City Council - Regular Meeting

Vice Mayor Carvalho. And please let the record reflect that Councilman Bonnet is not present.

Please stand for the invocation and the pledge.

Almighty God in heaven, we ask thy blessings upon those gathered here this afternoon and upon all of the citizens of Port St. Lucie. Look with favor on our leaders and give them the insights, the wisdom, and the patience to deal with the problems and tasks coming before them. Please bless their work and their deliberations. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

We're on to public to be heard. This is your opportunity to speak to the council for up to three minutes on any non-agenda related item. I have two people who have signed up to speak. Mr. Diaz. Good afternoon.

Good afternoon.

Can you pull the microphone to you?

Sorry. Good afternoon. I JUST, I CAME HERE ON A POSITIVE NOTE. I JUST WANTED TO SAY TO THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL THAT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WONDERFUL SUPPORT THAT I HAVE RECEIVED HERE EVER SINCE I'VE GOTTEN HERE SIX YEARS AGO. I REALLY WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR THE CITY AND FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE IN THE TRADITION AREA AND RIVERLAND. RECENTLY, I CONDUCTED, WELL, RECENTLY I HAVE CONDUCTED WHAT WAS A FUNDRAISER FOR THE TUNNEL OF TOWERS. I DID 36 YEARS WITH NYPD AND I'M ALSO A VETERAN. I SERVED WITH 101st AIRBORN AND ALSO THE HONOR GUARD IN THE MILITARY. AND WHAT I'VE SEEN IN THIS, WHAT THIS CITY HAS DONE SO FAR, IT'S BEEN NOTHING BUT POSITIVE SUPPORT THAT I'VE RECEIVED FROM THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL. AND I'M HERE JUST TO STRONGLY TELL YOU THAT I AM PROUD TO BE AMONG YOU AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. AND I KNOW THAT IN THIS CITY, BECAUSE IT'S THE FASTEST GROWING CITY, THERE'S GOING TO BE GROWING PAINS. NOBODY'S PERFECT. YOU'RE DOING AN AMAZING JOB. AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART AND FOR THE PEOPLE IN RIVERLAND AND TRADITION. I'M GOING TO LEAVE THIS POST UP HERE SO PEOPLE CAN SEE WHAT A GREAT REGRET THIS WAS.

It was the largest event that happened.

Also, I want to give a lot of credit to the small businesses here who are the backbone of the city. And I'm going to leave this poster here also with all of their logos. If the city could just reach out to them, maybe say thank you, send them an email for them for stepping up to the plate and actually making this city, because together we make a difference. And I think that they should be, the city should actually say thank you to them also. Also, I would like to, excuse me for a minute. I'd like to thank newly-elect Jim Norton. Jim Norton had just finished donating $500 to the fund that we're collecting for tunnels and towers. We've collected over $40,000 that is going to be donated to the families of the fallen. That link is still open. Maybe Jim Norton could pass on that link to you, and that way, if you know anyone that wants to continuously donate during this month. Also, don't forget that starting this week, until the middle of October is Hispanic Heritage Month. So please acknowledge that throughout your meetings. And I just want to say one more thing from the bottom of my heart. I love this city. I love what you're doing. Continue doing what you're doing. You have my support, and many others do back you up. God bless you, and may God bless America.

Thank you, Mr. Diaz. I'm going to leave this up here. Actually, you can hand them to the clerk if you don't mind. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Bennett. Good afternoon.

Good afternoon. Dana Bennett, 218 Southeast Wallace Terrace, Port St. Lucie. The reason I'm here is I have a difficult believing that with this November election coming up and that we're going to be voting on garbage pickup, whether it be one or two pickups, that I don't see how it's fair when you have two people living in a house that can vote, five people living in another house that can vote. Those five want garbage pickup. So it's a two vote to five vote. It's not fair. And it also is with Proposition three. Also, also with renters that are voting, you know, you got four or five, six people maybe living in a house and they're registered to vote in Port St. Lucie. They're going to vote for two pickups. It should be one vote per house per taxpayer house. Let's put it that way. So that's why I'm here. I just don't think it's fair the way they're doing it. That's it.

Thank you, sir. Would anyone else like to address the council at public to be heard? Seeing no one, I'll close public to be heard. Council, does anyone have any comments? I could address Mr. Bennett's comment if someone doesn't want to.

No, I think we're good here. Mr. Bennett, great to see you. Thank you so much. I just wanted to share that what's on the ballot is a straw poll. I don't believe that council is bounded by the actual results. It's more of a... It's been a continuous question as far as whether we should have an additional pickup. And knowing that there is a financial burden that's placed on the taxpayer for that additional pickup, it provides us actual real data based upon the voters and the voting population. But I'm sure that no matter what the outcome is, there's going to be further discussion on the council on really what the direction is going to be taking from that point on. You can imagine if it's a 50-50 vote, I could only speak for myself, if it's, let's say, a little bit over 50%, I'm going to probably question whether that's really a true display. If it's an overwhelmingly amount of individuals, then that also might speak volumes. But it's not a for sure thing if it was to, let's say, pass. It's more of we need to really take this seriously and consider bringing on a second day, depending on, at least for me, that's the way I'd view the straw poll. Thank you.

Thank you. Moving on to additions and deletions to the agenda and approval of the agenda. Is there a motion?

Motion to approve.

Second. I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. Approval of consent agenda. Is there a motion? Move approval. Second. I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All those in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. Moving on to second reading of ordinances, 8A, ordinance 26-53.

An ordinance of the City of Port St. Lucie, Florida, amending the comprehensive plan of the City of Port St. Lucie to provide a large-scale amendment to the future land use map at the request of Founders Crossing LLC as follows. Change the future land use designation for property located south of Midway Road and west of McCarty Road from approximately 30 acres of low-density residential to approximately 18 acres of commercial general and approximately 12 acres of residential office institutional. Change the future land use for approximately 18 acres of property located south of Midway Road and east of McCarty Road from commercial general to low density residential. And to change the future land use for approximately 12 acres of land located south of Midway Road and east of McCarty Road from residential office institutional to low density residential. AMENDING CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL SET FORTH IN SECTION 1B OF THE ORDINANCE 03-169, PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THANK YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. BRIDGET KEENE WITH THE PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT. AND THIS IS THE ADOPTION HEARING FOR THIS LARGE-SCALE FUTURE LAND USE MAP AMENDMENT. SORRY. LET ME GO BACK ONE. Sorry, I went overpunched it. Here we go. Oh, wait. I'm sorry. I'm going the wrong way. My bad. I apologize. OK. Okay, so the applicant is Founders Crossing LLC. Steve Garrett with Lucido and Associates is here representing the applicant, and the subject property is generally located, it's on the south side of Midway Road. It's approximately 2.5 miles west of I-95, and it's on the east and west sides of McCarty Road. So as mentioned, this is an application. It will amend 60 acres of property in the Founders Crossing PUD. And this is the location off of Midway Road. So this application, as I mentioned, is the adoption hearing. The planning and zoning board hearing was held on June 2nd, 2026. The council's transmittal hearing was held on June 22nd, 2026. And then it was transmitted to the state and there were no comments from the state or the reviewing agencies on this application. So Founders Crossing, it's a 386 acre property. It was actually annexed into the city in 2004. It is subject to an annexation agreement. A large scale comp plan amendment or comprehensive plan amendment was approved that changed the land use. It was previously St. Lucie Agricultural. It's now 342.6 acres of RL, low-density residential, 18 acres of CG, 12 acres of ROI, that's residential office institutional, and then 13.4 acres of open space conservation, and that has to do with the location of 12 Mile Creek. So this is the first of four applications we received, and I know this seems like a simple land use amendment application. It is, but it is the first application to develop this property. And as I mentioned, it was annexed into the city in 2004. There was a PUD approved. The PUD was amended three times. but the property was never developed. So this is the first of four applications that will lead to the development of this property. So as staff, we did look at the existing annexation agreement with the conditions in there, and then we also looked at what would be needed to develop this application or this land at this time in the city. So with that, we did... work to update their annexation agreement and update the land use amendment and I should point out that there are no changes to the development thresholds and these development thresholds were approved back in 2005 or 2004 2005 and that is for 875 residential units 150 square feet of commercial use and 80,000 square feet of office and institutional. And by the way, the application to amend the annexation agreement for the First Amendment, that is on today's agenda as well. So as I mentioned, this is an application that basically just shifts 18 acres of commercial land from the southeast corner of Midway Road and McCarty Road to the southwest corner of Midway and McCarty. And then it also relocates the 12 acres of ROI land use that was on the east side of McCarty Road to the west side of McCarty. So this just shows you the change here. That's the existing land use. And that's the proposed land use. So this application was looked at for consistency with the city's comprehensive plan. As I mentioned, there's no changes to entitlements. There's no changes to the overall land use acreages. And it does preserve the 13.4 acres of open space conservation that does surround the portion of 12 Mile Creek that is on the property. So we did look at it for adequate public facilities and it does both the existing and the proposed amendment to the annexation agreement. They do address utilities and it is the responsibility of the applicant or the developer to provide the onsite and water and wastewater lines to the property. This property also is within a flood zone, which is considered a high-risk flood category, but they have provided documentation from FEMA that shows they can lift the property, fill the property to the finished floor elevation that will raise any structure above the base flood elevation. And there's also an existing agreement with the public schools that is taken with the property owner and the school district. And that to date, there was supposed to be a conveyance of property for a school that has not occurred yet. But the main aspect of this property is that we did work with the developer. We also worked with St. Lucie County to update the roadway requirements. So now there is an existing agreement between the developer and St. Lucie County for a monetary contribution to Midway Road. There also is an existing agreement that provides for them to construct McCarty Road from its existing, from Midway Road south to Newell Road. Newell Road is a new roadway. And I'm going to show you here, this is the improvement that they have to make in McCarty Road in red. The blue is the new road, that'll be Newell Road. And in addition to that, they are also responsible for connecting, it's an offsite improvement, but it would connect Newell Road to the existing Wilder Parkway, or LTC Ranch Parkway. And the Planning and Zoning Department does find the recommendation to be approved. Well, actually I should say this went to the planning and zoning department. We did have conditions of approval. They did approve those conditions of approval for those roadway improvements that is included in your ordinance. So they did recommend approval and the planning and zoning department also recommends approval and happy to answer any questions.

Thank you. Any questions for Ms. Keene? Okay. Thanks. This item is a public hearing. Would anyone like to address the council? Seeing no one, we'll close the public hearing. Council? Motion to approve Ordinance 26-53. Second. I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries.

8B, Ordinance 26-73. An ordinance to rezone approximately 33.23 acres of property generally located south of Southwest Discovery Way, east of Southwest Sundance Vista Boulevard, for parcels of land legally described in Section 9 of the Attached Composite Exhibit A, from the zoning designation of St. Lucie County Agricultural to the zoning designation of Riverland West Sports and Recreation, MPUD, for a project known as Riverland West Sports and Recreation, MPUD. providing for the approval and adoption of the MPUD conceptual master plan and regulation book, providing for conflict, providing for severability, and providing an effective date. Thank you. Is there a motion?

Motion to approve ordinance 26-73. Second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries.

HC, Ordinance 26-74. An ordinance of the City of Port St. Lucie, Florida, amending the comprehensive plan of the City of Port St. Lucie to provide a small-scale amendment to the future land use map to change the future land use designation for approximately 2.74 acres. from recreation open space to conservation open space for two parcels of land legally described as a portion of Section 15, Township 36 South, Range 39 East, generally located southeast of Glades Cut-Off Road, west of Interstate 95, and north of Commerce Center Drive, providing for conflict, providing for severability, and providing an effective date.

Council, is there a motion?

Motion to approve ordinance 26-74. Second.

I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. 8D, ordinance 26-75.

An ordinance of the City of Port St. Lucie, Florida, providing for the Fourth Amendment of the Conceptual Development Plan and Zoning District Regulation Document for Verano South Pod G PUD for property located south of the C-24 Canal, east of Glades Cut-Off Road, west of I-95, and north of Crosstown Parkway. providing for conflict, providing for severability, and providing an effective date. Council, is there a motion?

Motion to approve ordinance 26-75. Second.

I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries.

8E, Ordinance 26-79. An ordinance of the City of Port St. Lucie, Florida, establishing the use of special magistrate hearings for the public nuisance abatement program cases, amending Chapter 40, Nuisance Abatement Program, Article 1, General Provisions, Sections 40.05, 40.07, and 40.08, and Article 2, Nuisance Abatement Procedure, Sections 40.16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23, providing for codification, providing for conflict, providing for severability, and providing an effective date. Thank you. Council, is there a motion?

Motion to approve ordinance 26-79. I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries.

8F, Ordinance 26-80. An ordinance of the City of Port St. Lucie, Florida, amending Title VII, Traffic Code, Chapter 72, Stopping, Standing, and Parking, Article 1, General Provisions, Section 7210, Utility, Trailers, and Residential Zones, providing for conflicts, providing for severability, providing for codification, and providing an effective date. Thank you. Is there a motion?

Motion to approve Ordinance 26-80.

I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries.

8G, Ordinance 26-81. An ordinance of the City of Port St. Lucie, Florida, amending Title VII, Traffic Code, Chapter 73, Recreational and Off-Road Vehicles. Article 1, Recreational Vehicles by Creating, Section 73.05, Maintenance Requirements. providing for conflicts, providing for severability, providing for codification, and providing an effective date. Thank you. Is there a motion?

Motion to approve 1 is 26-81. Second. I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries.

8H, Ordinance 26-82. An ordinance of the City of Port St. Lucie, Florida, adopting the First Amendment of the Engineering Standards for Land Development, Commercial, Residential, Subdivisions, and Capital Improvement Projects, providing for conflict, providing for severability, and providing an effective date. Thank you. Is there a motion?

Motion to approve Ordinance 26-82.

Second. I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries.

Eight I ordinance 26 83 an ordinance of the city of Port St. Lucy Florida rezoning approximately 2.74 acres from the industrial and service commercial zoning districts to the open space conservation zoning district for two parcels of land legally described as a portion of section 15 township 36 south range 39 east. generally located southeast of Glades Cut-Off Road, west of Interstate 95, and north of Commerce Center Drive, providing for conflict, providing for severability, and providing an effective date. Thank you. Is there a motion? Motion to approve Ordinance 26-83.

Second. I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. Moving on to item 10, first reading of ordinances. Ordinance 10A, ordinance 26-72.

An ordinance of the City Council of the City of Port St. Lucie, Florida amending the fiscal year 2025-26 budget by inserting therein a four-page schedule designated as fiscal year 2025-26 budget amendment number one, which schedule provides for increases and or decreases in appropriations in the various line items, providing for conflict, providing for severability, and providing an effective date. Thank you. Good afternoon, Ms. Sturgis.

Good afternoon, Madam Mayor, Council, and residents. Caroline Sturgis, Director of the Office of Management and Budget. And I am here to present the fiscal 2025-26 amended budget for adoption. Just me and a quick bio of me. Been with the city for five years. Why the city makes budget amendments? We adjust the budget to keep it accurate and responsive to real-world changes such as new grants, revenues, moving previously approved projects into the current year, starting urgent projects, and responding to emergencies. By law, any changes that we need to make to the budget requires an ordinance and two public readings. so that residents can be informed as well as providing input. Before I go into the amendment, I just want to take a couple of seconds to explain how city funds work. While the government budgets are often compared to a household budget, they are not really the same. City finances, they do operate differently and are much more complicated. The city just cannot spend money wherever it wants. There are strict rules about how every dollar is spent. So each fund has its own purpose and must be used for those specific services. So you can think of a city's funds as buckets. Each bucket does have a specific job and money cannot easily be transferred from one bucket to another bucket. If that is going to happen, we are required to come to council to request for approval of such. So for example, when we collect stormwater fees, those are used for stormwater management. Those fees cannot be used for trash collection. Likewise, when we collect water and sewer fees, those cannot be used to fix roads. So in summary, keeping funds separate ensures that the city is able to follow the law, be compliant, be accountable, and also be transparent to the residents regarding city funds. So starting off with our changes, the general fund is being amended by $14 million. The majority of this is a $9.8 million repayment from the Governmental Finance Corporation, which will help advance the Sundance North South A Road project. Special revenue funds is being changed by $25 million. For this, the governmental finance corporation, we are seeing the second side of the entry of a $9.8 million, which is being transferred out of the governmental finance corporation over to the general fund, which I just discussed. Continuing with the special revenue funds, the Community Redevelopment Agency is transferring about $4 million to the General Capital Improvement Fund for the purchase of the county tax collector building. This is supporting redevelopment efforts in Walton N1. The building fund permit is a special revenue fund that is regulated by state law. The dollars that are collected here are not tax dollars, and the budget can only be used to support operations relating to compliance with Florida building codes. The budget is being amended by $15 million, which is due to renovations of the western municipal complex. This is the new location of our land... development team and other city operations to provide services to residents and businesses in the western area of the city. Capital funds are for big projects and facilities. The fund is being amended by $77.9 million. Majority of the changes that's happening in the capital funds are for prior year funded projects. that we're asking to be carried forward. So these are not new dollars. These are dollars that City Council had previously provided authority to move forward on. Examples are the Torino Regional Park and the Westport Treatment Plant upgrade. FOR THE GENERAL CIP, WE DO SEE LAND AND BUILDING PURCHASES. THESE WERE STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES THAT BECAME AVAILABLE DURING THE YEAR. THE PARKS IMPACT FEE CIP FUND IS AMENDED. THIS IS ALSO INCLUDING PRIOR YEAR FUNDED PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING REBUDGETED AND CONTINUING THIS YEAR TO RENO REGIONAL PARK AND OL PEACOCK PARK. Also, within the utility systems fund, this is an enterprise operation, not tax dollars. We are continuing with the Westport treatment plant upgrade. This project is also being matched by a $30 million state grant. In summary, wrapping up with the changes, much of what looks like new dollars is not. It is actually work that City Council has already approved that staffing is requesting to be carried forward so that construction can continue. Plus, there are a few strategic land and building moves that support public safety, mobility, parks, and redevelopment. Our sources, where will the money be coming from and why is it significant? Because of governmental accounting, we are showing the dollars of where they're coming from as well as where they are going. So that shows interfund transfers are appearing in multiple funds. This accounting of same dollars and multiple funds is to be transparent, but the money is not being spent twice. So some of the funds that are being moved from one account into another account similar to in your personal finances, moving funds from your checking account into your savings account. For city finances, the same dollars must be reported in both places, making the total amount look much larger than what it really is. So of the total $132 million of change that is being proposed in front of the council, just to do a recap of what is making the bulk of this. $78 million is dedicated to capital projects from prior years. As a reminder, these are not new dollars. These are projects that had already been previously approved and funded. We are continuing with the projects and we're asking for council to allow the authority for those dollars to move out of the reserves, so out of our savings account, into this year's operating budget. So it's moving it out of savings into the checking account. We also have $27.8 million, which is accounting for transfers in between funds. The example was when I described the reimbursement from the governmental finance corporation of a $9.8 million repayment over into the general fund. We had to reflect it in both funds. There's $11 million related to Southern Grove. property sales and infrastructure utility payments. And there's $15 million for renovations at the Western Municipal Complex, which is being funded by the building permit fees. And finally, about $100,000 accounts for much more smaller adjustments. Funding sources, including reserves, transfers, Property sale proceeds and bonds is what is making up this request. The city policy is to keep unassigned reserves and all major funds to handle emergencies and future public needs. We are using designated reserves for specific purposes like construction and emergencies and keep undesignated reserves for flexibility. So what we have presented before you today, the use of reserves is meeting one of our policy criteria. In summary, what does all of this mean? I know it's a lot of money, but a wrap-up of what's being proposed to City Council today is we are advancing safety and mobility by continuing road projects that are already in the works. Parks and places. We are moving signature park projects forward, Torino and OL Peacock. Utilities and water quality. We're upgrading a treatment plant with a state partnership funds and we are advancing infrastructure that will protect our environment. Transparency. As I mentioned earlier, the dollars do look large and that is because we are showing financial activity across multiple funds. In summary, staff recommends adoption of the amended budget ordinance for fiscal year 2025 through 26, which is an increase of $132,020,890 for a total appropriation of $1,001,832,283. This is a one-time adjustment for the current fiscal year and this is not setting the baseline for next fiscal year's budget. This concludes my presentation and I and staff is available for any questions.

Thank you so much for the detailed presentation and explaining the different buckets. It is a very complicated process with the governmental accounting standards and thank you for pointing out that WHAT WE HAVE TO DO HERE IS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE DO AT HOME ON A REGULAR BASIS. COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS? ANY COMMENTS?

I JUST WANT TO TELL CAROLINE, THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING IT BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE PROCESS. SO EXPLAINING IT THERE ON THE END WHERE A LARGE PORTION OF THIS AMENDMENT SIMPLY CARRIES FORWARD FUNDING, THERE ARE ALREADY FUNDS THAT WE HAVE ALREADY approved. So it's not like we're approving more funds. So thank you for that.

Anyone else? I appreciate the presentation. And I always appreciate a robust conversation around government budgeting. I think it's important. I actually appreciate when residents ask questions, and I appreciate your presentation. I think that you hit a lot of things on the nose when you said exactly that these particular funds is not new money. And I think a lot of times, especially the conversation that's occurring right now, is they assume that they look at our current budget, and then they say, oh, my gosh, they have all this money. Oh, and look, and they're just spending it. And the misunderstanding is that just like any other major purchase that anybody would make, sometimes these purchases have to be made over savings over time. And some of it, for example, with grant money may look like it's new money, but the reality is that's money that we receive, let's say, in a grant that we've been holding for like a year or two while we're waiting for the actual project to begin. And I actually had a recent question of, for example, we're going to move forward with Torino Park. Now, Torino Park has been a project that's been in the waiting for 30 plus years. And I've had people ask me before, well, why don't we put a pause on that? That pause isn't that simple. Number one is tied to a grant, and that grant has certain expectations of expenditure. In addition to that, we have planning and design that's taken forward that's cost upwards into sometimes in the millions of dollars to be able to get the grant and when the time lapse we could lose the grant we might have to do further planning in the future more money wasted and then on top of that we're dealing with a project that's been waiting for and promised the public for 30 years and so when you see that number and you said it was a big number you assume oh they're just spending that money but the truth is is that this is years of planning that has taken place years of savings years of trying to seek other forms of funding to reduce the taxpayer burden to bring us to this point. And that's not just with this expenditure. I think that's with the majority of the expenditures. And, you know, I just feel that the conversation is a good conversation, and I just hope that individuals in the community that really want to have it continue to ask the questions and continue to bring forward the thoughts and ideas so we can show them how the budget's done. It's complex, but I think all of us are willing to take the time, whoever wants to know more, to spend time explaining it to them. So thank you, Caroline. I appreciate you taking the time.

Thank you. Thank you. This item is a public hearing. Would anyone like to address the council? Seeing no one, I'll close the public hearing. Council? Motion to approve ordinance 26-72. Second. I have a motion and a second. Any final discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries.

10 B ordinance 26 dash 86 in ordinance amending title six public utilities of the code of ordinances of the city of port st lucie florida amending chapter 61 water wastewater and reclaimed water rates by amending section 6104 general terms and conditions regarding water wastewater and reclaimed water. Amending Section 6105, Water Installation Charges. Amending Section 6109, Charges for Cancellation of a Water and or Wastewater Service Application or Utility Service Agreement. Amending Section 61.10, Wastewater Installation Charge. And amending Section 61.25, Temporary Meter Permits. Amending Chapter 62, Wastewater and Reclaimed Water Utility Service Rate Schedule. By amending Section 62.12, Water, Wastewater, and Reclaimed Water Rate Schedule, amending Chapter 63, Utility Service Availability and Extension Rules, by amending Section 63.11, System Design, Independent Engineers, and Inspection of Applicants Installation, amending Section 63.14, Reserved, and amending section 63.17, lift station redundancy equipment charges, providing for conflicts, providing for severability, providing for codification, and providing an effective date. Thank you. Good afternoon, Mr. Matyagic.

Good afternoon, Madam Mayor, Vice Mayor, Council, residents, customers, leadership, Kevin Matyagic for the record. I feel like I should offer you a glass of water, Sally. That was a very lengthy, but I appreciate that. Just very high level. It is customary, and at the summer workshop in July, the utility team did present a recommendation. And what you have before you here is that proposal to see an increase to utility rates for our customers. average customer usage with this would equate to and three and a half percent increase is roughly about $1.29 per month. This has been a long kind of slow and steady approach incrementally to have increases in such that over time operations in the utility have increased to touch upon that Caroline spoke to an enterprise fund in the utility for the city is a separately funded enterprise and that THE MONEY THAT'S BROUGHT IN IS SPECIFICALLY UTILIZED FOR THE EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT SPECIFIC FUNCTION. AND SO SIMILAR TO YOU AND I WITH OUR UTILITY BILLS, YOU KNOW, THE PLANTS UTILIZE A LOT OF ENERGY. THERE MAY BE INCREASES ON FBL. WE'RE ALL PAYING MORE AS CONSUMERS. THE CITY, IN ESSENCE, PAYS MORE. IMPACTS SUCH AS CHANGES TO FUEL COSTS, ET CETERA, INCREASES OPERATIONAL EXPENSES. AND SO IT'S BEEN A LONG and I think the utility has been well situated and planned in that these incremental increases do help over the long run to help with ebbs and flows of substantial increases. In addition to that, additional fees and charges, some of those are bringing, the recommendations are for it to be bringing a more aligned with the actual costs of providing those services. So some of those were done through stakeholder meetings with those impacted individuals as well as it does impact some of the septic to sewer and the backup generator means, again, bringing those costs forward to help offset the impacts and such that they create. But for the record, nothing currently proposed changing the capacity fees at the plants. These are really the other type of fees associated with services being rendered. Here to answer any questions or comments you may have.

Thank you. Any questions or comments?

No.

Okay. Thanks so much. This item is a public hearing. Would anyone like to address the council? Seeing no one, we'll close the public hearing. Council?

Motion to approve Ordinance 26-86.

Second. I have a motion and a second. Any final discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. 10C, Ordinance 26-87.

An ordinance of the City of Port St. Lucie, Florida, amending Chapter 57, Fees of the Code of Ordinances, providing for conflict, providing for severability, providing for codification, and providing an effective date. Thank you. This item is a public hearing.

Is there a presentation?

Good afternoon Coltsworth works director and city engineer There is no formal presentation, but I know the staff can provide one if need be similar to how Kevin Relate the utility fees. This is for services rendered for new applications that will service individual needs or development needs Essentially we are trying to make sure that we are obtaining the services that cost back with the fees and making sure that the people that need these services are paying for the services and it's not an additional burden on the taxpayers additionally with this you would also be implementing the right-of-way permit fee which has been long in a discussion and was even referenced in the joint saint lucie county city council commission meeting earlier in the year and with that it will answer any questions you may have great thanks any questions

All right. Thanks very much. This item is a public hearing. Would anyone like to address the council? Seeing no one, I'll close the public hearing. Council?

Motion to approve ordinance 26-87. Second.

I have a motion and a second. All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. 10D, Ordinance 26-88.

An ordinance of the City of Fort St. Lucie, Florida amending Chapter 36 of the Code of Ordinances by amending Section 36.04, Fees, Providing for Conflict, Providing for Severability, Providing for Codification, and Providing an Effective Date. Thank you.

This item is a public hearing. Would anyone like to address the council? Seeing no one, I'll close the public hearing. Council? Motion to approve Ordinance 26-88. Second. I have a motion and a second. Any final discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. Moving on to resolutions, 11A, Resolution 26-R75.

A resolution of the City Council of the City of Port St. Lucie, Florida, amending the Local Housing Assistance Plan to comply with Chapter 67-37, Laws of Florida. As permitted by the State Housing Initiative Partnership Program Act, Sections 420.907 through 420-9079, Florida statutes and chapter 67 dash 37 Florida administrative code. Authorizing the direction and directing the city manager to execute any necessary documents and certifications needed by the Florida housing financial corporation, authorizing the submission of the amended local housing assistance plan for review and approval by the Florida housing finance corporation, providing for conflict, providing for severability and providing an effective date.

Thank you. This item is a public hearing. Would anyone like to address the council? Seeing no one, we'll close the public hearing. Council?

Motion to approve Resolution 26R75. Second.

I have a motion and a second. Any final discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries.

11b resolution 26-r76 a resolution of the city of port st lucie florida approving an amendment to the annexation agreement between the city of port st lucie and founders crossing llc providing for conflict providing for severability and providing an effective date thank you council is there a motion

Motion to approve resolution 26-R76. Second. I have a motion and a second. Any final discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. Moving on to new business, item 13A, request for an attorney-client session with the City Council to discuss pending litigation in the matter of Greer v. City of Port St. Lucie. Mr. City Attorney.

Yes, good afternoon, Madam Mayor, city council members. As the item suggests, this is an active claim in federal court right now. We've retained outside counsel on this matter already. Per normal procedure, this is a placeholder for a future shade session in accordance with Florida statutes. This is step one in that process. We have to request a shade session at a public meeting, and that's the request before you. Full transparency, this is ALPR related, kind of similar to what's going on in the nation, but we do have a defense, and we're moving forward with that.

Okay. Thank you. Is there a motion?

Motion to approve state session.

Second.

Okay.

We have a motion and a second. All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. 13B, request for attorney-client session with the City Council to discuss pending litigation in the matter of Florida Action Committee, Inc. v. Mark Glass.

YES. GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN. IT'S ME. SAME REQUEST, DIFFERENT CASE. THIS CASE IS ALSO IN FEDERAL COURT. THIS IS RELATED TO AN ACTION AGAINST THE CITY AND A BUNCH OF OTHER MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN THE STATE REGARDING THE STATE'S SEXUAL OFFENDER REGISTRY REQUIREMENTS. WE ALSO HAVE COUNCIL RETAINED ON THIS, AND AGAIN, THIS IS JUST A PLACEHOLDER FOR OUR FUTURE SHADE SESSION.

OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION? I MOTION TO APPROVE 13B. SECOND. I have a motion and a second. All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. City Manager's Report.

Yes, Madam Mayor. As you know, CitySav is having community conversation on several topics that impact our community, including three initiatives Portia and Lucie Voter will see in the November 3rd elections. And those three items are the budgets that we have, Amendment 3, the half-cent sales tax, and the straw ballot regarding the solid waste collection. and there are going to be six more of these sessions and then they fall between tuesday and thursdays and if the residents want to see exactly the dates and times and the location just visit the city of psl.com community conversation for more information thank you madam mayor thank you okay committee reports councilwoman morgan

You just reminded me because I forgot to put one down. But I did attend the first one that was held out at the Saints, the community conversations, and I think it was very well-adjusted. Could have been more attendance. However, it was the first one. And thank you to staff for all being there and set up. So I think it was very well received. Also, I did the welcome for the city university when they toured the port district, of which included the botanical gardens, the history museum, and also the park area, and being able to see where the restaurant's going to be completed next year. hopefully. I also hosted with Winter Lakes Homeowners Association over at the community center, did a presentation and then very special one which was on 9-11, the remembrance ceremony. Very heartfelt And I cannot tell you how many people came up to me after to state, wow, whoever your special events department is did an amazing job. So kudos to everyone that had a part in that. It was very nicely done. And On August 22nd, wow, this is way back then, Port St. Lucie Animal Control held its low-cost rabies and microchip drive-through clinic. Did they get fries with it? maybe a pup. What is it? Start cup from Starbucks. Is that what it is? A pup cup. They should have gotten providing residents with an easy, affordable way to protect their pets. 62 pets received a one year rabies vaccination, microchip and a city pet license. Animal control partnered with Operation S. O. S. and the Humane Society of St. Lucie County to make the clinic a success. So that's it. Thank you. Thank you.

Okay. At 829, they attended the Riverland Pickleball Tournament. I'm glad Mr. Diaz was here because that was a well-attended event. It's something that they raised $40,000 plus, and that money goes to Tunnels to Towers, like you said, to help disabled and homeless veterans. So it's a very needy cause. 9-11, a remembrance ceremony, that by far was the best ceremony that the city's put on. And I received a lot of compliments from the residents also. 9-12, I was speaker at the Freedom Festival Memorial Ruck for Do You Give a Ruck? And again, another organization that helps homeless veterans. So glad to take part in that. Thank you. Thank you. Hang on. Hang on. I got my message. Yep. The city of Port St. Lucie is committed to improving its infrastructure, and one of the latest efforts is the resurfacing of Gatlin Boulevard between Edgars Street and Port St. Lucie Boulevard. This project will extend the lifespan of the road while enhancing safety and driving conditions. Work on the project has already begun and is anticipated to be completed by February 2027. This project is funded by the House sales tax and mobility fees, ensuring that improvements continue to benefit the community. Thank you.

Thank you. Vice Mayor?

On 8-25, I wanted to thank Representative Trabulsi for inviting me to be a part of a panel discussion in regards to Amendment 3. Obviously, this discussion just provided information of the impacts to our local economy and our local government, but not necessarily in favor of one or the other. It was just a good conversation. It was very well attended. and it was a good opportunity to get some information and some feedback and to also hear from some of the other impacted partners. We had Sean Boyle there from the Children's Services Council County there, Representative Overdorf was there, so we had a good, robust discussion. Then on 9-11, I also attended a 9-11 remembrance ceremony. I just want to say, as my colleagues, that it was very well done. orchestrated and thought through for the 25th. Mayor, your comments were very poignant. They were on point. To me, the most impactful part of your comments that still sticks with me and resonates is the insurance of making sure that our youth is continually reminded to never forget. And I think that with our youth council and your initiative with the youth council, I think it's just, I think it's important to make sure that we continue to keep them involved. And I would like to even see our youth council even more involved next year with the 9-11 ceremony, because I think it's really important for them to carry the torch as more and more of us, unfortunately, won't be here for the remembrance of that in future years. One quick shout out, my mom's birthday was yesterday and my niece Isabella turned 18. But I just want to say happy birthday mom and happy birthday Isabella. And since launching a new social media campaign for Keep Port St. Lucie Beautiful cigarette litter program in April, they've received 26 requests and delivered 24 little receptacles using only the city's social media account. Keep PSL Beautiful used photos taken with owners and staff at these business locations at the times the receptacles are delivered to continue promoting the program. Each post has yielded roughly three new requests. The most recent CLPP grant was awarded on July 27th for $10,000. This funding will provide around 50 or more receptacles and a small amount paid programming and promotion over social media and streaming platforms. And I have, I don't know if you have, I feel like I've noticed a little bit more litter in our city since we're growing. And I think sometimes I feel it's, I don't want to ever feel like it's intentional. I think we have a lot of businesses, a lot of trucks moving around. You know, kind of a reminder, if you're a small business, you have an open truck, please make sure you're securing your things. Sometimes I think things just go flying. We have great partners in the community that work hard to help keep the litter off. I know Mr. Bennett has been involved with litter cleanup before. And, you know, I just I think it's going to take the city as a whole to continue to keep our city clean, safe and beautiful. And so anybody that is interested in joining our litter prevention program, please contact Keep Pettersen. It's beautiful as well. Thank you.

Thank you. I attended the governmental leaders luncheon. We had a fire board budget last week. The 9-11 remembrance ceremony was absolutely beautiful and amazing. So thank you to staff and thank you to everyone who attended. I also attended the 9-11 Riverland event as well. Spoke at the Tolaro Women's Club. Had a Humane Society board meeting. Went to the Caribbean American Cultural Group event. AND ALSO WELCOMED OUR YOUTH COUNCIL AT THE YOUTH COUNCIL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT KICKOFF OF THE NEW YEAR OF OUR YOUTH COUNCIL ON SATURDAY. AND TO PIGGYBACK ON THAT, WE APPOINTED 56 EXCEPTIONAL YOUNG RESIDENTS TO SERVE ON OUR YOUTH COUNCIL ON AUGUST 24TH. THIS IS OUR LARGEST COHORT IN THE COUNCIL'S HISTORY. This milestone reflects the dedication of our young community and their enthusiasm for getting involved in our city. Throughout the year, they'll build leadership skills, contribute to impactful projects, and help drive positive change in our community. On this past Saturday, like I mentioned, they're kicking off for the new year, and we are honored to welcome them and their parents. We had a number of parents there, too, supporting them, which was great. And so we're looking forward to seeing what our future leaders do for the next year and what they're going to accomplish. And with that, there's nothing else. We are adjourned.