Council - Regular Meeting

Good afternoon. Good evening. I shall say this is the Riviera Beach regular city council meeting. Today is December 3rd, 2025. The time is 6:10. Madam clerk, Mayor Douglas Lawson here. Chairperson Charlene Laneir here. Chairp present. Council person Bruce Gton here. Council person Glenn Spiritz. Council person Glenn Spiritz here. Council person Priscella Davis Pier here in for city manager Jonathan Evans is the assistant city manager. Dear Jacobs here.

City clerk Deborah Hall is present. City attorney Don W here.

Madam Chair, you have a quorum. You may proceed. Thank you. We will have a moment of silence followed by the pledge of allegiance, but our invocation will be given by Pastor Bobby E. Brooks Jr. who's a seasoned pastor, educator, and community leader with over 35 years of experience. He serves as the church planter and lead pastor of Kingdom Life Fellowship of the Palm Beach Palm Beaches and has held numerous ministry roles including elder, deacon, youth leader, worship leader, and evangelism director. He holds a masters in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University, a bachelor's in mathematics with a minor in biblical studies from Brian College. Pastor Brooks is also a active in civic service as the chairman of the Riviera Beach firefighters pension board, education advisor for the Rivier Beach Police Department and former Polemark of the West Palm Beach Alumni Chapter of Capital AI fraternity. His work is centered on equipping people, serving families, and leading with integrity and compassion. Pastor Brooks Please stand.

Father God, we do bless you and praise you and glorify your name. You're worthy of praise, God, of all times. And Father, I pray you cover this meeting this this afternoon. Help us, Lord, to get the business done to the city that pleases you, that honors you. Lord, we pray for the city to be able to have the type of uh rest and peace you desire for us to have. Lord, we've seen a lot of things try to cause our city to be divided. We pray for unity for our city, for those mainland, those on the island. We pray those on the das, Lord, that all will come together to see the advancement of this city, God. And more importantly, God, we want to see the advancement of your kingdom um in our city as well. So we pray in all things that we do that you receive glory, honor, and praise in Jesus name. Amen.

Amen. I pledge alce to the flag of the United States of America and to the stand indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Do we have any additions, deletions or substitutions for the agenda this evening? Yes, madam chair. Yes. Go ahead, sir. Um, two brief items. One is the naming of uh Robert Felder Street. The naming of Robert Felder. Okay, brother Bob. That that's just some updated information I want to give. Okay.

And um the wastewater spill. Okay. We'll put that at the end of the agenda. That's Did that fine with you? Yeah, got to be. That's very good. We'll put that um madame clerk under um discussion and deliberation of 12 C and 12 D chairperson over there. I I really I had a hard time hearing um the two items. Um he is at requesting two added items. The first one is a update for the naming of the street for Reverend Felder and the second one is an update regarding the sewage bill this past weekend. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Any other additions or Yes, chair. Yes. Go ahead, sir.

Yes. I first I'd like uh just an explanation on 2A. Are we under consent? Is that every one of those people being appointed to that board? I'm sorry. Go. I'm sorry. Should in in 2A board appointments. Are all those people going to be appointed? Is that what the plan is? Uh this is it's not under consent. So we can have someone explain it. Madam chair. Yes. Go ahead. I thought that it was being removed tonight. Appointment of members to the city of Rivier Beach Recreation Board. Madam Chair. Yes. Go ahead. I I can barely hear.

Um we are asking about the board appointments. Is this item going to stay on the agenda or was this item removed? My understanding was that it was removed. Yes, it was. Okay. All right, chair. So, I I have another one. Follow up. Hold on one second, sir. Hold on one second. We're trying to get the volume right. Um, we're going to remove 2A. That's the way that it's listed. Uh, board appointments that will be taken off. Go ahead, sir. Hey, chair. So, uh, resolution number 133-25. Okay. I'd like that for discussion.

Uh, that's 3C. Uh, let's see. Authorizing age. Yes. I'd like that for discussion. 3C. Okay. And then, excuse me, Madam Chair. Yes. Go ahead. We are having a difficult time hearing over here. We can hear you better than anyone else for some reason. if you could repeat the whatever they're requesting so that we can keep track, please. Well, actually, actually, um, Dr. Spirit is, if you're looking at the consent agenda, when we get to that portion, then we can pull what you want. Okay. I'm I'm not I'm talking about the consent agenda, right? But we haven't gotten to that yet. Okay. When we get to you can pull what you like. Okay. Thank you.

All right. Very good. Are there any other additions, subtract additions, subtraction, additions, deletions, or substitutions? Madam Chair. Yes, ma'am. on your agenda on your updated agenda. There was a resolution that was inadvertently removed and it is resolution number 165-25 which was originally on consent and I will read it into the record and we can add that to the agenda as item 3F and it reads resolution 165-25 a resolution of the city council of the city of Rivier. One second we when we get to that you can read it in. Okay. Okay. To the consent agenda. So item,

you're asking to add 3FN as resolution number what? This is uh discussing a three-year lease agreement with the port center resolution to the consent agenda. I have you to read it into the record. Okay. All right. Very good. Any other additions, deletions, or substitutions? Any disclosures by any council or staff in regards to any of the items that are listed on this agenda this evening hearing? None. Can I get a motion to adopt the agenda as amended? So move. Second. Madame Clerk. Council person Davis Pier. Yes. Council person Genon. Chairpro Tim Miller Anderson. Yes. Council person Spiritis.

Yes. Coun. Uh chairperson Lenir.

Yes. That passes with council person gon out. Okay. All right. Very good. All right. So, we are at the consent agenda. All matters listed under this item are considered to be routine and action will be taken by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a council person also that a council person so request in which event the item will be removed from the general order of business and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda. Any items pulled or added to the consent agenda?

Dr. Spears. Yes, madam chair. Uh 3 C. Okay. 3 E and 3F I would like for discussion. 3 C 3 E and 3F and 3F. All right. So, madame clerk, could you please read 3F into the record, please?

All right. Item 3F, resolution number 165-25, a resolution of the city council of the city of River Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, authorizing the city manager to execute a three-year lease agreement with Fort Center LLC for office suite 300 at 2051 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, known as the Port Center Building and any associated renewals in the amount of $132,950 annually. and authorizing the chief financial officer to make payments from account 10112102-5440000 rentals and leases and providing an effective date.

Thank you. We have 3 C, 3 E, and 3F pulled from the agenda. Are there any other additions or substitutions? Hearing none, can I get a motion to approve the consent agenda as amended? So move. Second. Madam clerk. Council person Davis Paneer. Yes. Council person Gaitton. Chair Pro 10 Miller Anderson. Yes. Council person Spiritis. Yes. Chairperson Laneir. Yes. That passes with council person Gon out. Let's start with 3C. Madam clerk.

Item 3 C. Resolution number 133-25. A resolution of the city council of the city of Riviera Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute an agreement between the city of Riviera Beach and Unit, Inc. for the provision of and installation of highspeed internet Wi-Fi access points in the municipal parks pursuant to invitation bid number 1167-ITB-25-3 for an initial one-year term with the option to renew for up to four additional one-year periods authorizing the chief financial officer to make all necessary payments and providing for an effective date. Madam Chair, there are no comment cards on this item. Motion to approve resolution 133-25. So move second. Um ACM Jacobs. Um Madame Chair. Thank you. This particular item will be presented by Mrs. Ammons.

Chair. Hello. Good evening. For the record, my name is Latana Ammons, the director of procurement for the city of Riviera Beach. Resolution 133-25 is seeking appre approval to enter into an agreement with the vendor unity to provide Wi-Fi in the park for parts that were um previously approved under resolution 090-22 via the use of CBDG grants. It was discovered during the contract review process that the um download speeds and upload speeds for the previous contractor were not sufficient. There was ambiguity between the solicitation and the contracting equipment that was sent. The IT department along with the procurement department visited the parks, measured the actual download speeds and therefore decided or in the best interest of the citizens of the city is to uh reissue the solicitation with the approval of the Palm Beach County CBDG department. And so the new vendor which will um total spend of approximately $40,000. It's about onethird of the cost that was originally um spent on the Wi-Fi in the park under resolution 090-22 and this will be for the next five years and the speeds previously were 5 megabits per second and now we are looking at 100 megabits per second

chair. Yes. Go ahead sir. Okay. Director Aman. Uh my question is this. There there are many foundations out there nationally that fund this type of program or for communities such as ours. Uh even Comcast uh I believe has programs for communities like ours where they will fund this uh this type of service. Have you looked into those funding services?

Council person Spiritus, I was not aware of those free programs at the time. we were uh moving forward under the opices of the CDBG grant which was a five-year commitment that uh the county provided for us and so um that's why we moved forward where the actual contractor was not um the solicitation was insufficient and so we worked with the county and was approved to go out for a new solicitation. So, I'm not sure um within the last I guess three years if anyone was aware initially when um they decided to use CBDG grants um three years ago to now, but that is something that we can look forward to in the future um with those internet providers and looking for um not only free or community donated services, but those that also give us the speed that we need in order to stay um in line with the technology and the needs of the citizens of the city. So, the CDBG grant was Did we choose what the funds were going to be used for? Uh,

yes, it was a Well, no, it was a grant for Wi-Fi specifically for Wi-Fi. Yes, sir. Okay. And that that expired. That doesn't exist anymore.

Um, we decided to move forward with this particular solicitation. um the use of the CBDG grants was not um a question at this particular time to move forward. The approval was because we were um not going to fulfill the five-year agreement, just the three years versus the five years. And so they kind of allowed us to get out of that relationship or our commitment with the county for the five years. I just think that we should be looking into getting funds from other sources when we can rather than using our taxpayers money for this.

I agree. And we will um moving forward at this particular time. We were looking for a solution to a problem, but we knew we didn't have adequate um coverage in the parks. Okay. Chair. Yes. Go ahead. But but this is a multi-year contract. So, it's not Does this contract have a uh an exit ramp? Um, I don't want to speak incorrectly, but I do want to explain that the 40,000 is for all five years. It is not 40,000 per year. It's equipment and then um a small fee for maintenance every year or monitoring for every year. So, it's 40,000 for five years. Okay. Chair.

Yes. Go ahead. I I would just ask at any time that we you bring something before us that you look to see uh whether or not there's any other source of funding rather than using our taxpayers money for this funding. Sir, thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, just go ahead for clarification. It is one year with an option to renew, correct? Yeah, the renewal is for the monitoring. Okay. Any other questions for resolution 133-25? Madam Chair?

Yes. Go ahead. Um I'm not sure at this particular time what grant opportunities would be available for the city of River Beach, but there are other entities that I've um partnered with um in previous employment um entities where we did where we were able to participate along with the school district and um I think it was the ED Foundation and they provided grant monies for internet services throughout various low-income neighborhoods. I see our IT director is in the audience. Not sure if he's familiar with any that have taken place in the past in other places where he's worked, but we can um certainly take advantage of the opportunity to look search for such dollars.

Okay. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Council person Davis Pier. Yes. Council person Gen. Yes. Chair Tim Miller Anderson. Yes. Council person Spiritus. Yes. Chairperson Laneir. Yes. I see unanimous vote. Thank you. Next item.

Madam Chair, we are on item 3E, resolution number 178-25. A resolution of the city council of the city of River Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, authorizing relocation expenses in an amount not to exceed $350,000 utilizing vendors listed in exhibit A for office suite 300 at 2051 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, known as the Port Center, and authorizing the chief financial officer to make payments from account 10112101-54400, rentals and leases, and providing an effective date. Madam Chair, there are no public comment cards for this item.

So second, Mr. Jacobs. Thank you, Madam Chair. Mrs. Tenil Das will present this particular item.

Good evening, Madame Chair and Council Person. Til Dassi, director of human resources. So, uh, the human resources department and, uh, um, communications, we're relocating to the port center. Uh, the $350,000 is for the move. This includes it to build everything from scratch because there's nothing there. This also includes furniture, um, any, um, the training room. Sorry. We have our own training room now for new hireer orientation, conference room walls going up. Um it was a better space for us because now we have um I want to say um confidentiality. Uh when we have those certain meetings, we don't have to, you know, walk down a hallway where other departments are affected. If an employee wants to come to human resources, they know that it's just going straight into HR and not seeing anybody else. Communications, it's 5,000 square feet. communications on the right side and all of the left side will be human resources department

chair. Yes. Go ahead. Okay. So, have you looked at other uh opportunities that exist in the city right now like the old city hall, the existing city hall, uh which we know that the CRA group is moving out. They're going to found care. Uh have you looked into possibly using those facilities? I mean, we're putting close to $400,000 into a building that we don't own, and we hope to have a new city hall in the next couple of years. So, is this a wise expenditure right now? Through the chair? Yes. Go ahead.

Thank you, madam. Um, yes, sir, it is. We don't have time to wait for the new city hall. Reason being, we're running out of space. There's not even parking spaces, enough parking spaces where we are at public works. um at the new dissol at the new city hall. We can't wait for CRA to move and there's no offices over there for now now for human resource to go. Human resources has grown. Um sometimes we have new hire new hire orientation and we're fighting over not fighting but we're trying to get uh a conference room to even do new hire orientation. So, we can't wait until the new city hall is built. And there's no space at the current city hall right now. And again, we don't even have enough parking at public works for employees. Now, we're parking on the side of the street, which is dangerous.

Madam Chair, yes, go ahead. Is he finished? Oh, you finished. Uh, Dr. Yes. What when did you all leave from the port center? Um, I don't know that. Um, that was prior to my time. Uh, Madame ACM, do you know? Madam Chair. Yes. Go ahead. Maybe about four or five years ago. So, I'm I'm trying to understand when when they left from there, that was because it was too small and moved over to the public works building, I'm assuming. Um, if Madam Chair,

yes, go ahead. If my memory serves me right, it was an it was necessary to do so in order to save monies and because we were moving over to 13th Street, it was um an opportunity to expand the building wherein we could be we would be able to accommodate human resources at at that time. But I believe the department has grown and it's much larger than than it was four or five years ago.

Right. Yeah. I yeah, we were trying to save money. Um, instead of having all of that space over there, we were trying to downsize from being over at the port center. Um, there's no space in the back for the parking. There's where you can create spaces in the back uh through the chair. Sorry. Yes, go ahead. U, you're talking about whether you uh the city cars are property.

Yeah, I I'm not sure. You know, I don't park back there. Um, I park either on the side or my staff parks in the side and in the front and they were in a smaller space. The previous HR department was in a smaller space which I believe PD is in that space right now. And this space is uh not just for HR, it's for communications as well and it's 5,000 square feet. So what is going to happen with communication that space where HR and communications are leaving out to the chair? Yes, go ahead. So procurement is supposed to be moving over to the HR department and I believe the dirty party of utilities is supposed to be moving where procurement is. Um I am not sure the plans.

Sorry I didn't hear what you said. You said who's moving where procurement? Uh uh the dirty part of utilities I think water and sewer. Um I believe Mr. Evans has a envision of putting um utilities and public works together. Um I do not know who he's putting in where communications is now. Um I just know procurement is moving into HR and the dirty part of utilities is supposed to be moving um where procurement is. Okay. Got it. All right. Very good. Any other questions in regards to item 3E which is resolution number 178-25. Madame clerk. Council person Davis Pier. Yes. Council person Gon. Yes.

Cherton Miller Anderson. No. Council person Spiritis, no. Chairperson Lier, yes. That item passes with chairpro Tim Miller Anderson and Council person Spirit is desenting.

Next item. Madam Chair, we are on item 3F, which is resolution number 165-25, a resolution of the city council of the city of River Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, authorizing the city manager to execute a threeyear lease agreement with Port Center LLC for office sweet 300 at 25 20 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, known as the Port Center Building, and any associated renewals in the amount of 132,950 annually, and authorizing the chief financial officer to make payments from account 10112102-5400, rentals and leases, and providing for an effective date. Madam Chair, there are no comment cards for this item. So move

second ACM Jacobs. Um Madame Chair and Mrs. Daus will also present this item is a companion item. But again, Madame Chair, council person, um this is what we just discussed a minute ago. It's a three-year lease of total cost of $132,000 uh $950. The lease is from January 2026 to December 2028 uh with for uh communications and human resources.

Madam Chair, yes, go ahead. So, do we have a copy of this resolution? The one that you read in a madam chair. Yes, go ahead. The resolution that um Miss Hall read into the one that we're working on now. Do we have a copy of the resolution? I have the copy. I have the final copy for signature. It was on the agenda, right? And then some kind of way fell off. Reason chair. Yes. Go ahead. So, it's missing from the agenda.

Yeah, it's not on it. It's It's That's why we rated it to the record because it got dropped off when they um I don't know if they uploaded it again to add some items and it got dropped off inadvertently, but I don't think that it was meant to be dropped off, but it it did get dropped off. And um Mr. Cost, is this in regards to the lease for the HR department? Yes, madam chair. And communications department. Okay. Any other questions in regards to this item? Madame clerk. Council person Davis Pier. Yes. Council person Ge. Yes. Chairpro Tim Miller Anderson.

No. Council person Spiritis. No. Chairperson Lineer. Yes. The item passes with Coun with Chairpro Tim Miller Anderson and council person Spiritis dissenting.

Um we will go to awards and presentations. Our first presentation is supposed to be with the Palm Beach Lakes High School band, but they are running a little late. So, we'll move to our city beach youth council update with um our chair prom. Thank you so much, Sher. Miss um Kiara Hester, who is our new youth council coordinator. So, if you all would give your give her your attention. Um she's currently working in the assistant city manager's office to Mr. Coppen and she has graciously accepted an additional position which she was happy to take. Um but she's also very passionate about kids. Um she had an opportunity to go on some trips with us um as well as some community involvement. So she's going to give a little short update. Uh we do have our youth council here sitting in the front two rows in their shirts. So we're very proud to have them here. Um as we said before, they'll be coming once a month until June. And so they'll be here monitoring us, observing us, and so we're being very good models up here on the desk. So that they they were very shocked. I want you to know our meeting that we had last month. We went, we discussed our meetings. You know, they they saw a lot. Um, they heard a lot and, you know, we had to explain to them how public comment goes and all of that good stuff. But they're they're getting a really good experience. And so going to go ahead and let Miss Hester take over. Good evening, Madame Chair, members of the council, and everyone in their respective places. I am Kiara Hester, the new youth council coordinator, and I just want to give you our monthly update. So November 8th, we took the youth

council members to the youth council summit in Dand, Florida where they discussed and learned about servant leadership, advocacy, and leading by example. Here pictured here, we went with um Miss Miller Anderson and Mr. Eric Range. Then we headed to News12 for the anti-apee campaign in collaboration with our police chief uh Chief Coleman. We were featured on News12 with one of our youth council members, Miss Raina. These are pictures from our youth council meeting for the month of November. What took place in this meeting is conducting old business along with new business. And you will see in the near future of future campaigns that our youth council members are currently working on. Saturday, November 15th, we collaborated with the Pitman Law Group and Embed Health for the Championship Community Celebration held at the Wells Recreation Center. Our youth council members serviced a total of over 700 families and that included giving them food for the holiday season, taking boxes of food to their cars, to their homes and so they worked very hard and that was just one part of the day. The second part of the day was their youth town hall meeting. That meeting was covered in collaboration with the journalism department at Inlet Grove Community High School. They were featured in their newsletter. And we also had the fire department come out with um stigma information for mental health as well as THC Vape, which is the campaign that is currently about to roll

out for our youth council members. They even worked Thanksgiving Day handing out hot meals to our constituents. So that meant a lot for them to take time out of their break to serve their community. And also we did a give back over at Cunningham Park off of S Avenue with um the Eastern Stars, the Mother Against Murderers Association, and some other organizations. Pictured here is the actual production with our communications department for the PA PSA THC vape campaigns. And you will see this not only rolled out in our community but also across all schools a part of the Palm Beach County School District.

Where are they going from here? So upcoming we have our youth council meeting coming up next Thursday, December 11th. They are going to follow volunteer at some toy giveaways in December. Um, coming up in January, we will be going up to Tallahassee for the Florida League of Cities Legislative Youth Action Days. They will host a second uh youth town hall. And then we will also host some community and beach cleanups. So, thank you. And that's the update from the youth council. Um, Miss Miss Hester, could you tell us the next date for the youth council meeting and where the time?

It will be December 11th, that's next Thursday, here, um, at the Marina Event Center in the Hatcher Room. So, it will be a brief meeting followed followed by, excuse me, a Christmas celebration. Okay. What time does it start? 6 o'clock p.m.

The council will have an invitation as well as city administration. So, you'll have your invitation coming. Um, we do meet uh every second Thursday from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the River Beach Library. Next week is like not really a meeting, so don't come expecting to see a whole lot. So, meet us there January. And they are open to the public on January um second Thursday at six o'clock. Thank you, Miss Kier. You did an excellent job. Appreciate it. Excellent. Miss Miss Yes. Thank you so much. Let's give her another hand. Yeah, Madam Chair. Yes. Go ahead, sir.

I'd like first congratulate um Vice Chair Kashamba Miller and the mayor for pulling this youth organization together. This is what our future is about. And I see that you have some outstanding participants that stay busy learning leadership. and I'm sure we're going to see a few of them sitting up here in the future. So, keep up the good work. You're doing good. Thank you. So, we will go on to our next item, Miss Londa Hayes.

Good evening. Good evening, chair, council members, mayor's not here, but assistant city manager Jacobs and everyone in their respective places. I am Dr. Londa Hayes, the assistant to the city manager. This evening, the city of Rivier Beach is proud to present a $25,000 check in support of Rivier Beach students who are members of the Palm Beach Lakes High School Ram Marching Band. Under the outstanding leadership of Mr. Joshua Vez, director of bands, the entire Ram marching band has been invited to perform in the London New Year's Day parade. [applause] This prestigious invitationonly event features only 12 to 15 band members, bands from across the United States. And we are honored that our students will represent Rivier Beach on this international stage. This is a remarkable opportunity for our youth to showcase their talent, experience, another part of the world, and bring pride to our community. We are proud to support them on this journey. And at this time, we would like to welcome Mr. Joshua Valz and the Rams marching band. All right. Thank you very much. On behalf of Palm Beach Lakes Community High School and my principal, Miss Rosen McCrae, we wanted to say thank you. We're very humbled by this gesture and we just want to make note that the city of Riviera Beach was the first municipality to step up and support our band program which sparked a whole whole other people to uh follow suit. So, we want to thank you for being the first one to do that. All right, without further ado, without

further ado, we just want to play a tune for you and just to say thank you and then we'll be out of your way. again. Thank you very much. Okay.

[music]

Let's go down. Hey. Hey. Hey. Wow. What was that? Excellent. That's it.

Huh? I wanted to make a comment. No, I I really I really wanted to make a comment first. Right. So, this brings back lots of memories of my days on the hill at Florida&M University. Okay. So, I can tell right now we probably got a bunch of Rattlers in the house. They'll be a part of our Marching 100 band, right? [laughter] Yes, sir. We'll move on to our next presentation which is our proclamation for World AIDS Day. This past Monday was World AIDS Day. It is uh whereas this the proclamation for World AIDS Day, World AIDS Day is observed globally every year on December 1st to unite people in the fight against HIV to show support for people living with HIV and to commemorate those who have lost their lives to AIDS related illnesses. The theme for World AIDS Day

2025 is remember and commit. Calls upon us to remember the lives tragically lost to the epidemic over the past four decades and to renew our commitment to ending the stigma and the transmission of HIV through education, testing, treatment, and compassion. HIV AIDS remains a significant public health issue with a profound and disproportionate impact on black and African-American communities both nationally and within our own Palm Beach County. According to the Florida Department of Health, black residents comprise approximately over 50% of all new HIV diagnosises in Palm Beach County while representing a significantly smaller portion of the total population. The city of Riviera Beach proudly recognizes the strength and resolence of more than 9,000 individuals living with HIV in Palm Beach County and stands in solidarity with them, affirming that every person deserves a life of dignity free from stigma and discrimination. We champion the vital importance of knowing one's HIV status through regular testing, which is the first and most critical step toward assessing life-saving treatment and preventing further transmissions. We encourage the promotion of comprehensive sexual health education and the availability availability of prevention tools including prep to empower our residents with the knowledge and the resources to protect their health and their health of their partners. I therefore, Shirley Laneir, by the authority vested in me as city council chairperson of the city of Rivier Beach, do hereby proclaim World Age Day December 1st, 2025, and call upon all residents, community organizations, healthc care providers, and faith-based organizations to join in remembering the loved ones we have lost in honoring the journey of those living with HIV and supporting local efforts

and organizations that provide HIV prevention, care, and support services. We have [applause and cheering] we have uh we have three organizations uh found care uh community building advocates and health to accept these populations. I just like to briefly say that, you know, HIV AIDS is something that is near and dear to me. In the last 30 years, I have worked to uh combat this uh illness and to make sure that people, especially African-Americans, are tested and ensure the safety of their health. Thank you guys again for accepting the proclamation and please get tested. Our next item, I should have stood up there. The next item is the uh chairperson awards uh given by the chairperson of the council.

We have awards for employees who do exceptional at the city of Riviera Beach. The city of Riviera Beach is nothing without the employees who work here and keep this thing going. There are four 500 employees in the city. All of them all of them do excellent work here and we are very proud of them. But every quarter I ensure that some of them who uh go above and beyond the call of duty that we recognize them. The first one is awards presentation to Miss Jennifer Clink to be here

today. We are are proud to honor honor Jennifer Clink, a valued and respected member of our finance department who has served in the city of Rivier Beach since 2014. And I have to share this. When I first considered her for this award, I said, Jennifer gives me the business about any little thing that's not right. So if your travel form is off, if your reconciliation is missing a decimal and something does not match, trust me, she is sending it. She gonna send it back with comments. So what makes her even more remarkable is that even through her personal medical journey when she has taken away time, she still comes back and gives the city 110%. Her residence, her dedication, and her commitment to this organization never waver. For that we thank her and today we celebrate the fact that she is here with us today. We proudly recognize her dedication, her integrity, and her unwavering commitment to the city of River Beach.

And we didn't commit. I'm on my way to remission. Oh, guess the statement. I'm on my way to remission. So, I'm Oh, right. And I'll let you. Yes. Thank you. Our next our next award goes to the one and only our library director, Mr. Adam Brody. Okay. [cheering]

Today we honor, we are proud to honor Adam Brody, not for just the hard work, but for the person that he is. He is a genuine, patient, humble, and one of those rare leaders who makes everyone around him feel supported and included. He is the true definition of a team player. He shows up for his staff, for his colleagues, and their departments across the entire city. And yes, he loves wrestling. And if you bring it up, clear your afternoon. But the same passion and enthusiasm is exactly what he brings to the city and to the library. And what makes Adam great is his heart, his positivity, his willingness to support others, and the care he brings to every interaction, having made a real difference in our organization. We proudly recognize Mr. Brody for the character, compassion, and the teamwork he brings to this city. Yes.

Thank you. We have another award that goes to public works, Mr. Snowy Eaton.

Where's Mr. Snowy? There he is. [applause] There he is. Today we are proud to honor Snowy Eaton, a true backbone of the public works department and one of the most dependable employees in the entire city of the Riviera Beach. Snowy is that rare kind of employee who doesn't just supervise the work. He jumps in and does the work right alongside everybody else. What makes him stand out is his willingness to take on any task at any level with humility and with pride. His dedication to the city of River Beach is evident in every project, every long day, and every moment. He puts his community first. We proudly recognize Snowy for his loyalty, his unmatched work ethic, and his unwavering commitment to serving the city of Riviera Beach. So, Snowy. All right. [applause] And we have one more award. And that goes to it is the department of excellence award Mr. Clarence Surman. [cheering]

Mr. Clarence Sur. Um first of all he's a rattler. That's that's good. Get that straight. [laughter] and uh but he has been a joy to work with and he has been here at the city for a minute and he runs his department with efficiency. We proudly present this um excellence award to him. Um his he's he's one of the most his department is one of the most impactful departments in the city. They're responsible for planning, permanent inspection, code enforcement, zoning, and ensuring development across our city is safe, responsible, and forward thinking. And you guys know that the city has projects on the table from three fire stations, one police station, a city hall, um a marina project, a new Yeah, a new city hall. And all of these things have to go through Mr. Surmans to be able to pass the buster and he makes sure that it is right. His leadership has modernized practice pro procedures, strengthened internal workflows, improved public face public facing services, and established accountability and consistency at every level. But Clarence will be first to tell you that no leader succeeds alone. And this award also honors the competent, dedicated staff who make his department exceptional. Today, we recognize not only Dr. Director Sur, but also the division leaders who play a critical role in his success. the building division, the code enforcement division, and the planning and zoning division. It is my great honor to present the chairperson's department of excellence award to director Clarence Services, Clarence Surman, and the developmental services department. Um, have everybody come up and get one picture with everybody. Mr. Snowy, Miss Jennifer, Mr. Brody, and I need Mr. sermon's team. Where are you guys?

Where's Mr. Sur's team? I need all of you guys up here. Sister Scott, Grace, and Michael, you guys come over here.

What's up, my brother? Um, we can move on to our next item. Madam clerk,

madame chair, we are on ordinances on second and final reading. Item 8A, ordinance number 4297, an ordinance of the city council of the city of Riviera Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, amending chapter 2 of the city's code of ordinances entitled administration, article six entitled code enforcement to add supplemental procedures and a schedule of violations and penalties for civil citations, providing for severability and conflicts, providing for codification, and providing for an effective date. Madam Chair, we do not have any comment cards for this item.

Motion so move. Second, Mr. Jacobs. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, Mr. Surmans will present ordinance number 4297.

Thank you, Madame Assistant Manager. Uh good evening, madame chair, members of council, and thank you again. I am before you uh Clarence Surmans for the record, director of development services of the city of Riviera Beach. The item here is the second reading of an ordinance that has been brought forth uh by staff in order to give additional tools to code compliance staff in the development services department as well as public works for certain violations that would warrant uh immediate violations to improve enforcement. Uh since first reading uh there were two changes that were made to this ordinance. The first to the ordinance document to add additional language clarifying the enforcement abilities of the city to collect fines uh that have been administered. The second is that on the fee schedule, uh that the fee to appeal a civil citation has been noted as refundable if the uh the resident prevails in uh getting the fine overturned. So any fees to appeal would be returned to the resident if they are uh found correct. Uh otherwise the ordinance stands as was presented on first reading and staff is here and present. if there are any uh questions. That concludes the presentation from staff.

Any question in regards to the second reading of this ordinance? Yes, madam chair. Yes. Go ahead, sir. Mr. Sherman, there was a attachment with the um fine and fee schedule. Yes. And there were certain areas um certain actions listed here. For a point of clarification, are you saying that these are the only ones that would go under the new ordinance of enforcement or are all of the code violations going under the new ordinance? Madam Chair, if I may.

Yes. Go ahead. Only the items listed in this table would fall under the new ordinance. Anything outside of this would follow the normal and existing co- compliance process. Okay. Uh Madam Chair. Yes. Go ahead.

Um there are a couple of these that um I have some concern about. Trash out of schedule. We've got um senior citizens that sometimes um may get confused about the date. I don't want them to be penalized um if they may put their garbage out. So that they're just certain segments of our community that I don't want to be penalized. um due to no intentional violation. If you understand where I'm going, there are some people who may do it intentionally and there are others who may be confused and oh, I thought the day was such and such or no, no. So, how are we going to deal with those situations where it may not be intentional and um they just might have gotten the days mixed up.

Madam Chair, if I may. Yes, go ahead.

So, this um gives additional tools to code compliance officers, but it does not remove their ability to use discretion and um and work with residents. Our our goal with co- compliance is always to get compliance first, not to impose fees and leans and things of that nature. Um and and we schedule our officers to zones so they can know their neighborhoods and know their residents, know their communities. Uh so we don't believe that having this tool would force them to um impose that in situations where it may not be warranted or necessary. So officers still do have the discretion to work with residents before utilizing uh different penalties or fines. So I don't believe that would be a significant issue being that they have this tool in terms of senior citizens who may need more assistance as opposed to enforcement.

Okay. Uh, Madam Chair, go ahead.

The the the last thing about code enforcement, um, sometimes um I think it works contrary to what we're trying to do and all we're trying to do is get compliance. Um, we're not trying to have another funding mechanism through code enforcement, at least from my perspective, just compliance. But I've noticed and I got contacted last week that um sometimes when we may um site someone for something in the yard, a house repair and they may be going through a difficult time, can't afford it at that time. We slap the um

fine on them and then we put a lean on their home. Mhm.

They go and try to get a loan to correct the problem, but the lean is on it preventing them from doing what we asked them to do because we put the lean on their home. And I think that's contrary to what we're trying to do is allow them to come into compliance. And sometimes when they can't afford it, struggling or on fixed income, those fines bills up to six figures, they would never be able to pay it, can't get improvements to their home because we got leans on it. Um, and I would hope I would like and I would hope the council support this to try to come up with a methodology that would allow enforcement but allow the resident an opportunity if they need to go out and get a loan to correct the problem. That that's something that we can do that would allow them to do that. some senior citizens going to pass away with leans on their home because they couldn't afford to remove them. And I don't think that that's right. Um, so um, this is not anything I want to answer for tonight, but that's a catch 22. We want them to correct it, but we put a loan a lean on their home. When they try to give a loan, they can't get the loan to correct the problem that we ask them to correct. That's all I have madam.

All right, madam chair. Yes, go ahead. Um and it's not just the senior c um citizens um my colleague a lot of us are struggling right now with corrections and so I would like for you Mr. Sur to share with um the the residents you know some of the things that we talked about on the call because we are about we want to make sure that we are able as residents to correct and become in compliance before having leans or before letting these fines add up. So, can you kind of tell a little bit about what you explained to me about the different types of um violation? Yes, and and thank you for that question if I may, Madam Chair. Yes, go ahead.

The normal code compliance process is built on the goal of getting compliance. Our our goal is to ensure that if you own property in Riviera Beach that you can be confident that you are going to live in nice aesthetically appealing neighborhoods that are wellmaintained. Uh so it's the role of code enforcement to code compliance, excuse me, to make sure uh that everyone's aware of what uh property maintenance looks like. And a lot of times the first step is education because someone may not know that you just cannot store junk vehicles in your front yard. That makes the entire street look bad and it attracts the wrong type of activity. Um so a lot of times the first step is just education. Hey um this car that has no tags that's on brakes cannot be in your front yard. It it has to be an operable vehicle if it's going to be in the front yard invisible. Um in situations where the um the resident is educated and uh it continues then it may be necessary to write a violation. The violation will say hey inoperable vehicle in the front yard you have x amount of days to correct it. Um depending on the violation that could be um two weeks 30 days is the average. Um, and if in those 30 days you haven't corrected it, the code officer's next step is to write up this case and prepare it for the special magistrate judge who will look at all the evidence and allow that resident the opportunity uh to state their case why they don't believe it's a violation. Or it may just be they want an opportunity to say, "Hey, I understand it's a violation. I just need more time." And the magistrate will make that decision and say, "Hey, I'll give you the additional time. It's not corrected by then. Fines will begin." Um if it's then not addressed after the magistrate gives their deadline, then the fines begin and after a certain amount of time and there's no compliance, um officers are still interested in getting uh compliance in

the neighborhood, but they will take the additional step of of um requesting that those fines be turned into a lean. But before that ever happens, there's been multiple points of contact with the property owner. They are aware and uh they just haven't taken those steps. Now, if it's a property owner that's absent and not attentive to their property and they don't respond to the officers, they don't respond to the notices, they don't show up, we we send them notices and mail, certified mail. We'll post it on the property if need be. If you're not paying attention to your property because you're absent absentee, um then the city's going to continue to push until we can get compliance. And those are the situations that typically turn into leans. If we're working with a property owner that say, "Hey, I understand I'm dealing with some financial troubles. I need some more time." We even uh went so uh far as the last time is we updated the uh ordinance for code compliance to establish a grant fund. So now if we know it's the elderly residents that has financial issues, they can apply for funds from uh the department that can help them uh with certain limited uh amounts uh to cure those violations. So, we have a fund in co- compliance where we can assist residents who we know are in need of help. But the majority of the time if it gets to the point of a lean, that's because the property owner has not worked with the city and uh we have no choice but to try to pursue compliance as much as possible, especially in situations where the property is um abandoned and needs to be boarded up and the city goes to board it up to keep that property safe and uh keep uh undesirable activities out. the city spends money in those situations. So yes, we would um turn that into a lean so the city can recoup its expenses and trying to make improve that neighborhood. So we um first and foremost we educate, we work with property owners. Our goal is not leans. Our goal is not to collect funds. We want beautiful neighborhoods in Riviera

Beach.

Yeah. I like also like to say that that I understand the part in regards to people who actually living in their homes and the care that we take to be able to work with them. But I think the biggest issue is the city of Riviera Beach is 60 to 65% renters which means that those properties are owned by other individuals who don't live in the city. So a lot of times um the houses are abandoned, the houses are um not boarded up. the I mean I have a a house on my street that the owner probably lives in Canada and the city has to come and mow the yard because it grows up you know chest high because nobody is there to actually do anything about it. So, I think that, you know, my sympathy goes for the people who are actually living in their homes and the ones who need that help to be able to do that, but not for anyone who lives in another country and want the city to pay for maintenance of their property.

Madam Chair, yes, go ahead.

Just one last question. And I do agree with you. My concern is not about um absentee owners. problem. I'm talking about people who are homesteading, making this their home, and they're trying to survive, and they may need a loan, but we got leans on the property, and that we need to figure out a way to work with them. But my last question, if the the leans have built up to an astronomical amount, and sometimes they do, even six figures, 100,000, 200,000, and they eventually correct the the code violation. How do we work with them to dissolve those fines that have built up?

Madam Chair, if I may.

Yes, go ahead, sir. The ordinance has a formula for fine reductions. So once the property is brought into compliance there um and I I don't know the exact formula off the top of my head, but there is a formula such that we first subtract whatever expenses you can demonstrate that you undertook to bring the property into compliance that's subtracted from the um total fine amount and then there's a reduction formula on top of that. So there is not a scenario where if you have 200,000 in in fines that you would pay 200,000 at the end of the day. Um you would u we would subtract the expenses and bring in the property in compliance and then reduce that fine amount and typically it's only a fraction of what that that total amount is that would be paid at the end.

Okay. Madam chair. Yes. Go ahead. Okay. One last question. When you say there's a formula, sometimes what we may feel is a portion. Let's say it was 200,000, [clears throat] you deduct whatever they paid and we tell them they still have to pay 5,000, but they had owed 2,000. That may be out of range. I'm I'm I'm saying why can't we're not trying to build a fund from um fines. We just want them in compliance.

Why can't we just charge them our expenses, what it took us to do to monitor this project or or the administrative cost and a minimal fine of,500? Why do we have to do a formula on the astronomical number? I'm not I'm not feeling that. It's just about compliance and whatever the employees do, they need to be paid for. We need to be paid for that.

But beyond that, it should be very, very minimal. We just want to comply. You have people then trying to find, well, I got to pay five more thousand, six more thousand, which seem to be minimal according to what was owed. But they have these astronomical fees building up daily and they struggle to come in compliance. So that is something I want to bring back to discuss. Um but the expenses administrative cost they need to pay whatever it took us to do to get it to do administrative rel. But all this formulas I don't know $200,000 fine. That's that's unreasonable to me. That's all I have. M

Yes. Go ahead. Are you I'm sorry. Are you Thank you. I'm sorry. Hold on a second. Are you finished? Mr. I'm I'm done. Yes. Go ahead, Mia.

Thank you, Madam Chair. And and I agree. Thank you, colleagues. Um is it possible for us to include or to add a multiplier uh for a reduction when it comes to homesteaded or or owner occupants uh when they have these fines. So that I know that we can't have a difference between um absentee owners and homesteaded owners, but if we had a multiplier for owner occupants to allow for that fee to be reduced because I agree with my colleagues, Commissioner Councilman Gayton, in regards to just getting them in compliance and helping some of these owner occupants, especially our seniors, with assisting them. So, is it possible to maybe look at a multiplier? Uh, something that can increase to where it's 80% reduced, 100% reduced if they get it within compliance if they're owner occupant or homestead property,

madam chair, and I agree. Homestead property is what I'm talking about, right? Chair chair. Yes. Go ahead.

Okay. So, I have a couple of things. First of all, common sense has to prevail here. Everybody wants a good quality of life. I must receive at least 10 complaints a week about code violations. And I'm not talking about on Singer Island. I'm talking about the people from the mainland complaining about uh code violations in their neighborhood. Uh and my hat is off to you uh director uh for bringing this up. Uh this is a good way to start solving this problem. Uh, I think that you might want to add and I I guess we have to talk to council about this. Can we add a clause where the city council will have the authority to wave a lean uh for hardship?

Okay.

Yeah, we can uh we can bring that back. Mr. Simmons, you can make up work up something for us. But what my concern is this. I I have been here for six years. At the end of my street, there's a house that the city has to maintain. It has not um it's approved some fines, but at what point do we say the house has to either be foreclosed on? I mean, because the the the owner lives somewhere else. The house has to be maintained basically by the city. So, what happens in that case? How do we how do we rectify that? How do we look at the fact that they have properties in the city that they have abandoned basically and that the city is I'm calling the city saying listen the grass is so high and it makes the street look terrible. At what point do we say this is enough and I've been here six years

and it's still the same way. Madam chair. Yes. Go ahead, sir. My discussion is about people living in their homes. No, I know I agree. I agree with that. I certainly agree. Yeah, I'm not talking about I'm just saying that what happens is that you you how do you apply that you can do whatever you want to do. Yeah. How do you apply that across the board but anyway that is something that we have to discuss uh at another um at another meeting when you have information you can bring back to us madam chair. Yes. Go ahead.

So I I just think that it's really important to give these tools to the code enforcement officers uh so we can start cleaning up the streets and and fixing up the neighborhoods. Uh I I trust that uh the neighborhood services uh unit uh the code enforcement officers will use common sense and will issue warnings and speak to the people before they issue violations. Uh I I think we have to trust our staff uh to do the right thing and I think it's very important that we move forward with this resolution.

Madam Chair, can I get clarification? This is the second reading. So the things that we're asking him to pres you know give us more information about we will be able to get that in the next reading. Madam chair if I may. Yes. Go ahead.

The um items included in this particular ordinance before you is an additional section to the code compliance chapter. So it it only addresses creation of civil citations. anything regarding the um the formula for fine reductions. That's that's a different part of this chapter of the code. Um it hasn't been noticed. So we we couldn't make those changes tonight. Um but what I'll do with the notes that I've been taking is uh come back with um what I believe is what you're looking for as far as changes to the code compliance ordinance. Some of the things are process related such as when the city initiates a foreclosure lawsuit. That's when you know our our staff would advise legal that hey we we think we've reached a point where we we need to take action and then we would consult with the legal department about um her getting permission from this board to essentially start a lawsuit or foreclosure on a property. Um, but other things in terms of changing the fee schedule that's in the the letter of the ordinance and we can uh look into making some changes uh to that and making sure that we have a process that that works for the staff and that uh council um feels comfortable with as well. So it it will require an additional conversation based on these notes to make those changes.

Right. Chair. Yes. Go ahead. Please, just don't forget about giving the city council the authority to to wave a lean based on hardship. Understood. Yes. Yes. Very good. Um, thank you, Madam Clerk. Council person Davis Paneer. Yes. Council person Gon. Yes. Chairperson Tim Miller Anderson. Yes. Council person Spirus. Yes. Chairperson Laneir. Yes. See unanimous vote. Next item.

Uh, madame chair, we are on the regular agenda. I want to bring to the board and public's attention that there was an item that was on consent resolution number 175-25 that is not printed on this agenda. It is the agreement between the city of Riviera Beach and Pitman Law Group PL to provide lobbyist repres representation at the state level on behalf of the city of Riviera Beach. If it is the board's pleasure, we can make this item 11D under regular resolutions on regular agenda.

11D. That's fine. Okay, Madame Chair. Let's go ahead. At this time, we are on item 11A, resolution number 181-25, a resolution of the city council of the city of Riviera Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, establishing a schedule of violations and penalties for civil citations pursuant to chapter 2, administrative article 6 code enforcement, providing for an effective date and for other purposes. Madam Chair, we have one comment card on this item, the acceptance of the current assistance. And while they're coming up, Madam Chair, is this the one we just did?

So second, that's just a resolution to it. Oh, okay. Mr. I'm sorry, M. Jacobs. Okay. Yeah, Madam Chair, thank you. Resolution number 18125 is a companion item to the ordinance, the second reading of the ordinance that um Mr. Surish just presented.

Service. Yes, madam chair. Um, as mentioned, this resolution is for the fee schedule. So, if um this is adopted by resolution, so it is easier in the future if council wants to change, raise, lower, add, or subtract the the types of violations on the schedule that it's adopted by resolution for efficiency in the future. Um, but no additional presentation on this one. Very good. This is a fee schedule. Any questions? Madam Chair, Madam Chair, I'm sorry. Go ahead.

So, Mr. sermons. I I I think that uh a lot of these fines are a little low. Uh but it's a good start. So, let's see how it works. But I think you ought to revisit this next year because a lot of the commercial properties, uh this will just be part of doing business to them. Uh there just it's just not high enough for them. So maybe you'll set a separate um commercial uh fine schedule, you know, fee schedule. Uh if you if you can look into that for the future, I think that would be a good idea. Very good. Madam Chair, we do have one public comment card on this item. Yes, go ahead.

Mrs. Williams to the council and the citizen of River Beach. I hope y'all won't ma'am. You have to address the council, please. I can I'm just greeting them. Why you cutting me off again?

I Mr. uh I try to reach all y'all about yourself. Code enforcement. Mr. Sherman, I saw you got a flight tonight, but you have come here and changed everything. I try to reach you today. All y'all to talk about this code enforcement. I talked to the head person, the man, everybody. I told him I had spoke to him. I wasn't going to get up and say anything, but just listening at you, Mr. G. Y'all finding people around here, senior citizen. You find a knickknack picnic stuff [snorts] to put a coat on somebody that need to stop. Then you want us to say, "Do this, do this, or else we going to keep finding you." And I'm going to say it. I told them I'm going to say it. They came and find me saying, "Oh, my carpole it was too clustered. Oh, some of my grass had a big hole in it. Didn't have all the grass there." Then they say, "One of your citizen that runs a business here, Mr. Doge, for over 50ome years. Y'all honor him." And then y'all came right around by the code enforcement and find him. So I said, "I had extra side on my yard. Why don't you put your uh truck there? I got to move there because it's heels or they gonna find me every day or the hurricane season coming. They say take all those awnings down. I say you must going to come take them out get me some code enforcement windows or you going to go through the counter and help me get some on there. Why you keep finding me? Because that that's my neighbor. He's 85 years old. I want to help him out. They told me the band was so ugly and needed paint. I said, "How you know it's not working? Did you go around the back see if it had a tag on the back?" You can't do that. Keep finding people. I don't know. Just sent me a certified letter. Why y'all keep

that money? Put some here to use y'all around here. All time you turn around, you're finding people and doing this. I agree with Mr. I tried to reach you today. I tried I told you I want to talk to all y'all, didn't I? I haven't got nobody yet. I tried to get you today. I still want to talk about y'all not helping us like you should. Senior citizen, he was saying, "Mr. Surman, I know when you first came here, you changed. They put you in here to be changing all these orders and all these fines and all this stuff here. I remember you I remember you first started here. You young man, I spoke to the young man uh uh over the code enforcement. I told him I don't want to put no marking cuz you're a brother or but I want to let y'all know y'all better stop this here. You come over there and look at that yard in that house and stop trying to find us and we

Madam Chair that is the end of public comment. Are there any other questions in regards to this item? Madame clerk. Council person Davis Pier. Yes. Council person Gon. Yes. Cherton Miller Anderson. Yes. Council person Spiritus. Yes. Chairperson Laneir. Yes. That's unanimous vote.

Uh we are at public comments uh from the public. Public comment shall begin at 7:30 p.m. Unless there is no further business of the city council, which in that event it shall begin sooner. In addition, if an item is being considered at 7:30, then comments from the public shall begin immediately immediately after the item has been concluded. Please be reminded the city council board has adopted rules of the quorum governing public conduct during official meetings which are listed in the back and here in the middle. If any of the rules did not adhere to the city council chairperson may have any disruptive speaker or attendee removed from the podium from the meeting and or the building if necessary. Please govern yourselves accordingly.

Madam chair, we have 18 public comment cards. The first speaker will be Lloyd Brown, followed by Michael Jordan and Dr. Philip M. Dukes.

How you doing? Uh, I see they leave when I get up here because I don't have nothing good to say. And let me tell you, you got selective enforcement when it come to those rules because I done seen Miss Paul come in here and say something about tragic and you were right there in that same position. But you didn't tell her, but you told me you like the girl that they put in charge of the class. All your friends get away with messing around while the teacher on a lunch break. As soon as she come back, then here it is. You done told on all your enemies. You can't come up here with this selective enforcement. And then you talk about the code enforcement. Do you anybody ever go on 33rd Street? They got a where a place that's full of trucks and cars. And you hear this man talking about somebody who own a home. Let me tell you what a white guy told me. Maybe y'all will listen. He said, "As long as I own my property, you can find me, lean me, all you want to. I'm not going to sell it. I've been there 71 years and I'm gonna be there 71 more. I hope. But only thing I'm trying to say is y'all have AIDS over here. You come over here and these people act like it's such a great deal. But these don't I don't even see these people on the corners hustling trying to make a life. These people got jobs in here. All of them got something to do. The ones that need help are the ones you see walking around the street on drugs and whatever. And then you got stores selling paraphernalia. And then you arrest a man for having a pipe. You supposed to close the stores down. You didn't give a damn about that. All you wanted to do was come over here and then you asked for a raise. You need a raise right out of here. That's the raise you need. And I'm being honest. Hey, don't listen to the code enforcement. Go down on 33rd Street. Go down there where all them folks at. And until they straighten that

out, strike. Tell them don't come here. You don't want to hear nothing about. They should stop all these lanes until they straighten out these properties. I just seen new people come in the neighborhood. They got four or five trucks in the yard. Cement trucks and everything else. But you don't say nothing. And most of the houses in my neighborhood used to be owned by my neighbors. Now you got some man in there who own it and he's not doing nothing for it. Make him pay right then and there. Don't put no lean and be talking about what you going to pay it. Make him pay every time you go over there. make him pay. And like somebody like me that own property, just like the lady was saying, we don't need y'all coming in our yard doing all that when you got go to 33rd Street. Let me tell you, you will be surprised. And then another thing before I go, I'm sorry, chief, but I got to say it's just a girl named out there. She need to be going to deescalation classes for the rest of her life while she working for y'all. Then you got another officer told me he only come here for a paycheck. That's a shame. and let him go in his own neighborhood.

The next speaker is Michael Jordan, Dr. Philip M. Dukes, followed by Reno Wells.

Uh, hello council. As always, I have to set the pace for myself and for you all. I come with great respect. I always tell you when you write, I'm with you. I would like to say to you all, thank you all because and congratulate Miss Deborah Hall because I no longer see acting behind her name. Okay, so I want to congratulate you all for that and I thank you for that cuz like I say, if I hadn't seen the change, I was going to keep talking about it until it changes. Okay. The second thing I want to speak with you about and not to take away anything from anybody that has received awards. Well, we're working in a professional setting. We cannot pick and choose people that we want to award or reward for doing a great job. I believe that everybody does a great job. Okay? And I think people should be judged by the way that they do their work. because you don't like a person, then you should not wreak havoc to that person or cause disrespect or attack that person. And yes, I'm talking about an upright citizen, a very respectful young man, a man who has always had passion about his job and helping people, Mr. Keith Gold. Okay, I'm coming up talking about that. Okay, because he's the man for the job. Okay. If he wasn't the man for the job, he wouldn't have lasted this long. I don't like what I'm hearing. I don't like the disrespect that he's receiving and I think something should be done about it. If I had my way, I would have also awarded him tonight. So, I am asking you I am asking you I am asking you and I'm being respectful about it to back up, think about it, and make the right decision. Okay? Because like I said once before and I won't get away from it. The way that you all professionally uh so-called

professionally handle things over here. When people come from this city and say that they have worked here to go get another job, people don't want to touch them because of the reputation that's out there. Let us work together and change the reputation, treat the residents right, and respect the workers and treat them fair as well. So, like I said, I'm not going to beat that horse about Miss Deborah no more because that horse done jumped over the gate and he gone. But I will repeat what I have to say about Mr. Keith Golden. I want to see a change. I want to see him treated fairly and I want you all to back off and do the right thing. And as always, like I say, I love each and every one of you all and going to respect you all. But when you're wrong, I got to call you out. Okay? And one thing about me, one thing about me, and you know for yourself, Councilwoman Laneir, we have had some a little difference about what we talked about, but I always respect you, talk to you when I see you. Ain't nothing going to change about that. So, like I said, concerning Mr. Keith Golden. Oh, I'mma beat that horse until it die and keep rise up without being attacked by what's going on. Okay. So, like I said, I want you all to have a good night. The next speaker is Dr. Philip M. Dukes, followed by Reno Wells and Zedric Barber. Good evening. Good evening everyone, council, citizens, mayor. Uh, you know, we got a lot of issues. A lot of issues. Um, I just few days ago found out about Mr. Golden and I'm a great supporter of him, but let's be honest. I heard a few things. Is there something in the mix that you want to just get rid of him?

He's done a great job. Great job. Great job. Great job. He's done a great job. And and y'all know what the swirl is on that. I didn't really come to speak on that, but I found out about it. So, I have to say something. You see, there's always when certain things go down and the darker the melanin in your skin, you get treated different for little simple things. They make more out of it than what it is. So, I think we need to address that. That is not uh you know like my conservative brothers sometime I'm in their circle say you know you black people you're always doing this victimization thing. I say no these are systematic patterns. That's why I come up here and teach about black history the way I do because it's a systematic pattern. What we see in America today with this president is a systematic pattern. It's the same thing. Now, since I'm off of what I was going to talk about, I need to thank everyone who sent us donations. I want to thank you because we're going to start the love thy brother movement. We want to pick up Pastor King work uh against all forms of racism and not just talk about it because if you notice our country is being polarized more and more and more. I thought I turned my phone off. I got to hit it. It's being polarized more and more and more. So I'm I want to thank everyone who sent us donations. If you're cons want to help us with this, you can sell us at 561-827-7499. Our cash app is 5410015. Operation Restore is a nonprofit in River Beach. We've been working with the very beach for over uh 30 years and all that most people know about what we were doing up at Jiffy. And if you Google my name, Bishop Dr. Philip M. Dukes news articles, all the news articles they wrote about what we've been doing in River Beach for the last 30 years will come up. I'm just not talking. But we need to be about this work. Let me tell you something, y'all. See, we're what? We're less than 12 miles away from what one of the most contentuous places in

America, which is called Mara Lago. And do not make any mistake. We have a racist white supremist in the WHITE HOUSE. THAT'S WHAT we got in the White House. And you can't conquer hate with hate. Pastor King said that black nationalism is just as bad as white nationalism. AND THEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS THING ABOUT JESUS. So I'm going to talk about that next time. And on the other point, listen, y'all stop treating my boy so bad. Y'all going to name the street after Thomas. That's not a bad thing. It's not a wicked thing. I mean, you know, hey, hey, we we we can find fault with everybody. Everybody talk about everybody something negative, but look at Thomas has done some real good things in this city.

The next speaker is Reo Wells, Zedric Barber, and Agila Ingraham. Good evening.

Arena Wells, River Beach, retired police officer, River Beach PD. Uh, first of all, I want to thank you all for acknowledging my memo to you all last week. I don't know if it was done accidentally, but what should have been done in front of a horse finally happened. You had your labor attorney contact our pension attorney to see and ask and discuss how you're gonna go into our bank and take our money. That should happen first. So, it did happen last week. Secondly, [snorts] I'm amazed. I hate to pick on people. I'm trying not to pick on people, but it's a process, a financial process. Apparently, you've been doing a lot of things wrong financially to try to take money that my officers have worked for. At one point in time on that police department, I counted 28 police officers had been involved in shootings. Yet, I one of the supervisor instructed those same officers to go out and say how great the city was to live in. This was about 20 something years ago. So now that they have earned more or less a cost of living allowance, the finance person who couldn't manage the books decide the only way he can help the city and bail himself out is to take our money. First of all, you need to stop. It's non-negotiable. Secondly, I think you should get a finance director in here. It's okay to speak to people. You come speak to the people who money you want to take. Maybe they can tell you a better way to take some money somewhere else, but you're not going to get it from the police department. Okay? I did not see him out there one time on the

firing lines with my police officers. It was done wrongly. I can tell he doesn't know what he's doing because the reason you needed to talk to the pension board, you were supposed to get a extra valuation. If we told you we got $100 in the bank, you should come to us. Hey, do you really have a 98? So based on that practice alone, this is why you're in the jam yet. Now, okay. So if he needs some help, we got a lot of officers, got master's degrees and doctor's degrees, and we'll help him right along. I don't want to be adversarial, but leave my grandkids money alone and leave their grandchildren's money alone. Thank you very much. Thank you.

The next speaker is Zedric Barber, Agila Ingram, and Margaret Shepard.

Good evening.

Good evening. Uh for the council members that are here and those that aren't, uh I'm Zedric Barber. I'm a retiree from the city of Riviera Beach Police Department. Um one of those that took the job seriously and uh I'm a pensioned employee. What uh Lieutenant Wells failed to tell you is that um finance director I guess it is is proposing that they take monies or funds from our pension to pay for raises for the officers now. Okay, that's the proposal. Um like I said, Reno's a little, you know, animated, so we we need a little background. Um, as he said, the finance director was not there like uh Reno was crying when all the kids got killed on at the railroad tracks there years ago. I heard him on the radio. The finance director wasn't there the night that our dog bit me. Okay. We gave all that we could. Our co our pension does not have a cola. We get a what we call a 13th check every year. All right? It does not have a cola. We've got people that have been on the pension for 30 years without a raise. Now, I don't know what America you live in, but in the last 30 years, I think things have slightly gone up. slightly a little bit, but that's the way our pension is structured. So now 185 monies are monies that the state gives us that we can use as a 13th check for a

pension that does not have a colot. Okay. Um and we're just here to stand and let you know that we're against that. Okay. This is this is uh to say that it's important to us is an understatement. All right. And we aren't, you know, we we're the people that that retired from the city. You know, we gave you our all. Um, you know, I wrote the first grant for the police athletic league. I was your crime prevention officer, your media relations officer, um, certified in polygraph, boy stress analyst. Okay? and we gave all that we could give and all we ask is that you leave our pension alone. Thank you.

Next speaker is Ailla Ingraham followed by Margaret Shepard and Alfred Fields NACP. Good evening to the mayor, the chairperson and the city council. Good evening again. I thank you for the opportunity to speak. My name is Akquila Ingraham and I'm first lady and my husband Jai Ingraham is a pastor at Allen Temple AM Church on Avenue I in Riviera Beach. Bishop Masters is a man of the people. He has served his community for over 40 years. He has been a builder of the communities and the people for all his life. Even though he is no longer an elected official, he's never stopped being a public servant. Bishop Masters has helped various churches and ministries across denominational lines. He has been a mentor and a model for young pastors and their ministries. Personally, Bishop Masters has been a great friend and support to Allan Temple AM Church on Avenue I. Bishop Masters work for the betterment of everyone, even those that he may disagree with. Because when you stand for God with integrity, that's what service is all about. Bishop Masters works and supports churches internationally, having traveled and given mission work in over 35 countries. He frequently travels to Jamaica leading hurricane relief efforts for both our congregations. He opens the doors of his church and welcome the members of Allen Temple, our church with his along with his congregation. He is a true friend and is here to serve the community whenever called upon. Therefore, it is for all these reasons that I support the proposal to have Avenue in honor of Bishop Thomas Masters. Thank you.

The next speaker is Margaret Shepard, followed by Alfred Fields, NAACP, and Reverend Lloyd Taylor. My name is Margaret Shepard and I do live in the city of River Beach. I want to first thank uh Miss Deborah Hall Mcome for being such a wonderful lady. You have showed us the way. It is times that I know if I did not look at you, I would really lose it because of these people here. But you showed me the way and our group just wanted to take time to say thank you.

You've gotten so many flowers and so they thought that you needed a little bit more during the holiday and I hope that you enjoy it. Um, they were out there and they t not really talked about you, but they talked about James Hall. I never stopped laughing hearing the little scenario. Thank you. I want to go on uh with the pastor talking about Bishop Masters. It behooves us that you sit there elected by us and you put people down. I did it. I was listening to Cindy Martin said and I had to go back and regroup and know that sometimes when you're angry, you have to really watch what you say. But it's been 20 years since whatever happened happened. I'm not condoning whatever, but it's times that he had to go to people house in the middle of the night, go to the hospital, he had to do weddings, he had to do funerals, and to sit there said, "I'm talking about something uh 24 that really was none of your business. You need to talk about your business. That's what you need to do." But I want to say to Bishop Masters, wonderful job. And I hate that these children are sitting here and I'm trying to mimic my words because there's a lot I want to say and I won't say because I want them to get a feel of how this council act. I heard Mrs. um Erica Davis say we need to wipe out this whole board. We did it once before and we can do it again. We we're going to do it again. These people got to go. They got to get the H E L out of here because it does not make sense. We put you in in these seats and somebody said, "Well, I'm a politician. I want to really call you something else, but I hold it because I know for a fact that

when we put you in office, we look for you to work for us." And the only person I heard them sit at the table talk about is Glenn Spirit is doing a good job. 148 of us sitting in the room and they brought up Glenn Spirits. But we elected you and I want to say you're the most despicable people I've ever seen in my life. You are a piece of work that you put that up there and then you start talking about something that happened years ago. And I'll tell you to your face, I am sick of you and I'll see you at the poll. Thank you so much for your comments. The next speaker is Alfred Fields, NAACP, followed by Reverend Lloyd Taylor and Cindy March.

Good evening, honorable council members, mayor, and city manager. I'm Alfred Fields, the president of the local branch of NAACP, and I come before you tonight in reference to a a matter in uh your assistant chief, Mr. Golden. Uh so, I sent a letter to each of you because I I knew I probably wouldn't say everything I need to say in three minutes, so you should have gotten an email from me earlier. But what I want to say to you is that this is not a unique situation to Rivier Beach. What is going on in your city right now is a systematic lynching publicly and a hanging behind closed doors of of black people in this county, in this [laughter] state, and in this country that's in a leadership role. You don't have to look far. You can look at our county commission. Look at our school board. Look at our sheriff department. And you can go from one municipality to the next. And there have been black and brown citizens employees that have been targeted because they're in leadership role. They don't want us to have a seat at the table because then they can do and say whatever they want. I'm not speaking to the issue that

happened with the system for our chief goal, but I'm talking about a systematic system eliminating our history of eliminating our ability to be at the table to help make decisions about our lives. So I'm asking you when you look at these situations, especially from an organization that says they're for the employees that shows no loyalty to an employee that was a part of that same union for over 20 years. Look at the surrounding situation. They're tarnishing a person's reputation to hinder their ability to be promoted. They're tarnishing our ability to have decision making in our communities. So I plead with you, look at these situations in not a isolated situation, but a totality of what's going on in our communities.

Thank you so much for your comments. Next is Reverend Lloyd Taylor, Sunday March and Joanna Hartz for Jamaica Relief. Good evening and thank you council. Um to the chair and all the council persons. I am the Reverend Lloyd Taylor. I grew up in Riviera Beach. um and have lived the se last eight years or so down in Brower County of which I um am a part of the New Man Olive Church in Fort Lauderdale. I come here to speak on behalf of a man who became a friend after he came in from after preaching revival and then came in from California became the pastor of New Macedonia Church. That's Bishop Thomas Masters. Bishop Thomas Masters didn't come to rest on his laurels as an awesome preacher that he is but he came to work and he shown that not only in the pullpit but also in the community as he was sitting on this same dasis that you are at the time when my first cousin Linda Taylor was killed on the blue heron bridge. It was Mr. Masters that led a delegation up to Tallahassee to make that bridge safer for those of us when I'm in town still like to walk that particular bridge. Bishop Masters came and stood with our family when my grand nephew Eric Davis was killed in Broadmore Apartments.

We weren't members of his church, but he came stood with our family. Bishop Masters has demonstrated his love for the community way beyond the walls of New Macedonia Church. And if there is anybody, and I've seen over the years where there have been names after names after names or different streets, avenues or what have you for different clergy, God bless them. But if anyone is deserving, your former mayor, still current pastor of the New Macedonia Church, is deserving of this same honor. God bless you and God keep you. Next speaker is Cindy March, followed by Joanna Hawks for Jamaica Relief and Cynthia Traveling Queen.

Good evening, council. Congratulations, Deborah Hall. Y'all don't forget about Dr. Glenn Spiritis. We want everybody to go accept Dr. Glenn Spiritis. So, when it's time for election, don't forget about him. And I hate to say this, but I'm telling you the truth. If we don't start taking care of our own, like I always reiterate, that whole board going to look like Dr. inspirited and we can blame us because we don't take care of us. And Keith Golden, whatever y'all need to do, keep him here in the city of River Beach. People with sheep clothing on, don't get far. If you can't forgive a person, something wrong with you. I forgave Reverend Masters right here. I said some bastard things about him. And I grew up at 836 West 9th Street. and he go up there rat nada day if he want a spaghetti dinner my sister going to give it to him he don't even know the relationship that he's eating at the house that I grew up in I just told that to Bridget Wilburn the other week and he will be surprised but I'm going tell you something good for the goose is good for the gander you bringing up 20 years bring up them two accused accounts that they got hidden up under the employee profiles but God gave you another chance y'all don't remember me but the Blue Hand bar. I wasn't this thick. I was a cocoa bottle shape. I remember Bruce Gton coming in the Blue Hand bar plenty of nights. Okay. So, let's not forget where we come from. That's what's wrong with our black folks. WE FORGET HOW God brought us so far. But he's still working on me. Okay? So, I can deal with the animosity. I can deal with the name calling. But what I'm not gonna do is sit here and disgrade a man that don't open HIS DOORS UP FOR EVERYBODY that I know. DON'T TOOK HIS HAT OFF right in front of this city hall and collect the

money FOR SOMEBODY I KNOW BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T have enough money to bury their loved one. And this what y'all do to this man. We got to do better. When you know better, you do better. But just trust me. when it's time for election. Lenir, I hope you good and gone. And don't tell don't I'M NOT GOING I'M not going with that tonight. I can say what I want. You need to address the entire council.

You need to address the entire council attitude. You need to address the entire council. I'm addressing the person I want to address because you are the chair back and forth. You all need to stop playing politics. But you have to address the entire council. need to stop and get back to the people and not politics and presentation because guess what? The way we put you all in here is the way we're going to get you up out of here. Okay? You cannot talk louder than me. SO DON'T WASTE YOUR BREATH CUZ I'M NOT THREATENING YOU. I'm not using profane language from you. So I'm GOING TO SAY WHAT I need to say. Okay? Until you stop being disrespectful, then I'm going to stop being disrespectful.

Thank you so much for your comments, ma'am. The next speaker is Joanna Harts for Jamaica Relief. Joanna Harts for Jamaica Relief. So we'll move on to Cynthia Traveling Queen, followed by Bobby Ingram and Bryce Graham.

Good evening everyone. Good evening.

Um, I'm Cynthia. I was raised up and born in Rivier Beach in Federal Gardens. Um, I came to know Bishop Masters back in 1994 when my dad was dying of cancer. My mom, Diola and Dr. Lee Walker, we live my parents lived in Federal Gardens and they knew a lot of people. But when we my mom called Bishop Masters, he came and I was there that day when he prayed with my dad cuz my dad was not a churchgoer. As I as years go on, I noticed how as an adult, I've been married 41 years to my husband Bobby. I noticed as an adult how Bishop Masters would go around and just help everyone. I remember my my brother-in-law, he was at St. Mary's Hospital and he had a lady hostage hostage. He had a scaffold knife around her neck and I told my mom, I said, "Mom," I said, "Maybe you could call Bishop Masters to come and help us." And she said, "Okay, baby." And she called him and he came out to that uh St. Mary's Hospital and he talked my brother-in-law down. My brother-in-law could have rotted in prison for doing whatever he was going to do. But Bishop Masters came and he helped my family. Once he taught my brother-in-law down, he stayed there and he prayed with us. We did a circle out in the out there in the parking lot of St. Mary's Hospital. I remember when my son passed away in 2015. He was right there. I remember Stony Brook having a problem. Stony Brook Apartments. They were living over in Filth and had some problems. He was right there. My son passed last year

2024 and we had the funeral at Hilltop Baptist Church. He was right there. My sister just passed in September. He's always there to help people. And I I just hope I I hate to see people bring up something happened a long time ago which was rectified. I believe and I just don't like when people do that. You need to look at give people their flowers while they living. Look at the good in people and and and we need to stop and try to get along and stop with this hatred. This is a good man and I can't think of anybody I can think of that this is he's deserve it. He deserves this. And I just I just hope and pray that God open up y'all hearts and make this change or or or do or do this for him. Um I pray that this happened. That's my prayer and I'm thank you guys for listening to me.

The next speaker is Bobby Ingram followed by Bryce Graham and Aman Israel. Good evening, mayor and councils and everyone that's here tonight. Uh I just want to say uh this is a man that I deeply respect, pastors, deeply respect. I am honored and delighted to have as a mentor and a trusted friend. He's very opinionated. He doesn't care what people say, think, or do. I can recall several years ago as he was in office serving, he has hammered out what he has stood for for the community by making change. Yet amazingly over the years the work and the production that he did was speak for himself. This is a strong man dignified and upright. I believe he deserved his honor while he's living. As my wife just stated, give someone their flowers now that they can embrace and continue to serve and reach out to the people that walked their path. He's a fine gentleman individual and I ask that you all will examine your hearts and take this in deep consideration. I thank you for listening and thank you very much. The next speaker is Bryce Graham, followed by Aman Israel and Mrs. William.

Good evening, Council Bryce Graham, second vice president, the National Action Network of the Central Florida Chapter in Orlando, Florida, and also servicing Palm Beach County under the Reverend Al Sharpton. I come to talk about two individuals tonight. One being Keith Golden, the next being Bishop Thomas Masters. There's a quote that says that there is something not just wrong in that there is something not just rotten in Denmark, but there is something wrong right here in Riviera Beach. And you will come against a chief, assistant chief who has proven himself, who is worthy of principles and standards and try to uh tarnish his character off of something that is promiscuous. Tonight I want to talk about a man who I admired from afar. when I would turn on the television and see his work and his ethic and I came to know him in my younger days of ministry and activism. It was Bishop Thomas Masters when he first came here over some 39 years ago who had been working in this community day in and day out before he became the man pushing initiatives like Stop the Violence on the Block, Pull Your Pants Up, encouraging young men to pull their pants up and to walk with dignity well before he became the man. It was Bishop Thomas Masters before he became the mayor that stood with families that were gunned down by victim with victims of

gun violence and police brutality. It was Bishop Masters who has done all of these things well before he was mayor and while he was mayor, stood up for citizens of this community, who aided the seniors of this community and stood with families countless and countless of times. And he has not only done the work here in Riviera Beach, but he has done it from coast to coast in Africa, in Jamaica, in Haiti and other places. And if anybody in this city deserves a street, a name, a sidewalk, it should be that of the Bishop Thomas A. Masters. The next speaker is Aman Israel, Mrs. Williams, followed by Mayor Bishop Thomas Masters.

[clears throat]

Good evening, chair, mayor, and councel Aman Yshrael. [clears throat] What is truly going on without Chief Golden? The the city paid an outside attorney to do an investigation of Chief Golden over a year ago. After the investigation, the outside investigator said that he need he needed not he the city needed some additional training. How you can go from training to firing or suggesting that you fire Chief Gold? The president of the union stated on TV that our city manager need to hire need to fire Chief Golden. What arrogance? What make him think he can tell a municipality outside of his jurisdiction that he need our city manager need to fire Chief Golden? Again, what arrogance. Chief Golden has an outstanding outstanding evaluations, impeccable record. After the first investigation, some came together and came up with another investigation. Just what are they trying to do? Yes, there was a drowning on Garden Road. A

driver drove himself into the canal and after driving the in the canal, he resisted medical attention. And thanks to the firefighters firefighters who did attempt to save him. When we are hiring people, we need to really be concerned about people that are not embarrassing our fire department and our city. Just to name a few of his accomplishments, Assistant Chief Golden has been deployed to multiple missions representing Riviera Beach and the state of Florida. He has been deployed to Jacksonville. He has been deployed to Tallahassee. He has he was the deputy of operation and the chief commander outside of Riviera Beach. Just what are they trying to do?

Thank you so much, Chief Golden for your comments. Thank you. Thank you. The next speaker is Mrs. Williams, followed by Mayor Bishop Thomas Masters. And the last speaker is Detta Paul.

Don't y'all mess with my popo out here now. They're the best. You are the best. You know, if I don't know if he's the one there in Goldman, the chief had them to go take a test and with other people. You know what they scores was? 98 and 97. Good. Good. I heard somebody just say we got master's degrees and all that. We got what we need. We got what we can do with what we have. And I want you to know and I want to get back to that again. M. I want to talk to you. want to talk to you. You and you. I need y'all. I need to talk to I couldn't I didn't need no message. I want to talk to you face to face cuz you going y'all going to get this code forceman stuff straighten out here with me if you don't want to straighten nobody. But I'm going to try to help them too. So I want y'all to know let's get together. You don't want nobody call your name your name and their name. I'mma point it to them. But I want y'all to just talk to me. I tried to reach all y'all today before this meeting came up. I couldn't I didn't want to lead no message nobody say I didn't get it but I want to talk to you face to face. I want to talk to our new counselor person right there. We were somewhere it was a they had a thing at Jay's ministry was a young couple that did that they did an awful awful job of providing stuff for the young people and the people of this city. I can't remember name. You might remember them. They did a good job. We got we got all kinds of treasures here to support them. You know they told me one person told me say from Sanger Island to 95 this what they all want. So we in the midst of all what they want but we going to stand with what we got. So please help us do what is right. I don't try to put y'all down or nothing

like that. But if you you say something bad, but I'll be trying to let you know I do care for you. I really do. And please sign that street to Reverend Masters right over there near his church. Reverend Masters, no matter what you say, if you go back on somebody 20 years, you don't have anything in you. You don't have it in your heart to forgive or try to bring up the past. Cuz I'm telling you, there's some books being written. Not on the book, but in your thoughts is being put down. You're not gonna get by God with nothing. And I'm tell you, after a while, you're gonna reap what you sow.

You gonna reap it. And you're not going to be able to take it or stand it. Know why? Cuz God got your number. God got it number. He got it. We in the book. Y'all be signing books and all this stuff. And y'all, they told me y'all the ones that sign all these coding folks. I want to talk to y'all about that. The next speaker is Mayor Bishop Thomas Masters followed by Detta

Paul. The wicked shall cease from troubling and the weary shall be at rest. To the honorable mayor and honorable chair and to all the city council, I'm 73 years of age. I don't know what's going to happen now. And I really don't know what you're going to do as it relates to the street or the avenue or whatever. But I will tell you, if it happens, wonderful. If it doesn't happen, I got another street.

I got another street that's paved with gold.

I have another crown. And one of these days when life is all over down here, I will transcend to somewhere else to be with the Lord. Pray for me. I'm not here to speak for myself tonight. I think many have spoken. I want to thank the members of Hilltop, the members of Pleasant Heights, the members of Pentecostal Church of God in Christ, the members of New Macedonia, the members of Allen Temple AM, and the two council people that voted in the affirmative. Um, I thank you for that. But I'm al I'm here to speak about a man named Keith Golden. a man who saved my life one time that many don't you don't even know about it but he did and I'm thankful for him very much had to go to the hospital but Keith Golden stepped in and did what he had to do and I want to say I don't know about these investigations but I'm going to as it relates as it relates to me 20 years ago unfounded the last thing the court did was reverse and everybody knows that. But as far as Keith Golden is concerned with all these investigations, I'm going to leave you with the words of a famed attorney from a city that I'm from, Los Angeles. He said in a trial, "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit. Madam Chair, the last speaker is Doretta Pulk.

Good evening. My name is Doretta Park and I'm a citizen of Riviera Beach and I just want to honor uh a notation concerning um Bishop Masters. Many many years ago, um my family on my husband's side, uh they had several funerals at uh New Macedonia. They had no money. No money. And he let them have the funeral at New Macedonia. And he didn't ask for any money. These are the some of the things that I know of that he has done. I know personally that he has done. And on that note, I wanted to talk about um congratulations to our very own Mrs. Deborah Hall. Congratulations. Thank you. Much deserving.

And also another thing concerning uh on a lighter note uh uh Mrs. Davis Paneri. I hope I'm council woman. I hope I'm pronouncing it. Yeah. Just address all of us. Oh, I'm sorry. You did a good job. We had in October we had a at the Brooks Center we celebrated breast cancer awareness awareness and you it was awesome event and I want to thank you for that

and I want to thank also uh uh Mrs. Kashamba, Councilwoman Kashama Miller Anderson and also the mayor for bringing creating this uh youth council development. That is one awesome one awesome event and it cultivate our children to be better citizens to also be maybe council woman or council men uh uh the uh city uh city um attorney also city manager. It count it helps them, motivates them and I thank you for uh developing that uh that event. Wonderful things are going on in the city of uh Riviera Beach with the library and uh these people who got those awards were so deserving. They're phenomenal employees of the city. And we have the Supremes coming up at uh on Tuesday the 9th. So if you all want to come out.

Hold on one second, Miss Paul. Um people, we have someone at the podium speaking and we cannot have people in the audience speaking as well. If you like to speak with your neighbor, please step outside uh in the hallway so that you can do that so we can have our speaker to continue. Please close door. Thank you. I'm sorry, Miss Paul. Go ahead. Oh, no problem. And chair Lia, can I have a couple of seconds back on the screen, please? Just just go ahead, please. No, it was it was like 10 seconds. I know. Oh, okay. All right. No problem. Yes, ma'am.

And we got uh Mr. Brody and Mr. Snowy, Mr. Sherman, and all the other people who were awarded. Much deserving. We have a phenomenal people working here. phenomenal and you all I know up sitting up on that dasis you it's not easy I'm I'm sure it's not easy but uh I hope that everyone had a beautiful Thanksgiving and that's what we need to do just give thanks just for life itself give thanks I thank you very much thank you

madam chair that is the end of general public comments Uh, thank you. Yes. Let's go to our next item, Madam Clerk. Madam Chair, we are on item 11B, resolution number 171-25. A resolution of the city council of the city of Riviera Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, approving the assignment of that certain ground lease retail ocean mall originally dated December 18, 2006 as amended from Ocean Walk Owner LLC to Ocean Walk, a Delaware Limited Partnership, acknowledging receipt of a certificate of accuracy, providing for conflict salarability, and an effective date. Madam Chair, do we have comment cards? We do not have any comment cards on this item. The acceptance of cards is closed.

Thank you, madame assistant to manager. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, resolution number 17125 will be presented by assistant city manager Copen. Thank you, assistant city manager. Hold on one second. Um, uh, Director Cox, hold on one second. Let us get people out the door so he can be able to hear you. [laughter]

Thank you uh, for closing those doors. Yes. Go ahead. I'm sorry, Mr. Cobins. Go ahead.

Thank you, Assistant City Manager Jacobs, uh, Chairperson, Council. This is a a lease assignment from one corporation to another for the Ocean Walk, uh, Plaza on Singer Island. U, the city manager assigned this to me about a month ago. um with the caveat that the Ocean Mall makes certain improvements. Um there's some folks here that are part of the new lease uh agreement and um they have acquiesed to a lot of the demands as far as some of the issues that need to be um fixed at the Ocean Mall.

Yes. Go ahead. Do we have a motion to approve this in in a second? So move. Second. Go ahead. Uh, Commissioner G. Thank you. Um, Sister Manager, um, Cuffins, you mentioned that they acquest to the improvements that were recommended. Yes, sir. Um, what were those or are those improvements?

So, I I've walked the property about three or four times. The issues that I saw that that are pretty outstanding was dealing with the grease traps that are on the property. Um there were some safety issues as far as the lighting. There were bird's nests growing up in some of the lighting. Uh myself and the city attorney at the time, Mr. Gerald, he walked it with me. Um, we made a list with the maintenance people with people from the police department and um probably outlined about 20 things that we saw that were deficiencies that either we wanted the old lease holders to take care of or the new lease holders in conjunction with code enforcement and the police department. Uh a lot of the issues that we saw is just maintenance that had been neglected over time and u was allowed to go on. Um

okay. Um madam chair follow up please. Yes. Go ahead. Um first I want to I would like to have a um copy of that punch list of issues that that they agreed to. Secondly, um were they given time frames and deadlines for each of those? Madam fair person. Yes. Go ahead.

They were I think I put a copy in front of each one of your your deis. Um up until today we I got a punch list for them with about 14 items. Um they do have some stuff that's dated that's going to take them a while to to remediate. some stuff they can get fixed a lot faster than others and um I will keep track with code enforcement to make sure a lot of this stuff gets done whether it's with the prior lease holder or the new lease holder coming on. Okay, last question madam chair. Yes, go ahead.

Oh, last comment. um the um issues that were addressed for them to correct. What is the enforcement mechanism if they don't?

Uh it's a madam chairperson. A good question. uh commissioner. Um code enforcement's involved, police department's involved, and I think I'm going to also bring fire in for some of the safety issues as far as inspection. I think we're going to put together a 30-day plan where we go in there and assess every 30 days. I know there's been some issues with noise um that's been brought up. We're going to address that. A lot of the issues that I see personally is just consistent maintenance. If we can keep hold their feet to the fire with consistent maintenance that there won't be any problem. But everybody has to be involved. The stakeholders um the prior lease and the new lease they kind of are on board. They they recognize the fact that uh that the police that the city owns the property and that if they're going to make money the place has to look a certain way. So I think everybody's on the same page when it comes to that. Chair.

All right. Are you finished? Yes, I'm done. Go ahead, sir.

So, I think that everyone has to understand that this is the same owner. They're taking one corporation and transferring it into another corporation. I guess for liability purposes, normal in this business. Uh these people have not been good custodians of this mall over the last few years. Uh sidewalks are cracked. Uh garbage bins are left open constantly. Uh the lights are either out or should have been replaced years and years ago. Uh the whole mall needs a paint job. You can see the difference just in the new owner on the mulligans painted that building. Looks like a brand new building. Uh this building has been nothing but a cash cow. Uh we made a very bad deal when we did this deal, the lease originally. Uh these are not the original lease holders, but they're benefiting from the bad deal that we made originally. Uh we have to make sure that this doesn't happen again. Uh I don't understand why we don't have a clause in this assignment that says the assignment is subject to AB CDE EFG being completed within a certain time period. Otherwise, the assignment is void. That's how you do enforcement. You don't do enforcement by sending someone down to give a $25 fine for a cracked sidewalk. That's normal commercial business. That's just that's meaningless. You know, this is a major major operation. We have to have more teeth if we're going to get what we want out of this. As you stated, there's sound, there's noise problems. I get I must get at least five complaints a week about the music at the two drunken goats on the city sidewalk. The live music. There's live music inside the restaurant and there's live music outside the restaurant. If I live next door, I think

I would be pretty upset as well. I drive by there, I hear it. I see the cracked sidewalks. I see everything there. Uh this is not being maintained. This is poor maintenance. This is um I think taking advantage of the city uh and taking taking advantage of all the residents and our visitors. I would hope that this company uh would get the message and maybe change everything they're doing. Uh it's been poorly maintained. But I think we have to have more teeth. I think that this lease has to be subject to all of these items being corrected. Otherwise, this assignment is void. That's the only that's the only authority and power that we have right now. Once we sign this, it's over. You can you can stand on your head and give all the violations you want. That's not going to make these things be corrected.

Madam Chair person, um just hold one second. Let me let me um

also echo those sentiments. Um, this deal was the worst deal ever in terms of how the city negotiated this. I think that this um this needs more teeth to it. Um, and I understand that, you know, the deal is what it is, but we can add some teeth to it to make sure that, um, the property itself is presentable to the public because a lot of times that is what really the issue is. um you know, grease traps and all kinds of things that are happening and not being fixed in a timely manner. Um so I think that a lot of those things need to be put into this um into this agreement, including what happens if it does not happen.

Yes, ma'am. Um yes. Any other questions about this, Madam Chair? Yes. Go ahead, sir. it. I don't know whether this is the time or or how to do this, but I think we should table this item and and bring it back uh after we put some teeth into this agreement. I don't have a problem with that. I don't have a problem with that. A I don't have a problem with that at all. Get a motion to table this item. Is that how it works? U Madam Attorney, you can postpone it to another time. If you table it, then you're going to have to take it off the table. You can postpone it to the next meeting. I don't know what the purpose Is it for them to complete the punch list items? We can out of the 11 that they have left, they only have three left to complete.

The next uh council meetings on the 17th, but I would feel more comfortable on the January meeting uh so that this can at least be uh one-on-one with each of the council people to see what the teeth look like. I will also tell you that according to the original contract the assignment unless there are some extenduating circumstances which we don't believe this to be the assignment has to occur. We can't unreasonably withhold assigning the contract and if as miss Dr. Spirit has stated if it's the same company if you don't approve the assignment then it just stays with them. They still have to complete the items

right and we we understand that. We know that it has to it has to happen. We just want to have a little bit more teeth to it to make sure that um the company same company but that the city means business in regards to keeping that property up to date. Um and I think that we can get that taken care of by that our January uh meeting. Are there any objections to uh bringing this back to our January meeting? Chair. Yes, sir.

Yeah. I don't I don't think we're being unreasonable in asking for the uh the assignment to have more teeth in it uh so we can get what we need. I mean, I I understand that we can't withhold the assignment unreasonably, but I don't think that this is unreasonable to ask for uh code violations and other things to be repaired within a certain time period. I don't think any court would say that that's unreasonable. I agree that it's not unreasonable. Is there any objections to bringing this back for our January meeting? The first Madam Chair.

Madam Chair, uh, hold on a second. Mayor, go ahead. I wanted to ask, was this inspection just on the outside of the building or inside as well? Or, you know, and if it was inside, who else was a part of that team that did that inspection? Madam Chairperson?

Yes. Go ahead. It was a uh outside inspection that was done by myself, uh the city at uh the contracted city attorney at the time, a gentleman named Richard Germ. It was also the prior lease holder, it was police, and it was their maintenance crew. And we walked around the building, took pictures, and annotated a bunch of things that we saw that we felt needed to be corrected. follow up. And so the inside is not it's not necessary for us to look at the inside. Okay. You're shaking your head. No.

Yes. Uh Bruce Lewis, representative for Ocean Walk LLC. I just like to make a few corrections. I'm sorry. You're representative for whom? Oceanwalk City or Ocean Walk for Ocean Walk. Oceanw Walk LLC for the company. Yes. The current lease. The current lease owner. Yes. Okay. You need to go to the podium, sir. Oh, I can do that. This is for staff. That's what confused me. I thought you were part of the staff. Thank you, sir. Go ahead. You're welcome. Um, so a couple things that we want to make sure that's clarified. Uh, the current lease who I represent, um, has

Sorry, could you repeat your name for the record? I'm sorry. Bruce Lewis. Bruce Lewis. Go ahead.

Business development representative for Ocean Walk um related group and BH group. So those parties are a part of this current uh police situation and uh we have found someone who is desirous to take over who is in a better position u to maintain the property uh much better than we must admit that. But in a spirit of cooperation with the city and all the departments, um the willing and able um participant who wants to take over the lease has agreed to do a lot of the things that are left uh to be done. But of the 11 um kind of a checklist that you have, punch list as uh Councilman Gayton referred it to as u eight of those are complete and in short order.

So I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt you. So it's not the same order. I'm I'm getting mixed. No, it's not the same company. We're looking for consent for the lease to be transferred to the new to somebody else other than who has it now. Yes. And in order to do that, we need the consent so that we can move forward.

Continue with the maintenance, continue with the the two things that are left. Really, it's one item that's left. Number two, and then there's A and B there. If you can see on that sheet, that punch list I gave you. Um, so what we're really looking to do is to move forward with this so that the transfer of the lease can be done, the new management company that's most suitable to take care of the property and provide a maintenance schedule that's that's amenable to the city and code enforcement to make sure uh that these things are completed. That's what we're really trying to do here. And I can repeat to you that eight of the 11 things are done. There are minor things that need to be done. One requires an estimate and um which we've gotten. And so that time for that to happen, those repairs to happen are underway. So the estimate is done. We accept the estimate. Now that work needs to commence.

Right. Thank you so much for that, sir. Yes. Um is there any objection? I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Mayor, go ahead.

Thank you, Madam Chair. And that was my question because it seemed like there was some confusion in regards to uh the owner and the lease that was going to be taken over because uh uh I'm not sure if it was staff or colleague mentioned it was the same owner, but if this is a different owner, is this going to be a part of the actual lease terms? And I don't think we can add on a punch list or additional um caveats to the original lease. the assignment is a requirement but based upon the terms of the lease um we have to allow for the assignment they've you know in in in kind decided to allow for us to address these punch list and I would have liked for it to be done before the assignment but if it's not going to be assigned to the lease we can't withhold this one I don't think there's any um issue with the board waiting on this item but ultimately assigning it is not based upon them making these uh corrections and in good faith I appreciate them addressing the aid of the But if it's a new owner, we need to work with the new owner in regards to making sure the items are properly addressed through code compliance of the staff and not uh delay the assignment, especially with it being a new owner.

Madam Chair, yes, go ahead. And there's a followup. Oh, I'm sorry, Madam Chair. I could just finish. I apologize for that. Go ahead. It was a question for attorney Smith. is the assignment of this um lease. Are we adding this caveat or amendment to the lease for this punch list or is this just in good faith a request of the the owners of the property? Madam Chair, yes, go ahead. We are not adding it.

Okay. So, yeah, in good faith, yes, we can delay it. We don't have to move forward, but to be legally compliant, and I agree with my my colleagues. I have to echo what my my colleagues said. This was this was a poor decision at the time, and we have to be sound when it comes to fiscal responsibility. But um just to be clear with the public and all residents listening, this was done back in I believe 2006 or or years ago. Not even sure the exact date, but this wasn't the board. So we're we're trying to um take care of the direction the decision of what board made uh to establish ocean mall. We weren't on the board at the time. So whatever the decision to build and to establish this ocean mall and why they did it, that's the decision the board made at the time. uh we as this board probably wouldn't have made the same decision, but to hold them compliant and in uh in order of making sure they're addressing the concerns of code compliance uh with the new owner as uh Mr. Bruce Lewis has recommended allowing the new owner to take uh heed in management and operations to oversee the property.

Right. And Madam Chair, may I add something there that that will help. Hold on one second, Mr. Lewis. Go ahead, Dr. Spears.

Okay. So, I I understand what the mayor is saying, but I I still don't believe that it's unreasonable for us to ask for code violations and other upgrades that should have been maintained or should have been done to this property a long time ago to be included and to be subject to the assignment. I don't think that that's unreasonable uh to add that into the agreement. We're not postponing this for a year. We're looking for a short term in order to amend uh the assignment to make sure that we don't have to depend upon our code enforcement officers to give a $25 fine on a multi-million dollar assignment. Uh no one's going to care about their $25 fine or their $100 fine. Uh but they will care about their assignment. So I think that we have to somehow put some teeth in here. Uh, I'm I'm not interested in going into who the principles are, whether one $200 corporation has changed to another $200 corporation. Uh, that's meaningless right now. I understand business and and liability and why people uh change from one corporation to another. But I do understand what the situation is at that mall when you go down there right now and what you look at and what you see and the first impression that uh people that are staying in the hotels who go there um the people live on the island, the people live on the mainland go there all the time for uh meals and it's not a uh it's not a pleasant situation. I was there when they first built the mall. Uh, and you can see the age now. Uh, and it's had it's lack of maintenance. That's really what opened the years. And we just have to make sure that that doesn't continue. And the only the only thing that we have right now is the assignment of this. And I don't think we're being unreasonable to ask for these things to be included within a certain time period uh in the

assignment. I don't think that that's unreasonable. Okay. So, do we have any objections from the board in regards to the June 14th July? I'm sorry, July 14 January. January 14th meeting to bring this item back. 17th, not December 17th. In two weeks, it's January. Okay. It'll be January 21st. It be January what? 21st. January 23rd. So, are we not having a first Wednesday? No. Okay. So it'll be January 23rd. Uh that this item will be postponed to January 23rd.

Madam Chair, it's January 21st. 21st. It's the 21st. January the 21st because we're not having one on the 7th. Is that correct? That's right. Okay. So that' be January 21st. That's 2026. This item will come back to the council uh after each member has had the conversation with the ACM in regards to this item. Madame clerk, can we get a mo uh can we get a question? Can you pull I mean can you do what you need to do?

We had a a motion by council person spiritis. We just need a second. Right. So you want me to withdraw the motion? I'll withdraw the motion uh with the expectation that this will be brought back to the board. It'll be postponed till January 21st. Second. Council person Davis Paneer. Yes. Council person Gon. Yes. Chair Miller Anderson. Yes. Council person Spiritz. Yes. Chairperson Laneir. Yes. Unanimous vote. Thank you. Next item.

The next item is item 11 C. Resolution number 177-25, a resolution of the city council of the city of Riviera Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, authorizing issuance of holiday appreciation gift cards for all city employees in recognition of their excuse me, dedicated service providing for the distribution of $300 gift cards to full-time employees and $150 gift cards to part-time employees, authorizing the chief financial officer to make payments from the appropriate budgeted funds. and providing an effective date. Madam chair, we don't have any public comment cards on this item. The acceptance of the cards is closed.

So moved. Second. Um Madam ACM. Thank you, Madam Chair. Resolution number 17725 will be presented by the director of human resources and risk management, Mrs. Cost.

Thank you. Hello honorable mayor, madame chair and council persons. Tenil dasi, director of human resources. And I'm here to present uh insurance of holiday appreciation gift cards to all employees for all the hard work they have done for the city and our residents. And just to give you some background, uh last year staff presented to the board to uh have off on Christmas Eve. Um this year we we can't afford to do that. So instead of, you know, not focusing on and telling the employees that we appreciate you, but you can't have Christmas Eve off, we thought it would be a great idea to present them with a $300 gift card to full-time employees and $150 to part-time employees. The total cost is $196,000. It is budgeted and it will be paid out of each department salary line.

Um, I do have one problem. Um, the part-time employees should get the same thing. Um, to break it up because they're part-time doesn't make any sense to me. So, how many part-time employees do we have, Madam Chair? We have 47 part-time employees. That's that's that's not a stretch. Okay. So, I would I would definitely want to have uh all of them getting the same amount of money. Yes, ma'am. Um, Madam Chair, yes. Go ahead. I do agree with you and I'm ready to put a motion on the floor. Very good. There's a motion that has been seconded, Madam Chair. Yes. Go ahead, sir. Okay. So, my question is, what are the other municipalities doing?

So, I did send out an email, they're either closing, they're not giving gift cards, and I believe there was one uh city, I think it was Lakeworth, I can't remember, I think they're doing $75. Um, but majority of the other municipalities aren't doing anything. But you know, Riviera is special and we care about our employees and it's important to show you know that we want to thank you for all the hard work and because we're not getting the day off like we did last year, you know, let's give them that extra push. Especially, you know, we have a lot of especially the blue collar employees. They're struggling. The cost of living is going up. So, why not give them a gift card to show, you know, thank you for all the hard work you've done throughout this whole year. You push this city forward. There are there other municipalities that that are having Christmas Eve off.

Some are not all. Okay. Some are following up. So, the governor gave state employees additional days off. So, uh the HR team municipalities throughout Palm Beach, there was a string of emails and some are closing, some are not closing, and some are not doing anything with gift cards or anything. I'm sure. All right. Go ahead. Finish up. Okay. So yes, isn't this normally something that's negotiated in the contract when we do contract negotiations? Whether you have Christmas Eve off or you don't have Christmas Eve off to the chair. Yes. Go ahead.

Yes. For the union employees, we negotiate it. But there are times if we close for an additional holiday. We're not going to ignore the union. It's just a simple phone call saying, "Hey, you know, the board has approved Christmas Eve off. Can we have that additional day off?" Uh the union's not going to fight against additional day off, but of course the cost of backfilling that day off because to cover public safety like police and fire and utilities and so forth that doesn't shut down and that's why we can't do it this year because it was extremely costly last year. I'm chair. Yes. Go ahead.

So it I agree with my colleagues if we're going to do I I don't agree that this should have been done. I think this is the wrong thing to do. If we want to help the employees, that should have been negotiated in the contract. We should have done that contractually. We should have said, "Yes, we're going to give you either that day off or we're going to give you uh $100 or $300." That should have been negotiated contractually. It shouldn't come before the city council at the last minute asking us whether we want to give uh pay to our employees to thank them. You kind of put us on the spot. You put the the city council against the employees here. Please don't do that again. This is the second time you've done this. We asked you not to do this before and you did this now a second time. I'm not really happy with that. Uh I think that's wrong. But if we're going to do this, certainly you have to treat the part-time employees the same as you do the full-time employees. Uh they work the same day. You know, it doesn't make a difference whether they're part-time or full-time. A day is a day. Day's pay is a day's pay. through the chair.

Yes. Go ahead. Um,

thank you for that, Dr. Spiritis. I hear you loud and clear. This is the first time I'm bringing this forward u when I get a directive from my city manager um to bring something forth. Um, so I'm sorry you feel like this is my second time and I don't listen. Um, but I do. Um, and again with negotiations, if we have a contract that's already negotiated and the city decides to close, we can't go backwards and renegotiate that contract. So there are going to be times that a negotiations close just like last year when we gave off Christmas Eve all contracts were closed. So how I understand what you're saying, but I just want the understanding that this was not to disrespect the board. This was not to put you on the spot. It's just we could not afford to close like we did last year.

Madam Chair, yes. Go ahead. I believe I I understand that. You know, we I voted for 15% raise for our employees. I understand that and I feel for the employees and I support the employees 100%. But there's a proper way of doing things and not a proper way of doing things. This is not the proper way to do it in my opinion. Uh this was wrong. Uh I think it should be part of the part of negotiations. It should be done well in advance, not a lastm minute item. Uh other municipalities, North Palm Beach, by the way, is giving us $75. North Palm Beach. Thank you.

Right. That's North Palm Beach. I did a little checking and I think that we should we should always check with other municipalities so that we are consistent across the board and our employees don't say we're treating them different than other employees. Uh you know it's important that we have that comparison when we make these decisions. Uh how much is this going to cost us? You know when we do a budget just to go back and and I want you to understand that I'm not picking on you personally. It's the system.

Yes sir. you know, it's it's not you personally. You just happen to be the person sitting there right now. [laughter] But uh but I mean to to go after you personally I'm just talking about what we did the way the way the process uh came about. I I don't agree with uh but I do support the employees obviously because I support every every raise that we we go with and and I think they deserve it and they do a great job. I just think that what we're doing uh is is being done in the wrong way. What would it cost us? Have you figured it out? If we gave the part-time employees the money, what would what would it all add up to through the chair? Yes. Go ahead.

So, currently it's 196,000. If the part-times get 300, it goes up to 204,000. So, it's about an $8,000 difference. Okay. Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair. Um, okay. Commissioner. Yeah. Commissioner,

I I you know, I totally understand and and agree with what um Dr. spirit is saying this happens every single year is it wasn't just last year it wasn't the year before I mean this is every year and if this is something that we want to do we need to have this conversation during budgeting right because again it is putting us on the spot so we vote no and then what you know so and and that's kind of how I felt about the even though we didn't vote on it with the Palm Beach Lakes check I mean don't what are you gonna say no I mean you can but just let's have this conversation ahead of time so that we don't have to feel like we have to say yes. Um, you know, we've given a lot of increases and believe me, I understand everybody's hurting, everybody's struggling. Everybody's struggling. I get that. But we have to, you know, stop doing this emotional stuff and and deciding to, oh, let's give this, let's give that. And then people look at us like, "Okay, well, what's going on with my water?" Even though I know it has nothing, they're not the same budget. I get that, but people don't understand that. So, we have to make sure that when we if we want to do things like this, let's talk about it in during budgeting because it's it's going to be something else in a couple months, you know, let's do this. And it's we just can't keep throwing money out there like that. It it just it's not it's not a good look. It really isn't. I mean, I I will certainly vote for it, but I don't I don't want to be feeling like I'm being pressed to say yes when I don't agree with how we're bringing it forward. Um, if we're going to do it, let's talk about it during budgeting. I that's the only, you know, my only thing about it. Let's just talk about it and decide at that time because where we're taking it from, we're taking it from salaries of vacant positions. Is that what it is?

Um, through the chair. That's right. Uh so when um excuse me when staff spoke with finance um the CFO advised that it's already budgeted in sal in salaries line he's going to charge every department out of the salaries lines which is already allocated in their budget that's how was explained to me and unfortunately um he's not here I don't know if Nidia can you explain that because I mean is it coming from vacant positions I mean if salary it should be money just sitting Yeah, unless it is a vacant position. You can go right there. You don't have to walk all the way. [laughter]

Hi, good afternoon. This is Nidia Reynolds. the um gift card purchase will be coming from each department salary budgeted line because if essentially we'll have to run the gift card $300 dispersement through each person's paycheck. So they're going to be deducted. It's not going to be 300. No. Oh. Well, the taxes we'll have to apply the $300 as a non-cash transaction which will the employees will have to pay federal income tax and FICO. Okay. So again, the $300 is coming from where? Out of salaries?

The salaries line for each department. I still don't Oh, is it me because I don't understand where is it? Is it out? Is it vacant positions that's causing extra money to be there in the salaries line? It's not extra money. It's just the gift card purchase will be absorbed in the salary line item that's budgeted for. I still don't get it. They're running it through this line. True. Where's the money coming? Yeah. So, so I I just want to make this Hold on one second. Okay. Okay. Maybe I'm I'm not comprehending at all. Okay. All right. So, you're ready, I guess. All right. [laughter]

So, you just brought up a Oh, that's right. I'm sorry. She was because I and I won't be long. I just want I just wanted to say um yeah, when I saw the numbers, when I saw the 300, you can imagine my surprise uh to my colleague Miller because at the school district, we might get some cookies. So, for a $300 gift card, I was I my I was a little taken. Let's be clear on that.

Right. Right. You might get a cookie. So, the $300 did take me back until I asked what the cost was for last year's um gift, which was the day off. And can you give me those two the difference between two figures because that's the only thing that made me you know through the chair. Consider it. Yes. Go ahead. It was almost 500,000. was 400 and something thousand to close the city for that day. Okay. And now we're looking at this year 200,000 through the chair. Yes. 204,000.

204,000. So that's the only reason because I guess y'all do this um y'all do big stuff in River Beach for the holidays. So I mean I figured it was half of the cost. So that's the reason why I felt like I would support it. Um so with that being said, proficient spirit.

So I understand what my colleague is saying, but I'm just saying that it should have been gone through a different process. It should have been in negotiated in the contract. That's why we have contract negotiations. Uh and it and it should have been done at that time and it should have been brought up at the budget meeting if we didn't do that as uh uh my other colleagues said. I mean, it's very important that we have this information ahead of time, not last minute, and be put on the spot. Uh, that's the wrong way of doing things. And then I want, you know, what what you're making us understand is that when we're being given the budget, we're not being we're not being told the truth. Obviously, we overbudgeted for salaries.

That's the chair. If you're if you're telling me we have this money in the lines in the salary lines in each department, that means that we put more money in there than what we really needed. You know, we have, you understand that we've budgeted, we we bonded, you know, uh probably over hundred million, well, well over hund00 million, and we have a $400 million water plant coming. We're going to have to pay for this. We're not going to be able to be giving money away left and right. The taxpayers won't stand for it. they're going to see significant increases in their taxes in the next few years. You know, we can spend the money. It's real easy to spend the money. It's another another deal when you have to pay for it. And the taxpayers are going to have to start paying for it. And it may seem insignificant. You know, when you sit there and you say $300, no big deal. We have people that can't pay their water bill. They can't pay $75. We We heard people up here tonight saying that they can't pay a $50 code violation. that and they're going to get leans on their houses. This is what's important to the people live in this city. They they pay the bills, not us. And we have to understand that.

Yes, I am. All right. Very good. Thank you very much, Madam Clerk. Let's go. Council person Davis Pier. Yes. Council person Gon. Yes. Chairperson Miller Anderson. Yes. Council person Spiritus. Yes. Chairperson Laneir. Yes, that's unanimous vote. Next item.

Madame Chair, we are on item 11D, which is resolution 175-25, a resolution of the city council of the city of Riviera Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute an agreement between the city of Riviera Beach and Pitman Law Group PL to provide lobbyist representation at the state level. On behalf of the city of Rivier Beach, compensation shall be $6,666 cents per month for the period of January 1st, 2026 through December 31st, 2028 with two one-year renewal options authorizing the chief financial officer to make payment for such services and providing an effective date. Madam chair, there are no comment cards for this item.

Madam assistant city attorney, assistant city manager. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, resolution number 17525 concerning our state lobbyist contract will be presented by Mrs. Ammons. Mans.

Good evening, council. My name is Watana Ammons, director of procurement for the city of Riviera Beach. I come before you seeking approval for resolution 175-25, which is the award of a contract to the Pitman Law Group to provide state lobbying services for the city of Rivier Beach for initial term of three years for two one-year contract renewals. There was only one bid submitted um in response to the RFP and that was the Pitman Law Group. They were fully responsive and responsible. Any questions in regards to the state lobby contract? Madam clerk, council person Davis Paneer.

Yes. Council person Gener. Yes. Chairperson Tim Miller Anderson. Yes. Council person Spiritus. Yes. Chairperson Lir. Yes. Unanimous vote. Next item. Madam Chair, we are now under discussion and deliberation. Item 12A, Jamaica Relief Efforts Concert. uh assistant city manager.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Um this particular item 12A is entitled Jamaica Relief Efforts Concert. There are representatives here from the particular organization that is soliciting the city's support for this particular event. Also, Mayor Lawson, it's my understanding, will be making a presentation along with um those particular representatives and our special events managers here in the event that you have any questions concerning special events process. Madam Chair, I'm sorry. Go ahead, sir.

Thank you, ma'am. Um and I appreciate it. Thank you. Um city manager, uh Jacobs, it's not a presentation. It's more of a request of the council to support moving forward uh with the authorization to do a special event in the city. Uh there's a certain policy that we have when it comes to special events. Um and they require a 60-day notice when it's a city event hosted by any of the council members of the mayor's office. And um my goal today was to get the support because of the dire needs that's happening in Jamaica to host an event at an earlier date. uh the original date we pushed back because um we hadn't had enough time to at least you know broach the council when it comes to cost operations and logistics. So I wanted to make sure that the council had all of the information as regards to the cost the details the time frame so that we could host this event here in the city. Uh this is a international event to support a country that's in dire need and I do have some speakers here that actually have visited the country recently just to talk a little bit hopefully about their experiences and the fundraising that we're doing. Uh the board recently approved allowing for us to accept funds and support on behalf of the city and um we currently have a QR code uh that will accept donations to help with the um island of Jamaica and the support and the relief that they're having from individuals from across the world that will be donating. So, uh, Miss Miss, uh, Jacobs, if you can have either the speakers present and then also, I believe Miss, uh, Aladia will be able to answer any questions in regards to, uh, cost for the actual event. This is going to be a typical city sponsored event and hopefully we can move forward. There's not going to be a lot of fiscal uh, impact to the board because the organizers will be covering majority the cost outside of facilities and police and fire. Uh, so that's where I want to make sure that we can we're able to address that tonight and see if I can get the support of the board to move forward with the event that is scheduled for December 14th. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Okay. So, the presentation is going to include what?

So, Madam Chair, the representatives are here. They're up front. Um, they are the um primary coordinators for this particular relief event. If you would introduce yourselves and give a brief description of your ask of the city. Yes. Come. And all attendees. My name is Joanna Robinson. I'm the event director for the Jamaica Hearts for Jamaica event relief event. We're here to get the support of Rivera Beach. Jamaica is in a state. I am Jamaican. My colleagues are Jamaican. and we just want to to get the support of Rivera Beach to bring this international's concert to Rivera Beach. I feel that the need is here. My heart is with Rivera Beach and I feel that with your support to bring this event to the forefront to help the families, there's thousands of people that lost everything and we come together with your help to make sure that we can provide the essentials that Jamaica needs at this time. And that's why we're here. We're looking for that support. Okay,

good evening guys. Um, thank you for having us. Um, piggybacking on what my colleague said, we need your support to do this event for Jamaica. I personally went to Jamaica um, a week ago with some stuff to distribute and it was not enough. whatever we seen on TV, guys, CNN or whatever, it's it's um just more much much more devastated than what the clip that we're seeing. I've never seen our people, Jamaican people live like the way they're living right now. Most people don't have roofs. They don't, you know, have food to eat. So, it cannot be too much. So, our event is to give back 100%. We're not charging anything for the entrance fee. We're asking them to bring um non-p perishable food. We're going to have food for the poor who is is partnership with us. Is going to have a truck on standby to collect. We're going to have a a QR code just posted to ask people to give whatever they can give. That donation will be given straight to the city of River and then they're going to turn that um whatever they um they get from that um QR code to the food for the poor. So 100% of the money and the goods will be going to Jamaica and we're going to be going down there to watch the distribution in the different um cities or towns. So we ask you for your help as much as you can give whatever you can give and that's why we're here tonight just you know not for oursel we asking for we asking for our people in Jamaica. Thank you

madam chair. Yes. Go ahead. Thank you. And I do have our chief of staff as well. He's um available. uh he just actually returned from Jamaica as well and he met with some organizers down there and some leadership um in Jamaica. Uh Mr. Eric Range uh he can actually just give an update on his conversations as well. A brief one as well. Madam Chair, um I need to I think that we need to hear from Miss Franks about the the cost of of what this looks like for the city.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. A lady of Frank, special events manager. Um I've worked closely along with our special events committee um and along with the heart for Jamaica committee. Um we've expedited the special events process. Uh in the last couple of days, we've received the applications, we've done walkthroughs, we've had meetings, and we understand this is a worthy cause. So, the costs that was were provided um they're requesting the city city assistance $30,000. The support will help cover unavoidable production and operational expenses essential for safely safely hosting a large-scale public event that will include sound stage, lighting, backline, hotel accommodations, artists, local transportation, infrastructure, logistics for a safe organized event. in addition to police services and uh the police services will be for 10 officers, two supervisors, $12,96.72. The fire department $1,960 parks and recreation for the two-day setup $3,790. Public works at this time uh their cost remains pending dependent uh based on traffic and the MOT plan. Uh, right now the cost is $48,236.72.

Thank you. What's that total again? $48,236.72. Madam Chair, yes. Go ahead. So, a special event sponsorship form was submitted. Yes. When was that done? on 7 uh right before I think it's the 17th of November or the 13th November 13th. And so what's the process once that's done?

Uh we have to present it to the board. The committee meets and we try these the circumstances is we're expediting everything um council member Miller Anderson. So the process will be to meet with the committee to get all the logistics to find out exactly this event will be about 3 3500 to 5,000 people. So we have to make sure safety the logistics the parking plan and everything and the event is December 14th. So we've been working closely to get everything approved to present to the council. So where does where does this money come from? Are you I'm sorry. If we sponsor that full amount, where does the money come from? Anybody is that finance?

I I'm not sure or we support the finance answer that question. So, madam chair. Yes, go ahead. Um, Alia delineated the cost of the various departments as well as the additional monies that were requested. All of it would come from general revenue dollars. Madam Chair, yes. Go ahead.

Okay. I my heart goes out to the people in Jamaica. I have friends that live there that were impacted by this. Uh I have no problem, you know, making out my own check and helping these people, which I've done. Uh my problem is using taxpayer dollars for something that's not in the city of Riviera Beach. We have plenty of people in the city of Riviera Beach that need money to eat. They need money to fix their homes. Uh they work here, they live here, they play here. uh people pay their taxes here. Uh I don't understand how we can take $50,000 of the taxpayers money and go and spend it outside the city when we have that need, that same need right here in our own city. Uh I think the priority has got to be the people live in Rivera Beach. And I and like I said, I my heart goes out. I myself, my home was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy, so I understand what a hurricane can do. I saw my neighbors, you know, out of their homes for years. I I understand the devastation, but I don't see how it's the responsibility of the city of River Beach to use its tax dollars outside the city. Uh those monies are supposed to be used to help the city and uh I just don't see I I think we have a fiduciary responsibility uh to our own taxpayers. Uh if you say you want to use the event center, uh I have no problem with that. you say you want our our police officers while they're on duty uh to work the event, I have no problem. But when you're asking us to pay $30,000 for hotels and and other pe other things like that, I think that that's unconscionable. Uh I I I just don't I just can't accept that my personally I I just can't accept that.

Madam Chair, ma'am, go ahead.

Go ahead, sir. and and I I hear my colleague and the concerns um that were addressed, but uh to address the issues of this being out of the city, this is this is not out of the city. This is an event that's being hosted in the city using local vendors and local participation. It's going to be open to all residents and it's a free event. Uh we spent 230 to,000 on our Fourth of July event for a community event, an organization, and that was just to provide good resources and fund for our residents. This is to do a fundraiser that we're looking to raise close to a million dollars um with international support which is also going to be patronized by our local residents. They're all welcome and invited to the event and this is going to be uh fundraising. So, it's not to go out of the city just to be clear. It's to actually just keep it in the community to host it in the community and to bring recognition to our city from all over the world. Also, we allocated $500,000 to our special events department. So, I know we talked about general fund, but um what is the clear uh direction with special events and special events permitting process? What we're asking tonight is to expedite the process and to ask for support from the board to support it because if a special event is presented, uh this is where the board would then decide on if they can support an event that's in the community that's going to benefit the community and also it's for a good cause. So, we'll have local vendors. It's a free event and it's actually for the community, but it's going to be a fundraiser that actually raises money and the money is not going out of the community. Just to clarify what Dr. Sper said.

And can I can I add to that, Madam Chair? Yes, go ahead.

This is Eric Range, chief of staff, uh, for the mayor as well, I just want to echo what the mayor just said. Again, this is a concert that will be for RI Riviera Beach and other uh county residents to be able to attend for free in efforts to raise money for Jamaica. But I I I would like to also be very very clear that uh we are under no illusions that the event is going to raise a significant amount of money to really uh support Jamaica in the way that they need to. uh in my I was just there on the ground in Jamaica myself and I met with the uh executive director of the uh National Healthcare Enhancement Foundation and together with his office and and through the mayor uh we are going to be looking to to lobby our state department to be able to uh utilize the resources that the state department has already set aside $24 million uh to aid in the relief of uh Hurricane Melissa. and we're going to be helping to try to usher some of those resources uh to uh repair uh hospitals and clinics uh across the region. Um five regions were severely damaged and uh about 50 clinics need to be rebuilt. This concert isn't going to be you know able to generate the resources for that. This is a benefit. Uh we have a significant Car Caribbean c uh uh Caribbean uh residents here in our community who want to support. This is an opportunity to bring international uh artists to our city for the benefit of a concert for our residents that will also aid in the support of Jamaica. But uh again, this is something that our residents are going to directly be impacted by.

Madam Chair, yes, Claire. So, I heard a couple of things because that was one of my questions was if we're investing about 50,000, how much are we looking to raise? And I heard the mayor say a million dollars. Um, and yes, and that's based on what? Because we're inviting people for free. Um, we're going to have a QR code. So, I'm trying to understand where you get that number and then I have a followup. Okay. Mayor,

thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. And um that is actually the number that we've spoke with the organizers and different artists from across the country. I've had individuals from California, Jamaica, uh New York, um Canada that are all want to participate. This is going to be streamed live as well. So, we're going to be doing a fundraiser at the time and all the funds will be going directly through the city coffers, um through the finance department that set it up and this board will then disseminate it to the local nonprofits. Uh so that was based upon the conversations with the organizers and based upon the dollars that we're looking to raise for this concert. Okay.

So we have contributions from different artists and and local vendors and also international vendors and businesses so far. Uh but we wanted to make sure that we could host the event to showcase the need that Rivier Beach is taking the lead on the grounds on supporting and to answer Dr. Spiritis as well in regards to the needs of the community. This is also going to benefit the impact of the local community because you're bringing people from across the county state into the community that will actually patronize our community and we're going to be utilizing the local vendors to actually provide the services for the guests that'll be there.

Okay. Well, well, I was following up. Well, you can Okay. So the I guess that was one of the main reasons why I was asking because if you're not charging for people to come, I'm trying to understand how that money is going to get that amount will be be raised. Um and then because the the truth of the matter is as far as donations, we can accept donations for free without having an event. We can just have a small event and collect the things that the people may need. So, I'm just trying to, you know, figure out what um, you know, which ways are we going to be able to to support them financially? Are we spending money and how much we look to um, actually be able to provide to Jamaica? I I think it's very important. um not totally against it at all, but I'm just trying to figure out where we're getting numbers from and and what impact we actually are can guarantee that we will make by having this and then my question is if we don't um fund the entire $40,000, will this be able to happen or is it just if you don't have us, it it can't happen? because like we said, we talked about being able to maybe provide the space um and some security support, but you know, some of the other numbers with hotel and booking because when I first heard about it, I thought everything was free. We were just going to be hosting it in our city. Now there's a price tag on it. So,

okay. If I may speak, council. Yes, go ahead. Sure.

So, basically the event is a free event. We are asking, we can't call them patreons because we're not collecting money, but we're asking for them to come in, each person bring a one bag, one big bag of non-essential items, which will go into the the uh truck or the bin, which food for the poor has partnered with us. But this event, the cost of the stage, the cost of not necessarily hotels, but flights, you know, we're now trying to partner with a hotel to give us some rooms, you know, but we do have expenses which has to do with the stage. Now, you asked a question, will we be able to do the event if we don't get the funding? We want to have the event. We want to do the event and we're asking for the space to have the event and we would love to, you know, whatever you are able to help us with is where we're at. You know, we did have to put a budget together. Again, this is not about a live entertainment fund for all show. We we brought some international artists on board to give their time for free. artist that costs, you know, a good amount of money. So, we're here to do whatever we can do.

Yes. Thank you so much for that. For Hold on one second. For my sake, so I am willing to, you know, provide the venue, meaning the space, the security that it it entails. But anything past that, I would be hardressed to be able to pay for. Now, that is expensive. you know, security, fire, police, um having the venue itself, uh those things are very expensive. So, for me, I'm willing to do that, but I can't go any further than that given the fact that we have residents in this city who need money as well. Madam Chair, uh yes, go ahead.

Thank you. And and I appreciate Thank you that for that, Madam Chair. That was the original request and as there is a large price tag and I understand the needs and my heart of course is with Riviera Beach priority. Um we want to be a support and a good steward to the taxpayers dollars and providing the resources for the venue uh police and fire to cover that um just to make sure that we can get this done. Um we we we've done more events in our community where we have a substantial amount and we we don't want to make sure that we're not being fiscally responsible. This will be a great event. can bring a great spotlight to the community. But if we can't get the support of the board to what we typically would do, host an event to cover the basic cause for the event as a city sponsored event with the police, with the fire, with the venue, with the staff, and then allow for us to um see what other vendors want to contribute. Spirit has already contributed and said he he'd be willing to cut his own personal check. So, I appreciate that, Dr. Spiritis. But honestly, with anyone that would want to contribute to help getting this done, I think the need is to bring a good spotlight and a great image to the city of Riviera Beach and to get support over to this country. Um that we have 10% of our residents in Riviera Beach, almost 4,000 residents literally are from Jamaican Jamaican descent. So they were directly impacted, not to mention the 21% of residents that are from Caribbean that were impacted also by the storm. So what is the max that we can get from this board to support this event? And I think the biggest concern tonight is to really support uh the the process because as uh Miss Franks mentioned, it is a 60-day process. So we have to make sure that we're getting it done as quickly as possible because of the dire needs um to get this done. And that's what we're asking for tonight.

Madam Chair, yes. Go ahead. So I would like to ask what are they what what is this group able to contribute or find sponsorship? You're asking what we're willing to do. What are they willing to do? what what kind of financial backing are they getting their businesses Caribbean businesses all over this county um that can donate do sponsorships as at small level thousand dollars if you ask for 40,000 that's 40 businesses so what are you willing to do or what have you done to secure funding um outside of reaching out and did we initiate the contact with you all to do this concert here or did you all initiate contact with us we initiate Yes, contact.

We initiated contacts. Okay. So, we are we are doing on our end promotions, marketing. We are doing sponsorships our own selves between Mr. Das and Mr. Smith. We're also doing our own sponsorship as well as some of the artists are coming together to see what they can do as well. So, it's a it's a joint venture. Madam Chair.

Yes. Go ahead. And just to piggyback, sorry, and to answer that, um, uh, Councilwoman uh, uh, Davis Paneer, the the artist cost as well, they're bringing in the artists to come perform and to support. Um, the hotels and the venue cost is just normally writers. Artists are charging upwards of 30, 40, $50,000 per artist to come in. And they have a list of artists that want to come and showcase, you know, their talents here in our community. a worldrenowned artist and I think that's a great contribution and attributement to uh a contribution to our community and to this event uh that would attribute what we're trying to do in Rivier beat. So their contributions the organization the artists and the process of actually bringing this event together and if you um notice that the artists alone uh I think the cost of artists would be upwards of$200 $300,000. Hold on one second. Miss Franks, tell us what this looks like in terms of just the venue, the police, the security, the fire, whatever is needed for a a a program of this size in terms of what is needed in terms of fire, police, um, uh, staff, uh, and the venue itself and and give us like an estimate of what that looks like.

Well, thank you, um, Madam Chair. What did you say, Shar? Go ahead. You said 48,000, right? Yeah. 48,000. But just to minus the 30,000. Um, so that'll be about 20,000 almost. About what? 20,000. 18 18,000. But we still haven't included public works uh into the mix. So anywhere between 18 to 20,000 for the personnel for Oh, okay. Uh, I'm looking at 15k if anybody else wanted to go. Uh, because that is reasonable in terms of the fire, the the police, the venue, the staff. I think that's reasonable. Did you add the cost of the venue? Well, go ahead.

Did I hear right? Is are we expecting 75,000 people? We can't hold that. 3,000. How many people are you expecting at this at this event? Anywhere 3,500 to 5,000. Yes. Total. Okay. I thought I heard 75,000. I said, "Where are you going to put 75,000 people?" Okay. 3500. So, you're So, chair, you're making a recommendation that we cap the amount to $18,000. Yes. I'll second that motion.

18. That is a motion. Uh that is seconded. Any discussion in regards to the 18k? Madam clerk? Oh. Oh. So if if we're only given the 18, how is it going to happen? I mean, you're short 30,000. So where are you going to is because if we're not if we're going to put forth 18 and that's not enough to cover what you need. What what are you going to do then?

Yes. um we will more than appreciate the 18 what you can give cuz we're still out here um working with with the sponsorship in the Caribbean committee in other communities. We have artists um coming from all over Shaggy Sean Paul these big artists Mr. Vegas they you know only thing they asked us to do is pick them up put them in hotels for the night. So we're doing as much as we can do on our own. We're still waiting on a couple um people to get back to us where um that is concerned. I I think that what needs to happen is that if this cannot go off without your support, then we need to know that.

Uh because we if we cap this at 18 uh for the police and fire and the venue, then when is the event happening? Well, again, we are out here doing our part and we will do what we need to do to make it work because um what date are we talking? I'm sorry. Date the date the 14th. So, you know, the time time is of essence, madam chair. Uh, okay. So, all right. Do we do we do we put in the resolution 18 contingent upon the matching to make sure that the event goes off? If the event doesn't go off, then the 18 is not being spent.

I'm sorry. I I didn't understand. I'll just that. Madam Chair, what we're saying is this. We have we're saying we can do the police to fire the bing the 18. If you don't get the rest of it to be able to do it, then we're not going to spend our 18. That's what we're saying, Madam Chair. Yes. Go ahead. If I may, um, with the 18 that you're speaking of, um, are you speaking of the cost for the police, the fire, public works, parks, and recreation? So if the event we're not giving money, we're giving services basically, but they there is a price on the venue itself. There's a price that goes to a police officer. There's a price that goes to the ambulance.

So yeah. So that's the 18 that Mrs. Franks was speaking of, right? The cost for the police, the fire, public works, and parks and reccks. Yes, ma'am. Chair. Oh, I'm sorry. It doesn't include public works. It does not. So is that the 18 that you're speaking of? Yes. The internal cost. The internal cost. Yes. Madam Chair. Yes. Because even though we we have two police officer, 10, we got to pay for it, right? Uh u Dr. Spirit and then you may

assistant city manager. Uh can you tell me what our liability is? Is our insurance cover this an event like this? Are are we covered or does the third party have to give us an insurance?

Okay. Um u Okay. I'm sorry. Um Madam Chair. Yes. Right. Um the production company, they'll be required to provide their own insurance if they I'm sorry. Right. They'll name the city as an additional assured if the city decides to sponsor this particular event using those city resources for police, fire, and parks and recreation. Um, at that point in time, the city will have to kick in with regards to insuring as well. Madam Chair, what did that go on?

I I think it's important that the third party give us an insurance certificate naming us as an additional insured. They will They will. It is, Madam Chair. It's a part of the permitting process. So, so madam attorney, is that something that we will be not liable for to make sure that that we're not the city does not be held liable for for something? Yes, that's part of the special events process all the time. So once it's approved, they'll make sure that the certificates of insurance are in place and that we're an additional assured and then risk will assist special events with that. Okay,

Madam Chair, I'm sorry, one more question. I've gone through this in the past, unfortunately, where we had to set up rules and regulations. I was in a municipality that was used for events on a regular basis and almost bankrupted us. Uh, so we had to put rules and regulations in place to try and uh and limit the number of events that we were having. Uh, you know, my my concern here is that yes, we have we can have an understanding, but we're not covering public works. When they leave, there's going to be a mess in this city. Who's going to clean up that mess and who's going to pay for that? That could that could cost us tens of thousands of dollars, that cleanup. Uh, are you going to be responsible to clean up everything before you leave? Is someone you going to have someone uh you're going to hire people? I mean, you're making a million dollars. There has to be a certain amount of money for running the event. You may maybe it only be $900,000. Maybe it's going to cost you $100,000 to run this event.

Miss Franks, what does that look like? Could you repeat? I could. He's asking about the cleanup. If the 18k does not include public works in terms of cleaning up, how does that get taken care of? The express that the city they would like the city to do the breakdown and um clean up. So we will incur that cost as well. That 18 is is it a part of 18? Not yet.

No, public works is not included. In addition, the insurance will also include um the use they're requesting to serve alcohol. So that's uh in addition to that, we'll make sure that uh we need your approval also to serve the alcohol at the event as well. Um I think that we've come to an impass here because we we we we're at 18K and we can't have somebody to clean up then we going to have a problem. So you're willing? Yes, they the organizers the organizers has uh stated they will provide the personnel for cleanup.

They'll do it. Make sure that that's a part of the contract for uh the city. All right. Are we good? All right. Very good. Madam clerk, let's go. Council person, excuse me, [clears throat] Davis Pier. Yes. Council Person Gson, yes. Chairperson Miller Anderson, yes. Council person Spiritis, yes. Chairperson Laneir, yes. That's the unanimous vote. Very good. Thank you guys. And just for clarification, I'm sorry. 18,000.

And that includes police, fire, and the parks and right personnel. And they have to it'll be held in contingency until they could Yes. Okay. Yes. Thank you for the clarification. Good night. Yes. Yes, madam chair. Yes. Go ahead, sir. Appreciate that.

I want to thank the entire board for supporting uh the event. Um again, for clarity sake, I think um my colleague mentioned that they're going to be making a million dollars. That money, again, the QR code goes to the city. So, just for clarity, those funds are going to be coming through the city in regards to how we disseminate it to support the Jamaican relief efforts. They're not charging anything and they're not making anything on the event. They're looking to just host an event to support the country. So that QR code comes directly to the the city funds and I want to make sure that uh everybody understands that this is just to support this country and it's also going to benefit our community because it's going to be a free concert for our residents that they can all patronize and support and support local vendors. So the support tonight was phenomenal because we get to get national and international recognition right here in Rivier Beach. So, I just want to thank my colleagues for supporting this tonight and making sure that we pass this unanimously and it will be a phenomenal event. I want all my colleagues to participate.

Madam Chair, thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, go ahead. I I did just and I just need this clarity for myself. So, I I think I thought I heard them say that, you know, it costs tens of thousands of dollars to pay the artist to come. And if you're paying the artist to come, does it not make more sense to just use that money and donate it instead of paying the artist? Or am I not understanding how that works?

Have artist. Good night, Madam Chair. Yes. Go ahead. uh the artists or the artists that uh will be showing up for the show, they're giving up their free time. Uh so they're not you're not paying them. They're not getting paid. Okay. And we're talking about the international artists like Shan Paul, Mr. Vegas. Yeah. I don't know those people, but what I'm saying they're not they're not getting paid. They're here giving their time for the for the event. I but I thought I heard someone say that the argu we pay we got to pay them tens of thousands. No, if we had to pay. Oh, if you had to pay. If we had to pay, you know, the price tag would be I got you. Thank you.

All right. Thanks. Thank you. All right. Excellent. Madam clerk, let's go to this next item. The next item is item 12B, discussion regarding the forensic auditor RFP scope and council expectations. Uh this is something that we would we took off of the agenda because of the nature of this. Could you just give a brief um overview this uh madam attorney because Yeah. And the reason why we not going to have a conversation about that publicly yet? Yes. Madam Chair, go ahead.

Yeah. I think I spoke with all of you individually. um it's not appropriate to discuss what we would like in an RFP uh in the public. It's unfair to those who may not have an opportunity to watch. Therefore, we suggested we are suggesting and plan to schedule individual meetings with you all um so that uh procurement can then form a scope of work. Got it. Next item, Madam Clerk. The next item is item 12 C [clears throat] update for naming of the street for Rean. Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair,

I'm sorry, Mr. Gayton. Can you um have a motion to delete that item 12 the the forensic auditor RFP? So move. Second. Madam Clerk, council person Davis Pier. Yes. Council person Gon. Yes. Chair Miller Anderson. Yes. Council person Spiritis. Yes. Cherson Laneir. Yes. Unanimous vote. Uh Mr. Mr. I'm sorry, Commissioner Giden 12C. It It's an item in regards to the update for the Felder Road.

Yes. Very quickly, u, madame chair, um, it has been decided in communication with the family that the date of the naming is going to be December 20th, 28th, 20th, 200. Okay. And certainly um um all of the commissioners, council people um certainly if you could make it uh it would be nice to be there. Um the other thing that I need though um that is 12D. Um 12 C. But but still on this item here I I have one more one more issue. Um

wait a minute. Is this the issue in regards to the street? Yes. Okay, go ahead.

Um I I asked the city manager about having a a small little ceremony about a half an hour even if that um when when we have the naming of the street and um after then I wanted Cunningham Park if it's available. Um family said that they'll sponsor some hot dog and things like that. no expense to the city, but they wanted to have a little get together and um [clears throat] so we we wanted to have it at Cunningham Park between 11 and 4.

Um all that they need to do is just contact Parks and Rex and just just uh u reserve that date. Okay. So there's no objection from the council. No, they they're doing something that they're sponsoring on on their own. We don't have anything to do with that. still be there. But yeah, they the food is now at the little ceremony, Walter may be there doing doing what he does, but that's just a part of the the naming anyway. Yeah. Okay. Yes. All right. I just want to make sure I'm not crossing in the lines and lighting everybody. Okay. My other item. Next item. Um there was a sewage spill and I said that I will always keep the

I'm sorry. She has to announce it. Item 12D, update on sewage spill this week. All right, go ahead.

Okay. Um, there was a sewage spill and I said that I would always keep the public uh informed, being very transparent. Over the weekend, we had a sewage spill. It was determined it was because um there was some operational mistakes. And as a council person, I want to apologize to the public and um take responsibility because it start with us up here and everything rolls downhill. That should not have happened. Um it was about 3500 gallons of sewage and it was um primarily based on a human or humans mistake and I just wanted the public know that it's under control. Um there was no threat of it entering into the drinking water or the water that you bathe with. And I just wanted to keep the public informed that um there's no threat now and there was a sewage spill and it was our mistake. That's all I want to say.

That was that was a comment. I'm good. Okay. Very good. Thank you. Any other questions in regards to that? Excellent. We we have comments for the board. Dr. Spiritis, I would just like to remind uh

the community that on December 16th, I will be holding a town hall hearing here at the event center uh with reference to uh the mooring fields possibility of setting up two mooring fields for the city uh as well as uh beach erosion. We're going to have the county uh environmental people and the coastal engineers give us an update where they stand on long-term uh solutions for beach erosion uh on Singer Island. Uh so please attend and be there. And also uh welcome home to all the snowbirds who are coming back to Singer Island now for the winter. Uh welcome home and we're looking forward to seeing you. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner Per.

Thank you. Um, just hope everybody had a great uh Thanksgiving holiday and have blessed time with your family and friends. Want to announce a community health awareness panel discussion um sponsored by Global Awareness Ministry. It's going to be held at Faith Family Fellowship Ministries. That's 1401 Avenue E, Riviera Beach. It's going to be this Sunday, December 7th from 2:00 p.m. It is health awareness. We will be speaking on um AIDS prevention, testing, refreshments will be served. Um we have a list of panelists. Uh some include myself, Miss Millie Rodriguez from Found Care and other dynamic uh medical uh people in the medical field to come out and discuss uh health in our community. So, please come out again on Sunday, December 7th at 2 p.m. Thank you.

Thank you. Um, did you do your comments already? Yes. Yes. Okay. Um, Commissioner Bill Anderson, Commissioner Mill Anderson, I don't have any. All right. And I have just one comment. Um, I mentioned before, Monday is was World AIDS Day. We're having a World AIDS Day program here at the marina December 9th. That's next Tuesday at 6 PM. Madam Chair. Yes, sir. I'm sorry. May I forgot you were up there. Go ahead. I know. I know. I'm sorry. And I apologize. I just want to get

No, don't do that. Uh, one one question from city attorney. Um, where are we with negotiations with our our union um our police contract? I haven't got any updates since our last close session and I just want to kind of know where we are uh before it gets to a point where we we're at impass. already. Didn't we have Didn't we have an email? Didn't we have an email yesterday about that? Yes. Yes. Did Did you check your email? Um, I'm sorry. I must have missed the email. Where I missed that email. Yeah, there's an email. Okay. All right. Thank you so much, Mayor. This meeting is adjourned.