Town Commission meeting. Today is Tuesday, July 15th, and it is 1:30. If we could uh have a roll call, please. Commissioner Chinowski, present. Commissioner Goldberg, present. Commissioner Peters, present. Vice Mayor Stern, present.
Mayor Moore, present. Town Manager Labyt, present. And town attorney Ruben, present. Thank you. If we could all rise for the pledge to the flag of America to the republic for it stands
one nation under God indivisible with liberty justice for all. We could have the invocation please by our chaplain our town chaplain. Let us pray. We come together on this day as public
servants and neighbors united in our desire to build a stronger, kinder, and more just community. May we be guided by wisdom, courage, and compassion. May our discussions today be marked by mutual respect, thoughtful listening, and a
commitment to the common good. Help us to recognize the dignity and worth of every person who calls this town hall. Grant us patience and disagreement, clarity and decision-m, humility in leadership. May the work we do here
reflect the values we hold most dear, those of fairness, integrity, responsibility, and service. As we deliberate and act, may we do so with open minds and generous hearts, mindful always of those who depend on our choices. May peace prevail in our town,
in our country, and in our families. And may all who live and work here know safety, opportunity, and hope. Amen. Amen. Amen. Thank you very much. Thank you. Are there any changes to the agenda?
No changes. Changes. If none, if we could have a motion to approve. Yes. I move to approve the agenda. Second. Second. All in favor say I. I. Moving on to presentations, we have uh Miss Dorothy Jax from the Palm Beach
County Property Appraiser. Let's come forward. Welcome and thank you for coming. Thank you. Thank you so much for having me. Uh it's my pleasure to be here. Dorothy Jax, the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser. Uh we are responsible in the property appraisers
office for the countywide valuation of all 650,000 properties we have. We uh are also managing about 50,000 tangible personal property accounts. That's business equipment which is also taxed at the same rate in Florida as regular
real property. We uh do this annually on an annual cycle and um uh I have about 220 on my staff in five locations and am happy to be here serving you as one of the 39 cities we have in Palm Beach
County as well. So it's my pleasure. In addition to the valuation, we handle exemptions. We the administration of homestead exemption probably being the most wellknown but many other exemptions that occur below that. Also we manage
the county basemap and the uh record of ownership if you will. So although we are not the agency that accepts deeds, we are the agency that rec records them as ownership to attach to a parcel record and that of course helps us produce our our website uh which a lot
of people are familiar with which we call affectionately papa property appraiser public access. So, um I'm happy to talk about any of those responsibilities, but I really came today to give you a a short update on Highland Beach and uh some of the
specifics about your community. So this year we uh have the value of Highland Beach, its market value at a little close to five half billion dollars. Uh taxable value $4 billion which was an
increase of from 24 to 25 of almost 7% 6.9% including $6 million in new construction which interestingly was all in one property, one single family home that saw the $6 million. Uh just to give you
some context for that. So about 7% increase year-over-year. The countywide increase was 8%. But of course the countywide increase also included a great deal of new construction that's happening north to south east to west as you can imagine. Everything from Avenue
in the northernmost part of our county all the way down to West Bokeh. So it includes a lot of value. The countywide value went to over half a trillion. This year we're at 5 I think 40 billion around something like that at the
moment. So it's a it's uh the second highest value county in the state after Miami Dade although we're not as large parcel countwise as Broward. We passed them in value two years ago in fact and that's probably because Broward is
really hemmed in on both sides by the Atlantic Ocean and by the Everglades. If you think about Broward, it's sort of like an hourglass in a way. And whereas Palm Beach County still has a great deal of room to grow to the west of of where we are now, where the population really
is centered. So, Highland Beach, uh, 400, I'm sorry, 4,200 parcels. Parcel is anything we can tax independently, meaning a condominium is a parcel, just as a single family home is a parcel, just as a strip mall is a parcel.
anything that is separately valued. So 4,200 parcels and of those 1759 are homesteaded. So full-time residents who've declared this their primary home, they can certainly own a second home, but you can only receive a primary
resident benefit in one place at a time. So those uh 1,700 people are homesteaded here, which is about 42% of the whole. Now, why do I tell you that? because it's interesting and it's it's a good number. Um, homesteaded property is by
the nature of Florida law capped at 3% increases per year for tax purposes. That cap comes off when a property sells. The new owners can homestead and then begin that cap again. But the cap
does cause some um holding down of value increases in some communities. Uh, I'll give you some examples. Lake Clark Shores, a lovely community in uh in the middle of West Palm. Well, just west of West Palm Beach, is very homesteaded,
meaning nobody wants to leave there because it's a lovely place. The problem is is it's causing their value to not really show a lot of increase. So, what you have nicely here in Highland Beach is you have only 42% of your properties
capped at 3%. And so the other ones are helping to keep the value moving in what we might think of as a sort of normal market process going on. That's what you know property taxes are really centered around watching the market and as the
market rises the values are adjusted to account for that rise. When you're capped that adjustment doesn't happen because the cap artificially holds the value down as it were until until it sells. So, I think that's a good thing and I wanted to point that out. The
other 58% are also have a cap, but it's a 10% cap. It's not 3%. 3% is a is a very nice cap, and it's on all taxing taxing districts. The 10% cap is for seasonal residents,
vacant land, commercial property, uh, rental property, but the 10% cap also doesn't apply to the schoolboard millage. So it's not on the whole of your tax burden. It's only on really about a half of the tax burden. So the 3% cap is obviously a a better cap if
you're a home homesteader, but it's uh also not as great for communities where there's a lot of homesteading going on. So just uh to talk a minute about condominiums, of the 4,200 parcels again
in Highland Beach, total 3,700 are condominiums. That is actually of your four billion in taxable value 2.6 billion of it is from the condominium population.
So of that another interesting fact the average assessment so all we do there is we take the whole value and then we divide by the number of units. The average assessment for a condominium is now over a million dollars here. So that is the market value, not what people are paying on. Again, if they're capped,
they're paying on less, but it's over a million dollars now, the average. There are 367 single family homes in Highland Beach accounting for 1.3 billion of your value. And if you're doing the math with me,
uh that's an average assessment of 3.5 million for the single family homes. So again, high value homes um and and high value condominiums. Quite honestly, the um the other the other fact about Highland Beach that I thought was
interesting is looking at your millage rate. I know you're about to finalize I think today you'll finalize your millillage setting for 2025 which will then your manager will provide back to our office and that will be on the proposed tax notice that we mail in mid
August every year. But your when you look at the whole your residents and your all of your property owners burden, the millage rate in Highland Beach is the third third from the bottom in
millage rates paid in Palm Beach County. And that's pretty impressive considering we have 39 cities. So, in other words, this is this is a good a good affordable if we're looking just at property tax, it is in the larger scale an affordable
community, which is fantastic. Um, I think that I think that I' I' I'd love to, if you'd like me to talk a minute about condominium valuation, what's happening with that and and sort of the larger conversation around uh the
property types that you have here. Um, so condominium valuation is is becoming somewhat more and more challenging with the required studies and possible assessments that are occurring throughout Florida. And of
course, we have our share, we don't have the largest share, but we do certainly have our share of buildings that are in that age range that are are fitting into the required studies. The the the the good news is it appears that it's a very
mixed bag of who which buildings have been over the years steadily taking care of any issues that they might have had versus other buildings that might not have been taking care of those issues issues as time went by. So we don't have
sort of every condominium collapsing in value, meaning that residents are selling for at a distressed price, possibly selling because they cannot afford the assessment, possibly selling at a lower price and passing the
assessment through to the buyer who's negotiating that into their price. We don't have that in every building. We have it in select buildings and we have accounted for those in our assessments of those buildings this year where we've seen that happening. Our condominium
department has actually taken on um calling all of the condominium buildings that would fall in the age window and the size window and asking you know what are your assessments looking like so that we can keep an eye on what are the values doing in those communities those
buildings where the assessments are going to be substantial certainly substantial versus what the value of the buildings are because that's what we're seeing the lower value condos are the places where this is the worst problem and that's there that's unfortunate. Uh
but it it sort of makes sense from an economic standpoint that you might see that happen. The good news is is that in Highland Beach you appear to have a good inventory of condominiums that have been taking care of what they needed to do over the years and that is going to hold
the condominium market in this area. We're not seeing the same thing in South Palm Beach. We do have some buildings we're watching in South Palm Beach and even in Palm Beach proper. We've have buildings of the eight with these with these issues of very high assessments.
So there's going to be a lot of flux in the condominium market over the next few years. We're trying to keep a a good handle on it and make sure we're staying in touch with both what the market is telling us about the about the building by the sale prices changing, but also
with the buildings themselves to find out what they have coming that we might look for in our market assessment. So, that's just a little bit about condominiums. We're hoping that the state the state seems to have woken up to that this is a
serious problem especially for a lot of seniors who may be on fixed incomes and have started to sort of tweak the law a little bit so that it's not so hard on those owners and doesn't drive them out of their homes. But I think what you'll see in some cases is what we've already
seen in in West Palm Beach, for instance, where good locations, uh, developers are buying out the building if the numbers are right and um and replacing it obviously with a a structure that has, you know, has met
all the right standards, which is good. It's not necessarily good for the owners of that building. Maybe uh it'll be hard for them to replace what they had, but also it's you know that's really one of these give and takes that each building individually has to decide is good for
them. Yeah. Has has size of the uh unit of the condominium complex affected the uh the future of the building a 40 unit versus 300 units? M well it's all not not
necessarily the number of units but the scale of the building. So um the law the the rules are three stories and higher. Um and um and then it just is sort of it doesn't matter how big it is. I mean the
problem of course is the smaller the number of units the higher the assessment to each unit owner certainly. And I think that that's a tough one. I think that when people are in the condominium department, I would hope as we move forward, you know, that is more
carefully explained that, you know, okay, maybe your monthly assessment is going to be x number of hundreds of dollars, but should a special assessment come along, you know, it's uh it it might be more serious if you're only if you only have 20 units versus if you
have 200 units. Yeah. So, well, cl for for clarification, if you have um an an older building that uh did not keep up um but uh because of the new law, uh
they've put in let's let's say as an example, $100,000 in the unit each each unit. Now, when you do the appraisal, uh well, let me just add another uh aspect because of the assessments and the
stress on the owners, the older owners and um the legacy apartments to families that did not want to continue to be burdened by the special assessments. So, it's depressed value. So, and in your department, what do you look at? Do you look at the money that
special assessments put in to improve uh or the current most current uh market price sale price? Strictly the market price when we are setting the assessment. So we're interested in the information about what
the special assessments might have been because it helps us to sort of really keep an eye on what the sales after that start to look like. Are they starting to decline? And remember, we're working with a pool of sales. So, in a building of 200 units, we might have 10
to 20 sales a year. And those 20 sales, we'll look at them and we'll throw out the highest and the lowest. You know, it's sort of typical kind of just trying to get to what what is a realistic armslength transaction, not a distressed, you know, I've got to get
out of here or my parents owned this for 20 years and we can't continue to afford it. we're just going to sell it and we don't care what we get for it. We're not looking for that sale. We're looking for sort of the meat of the market which tells us this is about what the units
per and we're breaking it down to square foot at that point. I mean certainly and also in some cases views and where it is in the stack that sort of thing. All of that comes into play in determining the square footage value we're going to put on each of those units based on those
sales that occurred. But we're always we're always as it were behind the market. So Florida law requires we value as of January 1st. So for the 2025 assessments that we'll see in a in about a month, uh we are basing it on the
sales that occurred in 24. So we we can't look at what is this year's sales until next year. So for 26 we'll be looking at okay was there a further decline in the market or the other thing that's happening is people are saying well it's still a good buy. You know
they may buy in understanding they're going to have to pay a $50,000 assessment but they might have paid you know whatever that amount $500,000 plus $50,000 in a regular market. So some you know that's happening as well. So there's a real mixed bag of reaction.
there isn't a wholesale just sort of dive in the condominium market happening at all even seen here in in Highland Beach that you continue to have you know value increases because people are still investing in condominiums here
yeah so your comments on condos it's for Palm Beach County in general yes um you couldn't possibly know what's going on specifically in Highland Beach right I mean or do you know I guess you don't right someone on your staff does. But yeah, so your comments are very
general. I and like you said, I you know, I don't know that it really applies here. Um well, I think the fact that your value continues, I mean, that you've shown a 6% increase in value this year says that
it's not necessarily happening here clearly, right? Yeah. Because you got so many so so much of your property base is in condominiums. So I'll give you a for instance, South Palm Beach for the first time this year, they had a negative, right? So their value actually declined
slightly over the prior year. Only city that did that this year and it was very slight. I mean it was almost as if it stayed neutral from the year before. But that's a perfect example of where a city, a whole municipality is seeing the impact of in South Palm Beach, they have
only one property type. It's condominiums. They happen to have a lot of the age condos that are are being scrutinized. You know, those sort of built in the mid two mid mid70s and 80s in that window there. They h it happens
to be almost a perfect storm of a city, right? And the beauty here again is that you are not so homesteaded that the homestead is causing your value, but also that you have a mix. You have both condominiums and single family and good single family. you know,
high value single family. I would say that million dollars number that you gave for the condos and the $3 million for the homes, that's a decent looking number. Mhm. Absolutely. 110%. And was it was I want I had a question about that. Um, also, is that the um
assessed value or is that the taxable? That's the market value. That's the market value. So, that is not the not what's they're being taxed on. I'm sorry to correct you. Exactly. Yes. Did you have a question? Go ahead. Yeah, I just I think Dorothy I think
you're right because Highland Beach since I don't want to brag about our building department, but they make everybody do the milestone. We have more people doing the milestone in the city of Bokeh. I think we still have it. So, uh, and I think it drives people come in and they're looking to purchase and they
said, you do your milestone, you have your reserves and I think any assessments coming. So they they know that and they want to buy in here because we have all that stuff and we're doing everything keeping up to everything up to date. Yeah. And I it's as fortunately or
unfortunately if you're a buyer in the million-doll market, chances are you're also thinking about that. You're you've got that in your head or your realtor certainly has it in their head. Let's inquire about the milestone inspection, about any special assessments that may
be coming, that sort of thing. Because now the other good thing that's happened is all condominiums, this is much more uh sort of transparent for the buyer, you know, much easier to get your hands on. Now a b a buyer is an educated buyer is asking for these things and the
condominium is providing them. Yeah. But to your point, if you we do have much sort of more granular detail in Highland Beach, and we'd be happy to share if you're interested. Yeah. Yeah. I was just curious about the comments you had. I figured they were
more general, not necessarily um reflective of Highland Beach in general, but did you have a question? Yeah. Did you have any projections over the next number of years how you feel numbers are going to come out? Because we're doing a long range plans and they're such big part of our income.
That's kind of critical question. Yeah. I think uh it's hard you I hate projections myself. It's so difficult to do and I know it's it in where you sit you need them. I think your you mentioned your building department that
they are kind of you know ear to the ground of what the buildings are doing and what they're undertaking and that will give you an indication of will their will their value hold. You know, the the your location is fantastic.
People want to live in a lovely community on the ocean. I mean, who wouldn't? And if you're we still have so many people retiring to Florida, so many boomers who are now retiring who are making a decision about where are they
going to live. And I think you have that going for you that you have a lovely community where people feel that they have a more, you know, you see a lot of people buying homes in large gated communities and I think to myself, Highland Beach is the kind of place where you feel like you have that, but
you're not behind a gate. You have So I I do think you have a lot of positive to look forward to. We never know about the larger market. uh you know we have to we're all subject to what might happen in the larger economy
of the nation. Uh we've seen that before where it's severely impacted uh real estate values but uh you know it's hard to know it's hard to see that coming. You know you had made a comment uh towards the
beginning of your presentation. I didn't quite catch it. You said something about there was one single family property that accounted for the $6 million in new construction. Oh, in new construction. In new construction. Okay. Yeah. New construction numbers. You might know what property it is. I don't
I It's a single family home. It's on the intra coastal side. I actually looked at it on a map because I was curious. But it now again everything again is based on status on January 1st. We do not pick up a building, meaning at its value,
unless it's finished. So, this would have been a structure that was finished last year. And I see just driving here today, you have quite a few things. I'm surprised it's just one actually, to be honest. Well, they'll all go on for 2026 if they finish this year. Yeah. I always tell people, you know, uh that's the other
thing. Everybody needs to hustle up and finish before the end of the year. So, you or from their perspective, wait until January 2nd. No, I Yeah. No. No. For sure. So when you mentioned that uh 42%
uh of the properties are capped by the homestead is that the number of units or is that based on the dollars of the value? So 42% of the 4200 parcels or is it 42% of the 4 billion?
It's 42% of your residential which includes pretty much all of your value. So it is 42% of the properties that people could live in. So it's the 4200. It's the 4200 count because I guess I'm just curious
um you know and then 50% 58% obviously are not subject to that cap. And I just wonder and you probably don't have this but is it more the high value? I I just Mhm.
I assume it's probably the higher value units are not subject to the homestead. That's just a pure assumption. Um and it's and and it's hard to it's hard to quantify that because um all it is is
they have declared that that's their primary home. It doesn't mean they're here all the time, right? just means that they're not getting a residency benefit in another state. So, it it could very much be a mixed bag. Certainly, plenty of seasonal
residents have decided, you know, it makes more sense from a tax standpoint to homestead in Florida. It seems like more and more are are trying to meet those qualifications so they can homestead. Yes, absolutely. And you'll see people midway through they'll own a property
for 10 years and after year six they say, "Oh, well, it would make more sense for me to be homesteaded." And then they become homesteaded. So, it's a real mixed bag of whether it's the high-end or not. Um, you know, some high-end owners, they own five homes and they they don't
homestead any of them, interestingly. But uh and then but then you have others who are you know they're just this is their home and and and or maybe they've had two homes and now they're settling into where they're going to stay for their sort of remainder of their life
and this is it. You know yeah what I have in the back of my mind is what the vice mayor was trying to get at like trying to make projections of what's going forward. So if if most of the dollars are not subject to the homestead then it would fluctuate more with the market. But if most of the
dollars are more subject to the homestead then you know but I um it is also something we can run for you. I mean we'd be happy to give Marshall to know what are the dollars that are subject to the gap and what are the sell dollars that not subject to the cap because then we would know
take yeah take the values and tell and we can also tell you how much of your value is capped. Right. meaning that today uh how many of those homes are saving a lot of money from being homesteaded, right? And of course, the key is every time they sell that cap comes off and it pops
back up to market and then and then you you've done what we call recaptured that value, right? Yeah. Well, I think what you said at the beginning, if I understood it correctly, was that the market value is 5 a.5 billion, but the taxable value is 4
billion. Yep. So, I think what that says to me is that in general there's about 30%, you know, that we are off of, right? So, let's say they were all homestead, which we know they're not. Um, and they all
stayed and nobody sold, then we could expect to see 3% every year. Um, but so we don't we don't know that, you know, but I think we can at least I think unless the market really tanks,
there's that 27% that we will eventually capture at some point. Yes. If everything turns over and there's no more things in our office, if you'd like. Well, I just think we're in good shape. We're in good shape. Um,
yeah. I don't think we we in our projections um I think we do like a 5% um increase in values. I think that I I forget. Yeah. Dave and I moved it down to three just to play it. But it'll never be three. It should probably never be three.
Well, I will say one thing you have to keep in the back of your mind is when the economy stops being so inflationary, the 3% may be less because the law is 3% or the change in the CPI, whichever is less.
The last three years it's been 3%. It's been C. Well, it's 2.9% this year actually, but I've seen years where it was8% where it was completely flat, you know, no increase. So, you have to
account for that also. And that's the larger sort of watching what the larger economy is doing because that'll help you get an idea of whether that cap is going to be less than 3%. But you're also you also because you have a nice
pool of of 10% cap properties meaning properties that might have in the runup in the last five years which really stopped last year the kind of COVID reaction where property values went up at extreme level double digit levels um
that some of those have a 10 cap that we're recapturing now. So you're also getting that in from those nonhomesteaded properties. So that's probably going to offset the possible drop in the 3% to something less than 3%.
And that benchmark that you're comparing it to, what is it? Is it the South Florida CPI? No, it's actually the states. Okay. So it's Florida in the consumer price index yearover-year or the state of Florida. Yes. Yes. That number. And so it's across the
whole state. So every county is the same. Yeah. So it's something to watch. And we can give you I mean I keep track of the LA we've had the cap the 3% cap since 1994. So well 30 years. And we do keep track of what what that percentage
has been and we can send that to you as well if you'd like to see it because it has it it's amazing how much it's changed. It's only been 3% 3% flat probably less than 10 times. It's been something lower than that all the other times.
Yeah. Because we came through a very low inflation. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's tough. It's hard to remember, isn't it? I know. It really is. It really is. Yeah. But we did we went through a long stretch um sort of I don't know 2015 to
20 well 2020 sort of maybe even ear 2012 where the cap amount was much lower. Yeah. Right. Yeah. I love your numbers. um question. As an insurance company, Highland Beach would be a prime prospect for me.
Insurance, but I'm simply saying I would think that the insurance companies would recognize this. Uh do they receive this kind of data? Um they can they certainly have access to it, especially even at the state level. Uh because insurance is of course much more managed from a state level.
I'm not sure they would be so granular as to recognize these pockets where things are are good. Uh but the um yeah, all of our data is provided to the department of revenue and then of course it's put into massive databases that all
kinds of people can access and find out about. But yeah, insurance is the other problem, isn't it? Yes, maybe some of us are on condo boards. Don, this would be interesting information to have. Yeah, it might be reduction in our insurance. No question about it.
Definitely. Thank you very much. Absolutely. Can you remind me again how you come up with the um uh the assessed value for the year? You you look at the full year prior the J. So like for 20, so in August of 2025,
we're going to get those preliminary bills and those values are based on after you throw out the high and the low of January 1, 2024 through December 31st, 2024. Correct. So all the sales that occurred in 24, we do put in what we call we're
required to put in time adjustments when there are years where the market just you know did something really really wacky during the year. Uh so quarterly time adjustments are also required. Uh if they went down it would be the same
thing and so we wait the different parts of the year depending on that. But last year was a fairly stable st Yeah, stable year. We weren't seeing, you know, they the time adjustments have have taken my appraisers a while to sort of wrap their head around because they
really started putting them in in COVID when the numbers were going, you know, drastically changing from January to December. But now they've kind of steadied steadied out a little bit. And um so we look at yes, the whole pool of sales for in a condo for that building.
So, and if we can't if there weren't enough sales for us to make a decision, we either look to a similar building or we leave the we leave the assessments flat. We don't move them. We don't move them just to move them. We, you know, we want to be able to and we must defend
why we set the value on them. Yeah. And and then that what you were saying um trying to get information on the uh assessments each condo uh says that they need you would use that to make th some of those adjustments as
well. Well, you know, we have seen it in some buildings, older buildings that we're starting to see the values drop and then we on we contact the building and ask for more detail what's happening. So
that might be a rationale for you to reduce the values if if well the sales tell us right you know that it's it's it's obviously there is some sort of a distress happening right and uh so that's why we do that. Yeah. Um and could you comment on so what's
going on what is the latest on the homestead exemption? Are they are those values changing? Have they changed? Yeah. Where do you see that going? question of property taxes at all. Oh, that's you. Do you have any information on that?
Um, so at the moment, of course, the uh Florida House has established a committee that's studying the property tax and a lot of data has gone to them and uh we wait their their report is due to the full legislature in October.
Uh this uh legislative session will be early because next year is an election year. So, we should know in the early part of 2026 if there are going to be any proposals to change, adjust, or eliminate the property tax. Um, what of
course the committee has come up against is the same thing everyone else does, including you, I'm sure. Where is the revenue going to come from if it doesn't come from property tax? We also know that the voters feel that a property tax is is fair. we I mean polling has been
done saying that the voters feel that they'd rather pay a property tax than pay a 20% sales tax or something similar like that. So, it it really waits to to um be seen what may come out of the 2026
session, remembering that anything that's comes from that session will have to be on the ballot for voters to approve in November of 26 because all property tax exemptions and even process are driven by the constitution. So, a a
constitutional amendment would have to be adopted to raise the homestead amount, eliminate something, stop one group from paying and another group, you know, would pick it up somehow. All of those decisions will have to be on the ballot in 2026. So, if anything is going
to happen, it wouldn't be until January 127 that we would start something. And there's a lot of time between now and then. I um there a lot of the a lot of the talk is a increase in the homestead exemption amount. That's a lot of talk.
I I I it's been tried once before and it actually failed on the ballot. I'm not quite sure what happened that year, but it didn't get the 60% threshold for passage, which it has to have. It got to about 57%.
An increase. And that was just an increase from I think 25 to 75,000. Wow. So, so we wait. We we wait to see. We we are, you know, asked for a lot of data. We provide it. I'm in constant touch with all of our representatives um
especially those who are on this commission. But the Senate will also probably uh produce something similar. And then, you know, they'll what what did they say? Make the sausage in Tallahassee, right? Um but uh for the time being, you know, we continue to do
what we do and um certainly an increase in the homestead exemption would be very tough. I I think especially on some of the more fiscally constrained counties where much of their revenue is coming from homesteaded properties and you know
if your average assessment is $200,000 100,000 homestead is a big lift for a small county. a lot of a lot of uh uh revenue that would be lost. So, we'll see. We'll see uh you know what comes next. And you know, there's such a difference between South Florida and
North Florida in this conversation. There is. And I'll be interested to see if the legislature can can figure that out like find a way maybe the homestead is a different amount in South Florida or in counties of a certain size or a certain Yeah. indexed.
Exactly. somehow indexed because that's going to be the toughest part is the impact on the smaller counties. Very interesting. Any other questions? Good. Your presentation's always fascinating to me. I really appreciate you coming.
Thank you for your time. It's such valuable information. Thrilled to see your fire station. And I was saying the last time I was here this this there was a station and it's lovely to see and and congratulations on that and and congratulations on your excellent fiscal management too. It's
it's great to watch and always happy to help and if we can help you with any further details just let us know. All right. Thank you very much. Thank you. Okay. Next uh item on the agenda is a presentation by our state legislative update by state representative Peggy
Gosset Sidman, District 91. Welcome Peggy. Thank you everyone. I had to bring a cheat sheet. So much happened. Touchdown for the no flooding on the road. Great job guys. Great job F dot. I was
shocked. All these swailes full of water. It's why I ran in 17. Anyway, great job. It's I know it's not done, but I was shocked there. No more lake ambassadors. So, hello. We're back because the budget's signed. Um, bills are enacted
and in process. Um, so I wanted to give you an update where we are on several things. I know I've been working with the condo association for Bokeh Highland and Del Rey as well, but the My Safe Florida home and My Safe Florida condo
um programs are open online. And I wanted to strongly encourage the city uh the town and the cities nearby to let people know that they are open in order to um the my safe Florida home is pretty simple. I'm not sure that anyone in our
area will qualify because the the maximum well there's a few in Highland Beach, but the maximum home value to apply would be 700,000 and um one has to be homesteaded and living there full-time. But um so so many people have
taken advantage of it throughout the state and it enables a homeowner to obtain um up to $10,000 for roof, door and window, garage door uh repairs and upgrades and in some cases complete overhauls. We're talking about um the
the amount of of nails to the roof, you know, beams to the roof, trusses, and the and the no more garage doors that are double and triple wide. they're they're highly um disregarded. Some of the older homes have, you know, very flimsy or outdated or rainfilled doors
and windows. So, that that's a big asset if there are any in the town who want to qualify. But the My Safe Florida condo is a pilot program that mimics that and it is also open for review and application. And a condo unit, a condo
development has to apply as a whole development. It can't be just one guy in a condo. And so I'll be able to I'll get uh Marshall a full um array of this information. We're running off some data now that we can drop off it to you all
uh later in the day or tomorrow. But the um condos have to get together and meet the qualifications. It has to be a consensus, a majority has to be a vote by the board. Um there has to be a series of lawful steps to make sure that this is something that the majority
wants to review. and then uh an inspector would come out from the state and and inspect the building free of charge and say yes they do need this but it's limited because it's the my safe Florida home was such a great program and so wellreceived and there are some
real homes that have been saved uh perhaps especially on the west coast saved in coming storm that that arrived the following year and they had uh done in particularly garage doors over there I don't know why my brother lives there but that was a big issue among the older
homes. So, I strongly encourage you to let the residents know and I'll get you all the data and all the talking points. Um, that's a biggie. Um, I'll say for the bills we passed this year, I'm going to bring my little cheat sheet on the phone up now. Um, we passed some amazing
bills um in the budget uh was amazing. We we actually we floged the budget. We did a Florida doge, if you want to call it, and we cut out billions of dollars of unnecessary um items. For example, a
guy came into my office in February and he used to work as an aid for my colleague and he said, "I can't believe this. I'm in department of ed and we have 350 seats in this division that have never been filled, but they take the money every year out of the budget." So he said, "Oh, how interesting." So we
go to the speaker's office. Yes, we heard about that. Turns out around 7,000 seats in the state, full-time employees, FTEES, were unfilled, but still budgeted and still obtained the funding and then the departments would use them for other
things. Well, that's gone. We cut that out of the budget. The biggest item, speaking of taxes, is we eliminated the business rent tax. So, that's that's going to save Flidians around two billion this year. And the reason it saves you is because
especially for a small business, they were paying a business rent tax and we were the only state in the country doing this. So we could find and so now they don't have to pay that tax and you will get a savings indirectly through the cost of your purchasing goods or services from these build from these
businesses. Um we reduced it previously and fighting off the idea that no, you can't re eliminate it, but we did eliminate it. And I know Dorothy gave you an update on the property tax versus homestead versus sales tax and that is still being discussed. My colleagues uh
30 of us from the house are on a committee. I'm not on that committee. I had other duties this year but we will we will see if it where we really should fall in that in that um division of of ideas. It's just it's an overwhelming task. It couldn't be done in one in one
session. Um there's pros and cons to both. And and in the meantime, we did the business rent tax. Um a lot of our a lot of our um great budget items went to veteran
services. We funded greater housing opportunities and greater mental health for them. Education. We provided billions of dollars to state and private uh schools. And again, we're eliminating the the schools have been directed at the state level to eliminate any
funding, you know, any flowing they can any opportunities to eliminate unneeded funds funding or line items. And that's been a great asset to uh the schools. They they didn't even think to do it, frankly. Um our local school FAU, our
local university has a new head, Adam Hner. He was previously sat in my seat. Um he's a great guy. He's already working very hard to get things sort of upgraded and updated there. Um I obtained 10 10,450,000
for FAU in this in this uh budget item. Um 10,000 for a much needed upgrade of the um school the department of medicine or additional services and and seats there for the students. And I can tell you that um
there's been a perennial shortage of nurses, especially throughout the state. It just you can't we can't get enough nurses. As soon as we get get nursed up, then another 10,000 people move in. We're now up to around 1,200 people a day moving to Florida.
And I know Mayor Singer of Bokeh is up there trying to wrangle every unhappy New Yorker to move here. The guy is like he's got a billboard at at 45th Street at Times Square going move to Bokeh. That was obsessed. It was pretty funny.
Um, another bill that you know will be of interest to I believe to most of our our town is the HOA accountability. And I'll read from my notes on this, but Senate Bill the House Bill 983 was folded into a Senate bill. But the
Senate bill will give us a stronger community oversight of the community association managers. We extended the deadlines as you know um as you may know and revise the scope for the structural milestones and um this is I couldn't
really speak about it last time because I wasn't sure it would be signed as is but by the governor we weren't sure what where he was going with any vetos but um it it did get signed. It will give you more flexible reserve funding and meeting transparency. There's got to be
a video attendance. You've got to record the meetings much like town government where we're where we're we're holding them to a higher level. They just can't have three guys at Starbucks at midnight or well if they're open that way. But there were some things going on all over the state and then we were my my
inbox would be full of here's what's happening, here's what's happening. And then we the state didn't have any authority to really intervene. It's really a private matter between an association and the homeowner. Um, some people move here, buy a condo, don't read the the um paperwork, and then they
find themselves in a jam. So, I'll be giving you the data on this as well with handouts come upcoming. Um, that was a biggie. Um we um we we passed a wonderful budget again that includes a lot of in
infrastructure, road work, bridges, uh swailes and water drainage off the roads. Um and a lot of water repairs. We've got, as I said last time, um Highland Beach is getting its cop dock,
its marine patrol dock. Very, very proud of that. Thank you very much. I do. And uh to get this done, let me tell you what I did because it has to go through four committees. So the one guy is a retired general who served in Australia 40 years
ago. This one a state rep. He was also a judge. And I go to him and I he he knows travel. He knows water. I said, "Sir, listen." And I drew him a map of everything from the Bokeh inlet to the Boon inlet, a a proper map off of the internet. And I said, "Here are the
inlets. here are the places a boat can put in if they're in trouble, although the state law allows you to tie up anywhere, including private property um and seaw walls. And I said, there is nowhere for a a police boat to dock and offload patients who need assistance
like we've had our deaths in sadly in our waters in the last five years. There's nowhere for them to go between the Bokeh Police Dock unless I use the the the Delray Municipal Pier there or and then all the way to the Boon Inlet. And I I put in little dots and I did the
the math. It's like 18.3 miles. And he said, "I see what you mean." And I said, "This will aid everyone, not just Highland Beach, but FWC can use it. Bokeh, Del Rey, DP, if they're out there on there, they go out and do collections." And he said, "I get it." Anyway, I provided that map to every
committee member on every committee and it was a great asset and people understood it when they see the graphics of that. Um, additionally, we're closing that outfall pipe. I actually went on the boat last week and took a look at it. Lakeworth Beach has an outfall pipe dumping its allegedly reclaimed water
into the inter coastal at 7th Avenue. No, 9inth at 9th Avenue. We went out in the boat and got close enough to take photos and there's the water pouring into the inter coastal. And where does that go? South to us. That will be closed off within 6 months. And then we're building the two islands in Lakew
Worth Lagoon, which is just south of Southern Boulevard. Um, just north of that is a big famous guy in his Mara Lago. It's just south of that. But because of the bridge connection congestion at Mara Lago, they have to run the barest of sand at night when
there is less traffic. So those islands will with mangroves and seaggrass will also clean the water. oyster beds are being installed and that will clean the water which then comes south to us. So in total I I I think my final total of appropes for the county uh was n was
hang on was $20.1 million this year. They also gave me the Palm Beach Zoo so I say now which somebody picked up that I work for the people the fish and the monkeys because they have a lake that has never been cleaned. So, you can imagine 40 years of stuff from zoo animals running
into the lake that's going to be clean. So, I know Lyn's laughing, but it's true. Who thinks of these who thinks of these things? These people sit up at night and they write us letters and they say, "This is what we need. This is what we need." And again, it I ran a lot of uh
Lantana Water. I ran that appropes this year, but it all affects the surrounding communities no matter what we do. And so, you know, we all want to be good neighbors, good stewards. Um, I had an issue with an outfall pipe last week in Delray Beach and people dumping.
I called the mayor, called him right there on his cell. I said, "Sir," and he took care of it. He got people out. And that's I didn't go out of my boat to do this. I was went out for like a joy ride. Anyway, so the bottom line is the state is in good fiscal shape. uh we cut
some you'll read the headlines sometimes. Oh, governor vetos all these things. Well, he did veto a lot of what he felt the community should take care of in their budget. He and his aids would look at us at a municipal budget and look what they're asking for. Well, why, you know, why why isn't that being
supported by local people? So there were reasons some reasons we don't know but there were vetos done and we included more funding in the in the reserves as you all have done over the years because of why the three storms in the last four
years those storms I've toured those sites on the west coast and they were rough and so there is additional funding and we're also making sure that we don't increase any of our state debt. we don't want to be in that kind. We don't want to be that kind of state and then have the funding available for any kind of a
storm assistance. I didn't believe this till I got in this level of a job, but FEMA doesn't show up with water and tents and roof coverings right away. They sometimes takes weeks or months or longer to get in there. When you see the trucks full of water and tents and
things when there's a storm, that comes from usually neighboring communities and businesses. And FEMA is not boots on the ground right away. Hopefully that'll be changing despite some cuts. But but with those reserves, the state can get people in in hours. They have just an amazing
uh set of set of people they can call, you know, major people and businesses. People Nestle Water shows up, Brown Distributing sends trucks in. So, um that's you say, "Oh, FEMA should do this." But they're not always in a position to do that. And that's why the
reserves we had to make we had to include them as being very strong. Um, two of my bills came from local people here. I I don't know if I mentioned them last time, so stop me if I did, but um, the property there were properties a guy
called me lives in Bokeh and he said, "Oh, you know, I have I have I've been getting these phone calls and emails and texts all day and all night." He had self- storage units and there was some
debt owed and they just randomly called him. We didn't have a state statute to disallow that. And my bill now makes it unlawful to to harass someone who's a debtor between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 8 a.m. unless it's by email. Let me tell you, when I did that, I must have
gotten like 300 people. Yay. Thank you. Thank you. There were many businesses who were just being harassed un unlawfully because we didn't we we had a state statute that didn't allow telegrams to be sent and phone calls landlines 32y old statute. So we fixed
that and another constituent called actually a guy out of Boon and he said my parents died and people broke in and took over their restaurant and we can't get them out. we've ex we've just exceeded our budget to go to court and the court you have to
file a civil lawsuit you got a legal bill wait for the courts to hear it and he said we gave up is there anything you can do ran a bill ran a bill for property squatters and that again immediately gives a a sheriff the authority with proven with a paperwork
that shows you're the that shows you're the owner of that property go in with the sheriff in attendance or sheriffs and remove with a peaceable way remove the people and their possessions. And I found out there were 15 ongoing cases in one neighborhood in Orlando. It was
happening in Gainesville, um, Melbourne, and on the West Coast. It was such a big deal, the governor held a press conference over in Sarasota because they had a a apparently a glut of these instances there where the old Tampa West Westmore Mall was and um, dozens of
people showed up. And so that is now able to we are now able to move people out of homes and businesses if they're unlawfully there. So those are the two big deals. Um three of my appropes are serving our seniors including Holocaust
survivors over 100 years old in West Bokeh. Um I've got three appropes that are serving the JFS, the Ruth Rails when we bought generators for some of the buildings there who could not afford them for the elderly um Jewish population. And so that's been a great
asset. In addition, we kept the funding. If you'll see the police cars in front of the Jewish day schools and some synagogues because we are continuing to fund them for security. Um, last but not least, we've got um a good coalition of
representatives from Palm Beach County. Really amazing people, and we work together well, the senators and the representatives. And so because we do start our session early um earlier this year in terms of the calendar year um you might get your probes ready for
September and so we can start to draw maps and show people where you need to have things taken care of. Um and with that I'll close and ask if there's any questions or anything I can get back to you with additional information. Those are the big talking points and really what you guys need to know and hopefully
you can put out some information to the residents. I have one, Peggy. I have a question for you. Um, the streamlining that's taking place federally right now. Yes. That's trickling down to the state. Yes. Is that going to trickle down to the towns at all?
Well, we we can't I don't think we can make it mandatory. I'd have to check with our legal team in Tallahassee, but you could say it could be by example. They might want to take up that. There are some cities not doing their cities. Has it freed up additional dollars?
Yes. Oh, yeah. Oh, the state budget. We just we found all kinds of money sitting around in these empty seats. So, you would think that this year would be an easier year. It should be. Okay. I believe that helped that contributed to our better funding as well for for many um both local appropriations
because that's limited. We can't give every community everything they asked for. Some of it was some of the requests were unbelievable funny. I wouldn't have funded, but there are many very well-meaning. So that freed up quite a bit of funding for appropriations and us
to take care of other um line items in the budget. We really worked hard on veterans education, safety, security. We didn't turn down many of the safety, security, infrastructure. You got bridges crumbling in Jacksonville. They couldn't they they couldn't fix it
right. It needs attention right away. So if you don't have it budgeted and it's falling in the in the in the inlet in the port there, let's help get it get it done. Thank you. Yes, sir. Well, I I do have a question, but first I want to thank you so much for for everything that you've that
you've done for your your representatives and certainly for Highland Beach. Thank you. Thank you for keeping my feet warm. It's great. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Um now, as um as far as a question, I had something a question about um the My Safe Florida as to uh how much funds
they have available. That's number one. If you know, I think I know. Yeah, it's changes daily, but let me see what we budgeted. I think I have a line on here quite a lot actually, but we bumped it way up this year. Let me see. Because I think when it first came out,
it probably the pilot program uh went very fast. It opened and closed. I'll have to Google that for you. I don't have it all. Yeah, you can get up to 10 grand a home. And I'm not getting a link in here. I'll get back to you. Okay.
We we we increased it exponentially because it was so successful. Now, does it does it include uh work that has been done uh for reimbursement or only future work? Only future work after an inspection. Okay.
And I might add, we get we get complaints and people are upset or frustrated with website. But I do have to tell you it's it's a little complicated and if someone isn't really savvy with the computer or doesn't quite get what how to do it, they might need someone to assist, but a lot of the
times it's just not been processed correctly by the homeowner. I'm not getting down on them, but it if they need to navigate it, they need to realize they might need they could call a grandson or something, granddaughter. Um, but that's been a lot of our complaints is and then other times it
gets hung up because it's government and sometimes government is cumbersome as we all know and it they and we we try to assist them as as best we can. I believe they they uh added employees to that department to try to uh increase that.
Here in Highland Beach, we've done such a great job in in in expediting Yeah. the the work to be done. So, it may not apply to many of the condos. No, it may not. Yeah, but but those having not taken up work could be. And and furthermore, if a
condo didn't do everything, like didn't do windows, doors, garage doors, roof, they didn't do everything just in one thing, they could still apply. But there's no retroactive. Great. Yeah. I just want to say thank you, Peggy, for the grants and thank you for
the update coming in. I we appreciate that. Thank you. Welcome. I thank you. Thank you for everything you do for us. Oh, you're welcome. Nice to see you, sir. Yeah, I'm on repeat, but thank you so much, Peggy. Uh you've done so much for us uh with the appropriations and and
the support for our town and all your constituents. We we really appreciate all the all your hard work. Incredible hard work. You uh have so much energy. It's like so impressive. Really, really. Thank you. No worries. I I will add that you're going to get complaints in about six to
eight months about Spanish River, but there the governor right here at FAU three weeks ago approved that tunnel will be built under Spanish River Boulevard for bikers on the El Rio trail, pedestrians, roller skaters, whatever. Um, that was the only thing a
genius engineer in Bokeh came up with it because when they built the I95 exit ramps and entrance, they took away the the the access for pedestrians and the trail riders. And there have been 67 accidents there, including the fatality.
And then you got the planes flying over. If you're not if you're new to the area, you might freak out. Oh, there's a plane over my car. So, we're building a tunner under to access, you know, safe act for safe access. And the governor asked me at a press conference here at FAU, "What else do you need?" And I said, "We
really could use that tunnel for students, walkers, bikers, and he signed off on it." Um, so I have to give a lot of credit to Jared and the governor. The governor came to Palm Beach County four times this year, so I'm giving him a shout out for that. So, he didn't always
uh show up here, but he's done a great job giving the county what we need. Um, and where would the tunnel be under SP? So, you know where the 95 the I95 and Spanish River where they meet? Yes. Okay. They're doing a pedestri They're going to do a a study to see if it'd be best
right east or right west of that interchange. I'm thinking it might be west. There's a little bit more safe access there. And it would connect the El Rio trail to that underground tunnel wide enough for two lanes of traffic of foot traffic, bike traffic. So they could traverse the roadway without
crossing it because you got right game day at FAU, you know, rush hours, holidays, that intersection is a mess. And then the weird road that does a J turn, airport road, and then the the bridge over 95. It's it
can be very congested and frustrating. And so what did I say? What? Oh, my son's here to help out. All right, that's true. Thank you, Austin. Didn't know he showed up. the that yes that connects also to the Bright Bright Line station. Oh. So those students some we get some
commuter students and that connects to the station which will um enable them to you even got roller skaters get off Bright Line with you know the fancy skates and and skate to class. So that's been that'll be a big help. But you might get some comments about um
construction there. I don't think it'll affect traffic that much, but uh Zach Burr and Bokea is your go-to guy and uh I credit him with a brilliant idea. There is an existing tunnel in in Spanish River Park, in case you haven't gone there on foot, that goes under A1A to the beach.
Yeah. And where is that? It's in Spanish River Park. Okay. South of Spanish River Boulevard. And it So maybe he was thinking of that as an example. Um so that that was great. And then Bokeh, we're we're also funding through my approp some water lines for Boca Raton, Golden
Harbor um neighborhood. So, you know, we have to keep all of our neighbors safe. Oh, a biggie, Chief Hartman. Um I did run in a probe and got it for Delray Beach police to upgrade their radio and their safe transmissions.
Oh, excellent. Which again, we've got Bokeh, Highland, Delray, Boon tied in together. So, that was also a good thing. They don't we don't always get fire and police appropriations, but this year we got more. That's great. Okay. Thank you. Thank you all very much for allowing me to serve and come and
visit with you today. I'll make sure we have a bunch of handouts and upgrades and I'll get you that final number on the total amount for the My Safe Home and condo. Thank you. Um I just don't have it in my head and I can't pull it up here. Okay. Thank you all very much. Nice to see you.
Thank you. Next item, resolution number 2025-017, a resolution of the town commission of the town of Highland Beach, Florida, ratifying the selection, appointments, and term of office of members of the natural resources preservation advisory
board and providing for an effective date. And I'd like to welcome Kiki Baxter. Um, you could just uh state your name and where you're from and just a couple comments as to why you are volunteering for this board. Sure. Hi. My gosh, I have some big shoes
to film, but I'm happy to be here. Thank you for your time. Um, I'm Kiki Baxter. I'm a Highland Beach resident, of course. I've been here for about nine years. You're close to the mic. I had a feeling somebody was going to say, um, what can I say? I'm really proud to
live in Highland Beach in South Florida. I'm looking for a meaningful way to get involved, stay active, and informed in the community. Um, I was encouraged to apply and I feel like this is a really appropriate fit for me. Um, shall I go on or do you have questions? No, that's good. Um, if you don't mind,
each commissioner might ask you a question. So, Commissioner Chidnoski, if you could please go ahead. I would ask the question why why you'd like to get involved. Sure. Um, so I'm from South Florida. I
moved away for several years. I moved up to Vermont. Crazy, right? I moved back in the fall and um while I was away, I was um actually the minute I left, I said, "What the heck am I doing? I have to get back." Um and I promised myself
as soon as I got back, I would remain as involved and active as I could possibly be. I'm extremely passionate about wildlife conservation, um conservation in general, education, particularly for youth. I spent six years in environmental um well experiential
education rather. Um, so I said as soon as I get back to Florida, I'm gonna go allin and um, a friend of mine is on a similar board for the city of Boca Raton and obviously I'm not eligible for position on that board, but she encouraged me to apply and look into
opportunities here in Highland Beach and I did. And um, actually one of my neighbors is on the board as well. So I reached out to her and we we discussed it a little bit and she said when there's a vacancy um, she encouraged me to apply. So here I be. Um, excellent. Excellent.
Mhm. Thank you. Thank you. I was so impressed in reviewing your resume. Oh, wow. And when you came up and I said, "Look how young she is with everything that you've done." You know, the work that you've done in the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. So, I
I thank you so much for for joining in and uh and taking on this position. I know you'll be great. Thank you. I can't believe you read my resume. I'm glad I didn't lie. I have I have the bug bites to to prove it. I've been out all week working on
the um the Python challenge. It's been really exciting, but I'm covered head to toe in in bug bites. So, forgive me. I've got I'm holding my hands behind my back so I don't scratch. Well, this may this may lead to um greater things, you know, maybe on the
uh national level. So, keep at it. Thank you. I appreciate that. Thank you. Yeah, I I read your resume, too, and it's fantastic. And you got Bob Reessel recommends you. So, that's all far as I'm concerned, that's all you need. Thanks.
Python removal. That's I read that and I says, "Oh my god, I hate snakes." And I It's uh, you know, Thank you. went from bears to snakes. From bears to snakes. That's true. They've got snakes up there, but these
ones we got to get out of there. So, where do you live in Vermont? Uh, Putney, Vermont. 296 people. Yeah. Yeah, you're up there. Cold up there. Very cold. It's cold in here. Thank you. Thank you. Resume. Very impressive.
Town manager calls us to make sure we read the resume. So, very well done. Very qualified. Thank you very much. I appreciate it. Thank you. Yes. Thank you very much for applying and welcome. And it's so nice to meet you. Um, I don't know that we would meet you otherwise if it wasn't uh for this. And yeah, I thought that Python
challenge was really cool. And and like what does that mean? Like did you actually How many pythons did you remove? So I Well, actually uh I'm not allowed to share. I'm not allowed to disclose according to FWC. I'm I'm a an abiding
volunteer. Um but so I don't actually go out and catch them. Not in this challenge. Um the the season's all year round, but right now this week is the python challenge. So other people, either they're professionals or ex-military or they're just noviceses, they go out and they hunt them overnight
and then they bring them to us and I'm one of the volunteers who helps check and make sure everything is um complete and then we take everything over to uh the University of Florida campus out in in Davyy and they take care of the rest.
But I'm there for uh the vibes. I like to say I'm the personality hire because I'm not a biologist. um and just help people answer questions and keep them excited and informed about about the program. Great. Well, great. Thank you. Well, I think uh your volunteerism in that regard is really excellent and uh
your FWC experience is really perfect. So, um yeah, I am in favor of um accepting uh Miss Baxter on the board. So, if we could have a Yes. I move to uh to adopt um what do we
have? Resolution 2025-17. Second that. Commissioner Goldberg, yes. Vice Mayor Stern, yes. Commissioner Chinowski, yes. Commissioner Peters, yes. Mayor Moore, yes. Motion carries.
Welcome to the board and thank you very much. Thank you so much for having fun. Yes. Moving on to public comments. Any public comments? Seeing not none, moving forward uh to the consent agenda. Resolution number
2025-018. Um a resolution of the town commission of the town of Highland Beach uh setting the proposed not to exceed millage rate pursuant to section 200.0652B Florida statutes setting the date, time and place at which a public hearing will
be held to consider the proposed millage rate and tentative budget. Any imagine no discussion since it's any everybody okay? If uh we're in favor if you could please uh do a motion. Yes. I move to adopt resolution 2025-18.
Second. All in favor say I. I. No ordinances. Moving on. Excuse me. That's approving the consent agenda. The consent. Just want to put that on the record. Got it. Thank Okay. Sorry. Should I have said that? Sorry about that. Um moving
on to unfinished business. Item A, building department reertification program update. Good afternoon, commission. Good to see everyone. Nice to see you. Building department. We're happy to be here. A lot of smiles up here.
The happy place. Yes. So, out of 53 buildings, we have reertified 25. The previous commission meeting on June 3rd, we had 22 buildings reertified. So in that month and a half,
I'd say roughly, we've had three buildings. Uh those buildings are Le Sanctuary, Lorett Demar Condo, and then Regency Highland, the 3908 building. So that completes Regency Highland altogether. We have Highland Beach Club. They did
submit their concrete restoration application and they are close to permit issuance. The structural review was complete yesterday, July 14th. And then we have 22 buildings under concrete restoration permit.
And then the last four buildings are in the same category as they will be for some time. Um, one building is still within the due date to submit, which they have January 1st, 2026 as their due date. And then three buildings are there's no status mentioned because the
due date's too far to be notified to submit the reports, no delinquencies or anything. No, we're in good shape. Yeah. Okay, great. Any others? No, no questions. No questions. Thank you. Thank you very much for the update.
Next item. Florida Department of Transportation TripleR project update. Hello everyone. Thank you. Uh so there's a new completion date of uh September 17th this year. Uh so far there's been 38 rain days, so it's pushed the project back, but they're
still saying September 17th, 2025. We still have one more layer to add on the road. Um that'll be obviously done before September 17th as well. Uh all French drains in the town have been completed. Um they're still working on all the driveways, getting the pitch
right. Today I was in a meeting where um the contractor basically said in order to you know finish on time, well not September 17th, but within the time frame um and within the cost instead of putting back the uh I guess the pavers
that they took out, they wanted to just kind of put asphalt on all the driveways where I push back on them. So, we have a meeting next week because I know many of the owners are not going to be happy with asphalt when they have everything there ready to go. Um, let's see what else. Uh,
I think that's it. It's just a a quick data point. There's about 280 driveways and 60 to 70% of them have issues, pitching issues. So, it's a question. I have a question. Um, in driving this last weekend was a real good test.
Yes. And we had a lot I I heard Peggy's comments. Um what was your what did you hear? What was your feelings as far as the way the road handled the extra water because there was a lot of water out there at this time? Yeah. I mean I think yesterday was pretty harsh rainfall. You bet.
Um so I wouldn't take yesterday as you per say what's going to happen all the time, but um I think there's going to definitely be some issues um you know for pitching wise, especially in some of the I guess sidewalks you want to call them. They're going to have to do some type of where where the road is coming down. Obviously, you could see. So, I
think they're still working all of that. So, they actually meet on each driveway and try to, you know, make it work as best as possible. I'm living in the west side of A1A, right? And last year, I could have said, gee, there's a lot of water on the west side, right? But this year, I'm very excited because
most of the water is shifted to the east side. So, uh I'm just curious, are you seeing that also in more water in the east side? because the west side was pretty clear and I said this is wonderful. Yeah, I mean it is um I guess it's it's type of the pitching of of the street
right now, right? Um but like I said, they're still working on everything. It's not finalized, so I'm hoping that perfect. Thanks. It was Yep. I had a question on the this pitching. Um are they um how are they doing that? Are
they I mean it on the east side it would appear to me on several properties um that the um uh the private the private properties are much higher. Yes. So how are they reconciling if at all? So they're looking at a case by case basis from what I understand from
today's meeting. Um on some of those driveways it's really pitched where to the point where it's even difficult to get a low car out. Um, so they're looking at it a case by case basis and I know FDOT has given pre-approval to the contractor to to work at it site by sight.
So where does the water go? Well, hopefully the French drains, but I don't know if you know. Okay. Um, so September 17th date. Give us a date. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Thank you. It's a moving It's a moving date.
It depends on rain days, too. We get a lot of rain days. It may may move back from I have another question. From how it looks now, are the bicycle lane, so to speak, lane unquote. Are they completed? Uh, is it No, some of them are going to have to be raised a little bit due to the pitching.
Um, so no, it's not completed. Okay. Thank you. Now, they're going to fix I think I asked this before, the sidewalks, some of the sidewalks that they damaged. I saw. Yes, they're going to. Yeah, that's Yep, they are. the dates you're talking about, does
that include the Del Rey portion up to Linton? Um, yes, the project. Yes. Yeah, the full project. Okay. And as I mentioned earlier to Madison and I also in a email, anyone driving over the bridge, uh, coming east
and then making a right-hand turn is a big bump on on Linton for a number of people. Okay. So, that's got to be Oh, yeah. Yeah, I know what you're talking about. Especially people with low cars. Yes. Yes. Yep. That's all in consideration. Yep.
That pitching for the each individual driveway. Yes. And that you said that they were proposing to do asphalt. Wasn't it the original understanding that they would put whatever materials? So, how like how can they do that
completely? So I mean I am in favor of we do what was originally agreed to and push back and make the individual homeowners correct whole the way they were yes the way they were presented driveways and whatever materials they had need to be replaced. Okay
that's why they had have all the material on their driveways ready to go. So I when they said it today I was like this I can't I couldn't believe it. So I pushed back and we're going to meet next week try to figure this all out. Okay. Well more power to you and we're behind you and um Um, so I I've heard a
couple of comments and I'm curious if you've heard anything about this. Was it FDOT that put those um pedestrian crosswalks, the things right in the middle? Right in the middle. That are reflective and say stop if you
know for the pedestrian. Yes. So I guess like it seems like they put them Well, I think they put them in Del Rey. Was it Del Re? So, in particular, the complaint I heard was um making a left out of Delray Sands. Yes, that one. That one's not there
anymore, though. I don't think Oh, it's not. I think it was hit. Was this morning? Oh, it was this morning. Knocked it over. So, did you check now recently? Because I'm sure it's knocked over again, though. And it's damaging people's cars.
So, if someone has a car damaged by that, what should they do? Should they go to they need to call Melissa reading? Okay. Give them that Melissa reading person. Yes. Um and I noticed that in some instances they put them in the middle of the road
and sometimes they put them uh uh where the bicycle path is like towards the end. Um I mean I guess I guess I guess do you know like do those have to exist? um
what can we do about them with you know people damaging their cars? Yeah, I don't know but definitely next meeting. Yeah, maybe if you could I guess that would be I don't know if that's a discussion that we want to have. Well, they were there um for many years but they kept on getting hit. So FDOT
said we're done replacing them. Yeah, Pat replaced them for a while. We we took it upon ourselves to replace it. They'd give us it but we'd go out and do it for them. they stopped and all of a sudden now they're we're putting them back in. That's creating a lot of conflict. They're going to all just be
continuously wiped out. They're just there's no way that they can function. Um so that is something we're going to have to discuss with them. And the reason I don't think they need them is once we get done with this project, we are putting the lights embedded lights. So we'll have additional identification
of crosswalks. I think they're just trying to identify crosswalks for pedestrian safety. That's the only thing they traditionally do is kind of the bare minimum. They'll stripe it and then put that paddle to run over in the middle, right? But they decided they wanted to put them back.
Um, we're not doing it. We're not we're not getting involved again. So, they're going to have to run out all the time and put them up. So, hey, can we ask to have them removed because they're damaging people's cars and don't really seem to add any value whatsoever.
I will bring it up. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. Thank you very much. Question on the embedded lights. I don't know if Marshall if you can address that too. Um how does that work? Is it I mean we have these little flashing lights at the crosswalks now.
Yeah. So we just core into the pavement. There's there's 16 or 22 lights that get corded out. It's you know they core a little pit out and then they do a line for the low voltage wiring. So, every time you push that button, the sidewalk,
the ground flashes and we have the overhead light. So, we've got the three light system. So, every time you push a button, the crosswalk lights turn on and will be activated and will flash for the same amount of time as you see the rapid beacon flashers at the same frequency
and time. Thank you. Yeah, those are nice. They have those on Pomemetto Park Road, I've noticed. Um, you know, Bokea was always trying to copy the best, but um, but yeah, you'll see him there. You also
see him in Deerfield that big turn. If you're there in a busy in the evening, just flashes the whole pretty much constantly. It's the same uh same system. I think we just have a few more that are embedded. That's all. Yeah, they help to see more visible. Yeah, definitely makes it more visible
for sure. Yeah, thank you. Definitely better than the paddle. Thank you. Thank you very much. Moving on to new business. My Highland Beach app announcement. All right. Good afternoon. Good afternoon.
Scander Koma, town manager's office. Hopefully you guys all know me by now. Welcome. Welcome. Uh just working on getting our presentation up on the screen for you. As he's doing that, uh Scender and Madison made the same presentation to the managers association on the same
app. So, they were interested, asked a lot of engaging questions, and uh we're excited to to be able to have this new avenue to two-way communicate with our residents. So, we'll be able to send them notifications. Um, and then they can put requests right through their app versus going to our
website, getting lost, or trying to make phone calls, trying to figure out who to contact. The simplifies access to us and for us to them. Is it is it going out from me, the resident, to the town so that the resident could come to us and add a request in which Scender will go through to say, "Hey, I just tripped
over something or the paddle's down in the middle of the intersection. Could somebody pick it up?" That'll go in and then we route it on our end to the appropriate staff. They go in and then have a direct communication back to the resident that had filed the request and they'll go back and forth. Hey, where is
it? I don't see it. I picked it up. It's closed. And then also once we get people in it similar to a code red but not for that same intensity of notification but we could communicate like hey save the date for the homecoming October 23rd 2025. See first one out there but we
could hit them with these alerts. Madison created a content plan so every department is now responsible to develop value added content so we it doesn't become a lost communication tool. It's something that we're constantly supplying with information updates and
it allows them to go back to us. Uh Lois and Diane and the the library are ready to help folks if you don't know how to download from Play Store Google Play. It's really easy. You hit my Highland Beach app pops up. You register which is just your email and then and your phone number goes in there and then we just
have this network where we can communicate. And not only can we communicate, we can uh, you know, put a geo fence on that or a a digital fence. If it's, you know, a line breaks in a certain location, we could tell the four buildings around it like, hey, lines
broken. We had that last week where water line popped. You know, here we're at a boil alert. And then we could tell that group of people in there like hit their phone. So, it's not telling everybody like, you know, that doesn't need to, but just that immediate group. So, it's pretty pretty I don't want to steal all your thunder, Scander, but
it's a pretty cool Yeah. Didn't steal it. Excited about it. So, yeah. So, I get to say everything Marshall just said, but I have pictures, too. Yes. All right. So, here's the My Highland Beach app. Uh the picture in the middle,
that is going to be what the home screen looks like. And then on the right is going to be the little icon you see on your phone and in the app store. And so why did we launch the My Highland Beach app? Well, as you guys know, communication and community engagement are high priorities on our fiscal year
25 strategic plan. And not just on the 25 plan. You know, I'd say I've been here for a little over three years since I've gotten here. Um, a really consistent directive has been communication. You know, what do we communicate to the residents? How do we communicate it?
So how and he talks about communication, right? So a lot of what you're going to see is uh what they call applets or basically we redirect to our website. The problem is um not everyone thinks like a city manager or a public works
director or a town planner. We think the way we've been taught and educated and brought up through time. So we organize our work, organize information. Most folks don't think like we do. And it's taken a lot for public administrators especially. That's why I wanted to get it to them. The way we present data is
how we have our departments organized, how we deliver a service that your your resident says trash. They're not like, well, what department do I contact for? Is it public works? Lo and behold, in here in Highland Beach, it always went through the finance department. Who would think to go to the finance department to pay your trash bill or to
ask for a bin? We have we have to break down our thought patterns and our organization of data for the resident. They don't care how we organize what Scender's title is or what I do on a day. They don't want the information.
85% just how do I get X? Where do I get why? So that's this allows us to be more in the modern age and more contemporary with communication where it's not our structure driving content and data. It's the the common language. You hear it a
lot in law, too, is kind of moving back to a common language. So residents could just get to stuff without being like, "Oh my god, how do they have it organized to go to the police department that's, you know, below the break? You're scrolling for a half hour to get to how do I contact somebody?" This
ideally, and this is we're still early, gets to simplistically like I want to call I have the police department. You shouldn't have to if it's not 911 gas, go to the website, Google it, go to our website, you're not going to find it. It's going to take you a lot. And if
you're on your phone, as much as we've got a mobile structure from our website, it doesn't fit every phone correctly. And you get some text overlaps. We have to get away from that. And this is what gives us that avenue to that two-way communication, simplistic communication. Scanda, great. Great. I really enjoyed
listening to that. Thank you. Those are just things that like some of the things behind it that was driving it. They're young enough where they didn't understand when they first got here. And even Sergio coming from the private sector, man, how do you guys have this organized and it's all stuck
in our our brain and our structure of this is our command structure. I would think from like a fire or police, it's command structure. Marshall, I have a I have a question for you. Sure. very familiar with the applications because I' I've been involved in that industry. But I'm just curious the names that we've accumulated
over the last couple of years that we've picked up at events, couple of thousand names. I assume this is going to be sent to them. Oh yeah, absolutely. Okay. The only thing I would suggest, Marshall Scand is that there's a great
opportunity. People would love to be in a sitdown situation where if you said to them come to a free explanation at the library will explain to you how to actually people will gravitate to that during the season they will come to learn how to use it uh and it can really
bring the people together. So I realize this is virtual but combining virtual with face toface is really a great way of doing it and this application could do that. people uh there's many people in the community that say I can't do this online but if someone explained it
to me at the library during the session I'd really be interested in it but just my comment as I'm listening Madison write that down write it all down I think it's a great idea yeah great idea I was going I like that better than my idea I was going to suggest you suggest I know uh my
community in a condominium they would love to to h have this uh h you know how do I operate what can I do? Because everyone is always screaming about I can't re reach the property manager. I can't reach my
management company. Uh but this looks like the ideal app for communication. I think it's a great idea. Effectively organized as well. Yeah. Just wait till you guys see it. It's gonna it's going to look great. Great job though. Thank you. All right.
Next slide. So here's what the app homepage looks like. Again, this is going to be the central hub for accessing all the information and connecting with all the different departments. And um you know, like Marshall was saying, I think the kind of the driving principle of this was ease of use, both in terms of like
how we put it together and the content that's actually going to be on here. So easy to access, easy to digest. Here's what some of those pages are going to look like once you click on them. So there's a water bill, a library, and a police page. And all those little blue
buttons right there, you can actually click on all those and they pop up whatever you're looking for. So like that online payment portal is going to open up the payment portal for the water billing. Same thing with those authorization forms. The phone numbers, if you click on those, it'll pop up the little phone number to call and your
phone will actually be able to call it. And same thing with the library catalog. And here's the FAQ's page. So, this is kind of a really big part of the app are the uh the FAQs and the requests. So, FAQs
are going to be for kind of like self-service when you're not going to submit a request, but just easy to find information. All different topics in there. Uh the example I gave you guys was agendas and minutes. So, all you do is you'd click on that. That would open up that page in the middle right there.
And it says all town meeting agendas and minutes are posted on our website. And then you can click on that link right there and it'll bring you right to our MUN code page. And there's different examples on there. Uh, you know, animals, calendar, electoral issues, all different. We we tried to pick we tried
to pick topics that actually apply to like everyday life here, not just like the interactions with the government. Actually, let me go back there. So, the popular topics with the star right next to it is pretty neat. So, in the beginning, nothing's going to be there, but how this works is it's actually
going to collect the data of what all the residents are clicking on the most, and it's going to autogenerate those. So, it shows you guys and us, you know, what the residents are actually interested in and what they're looking for information on. And here's the request page. These are a
little different than the FAQs. So, FAQs are just for information, right? That's all pre-loaded information that we put in for the residents. And then requests are where residents can actually submit their own um you know either request for services, request for information, or
just for something they didn't see in the FAQs already putting I want trash collection on Monday. Who would who would see that? So these are going to get routed directly. Everything's going to come to the town manager's office and it's also automatically going to get routed to the
proper department. So trash collection would go to public works. So Sergio and Pat. And then for this example, trash collection has an FAQ already. So if you were going to submit a request for this, you would click make a request. And if you selected trash collection from the
predetermined topics, it would show you the FAQ already as well as being able to make a request. So maybe, you know, you can answer your question from the FAQ. If not, you can still choose to make the request at the bottom. and I'll show you what that looks like.
So, these are the different steps of making a request. The first one is the option to add photos. You can either choose a photo you've already taken, uh you can take a picture right through the app, or you can skip and then you can geo tag where the location is. So, it's
cool. It's like Google Maps, you know, where you drag and drop a pin on there. And then the third page is kind of the final step. It shows the topic, the location, uh if you chose a photo, that's where that little camera icon would be. And then you fill in a description, and your contact
information, and you can choose to make it anonymous, or it says private. What that really means is just no one else can see it, but the town can see your contact information. And then this is what it would look like from the resident side once they've
submitted their request. So on the left, that is what a push notification looks like. These notifications come directly to your phone home screen. So it's it's about as hard to miss as we can make it. So it says, "My Highland Beach, message for you about the issue on trash
collection that you submitted on June 4th at 10:30 a.m. So that comes directly to your home screen. If you click on that, it'll bring you right into the app and pull up the request screen, which is the one right next to it. It'll show the request that you submitted. It'll show
the resolution that the town provided. So, this is where town employees actually type in. Uh, in this case, they wrote, "Town employee collected Mr. Smith's garbage and waste management was notified of the missed pickup." It shows the back and forth dialogue that you can also have. So, through the app, if you
submit a request as a resident, the town, whoever receives your request, can actually message you back through the app. So, it's a little less formal than an email or a phone call. and we can actually chat, you know, whoever the resident is. Like in this case, they said, you know, um, my trash collection
was missed. The public works department got right back to them. They said, "Good afternoon. We've notified Waste Management that your address was missed on the route, and we have sent an employee to collect your garbage." So, you know, it's a it's a more simplified and more casual way of communication between the town and the residents.
And then here are some more integrations besides the FAQs and the request portal. Uh the first one is MGO for the building department. The second one is community connect for fire rescue. And the third one is another way to view um uh meeting
information like agendas, agenda packets, and watching the videos on YouTube. And then finally, here's the staff directory. So, this is a really easy way to get in contact with uh certain individuals at the town. It's really easy to search out your contacts instead
of having to dig through the website. You can either search directly for your contacts at the top of the screen, or you can sort it. Uh in this example, I have it sorted by department heads. So, the screen is cut off, but you can actually just scroll on through. It'll show all the department heads. You can change that filter to the different
departments and show all the staff members there. And then these are all live links as well in the little cards. So you can click on the phone number, same as before, it'll call them, click on the email, and it'll pull up, you know, Gmail or whatever app you use for emailing.
And that's it. It's also available right now to download on the Apple and Google Play stores. Yeah. Is the app available on iPads, computers, as well as the phone or just the phone? So, it's available on phones and it
definitely be available on the iPad as well. Uh, we are working on getting it on the website right now. Madison and I were kind of experimenting on Friday. Is a little clunky looking for now, so we're going to hold off on it until we can make it look a little better, but it is primarily made for phones and, you
know, mobile devices would also include like an iPad or like a Samsung tablet. But there would be notification on our website that this exists. Maybe a discussion about it. Oh yeah, absolutely. So we have an email blast ready to go out. We're going to
post it on the website. Um I think Madison printed out flyers, too, right? Do you have Yep, we have those. We can show you guys. Yeah. So she's got this that'll go on there and it's got the little scan code. So if you have an Apple, you can click the Apple store. If you got Samsung or non-Apple, you click here. Takes you to
Google Play. takes you right to saying download the app. There's no cost to download the app. It just comes up on your phone and then you could start using it. You don't have to register it if you don't want to. You just won't get the notifications, but you can register it, play and click and see what you like about it. And then if you have more
advanced questions, like I said, Lois, most of the staff members will be able to help anybody like, you know, do that. The hardest part is you're going to have to put in your email address. That's about the hardest thing you have to do. Other than that, the thing will take you through clicking. Now, uh we got some
that are uh concerned about more advanced users. That's where the staff directory really comes in like police push the button and it's there and a number pops up and then you're good to go or fire department and you know Glenn's picture shows up. You just push
the button and it's easy to use instead of like who do I call, what's their name? It tells you who to call and it it'll tell you, you know, in that staff directory. If you don't know, just call me, town manager, marshall. Boom. Click it. We'll figure it out. We'll get you to the right person. We'll answer.
We'll take responsibility and we'll we'll get you the information. So, it's really simple for easy users that maybe I don't want the website. I'm not going to read the managers monthly. I don't read the coastal star. I don't do this. Well, if you just if it's that press and you need to talk to somebody about it here, just call. We'll answer the phone
and we'll talk to you. So it could be from the most basic user to the most advanced user. So yeah, ease of use. That was the idea. It's excellent. Excellent. Yeah, I think it's really going to get used. Um I guess one question I have um is there a
spot because I imagine I think you've thought of a lot. Uh you've anticipated a lot of uh things, but um people might still have like feedback and um ideas for improvement. Is there like a place to submit I you know ideas or or something?
I hadn't thought about but I'm sure we can integrate that. I don't know like if you I don't know that there might be things that pop up that um yeah what happens here is this is what happens with applications. It's it's ongoing, but um there's a president's
group would I'd love to see this presentation in front of the president's group have them bring it to the boards and could I see not we want to overwork Madison and standard but could I see them putting on presentations at these condo association
boards to the residents letting them see this? So the answer is yes and I think it would be great not only PR but a great communication vehicle for the township um I think it it's you are correct there are things that will take place and as you're putting on these
presentations people will always have an idea especially with applications did you ever think of this did you ever think of this and that's ongoing in all it but um I think it's a great way to actually start the process great congratulations to all of you
thank Yeah. Yeah. Great effort. Really, really excellent. Great job. Yeah. Really excited to have people more Yeah. I think this is make leaps and bounds um to get to that uh our strategic initiative of community engagement. This
is really a key piece of that. Oh, thank you. Played around with it. It's pretty cool. That's awesome. Nice job. Well, the municipalities in um our county have this as well. I mean, they all have different levels of them. like Bokeh has one, but it it's so complicated. It takes the simplicity of
use because they try to put everything in it. We tried to take things out. It's kind of the opposite look at it instead of like I'm going to give everybody as much possible information. Then you're still stuck in that overload and people are just going to stop using it because it's it's too much. It's not easy to
use. So here we're trying to keep it like basic stuff like how do you get in touch with us and then we'll communicate back to you. So, it could be I don't want to say chat body cuz I don't want people to feel that it's empty. There's some staff member on the other end at their computer or on their phone responding to you to give you that
personalized attention that everybody wants. Um, but that was the the hardest part is is take a lot of it out. People don't want how the sausage is made. Going back to an earlier reference with the appraiser, they put hours and teams of people to come up with appraisals.
People just want to know what's my property worth? What? So, we got to that question and said that's what most want. If they want the nitty-gritty, they can dump into our website and just take a deep dive and we'll give them all that nitty-gritty. But most folks don't want it like, "Hey, you missed my garbage.
When's that event?" Or, "Hey, I want what's the meeting date or those real B like there's a crack on the sidewalk or some garbage on the they want to be able to communicate those things without this exercise of going back. I forgot when I got to my my home. log in does it
I don't know what this is blah blah blah Lois tells me a lot of folks a lot of our snowbirds don't have don't bring computers or websites they just do everything on their phone correct so then they're totally lost they have to stop by so now they can just use their phone click their way through it it's pretty pretty basic so we want to
keep simple information most common information forward and then if somebody really wants every detail they can get into yeah I think we didn't want this to feel like the government app we just wanted it to feel like the daily life app, right, that you could use. Yeah.
So, if someone wanted to report um a coordin to to report what they might think as a code violation. The the trick is, and we'll work our way through that under statute, you can't do a code complaint anonymously,
right? But you could say, "Hey, I was walking through town. I see a lot of tall grass in this neighborhood." what or this condo is not taking care of this. That's fine. We'll go out in our normal course of business and that will uh a cue us to look for something that seems to be
popping up. If you if you're not if you're willing to to be on record for it, sure. We'll go right away. Adam will go back and forth. You know, Adam and I think public works Sergio be the higher users of this. Um because a lot of people have those day-to-day, those are your common connect individuals. code is
always you didn't take your trash can in, you didn't cut your grass, the roof's off, you're working without a permit. So, there's a lot of contact there. And then the other things are water, trash, that all falls into the public works realm, pay my bills, those things will pop up. Yeah. And it was designed specifically
for government use. So, all of like the public records request and retention, that's all covered. Cool. Great. Thank you. Thank you very much. I uh any public comments on this? Okay, seeing no public comments, um item B,
consideration to designate a town commissioner and an alternate to the multi-jurisdictional issues coordination forum executive committee as a representative of the town. I nominate Judy if she's willing to do it.
Yes, I will. And I understand that uh Don Peters or esteemed commissioner will be an alternate alternate. There's not there are a number at least a dozen I think there close to a dozen meetings. So there you cannot make Don can make
could we go together you could go together there more the marrier. They just want to make sure because we're the big part of this group now has been commissioned to represent the connection between the cities which is us and the county as we move forward
on this master plan and how we're going to fund transportation in the future. So, we should be involved. I think it's a there's finally a topic of interest for the the elected official in the county that where are we going for the next 50 years and how do we respectively
pay for it because it may trigger referendums. that may trigger uh larger tax discussions or fee discussions. So, this is very critical um to get this going and as as as you've seen uh the managers association of the county
really wanted to find a means to engage properly the county on this conversation because the county is doing thinks of county business, right? They're like a super like an Uber municipality and a majority of the population though does live with us um in the in the city.
So we wanted to make sure there was a connection an opportunity to rebuild those relationships that have been broken over the years. This is the group and the channel we've chosen to do that. Need a second. Do you need a second? Yes, please. Oh my second. Do we need a motion for this?
Do we need a motion? Right. Okay. Do you have it made? And your second. Sure. Do we need a roll call or can we do nominated Mr. Goldberg Goldberg nominated Mr. Peters and also
member do or do we want to do true parliamentarian where there has to be a motion? Yeah. So you got to No, I think we're just a clean motion, right? Unless there's a lot of everyone's vying for those decisions on Amend the motion.
Yeah, I I'll amend the motion just to have Judy Goldberg as the representative. Please I second it for sure. Okay. Do you want them individually or can uh vice mayor? No, you can combine them. So the motion could be Miss Goldberg and then Mr. Peterson. So
yeah, just a motion to designate now commissioners. Yeah, we're not we're not voting on the amendment. Jason Jason, I second it. Yes. Would you like a roll call or should uh
call? Okay. All in favor say I. Thank you for all that. Uh next item C, discussion on permitted landscaping and the public right of way. All right,
Ingred did some uh some homework for us. And again, uh, the discussion on this item is, you know, what about the rightway post FOT construction? What remains? What's on our books? What are they going to require? And, uh, I'll let Ingred kind of walk you through and
where we want to go with this. Okay. Good afternoon. Uh, so I figured we'd start off with some background on improvements in the ride ofway. And, uh, I've detailed some of this information in your packet starting on page 20. So, I'll just go over it briefly in case we
have residents watching uh the meeting. So, uh in 2021, the commission adopted ordinance number 2021-18. Um it's actually on page 23 of your packets and this allowed for certain improvements in the rideway which
included landscaping. And when you look at the ordinance, there's also provisions there uh with regards to swale protection. That was a big ticket item back in that time period. Um, on the same day that this ordinance was adopted, the commission also adopted a
resolution which was number 2021-041 on page 35 of your packets. And this resolution requires town commission approval for proposed improvements in the state road A1A right ofway. So any landscaping improvement or whether it's
a driveway connection, any of that that's being proposed has to come before the commission for approval. And you all have recently seen some amendments to the maintenance agreement that the town has with FDOT. You've had some driveway permits come before you. I know because I brought them before you. Um so that's
what that resolution said. Now when you look at the resolution, it says that upon completion of the trip project that the commission will no longer require or should say the commission does not require or will not have to approve any types of rightway improvements in FDOT
rightway. So just wanted to make that clear. Now, um, in the middle of page 20, I provide some regulations that we currently have in the code that pertain to improvements, um, in the rideway. A lot of them are focused on landscaping, and I'll just go through those uh,
briefly. So, we have section 12-12, which basically says you can't construct anything in the rightway um, until you have a town rightaway permit. Um, section 25-1 basically says the exact same thing. And then um section 25-1
also acknowledges that separate from the town rightaway permit. Um it acknowledges that you will have to have FDOT FDOT uh permit for any type of improvement in the rightway as well. Whether again that's landscaping or whether it's a driveway permit. Now on
the bottom of section 25-1 we have um a list of improvements in the ride ofway that do not require a town rideway permit. Okay. And I did also want to add because the bottom of that 25-1, it says there's an exception provided in section
17-2. And I just wanted to read this in the record. Um, in the town code, section 172 states that the placing of certain obstructions in in State Road A1A rightway shall be deemed a nuisance. These obstructions are reflectors,
concrete pyramids, concrete rounds, and wood and PVC poles. So, none of those are allowed in the state right ofway. Any of those improvements are not allowed in the state rightway. Um, Ingred, this is not a planning board situation, correct? This is what? This is not a planning board situation where the planning board would be
involved in this. Um, no. Typically, well, uh, with the driveway permits, um, when we've had them like for new construction, I will document in this planning report that they received a driveway permit from FDOT. I'll reference the FDOT number. Uh
but again that typic that rightway permit until the tripleR project is completed has to go for final approval from the uh from the commission and then I'll document in the planning report that they need to get an amendment to that maintenance agreement. The planning board will approve the landscape plan.
Um the landscape plan is landscaping on the property and it may also include landscaping in the rightway. So the landscaping and the rightway that component again has to go before the commission for rubal. Um, so those things that do not need or I should say those improvements that do not need a
town rightaway permit include underground sprinkler systems, mailboxes, ground cover. I provide you the definition of ground cover in section 28-2. Um, replacement of existing landscaping including but not limited to trees, shrubs or plants greater than 24 in in
height. so long as such landscaping is replaced in the same location and existing landscaping within a swale should not be replaced. Now again, you don't need a town rightaway permit to replace landscaping um in the ride ofway. However, FDOT will
trigger the permit, right? They'll require a permit for you to put landscaping in the rideway. whether you're replacing it in the same location or not, you're putting landscaping in. FDOT has made it very clear to staff, you have to get an FDOT uh permit. So, some additional regulations. Um section
28-7, this is on page 21 of your packets. Uh it's uh 287 A6. This focuses a bit more on swailes. Um it says swailes within the rideway should not be altered or modified except to remove existing trees, shrubs, or plants. We
have section 28-10 which basically states if you're planting a if a plant tree or landscape in the rideway dies or severely damaged or diseased the property owner the adjacent property owner shall be required to replace it. Um and again you may trigger an FDOT
permit. Most likely you will. And then lastly section 30-68E1B. This focuses focuses more on hedges. um when installed on the west side of uh A1A um does include a fence wall but also hedges shall be located at least
two and a half ft from the westerly portion of the pedestrian bike path either either side. Um I made a note here that our zoning code if anyone has wants to make an appeal regarding um uh regulation regarding rights of way you can appeal that to the board of
adjustment and appeals. And then lastly, uh given the tripr project is near completion, Sergio just confirmed, you know, it's most likely going to be September 17th approximate. Um we staff, we wanted to reach out to FDOT because we want to be sure that we know what
their stance is on what landscaping can go back in the ride ofway. Um we wanted to be proactive and reach out to them and and and get some perspective. So um we provided I should say FDOT provided us a detail. It's on page 37 of your
packets. Now, staff, we added the little highlights, the yellow and the orange, just for better clarity. So, FDOT has advised staff that um there will be no landscaping um except for sod that will be permitted within 2 feet 8 in from the
edge of pavement. Um and we've had and um I've actually asked Jeff Reis, our building official, to come to this meeting today because I know Jeff's been out in the field more than I am. residents have reached out to Jeff with their concerns about hedges that they
previously had prior to the tripr project that were taken out by FDOT as part of the tripleR project and given we're getting towards uh the end of the project are considering possibly putting those things back. So we want to know what are you guys allowing?
Can I get clarification on something please? Yeah. Let me give you an example. Yeah. uh west side hedges presently there not two and a half feet less than two two and a half feet not the proper height fot finishes leaves them the way they
are just goes on are they grandfathered in and that's what they confirmed for us if they left them there then they left them there okay yeah it's it's interesting talking with them there were certain trees I believe Jeff that that they did that they did
leave. Um, but I know that a lot of the hedges were taken out and yeah, there was stuff we were wondering why didn't they take out that one tree where trees further down were taken out, but they made it clear to us unless Jeff you interpret it differently, but whatever's left they're apparently good with. Um,
so, uh, that's basically, you know, what we have. Um, with regards to that amendment to the MMOA, we also talked to them about that because again, we were thinking given the tripr project is coming to completion. They may have uh several residents coming to them to put
back certain things, landscaping, and again, that's going to trigger an amendment to the agreement. So, you may have a lot of people. I mean, we're just it's just anticipate, we're just speculating here, of course. Um, we wanted to ask them, will you possibly expedite those applications? Again,
we're trying to play devil's advocate here. They indicated that they would not expedite the applications, but again, it would trigger an FDOT permit. Again, any landscaping in the ride ofway and then trigger that amendment to the MOA. But now, um, again, once the trip is
completed, the amendment to the MOA will be reviewed by staff, and if everything's okay and in compliance, it will now be signed off by the town manager. will obviously come back to the commission. So, um I'm glad to answer any questions. And Jeff also, as I said,
Jeff is uh pretty much more eyes on the street. Um I could give you a better reality of what's going on than um I can. So, yeah. Timeline. I'm just curious what would you expect now from us from a timeline point of
view in terms of how we move forward? Are you looking for recommendations? I mean, technically, you don't have to do anything. This is just how it's going to be done. It's going to be done, but there have been concerns over the the the shrubbery
or the hedge rows that have historically been at the edge of pavement. And again, weren't really responding. So, if somebody had it ripped out and they usually like to put it back in to keep people from driving all over their yard, that's not going to be permitted by FDOT to put them back in if they've
taken them out. You have to keep them two and a half feet back and then you could put something in between, but it can't be obstructed. You have to have clear passage, if you will, right? Because all our code says is you could put landscaping in the rideway. Um, but again, we don't have that nuance
as to, you know, can it be how far from the edge of payment? That's why we reached out to FDOT in a proactive effort. Um, so yeah, we don't have anything in our code. So, uh, we were hoping to get a little bit more clarity, a congenial proactive effort. Yeah, I understand.
So, so we're just talking about Highland Beach because on this project when you go towards Del Rey over our line, you can see actual hedges almost going over the bike path. And if they don't remove them technically,
and based on what we're saying here, they don't remove them, those those can stay. Yeah. I I we only really spoke to them about saying that. I'm just trying to look at consistency because you will be responsible still even if they're there to maintain them. You can't let them overgrow. So the complaint would then be you got to trim
them tight to that line. Okay. But yeah. Yeah. Uh Jeffrey building official. U so just to clarify a point if it's if it's less than 2 and 1/2 ft and it creates a nuisance such as not
allowing water to drain or you let it grow too tall where it obstructs the view. That's where we've had complaints. I come here, I can't see this way. We've had people trim down and move. Uh so really within that first 14
1/2 ft from not the edge of pavement, but 14 1/2 ft from the white line that begins the semibike line, 14 1/2 ft that way. Nothing could have a mature height of greater than 18 in. So
they don't want you they don't want to rely on you maintaining it. So anything in that area, you cannot grow anything there that's going to have greater than an 18 inch mature height. So you don't want anything that's going to grow wide, which means it's going to encroach
closer to the to the road. And you don't want anything that's going to grow high. So if you already have something, for example, that's already too close and really shouldn't be there and you don't maintain it, then that's also you that could become an issue. It could be a complaint where if we're forced to act
on it, then we're going to make you remove it. Are the home owners aware of it? This is the first time I've I've heard it myself, but are the homeowners aware of what you just said as far as I I mean, you you've talked to more homeowners than I haven't had anybody
call me, but I think this could be something we could possibly put on the town web page. Um I mean, you all are Do we have a triple R? Don't we have a tripr reference in the town website? These are things that we can work on. I could see someone calling up say, "I didn't know this."
Yeah. I I doubt that they know. Most people just hire landscaping companies. They tell them what they want and the landscaping companies probably don't know all the rules either because there's so many different ones. Not all of them are used to working with FDOT. They don't know the rules. A couple months ago, I stopped someone on the west side. They were planting uh flower,
you know, like right on the edge of the pavement. And I was like, I gotta I'm like, you can't do that. You have to go to FOT and get approval first. You have to go to the commission because we still are under the middle of the trip project, you know, and then I'd expl like so they just and that's just a
landscaping. It's a big landscape. They just they didn't know. So, it's going to be a big communication uh challenge for us. Just just an observation. Just an observation. Driving down, it appears that on the west side,
a lot had been removed and it's much clearer. On the east side, where they don't basically have a lot of swails, very little has been been removed. Just an observation. Okay, I get it. I understand it. So like I'm good with the commission not
you know reviewing these permits like this temporary thing that so is that part you know that I think that's part of the discussion right that we're okay like remind us that um we're no the commission's this is going to expire and we are no longer going to review those things. I I'm good with it. I'm curious
to see if everyone else is good with it. Yeah. again there was chatter out there and uh so I wanted to at least provide you with what the code currently says and it doesn't say much right as to where things can be placed. So are is uh so I hear you saying that are you um
almost uh wondering making a uh somewhat making a recommendation that we should consider putting something more in the Highland Beach code. I don't know that's necessarily the case and I mean maybe Marsha could chime in on that but maybe it's just a matter of just educating we could put articles in the manager
minute the email blast again um in anticipation of the triple R project completing you know here are some great uh things for residents to be aware of and you know we could yeah maybe in your news flashash you could put uh some some that's a really good idea so we don't necessarily
So you're you're saying because F dot already has it in their regulations, we don't need to duplicate it, right? Just they have to go for their permit. Um, and so they've got it covered. FD dot has it covered as far as
what's permitted and who's not and what's not. We don't all Highland Beach, we can leave it as um not having the specifics, right? Um and it's just Well, yeah. I mean, the specifics that we have are in the staff memorandum for
you. As I said, there's a few, right? They're in the staff, right? But but you're saying it doesn't need to be in our code. We don't need to kick off a a code things. Oh, I I I think between what we already have in our ordinances and what FDOT has
between the two of us, FDOT is consistent with their reviews. um we should be in good shape because like we have you know FDOT doesn't have rules that you can't plant within 2 and 1/2 ft of the walking path but we do. Okay. So these are some of the differences.
So you you're not um saying that there's any gap between our ordinance and FDOT. There's no gap that you're seeing right now that you would recommend that we address at this time. you think you think between the two it's covered but it's more of a it's sounds like the
issue is more of an educational um thing to let people know and and like you said just to repeat what you're saying that you know now that the uh the F dot completion is in the horizon here that
this is a good time to remind um property owners of of that um can't put certain yeah if I was a homeowner If I was a homeowner and if I got an 8 and a half by 11 one sheet just hitting
the highlights of this I would be thankful. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We could we talking 25 30 homes. I mean if if we just dropped off a mailer that's a good one, right? A mail. Put them in each box. You know be be advised that.
I mean I I would be very thankful or are we causing our own headaches? I mean that that's the question, right? And we could actually use this detail that FDOT provided. We can maybe simplify it a little bit. Very happy as a homeowner. Seeing, okay, now I get it. If I have a question, I'll
call up FD or whoever. But leaving it out, just leaving it up in the air believing that I'm going to look into this. Not going to happen, right? I think that's an excellent idea to actually deliver it to each home whether by mail or or whatever. Um, a
hard copy. I think that's excellent idea. And then also the news flash too if hopefully people read the email. Um maybe an FAQ also on the app include that as a um but yeah I think the hard
copy delivery to each individual home is probably the most effective um way though and they can work this and they can make sure with their landscaper what they're doing they're doing it right. I I have a question whether it appears in our ordinance or not. Um or whether we have
any kind of policing mechanism on this. What if there is a violation? Well, yeah. Code code enforcement doesn't have code enforcement and that's something that we're going to we plan on being proactive. I've already told Adam like, "Hey, keep your eye out
um between Pat Eagle Eyee Pat and myself and Serge and it we're going to we're going to see it because we we know the problems that it causes when you plant too close to the road, you know, and it blocks the drainage. So, we're we're going to be very proactive on it.
We will not sit back and just wait for complaints." I support that. Sorry, just I I support I would just want to emphasize that I support that proactivity on looking at specific properties and to make sure because I think that really does cause a
problem the encroachment on the bike lane that causes all kinds of problems because then the bicyclists are avoiding that landscaping. So I absolutely empas emphasize and support what you just said. Thank you. Sorry. Go ahead, Commissioner. Well, I had a question on the sidewalks
now. Is FDA doing the sidewalks or are we doing it? They're they're doing it poorly. Uh at this point, I think they recognize there's an issue, but they really don't want to come up with a plan or grab on to. They should probably do
it in its completion from start to finish. They should redo the entire pathway. Otherwise, it's going to be up and down all the way through it. Start and stop, new pavement, old pavement, new. They're obligated to do some things but not everything. But it would
probably help them to do all of it. And we'll see, you know, the flooding on the road will be improved. Flooding on the pathway will get worse. So that's what's going to drive a lot of compliance is in season with the volume of walkers.
They're going to be, you know, it rained, but the pathway for two days is underwater because they've raised the road so high and the property owner is going up. It's just a hole just holding water. And it's going to be our bigger problem is once they leave and then how do we raise the pathway in certain
points when they haven't hit it with the driveways. So it it's it's going to be tricky. It really will. I think it's going to be something that we inherit from this project. Is our our shared use pathway is going to be more prone to flooding. So this was not contained in the
contract. Uh no. No, they were supposed to do bits and pieces are identified where they've used it, run over it to replace it, but not in its entirety. So, they've created secondary issues from elevating the road and doing some of the grading changes or
pitch as you will on the driveways is creating more complex issues. FOT or in Federal Highway Administration guidelines for road constructions, they don't care if that shared use pathway floods. Their concern is the road
pathway is very secondary in nature. Road, the little mark shoulder sidewalks last. So if that's underwater, it's okay. The road isn't and that's going to create a lot of problems. Um, and it gets tricky because then you're that's an ADA compliant shared use
pathway. So now we're chasing grades all around the place. So it it's going to be a challenge that we'll inherit out of this, I believe, unless they they do a better job. And we we actually just came across that because we have a brand new home that's just about completed at 2500
South Ocean and their driveway had to brought be brought up higher to match, you know, A1A and match the increased height of the home because it's brand new at at a higher elevation. So the walking path was they were going to have to step up
on the walking path. So they actually the owners had to pay to redo the walking path back far enough to maintain a a very low grade so that it wasn't too steep. So we're already seeing that where so they're going to be in great shape because they're going to have this
taller walking path. They're going to have a higher driveway, but they had to go back all the way to the property line on one side and the other side. I kind of wish they went to the property line, but they they went far enough to keep the grade down at uh less than 2%, which it could have been five, but
you can't exceed five. Soon as you do five, you got to put a ramp. Yeah, I asked keep it at two. I know they could have done five. I asked them to keep it at 2%. So, we don't have any tripping issue, but we're going to have a lot of those where you can't get it. So, it's just going to be you're going to go down into a hole. Maybe for walkers it isn't too
bad, but for people that decide to ride their bicycles on that shared use, they're going to stop doing that pretty quickly because it's going to be one heck of a ride. Um, and it's something that we may have to address as a bigger project. I I don't want to say that they're not going to do anything, but
boy, the way that project's proceeding, I I have a lot of concern as to how the the pathway will be handled at the end of the project. Jeff, are they are they going to fill in? I know there's two ramps there. or they got a it's a pretty good drop off. If somebody falls off there, they're going to like put a little dirt over
there by the swale. So, um Pat and I talked with them and had them dig out actually a little bit more so that because to get some drainage and if you drove by today, you will see that they were bringing in a lot of dirt
to so they're going to have a nice size swale there. They're bringing in a lot of dirt. it'll ramp down when they're finished so it'll be taken care of so it's not a it doesn't fall off. So, how is this uh handled uh financially and affect our budget?
Well, we won't really know financially how much. We can't really determine the full scope of what needs to be done afterwards, but it it will probably be more sizable than what we've done in the past where we just mill off an inch and put an inch down like we've done in the
past as a maintenance project. This will be a larger project because no matter what, there'll be some grades left behind that we'll have to capture and work through. And a lot of it is controlled based on the grade of the driveway and the home side to the rightway. So we can't create tabletops.
So you're like go down the hill and you got to come up for the pathway then go back down then go back. There are certain things we'll have to do. Um and some of it will be incumbent on home owners. New home construction I'm not worried about. They're obligated to do it. They'll take care of it, but it's the old stuff. Um, I'm hoping it's not
going to be as extensive as I think it is, but we won't know until they decide cuz I don't think they're going to do it because the engineers are smart enough to be like, "Oh my god, I don't I don't want to take this project on cuz it's going to be a lot of field engineering to make it all work."
And I don't think they have the space in the grade. So, um, I think we'll see that more prone to flooding and a lower grade on those pathways. And it'll be a lot of up and down. Be okay for walking, but bikes would be a little tricky. Motor uh skateboards and stuff blades
you could be jumping. Hey Mel, I'm just curious, you know, Peggy's statements. Uh the state's in great shape financially. They've done their cuts and so forth. Um wouldn't FDOT be in a place right now that if some of this work had to fall upon us?
Sure. To be able to fund us? Yep. I would expect that. that's something we probably would pursue. Um, she has a, you know, as much as humble as she was, she's she's well respected up in Tallahassee and the power circles, they like her. So, we would have a chance to to
leverage pressure appropriately on the district staff and and we're almost to that point with the driveways, you know, where they're rescending their initial intent. It's not going to go over well with some of our residents. It just is not going to be accepted. So, I think it we have this
fallout from the project on things that they're always thinking about the road, but then the driveway, irrigation systems, pathway, that's really going to hamstring this project. And maybe telling them like, you're going to have to pave the whole thing. Maybe they do do it. I don't know.
We'll put the pressure on. Yeah. Yeah. It shouldn't fall upon us. It's definitely uh it's part of their responsibility. So, is there any other direction you need from us at this point? No other direction. Anything you want to add?
I'm I'm good. I I think we'll probably revisit it as necessary down the road to tweak it maybe. But at this point, everything is covered. Again, it's the consistency on F. You know, if they're into permitting and they stay on it, that's great. If they start falling off and Yeah. you know.
Okay. So then maybe you'll let us know if they fall off because then that would mean any gaps that you see we would put in our My guess is is we if we're doing permitting and they're doing they're going to default to our permitting tends to be state agency actions because they don't have they'll say they don't have
the staff to do permitting quickly and that'll drive people crazy including us where we're holding back things. Hey you can't do anything until well I've been waiting 6 weeks 12 weeks. they're under no obligation to turn things around like Senate Bill 180 where we have, you know,
days to do stuff. The state gets eternity. So, um, we'll have to see how that works. But we kind of agree with their layout, too. So, it's okay. Um, so we we'll just have to see how that process works, how much time is gobbled
up on it. Okay. So, we'll monitor it and then adjust as necessary. Well, thank you very much. Thank you. Any public comments on this? See, there's no more public here. So, uh, next item D. Approve the purchase of
two sewer pumps from Zylm Water Solutions USA Incorporated, a sole source provider for lift stations number one and number three in an amount not to exceed $149, and $179 in accordance with
the town's purchasing policy. Hey there, station one station on our reaching kind of proactive. So we budgeted for it. So we s these are the same ones we put in the other pumping station.
Same. And and where's this location? I forget. I know Pat told me. I didn't that way over there. Okay. Yeah, I think we definitely want to do maintenance things, keep on top of things. We do not want things to break
down or so. I'm in favor. I have no questions. Any other any questions or anything? So, if we're all in support, if we could have a motion. Yes. Uh a motion to approve uh the purchase for replacement of um sewer pumps for uh XYLM water solutions in the
amount of $149, $179. Second it. Roll call. Can I do all in favor? All in favor say I. I. Motion carries. Um, item E, approve and authorize the mayor to execute a
contract with Insetuform Technologies LLC for the Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project in an amount not to exceed 1,342,41.90 pursuant to OMNIA Partners National Cooperative Contract number
23-065-PW. the sewer rehab project um A1A and side streets it is uh it's going to be I don't know not going to bore you with the details basically you're taking a sock putting it down sewer right force it forcing water
through it and then you're going to heat up that water it's not really sock but it's it's a it'll cause a chemical reaction it'll harden it'll be like a PVC pipe in the sewer bin and that'll take form of that pipe And if any of the exterior pipe, clay, metal, anything
breaks, this pipe will stay intact. It's good for about 50 years. Wow. So, and the way they're going to do it is it's about 40 40 business days and they'll come in, let's say, 8 in the morning. They do about 500 feet at a time. Causes minimal traffic,
right? 40. And this is the item that we had a referendum for and we asked for 3.5 which we did that intentionally. We asked for more than what we expected. So I'm very
happy this is uh is what it is instead of 3.5. Um so uh yeah, I'm really glad that this turned out to be more reasonable. Um and uh so it was already approved by the voters.
Already approved. Uh we got a a great great job to uh Sergio and Pat for coming up with an alternative to the traditional design bid build uh which we had at one point up to 6.5 million and couldn't do the project. So uh the ability to find a contractor to do this
on another state contract um through a cooperative which we belong to uh we can do the project for more what we intended initially for it to cost. So uh we're in a good position. Now the trick, we're going to be flexibleish uh with the
contractors f they're supposed to be out of there in Maine. Now they're going to be there till September. Mhm. I'm lining the sanitary sewer. So we could find ourselves in a conflict with the state uh whereby then more external
pressure will be exerted. Um you know, we we have to fix the sanitary sewer. We've known it's been bad for a while. Here's the opportunity. So to buy some time by the time we do this, get the other contractors, they get mobilized. We're going to start in the Alto and the
side streets, work our way back out, but they move pretty quick. So side streets will probably take longer, a little more starts and stops on the turns and on the roads and the subdivision, but eventually we have to get in the rightway and FDOT's going to have to let us get in there. Um, so hopefully they'll get to a point where we can
chase the project a bit and start there and work our way out. So that's going to be a challenge. Uh but otherwise this is fantastic. Uh well under budget or what you know conservative estimates we you know we're able to get in there and uh add 50 years of of life to our sewer system is great.
Yeah, thank you for finding this. It seems like an excellent solution um not too uh uh disruptive and uh so uh that's really excellent. So thank you very much for for finding that. So, what is the
timing? Um, when do you think they would do the work? Sayber. Okay. I'll be pushing to be September 18th. Okay. Um, so those conversations are yet to be had, but um Pat said when he gets back
from his latest excursion um that's uh project number one is to get tell them we're coming. We we you said May, we're waiting 6 months beyond that. We have to line the project. We've got authorization money contracts. We
got to go. So, they're going to have to find a way. And again, we're it's not as it's not that disruptive. It could be another, which is what's going to be focot because we're just structure to structure. if we can. Every time you see one of those grates is in the the road, we got to go from that one to the next
one. That's all it is. Um so we'll see. Then what happens? Do we like for the do you have to shut everything like down? Like people can't there'll be bypass pumping. So not be inconvenience. Okay. Okay. That's nice. sewer around iter.
So, you'll ask homeowners to minimize, but in in general, we can flush a toilet if we Nope, not for two weeks. So, good luck. Yeah. No, we'll be good. Uh the actually the neighborhoods are actually the easiest to bypass. The hard
part will be these mega condos where they have a lot of flow and volume. That's why I would like to get in there before high season, but then it's going to be we're really going to have some challenge on the bypass. Um. Right. So, yeah. Okay. Okay. Now, in order to do
this, like you mentioned the condos, are they tearing up the I mean, no. No. Just go to the pipes there. Everything's We just got a machine. Okay. little guard rail around the thing and they just dump this tube or sock if
you will, force it through, heat it up, let it cure, and good to go. They definitely figure out all the leads along the way, but uh it's a great solution. Really great solution. Good. Thank you very much. I don't think we
have any other question. Thank you so much for the update. Do you need a motion? Yes. Yes, please. A motion to approve and authorize the mayor to execute a contract with Insitu Technologies LLC for the sanitary sewer rehabilitation
project in an amount not to exceed 1,342,141.90 pursuant to Omnia Partners National Cooperative Contract number 23-065-PW. Second it. Roll call or all in favor? All in favor
say I. Motion carries. Moving on to item F. Approve and authorize the mayor to execute a contract with Contractor Services Unlimited for renovations to the building department storage room in an amount not to exceed $96,300
in accordance with invitation to bid number 25-00002. So, this was something that was budgeted. It was approved for the budget. Uh we had $150,000 budget for this. There's some things that we still have to do with that money. Uh the bid came in at a really good price. We had
three bids come in. Scander ran the whole uh thing for us. And um this is going to add those offices in the back and separate out the storage room. And then so and then what it's also going to do is when the police go back to the uh
to where they do their workout and training, they're going to be walking down a hallway just like they normally are because it'll all be finished and we're going to have our offices off out to the left. So uh this was the lowest of the three bids. I believe this company was the one out of Miami. And uh
that's it. Great. Any discussion? Of course they're licensed contractors, but they have to be. Of course. Any other discussion requesting? A motion to approve and authorize the mayor to execute a contract with contracted services unlimited or
renovations to the building department storage room in an amount not to exceed $96,300 in accordance with invitation to bid number 25-00002. Second. All in favor say I. I. Motion carries.
Thank you, Jim. Thank you very much. Moving on to town commission comments. Commissioner Chidnoski. Yes. Um, Scender and Madison, great to see you guys taking on more responsibility. Um, as I was looking at
the presentation, Scender, I said this would be a wonderful opportunity for a Judy Goldberg sponsorship on the top of it, but you know, I'm not I'm not going to ask her for that. It looked it looked so beautiful. Um uh content is king as we all know and I I was very impressed
um with the presentation from Darothy Jax today. Yes. Um I was really impressed. I thought Peggy just added on to that uh with great content. Um and my concern is always the same thing. It's like we we're hearing this information here and I would love to how do I get this out to
an entire community because there was some very positive statements there and um and there are some statements I want to even make to my own board uh at the Coronado because there was some great information that came out of it but uh I think that's always going to be a challenge when you working in a
municipality but um I found the meeting very very uh content heavy and very enjoyable but thank you Commissioner Goldberg. Well, I I would like to extend my deepest sympathies uh for those families and communities suffering the tragic
loss of uh of loved ones and the severe uh devastation of their homes and properties and communities caused by the recent floods. I'm sure the whole commission joins me in that. Y just like echo what Jason said. I
Dorothy Jax filled me in. I a lot of learned a lot of new information and Peggy, it's always nice to hear what the state's doing and I'm glad she comes. I wish our county officials did the same. Um, but thank you.
I agree. Thank you very much. No additional comments from me, town attorney. Why yes. Yeah. And I and and uh just coincidentally, Representative Gossen Simon was here today and I know she gave you a very u macro overview of what went
on in Tallahassee last year and she was the star. We all read it in the post how none of her appropriations were cut. So whatever she's doing is great. Um and I'm not I just wanted to give you this information. It's a summary of basically all the legislation that impacts
municipalities. I'm just going to go over some highlights. I know we've all been here a while, but um just certain things that have come up in the past. Electric vehicle charging stations, the state has now preempted that. They're going to make the rules and we're going to have to follow whatever rules they
come up with. Um anchoring of vessels, I really hasn't been a huge issue here. In some other cities, it's a huge issue. Years back, they pretty much said you can't regulate anchoring. Now, there's a limited ability to regulate the anchoring of vessels, but it's very limited and it's a 30-day period, and
it's really at nighttime, but some of that's coming back to the local governments. Um, let me see what else. Synthetic turf, another thing that's now been preempted for single family homes. Their states going to come up with regulations. Um, some cities enacted very
detailed um requirements for synthetic turf installations, but those are all going to go away. um motorized and I don't know if this is a huge issue here but it's a huge issue in North County is electric bicycles and kids on the electric bicycles and modifying them and
it's it's a huge safety issue. I know all the police departments especially up in North County are dealing with that but they are authorizing governments to um impose age requirements and licensing requirements. So they are giving a little regulatory authority back to the local governments. Um on the land
planning side platting um we have to allow it administratively now. So when there's a new plat or replplat um it does not come it will not go through that planning board commission process. It will have to be approved administratively by whoever the
town designates ostensibly building and planning. Um let's see what else I want. There's a lot of stuff about building permit fees and procedures for development permits and time frames and I don't want to get too much in the weeds on that. Um, another interesting
thing cuz this came up not too long ago, the uh the look back for substantial improvements for the flood insurance that's gone. You can't require it anymore. So, we're going to have to address that. Um, there's new requirements for emergencies that we have to have. Every municipality and the
county has to have special procedures for posttorm permitting and you're going to have to come up with these procedures. You're going to have to post them on your website. More work for uh planning and building. Again, um I think Marshall alluded to Senate Bill 180, which is a huge problem for many
municipalities. It's a problem for everybody, but um because basically for until October 1, 2027, you cannot adopt more restrictive or burdensome amendments to your zoning code or land development regulations or to your comprehensive plan. So, right now, we're
going through our evaluation and appraisal review. So, I did talk to Ingred about this and the consultant. So, we'll make sure we don't run a foul of that preeemption. And of special interest to you all on the deis is they expanded the public records exemption
for addresses, telephone numbers for mayors and commissioners. So your information can now be exempt as well as your spouse and your children and where they attend school. So those are the highlights. There's some reason there. If you want any information, if you have specific questions, just email
me or call me. I'd be happy to address any of them. But I didn't want to sit here for an hour and go through all the specifics. But I did have a question. Yes ma'am. The um look back on from substantial improvement. So we just did that, right? But that we could qualify
and now the state is saying it's preempted and you can't do it. They don't want any look back. It's 50% in any given year. So the CRP, the federal program is going to have to figure the flood national flood insurance program. Either we're all going to take a ding or they're
going to have to recognize Florida's peculiar nature, right? Because you got extra points for that. So there were certain things that you did that you got extra points to boost your rating and to reduce your flood insurance rates, right? And now they're taking that away. So how did as Marshall just said, how does that jive with the federal rating
requirements and all that kind of stuff? It's going to have to be worked out. I don't know where that came from. It sort of came out of nowhere. Somebody's friend had a house. I'll be there. They could rebuild it because they look back five years. It's probably in a dangerous or
right subject to repetitive loss type of location, meaning like in a river system right on the ocean. So, you know, yeah, I guess maybe the keys. So, it looked like So, now I remember. So, it was an easy
way for us to get some points on that. And so, now they're taking away that easy way to get some points, right? But no one in Florida is going to be able to do it anymore. So, right, are they gonna are they going to dig us for it? I mean all I believe all the municipal all the others also have the same
provision. So Right. Right. Interesting. Go ahead. Go ahead. I have a quick question. Yes. Um on the second page um number 85 the prohibitions on uh public offices relative to regarding um
Oh, it's like uh that that's like uh I think that's where you're taking credit for serving when you didn't serve. I think that's what it's called like making statements regarding your service. Um I never really looked at that in detail. So I I would be happy to but
we have seen that on the national Well, I know that's why that's why I believe that's what it is. A lot of them I did go through as I was making the summary. That one I sort of like skipped over, but I believe that's where it comes from. Yeah. It's the Minnesota clause.
Yes. Something like that. That's right. in case he travels here. Exactly. Thank you for your summary. Oh, no problem. Thank you. Moving on. Town manager report. I'll keep on the same thread line. You
you've heard at the national level of Doge, right? Department of Government Efficiency. Well, we have a floge now. The Florida Office of Government Efficiency, they call it Doge. Um but they're so they basically wanted us
to submit some comments recently given us one week to complete an Excel spreadsheet over revenues expenditures, how much we spend on police, fire, things of that nature. So a lot of towns are, you know, running around trying to figure out how they're going to meet this deadline of, you know, we got like
nine business days, eight business days to do it. We're okay. uh as you know our financial operations not just from our our prudence and fiscal accountability but also how we do accounting here we're fine we just we already sub the undoye
thing is the state has this information in three different location wants us to submit it again using staff which costs money to the taxpayers to do it I didn't say with Peggy there because she get mad at me but there it doesn't make any sense it's easier for us bigger towns
but again the state is going through this exercise as well. I believe there are targeted or types of communities that they're looking at that may overspend, high millage rates, don't really reflect inward and and do those
type of efficiency looks. Um, we're fine. We're going to meet all the deadlines. We're going to do all the paperwork. Uh so if you hear you know your other colleagues as we get towards October, you know that there's some work sessions for those of us on the policy
committee on property taxes. I think a lot of this stuff is is coming to a head. So you'll hear a lot of your colleagues around Florida talking about Doge and the difficulty. It's a little bit of a pain in the butt when they already have the data, but we're going to go through that exercise and give it
to the Doge office in Tallahassee the information they want. So, cuz if you don't if you don't meet their deadline, it's $1,000 a day if you come into compliance. So, we're not going to miss the deadline. David's going to have me the draft tomorrow. Um, our accounting software prints it
out pretty clearly. I think we're somewhat saved by not being an overly complex organization. I think could get complicated. Um, but us smaller towns should be relatively straightforward. But we'll have it all the information they want. It's four questions. uh a lot of data, a
lot of focus on public safety and I think it's gearing up to that property tax conversation because inevitably they say no property tax, there's a huge gap that has to be filled with revenue. If not, you know, for us ancillary
administrative staff, police and fire, you know how big that is in your budget, who pays for that, right? Or how, right? So, I think they're going to have to uh it's a big conversation. Yeah, the elected body. I think you guys are going to be really taken to step out of
our comfort level a little bit from staying local in Palm Beach County to we're going to have to stretch out and I've spoken with our lobbyists that we're going to probably need his help advocating a bit. I think the Florida League of Cities will advocate of course um but we may have to take our own little interesting twist on hey we're
already doing all the right things yet here we are getting penalized again. So, that's going to be that's going to be next session is property tax. That's going to be the big push. Um, we'll slide all these other preeemptions under while we're fighting over it. But, uh, that will be the big uh big push. So,
we're we're complying. Everything's good. Don't worry. Uh, save the dates. Uh, Father Han out there. Thank you again. Uh, we have October 23rd is homecoming. We our own homecoming. Maybe you guys could all dress up in jerseys and stuff. Maybe we'll do something cool
like that. But we'll have our October 23rd will be our homecoming. It's kind of our first of our major events uh for the community. Probably be smaller, more like the spring fling because we're going to be on the the shoulder of the season. And then December 4th is Mingle
Jingle. So uh that deadline has been in there. Uh our events coordinators all over it getting everything lined up and scheduled for the event. Uh so we've we've started early, which is good. Um but again the big one is October 23rd. Where's the October event?
October 23rd. No where? St. Both are at St. Louis Catholic Church. Yep. So we're going to use their facilities. Uh they've extended those to us again. Um which is great. Again, we'll have other events into the spring where there'll be the board lunchon of course
where we recognize all our advisory boards and committees. We'll have uh the public safety and employee of the year event that we had at there. We're going to do that and make it a little more extensive, more inward for us, which is cool. But it'll be a smaller event we'll have here on campus. And then we'll have
the spring fling as as well. So, um, if you have more ideas and stuff, we're each year adding a little bit more. Um, but we're we're having the capacity to add it. What's in your budget? Everything's in place. Speaking of your budget, everything looks good. As she
said, David and I, the initial was 6.7. So 74 goes to 6.9. So it adds 50 60 grand to the general fund budget. Doesn't really move the needle to go through an exercise of changing all the numbers. Um so everything everything's
looking good there. Again, we're uh as we talk budget, you know, we're everything's going pretty well. We're on track. uh we get to these other annual exercises, the salary warrant which we have to pass. Health care will be coming up. They're out to bid right now looking
at our health care costs, things that I don't like to talk about, but my evaluation. Uh I'm in my last year of my contract. So, I will be asking for a contract extension. So, just let me know if you like that or don't want to me here any longer. Not today because you may not like what I said today, but
offline. Um and we'll do those uh in August. my evaluations in August. I'll get that stuff out to the end of the week. Um so we can have those conversations with those that want at the uh August meeting was a good time. We we had some reviews there or that's the general timeline I like to do that
so we can you know fair it out any problems uh that we may have. Um other than that everything looks good, everything's in place. Everything's locked out. So we're good. Thank you. Excellent. I I um sorry to go back to the events. So, um, you said October
23rd, right? And then, uh, then the next one would be 6 weeks later, basically, December 4th. And then what's in January? Uh, nothing picks back up, I think, until February around Valentine's Day, we do the board lunchon. Then we have in
March, we have the officers of the year. So, they're firefighter, paramedic, police officer. And then we're going to add employee of the year for the rest of the group. that event we have here which is a like an invite only a commission invite only so you guys will invite who you would like to attend yeah performance dates for
not yet we're still working out some of those details and then we'll have the spring fling after it's usually in April that one we added last year and that will be the the bookends is homecoming and spring fling so a total of five events is that correct am I missing one
yeah I think that's it I think there's five events yep so I don't know if you want to do something in January or not. Like I don't know if there's a gap there. Um we we could we could have talked last year, you know, like having some like a
regular um I I don't know that every six weeks is fine with me or um so I don't know if there's public. There's really three general public general town resident events. October, December, April. The
other two are either invite only or their board committee lunchon thing is kind of more of an in internal event. Um, let us brainstorm. We will bring something back in October. We'll think of something. Maybe there's a January
event we may uh like to have. Just throw it out there. I don't know. I don't know. You guys something with icicles and it's cold, you know. Um, you guys chime in if you agree or not. I don't event or, you know, something like that. But we could do another another event. I'll I'll we I'll talk
with Father Oregon to check his schedule. We only went through the end of the current calendar year. I didn't push to the next, right? But we can revisit that with him. He seems very warm to the ideas of having events. And it could be like some other It
doesn't have to be a food truck event. I don't know. Just or maybe we tie it in with the app or something. uh um some food event to illustrate the app or something, you know, I don't know. A celebration of uh opening our renewed
renovations of the old firehouse. Yeah, I I don't know. Brainstorm or whatever. We throw up some ideas, but um we'll think of something. Yeah, I think there's a gap in there that if not, we could go up with something simplistic and then advance it in years,
right? Um, but yeah, we got time for another event in there. Sure. Sounds good. I like it. I like the events. Good for people seem receptive to them. Um, especially when everyone's here. Something do in town. You don't have to leave town for the evening. You can have something doing here.
The music went over well, so maybe it's something else. Start our own jazz festival or something. Great. That'll get right. That'll get Hartman going. anything regulate the sound. You know, I we could attempt to do something cool like that. Create our own little
I like I love that music live music. I love that. Maybe a couple different live music scenarios. Couple bands. Yeah, street fair. I love that. You could we could have a progressive. I just Herman doesn't like a lot of people moving down this the rightway. Uh the cocktail in their hands. We got
to keep them in location. So, right. Uh we'll work that out. You know, we'll find the ideas and then logistically work it out with public safety and go from there. Excellent. Excellent. I like that. Any other questions for Marshall? No. Okay. Uh announcements, board vacancies.
Wow, this list has shrunk. I like it. Only one vacancy on code enforcement board. Uh upcoming meetings and events. August 5th at 1:30 is our next town commission meeting. There are no board action uh reports. And with that, I think we can adjourn. Thank you very much everyone.
Thank you.