, I'd also like to uh congratulate four employees who recently celebrated significant milestones with the town of Jupiter. Uh, last week, Daisy Sand uh in the HR department celebrated 25 years of employment with the town. Uh, if any of you know Daisy, it looks like she started when she was five. Um, and so, uh, but congratulations to her. And meanwhile, Angie Carpentier from the building department, Paul Harrington from the police department, and Charlene Pitman Stone from the police department all celebrated 30 years of employment with the town.

And that speaks volumes about these folks, the character, and the working environment here in the town of Jupiter. As you know, over the last two weeks, we've celebrated the grand opening of two new playgrounds. Um, the new renovated playground in Jupiter Community Park had its ribbon cutting on September 5th and the playground at Indian Creek Park opened last week. Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate for us um to be able to cut the ribbon there. I I have to say everywhere I go, I'm hearing about these playgrounds. I was even at my doctor's appointment this morning and had to listen to all of the great comments about our playgrounds here in the town. So, uh, so kudos to the staff who have worked so hard on that, Mike. and um and Kristen and all the folks over there at the parks and recck department. As you know, we have several more parks coming uh in the in the next year. So, um on Tuesday, September 30th, EPOT's going to hold a public information workshop concerning the second phase of roadway improvements on Indian Town Road. The workshop be held at the Jupiter Community Center beginning at 6 PM. and uh and that second phase is going to focus on the stretch of road from Central Boulevard to Chasewood Plaza. Um the Jupiter Police Department's campaign to educate parents and youth about ebike safety continues as officers have recently visited visited both Jupiter Middle School and Independence Middle School. While there, the officers among many things uh interacted with the students and uh spoke a lot about ebike safety and uh and the safety and the rules surrounding ebikes. And uh finally um it seems like Jupiter Police Department night. Um I would like to congratulate uh and recognize Jupiter Police Officer First Class Matt Owens who is also a member of the United States Naval Reserve. Earlier this week, Officer Owen was promoted to the rank of chief petty officer in the Navy reserves. And achieving this rank came after completing one of the most

demanding leaderships programs, leadership programs in the United States military. And congratulations to him. And ironically, he's on security detail right out there in the lobby. So, uh, so you get promoted and then we put you right to the security detail. So, kudos to him. And, uh, and that's my report. Mayor, thank you. Uh moving uh across the disas councelor Gisinger any comments?

Yeah, a couple. Uh I will not be able to attend uh police chief Barbara's October 2nd um ceremony. However, I would like to personally thank the chief for his 29 years of excellent service to the town of Jupiter and residents. Uh he should be very proud of the legacy and the Jupiter Police Department he leaves behind as I am proud of what he's done for the town. And secondly, I want to do a special thanks to Director Reynolds and the town staff for all their hard work pulling together the community investment plan for 2026 through 2030 along with the town's 2026 operating budget. I'd also like to thank my colleagues to the right. Um uh with my appointment to the town council June, they showed competence in my ability to drive to dive f head first into the town's budget process and doing so allowed me to understand this important responsibility for the resident of Jupiter. I hope I've met their expectations through this process and look forward to collaborating with him in the future. So, thank you all of you.

Councelor Sstrom,

thank you. Um, I look forward to celebrating Chief Barbara, but I also want to send a hearty welcome to our new Chief Hennessy. Uh, I remember when I first met you, I think you were a captain, District 2, my district in Abakoa, um, keeping us safe on our bicycles, but it seems almost every year, you know, you're in a new position, taking on new tasks. You do it well. So, thank you and welcome. Um, one note on the playground. I was able to talk to a lot of parents. I um I was so enthusiastic. I sent kind of maybe um too long of an email thanking everyone uh one evening. But one note from parents was that um parking is an issue on these playgrounds as they get more popular. So, they were saying that people were even parking on the street. I think that'll calm down once the initial kind of wave passes, but um it is very popular. So, it was nice to hear and see as well. So, thank you. That's all.

Vice Mayor.

Yeah. A couple things. Um, first of all, congratulations to our new Chief Hennessy. Um, met you a while back and I've seen you kind of come up through the ranks and I know you do a great job. So, just make it your own. You know, it's a big responsibility. I know you can handle it. So, congratulations. And also I do it every year but you know director Scott Reynolds and his team and Don uh getting through the budget process this year. The last couple years have been extra special for you guys with you know the CIP all our budgets and JFRD. So I want to really congratulate you and getting to getting us all the information and making it coherent and understandable and the our request from last meeting getting the extra work from the the parks and all that. I really appreciate that. So, and um and back to the playgrounds. I everywhere I go, I hear everybody's so excited about the playground. So, um you know, special thanks to staff for pulling all that off in the town manager. So, and that is it.

Councilor Jury,

thank you. Um again, welcome Chief Hennessy and to all our police officers. Um I think when you're outside of Jupiter, you know your police force is here protecting you. You hear it. So, we're very proud of you and look forward to watching you grow. I want to very very large thank you to um Scott Reynolds, all of our department heads and the staff. Going through the budget process is never easy in any form, but the number that we are working with, they've had an arduous job. And I personally want to say thank you. Thank you for their guidance, their assistance answering questions from all of us. And to say you have four employees with three being 30 years and one being 25 makes me even more proud to sit on this side of the dis. The culture in our town. We are all have a lot to be grateful for and I know I'm proud to sit here and to serve. And officer Owen, I read that earlier. Um that's remarkable and to know he's outside that door tonight. Um once again proud to serve with all of you and I thank you for all your help. I just have a few quick items. Um ditto u congratulations to u u our new police chief Don Hennessy for the appointment. Um it's so glad to see um rewarding for me to see people move up the ranks and then to get into such leadership position. So that's great. Um on the an item on uh well an item on the playgrounds I thought I'd share. I'm sure everybody is hearing maybe the same things or different

things, but uh there's one uh mom that uh that I happen to have run into at Jerry Thomas picking up a daughter. I pick up my grandkids there two days a week and she's been all the openings of the playgrounds and uh she shared with me something that I wanted to just kind of pass on. Everybody that I run into really is so thankful for uh these playground upgrades. Uh and I'm grateful that we now have a good number of them. Uh but anyway, this one mom that had has been to every one of them um commented to me that what she gets most uh pleased about is how many families are out there, neighbors getting together at the uh you know on the playground. So, you know, that hadn't happened for a long time. And, you know, that's, you know, family is really and neighbors getting with neighbors is really what has kept Jupiter uh uniquely special. And so, I really just want to emphasize that and have shared that. I thought that was it that was a significant comment uh that I got um to ask you know at JCP and I've been going to JCP on and off for 25 years and um something just recently occurred to me that I had never realized. Um, and I had talk talked to staff about this, so I'm hoping that there's enough funds uh for them to finish. I believe they're working on a signage program. But just kind of to share is um, you know, when I go see my uh, one of my grandkids at JCP is I don't really know the field numbers, but I look for their team, right? And having gone to other parks, there's

wayfinding signage. I went by JCP the other night um last week just to kind of see what way finding sign exists and there's absolutely none and uh and then the signage for the field multi-purpose fields is is pretty small font sizes so in comparison to where I've been you know um in other newer parks there's wayfinding signings it's like I never knew where the beach volleyball courts for it's all tucked in the back, right? So, as well as basketball court. So, you know, wayfinding signage and I believe staff, you know, had I I didn't bring that point up, but I heard they were looking at signage, but you know, just like we're doing on the campus here, you know, a park that big, you know, is in need of wayfinding signage. So, I hope uh when I saw that option two was to sweep some funds from that account. I'm hoping that enough funds are left to make sure we get wayfinding signage put in. And then uh an item for engineering department, something I just had recently realized. You know, most school zones have flashing warned warning signage. Um, and this is a particular importance when it's outside of what someone would think is the uh, you know, is the school uh, time and again I pick up my grandkids uh, twice a week getting out and um, I've realized that northbound on Maplewood Drive north of Tony Penna I think is the only school zone that I know of that doesn't have a flashing sign and it's got a time sign that right at the corner. So if someone was

heading, you know, I don't normally go that way, but if somebody is heading, and I know that our vice mayor knows the area well living over there, but if somebody is heading west on Tona Penn and then turns up Maplewood and saw nobody in the crosswalk and because kids have all left, likely wouldn't see the sign that has the time which goes to 45 minutes after school's out and uh just would like to see us retrofitting a flashing sign where everybody else has cuz when it comes down to it, you know, compliance is what we're looking for. And so if there was a flashing sign westbound on Tony Penna,

no, this is northbound on Maplewood. There was there was one there's one. No, there's one south. There's one northbound on Maplewood. It's about That's not northbound. It's this it's southbound. I went and looked at them. Southbound has a flashing light. You know, you go down Central Boulevard, there's two of them on either side. Uh, but you go there anyway. I'd ask staff to look into this because going north of Tony Penna and you wouldn't think it's a school zone. Some might not think because there's nothing east or nothing. Yeah, there's nothing east. It's all industrial or commercial, but nonetheless, it's a school zone, right? and just asking for a flashing light

warning signs so people see when it's flashing. You know it's in the school zone as opposed that's where every every other place I know of has that's the only one that has a our time of day posted. Can I just go ahead? I I know over the years I've spoken to a couple people um that actually got pulled over by our police because they were heading west on Tony Penna took the right at the school crossing and didn't realize school was out because there wasn't a flasher but and they didn't see the small sign but there is one south of Tony Penna heading north. Yeah.

Yeah. Outside my neighborhood there. So that's a good point. Yeah. That's why they never probably added one north of Tony Penna because they're counting on but a lot of people would maybe come in from a different direction. Tony Penna is a larger road but the same thing happens on Central Boulevard with Jupiter Elementary. A lot of the neighborhoods in Abekoa that go into Central if they miss the flashing light sign or if anyone's cutting through there which is happening more often they're not aware of it and there aren't always times posted. So, I think it's probably broader than just the school. I I don't know the role behind it, but it's interesting. It's interesting to know. Maybe we should take a look at all the school areas

or just ask our school district representative, which I'm happy to do as well. But that's anyway, the Maplewood one is the only one I know that has the time of day limits. Mhm. in all other places if the signs for if the warning sign is flashing it's a active school zone. Right. Right. Good point.

Um and I think that's it other than a little little trivia. Um also I happen to drop my grandson off at Independence and um all ebikes I don't see any bikes used these days. So, by the time you get to um middle school, ebike is the thing. I know my grandson told me that he wanted one and I proceeded to tell him that I think the council was considering putting an age limit, which which we could do, by the way. And I just want to emphasize that. Uh I'm sure we all know that that's one of the solutions. So, I'm going to discourage him from getting one because it's not and his parents from giving him one because he's not old enough to drive, you know, an ebike. He thinks he is. But anyway, uh the time is now 7:59. We'll adjourn the meeting.

No, they