[music] [music] [music] [bell] [music] [music] If you wish to speak to any item on the agenda or during the public comment portion of the meeting, please fill out a speaker card. Each person addressing the board shall have three minutes to
complete his or her comments on each agenda item for which he or she has filled out a card. The chair has the discretion to determine or alter the time limits on any agenda item. The board of county commissioners requests that speakers appearing under the public comment section of the agenda limit
their comments or presentations to matters relating to county business that are within the board's control, authority, and jurisdiction. Thank you. Like to call the meeting. Uh, and whoever found the gobble, thank you. I don't know. We had one here all along.
Um, I'd like to recognize Commissioner Delaney for the pledge of allegiance. 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. >> [clears throat] >> I'd like to recognize um Pastor Jen Kerry from Trinity Lutheran Church for the invocation. >> Morning. [clears throat] I draw my
scripture reference from Romans 13:1. Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Let us pray. God of all creation, we come before you today
to honor you and praise you. You are worthy of praise. You are the source of all that is good. You are the source of all our blessings. Thank you for every gift that we have been given. We thank you for the opportunity to come and gather together this day. And we ask for your hand of blessing on this meeting.
We ask that you would guide and direct this meeting so that it is full of wisdom, productivity, and respect for one another. Thank you for helping this commission to accomplish their work and their goals to the benefit of Bvard County and its citizens in Jesus name. Amen.
>> Thank you, pastor. Did I get that right, Jan? >> Yes. >> Good. Thank you for being here this morning. Wonderful way to start the the meeting. Okay. I don't think we have any minutes on the agenda that I could see. Um we do have a resol two resolutions.
Uh, one is a resolution for National Homeless Persons Memorial Day by Commissioner Atinson. >> If we have anybody from the homeless coalition, do you want to come on up? >> Thank you. >> I don't know if it's better with or
without my glasses. A resolution on behalf of the Bvard County Board of County Commissioners designating December 21st, 2025 as National Homeless Persons Memorial Day. Whereas homelessness has caused or hastened the deaths of unsheltered or
inadequately housed people in Bvard County. And whereas the spirit of the holiday season of giving provides an opportunity for affirmation and renewal regarding the commitment to end homelessness. And whereas December 21st, the first day of winter and the longest night of the year, has been designated
National Homeless Persons Memorial Day by the National Coalition for the Homeless. Whereas the Bvard County Continuum of Care, a wide-ranging regional body of organizations from all sectors and community advocates works every day to help people survive, rebuild their lives, and end
homelessness. And whereas in this season of generosity and sharing, citizens of Bvard County are encouraged to commit themselves to promote compassion and concern for our unsheltered or inadequately housed neighbors. And whereas in remembering those who have died on our streets, in our emergency
shelters, and in condemned or abandoned properties from ailments directly related to homelessness, the cause of ending homelessness is kept urgent, as is the collective commitment to preventing such deaths in the future. Now therefore, be it resolved that the board of Bvard that the Bvard County
Board of County Commissioners designates December 21st, 2025 as homeless persons memorial day in commemoration of those who have passed and those who currently are facing the perils of homelessness. Done ordered and adopted in regular session the 16th day of December, 2025.
>> Thank you, Commissioner, and thank you so much for acknowledging that day. My name is Amber Carroll. call me executive director for the Bvard homeless coalition. We're the lead agency for the continuum of care for Bvoulevard County. I've actually asked James Smith from my team to give us a few a few words.
Morning council. My name is James Smith and I'm the coordinated entry manager for the Bvard Homeless Coalition. Joining me this morning are members of the Bvard Homeless Coalition under the leadership and direction of Amber Carroll, the executive director, and several other members of the Bvard Continuum of Care. Thank you again for
recognizing December 21st as National Homeless Persons Memorial Day. Your continued support matters deeply not just to us, but to hundreds of men and women and families in our community who are struggling to survive without a safe place to call home. We are here today with a shared purpose
to remember the lives lost, acknowledge the pro progress we are making, and bring solutions we can pursue together. Because the truth is simple. No one in Bavar County should die because they have nowhere safe to sleep. This year,
we lost 78 of our neighbors, men and women, who died without a safe place to sleep. 78 individuals, not statistics, but they were members of our community. Our 2025 point time count tells both
challenge and meaningful progress. Progress that would not have been possible without your support and leadership throughout this year. Our 2025 data showed that unsheltered homelessness fell 5% and chronic homeless declined by 11%. Even with
these decreases, we still have over a thousand homeless individuals in our county and Bavar County remains in the top 10 counties in Florida when it comes to homeless residents. We cannot accept this as normal. Not when we have compassion, leadership, and talent to
change the story. Through our collaborative efforts and works with the Bavar County Jail, we conducted over 300 surveys and found that 57% of individuals entering the jail reported they were homeless at the time of booking. This tells an important story. Our law enforcement and first responders
are carrying a heavy and increasingly burden as they respond to the ripples effects of homelessness and House Bill 1365. Many of our individuals are cycling between the streets and the justice system because they have a lack of a safe place to go.
We all want the same thing. Safer neighborhoods, healthier residents, and better parts of our county. We know the long-term solution is safe, affordable, and permanent housing. But we also need immediate practical tools to prevent more deaths like this
year. We want to move forward together. But it all it takes all of us, nonprofits, city leaders, law enforcement, business, businesses, and neighbors to build a community where no one dies because they
do not have a safe place to sleep. And with that, our vision is clear to have a h housed and healthy boulevard by making homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring. In the month of December, we will hold four homeless memorial services to honor the lives of those who
have passed this year. Those services are happening this week. Um, we do have one service happening today at Matthews Hope at 1 p.m. in the city of Coco. If you're able to make it up, we ask that you join us. Um, for many of these individuals, this will be
the only ceremony held in their name. In January, we will also be conducting our 2026 point in time count. As always, your participation truly makes a difference in our efforts. City C, I'm sorry, not city council. Here you are. The county council. [laughter]
Thank you for your leadership. Thank you for your support that you've shown us over the years. And thank you uh being our partners and helping us build a house and healthy boulevard. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Thank you, >> Mr. Chair. I'd like to make a motion. >> Second.
>> There's a motion [clears throat] second on the resolution. >> Yes. >> All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Carries unanimous. >> Thank you. I think we have a picture. >> Okay. [applause] >> Thank you. >> People >> [snorts]
[snorts] [applause] >> Thank you so much. And I know it's a serious serious challenge we have as a community as many communities across the country. We appreciate so much what you do and your dedication for those uh most in need.
The next item is presentation and update from Parish Medical Center. Good morning. >> Good morning. Thank you for being here. >> Yes. Thank you. Good morning, commissioners. um one month ago you all made the uh
mandatory appointments to the parish medical center board of directors and I was um somewhat ridiculed by the district 1 commissioner for not having spoken that day. So that's why I'm here um to shed light on um some of the
conversation that unfortunately occurred uh that day and some of the difficult situations that some of you were put in. And on behalf of the residents of North Bard, I apologize for the stress and strain that you were unfortunately and
inappropriately put put under. Um so this is my update um to you. um put together very carefully um rather long and just um to relieve your anxiety, I'm not going to go through the
entire presentation. Um it was assemble assembled by um staff and myself last week. Uh the district 1 commissioner did give me a call and ask me what was up with this presentation today. and I spent about 30 minutes in conversation
with her describing that it was basically uh a summary of past presentations made by our organization to city council and that I would be using the majority of those slides mostly to educate the
community about Brev County's only public hospital and to recognize and reward the employees, volunteers and physicians and others that work at and support our organization.
But unfortunately, constant public bullying by the D1 commissioner against me has caused me to change my presentation this morning. Um,
we spoke last Wednesday and as of yesterday, my intent was to come here and present to you the same presentation we have given to the city council. But as early as yesterday, a mere five days after a what I thought was a very
positive conversation with the D1 commissioner. >> May I interrupt? >> Yes. This presentation is to the entire board of county commissioners. In due respect, please >> let's let's keep it positive and let's focus on the board as a whole because you
>> we're at a board of county commissioners meeting. You're speaking to the county commissioner. It's not designed for one commissioner. So, please keep it keep it dedicated to our >> our our governing board here that we operate collectively as one unit.
>> Okay. Background of Parish Medical Center. This countyy's only public hospital established in 1953 by Florida statute. We are an independent special tax district of the state of Florida.
This is the mission by law of the North Bard County Hospital District doing business as Parish Medical Center. We are the only public hospital in Bvard County. And for further education, there's a distinct difference between a
public and a private hospital. All the other hospitals in Bvard County are what are considered to be private notfor-profit. We are a public notfor-profit hospital. structured differently, governed differently with
different regulations, bureaucracies, while still providing health care services. It is done structurally different. And unlike every other public hospital in this state, we do not tax the citizens of our district. We were
established back in 53 by the taxation of people that lived within a particular geographic area in and around the hospital. We have not taxed for the past 30 years. So in addition to not realizing tax monies from those that
live in our district, we also are one of the lowest cost hospitals in the state. Those two things combined result in tens of millions of dollars in savings to the people that live within our community.
Again, we are not structurally or governed or legislatively outlined and established the same as other private hospitals in Brevard. We are different and there is a difference in how we operate, our mission, and how we
are funded. Let's get to the heart of the matter. The board appointments. This is the role that you have when it comes to Parish Medical Center. The appointment of six of our nine board of directors. The role of the board of
county commissioners. This is our enabling legislation. All board members shall reside within our district. The district is basically Fay Boulevard in Port St. John north to the Valuchia County line. This
representation assures that the public is adequately represented. Some members are appointed by city council. Three members are appointed by the board of county commissioners of Bvard County.
Not a single district commissioner, by the entire board of county commissioners. Anyone asking you to do anything different is in violation of that law. It's the responsibility of the entire
board, not one board member. And then there are members that are jointly appointed by the board of county commissioners of Bvard County and the city council of the city of Titusville. I happen to have a copy here of our
enabling legislation if anyone feels compelled to take a look at it to further ensure that the board of directors does what you have charged it to do and what the law has charged it to do through our
enabling legislation. We're one of only about 60% of the hospitals in this country that conduct conducts a board self assessment. We bring an independent third party into our organization every two years and they go through an
assessment of the performance of our board. So here you can see that it is a requirement of our bylaws. It's an issue of good governance. We strongly believe how we compare to other boards similar in size on and on. We are different in
some ways. We have more physicians on our board and we are more diverse than most hospital boards. Here are some of the scores within the assessment results as presented by the consultant. You can see continued progress in key areas that
any board would want to have assessed. Additional results as well. Again, we are a public hospital and we are independent. Drastically different. And in fact, in addition to being one of the few public hospitals in the state of
Florida, we're also one of the few independent hospitals, not just in the state, but in the entire country. Imagine the challenges of being independent and public and not taxing and being the lowcost provider.
Again, zero taxes for the last 30 years, saving the citizens of our North Bard tens of millions of dollars each and every year. Just a snapshot of some of the benefits
that we have provided to people. Uh, as you know, North Boulevard has a larger population of uh, poverty both for adults and children than other areas of Bvard County. And we're happy to show
these contributions, especially the bottom line over 10 years, $170 million worth of uncompensated care. something surely you should be proud of on behalf of your public hospital.
In addition, in 2021, the state of Florida passed uh a Uniform Special District Accountability Act statute mandating that Florida's independent special districts have conducted an independent review of its entire
operations. I happen to have a copy of this as well and it's also on our website if anybody cares to take a look at it in this report and I'll go through it quickly. The report was a complete assessment of our organization's performance.
We're proud to present it. The uh individual Brian Fuller in the lower right was the consultant from the statemandated uh assessment of our organization and we came through with flying colors as you would expect us to.
Stellar performance after the pandemic, a $20 million financial turnaround after the pandemic. We are missiondriven. We have tremendous talent. We focus on quality. We are drastically more
affordable than other providers and we do not tax. Let me just go through this section here quickly. And um the pandemic devastated us like it did many other hospitals and
we're happy to begin recruiting back many of the physicians that left us during the pandemic. some 68 left or retired and we're almost back to having fulfilled that staff. Really pleased with our Burell College relationship.
Tremendously pleased with the repairing of our relationship with Bvard County's largest healthc care provider, Health First. Uh the relationship is going uh incredibly well. We are working collaborative collaboratively and
cooperatively on behalf of the communities we serve. And that relationship brought us this where in a real estate transaction we acquired from Health First their cancer center in Titusville and have now turned it and
made it into our own parish healthc care center which is focused primarily on um cancer care. I won't go through the remainder of the presentation. Uh Mr. chairman for interest of time, but I did
want to just make sure that this commission sees the stellar and incredible awards that our organization has received on behalf of the communities we serve, provision of maternity care, OBGYn services, surgery,
stroke, that the list goes on and on. And with that, I'll stop and uh see if there's any questions. Okay, >> first of all, I want to thank you for coming and presenting uh to the board of
commissioners and I I uh wanted to keep this as positive as I could and so I appreciate you being here because I can understand your frustration. I happen to think that this is a wonderful hospital. I'd like for you to elaborate more on the uh awards that you've received
because there were some comments about the hospital. I'm blown away by the number of awards. I'm looking at the list that you have listed listed here. What are some of the highlights? I didn't want to cut you short on on that. We gave you 15 minutes here this morning. So,
>> um as in any organization, there are various ways of determining um success. There are some organizations that look at the financial performance of organizations and in hospitals. There
are some that look at the mix of how many RNs you have compared to not non-RNS, four-year RNs versus two-year RNs, the number of physicians and the specialties they have. Um, where we are
uh very fortunate in obtaining awards are in the areas where we excel in. Um, we excel in the provision of oncology services. We are the county's longest accredited hospital for cancer care by
the commission on cancer care. Bvard County's longest accredited hospital. We are the first and still only hospital in the nation accredited by the joint commission for what is called integrated care. how we blend the physician
practice care with the hospital care and when the patient is discharged back to the home with home care and other components of care in our community. They are all integrated by our care partners. It's called integrated care. It is to reduce redundancy, keep costs
low and prevent mistakes from happening. the only integrated care accredited hospital in the United States. We are stroke certified. We have certifications in orthopedics.
Blue Cross has recognized us in in orthopedics in in women's care. Nationally, US what is called an EPIC electronic medical record. What is called an EPIC electronic medical record. Epic is the Cadillac medical
records system in the United States. Health First has it. Orlando Health has it. Advent has it. Um, Halifax and Daytona will still have it. It is not affordable for Parish Medical Center. We cannot expend 40 to$50 million to
acquire this system. But what the system does do is using AI and other electronic tools within the system. It makes sure that your data is scrubbed and your data is clean before it is reported to
federal agencies. In a recent report by the Leaprog Group specifically stated that hospitals that use AI and electronic technology have better reporting of their quality scores. Doesn't mean the quality is
better. It means the reporting is better. So I hope my board members aren't watching right now. I plan to bring to the next board meeting a request for $7 million for our board to approve Parish Medical Center acquiring the
Chevrolet of electronic medical records, not the Cadillac called Metatech Expanse. And it will allow us to do through AI and other digital innovative tools, the ability to scrub our data, clean the data up before it is then reported
publicly. And that certainly if the studies and the research are correct uh propel us further towards earning and achieving uh even more awards in the area of safety and and quality.
>> Yes. >> Thank you and thank you for coming today. Um I just want to clarify one thing and then I have just a couple questions. Um, I just wanted to make sure that that you were aware. My concern was not that you didn't speak.
My concern was the uh influence of who was going to be appointed to the board. And um, but that being said, I want to definitely talk about uh some of the really good things that we had in our conversation. Um, one of the things that
we talked about was uh some of the struggles that all hospitals are going through. And I don't know if you would like to use this platform if you could explain for the community about um what's going on with maternity care and the need for doctors and this hole that
really as a country we have in that um in that respect >> the area of obstetrics the area of obstetrics um if if you talk with the uh health department uh in director uh Zanka she will tell you the the same thing where
she continually struggles to find physicians um obstetric and uh gynecology physicians to provide the services uh in the community and we have an abundance and with the closure of the Rocklidge hospital there are now fewer
hospitals that that deliver more people uh coming to Parish Medical Center um to receive those services and it is straining every organization in in Bvard County. So if you are all inclined to
kind of use your platform uh to bring kind of a kumbaya moment to all the healthc care providers uh commissioner and I think that would be a great place to do it. >> Yes. >> Um thank you so much for that. And um
one other thing that we talked about that I thought was really great was um there I guess I'll start with one of the things that I really appreciate about Parish Hospital is the um amount of community outreach and how involved with
the community you all are and I really appreciate that and I know the community does as well. >> Appreciate that. Um, one of the things that I think that which we talked about would be great is um, finding a way to bridge the gap
between um, you know, while there of course there are people who are are happy with the way things are going, there of course are some people that are not. And so I I look forward to um working with not only you, but the
community and whoever else I have to work with to um make sure that we can make our North Bard Hospital the best it can be. >> Appreciate that. >> I um George, I want to thank you. I have to
say when we were going through the trauma of having one of our hospitals close and it was my family's hospital um and it was quite traumatic. You were here I think you were the only
CEO I think you were here for every single discussion that we had related to that >> and I want to personally thank you for your level of support and commitment and concern. maybe give us a little briefing of how things are going and how we're
adopting and how we're responding and what problems you foresee or what needs that we may have. >> I think with um um the help of a lot of people um Space Coast Health Foundation um Health First
um there's been a lot of forced collaboration. I guess we didn't have time to think about the past and we overnight were forced to to come together, collaborate,
use our own community's resources to help people from another part of the of the county. We're we're all one. We all understand that. Um, but when you're sized a certain way, um, you know, our emergency
department was built for 22,000 patients per year. We're currently serving about 32,000 patients a year. And that ratio is probably no different than at Vieira Hospital or Palm Bay Hospital or Cape
Canaveral or even homes. [clears throat] This county continues to grow. not evenly distributed, not economically even and not commercially insured even. So there are pockets of disparity and there will always be kind of ups and
downs within within the community. But when the Rocklage Hospital closed 15 years after I said it would um it wasn't a surprise to people. The abruptness was certainly a surprise. How the people were handled by Orlando
Health was certainly a surprise. But again, health care people are strange people. You know, you can you can visit hospital emergency departments and they look um um disorganized in an organized way. Let
there be an incident. Let there be a hurricane. Let there be a disaster. And it is lickety split. People know what to do and they do it. And I think that's what triggered in the minds and hearts of people at all of Bvard's hospitals
when the announcement of Rocklage Hospitals closure was made. Everybody went into disaster mode and that clicked on and how do we take care of patients? And I give the leadership at Health First and and Terry Ford who said nothing about money, who said nothing
but anything that had to do with how do we take care of these people? and he led that charge and Space Coast Health Foundation helped coordinate and organized and it was just I won't say easy because I would hate to do it again but because that's how hospital people
are trained and conditioned. It fell into our wheelhouse and I think and I appreciate the comments um I think it was a successful rapid response to a very bad situation. question and
>> as a board as a county commission board and the health challenges that we fa all of our hospitals are facing what do you see the single most important thing that we can do to help >> um you know there's [clears throat] a lot of things but
>> you can I'm not limiting you to one I'm [laughter] sure >> but in the roles you have assure not just communication but collaboration resourc resources in this day and age are too scarce and for competition
to spread those resources even further. Um for duplication of facilities in places where we don't need duplication are a tremendous burden on the finances
of people. Somebody has to pay for a new building. Somebody has to pay for all of these facilities that healthc care organizations want to plop up to make money and all that does is increase prices. The prices in Bvard County are about to
go through the roof. If you think healthc care costs are expensive now, you ain't seen nothing yet because they're ready to go through the roof when Orlando Health opens up a new hospital in Bvard County. By far the most expensive hospital in Central
Florida. and they will bring that expensiveness to Bvard County. You've got us, one of the least costly providers. You've got Health First, which does a very commendable job with
operating four hospitals and how they do that very efficiently. But the market is about to unfortunately change with the entry of uh an Orlandobased health care system. um it's going to disrupt things
drastically. So anything you can do in terms of collaborate, cooperate, communicate, all the Cwords, I think that's where you can uh play a critical role. >> Did you Okay. Thank you. Thank you for taking
the time preparing. >> Not always the easiest thing to do and we appreciate you and >> thank you. >> Okay. Okay. We'll move on. Um, we have our consent agenda. Are there
any items that we need to remove from consent? >> I would like to um pull F1, F6, F9, and F11. >> 1 69 and 11. Okay. How do you want to do this? You want to
pass the consent as a whole and then hear these items or hear these items first and then pass the consent. I'm going to look to you. >> I I >> since you just got through the >> I in the past I think we had passed
consent and then took each one of those items up separately. I suppose you could hear them and then um >> well let's go in here >> and then uh and then do consent all at once. I suppose >> let's go and hear those first in case >> if I may sir under board policy 97
adopted by the board when items are removed from consent um the board should address the approval of the remainder of the consent agenda and then address the pulled items separately after that. >> Perfect. That's Thank you, sir. >> That's what I was looking for. Okay, let's have a motion on the consent agenda to approve. >> It's a motion on consent. Is there a
second? >> I'll second. >> A second. All those in favor signify by saying yay. I >> opposed. Motion carries unanimously. >> You I'm sorry. Were Were there any cards on items that were not pulled from the
consent agenda because those cards should be heard before the >> Yes, there were. >> Motion passed the consent as a whole. >> Let's back up then. >> So, F4 and F7 were the only two that were have cards that were not >> that were not. Okay. So, let's go ahead and hear public
input. Oh, we can go ahead and hear the rest of the consent then, right? >> Typically do not. I'm sorry, sir. Would be to hear those public comment cards on items that were not pulled. So, I I think I heard a four and F. >> Okay, let's do that. All right.
>> And then then take the vote on the consent items that were not pulled. >> Okay, got it. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> Okay. Uh, let's we have a public card on F4. Sandra Sullivan. >> [clears throat] >> So, uh, F4 and F5
are we've spent hundreds of thousands of dollars for invoices to Meek's Plumbing, Sandra Sullivan. um during these wet events and um [clears throat] we from what I've heard
we still dumped we still dumped out at uh behind um Sykes Creek and also Port St. on and we have some laws coming up that are going to prevent um or disallow legally doing
that. And so this is more, you know, I know this is approval of these, but there's hundreds of thousands of dollars in pumping uh poop. Uh and I I kind of one of my questions is I'd like to know where you took it because so many of our
sewage plants were over capacity. We have plants, you know, many plants, 137% to 184% over capacity, which is why you were you were trucking um sewage. But what are you doing for the future to
ensure that you're not dumping with these plants that are at or over near or at or over capacity? So, that was just it on that item. I do have other cards when we talk about them. >> Okay. Um, so it was a good question.
When we pump it, where do we take it? >> That's That's a good question. >> Yeah, we'll have Eddie come up for your answers. >> What's that? >> Well, uh, Eddie will be coming up to answer the question. >> Good morning. Uh
go ahead. >> So with uh with regard to the question and the circumstances related to that agenda item that went to Sykes Creek, there was no discharging at Sykes Creek. Psych Sykes Creek has two deep injection
wells. So capacity wise, the ability to discharge there in a permitted fashion was done. I have to say too, and I'm glad this item was pulled because I think it's an opportunity to really thank you and your department and the county and their
their quick action and leadership to minimize to a very small amount how much was discharged. Other jurisdictions haven't been so successful and we know we've had say significant discharges in these type of events. I won't name any because I'm sure there were a lot of
extenduating circumstances, but some of those discharges even led to state legislation and increasing penalties. So, I it's good that you were on it. I guess that also highlights the importance of those deep well injections in terms of emergency and flooding and what have you.
>> Yes, sir. >> Um my my question too since we're on this what we did was allowable under permitting. That's a process that that is provided for and it was some there were no violations. Am I correct in that? >> Yes, sir.
>> Okay, good. Thanks, Katie. >> Thank you. Um, were was the um was it treated before we put it into the deep injection? Well, >> it is brought through the process of the plant and then >> you might want to speak a hard um Yes.
>> Okay. Thank you. Okay. >> And so you said it was brought through the process of the plant before it's discharged into the deep injection well. Awesome. Thank you. >> It leads to another question >> and a real emergency because we talked
about this. I mean this [clears throat] goes to show you the challenges that that we have when there's a this was a a localized events countywide. and like a major hurricane or very wet tropical storm where the whole region is being
impacted. Is there ever a scenario is that one of our um and we talked about protocols and emergency scenarios. Is there ever a scenario where we would be allowed to to deposit untreated? What happens when the
untreated refuge because of flooding is sewage um is is overflowing? Are we allowed to put that in the deep well untreated? Is there a certain amount we're allowed to do? It's better there than in our water bodies or
>> so. When the when the period of time of the governor given a state of emergency, we get a reprieve on the laws associated with that because the state views it as such an extreme circumstance that from a planning side it can't be achieved and
they recognize that. But we still report it during that period. >> Okay. Okay, great. All right, now we have F7 and Sandra Sullivan. Again,
I started to say Santa Sullivan. I'm sorry, but Sandra Sullivan F7 is the Economic Development Commission. uh by annual financial report um in past we've seen
where there's been the total report for the year as well. So I would have liked to have seen that. Um what is the Bvard County grant for $1.4 million? And I don't see it uh a dollar
amount from Bard County on here. Uh, and I I just want to say, you know, now that we've done away with NBEDs, we still do have our economic development um uh department, uh, we have very good lobbyists that we
pay. So, we're essentially doing this twice. Salaries uh were like $290,000 to this entity. I'm just I'm just wondering what the value proposition is. I mean recently they they came with the
study for the regional sewage plant that was so unrealistic in the cost to do it and as well the location at Tao you can't put a sewage plant there because sewage plants are a bird attractant and destroys engines on aircraft. So that's
like basic knowledge that they should have known. Um, so we spent as a county $1.7 million or approved 7 $1.71 million to second a study that was flawed to begin with. >> Does anyone want to respond to that? I
to give a response. I don't have one, but maybe a >> Why don't we do this? Let's let's have a response since the question was asked and but we can go ahead and go through this other items if you need a little
more time. >> He's coming back. >> This is a good way of getting your sketch steps up. >> Good morning. >> Okay. So, I'm sorry, sir. What was the question?
>> Well, let's Did you have a question? >> I could clarify it. >> Yeah, I can too. Go ahead. >> Okay. Question. >> Okay. The question I think was why did they pay for a study to put a regional sewer plant at Tao when they should have
known birds are affected or flocked to poop and it ruins airplanes? >> Question. What was the $1.4 million? It said Bvard County grant and then the
what is the value proposition of TDC when we have our own uh not TDC sorry um economic development uh uh department. Sorry, you're wrong. This is for the economic development uh
commission financial report. Right. So what is the what is the benefit financially of going through and working with EDC when we have our own department, we have our own lobbyists and we can do everything internally. That's the question. So what
is the $1.4 million Bvard County grant that's in that document >> morning the $ 1.4 $4 million grant is for the support that the economic development uh commission of the Florida
Space Coast provides the county. They um talk to businesses, recruit for businesses in Bvard County. They support local businesses in Bvard County. They are armed for um recruiting and
retaining businesses in Bvard County. A matter of fact, um, this morning I was talking to a Houston group that has been in contact with EDC. They they want to come to Bvard County. So they are and they talked to EDC yesterday. So EDC is
very much involved in the retention and recruitment of businesses in Bvoulevard County. >> And I I agree with that. And I think the other thing to take in consideration if the EDC wasn't providing those services which are absolutely necessary if we're
going to be relevant and competitive and bring in high quality highpaying uh big on return employment uh we would probably have to hire a lot of that those staff members in house. So it's not like we're spending money that we
wouldn't necessarily have to spend. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Um, I I think that um the question may have been uh about this $1.4 million. This is what was passed in our budget. This isn't an additional grant. >> That's correct. This is a grant that was
passed in the county's uh the board's budget and this has been a grant for several years now. It's not just the first time the grant has been put in the county's budget. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. and and I'm sorry chairman just to elaborate a little more on the
discussion. So um a few things that >> on the sewer plant issue >> on the sewer plant. So, so with >> and I might ask too there there's a sewer plant almost a butts the Melbourne regional airport they seem to manage to operate that >> there is there is no so I've so there's
a lot of effort going on simultaneously not singular so um with regard to the study that's related to what we're calling the regional that study is underway we're making great progress the benefit of that study is going to not
only solidify our decision decision making, but provide a document because whether it's state or federal level, they still want a level of due diligence third party to provide that recommendation. As much as they want to believe in what I say because I work for
the county is not sufficient. So, we need that due diligence in order to go through that. We're looking at multiple efforts. Um, Titusville is one of them, but it's not the solution or the
approach yet. Um, again, I've been in contact with the leadership at Titusville Airport. The bird rule is not, as you said, um, Gainesville is another great example. Um there um you have to get FAA approval which by the
way we've already gone through the first step and submitting that to the FAA for that consideration. >> Okay, great. Thank you. Okay, those are the two items. We do have a card member a card on F1 which is
one of the items that was pulled from consent. So I think we'll hear that card when we have discussion on that of an item. Now I think it's fine. We have a a motion in order for the rest of the consent agenda. >> Yes, Mr. Chair. >> I'll make the motion then for the rest
of it. >> Second. >> Motion by Felner. Second by Delaney. All in favor say yay. >> I opposed. >> Carries unanimous. Thank you. Okay, let's go to F1. And Katie, do you want to say a few
things? You want to invite up the public comment first? >> I was hoping that we could have staff present. Is that all right or would you rather have the public? >> It's up to you. >> Staff would be great. >> Thank you. >> And then we'll have a public comment.
>> Is this yours? >> All right. >> Morning commissioners. So F1 is requesting an immediate amendment to the SORL plan to increase the minimum cost share for septic upgrades from $0 to $6,000. Um this would allow um and allow
for retroactive reimbursement for early adopters of these nitrogen reducing septic systems. The citizen oversight committee unanimously recommended this amendment for a one-year trial period considering the changes to the regulatory environment that has sign significantly expanded our residents
interest in this grant program. So, I'm here to answer any questions you may have. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Um, [clears throat] so what what does that look like for residents who have gone through this program that now possibly have access to more of a rebate? What does that look
like for for them? >> So, we've included um terms for retroactive reimbursement. So the board um in the past whenever there's been a change to the funding amount available for the septic upgrade program has allowed for retroactive reimbursements. So we do ask um that they uh show their
intent to have participated um and that they have complied with the other needs of the program which includes a 65% uh nitrogen reinduction reduction standard. And do you know how like what the turnaround time would look like once
they put in their application? What what does that look like for people receiving the rebate? >> We typically so um concerning the application um portion, we typically turn that around in one day. >> Wow. >> Um then they have to go through the construction process which can take a
few months um depends on the market variables. Um and then reimbursement uh takes a week or two. >> That's great. >> Thank you. Thank you so much. >> Great. Uh Sandra Sullivan, did you want to come it?
>> Sandra Sullivan, rather than me coming up and down for each consent item, can I just go through all of them that I have here? >> We're just sitt Yeah. Okay. So, F1, I was at the sorrel meeting. uh when this is discussed first of all I would like to say under the
consent item there were no supporting documentation generally a lack of transparency on this issue um at the meeting uh the the board was generally in favor of an a motion for option two
however um the director of natural resource pushed option three uh and so they they changed their minds to that um and I I I want to say that this This item brings me heartburn because I don't think the lagoon tax is going to renew
next year. And so what you have for dollars is what you have what I think you're going to have for dollars. And um so what this does is it takes the paraded funding that prioritizes as it is right now and
prioritizes that money to closest to the lagoon. After all, what we voted for was cleaning up the lagoon, not for septic systems anywhere in Bvard County being funded by the lagoon tax. Right.
So, I I do am not in support of this. I think it's not what the voters voted for. I think there may even be a legal issue with that. And then secondly, [snorts] if the state is not providing grant funding, it it is taking all of
the sorrel money to pay that $24,000 or whatever it is that the amount of money that is going. But this this is not what the voters intended when they voted for the soral tax. And I think learning about this and learning that a septic
system on the west side of I95 is getting the same funding as next to the lagoon is going to really uh tick off some people. It's a betrayal. Okay. I I think that's a very valid point. Uh there's I think there's truth on both sides. I I don't agree with the
term betrayal. I think u I think there's reasonleness on both sides and it was a reasonable decision to try to solve a very significant u problem but I think it's a valid debating item issue of discussion. Um okay that's F1. Is there
any other discussion on F1? Okay. All those in favor of passing F1 say yay or I. Which one? I I I >> I >> I say I >> Do you need a motion? >> We do need a motion. >> Okay. >> Is there a motion?
>> I make a motion to approve. >> Motion to approve. Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Second. Those in favor sign by saying I. >> I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries unanimously. >> Yes, we have actually. >> Three more through. Yeah, we're going
through. >> We're going one at a time. >> Okay. Okay, the next item is item F6. >> We don't have any cards on. >> We have no cards on F6. [clears throat]
>> Is there any discussion on F6? Any questions? It was pulled. >> If if possible, um if Miss Wanita can um give us a report first, that would be great. >> Good morning, commissioners. Item F6 is a request for the board to approve the
state housing initiative partnership 2025 2026 affordable housing committee incentive strategy evaluations and recommendation report. Approval of this report facilitates our continued receipt of our SHIP funding from Florida Housing
Finance Corporation which this year is about 2.4 million. The Boulevard County Affordable Housing Advisory Committee at a public hearing on November 20th reviewed and unanimously approved the incentives report. The report recommends
staff to coordinate with our relevant county departments to further evaluate the feasibility in the following focus areas. Density flexibility, assess dwelling units and tiny homes, land bank inventory, parking and setback,
reservation of county infrastructure. This report does not change land density or land development regulations. >> And I love those tiny homes. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Um I was wondering about the
public participation in in this. And could you share with us what that looked like if you know how many people participated or because usually you have like how many comments we've received and that kind of thing. So we did not receive any
comments from the public. We did post a report um to our website and we actually discussed it at the AHACK at two meetings and um we had no public that were there present at either meeting but we did you know address it at length at
two meetings with our AHACK and the AHAC members actually provided input. They emailed that in and we distribute it um amongst all the committee members. Would it be maybe um we could
keep working on trying to um solicit uh public input into these things. I don't know if we could brainstorm some different ideas that um because I know there are so many groups around the around the county that are focused on this program. So I would just love to
see a more robust public input into this and I'm sure you would too. So, I' I'd love to, you know, help or collaborate in any way that we could do that. >> Thank you. >> Okay, great. Do we have a motion on uh this item?
>> So moved. >> There's a motion. >> I'll second. >> A second. Uh all those in fa favor signify by saying I I >> opposed. The same cast passes unanimously.
Okay. Now we'll move to F9. Okay. And this is one you you pulled. We do have cards, too. So maybe we have Let's go in here the cards then. We have three cards. This one pulled a
lot of cards. Um, first charge uh card is Mr. Palux. Pallet talks. Did I say that right? Are they here? I don't think so.
Kate Butler, next item. Did you want to say a few things or >> I'm available for questions? >> Just available. Okay, good. And then Sandra Sullivan. >> Uh, so Sandra Sullivan. So, first of all, I think what we're seeing just I'm
going to get to my comment just a second with these consent items is we've normally seen these as agenda items for things that are of this nature and I would encourage the county to go back to that. Um on F9 on the agreement on page
two um it says prior to any such future sale or lease of the property any such future buyer or lease may demonstrate to the reasonable satisfaction of the North Bard Economic Development District that it has appropriate financial and uh risk
management plan. Uh North Bard Economic Development District no longer exists. has been um it's been terminated. So um that should be removed from the legal language of the agreement prior to an execution of that. And I just while I'm
up here, I just say I I did put a card in for F5. I spoke on F4. I just want to just say pertaining to that that um this is regarding to um another payment for emergency services to Meek's Plumbing.
There was $74,000 in trucking sewage for Sykes Creek and Sykes Creek was at 140% capacity utilization. Therefore, I don't see how you could take the sewage there and and process it through
that plant. And by the way, Sykes Creek has been is under consent orders for putting raw sewage down that deep injection while and polluting by the county by the tests that were done by Jacobs, polluting the surface water, the
surrounding water. And I would say that there are residents in that area that are on that have wells. And if you're polluting surface water, you're you're potentially harming human health. I just say that if that's where they put those
that but by the statement that was where they they trucked that sewage. So that's a concern. >> Okay, that's all the cards that we have. Um any questions, discussions? Did you have anything else?
>> I say something but could go first. >> Okay. All right. >> Uh just to introduce this item. Uh this is a request that's coming from North American Properties which is a real estate developer. Uh two years ago the imbezz board made a recommendation to
the county commission to sell property in the spaceport commerce park to the company which had a plan to build a building on a spec basis that is without a tenant already signed up. Uh they had two conditions that they suggested be added to the deed. One was a job
creation requirement and the other was our typical clawback that we use which is that they had to do site preparation activities within two years. Uh now two years later they've completed their site preparation activities. They've spent over $3 million in hard and soft cost to
do that. But they are running into what we're considering an unintended consequence with the second clawback, the one with the job creation. that is clouding the title and making it difficult for them to find a lender to do the construction period financing. The lenders feel that that requirement u
reduces the pool of eligible candidates to lease the building. So they're coming today to to request action to um remove that amend that restriction. >> And I might add and I think everyone's briefed on this issue. It's a very good request. we've lost some opportunity
from an economic development point of view in the meantime. So I think uh it's a a good request >> that that is correct. I I should have mentioned that the EDC actually did a nice impact analysis >> to show the benefits of having this kind
of a space available. We do lose a lot of deals because we don't have available industrial building space, right? Uh and we're also thinking that because of the size of the building that they intend to build, which is about 100,000 square feet at the park, uh we'll probably attract the tenant that will create a
number of jobs, maybe 25, 50, even 100. >> Thank you. Thank you so much for presenting that. And I just wanted to um bring some awareness to this item. This is I I consider it a critical need in North Bard. um having uh buildings ready
for businesses to come into our community and I just wanted to say thank you so much for developing that and um uh joining our community. So I just wanted to highlight some good stuff going on in North Bard opportunity and uh yeah so thank you all. With that I'd
like to make a motion to approve. >> I'll second. >> Motion and second. All those in favor say I. I >> I >> opposed like carries unanimous. Thank you so much. Okay, I think
that's all the consent, right? >> No, we have 11. I had my notes right here. Okay, F11. >> We have no cards on that one. And Commissioner Delaney, >> thank you. I just wanted to um
bring some sunshine onto this uh onto this item because it has all of our uh or not all but a bunch of our audit reports and I think that this is um something of high public uh interest and I don't know if maybe our county manager
or if somebody would be willing to talk about some of the changes that were uh going through with our with our audit um situation. ation going forward if that's all right. >> Yes, Commissioner. Um, thank you. Um, what you have in front of you, commissioners, is are the audit reports
from the last this last calendar year. Um, they've gone through the audit committee first before they're presented to you. Um, and I got to hands out our prop props to our audit committee. They're pretty active group. They're they're um they really go through it. They do ask some tough questions of the department and of the auditors. So, it's
a good process. In there you have three different IT reports, information technology reports, moner readiness, um external internal penetration, that's bad actors trying to get into the system, and then the library firewall. Uh the library has its own network. So we had to test to make sure that we're
we're protecting there. You have the um 2025 half cent sales tax um save our Indian River Lagoon report, which is done every year. And then the solid waste uh capital improvement program funding. uh point out there was only one finding on that one and staff had had
the corrections to the report even before the audit committee saw it. So they caught real up on it. So then what you also have attached is the uh audit plan for two different organizations this year. We're transitioning from uh RSM and C uh CS CRI which is private uh
auditors to the clerk's office. So you have RSM CS uh CRI. They're going to be auditing the IT, the same thing, the penetration reports, making sure our firewalls up, how we handle credit cards, and then they're handling the soral review again this year because they've done it for a number of years. And then the clerk's office is just
getting started um with their um not controller, internal, what do you call it? Internal general uh auditor general. um and they're going to be looking at purchasing cards to the few of the departments with the idea that they will transition to the full audit in fiscal
year 2627. And so what we're asking the board is just to acknowledge and approve um all the audit reports and the audit plans. >> Okay. Um, so in the meantime, if we decide
that we would like something audited, we could still bring that up to the clerk at that point or RSM or >> what what you do is um you bring it to the board and then the board, you know, tell us to instruct the uh clerk's audit the clerk's office to do the audit.
>> Great. Thank you. >> With that, I'd like to make >> before I I had one question. We talked about that in the past and I I brought up concern that we were using a government agency to provide services that
are competitively selected and I felt that we should have competitively selected that and maybe when we go into the budget cycle that's something um that we should look at. I I just I believe in competition and
pulling it inhouse and hiring people without public notice and competition sort of violates that premise that I have and we did have some discussion about that. >> Yeah, competition is always so
definitely >> definitely be um interested in that conversation. >> Okay. Okay. Um, any other further discussion? If not, we'll have a motion on the agenda item. >> So moved. >> There's a motion. Second. >> I'll second. >> Second it. In favor signify by saying I.
>> I. Motion carries unanimously. >> Thank you. Okay. Now I think we move on to item um G. Public comments. We have three public comment cards. Keith Edwards is our first one.
Hello, county commissioners. Um, first off, uh, I'm very proud of my First Amendment rights, but with ladies in present, I will keep my tongue as straight as possible out of due respect to them.
First off, I rolled everything into my one public comment not to waste your time. Parish Hospital, it's one star. When you put buildings over people's lives, it's wrong. They're underst staffed. The
staff is great people. The buildings are beautiful. The whole sixth floor up there has been empty. We've lost the veterans and they're ridiculous. The last one, God bless Coach Greg's heart. He went in, they gave him a few
shots, before he got home, he got his toe tag. People don't want to go to parish. I personally, I've been there. I've seen parish. I've seen our veterans sitting in the hall for 2 days before they could get a room. I've seen Vieiraa here.
Beautiful hospital. Fantastic hospital. I cried when we lost Rocklage. That was a great hospital. Well staffed, good people. Canaveral, our ladies, they want to go to Canaveral to have their children. Nobody wants to go to Parish.
I lost my own daughter in parish. So I'm speaking from the heart. Now a bigger issue is development and our flooding. North Bavar I don't know how many pieces
of equipment we have up there to work on our flooding. My tax dollars have been going south when this was a cow pasture. I helped build the the courthouse Titusville. I've seen the county seat in
Titusville in North Boulevard be the pearl of Bvard. I've seen this place be developed and then you want to pull the county seat and bring it down here. And then there was the talk about let's split the county. But God bless the
parishes because we know where the county seat is and we know why. Now the flooding is ridiculous. Our systems, freshwater, sewer water, storm water are all undermined.
They're outdated. Our flood plan hasn't been updated since 1960 when it was wrote. I've seen Stan Johnson, an excellent storm water engineer, be disgraced and arrested for trying to
bring it to the attention and get help. Now, we've got a lot of development coming and and we're going to boom. If we're not prepared for it, we're going to be in worse shape. Now, when these flood
go ahead, finish it with >> When these flood waters come in, we have septic tanks and drain fields that quit working. Where does that sewer water go? When our our manholes overflow, where does it go? It goes in our ground table
water. When it goes in our ground table water, we're drinking it. It's it water flows downhill. Now, we live up north. And if we don't fix our inner structure and we let all this development tie in
to what we have now, we're not going to be able to help. It's just going to be even worse. We need some money to come. Our tax dollars needs to come up. $12 million on a parking lot. And we've got people up
there that are losing their homes that are homeless. We're we're bailing water. We've got development and we turn a blind eye to it. You got to build higher than the road level. That makes all the homes become retention ponds. Royal Oak
is going to be a perfect example. Thank you. I wanted to give you time to finish your thought run. But those are appreciate your time. >> If if you were in mid thought, go ahead and finish what you were about to say. Then we'll >> we just need to get some real eyes up
there. We need to get somebody that can handle it and know what they're talking about. We need to get our equipment fixed. We only got three pieces up there. a great doll, a spider, and and um
one other one. Uh I'm at a loss, but >> we'll figure that out. >> They built you guys down here now. Now, every good deed to reserve, but >> thank you. Appreciate your input. >> Brson, is that Brumson?
>> Branson. Branson, >> I left my glasses in my car, so I can't see anything. >> I feel your pain. >> Yes. >> Good morning. Happy holidays, commissioners. Bard County, Mike Bmpson, Bvard County Firefighters Union. I come to the podium today to uh basically give
some opinions on advice and direction. Uh as the public safety challenges continue in Bvoulevard County from a lot of things that were already discussed today coincidentally uh I'd like to bring um some support towards the commission on how we pursue for the future. Uh the first thing I'd like to
suggest I'm going to bring in a couple bullet points is um engaging the public on what they feel our health care should be including prehosp. We know that uh this commission supports prehosp care. We we spent a lot of time back and forth
over this last year to get our uh prehosp services, i.e. the fire rescue into a better place to move forward to allow services to get our citizens to the hospitals they need to get to. And I encourage that we continue to move forward with public opinion on the needs
of the county and the cities being that this board is in charge of the only emergent transport agency in Bvard County. As we continue and as we have meetings like today, there's going to be incentive, taxes, fees, permits, zonings, committees, boards, um
throughout the next year. I encourage that these uh remain very public, very open. And as you sit on the board, uh we support the continued conversation on what are the standard of care, what are the services primarily moving into new
structures, new hospital systems, new people, emergent pediatric care, please, we need to address that yesterday. uh 640,000 estimated people depending on Google and AI whatever you
look at 10th largest by population county out of 67 is state of Florida which is the third most populous state and the biggest thing is is you can't measure our geographic challenges to get people from where they are to where they need to be. So pediatric emerging care
should be the hot topic. Uh I'm looking at a [snorts] a slide right here about student athletes. We have EKGs, we have wonderful things in place. Uh OB, absolutely all these things are true, but there are certain levels of that care in Bvoulevard County. There is
nothing for us on the kids. Um look to our neighbors, what they're going through. Orange County, St. Lucy County, if you watch their videos of their committee meetings, we could see the future of what our conversations will be. And most importantly, look to our local talent. If we're going to talk about pediatric care, there's
pediatricians, there's people. create incentives, create tax embments, create whatever you have the power to do so to get those pediatric doctors into our community, into our hospitals to render care. So, I just wanted to bring that little direction to you. I'm going to run out of time, but if I can get
another 15 seconds, I'd like to create an example. >> Why this is important to the firefighters is when I became a paramedic uh 20some years ago, uh they always ask why you want to be a firefighter, why you want to do anything. So I bring you an antidote on what is the most important part of the
pediatric care. When you become a firefighter paramedic and you respond to a call, it is one of the very few jobs that someone has a bad day. And a very level-headed, competent, loving mother will have their child incur an incident
and they will call 911 and then someone like me will show up and that rational woman will hand a complete stranger their child and say, "Save the kid." And then when we get that child, the support services for getting that kid to definitive care because we drive pickup
trucks with gear in it um is scarce and complicated. So emergent pediatric care should be the hot topic along with everything else that's been discussed. I appreciate the extension and uh once again, happy holiday. >> I think Mick Tarion earlier said the same thing. Absolutely. Yeah. That shows a problem.
>> Thank you. >> Okay, Sen Sullivan. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. >> Yeah. >> Merry Christmas. Ho ho ho. Ho ho ho. >> I'm one of Santa's helpers, Sandra Sullivan. >> Are you going to be jolly?
>> I'm going to be very jolly. >> Okay, good. >> Santa's [clears throat] making a list and checking it twice. We're going to find out who's naughty and nice. Santa Claus is coming to town. I can't sing. Ho ho ho. Okay, I've got
your top ranked naughty list for the year. Naughty for giving 1.7 million to EDC T Space Florida sewage plant study when you think they need more handouts than our firefighters. Two naughty you changed the EDC tax
abatement referendum after it passed to 20 years for data centers. Don't think that's even legal. Naughty for not prioritizing funding our firefighters for two years, creating a public crisis that endangered and costs lives. Naughty
for raising property taxes again while refusing to update developer up impact fees that have not been updated in 25 years. Maybe you can use Colt to power a common sense study on how infrastructure
is paid without busting our tax cap. naughty doubled and tripled density on the barrier island when we have a critical evacuation deficiency of 61 hours in a cat 5 and change the level of service to a variable for the developers. This will cost lives no
matter [cough and clears throat] naughty with all the people flooded by rain and boulevard. You remove the density limitation on the flood plane which will cause much more flooding and more lost homes. This coal is because you don't care about we the people.
Naughty $885 million lagoon tax where muck dredging, grass clipping, marketing, etc. is not legal under the infrastructure sir tax. Meanwhile, we ignore real infrastructure needs in Bvard as the county pumps millions of
sewage into it without reporting it. Naughty, you tried to give away $7.2 2 million to Sarno land to Melbourne knowing it will cost the taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars more for muck dredging because you absolutely have no shame. Naughty, you want to give
12.1 million for a 548 space parking garage for a developer hotel which is supposed to be a 300 space parking garage. 90% for the people. Santa says, "The cola is because
you're bad for prioritizing profit over public need." Merry Christmas. May you use these gifts to light a a much needed fire in you to actually represent the people
in 2026. And I'm gonna add one last one. Naughty because the [clears throat] in and doing what the lobbyists want when you should be making the decisions for we the people. And so stop listening to the lobbyists. They don't control you.
You should be doing what's best for the people. [clears throat] >> Is this real coal? It is cool. >> Way to go. [applause] >> Thank you, Santa. >> Well done, >> Sullivan. [clears throat] >> Um,
okay. I think there's our last public card. It is. >> Okay. I'd like to uh take about a 10-minute break. We'll be back at 10:35. Heat. Heat. >> [bell]
[music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [bell] [bell and music] [bell] [bell]
[music] [bell] [music] >> Heat. Hey, heat. Hey, heat. [bell] [music] >> [music] [bell] >> Heat. Heat. [music] [music] >> [music] [music] [music]
>> Heat. Heat. >> [music] >> everybody. [music] Hey >> [music] [music] >> Um, petition to vacate a portion of the public utility and drainage easement plat of Colony Park,
plat book eight and page 60, Merit Island, Cheryl Sean O'Brien. We have no cards. >> Motion to uh I'd like to make a motion to approve. >> Second. >> It's a motion to approve. Any discussion? All those in favor say I.
>> I. I motion carries. Okay, we will go to I1's city of Melbourne's request to revise and restate the interlocal agreement governing the old O'galli Riverfront Community Redevelopment Agency. Okay, we
have cards. >> I think Kathy >> Kathy. >> Yes. Okay, Kathy. Sorry. >> Good morning, Mr. Chair and commissioners. This requests that the board of county commissioners review the city of Melbourne's request to revise
and restate the interlocal agreement between the county, the city, and [clears throat] the old ogi riverfront community redevelopment agency and approve as submitted by the city of Melbourne or make revisions and authorize the chair to uh execute the
revised and restated interlocal agreement. I do want to point out that with the sunset of this uh CRA five five years earlier, we will save approximately $1.8 million in general fund.
>> Okay. Any questions? If not, we'll go. >> I'm sorry. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Can you um uh read out for us what the for the public what the changes are? What they what what we're actually voting on today? What what is it? Um [clears throat] there are some red line revisions that were not captured
which shows the from the 2038 to the 2033. Also they have committed to not increasing the debt service um limit that was in the 2021 resolution of 6.835. So they're not going to change that.
there was a typographical error in um ref in reference to nine uh A or section 9A to 9B and the uniformity of language that has been added regarding the parking rates that the board want asked
for and um and to to provide all the notice um requirements. And what about the um years uh that the public can have free parking? And could you also tell us um how much of our
general fund are we putting into the CRA? >> Yes. Um they have committed to the first 15 years of free public parking in for the 270 spaces. Also in FY2526,
the county is contributing $346,536 of our general fund money to the uh CRA. They are contributing over 71%. So we're a a minor part of that. We're like n 29%
of what goes into that CRA. The lion share is from the city of Melbourne. And would it be fair to say that it would be about that amount for the next x amount of years? >> But the only uh caveat that I'd have to
say is the growth in that area. As the property values grow, that money will continue to grow. Now, if our property taxes continue to decline, it could be that way. >> Thank you. Mhm.
>> The chair has asked me just to take uh over this one just for a few minutes. Um any other questions by the board? >> Commissioner Goodson. >> No, I have. >> Okay. So, we'll go to the first card which is Jenny Lamb, City of Melbourne,
city manager. >> Thank you, commissioners. Jenny Lamb, city of Melbourne. Um I want to thank you for the opportunity to negotiate with your county staff for this interlocal agreement. Um the interlocal
agreement as a whole helps the helps realize the goal of the CRA and right now the goal and not right now but as has was in our 2021 agreement. The goal of the CRA is for parking additional parking in the form of a parking garage.
So, the version presented in your agenda package addresses the concerns brought up by both the commissioners at previous meetings and of your staff. And um our city attorney will speak later and he can address the finer points of that agreement. But what I wanted to do today
is I wanted to address some of the information that is out there in um the public social media and such. And I just wanted to clarify that this revised interlocal agreement allows for either the city/c
to build the garage in our on our own or for the city CRA to enter into a private or a public private partnership. It allows the option um there and it so if something falls through with the public
private partnership, our um county our city council has um authorized staff to negotiate a public private partnership, but if something were to fall through, the city would come in and build the garage because we know we need 27,300 parking spots for downtown Oak Galloway.
Um, an independent analysis was determined or an independent analysis was performed and it determined the cost to construct a 300 space garage is approximately 10.5 million. There seems to be concern about the 10.5 and the 12 million. The difference in those as
spelled out in the agreement is for ancillary costs including um legal costs, professional engineering design and consulting costs, um engineering inspection and management costs, um bonds and so forth. That gets to the
12.075 million. An independent analysis was also performed to determine what it would cost to build a 542 to 548 space parking garage. And um that would cost 20 the construction cost alone would be
20.25 million. The reason I give you these costs today is to show the CRA is not funding any additional parking that would be needed for the development. Um and so the revised interlocal agreement would be used only towards the capital
contribution and those ancillary costs and the debt service for the 300 parking spaces. Um, so we appreciate your consideration and um I'm available for any questions. >> Thank you board members. Any questions?
>> Okay, our next card is Derek Gors. >> Hello, sir. >> Hi there, folks. Uh, thanks for the forum and thanks thanks for having me. Um, I'm I'm an artist and a business owner in Ogalli. [clears throat] I have an art gallery and a cool gift shop.
Lots of local flavor in there. And we even have an indoor mini golf in my gallery, by the way, right now. Um, I I love I love EGAT. I love Ogali. I I first took classes there uh when my folks moved us down from Massachusetts, 10 years old, uh, 1980, 1981, somewhere
in there, started taking art classes. And Ogali is so important in the county. It's it's essential as that that place of of expression. Uh a smart friend of mine, you guys might may know JC Styver, she and Jimmy, uh JC described O'Galli
once as as the soul of the county. you know, other place other parts of town might have more um you know, more of this or that, but but Ogalli, when you when you lead with art, it's a place where people can express themselves, make things, um learn learn about their
community more, connect with people, uh it's a great place for for mental health expression, it's etc, etc. Uh through through my art career, I've been able to travel the world a bit and and see how how good towns are done, see what what they have in common. Uh, O'Galli has an
opportunity to be really walkable. There aren't that many places in the county that that have that. And, you know, I've learned and been able to see what makes a place walkable. Um, uh, 17 years I've been involved in Ogalli and, uh, on the on the EAD board for a bunch of that. I
I chaired the, uh, the the board for a couple years. Did my best to wrangle the cats during those years. Um, I've come to be really grateful that, you know, the the CRA for IOG Ali was for EGAD wasn't wasn't formed at a very opportune
tax time. So, we didn't have a lot of money to work with from the city. The reason I'm thankful for that is it it put it all really on the shoulders of of each business owner, each artist, each musician to build the buzz ourselves and connect with people one
one moment at a time without, you know, without fancy curbs some of the time, without fancy signs and all that. And I think that has given us the uh the the great result of it being really about the character and the connections of and the personalities of the community.
Initially it was like just the the artists expressing themselves but you started to see more and more of the public engaging and bringing that energy. Um but all all so you know one event one one mural one happening at a time. All of that buzz we knew would
would progress to to this moment where we are now. The the number one need that we hear the number one request uh the number one pain point for businesses is is parking. Absolutely. Uh so we're grateful that uh we attracted the right
folks and and you all and the city have been creative and expressed your own art of uh negotiation to work on this parking garage plan. We're excited to have it and we need it. I might park on the top floor every time just for uh just to get a better view and remind
myself of the path. >> Thanks a lot. >> Thank you, sir. Um next speaker card is Jackie Haywood. >> [clears throat] >> Good morning everyone. >> Good morning. Um, I'm coming to you as just a I've I'm
a resident of Bvard County for the past 30 years and I have seen the growth and development of the Yogalli Arts District, the closing of businesses and the birth of new businesses. I feel that this parking garage is needed in this
area to help the continued growth for the community. Being able to find parking is essential. I'm coming to you as a mother, a shopper, um a passenger in a vehicle. When my husband is driving
around three, four times and he's like, "Okay, I'm done. We're leaving. There no place to park." The parking just alleviates the stress. I think it will have an opportunity to open families to making more memories downtown with the events that they have, the lighting of
the tree, the walking around for the mural, to see all the different murals that the artists have done, the trick-or-treating events that they're having down there. There's just so many events that people aren't aware of because they just don't think about going there. I think allowing for the garage will open up not just for more
businesses to be prosperous, but just for people to open up their eyes to see what's actually down there, like how thriving our community really is. There's just so much down there with the shops and the restaurants and and the artists. And if you haven't taken time to go down there to see how much it's
changed in the past 30 years, I've seen so much different things. And it's foot traffic that really needs to be available. And the only way to be available for foot traffic for families is to have parking. And there's so much that this community offers. But if we
don't allow for simple things like that, when you go to the big cities and you go to events, you know, okay, we're paying for parking here, that takes away the stress of just even the beginning of like where does our adventure start. knowing that you can have that here in
hometown, just other people coming in and being able to experience that. I think that's a win for everybody. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is Carl Kaiserman. >> Carl left. He resolved his issue. He wanted me to tell you.
>> Lovely. Thank you. >> Um, our next speaker card is Anuk Jordan. I work with her. Good morning. >> Good morning. I came here on December second. Uh I want to echo what was said
previously uh by the people before me and also uh echo the voice voices of the artists that I've been interacting with working for BCA uh BVAR Cultural Alliance. Uh, I've had the joy to meet several artists that grew up in AAD,
that went to AAD elementary school and that wants the best for this district. Uh, they emphasize the fact that parking and walking around is uh, immensely important. Um, also restoring the flow
as I said previously of um, the the art districts uh, going through the Fusener. So I know that the development of the parking is also connected to building the hotel and I think that the parking
and the hotel will add to the flow that needs to be restored and that was left vacant by the fusener. Um great visions for the hotel and the parking. Once you have food traffic and then you create a hotel that creates a art an art vision
for the whole district then suddenly everything uh falls into place. Uh I would picture that hotel almost like an art landmark in the middle of Igad. Um having maybe artists in residence uh
maybe um you know curated shows uh maybe something like I was mentioning last time uh at Aqua in Miami where you have an art week um maybe sponsoring art festivals. Um there are no limits once
this is put in place but there is urgency because I think is kind of missing it and it's been missing it since the fuser was closed. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Julie Kenny Kennedy.
>> Kennedy. Got it. Sorry. Sorry [laughter] if my handwriting is a little off. Um good morning. I think it is still morning. Um and thank you for the opportunity to come here and speak. I am Julie Kennedy. I am the vice mayor for the city of Melbourne. Um, and I'm just here to just
express um to reiterate just what has been said before you. This parking garage is going to be a game changer for downtown agi. I frequent downtown agi and sometimes I take an Uber there because there is no place to park. Um, if I had a place to park, I would go
there even more often. And I think in bringing more people down, it would bring more businesses um to the downtown Agali area, which would then increase um the tax base, which then would get you um the county more money um because that's what we want, right? We want more
money so that we can balance our budget, we can put more money to roads, put more money into um fixing the uh flooding problems and all those other things. But I think this here um is a way to bring more people down, more businesses, increase that tax base, and really be a
benefit for the entire county as well as downtown Agali. So, I'm asking for you to support this project. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Our next speaker is Sandra Sullivan. And after that it'll be Jennifer Dustin
>> Sandra Sullivan. One of the biggest things I have about this is a lack of transparency. But before I start I just want to go to Mr. Jarn's friends coming up to to speak. This is like classic right out of the playbook of Boot Barker. Anyway, so in the [clears throat] last
meeting we had we were talking so the agreement is for 300 uh the 21 2021 agreement is for 300 parking spaces but in the last meeting they were like we just want to secure just like just say it'll be this many
parking spaces um 270 and there wasn't and somebody said you know you know how many spaces are it going to have Oh, we don't know. Bologoney. It's right on their website. So, I went to their their minutes their
and from their uh meeting and the documents. And so, they're building a sixstory, not a three-story uh 548 parking space garage. Now, they don't when you go there, they don't have an
agreement in place yet uh on a public partnership. Um, and in fact, the grant applica, the the CRA application is actually for the hotel and the parking garage, which is interesting. So, I'm going to say this, you just got burned
with $2.7 million on the Titusville Hall of Fame by entering into agreements when there wasn't even a design done. So, this of this uh 10.3 million for construction, the rest is to design it on the CRA. Now, you want to talk about
save money because we have an infrastructure crisis. You could take that money, that money that would go to this CRA, 12.1 million plus there's money in there. You could take that and reallocate that and close the CRA today.
You want to save money, close the CRA today. We have three CRAAS that have no debt that can be closed today. You closed embeds, that's essentially a CRA. You talked about, oh, what's the future amount? Our property taxes are going up
every year. The assessments are going up. So, just this year, they got over a 13% increase in CRA monies. Um, I'm gonna say, uh, yeah, the applicant MH has applied for financial assistance
for the proposed 160 room full service hotel and adjacent 542 space joint use parking facility in the Ogalli area, Melbourne, Florida. You know, it stinks the lack of transparency
that comes out of this commission. the the statement of what has been redlined here is just you guys are deplorable. You have no shame about even being honest about what the deal in place is. You know, it's just it's just deplorable.
>> Thank you. >> Next comment card. Jennifer Dustin. Good morning. I'm coming to you as a resident of Bvard County and of Melbourne. I just have to say that I love being able to go out and do things
in the county and do things in in my neighborhood. One of the reasons that I love living here is that there are lovely things to do. We have beautiful weather. We can walk around. And as uh Mr. Goris was saying, I have lived abroad for many years in different towns, different cities where it's nice
to walk around. Ogalli does have the um the unique potential to be an amazing walkable area for us. When we have the hotel built and we have places for people to park, we're going to bring visitors here who are
going to spend their hard-earned money. We gonna have our people that live here who who are um thriving with their own businesses in Ogalli and around who will spend their money and all of that money will trickle down. You have to have people to be able to shop in in their
neighborhoods and to be able to have their businesses thrive to support the locals that need different uh services and infrastructure. all of it rolls. With regards to having the parking garage, I can also speak to you from an
Ogali Rotary Club member. One of our major uh events that we have every year is the Rocky Water Brewfest. And the Rocky Water Brewfest brings in brewers from all over the state. We bring in about four to 5,000 um people to come
and and uh uh participate participate in the event. And the tickets, all the ticket sales, all of the money that we make at that event goes to local charities. 100% of the net proceeds. That event alone, we have a people come
in and they don't have places to park. The people that are coming in the night before for the party, even the sponsors that we are trying to recruit sometimes have to leave because they don't have anywhere to park. So, they're discouraged from supporting the next year. It would be an awful shame for
people to lose events like this and other events that could be had in Ogalli and around because of lack of parking. I know that there are a lot of people that want the money to go other places and those are valid valid concerns, but you
have to understand and you will understand that all the money that you spend supporting people to make more money trickles down. you're able to spend that money uh to support all of the needs. We can't do everything all at once, but this is one thing that is an immediate need now as you've seen from
the businesses that are uh requiring it to it to stay open and for the people to have a place to go and a place to enjoy the city that they that they love spending time in. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Our next card is Long Island Audit. I
don't actually have a name on it. >> Yeah. Good morning. Good morning, commissioners. My name is Sean Paul Reyes. I'm an investigative journalist and activist um founder of Long Island Audit, Inc. Um I don't really whether if the residents want a parking garage,
that's fine. Um I just think the way it's going about and the details of it is a little uh murky, especially heard them talking about they don't want to do 50 years that you guys wanted 50 years and now they're offering 15 years. Uh but let me just get right into it. I'm here today to raise serious concerns regarding the proposed hotel and park
and garage project, a joint project between the city of Melbourne and Bvard County and the broader issues of transparency, ethics, and public trust surrounding it. I've brought this matter up several times during the city of Melbourne council meetings and and to the council directly and who is here today sitting right behind me. Um, and
they have largely ignored my concerns. Let me be clear at the outset. This is not about personalities. It's about accountability, ethical governance, and the appearance of impropriety when public authority intersects with private interests. The public record reflects a close personal relationship between Mayor Paul Alfrey and the project
developer, Mr. Larry Jes, who I believe is also here. And I think it's interesting that everybody who supported the project happens to sit right next to Mr. JS, the developer. Um, wonder why that relationship has included share travel between Jarns and the mayor, business promotion, financial
interaction. Nobody's sitting next to Mr. Johnson. In the vicinity, I'll say, "Oh, can >> so guilt by association? Is that how you think?" >> No. No. I'm pointing out attacking people and their relationship. >> This is my public speaking time. Can you be quiet, please? No. >> Can you be quiet? This is my public
speaking time. Madam >> Chairman, I give you back the g. >> The chairman gave me the floor. Okay. Point of order. This is my speaking time. I just wanted to point out a fact that they've seen the vicinity of him. If you want to be an attorney, we'll get to that later. We'll get to that later. I just want to say we have to be really
careful here. Um I I understand that we don't want um public attacks and things like that, but we [clears throat] are opening ourselves into a lawsuit here. >> Yeah. Have you Have you ever heard of the First Amendment? Like I'm just asking >> you earlier told somebody, "Oh, don't
direct anybody directly." >> I have the floor. You had the floor. This is my time. >> I just want you to be factual. >> This is my time. I guess what you need to be factual on the First Amendment, sir. You have freedom of speech in this country. Welcome you. I welcome you challenging track against
>> Don't interrupt me. Do not interrupt me. >> You're interrupting me. Chairman, >> I have a right to do that. I'm the chair. >> So, go ahead and keep talking. >> Proceed. Now, I lost my whole train of thought. Anyway, regardless of intent, these facts alone create the the relationship
between Mr. Jones and I think maybe you. Let's look into that. Um, regardless of intent, these facts alone create a reasonable perception of pre preferential treatment in a project involving public approvals and public resources. What deepens that concern is despite the relationship, Mayor Alfrey has repeatedly voted and signed on
governmental actions directly affecting Mr. Jarn's interest, including but not limited to zoning decisions, contracts tied to this very project. Ethical standards exist for precisely these situations. Recusal is not an admission of guilt. It is a safeguard meant to protect the public confidence. When recusal does not occur, the integrity of
the process itself is put at risk. This project is not isolated. It appears connected to a broader pattern that warrants scrutiny. Based on the facts and records I reviewed, it appears Mayor Alfrey is engaged in criminal activity. And I understand that these matters related to this conduct are currently under the review by the Florida
Department of Law Enforcement. I am stating facts that taken together raise legitimate concerns about overlapping personal relationships, public roles, and financial benefit. For example, the mayor's private roofing company, received fally funded payments through Habitat for Humanity, an organization
whose local director, Anna Terry Berry, is publicly documented as being friends with Mr. John's wife, Janette J. When public officials participate in decisionmaking, excuse me, I'm talking chairman, in decisions affecting close associates, while their private businesses receive public or federally
funded work through overlapping social networks, the public is entitled to question whether ethical boundaries are being respected. Because of this pattern, I want to be transparent myself. Your time is up. Your time is up. Stop interrupting me. I am gonna ask you to be skeptical of not only the
relationship between Mr. John and the mayor, but also whether similar personal relationships and business relationships exist between each and every one of you. It's not an accusation. It's a statement of civic responsibility. Scrutiny is how public trust is preserved. We the people expect more than technical compliance
with ethics rules. We expect leadership that is cautious, proactive, and pro protective of public trust. When officials fail to recuse themselves where ethical standards clearly call for it, the burden shifts to the public to demand transparency. I respectfully urge this board to ensure that all actions
related to this project, past, present, and future, are handled with full disclosure, documented independence, and a commitment to restoring public confidence. Development should not come at the expense of integrity. Chairman, I'll be emailing each of you with all the evidence and I've uncovered during my investigation. I'll be following this
matter closely, and I hope you strongly investigate and reconsider this project in its current form. I prefer the 50 years, by the way. But thank you. I challenge you to one thing. What? >> Whenever all these allegations are proven to be false and all these
individuals are exonerated, I challenge you to come back here and to admit that you were wrong. >> What allegations is false? What allegations? >> Talking about when they are >> what? How would you know? >> And then and then if they are true, >> have you investigated the allegations, sir? >> You're coming from a position of bias. I
>> assume you're not willing to accept that challenge. I >> I mean, have you investigated the allegations, sir? I'm I'm >> Have you or not? >> If they're true, we'll find out. >> Has this body investigated the allegations? >> Okay. >> Your bias is very clear, chairman. >> It's obvious you're not accepting that challenge. So,
>> your bias is very clear. >> All right. Next speaker, Adam Con. >> Good morning, board. Adam Connley, city attorney for the city of Melbourne. Uh first I'll uh thank uh the board for giving uh staff uh direction to further
negotiations with the city staff at your December meeting. Um and I'll thank uh Mr. Richardson, Mr. Lizenfelt, and Miss Wall um for actively engaging with us on those uh additional negotiations. The version of the revised and restated interlocal agreement that you have before you today uh reflects those
further negotiations. Uh again, I believe this version uh captures uh all of the minimum requirements that were part of this board's uh December 2nd uh motion together with uh county staff's requested uh additional items from those negotiations over the past week and a
half um to again uh reinccorporate the uh debt ceiling maximum um as well as uh uh further bolster the language about uh uniformity in parking rates and time frames as requested by county staff. Um, beyond that, I will uh reiterate
some of the points that Miss Lamb made. Uh, again, the uh the 10.5 to 12.075 075 million represents the CRAAS and the city's contribution uh to either a capital project on the
city and CRA's own for approximately 300 parking spaces or also the potential for a larger shared parking garage project through a public private partnership. Uh while while city council has heard uh an unsolicited um P3 proposal and has given
staff direction to further negotiations on that, nothing is final yet. Uh and so again, both options are still uh available and feasible for the city. Uh additionally, uh again, uh to uh reiterate, 12.075 million represents
what would be the city's contribution to that project. Um it does not 12.075 075 million does not represent the county's investment or opportunity cost in in the underlying project. As you heard from Miss Wall, the county's opportunity cost and investment in the CRA funds is
somewhere around 30% of the overall project funds. Additionally, uh I will um correct any uh statements about CRA funds going to uh subsidize the hotel project. Um as this interlocal states
the only uh allowable expenditures is for capital ancillary and debt service costs for the parking garage project. Uh the city is well aware that it cannot use CRA funds for economic incentives for any P3 hotel project and that any of
those uh economic incentives would come from the city directly and not from the CRA. I'll answer any other questions you may have, but I thank you for your consideration on this item. Do we have any questions? >> Have one. >> Yes. >> Um,
in the actual agreement, it says, "At the conclusion of the 10-year term described above, the city shall not be restricted in the use of revenue from paid public parking spaces of the parking garage project." Can you explain what that statement means? [snorts] So again, in in our previous
negotiations, there were a back and forth on the time frame of free parking and the time frame for uh cost restricted parking. the 10-year time frame that's referenced in that section 9D um goes back to uh language in
section 9C um talking about how for that 10-year time frame uh the city is agreeing to um set parking rates at an annual amount that will and for estimated and capture the capital maintenance reserves and annual uh
maintenance costs um that are associated with the parking garage project. And then in section 9D, that's saying after that 10-year term is is over, that underlying requirement goes away and and the city will be able to set rates and and use that parking uh revenue for the
purposes that city council sees fit. >> So after 10 after these 10 years, the city council >> and technically it's after 25, right? Because the first 15 years is is the free period. But yes, after that 25-y year period, then it's it's giving a future city council that freedom to >> to do whatever they want.
>> Correct. >> Okay. Thank you. >> If there isn't anything else, thank you for your time. >> Yeah, there's >> I have a question related to that question. Um and that's after 10 years. But if both parties agreed that im that could
be changed in the future. Is that true? >> I mean the the interlocal agreement is certainly subject to to uh amendment in in the future. >> Be improved. It could be adjusted. It could be changed in the future. What we're trying to get is an agreement so
we this project can proceed. and and the version that you have before you was approved by both the CRA and the city on at its December 9th meeting. >> Okay. You're an attorney. >> Yes, sir. >> Um
do you see anything that's being done illegally here? >> Uh so indivi individual ethics issues of individual elected officials is not really within my purview. Right. But to date, the city has gone through its
public private partnership um process pursuant to Florida statute and our own ordinances for uh um application consideration and um the review process so far. It hasn't been finalized yet.
And and so again, right, each individual both commissioner and and council member um needs to consider um financial uh conflicts of interest and other things and decide whether or not it's appropriate for for them to vote. >> My question was the the agreement the
legal documents that you reviewed and you've you see no problem with them. >> I'm sorry. You're referring to this interlocal agreement or Oh, yeah. If with regards to this interlocal agreement, right, we've been we've been here at at council meetings and and commission meetings to negotiate um had
those ne uh discussions and negotiations with with county staff and and are here for for review today. Right. I think I think this version is in the best interest of of all all the interested parties and I I certainly recommend approval of it.
>> Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Marcus Smith, the next speaker. >> Uh, good morning, commissioners. Marcus Smith, Melbourne City Councilman. Um, so I wanted to touch on something a little bit different. So, uh, I'm retired military and I arrived here in
Bvoulevard County in 2010. And, um, and when I retired, you you may know they give you an opportunity to leave and go to another city. But there's a reason why I chose to stay here and why I decided to run for office here. And that was because I saw the potential. a solid quality of life. And so as I think about this parking garage and I think about uh
the opportunity that we have here to create all the different comments that we heard, I love what Derek Gore had to say and other artists. Uh you know, being in the military, I've lived in several cities, seen several cities, and we have an opportunity right now to show that Ogalli Arts District in Melbourne
can really be a shining star and create the type of quality of life. And I also want to point something out that uh CRAAS work when properly managed and executed. So the primary objective of CRA and this CRA is to eliminate blight, stimulate economic growth and improve
living conditions in target areas. That's exactly what we're talking about here. So you with this parking garage and hotel that could be built right here and just the type of catalyst of energy that it brings, uh it's going to be hard to sort of capture that. So sometimes
when we have these moments in life that you know we consider all the factors that are involved and there's been a lot of negotiations back and forth and I love what the city attorney just stated that um we're looking at an agreement here that it's a could be a win-win for both sides. So, I would uh like to
recommend that you all uh support this uh initiative and that uh when it's as we continue to move forward that uh and we look back from this moment here and we say look at what we've done, look at what we've accomplished and now Ogali Arts District and all of the the the the
tension and energy that we that was there before, but look at what we've come and what we've done now. So, so thank you. >> Thank you. Carl Casser Mart. >> It's probably Carl Kaiser, I think. >> Kaisererman. >> He He left early and his issue was
resolved. He asked me to pass that along. >> Okay, good. He left early and his issue was resolved. That's good news. Not that he left, but his issue was resolved. Mark Laruso. Good morning, chairman, commissioners.
I'm just here to back clean up a little bit here, just to let you know. Um, Mr. Chairman, you mentioned uh Melbourne. >> Lift that up. Mark, >> and I tell everybody else to lift it up, too, you know. So, um, um, you mentioned Melbourne Regional Hospital uh, airport.
Um, it's Melbourne Orlando International Airport. So, we have tens of thousands of jobs that are coming into that area. I'm the vice chairman of that board. So, I see what's in front of us. I see what's happened over our shoulders and I know that that we're we're just bound to
uh great things there. So what when I say that and I mean that we're going to get an influx of engineers, professionals uh very high-grade uh type of professionals. Um they're going to seek out places like Agalli. They're
going to seek out places throughout your whole county. Uh and I don't see this as giving something any something to somebody. Um, I see it as giving back to our constituency. This is what they've worked for. This is how hard they've
worked. And I've represented this district from 2004 to 2012. Um, was convinced to come back again in 2018. I'm glad I did. I get to talk about this. Um, and have represented Algi those those whole times. Uh I also represent uh my district goes over to
the beachside and all of the all of the property that uh is within the Melbourne border over beachside 6,000 strong. Uh where do we go? We go to a galley. Um it's it's just a standard of life. Either there or bunkies next door, you know, I mean either one of the two. So
um uh all I'm asking is that you keep in mind for the future again it was a good point that this agreement can be negotiated anytime anywhere with any amendment positive or negative whatever we look to see happen. Um and I'm asking you once again to please consider
passing this and please consider allowing the folks in our galley to really shine as they've been trying to. Oh one last thing I want to do one Mr. Wars is here. Uh, and he spoke very eloquently about it. He's he's fantastic artist. I'm sure you've seen him. He's
worldrenowned. Um, he puts on a an art camp every year that's sold out months ahead of time. Sold out for the summer. Uh, my two grandchildren go to it. I write in line on the uh, wait list. Um, but also he's he offers scholarships to
the less fortunate as well too. I wanted that's kind of core of people that are in downtown and galley. That's kind of core that has grown this CRA, this hometown, this Americana. We had a a treelighting um event uh Friday. It was
December 5th, I think it was. Um and there were thousands of people there, children and families and and elderly like myself and uh that sort of thing. So anyway, again, 5 seconds left. Please, if you have any additional
questions, any additional concerns, please, please reach out to us and ask us. You know, we're here and we're here in force. So, any questions for me? >> Great. Any questions? >> I have questions for >> Is it okay if I ask staff questions?
>> Well, let's finish public hearing, then I'll recognize you first. >> Thank you. >> That's it for me. >> That's it. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I appreciate your times. >> Okay, that's all of our public cards. Um, Commissioner Delaney, >> thank you. Um, I I was wondering, Kathy,
if you could tell me, um, how much has how much has BVAR County put into the CRA since this agreement? >> Since this since this agreement, >> since the parking garage became the last project and that was all we were funding,
>> uh, I have through 2020 uh, 23 and we put in 1.2 2 million uh a total of 3.9 million has been allocated to um uh uh the fund you know the uh transport the u
the uh tour the tourists the the um the uh CRA fund 3.9 million so approximately a little less than 31% has come from the city >> right um I that's that's not what I was I was just wondering how many dollars
we've put in as a county into this project basically is what I'm trying to figure out is um well do we have that number what what all I have is through 2023 that we put in $1.2 $2 million. >> Okay. >> Into the fund
>> with that I I would assume. And that was since what year? >> That that is 2022 23. What what we allocated by December 31st of 2022. That's how much we have put in $1.2
million. >> Okay. So, um, board, if if I could, I'd like to propose something because I, um, I have a lot of concerns about this. Um,
but I'd like to I'd like to be able to vote for it. And what I would like to propose is this $1.8 million that about approximately um that we are saving from ending the CRA early. Um, I would like to see if I
could get any support to allocate 1 million of that towards North Bard storm water projects and 800,000 of that towards um, North Merit Island storm water projects. um obviously, you know,
not all at once, but as that money comes in and um just so that, you know, we can make this project about the whole county and I'm
with that I would be I would feel comfortable voting for this. Is that legal to take to take money out of a community redevelopment agency? I mean, this is money that was created as a result of the
CRA that we created. >> I'm not I'm not advocating taking the money out. I'm saying that the the years that would be that we would be contributing that we're now going early that that money stays earmarked for storm water projects in North Bard and
North Merid Island. I I think we'd have to wait till this ran its course till the I mean >> you have to make a motion. >> Yeah, go if you want to make a motion. >> I guess um Morris would that be something that we could do?
>> Not directly. There'd be a number of steps that would be required. Obviously, it contravenes the existing interlocal agreement between this board and the city of Melbourne that would have to be addressed. Plus, the board isn't operating currently as the CRA and doesn't have authority to make that
decision at the moment. Um, conceivably there are actions the board could take that could possibly get you there, but we'd have to look at that. >> If would it be amendable to say to make a motion to approve this with that caveat
of working towards earmarking those dollars? Is that something we could do? >> Can Can you bind a a future board 13 years into the future
um with what they'll do with what will become general fund at that time? I'm not I'm not >> not by that mechanism. No, it would have to be through the normal budget process. Commissioner, I I would say to you that
I would work with you to find I I believe I think I said this once before. Okay. And I believe that there are future storm water projects that can be done in North Bard through Sorrel.
Right. Oh, hold on. Sorrel has right the the stated goal, keep storm water out of lagoon. Okay, that's that's a good thing. But if also it benefits uh uh and prevents flooding in certain areas, then
that that's a win-win for everybody. I I think those things are in your future. I just there there aren't projects today, but I I would only say to you, I'm willing to work with you toward that goal because I don't see any sort of conflict there. I think that's that's
what Sorro is there to do. it just those projects aren't there today. >> Are you talking about the possibility of us as a board looking at our current plan and those dollars that we have now? >> Uh, I would I would do that um with you.
I think I again I've I've talked to staff um in natural resources and I've asked this question before and uh there are there are dollars in the bank today that just don't have a project attached to it. So, and I don't think it's in
conflict with the plan. I just think it hasn't, you know, it has hasn't been identified. So, I've I've already kind of laid the path for you there. I think we just need to to move on to the next step of it. >> Commissioner Goodson,
>> Mark, would you please come forward? >> Commissioner, stay out of district two and take care of your own problems. Now, I want you to listen to this so you get it. one time. Okay. >> I thank Thank you so much. At my age,
anything that's called black, that's good. Usually it's gray. Mark, can you tell the board we did a 300 $400,000 study on North Mer Island trying to understand the flooding, trying to get the residents to understand. And out of
that study, we found out that over time, and I mean 40 years ago, it is a bowl. It is a bowl. We've even asked NASA to let us put water in their ditch, and they will not allow that. We've asked fine to allow us an outflow into the
Indian River. They will not allow it. Allow that. So, if you're going to do something North Carolina, please explain to me what you'd do and how much money you would need. So, Commissioner, I I believe you're specifically referring to the Broadacres study that we uh did last year, and we
had identified uh it to be about $20 million uh to address that one street, and we would be nominally uh actually resolving uh the street flooding, but really the properties themselves are the issue. Um and so, as as you had just
laid out, we have spoken with NASA. there are uh significant um I'll say hesitation with them opening up their um property for us to look at um you know possibly lessening that cost and where to put that water. Um the other thing
that I just wanted to quickly mention because I'm not necessarily prepared to go down the list um today. uh but myself uh working with natural resources um and um planning and development as well as EOCC are preparing a brief for for the
board to discuss drainage uh on the 22nd of January. And I'll say that um what frequently comes up um you know in these meetings is our backlog. Uh right now we're finalizing that and I believe with inflation we're looking at about $2.4
billion. Uh but I will note um because I think it's been misunderstood that includes uh other infrastructure not just transportation and about 500 million of it is identified projects. I can't sit here right this second and say there's nothing else on Merit Island we
can do uh because I I wasn't prepared for that question. Uh but we have a lot of irons in the fire throughout the county uh where we just have not had uh sufficient funding in order to be able to move from studies to actual um designs or construction.
>> So would it be would it be safe to say if you wanted to earmark this money that's coming from this CRA and what was the number? Did anybody hear a number? >> 1.5 >> 1.5 >> 1.8 >> Okay. So, um, it would take at that rate if there's any truth to your backlog,
which I believe you and all that the studies and seems like every time we turn around, we have to spend $300,000 on an environmental study before we can do a thing, anything. So, 20 years, >> obviously with the time value of money, that won't go as far as it will today,
but uh, we would be happy to work with the board to if we had any additional funding. [snorts] >> Understand? So if you're going to help flooding in MEMS or North Merit Island and you wanted to correct it next year, the
simplest thing to do would be to raise taxes. >> Raise taxes. Then everybody gets you get a fund of money. You get to correct every problem if you can. So are we stay at a cap
and we get nothing? Again, Commissioner, that's a a board decision on I understand whether or not it wants to raise taxes. We've presented that there are significant challenges with the funding that we have. >> I just saw today on the news that Orange County is going back for another cent
transportation tax. Now, whether they get it or not, but if you look at those counties that surround us, they don't have a cap. They have taxes for flood water, for transportation, and they do quite well. I'm not promoting anything. I'm just saying we as the people, we're
going to have to decide to have nothing or have we're going to have to pay for it. Now, the the minute you raise taxes, somebody says, "I pay $2,000 a year taxes." So, I pull up their tax bill. And what they don't even recognize, $1,000 of that $2,000 goes where? School
board. Schoolboard. Whether you have children or not, they get about 50% of your tax bill. Then after that it's split out between mosquito control, fire and rescue and just yada yada yada. He gets
three or four dollars, $6 of each person to correct roads, bridges, infrastructure and drainage. Takes a long time in today's market to buy a $2 million backhoe at $10 a tax bill.
>> I thank you very much, Chair. Commissioner, I I think what you're trying to say is, and correct me if I'm wrong, nothing is for free, and we just can't make money appear out of thin air.
>> Yeah. So, uh, Commissioner Felner, did you >> Oh, Commissioner Delaney, >> thank you. [clears throat and cough] Commissioner Goodson, I would love for you to take your own advice in that. Um, and um I uh
>> What advice are you giving? I'm waiting on it. >> For you to stay out of my district. That would be nice. >> I do. Um, but second of all, what I what I would like to say is that >> let's let's be court >> if I if I heard you correctly um uh
Commissioner Felner, what um I'd like to build on that a little bit and because we do have a considerable amount of money sitting in our sorrel waiting on projects right now and like I mentioned a couple meetings ago, um I I'm not
advocating for stopping projects that are right there that were just on the cusp of, you know, um getting ready to start or um finish the planning for. But anything that isn't in in motion um I would really
appreciate support and advocating for those um dollars to go towards our >> say just real quick just yield you one second. I understand I and I specifically asked dollars that are not already committed, right,
>> that could be used for storm water projects. Again, specifically, right, the first goal, keep it out of the river. >> The ancillary benefit though is you got flood control. And I I think those two things, in fact, I've got another item
on here today where I'm going to mention something like that. And so I I think I think when those two things can come together at the same time, then then you've done a good project. That's that's my two cents. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Y
>> Okay. Um do we have any other discussions? If not, I would entertain a motion. >> I'm ready to make a motion to approve. >> Second. >> There's a motion. >> If I could >> and a second to approve. We're now any discussion on the motion?
>> Sure. Um I just want to kind of explain my vote real quick. Um I'm going to support this today. Um and the reason why I'm going to support it is because I'm acting in good faith because I'm believing that our board is going to act
in good faith and really focus on our storm water infrastructure issues. Um, this is the county and the city has worked together. While I'm not super happy with the 15 years, um, it's it is what it is.
Um, I appreciate you going back down to the original amount that, you know, you brought us, the 6 um, whatever million that was in the original uh, agreement, but um, I'm acting in good faith here,
board. So um with that we can continue. >> Thank you. >> Any other discussion? >> I just want to say a few things. Uh one I started uh going to the Ogalli
area what is now the redevelopment district in the 1950s is something very close to my heart. apologize if I got a little defensive, but it's it's where I grew up. It's a special community and I just want to
thank those who who are making it even more special and who came here today to speak and talk and the thing wonderful things that they are doing in our community. I've often said that in the public arena
sometimes no no matter how positive something is sometimes the more positive something is the more negative is it's like a the law of physics for every action there's equal encounter reaction. So the more good somebody does it seems
like this dark side the more negative it draws. So it's not easy standing up here. It's not easy being a great artist. It's not easy running a business. It's not easy being a great elected official, making the community better. [snorts] It's not easy being a really good developer who what would we
do without our developers? Um, they provide communities, they provide housing, they provide neighborhoods and parks, and they're good developers, not they're not all evil, just like in everything else. So, I just I support this wholeheartedly. I want to thank
Commissioner Felton for his leadership on this matter, what we share, the Ogali district. I want to thank the city and their good work and especially thank those in the community and O' Galli that are keeping it a very very special place. It's special to my heart. Deeply
special. And by the way, you know why they call it the Rocky Waters Brewfest? They call it Rocky Waters because Ogalli in French means Rocky Waters. Anyway, just a little note. >> I I didn't know that. And I know there's a couple of French uh speakers here
today. They they would know that. I I'll say quickly uh in in closing, I think the the artist uh there and the the local businesses that have moved in the the restaurants, they are enjoying uh a renaissance and uh I think people people
are headed there. So I I think your future's bright and I wish you luck. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> There is there any further debate? If not, uh all those in favor signify by saying I. I >> I
>> opposed carries unanimous. Thank you. >> Okay. >> I hope one day you can say something positive. >> Okay. >> Uh J1 use agreement uh for the guardian of ad lighting program. >> Do we have cards on that sir? Uh, I have
to tell you, I've worked with guard I'm sorry, Mr. Chair, worked with Guardian Lightum uh quite a bit. Um, you know, I'm sort of the unofficial uh courthouse liaison. Um, and I chair the public safety board. Thanks for leaving me on there. I think
that I think that makes a lot of sense. So, a lot of work with uh getting them to a place where they've got a good facility. And uh if there isn't other discussion on the item today, I'm I'm ready to make a motion for this one. Okay, there's a second by Commissioner
Atinson. Okay, is there any discussion? >> All those in favor signify by saying I. >> Opposed? >> Carries unanimously. >> Good. Good job, ladies. >> Hope it's everything you dreamed. >> Okay, >> thank you for what you guys do. >> Okay, item J2 and I just want to thank
all the people are here with that sitting through um this meeting so far. um is board discussion January um soral workshop structure. Uh first speaker is would you like to say a few things? >> I just I just want to Mr. Chair if
you'll indulge me and want to start with I took the liberty of working on an agenda. I did have some concepts. Um when I when I proposed this I have contacted some folks. They have agreed to participate in both workshops. Um,
and I took the liberty of mocking up a an agenda um to be helpful today and for your consideration and and pass those down. I had uh I've been working on it the last few days
also. So recent changes first. Let me say >> let me say I appreciate your work and your leadership on this. Thank you. >> I appreciate that, Mr. Chair. And um
I think think you'll see there try to um I got for the clerk to the board here. >> Try to anticipate first of all we had some constraints. So I'll just introduce the item if if you will Mr. Chair if that's um if you're okay with that.
>> Um first of all we agree to a time certain we're going to leave at 9:00. I think that's in consideration for the uh municipal governments who are letting us use their facilities. So, we need we need to leave by 9:00. I've tried to to leave uh time there for board
discussion. Um also as much time as possible for public comments. Um and then of course we have the you know we'll start off with natural resources and then um sural oversight
committee um presentation. I have Dr. DeFreeze there from national from the NEP and then we'll take a quick break and then we have some business community person. We have a municipal perspective um and a former mayor and then a
gentleman from St. who happens to be on the St. John's River Water Management District member, but um he does a good job speaking on economic impact of he operates I think uh he sells boats or something like that and he he he can
speak very well on uh economic impact. That is that is the agenda um Mr. Chair that I worked on. >> Great job. Good job. Thank you. Um all right, then I'll go to the cards.
>> Yes, sir. Um, first speaker is Vince Lamb. >> Wow, it's still morning. Happy to be here. So, I'm Vince Lamb. I'm I'm speaking as a representative of the Bvard Indian River Lagoon Coalition. That's a nonprofit that was formed to uh
to advocate for the lagoon. The health of the Indian River Lagoon hit a low point from 2014 to 2016 with a with a brown algae tide bloom was prevalent. Uh unusual mortality events were experienced by multiple species and a
massive fish kill occurred in the spring of 2016. Bvard County stepped into action encouraged by the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program and the Save Our Indian River Lagoon project plan was quickly developed. This went to a
referendum and more than 60% of the voters uh chose to tax themselves to restore the Indian River Lagoon. Nine years have passed and we are entering the final year of the Save Our Indian River Lagoon plan. Much has been done to restore the lagoon, but the work
is far from finished. In no in a November commission meeting, you authorized the two public workshops in January, starting a process that should lead to a referendum on the ballot next November. I support the suggested
presentations that Commissioner Felner has offered uh to open the workshops. Providing a baseline of factual information from respected community leaders is a good start. The workshops uh will provide opportunities for people to suggest improvements in the future of
the Save Our Indian River Lagoon program. Should Sorl place an emphasis on storm water projects that can reduce flooding and also uh reduce the nutrient pollutants entering the lagoon? Covered that. Should uh should soil play a
bigger role in removing the basic septic systems uh that uh that to fulfill the state mandate by 2030? Uh what should be the uh the proposed uh Bowen Aquarium and Dwayne Defreeze co
coastal conservation hub? What can what role can they play in the future of the soil program? Hopefully, these issues and more will be addressed in these workshops. The Bvard County Commission is clearly the most important government entity that determines the future of the Indian
River Lagoon. Some of the problems that we face today can be attributed to pa past bad decisions or failures to act. The Save Our Indian River Lagoon plan owes its existence to the leadership of the 2016 board, especially Jim Barfield
and Curt Smith. You now have the opportunity to make a difference. Thanks to each of you for accepting this challenge. >> Well, thank you for your good work. Sandra Sullivan, Santa Sullivan, Merry Christmas. So
10 years ago, we did this tax. We had lost almost all of our seaggrass meadows in the Indian River Lagoon. And in 10 years, we haven't appreciably got much back. That is the foundation species of the Indian River Lagoon of life in the
lagoon. And so I'm going to talk about a concern that many people share which is the sewage dumping which Bvard County is not even reporting to pollution notices anymore, not since 2023. And is under
present consent orders for lack of reporting sewage dumping. Uh you have an impending talking about state legislation on septic systems. You have an impending state legislation on AWT which we were promised under the tax
that you would address and that that deadline it becomes law July of 2026 only a few months away. And yet when you look at the AWT projects, it's less than 3%. Even though
that's when we voted for the lagoon tax, we were promised AWT plant upgrades. South Beaches is about 30% through planning. It is by old numbers $18 million to do that project. I don't know
what it would be now. Of which Sorrel only funded 2.4 million. Now, Sorrel is supposed to be matching on an equal basis any state grants. We were promised that, but it's not. Now, I'm going to give you an example. Legal documents of
of grants from Florida D that require the county to match documents and then Sorrel lies at their meetings. I'll give you an example. The Cove the Cove got about 1 point roughly around numbers
$1.2 million. is supposed to be matched by Sorrel. There's only 130 $30,000 matched and I think that's actually for connections and isn't a match to the grant. And so they said, "Oh, let's delete that project from the Indian
River Lagoon." But when you look on the lagoon sorrel map of their conversions to sewer, all the other properties to the north of it all the way up to South Beaches is on the planning to put it on
sewer. So that project which is a mile away from the plant would actually allow those connections to all those other properties. But the county wanted to put an MSTU on the cove
for $3 million. Now, we have contingency fund. Anyway, that's just one of the things. We have a sewage crisis. We have an infrastructure crisis in Bvard County. And right now they're writing the plan and I'm asking you to direct Sorrel to put more money to AWT which is
what we were planned in this sorrel tax that has not been delivered to we the people. And they're going to be coming back. That plan's being written. That plan is going to come back to the sorrel board in January. It's going to be like before
and you won't do anything because you never do anything. It'll come back and you'll go, "Oh, we should have given them direction before it came back to the county commission." And every year I come up here and I ask you to do it and you do nothing. >> Okay, that's our last card.
>> I have a question for staff if I may. >> Yes. >> Um I'm not sure exactly who this question is to. Maybe Jim. Um I am obviously very interested to see what the public has to say uh during these workshops, but I think it's important that we all understand that doing these workshops cost something. And I'm
wondering how much and did we plan for it? Do we have extra money sitting in a kitty somewhere or where does it where does it come from? >> Make sure I get it right here. Um so city of Titusville, we will be I don't I use the wrong term. I say filming it. We
will be taping it um so we can broadcast it on SEGTV and our social media. It won't be broadcast live. Uh we can do that for free. I work with city city of Palm Bay. We have to hire a contractor because their contract for their city council meetings only allow for their city council meetings. Uh we have found
a vendor. It's somewhere in the $4,200 range to do the filming and the taping. So we can do similar as Titusville and it's somewhere in the 56 $5,800 range if we want to do same as Titusville and broadcast it live on SCGTV. Um and uh we've spoken with Virginia. We haven't
got the final resolution. Um, but it would, you know, we we'll have the funds for it probably out of general government. >> Just a quick follow-up question. So, that's for the venue and the the taping and that kind of thing. Are there any other costs associated with with doing things like this? >> Uh, well, you're going to have, you
know, have staff there. Um, you have security there, the sheriff's deputy. So, I mean, the normal whatever whatever you would have to have a regular workshop will have those costs, too. >> Any idea what that kind of number is? >> Not off the top of my head. No, I'm sorry. >> Thanks. >> That's it for me. >> Okay. I have a um question.
>> I think we'll need a motion. >> Oh, yes. Commissioner, [clears throat] >> um while I do appreciate this um being brought forward, I have a little bit of concern because I see a lot of names that have that are either on the sorrel
board or have been on the sorrel board. So, there's a lot of um focus on on that. And then it leaves only time for 23 public comments. Um, and
>> when you say 23, um, >> so the hour and 15 minutes, >> how much are we allowed per comment >> if we do three minutes? >> Three minutes. Okay. >> If that were the case, >> could I could I just say that that's sort of an estimate? So, um, I I tried to kind of split this in half. So, the
first half is presentations and the second half dedicated to public comment and board discussion. So, um I you know I envision one one of the things I think I I [clears throat] would do in a motion here is one let Kathy
Lively put this in the I typed over one. Okay. So, let's let Kathy lively put this in the the proper posture. Um and um uh that's number one. Number two, uh I envisioned that we would do the same workshop in both places so that we have
two different groups of people. We have North County and we have South County. So they they should hear the same information. Obviously we're going to hear from different people. Palm Bay versus Titusville, etc. Um but also I think that these folks would uh you know there would be some communication where
they get to I just give you an example here. Uh Frank Cino, okay, he's he's a a former mayor. Um and from the municipal perspective and also since he uh operates a uh charter boat, he's in the
water every day. So, I thought he he was he was a great person to talk on that, but I also know he will not talk that long. He just won't. And so, there's some opportunities in here to kind of move things move things up and make it, you know, um keep it moving along. I
went to something yesterday that was hosted by Representative Monnique Miller. Um, and it was at an FIT facility in Palm Bay and she had several speakers um from everything from the zoo
to Florida Tech to St. John's and uh each of the speakers were given eight minutes um I I think or maybe it was four minutes and they had eight slides something. It moved along very very fast. um this is going to be a little bit slower paced. I was making mental
notes as long as late as yesterday about the kind of flow that we'd want. And also too, um I don't list it here, but I imagine that you know a couple of questions by commissioners um at at the end of each of these. So just a target
goal, if we're taking a break by 7 o'clock, then I I think as a board we're in a pretty good place to leave um time. Can I say one more thing on the comments? Certainly, we we try to do three minutes. Um, but it's not an
uncommon thing sometimes where if you have a hundred minutes um to go and you've got, you know, 100 people that they've got to get up there and do their do their speech pretty quick. Um, so I think that would just be flexibility of uh of the chair at that point. So,
>> I was I was just hoping that this would have been a little bit more um focused on the input of the citizens that are paying this. And I because a lot of I I feel like a lot of people are one thing
that the Sorrel um group has done an exceptional job of is educating. And um I feel like people are really educated in what's going on, how we got here, what what they're doing, all of that. And um the economical impacts, all of
these things. And I was I was really looking forward to this being majority, you know, citizen input and then us as a board having a considerable amount of time to really dive through
this. And I I want that too, Mr. Chair, if you don't mind. I want that too. I've I've tried to leave what in my mind there at least at least a half hour maybe 40 minutes for board discussion um for us at the end but I I'll tell you what
maybe a way we could get there is we just simply say for each of these that you have you have 10 minutes >> okay >> and right so for each of the presentations they have 10 minutes and I don't think they probably would object with that it's hard to sit up there and
talk for 15 minutes right and that would maybe that would do a spot to keep us maybe maybe we you know once we have our bathroom break in the middle there we've moved it up a little bit. Is that >> Yeah, that sounds great. >> Well, that I also see this as a start. >> Yes.
>> And I view it as a we're educating the board too. We >> we we don't want to go um advocating for another tax increase until we we've been educated and get some public. And so I think this is a great start. I
understand what you're we're going to need probably more public input and there will be a lot of public input >> maybe unlimited when we decide >> to if we decide to put this on the ballot. Heck, there may be unlimited public if we were to decide it >> to not put on but when we're
deliberating there's going to be a lot of input but I think I think there's a pretty good balance. I appreciate what you're saying but we'll get started with this one and we'll see how well it goes. We might >> Would the 10 minutes be okay that [clears throat] Commissioner Felner proposed? Oh, yeah. I'm fine. Okay. I'm fine with that.
>> So, uh let me let me uh can I just say real quick? Uh so, let me wrap that up one more time. Uh we'll give direction to Kathy Lively to to take my my draft there and make it look pretty. >> Um [snorts]
and then um also um the we're going to let the folks know that they got 10 minutes. So, we're going to So, we're going to put 10 minutes on there uh for each of the presenters and we're going to let them know that in advance, right? So, they can um keep it to 10 minutes.
>> And the extra time goes to >> and the ext and then the extra time will just simply be for public comment and board discussion, however that shakes out. >> The the only change I would make, and I'm willing to go later than nine if we needed to. So, I'm not
>> I'm not opposed to that myself. I just thought for the sake of the municipal governments, we're borrowing their facility. They're going to keep staff there. We talked about having uh you know, there's going to be security. Um so, you know, those those kinds of
things. But personally, uh I'm not opposed if it's an option that that that [snorts] we go later. Um or even make that um change on the fly if based on the number of people we have. I don't I don't personally care. >> To be fair, Titusville's meetings a lot of times go to 1:00 in the morning. So
10 10 p.m. is not too bad for >> I hear you. >> Okay. >> So that would be my motion, sir. Those those items. Are we good? I'm >> motion by second by Commissioner Delaney. Any discussion? >> Yes. I see staff raising their hands.
>> Just technical question. The staging here. So if I understand the motion, you're inviting the 1 2 3 4 5 six folks on here for 10 minutes. We'll just make sure I get so Kathy can do this properly. So we'll get it advertised. We'll invite the six folks to bring the presentation. Uh, and I just sorry and
to put it out on video there so everyone can hear me. We'll need the presentation. You know, it's January 5th, so we're going to need it January 2nd or New Year's Eve, somewhere along that line so we can get that properly put out onto Granus. So, >> I agree. Um, can I just make one clarification, Mr. Chair? I did talk to
all these folks and they've committed and and and one of the important things is I wanted to make sure that each of these were available for both of these, okay? So that that we we don't we don't have different presentations. We have we have the same thing for Palm Bay is going to get the same presentation that Titusville is going to get.
>> So So they've they've already said yes, but I I think uh a formal email to them or something would be good. >> Yeah. And then you're okay with us recording the meeting and then broadcasting it the excuse me, recording the workshop? >> I would love it to be live streamed, but
I understand the issues with that. >> Okay, good. Mors, were you raising your hand? I >> He was >> just for Jim, just just to get your attention. >> All right. Okay. All right. Any other further discussion?
>> All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries unanimously. Okay. All right. Now >> I'll introduce the next one if you >> for the grand finale here. The last
item, public comments. Well, our last items is actually going to be reports, but um J3 Tom >> Unrath Unwrath. >> UN is usually how we pronounce it in my family.
>> Introduce. >> Do you want me to introduce the item, sir, or? >> Yeah, go ahead. I'll have Commissioner Felton introduce. >> Hold on one second, Tom. I I'll get right to it. I know we're getting to the end here. We're not going to make it by lunchtime, but um this is for an area
known as the 100 Acre Hollows. Um it is in um is in my district. It's in district 4. It's on the corner of Vera Boulevard and um Springs um in in um Sunry area. This was originally
utilities property um and it has um graciously been run by uh Tom and Anita Unwrath as the 100 Acre Hollows. Um but we're [clears throat] we're at a point now where we we need to uh make this an EEL's property and that's what this
proposes today. Um, I want to say something because uh just quickly that uh storm water has been something we've talked about a lot and so um I've talked with um yields folks and with the county and natural resources and everybody
since this has some basins that were originally meant to uh was a wastewater was going to be a wastewater facility uh want to reserve the right of the county to send storm water there if Vieier Boulevard needs it in the future. We
don't now, but if that happens, um, and the worst that's going to happen is you're gonna have one of those ba basins be a wetland. But I also understand that it's of material that will percolate um, really quick. In fact, Jim Swan told me the other day that is the ideal way to
take care of storm water that it that it seeps down to the ground and does its thing. So with that, um, go. Okay. >> Okay. Thank you. Um again Tom Unwrath uh I live at 1170 IDA. Uh 100acre Hollows
uh just to say is is both a location and a group of people. There is a a board of which I am the president that kind of keeps watch over and helps work with uh protecting the wildlife uh restoring the
habitat and engaging the public in in various ways. It is about a mile south actually of Verer Boulevard and uh it's kind of tucked away in an area of Sun. It's not actually even Sun Tree. It's on
the north side of Sunree, but um I could show you on a map rather than trying to explain it. Now, I I want to say thank you on behalf of the board for allowing us to be here and for the notion that this could be set aside with an eel. uh
project. Um the fact that uh your predecessors allowed us to just to to work with this and to do what we've been doing for the last 10 years is has meant a lot to the community, not just our community here
in Bvard, but uh we've had visitors from uh all over Florida uh and even internationally uh that have come to see this and that that keep up with it regularly. I I can say on a weekly basis, we're in
communication with uh a woman who will send us notices from uh San Antonio, Texas, saying, "Hey, it's really looking great what you're doing up there." So, uh it it is an important piece of property.
And speaking of of flood waters and so on, keeping it as it is will allow for is on a high spot right uh in this part of the county that keeping it as it is
would prevent water from flowing down into the Indian River Lagoon that uh might carry pollutants of various sources. And so uh it's it's uh provided that that kind of protection. Um and I
want to say thank you for directing the uh eel program to uh keep this in their uh their portfolio of properties. I think it will mean a lot. Uh, I know there are a lot of people who have
spoken about this over the years and um I' I'd really like to be able to tell for instance George Rosenfield. He's not recently turned 99. He's a World War II Korean War veteran who was here and
spoke back in 2010 to to keep this as a place to set aside. he wanted uh and said so at the commission meeting to to keep it in perpetuity as a place uh for uh just exactly what we're talking about
when I have a chance to see him probably later this week uh I think he would be absolutely ecstatic to hear that it's it's moving into this uh eel program. So, thank you very much for your attention, for your uh uh especially
Commissioner Felner for for bringing this up and putting it this way. Appreciate it greatly. >> Thank you, sir. >> Anita. [snorts] >> Good morning, commissioners. Thank you for this opportunity to speak and thank you for considering this. I'd like to
thank commissioners Smith, Infantini, Fiser, Barfield, and Andy Anderson, who's now in heaven, for not selling this land when we stood before them on July 7th, 2015 and asked for them not to
accept the bids for 200 more houses. And I want to thank you for considering this now 10 years later. It's not the same place it was um as far as the wildlife uh and the vegetation as 10 years ago. It's a recovering prairie savannah,
pinelands. I mean, now we have 30-foot pine trees out there, huge cabbage palms, the dog fennel came back, the native grasses came back, the sawpal meadows. It really is a recovering area and we as the board have been working on
um keeping this a wonderful place for the wildlife and for people to enjoy. We think it's worthy of being in the eel program. Um in 2015 the county estimated 300 gopher tortoises. Uh some of the first people that helped us were the
Space Coast Ecogeeeks for Bvard County Science Teachers. They had camera traps on the burrows. They saw animals that live there. Um they counted 299 burrows. In 2020, we had a F uh uh Florida Fish
and Wildlife permit. Um that has been ongoing and we geollocated 407 active burrows. In 2022, 467 in 2024, 481. And two weeks ago, Dr. Mark Bush's
students in a field ecology class from the Florida Institute of Technology geollocated 540 active gopher tortoise burrows. There is no area in Bvard County that I know of that has that many tortoises. And it's not just tortoises.
There are other creatures including 96 species of birds that we have documented on EIRD. 16 species of native bees, white-tailed deer, bobcats, raccoons, armadillos, numerous commensal species that live in the burrows, butterflies,
dragonflies. I believe Jesus told um people that love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. All of these creatures are my neighbors because I live adjacent to 100 Acre Hollows. In my
yard, I have seen 37 species of birds that I have put on feeder watch. I My son gave us a bird buddy with 31 species of birds that eat at that feeder. It's the one that has the camera. I've seen bobcats, red shouldered hawks, and cooper hawks hunt in our habitat. Since
2020 and a course that I took at UFAS called Florida Friendly Landscaping, I have planted native plants in my yard. So, I have habitat that has extended the the habitat of 100 Acre Hollows. Um, please consider this and thank you so
much. Thank you to Commissioner Felner for believing in us. I want to thank Kurt Smith for believing in us 10 years ago so that we could try and save this property for the wildlife and for people to enjoy. Thank you. >> Thank you. And thank you for the Bible verse. We
probably could have used that like in the beginning middle throughout the meeting. Um Sandra Sullivan not here Murphy. Is that Megan? Hey
So, thank you for allowing me to speak. Um, I get nervous, so please forgive me. Um, my name is Megan Murphy, and when I was here last, I was here to support you in your effort to protect the Indian River Lagoon wershed and focus on storm water best management practices. I introduced myself as a nurse and a Sunry
mom. So, many of the issues you're discussing now impact me personally and the community that I live in. I want to thank you for your focus on constructive and positive dialogue. I think it's really important to let people speak. I also think it's important for everybody to respect each other's uh diversity of views. Today,
I'm here to support your efforts to protect 100 acre hollows because I believe um that at one time it was a water treatment uh site or or potential water treatment site. It is one of the very few untouched green spaces in our community. Um it is 114 acres um that
has been renaturalized. Um, but it also connects to almost 400 acres of contiguous green space that functions as a wildlife corridor for many endangered species. Um, we have so little natural landscape left in this area, particularly in District 4. Um, it's
more important than ever uh to leave this undeveloped property alone so that it can function um as a natural ecosystem, protecting native habitat and contributing to the potential for clean water to help recharge the aquifer. If we were not to protect it, it could have significant ne negative impacts on
traffic, storm water, and ultimately negative impacts on the Indian River Lagoon wershed, which we are working hard in our community to talk about how individual homeowners can make a difference. And we're relying on you to look at that um from a broader perspective.
As you have heard here so eloquently described, there are hundreds of native species living here. Many of them are endangered. 96 identified species of birds, 16 species of native native bees um and ever important uh the gopher uh
tortoise habitat with 4 540 identified active tortoise burrows. Youth groups come to this area to enjoy this native ecosystem and honestly there are restorative benefits to children just to spend time in nature. Um we need to remember those things when we're making these decisions about how our community
is developed. Um, Sentry really is a planned unit community that um should have no more development there. We can't we can't take any more traffic impact. Um, there's nowhere to go. Um, so we encourage you to support this proposal for protecting this land and I believe
that it should be an easy decision to protect this habitat in perpetuity with essentially no controversy. But what do I know? >> Okay. We have one more card. Christine Murray. Good morning. Um I'm Christine Murray
and I live in a subdivision alongside 100acre Hollows. Um 100acre Hollows is a very special place for all the surrounding neighborhoods. Um it's one of the very few untouched green spaces especially in Sunry. It is more than
just undeveloped property. It is a functioning natural ecosystem. There are hundreds of native species living there as you have already heard from everybody. [laughter] Uh many of many are many of them are endangered. 96 species of birds, 16 species of native
bees. Um obviously all the gopher tortoises which come and visit my backyard frequently. um 540 active burrows. Uh lots of homeschool groups come to 100 Acre Hollows for field trips to learn. It is open to the public every other Sunday
for people to take a nature walk, enjoy a sunset in the hollows. Um if this is not protected, the surrounding neighborhoods and our community will be affected in many ways. Protection of 100 acre hollows ensures the land remains
intact for future generations to enjoy. I encourage us to move forward with environmental protection for this land, not because it's easy, but because it's the right thing to do. If you guys haven't ever visited, we would love for you to come out and take a walk and
enjoy the nature. Thank you. >> Okay, that was our last card. Bring it back to the board. >> I'd do a quick close. Okay. Uh, thanks everybody who who came to to speak today and holding on. I know that was a that was a long meeting. Uh
but um anyways, it's very hard to identify eels properties um in district 4. I think that so you know with each district there's advantages and there's disadvantages. So um our my tax payers
uh the people I represent will pay the eels uh bond referendum, but there won't be eels properties in district 4. That's just the reality of it. And so this is this is the one chance I think we got to get a 100 acres that we'll never have again. So with that, I'll make a motion
to approve. >> Second >> motion second. Any debate? I will say just quickly, first time I saw the 100 acre hollows, it was breathtaking. My second thought was, God, we got to save this. So I appreciate your hard work on this. >> Thank you, sir.
>> All those in favor say I. I. >> Carries unanimously. Thank you. Okay. >> And and if you go go during the cool time of the year. That's my friendly advice. >> All right. >> I think I think Tom and Anita took me
out there in July the first time if I remember that. [laughter] And uh that'll be burned into my memory forever. Good job. [clears throat] We just got to get some wild turkeys out there. >> Yeah. Yeah. Um we'll move on to public comments. Do we have any public comments?
>> We have no K cards. No public comments cards. Okay. >> Uh board reports. U county manager. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to let the board know you, you might have seen the email yesterday. Natural resources got the letter out to D requesting a meeting for the Blue Origin permit. So,
I want to make you aware of that. And then just for the fun of it, I got to say, go Hoosiers. >> Go Hoosiers. >> Come on. [laughter] >> They might see the Buckeyes again. It's possible. I know our county manager has committed if Indiana wins a national championship,
he will sing the fight song for us >> right here in public meeting. >> If you put up with it, yes. >> Okay. Uh, county attorney, >> I have no report, Mr. Chairman. >> No report. Commission, District One, >> no report. >> District two, >> I have the only request I have is for
staff to research what effects if the port sells the land on large canal to an LNG plant. What effects will it have to Merit Island? How are they going to route the trucks? And uh also, I'd like for staff to ask for a public meeting
with Murray. He needs if he's going to sell this land on the port, he needs to suffer the consequences with the public, too. So, those are my two requests. Thank you, chair. >> Uh Commissioner, this is just a thought.
Um and I would be amendable to it. Just as we had a meeting with parish given an update today, maybe it's time we have the port come and maybe speak to us in a public appearance. Think about it. I'm not for >> I don't care. >> It might be a good time. >> Yeah.
>> Okay. Uh district three. >> Just really quickly, um we don't often thank the security that we have in here, the deputies, um but also the ones out there. I recently personally had an opportunity to meet them when I was a member of the public trying to get
through some stuff and um I mean Joe out there is amazing. So, I just want to say thank you for for all of your dedication, for your hard work, and especially to Kayla Alba, um, who's always smiling, >> whether right whether I'm here or AC in
the justice center, Kayla is always got a smile on, and I obviously we don't want to forget everybody else, but they particularly stand out to me. So, just thanks to everybody who looks out for us. >> Ditto. Ditto. Um, thank you so much, District 4. >> I'll do it real quick. I I wanted to uh
recognize Florida Tech's women's soccer wins division 2 national championship. Saw this in the paper and um my wife have having been a college athlete um pointed this out to me. Uh I I'll just
read a couple things. The Panthers uh defeated Franklin Pierce uh 300 on Saturday at Colorado Springs, Colorado, claiming the NCAA Division 2 national title. Uh goalkeeper
Caitlyn Sinkler was named tournament's most valuable player, having made 41 saves across six tournament games, including seven in the final. Melbourne native and Vera High grad uh Savannah Oxley, who earlier in the tournament
became Florida Tech's all-time leader in games played, finishes her career with 81 games played for the Panthers. Uh the Panthers made it into the title game by defeating last year's national champion.
Congratulations to Florida Tech. That's great. >> Yeah. [applause] Well done. >> That is awesome. >> U as far as report, I have none other than to to to really wish a merry Christmas, a happy holidays, happy
Hanukkah to the staff and the public and our board members and looking forward to having a great holiday and getting back with you after the first of the year. >> Ditto. >> Okay, the meeting's now journed. I get to use the gabble.
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