Town Council - Regular Meeting

[Music]

Mine was red and red.

Mine's [Applause] Good evening. The time is now 700 p.m.

and I'll call to order the town council meeting of Tuesday, October 21st. We'll begin with an invocation followed by a moment of silence and then the pledge. If all those that are able please join me in standing. Let us pray. Almighty God, as we gather here today, we give thanks for the opportunity to serve our community. May our actions strengthen the trust of our community and may you guide our words, our actions, and our decisions as we serve. Amen. Amen. We will now pause for a moment of silence.

Please join me in the pledge. 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. May we have a roll call, please? Mayor Kitzky here. Vice Mayor Delaney, here. Councelor Choy, here. Councelor Gisinger, here. Councelor Sunstrom, here. Town Manager Kitser here. Town Attorney Bar here.

Okay. Uh we begin today's meeting with kind of an exciting proclamation. Not that they're all not exciting, but um which I'll be presenting to astronaut Kelly Gerardi. So let me first read the proclamation. Proclaiming November 2nd, 2025 as Kelly Gerardi Day. Whereas Kelly Jardy, born and raised in the town of Jupiter and a proud graduate of Jupiter High School, has carried the spirit of her hometown into space as a research astronaut, becoming the 90th woman in history to fly to space. And whereas her journey from the classrooms and community of Jupiter to the frontiers of space exploration reflects the power of education, perseverance, and hometown pride, serving as an inspiration to students and residents alike. And whereas as a mother, researcher, and author, Kelly has been recognized by the USA Today as one of their 2025 Women of the Year and by Time in their inaugural Time 100 Creators List, celebrating her contributions to science, education, and the global community. And whereas in 2023, Kelly served as a payload specialist on a space mission conducting research on behalf of the International Institute for Aeronautical Sciences where she continues to serve as director of human space flight micro microgravity instructor and test flight director. And whereas she is advancing scientific discovery through her leadership of a research mission scheduled for 2026 and has already contributed to more than 150 microgravity research flights. And whereas Kelly's story has inspired

millions around the world, whether through her appearances on national television or through her children's book series, Muna Muna, which have been read aloud from both the International Space Station and the White House. And whereas Kelly's lifelong commitment to curiosity, exploration of and service reflects the best of Jupiter values, reminding us that the lessons learned in our hometown can launch dreams that reach stars. Now therefore, I, Jim Caretsky, mayor of the town of Jupiter, do hereby proclaim the month of November 2nd, 2025 as Kelly Gerardi Day. and encourage all residents to celebrate the achievement of achievements of Kelly Gerardy, honoring the contributions of women in science and space and embrace the spirit of curios curiosity, learning and community. In witness thereof, I have here unto set my hand and seal this 21st day of October, 2025. [Applause] And I'd like to ask my colleagues to join including town manager One, two, three.

[Music] Thank you.

Did I give you Ready? One, two, three. One, two, three. Sorry,

I think I can just project. Uh, I just wanted to say thank you. This is, you know, as a lifelong Jupiter resident, born and raised here, graduate of Jupiter High School. You know, I spent my entire childhood the front row seats to the final front ping around football fields, watch space shuttle launches, having encouragement from my I'm an only child, so everything was poured right into me. Uh, and they always encouraged me that I could do anything in this life and become anything if I worked hard enough for long enough. And so this more than anything, any other accolade makes me so proud as a chuper native. And, you know, I have an 8-year-old daughter at home. And I think about the fact that at my space flight, I had, you know, both my mom there and my daughter, three generations of women. And when my mom was growing up, uh, women were not yet eligible in the United States to apply states. But one single generation later, she watched her daughter reach the stars and she's watching her granddaughter take it completely for granted, which is so wonderful. So, I just wanted to say thank you so much to to everyone here. Um, truly, it is an honor and I'm so proud to represent Jupiter in all that I do and I look forward to being able to continue the next mission and all the more that come. from the bottom of my heart.

Thank you. [Applause]

Okay, moving on to presentations. We have a presentation uh by Chief Donado on giving us an update on fire rescue department. Good evening, Mayor, Council, and all those attending this meeting both in person and virtually. Uh we're honored to share an update on the Jupiter Fire Rescue Department tonight. Uh in just a little over 11 months from tonight, Jupiter Fire Rescue will begin providing full fire and emergency medical services to the community. And tonight, I'm going to provide an update on some of our fire and EMS equipment purchases, as well as our fire station construction. So, Fire Rescue has brought is bringing tonight and will likely bring you in the future several purchasing agreements for approval by council. So, these agreements allow us to purchase all the fire and EMS equipment we need to provide service here in the community. Um, the agreements have what's called a a maximum purchase amount on them or uh an up to but not exceeding amount. But I just want to be clear that these amounts are just kind of maximum caps. They're not the anticipated amount that we will spend with any individual vendor. Um we're still constrained by the adopted budget, but what we're doing is we're pursuing multiple purchasing agreements that may cover the same item. And this will allow us to overcome long lead times that might occur from one vendor, back orders from another vendor, um or to obtain better pricing uh between these two vendors who may we may have purchasing agreements that cover the same item. Uh by establishing multiple purchasing agreements with multiple vendors, we're going to secure the best pricing and ensure timely delivery.

Um some of the agreements we bring you are very specialized. Uh, as you're aware, Jupiter Fire Rescue will will carry and provide whole blood and blood components for hemorrhage related emergencies on day one of our service. Currently, only Palm Beach County and Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue carry whole blood. The field administration of whole blood and blood components offers patients improved survival rates and better patient outcomes. So, One Blood is the sole source provider of blood and blood components within our area today. Uh so this agreement that we're bringing you tonight will allow us to purchase whole blood and blood components from the one blood organization. Uh Jupiter Fire Rescue will also be purchasing two sets of structural firefighter ensembles uh otherwise commonly referred to as PPE for all of our firefighters. Uh providing two sets of gear for each firefighter will allow us to have one set of gear in use while the other set can be sent out for cleaning if it becomes contaminated uh from firefighting operations. Our PPE will be the newest products available today. This gear is manufactured without added POS, something of great concern to the fire service community, and it will meet the very newest NFPA 1970 standard that is yet to go in effect, but will go in effect in March. Uh we've talked in the past about uh the Glance traffic preeemption system. So, traffic congestion and signal delays can significantly impact emergency response times. The Glance traffic preeemption system allows emergency vehicles to communicate with traffic signals through GPS and cellular technology and it grants priority passage for emergency vehicles by adjusting signal timing well in advance of the approaching vehicle so that the intersections are cleared

before the vehicle gets there. This is the same system that was selected through a competitive bid process by Palm Beach County for installation throughout the county. Emergency vehicle traffic preeemption reduces intersection delays and increases the efficiency in reaching these incidents, but additionally it really significantly reduces the risk of collisions and thereby enhances public safety. So the purchasing agreement before you tonight proposes to install Glance at five major intersections within the town of Jupiter on Indiantown Road. All of them. This is Indiantown Road and Center Street, Indian Town in Palm Road, Indiantown and Central Boulevard, Indiantown and 67th Road North, which is the Jupiter West Plaza entrance, and Indian Town in Island Way. Uh this this uh effort will significantly improve safety and emergency response in one of the busiest and most congested areas of Indian Town Road. So, also before you tonight is uh the location station and call alerting system. The location station alerting system is technology that takes a 911 call address, the call type and the units that are assigned and it quickly quickly and accurately will announce that call information simultaneously uh both over the radio system and through a computer network in the fire stations uh to the units that have to respond. So this system will reduce response times and reduce stress for dispatchers and fire uh rescue responders. Uh location uses this really interesting technology uh voice alerting. It's a natural sounding voice alert along with audio auto audio alerting or uh tones and then also visual alerting in a v zone system within our new stations. Um this natural sounding voice uh it's not it's not

computer sounding. It's a very natural voice. Uh provides for clear and reliable audio announcements within the station and over the radio. And uh this location system uh will be installed as part of the fire station construction at both of our fire stations. So moving on to fire stations. Uh the picture you see before you is the front of the Piatt fire station. Construction on the Piatt station is on schedule. The second floor block work is nearing completion. Rough plumbing and electrical are going in now. Next week they'll begin installing trusses on that station and the top out is scheduled for the beginning of November. Uh this is a picture of the rear of that Piatt station. And uh this is a picture on the second floor level uh in the area that will be the future dorms and gym uh for the Sinquest station. This station is also on schedule. Um, the picture you see before you is the front of the Sinquest station. And what I'll say is very interesting about this picture, I took this yesterday on purpose so you'd have the most updated possible picture. Uh, but you do not. Uh, because if you drive by that station today along the wall on the right side of this picture, that block is now up about 8 ft high across that wall when it was uh at floor level just yesterday. Um the the first floor walls are completed. The second floor walls are going up now. The top beam will be poured within a week or so. And uh the trusses will be going on within a couple weeks. And then top out will occur before the end of November in this station. And then this is a picture of the back of that Sinquest station. So we are in the final year of creating the Jupiter Fire Rescue Department. There were those who doubted our ability to create our own fire department. They

were wrong. It's in just a little over seven months from tonight, we'll have hired all of our operational personnel, completed all of our new fire stations, all of our apparatus and equipment will be in place, and we we will begin preparing for the transition of services to Jupiter Fire Rescue. And in a little over 11 months from tonight, the Jupiter Fire Rescue Department will begin providing full fire and emergency services here in the community. And as always, the good news remains. We are on schedule and on budget. So, council have any questions? I do.

Chief, uh, thank you. Very good presentation. Couple questions on the blood and component blood components. Do the ambulance have their own refrigeration system accommodate the blood and blood components? So, blood and blood components are, you know, a somewhat limited commodity. Mhm.

So the system that is used is that generally uh those things are carried on a specialty vehicle not on every ambulance and then that vehicle is sent to those calls that need it. Uh this is the same model used by Palm Beach Gardens and Palm Beach County and the same model we will use here as well. One of our vehicles will have that and it'll have a refrigeration system built in. Very rigorous controls and measures and documentation. uh uh you know the blood industry has really super tight controls and so you have to have uh temperature refrigerate uh temperature monitoring systems. You have to document and record those temperatures on a regular basis. Um and so all that will be in place. So there'll be a central repository for the blood and blood components for the town.

Yes sir. Okay. on the glance traffic preeemption system. Um you you gave the uh the five locations where it's going to be installed. Does that require I assume it does require Palm Beach County or FDOT approval for that installation at those location and has that approval been granted?

So it's Palm Beach County traffic engineering and so we do have the approval from them to install that. Um, you know, they're in the process of they've they've went out to bid, purchased this on a countywide basis over many years. They'll work through the county. Uh, so this actually helps their plan by getting these intersections done a little in advance. Um, and uh, we've been in contact with them. They've agreed to this. We have a letter of agreement from them. Uh, and we're all on board and ready to do that. And my last question on the Locian system, I assume it's already installed at fire station 16. So you hadn't mentioned it, just noted uh Sinquaz and P because our new station, but is it already located at 16?

Yeah. So yes, the county uses location. Okay. Uh what we don't know for sure yet because we haven't gotten that answer yet is will it remain in the station when they leave the station? Will they take that equipment with them or not? We're just not sure. We'll find that out, but we'll find that out long before then. and make whatever arrangements are necessary and plenty enough time to make sure that it's there and operational. Okay. Thank you. I appreciate it. Thank you for the update. One question. Um just to clarify, so uh Palm Beach County Fire will also use access the um the new the new uh system for uh the travel signalization if they run calls in town.

Yes. So they they would be able to certainly um you know again each apparatus has to have a device installed on it. uh we'll install them on all of our emergency apparatus. I I've talked to some of the folks at the county. They're I I just don't know their project timeline for when they're putting them in which stations and which areas, but uh but they would have access to this. So for a a small amount of uh cost to install it on their vehicles, uh they would be able to proceed through it just like we would have, you know, total use because they were planning in the future of installing this themselves. Correct. Yeah. They they do have a plan to put this countywide over time. Yes. Okay, that's great. Thank you. Appreciate it.

Just a quick question on the location station alerting system. When someone calls into 911, is it the operator's um responsibility to communicate who responds or how many responds?

It's really really interesting. As the 911 call comes in, certain amount of data gets put into a computer without anybody doing anything. just it's uh it's put right into the computer system that includes um generally the caller's address in most cases. Uh often a caller name, whoever's registered to the handset. Um the dispatcher will ask a few other quick questions. You know, what is the nature of the emergency? Police, fire, or medical? Uh what is the problem? And then the system is set up so that once you get to this very base amount of information, it will say, "Okay, based on what we know, what the system knows for information, we need to send a rescue truck and a fire engine." And then in the background, the computer says, now the dispatcher doesn't do this. The computer says, "Okay, I need to send a rescue truck and a fire fire uh an ambulance, and this is the address. So, it's going to be these." And over a computer network, it sends a signal into the fire stations to tell those just those units to go. And then it also announces that over the radio in case they're not in the station. And it's done by a computer with a human sounding voice.

Thank you. That makes a lot of sense. Thank you. Excellent presentation. We appreciate the regular uh cadence of updates. Thank you. Appreciate the opportunity. Thank you. Okay. Uh believe we have one citizen comment. Yes, sir. We have one comment card from K. Strickland.

And um you know, this is uh for non-aggenda items and are limited to three minutes. Uh and I'd ask anyone wishing to speak to state his or her name and address for the record prior to addressing the council. Hello, Mayor Keski and all the council members. Uh my name is K Strickland. I live at Jupiter Ocean Grand Condos on the beach and I'm just here to uh really to ask for some help. Okay. And I'm glad the fire chief is here. Kind of applies to that too. Um, we feel we have a fire safety issue with fireworks being allowed on the highly populated areas of the beach. Uh, as you know, most of the condo buildings are built like literally right on Highway A1A and we're that's the only thing that separates us from the beach where they shoot the fireworks off. So, they're they're they're when they shoot them off, they're just very close to our buildings. and we wake up a lot of mornings and we have all the firework debris all over our terraces and our grounds and uh it's very disturbing to us because uh we feel like it's a a really bad fire hazard. Okay. Um, so we're just, you know, I understand that, you know, I've spoken to people before and it was explained to me that that y'all don't really have anything to do with this because it's not a park area. And I was told that we would have to go maybe to the county or the state or or someplace to maybe to get what what we're doing. They're asking to if you could if we can find a way to ban like a half a mile strip of the beach area from uh fireworks uh that just the strip where all the

buildings are so close to the highway, you know, where's a fire hazard. So, it's a we're asking that you um ban the strip from um uh just north of the Reef Club down to where the um Karen Marcus preserve area starts, you know, because where where her preserve area starts, there are no residences there, you know, nobody that can be disturbed or harmed in that area. So, it's fine for them to shoot them off down there. it's just in this this uh highly populated residential area where we would like to get some help. And so I was told that that it's not your jurisdiction to do that, but I'm here to ask you for your help with uh maybe directing us in the right direction or or hopefully you can, you know, would have some, you know, some pull with the county or the state and getting something like this done. It's my understanding that you do have a ban at the uh Carlin Park area and I guess at the you know the the different park areas wherever but that you don't have any uh control over the residential strip there. That's what I've been told. So I don't know if that's correct or not. Anyway, we're just hoping we can get some help from you because um it's really very disturbing. I mean, it's it's alarming. Not only to that, but to uh is it's so scary to our pets, you know, being so close. I mean, the fireworks literally go off as close as this wall to us, you know, to our buildings. I mean, there's nothing but a two-lane highway between us. And so, it's so disturbing, so terrorizing to our pets, not only our pets and us, but to uh the sea turtles. Yeah, we're on we live in a protected sea turtle beach and we feel like we owe them some protection because I can't tell you the horrifying things that go on down there late at night like on the 4th of July for instance, you know, these teenagers, you

know, they're just being teenagers, but they're we hear them and they're like literally setting fireworks off on the backs of the nesting sea turtles and then just laughing and cheering because saying, "Oh, they've ever seen a turtle run so fast and that kind of thing, you know, it's like a become a, you know, a game for them and uh it's very disturbing to us. So, we feel like we owe the sea turtles some respect and uh and then the the pets and the residents in our area, too. So, I'm just here to ask for a little bit of help. You know, uh I did provide a um Maryanne with a a map of what I'm, you know, proposing, what I'm asking for, and I asked her to show it to you. Maybe it just shows all the of the beach.

Well, uh the numbered beach walkovers and it just drew two lines showing the small area that we're asking to have banned. Thank you. To ban the fireworks. And I think we also got an email from you. So something we'll have to follow up with staff about. Thank you. I did, but I for some reason I was not able to attach the map. So that's why I brought the map for her to show you so it'll be clear. Okay. Thank you very much for for um Thank you. your time. Any other citizen comments? No, sir. Okay. Uh, council, we have before us the minutes of the October 7th town council meeting. I don't see any correction on the dis. If there are none, I'd ask for a motion, a second to approve the minutes as presented. So moved.

Second. Motion in a second. All in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Motion carries unanimously. Moving on to the consent agenda. This is items 4 through 12 on uh second page of the agenda. Is there any member of the public that wish to pull a consent agenda item? No, sir. Any member on the DAS wish to pull a consent agenda item? Okay, seeing none, I'll take a motion and a second uh to approve uh the consent agenda. I'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda. Second. Have a motion, a second. All in favor signify by saying I. I

I motion carries unanimously. Moving on to regular agenda. Uh public hearing item ordinance 1225 on first reading. Um and I'll turn it over to I guess our chief, police chief. Okay. Good good evening, mayor, town council. Uh we are here today to talk about ordinance 1225, which has significant amendments to the chapter 14 of the town code, which covers the parks and recreation rules and regulations. Um I think the timing is fitting for the presentation of this ordinance. Uh we've all been to multiple uh new park openings and park rededications. Um, this ordinance will give the officers the tools to make sure that those parks stay safe, that the quality of life in those parks stays where it should be, and that the parks are used for their designated purposes. So, as we go through that, just keep in mind that was our focus here. In January 2025, uh, an interdep departmental staff consisting of members from the police department, the parks and wreck department, code compliance department, um, with specific input from our beach and marine officers who work that area on a daily basis and and are in these parks and see the activities that go on. The purpose of the review again was to increase officers ability to address quality of life issues and safety issues within our parks. Uh, one of the focuses we had as we went through uh, our ordinances was there are county parks that are within our jurisdiction that we assist with enforcement. Um, the more we can make those ordinances and those regulations consistent, uh, it it makes it easier for the officers to not have to go to Miami County Park, Miami Town Park. So, where applicable, we went and we applied certain county ordinances to the town um, for those that fit our needs. Um and in the overview at the end, we'll talk

about some additional changes that'll be coming on second reading. Um one of those being the change to the municipal ordinance that would allow for the capability to enforce the new ordinances that we put in place. So make sure I click here. So to start off, I wanted to go through a list of what currently exists in chapter 14 under the rules and regulations. And I will note as part of our review, we found that the last time this code was reviewed was 1992. um 33 years ago now. Um so this is an exhaustive list of what currently exists in chapter 14 under the park rules and regulations. So you see that there's only five of them. Um littering, there's two littering ordinances, uh pro prohibition on dumping, glass bottles, and regulations related to handgliding. So that was all that existed. So any of these other ones that we go through, they're brand new to the code. Um they they did not exist before. So, as I go through, I'm just going to go through a list of the new ordinances or the new sections that we put into place here or that we're proposing. Uh, the first one deals with vehicle use. Uh, it just kind of regulates parking in our town parks and allows officers to enforce the various parking ordinances that exist in the town parks. Um, of specific note here, we did restrict the use of bicycles, ebikes, things of that nature to uh vehicle traveled roadways. Um what that'll prevent and allow for is us to keep the ebikes off of our baseball fields, our soccer fields, uh the pedestrian walkways where a lot of children are walking. Um particularly at Jupiter Community Park that the quad um there's a lot of kids that walk down that that walkway um at various different sporting events and having ebikes going through their high rates of speed. This will keep it on the roadway. So we wanted to make sure we included that. um fire. Uh there's no open flames, no discarded burning materials allowed. That covers people, you know, throwing lit cigarettes and lit cigars and possibly causing fire damage to our parks. Uh some of these will go through quickly just cuz they are pretty

self-explanatory. Swimming and waiting. It only allows for uh those swimming in designated areas. So, you can't go swimming in the ponds. It also requires clothing in as you're swimming in any park areas. The next one is picnic tables in use. Um, it regulates picnic table use to design purposes that will prevent people from using our picnic tables and our facilities as jungle gyms or playground equipment. Um, and also from from laying on top of the table, sleeping, things of that nature on on top of the tables. Um, camping is prohibited under the new park rules and regulations as is alcohol. Um, we do have a an exception in this section to allow for town events that happen to occur in our parks. um events that are sponsored by the town. Um and then no intoxication or alcohol or drugs will be permitted within the town parks. Fireworks and explosives. Um this does apply to the town parks. Um as we know in Florida state statute, there are three holidays that fireworks are permitted in the state of Florida. Um what this will allow for is to keep the fireworks out of our parks. Um prior to this, there was no prohibition on lighting fireworks. We had an instance several years at uh the skate park uh or Abicoa Community Park there where people were going on the soccer field and lighting fireworks. Well, that obviously causes damage to our fields, to our facilities, and creates a safety risk for those enjoying the park. So, this this will take care of that and not not allow for those fireworks. Uh park usage. This section prohibits people from remaining in the parks outside of town hours. This will allow for us to enforce the hours. It also contains a prohibition on uh those over 18 years of age entering designated play areas unless they are supervising a minor. Um this was something that came up at a prior meeting and this was something that's also incorporated into the county code and it does require compliance with all posted park rules. Um so anything that's

posted there in front of the parks, those will need to be followed as well. Uh sound disturbances regulates noise to prevent disturbances. this all town sound ordinances and noise ordinances would be in effect in our parks and this will allow the officers to enforce noise ordinances in the park. Uh aircraft bans any aircraft including drones from taking off or landing in our parks. Um FAA regulations do not allow us to enforce the airspace over our parks. Um what it does allow for us to do is we can prohibit landing taking off which is really the safety risk there when when you have drones and things landing in our parks. We don't want them, you know, hitting people trying to use the parks for other reasons. So th that is an exhaustive list of everything that was added to the new parks uh chapter 14. Uh this next section is our enforcement process and this will be presented in a separate resolution upon second reading. Um what we needed to do is we need to make amendments to the fine and fee schedule um to allow the officers to actually enforce these new regulations. Um, so here's a list of the ordinances that we opted to include in the proposed fine and fee schedule um with the proposed fine amounts. Um, with that being said, to make room for these new ordinances to be on the citation, uh, we plan to remove there are certain ordinances that will be removed and those will be included in the new reg uh, resolution. So, just to summarize, like I said, the town has made significant improvements to our parks, particularly recently, providing enhanced experiences to all who visit our parks and use our parks on a daily basis. The changes proposed in this ordinance will allow staff to ensure the safety and security of all who visit our parks. And then by amending the municipal ordinance citation, officers will be able to effectively enforce these safety and quality of life regulations. And with that, I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have.

As I uh just as I'm going to turn to council for questions, and I have some, but uh just want to comment that it was a misunderstanding that I know that some of our police officers had that we wouldn't consider changes to the code. So, I know as as a result of a ride along I had I talked to the town manager and that was the genesis of this um and so I certainly want to make sure because you know our police are experts are the experts. So, uh you can only enforce behaviors that are in the code. So, um please make sure that all of your police understand that know we're open. I'm not we're not saying we would do everything, but you know, uh make sure that this is used as an example of we want to hear from them.

We certainly will. And um so I I just have two quick questions. Um one is and I'm going to the text. Um and it's section 1479, which is camping. And it reads, "No person shall camp or erect or maintain a tent, shelter, recreation vehicle." And I understand that, but tailgate temps tents are used for shade during sporting events. And uh I'd say before second reading, I'd like to make sure that that is addressed. Um people would call that a tent. Um but they're pretty prevalent, you know, in the sporting events. Um so I I think that has to be spelled out.

We'll take a look at that. Sure. And then um second item on uh section 1482 under park usage um it says no person shall remain in any part of park property between sunset and sunrise [Music] or as specifically posted. So it may be covered by posting but uh um you know the exception certainly is rec use of recreational uh fields uh for athletic activities where they're lighted. So I'm just I'm always so great job on you know what you presented to us but those are just two you know exceptions I'd like to have make sure they're addressed and there's no misunderstanding about that. Um and with that I'll turn to my colleagues if uh

yes I do have a question. Is there any reason um under proposed 1475 is not included with your um finding process with the finding process? Correct. Oh 1475 vehicle use. Yes. A lot of what we found a lot of what was included in 1475 includes some of the parking regulations. Um there are some avenues for enforcement outside of the code citation process. Um, one of those things would be uh removal from the park. Um, so we would look at enforcing that that way. Um, we we could certainly look at including that if that's council desire to include that as a citation. Desire. Thank you, Vice Mayor.

I just had one question you covered on the um the lit areas of our parks um spec specifically like um JCP with the the batting cages and all that, but those will be exempt. Sure. Yeah, we put some language in there to to include that. Okay, great. Thank you. Sure. I had a question and I just want to clarify to um section 1480. So, alcohol is allowed um as part of a town sponsored event, but it's also authorized by special event permit. So, others can apply for permits and receive them and do this. Can I confirm the permit process? I'd like to refer to parks and recck department. I can follow up with them unless Yeah, we'll follow up with the parks and recck department on that.

Okay. Just wanted to clarify. Yeah. Um, and I'm curious if there's public comment on this item as well, but the other question I had was regarding a 1484 aircraft. So, um, drones, uh, are often used for photography. I see them all the time at Abakoa Community Park. A lot of people get them for Christmas. Correct. Um, can you speak to the concern there and why it wouldn't be allowed maybe by permit for parents watching their kids or wanting to do whatever? um or the sports teams versus other uses. Can you just um Sure. Yeah.

This my main concern with with drones taking off and landing in the in the town property is the safety of people as those drones are going up and coming down. Um again, we can't relate what goes on overhead. Um I I can't think of the certification that goes on for drones that I know from experience from setting up our department's drone program. there is no practical um exercise that certifies you to fly a drone. Um so it's all just computer learning. Um so I I if the council wanted to explore permits for for drone use in our parks, um I know we've also had problems over the years with damage to light poles and things of that nature. I know the lighting as specifically out at JCP. Um if they hit those lights, those lights are very expensive to replace. So, um, keeping them from going up and down. That's really the danger zone for us is not necessarily flying over. It's more the the up and down within the park.

Okay. Counselor, if if I could also, Chief, um, am I correct in the fact that we cannot operate our police drones over a crowd over a crowd of people as well? That's correct. So, the same general philosophy in a park. We really don't want those drones operating over crowds of people regardless of size. I just it's good to know. Yeah, they can cause damage. I've seen even the small ones, they can cause some damage when they're coming down with propellers going. Okay. All right. Thank you.

To piggyback on that same question, how are we This message needs to get out. It is done with commercial photographers for business purposes. So, same thing. I think it's going to continue, but we have to be a get that message out if that's going to be um an error area we're going to stop. So it it really is very popular right now. Yeah. And again, just to just to reiterate, the the ability to do the commercial photography, um it can it the photography itself can be done. That's not necessarily the issue. Um so again, you can fly from somewhere else and fly over and and get the photography from the park. It's just a matter of whether we want to allow taking off and landing within the park.

So you could launch directly across the street from Abakoa Community Park. You could. Yes. Okay. Just checking. Yes. Councelor Chief, couple questions. Uh, one on the enforcement process. The proposed fine amount, is that consistent with the Palm Beach County charges for those fines? Those are consistent with a number of our other of our fines, not the Palm Beach County fine charges, uh, the $50, $100 um, the ones that are $100 were due to the propensity for damage, okay, damages to the parks.

Okay. In my second question under um in the written portion under u section 14.75 we listen no person shall ride, drive or propel any bicycle, electric motor, motorcycle, ebike, scoot, ATV, scooter, etc. Uh do you plan to include golf carts in that also? Cuz they're not an ATV. They're separate. So, I'd like to make sure we address all the vehicles in that section. We certainly can. Okay. That's all the questions I had then. Okay. Uh do you feel you have the direction on things to look at before second reading?

Yes, we'll incorporate those changes and and have them included in the next reading. Thank you. Along with the separate resolution, we'll also come back with the proposed uh final fee schedule. Nice job on this. Thank you. Thank you. You obviously covered a lot of things uh because we spoke about them and going to enhance them. So, thank you. Okay. With that, um I'll take a motion and a second to approve ordinance 1225 on first reading. So moved. Second. Um, can I get uh ordinance 1225 read on

ordinance 1225, an ordinance of the town council of the town of Jupiter, Florida, amending chapter 14, code of Jupiter, entitled Parks and Recreation, providing for amendments to article 3, division 1, renaming it park rules and regulations. Providing for the repeal of section 1469, providing for the creation of new regulations in sections 1475 through 1487 to more appropriately regulate the usage of town parks, providing for severability, providing for the repeal of ordinances in conflict, providing for codification, providing for an effective date.

And uh just for my colleagues, uh I learned recently from our town attorney. I was following the practice that's been going on forever to ask for it to be read on short title. This is not a short title as I was explained. So, uh, if anybody then got it from me, I've been corrected. So, I just said read it. Um, that's only been going on for about 34 years, mayor. Okay. Uh, have a motion and a second on ordinance 1225 on first reading. All in favor signify by saying I. I. I motion carries unanimously. Moving on to public was I'm sorry. Was there any public comments on that?

No, sir. Uh moving on to resolution uh 10925. Um turn it over to our finance director.

Uh good evening, mayor and council. Uh Scott Reynolds. I'm the finance director for the town of Jupiter. Um it's a pleasure to see everybody this evening. Uh as we've been talking about uh we had an update earlier from uh Chief Tonado. Uh we are uh actively in the implementation stage of the fire department. Uh one of the things that uh over the last two and a half almost 3 years we've been talking about implementation on how to fund uh the fire department. And one of the things we've been consistent about that we want to explore is an alternative funding source which is uh considered to be a non-abalorm assessment uh for fire services. Uh so we're we're uh there's a uh a logical uh set of order that we have to follow uh via Florida statute to be able to even consider that uh going into into next year. Uh one of those things is uh uh we have to adopt a a resolution indicating to the property appraiser, the tax collector in the department of revenue uh of our possible intent of adopting the non-abboral assessment. uh what's before you this evening and I'll and I'll talk a little bit more about it as we get into the presentation. I just want to re-emphasize uh what we're doing this evening is not adopting anything as far as a nonavalorarmm assessment. Uh this is just letting the entities that I just talked about giving them uh a heads up that uh we we possibly may do that uh in in the uh uh uh going into the uh summer next year. and I'll talk about some timelines of things that the statute outlines that we have to do. Uh there's going to be plenty of public hearings, a lot of discussion uh for the residents. But uh just real quickly, I want to talk about what is a non-avalorm assessment. Uh we've talked a little bit about that early on. Uh but as part of the implementation, uh to be prepared for that uh October 1, 2026 date, uh we have to talk about how we're going to fund

it. uh it's not all like right now uh with the county we have an MSTU and it's being funded through uh advalorum taxes solely uh there is some elements of transportation revenue and those type of things that we will also be exploring but as another option uh to help offset some of these revenues the non-avalorm assessment uh is is possibly uh an assessment that we may wish to explore which is what we're going to try to do uh starting this evening with the adoption of this resolution if the council so wishes. Um they also have permit revenue uh that we'll be exploring over the summer. I just hit on the uh the medical transportation funding uh that we'll also be exploring. And then a combination of all the above uh will help fund the department going into uh October 1, 2026 to make sure we're prepared to to fund the department in whole. So why a nonavor assessment? What does it do? uh a non-avalorm assessment is is a study funding source. It's not dependent upon economic conditions. Uh if you were around in 2008 uh in the government uh that was uh uh solely funded through Avalor taxes, you found out or even in sales taxes, you found out during that recession uh that there was a um a serious decline in revenue uh and that there was cuts that had to be done. uh the non-evalorm assessment does not necessarily uh fall along the same lines and and react to economic conditions in the same way. The assessment is also fair and equitable uh in a way to pay for fire services since this funding method is directly tied to the property and the type of dwelling uh that benefits from the service. Uh it's a very common funding source uh used all over the state of Florida. A number of jurisdictions here in Palm Beach County you utilize it to help fund their fire

services. Uh this fire assessment can only be used for uh fire related expenses. It cannot fund uh emergency medical services. Uh and then the assessment requires an examination and accounting for all the expenses uh which uh creates the transparency for the taxpayer. Uh we are currently in that process. uh if you remember right in late summer uh we engaged a consultant to help uh start that process. They have started gathering all the uh the required data to be able to do this analysis and uh we'll talk a little bit about that process as uh in the next couple of slides. One of the things that uh currently that the taxpayer sees on their bill uh they see the Jupiter fire rescue uh line item showing up on their bill currently. uh that that's going to be help uh the non-avalorm assessment piece is going to replace a portion of that millillage uh that you uh see on your current tax bill. The overall goal is to see an uh that since the beginning of of uh implementing the Jupiter fire rescue is to see an overall reduction uh for the taxpayer. So starting with this evening uh is the public hearing on resolution 109-25 uh which is the uh as I just discussed is the notice of intent to use the uniform method of collecting and I proposed non-avor assessment uh this we have to uh uh notify the property appraiser the tax collector and the department of revenue and then we will do that and we have to do that before uh January the beginning of January. We also uh have included information on our town's website, other social media platforms, and handouts for educational information to make sure the public understands what we're doing specifically this evening. Uh now, and until January 2026, uh we're going to be completing that data analysis that we started in this past summer with our

consultant. Uh in February of 2026, we're hoping to be able to have the a rate model completed. Uh we'll have a council workshop. uh we'll have public discussion on on the rate models uh that the consultant will be recommending uh to the council. Uh one of the things that uh uh I think everybody's going to be pleased about is that because we're drilling down on each property and each property will be shown how the how it will be benefiting uh from the assessment. We'll be able to drill into each uh entity's tax bill uh and to be able to see how much that rate based on uh some of the feedback from council how much that would be. uh so true transparency for the taxpayer uh and then in May there'll be uh a requirement to declare the non-avalorm assessment state the nature of the assessment the uh estimated cost time and a payment assess properties and preliminary non-avalorm assessment role that we just talked about. We'll also be sending out notifications uh to the public uh to notify them about updating up upcoming uh uh public hearings and the assessment role. Again, we'll be advertising this also on the town's website. We will have a site uh dedicated just for this. In June, uh written notice will be going out to all the property owners. Uh if you remember back when we had the uh nonavalorm assessment for the um um the Jupiter River Estates, the same process, it's outlined in statute. We notified each of those property owner in writing about the assessment and how much their assessment is going to be. Same process here. uh we will be notifying each of the property owners and along with the assessment role uh and and when the public hearing is going to be and then in July 2026 uh the public hearing to consider the adoption and certification of the non-avalorm assessment role uh a public hearing uh and again that'll be promoted through social media the website and emails leading up to the uh

uh the meeting and then in August of 2026 uh we will have the trim notices we you know that because we do that every here uh that will also be part of the notification process. The non-av uh non-avalorm assessment role will appear on the trim and then ultimately in November of 2026 uh we will start the collection uh of the non-avalorm assessment if the council so wishes to proceed forward. Again, uh nothing that we're doing this evening is going to bind the town in any way. Uh it's just putting out a notification to the three entities I talked about earlier of our intent to possibly do this. So this evening, uh, we're seeking council's authorization for resolution 109-25, which declares the town is, uh, contemplating the use of the uniform method of collecting a non-avalorm special assessment for the cost of providing fire protection within the incorporated area of the town commencing October 1, 2026. Again, I keep reemphasizing this. Uh, this is not committing the town, but declares it intent to use the uniform collection meth method. That's all this is doing. this evening. So again, uh if adopted, the nonavalorm assessment looking to partially replace what residents currently see under the Jupiter MSTU. Uh there'll be a mixture of Avalor and nonavalorm uh taxes that they will see on their bill to hopefully get lower than what they're currently paying. With that, that's the end of my presentation.

Thank you. Um and I just want to comment before I open up to my colleagues. Uh, so my comments are primarily intended to be for the newer members. There has never been any conversation about this topic. I mean, as far as whether we're going to do it or not, it was always represented that in year three, beginning of year three, a study would be done and then we would make policy decisions. Um, so just want that to be understood. And so the study is just initiated and it won't be ready until early next year. Correct. That is correct.

So, you know, therefore, I personally won't have any comments, questions to ask, but I just wanted to kind of frame that um in the event newer members were wondering, you know, had has there been any preliminary discussions? The only commitment we have is we're going to save our residents and businesses significant costs, but as he said here, it's a menu of line items that it could be. Um, and we're going to get that and we're going to have a workshop, right? Multiple workshops actually, or there will be one workshop and multiple public hearings.

Yep. So, uh, I'll turn to, uh, councelor Choy. Do you have any questions? No, I think it you were very clear and we've done our homework together, but just a do we have any and maybe this is not a fair question to ask a percentage of what we are going to save versus the county on

Well, I'll just I'll just put it this way. What we're seeing currently from the county expenses, we trended this out early on looking at the the escalation over time. So far, the county expend expenditures have fallen along that trend line. Uh what we're anticipating to see if they were to go into FY27, which they will not, we'll be uh providing that service, we would uh anticipate somewhere around $35 million uh in county expenditures. Uh if they were to follow that trend line, which they have been, uh and then we're looking to be about uh $25 million. Uh so there you go. There one would be a a difference of $10 million. Thank you. I appreciate hearing that, Vice Mayor. Uh, you know, no questions at this time, but thank you. Good representation,

Council Sunstrom. So, I think what you're saying is that we're trying to meet the Florida statute by adopting this resolution to go ahead and notify that this is a tool in the toolbox. That's all this is. That's all it is. It doesn't mean it's a requirement that we have to do this.

The one issue I had was a communication issue. Um, on the staff memo for this item, it does not mention the point that is in the presentation, which I appreciate, which is that this would replace and be less than the line item for the MSTU that we pay currently. That line item will be eliminated and will be replaced by this. Those that should always be everywhere that we share it. So, it should be in the staff memo. Um, it should be in the presentation. it should follow along because I don't know if residents in reading this if I hadn't read the presentation I would say what new assessment am I getting and it may look like that to some and we're going to have to really be careful knowing all that we know from communicating through and around fire rescue we need to make sure that we're communicating through it this one line item on your tax bill is going to go away completely it will be replaced by a much lower dollar number in this non-abalorum assessment if we do it and our millillage may increase some for the emergency rescue portion. So we need to just be very clear with that and as we go forward I know we're going to look at modeling um I always want to see that separated pulled out and that savings shown clearly as we go through the whole process. I think that'll be really important. So that's all I have to say. Thank you for your feedback on that. We have been working with the uh community relations department specifically uh and that we we hear you on that on that item specifically.

A simple message repeated over and over and over again. Thank you. Yeah. And get back to that messaging that website's important. When will that be active so the residents can go back and look at questions they may have? Uh I can't answer that but I'm sure it will be soon because we have just completed the uh uh question and answers uh page if you uh at the meet with council last week we had that plus uh additional information on the uh non-avalorm assessment. So uh that should be up shortly. And you stated that the fire service be looking at the nonadvalorum assessment. what will fund the um emergency services that potentially be an advalorum

that it'll come primarily from the advalorum uh dollars that gets collected. Uh and then you saw on the list of menus of of options there'll be transportation service as well uh transportation revenue much smaller portion uh but uh mainly the advalorum dollars that we collect. So Jupiter res residents potentially see two line items. One for ad balor for fire services nonabalor fire services and ad balorum for emergency services. No, it it'll be incorporated into the uh the town's operating millage. Okay.

Um but uh you will you will see it in the budget. The budget will segregate out those two items. And I uh just to illustrate just like we do every year for uh the town's operating budget and also the CIP budget, we show you those segregations of that one millillage item uh by percentage. Uh when we start start to do the fire department, you'll see the same. And that's what councelor Sunstrom was talking about for the transparency of that millage rate that we're going to be able to show that split out for those costs relating to emergency services or other fire related services that can't be funded through the non-avalorm assessment. Okay. All right. Thank you. Nice presentation. I appreciate it.

Could you move to page two on this uh the slide two?

Okay. You know, I'm just going to the third bullet. Um and I just wanted to have said that uh and this is kind of you can comment to what I'm going to say here but to the degree that options as we see here options to fund the new department include you know any combination of all of the above. I don't know how staff could put anything out to the public to look at until we've made some kind of policy guidance. So just to kind of frame that personally, you know, I wasn't expecting we want to be transparent, but we also don't want to confuse if in fact we have made policy. So it seems to me it wouldn't be until you know end of the first quarter next year or something like that.

I agree with that. I think we're I was I was just focused on it will replace. Yes, it will be lower. Nothing more. But to the degree we were asking when it was going to be online, I want to just caution. And I don't want to put something online that we haven't even weighed in on. Right. And I was going to save that for further down the road where it when we when we figure out the revenue streams of the department in full have everything on its own page itemized where all the money is covering for cost comparisons.

So Mayor, town council for the record, Sean Reed, director of community relations. We have put up a page at this point. Uh it is focused solely on providing education about what the non-evalorum assessment is. uh we make it very clear that no decision has been made and that this is a a study that's going on and and the decision will be made next summer by town council as to what is best for the taxpayer. Uh but that page is up on our website now. It can be found both on financ's homepage and on fire rescue's homepage. There's a link that says uh financing Jupiter uh fire rescue department. And again, it's a FAQ that is solely face uh focused on um the study and and educating our residents about what a nonavalorum assessment is.

Yep. Thank you. Thank you, Sean. I didn't even know it was up yet. Okay. Uh any other questions? Okay. Great job. Thank you. Uh, seeing no more questions, I'll take a motion in a second on resolution 10925. So move. Second. Motion a second. All in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Motion carries unanimously. Moving on to reports. Town attorney. I have no report. Thank you, mayor. Uh, town manager.

Thank you, mayor. Um, as many as many of you may know, um, the town partners with the PCO Survey Company every two years to conduct the National Community Survey. Um, the National Community Survey allows the town to gauge the opinion of Jupiter residents on topics such as public safety, local government services, infrastructure, Jupiter's economy, and quality of life. For this year's survey, PCO company has randomly selected 3,500 Jupiter households who will have the opportunity to fill out the survey via a website or a paper copy of the survey. For households not selected for the scientific portion of the survey, an open participation period will begin on Friday, November 14. All survey submissions will do be be due back to PCO by December 1st and the town will receive the results of both the scientific and open participation surveys in January. The town encourages everyone to participate in this survey. This week is Florida City Government Week, uh a time when municipalities across the state join together to celebrate and showcase the work performed by local governments. The town's government is uh the closest to most citizens and the one that most directly impacts residents and businesses. During the week, the town will feature town employees and departments on our social media channels to recognize the work done day in and day out by the town. This past weekend, the town partnered with the North uh with the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce to hope host Harbor Fest. Uh several of you were there. Uh it was a great weekend of music and food. We've gotten some great feedback and uh I would like to thank the staff from both the chamber and our own town staff who work so hard to make this event a success. Um there's a lot

of work that went into that uh event. also like to congratulate officer Jonathan Cerrone who was named officer of the quarter and detective Salvatore Matino who was named investigator of the quarter by the South Florida Crime Commission. Also want to recognize two of our employees who recently reached significant milestones with the town. This one for me is hard to believe because um the officer that I'm going to name, he and I came on the job the same day when I came chief became chief. He came in as an officer and I think our unit numbers are one number apart. So, Officer John O'Keefe from the Jupiter Police Department recently celebrated 20 years of service to the town. As a matter of fact, he called me so we could congratulate each other. Um, and then meanwhile, Rodney Carroll of the utilities department recently celebrated 35 years of service to the town. And then, um, of course, this Friday, the town will host our annual Halloween spooktacular here at the municipal comp complex. We invite everyone out to enjoy trick-or-treating, games, music, character visits, food trucks, and a whole lot more. This free event will run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and that is this Friday. And I'm just going to put it on your radar. Be prepared. Before you know it, it will be light in the tree.

So, Mayor, that's my report. Thank you. Thank you. I'm going to switch it up, Council Sunstrom.

Oh my. Well, I apologize in advance for my voice and occasional cough. Um, but I want to say I've been to two events. We had we had a very busy bit of time recently. Um, I wanted to speak to the Alice Kitchen event. I thought that was a wonderful um local historic designation that we did. Um, I'll share that the owner uh lives in the farms. She was commuting to a hair salon in Boca Raton where she worked and she owned a salon there. She this came to her and she was actually able to connect with Alice Kitchening's granddaughter who lives in Lakew Worth Beach. And so they were able to connect. Um the granddaughter brought a bunch of family photos for all of us to benefit from and it was just a wonderful celebration uh and a chance for her to reconnect I think with the town and where she grew up right around the street and it was just wonderful. The second thing was Harbor Fest. I went to I went to on Saturday. I understand Friday was was hopping. Um Saturday was a wonderful wonderful day. Um lots of good vendors. I saw Noel with the chamber, energized as always, and it was just a really wonderful event. So, I know that there's always a lot learned the first time something is host hosted, but I'm sure it'll just get better year after year. Um, one more thing I want to mention is that with the legislative session coming up and all the work that's being done by the town and by many other organizations, I know our town works and was shared in the weekly update um different appropriations, issues that we're looking to focus on. Um, I've I've kind of come to the understanding that it might be helpful to have a council representative for the staff that are working with the lobbyist on this. So, they're collecting information. They have calls with the lobbyists, but some things can be helpful. We can reach out to our counterparts, other electeds, and the county and whatnot. So, I have been working with this for a little while.

I'd like to ask politely if I might be that um representative, but it's something that we could pass around in the future. Um I just thought, you know, that could be something to help them maybe get things faster or get further. And to the extent that there's any briefing or decision point or information or anything we can do, I would certainly keep everyone um up to date on that and ask for for guidance where needed. I would like to say that I think that's a great suggestion that someone from the council be part of these initiatives that are coming out with the county. Um I think we have firsthand knowledge of what's going on here. So I would I would support your recommendation. Yeah, I think of like what our mayor said with the TPA, like some things, you know, council just has to take it on themselves and and push sometimes.

I I support it and it's a great uh improvement over the process we've used in the past. Okay. Thank you. I would agree. You've put some work into it, so carry on. Yeah. I concur. All right. Well, thank you very much for letting me do this and um passing the mic to whoever is next. Councelor Kaisinger.

Yeah. Um I did go to Harbor Fest, particularly the tasting event Friday night. It was very nice and I want to get hats off to both the town staff and also to the Palm Beach Chambers for their hard work resulting in a very nice event. And also I think it it did a a great job promoting Harbor Fest and hopefully that'll promote more vehicular and foot traffic getting in there and and and patronizing the various uh restaurants and business in there. So I think it was a very nice event and also I want to uh congratulate uh Kelly Gerardi uh for her recognition tonight uh by the council and also a personal thank you for the example she sets for fine young for um young women and girls in our community. I think it goes a long way the STEM uh promoting the education and what you can do if you put your mind towards it. So I think she did a fantastic job and the uh recognition we gave her is welld deserved. Thank you

vice mayor. I would agree with everything set up here. Uh great job staff on the on harbor fest. Um, I also attended the uh Alice uh kitchen benton house um uh historic designation and that's our second adaptive reuse in town which would save saved uh historic building. They did a beautiful job on it. It's a major renovation and now it's a small business and uh thank you for uh Stacy um for you know putting the effort in and working with staff and getting all that done. So it was remarkable. Excellent job. Dr. Joy,

again, I'm going to um reiterate it. It was great to have Kelly here tonight. You know, as a parent, when you see your child go through public education in the town that you've lived, it's really extraordinary. And to have an astronaut um and know she's going back up again,

we can all be watching her and cheering her on. So, we congratulate her and thank her for coming. Um Harborside, I did owe everything you've all said. the chamber did an a yman's job on it. I think we we did get to talk to the businesses, got something of their feedback. Um, everything was very positive and we were there Friday night, so we got to really see it in action and I hope that as a town we can work harder to make that continue. I know the businesses, they need it. Congratulations to all the staff. Wow. If you put all the years together that the team has been around between our police and our staff, um it's amazing. Great job for all of them. Thank you. Um and Parks and Rec did a great job with the presentation. Um I'm looking forward to seeing that second reading and getting get that enacted. But thank you to all of you.

Have two items. Uh number one with regard to the event this weekend. I did get a chance to go on Saturday. Um delighted and I do think it's important uh to just for the record emphasize that number one that was a strategic initiative for the council and uh for those that may not know you know councelor Sunstrom had tried to champion getting Artigra back to Abakcoa. It was there for years. uh found out that uh disappointingly that there was a multi-year agreement already with the with to be down at I guess it's the regional park and uh but she didn't stop there. Um chamber went ahead and agreed to create this event. So this was year one. Um and um I know it'll get better every year, but I wanted to certainly thank councelor Sunstrom for making that happen along with the chamber. I also want to um thank former council member May because he focused on live music at the time. So, it was a group effort, but thank you. I'm glad we have something to substitute for Arty Gro. And then um this is a I always try to bring also in just little kind of housekeeping items and and my information may be dated but you know in the package tonight as we normally have we had uh contractor uh proposals that included contractor safety qualification forms. So the contract tonight had uh you know zero OSHA recordables you know for three years but uh last year when I had asked on a different one um I found out that we don't have a upper threshold set for the town. Um, so I'm going to ask particularly now that

we're having a procurement manager, uh, that we establish a standard for the town because if you're going to ask for a contractor safety qualifications and get an injury rate, we want to have an injury rate threshold that we'll reject. Otherwise, why are we asking this and we're not caring enough about safety? Um and so uh you I know my uh former employer we had one and it was a it was there was an opportunity only at an executive level high level which in this case it' be the town manager would have to authorize any exceedence of that but otherwise this would be a no-go threshold. So, I'm going to ask the town manager um to consider doing that and give us an update. So, again, you know, we've been asking for this for years. And it may be different between departments because I don't know that we had standards, but um but we will now. So, is my request understood, Mr. Kitsero?

Understood, Mayor.

Thank you. And I'm not setting it. I'm just saying we ought to have one, right? So then and there may be overriding circumstances we may which the town manager then would be the only one to have the authority that we conclude something was a real unique event or whatever. Uh but safety is important and there's nothing more important to you know local government uh and our employees are impacted if a contractor is working unsafely. So, and uh so anyway, that was it. And uh with that, the time is now 8:16 and we'll adjourn the meeting. Thank you. Yeah. Yeah. And then you