City Commission - Regular Meeting

Oh, there. Okay, thanks. All right, we'll begin our regular meeting of the Steuart City Commission, January 12th. Mary, would you call the role? Mayor Collins here. Vice Mayor Reid here. Commissioner Clark here. Commissioner Gio here. Commissioner Rich here. And our invocation and pledge of allegiance will be Chaplain Edkea. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Sir,

council members, city management, I thank you and most importantly the people of Stewart. I thank you for the opportunity to come and share an invocation with you. I've been praying about this and thinking about it. How many people have made resolutions for New Year's? Everybody made you know that you're planning to fail. You know that, right? But what I found out is I quit making resolutions. I make decisions now. Amen.

I decide how my life is going to go this year, Lord willing. And that might be a good idea to think about rather than making resolutions. Let's go before the Lord. Our God and our father, great creator of the universe. You give us free will to do the things that we see best. And seldom do we stop to find out what you think is best. Help us to change that this year as we welcome this new new year, this new opportunity, this new season of growth in in Steuart. Help us to listen carefully to what your will is and to carry it forward and carry it out. We know that you can do so much better than we do. Lord, help us to understand that to humble ourselves to bring us before you. I ask your blessing on the leadership of this city that you cover cover them with your Holy Spirit. Give them wisdom, direction, and understanding to do the things you have done to make us prosperous and to glorify your name. In Jesus precious name I pray. Amen. Please remain standing and join me in the pledge of allegiance. The flag is behind me here.

It's behind you. I'm so used to going that way. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Please be seated. Thank you, sir. Thank you.

And for our arts moment, Treasure Coast Community Singers Ensemble. This is the smaller group of three different choirs that can that make up the Treasure Coast Community Singers. We've been in the community for 23 years creating music for the community, keeping people singing. If you'd like to sing, be part of this organization. If you'd like to hear singing, come and attend concerts. tccingers.org. We shall walk in peace. We shall walk through the valley. We shall walk in shall himself be our sh Valley in shall walk in peace.

We will be Jesus himself will be our shace. There will be no himself will be our to the valley. We shall walk in peace. You want to

take a picture and do a thing? Oh, come back. Absolutely. Wow. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you, Dr. Jo. The two the two little ladies the two little ladies in the front didn't get in the picture. Can we just have them go on the side of you? Oh, they wanted to get more pictures. Well, two people that weren't in the picture. I advocate for short people. They're going to rehearsal. Okay. Thank you, Dr. Jo. Thank you. And then for our proclamations, we have Martin Luther King Day. Sina Douly. I don't think she's here yet. I don't see her. Maybe we'll hold it until she

hold it off for later. Okay. So, let's go to service awards. She didn't think it was on 5:00. All right, the first service award I have, I've put them in order of service. I've got Lou Hatton with five years. Where's Lou? All right, Chris. Thank you.

Yes. All right. Not attending tonight, but with five years of service is Matthew Hunt. If you're watching, Matthew, thank you. Awesome.

Also not in attendance but with 10 years of service is David Van Brussell, Utilities and Engineering. David, good job. Okay. 25 years of service. It's amazing that somebody could work that long for the city. I'm just kidding. Alex Janosi.

You have to have something to say it for 25 years. Yeah, that's right. has a written speech.

Okay. First of all, I want to I want to thank the everyone at the city for this award. Um I also want to thank all my chiefs uh for their leadership over the last 25 years. Um to my fellow firefighters, thank you. Um to my family, thank you for being my rock. Okay. With 30 years of service, George Summer. And finally, also with 30 years of service, fire rescue, David Lawson. Oh yeah,

speech. 30 years is a long time, but believe me, it goes by quickly. I can still remember my first 911 call, and it seems like it was just last week. It's been a fun ride. I appreciate it. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Oh, thank you're the man. Did Nina arrive yet? No. All right, we'll save it for the end, maybe.

All right, if she comes. If not, we'll just give it to you'll give me a heads up if you see her pop. Okay, thanks. Comments uh by Oh, no, wait, forgive me. Presentations. Um, Cleveland Clinic Stroke Champion Awards in recognition of City of Stewart Fire Medics who's presenting it on here. Fantastic. Right. Somebody has my slides. I'm not sure where they're popping up, but where do I see them? I don't need to see them as long as everybody here in the audience can. While he's getting going, I'll introduce myself. My name is Whitney Mayberry. I'm a stroke neurologist at Cleveland Clinic, Martin Health. So,

we can't hear you. Could you pull the microphone closer, please? Thank you. This better.

Okay. Uh, my name is Whitney Mayberry. I'm a stroke neurologist at Cleveland Clinic, Martin Health. I wanted to start uh just by thanking you for having me here today, but I also wanted to start by thanking our first responders here in the audience. I know the holidays have passed and that's a time when we have a lot of time to spend with our families, but also there's some of us that are working. And so, thank you for doing what you do and appreciate that. I'm going to keep my part short and sweet because uh it's not the reason that we're here today, but I would like to talk a little bit about our stroke program at Cleveland Clinic just to give the audience an idea of where we are and where we're headed. So, let me get going. There we go. So, our goal at Cleveland Clinic with our stroke program is to really be able to provide global um world-class stroke care to our patients. To that end, we are continuously working to improve and adapt our stroke system of care. A crucial non-app non-negotiable part of our stroke care is uh the providers that we have caring for our patients day in and day out. I wanted to talk about a couple of those providers here today. Um so, Dr. for Jeffrey Miller. He's the surgeon who is our endovvascular surgeon in in short term. This is the person who goes in and physically removes a blood clot from a patient's brain when they're having a stroke. So, Dr. Jeffrey Miller has been practicing as a neurosurgeon since the year 2006. And to give the audience some perspective, the first device that we utilized to pull the clots out was actually FDA approved in the United States in 2004. So, Dr. Dr. Miller has been practicing for about as long as this procedure has been a procedure here in the United States. And that's the kind of provider that we have at Cleveland Clinic. I'll talk a little bit about our hospitals. Many in the community are are familiar, but our comprehensive stroke center and our neuroscience institute is located at Tradition Hospital. And then

we have our primary stroke centers at North Hospital and South Hospital. All of our hospitals are joint commission certified. That uh involves kind of rigorous standards for our stroke care and the stroke care that we can provide our patients. Um we are able to provide clot license um in terms of the initial stroke treatment at both North and South Hospital. And then for those that require surgical intervention, we transition them to tradition hospital which is relevant for the reason that we're here today and the word that we're going to provide. With the help of our first responders in the community, we have provided stroke care in 2025 for well over 1,000 stroke patients here in the community. A little bit of uh discussion surrounding our capabilities. We do have experts treating and managing almost all aspects of cerevascular care. We manage stroke patients that coming in and out or and more complex patients that require several surgical procedures in order to manage their conditions. Another example of a provider that we have working with us at Cleveland Clinic is Dr. Mauricio Mandel. Dr. Mandel is able to operate on blood vessel aneurysms through the eyelid. Um, and I would challenge anybody here in the audience to find the surgical scar from his procedures postoperatively. He is the only provider uh performing that surgery here in Florida. We have numerous honors and accreditations. Um, but I want to mention that of course the care for our stroke patients occurs and starts in the community with our first responders. Stroke recognition and fast transport to our hospitals is particularly important as time is of the essence in the management of our stroke care. And again, part of the reason that we're here presenting the award today. We offer quite a few research opportunities. We don't move the needle forward in medical care without providing research to our patients. This gives patients the opportunity to

participate in care they wouldn't able to uh wouldn't be able to receive as standard of care. One of our recent successes has been the implantable devices that we've heard a lot about on the news. Um, for example, it's now FDA approved, but we do have many patients that suffer from continued disability with their limbs in terms of buttoning their jackets, zipping, writing, and we now have implantable devices that can improve the ability for them to move their limbs up to six months, a year, several years out after they've experienced a stroke. Most importantly for this meeting, um, and and for the Cleveland Clinic in general is our community outreach and education. We love to talk with community members um regarding stroke prevention. Of course, the best treatment for a tro stroke is not to have one. Um so we like to speak with uh community members about blood pressure control, blood sugar control and educate people before these diseases u progress in life. So if there's any opportunities that you would like to suggest to our team, please don't hesitate to reach out. and just some examples of the community education that we've done this year. And with that, I'd like to pass the microphone off to our stroke managers and emergency department manager to present the award.

Hello, I'm um Debbie Brier. I'm the stroke program manager at Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital. I'm going to go ahead and call up the um EMS caregivers that helped us that day. Joseph, George, Dave, and Barbaro. You guys just when you're get your sheet, just stand up there. I'm going to read and then Lucy's going to read her nomination. So, um, we nominated these caregivers for what we call a stroke brain pin award. Um, it's a award we have for any caregiver that helps us with a stroke patient, takes stroke patients to facilities, our internal caregivers. So, the letter says, "Congratulations. You've been nominated by Cleveland Clinic Martin Health to re receive the stroke champion award. Every day, our caregivers, physicians, community partners, and volunteers perform many different tasks, but share a common goal to provide peace of mind through exceptional, personalized, compassionate care. are always our goal is to help our colleagues know that they each play an important role in making a difference for each other and those we serve. Cleveland Clinic Martin Health likes to recognize caregivergivers who exemplify our commitment to stroke care. Each month, the stroke leadership team in partnership with the clinical leaders of Cleveland Clinic Martin Health explores reports of exemplary intervention by a caregiver or team in relationship to our stroke program. Our stroke champion award acknowledges the and encourages the development of a culture of safety and makes patient safety and quality a top priority for our organization. And now I'm going to introduce Lucy. She's our um emergency department manager at uh Cleveland Clinic North Hospital.

Like she said, I'm Lucy. I'm the nurse manager at North. And um I would like to nominate the store fire rescue to receive the stroke champion award for their outstanding collaboration and rapid response. Upon learning that the North ED department required immediate transport of a biplane patient to Tradition Hospital, Stewart Fire Rescue Team did not hesitate to assist. Although they were in the process of dropping off another patient, they immediately transitioned their rescue unit and prepared for transfer. Their swift action and willingness to ensure that the patient arrived to interventional radiology for the throbectomy procedure within one hour of the initial alert call. This level of teamwork, professionalism, and dedication to patient outcome implifies the values of clinical excellence and partnership that the brain pin represents. Thank you so much for your help that day.

Thank you. Yeah.

And I I just want to let the team know we do send out um outcome flyers to your uh chief. Um but this patient did exceptionally well after her stroke. She was able to be discharged to an acute rehab and then discharged um home to her family where she's doing well. Yes. Chief, where's Chief Philisio and mayor? Chief.

Mayor. Mayor. That's why get close. Yeah, I think it needs to compact it. Um, Dave, they're good. We're good. We're good.

All right. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks. Thank you. Thank you, Cleveland Clinic and officers. responders. Good job, guys. Thank you. Thank you, Dave Larson. Good job.

That sucks. Comments. I know we can all say that we feel like we're in very good hands in the city of Stewart. We have incredible men and women taking care of us.

Thank you. comments by city commissioners. Before we get into this, I wanted to offer up uh something. I know that um our current interim manager would do anything we asked of him. We put him in in quite a position as he was working remotely at the time that we called on him to take take this role. And um it's no easy task. You know, he was he was part-time up in Alabama, actually, not part-time, remote. And um he's had to be here a lot more than he previously was under a lot of demand, doing multiple jobs. So, first I want to thank him for what he's been doing here.

And secondly, I wanted to offer up um in the second half, you know, he's been here doing this for a couple months. We're going into another couple of months during this hiring process that we'll be finalizing tonight. And I spoke with Raz, who everybody knows is our HR director, about potentially taking that pressure off of our current interim manager and filling in for him. And she was more than willing to do that and capable um after she's got a two-eek period where she's training. But I wanted to offer up to all of you for consideration um having her take over for Lewis um in that period while we're hiring if if there were some thoughts from the other commissioners. it uh in talking to Lee, our city attorney, uh before this meeting procedurally, if that's something we were interested, it probably wouldn't be a bad idea anyway to have it be agenda. So, there could be public comment as not to um you know, have the appearance of not having due process, but I wanted to offer that up. I see the manager has a comment and then I'd like to hear any comments from you before we get into commissioner comments on that.

Um I would just like to say mayor I obviously I've said it many times I serve the commission at your pleasure and um it it is a she's here

it's a pretty difficult job. It's it's a lot of task and so uh it's always been my position that it's a temporary gig anyway. And so I would just think if the mayor or any of the five commissioners has an idea that this, you know, should that I should be relieved or let off the, you know, let off the mayor go around for a minute. Let someone else take a spin around. I support that 100%. I I I don't know that there needs to be uh some kind of action or something. I would happily uh relinquish the reigns to Raz who's more than competent to take over. And I think you mentioned two weeks. I mean, obviously, I would assist in the transition, of course.

And speaking to her, if if that was the will of the commission, it would be effective Monday the 26th. So, she would step in in two weeks. Yeah, I I I support that move 100%, mayor. So, I mean, no qualms for me. Are there any comments from other commissioners along this lines? So, this would be Roz would be replacing the interim. Okay. Not just a your mic. Oh, sorry. Roz would be replacing uh Jolie at this point. I thought when you first started I thought it was to give him a little space. Um and if Roz is willing to do that um hopefully we will fill the position quickly and then everyone can get back to their regular job. That's right. Yes, Vice Mayor.

And this this has nothing to do with Jolie's performance of No, not at all. Because I I've had great interactions with him so far. Um we've actually solved a good bit of stuff. Um, and you've spoke to Ra. Is Ra here? She's not here tonight. She's actually in training, but I have spoken to her. She She told me she's gonna She's on her way. She plans to be here for the uh city manager agenda item later in the evening. Later in the evening, but in my conversation with her, she was more than willing to do it and was honored that, you know, to be even considered. So, do you want to talk about it when she's here? I don't know what would be more approp Yeah.

to ask her. Um, I I I'm pretty sure Roz is is agreeable to it. I mean, I I think if she told the mayor she's agreeable, I don't I don't need to hear it from her directly. And, you know, to that those problems that we solved, those aren't going to get dropped. I'm not going to say forget it. Um, so we'll have to transition some of the meetings. Yeah. Now, if we do that because I know we're coming into midyear budget stuff as well, so I would imagine that would help you so you're not overwhelmed,

right? We we would be kicking off the normal budget process very shortly here. Um so yes that that would assist with that and as I said I I certainly I would make sure Raz is successful. That was the whole point of me doing this in the first place was to make sure the city remained successful that there was a continuity of of you know performance and service and everything. And so, uh, whatever Roz needs to be successful at the job, I certainly would just go back to a support mechanism for her. So, I'm I'm not opposed to it and I I'm sure a lot of department heads have probably helped Joel Lee while he's been in the position. It's a team. Absolutely. The department heads have been stepping in. So,

I don't know what the other board members have to say, but that's all I have to say on it. Okay. Commissioner Joby. Okay. Uh, I just want to state too that it has been an extreme professional um interaction with Jolie. you've been great. I want to thank you. Um and hopefully this will help you as we come to the semibudget situation, but um you you have been beyond help to the commissioners, the staff, the department heads, and uh we really appreciate it. Thank you so much.

Commissioner Rich, you had your light on. Um Mr. your interim city manager. Did you initiate this request? No. No, sir. I did not. But I I appreciate it. I mean, I not the kind of person to cry, "Uncle, you know, I have an 18-inch neck because you've never you've never expressed to me that you're dissatisfied or overwhelmed by the position." So, I'm surprised this is coming up so suddenly.

No, sir. I would never complain about the work. Um that's I mean we have several firefighters in here tonight who had 25 and 30 years of service. I'm in 31. So uh I don't complain and uh I'm I'm happy to serve and if it's the will of the commission and like I said if even one commissioner

wants to go in a different direction. I I would only do this with the absolute unanimous uh support of everyone. And I I think it's good. We've had a lot of talks about succession planning and so there aren't there aren't a lot of opportunities for someone to sit in the seat. So I think it's good to spread the spread the love around a little bit and uh if you can call it that. Um but yeah to spread the love around a little bit. I'm not opposed to that. Are you willing to continue to serve in this position as interim city manager? I think he'd do whatever we asked him to. Of course. I would do I would do anything he asked. But I understand he he works at our direction. and I'm asking if he's willing to continue to serve in the position.

From what I just heard, I'm willing to see Roz through the transition over the next two weeks. Okay. Thank you, Lee. How would you like us to proceed? Would you like us to have an item agenda so that there's public comment? I I you know last time when we appointed them we didn't have a lot of time and we did it without you know a resolution and notice but I think it's a good practice to do it with um notice and in a resolution but I mean it could be minimal and a easier transition um and we could put something on the next agenda on it

and Roz would be here then and they could switch seats and he could resume his normal duties as director and Roz can then step up. We might have to have a resolution with Raz. So uh with with regards to um Mr. Bognoli, we we had really good we had done it we had appointed him without resolution but then we did the acting in higher capacity via resolution and increased his pay by 10%. Um I I I will say working next to him he was here a lot more many hours. So I I don't know that even 10% that so and Roz is going to be under the same gun. So I um so it may be a good idea to have those two resolutions on the agenda.

Oh, we can be one in resolution but but we can do the acting in higher capacity for just kill both stone two birds and one stones. Yeah. Perfect. Okay. Okay. All right. Then moving on to comments by city commissioners. Commissioner Rich. Um I have no comments this evening. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Commissioner Jobi.

Well, good evening everyone. always great to see you here and this is our first meeting of 2026 and I want to wish everyone a happy new year to you and your families and uh as always we appreciate you're here and those who are online. Um I wanted to just make a note too that um Martin Arts Fest you'll start seeing circulars and whatnot they are having their uh annual uh artfest for 2026 on February 7th and 8th. That's Saturday and Sunday of that weekend. They always need volunteers. I'll be volunteering, but maybe some people in the It's a great great fest. They have musicians, they have artists. It's just really good. I hope everyone comes even to just stop by and say hi. And if those of you who have time would like to would volunteer, that would be great. You can actually just go to the artsfest stewart.org and there'll be information there for the event itself. And if you'd like to volunteer, um, I'd like to say something about we're actually in our last quarter of 2025. We approved the 2026 budget. Thank you, Jolie. And um with that, I kind of struggled with, you know, how do we get this information out to the public? We're in, you know, we keep having more and more availability internet-wise, things that we can do to get out to more people. And actually, I want to thank our environmental attorney, Ruth, because I was discussing it and she said she had a great idea, and I love it. Thank you, Ruth. And um it is to do uh vignettes. Let the let the city residents get to see the people who work here. You know, we give out awards. They're here 20 years. They're here 30 years. They do a great job. I think it would be a nice personal if they're interviewed, if they just do a little those that are comfortable to do it without being interviewed so that everyone could get a chance to see what our fire department does, what our paramedics do, what our engineering department. start to see those people as your, you know, your city employees, the people that you know. And I think it

would be a great idea. Uh, we have the ability to do it. We have a lot of talented people in this building and the other building. So, um, I would like to hopefully have our other commissioners maybe, um, discuss that so we could, you know, move forward with that. Jolie, I don't know how you really proceed. Uh, would it be a motion to do a discussion and deliberation on the next meeting or something we can discuss now? I I would say commissioner given that I mean unless I see a bunch of heads nodding no um I would say this is direction to staff to we have some of the equipment to do these kind of yes podcast type things and streaming stuff.

So you know if you I I think it's I've seen some other governments that have done these kind offormational videos like where does your tax dollars go explain how the how your water bill how to read your water bill how to read your tax bill. I would do that. I'd also say that it should be in tandem with like a a revamp of the city website. Um that may be some dollars and I would like to research that issue and come back with an item possibly to appropriate funds for that as an effort to kind of I I I think uh it's this digital age. We should probably try to get, you know, more involved in that. And so the city has Yeah, the city has a Facebook page. We have a we have our website we're required to have. I'd like to see equipment. Yeah,

we have the equipment. So, yeah, unless there's an opposition, I would direct staff to start working on executing that vision, right? And I like the idea in tandem with, you know, it would be a time to update our system and utilize it to its best availability. So, if the other commissioners are in agreement, we can ask you to at least go out and get a quote as to what that would cost. Yeah, as I said, the in-house equipment for the video setups and everything that we've got. I just, you know, I think we might need some plugins to make the website, you know, talk to our Facebook better, things like that. So, anything that requires money, I will bring back to the commission as an agenda item. Thank you, Jolie. And again, how our other commissioners feel about this. Do you have a comment about that? I did. Go for it.

My my comment would be for anyone familiar with the Martin County CARES program. Uh I personally did it. I don't know if that would be more appropriate to do. It's It's like a fiveweek program. I've done it also. Yeah. I That's my opinion. I always like that program. It is. And it it basically then you get to come in. Yeah. If you had like 20 participants, they come in, they get to travel around and learn all about the

Historically, Commissioner, the city did do some initiatives like that where we had a basically a a a boot camp, so to speak, and citizens were taken around and shown some stuff and went through departments and toured the water plant, saw some of that operation. U that was just an initiative that came and went back in the past. If we wanted to kick something off like that again, again, that would be direction to staff. Yeah, that that requires that that's quite organized that Martin cares. Even if we did it at a lower level, that that requires pulling people from their jobs to do that for 3 weeks, four weeks. This would be just an interview to be able to talk to people, get to see them on on, you know, on the airways.

Unless you want them to like meet specific people, which is what it is, is that what it sounds like? Like you want like well just to give everyone a biography on them on like no just to just to get a I mean I don't know I've gotten to know like the people who do the garbage. I mean just because when they come to my complex I say hi you know they've gotten to know that I'm the commissioner. So I think it's really good when you get to see people not just their face when you pull up an email and you sending them something or they send it back to you. This is more personal. This is like how we all go on social media. We get to see other people how they react. I think it's just a good little introduction to who the people are that work in the city and what they do for us.

Like um like I know in the past like during government week like kind of like that. Is that what what it would be pertaining to, Julie? Yes sir. In the past we've coincided with government week to try and do these uh immersion classes where the citizens can dig and see kind of how the government works. Put like videos out where they're interviewed.

Well, I don't think we did videos afterwards. This was a little while before you were born, Commissioner, but um no, the you know, at some point, yes, I think we would make that in tandem this time and uh and do something like that. I I think Commissioner Gio commented second that would require a little more coordination that just doing a podcast with Commissioner Reid and let us know what you feel about something. So, yeah, but if you're directing staff to do that, we would I'll certainly get the horses started on it. Okay. I mean, I I support it if that's that's what you want. But thank you, Mr. Clark. Are you done with your comments? I'm done. Thank you.

Thanks. I'll start my comments off by saying again, happy new year to everyone and a special thanks to all of our first responders, police, fire, everybody. And um all the things that Mr. Leget and his staff does. I mean, we are we're one family here at the city. And I didn't make any comments during the suggestion about um Roz, but having our personal director and with her intimate knowledge of the city, it's going to be interesting. Um uh so it it we I think that I'm hoping that we'll work it work well together with that. And uh this is probably my fifth or sixth time with Jolie. And um has never been anything uninteresting on the merrygoround. It has always been something when Jolie's in charge. I I think people just pick the time when to put Jolie in charge when they know that everything is going to go haywire.

I think I think five hours after you appointed me, we had a a water break or a sewer spill. And so it it just comes with me. That's all. Thanks. But you handled it as always. Great.

Uh continuing with that idea, when uh David Dice was our city manager, we've had vignettes. I don't know if Miss Girtton can find all those vignettes. We had all the departments. We have a lot of things. Um and we've we've circulated them before. They're available if you want to keep putting them up on the site. I think between Miss Girtton and um Jim Kroski, they can find them and they can rerun them on the city website again, but they're all there. We had um with the environment when Commissioner Bruner was on, we had a whole bunch of people doing a lot of things about the environment and uh doing things with the um putting the shells in the in the water and doing the oyster rey and just a lot of uh things. So there's some vignettes around. So um we can just use those and then we can start with the updated departments but we've done it before and we have lots of vignettes

right but they obviously had direction. You were doing you know the the water. Well the city manager was doing doing those all the departments utilities fire they have all introduced themselves and their staff and we can always update those. I have no problem with that. So but we do have lots of vignettes. uh Miss Girtton or whoever is in charge of the website, they can probably recycle them and put some up until we get things adjusted. Um tomorrow,

tomorrow I have um a meeting with the mayor. I think all of the us when I when I was mayor, I set these meetings both at the beginning and at the end, an exit interview as well as a beginning interview to just let people set their goals, set some ideas, find out what the the the person who is running the meetings because that's the job of the mayor to run the meetings, to sign the checks, and to sign the proclamation and do those things that the mayor um does. And so I'll be meeting with the mayor tomorrow at two o'clock to hear his ideas and to give my ideas and my meeting and I think all the meetings that are set with all of us as commissioners, they're open to the public. So if you want to come and listen to myself and the mayor tomorrow, we're going to be here, Mary, in this room.

Yes. It begins at 1:00 with Commissioner Gio, 2:00 with Commissioner Clark, 3:00 with Commissioner Rich, and 4:00 with Vice Mayor Reid.

Okay, thank you. And um that's it. I just had somebody call me or actually showed me on Monterey Road, which is County Road um 714 County Road, and all the roads they complained about, they were all county or state roads, but they were complaining about striping that they needed to be the yellow needs to be more brighter and the white needs to be brighter and that there's potential for accidents. But those are all county roads and um I just, you know, I'm sure that Mr. Leget does a good job when we have to stripe our areas or do our sidewalks, but um I just want to not let you know that people have complained simply because these roads are in the city of Stewart, but they're maintained by other entity.

Thank you. As long as they know, vice mayor.

Uh yes. I just want to say for me to be able to sit in this chair. I love it. I really do. I love sitting up here coming to my meetings, doing the research for the public. It puts a smile on my face. Um I wish Chief Z was here. I actually wanted to thank him for the policy and I'm sure the parents at Redeemer appreciate him. Thank you Jolie as well for updating us um for the SRO program for uh the officer that's over there. Um, I also want to mention I won't be at the MLK parade. I actually have to work that day, so I won't be here in Martin County. And, um, I also want to talk about the fire rescue stuff. So, and this isn't me throwing anyone under the bus from the city. So, we got an email from Joel Lee on Friday and from what I understand, Martin County wants to meet with the city of Stewart regarding an interlocal agreement that we have with them and a mutual aid. And from what I understand, there's a mutual aid and there's an interlocal agreement. As far as the interlocal agreement, I don't think municipalities should be charging one another when it comes to like life saving for the public. I don't understand why we build Martin County or Martin County builds the city of Stewart. We're all taxpayers that live in the city for the county as well for fire rescue. It was something about the discussion regarding the cost if Martin County took over the city of Stewart fire rescue. And from a millage perspective, yes, the mill rate from what I understand would be higher for the adorum that we generate in the city of Stewart. But as far as operational costs, Martin County operates at a higher budget per station, per personnel um than the city of Stewart. Um they have more steps in their program. Um even when you offer uh a starting level salary of the city versus the county, it's much higher. So I don't see

how it'd be a tax savings for the city residents. We also have an ISO rating of one in the city of Stewart. From what I understand, Martin County has a two or a three. I've gotten different answers depending on who I've spoken to. Um, so that would cost taxpayers more on their insurance as well. How much, I don't know. But as far as I'm concerned while I'm here, the city of Stewart's going to have their own department and Martin County can have their own department. And as far as any discussion, I know the word transparency gets thrown out a lot, but if Martin County is going to invite the city of Stewart to have a discussion regarding this, I think it should be public.

That's my opinion. if they want to discuss who's going to show up when I pick up 911 regardless of where I live. Um, and I don't know if Jolie can answer this, but if we took station 3 for example, or Vince maybe can answer this. If we have station 3 and there's a 911 call that comes in for someone that lives in Pinerest Lakes off Jens Beach Boulevard, who's going to respond? Station 16, 18, 21, or station three in the city? I' I'd be curious who's going to respond to that because when I call 911, I want the closest station or who's available to show up. Yeah. Unfortunately, it's a little more complicated than that, which is why we need to address this.

So, we have in the current ILA, it specifies what call types, who goes where. So, the only time we would go to those locations is if it was a highest level. In other words, somebody would already be in cardiac arrest. So that's the way the agreement was signed years ago and we don't agree with it. So So if a child was drowning or they pulled the child from a swimming pool in Pinerest Lakes, who would respond? It depends on what the information is that the caller was giving to the dispatchers. Gotcha. So it's and Martin County controls dispatch. Correct. So Martin County is going to decide who's going to show up. Correct.

Gotcha. So, if like I said, if there's any discussion regarding this, I think it should be public. I'm a taxpayer in the city and the county, and I want to know, and I'd imagine everybody that we represent up here wants to know as well. When you call 911, we spend a god-awful amount of money for fire rescue in this county. And when you call, whoever's available should be showing up, regardless of politics. So, I don't know if you need a direction from us, Joel Lee, on that or a consensus from this board, but that meeting should be held publicly and I think we should talk about it. Um, would you would you like a comment from me? Okay. Yeah. And then I have more to say as well.

Oh, thank you. Um, first of all, Commissioner Re, I I don't feel like you threw me under the bus. I I I knew that that email would be available for public record upon request, so everything in it I stand by. I think in the email I said that this has been not discussed and there's been no feedback and that this is simply me trying to alert the commission that with the talk of consolidation again on Facebook a couple weeks ago and then having you know questions around in my office in meetings and then also just passing conversations about the size of the fire department or whatever. I just simply said I you need to be on the lookout. This might come up as a topic. I also said it's my speculation, my opinion. I've also received a public records request for any communication I have between myself and basically I'll just sum it up, anyone at Martin County. And I can tell you that that record request is going to be fruitless because there's been no communication between Martin County and the city of Stewart concerning the consolidation of fire. None. No one has approached me from Martin County asking about consolidating fire. This was simply about, and I also said in the email, I'm the person who personally I personally crunched the numbers for 30 years and told Martin County it didn't make sense to consolidate fire because of the cost of our fire department versus what they charge in the MSTU. And so with this last budget session, shortly following that budget session and for many budget sessions and discussions with union presidents and discussions with multiple fire chiefs and multiple city managers, I've simply said that the cost of fire is reaching a point that will be a discussion item for us. And so u I was simply trying to make sure that nothing came out in the news where someone had had an interview with the city manager and you didn't know about it because I've seen what happened to the other guy. So, um, I am simply informing you of topics, which it's in the job description that the city

manager is supposed to keep you informed of what might be a hot topic. Rest assured, and I don't know what my word stands for around here, if there was an official discussion to be had, it would be an agenda item. I am not the kind of person that's going to have backroom deals with the county and set up some kind of migration of the fire department without the fire. I talk to the union president personally for hours on end on the telephone. I I you know Vince is in every meeting with me every week and these guys who worked 25 and 30 years I remember him coming in knew because I've been here 31. I saw his employee ID photo where he had his hair was a different color. So this is not you know what I say in the email and in the math is factual. That's all. It's just facts. If the city of Stewart city commission and the city taxpayers decide they want to continue to provide fire service no matter what the cost is, no matter what the comparisons are, that's the directive from the city commission and the taxpayers. It's simply my job to keep you informed of these things. And so over the years, the the various approaches that we got officially to do this didn't make sense. And I have not been approached officially. No one from Barton County. In fact, some of the emails that they asked me to give them in the public records request, I don't even know what their emails are. And some of the names I don't even know. So, you know, one of my benefits is I'm not in the swamp. I'm not plugged in everywhere. I don't know who all the players are in Martin County. So, I couldn't even pick some of these people out in the lineup. So, I have not had any communication with Martin County about consolidating fire. I have as your budget officer and the finance director told you fire is getting really expensive. No,

I was simply doing the same thing again. So any official action between the city and the county will be above board and would be an agenda item for you to discuss. Okay. So that that interlocal agreement I think should be discussed publicly. Then the interlocal agreement is a meeting about that's a different story than fire consolidation. That that's about the the call you know the call exchange and the mutual aid. So and and lots of times they bring up other topics at that meeting. Okay. I think that solves it.

Yeah. I just I mean I I agree. I mean on behalf of the fire department administration, we feel that meeting should be in public. The stuff that's said and goes on in there between bickering about life safety and calls and who's going here and who's going there, we're sick of it. Yeah. So if that that conversation is going to happen, it should be public then. Yes. So that's the consensus for me. I don't know how the fellow board members feel. Normally, it's it's the chiefs getting together. Correct. Correct. And now attorneys. So, if that meeting is to be a public meeting, how would that come to be? We can send a letter to that request.

I don't know. Maybe Lee could chime in. I don't know. Is would that be to the union? Would it be to the Martin County Fire Department? Sir, would it be to the union? To Martin County Fire Department overall? I I mean it's it it's not subject to sunshine because it's not public officials are not there. You're not voting on anything. I I and I just got asked to attend the meeting I think Friday this week, right? Um and so um yeah, I I think by me appearing at the hearing or this meeting, I'd be what what do you want to discuss? I I don't know that any decisions would be made in a private shutd door type of meeting like this. I I I think I I don't even

I don't even know what the county wants to talk about. I guess we have some things we want to talk about. And again, any amendments to the interlocal agreement would appear before both commissions come before us. To that point though, that is something that we would have to vote on ultimately. Yes. Yes. Why would we not be a party to that meeting? I mean, that's a good point for it to be a public meeting for us to if we should be there. That makes it a public meeting if we're going to vote on it. And maybe we can finally iron this out.

I think taxpayers should see it. If if someone's bargaining my 911 phone call when I call, if I live right across the street from a station, and it might be in the county versus the city, that that's insane to me. I think whoever can show up shows up. That's why we pay taxes in this county. Agreed. So, so then to Commissioner or Vice Mayor Reed's point, would you like us to motion for a letter to be sent to Martin County and the Martin County Fire Rescue requesting it to be a public meeting where be the commission, the Martin elected officials from both sides are present along with the fire department and our attorneys apparently. Sounds good to me.

Is there any feedback from the rest of the commission? Yeah, nothing nothing prevents us from asking. That's right. I'm getting a a shake head. I think that certainly those kind of conversations should be public. Okay. So, consensus. Yes, sir. Vice Mayor.

Yeah. And and uh to move on, um I'm having a town hall meeting this Wednesday from 5 to 8:00 p.m. It's on the 10th Street Rec Center. My goal is to try to have one once a quarter and come between City Hall and uh the 10th Street Rec Center. and it's regarding local government municing some of these issues that I just mentioned tonight that uh the public should be aware of. So that's all I have to say. Oh, I also um my goals this year and and I'll discuss some tomorrow probably, but I know I see Dave here from Pleton Creek. That's an agenda item that still needs solved. Um the Hamilton's church, that's been an ongoing issue. Uh Mr. Leonard's property is an issue and and they're getting work through. I know Jolie has done a tremendous amount and Lee has sent emails. Um so hopefully the discussion the discussion is still happening with the Hamiltons and everything else is moving forward. But that's all I have to say tonight. Thanks. So, I appreciate you bringing up the fire department and you know for for public consumption for uh Rick Sterl for the chief over there. If there is any confusion about the leadership at the city now that we're under new management, I want if they're listening you to understand I have zero interest in consolidating our fire department with Martin County. I know this has been a desire for a long time. I'm very proud of our department. I think it is a very unique uh aspect of the city of Stewart. I trust all of these men and women to protect us and I would not want to see one of them lose their jobs in that merger. So, for what it's worth, if you guys are watching or somebody can forward this to you, I am not interested. So, thank you for bringing up the fire department.

Welcome. Also, uh, along your comments as well, I'd also like to thank Chief Z, our fire, our police chief, who I feel like very well navigated some of the concerns from uh, the SRO's. So, thank you if you're watching, Chief. I really appreciate you you working through that and, uh, taking care of our residents. So, with that, um, let's do comments by city manager and then Miss Douly has arrived, so we'll do that proclamation right after that. All right. I've been on the mic a lot tonight. I don't have anything else to say.

Okay, fair enough. Well, let's do the Martin Luther King uh, Junior Day proclamation. Lee, you want to wait a second?

Recognizing Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 19th, 2026. Whereas re Reverend Dr. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. believed that a person's worth should not be measured by color, culture, or class, but rather by their commitment to creating a better life for all in a beloved community. And whereas Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a visionary whose courage and determination to balance the scales of social social justice changed the world forever. And whereas the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their community and to reflect on Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's legacy. And whereas for many years, the city of Stewart has joined with local civic groups throughout Martin County in unity and partnership to honor the legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Stewart, Martin County, Florida. Now, therefore, I, Christopher Collins, the mayor of the city of Stewart, do hereby proclaim January 19th, 2026 as Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. today.

Nina, did you have a few words? Fantastic.

Thank you guys for inviting me. Thank you to the city commission for your partnership with ASUS for the last six years to host this annual and iconic um event in the city of Stewart. Um we've been hosting for the like I said the last six years. Um we have lots of things planned uh for this. I think it's the 18th annual now. Um it's been going on. So there's a lot of things playing, a lot of school performances, a lot of bands participation. Um the parade starts at 11 Georgia Avenue. Um the route leads to 10th Street um Guy Davis Sports Complex. I would just like to say again, thank you to the city. Thank you to the parks and wreck department and every department that helps um in planning this event along with ASUS. So thank you guys.

Absolutely. Thank you. Let's get a picture. Mr. Mayor, you're gonna get a picture. Um, Mr. Mayor, can I just say that I really applaud Miss Douly for all the things that ACES has done and doing this

this year. I won't be here. Just like um, Vice Mayor Reid, I am from a family where my father came as a contract worker in 1943 in agriculture in Belgade, Florida. And my brother, uh, Dr. Luwellyn Robinson is going to be a speaker at the Martin Luther King event in Palm Beach County and I'm going to go support my family. I've supported and I still support the city of Stewart, but my family needs me so I will not be here on that day. Okay. Well, thank you very much. I would like to know if Mayor Collins can come out and read the proclamation at I plan on being there, Nina. Okay. Nice. Nice. I wasn't going to leave you hanging. Thank you. Thank you.

One of my favorite little parades. I love Yes. Yes, it is. It is. Commissioner Clark, I know broken. I know. I could rush back up here. It's a breakfast thing. I'll live stream. Thank you, Dana. Thank you. Can I get a motion for approval of the agenda? Move approval. Second. And a second. All in favor? I.

Any opposed? I don't think so. Right. So, um, comments from the public on non-aggendaed items. Do we have any green cards, Mary? I do. Okay. I have Helen McBride. Miss Helen. Ellen's here. Your first public comment as mayor mayor is Miss McBride. Yes. First public comment and the first of the year. Yes. Very appropriate. First one of the year. Beautiful job. Right. Helen McBride of Flamingo Avenue. First of all, happy new year.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Mike and the employees at the 10th Street Rec Center for having us a wonderful family Christmas dinner. It was super. But I really want to thank you three commissioners. You know, I know commissioners and county commissioners school board. I I I I just know you. But you made such an impression on the people that you commissioners, the three of you took the time and the trouble to break bread with us. And I and I said to them, "Oh, I think you'll see a lot more of our commissioners in interacting." Of course, Mr. Mr. Mayor, you have those four young children and you weren't there, but And I also want to thank the Stewart Fire Department Union. They gave out some wonderful gifts. Even to the teenagers had gifts. The only ones they ignored were the senior citizens, but you know,

they figured we got one foot in the grave, the other on the banana peel. and uh Santa Claus took sick. So Sammy the sailfish stepped in and the young pe young students really really like this. And that one more minute uh you know I love to correct history I want to say Mrs. Clark Commissioner Clark from the Reese's Daycare Center to Monteray Road to East Ocean Boulevard is in the city of Stewart. Oh, this was

it uh it was a dirt road when I moved here. It was part of the Krueger flower fire flower farm and when the Krueger state did that road and that's why people in the county say why are there lefthand turns? They'll be there because there this is the city of story from the airport property to East Ocean Boulevard is the city of storage. So if you get it if you get stopped like if you're at the county courthouse or chambers and something happens the p the sheriff's deputy can retain you but he has to call the police department to because it is in this city. Thank you very much and keep up the good work you commissioners. We really they really appreciate it. Thank you. Ellen, I was out of town so I couldn't come.

You I know you I hate to say it but you're always out of town. But that's okay. It's holiday. Thank you, Helen. Next, I have Luke Laam. Luke. Oh, Luke is here.

Good afternoon, commission. I guess good evening. Now, um Luke Laam of 369 Southeast Sea Hunt Way in Stewart. Um as you know, I live in the Seaside Town Homes and uh I'm a Pppleton Creek Park patron. I just wanted to give you all an update on the Willoughby uh extension situation. On October 28th of this past year, uh Maria Formoso and her team from FDOT were gracious enough to uh hold an information meeting at the seaside town homes. Um the meeting was attended by 40 individuals, mostly seaside residents, but also uh Villaella leadership and even a city commissioner. FDOT presented three options as you know. uh one uh going through Alhhamra which will include right-of-way acquisition, the second option going up raiseway and then around the east perimeter of Pton Creek Park and the third option still remains a no build. Uh there was near near unanimous agreement amongst attendees that no build was the best option and a very different looking Martin voted to make this a priority project back in 2017. FTOS just doing their job and their employees were extremely professional and friendly. However, myself and many others will vehemently agree to disagree on their contention that the project will have no impact on the park. The next big meeting, the public alternative meeting is scheduled for May of this year. One thing I'm asking of the city now is that once a definitive date is set by FDOT is that the dog park residing will not take place leading up to this event. I have received mixed messages as to whether or not official signage from FDOT will be displayed at the park, but rest assured that I will be walking around the park like Paul Rivere letting everyone know the meeting is coming. And that's going to be hard to do if the dog park's closed for residing for two weeks.

In addition, I think you should all be aware of the 172 of your families that will be directly affected the project that have not received mailers about this project. I don't know the legalities of this situation because they are tenants, not owners. But the citizens of Serenity Stewart, formerly the Central Parkway lofts, deserve to know is what is happening directly adjacent to them. Particulate since some of them pay a premium for Parkside view. Now, let's talk about traffic. Please note that the only intersection in the area that was that has heavy congestion in both the morning and a and evening peak hours as per FDOT, not me, is the intersection of Central Parkway and Caner Highway. This will be only exacerbated by Willoughby extension, especially considering that there will be 60 families moving into Sailfish K in the near future. And there just, if you haven't noticed, 20 westbound parallel parking spots on the north side of Central Parkway have just been added. Um, lastly, I just like to let you know, and I'll be sending out an email. I have multiple photos from multiple days of federally threatened woodstos on the north uh on the uh north wildlife containing canal that's 40t wide and 500 ft long that was characterized as a ditch by FDOT. And I'll agree to disagree on that as well. Lastly, uh, if I could have just a few more seconds, I'd like to say thank you. It was brought up at a fall 2025 meeting that an Indian River official couldn't believe that the city of Stewart commission wasn't listening to their constituents. I'm not sure what alternative universe he or she is living in, but thank you for sticking for your campaign platforms. Thank you for attending the seaside FTOP meeting.

I'm sorry your three minutes are up, sir. Thank you for Just finish. That's up to the mayor. They were allowed to finish when um the city manager was up for debate. Thank you for calling up multiple seaside residents last summer in response to our email concerns and telling us about the upcoming no meeting. And lastly, thank you for not cowtowing to those that make a look to make a buck off Smalltown Stewart and for standing up against unmitigated growth. Thank you, Luke. Thank you. Uh along those lines, I wanted to ask, you know, personally, I I do agree that no build would be the way to go, but I would like for all of us to have a discussion about this, maybe a DND at the next meeting. you want an agenda item on the next meeting

and I would like to know you know what exactly we have the authority to do beyond sending a letter to the MO and FOT you know saying that our if it's the consensus that our our you know perspective at this point is no build as an option but uh I I think it would be good as well to have that agenda to help bring awareness to the public that this is happening so I I I would like for a public discussion public comment and then ultim ultimately to hear from everybody and what they think and what the options might be. Beth with the long range plan to give us some information. It's probably not a bad idea to have Beth here. Yeah. Yeah.

Just as a note, the the individuals who had been working that we've established relationships with on this project have now all been reassigned. Just thought we'd have to just make new relationships. That'll be on the agenda. Perfect. Okay. Thank you, Mary. I have Gary Erler.

My name is Gary Erler. I'm actually a resident of Port Solerno and Martin County. Uh the reason for me being here tonight, um first of all, commissioners, uh I hold in my hand a copy of a Martin County Innovation Hub report that was done, uh it was actually accepted by the BOCC July 11th, 2023. When you first look through here, of course, it has the five commissioners there. Uh, City of Stewart has Dave Das, Michelle Burgerer, and Mike Martell as city manager, city attorney. Um, this report is now basically it's three and a half years old. Um, two-seated members on the MO. 90% of this and this started from the MO as was previously discussed with FDOT. Um the innovation hub lists a map all the way from Cove Road to the waterfront here in Stewart. That's why I'm here. Uh transportation, they involve the city of Stewart. Multimmogal, they involve the city of Stewart. Utilities involves the city of Stewart. Storm water involves the city of Stewart. Electrification involves the city of Stewart. Regulations, City of Stewart Aesthetics, City of Stewart Opportunity Stites. Opportunity sites, City of Stewart. Martin County Innovation Hub is part of a 15minute city concept. Uh, like I said, north from downtown Stewart to IRSC and Martin South. There's a storm water master plan management. Uh, it involves art and public places. It involves transportation, business, the business park on commerce. The reason I bring that up is commerce is part of the MPO's uh they want to redo commerce and make

it all whatever they have right ofway uh multimogal pass. They want uh bridges. The city of Stewart continues to annex south of Indian Street into the industrial park all the way down to Dominica Terrace. Um, my words to you are what is the city on the hook for? Um, what are taxpayers of Martin County on the hook for? What's the city on the hook for? Is the county the one that's deciding this and the city of Stewart stuck with the bill? We know how that's gone. Um, I would like to leave this since Commissioner Reid, I'm sorry, Vice Mayor Reid is uh an excellent uh researcher, I would love to give this to him after uh if he deems necessary, possibly bring it back to the commission and and it'll be further discussed. Thank you.

Thank you, Gary. Mary, I have no further public comment. Mayor, are there any other public comments on non-aggended items? Seeing none, we'll move on to the consent calendar. Do I have a motion to approve or do I have any items that are to be pulled? Move approval of the consent agenda item as published. Second. Okay. Seeing a motion in a second. Mary, would you call the role? Commissioner Clark, yes. Mayor Collins, yes. Vice Mayor Reid, yes. Commissioner Rich, yes. Commissioner Gobi,

yes. Moving on to commission action item number 10. Lee, I know the two board members are here. Resolution number 02-2026, a resolution of the city commission of the city of Steuart, Florida, authorizing a request for support to Congressman Brian Mast, Senator Rick Scott, and Senator Ashley Moody for language related to certain federal water resource projects through the Water Resources Development Act that will improve the water quality and health of the St. Lucy River and estuary, providing an effective date and for other purposes. Ruth.

Thank you. Uh, good afternoon, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Vice Mayor, commissioners. Um, what you have before you, excuse me, is a resolution with two letters um, attached to that. Um, I'm asking you for approval to send these letters up to Congresswoman Brian Mast and Senators Ashley Moody and Rick Scott. Let me tell you about the letters and what they're for. Um there is a uh a bill that's uh considered every year by both houses of con or every other year excuse me by both houses of congress. It is the water resources development act and it's commonly referred to or called by its acronym word. Um it is a direction um once that that once that bill is negotiated by by both houses and uh pass um a direction to the Army Corps of Engineers for various infrastructure projects, water infrastructure projects throughout the United States. So it's not just Florida, it's everywhere. And it's to do things like uh dredging harbors, um building infrastructure, storm water infrastructure. It is also for the purpose of ecological restoration. And as we as society uh evolves and we understand more about uh damaging discharges to estine systems um such as the St. Lucy River, St. Lucy estuary, we realize um how much more work needs to be done. Um, Congressman Brian Mast, uh, you know, from this area. Obviously, everybody knows, um, Congressman Mast, he has been, um, a tireless advocate of for the St. Lucy River and cleaning it up and stopping the discharges from Lake Okachchobee. Um, and in one of the letters, the city, um, if you approve

it, uh, recognizes his work and asked him to do more. And uh we believe that based on past experience with Congressman Mass, he will do more. And what we're asking him to do and what we're asking the senators, the Florida senators to do is to look at a couple of projects that um what people are saying uh they're a little bit stalled out right now because of the funding requirements uh for the EIA reservoir and STA. And what what I think that the city ought to do is use its voice and say that's great. We definitely appreciate that is it is a it is a project that is needed. Um but don't forget about muck removal. Don't forget about the C2324 reservoir. And uh this is just um a tool that you can use to let your congressional delegation know. Um there's there's more to do and we know we know what needs to be done um in addition to stopping the discharges. It's muck removal and they need to move forward with the 2324 C2324 projects. And that's what these letters do. It is not a funding bill. Um so there's no appropriation. So, it's not like you send this letter and magically things are going to happen and there's going to be muck removal in the St. Lucy River. But, it's one step and it's the first step and I believe that the city ought to take this step. It is a tool that you can use. It is using your voice in a new forum. Um, and I believe that it's uh necessary. Um, and I am available for any questions should you have them.

Questions? Any questions? I'd like to make a motion. Are there any questions? Is there a second? I'd like to make a motion to accept resolution O22026. Second. Hearing a motion and a second.

Is there um any comments? Public comment first. Public comment on item number 10. I have no public comment. Okay. Comments from commissioners. Yes, sir.

I would just like to applaud Miss Holmes for taking this step uh as she's as she's finding her way down this very complicated and complex road. Muck removal is the essential second element of cleaning up this waterway. Obviously, stopping the discharges is paramount, but um I give her credit for recognizing how important this is. This is one of the few issues that I get agreement on when I attend the council of local government meetings because Okachobee wants to be part of this and understands how important it is. So this will can also act as a way of building a coalition which is going to be required for us to be successful going forward. So I thank you very much for taking this initiative, Miss Holmes.

That's a great point. Thank you. Thanks. I also want to thank Attorney Holmes. Um we appreciate your knowledge and you're moving forward on this and it's great. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Bless you. May I do the roll call? Let's do a roll call, Mary. Thank you. Sorry. Commissioner Rich, yes. Commissioner Gobi, yes. Commissioner Clark, yes. Vice Mayor Reed, yes. Mayor Collins, yes.

Item 11. Resolution number 04-2026, a resolution of the city commission of the city of Steuart, Florida, authorizing the submission of a grant application to the US Department of Transportation's build grant program for the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard Streetscape project authorizing the city manager or designate to execute all necessary documents authorizing a 20% match towards the project providing for an effective date and for other purposes. Panel,

thank you. Penel Gandhi SAC director for the record. Um, this item is just simply asking the board to uh for staff to apply for the build grant for the MLK Streetscape project. Uh, it's a federal grant. Uh the cycle uh just opened in December uh and we would like to apply for the streetscape project. Uh that project is currently a priority project in the CRA plan. Um also it's uh listed in our CIP capital improvement plan uh for implementation in 2028. Uh the project limit is from along Dixie Highway from D uh along MLK Boulevard from Dixie Highway to Tarpon Avenue um with add additional uh pedestrian improvements from Tarpon Avenue to Palm Beach Road. Um, this will help provide connectivity uh within the East Stewart neighborhood and also Stipman neighborhood uh with the with the additional sidewalk that that what we're going to put on the north side of MLK Boulevard from Tarpon Avenue to Palm Beach Road. Uh the project uh includes shared use paths uh which is a 10 10- foot sidewalks on street parking, midblock plaza area, uh high visibility crosswalk safety in uh enhancements at intersection for improved visibility, uh street lights and landscaping. Uh currently we're working towards 60% design. And there wasn't a letter that was attached to your agenda item that does commit 20% match for for uh for the application. Uh the total cost of the project is estimated to be $6 million. So the match would be 1.2 million and again it's already listed in our CIP. Um so the the submission deadline is February 24, 2026. And we have secured uh grant work to help us with the application and the submittal process. Uh so today staff is requesting approval

of resolution 04-2026 authorizing staff to apply for the build grant for the MLK Streetscape project. I would just like to say I'm thankful that you brought this forward. You know pulling off of central there onto MLK is treacherous. So I'm hopeful that this will ultimately address that along with making it beautiful and some of the other concerns that have come forward. Right. You know, is it there any questions for panel? Vice Mayor, can I make a motion? Yes. Question. Is this is this fully designed or have they started any design or these are just

We've started design. Um, how far are they in the design? We are working towards 60% design and we've had uh multiple uh neighborhood meetings also to get feedback from the community, but we're going to continue um that uh community meetings and getting feedback until we get to 100% design. Um how come we're not doing it all the way to Palm Beach Road? Uh because there's already residential and there's very limited right of way over there. Um, and uh, I'm sure some of those residents probably don't want to give it up. Okay.

Um, my my only concern is I I don't want it to turn into like Map Road or Golden Gate, those areas are so dangerous. Um, for anyone that goes down MLK, if you're coming off High School Avenue there, making a left or a right and you it it's very blind spot. I don't know if that should be a four-way stop then, because currently it's not. Um, and and I noticed when they were doing project lift, they had to remove some of the silt fence because you can't see when you're coming off of Tarpon and you're going east or west on MLK.

So, like I feel like with this street parking, we're going to run into more issues like that where there's blind spots. That's just my opinion. And how do you how do you prevent it? We are definitely going to improve all those intersections because there's a visibility issues because yeah, we're going to improve the aesthetics of it. But as far as the This is a safety improvements also because all these intersections um the cars are not able to see oncoming traffic. So we need to move the roads, we need to bring those side roads closer to MLK Boulevard in order to see have that visibility. So when you pull to MLK, you'll be able to see east or west now when you're pulling out. That car is not going to block your right. No, no, there's gonna

we're gonna have to do a sighteline um make sure that there's no any visibility issue at those corners. It might be good to present at at one of our CRA or C. Absolutely. Just to get us a little more sense of what the plan is. Yes. Um once we get to 60% design, we'll bring that before the board for maybe a four-way at high school and MLK there. Where you seeing high school and MLK because it doesn't or not high school and MLK, Georgia and MLK, sorry. Georgia and MLK and then it hops over to Central. Um I think that should be a four-way maybe. That's a very busy intersection and you can't see east or west if you're coming off of Georgia or central depending if you're on north or south side of MLK.

We'll bring forward the full detail so we can When do you plan on getting to 60%. Uh in the next uh I would say by summer. Is there a way you could bring us what you have maybe currently that's along these lines with just a little more description of Sure that intersection? Yes, we're at the point where we're in design. Maybe if there is some feedback that might be the platform to be able to talk about it in a little more detail. I can bring that in the February meeting or the March meeting. CRB or would it be CRA? I might do it at the joint meeting. The next one. Okay. We'll see what the next joint would be good if there's any input while you're in the process. Sure. I have one more question. If we're in the design phase, are we narrowing the street? Yes, we are. What are we going from?

We are narrowing the street to 10 foot each direction, right? Might slow traffic down. Yeah, it slows traffic down. But if you're pulling I'm big on trailers. You're pulling bow trailers, wide trailers. I understand some of the beams are wider than 9 and a half foot and you might swipe a mirror. I don't know. We can discuss that when we bring the design forward. M Mr. Mayor. Yes, ma'am. With regard to resolution number 04 question. Yeah, I'm I'm finished talking.

Sorry, wasn't really a question. I just wanted to know and I had talked about this, but I'll um we're putting in for this now, but we're also going to coordinate it with the fact that there will be a skate park. I mean, all of the demolition and that kind of stuff would not interfere. We wouldn't be building this while we'd have to rip it up to Yeah, that's all I wanted to make clear. Guy Davis Park, that's on 10th Street. This is This is Martin Luther King Boulevard. Oh, okay. Sorry. I thought it was 10 Street. Sorry. Several blocks away. Several blocks away. Yes. Mr. Mr. Mayor, with regard to resolution number 04206, move approval. Is there a second? I second the motion.

Okay. Is there any public comment on item number 11? I have no public comment. Mayor, seeing none, are there comments from commissioners? No. Yeah. I don't think we should be narrowing streets like this. Okay. Uh, Mary, would you call the role? Vice Mayor Reid? No. Commissioner Rich? Yes. Commissioner Gio? Yes. Commissioner Clark? Yes. Mayor Collins? Yes.

Item 12. Ordinance number 2545-2026, an ordinance of the city commission of the city of Steuart, Florida for a major amendment for lot number three of the Stewart Landings Roman numeral 2 commercial planned unit development. also being associated with lot number one and lot number two of the Steuart Landings Roman numeral 2 CPU, providing for an amendment to the master site plan for lot number three of the Steuart Landings Roman numeral 2 CPU to accommodate a 470 ft coffee rush convenience restaurant with two drive-through facilities and the existing 2,840 square ft Burger King restaurant and single drive-through facility. providing for amended development conditions, a timetable for development, and master site plan approval for a parcel of land located at 3991 Southeast Federal Highway, providing for conflict, providing for severability, providing for an effective date and for other purposes. And before I hand it over to the development department, I just wanted to say that to remind the board that this is the first reading of this ordinance. So, the staff will be looking for a motion to transmit it to second reading. And as I've talked to you about this in the past, our our ordinance has a minimum that you just have to read the title of the ordinance um and do a motion to transmit it to second reading. But I think in the past, the board has liked to have a presentation from staff and the applicant. And that way you can kind of give feedback to both before the second reading. So, if you're going to do this a presentation, you've already pulled out the yellow card. I'd recommend that you follow along with the yellow card.

Is is it the pleasure of the board that we move this forward to second reading or that we we have a presentation on this item? I'd ask that we have the presentation by staff and the applicant. Okay. So, I think you could you still need to do a motion in a second just to bring the issue um to the floor and then you can have a presentation. All right. the presentation in the motion or just the motion is to move it forward. It would be the motion to move it forward in a second. I would say I would recommend doing a motion and transmitted to second reading as long as we get a presentation from uh staff and the applicant. Okay. You're going to do it. No, you could do it.

I'll do whatever Lee said. Whatever said. I move that uh for um this ordinance number 2545 2026 be moved to second reading conditioned upon having a presentation from staff and the representative today. Is there a second? I'll second the motion. Is there any public comment on item 12? I have no public comment. Okay, seeing none,

let me go ahead and swear them in. All right. All right. So, in a quasi judicial hearing, the city commission steps outside of its legislative or administrative role and into a judicial capacity. The city commission will be making a determination by applying existing laws, ordinances, and regulations to the facts presented to the board. Everything needs to be officially entered into the record and testimony needs to be under oath. The commissioners are also required to disclose any exparte communications that occurred prior to this hearing. Will all potential witnesses for the applicant city staff please stand and raise your right hand to be sworn in?

Do you affirm that the testimony that you are about to provide in this hearing will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? So help you God be seated. Lee, shall we go through exparte or we going to let it I I would suggest that you do that. Just follow the yellow card. Do the commissioners have any exparte communications they wish to wish to disclose? I have none, Mr. Mayor. I have none. I have none. I'm here with an open mind. I have none. I'm here with an open mind as well. I have none as well. Okay. Jody, would you please provide a brief summary of the agenda item and the presentation?

Uh, good evening, Mayor Collins, Vice Chair Reid, and board members. For the record, my name is Jody Cougler, the development director of the city of Stewart. Tonight I'm presenting agenda item number 12 for a major amendment to the Steuart Landings 1 and two commercial plan unit development. a petition to develop a 490 ft coffee rush fast food convenient restaurant with two drive-thru lanes located adjacent to the existing Burger King within the within the footprint of building number three for the Steuart to plan development pursuant to land development code public notice requirements on December 15, 2025, the applicant mail notices to all the adjacent properties within 300 ft of the subject parcel to provide details details of the requested development and the date and time of tonight's public hearing. Additionally, one sign was posted on the property with the same information. We did receive an email from a citizen expressing concerns regarding the architectural requirements. This was provided during the local planning agency meeting. The property is approximately 1.27 27 acres outlined in red, located on the east side of Southeast Federal Highway, approximately 200 feet south of Southeast Miami Street. The subject parcel is currently designated by this commercial planning development. The properties to the north southwest is zone commercial planning development and to the east is zone residential planned unit development. According to the plan development approval authorized by the city commission via ordinance number 2384-208 to propose the proposed convenient restaurant is a permitted use within the CPU. However, the necessary site engineering modification exceeds 5% of the approval master plan and therefore the proposed development requires a major plan

development amendment per land development code section 11.01.10 10 PNS B the existing future land use is designated commercial the land uses and activities predominantly connected with the sale rental and distribution of products or performance of professional and non-professional services includes retail sales service establishments business professional and other offices shopping centers financial institutions restaurants entertainment hotel motel and other temporary lodging a limit limited amount of the multif family residential indoor industrial uses is allowed. Mixeduse projects are also allowed and also public facilities. The properties to the north, south, east, west are designated as opposed to site um what the location would be on that vacant site. On September 10, 2018, the city commission voided ordinance number 20 2017-07 and amended ordinance number 2313-205, combining the 3.16 and 1.27 27 acre parcels, creating the land, the Steuart Landing CPU, and providing a master site plan to accommodate a 2,845 ft² Burger King drive-thru, convenient restaurant, and a 4,700 ft² office building for Med Express via ordinance number 2384-208. The 4700 ft Med Express outlined in red was never constructed. The this is the same location as the proposed 490 ft coffee rush fast food convenient restaurant within the same footprint. The building footprint has been reduced by 4,210 square ft. According to the plan development approval authorized by

the city commission via ordinance number 2384-208 to propose convenient restaurant is a permitted use within the CPU. However, the necessary site engineering modifications does exceed the 5%. The applicant is proposing uh to a amendment, a deviation from the land development code to allow the uh two uh queuing spaces, two double queuing spaces. Uh, lot three of the Steuart Landings one and two CPD will provide 57 parking spaces, including eight ADA parking spaces for the Burger King and Coffee Rush convenient restaurants. Both users will share a designated loading space situated near the preserve area located behind this site. Bicycle racks will also be provided adjacent to the coffee rush. The level of service indicates that there will be no adverse impacts on the established level of service standards for the water, wastewater, solid waste, public safety, and storm water and traffic. The site is currently pro provided with water and wastewater services by Martin County Utilities and solid waste department has confirmed that the sufficient capacity is available for the proposed development. The city of Stewart will continue to provide solid waste and recycling service to the site. The on-site drainage runoff will be managed through the on-site preserve retention area located at the rear of the site before to before exiting to the master stormwater system. The off-site drainage discharge will be designated for the 25-year 3-day storm event and the building elevations will exceed the the building elevations will exceed the 100 3-day storm requirements as per Southwater Water Management District. The development will need to obtain site permits from the city of Stewart and from Southwater Water Water Management.

The proposed landscape plan includes a total of 18 trees, four buttonwoods, two two crepe myrtles, seven Alexander palms and three southern live oaks and two royal palms. The shrub plantings will be consist of cocoa plums. Compliance with the tree mitigation requirement has been achieved through a payment of 264,463 in the tree fund from previous developments within the same plan development. In accordance with the city of Steuart land development code section 6.05.02 PN F commercial project developments are required to provide a maximum of five building design treatments. The proposed architectural devel elements meets the following building design treatment requirements. Raised cornice parapits over doors, display windows, decorative lightings and peaked roof frames, exterior wood cladding, stucco scoring and front entrance overhangs. This is just a site that uh Coffee Rush maintains and I took some of the elevations just to show what one would look like. This is in Beaverton or Oregon. Uh this is the same this is two different locations. I'm sorry. It's the same location at that location. At the November 13, 2025 local planning agency, the board recommended to the city commission unanimously to approve the project as presented with a complimentary earth tone colors. This petition conforms with this criteria outlined in section 11.01.09 09 of the Stewart plan development code Florida statute and is consistent with the goals, objectives, and policies of the city of Stewart comprehensive plan. Staff is requesting that city commission forward to second reading a major amendment to the existing commercial planning and development zoning district to approve the coffee rush as a permitted use within this commercial plan development. The applicant is in the audience if you would like to have a presentation or

staff is here to answer any questions you may have. Are there any questions for Jody? No. Thank you, Jody. Thank you. Jody, is this a minor amendment or a major? Uh, Commissioner, Vice Mayor Reed, this is a major plan development. It exceeds the 5%. Okay. On the application, they listed it as a minor amendment. So, that was amended as a major. Okay. So, it's fixed. All right. And uh Jody, for clarification, the only deviation from code is an increase in the number of spaces in the queue.

Yes. Uh our code requires you to have a single queue with I think seven up to seven cars. They're requesting to have they still meet the minimum queuing requirement. It's just through uh double lanes as opposed to one single lane. Got it. Okay. If there's no questions for Jody, does the applicant have any presentation? I have a question for Jody. Okay. Sorry. Um, are there other drive-throughs where they've provide relief for queuing in the city?

Uh, Vice Mayor Reed, I'm not familiar. I do know the next project is asking for the same thing. Um, but I'm not familiar with double queuing um in the um in Stewart. I do know that coffee rush is currently working on another application with the city of Port St. Lucy and in your packet they did provide an analysis how they were achieving that double queuing. Okay. Chick-fil-A Chick-fil-A doubleing goes two to one, I guess. Is that what you're talking about? By Home Depot. Yeah. Yeah. I I'm not familiar. I would have to go back and look at Chick-fil-A. I'm not there taking I don't

I rarely eat there so I apologize. I don't really No, you're you're sorry. You're good. Okay. With the applicant. Uh do you have a presentation? I can say grateful for your your presentation, Jody. Thank you very much. And I'm I'm grateful for everyone's interest in our project here. Um just a little bit bit of background to tell you where we're coming from. My first of all, my name is Ron Yoast and and I'm one of the co-owners of of Coffee Rush. My wife and daughter and I are the are the So, it's a familyowned business. We opened our first store in uh Beaverton, Oregon in 1992. So, we've been doing coffee for 33 years

and we know coffee and um it was a period of time when there was five Starbucks in the city of Portland and there was zero Starbucks in Florida. So, we kind of got caught in the updraft and and um we've I don't know why, but we've decided to expand our business in South Florida. And the reason the reason is because I think you you you have a a lack of drive-through coffee retail down here. And I think that we serve good coffee and I think you you'll I think you'll enjoy our coffee. But but one thing that when I say a lack of drive-through coffee, you've got plenty of Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts, but the the opposing drive-through lanes is is um kind of a critical piece of our business model because um if you've been by a Starbucks where they've got 10 12 cars in line, personally, if I were to get in the line with 10 cars, I I'd drive by every day. So the the if you have six cars in line, three on each side, it doesn't seem like it's too long. And we get them through really really fast with two drive-through lanes. So we very rarely have uh queuing um of any substance. And in fact um we have an app. You can go to the app store and download our app. And uh we do a lot of order ahead and we don't have an order box. when I was here for the um planning commission uh the planning development commission meeting and there was a a member of the community here that asked if we had a squawk box the microphone in the morning. We don't we don't have that. So um typically the um the customers order ahead or they order at the window and a lot of lot of our customers are order ahead and so we get the customers through very quickly. So queuing is really not we rarely ever have more than two or three cars in line on each side. So

how many of these locations do you guys operate or we we've got six in the northwest. We've got six stores in the Northwest. So, this would be your seventh store total. Oh, well, no. Um, actually, we we just opened our seventh store on November 15th over in Fort Myers. How many of them have the stack queue? Um, well, the one we open in Fort Myers, it it question because in the city of Fort Myers, they have a 10 car stacking a queuing uh per drive-through lane, but they were they they gave us a five car deviation because we have two drive-through lanes. So they allowed us to to represent, you know, uh, with two drive-through lines, five car stacking. So yeah, we got that DV. So that location is your is the one location that has the stacking that we're talking about.

The Well, the Fort Myers location is is our first store in in Florida and and it it is a double drive-thru, opposing drive-thru, and we do have stacking for I think four cars on one side and six cars on the other side. And we we were able to receive that deviation from the city of Fort Myers. And that do the other locations have that as well or this that is the one location that has the two Oh, no. All no. All the all the locations have Yeah, that's what I was trying.

Yeah, I'm sorry. I misunderstood your question. All the all the locations are double drive-thru opposing drive-thru. Um and I I candidly I don't I don't I've not seen any of that down here in um in South Florida. I mean, it just usually it's all one drive-through lane. Sometimes you got two drive-through lanes wrapping around the building, funneling into one. But we've got the opposing drive-through lanes. So really, it's it's like having two stores in one. Two two sides of the building and two lines of cars and and um so we're able to get them through much quicker. But yeah, with regard to the trees that are going in is what is the maturity of the trees that you intend on planting? Oh boy. I' I' I'd have to turn to I'll introduce Jeff Williams.

I'm Jeff Williams. I'm the chief development officer for Connor South. We're the owner development of the pro of the overall project. Um all of the all of the plantings that are going on in this development which are not very many because it's not a very very large pad are right on the code requirement. So if it you know if any of the shade trees require an 18 foot they go in at 18 foot. So they're all right to the letter of the law. So you'll be installing an 18 foot tree. I'm just using that as an example. whatever this our the landscaping plan that was submitted along with this is 100% code compliant to the city of Stewart's code and consistent with the remainder of the development.

Would you guys be opposed to uh really we're going to talk more about this next time? This is very superficial tonight. Would you be opposed to potentially having larger shade trees if if would you be against that if I were to ask that next time? Hey, our preference would be to install landscaping per the code. Yeah, I understand. Right. So, you would be against that? Uh, yes. I'm just speaking for Clay. I know Clay wants to hear.

I mean, the, you know, the the if you look if you look at this development, you know, when we originally developed this center, um, we actually had to get a little bit of a deviation to install palms along the frontage because that's what the higherend car dealerships across the street has had installed. So, a lot of places typically in Florida, like even if you slide down to the Walmart, you have very, very dense, mature, canopy shade trees. We match on the other side. So, we're more of a coastal uh more of a tropical uh layout. And that concrete's tropical. What's that? That concrete's tropical. Well, I'm talking about the landscaping plan. Yeah. Royal Palms, thatch palms, sable palms, very tropical. Okay.

Uh they don't grow outside of tropical areas. So, Right. Um, but those those are, you know, those all get installed at the code requirement um to ensure the best, you know, to the best growth rate. And I'm pretty sure it's pretty close to 100% native uh landscaping plan as well. Also, just to back up on the drive-thru, yes. Um,

not the sole reason, but one of the reasons a deviation is required, um, is because the Steuart Code is silent on a bifurcated double drive-thru. So, it's not the it's not two lanes backto back full size like Chick-fil-A. It's two smaller lanes, one going this way, one coming this way. Uh the checkers right down the road may be similar may be similar to that. So, part of the problem is a lot of codes around the around Florida are silent on that. So the the business itself is what a a fifth of the size of Starbucks or a fifth of the size of the Burger King with the same stacking requirement as that Burger King without the food service and without the menu order board. Um but also it's a order ahead. So it's a really fast quick operation. You know one one service person can service the left window and service the right window. So, it's very fast and very efficient. Um, so it wasn't a matter of not having the stack. It was a matter that the city of Steuart's code doesn't specifically address a bifurcated drive-through lane.

Thank you. Are there questions from our commissioners for the applicant? Yeah, I do. Um, is the coffee rush drive-thru only? You know what? We have a walk up window and if you go back to the So, there's a there's a walkup window in the front. There's a small patio in the front and and I think probably we're going to get a lot more landscape here than we would have if we'd had done a 4,700 foot medical office building. So, I would project that there'd be a lot more landscaping here because a 400 foot building's got plenty of room around it for more landscaping. But, we've got a small patio out front and there's a walkup window. So, there'll be seating tables with umbrellas and that kind of thing, but no no no no public access to the building. Just just so just drive through and and and Do you sell food?

We do. However, we don't make it. So, so we've got we've got uh we've identified a local bakery here in the area that'll be supplying us with the the pre-made breakfast sandwiches um and scones, muffins, these kinds of things. And we do have the ovens um like they have at Starbucks. So, we'll heat the sandwiches up and it takes about 45 seconds to heat up one of those sandwiches. So, it's it's pretty quick. But, uh no, we're we're excited about the community. You know, we're we're coming into the community. We're going to be we hire usually about 18 to 20 people from the community to work in the store and we use local local vendors, local bakery, local dairy, local coffee roasters. So, yeah. So, we'll I'm sure add value to the community through our operation. So, and and serve good coffee, too. Coffee.

Looking forward to it. Uh do the commissioners have any questions for the applicant? Yeah. Where where's the outdoor seating? I think I saw somewhere for like 700 foot of outdoor seating. No, right. Did I read that right or am I looking at something? It's less than Yeah, there's the if we have an actual site plan. Yeah, because it's hard to see on the site plan. It's right here. Uhhuh. Here's the sidewalk that area.

So this whole area here Uhhuh. is the outdoor seating area. This would be the front window if you were on foot and walked up the pick window. That's 700 foot though. It looks bigger than the build or smaller than the building and the building's 400 and some square foot, isn't it? Yeah. I mean, it I don't I don't know the determination on how it's calculated, but my guess is it's from the two corners of the building all the way out including the the the uh crosswalk there. We can double check that. It's just hard to see on the site plan. I was trying to I think in the packet. Isn't there an actual site plan in the packet? Yeah, I I

there's an actual site plan. That's an overlay. There is an actual site plan. Yeah, I'm looking at the site plan. It was just very vague on the site plan. Like it didn't call it out or anything. You can see it.

This is it right here. Yeah, I think they There you go. There you go. That's a landscape plan. But you can see that that's pretty goodized patio out front right there. This whole area from here to here to here to here is patio. And then where's the building on here? These three white horizontal lines. Actually, I believe just the two are the building two. So there' be trees on that patio, too. Is that all the trees are represented in the different all the colored elements on the site plan are are landscaping. It's so narrow it's hard to see. We're not used. We're not seeing this. structure is that small,

right? And the building is small. Yeah. Yeah. Um I mean, it's a coffee stand. Yeah. Yeah. It's a high-end fast functioning coffee stand. I've been doing it for a long time. We have all we have all the equipment in there that you find at Starbucks now. Now, do all your locations have dual drive-through? So, it's like your business model probably. That's our business model. That's our business model. And you know, when we came down here and started looking around, we saw a lot of these Starbucks with 10, 12, 15 cars in them. And and it's like, why why I mean, we never have because we get people through so much quicker with with two drive-through lanes. And so, um, that's good. So, it's it's good our business model, Mr. Mayor. Yes. Okay. Forgive me.

No, that's okay. JB, you just didn't notice my light. I was not paying attention. You're right. Hi, I happen to have been at the LPA meeting. um when you presented there was some discussion about uh colors. Yes. Yes. And it was my understanding that they were going to be presenting a new

Well, I I and I thought I remembered you, Laura. Thank you very much. And and and and when I came away from that meeting, um I thought the word was muted as opposed to earth tones. The the the our architect on the elevations, the the the body of the building is and the one you see over in Fort Myers, we open is is a concrete gray color. It's a very light kind of muted gray color. The elevations are much darker gray than than that's a much darker gray than is on our building right there. It looks copper. I mean, yeah. So,

so Rob and I already discussed at the at the next meeting this elevation will be updated. Um the landscaping plan will be updated as well. The the crate myrtles are changing out to a more native plant to the 10 A zone. uh this gray area that's the sidewalk or that's the concrete walls that's that's the sections that are changing to a warm earth tone. So it'll be complmentary to um you know this tan and this rust that was a request of the right I know it's out of our scope but that just does not look like Steuart to me that looks like Portland or New York or something. And Lori remember that comment came up too. Yes. And it it aesthetically that is

No, it's out of our Yeah. Vice colors. Pardon me. Miami the orcer the more pinky instead of the brown. We go to the orca colors which are kind of like a background like you see that picture down there with the

it's a light uh that or region. So, we were asked at the last meeting specifically, the comment was, "We're a coastal town. Why is this not a coastal build, right? You know, why aren't we looking at shiplap, metal roofs, um your pastels or your or your muted neon colors?" And the answer to that is this is also a PUD and there is an AR set of architectural guidelines for this development. If you look at the rest of the existing buildings in this development,

they are lighter in earthtone colors. So, while I would agree with you that this, you know, if you take for example the vet the the vet on map, the light blue, it has the plantation style roofs, all those things. This doesn't look anything like that. But this is consistent and does not deviate from the architectural code that governs this development. Okay. Well, within the architectural code for this PUB though, is there something about the actual frontage architectural style like you know archetraes? And I know Burger King's very modern, but if you look at mattress, you have you do have this code works in the tab or or the the point system where you have a section of architectural attributes.

Yes. And you have to hit a specific number of those attributes and it hits it hits the required attributes uh of the development. That's one of the reasons why we, you know, why we also agreed to change the color because an earth tone does fit more in with the existing architecture of the Aldi. Uh the the Burger King's even a little bit more modern than this, maybe depending on your view. Uh but of the multi-tenant building as well, but but from our perspective, it's a 400 foot building, right?

And if it's not unique looking, people are going to drive by it every day and not even notice it. It has to be it. And and I I will tell you the store we open at Fort Myers, it's this building and every day people come through and comment like how kind of cool and cute the building looks. So So people are noticing the building. If it was a box, a beige box, people would drive by it every day and not even notice it. So that's part of our that's also part of our business model is the look of the building.

We we've been in Conover South. We've been in Florida since 1957. You know, we we own Steuart Center down the road. We own this we own this center. Um we have on many occasions shied away from these jewelbox developments, coffee and other uses because of the architectural style. Typically what you see is the older version uh that's more similar in the Northwest or you see the shipping container type of development. Um and this was one of the things that we agreed to when when we did the deal with Ron is that it has to have some architectural appeal. You're not going to be able to do vertical and horizontal articulation like you can in a bigger building, but it we, you know, we wanted to fit in with the development. We wanted to have a good look so it doesn't look like just a box sitting there. Um, and they did a really good job. Like as you said, there's there's not a lot you can do with 490 ft as far as architecture. and the way that they designed the roof where you have, you know, two different slope lines, um the way that the that front panel comes off the front, the wood paneling, um while it's not necessarily coastal, you know, it's not a coastal overlay architectural guideline, but they did a fantastic job on the design. Um and they were very very accommodating of uh everything um that we requested of them to be able to do this because we we pulled away from the Met Express quite a while back because um we didn't think the density was the right fit. Uh we didn't think the parking the circulation would would work with that building. Um so we turned down a bunch of deals and kind of sat on this for a while until uh the right one came along. You know we turned down some car you know some automotive users like you know Valvaline and those types of things. We didn't think that was the right fit as well. And the size of this and his operation fits really well being sandwiched in between two grocery stores with the Walmart and Aldi. There's a lot of internally captured traffic uh which will allow it to operate pretty smoothly. So from a from a from a developer owner standpoint, which is really important because we don't sell, we we maintain our properties and we own

them long term. It was really really important uh for this to uh for this to work smoothly and we're really happy with the way his team made it turn out. Does the applicant uh wish to offer any additional information before we conclude this presentation? I just have one question. No. To the you mentioned at the LPA meeting that your daughter was going to move to this area or is that why you were looking in this area? Has she moved here? She is. Yeah. She's overrunning the Fort Meyer store right now and and we've got we've had full disclosure, we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for two of our key managers moved down here during CO and then our daughter moved down here. So, we have people. Is she going to live in Stewart? I was just just nosy.

She's looking. She's looking in the area. Yeah, she's looking in the area. You know, we're I I'm got I've got my Florida driver's license, so I'm right. Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, well, I'm from Oregon. Are you kidding me? I can't wait to move down here to Florida. And I'm And I'm local, so they're going to have more oversight than they want. Fantastic. I left yesterday. It was 40 degrees and raining, which felt like 30 degrees and raining up there. And so, yeah. No, we're happy to be here, too. Our daughter's down here and she we've got a place that's in uh just a little north of Palm Beach Gardens. So yeah, so we're we're excited to be a part of the community. You won't have to worry about the formation of any autonomous zones or any of this kind of thing you see on TV here. Thankful to public safety. Yeah. Yeah.

Okay. So move it to next time. So then where was Yeah, we've already made the motion. We just need to vote. No, there are a few steps here. Yep. Okay. Sorry. I I'm not I don't have my Somebody took my question. Some of the steps can be bypassed because there already is a motion. Presentation of evidence has ended. The hearing is closed. Does any member of the public wish to make a comment? You have three minutes if you'd like to. Mary, I have no question. Seeing none. Okay. So then I would say we are ready for a motion. I have the motion. We just need We can go right to voting. when we get through here. Mary, would you call the role? Commissioner Clark, yes. Commissioner Rich,

yes. Mayor Collins, yes. Vice Mayor Reid, yes. Commissioner Gobi, yes. Thank you for helping do that. See you in two week. Is there a date certain for it to come back um for the next meeting? It's the next meeting. Thanks. Okay. For second reading. Okay. Item 13,

ordinance number 2546-2025, an ordinance of the city commission of the city of Steuart, Florida, approving a major amendment to phase 3B of the Windermir Point commercial plan unit development, providing for an amendment to the master site plan to authorize the development of a 1,995 square foot Popeye's restaurant with dual drive-through lanes located at the southoutheast corner of northwest windmir drive and northwest federal highway providing for conditions of approval providing for conflict providing for severability providing for an effective date and for other purposes and again I'd like to remind the board this is also the first reading of this ordinance and we would be looking for a motion to transmit it to the second reading which would be at the next uh commission meeting.

Do we have a motion? No, I mean I'm not giving a motion. I make a motion that uh ordinance number 2546 2025 be transferred to the next meeting upon hearing the any staff comments or comments from the presentation from the applicant today. Is there a second? I'll second it. Okay. Do the commissioners have any exparte communications to disclose? Um, I have none and I'm here with an open mind.

I have none and I'm here with an open mind. I spoke with the interim city manager regarding this item. I have none. I'm here with an open mind. I have none as well. Okay. Um,

I'm sorry. I didn't realize I also spoke to the city manager regarding this. So, Lee, would you place any potential witnesses under oath? I want to repeat my intro comments that I make on these. So, in a quasi judicial hearing, the city commission steps outside of its legislative or administrative role and into a judicial capacity. The city commission will be making a determination by applying existing laws, ordinances, and regulations to the facts presented to the board. Everything needs to be officially entered into the record and testimony needs to be under oath. The commissioners are also required to disclose any exparte communications that occurred prior to today hearing which we already have. So will all potential witnesses for the applicant and the city staff please stand, raise your right hand and be sworn in. Do you affirm that that the testimony that you are about to provide in this hearing will be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. So help you God.

All right. You may be seated. Okay. Okay. Will the development department please provide a brief summary of the item, including any deviations from the land use development regulations?

Good evening, mayor, vice mayor, and commissioners. For the record, my name is Michelle Arbazowl, planner one with the development department. Today, I'm presenting item agenda item number 13, which is the first reading of ordinance number 2546-2026. It is a major amendment to the commercial plan unit uh development Windermir Point, a petition to develop a Popeye's fast food convenience restaurant with double drive-thru lanes within the vacant footprint of the phase 3B of the CPU. The request was brought before the LPA on November 13, 2025 and now the city commission due to the expiration of the Windermir Point CPU. The applicant is seeking to modify the approved site plan to reduce the size of the phase 3B development of the CPU. Pursuant to the land development code public notice requirements on December 28, 2025, the applicant mailed uh notices to all adjacent property owners within 300 ft of the subject parcel uh to provide details of the requested development and the date and time of tonight's public hearing. Additionally, two signs were updated and posted on the property with this same information. The Windmir Point commercial plan unit development comprises of three parcels totaling 9 acres. The 1.64 64 acre property outlined in teal is the location of the proposed project which is located at 1961 Northwest Federal Highway and is situated at the southeast corner of Northwest Windmir Drive and US Highway 1. The subject parcel is currently designated by CPU zoning. Uh, Northwest Minameir Drive is situated to the north

and northwest Federal Highway is situated to the west. The properties to the south is zone CPU and the properties to the east is also zone CPU. The subject parcel as well as the parcels to the south and east are designated by the commercial feature land use designation. Uh, again to the north is Northwest Windmir drive and west is Northwest Federal Highway. The original approval for phase 3B granted under resolution 99-207 and was adopted on September 25th, 2017 authorized the development of a 2,34q ft retail space and a 1,794 square foot restaurant with a drive-thru uh totaling 3,828 square feet. The applicant seeks to amend the CPU to eliminate the retail portion, designating the restaurant as the sole use for phase 3B. The applicant is seeking approval from the city uh Steuart City Commission construct a 1,995 foot Popeye's restaurant with dual drive-thru lanes. This proposal represents a reduction of 1,833 square feet from the total square footage of phase 3B originally approved by the commission in 2017. In accordance with section 6.05.02.5, all large commercial development must provide a minimum of five design building treatment. Staff identified the following in this rendering. They have display windows, the natural face brick, wood facade, painted face brick, and decorative light fixtures.

Reflected on this slides are clear images of the current location. The city of Stewart will continue to provide sanitation services only to the site, ensuring consistent and reliable support. The existing parcel provides a total of 103 parking spaces. Of these, 21 spaces are allocated to the current retail use. The proposed restaurant development will remove nine existing spaces, but the plan include uh striping 16 new spaces to offset this impact. Uh the restaurant will provide will require 25 parking spaces. Additionally, there are 64 surplus spaces that would have been utilized if the remaining retail development had been constructed. As far as traffic, the proposed development is anticipated to generate approximately 122 trips during the AM peak hours. uh that is 67 entering and 55 existing exiting as well as 229 trips during the PMP hours which is 127 entering and 102 exiting. The analysis compared the proposed trip generation with the generation with the previously approved retail development. The traffic consultants review concluded that the net trip generation for the proposed uh project reflects a reduction in afternoon peak hours and a dimminimous increase less than uh 1% in the morning peak hour trips. The proposed site plan indicates an impervious surface coverage of 57% and a pvious coverage of 42%. According to Kimley Horn, the city's consultant reviewer, the submitted drainage statement demonstrate that the project meets the city of sewer development criteria. Uh there is a live oak tree that will be

impacted. Uh it will be relocated on the site by a certified arborist and will comply with the land development code. Uh a tree removal permit is required prior to work commencing. The applicant is proposing to install eight canopy trees that includes a daffoon holl myrtle, pink tabua, live oak and a foxtail palm. Hedge materials will consist of cocoa plums, green out island fus and trinets as well as annual ground covers. Perimeter of the site has been landscaped and wellmaintained from the original plan development. Uh the conditions will include the following in the proposed ordinance. Um water and sewer service of course will be provided by Martin County. All civil utility plans must be reviewed and approved by Martin County. All proposed dumpster enclosure must be constructed per the city of Stewart dumpster enclosure construction details. The applicant must provide approval for Martin County for the proposed dumpster location within their easement prior to the issuance of a site permit. If any of the proposed sanitation receptacles per use unit require more than twice a week pickup, the owner/develop developer will require to install vertipacks with eight yard receptacles. The current application is proposing a total of 10 signs as part of the Popeye's restaurant development which marks the final phase of the Windermir Point commercial plan unit development. The proposed signage include a mix of wall-mounted and graphic elements. Details as follows. They are two, this is the original request. The wall signs are two um uh one on the west elevation

fronting US1 measuring 43.2 square ft. one sign on the on the northwest winder drive measuring 24.1 square feet and the graphic and branding elements included like the Louisiana kitchen sign that's 10 square feet the one standalone chicken graphic which is 33 square feet uh one love that chicken graphic 117 square ft and one famous Louisiana chicken graphic 40 square ft and then there are four chicken graphic shutter elements 33 square f feet each. Notably, the proposed signage plan does not include a monument sign or any temporary construction signage which are which were part of their original 2014 PDQ restaurant approval.

Um question or maybe let's wait till the end. Forgive me, we can ask you.

The the original site plan approved in 2014 designated the location for a PDQ restaurant. As part of that approval, a specific signage package was authorized, consisted of seven signs, including one temporary construction sign. The signage changes associated with the Popeye's development package remains a reference point for evaluating the proposed. Uh the original approved signage from 2014 details is as follows. Uh this is for the PDQ that was previously approved. They had two signs uh each measuring 42 square ft. the directional signs too uh each measuring 2.8 square feet, a monument sign which was a freestanding monument sign that will follow the city of Stewart um land development code criteria and one temporary sign for construction purposes. There was also a flag pole proposed. Staff does find the proposed development to be consistent with the city's land development regulation and comprehensive plan. The request for additional signage which is the original uh submittal was not part of the original approval. Approval is currently being sought for 10 sign subject to LPA and city commission approval. Staff does not uh support the request for additional signage as it is not consistent with complimentary to the existing signage throughout the plaza. At its uh November 13, 2025 meeting, the LPA approved the Popeye's development with a reduction in the total number of signs to six and a modification to the architectural style to ensure consistently consistency with the surrounding plaza. uh with the LPO. The applicant submitted alternative signage and elevation based on the feedback from LPA and the public comments at the public meeting held in November. According with the submitt, the alternative signage and elevation

proposed a total of five five signage instead of the original 10. One sign on the uh one sign on the west elevation fronting US1 measuring 43.2 2 square ft and one sign on the fronting northwest winder drive measuring 24.1 square ft and then one chicken graphic which is 33 square ft. Um murals which are defined as wall signs in our city's uh land development code uh one that states love that chicken graphic is 117 square feet and the famous Louisiana chicken graphic which is 40 square feet. Notably, the proposed signage plan does not include a monument sign or any temporary construction signage which was part of that original approval. Based on the LPA and the public feedback, uh the applicant submitted alternative proposed scholar scheme to match the plaza in accordance with section 6.05.02.f. All large commercial development must provide that minimum five design building uh treatment staff and identify the display windows, wood facade, painted face brick, decorative light fixtures and shutters. The Popey sign that is shown on the uh wall uh with a mural that states love that chicken will be placed on the wall fronting Northwest Windermir Drive. Uh in this rendering, it shows that it's it's on the other side. Uh depending on the status of the project tonight, the applicant will revise the plan to reflect the correct location location of that sign. Uh staff does find the proposed development to be consistent with the city of Steuart land development regulations and comprehensive plan. Staff is in support of the alternative signs submitt submittal request with the LPA and public feedback as it's less

intensive. However, approval is subject to the city commission approval. Do the commissioners have any question for staff? Um, I don't know if it's a question for staff. Um, but it basically Michelle, you and I talked about this. You sent this to me and I'm just a little confused because the CPU has expired.

So, oh, sorry. I can explain. Uh, so the CPU the timeline has expired. the uh construction of what was approved did not happen. So they are since that timeline has has expired the applicant is submitting a modification to the side plan. Okay. Whereas before there was a restaurant and a retail they are modifying it to have just the restaurant with less square footage. So that in part requires commission approval. before they can do anything.

Just that when you sent me this email with the explanation back in December 10th, you stated that the they want to approve the approved construction period has now expired.

Commissioner do if I may answer Jody Cougler for the record uh development director. So, uh, when this project came through, we were just trying to figure out where the, uh, process was with this 3B, which is the last phase of this project. There was a master plan that was approved originally that showed all the pods. Anytime a master plan, I mean, a major plan development comes through, even if their timeline expired or if it didn't expired, they are still required to come back to the commission for approval. So, uh, one of the things that we did identify was the timetable where they had to bring the project through did expire and they also made some changes to to reduce the building to take out the retail portion of it and just go with the restaurant um with the double lanes. So, all that requires a major amendment to the PUD.

Are there any other questions for staff? So, if we're looking at this traffic analysis, it doesn't really break down the traffic flow onto Windmir Road. Is that what it is? Is that's what the Windmir drive and US1 does it? Okay. By the way, Windmir Drive is a public road. It's not It's not owned by the community. It's a private road. It is a private road but it is platted um as the they have they have granted the Windmir plaza um okay

granted them uh easements to be able to use that um private road in perpetuity in perpetuity. Yes. Um your question about this traffic study. So in your packet you did have a full traffic study where it did show the allocations of what was uh what would be distributed to the Windmir in versus the US1 um traffic counts.

Could you indicate what page that on because I'm just seeing the totals here. So, to be clear, we're talking about a store that's going to generate 2% of the allowed capacity of the whole plaza, if I'm understanding that. Less than 1%. Less than 1%. Correct. Less than 1%. Okay. Commissioner Clark. Yes. Um,

could you I'm sorry. Could you just point out which page that it says? We'll actually go on to Windmir drive. Sorry. And they're actually turning onto a divided four-lane highway. Right. Windmir drive. Right there is is I believe there's a median there and it's two lanes each side. Correct. So Windmir is a traffic light. There is a traffic light there. But I'm saying if they go if they don't go right on on to one from the plaza, they're going to Right. They'll travel and go out toward the other exit. Yes. Go on to Windermir Drive.

No, you can enter in Windermir Drive and you can exit out by US one. Yes. But that little between where they get on the Windmir drive, that's a divided fourlane road. Yes. Yes. Through a median. Yes, you are correct, sir. Yeah. I'm sorry. He's right. I'm you need to address the mayor. Can you ask clarify? Can you just wait one moment? We'll go to public comment. Would you hold that for just cl just one moment? Yeah. Just for just for procedure. I know. I know. I can do it in public. If if it wasn't the yellow sheet, I would say come on up, man. It's on page 250.

What? Page 250. Okay. Okay. Um, okay. Hold on. Mr. Rich, you got more? I think she's gonna show him. Okay. Did you find it? Show me the top of that page. It is. It should be. It is on page 250 of the I was agenda. 250. Commissioner for your could you just spec just read where it says what percentage of those total trips will go on to Windmir drive and what will go on to US1.

I mean I'm just assuming the residents don't care about the cars that come in off of US chart. This is

This is the first reading, correct? So, yes, we can get this clarified if we can't find it. That's okay, Jody. I'll look it up since that's There's different parts of the report and it's very tiny so we can get that information for you. Okay, good. Thank you. Second. Yeah, I was Thanks. I couldn't find it. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Yes, sir. Commissioner Clark.

Yes. Um, I um I I don't know if everybody received it, but I I got an envelope from uh James Tucker of 921 Northwest Water Place, Jensen Beach, Florida, and he had two questions regarding traffic impacts at Windemir and US1. And then um from the other uh community that was there. What's the impact with regard to that on what access plus that but the traffic study I think explains everything. Then he had some flooding concerns uh in that area and then he had some questions about um uh what was the green space and the buffers and also and I think whatever concerns their homeowners association had with regard to the shopping center that's you know the other developments in that area and then the architectural compatibility and that has been provided to us. Does the clerk have a copy of this so that I don't want to read everything into the record, but you have that from

Okay. So, we have um so it's a part of the record indicate they haven't received staff never received that letter. Oh, so um I will tell you we we just received it today and they were provided five copies. So, we had to make additional copies for the manager. We'll make you a copy. So staff will look at it by the next time and if we can provide you the responses at at the second meeting, we'll have that. Thank you. Thank you. You're going to need time. I don't have any other questions. Anything I'm going to talk to staff about it um before the next time. Vice Mayor,

I saw something in here, Jody, and you might be able to answer it. There was something for traffic from the county how they put their counts on, but they were from 23. How often do they update that like in

Vice Mayor Reed? Um so they they utilize that um that calculation but they also use the IT which is what we use for anybody pretty much that is a tool that planning uses for any traffic engineer. So they look at the IT based off the use based on what type of roadway it is and that's how they allocate traffic. Yeah, I saw the IT count and and it went from 7th to 11th edition. Did they get stricter with their counts or less restrictive? I don't know if you know that off, Commissioner Reed. I would not know that. That is um with the time this this development was that it updates every two years. Okay.

They evaluate every two years and they publish a new addition every two years centrally like your Florida building codes. Okay. I would think you would have a copy of that. And uh Mr. Mayor, more questions. No, I'm I'm good for now. Mr. part

with regard to the IT. I know when we were doing the the zoning in progress, there were some concerns and I think we when we approved the zone in progress for East Stewart, there was actual statement that the city would not use the IT in calculating in that particular um zone or land use area. So I just want to make sure that I know that our code requires us to use the IT and the the professionals are using the IT. So I just wanted to

So So to your point traffic trips versus parking was the difference. So we were not leaning on it to make the designation of what is appropriate parking relative to multif family. This is with regard to traffic trips and use. Uh Vice Mayor I mean Mayor Collins that is correct. We use it for not we don't utilize it for parking. We utilize our tables that are built into the code but for traffic counts and how they allocate traffic distribution on roads. We do depend on the it chip generation. Yes.

Okay. Does the seeing no other questions from you guys. Okay. Does the applicant wish to offer additional information? Good evening, mayor and city commission. Yes, sir.

My name is Robert Sherman. I represent 1560 Boon LLC. Um, this project's had a very interesting past. very fortunate to be able to be involved in that past and we're very happy staff did a remarkable job in working with us and making sure as well public works that the concepts the plans the elevations the changes that were required from the LPA and a lot of the comments that came back from the city um as well as from all the community members that the project now should be considered consistent with the colors, the look, the feel of what LPA wanted. We are very, very happy with us today. Uh Oliver Herd is the owner operator of Popeye's. Uh if any questions are here from him or for him, I'm sure he'd be more than happy to address it. Um we believe that this is very consistent with the original approvals. Originally, we had a much larger chicken use and for whatever reason, uh, the PDQ decided to change. We then got caught in the whole repositioning and trying to bring in a dual tenant to the property, which as it found out was not the best and most uh beneficial not only to the owners, but to the community. uh traffic would have been greater, less landscaping, and we're very happy to work with Oliver and his firm on bringing a smaller box, a lot more landscaping, and a u a very nice development that is very consistent now and the likes. Just so you know, um public works and I work very hard. We are taking down the existing dumpsters that are there, repositioning it to allow garbage to be picked up. As you heard, we're taking the extra precaution

to make sure that in the event the garbage is not collected or met that there will be a compactor brought in similar to what is done on the LA fitness piece. When I developed the back, we had to work with that situation. So, we're really happy to bring this to um the city. We're really happy to hopefully start construction here. And yes, I think uh Jody was very accurate in the CPU. Um, we did ask for some extensions under the Florida Statue of Rights, but unfortunately those did not toll all the way through. So, we needed to come back and staff spend extra time making sure it was accurately presented that when we do come back, it would be done properly. And I thank Jod and her staff for doing a great job on uh assisting us to get to this point today. Uh, the elevations that you're seeing there are now in keeping. Um, Oliver, I want to thank you and your team for working with us on making these modifications and if you'd like to say something, please do.

Uh, hello, Mr. Mayor, commissioners, vice mayor. Uh, my name is Oliver Herd. Um, I just want to kind of introduce myself again, owner operator of Popeye's. Uh, unlike a lot of probably preconceived notions, we are, uh, the franchisee in the area. Um, we are a very small group. So, it's a family run office with me and my wife. We have uh two Popeyes that we're opening up in Palm Beach Gardens in Royal Palm Beach, and this would be our third that we're very excited about. We're very hands-on. We live in the northern Palm Beach County, so we're in Tquesta. Uh so, I visit this area frequently. I also uh recently opened up the uh Del Taco in Port St. Lucy, Jensen Beach area, which um we've been very involved with the community uh with local Jensen Beach High School, Port St. Lucy High School band um as well as Habitat for Humanity and other uh charitable deeds. So, we like to be involved with the community. We're not like a typical large franchise. We're very small. Uh and we we see benefits in being more part of a community than anything else. So, uh any questions operationally here or about us? I'm happy to answer them.

Are there any questions for the applicant? Yes. Um the signage there was a signage approved in the expired PDU which is in the medium there. That was this huge PDQ sign. Yes, that was the monument sign that was approved. Uh I'm sorry, what was the question? The question is that is considered signage too. Correct. None of the other entities have that monument. So the well the PDQ uh was approved with that monument sign. The applicant the current applicant is not requesting a monument sign.

Okay. So um just to be clear when I developed the entire center this out parcel uh and the monument sign is not a part of it. So there is no signage at all for the two buildings which is the Cleveland Clinic which now took over from something else and Popeyes. So the monument sign has been approved under the original PUD that is still in place 100%. Um a monument sign was not provided with this request.

Correct. It's not required with this request. You are correct. Well, it still exists in the PUB. That's correct. Yeah. It's not part of this request, right? You're 100% correct. I just want to make sure we're all on the same page. Okay. Uh if we could ask the board to um let us work with the applicant because we we were not provided a rendering for any type of monument sign because it would be different looking from the PDQ that was approved, right? And that's what was shown. So, we do want some time to work with the applicant before we bring this forward to the next and also to address uh some of the neighbors concerns. Do you think you're going to need more time than next meeting?

Yes, sir. Okay. Thank you.

So, I haven't had a chance really to see the neighbors concerns, but I did hear about them. I do believe that every one of those items have been addressed. We actually met with the owner, the the president of the homeowners association uh multiple times. Our attorney and hair attorney has worked on many of the things there. Uh at the LPA meeting, we did address, I believe, all of the questions that did come up regarding the um sanitation questions they had, the landscaping questions they had, and the likes. And yes, we'd be more than happy to work with staff. I would hope, Jody, that we can move this forward this week and not postpone the second reading if hopefully we get there because I don't think that those items that were addressed today that I heard about are any different than what was addressed at the LPA meeting.

Mayor, if I may answer. Sure. Um, we do have a lengthy letter from a resident that we received today that we do need to respond to 100%. Uh, we also need to uh respond to Commissioner Cam uh Rich's comments and also to address the um the monument sign because we do not have a rendering of that. And I'm I'm sure the neighbors and Windmir would like to see what that sign is just going to actually look like because it does have a PDQ approval that expired. We have to make sure we do it right. Right. Yes. Okay. Yes, sir. Absolutely. The city manager. Well, I said I was hoping. I didn't say I didn't say it was a requirement. I said hoping

the the city manager drives the agenda and if my staff's not comfortable with the presentation, it won't be on the next meeting. I understand. Okay. Thank you. And I have one more.

Yes, Commissioner. as part of that motion, and I had mentioned this to the um city manager, is that there's there's traffic issues there, and I I understand that we would have to send a letter from this commission to Martin County to ask them to have FDOT look at the possibility of putting in maybe a linker light or accessing the problems that exist at that light. And that's something I guess we would have to vote on to have staff send a letter to Martin County requesting the FDOT to do that.

Just for further clarifications on that, when when I developed the center, it was a light that we actually put in at our cost and expense based upon the overall flow of traffic considering all four corners. And even though the church has not really developed it, I think you'll find sufficient um flow based upon the design. But that was done in 2015 or 2017. I I understand. I'm just giving you history. I'm just saying the flow I think has changed. There's history of of what occurred. That's all.

Right. No, I I did remember that you had put that in at your cost and um just for safety. I mean, it's a it's a busy corner now, and I'm just thinking it should maybe especially with the apartment complex you got built there on the corner. Yes. That's why you got a bunch of new faces up here. What's that? That's why you have a bunch of new faces up here. Those apartments. Well, I wasn't involved in that. I don't know much about it except I know it increased a lot of the concerns. You're absolutely right. Uh, Commissioner Rich. Yeah. Um could you just summarize the changes you made as a result of the LPA meeting?

Sure. Um I think it's depicted on that plan but let me uh take the notes. I know that this that there were numerous I have them you can see them there but I do have some boards which I took basically working with staff who did a great job and especially working with Popeye's. Um, a lot of the colors needed to get changed. The LPA didn't like the awning material, which was not consistent with the back of the of the shopping center that I developed, which was more of the aluminum look. They wanted to soften some of the colors and some of the teal, which was removed. That's the old elevation,

correct? Yes, sir.

That's the old elevation. So, if you look at the new elevation, I can pass it around if you want to see it. Then you can compare the two. You'll see that there's a lot of differences. It's much more in keeping with the community. It's much more in keeping with the shopping center in its whole. Um the signages were greatly reduced from 10 down to five. Um, interesting how the city's sign ordinances work. Even if it's not a sign, as long as it's affixed to a building, it is considered a sign. So, um, and Popeye's did a great job in working with staff and wanting to seek the approvals and had corporate sign off on on the design. So, it was pretty extensive.

Thank you. You're welcome. That's it, Jody. For clarification, the those two extra signs are the deviation. Correct. The love that chicken and the big orange chicken on the side. Yes, that is correct. Those are the two deviations. Otherwise, it meets code. It meets the sign. Yes, sir. Yeah. Okay. Uh, does the applicant wish to offer anything else before we close the hearing?

Uh, no. Well, I think you'll find that there was a lot of landscaping brought on uh when we were able to redo the parking lot. All full mature trees will be going in. Um the dumpsters now are in a a much better location to align for the city of Stewart's garbage trucks. Um and I know that uh there's a lot of people in the center really looking to have a food use available. Thank you. Thank you. One more question,

Commissioner Joby. I'm sorry. I just have one more question and I know it's not part of the CPU, but it's a fast chicken fried place. So, do do you utilize those I forget what they call them, but it keeps that smell from penetrating out into the neighborhood. Scrubbers. Scrubbers. Thank you. Uh, we utilize uh most of that comes from the oil and oil use. Um, and so we utilize a specific one. We use beef towel. I don't think a lot of people know that. So, we don't use seed oils. We use beef towel for all of our fried chicken products. Okay.

Uh and two, we utilize we have a a partnership with a company called Darpro, which is uh oil management that comes weekly to come out and take out all the oil once we take out our fryers. So, we have an on-site storage container that deals with all the smell as well as uh making sure that we don't deal with um the out like a lot of times we there's a outdoor grease trap that gets dumped into. We have it in a very nice container on site that then they just kind of hook up into and clean it. It's much more efficient and helps remove a lot of the the smell as well. Thank you. Yep. Do you use beef towel for the French fries? Yes, sir. Yeah, we use it for all products. We only have beef towel in our store. Oh, you're out. Seed oils. You were in beef towel here. Sold.

I'm out. Okay. Uh, so the presentation has ended. Uh, does any member of the public wish to make a comment? You have three minutes. Please turn in a green card if you haven't and Mary will call on you. So Mary, I have Lloyd Navala.

Lloyd from Windmir. Um I do have a obviously um the traffic is an issue and uh the traffic still needs to be updated because of the apartment complex that went in as well as the Savannah complex went in across the street from that one then. So the traffic has increased a bunch and even though there is a stoplight there now the way the stoplight operates is really not very well suited you know as evidenced by the number of accidents that happen there on a regular basis. People trying to make the U-turns have a tendency to misjudge oncoming traffic again and again again. So another issue with the traffic there is the turn lane itself is not long enough to to uh accommodate the number of people making that U-turn at or the turn into Windmir at this time. So that may need a a major revamp. I'm not sure if anybody wants to pay for that one. Also, um I'm concerned about the existing landscaping that's there that has not been maintained. The original contractor and the original three developers in the area there uh have not maintained the the landscaping. If you drive in through there, you'll find a number of dead trees that are still there. You'll find that alongside of Windemir there are 8 to 10 dead trees, you know, so we don't really have the the blockage that you'd really want to have for a private road reading to a to a community. Um I'm also concerned about the air quality. U they didn't really address the issue of about using scrubbers. I know that there are homes very very close to where they are and the smell of any restaurant has a tendency to permeate a residential area. Um I live in New York also and I have a Burger King that's maybe 800 to,000 feet away from my house and I basically have a

barbecue in my backyard just about every day because the smoke comes out of theirs and they they don't have any kind of scrubbers. So, I'm in hopes that the air quality issues will be addressed. Um, lastly, I exceed my my three minutes yet. You haven't heard the bell and I haven't stopped yet.

Okay. Lastly, um, the architectural rendering. Very nice. They changed some of the colors on it. They really did not really change the look of the building. It's still a modern building in that particular complex. If you drive through the complex, take a look at the nature of the building, whether it's the Cleveland Clinic building next door or all the retail spaces behind it there. Um, it still doesn't really match. They changed the colors, which is nice. They went to green instead of orange and teal, you know, but so I was hoping that they would actually come up with something that was more Florida style, coastal coastal style, but they didn't. So, thank you. Thank you. I have Peg Conic.

Good evening. I'm a resident of Pineapple Plantation. Um, again reiterating what we've said in the past. We are very concerned about the traffic. The traffic at the intersection is horrendous. I come from a DOT background. Um, I will tell you, I've sat at that light and I've evaluated it and I'm like, "Somebody needs to really do another evaluation of this light. The line of sights are horrible." And that's um I've sat there and waited with people honking behind me because I will not go because you cannot see. So, I think everybody is aware that that intersection really needs to be looked at. Um, we are terribly concerned about the traffic that is going to use Windemir Drive coming in or going out of the complex. Um, we have tra um trash issues because of the restaurants that are currently there because people come out and they drive through the community, our community, and they just dump their trash wherever and we pick it up because we don't want to have to look at it. Um, but yes, this is going to increase the number of the amount of traffic that we have coming in and going out already. And if you put a monument sign there, it's going to make it even worse because it's going to encourage people to come in Windmir and enter the shopping center complex that way. Right now, probably the majority of it exits that through our community. Um the exterior facade. Yes. I believe at the last meeting we were shown a more coastal elevation which I think um was in Port St. Lucy somewhere. Okay, which really looked nice. I I will grant you

it looked nice. I expected to see that tonight. The colors are better than they were, but the coastal elevation was very nice and would go in that area if we have to look at it. Um traffic signs. um the sign on the windmir side uh we are concerned with buffering plings um I understand there's um the I did look at the landscaping plan and yes the landscaping that is currently there has not been maintained so hopefully with all these new plantings we won't be looking at that Popeye's building day in and day out thank you Ron Marushi Thank you for your patience, Ron.

Yeah, Robert, how are you?

Okay. Uh, I'm Ron Maruchi. I'm the president of the Pineapple Plantation POA. And uh, Robert is right. We had a couple of meetings. We did not talk about the building that much. We talked about the agreement that was signed with the original owner of the Wintermir Point Shopping Center and that was JBI, Jensen Beach Investments. With that, the association signed an agreement with them back in 2008 to allow and help them develop this project. And in addition, they would help us get a traffic light at the intersection of Windermir and Route One. In that agreement, it provided that JBI and its successors would give us certain cost reimbursements or services. One, landscape services of the northern end or the southern end of our property, the northern end of their property, maintaining also the me medians in the road. There are two of them. and going through and doing that, paying us additional insurance that we were required to get since we were allowing public to access our roads. They required us to get an extra $2 million of excess coverage of liability insurance. All of that was supposed to be reimbursed to us at our cost so we would not out of pocket whatsoever. However, we in turn gave them, yes, there is an easement. Their easement to enter off of Windermir Drive is not where the entrance is now. That easement is further west on Windermir Drive. We allowed them to go where they did in return for getting all this money. We are currently in negotiations and probably are going to take legal actions uh against the the three owners of the

properties now and the association that runs them because they have defaulted on the agreement and have paid maybe $1,300 back in 2013 when they needed us to sign another document for the amendment that went through in 2014 and they haven't paid us another dime. Currently, we're seeking $62,000 from them. Their association has pretty much told us to go pound sand. We are probably going to take legal action and right now we have sent a letter to all the owners and to the development things that we are going to push to close that entrance off of Windermir Drive by the end of January by putting in cement bunkers to close that off and they can have the right to enter and make an entrance through their existing easement that they currently aren't using. Uh the landscaping that a lot of people speak of is landscaping on our

Sorry, sir. Your three minutes is up. That was the bell. I had my I don't know what your timer is, sir. I'm going by the city clerk's bell. He can turn in his comments. You can turn in your comments to the clerk.

Jen Castantini. Hello. I'm not prepared. I didn't know this was going to happen. Um, thank you for listening to me. I am a a resident in the community and I'm concerned about the traffic. Um, there's been some changes in the shopping center. There's narrow the sweets there. Um, so there's more uh people coming in and out. It's rough in the morning. I have three little boys. So, there's a bus stop at the corner. Um, so I'm concerned about the traffic. with I believe that the Popeye's is open until 1:00 a.m.

No,

midnight. So, the current shopping center, most of the stores close at like 6:00 p.m. The suites are open later, but it's a a rental space for um like cosmetologists and skin care. So, they are open at night, but there's not a lot of people there. Um, I'm concerned cuz the kids ride the golf carts and the ebikes, which we have a lot of problems with, but I think if there's more traffic coming in, it's not a gated community. You if they miss the spot to turn in, they're going to come down to the culdevac and turn around and on further up is where the bus stop is, but that's also where the kids hang out. Um, I am concerned about the signs um and uh the the fact that we're not getting

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I have no further public comment. Okay. So, mayor, may I address some of those comments back? Am I allowed on the sheet? Um, that's that's not how we are. No, he can respond because there's new evidence. He can respond. Sure. Closing remarks. Closing remarks. New evidence. Yeah. Doing you can provide closing remarks.

Yes. So, um, as I mentioned, um, in speaking with Ron before, uh, the situation that's gone down regarding the management company that manages the shopping center also that manages Pineapple Plantation has taken a deaf ear to this whole thing about the property, the maintenance. I drove it today and actually called the owner and I told the owner, Mr. Castellano, how appalled I was at the way the shopping center is the landscaping is being maintained. At the LPA meeting, it was discussed that we as the owners of this one parcel as staff recommended or mentioned there were three owners of this entire PUB. There's the LA Fitness. Well, I don't know who it is now, but that one building, the back building at ours. Um, I'm quite upset the way the landscaping works. I understand the the residents concern. When I drove it today, I was very, very concerned myself. As the owners of parcel three, we are going to make sure that anything that occurs is there. and we're going to make sure that we've reached management and try to find new management to take over the center. They have been horrible to the POA. They've been horrible on their obligations. They've been horrible on the maintenance. The owner of this particular parcel is a the smallest owner of the whole parcel, but we will be working with them. Our attorneys have tri reached out to Paul to uh the POA's attorneys and we're going to come to a resolution on that. It's a matter of money and maintenance. We've already told them they should maintain the road and we would pay directly. So, we pay an enormous amount of money to management

right now and they're not proceeding and doing anything proper. With regards to the other concerns of traffic and the likes, obviously cities grow. Obviously, we have the concerns of traffic for sure. And obviously it's something we have to look into. So I want to thank you all. Hopefully we'll be able to move this forward, work with staff on trying to resolve the issues that are pending until the final second meeting. Thank you. Thank you, Jody. Do you feel like that first meeting in February is sufficient time or would you like until the second meeting in February?

Uh staff request is at least a 90-day uh response. One of the things that was addressed during the local planning agency meeting was the uh the um the overall landscaping. So, we've been reviewing that. We are going to work with code enforcement to actually site the entire site which would include this property as well. Um so, it could bring up the property up to date and that would probably be one of the conditions that would be placed into their uh final action. Mhm. Um so that is something that we have been working with and that we will reach out to the association again but we are looking to probably to site the overall property owner. Would you mind giving us a date then to to put this towards

uh I would say the first meeting in April. Okay. Just because we do have some concerns and we we want to make sure that traffic in April. April. Okay. So the 13th that's a long time. So some of the questions that were brought up was um that we have the FDL FDOT and that we want to evaluate the overall traffic. Um so the way today concurrency works um you only evaluate the surrounding the the actual site but we do want to go back to the consultant and ask them to review the um traffic light and we want to check with

lose a tenant. So that is something that we are going to do because we do need to address some of these concerns um with the with the folks that live in plantation absolutely windmir. So um that is something that we do need to evaluate and that is not something that a report that you turn away right away. So when that traffic signal was put in there was a report that had to be done to show that was a failing intersection. We want to pull that report to see what what that level of service was at that time. um because now that it's been brought up, that's not typical during traffic concurrency anymore. The state threw that out about 10 years ago,

but now that it's been raised at this meeting and raised at the LPA, we do need to address that for second reading. So that would be April 13th is what we would be looking at. Who who made the motion for approval? Was it not motion for approval, it's motion transfer? Forgive me. Thank you. Thank you. forward. Could there be additions to that motion other projects? So, it would it would be up to Commissioner Clark to augment her her motion to move it forward. Not to the next meeting, but at least 90 days to the 13th of April is from staff. Um, which is my birthday. Just Well, you still have to show up. I'm sorry. Just we'll sing happy birthday to you.

Just a question if I may. I understand all the things going on in the community that affected outside of our project for traffic for sure. I I do I do believe Susan or company that we worked with locally can turn this around much quicker. My request would be that we set it for an earlier date and if we need to postpone it, it would give us a better target to push for and then we always can postpone the second meeting. So if we could, we have to rely on our staff. I I understand. You follow what I'm saying?

Staff does have other projects that were in the queue. Um so we do need to address those projects as well. So we feel comfortable with this. This project has been in with the city for two and a half years trying to work with this applicant, trying to even bring them to this level. So, we do need to make sure that we answer the the the questions and concerns that are raised by this board and by the the uh residents. Okay? Look, let's work as fast as we can. I'm willing to help you any way I can. Absolutely, we will. And and really would appreciate it. I want to try to get my goal is to have them open for Thanksgiving. Of course, that was the goal. And we just have to make sure we do it right. Yeah. No, I I definitely agree.

I have a question for Jody with the so many other things and one of the traffic impacts is the fact that they have a dual driveway that the drive-thru that they're looking for, right? Again, that's going to impact traffic also.

So, when you evaluate traffic, and that's what their traffic consultant did was evaluate the site. So, they took the original permitted use with the with the two buildings that are on there. They looked at the traffic count based off the original approvals and then they also looked at the traffic count based off the it like I said that gets evaluated every two years and the report gets sent out. So they're showing a 1% dimminus on the site for for traffic and then they also and they showed you how much is entering exiting there the traffic the way it is written it's less impact. However, we do know sometimes that that as they are seeing it on a daily basis, you know, we do need to go further out to evaluate the traffic. Laura, may I make a comment?

Sure. Sure. Uh just to I used to before I became a franchisee, I was on the corporate side for a long time. I worked in development. The reason why the a lot of restaurants are going to the double drive-thru now, it's not that it adds more traffic to the sites. It's actually it helps with the traffic flow on site, right? I understand the concept. Sometimes it doesn't work. That's the problem. Yes. It just helps add more seconds so you don't have backups and everything. No, I understand that's become very popular because you you're deviating the traffic instead of one lane. But again, you now have increased how many people could be in those lanes. Potentially. Potentially. We hope. I hope so, but I mean unlikely we're not Chick-fil-A,

right? But I'm just saying it it does in many cases impact negatively instead of positively, which was the reason a lot of people are going to the two lane. Vice Mayor. Yeah. The only thing I'd like to see from Commissioner Clark is if you amended your motion and not had a date certain and just moved it to second reading and then that gives staff time to do it so they're not under pressure for a date certain. I think I've already done that. I said that I believe I commented earlier part of the city manager's job would be to put an item on the agenda. If staff surprises me and says, "Hey, it's ready next week." Well, then okay. If they tell me it's not ready for 90 days, then it's not ready for 90 days.

So, we're going to move it forward with no date certain, right? Can I just ask the clerk to reread because I think Commissioner Clark thinks that she added in um No, I agreed with all the comments from George's request and from the city manager's request. the vice not the vice mayor, the former mayor m the seconder has not seconded but I did agree that it would whatever the the date time frame would be um based on staff and I think even the applicant said maybe it's a too longer time but we decided that staff needed the time and would the letter to Martin County for the the uh FDOT to evaluate that light would that be included in this motion or no

I I would take this discussion tonight and based on the development director's comments during presentation that that's merited now. So, okay, I would say that we have we have direction to send that letter over to research the traffic. Okay. So, I have moved second read move to second reading, but originally I had April 13th. Are we no longer doing April 13th with no date? Just move to second. I would say it's moved to second reading and the manager will put it on the agenda when it's ready. When we're ready. Do you do you agree with that, Mr. Um, do we have Was I the one who seconded? Yes. Yes. I will second that amended motion.

Okay. Looks like we have consensus. Um, any other comments? Nope. I'm good. All right. So, Mary, would you call the role? Commissioner Rich? Yes. Commissioner Gio? Yes. Commissioner Clark? Yes. Vice Mayor Reid? Yes. Mayor Collins? Yes. Thank you. Mr. Mayor, can we have a a break, please? We're about to go into a shade meeting. No. We're not going into a shade meeting. We're not going into schedule one. Very quick.

Request. We're not going into one. Okay, let's take uh 10-minute break.

Commissioner Gio. Hello, Laura. I'm dust. Sorry.

All right. So, let's bring up Lee. Would you read item 14? So, this is a request for an attorney client shade meeting um pursuant to a Florida statutes section 286.011. The city commission may meet in private with the entity's attorney to discuss pending litigation to which the city is presently a party before a court provided that the city attorney advises the commission at a public meeting that he desires advice concerning litigation. So, in compliance with that statute, I'm I put this on the agenda so I could request that the next uh on at the next day of the regular commission meeting that shortly before our regular commission meeting that we have a attorney client shade session. Um in this ca in the case it's Pulk Street Hotel, Inc. versus City of Stewart. It's uh pending in Martin County Circuit Court Appellet Division and the case number is 2025 AP 0000002AXMX and I'm recommending and I've already verified it with uh our outside council um Carrie Linger and I've already cleared it with her and she's available if we could do that at 3:30 Monday, January 26, 2026. I don't think it'd be long. It's not a a very s, you know, if you recall, this was a development order that was appealed to the circuit court. It's not a jury trial and all that of some of the cases that we've had recently. So, I I don't foresee a long period of time that's necessary, but um I think you're all aware that there was an order by the by the judge and so she would like to meet with us to give us our options.

May I ask? Okay. Sure. Absolutely. Yes. Yes. Absolutely. So when she's talking to us, is that is there going to be a um premediation? Um there's no mediation. This is it's it's there's no mediation scheduled. This is not a trial. This was a cert based on a development order. And this is the hotel on US1 by um

with the urban waterfront versus urban highway issue. And so um that the the judge ruled and you know we I don't want to get into it but what what's the status what are our options and so um it is being handled by our outside counsel and uh Larry Linger who um her firm is Williams Linger and Cosby has represented us on other stuff. She's been here before on another appellet case and she's a specialist in appellet law and this was an appeal. And this is the 31st of which month? No, it's the January 26. So it would be the next meeting shortly before the meetings. Instead of four, we'd be at 3:30.

So we would do a shade meeting before we got started and I think the the CRA that day. So it would be before the CRA. You need a motion or a consensus? Um just discussion, right? Yeah. I I I guess maybe a consensus. I I don't necessarily need a motion. Everybody good with I'm good. I'm good. Everybody's good. You're good. Okay. You is good. The statute just says I got to bring it up at a public meeting and and get consensus. So, we're good. All right. Item 15.

This one's also mine. So, pursuant to section 26-21C um of our code of ordinances, it specifically states that a magistrate shall be appointed and serve at the will of the city commission, but shall be initially appointed for a term of not less than two years and shall serve thereafter at the will of the commission and shall serve until a successor is appointed or until the said magistrate may earlier resign or forfeit the appointment as prescribed as provided above. A magistrate may be removed from office upon an affirmative to vote of majority of the city commission members for any reason except to influence the outcome of any matter which shall come before the magistrate. So here um we had appointed uh Paul Nicolleti as our magistrate and in two years has uh elapsed and then I also received correspondence from him where he was resigning as our uh primary magistrate effective at the beginning of this year. We did have a magistrate hearing scheduled this month, but we've uh canceled it and postponed any matters to the next month in February so that we could uh replace him with a primary magistrate and uh we could have alternate uh backups. So, previously it was Paul Nicoleti was the primary and Mr. Lashley and Miss Torcivia were alternates. Unfortunately, even so they even though they were appointed as alternates, we never had the need to use them because our magistrates are typically only once a month

and it's probably a few hours on that day. Um they I've confirmed with both our current al alternates, Miss Torcivia and Mr. Lashley, whether they're willing to be the primary or continue as an alternate and they both were. Miss uh Torcivia is uh and also previously you had approved via resolution uh an hourly rate to our magistrates at $200 an hour. That hasn't been amended since 2019. Is that right? Uh well, we it was approved again in 2024. So when we added the uh current backups, we haven't increased it since.

Yeah. And I I don't know how long I didn't go back further to see what the hourly rate was then, but Mr. Lashley is willing to do it at an hourly rate at 375 an hour, $375 an hour. And Miss Torcivia is willing to continue to do it at the $200 an hour. Mr. Nicoleti um as even as a backup, he is willing to do it at $400 per hour. So, um I would suggest that we 375. Oh, Nicolleti was four. Yeah, Mr. Nicolleti was $400. Mr. Lashley is 375. And Miss Torcivia is willing to continue to do it at the $200 per hour. Gemma is good. How about Miss Worb? I'm sorry. What? When this two two-year term is over,

um Miss Worb, I I believe she moved to North Carolina and she's not she hasn't been our backup or an alternative for quite a while since I've been here. That was in the agenda packet for background information. Lee, do you mind describing the relationship Mr. Lashley has to past um magistrates? As you we have we've had a prior magistrate in the past. Uh and I'm drawing a blank. Yeah. Yeah. Tom Bar, right? Okay.

Tom Bar was a previous several years ago was a magistrate or or a backup magistrate at some point. And Mr. Lashley, it's my understanding he works um under him at the same firm. So there was that connection. And then Miss Torcivia um her dad owns is uh Glenn Torivia who has a law firm that specializes in local government and training and so I and I was Ruth Holm's previous boss before she came here. So another active law law firm in the area that does local government law and same with Mr. Lashley's.

Yeah. And I know she has a lot of other local government to be clear. Miss Torivia does not she is not an attorney for the Tivia firm. Correct. I just pointing out um that I she has a connection just like Mr. Lashley has a connection. He works for a previous um magistrate here and a firm that's involved in local government. Mols remains of council for the firm of Torivia. Right. But okay, just I'm clear. Gemma Tivia does not work for her dad's firm. Right. That's correct.

Yeah. So, I I was going to make a case for Mr. Lashley. I know he's a bit more expensive here. Uh but I I do like that he is a part of a larger established firm even though I know um Miss Torcivia's lineage and you know that larger firm there on her own. She's in a smaller practice. I do like the caliber of Mr. Ashley as a result, even though he's a bit more expensive. And I do like that he has that um you know that lineage on his end too where he's got that previous um as well. So I if you can't tell, I was I was favoring Mr. Lashley, but I'm curious what the other commissioners think.

I don't know much about Mr. Lashley. I know about Miss Civia and her history with other communities, small towns like ours and um I because of the I even with Mr. Lashley and Mr. Nicolady at the 375 and the 400 I think that uh for the magistrate role that's uh a lot. So I think that um not just it's the least expensive. Yeah, I think so. So I think that Mr. Orcivia, even if we gave Miss Orcivia more money, but because we haven't raised the rate, the rate has been this 200, but she's willing to do it at 200

and she's still willing to do it at that rate. And I think that it would be a good um she will still make a good effort, but um I agree. She's very impressive. She has considerable experience. We're getting a lot for our money and we're serving the taxpayers more. I know I'm dragging you into something other than your typical money legal conversation, but in terms of rates, yeah, I mean I there might be a lack of context on uh $200 is not a a good rate. Today's rate obscenely cheap. We'd have to change a rate.

I was getting awarded in litigation 15 years ago. 275 an hour, 250 an hour. have to change and and I would agree that the rates inflation has gone up significantly um since then and and to put it in perspective this position is once a month for a few hours you know you know okay it it's not going to be a significant difference but um unfortunately I did not have when I put in the agenda item I did not put a resolution in because Mr. Nicoleti had not yet given me his letter because we had put in the agenda item before then. So we this is a D and D um to to discuss but the total amount we paid Mr. Nickel last year. I I don't have that nominal. This is not

I don't know because if we're proposing doubling it they meet they he meets once a month. Well, even if you wanted him now he wants 450. No, but he the city manager was going to try and look it up. But there's additional charges because he does research and it's not just the time he's here that we're charged for. Correct. Correct. That's right. All I would say is sometimes cheapest doesn't mean best. And I hate going there because you have two very qualified people. But but she would still be an ultimate. Yes. That's why I hate to even go there because I don't want to I don't want to say that. Okay. And are we going to change our rate then to our minimum rate be 375 as our minimum rate? It would have to

because we'd have to change the Yeah, I would recommend that you you give me direction. I'll come back next hearing with a resolution with an hourly rate, but I I think the hourly rate should be consistent to whoever is doing it. We're negotiating against ourselves. Yes. I'll do it for 200. No, we're paying Okay, fine. Whatever. Do are we are you looking for a motion from us or consensus? Just a I think he needs to move forward. What does he do? Right. He's trying to answer my question. You would pick one and then we would put it on the next agenda for a resolution establishing that as the primary.

Obviously, you know how I feel. How do you guys feel? I'm fine. With Mr. Lashley or Mr. Civia? Uh, which way you want to go? We need to pick a primary and an alternate, right? The one would be the one and the other. The other don't we need a motion for that? Well, we need we need to direct the city manager to put it on for a motion for the next meeting. Right now, I'm fishing for consensus. Yes, I would say Mr. Lashley for I know I'm fishing. Mr. Lashley for primary and then Morcivia for backup. At this point,

let let me interject. So, I I think Commissioner Rich puts it in. We're going to have to come back with a resolution. And like I said, when I initially set up the agenda item, we still had Mr. Nicolleti. Our next um um magistrate is not until February. And then we can you guys can select the primary uh and and alternate uh next next agenda item with a resolution. Okay. In an hourly rate, right? And I'll have that in a resolution. Okay. Yeah. And I'd like that because I think question answered by that time also, right? Thank you, Mr. Get that answer city manager. Yes. Thank you. But I'd like to get that settled because I think that Mr. Nichol's rate is a little hoppy. Money is the object.

Well, we'll have a decision on January 26 and our next magistrate. When's the magistrate scheduled next term? It's in February 17. So, we'll have three weeks after the next meeting for our first magistrate and we will communicate with both of them to make sure they're available for the magistrate next month. So, thank you. Okay. Item 16. Uh, okay. This next item is uh myself and Roz, the future interim city manager.

Um, so I the tonight's agenda item, one of the, you know, to start the process of the placement for a new permanent city manager. And so the items that we gathered from the last discussion that the commission had was a to come forward with an amended job description uh modernized cleaned up. We don't want geometry and trigonometry in the in the job description. And so a we're looking for the commission to uh give us direction that you are happy with the amended job description as it is. Make any edits necessary.

I think it looks good. then also um to look at the recruitment brochure and show what it is. And then basically there are blanks in that brochure to be filled in. And so any edits to the brochure if you wanted them and then also um direction on how long you want to advertise the position, how long you want to have it out on the open market. And some of the blanks that we'd have to fill in would be uh any edits to that job description or the brochure and also the salary range to post to advertise for the position as well. Should the commission successfully, you know, give us direction tonight, our plan is to put that out on the wire tomorrow morning

and and so whatever time duration you would have for the posting, the clock would start tomorrow. So, in my conversations with you, you had uh pointed out that 3 weeks was the typical time frame that we did this. I believe that we were asked to use uh the city attorney's advertisement as a guideline and that was uh 3 weeks because I don't remember what we did with Ruth's position. We ended up going back out again. Yes, we went back out for a second round, but it was two rounds of three. I'm sure you remember, right? You Which one? with Ruth that the environmental attorney job. Was it three weeks? Yeah, there's three weeks and then we had another three three week round and then we had another two week or it wasn't very long.

Did we put it out for a shorter time the second time? But that's

Yep. Okay. So that I mean that's what I think would be reasonable since that's what we've done in the past and it's worked. Um, in terms of salary range, I wanted to talk to everybody about this because the nature of the contract we've had with the manager in the past had it set up to where as time moves forward with each year and with um it's not a it's not a cost of living increase truly. It's a rate adjustment or how would you characterize what we were do what we do? Roz, stop me when I'm wrong. Um, the the the employment contracts that we have with the charter positions

all include a basic clause that says this employee will be treated with the same benefits and privileges as any regular employee. And so that covers you don't have to specifically outline the paid holidays that the city manager would get or the or the city attorney or the environmental attorney. And so in that when we do our budgeting process when we budget any sort of rate adjustment or merit performance or something like that typically the charter position employees participate in those same amounts. So so in in the past when say per say the city budgeted a 3% increase for non-union general employees

the manager and the city attorney would participate in that also. So, so here was the point I was going to make is if with that being the case what these positions get paid initially on paper versus what they actually get paid can be very dramatic especially over time. So like I remember with Mike, you know, and maybe this is I don't know if this is appropriate to go into is it salary ranges. Yeah, it's public.

So initially, you know, we we had we had signed him at 225, but with those bumps, you know, he would have been making 285 um in actuality with the way that that contract was set up. So the discussion I wanted to have with you guys was either um you know going one one of two paths, right? You either need to if that's going to be the case and we're going to continue that kind of contract. I'm not opposed to it. But the the initial rate that you start off at needs to be lower. We wouldn't start off at a rate of like, you know, we're talking about 230s and 240s and 250s because that I think that would balloon out of control. So, you either need to have a lower rate, which I would say is, and this is just my opinion, you guys may have different ones, somewhere in that maybe 195 to 215 range to make room for that over the years. And and and that may be very enticing for that manager that the longer they're around and and they're meeting their their merit, you know, that that that is there. or having a different type of arrangement where we remove that and have just a fixed salary that that um increases incrementally at a smaller rate. So, if we're going to come if we're going to if we're looking to pay them 250, you know, and that's truly what they're going to get paid, there would be less of that sort of backend, you know, because we're also going to be paying contractually. We we do the vehicle allowance for like 500 a month. Like there's a lot of these incentives that are in there. So

you're talking as if it's a first a first job and a first time job. If somebody comes here with experience, we need to compensate them for their experience. So that 175 would be out of the water. 195 whatever would be out of the water. Right.

I'd like to and on that note, I'd like to just go back on the type of person that we're looking for under where it says training and experience. I wonder if there should be language and if Lee put this together, if there should be language that says a minimum of a bachelor's degree. This looks like we've written this for somebody that we want to come in with a bachelor's degree at this 195 level or something because it should say at least at a minimum um as opposed to saying that it's like they should have a bachelor's degree. I know that before it says a master's degree.

It does say minimum. It does imply a minimum of a bachelor's degree. The other is an implied minimum. Maybe the other is desirable if if we can, you know, cuz what if we put I think we're going to get a lot of people with bachelor's degrees coming in here. And um in order to even get any knowledge, you need the masters and to get any experience, you need that plus experience in order to do um quality um leadership and management. I would not be interested in in trying to mandate a master's degree if that's the direction you're going into. Oh, that's what I'm saying. This would be minimum, but um it just

is the minimum and then desirable is, you know, masters and and but I think you might block out somebody with with a lot of municipal experience that doesn't have a master's degree and right I I think that that's and hopefully we have a lot of options to to look through. Um, Vice Mayor, I don't think there's a bachelor's degree for uh me being up here. Um, I I don't I don't have one. I don't have a bachelor's degree or a master's degree, and I think I do a damn good job for the constituents I represent. Um, I think I have more employees than anybody that sits up here on the DS. So, what's the definition of success to you then at that point? Um, I don't know.

I was about to say I have 300 right now. Thank you. Yeah, I smoked. Jolie does compete with me. Um, but that that's my comment. Um, I think I'm intelligent and I don't think a higher education equates to intelligence or common sense. It's surely not common sense. All right. Well, I just I was just looking at the language that was that's written in there. Have we done any comparables? I mean, there's this city size, a municipality, people with experience in a municipality. Have we done any comparables? Ra has. I do. Oh, okay. So, she has those.

I do. So, with the job description as a whole went Rosong, by the way, HR director for the city, um went city or uh nation. Say it again. State, it's been a long day. Went statewide and looked at a lot of city manager job descriptions throughout. The vast majority declared a bachelor's degree with a master's preferred. There were some that had a master's, but the MBA and the MPA were listed as highly desirable. Right. And I do have market data on salary ranges if that matters to you as well, if you'd like to know that. But

this update, this job description is kind of funny, came about in about 2017 and we think, if my memor is right, it was due to a grant. We realized we didn't actually have a job description for the city manager. So, we whipped something together pretty quickly. I admit it. And really didn't look at it much again. So, this was a good opportunity to go back and really polish it. And I've tried to pay very close attention to what is spoken on the dis so that I could make sure that those things that seem to be desired were included here. Um and there was some market um other comparable language that just looked better. It was more polished. So that's what I put in here.

Um so that's where this came from um was looking at what we need, what we how we've grown, how we've expanded with this um job description. So can I talk about the market data, the salary data? Is that of interest? Yes.

Yeah. Okay. So, in the world of classification and compensation, classification being job titles, compensation being salaries, um there is a a lot of strategy involved in class and comp. And we've had a consultant work with us since 2018ish called Paypoint and they established the benchmark comparables in this area. We have 11 of them. Fire and police have some different ones because they're just fire and police. And then utilities has some different ones because they're just utilities. So we have 11 comparables. They are uh actually there are 10 total. Cocoa, city of Coco, city of Fort Pierce, town of Jupiter, city of Okachobee, city of Port St. Lucy.

So these would be competitive, not comparable. So that's a great question. It's a combined because we have we're so small in our backyard are competitive if you will right and then we have the true comparable punta is a very close comparable to us in a lot of ways whereas you think city of Port St. Lucy huge but they're right over there. So we're trading employees with these agencies you know they come and go

uh Pontagora City of Titusville City of Vero Beach City of West Palm Beach Martin County Board of County Commissioners and St. Lucy County Board. So those are our comparables that are in our declared market basket. Only four of those are what we call full service. Only four of those, us included, has fire, police, utilities, recreation, full service. And to your point, mayor, you made a very good point that there's a total compensation package that comes in these employment agreements. You'll see some salaries that are lower, but the whole compensation package can be much bigger. Right.

So, as you mentioned, we could do a a fixed salary but not have automatic salary growth. There are all kinds of ways to write the agreement. That said, with the comparables, the average is 235 235,000. That's the a base salary and that does not include bonuses or some some of that back-end structure that we're talking about. Correct. Most of them have car allowances and phone stipens and things like that, but some have deferred compensation contributions that are significant. 7% 10% max allowed by law. They're they're all over the place. So the the whole

It seems like that's something you can't really factor into these comparable numbers. And that's the difficulty in this number. This 235 is base. What I requested was base only. Don't give me any frills. Don't give me anything else. I just want base. And that's what that number is. Now, what's negotiated with an incoming can be anything lower than that. Anything lower. They may say, "Look, I'm good with 205. I'm good with whatever." It could be really the negotiations is where that happens. When when we had hired Mike at that 225 number, it was because of his 30 years of experience that we were looking at that rate, you know, and that was a couple of years ago, you know, a few years ago.

Did we hire him at 225? 225 that would okay that's what I recall so last Thank you. Yeah, it was it was a jump from David to Mike. Mike David was 500 190. I think David was like 160. He had started at like 160, but he had also had some colas and and some other stuff. So, he left higher than when he started at also, but then yes, Mike was a jump. So, we're we're going to be shopping outside. So, I do think we should leave room for a range, but not be going right into, you know, the middle. I'm hoping the rest of you feel the same way.

I like the range of 195 to 215. I'm sorry, mayor. The 195 to 215 range was the base and then of course we're dealing with the package. I mean, the city has a very nice package. I mean, his benefits and all of that retirement again to the point that by the time you know last year, Mike would have made 285. He would have walked away with 285. That's that would be like the highest paid person in Martin County. I mean, that's a significant salary with those back in. So, if we're starting at 235, unless we're going to cap those incentives, we I want us to just be very careful with how we manage this because I wasn't paying as much attention uh three years ago.

But now, what is it comparable with Pontagora and Titusville? Because they really match us in size and all of that. They do in many ways. What is the base or punta base is 315? Wow. Sorry, sorry, sorry. My apologies. Sorry. 215. I was like, that's high. That was Port St. Lucy. Sorry. My apologies. Uh, Punta Gord is 215 and Titusville is 240. Okay. And that was base, not no inclusion of benefits or anything. Correct.

Yeah. Lots of times like to to what we're saying is sometimes you do the salary survey they're like here's the base but then you don't know that they're also getting $80,000 the max you know deferred compensation or something. Uh Roz also some of those have assistant thank you managers and assistant directors the vast majority have assistants and deputies. Yeah we need to do that we don't have anything like that. So this city manager is

in the seat with directors versus a manager with an assistant or a deputy. Yeah, we we've discussed the succession planning because I don't know sometimes managers and interim managers just come and go, you know. So, uh you need I mean we don't have anyone you know that's been a criticism of us is that we don't have good succession planning and so I was saying earlier it's good that Roz is going to take a a ride on the merrygo round. I think the more exposure that we get to your upper level directors, the easier it is for you in the future to have people to rely on for these things. So, um,

one of the closest we had was an assistant to the city manager, which is like a project manager, usually with a specialty, whether it's CRA or it's utilities or something growth management, you know, they're Yeah, that that came That's cuz Dave was on the way out and he was prepping his next step. Sorry. Individual individual motivations don't negate good practices. Well, seems like the So, personally, you guys know where I'm coming from. I would like to see that 195 to 215 range if we're going to maintain the same type of structure in our agreement, and I'm open to whatever.

I I like that range. Um I I know those real comparables are a little higher, but um you know, at first go around, we'll see. Hey, I mean, you know, there I came from a small town and actually our city manager didn't Oh, I came from a small town. Our city manager didn't even have a bachelor's. I think he had like an associates, but he had experience in municipalities. So, sometimes that's worth a little more, right? What do you guys think? I think the biggest thing is is like you said, someone started at two and a quarter and a couple years later they're making 285. That's I'm in the wrong business. Yeah. I don't know. It's crazy,

right? Yeah. I don't get that either unless I do my own. Um, didn't I just hear sometime the cheapest isn't the best? Didn't I just hear that before? Yeah. But that's a big difference in expenditure that we're talking about with this um salary range. Are we do we know what the package costs or do or we can manage the package? What are you asking? This will be a base 195 to 215. It'll get negotiated on top of that. There's going to be a package. It depends every year. Help all of the things that are expected. So it so it varies based on what the manager sets as the standard

cost of living but rate increase across staff. So, you know, if it's 3%, 4%, 5%, 7%, 10%, whatever that increase is would be across. Okay. But that's still not the package. I mean, the package is the medical the uh right for comp, all of those things that are available and the $500 auto stipen. What is the the Would it be less expensive to give the city manager a car? I don't know. I'm just asking. I don't know the numbers. No. No. Okay.

No. I would I there's lots of accounting issues involved with that. You rather just give him money and say this goes towards whatever you drive. Now I'm putting on my finance hat. I have like financial disclosures to do with that. Don't do that. Yeah. No, no. I meant not give him the car, but basically let him use the car. I got a question. And that usually becomes salary. I mean, that's part of your W2 when you get it. Taxed on taxable. Yes. He's taxed on it. Maybe someone might want to not add that to their tax. You know, that's a negotiation piece, too. Yeah.

A a vehicle allowance is taxed. They don't It's not just pocketed money. It's it's taxable wage. It's just the difference of letting them drive around a city vehicle that the city insurers and the city rewards and all that kind of stuff versus like here's, you know, a couple hundred bucks a month to go towards your own personal car that you drive around rather than doing mileage reimbursements. I I drove to New Simra myself, you know. So rather than doing those kinds of things like here's just money every month to offset your vehicle usage. No, that makes sense. Uh I I was just curious like on who all gets vehicle allowances then you have the city manager that had it. Who I mean

city attorney? City attorney. Is it just chartered positions? Manager and attorney. That's it. Manager and attorney. Correct. Phone stipens are out there. They're $85 a month. And if you have a tablet it's 115 a month. But that's really that's for all exempt salaried exempt employees. You know most are at 85. City managers. Can you call me on Christmas Eve? Yeah, that's why we are 247 a question. Yeah, okay. Um, thoughts, ideas? Are we comfortable with 195 to 215? Are we not? How do we feel?

Well, the market's, you know, we'll we'll know because when we put out the I mean, is it considered an RFP? we put out the the job description, you either going to have people apply for it or you're not. I mean, then we'll know. Fair point. What do you think? I mean, I would definitely cap it. Um, it is. Yeah, it's it's capped on the range. Um, and even then, it's going to get negotiated after the fact, isn't it? Once they based off That's where Lee comes in and negotiates. I

I'm only done it once, but you know, you give a range, I negotiate, you you task me with negotiating and you know, we we have the other the car allowance, the phone allowance, um and tablet allowance, you know, those are extras and deferred comp and deferred comp. Deferred comp. That's the big that's based off experience and all that. Mr. Mr. Interim City Manager, if he came in at that number, let's say 215, how many employees would be receiving higher compensation than himself or herself currently today? Yeah. Um, only the city attorney. Okay.

Today, if 215 was the number, the city attorney is the only person being paid when Sorry, he asked me. I don't Okay, it's public record. I know it's public knowledge. It's it's me saying I'm fat and then you telling me I'm fat. It's different. Okay. So, No, it's um big boned. Yeah, I'm just big boned. I like that. Um but yeah, no, currently it's only the city attorney. Total package. Well, you started off Well, the the you started at 190.

Yeah, I'm saying like regular employees like me, I don't I don't have that package. Um this the environmental attorney has a kind of negotiated package also but um Bruce total compensation doesn't exceed the city attorneys currently. So for what you're suggesting and me imagining the package that would be done today only the city attorney it's higher than that. Okay. My personal opinion is I think we should go with this range and see how many people you know. Is there any other consensus? That's two of us. How do you the rest of you feel? We have to hear from the other commissioners. I'm not opposed to the range. I just Yeah.

And then three weeks. Do you guys feel good about three weeks or no? Well, it's after the holidays. I didn't want to do anything. Oh, you're going to put this out tomorrow? Yeah. We would. Yeah. Roz and I have discussed this and I I have the agenda meeting calendar in front of me and I'm sure that so just just so you understand we're calling this the the fast and furious. Yes sir. Um so if we put it out tomorrow morning

for the and let's just say everyone agrees right now 195 215 and for 3 weeks basically uh we would have a deadline of receiving all applications by 5:00 pm on February 3rd. um the interim city manager would have a placeholder on the 9th agenda already because we wouldn't know who it was until five o'clock on the 3rd. So we'd take those the rest of that week to throw out the people who forgot to sign their name or they're not US citizens or something like that.

So we would kind of do the once over, make sure they're all legit. And on the 9th, we'd have an agenda item saying we received x number of applications. should we receive enough acceptable applications that the commission would want to form the committee pairing down those to a short list. That's what would be on that February 9th. We would say here's how many we got and we would advertise at least three days for the special uh meeting of this committee that would be formed. And since we keep referencing our prior exercises, we had one commissioner, two staff members, and a member or so of the public, I think. So we would convene that that committee to meet and shortlist the applications. If you really wanted to be aggressive and you weren't, you know, superstitious, you could meet on Friday the 13th, which would give you 3 days advertisement and a day to meet to shortlist the applications. Again, the interim city manager would have an agenda placeholder on February 23rd. We could return with here are the short list and you would like to interview them. Again, advertise a special meeting. If everyone is available and agreeable, Friday, February 27th, you could meet and interview the applicants and then again the city manager would have a placeholder on the March 9th agenda to be filled in blanks because we would know the answers. Why I'm saying a placeholder? Our agenda deadlines basically have a say put the agenda together two weeks before the meeting. We wouldn't have the answer. So you'd have to accept and the public would have to accept that the publish agenda has a a blank in it sometimes. So we would then come forward on the 9th with here is the successful applicant. That meeting would announce who the successful applicant is. give the city

attorney so many days to negotiate that contract, we would know that the contract was good and um that if we if we could if the lee could negotiate that contract and we know then that person would know that they're good with the contract even though it wouldn't be public yet that person would then have one two almost three almost three weeks to settle their affairs and for the March 23rd meeting, you could be shaking hands with the new city manager. Boom. What do you think? If everything works fast now, which it will,

it could get quicker if if only four or five people apply, then you don't even have to have that special committee to pair down and short list. You could actually shave another meeting and everything out of it, you know. So, I mean, there is room to make this quicker if if it if that played out that way. The the last thing I wanted to bring up was moving to the city or within a mileage range within the city. Yeah. Is that historically in the contract or in or in this job?

Well, actually, I'm glad you brought that up because that was the other thing I wanted to chat about. So in the recruitment brochure, prior language in here, we had 25 miles, but listening to prior conversations on the dis brought that down a little bit. Yeah, living within city proper is a probably a different discussion, but within 15 miles, that's Hob Sound, White City, parts of Port St. Lucy. Palm City. Palm City. Yeah. And we could always make an exception like we did for Dave. Yes. But that does live there. Cool. That's all I was curious about.

So that was the other question that I had. Are you satisfied with the 15 mile or would you like something else? I think advertising that is good personally. Okay. And we have the salary range. We've got the date. We're landing on three weeks. Yeah. Let's go. Okay. That was the only things we had to fill in. and it goes to ICMA and every it goes out to everybody. The uh pending interim city manager

what all are the uh instruments in which you advertise you plan to advertise this position. So, we use Neo Gov, which is known as Gov Jobs out on the market and it is very powerful and it ex it expands everywhere and if anyone's registered with Gov Jobs, they put in their interest and it'll ping you when a position comes up. Is it something you have to put money into for ads or No, no, no. We our software gives us access to that governmentjob.com website. members of that and I think um Braz the commissioner had asked if we were going to advertise an ICMA that has to be paid for right

yes we have a membership so we can we can do that we also use places um some of the local professional not local but statewide professional organizations the felra Florida Public Employer Labor Relations Association the Florida Public H association the chambers of commerce we have about 15 different places that we push this out to is there any anywhere else that would be benefit beneficial to advertise it to that you need us to approve a budget for or anything. We you approve an advertising budget. Okay. Every year for various things. There's nothing holding you back is what I'm trying to say. Right. No. Tomorrow morning. There's nothing keeping us from putting this out tomorrow morning. Other than Roz and I won't sleep tonight. Right. Good.

Do we take a in our local newspaper? Does it help? Does it matter? Yes, we actually do. We We do put something in there. Um, it'll be in there. Don't worry. Yeah. And it's on the website. So, we al we also have email groups that we can push out to. We have ICMA, FCCMA, Florida League of Cities, the Treasure Coast City and County Managers Association, the Felra, as I mentioned, FPHA, uh, NEOGV, and any other sites, like I said, Chamber of Commerce and others that we have memberships to that we can post. I I we haven't I don't I don't think we need a motion. It's clear. Okay.

Any other comments? It was a D and D item. You're directing staff to put out the thing. You agreed on that? We'll do it. Anything else from you guys? No, I'm good. All right. Seeing no other com. Anything else? No, sir. Got it. Thank you, Roz. You're welcome. Seeing no other comments, the meeting is adjourned. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Thank you, guys.