Town Council - Regular Meeting

There is overflow seating in the room right to the right um where it'll be shown on uh video for those who are more comfortable. We have a we have a fire code, so we have to limit how many are in here. But again, there's a room next door um set up for overflow. Oh, that's good to have a pass through They got the pass through door open. That's a better way to do it.

Yep. That's right. Oh, yeah. They're all going that way. That's what they come.

But I didn't realize a good idea they open the door here. I'm just That was almost All righty. Good evening. The time is now 700 p.m. and I'll call to order the town council meeting of Tuesday, April 21st. We're going to begin with an invocation followed by a moment of silence and then a pledge of allegiance. If all those that are able, please join me in standing. Let us pray. Almighty God, we gather this evening mindful and grateful for the privilege of serving this community. Guide our deliberations tonight so that our actions may be thoughtful and for the good of all we serve. And help us to lead with courage and generosity. In all

that we do, may grace and peace be with us all. Amen. Amen. Amen. We will now pause for a moment of silence. Please join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Hey, we have roll call, please.

Mayor Kitzky here. Vice Mayor Choy here. Councelor Delaney here. Councelor Gisinger here. Councelor Sunstrom here. Town manager Kitsero here. Town attorney Bar here.

Okay, we begin tonight. Uh we have two presentations. Uh one is on the fisc year ending 2025 audit. Uh, I turn it over to our auditors. Perfect. Good evening, honorable mayor, members of town council, town manager, and meeting attendees. My name is Moraiza and I'm with the firm of CBIC CPAs and we performed the fiscal year ended September 30th 2025 fiscal year audit. So as today as as part of today's uh agenda package you received a copy of the town of Jupiter ACFR also known as the annual comprehensive financial report. So as part of this presentation I'll go over certain pages if you would like to follow along. I'll make reference to page numbers printed page numbers. The first one being printed page number one which is our independent auditors report. The first section which is our opinion section makes reference to what we audited and as mentioned here we audited the financial statements of the town of Jupiter for the fiscal year ended September 30th 2025. The second section or second paragraph in the opinion section is our opinion. And in terms of a financial external audit, the way we conclude is by providing an opinion on the financial statements. And as mentioned here, in our opinion, based on our audit procedures, we believe that the accompanying financial statements of the town of Jupiter present fairly in all material respects the financial position and the financial activity of the town for the fiscal year ended September 30th, 2025. And this is an example of a clean opinion or an unmodified opinion. And this is the only opinion you as as as

the council would like to be associated with. In terms of a financial external audit, this is um the highest regard that one could receive. So congratulations to to the town, the town council and the finance department. The second section at the bottom of printed page one, you have the basis for opinion. In essence, what we do in this section explain to the readers what are the audit standards that we follow. And we follow two sets of standards. United States unaccepted auditing standards known as US gas. And because we are required by the Florida Auditor General, we also follow government auditing standards known as yellow book. Following the auditor's report, if you turn with me to printed page five, you you reach the management discussion and analysis. The management discussion and analysis starts on printed page five and takes us to printed page 14. And this document in its entirety is over a 100 pages, nearly 150 pages. And if I would make a suggestion, I would suggest that if you're going to read a certain section of this document in its entirety, you read these nine pages. So from printed page 5 to printed page 14, management has put together an analysis of comparing prior year activity versus current year activity. And the nice thing about the MDNA is that what they're doing here is they're providing you quantitative fluctuation analysis of comparing you last year assets versus last year's liabilities versus this year, but also doing it in the P&L revenues and expenses. But not only are they showing you those quantitative fluctuations, they're doing so by also providing highlights and explanations of the underlying justification of what is causing that fluctuation to occur. So, it does a really good job of summarizing the document. And again, that's from printed page 5 to printed page 14. Following the MDNA, if you follow along

with me to printed page 15, you reach the statement of net position. Similar to a balance sheet, but the presentation is different under government accounting standards. We start off with assets and deferred outflows. The largest assets of the town as a year in are your in is your investment portfolio as well as your capital assets. Think of it as your property plan and equipment. Total assets are just shy of 690 million ended at 689.2 million. And then to the right is the second section of statement of net position. You have on printed page 16 you have your liabilities deferred inflows and then it ends up by classifying your net position. And in terms of government accounting, we call or define equity as net position. And um as noted here, there's different components to your equity or your net position as of year end. Some of some of your equity is invested in your capital assets. Um some of it is restricted by external parties for particular activities or functions. That being that certain resources that have been put set aside in your net position are restricted for debt, capital projects, law enforcement or economic development. And then the rest of that is a healthy unrestricted 193.6 million as of year end um to be used for certain activities and functions of the town. If you turn with me to printed page 17, you reach the statement of activities. Um this looks like and but it's not as similar but not exactly as a profit and loss statement. In terms of a government accounting, we do start off our profit and loss statement or statement activities with expenses. So the first column reflects the functions and programs of the town. The second column is the expenses, what it takes to take or accomplish those functions and programs. And to the right of that we have program revenue. At the bottom of

the statement of activities, we have what are considered general revenues or non-exchange transactions. Your property tax, franchise fees, sales tax, gas tax, and notating that the third to the third line um is your change in net position, a positive townwide of 29.2. We started off the fiscal year by opening equity with 593.3 million. When you account for the change in net position of positive 29.2, two, we end um the fiscal year ended September 30th, 2025 with a positive net position of 622.6 million. Following the two statements, we provide the reader modified acral basis financial statements starting on printed page 18. And just to highlight after the modified acrruel basis um financial statements commencing with printed page 29, you have the financial statement footnotes. Just want to highlight two two or uh two financial statement footnotes that provide more clarity in terms of your largest assets. The first one being the investment footnote. Um if you want to turn with me to printed page 44. On printed page 44, we provide the readers a snapshot of the investment portfolio of the town. As noted there, the largest investment securities of the town are the Florida Prime, Florida class, Florida Trust, and Florida Palm. And then to the right of that is the the U fiduciary fund pension trust, which invest in a little bit more diversified investment vehicles. So again, that's the largest asset, one of the largest assets of the town as of year end. And if you turn with me to printed page 54, you reach the capital assets. And as I mentioned before, we use that term in government accounting for property,

planning, equipment. What we're showing here to the financial statement readers is the beginning balances as the first day of the fiscal year. Additions reflect infrastructure or capital infrastructure that was acquired, building improvements, equipment. Deletions are your disposals. And then we have an ending balance again printed page 54 and 55 tied to the face of the financials if anybody wants that more granular information. Separate and apart from the financial statements, we produce an internal control report that's available on printed page 136. And on printed page 136, we explain to the financial statement readers what is our responsibility over internal controls over financial reporting. We explain to the reader that there's two levels of internal control deficiencies. One of them being material weakness, the other one being a significant deficiency. But um as mentioned at the bottom of printed page 136, we have no deficiencies to report. Um this would be the report or two that we would use to report deficiencies in internal controls. Um but as mentioned here, proud to mention that we had no deficiencies to report for fiscal year ended September 30th, 2025. If you turn with me to printed page 137, you reach our report on compliance. Yes, we are performing a financial statement audit. We're making sure that the financial statements are complete and accurate, but we're also required by the Florida General to test certain laws, regulations, contracts, and grant agreements. We perform significant amount of grant testing in terms of COVID your CO funding that was received during the fiscal year and expended. It was received in prior years, but expended in this fiscal year. Um, and as mentioned in our single audit report, we had no items to report. on printed page 141,

we reached the schedule of expenditures of federal awards. So if somebody was to want more information in terms of what are the federal grants that were received either during the current year or prior years that were expended during fiscal year September 30, 2025. This is the page that they will refer to printed page 141. noticing a robust year of federal award expenditures uh north of 2.6 million um heavily driven by the corona virus state and local fiscal recovery fund grant agreement. Separate and apart from the ACFR which was released on March 31st, we also release our communication to those charged with governance. Um that letter was addressed to the town council, the mayor, the audit committee, and the town manager. We make reference to the process in terms of the audit. We're here today presenting the audit which was issued on March 31st, but we did start this process back in October. So from beginning to end, it takes about four months of communicating with your town manager's office, the finance department, and collaborating throughout the process. I'm pleased to mention that it was a pleasure working with the finance team and the town manager's office there. They provided us the information on a timely basis. This year there was three audits, three separate audits. We audit the town, we audited the CRA, but we also performed a federal single audit. So, it was it was a robust year of audits. We asked a lot of questions. We're here on site and um they didn't miss a beat in in providing us the information. So, we appreciate their assistance throughout the process. Pretty much that summarizes the ACFR and some highlights and I'll open up to any questions you may have.

Any questions? During our audit committee meeting at 4:00 today, uh you had highlighted page 100 and I was just wondering if you could go over that good news again here.

Okay. So on printed page 100 um if you turn with me that is the police officers uh I'm sorry municipal officer yeah police office retirement trust and just in South Florida our firm CBCPA's um service as the external auditor for about 60 municipalities and on a national level it's about 2,000 plus um it's something that we specialize in terms of the industry nationwide and one of the things I highlight high had highlighted earlier in the audit committee meeting was your um funding in terms of Gazsby um plan fiduciary net position as a percentage of the total pension liability of 94%. Which was uh not only very high as compared of some of our other clients but also the highest it's been for the past 10 years for for the uh municipal officers retirement trust showing um 94% funded under Gatsby basis. So I that was one of the things I highlighted. We we compare and do some analysis in terms of comparing um our clients to some data points that we use to to determine reasonableness in terms of activities. And one of the things that we had highlighted I had mentioned to the audit committee was um that 954% was in the higher level of the stratum when we were comparing the town of Jupiter to some of our other clients which is something uh very positive. So something very be very proud of. Um so that's that's notated on printed page 100.

My second and last question would be that um you had also said during the audit committee that you're not shy about reporting findings and did the town have any f findings this year? Has it in the past recent past with you? Um and what percentage of your clients do you typically have findings for?

So so it's all public information. And it's all provided um not only in every municipality's website but also the Florida General if anybody's interested. The Florida General uh publishes on their website and provides access to all financial statement audits for the past 5 years and they do so for counties, municipalities, special districts, water management facilities and um and as mentioned we had no items to report in terms of findings or internal control deficiencies. Um, typically on on average nearly half of our clients receive some type of recommendation at at year end. Um, we're required to follow audit standards and we're required to do our job and that entails finding um and reporting as necessary um findings or recommendations as needed. And um it is it is typical to receive findings or recommendations. It is not typical not to receive a a finding or recommendation as we did here for the town of Jupiter this year.

Thank you.

Is there any member of the audit committee happen to be here? Please stand be recognized. Okay. Wasn't sure. I just wanted to make sure that uh and maybe they're watching online or but we're grateful and I know that uh councelor Sunstrom is the uh council um lays on to that committee but they're they've got incredible uh financial experience. So it gives us great comfort that they're they meet with you in advance of us and scrutinize this compared to you know their many decades of financial experience that uh is helpful. So I want to recognize and thank that committee that they get together what three times or something a year or

one time a year but now we're getting quarterly updates to them as well financial reports. That's what I'm thinking of. Okay. And mayor, we've always stressed, you know, having a high percentage on the um on the p the funded pension for the officers and 94% is remarkable. And you know, it's it's just a, you know, commitment to that the office that this council's always had. So, I'm very pleased with that. So, as we had uh as I had mentioned when in the CRA meeting preceding this one, I appreciate your delivery uh style of going through, you know, the key pages because that's helpful for us. Uh thank you very much and I appreciate our ladies on for pointing taking us back to that that page. So

I just want to take this opportunity to thank the staff, thank the firm for doing the audit and for any future accountants out there. This is done every year. So get ready if that's your passion get ready for it. But again, thank you to the staff. This is a lot of work and testament to what the town stands for. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you very much. Moving on to we have a uh press an update by Jupiter Fire Rescue Department. Mayor, council members, those here in person, many more than I'm used to, and uh those who are watching from home, thank you very much for allowing me the honor of serving here at Jupiter Fire Rescue. We are in our final months of building the Jupiter Fire Rescue Department. In just 41 days, we will have our fire trucks, our two new fire stations will be substantially completed and all of our operational personnel will be here. Tonight's update will focus on the hiring of our operational personnel. So, we started hiring in December of 2025 with the advertisement for our positions and we received an astounding 1559 applications for 90 operational positions. We completed our interviews at the end of March of 25 26 and by the end by the first week of 20 April of 26 all of our conditional offers have been extended. I cannot thank the human resource team enough for all that they did to help us meet our hiring timelines. They were they truly went above and beyond. In a normal year, the town may hire 30 employees. Uh human resources helped us hire 90 people in just a few months. And they did this while still carrying on

the normal hiring and onboarding process for the remainder of the town. In total, they've helped us hire 107 Jupiter Fire Rescue Department employees. We only have four more remaining, and those will be for our fire prevention division. Despite us pushing HR hard, they have been an extreme pleasure to work with, and they've always provided us with the guidance we needed to get the job done. Experience and quality matter. Our 36 frontline leaders, these are our captains, lieutenants, and drivers, all come with extensive training and experience. Our 12 captains have a combined total of 275 years of fire service experience. Our 12 lieutenants have a combined total of over 184 years fire service experience. and our 12 driver engineers have a combined total of over 193 years of fire service experience. All of our frontline leaders bring a wide range of technical and specialty training, certification, and experience. And over 60% of them hold college degrees. And then in addition, our 54 firefighters who are coming will have a combined year of well over a hundred years of fire service experience. So amongst our firefighters, our firefighter EMTs are those that are largely just getting into the fire service. So the town of Jupiter took advantage of this incredible opportunity and we sent three of our existing town employees to both EMT school and fire school to gain the certifications they needed to be a firefighter. Just yesterday, these three trainees along with five other students who went to school with them and to that we've

extended conditional offers all graduated from their fire academy program and they are all firefighter EMTs now and we're so incredibly proud of them and the work that they've put in to get where they are today. So, here's just a snapshot of our new hires. Um, our team members don't just come with years of experience. They come with highly specialized training and unique skills. 55% of our 90 new members have college degrees. 97% have specialized training, certification, and experience in some of these various disciplines, including hazardous materials response, technical rescue, including trench, rope, and vehicle machinery rescue, marine or water rescue, SWAT medic operations, and instructor certifications and experience. 32% of our new hires are bilingual or multilingual with people who speak Spanish, Creole, Russian, Polish, German, Portuguese, and French in addition to their native English language. We are proudly welcoming 14 veterans to our ranks. We place a high premium on military experience because the fire service demands the exact traits honed in the armed forces, including unwavering dedication, the ability to operate in high stress environments, and profound understanding of teamwork and the chain of command. These 14 ve veterans represent all five branches of the military, the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, and Navy. We're very fortunate to have attracted and selected so many exceptionally qualified people. These are people from diverse backgrounds, people with extensive experience, education, and highly

specialized skills, and people who have served our country before choosing to serve our community. But that's not the real story here. This is very much a story about people coming home to serve the community they love. 29 of our new team members have deep connections to the town of Jupiter. 25 of them live here or have lived here in the past. Three are new trainees work for the town in other roles before choosing to join the fire department. Three others have family members who currently work for the town. And 11 of these new Jupiter Fire Rescue firefighters graduated from either Jupiter High School or Jupiter Christian School. It's such an amazing opportunity to give these incredible people the chance to serve the community that they love. So, next steps for us. This includes our onboarding and training of our new personnel. On May 11th, our 36 frontline leaders begin three weeks of orientation and training. On June 1st, our 54 firefighters will join our 36 frontline leaders to begin orientation and training. And we'll be holding our swearing in ceremony on June 1st at the Maltz Theater. And I can't wait for you to meet all of our newest members. And then on June 6, our 93 operational personnel, which includes our battalion chiefs, will begin an intensive four-month training program. So, in closing, as always, in less than

two months, the town of Jupiter will have its new fire stations completed, its apparatus delivered, and all of its firefighters on board. These are exciting times and busy times. Very soon, Jupiter Fire Rescue will begin providing full fire and emergency medical services to this community, and we remain on schedule and on budget, and we are looking forward to serving and earning the trust of this community. Thank you.

Any questions or comments? I just want to say well done. And it's not every day you get an applause for your presentation. So, it is nice to have this audience here today. Well, it gets applause from us. From us. Yes. And we thank you. This is good to have.

This uh is a remarkable presentation. Thank you. uh every month you come I'm grateful to our town manager to have set up that cadence. Uh this has been really exciting to see it come together and uh the leadership team uh that basically helped build this to this point has done an incredible job and that leadership team is as I'm talking to is many of the departments in the town. So, uh, we we up here really delight in in observing an incredible team effort to bring this, uh, you know, fire department to fruition and, uh, we're excited. Thank you very much. Thank you for the opportunity.

Okay, now we'll move on to citizen comments. This is a time for non-aggenda items. uh and they're limited to three minutes. Uh anyone wishing to speak is asked to state his or her name and address for the record prior to attention town address and town council. And we don't discuss the items this evening to refer to staff for followup uh and report back to us. So do we have any uh citizen comments for non-aggenda items?

Yes, sir. We have one speaker, Eric Whites. There is a slight delay in the overflow room. So we may want to give him just Good evening. This is Eric Whiter from Jupiter Ocean Grand. I come in here with a police escort. And look at this fantastic crowd here. Absolutely amazing. Uh I want to talk about uh for for nine years I've been walking on the beach road uh A1A on the sidewalk. uh with my dog four times a day, maybe up to four miles a day, and I got to go through the traffic of all the people there. And um so I thought it was time for that sidewalk to get widened. On the weekends, it's uh filled with people. Uh all the car spaces are full. So I wrote to I understand this uh sidewalk on the road belongs to our county commissioner,

uh Maria Marino. So, I wrote to her two weeks ago and I haven't heard from her. So, I'm just going to read what I uh wrote to her so everybody can hear it because this is all our uh sidewalk and we all want to enjoy that. Dear Commissioner Marino, one of the most delightful things to do in Jupiter for many people is to use the beach road sidewalk for recreation. The sidewalk is extremely popular, especially in weekends for simple reason that it offers ocean views, drinking water, and depending on the time of the day, shade from the sun, and sad to say, conflicts. Take note that most of the length of A1A, there is no sidewalk on the west side of the road. The 3 mi of ocean sidewalk from Carland Park down to the Juno Pier and beyond is very popular. The problem is that uh it's the only wide enough for two people. Many people are courteous and move along, move and allow others to pass, but is not always the case. Baby strollers, dog carriages, wheelchair bound folks, as well as slow walkers with canes force people to stop and slow to make room. When the sidewalk gets busy, runners and roller skaters go between the park cars to bike lanes. Jupiter police, bless them. Thank you, Jupiter Police. And they get on their speakers when driving by and tell the people to get back on the sidewalk. Confrontation between cyclists and runners are not uncommon because the runners that want to run go out into the road and the bicycle path. Accidents with cars are inevitable. Jupiter's finest was called as shown in the picture below to mediate a confrontation between a runner and a cyclist resulting in the combatants combatants with good police work to finally shake hands. Those are the fisty cups. The sidewalk and A1A are the main of Palm Beach County. I'm writing to request that the county in conjunction with Jupiter put their heads together to find a way to widen the sidewalk to make

this a prominade um for all for the county residents to and visitors to enjoy. The extra width should be added on the ocean side. The sidewalk by Marinsky Road is already a good model since it's already wider than that and making a nice twist in a scenic and comfortable area for walkers and runners. The sidewalk with should allow for at least four people to avoid forcing them into the bike path. Um, looking forward to seeing this materialized with real prominade for all to enjoy. I've yet to hear from Maria Marino, but I will call her tomorrow. Thank you. Thank you.

Was it mayor? We have no other speakers. Thank you, council. We have before us the minutes of the April 7th town council meeting. I don't see any corrections on the dis. If there are none, I'll take a motion, a second to approve the minutes as presented. I'll make a motion to approve as presented. Second. Motion second. All in favor signify by saying I. I. I. I. I. Motion carries unanimously. Moving on to the consent agenda. This is items uh four through 10. Um on the consent, was there any member of the public wish to pull a consent agenda item? No, sir. Any member on the dis? Seeing none, I'll take a motion and a second to approve the consent agenda. So moved. Second.

Motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Motion carries unanimously. Moving on to the regular agenda public hearing. Uh the Jupiter Christian School Legacy Campus. Uh we have four ordinances before us. Uh on first

may I make a motion to post postpone this item um I want to say last night yesterday late we received a draft developers agreement and I know that that's been a question posed to us but um given our fiduciary duty to residents and given the incomplete information with the proposal asking for the town to pay $11 million towards the cost of the new road and given that being in excess of our budget and no proportionate fair share agreement being shared. And with a staff analysis not being um current for tonight's discussion, I would like to propose that we postpone this item.

I do think it's a long process. This is a very complicated item. There will be a number of opportunities. Um but I think we need to make sure that we have all the information. Well, you want to make that in the form of a motion and if there's a second and then we'll have some discussion on that. I move to postpone the public hearings to allow staff and the applicant sufficient time to resolve critical deficiencies in the record related to the proportionate fair share agreement, the staff analysis um and the developers agreement. I second.

Okay. Motion, a second just on discussion and I'll go first. Um I while I appreciate uh the concerns because I I share those way I was viewing this and what I was going to explain. I think um many may not understand what we're acting upon whether we do it tonight or in some soon future meeting. Uh but the project application to some degree can't be accepted without some uh understanding of the town's openness uh to change land use and zoning. Otherwise, because if we were to conclude the answer to that is no, you know, then we ought to deny it and then end it. Um we're way way way early in the site plan process. Um and therefore these are for ordinances in the town for the the members of the public. An ordinance takes two public hearings. So if we do in fact act on changing land use and zoning on force rating it's always subject to getting to the point of a site plan that we'd be comfortable with otherwise we wouldn't be proceeding. Um so you know again I while I agree and com completely from what I understand your concerns are uh in my mind you know uh I I was okay but this is a council of five.

So we're going to discuss and then we're going to vote on the motion on the floor. Right. Uh but I would just want to explain um you know that uh this is an action on first reading. My concern with it is that um it's a unique application and that it is dependent on delivering infrastructure right and that infrastructure the project cannot exist without the infrastructure and we have no understanding related to the developers contributions the town and we do not have sufficient budget or understanding related to proportionate fair share

so I would I mean I don't I do not feel prepared and I would not be supportive of an item where I didn't have some understanding of that and so wanting to give every opportunity I would recommend postponing.

Okay. and and I can I can I make a statement and and historically I've met I think with three prospective developers on this property now I don't know how many folks know this propertyy's landlocked and in order for it to be developed the road has to be cut in and the um it was well known and shared with every applicant including you folks that the the applicant would have to pay for a portion of the road not just a town of Jupiter and I believe there are four parties that have to agree and give up some easements and land to put the road in and that hasn't happened yet. So, when I got this this development agreement and it it has the town on the hook for the whole cost plus a 5% fee of $11 million, which is $550,000 paid to whoever is constructing the road. This this just came out of the blue. I I got this phone call yesterday. So, I am not prepared. This has to be reworked and we have to, you know, I can't vote I can't go forward with this tonight because this is just out of the blue for me and I have to, you know, we have to analyze this. Um, just to follow up, and I'm not debating because it seems like there's already a majority. Uh, again, I agree, you got to get in the sight plan. That's why, you know, I was surprised there's so many people coming out here tonight because until you get in the site plan, you don't get into discussions about, well, what are the road impacts and, you know, how how they're going to be done, whatever. So, there's a motion, a second on the floor. Is there no other further?

I'd like to add one thing to that, too. I'd like to see an integrated plan of the road construction and the rightway acquisitions that that's that's phased with the development of the property. Right now, none of that exists. I haven't seen it. So well um I'm going to limit I understand there's a site plan required and further down the site plan what I expect when in fact if in fact we get to a point of approving a site plan amendment the project will be conditioned upon having a road.

So again I was seeing that as happening during the site plan process which staff is just beginning to go through the application. Uh, okay. Council, Vice Mayor,

don't want to repeat um what my colleagues have said, but I do agree. We got the development agreement last night. $11 million is a lot of money to ask the town to put on the hook, but we and this is not a not in support of Jupiter Christian School. We all think Jupiter Christian School is a phenomenal opportunity for anyone. School choice should be an opportunity for any family. We just need more information. Um, again, $11 million is a lot to ask the school, I mean the council and the town of Jupiter. So, I would support the motion to postpone.

Did you um There's a motion in the second. Can you just clarify the is there is eight certain or is it certain or or else or otherwise some uh milestone certain to know when or we don't have one? I'm just asking you a motion. I don't I'm not sure that we have one town attorney. Are we required to have a date certain? Only if you want to postpone to a date certain. Okay. So I think otherwise any notice requirements um would have to be renoticed. Was the motion to postpone or continue? To postpone. Okay.

Motion and second. There's a motion and a second on the floor. All in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Nay. The motion carries uh 4 to one with the mayor dissenting not disagreeing with the issues. Um just for clarification that was to ordinance 2126 2126. There are four ordinances. So the motion was um sorry to postpone item 11 but I would say to postpone ordinance 2126 23 26 22 26 and 2426 on first reading. Clear.

Okay. And that's what the second went to also. That is correct. Okay. Thank you for making sure we had that clarification. Okay. Um, moving on then to um I'll give those in the audience who are we've postponed the item. So, mayor, if you're calling for public comment, the public comment would be limited to the motion to postpone. It would not be to the specifics of any of the ordinance.

Actually, I wasn't going pant comment unless I should. So because we have cards assuming the matter was heard. So um but if I need to go to public comment, was there any public comment on the action that we just took?

Hi, Donald Barnes, chairman of the board, Juba Christian School. Um pretty disappointed in in this. Um, we were requested to submit a draft developers agreement and we didn't just dream that up. That wasn't our idea, you know. We were requested to do that. That was a rough draft at best. It was first iteration. We had one meeting on it uh yesterday, I think it was. I can't the town attorney my days are, you know, getting mixed up. um but to to delay this entire process over a draft that we were requested to put together and the $11 million, you know, was was pulled off the town's website. That's not a number we came up with or the engineer came up with or anything else. So, you know, the fact that that you guys one didn't have the courtesy to let us know before we came out here. You know, every one of you guys know me, every one of you guys have my number. I I met with all of you multiple times, but the fact that you didn't have the courtesy to let us know, very very disappointed. Um, and again, it was a draft that the town requested we submit. So that's what we did. And now to say, you know, we got to work out the details. Sure. Of course, we fully understand we got to work out the details. But I mean, again, very very disappointed in in the council this evening. Thank you. Well, um I almost wasn't going to open that. That's the only comment I'm going to take. I just want to say personally, first of all, that was received yesterday late. Everybody on council wasn't sitting around to get it. So in fairness to my colleagues up here, um you don't know when they got it and then it just opened up questions and there wasn't time uh to uh and it does open up on misunder some concerns about expectations on the part of both parties

um to uh to enable a project such as this to exp proceed. So uh to the degree it's been voted um for postponement 4 to1 uh that item is uh is completed in for this agenda. Moving on then to ordinance 72 27- 26.

I'll wait. We'll we'll adjourn for five minutes while everybody files out. Recess, excuse me. recessed for 5 minutes uh until 7:50. Uh giving everybody opportunity to uh

Okay, if uh everybody I'd like to uh end the recess when everybody gets back on the dis. Okay, the time is 7:50 and we'll uh end the recess as people have filed out. Um, so we're moving on to agenda item ordinance 2726, second reading. I'll turn it over to staff.

Uh, good evening, Scott Reynolds, finance director for the town of Jupiter. Uh, good evening, mayor, council. U, as you just indicated, we're here on second reading uh, in regards to ordinance 27-26. Um just as a reminder, tonight's ordinances establishes the framework u uh which a per property fee would be established. It ensures a transparent process for establishing the fee. This ordinance before you this evening does not establish the percentage of the fire services budget that would be collected with the fee and does not determine the rate to be charged for individ individual property owners. That is not what this ordinance is to do this evening. is basically to lay out the rules of the road uh in relation to any upcoming assessment assessment. Uh one other thing I want to make sure to point out uh there was a lot of discussion after the uh first reading about um you know uh the amount of of cost and and proportionate amounts of cost and options of cost for the uh uh Palm Beach County or I'm sorry uh Jupiter Fire Rescue. Uh we've talked about this a number of time times, but uh just wanted to kind of lay it out uh in in a presentation format. Uh there's two different funding options before you uh that'll be coming before you. One would be the property taxes and EMS transport fees and a per property fee, which is what we're talking about this evening, is starting that process of the per property fee uh to the tune of 25 million, which is going to be the fire budget starting October 1. Uh the second option for the council uh going forward. Uh we've talked about this in the past as well is property taxes, uh the transport fees or EMS transport fees and the use of sales tax to help support uh upcoming de death service that we know

is coming our way. Uh again, $25 million uh for the budget. And you can see uh the proportionate share uh in each of the circles there of each of those items. One of the things that was brought up after the uh first reading uh that from residents online that they somehow felt like uh there was not going to be a savings. Uh one of the thing we want to try to remind everybody of is that uh looking at uh forward in the next year on what uh it's going to cost for Palm Beach County Fire if we were have stayed with them via their own estimates was going to be uh $35 million it would have cost the town in total. Uh again, what I just indicated to you and we've been talking about is a $25 million budget uh for Jupiter Fire Rescue come uh October 1. That's a savings of $10 million uh year one uh of of the services. It's nothing new. We've talked about this a number of times. Uh how it gets funded, that's what we're talking about, the $25 million, how does that get funded? Uh and uh the items that we're talking about is uh using a mixture of advalorum dollars uh a per property fee uh and transport services to pay for the $25 million, but it's still $25 million for Jupiter Fire Rescue and the estimated $35 million uh for Palm Beach County Fire Rescue starting uh next year. So future steps uh if council selects the per property fee uh that we're talking about uh on May 5th there'll be a preliminary uh non-evalor assessment resolution. I want you to think about this resolution as uh when we go through the budget process when we set the trim in July uh you're setting a rate uh that uh uh will be adopted in the future. So

it that allows us to send notices out to each of the residents on what their fee would be. So very similar to the trim process uh the that's be the preliminary rate resolution and then notices go out to the public uh and notifying of the upcoming public hearings that are going to be necessary uh mailed to each of the property owners so they will be able to see their assessment amount. And then on Tuesday, June 16th, uh would be the final uh resolution considered by the town council uh just in time to prepare us for uh the bud the budget season. So, if town council selects uh the tax option on Tuesday, July 19th, uh the truth and millillage, uh that'll be all rolled up into to the trim process in the middle of July. Uh that we'll be able to not again they'll be notified the residents uh of of the cost of that as well. So again, uh we're here on second reading for 2726. Do you have any questions? I have one question. You don't mind, Director Reynolds? On page three, that 2.1 million 8% sales tax that would come from our general fund. Is that correct?

That's correct. Currently, we collect around $6 million in sales tax. So, that's a third of that fund. Then that would then it's typically used for CIP type projects, those type of things. It could be used for anything that the the council wishes to designate the uh the funds for. Okay. So there'd be a deficit in that use then by 2.1 million. Then 2.1 for the debt service. Uh previously we we've issued it for debt service in the past. Uh it's it's uh legally defensible to be able to use that uh for the debt service that we'd be looking for for the two stations that are currently being built. Okay. All right. Thank you. Just quick comment. Go ahead.

Thanks for pointing out the um the $10 million savings that sort of got lost in the weeds last meeting. So, you know, this is like you said, this is just the how we're going to fund the 25 million fee for the for the town for to fund Jupiter Fire. So,

yeah, this is what we're asking what what we will be asking of the council uh starting in uh with the rate that we're going to be recommending, it's a very small portion of the overall 25 million. Uh it's a 2.1. Uh one thing I want to point out too is in the ordinance that you have in front of you this evening, there's uh uh processes that have to be put in place uh for public notice. It creates transparency in the process. So next year uh if you were if we were to adopt the the the fee uh next year when we go to do the process again, we have to define the fee. Uh there will also be public notice just like in the trim. Every year we send out notices to the residents. So it's as transparent as possible.

It's very transparent and it and it creates that in in the ordinance and that's outlined in Florida statute. Right. And it gives us flexibility in the future. Who knows what happens. So Okay. Great. Thank you. Um, so I just want to ask I want to get back to I think there's a misperception up here perhaps uh using the term we'd have a deficit. So the gardens has one millage rate for advorum taxes. They have no non no fire ad non-advalum assessment. Correct. That is correct.

So fire comes out of the g one general fund. So if in fact we were to proceed without a non u you know far a nonadvalorum assessment then we'd be incrementally increasing the advorum taxes to cover the totality of what we needed. So you're really not you're not creating a deficit in sales tax in my view, but you're you wouldn't be able to use it for um funding I mean for for bond debt. So sales tax we many years back we had some bond debt under sales tax and that's why he's saying you either you know use this or that as the funding source you know for a bond you know because the the bond has to have a certainty of a funding source but I want to it's not a deficit correct

no it the the fire rescue would then roll into the general fund and be part of the just like the police department. Yep. Thank you for Thank you for the clarification. I just wanted to make one comment. I wanted to thank you for bringing the PowerPoint back this way. I think there was a misconception of words and this is very clear. There is no increase. It's a savings to the residents. So, thank you for doing it this way. Any other questions or um I guess I can

Oh, are we comments or just questions? Yeah, my comment would be I'm very grateful to finance department and external affairs for focusing on this presentation and making it clear, simple. I appreciate the visuals. I think this has been a hard thing to communicate. I know that we've been getting a lot of questions. The town will continue to get questions. So, I think this is a really good step. I wish we had had it the first time. So, I'm glad we have it now and going forward. And I think we always need to reinforce it with visuals as we go through the process. So, thank you. I want to thank the community relations department. Really, they're they're the ones that stepped up to really help me with it.

Thank you. So, um, you know, I'm going to ask for a motion in a second, but I'll go ahead knowing last time it passed 4 to one, and it suspect it'll be the same here. But, you know, I made commitments, you know, when you go through an election campaign and we've been representing I've been representing, you know, that look at your tax bill and you can see what it's going to be, the savings going to be. And so I I just as I had said before and it's in last minutes, but you know the fact that a 15% rate on an 1199 square ft home is going to pay $15 two people and then two people in a 31 square ft home paying $93 to me is a disparity that I can't I can't feel comfortable with in the fact that all the other municipal alities that at least we had information on used a flat per resident fee. I'm just not comfortable and that is the only way we can go for year one because that is what the study was based on. So I'll take a motion in a second to approve ordinance 2726. But I just wanted to get my concerns and why I'm going to vote no on the record.

Motion to approve 2 ordinance 2726 on second reading. Motion in a second. I'd ask uh town attorney to read ordinance 2726.

An ordinance of the town council of town of Jupiter, Florida, creating article 8 of chapter 18 of the town of Jupiter code of ordinances entitled master capital project and a service assessments authorizing the imposition and collection of special assessments against property within the town of Jupiter. Providing for definitions, providing for the creation of assessment areas, establishing the procedures for imposing capital and service assessments, establishing procedures for notice and adoption of assessment rules. Providing that assessments constitute a lean on assessed property upon the adoption of the assessment rule. providing that the lean for an assessment collected pursuant to sections 197.3632 and 197.3635 Florida statutes upon perfection shall attach to the real property on the prior January 1, the lean date for addum taxes providing that a perfected lean shall be equal in rank and dignity with the leans of all state, town, district or municipal taxes and assessments and superior in dignity to all other prior leans. mortgages, titles, and claims. Authorizing exemptions. Providing procedures for collection of assessments. Providing a mechanism for the imposition of assessments on government property. Providing for issuance of obligations, declaring the provisions of this ordinance to be supplemental, additional, and an alternative method. Providing for applicability and severability, providing for conflicts and codification, and providing an effective date. Have a motion, a second. All in favor signify by saying I.

Nay. The motion carries 4 to one with Mayor Kitzky dissenting.

Okay, moving on to reports. Town attorney.

Thank you, mayor. I have one very important report. Um the town manager has been uh seeking property and uh there is a property that the town is interested in purchasing. Um that property was the subject of a letter of intent and we are uh have been in negotiations with the property owner. The property owner as of today uh advised us that there was another potential buyer of that property and would like the town to show its commitment to going forward with the purchase by entering into an option agreement within the next 48 hours. The option agreement simply locks up the property. Um the actual real estate contract would be brought back to the council on your next meeting May 5th. Um my partner who's a real estate lawyer has already reviewed and prepared that that agreement. So we know that it's an agreement that um is a standard firebar contract that would be acceptable. um we believe to the town. At any rate, there's another potential purchaser of that property. And in order to secure that property and make sure the council has the opportunity to decide on May 5th whether they want to purchase that property or not, uh I would like the a motion from one of the members of the council to authorize the mayor to execute that option agreement which then means that we have the opportunity, you

will have the opportunity on May 5th to vote in regards to that contract. contract. One other thing to note that as is common standard for any real estate contract, when you sign that contract, if that's the action the council takes on May 5th, there is an inspection period. So, you still have an opportunity to get out of that contract if for some reason you believe that uh the property should not be purchased, but the price has been negotiated. Basically, the terms of the agreement have been negotiated. But uh 11th hour this other property or this other purchaser entered the picture and is competing with the town. So uh I I don't think the town manager wants to lose this deal and that's why we're I'm asking for the motion to authorize the mayor to execute the option contract.

I'll just add that I know I don't want to lose the deal. This is in a piece of property that we need. I I trust uh the town manager may have spoken with each of you individually. Um so I certainly support this uh to make sure we move forth as has been negotiated. Motion to u um for the town manager execute the option agreement on the property. I'll second motion second. No discussion. Uh no I do have a question. Can you tell us where this um what the building will be used for? The purpose the town manager can.

Thank you. It's um it is used for um consolidation of services for the town relating to building inspections, planning, inspectors, code compliance, training, um public safety, and uh and a number of other things. Thank you. This sounds like a very good opportunity um and just to consolidate and keep them on one roof. Thank you. Motion is second. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Motion carries unanimously. Any more reports? No, mayor. Thank you very much.

Um yeah, thank you for bringing that up. Uh town manager.

Thank you, mayor. Just a couple of things. Uh first of all, um I just wanted to point out for folks that may be listening. Um a earlier you may have heard that there was a request for pre-notification of an anticipated outcome of an agenda item. Uh a speaker had asked that they be pre-notified. Um and just a reminder that is true with every agenda item. uh there's no way for for anyone in this council to know what the outcome of the item is until you all meet with each other and you have a chance to discuss it and vote on it. And so there there there are no pre-notifications that can be made and we go through this every meeting um with the agenda. We don't know how it's going to turn out till all of you provide the guidance and the vote. So I just wanted to to point that out um you know for for those that may be listening. Also, I wanted to take an opportunity to thank uh Scott Reynolds and his team for all the work that they do. And you know, we heard the audit tonight and it was a stellar audit as it usually is. And Scott gets stressed about it every year. Um, but I want to point out a couple of things to to that that just shows the the scope of this thing. If you didn't if you didn't pick up on it when they were presenting it, there's 150 pages of analysis.

150 pages of analysis. The audit takes 4 months uh for the police in the room, but that'd be like being in under internal affairs for like four months uh every day. And so um it's quite it's quite indepth. And you also heard them say that the audit covered the town, the CRA, and federal grants. Um it it's just remarkable to watch all this go on. And please keep in mind that while they're going through all this, we're also in the throws of budget development and going through all that practice. So I want to give a big fat thank you uh to uh I don't know that's up to the mayor. It's not my meeting

uh on that issue right there. We uh the senior accountant in our office is uh Mark Ray. Uh we have another senior accountant in our office that is ill. Uh so she's been out. Uh Mark, it was a very heavy load for him uh this year to pick that up. Instead of two accountants, we only had one along with the daily workload. So I wanted to make sure to put on the record uh thank you to Mark. Uh he definitely uh helped with that heavy lift this year. Thank you. put on the record both because uh it was for the uh fiscal year ending 9:30 so the numbers had to be there to prepare. Absolutely.

So both thank you very much. Absolutely.

Thank you, mayor. And then uh also earlier tonight you heard Chief Donado give his update on the hiring uh process and uh what he mentioned is that last night three of our um recruits um actually more than that um graduated from the fire academy and that's a pretty tough academy uh to go through as the as chief rally will tell you um it's not an easy task and so I just wanted to point out a couple things about the our our firefighters. um that one of our firefighters in the academy was selected to serve as the class's captain and leader for both EMT and fire training phases of the academy. That's a pretty big honor. One another one was um uh received the Edward F. Crocker Outstanding Student Award. And meanwhile, another one received both the David Harowitz Academic Achievement Award for the EMT portion of the training and the Joff C Jeff Cooper academic achievement award for fire training. Um, another great award. Overall, JFRD's new firefighters received three of the four awards presented to the class and that speaks volumes about the talented individual who have chosen to join our fire department. So really proud of them as well. Um moving on, as you're aware, work continues on our two new fire stations as part of the construction um on the station adjacent to Sinqu Sinquis Park. The western entrance to the park and the access road through the park are currently closed to through to through traffic. Um it's to allow for the replacement of the curbs and sidewalks near the access road. Um as well as the reconstruction and repaving of the roadway. That work began on April 9th and is expected to um to be completed the week of May 4th. Also, the town's uh street resurfacing program continues

with three major projects. Work will begin on Dolphin Drive on April 27th. This town has sent postcards to notify the residents of these roads of the project and we use the town's social media website to provide updates. The resurfacing of roads in Egret Landing is also scheduled to start this month and the town is actively working with the POA on communications to the residents of Egret Landing and we will provide weekly updates as well. Meanwhile, uh work in New Haven is expected to start early this summer and I know some of you have been asking about that. And then uh finally um I wanted to congratulate chief plant operator Tony Duchy in the utilities department. Tony was recently presented with the 2025 portable water plant excellence award from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The award is given to individuals and facilities who demonstrate excellence, innovation, and leadership in water treatment operations. And so, mayor, as you can see, we're firing on all cylinders with our uh staff and employees here in the town. I'm truly grateful to have the opportunity to lead them. That's my report. That's a great part. That's a great part of your report, by the way. If you're bringing up those kind of items, I we're grateful that you do. Thank you. Moving on to town council. Uh go to councelor Gisinger.

Yeah. Um one question to town manager. St Park cut through. Is it done? Yes, it is done. The cones are up and you can The water's removed. The asphalt's down. The only thing that's there is a piece of tape, so you can't use a cut through, but it's not affecting the traffic flow.

All right. Good. Thank you. Uh uh in by what you just said, I'd also like to personally recognize and congratulate uh Director Reynolds and his staff for their efforts in obtaining a clean and unmodified audit opinion of the town's financial records and controls from the external independent auditors. This is a testament to the due diligence of him and his staff in maintaining strong financial management practices. And with that, is there a way I'll leave it up to you, Mr. Town Manager, recognizing both Cheryl and Mark for all the contribution they did for that successful report? We plan on doing that. Okay. Thank you.

All right. And also, uh, I had the, uh, privilege, I think last week, of participating in the, uh, Great American Cleanup on campus. I think I'm by myself. I probably hauled in at least 35 to 50 lbs of waste. So, including two uh Bob's barricades I pulled out of the uh area here to the east of us. But I'd like to thank the town staff. I think that was a great event they organized. Had a lot of partition participation from the town employees and everybody chipped in to maintain the beauty of the town's campus. So, all in all, I appreciate being invited and I had a good time. So, that's all I have. Council Sunsum,

I just want to speak briefly on a motion I made tonight um just to give a little more information because I know that happened quickly. Um we were being asked tonight to vote on zoning amendments as well as future land use amendments. Um with zoning, we are taking entitlements away potentially and giving entitlements. And so these are consequential votes and early votes. Um, I know that this is going to be a long process potentially. Um, but I didn't feel, you know, that I had the information. I I didn't know I was going to do this because we had gotten the information quite late. Um, so I couldn't, you know, have predicted this. My concerns were around traffic, um, mostly. But I did ask questions. You know, we've all been working so hard on this. We talk about the audit being 150 pages. Our staff report for this item was 165. And I spent two hours with staff on Friday going over a lot of this in in very fine detail. I read this report and the audit for the audit meeting, but I had questions related to some of the structures related to funding because it is related to traffic the infrastructure. You know, it's an unusual project. I actually spoke with the applicants agent who said, you know, from 0 to 10, rate this an 18 for level of complexity. And I would agree with that. I think um this project impacts many other projects, parcels. It represents a major arterial with Indian Town Road that affects every resident. Um fiduciary responsibility related to the cost of it impacts every taxpayer. And so, you know, I I didn't feel that I could support it. And so, I wanted to give the time to work these details out

because of how complicated it was. So, I'm grateful for support. I know that we'll continue talking, but I just wanted to say that as I made that motion earlier. Thank you.

So, um I'll go next. Uh first of all, I just want to give a reminder uh that uh and we got a reminder from our HR director that we need to complete our uh town manager annual performance evaluations. And uh this is always the most awkward part of government uh is that the head of a municipal government has to undergo and a public performance evaluation to a certain degree, but the process we use here is you get with him one- on-one. Um, and so the expect and I can't know when you you know that you're doing that, but I just want to say I would remind everybody to get with him and make sure you've given him your uh your performance evaluation for the you know past year and then when that's done then it'll come up on the DAS here and uh we will uh determine what kind of compensation you know adjustment that is appropriate for that. So, just a reminder, someone asked last year and our HR director did. I'm just giving this friendly reminder. Um, we got that email on April 6th. Um, I then want to just talk about an item. Um, somewhat generic, but more but very starting very specific. So, at the at connect with council, uh I had the opportunity and to meet with two women uh who are Jupiter residents that live uh in the community and the first street off of Bush Road north of Tonapana Drive. And uh those two

residents expressed to me a concern that they had about safety with the roadway improvement projects that uh was going uh to be undertaken. And um you know I assured them I heard they had talked to our engineering director ahead of time. At least that's what they told me. I don't know, but presume perhaps some of you might have heard from them while they were there. Uh but nonetheless, I said to them, well, I pass, you know, I passed through that area, you know, about four or five times a week. And I said, I hadn't particularly noticed what they were talking about and the concern, but I was certain that uh our engineering director would would make sure we and I said in if it gets constructed and there's still issues, there's a number of things we would do. So I assured them, well lo and behold, my very next time going that way uh was Monday and I um was uh going I stopped off at Dunkin Donuts cuz my grandson likes something from there. And I head down Bush Road to Tonapenna. And so I'm heading south and I look up and there's three trucks near the end of Bush Road and they were blocking the southbound lane. So, you know, I've got to go around them hoping nobody's going to turn on the um Bush uh Bush Road northbound from Tona Penna Drive. So, and I thought I looked and there was a uh construction work just starting. You know, it was 8:15 and I thought to myself, well, they're going to do a safety here and these trucks are going to be moved. And

so, I continued on my way. And um so then the next time I came by that way was I was heading back um to um to pick up my two granddaughters at at uh Jerry Thomas Elementary and I noticed a truck was still blocking the lane and uh they had orange cones put up around it. So and this was so I wind up parking my car in the our park. I walked down there to observe. There was nobody in the truck. It was the truck with trailer that was hauling the construction equipment that was being used on the site. By the way, learned from staff later this was Tikico Gas Company. Um but um first of all I took some photos and texted it in here and uh the uh our town manager tried to give me good advice that he always does to all of us is let the police handle it. He was sending them on their way. Uh just to remind everybody not necessarily to follow Jim's practice, but uh I had already directed them because I mean I observed cars doing exactly what I had to do. Basically one lane was blocked. Now there was a flagman on Tonapenna but there was none on Bush Bush Road. So I knew that this was not in the maintenance of traffic approval. It couldn't have been. And so I directed uh folks at the site. I said, "Whose truck is that? Get it out of here." They didn't need to be parked there. And you know, and as if all of us reflect, this seems to be happening more and more.

I mean, I see that with landscape companies and stuff, they just think you could just pull up a truck, block a road, and put a couple orange cones out and that's it. Right.

And but in particularly since these two residents had brought the concern to me, I'm thinking, "Oh my gosh, I told them we're going to do handle this and here we go." You know, and and that was a valid, you know, an accident waiting to happen. So, uh I uh what I want to ask is uh for for staff, whether it's this weekly report or next, I try to be careful because whatever we ask for, then they get it done by Friday. Doesn't matter. But I I think we'd like to get we all should have clarity and maybe a reminder about when are trucks truly allowed to behave that way. I know this one was not. Okay. Um but maybe we need to just step it up because yeah, I think truck a truck was there for 6 hours. Um and uh so maybe just a reminder to all including our staff that if anything anybody sees something like that, they got to move the truck. So guidance, you know, what are the rules on that would appreciate.

Mayor, I just would really like to suggest that people let us know so that we can call the police to do and that may be the protocol. Yes. Yeah. But tell us when we can call it in. Right. Anytime if you you can't block a road unless there's a road closure permit. You you have the ability to

to block a road. So somebody's blocking the road. Let's just get the PD down there and they'll they'll take care of it. But the only concern I have because there's a judgment and this was just in an unsafe area because there was just due north of an intersection. Somebody turning around the corner could have smacked right into the guy that went um guy gal whatever. So uh I still think some guidance because I see that in landscapers all the time. It's common. Um in this case they had a place they could have parked along the Tonapenna rightaway. They could have gone down to the park and walked. Um but um so um I'd also like to know I I had witnessed a couple weeks ago about six o'clock at night the landscape contractors maintaining the commercial center on Maplewood across from the the elementary school for the entire width. Three landscape personnel blowing the leaves into the roadway. Um and you know we all see that sometimes but this is like three of me entire width and I just watched it was so silly because every time a car came the leaves got blown and we see that every once in a while you know and I just would also on that is there rules on that and again just share that with us right so uh um because it's not beyond me and I did it then to get there now they were done already but I stop on something like that it was so absurd

there's rules on storm drains. Can't put them down storm storm drains. Yeah, I don't know if there was any storm drains along that section, but but nonetheless, they ultimately it was crazy that they're taking the time to blow it because after they left, most of them actually ended up in the median. They have the ratorm drains because excfiltration tracks along there. Mayor, if I could if I could just point out that two confrontations in one week. I think I I can we get deputized and get him a badge? Yeah. Oh, no. Oh, well, no, but that is serious when you have uh catch basins because that No, I understand. You know, I'm just joking. Yeah. No, I understand. I appreciate it. But we all, you know, sometimes leaves blow.

And then just lastly, um, you know, on that last item, I just want to touch on it as well. Um, the item that we've postponed. You know, I think uh you know, while I didn't vote with the motion, I I'm convinced we all have the same exact concerns.

And I just want to share that uh you know, I received it maybe differently than others, but um but had the same concerns. First of all, and I'm going to be careful in saying this because I don't want to hear any of the he said, she said stuff. I don't care about that. But it's premature to be using the word developers agreement. I didn't even recognize it as that because there is no developer until you have a site plan, you know, approval. That's the way I just look at it. Um, so, you know, if in fact we ever get to those kind of things, it comes out of a staff effort. I've never seen it associated with, you know, a land use and zoning. Uh, well, shouldn't say never. I'm sure Mr. beard is going to remind me about one but um but in any event um I uh so that's why I just saw that differently but you know when and we don't have any rules for this so because we this is never I think may never have happened but I probably shouldn't have opened it up for public comment but then in so doing that's why I want to just react because people will be watching this on the dis tonight and so while councelor Sunstrip send sent some message I'm also going to send a message that, you know, uh, doesn't matter. It was just the context in there was premature. Not to mention, but that's why I discounted it.

I think the content, yeah, more than what it's called or where it goes in the process. I agree because the content would have to work itself through, right, a site plan process before we could even comment on it. Even if I had an opinion, I wait for staff to come up with something. But I had to identify the source in a way that you could recognize and that's the title it was given. Agreed. But we're just messaging so that others understand why the action was taken. Um anyway, uh so moving down the das here. Uh councelor

Delaney. Um yes, it's okay. Um, yeah, in regards to that Hawkeye, you know, like I mentioned before, I met with different prospective developers and they knew going in they were going to have skin in the game in paying for the development of the road. I look at it as, you know, the town, we don't have to put that road in, but if someone develops that property, it's a good avenue for us to widen the road, get the get the traffic out of the industrial park, get it onto the highway. Um, but everybody has to be involved and just in in the document I received yesterday saying that that the town's responsible to get to get responsible to get all the right of ways taken care of when my discussion with the applicant. That's I won't go into details, but that just kind of blindsided me. So, um, I'm glad you put the what do we postponed it or what was it? Post postponed. We postponed.

I'm glad you agreed. Right. Well, I Well, councelor Ginger actually seconded it, but I agreed cuz I didn't want to have to vote no tonight cuz I was in I was like, I can't I can't I don't have the information to support. I felt the same way. I thought it gave them an opportunity. They I they deserved an opportunity. Yeah. Um I know. Um well, he was upset. That's fine. But just they need to know where we're coming from. We we represent the entire town. And if there's a hornets's nest of consternation, this town, we all know all most of the complaints we get are traffic on eastbound Indiantown Road at 3 to 5:00 at night. And whatever we do down there

has to be a net positive of more traffic getting out of the town quicker as my fear of developing that property or someone developing that property is, you know, we widen the road gets developed and we're back to square one or worse. I'm not going down that road. So they need to know that every we would all love. It's a beautiful project. We would love to see them get it done, but they they've picked and you know, it's the only option left in town. It's like one of the tricky It's is threading the needle down there. So, we'll have to everybody regroup, relax, and let's see what we can get done here. So,

so that's it for that. And every year, where's Scott? Is he here? Ready to go home, go to bed. Where is he? Thanks again. I say it every year. I know I'm a broken record, but you know, great job you and your staff for flying colors on the budget. And um that's it. We're not

vice mayor. Okay, thank you um for the thank yous again. Counting Scott, the team, amazing work and to do it with less staff. It it you all are extraordinary people. Fire rescue, your updates. When I think what human resources has done to make the team what it's going to be, kudos to all of you and not to belabor our um presenter tonight when the development agreement was given and I say this for anyone who is listening we don't we didn't have a site plan so getting this no one mentioned the word draft until tonight we do not know what any one of us are going to comment on, vote on until we're sitting here on the dis. The project is a wonderful opportunity for school. I had not enough information. Postponing it was the best of all outcomes so that it can continue. Hopefully, they can accelerate what we need. Land use changes are huge. If it gets changed and the project doesn't go forward, we now have a new land use that will take on another life of its own. But I want the folks that were here tonight and the um leadership team at the school. This is something do your homework, come back. It it it could have gone a different way if it wasn't postponed. So I'm grateful that it is postponed and we will have an opportunity to see if in fact this can come together. Traffic, school attendance, all of that needs to be a lot clearer. Thank you.

Thank you. The time is now 8:33 and we'll adjourn the meeting.