Board of County Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Welcome to our 04/21/2026 Board of County Commission meeting. Let's I'm calling the meeting to order. Let's have a moment of silence followed by the pledge of allegiance, is going to be led by John Sparaga. Thank you.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you. Thank you. We have a number of presets today. We will have public comment at 09:05. At 09:30, we're going to have a comprehensive agreement for public private partnership. At 05:05 or at the end of our meeting, we'll have public comment again. There are two additional items. Consent eight is a proclamation commending Kevin Joseph O'Connor, Nicholas De Gracia, Graydon Miller, and Jake Croteau upon the achievement of Eagle Scout. Consent nine is a local planning agency commission district one appointment. Is there a motion to approve the agenda?

I'll move approval of the agenda.

Second.

There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? That motion passes unanimously. We will now begin with proclamations. The first proclamation is a proclamation recognizing Master Gardeners Volunteer Week in Martin County, Florida.

Good morning, commissioners. We large have crew here today. The Master Gardeners with the University of Florida IFAS Extension, Martin County, have been serving their communities through plant clinics, demonstration gardens, youth education, community outreach events, and one on one guidance, improving the quality of life for our residents since 1984. Their dedication, professionalism, and spirit of service exemplify the highest ideals of volunteerism and reflect positively on UFIFAS Extension Martin County and our community as a whole. April 19 through the twenty fifth, twenty twenty six, is recognized as UFIFAS Extension Martin County Master Gardeners Volunteer Week oh, that's a mouthful to honor the outstanding contributions of our local master gardeners.

And here to accept, along with a lot of her crew, I guess, I would say, Jennifer Bellum, who's with UF IFAS Extension, Martin County. Thank you.

Thank you, and good morning. Good morning. Of all, I'd like to thank you for your continued support with the University of Florida IFAS Extension here in Martin The Master Gardener Volunteers are just one of our many volunteer groups we have with UF IFAS Extension. The Martin County Master Gardeners have been volunteering in Martin County for over forty years, and they provide education on gardening and landscaping practices through community events, school gardens, community gardens, one on one consultations, our Florida Friendly Landscaping Program, just to name a few. In 2025, the Master Gardeners hit a new record and recorded more volunteer hours than they ever have before. They volunteered twelve thousand six hundred and ninety nine hours. This is the only what they recorded because I know there's probably thousands of

hours they didn't record

into our volunteer management system, which has a value, an in kind value of over $420,000

that they volunteered back into Martin County.

To make this week even more special, tomorrow we are graduating 18 new Master Gardener volunteers who have went through over 75 of training just to become volunteers with University of Florida IFAS Extension, Martin County. And so I want to thank all the Master Gardeners for their dedication and hard work to educate the residents here in Martin County, and also want to thank the commissioners for their proclamation today. So thank you so much.

Nice.

We're gonna do the photo in the well, commissioners.

Into the well. And we can just

I guess we'll just scan right down here.

Yeah. Mine needs to go.

Those are

fine. And those are okay?

There's no reason. Alright.

Come on in. We're gonna I got half the layer here. Yeah. It's a lot of people.

Multiple layers.

No. Definitely gonna have to layer.

Taller plant, you know, it's just like in the garden. Fall in the back, middle, and front. It's a group.

Yeah. Sarah.

Sarah.

Three two, one. Is Perfect. Biggest. Oh, this is great. It

just keeps growing.

I got I got your fun. Thank you.

Wow.

Where'd everybody go? They showered.

We didn't move to the tall guy.

Our next proclamation is a proclamation declaring Earth Day in Martin County.

April 22 marks Earth Day, a global observance highlighting the need to protect the Earth's ecosystems, which span 510,000,000 square kilometers and support millions of species. Sustained efforts by residents and organizations can preserve these resources, ensuring their ecological and economic value endures for future generations. Earth Day provides an opportunity to celebrate Martin County's commitment to green initiatives, such as expanding stormwater treatment areas, promoting native plantings, and fostering community engagement in conservation. And here to accept, have Mark Perry, executive director and CEO of the Florida Oceanographic Center.

Always good to have you here, Mark. Thank you.

Word I got, you know, today, tomorrow is actually the Earth Day, a special day. I mean, back fifty four years ago in 1970, some of us were around and we were very active. And we started the first Earth Day back then and a lot about 20,000,000 people all over our planet, mostly in our country, gathered up to kinda kinda recognize the earth as a precious resource. The folks before me, obviously, are taking care of that earth, and we're we're really working hard to to try to all work together to try to understand our sustainability on this planet. We're at 8,200,000,000 people right now.

When I was born in 1952, there was only 2,200,000,000. We've grown a lot and there's a there's a lot of need to the more we occupy this plant, the more we need to be recognizing how to sustain it. I've got for you a little picture. So this is the Earth taken from space in in Apollo seventeen back in 1972 from about halfway to the moon, about a 125,000 miles up. What I want you to notice that the all those white puffy stuff that's around the planet.

That's our thin atmosphere, which sustains about all that water vapor. You know, the water on our planet covers about 71% of the of the Earth's surface, and and about 96%, 96 and a half percent of that is the saltwater in our oceans. So only 2.5% is freshwater, locked mostly into glaciers, ice packs, and even a little bit of our rivers and streams and lakes. But a lot of that also is needed to understand that water vapor right now is is in the atmosphere and it condenses into those clouds and is constantly moving around our atmosphere. The earth has three forms of water, you know, gas, solid, and and liquid.

But right now, Lake Okeechobee is about 11.94 feet. But the evaporation rate for today is almost at 3,500,000,000 gallons a day of evaporation off the lake. Where does that happen? That happens at water vapor and it goes into there. We're breathing it constantly.

We're constantly hydrating our lungs with this water vapor. So water is a big part of our plan. And I appreciate all that Martin County's done in this area where I've grown up as a resident. And I really, really appreciate Martin County's efforts to try to protect and preserve our water planet with all the initiatives that they've done, as we mentioned, storm water and all the other kind of things that the county works to stop the pollution and clean up the water so that we have a viable sustainable environment for the future. So thank you for declaring this this Earth Day and I appreciate it very much.

Thank you. Next is a proclamation honoring Nurses Week in Martin County, Florida. Nurses are the backbone of

the health care system, providing compassionate, skilled, and evidence based care to individuals, families, and communities across Martin County. The dedication, resilience, and unwavering commitment of nurses has been especially evident during times of public health challenges, demonstrating their courage, leadership, and adaptability in the face of adversity. In recognition of Nurse week, May sixth through the twelfth, the board encourages all residents to join in honoring and celebrating the dedication, compassion, and essential contributions of nurses nurses within our community. And I don't think Lisa with the Florida nurses Association is here, so we will accept it on her behalf and get

it to her. Okay. I think we need a motion to adopt this proclamation.

I'd make a motion to adopt.

Second.

There's a motion and a second. All those in favor, aye. Opposed, that motion passes unanimously. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioners.

Thank you, Laura. The Gardner's left the cut very quiet. We're going to need you folks to really rev it up a little bit. They're a wild bunch. Next

is public comment. I have one request to speak form, and that is from Justin Dukas. Good morning.

Good morning. My

name is Justin Dukas, and it is nice to see you guys and see how this thing works. And it's cool that you guys are here. I wanted to start off by saying that I am a native of Martin County, and I graduated from Martin County High School. So I'm just gonna get straight into it. House bill one three six five, which was passed, I think was late twenty twenty five or somewhere, it pretty much makes sleeping in public illegal.

And trespassing is also illegal. There are no shelters for me to sleep at tonight or any night. So I have to commit a crime in order to go to sleep along with the hundreds of Martin County residents who, do not have a house to sleep. And I feel like this is an emergency and a civil rights crisis, and I'm speaking for the behalf of everybody that is going through a similar circumstance. And I feel like we need to designate a camping area or something to alleviate, this emergency in which I have to commit a crime to sustain my biological body.

And, if we could talk about that at a later time, that would be great because, this is an emergency. This is also a federal lawsuit, but I do not want that to, be an indication that I do not like you guys because, obviously, I like the democratic way. It's just that I have pretty much exhausted all of my legal ways of going about this, and I don't know how to proceed forward and if we could do something about this. Thank you, guys.

Thank you, mister Dukas.

Thank you. Very well said.

Would you like to address us, sir? Please come forward and then fill out a request to speak form handed to the bailiff. You'll have three minutes to address us.

Morning. Charlie Bartholomew. I'm from Palm City. Just a couple quick things. I'd like to just give more appreciation to Mark Perry for everything he's done over there in the Oceanographic Institute. He's an old friend and a picking partner. Known him forever and his brother and family. I was just curious if there was any recent information on how the CRA in Palm City is rolling along. I I see him working. Sometimes civil contracts have pauses in them once in a while.

But I was curious how we're doing with the city water and service as they would apply, oops, to the southern end of the CRA district there. Does anybody have any recent updates? Or

We don't do that here at the meeting, but if you call my office, I can I can give you the answers? If I don't have them, we have staff that will absolutely give you the answers.

Very good. Thank you, commissioner.

My pleasure.

Thank you. Would anyone else like to address us? Seeing none, we'll return to Mr. Flanagan. You

hit your head on the ceiling?

Yes, I did actually. On the doorway, that's a whole another story. Joe Flanagan, as some of you may know, I am, the last few years, been in charge of the parades, the Veterans Parade, Memorial Parade, Martin Luther King Parade. And this year, after the Veterans Parade back in November, I let everybody know that I was going to have to step down from that position because in May, Project Graduation and my lovely wife is retiring finally. And so I need to kind of free up my schedule.

So I let everybody know that somebody else is going to have to pick up the ball. And I worked with the Veterans Council and talked to them and said, you guys have enough of the information and I can give you, I can give you the manual, I can have everything you need to be able to do this. And I was told we don't have the resources or the personnel to do this. And I kind went, seriously, you guys are the veterans, you all are in charge of battalions and platoons and who else? All I need is five people. I ran it by myself, but that's a skill set. And before that Jim Reardon ran it very, very well. And he had an office staff. He had a couple of people that were helping him. It can easily be done.

But now I'm hearing, it's a rumor so I can't confirm it, that there is a group that is very upset, feel like we're being disrespectful to the veterans, which I disagree with. My personal opinion, Veterans Day parade, fireworks, huge celebration. Memorial Day is a solemn moment. It needs to be revered and the city of Stuart now has a beautiful park in Memorial Park and the city of Stuart said they support that and said the commissioners said they would not support the parade. So anyway, just on there, I've got all kinds of information if you wish to talk to me more, but I also offer, this is everything on how to run the Memorial Day Parade.

Three different times I've offered it to the Veterans Council and I'm not here to bash them. They are great people. They have a great service. I'm ready to hand it to somebody. It could be done in seven weeks.

Thanks, mister Mr. Flanagan. Anybody else want to address us? And we'll move to commissioners. Commissioner Vargas?

Well, on a light note, that was a light note too, Mr. Flanagan. University of Florida, IFAS Extension, I had personal experience with them. They helped me plan my butterfly, buzzing bee and hummingbird garden. And they came out, five of them came out and they gave a lot of information and we're trying to promote obviously growth and nature here in Martin County.

So that was a success for me. University of Florida, I've had the pleasure along with Commissioner Capps to continue commissioner training up in Gainesville, a stellar group up there. And now they've been tagged as on par with some of the Ivy League schools. So we have them right here in our backyard. I urge everyone to take advantage of the services. There are many that they have. The young man that spoke a moment ago about homelessness, would that be social services matter, Commissioner Heard, Chairwoman Heard? Yes. Okay. And possibly we can refer him to to that that department. I'd appreciate that. So, yeah, that's it for right now.

Mister Capps. On

April 16, I attended the Apollo School Winter Speakers Series. And the speaker was Catherine Larson, and she is the keeper of the house at the House of Refuge. And she talked about the restoration that has been done there, and there's going to be a ribbon cutting event on a Saturday. When is that?

It's coming up in May 2.

May 2. And so we would invite everyone to come or who can. We look forward to seeing the renovations there. She did a great job. It was really fascinating to hear all about the history of the House of Refuge. I'm sure you all will enjoy seeing how it's been restored. Thank you.

I serve as your representative, our representative on the Children's Services Council, and as your representative, I get invited on field trips to visit a lot of the organizations that the Children's Services Council funds. Last week, I visited the Little Lights Dentistry. It's a homegrown organization. It's from Martin County. No other one exists any place else.

It's for low income children who don't have any insurance, and Little Lights Dentistry provides free dental care to newborns to 18 years old. And there's a dentist who's been on the staff there for nine years. There are three dental hygienists. The offices are on the Saint Joseph's campus, and they are just beautiful. I my own dentist office is really state of the art, a fine fine fine office.

But this place has just new wonderful equipment, beautiful rooms. Every all of the rooms have beautiful murals that were painted by Lynn Barletta's group. It's just an astonishing asset. Last year they provided dental care to over 1,000 Martin County kids for free. Another organization that I visited that also is homegrown and exists no place else in the world is Banner Lake.

If you don't know about it, it's in Hobe Sound. It's grown tremendously over the last twenty years. It now has a school that provides excellent education for, I think, 200 and something children. It's just terrific and added to that campus recently is Project Lift, another homegrown Martin County organization. Bob Zacchio started that organization I think about maybe sixteen years ago, something like that, with a $5,000 grant.

And now it's just an unbelievable organization. We have so many organizations here that are singular and distinct and provide so much wonderful care to particularly to kids in Martin County, particularly low income kids. They're extraordinary assets that we should be very, very proud of. Also on Friday, I attended the celebration of the acquisition of the easement for Barbie Ranch. It was held in Indian Town, and it was the first gathering of its sort of that sort that the best one that I've ever, ever attended.

It was incredible. It was really well attended. Really diverse group of supporters. The entire ELOC was there. Army Corps of Engineers was there.

South Florida Water Management was there. Lots and lots of people from our agricultural community were there. You know, of our best greatest philanthropists from the eastern part of the county. It was such a wonderful gathering, and of course it always made possible because of the inimitable troop family, and they are so reliably full of joy, and they're so gracious and so grateful and so emotional. And, every time Lance Troup, speaks about this acquisition, he's very tearful.

And on Friday, there wasn't a dry eye in the house either. So it was just a wonderful celebration of a terrific acquisition, and showed so much community support for the half cent sales tax. Thank you.

Very well said. A couple of quick things. One, to Mr. Flanagan's point about the Memorial Day Parade. That has been swirling around for quite a few months now.

I know that I had heard from a couple of folks. I agree that Veterans Day is the appropriate day for more celebration type events and that Memorial Day should be more solemn. I do also, you know, I've been reading what's been in the paper and on social media. It's obviously sort of a split group. I think part of what knowing that the ceremony portion had still been planned to take place and and give up the parade, which the folks that were concerned about it were thinking it it got a little broader than it needed to be.

There was car clubs and and other events and a little too celebratory, a little too upbeat for Memorial Day. And I guess if, know, God forbid, I become a Gold Star family, my son is in the military, I hope to never have to walk in those shoes, but I can imagine if I were one that it would be difficult to see people celebrating Memorial Day or saying happy Memorial Day, which I know is not meant to be a knock, but I think we've sort of faded from it. And until someone brought it up, and I give Colonel Wynn a lot of credit, he had been really quietly saying that for a long time, and I think people have gotten that. So we're still, from what I understand, we're still having the ceremony. It's just the parade portion.

And mister Flanagan, your idea now that I was thinking that where they normally have it right in Memorial Park with the tents that they put up. If we get the crowd that I would hope we get, it would be too small. But immediately next door, steps away, is a much larger venue that the city of Stuart did a beautiful job putting together that could easily handle anyone that is interested in coming. I still think it's important that if you have young children, scouts, anyone else, that they come and still understand what we're going through. Now more than ever, I mean, under the current political circumstances, now more than ever, we should remember who did what so that we could say and do what we please in The United States.

And sort of on that, my so I appreciate you, Mr. Falanion. I know that putting parades together is crazy, a lot of work. And probably if there was one person who could do it by himself, it's probably you. Last meeting, I had mentioned to Mr.

Donaldson about creating some kind of discount structure for some of county activities or services for veterans, active duty, military, and first responders. Many, many communities already do it. Many private organizations, private companies already do it. I would like to see, just as a reminder, that that would be something and that mister Donaldson, I was thinking I had gotten some very positive feedback about that, people that live in other communities that shared with me how they do it there. If each of our department heads would try to brainstorm with their staff on what they could offer, it doesn't necessarily have to be a discount.

It could be some type of incentive. I think it's an appropriate way that we respect and honor what those individuals go through. And then finally, I'm having an additional or the next in my series of dish with the commish, which will be this Friday, April 24. It starts at 8AM at the Palm City Community Center at the base of the Palm City Bridge. Now Charlie Layton Park is under construction, and when you come by, you'll see where, in the last couple of weeks, a tremendous amount of activity.

They're redoing the parking lot, which is the northern parking lot closest to the bridge. So instead, if you're familiar with that, if you came directly over the Palm City Bridge and made the left to go into Charlie Layton Park, the first entrance is detoured. You go down a little bit further, you make the left onto the side street, and you'll come around by the by the rowing club, and then there's a parking lot there. My guest this month is doctor Chaudhry, who is the vice president and medical director of Cleveland Clinic. He was the they had split that responsibility between tradition, which was his area, and then Martin North and South, which was someone else's, and they have consolidated them back, and he is now over all three of those areas.

He is a tremendous wealth of information. He's a great person. I've had the opportunity briefly to meet with him. I think he will be an excellent, guest. He'll have a lot of information. You know, there's a lot of sadly, there's a lot of misinformation floating around. He will be able to be there to set the record straight. It's not recorded. It's a little more of a casual conversation. He is prepared to answer any questions that are asked. We're obviously hoping to keep it very civilized, as a nice conversation with the amongst our community. It's a free event. It's hosted, or I guess helped to be hosted by the Palm City Chamber of Commerce. So I invite you all to come out this Friday, eight a. M.

It's about eight a. M. To 09:15, so if you're a working person, you still can come and hear what Doctor. Chaudhry has to say, and thank you very much.

Thanks. Commissioner Hetherington.

Briefly, Commissioner Heard mentioned some of my comments. Friday was a really amazing day as we celebrated Martin County Forever's success and we put Barbie Ranch celebrated putting that under a conservation easement. I had the opportunity of growing up in Indian Town and being able to explore all those beautiful ranches and properties. So it was an emotional day and I wanted to thank the Troop family and our ecosystems department here at the county and the DEP for all of the partnerships that made that possible. It was worked on for years and years and it wasn't easy and thank you to the voters who approved the Martin County Forever Land Acquisition Program to put such a beautiful property that you'll see in preservation forever.

So thank you to the Troop family and all of the parties that made that possible. It was a wonderful day.

Thank you. Mr. Donaldson?

I have some recognition that I'll present at the end of the day.

Okay. I'm all set. Thank you. Anybody else?

Then we will take up Department three, which is a public meeting for consideration and approval of comprehensive agreement for a public private partnership P3. Sorry, before we do that, let's approve the consent agenda. Is there a motion to approve?

A motion.

Yes, I. A motion

and a second. Any objections? That motion passes unanimously, thanks. Good morning.

Alright. Good morning, chair and commissioners. Matt Graham, assistant county administrator. Joining me today is Sean Donahue, our general services director, and Stephanie Merley, our OMB director. Today is the third required public meeting under section two five five zero six five four statutes for the Martin County operations facility public private partnership or p three.

Why are you here?

At this meeting, staff will present the final negotiated comprehensive agreement and provide both the board and the public an opportunity to review and comment prior to consideration of approval. This represents the final step in the statutory process before board action. This item is a result of a multistep public and statutory process. As a reminder, we received the unsolicited proposal on 10/31/2025. The board held the first public meeting in December followed by the second public meeting in February where the board made a, formal public interest determination and authorized staff to proceed with negotiations.

Since that time, staff and our consultants have completed negotiations, bringing us here today for the third and required public meeting. So this project addresses several long standing operational challenges. Currently, the county operations are spread across multiple locations as we know, including facilities on the airport property. Currently, excuse me, these conditions create inefficiencies, duplication of services, and increase operational costs while many facilities are also aging and outdated. Additionally, the county is required to comply with the FAA voluntary corrective action plan or the VCAP, which requires location of the nonaeronautical uses from airport property.

So this project provides a long term centralized solution by consolidating multiple departments into a single modern operations facility. It supports improved coordination, enhances service delivery, and aligns with the county's long term capital planning and infrastructure goals. And importantly, it ensures compliance with the federal requirements with regard to the VCAT. So why the p three approach? The public private partnership, model was selected because it provides several key advantages.

It allows the county to transfer certain project risks and achieve greater cost and schedule certainty as well as accelerate the project delivery. We're going from eighteen months of building this as opposed to thirty six months with the traditional method. It includes, it also leverages private sector expertise in design and construction while maintaining public ownership of the facility. Overall, this approach was determined to provide the best value to the county. And with that, Sean's going to talk about the evaluation and what we've been going through with the negotiations for the past two months here.

So the proposal has undergone a thorough and comprehensive evaluation process. That process included hiring some consultants, financial advisers advisors for technical review and legal review by the county attorney's office. The evaluation confirmed that the proposal meets statutory requirements. It's feasible, appropriate, and in the public interest. So the staff effort since October has been extensive.

We've met with the developer. We've met internally. We've met several times up to one hundred hours, one hundred plus hours discussing the unsolicited proposal, the department's needs for the new facility, conceptual plans and cost estimates, legal framework and details of the comprehensive agreement. The administration, county attorney's office, OMB and the county's financial advisors have spent the last several weeks negotiating the terms of the comprehensive agreement and the financial arrangements for the project negotiating key areas of the contract, including insurance, liquidated damages, county's comprehensive requirements for development, the project schedule, project milestones and completion terms. And I'll talk a little bit more about those.

So the scope includes the construction of 114,000 square foot facility plus an additional 4,000 square foot hazardous material storage area. There's 10 acres of secured material and equipment storage, 300 parking places plus, storm water improvements, landscaping, utilities, a lift station, a chilled water plant for cooling, covered storage, material storages, storage areas, and a fuel station and emergency backup power. So it's a pretty comprehensive plan meeting the needs of all the county's departments. The facility meets the requirements of the CIP, the capital improvement plan, with a central core component shared by all departments, individual department spaces for offices, warehouses, labs, storage areas and trade areas. The schedule is aggressive, like Matt said, eighteen months for completion and includes several milestone requirements along the way.

It's a guaranteed maximum price not to exceed $74,000,000 Payments will be based on completion of the milestones and work performed not ahead. The project has several areas where the county is protected with bonds and provisions for liquidated damages. The county was involved in significant decision making across the agreement, including a non substitution list where we get to define what we want in the building and the developer can come in with a cheaper product or something that doesn't meet our requirements. We still have design review to go. We still have to pick and deal with the fixtures, furniture and equipment.

And then we still we can do inspections and construction permitting. The design will be minimalistic and cost effective while still meeting the needs of all the departments and the county's LDRs. Once complete, the building improvements will be conveyed directly to the county as required by statute. Some of the benefits of the project include a hardened facility able to withstand 180 mile an hour wind speeds, which will allow the county departments to better respond to the residents and infrastructure needs after a storm. We can actually stay in this facility and be ready to mobilize as soon as the storm is over.

The reduced construction costs provide additional efficiencies. The design was intended to avoid duplicated spaces such as shared locker rooms, conference rooms, communal spaces, lay down areas, storage areas, receiving operations. All that's combined into one centralized space. Consolidating into one space and one main building provides for better collaboration between and within the departments. Combining the departments to a new modern facility will also provide a cost avoidance of not having to maintain the older facilities that we're at now.

The plan complies with the FAA requirements, as Matt pointed out. And then finally, our consultants performed an analysis of cost per square foot of the project initially and then compared it to what we could do now is if we did this ourselves in a design bid bill process. If we did this on our own, we'd be paying around $700 square foot. This project is coming in at $533 a square foot. So it's a significant savings in just the process alone.

The speed of the process and getting that done is something that we just can't do as a county. So we're laying on the expertise of the developer and their experience. And then overall, as we negotiated through the project, we increased the size of the building, and we added a whole bunch of required improvements, and that total cap never changed. The developer met all of our needs and never increased or never even talked about in costs. And from here, I'll turn it over to Stephanie.

So a little bit about the financing structure of this project. Based on analysis by the county's municipal advisor, PFM, self financing the construction of the Martin County operations facility has been identified as the most cost effective option and the approach that delivers the greatest overall value to the county. The proposed financing structure includes bonds pledged by the county's existing revenues with the annual impact anticipated to be budget neutral. This is due to debt obligations the Board paid off during the current fiscal year which offset the annual repayment requirements of this bond thereby improving the project's overall financing structure. It also includes a $10,000,000 budgeted buy down with approximately $64,000,000 in total debt issued to fully fund the project.

A twenty year repayment term is recommended reducing overall interest cost by about 22,000,000 to a typical thirty year term. This approach comprehensively delivers approximately $45,000,000 in total savings to the county over the life of the term. This includes cost advantages from reduced square footage costs compared to traditional design bid build delivery, estimated time value of money impacts, avoided rent payments to the airport, and savings compared to the proposers lease purchase alternative option. Finally, the strategy ensures the county retains full ownership of the facility upon completion supporting long term operational flexibility and maximizing value to the public over time by allowing the county to directly control how the facility is maintained, adapted and utilized without the constraints or additional costs typically associated with long term lease or third party ownership structures. With us today we have Jay Glover from advisor and Duane Draper, the County's Bond Counsel with Bryant Miller Olive and they're here and available to provide additional detail on the County's financial position and the bond issuance if needed.

So for the comprehensive agreement considerations in accordance with section 255,065, the county has made several key findings. The project has been determined to be in the public interest and the financial plan has been reviewed and confirmed to be feasible. The agreement includes adequate safeguards to protect the public from additional costs or service disruptions. And then based on all the analysis, evaluation, and negotiation, staff is recommending board approval, and there's five recommendations here. And the third bullet point, commissioners were asking that should we approve this, that that be a separate vote on the third bullet point.

So I'll go through, the first bullet point. Move that the board adopt a resolution determining the proposed project and comprehensive agreement comply with section two five five zero six five Florida statutes. Move that the board approve the comprehensive agreement between Martin County and Building Tomorrow's infrastructure for the design, construction, and conveyance of the Martin County operations facility and authorize the chair to execute all documents related to this request. Move that the board approve supplemental bond resolution authorizing the issuance of half cent sales tax revenue bonds to fund the project. Move that the board approve the budget resolution appropriating the debt proceeds into the fiscal year twenty six budget.

And finally, move that the board authorize the chair to sign all related documents to effectuate the issuance of the $05 sales tax revenue bond Series 2026. That concludes our presentation, and we'll be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Mr. Katz?

You When I think about this project, I think of it's a very large contract, 74,000,000. And the first thing that comes to mind is the need. Why do we need this? And I'd like to remind the public of a couple of things that have been brought out in prior meetings regarding this matter. And one is that we need the new operations facility because the FAA is asking us to get off of the airport property because our operations facility there is not an aeronautical use.

So we're kind of under a time limit. We need to to get off the airport property. And then also, I remember visiting the current operations facility when I first got elected, and it's like a bunch of trailers bolted together as I remember that's what I remember. And it's kind of subpar for the this very large department in our county. The government has been working in sort of substandard conditions for like twenty five years.

And this issue has been talked about for about twenty five years as I remember. So there is a great need to have a new operations facility. The second thing that comes to mind with regard to this is how would we pay for it. And that has to do with this half cent sales tax revenue bond. Apparently, there's a half cent component in the sales tax that we pay that gets shared back to the counties from the state.

And we're actually, actually able to use that for bonds, to bond that amount, and that's how we would raise the money to pay for the project, not through ad valorem taxes. So that's really important to note. You know, we won't be raising your tax bills, property tax bills in order to pay for it. And then in prior discussions with Ms. Merli and the staff, which the presentation was excellent by all of you, thank you very much.

I remember something that was very interesting. We retired about $4,500,000 a year in debt last year. Several things like the Veterans Memorial Bridge comes to mind, and there were a few others that we we knocked off, and it it it created about it was about 4 and a half million dollars a year in debts that we erased last year. And the payment on the operations facility will be about $4,600,000 So it's a large payment, but it's pretty much on par with the debts that we retired. And also we're going to be saving $250,000 a year that we paid the airport fund for to rent space at the airport.

So actually we're going to be to the positive about 100,000 a year. So we've got the room and the budget to do this. I thought that was important. Lastly, I would note that the county has strong credit ratings and very low debts as a whole. And it looks like we're aiming toward having a twenty year repayment instead of a thirty year repayment, which saves $27,000,000.22000000

dollars

$22,000,000 So I'm impressed with the proposal, I'm comfortable supporting it. And I think, Mr. Graham, you mentioned that you thought the motion should be to initially to cover the number one, two, and four.

And

then then we would do number three as a separate motion. Is that what I heard?

We'll do three and five separately.

Three and five. Okay. Well, anyway, I would initially I would make a motion. I would like to go ahead and make a motion to approve this project.

Second.

Excellent summary, thank you. Mr. Hargas.

I brought this up at the previous meeting also. In the way that I practice when I'm getting bids, I get at least three bids. I just don't go with one bid. And it seemed as if it was a push just to have one organization submit a bid, negotiate with them, and it was hurry, hurry. I'm really uncomfortable with that because I don't know what else to compare with. I understand the money. I've got that down. You're going to float a bond. And those that choose to invest in it, that's fine. And I understand about the zero zero dollars sales tax and the cost savings.

However, this is $74,000,000 I think one of the previous commissioners, previous meetings said, we're going to compare this to a roof. This is not a roof. There are many companies that would be interested in putting their hat in the ring, and we have to get the best value for those taxpayers in Martin County. This is not something that's impossible to do. And I have a very, very big problem with this.

This has just been pushed forward and there's not a lot of thought, is this really the best deal? This is really the best deal for us. So I'm very reticent just to go ahead and approve this with one vendor coming in, one contractor to come in. I said in the previous meeting also.

Commissioner Campy.

Thank you. Couple of things, sort of side notes to the process. I know that there will be a consolidation, as you mentioned in your presentation, a consolidation of other areas where county departments have been located. I know, obviously, the the biggest one is the airport property,

and

we know that that will revert back to being an aviation or flight aviation uses on the airport property, but there are several others. I had heard a couple of clever uses, reuses of some of the properties, but I would seriously like the county's leadership to consider evaluating properties where operations will be moved and where appropriate should be considered for sale back to the private sector, back to the tax rolls. We shouldn't just creatively figure out a way to repurpose the property. If there is a legitimate, and I know speaking at Hal Patioque, there is already a vision of what could work and make the park more efficient. But if there are other areas, the property on the southern portion of the Fairgrounds at Indian Street, one of the more valuable pieces of property that the county owns, I would prefer to lower the cost of this project to think about putting that back out for sale back to the private sector.

And then secondly, when partner in the public private partnership, the private partner, that organization, if not the ability to require them, I would strongly appreciate and value our connection with them if they would utilize as many local contractors and service providers as possible. I know that it's a big organization. It's a tremendous project. Every opportunity to use our local folks to engage our local folks as consultants, contractors, service providers, whatever the case may be, that brings an extra value to this project, you know, which will serve the public residents of Martin County for decades. But I also think it's an additional opportunity for us.

So I don't know if we can structure that, and I see our folks that are part of that shaking their heads. Yes. I'd like whoever's going to be overseeing the project, especially in the beginning, to see that that is not something that we said at the meeting and hope for the best, that we literally would see either in collaboration with the Treasure Coast Building Association or whoever else might be needed. I think that although you have structured a very well done plan, and I can hear my colleague, and I don't disagree with what Commissioner Vargas is saying, the traditional way to negotiate something would be to collect bids from multiple people. But this, as we have discussed in meetings in the past, is a strategy that is not familiar necessarily to a lot of folks.

It has not been utilized everywhere, but it has very much been utilized globally, I'm sure in The United States. And I think Commissioner Heard and I having sat up here for quite a while, this is sort of an interesting day as Commissioner Hetherington has been, in her shorter term, has heard this many times, but Commissioner Heard and I, this has been discussed for decades. Commissioner Capps touched on it by saying how it looks almost like an encampment. It looks like something that was slapped together for a temporary use on a piece of property at the airport where, like, hey. You know, we're gonna just push everything in here.

We'll put some people in trailers. We'll put some people in in metal buildings, and we'll utilize some structures, and we'll just hope for the best. Except decades have passed, and it really is inappropriate for our community. I don't think most residents have any idea how this portion of the county employees have to exist. I remember touring our old fire stations, and looking and saying, you know, sewage coming up through the shower pans, the cabinets falling off the walls.

And we asked our employees to live like that and to work like that. And now if you look at these facilities, and I get it, we're trying to be fiscally responsible and we drag those projects and those facilities out as long. We're well past their life expectancy. I think it's disrespectful, and it's not because we weren't trying to come up with something, but I think enough is enough. It's well past time that we do this.

I know that certain residents will think, like, they get nervous that we're spending tax reinvesting into the organization, which most private sector businesses do. But people get frustrated that we're spending money on building things. But anyone that had a concern that this project shouldn't move forward or that we're building a Taj Mahal for our employees, I invite them to come and see what we've been up against. When I say we, I mean our staff has been up against for decades. Lining up to use a restroom before you have to go out for the entire day, inappropriate.

So I know that we kid with Mr. Donaldson because it was he just celebrated his 30 he's thirty one years into the county now, but probably for at least twenty five years, this has been an issue all the way back when he was the engineer and head of public works. And I think we're finally, you know, I don't want to jinx it. I think we're finally here. And I'm glad we don't have to name it the Don Donaldson Memorial Building, that you that you lived long enough to see this happen. Morbid. But if, god forbid, something happened to you, we will name it after you.

At least I'll make

I'll make a motion. But it's nice that you get to see the project come to fruition and that you'll get to be at the ribbon cutting for this. So I second commissioner Capp's motion with my two caveats, sell any property that you can and employ locals. Thank you.

Commissioner Hetherington. Many of my notes have already been spoken.

I read her notes and then I

have to say. That long before I was here, the the day I arrived, this has been a priority. I've been here seven years and opportunity also to take a tour, and it can't be the way it's not an efficient way to deliver the public works services to our residents that they expect demand and deserve. And in addition to even accelerate that further is the FAA requiring us to use that property for aeronautical uses. So that was my first point.

And as far as building tomorrow's infrastructure, that is a group that has actually they have proved that they can do this kind of project and be successful at it with what they did at the Indian Town High School. So I'm excited to be and I do agree that the more local vendors you can hire, the better the project will be for our entire community. So I absolutely support that. And I'll just say that this has been in the planning process. It's been well planned.

It's been a capital project that has been discussed. It's been planned. And I think it's the financing. The P3 mechanism, we were not talking about this five years ago. I think that's going to give the residents and the county a huge significant benefit to getting this project done on time and on budget. And I support the way it's fiscally planned, and it's the best way to move the project forward at the most fiscally, I think, sound and efficient, and I will absolutely support it.

Commissioner Vargas?

Okay. So in light of everything that I said, I'm not going to reiterate that because I'm not verbose. I get right to the point. Yeah. Properties need to be sold. That's important. We can't be hanging on to this. This is not in the best interest for the county and for the taxpayers. As a matter of fact, I'm glad Commissioner Campi brought this up. I've had small contractors approach me, and they said, you're locked up there at the county.

I can't get in. And these are people that have successful businesses, but it's the same names that come across for engineering, plumbing, electrical, whatever it may be. This is not correct. This is not correct behavior. We have to afford the opportunity to everyone and give them a hand up to be able to offer their services as vendors and or contractors.

And I think that anything that we do in the future should be included in contracts if they want to be considered to be successful. I'm still very reticent. I don't have anything to compare this with. I see a $74,000,000 price tag here. I already said before, without the additional information and the knowledge, I cannot go along with this. I cannot go along with this. There are other companies out there, believe me, that would love to throw their hat in the ring here, absolutely, without a doubt. This is not a roof, this is not a small project, this is huge, doesn't come along every day. And I've had this discussion with staff. You did a great presentation, and I appreciate it.

And of course, our accounting, and I get the money crystal clear. However, we're in tenuous times right now, and we have to be extremely frugal and prudent with our money as we do personally. This is what I've heard from folks and What? You're spending how much? Why? And I understand all about the trailers and how they're cobbled together. I get all of that. But there's a certain way in order to make this more effective. This is where I stand right now.

Mr. Donaldson?

I just wanted to point out two things at this project that are unique, and certainly the P3 is a unique process. It is new. However, you must recognize that you just see a small part of the team here. Part of the initial contract also included us hiring a number of consultants to help us evaluate that. And we don't have them here today because, quite honestly, we have some excellent experts on our staff that allow us to present those in those details.

Our county engineers had a number of decades of experience working for the private sector. Mr. Donahue also has similarly decades of experience building large facilities at colleges and other areas. And financially, too, we have significant resources within and then our consultants are here. So there's two critical elements of that.

And one of them is the first one is, are we getting built what we need? And I absolutely guarantee that we have that. And then the other piece is how does it cost to put the site together? Site development is a complicated business in Martin County and in Florida in general. All the utilities have to be brought in, the stormwater infrastructure meeting the codes, and that assemblage of infrastructure is expensive.

And so we did have between ourselves and our experts looking at how that would cost. And Mr. Donahue brought up those costs of $700 a square foot, which is really for the entirety of the site. All of those pertinences, everything that goes into putting the site together. And those are real numbers.

And those are real numbers that are compared to other particular projects. P3 contracts are complicated in that fact that they have a not they can exceed $1 It's a it is a I would say that for a contractor, it is not for the weak. It is a cutthroat business that they work in and building large facilities for very sophisticated private sector developments. And when they get it wrong, they go out of business. There is no second chance, if you will.

It's a one and done. So I think that's the advantage. That's why we're interested in it as well, is that it is a tight contract. We they have the experience to do it. And I think the other thing that's really important that, as I've been told by our Taxpayers Association, Ms.

Merle speaks too fast, the financial piece is also, I think, a piece that is very noteworthy, and I invite the public to pull that apart in the fact that we have a really great financial team that put together that is saving significant amounts of money, both in terms of the financing and how the Board supported buying down debt and actually having over $100,000 a year in revenue and to build a $74,000,000 facility all at the same time is really quite creative. And I don't want to over gloss that because it was pretty significant. And it kind of goes to the heart of Martin County's pay as you go mentality and our ability to deliver on significant needs when we need to. So that, I think, just wanted to make sure that there was a lot work on here. There was a whole team of experts that were behind them.

We didn't need to bring them because, quite frankly, we have some of the best right here. Thank you.

Yeah, I just want to say that this project was done in full compliance with the law. And how many Public Works employees work out of the Wyndham Field facility?

We're going to name a wing after you, Jim.

Jim Gordon, Public Works Director. So we have about 110 employees out there just in Public Works, but we also have general services with another 50?

50 plus.

50 plus employees out there, so we share that facility currently.

160 employees there.

And then we're adding the parts department as well.

Right. Yep.

And I just want to say we have the team in front of us here. Mr. Abate and Mr. Gorton were significant parts of the design team, and then the negotiating team was Ms. Merley and Mr. Donahue and Mr. Graham. And I could not have more faith in the team that we've put together. I have complete trust and confidence that this will be a terrific project. It's the biggest project that we've ever contemplated, but it's one that I have no reservations about approving. I think I think that you've I'm so proud and so confident in in that this project is the best that we can do. Terrific job.

And that's coming from Sarah Heard.

That's right. I'm a pushover.

Yeah. That's what people call you. Pushover.

Twenty three years I've been pushing over. So there is a motion to approve bullet items one, two, four. Is that correct?

Yes.

Okay. There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Opposed. That motion passes four one with commissioner bargas dissenting. Now on to three and five.

I make a motion to

Separate or together? You can do those two together.

I'll make a motion to accept items three and five.

And for that, looks to me like you're gonna have to buy me a new box of pens.

Right?

There's a motion. Is there a second? Second. There's a motion. We just need to ask for public comment. This is a public hearing. Would anyone from the public like to address us? Yes, Mr. McChrystal. Thank you.

You're right, it has been a long time, a long time of people fighting to keep as many jets out of the sky as possible at Wylton Field. 30% of the property still does not put jets in the sky. So when I'm going over this item on your website, the agenda website, I didn't see Building Tomorrow's Infrastructure mentioned. All I saw was Building Tomorrow's Schools. Building Tomorrow's Schools is an operation that's been actually in functioning for only two years out of North Palm Beach.

And then when I researched that, I saw that it was a a shoot off of building tomorrow's infrastructure. So this feels icky to me. The appetite for jet hangar space at Widham Field is insatiable. And obviously, you guys have decided what you're going to do. I think at this point, all we can really hope for, and I hope you would at least throw us a bone knowing that the illegal extension of Runway 1230 in 1998 started all this.

I think you at least throw us a bone and do what you can to preserve the 23 acres on the airport property that border the YMCA and then all the neighborhoods to the north of there. Yeah. This is icky. Knowing that the real need for hangar jet space is coming out of North Palm Beach, it just has an feel to it. And it's over.

I fought it as long as I could. But again, throw us a bone, preserve that 23 acres of buffer between the airport and the YMCA and those neighborhoods to the north.

Sir, would you identify yourself for the record?

Francis Joseph McChrystal the third.

Thank you. Any further anyone else from the public? Seeing none, there's a motion and a second. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Opposed. That motion passes four zero one with Commissioner Vargas dissenting. Thank you very much. We're now going to take up Department four, if that's okay, which is adoption of a resolution approving the surplus and disposition of a county owned property to the town of Sewells Point for the benefit of the public or community interest and welfare.

He's on her way down.

You wanna start it?

We could sit here in

Jim Gordon, Public Works Director for the record. This is a request for acceptance and approval of a resolution for the surplus and disposition of a 0.23 acre county owned property that's currently that's located adjacent to the Sewells Point Town Hall. The subject property is currently leased to the town, and the lease term expires next month, 05/10/2026. The property is not currently needed for county purposes. And the town of Sewells Point has proposed purchasing the property for public or community interest and welfare.

Sorry. Don't

Take a deep breath. Sorry.

I'm scared. Is my fault. I moved out of out of order. I was watching, and I was like, wait. I thought they

were gonna go back.

Came all the way from Willoughby Boulevard.

How much

did you

use it for?

I just did this.

Oh, okay.

The executive's

The county currently has a public purpose lease agreement with the town of Sewells Point for the point two three acre parcel, which it's directly behind and adjacent to their Town Hall parcel. The lease is scheduled to terminate on May 10. And rather than entering into a new lease, the town at their September 2025 meeting authorized staff to explore the potential of purchasing the property. They completed an appraisal which came back with a fair market value of $50,000. By way of background on this piece of property, the county acquired this property in 1981 as part of the Southern Gulf Utilities purchase.

In 2010, the county determined that the site was no longer needed for county purposes and removed the storage tank that was located on the property. Then in 2011, the county entered into that public purpose lease agreement. More recently, the town manager brought forward an item to proceed with purchase of this parcel, which was approved at their board meeting on April 14. Staff is requesting that this parcel be declared surplus and authorized for sale to the town of Sewells Point, who is a municipal corporation pursuant to Florida statute one twenty five thirty eight. The statute allows the county to convey property that is no longer needed for county purposes to municipality in support of public interest and welfare and a mutually agreed upon price.

The mutually agreed upon suggested price would be the appraised value of the property, which is $50,000 With that, we ask that the board adopt a resolution declaring the property surplus and approving its sale to the town of Sewells Point for $50,000 and authorize the chair to execute the contract and a county deed transferring the property to the town of Sewells Point. If there's any questions, we'd be happy to answer.

Commissioner Campy.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Mr. Gore, can you pull up onto the screen the location of the property so folks at home can see what exactly we're discussing?

It's on 396, if that helps you. There you go.

Can you I guess that's as big as we can make it.

There

we go, sorry.

Can you zoom in a little bit? Donna, are you in charge? Oh, that's it. Okay, perfect, perfect. The point I wanted to make is I'm surprised this was county property in the first place. It literally is that building to the right that says TSP, town of Sewells Point, that's their town hall. This is like their if you didn't know any better, you would assume this is their parking lot or their property. I think it makes perfect sense that we would finalize. We don't need to continue to lease it. And I would remind people that when they think about the county is selling off property, Sewells Point is in Martin County.

Sewells Point residents are Martin County residents, so it's not like we're selling this off to Port St. Lucie. We're selling this off basically to ourselves, other residents. And for the appraisal came in at 50,000, then that's a fair number. We shouldn't be trying to twist the arm of our fellow residents behind their backs. I would make a motion to staff's recommendation to sell this property to our friends at the town of Sewells Point.

Mr. Daniels, do you want to add anything else?

Bob Daniels, town manager, Sewell's Point. Just wanted to thank the commission. It's great when we work on cooperative efforts, and this is one that's been a little bit time in the making. And so I really appreciate your cooperation, and hopefully you all vote to approve.

Thank you. Thank you. Would anyone from the public like to address us on this matter? Seeing none, back to the Board. Any further questions for our staff or Mr. Daniels? There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? That motion passes unanimously. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Put that 50,000 towards the maintenance facility.

Need to get as much revenue as you can.

Shall we take an early break for our morning break and then come back

in Isn't ten there something else, the hotel in Pompe?

In I

don't think that'll take that long. Let's Let's just just funnel through it.

Take up public hearing quasi judicial number one, which is a request for approval of a revised major master site plan for Palm Palm Pike Crossing and a revised final master site plan for Lot 5. This is quasi judicial. Commissioner Vargas, any ex parte disclosures?

If I have any, they've been filed. Commissioner Capps?

If I have any, they have been filed.

If I have any, they've been filed. And Commissioner Campi?

I don't have any, and that's been filed.

And Commissioner Hetherington?

If any, they've been filed.

Excellent. Mr. Aguilar, have you provided all of your important materials to the clerk?

Good morning. A couple of my work history has been turned in as exhibit one.

Okay. Anyone who's going to be providing sworn testimony in this public hearing, please stand up, raise your right hand, and be sworn in.

Do you swear or affirm the evidence you're about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

I do. Thank

you. Please proceed.

Thank you, Pano Chair. Good morning, members of the Board. My name is Luis Aguilar, Principal Planner for the Growth Management Department. Dear Noynton Winners, proof of public notice was turned in at the LPI meeting. I'm presenting a request from Bradford Trading Partners LLC to revise the Palm Pai Crossing master site plan by expanding Lot 5 and to approve a revised final site plan for a three story, 959 square foot hotel with 105 units on approximately 6.57 acres, included as a request for a certificate of public facilities reservation.

The subject site is located in the Southwest section of Palm Pike Crossing, a master planned commercial development South Of Southwest Martin Highway and West Of Southwest High Meadow Avenue in Palm City. This is the Pampay Crossing development. This is an enlarged area of the site. The property is undeveloped. The zoning district is limited industrial.

The properties to the north, east, and south are limited industrial as well. The future land use designation is industrial and the abiding properties have the same designation. And this is the approved master site plan. Here's Lot 5 and the proposed addition to the lot, which is a lake in the dry retention area. North of the subject site, you'll find Lots 1 Through 4 of the Pompe Crossing development, which includes a convenience store with gas station, a vet clinic, retail, a daycare facility and a pet care facility.

Here's the proposed revised master plan showing the expanded Lot 5. And this is the approved site plan for Lot 5, which was for a 120,600 square foot residential storage facility. However, this building was never constructed. This is the first sheet of the proposed site plan. Access to a property is from two locations on an internal roadway, here and here.

And here's the enlarged version of the site plan. You can clearly see the entrances to a site, the circulation and some of the features such a pool and outdoor seating areas. This is the addition to Lot 5. The applicant is proposing site enhancements such a gravel pathway, a gazebo and a paved seating area with benches. So you can see the pathway here, the gazebo and the seating area.

The applicant is requesting alternative compliance from the primary facade transparency fenestration criteria of Article IV, Division 20. Staff recommend approval. The Board of County Commissioners is the final decision maker for this application. And these are the proposed building elevations. This here are the primary facades.

This matter was heard before the LPA on 04/16/2026. The LPA voted to approve three to zero. Development review staff have found the Pumpic Crossing Lot 5 application to comply with all applicable regulations and the comprehensive growth management plan as detailed in the staff report. We recommend to move that the Board receive and file the agenda item and its attachments, including the staff report as Exhibit one. And move that the Board adopts the resolution approving the revised major master site plan for Pampa Pai Crossing.

And move that the Board adopts the resolution approving the revised final site plan for the Palm Pike Crossing Lot 5 project. This concludes my presentation. The applicant is here, has prepared a presentation as well and is ready to answer any questions.

Commissioner Campi.

Thank you, Mr. Aguilar. Two quick questions. I know you mentioned it, but can you tell me again what was the square footage of the proposed and approved storage facility that was going to go there?

120,600 square feet.

120,000. And what's the proposed square footage of the hotel?

So it is for 20 I lost it right here. 20,959 square foot hotel.

It's 62,877.

Correct. It's a three story hotel. Okay.

I'll hear from the applicant before I continue. I just wanted to get those two square footage totals for something I'm going to tell you later.

Thank you.

Any further questions? Applicant, would you like to give us a presentation?

All right good morning Board of County Commissioners Chair Heard my name is Leah Heinzelman with Kotler and Hearing here on behalf of the applicant for Palm Pike Crossing Lot 5. I wanted to thank Luis and staff for their coordination on this project and their presentation. So we are here to present a revised major master site plan and Lot 5 final site plan for proposed hotel use within the existing master plan commercial development. This request reflects a vision that aligns with both the market demand and Martin County's long term goals. This project is supported by a highly experienced consultant team, many who have been involved from the original master plan.

You can see on the screen our full team, and together we have worked collaboratively with staff throughout the review process to ensure a comprehensive and compliant design that meets all applicable county standards. As background, Lot 5 was originally envisioned for a hotel and the master plan was approved under the assumption one would be designed in this location. During the uncertainty of the COVID nineteen pandemic, the project was transitioned to a self storage facility which received approval in 2022. Today, with a stabilized and growing hospitality market, we are returning to the originally intended hotel use, an evolution that better serves the area and supports economic activity within Martin County. The application includes both a revision to the existing master site plan and final site plan approval for 105 room three story hotel approximately 62,870 total square feet.

The proposal has been designed to integrate seamlessly within Palm Pike Crossing while meeting all requirements of the comprehensive growth management plan and land development regulations. The site is located at the Southwest corner of Southwest Martin Highway and Southwest High Meadow Avenue and consists of approximately 6.57 acres. The property is well positioned within an established commercial and industrial corridor with strong regional access close to the Turnpike. The subject property carries a future land use designation of industrial consistent with all surrounding parcels. The proposed hotel is compatible within this designation and supports the broader employment and service framework intended for the corridor.

Staff has confirmed consistency with the comprehensive plan. The site is zoned Light Industrial LI, and the proposed use is permitted within the district. The surrounding zoning context is also predominantly industrial, further reinforcing compatibility. The revised master site plan contains the overall framework of Palm Pike Crossing while allowing the expansion of Lot 5. This adjustment supports the operational needs of the proposed hotel while maintaining compliance with all site standards.

This site has been designed with a strong emphasis on open space and environmental performance. Over 64% of the site is either open space or landscape, significantly exceeding minimum requirements. Extensive pervious areas and stormwater features enhance both function and aesthetics. Part of the reason for the existing dry detention was included. The site not only includes an outdoor seating and cafe area, but also outdoor amenity pool as well as an overlook to the modified lake, pedestrian pathways, and extended landscape areas.

This site accounts parking for the total hotel room count, employees, and outdoor seating areas requiring a 113 spaces, and this design provides a 121. As outlined in staff's report, the project satisfies all applicable criteria, including storm water management and water quality compliance, compliance with flood elevation requirements, enhanced landscape and tree preservation standards, minimal traffic impacts with acceptable levels of service, adequate utility capacity, and full compliance with fire access and ADA requirements. Alternative compliance is requested for a facade transparency on select elevations. Staff has reviewed and confirmed that the design meets the intent of the county standards and is appropriate for the site context. Here's a look at the architecture of the site with the proposed landscape.

As mentioned earlier, we are above the requirements for landscape and open space, creating a beautiful hotel for future guests to enjoy. This project provides meaningful benefits, including supporting tourism, activating an underutilized parcel, and aligning with the county's long term vision for growth. The applicant respectfully requests approval for the revised major master site plan and Lot 5 final site plan. The project is fully compliant and provides a positive community and economic benefit. And I want to thank you for your time, and I'd like to invite our applicant up to say a few words.

Good morning, Mr. Patel.

Hi. Good morning, Chair. Good morning, Commissioners. I'm very excited to present this project to the county. My name is Raj Patel. I'm a county resident for almost a quarter of a century, which implies I'm pretty old. But I just wanted to thank you for the opportunity to speak to you about our proposed hotel project. I was advised by my team to stick to script because I'm usually involved with the city of Stuart and things get exciting over there. So anyhow, Palm City is growing. There's a need for more places for visitors, as you all know, travelers, families to stay.

Our Palm City is very it's pretty affluent. It's doing very well compared to twenty years ago. There was a little bit

of

difficulty. Restaurants couldn't even survive. Today, we have so many beautiful restaurants in the CRA, and we got other ones opening. And they're all busy. They're all thriving, and they're doing very well. So we're just part of the whole thing. We just wanted to make sure that our project functions well, includes enough parking, as you've seen. Traffic floor is exactly what it should be. And obviously, stormwater systems are very important to all of us. The project will benefit the community by creating jobs, bringing in tax revenue.

This is not a 3P project. This is a private, private project. We'll be contributing to the tax role, which is fantastic for everybody. We'll be supporting local businesses like restaurants and shops. And we'll be giving visitors a convenient, nice, safe place to stay in Palm City. It's a Hilton hotel. We presented a beautiful layout, lots of green space, places for people to walk, congregate. It's nice. I believe this is a responsible project that supports growth while maintaining the character of Palm City and Martin County. Just to let you know, my kids all studied here.

They went to all the Martin County school systems, both graduated from Martin County, together with my ex neighbor, Commissioner Campi. And we're very much involved in the county, very much involved in the City Of Stuart. I'm building the other hotel in Downtown Stuart that faced a little bit of resistance. Rightfully, City Of Stuart is small and people wanted to preserve the quaintness, but we definitely need a hotel in Downtown Stuart. So that's going to start in a couple of weeks.

But I just wanted to let you know, I'm trying my best to make everybody happy here. One more thing before I finish up, it would be very, very nice if I get a five-zero unanimous approval. That's all. Thank you very much. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. I'll try to answer them.

Questions for Mr. Patel or Ms. Heinzelmann? Commissioner Campy.

Not so much questions. It's just I wanted to give my feedback on the process that's been here. Originally, as you heard in the presentation, they were going to build a four story storage facility. That was the plan. Not these folks, but somebody else.

And I was very unhappy with that strategy as a Palm City resident, as the district commissioner, and for twenty years, as mister Patel said, I could literally walk to this site from my home if I felt the urge. That being said, I was frustrated but rightfully so the board voted to approve the storage because they basically had to and I voted no because it just my vote was more of a symbolic vote of just not pleased that we would have been adding an additional storage facility, 120,000 square feet. And for reference, the Publix, the original Publix on Martin Downs Boulevard is 55,000 square feet. So imagine stacking the Publix on top of the Publix. For more reference, the Publix, which we call the the small Publix on Martin Highway behind the Palm City Post Office is 27,000 square feet.

So you're talking approximately four or five Publix, four stories tall storage that within, again, walking distance of that site, there were five others. So I was very frustrated that it was gonna be storage. And as I've driven past there every single day, waiting to see this monstrosity start to come up out of the ground, And magically, it's not. There's been talk, as as the applicant said, there's been talk about a hotel going on the site. It makes perfect sense because it is one of the few areas in South Florida where you can get on and off the Turnpike and on and off 95 right there.

Indian Town Road in Jupiter and up in Fort Pierce are the only other spots that I can think of where you can do that. There is hotels down by Canter. Most of the time they're busy. As we had heard, Palm City is the largest of the communities, 26,000 currently, approximately 26,000 residents live in Palm City. So if you have the convenience of in and on and off of 95 and the Turnpike right there, and the largest of our communities in Martin County, a hotel makes sense.

The other thing that frustrated me about storage is that if you were not storing things there, there's no benefit for the overall community that a hotel would have. I also like you know, I travel quite extensively for work and stay in hotels similar to this one, and they're lovely. All of the brands that whether it's a Hyatt or the Marriott or the Holiday Inn, they're fine. But I think Hilton and I know what you'll they're independently operated a lot of them with the with the brand, but the brand requires the independent operators to really maintain the exterior and the interior and the services provided at a very high level. So I was very happy to hear that it would be also So a you put all those things together, and I'm very pleased to make a motion to accept staff's recommendation.

The final thing I would say is that other than this alternative compliance for some, I I didn't even really I read it two times. Some what is it? Windows or lack of windows? Too many windows? What's what give us the layman's definition of what the alternative compliance is meant.

So for the transparency on the 1st Floor of the primary facades, it requires a 40%, and the hotel is proposing 37%.

So a 3% decrease in transparency, which obviously means the windows. Okay. On the 1st Floor. Other than that, they would be allowed to build this without us really, you know. So it's not like we are, you know, giving up at the farm to allow some crazy project. So I'm pleased. I think there'll be always, as we know, folks that won't want it to be anything. But I think that it'll be an excellent new project for Palm City and for Martin County. Mr. Patel is, as he mentioned, a longtime resident of Palm City.

He's building in his own community, and and I personally thank you for doing it.

Mr. Capps.

Yes. I will second the the motion and remind us all that this is a master final site plan approval. So no comp plan amendments are needed and no zoning changes are needed. So they're going straight to major master site plan approval, which basically means this is a buy write project. Is that a good description? Paul?

Thank you. Good morning, Commissioners. Paul Schilling, Growth Management Director. So in essence, yes, the proposed use is consistent not only with the zoning, the land use, the proposed master site plan, and the accompanying revised final site plan. So all of the evidence has been provided, all of the staff reports and compliance findings. So yes, sir.

Great. And I I wanna remind the younger people today of what motel life was back like back when I was a kid. I have a few memories that I always like to share with with younger people. The first thing I remember is this was the days before cell phones. And my mom would drive us in under the awning at a motel and she would have me go inside and check the price of the hotel.

And if it was 5 or $10 too much, we'd get back in the car and drive to the next corner and and check on the price on that one. And we might make three or four stops before we make a decision, and that that's the way you had to do it back in those days. And it seems like the prices back then were like 40 or $50 a night as I remember. And then my my next memory of early days and and using motels was the days when you had to use an actual key for the door and not a little plastic thing. And and it was very important that you check out, not just that you check-in, you had to check out to return your key and get your little deposit.

And and people would drive away with the keys, So I don't know how the motel kept so many spare keys, but I suppose they had to. And so that was interesting. And then there's the ice bucket. The kid that was the kid's job. When the family checked into the room, the first thing you did is hand the ice bucket to one of your kids and say, go go down the hall and get us some ice so we can we'll have some water to drink.

This was before bottled water was commonly used. So you you had plastic cups and you had your ice bucket and you just drank water out of the tap. You go to the bathroom sink and get yourself a drink of water. So on those lighter notes, thought I would share that with the young folks.

I don't have any memories of that. I'm much younger than you.

Commissioner Caps, you're forgetting the waterbed.

Commissioner Capps was Expedia before there was Expedia.

Commissioner Gatherington.

And all the hotels that we stayed at had access on the out in exterior of the building. Motels, yes. So I would just say many of us remember that this was the very sought after site of Costco and then the community rejected it being on that site. And I also remember sitting up here and it came in as a basically a straight zoning project where we and I thought that was approved unanimously. It was a straight zoning project and so it the landowners were entitled to build what they're doing.

So what you're doing I believe is a straight zoning entitled project and I believe it has its benefits and I will be supporting it and I wish you all the best.

This is a public hearing. Would anyone from the public like to address us? Seeing none, I'll close the public hearing and return, and I also will be supporting this. And also, I appreciate that you have far exceeded the open space requirements, and also that you are only planting native trees. Both wonderful decisions. So there's a motion and a second. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? That motion passes five-zero. You got your wish?

We're going

to take a ten minute break now. We are back taking up workshop one, which is a review of the fiscal year 2027 tentative capital improvement plan. Miss Shelby Della Pietra.

Oh, a new name.

New name.

New name. No longer a baker.

So once before Shelby gets started, I just wanted to make just a few quick remarks on the capital improvement plan for this year. And the short story is there's not a lot of any additional requests. There's a few requests for additional funding, but largely, it is flat. But I think it marks achievement in Martin County and the fact that for a number of years, we've talked about backlogs and the need for significant new funding sources to deal with maintaining what we own and operate. And from resurfacing, a number of years, we talked about that, parks, facilities.

And while Sean is here, he knows that we still have some needs in building operations. The last few years, we were able to catch up on some of the FARB funding, that we're able to keep some of our numbers flat now in terms of making repairs to the courthouse and our jail facility and some of the other major projects that we were largely having to do emergency repairs and come to the board throughout the year for reserve funds. So I think just I think we should be proud to look at that we have made some progress that we are no longer going backwards in a lot of our operations and maintenance farms and that we're actually starting we are catching up. And so I just wanted to thank the Board for our past projects and funding opportunities. And while there's always a need for resources, this I think represents a CIP that can achieve our goals and still keep up with our maintenance opportunities.

Thank you.

I just wanted to tell you that Commissioner Campy is over here whispering about the improvements to the courthouse. He thinks that you're partial because your daughter's going to be working there. And that's why they're finally getting the repairs that they need. Any truth to that?

I plead the fifth.

Which is fantastic. She's going to be working there as a judge. So congratulations to you.

I don't think it's a secret.

It's not a secret.

Please proceed.

All right. Good morning, Commissioner. Shelby Della Pietro, Budget and CIP Coordinator, here today to present to you the fiscal year 'twenty seven Capital Improvement Plan. During this workshop today, we'll walk through the key objectives of the fiscal year 'twenty seven capital improvement plan. It begins with defining the CIP, outlining a project's origination process and reviewing revenue planning and proposed expenditures.

Then we'll move into project highlight slides, the CIP's impact to the overall county budget, and wrap up with board review. What is the capital improvement plan? When we talk about the capital improvement plan or CIP, we're referring to a multiyear planning tool that helps the county identify infrastructure needs and the funding sources to address them. It plays a critical role in supporting the services provided to our community by ensuring that we plan for future construction, maintenance, and to protect the infrastructure over the next ten year period. Throughout the CIP, you will see fixed asset replacement budgets, also known as FARBs, which are essential for planning and maintaining our current assets.

All revenues in the CIP are required to both be available and feasible. With approval of the CIP, the Board acknowledges that the products contained in the plan represent a reasonable interpretation of the anticipated needs for the county. Projects included in the first year of funding of fiscal year 'twenty seven CIP will be included in the fiscal year 'twenty seven county budget that will be presented to the Board in July. CIP projects originate from a variety of sources such as FDOT work plans, mandates, strategic planning, level of service requirements and more. The capital improvement plan's ever evolving process that assists in identifying and planning for the county's capital needs.

The process begins in December. Departments develop and refine their CIP sheets. These are then submitted to the Office of Management and Budget in February for funding and then are reviewed by county staff and administration. In April, we have the CIP workshop as we are here today. With approval, the CIP projects presented to you today will be included in the tentative budget that will be brought to the Board.

In July, the annual budget workshop, the Board will review the tentative annual budget and will set a tentative millage rate. The final step in the budget process is in September. The annual budget that will begin on 10/01/2026, will be adopted at the Board at two public hearings. The fiscal year 2017 CIP is a continuation of previous year's projects. Let's take a look at some key projects across departments that include: Parks and Recreation, the Sea Turtle Beach Cafe and Beachside Restroom ecosystem management, we have the Cypress Creek floodplain restoration Coastal, McArthur Boulevard Beach and June restoration.

Stormwater management, we have the Bessie Creek retrofit, roads. We have Old Palm City North neighborhood restoration. Community development, we have Maple Avenue drainage improvements and Jensen Beach CRA. Utilities, connect to protect force main and grinder systems. Public buildings, Martin County Operations Complex.

Library, we have Elizabeth Lotte Library audiovisual upgrade. As presented today, the CIP includes a 1% increase in budget Avalon revenues over fiscal year twenty twenty six. This slide represents an Avalor impact per department, which totals to approximately $385,000 increase over fiscal year 'twenty six. Here is a snapshot of the products that have contributed towards the fiscal year 'twenty seven ad valorem impact. These will be discussed in-depth with each department's highlight slides.

CIP projects typically involve the outlay of substantial funds, therefore numerous sources of revenue are necessary to provide financing over the duration of the project. Most capital funding sources are earmarked for particular purposes and cannot be transferred from one capital program to another. An example of this would be an enterprise fee based project such as airport fees to assist in the rehab of a runway. With the CIP being presented to you today, AdLorm only makes up 17.7% all revenues proposed. The fiscal year twenty seven CIP represents 7% slice of the total countywide budget, which is still under development and will be brought to the board in July.

This concludes my portion of the presentation. If there are no questions, we can proceed into department highlight slides. Questions?

I don't see any, so let's proceed.

First is airport.

Good morning, Madam Chair.

Good morning.

Good morning, Commissioners. Andrew McBean, Airport Director. Today, we present the fiscal year twenty seventeen CIP highlights. In fiscal year twenty twenty six, the airport utilized approximately $235,000 of enterprise fund towards the CIP. In fiscal year twenty twenty seven, we're looking to utilize $1,200,000 of airport enterprise funds towards the CIP.

This is an overall impact of $970 additional. What stayed the same commissioners is Withamfield remains an enterprise fund with no support from local taxpayers. We operate entirely from the revenues generated at the airport and our grants are matched with both FAA and FDOT grants. What's changing in fiscal year twenty twenty six, we had a number of design projects and we're moving into construction projects, which is reflecting the $970,000 increase in our CIP request. Completed fiscal year twenty twenty six CIP projects included the airfield signage replacement project, the airfield security improvement projects as well as vehicle gate security improvements.

Current airport CIP includes the taxi lane Bravo rehabilitation that project was paused due to season. The Runway 1230 PAPI and reel replacement that's the precision approach, path indicators and runway end identification lights as well as the taxiway alpha hold bay. Upcoming CIP projects commissioners is a Runway 725 rehabilitation that is a crosswind runway at the airport with the state participating and funding that as well as the residential sound insulation program. That is the insulation of homes that are affected by aircraft at the airport. Any questions commissioners?

Any questions?

That's correct.

Airport Enterprise Funds.

Thank you commissioners.

Thank you. Can we do tentative approval for each one as we've done in the past?

Sure. Move approval.

Second. There's a motion and a second. All those in favor, aye. Opposed? That motion passes unanimously. We'll take up community development.

Susan morning, Commissioners. Susan Corres with the Office of Community Development here with my colleague, Jordan Pastorius. What stayed the same? As I come every year and say, we are focused on infrastructure installation and improvement in all six of our CRA areas. We look at programs, projects that forward that goal and concentrate on the completion of each community's redevelopment plan.

Completed projects I'm going oops, let me just tell you what changed. Increased private investment. We're proud of this one, and that is because of some of the streetscapes that we've all, and I and I include the county in that, built around the county. And you can see that if you drive down Map Road or Bridge Road or Dixie Highway in Hobesound, the increase in private investment on those streets. We have new social media in the CRA. We're gonna have a Facebook, so that's exciting.

Is that something new? Is that a new thing? Ms.

It's a new New thing.

Ms.

About that? I will point out some AIPP projects when we get to completed projects. And we did receive four project awards this year. So that was exciting. If you go to completed, again, I'm gonna point out AIPP because it really was a stellar year for Art in Public Places.

We have Windy Day in Navigating Martin Waters, a gorgeous mosaic in Port Salerno. And the Hobesound Library should be celebrating shortly their new mural and their book benches, three d printed book benches. The other highlight, I believe, for us would be the sale of the Palm City property, and that was completed as well. Moving on to current projects, I'll point out those that are under construction at this time. Golden Gate El Camino is under construction, hopefully to be finished at the end of the summer.

We have Port Salerno Park Drive improvements, and those improvements include, sewer for that street and the entire pocket. The CRA is doing that street, and some improvements to the dock and the parking and the streets there. New Monrovia Park should be underway in a couple of weeks. We should have shovels in the ground, and that's going to be an exciting project for that neighborhood. And of course, still working with Habitat for Humanity on Petway Village.

They have completed 14 homes, I believe, and we have four left. Yeah. Upcoming projects. We've done so much design this past year that we will have lots of projects in engineering next year. And I would point out specifically in Rio, two very large projects.

In Palm City, we do have Cornell Ave, which we hope to be getting underway as well. Construction for Jensen Church Street should be completed next year, and that's going to be an exciting project for that community. Additional parking, we did receive a very nice easement, a right of way donation from a property owner there that will allow lots more parking for, those residents and that downtown. And we also have some projects in New Monrovia that will be in construction next year. Any questions?

Questions for Ms. Corries? Here. Seeing none.

Motion to tentatively accept this CRA, CIP.

Second. There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? That motion passes unanimously.

Thank

you. Thank you. Next up is fire rescue.

Morning, commissioners. Chad Gianchiulli, fire chief, Martin County Fire Rescue.

Matt Resch, fire rescue administrator.

So we're here to present our CIP highlights. If I just look at FY '26, our request was 2.171. We move to FY '27, our request is 2.169, and that's a decrease of a thousand and $96. Now why is that impactful? A thousand $96? Let's talk about the challenges. What changed? So if I look at just fire apparatus alone of the increased in cost over the last several years, they have gone up. These are fire trucks and rescues by 85%. If I was to buy a ladder truck today, I have to spend roughly $1,500,000 in that truck.

Years ago, that was under $1,000,000. Fire trucks, no different. It's just insane what we're up against, but we were still able to decrease by a thousand, just almost $1,100. The other is, and this is I'm gonna contribute this to Matt Resch. Matt Resch is always our secret guy out there that really does an amazing job with how we impact and negotiate with our vendors.

We took our vendors really, we kind of pressed them hard this time this year. We're able to press them regarding our fire fighter ensemble of our bunker gear, which is pretty much what firefighters wear to go into building fires. This is what protects them. It's our it's their personal protective equipment. And we're able to do a 20% reduction because we put these vendors up against each other, and we saved over $200,000 with that gear alone.

The other is that we absorbed the AED replacement program that we now have in the parks, which is an amazing program that is really benefiting the community. What stayed the same if you look at the Avalorum impact, we have sustained for four years straight roughly $2,100,000 And up against the challenges that I'm sharing with you, that is absolutely amazing. The other is our apparatus replacement program. This year, we're able to purchase 10 new trucks, 7,200,000 and that has zero budget increase. And we're able to sustain that.

And we've just been ongoing with just how we, present our budget, how we apply it with the vendors, how we negotiate with them, and it has really put us in a very healthy place. And again, I just want to kind of thank Matt for what he does along the way because he works hard and he demonstrates here where it actually pays off. So with that, if you have any questions, I'll be more than happy to take.

Questions. We do have a question. Commissioner Capps.

Can you state that again about 85% increase in the cost of trucks? Say that again, you would?

So before COVID, I'm going kick this to Matt because he's got the hard numbers. Before COVID, we were able to purchase the trucks and this would be the fire trucks and our rescues. We had roughly a one year turnaround. Everything, even our most expensive truck, we were under that million dollar price point. Ladder trucks are usually our most expensive. Then we go into COVID, then it turns into a supply issue. And then these vendors, they really, and this is just my personal opinion. I think they took advantage of the situation and these prices inflated and they never ever came back. Now we're at the point where we're putting we're really putting a lot of pressure on them to decrease it, but the actual number I'll I'll pass that off to Matt, what they were prior to COVID.

Yeah. He's pretty close as far as the percentage there. The and it's even post COVID. I think in FY 2021, we purchased a truck for 635,000. That same exact truck, same specification, same manufacturer, same everything is now $1,100,000 And we're seeing the same thing and he alluded to the bunker gear situation. Those prices have increased 100% in an eight year period. We used to buy a set of bunker gear for approximately $1,600, and it ballooned to over $4,000 per set for one coat, one pair of pants. And they're not Versace suits. So not really sure what they're making out of.

I I think that's a a good example of what can happen in county budgets. And, you know, there there's a lot of talk in the legislature about cracking down on local governments, and they're all wasting tons of money. And, you know, this is a great example right here of what what happens. There are lots of things in the county budget like this, where perhaps you would look at the overall county budget and you would look at the inflation rate of five or 6% in a given year and you would think to yourself, well, the county budget should only go up 5%. This is a great example of why that is not always possible.

There are weird things that happen in the economy where health insurance spikes 20% in one year or gasoline prices spike 20% or 30% in one year. There's a lot of stuff like this in county budgets. So I think that's a good thing to keep in mind throughout this whole discussion as we're talking about the CIP. Another thing about the CIP that's interesting to note is that this is not the budget. This is not what we're actually spending.

This is kind of a wish list, a thing that it's a planning document and what we would like to get done if the resources could support the plan that we're putting in place here. So that's all also good to keep in mind.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I'll move approval. Second. Any further discussion? There's a motion and a second. All those in favor, aye.

Aye.

Opposed? That motion passes unanimously. Thank you.

Thank you.

Library is next. Good morning, Ms. Salas.

Good morning. So what has states the same in our CIP request is for our radio frequency identification system. We're continuing the funds from FY twenty six into FY twenty seven. What has changed is we have a request in for a new audio visual system at the Elizabeth Lotte Library, and we are requesting a library materials increase within our impact fees. We have a very healthy impact fee fund right now, and we could use with cost of doing business increasing for books, both electronic and print.

Our completed projects, we almost are very close to finishing the Hovsound Public Library outdoor space. The pavilion is finished. Susan Cora has mentioned in her presentation, we have our three d book benches through the public art program, as well as a mural. So we're just working on one component, and so we'll be setting up a ribbon cutting soon for that. We recently had our ribbon cutting for the Hope Library outdoor space, and, I'm happy to report that it has been used quite a bit by the community.

We haven't even planned any library events in the space yet, and it's getting used all of the time. We do have a future potential project through the public art program to do an eco art project as well in that space. And then we did just complete our Peter and Julie Cummings library in Palm City, the audio visual upgrade there, which has improved significantly our ability not only to host our own library programs seamlessly but outside events too from other entities. Our current projects we're working on is the Hope Library Radiofrequency Identification System. That's our check-in and check out of materials, which is an automated system.

And our upcoming CIPP projects, again, request to implement an audiovisual system. You can see in the picture there, that's our current setup at the Lotte Library. We have a cart with a projector and a microphone hooked up to a portable sound system. So with the increase in residents in that community and increasing usage in our space, we could really use a fully implemented system. And then we're still waiting on the new field library for developments in that. Happy to

I'll answer any move approval. Second. There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? Sorry. Ms.

Salas, the Newfield Library seven hundredth dwelling unit, could you explain that?

Sure. We have to wait for a certain amount of residential units to be built before they build the library.

Okay. Just wanted to clarify. Yes.

There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? That motion passes unanimously. I inadvertently passed over number four, which is public buildings and law enforcement.

Okay. They've already had a big day.

Thank

you. Morning. Sean Donahue, General Services Director. We are asking for a $127,090 increase, and I'll explain that in the changes. What stayed the same though from a fire rescue? And I'm I'm gonna jump around for a couple different ways, different departments that we represent. Fire rescue has been consistent in their their request to expand the station 23 Canter Highway Station. That's their third busiest fire station. It only has two bays and they've increased the equipment numbers there to do the responses. So it's a much needed expansion.

It also was built to have an expansion down the road. So we'd like to start working on that. The Western Palm City Fire Station, a new station in the Indian Town Fire Station, the fire rescue department has been working with the local developers trying to get contributions to fund some of those improvements. What's changed is we had a project that was in the hopper for bay door replacements at all the older stations, all the older fire stations to do the newer quicker bifold doors. Fire rescue department is in the queue for receiving a local mitigation grant funding to fund all of those.

So we actually took that off the list as a potentially fully funded project. Sheriff's office has been very consistent in their prioritization of their projects. I've been looking at that gun range for quite a while to expand that for their operational training. And what we're trying to do there is now that we saved up a couple dollars over the years, we can start to design and start some early construction on those projects. What's really stayed the same is the department's continued commitment to maintain the county's assets in a most efficient and economical standpoint.

And then the increase that we're looking for is for specifically for libraries. Libraries take a lot of abuse, a lot of people in and out, the restrooms need some attention, the flooring, some of the furniture needs attention and the way libraries are used now has changed quite a bit. So we're looking for some sound attenuation in certain spaces. Some of the projects that we've completed, we're near completion. The House of Refuge, Commissioner Kaps mentioned earlier, is just on the last leg of completion.

We just did the final punch list yesterday as a matter of fact. We did complete the chiller plant at the Leary Massey building project and there's a second phase of that coming. The sheriff's office had to have their tank replaced, their fuel storage tank replaced. Crucial infrastructure for them required a full replacement of the tank, the dispensers, the underground, and the canopy. And then we did manage to paint the Blake Library as a project.

Current projects include the energy and operational project that you approved last year. That's nearing completion. You can see in the top left the chillers are being loaded into a chiller plant that will serve the public safety complex, a very valuable cost effective solution there. Top right, Larry Masson building expansion is coming. We just released the contract to Remnant Construction for that. Holt Correctional Fence Replacement Project was a much needed replacement. That fence is twenty or thirty years old. You can see the bottom right picture of that slide there. The fence is actually wiggling because it's just losing its structural components. Expense.

Yes. And then we are finishing the 09:11 dispatch renovation. That was a great grant funded project. I think 3 quarters of 1,000,000 funded helped fund that project. Upcoming projects, we need to do some work on the courthouse. We're still saving some money to replace the courthouse rooftop air handler units. That's going to be a significant project. A lot of we've to figure out a way to keep that building occupied while we're doing some major improvements. And then they also have requested some major security enhancements to the building and the complex. Thank you for approving the Martin County Operations Complex.

We're going to start on that very quickly. I mentioned the Moorgate library or library improvements. We'd like to start with the Moorgate library, that bathroom and that facility needs a lot of attention. And then we are in the middle of negotiations for the employee wellness clinic.

Questions? I have a couple. I'm looking at the Western Palm City Fire Station, which is on page 119, and there are impact fees of $3,500,000 What kind of impact fees are those?

Stephanie Merley, Director of OMB. The impact fees should be the actually the fire rescue impact fees that are being paid. From Newfield.

Okay. Also Fire Station Number 24, which is Indian Town relocation, and I see $10,000,000 And what's the developer's contribution to that?

So that's what we're actually currently in talks right now. We're trying to see if impact fees can be a part of that, what they can do. But actually, the developer, they this is the village of Indian Town. They did a state appropriation for roughly, I think it was $13,000,000. Unfortunately, state, if they went into the special special session, so we don't know if that appropriation has happened or not. But if the appropriation does happen, that's what funds the building for the relocation of Station 24 is the appropriation from the village.

And if it's not appropriated?

Well, then we have to really talk to the developer and see what we can get from the developer, and we can also look at the impact fees for the building itself.

Have you been talking to developer?

Yes. Yes, commissioner. We have we have been talking to the developer quite a bit quite extensively, but we're kind of in a holding pattern because of the appropriation. So we need to know what kind of conversation we need to have until the state actually decides what they're gonna do.

Okay. Okay. Now I'm asking about the Martin County Sheriff's Office firearms training facility. I'm on page 62. What's this proximity to the new field development and to new fields improvements like the FPL Substation? It's a firing range.

The firing range is located at the very Southwest corner of the Newfield development. It's about as far removed as you can get from any of the residential. There there's a lot of preserve and and upland preservation areas in between the shooting range and any residential development to the Northeast. Is

the is the firearms range indoor, outdoor, or both?

It's it's outdoor, but it does have a series of berms and, you know, protection devices that can keep the projectiles contained.

And that's all ad valorem? Correct. $5,400,000 of ad valorem? Correct. Okay. And also the Sheriff's Office Logistics and Operations Center, that is $14,500,000 all ad valorem. Tell Tell me about that. Looks like expenditures are to be made $5,500,000 in 2028 and $7,500,000 in 'thirty one?

Correct. That's a much needed improvement. It is replacing what is the oldest building on that complex. That building was, I believe, used as an old packing house when that complex when that land was used for fruit production. It's fifty, sixty years old. It is literally falling down. The awnings on the building that were on this north side and the east side actually fell off the building. We couldn't do anything with it. We had to take them down. The building needs some significant help if we're going to try to keep them in there, but what we're looking at since we saved up a little bit of funding for the project is do a partial phase construction.

So if we can build the critical parts of the sheriff's office would be the painting booth for the cars and for their logistics, basically receiving and purchasing departments. If we can get those started, then we can come back later and look at adding on to the building with a metal maybe a metal warehouse building that has some good wind resistance similar to the other building right next door to it. So we're looking at strategically trying to phase it while getting the project moving because literally it is falling down.

Ms. Merle, I don't see any carryover, so but I do see three point over $3,000,000 each year that we're going of Ad Valorum money that we're going to be spending toward these projects. It's new money. Where is it coming from?

So this is maintaining the current levels of ad valorem that we have increased law enforcement over the last couple years mentioning what Donna had mentioned earlier about kind of getting those programs to that level. So if you look at the summary of law enforcement, it is maintaining a constant level over the next ten years. So essentially they're prioritizing their projects, completing one, moving on to the next with no increases in ad valorem. We expect the same level of funding for the next ten years.

So that level of funding is how much each year? I'm seeing, just for this project, 3.2 a

year. So

the total ad valorem that's programmed in law enforcement every year is $4,753,073 for all of their projects.

Okay. Any further questions for Mr. Donahue?

Move approval.

Second. There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? That motion passes unanimously. Parks and Recreation is next.

Good morning. Kevin Abate, Parks and Recreation Director. This the FY '27 CIP was approved by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, last month unanimously, and, I'll talk about what's happening. What stayed the same for for FY '27 CIP is the funding levels for our fixed asset replacement budget that's been the same for almost the last decade, and that's mainly for all of our fixed assets throughout the entire system. Our parks building program, paving, fiber security and Wi Fi, those are generally the same.

Our boat ramp funding is also to replace our boat ramps over the next ten years. Right now, we're currently replacing the Leighton Park program, the charter Leighton Park boat ramp right now. And then Sailfish Sands Golf Course replacing all the aging wells and pump houses, which are nearing 50 years of old right now and need to be replaced and will be replaced by the end of this year. What has changed is the additional request to complete the final funding of the Sea Turtle Beach Cafe and beachside restroom. That project, to take it back in history, we actually started in 2013 as a public design workshop just after I first arrived about fifteen years ago.

And then we started our funding for this project that we're on right now in 2023 and our design funded in '24. We're in that right now about 60% design through that project right now. That includes the beachside public restroom. That includes the the deck, which is eighty hundred 800 over 8,750 square feet. Also, the it replaces the Dune crossover, which is currently not there.

The new kitchen, this includes the seating, furniture, fixtures, equipment, and storage for this facility, which is right now has a seating capacity of about a 120 plan and 31 at the bar. So that one is moving along quickly. What we've completed in our CAP program is we did a nice ribbon cutting this past year for the Langford Park Playground, state of the art. We resurfaced all of Howe Patioque Regional Park with all new parking spaces, road surfacing, and parking stop bumpers. Also, we resurfaced with a state of the art product, the new hockey rink flooring.

And of course, at Jocke Lincoln Park, we replace all the skate park equipment.

When you build those gorgeous playgrounds, now every community wants one.

Yes.

I'm getting a lot of people in Palm City wanting one of those playgrounds. Playgrounds.

Understood. So the current CIP programs that we're actively on right now are Charlotte Leeaton Park, which is, scheduled for hopeful ribbon cutting this summer is the goal, and we replaced the boat ramps. They're doing the parking now. We have pavilions, open space, security cameras, and working very closely with the Treasure Coast Rowing Club. Mary Brogan Park replacing the skate equipment.

Langford Park, we're currently working with utilities on septic to sewer program. And then we're gonna be replacing, outside of the boat ramp program, the J and S Fish Camp, is much smaller project, but, we're gonna take care of that now out of our FAR budget. And upcoming, CIP projects, the Woolgesec small sided soccer, court, and restroom, which is four small sided soccer, synthetic turf course over at, Wichita Park. That is, almost designed. We expect to put that out to bid this summer.

The Sea Turtle Beach, cafe and beachside restroom, which I just spoke about, we expect that project to be completely designed with anticipation of full funding in FY twenty seven and out to bid by the end of the year. The Francis Langford Dock Pavilion improvements, 1st Floor, 2nd Floor, that project we expect to be that out to bid sometime this summer. If you recall, the 1st Floor of the Francis Langford Dockside Pavilion has been vacant for most of my career and fifteen years with the county. And then the second story building unfortunately had a fire. This gave us an opportunity to reimagine and reenvision the entire project.

The project is funded, but we're working on a really new concept with brides and grooms rooms. It could be something I'll be sharing with the leadership team next week, and we're very excited about some great opportunities for the community. And then the Vince Bokino community center improvements is something we've been working on, to kind of rehab and remodel a very aging building. And then as I said earlier, before we move to any, grass improvements on the 18 hole course, which has not been done, is to replace the aging, the wells. Actually, we will need all new wells at the golf course because they're beyond repair and replacement.

So we need new ones, and we'll be replacing our golf course pump houses with the goal of connecting all lakes on all three courses with wells and pumps and motors so that if a wall goes down, we can water all three golf courses with one well, and we're all connected. It's it's quite the project. We just received a twenty five year consumptive use permit with the South Florida Water Management District, which requires that we have well monitoring, and this is a big project for the future of the golf course, which is doing quite well. And if you have any questions, I'm here.

Questions for mister Avante. Commissioner Hetherington.

So the Seaside Cafe, what's the overall budget for that cafe?

It's I have $5,281,000 and that includes everything I spoke about, furniture, fixtures, and equipment, all DEP permitting for the new Dune crossover, which we have to connect to the backside of the building for beach access, the beach side restroom. There's actually a little basement for the project for for storage. There's storage underneath because the this cafe is elevated about 14 feet above elevation, includes all the the kitchen equipment. So includes all the all the work that needs to be done and ingress and egress to the sidewalk to and from the cafe to the beach and from the parking lot.

That sounds like a lot of money for a beachside cafe. What do we get for insurance proceeds?

We didn't get much, when the burden build on.

We received 255,000.

That's all we got for the proceeds 255,000. I thought I saw something about 2,800,000 somewhere in here. So the balance of the 5 point x million minus the 255,000 insurance proceeds is all ad valorem funded? No.

There is beach impact fees and there's also district MSTU fees towards this project and along with bed tax.

If we see some cutting this year at the state then we're going to have to analyze our wants versus needs and this is probably going to be scaled down immensely.

To be specific, we're using park fees from proceeds from the other cafe at $339,000 $200,000 allocated towards the beach crossover and bed tax. The ad valorem asked for this year is 1.49. We have district MST, district one funds that were allocated last year at 964,000 and beach impact fees and then insurance proceeds. That's for the total. So it's a combination of several funds. Last year, if you recall, we did some we reallocate some funds from other products to move over to get this done. This was the final year of funding.

We met

I've been working with the design team every two weeks to really hone in on the final dollar. This is a conservative estimate. I I didn't want it's not aggressive at all, and I think it's probably the spot. It's about $600 a square foot all in for everything when I calculated it for this project.

Seems like a lot for a cafe. On the Indian Riverside Cafe, what did we get for insurance proceeds? I'm sorry, the Indian Riverside Park. What did we get for insurance proceeds for that one?

Oh, I have that here. Hold on. Actually, don't have that number, but I recall it being just about just around $400,000 total for that one because it included revenue loss. And the thing about the cafe, the Jensen Beach one, we were closed when that fire took place, so the insurance company wasn't going to give us any, reimbursements for, revenue loss. That's why this is higher because we lost all the wedding revenue and all the event revenue.

Okay. Thank you.

Thank you. Commissioner Vargas?

Yes. I just want to reassure my fellow commissioners, I am overseeing this project with a fine tooth comb. We talked about costs going up. This is a big draw. Hutchison Island is a huge draw. So rest assured that we are pulling as much money from different sources as possible. This is not just some park stuck in the middle of Martin County somewhere. This is very, very visual. It was unfortunate that we had the fire and we had to close, but we're working diligently to put this together. So if you have any questions, feel free to reach my office and I'll disseminate that or certainly Mr. Abate can do that.

Commissioner Campi.

Mr. Abate, thank you very much. Can you share with us what portion of your budget you guys are reluctantly having to spend on repairing vandalism? I know that in Palm City, we have a whole horde of kids going around vandalizing, not just permanent destruction, but the constant littering and graffiti that requires your team to go out every single day to clean stuff up. Give us an idea of what you're up

against for these. My my guesstimate, and I've done some numbers over the years, is right around 90 to a 100,000 in actual product damage throughout each year. That's, not including staff cost to to fix things, you know, sending the team out there. So and we plan for that in a big park system when you have 74 beaches and parks throughout the entire system. We fully expect the public to accidentally and then purposely vandalize, unfortunately, and we deal with it, probably weekly, you know, cleaning things up, but, it's part of the the process we do. In our fixed asset replacement budget, I do hold, you know, back a couple 100,000 a year for the uh-oh moments that we get. And, yeah.

Thank you.

And Mr. Abate, the Newfield community fields and trailheads, there's talk about the four soccer fields. Are those about construct are those about finished?

I haven't worked directly with Newfield on it. I don't think it's unconstructed yet. So the biggest question will part of this reason we have the sheet in here so that we can actually provide the impact fee credit as a part of, you know, the development agreement. So we'll be engaging with them on, you know, the operations of that. And, you know, I believe that the property the the four fields are across the street from where they're building, and it's their property. And I believe they're gonna operate and maintain it. We haven't got a finality on that, but the purpose of bringing this sheet forward was to have those discussions as a part of the development agreement for impact fee credits.

And who's gonna be using the soccer field?

It it would be open to they would have to be used in the same way any other county park facility in order for them to use.

We're managing them?

So we we're we have it likely we are responsible for how they're managed, whether we manage them directly or the CDD manages them for a period of time, that negotiation hasn't been finalized. But nonetheless, it has to operate just like any other public field in order for it to receive impact fee credits. The traditional method is we would operate it. We would own and operate the facility. It would be the traditional method. If there is an advantage for them to have some party that will bring that to the Board for final approval.

It's a terrific new public asset. I just wanted to make sure that we're using it as wisely as we should. And also, keeping an eye on the Twin Rivers Boardwalks, They're they're really getting warped and worn, and I I don't know if they're they're nearing the end of their useful life, but it looks like they might be. They're really, really well utilized every single day of the year, and they're showing their their wear.

And I'm glad you brought that up. I was that was brought to my attention by staff. It it is quite the project. We may consider bringing it as an independent CIP sheet next year to look at redeveloping it, maybe make it not so wide, not so expensive. But it'll be more than just your typical replacement if we're gonna look at trying to, you know, do some permitting to reduce the size of it, save some dollars. But we'll work we'll work on something for CIP for '28 to get it funded. I I don't think it's in dire straits now, but it's something that it is it it needs to be addressed.

Well, we also need to look into alternative materials Correct. Composites because wood just doesn't last. Oh, it doesn't last.

Correct. It's a great example. So right now at Charlie Lyon Park, we are redecking the entire deck there along the water with a new composite. It's a fifty year warranty on a new recycled plastic, if you will. So that's what we're moving to. And as a matter of fact, we're doing this we would be doing the same thing for the new Sea Turtle Beach Cafe. It would all be not wood. It would all this new decking, which has a longer shelf life, it's easier to clean.

Yeah. Commissioner Campy.

Yeah. To your point about the soccer fields, I remember when we were originally negotiating with it was called Pineland Prairie back then and now Newfield. We collaborated with them, and I wanna give Matamee and Newfield credit because they could have put those soccer fields deeper into the community, and it would have been very difficult to coordinate, with us. When we originally built the baseball facility there, there was a plan in the initial phase to have a couple of recreational multipurpose, we call them soccer fields, but it could be lacrosse and football or whatever. And when we weren't able to do that, mister Avatay and I met with the folks that were just in the preliminary stages of Newfield to build them as close to now Newfield Parkway than Citrus as they could, and they've lived up to that commitment.

They could have tucked them in, and they wouldn't have been so so much of an advantage for the rest of the community, but where they are now. And I hear they are moving along on them.

So I think I am.

Yeah. That's a plus. And then also, do you have any thoughts even if it's in the future? There's a lot of talk of a Martin County Fieldhouse or, you know, a bigger recreational facility that might be a public private partnership. Yeah. So What's your

So in our master plan and in this current CIP sheet, there is funds in there for a feasibility study for Martin County to so we can so right now, we have out the bid of firms for engineering services, feasibility studies, conceptual plans, and we'll select the team will select three of three vendors, I believe. That should happen within the next month. After that happens, we intend to for all the planning documents that we have that are tied to our master plan, specifically regional community indoor community center, we'd be looking at doing a feasibility study that would find out, you know, how big something should be, what, you know, what it will cost. You know? I just toured Palm Beach Gardens last week, and they have a facility that acts as a hurricane shelter, has a multifaceted approach.

So that is something that, that we plan on doing in this document. And also, in at Lance Corporal Justin Wilson Park in this document, we have, your district funds to move forward on that, and I think that we've discussed about advancing that today, at this at this CIP to move forward with the dog park. We are ready to go on our end to move forward with a small dog park over at Lance Corporal, which is one of your goals. So that would be something that

Not just small dogs.

Larger dogs. That means a smaller, like, dog park in size. Correct. Yeah. So that's something that we have in the CIP sheet to move forward. If if you would like to advance that CIP sheet today, we can begin on it, you know, tomorrow, if you will.

You make a motion while you're speaking of that.

It's part of it.

Is it part of or is it separate?

It's it's in the CIP, but you have the funds now and per budget. And so we can move it forward now instead of waiting till October.

Good segue. I'd like to make a motion that we advance the Palm City dog park CIP sheet. I will be using district funds to prime the pump for that project so that we can start immediately. We've been waiting a long time. I'm hoping that this District 5 dog park will be a motivation for the other districts to have dog parks as

well. Second.

We've been talking about dog parks nearly as long as we've been talking about the Donaldson facility. Donaldson campus.

There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? That motion passes unanimously. Commissioner Hetherington?

I just said we had a conversation maybe last meeting about the Howe Patiogee Skating Rink. And I was just going to suggest that as a part of your FARB that you put in floor covering for that so that multiple organizations can use it. It really is beautiful, and the skating rink turned out great, but we want to make sure that multiple organizations can use it. So I would just recommend maybe putting that as a part of your FARB. Do you want a motion for let's make a motion to include that as a part of your FARB.

Word on the street was that staff had asked the not for profit to pay for it themselves, which I know wasn't the conversation, and I'm sure they would just misunderstood our direction. But it certainly is not for the not for profit to have to pay for that themselves.

I I think the challenge for this this new surface, which is a beautiful surface, is what sports does the manufacturer wanna permit on there, and it's really for them. It's roller hockey. But these events that are coming our way are not sports. They're just more of, like, just community events where they're standing, and the goal is to protect the floor. So certainly, we are looking at, up just a standard policy on, you know, the sports that we won't allow and then the events that we will allow so that way we can protect the investment.

Because it was it was pricing investment. We wanna keep our stakeholders happy at the same time as those that wanna come in and use it. So we'll be looking at the fees for that, you know, to the rental fees for this new floor, of course. And then, of course, now we can look at some product, that we can select. Maybe we can you know, if we have fund balance now in our FAR, we can look at buying something now as opposed to waiting till October, but we can get that done.

Good.

Whose district is that?

Mine.

I mean, commissioner, hers.

She got plenty of cash.

It's because I'm a saver.

Eventually, you have the concept is to utilize the funds for the people.

Is there a motion to approve parks and recreation CIP?

So moved.

So second, second.