--------- Good morning everyone. We will call this meeting to order. This is the regular town council meeting Monday, June 22, 2026 of the town council of Indian River Shores. Uh thank you everyone. If you can make sure your cell phones are on silent or off, that would be greatly
appreciated. Uh we will start with the invocation from Councilman Carol. We're grateful for this town and we are thankful for its residents. We're grateful for all who work for the betterment of our community and all who serve on its behalf. Let those who work
here and those who serve here be ever mindful of the town's vision and mission statement. Grant this council the wis the wisdom to govern amid the conflicting interest and issues of our times. The ability to work together in harmony even when there is honest
disagreement, a sense of the welfare and true needs of our people, personal peace in our lives, and joy in our task. Amen. >> Amen. >> Amen. If you'll join us in the pledge of allegiance to the United States of America, the land of the free because of
the brave. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Foley
>> here. >> Vice Mayor Alwater >> here. >> Council member Carroll >> here. >> Council member Alteri >> here. >> Council member Tedesco >> here. >> Let the record show all members are present. >> Okay. Item two, agenda reordering deletions or emer emergency additions.
Uh we have a request from staff to delete item 8 C uh which is the amendment to the uh parking ordinance uh commonly known as the parking pickup trucks ordinance. And uh just to allay anybody's concerns one
way or the other on this the uh the deletion from this is to let us do more work on the on the topic. Um, I don't know about my fellow council members cuz we're not allowed to talk, but uh, we we saw a very comprehensive presentation of a draft draft proposal. It looked an an
awful busy in a lot of words just to make a relatively simple change to uh, create an exception for personal pickup trucks that are non-commercial in nature to park. uh we we received some similar feedback from uh from some of our residents and some very constructive uh
comments. And so uh rather than um have an extended debate on an ordinance that probably won't look anything nearer what it would look like uh by the time it comes back to council for consideration and passage, we thought we'd um take a
time out, go back, relook at it, see if we can't simplify it. Is that a fair fair assessment of where staff is on this as well? >> Uh yes, Mr. Mayor. Yes, council. >> Okay. Thank you. So, uh with that, uh I will entertain an a motion to remove item 8. C from the agenda.
>> So, move. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Okay. Um thank you so much. Is there a motion to approve the agenda as amended? >> So move. Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Thank you very much. Okay. Uh
presentations and proclamations. We have none. Uh comments from the public regarding agenda items. Public can come up. If there's an item on the agenda that you would like to talk about, this is your time. If it's a general comment about an issue, wait
till the end of the meeting. That's your public comment time. So, I know some of you may be here for uh a document that was submitted for the septic to sewer conversion. That's not now. That's at the end of the meeting. And you know, I can save you a lot of time. We've all read the petition. Um, council is
looking at anything any uh resident would send us very carefully. Most of the items in that petition have been addressed in prior meetings, but the other items will be addressed at a previously noticed meeting for June 24 where there will be an open house in the
meeting to talk about final cost allocations and most of the issues that are uh presented in the in the document that you presented. So, you're welcome to stay to the end of the meeting and add uh whatever comments you wish to that document and uh that will be the time to do it. But we have received it.
We are evaluating it. We are looking at the issues. And I hate to quote this guy, but we feel your pain. Uh we really do. Um and again, we're not the ones who are responsible for this. This is a mandate from the state that has been in the works for over 20 years to uh make sure
that we have conversion from septic to sewer. So, we're constrained by that. We are also constrained by the fact that we don't operate the utility uh we operate the utility on the basis of a contract or franchise agreement with the city of Vero Beach. So with that in mind, we've
done uh in my view as best a job as we can to try to delay and def and uh defay the the payouts over time. For example, putting it into the adalarum tax bill so that you don't have to write a check all at once. Again, these things will be gone into in detail at the June 24
meeting. Uh we understand uh we understand your frustration with this issue. Uh but it's it's not out of the blue. This has been percolating for for a long long time. So uh we're always we're always welcome to have public comment. We look forward to it. So with that in mind, feel free to stay and and
add whatever you'd like at the end. So thank you for coming and uh thank you for your your interest in in matters of importance to the municipality. All right. Are there any comments from the public regarding actual agenda items? If they're not, we will move on. Is there a
motion to approve the consent agenda? >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> We have a ratification. Um, so I'd like to have a U roll call vote if we have a ratification. So, can you call a roll call vote on the consent
agenda, please? >> Mayor Foley. >> I. >> Vice Mayor Alwater. >> I. >> Council member Carroll. >> Hi. >> Council member Rotaryi. >> Hi. >> Council member Tedesco. >> Hi. Let the record show that the motion passes unanimously.
>> Thank you very much. Mayor's report, couple of items. We actually have some good news uh as well. House Bill 1451 on utilities. Um I think I mentioned at the last meeting that it was anticipated that this bill would be signed. Um we've referred to
this uh on the deis up here at a couple of meetings as um a giant leap in the right direction for utilities regulation. Although we did not get exactly everything we wanted. Uh HB1451 now mandates that uh our rates have to
be set using the same criteria as uh the providing utility which is the city of Euro Beach. um search charges are um eliminated and um you know the uh there is a cap on a differential that that can be charged.
Um some of the language that snuck in there before final passage and signature uh raised some questions in my mind. I don't think there's uh a a huge rush on this, but uh if the town attorney without um devoting too much time can
provide a report to the um town manager who can then distribute it to us concerning the following issue and any others that council may may pop in on this. the uh the original draft of the statute made to me uh it pretty clear
that sir charges and uh enhanced fees such as the 25% search charge were the same the language is now a little different in different sections. Uh while I think the intent the argument should be made that the intent is that um search charge and franchise um I'm
sorry search charge and enhanced percentage charge to a out of location municipality should be the same. Um I'd like your your thoughts on that. Yes sir. uh we can anticipate uh particularly if real estate u tax reform
goes in utilities will be uh the first piggy bank to scramble for dollars and people would love to put it on our wallet. So I think forewarned is fore armed and I'd like to have us have our arguments ready and prepared to go. uh
we did not have a 25% search charge uh on our water bills at the time of the signing of the document which under the statute says uh as I read it they cannot add that and they cannot add that search charge. So let's uh let let's have a um
a preparatory memorandum in in place and so you can distribute it to council. Does anybody else have any other questions on 1451 as signed by the governor last week? >> Okay, wonderful. Thank you. uh property tax reform. Uh slightly different than
the governor's proposal uh that uh that he made, but um without belaboring it, the the newspapers have pretty much covered it all. Uh we've seen that the um the homestead exemption will will go
from 50,000 to 150 to 250. I think, you know, the um the ramp up of of the homestead exemption in lie of a schedule to completely eliminate property taxes is uh I believe that's a good step in the right direction. You know, I think
people deserve to pay lower taxes. I think they deserve some kind of tax reform given the uh huge increase in property values and u um somewhat of a windfall that some municipalities have reaped by just keeping the mill rate the
same using a higher multiplier of the appraised value of your house which adds to more taxes even though the the mill rate stays the same. Uh there will be a lot of debate about this. Some municipalities are as I put it freaking out you know don't take away our money.
In my view, it's your money, not our money. And we're we're the custodians of uh of a sacred trust when um when we tax. So, you'll ultimately make the decision. It will require 60% approval
in a referendum in November. And if that passes, then the fund begins. Then the enabling legislation has to happen by the House and the Senate. And uh the details of of how this will be implemented will then um then
go forward. Uh just to reiterate, schools will be funded. Uh police will be funded. Uh the essential services of government are still allowed to be paid out of adarm taxes. So those of you that are homesteaded, uh you'll probably see a lower tax rate if this all goes
through. I'm sorry, lower tax bill if this all goes through. Uh those of you that are not homesteaded, um chances are you may see a slightly higher one. Um, we've done a back of the envelope uh calculation and um I'll I'll defer to
Heather on that when she comes up. But um the the impact on our budget because I think of our fiscal discipline and u you know the way we do things here is not something that is uh by no means calamitous and you know it's very manageable for us. We we will not see a
cut in services should this pass. Um so there you have it on that. Um the budget the budget has been prepared in draft form distributed to the finance committee. Uh the finance committee advises the council on budget items and I find their work extremely helpful to
have multiple set of sets of trained eyes looking at it and picking up issues that we may not have. Uh tenatively speaking we're looking at another reduction in the mill rate. Nothing is etched in stone. Um but the mill rate is
proposed in the current draft uh to be to be a bit lower 3.2% reduction from last year. Again this is subject to uh final analysis. Uh and we show an increase that at least as for now is a little bit less than the rate of
inflation. So uh I think uh it's a great job that's done by our finance group and our administration to to hold the line on that. Um, the one thing we didn't do was do a calculation of, you know, what what the tax bill would be for people if we kept the mill rate the same as last
year or if we went back two years and three years. I think it'd be interesting to see uh tangibly for our taxpayers. You know, had we not moved the mill rate back given the rising property values in our municipality, how much more you would be paying in taxes if we didn't
have an eye on that. So, um, anyway, there you have it on that. Uh we have um a new congressional district as mentioned last week. Uh there are a lot of candidates making the rounds. Uh I see one in the audience. Uh Mr. Shalof
is here. Uh Mr. Green, the Indian River County based U candidate, the only candidate from Indian River County was uh here earlier this morning saying hello to people. Uh we have u uh a new district. We have a primary in August.
Uh people have died for your right to vote. Uh the least we can do is go to the ballot and uh and vote whoever your choice is for candidate. Uh some helpful dates, mail and ballot dates and deadlines are available on the local uh website of Leslie Swan, the supervisor
of elections, but we have an August 18 primary and November 3 election day. Mail-in ballots uh for the primary are beginning to be mailed on July 9. Uh early voting, that's in person. Early voting will be from August 8 to August
16. Uh for the primary, there's a July 20 registration deadline. So if you want to if you want to register for the primary, go by that date. As I mentioned earlier, um the septic to septic conversion uh documents um of
concerns from the citizens has been received. Uh everybody on council, I take it, has seen it and is reviewing it or has reviewed it. And uh there will be a comprehensive meeting, another comprehensive meeting on June 24 to um review those issues and all other issues
relating to cost allocation and the project. With that, uh that concludes my report. I'm happy to take any questions from council, uh should there be any. All right, seeing none, is there a council member that wishes to have an
item discussed? Any comment? Vice Mayor Aler is recognized. Uh just a few minutes ago uh this council approved a consent agenda the 2026 2027 employee health benefits and
they went up 14.9%. But I just want to note that our our council believes our staff is important. There's going to be no increased employee cost and I just want to put that out there. make sure anybody that's listening to it in other parts of the of
the town uh either now or later on that that works for the town uh understands that because in the private sector benefits are going up. I'm going to see my Medicare cost uh excuse me costs are going up on benefits. I'm going to see
my uh Medicare premiums go up and my supplemental costs go up. So, you know, I just want to make uh folks on staff, you know, recognize what what a good thing that is in an inflationary environment. So, >> thank you. Thank you, Vice Mayor. And
that's u well spoken. The the only shocking thing in that remark is that you're actually old enough to be eligible for Medicare. So, uh um so anyway, thank you. I I think that's a good point. Um and as reported by various people here, there are other government organizations, school boards
that are seeing increases in rates of 200%. Um they're they're being forced to, you know, form cooperatives to do this. So healthc care costs uh under control are very um very good reflection of the hard work done by our staff and consultants on that. All right. Item,
Anybody else have an item? No. Okay. Item 8A, ordinance number 595, uh, real estate sign penalties. This is the second reading. Uh, is there anybody who wishes to make a public comment before the second reading on real estate
sign penalties if you if you missed the earlier request? Okay. Um, Mr. Sweeney, can you read the required language as per statute? >> Yes, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. This is ordinance number 595, an ordinance of the town of Indian River Shores, amending chapter 164, signs of the
town's code of ordinances amending section 164.0 definitions, adding section 164.06 temporary signs, D. Advertising sign or structure adding section 164.15 violations and section 164.16 penalties providing for
applicability and inclusion providing for severability providing for an economic impact estimate providing for scriers errors and providing for an effective date. This is the second reading. Thank you Mr. Mayor. Is there any further discussion on this second reading?
If there is not is there a motion to >> motion to approve. Okay. Second. >> Okay. Um, Councilman Carol made the motion, second by the vice mayor. Is that right? >> Yes. Correct. >> All right. Uh, roll call vote, please. >> Mayor Foley. >> I. >> Vice Mayor Atwater. >> Hi. >> Council member Carroll.
>> Hi. >> Council member Alieri. >> Hi. >> Council member Teddesco. >> Hi. >> Let the record show. The motion passes unanimously. >> Thank you very much. Item 8B, ordinance number 596, which is the adoption of the town seal. Um, we had discussion on this
at the last meeting and it's a uh pretty much a housekeeping matter, but uh if there's any discussion on or second thoughts on the aesthetics of the town seal, I'm aesthetically challenged, so I have no comment. All right. Uh, is there a motion to approve? Oh, I'm sorry. Mr.
Sweeney, can you read the required language as per statute? Yeah. >> Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor 59 ordinance number 596 an ordinance of the town of Indian river shores amending title 3 administration article 1 general provisions by adding section 30.03 designating a town seal providing for applicability and inclusion providing
for severability providing for an economic impact estimate providing for scrier errors and providing for an effective date. This is the second reading. Thank you Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you. Uh is there a motion to approve? So >> second. >> All right. Motion by Councilman Carol,
seconded by Vice Mayor Alwater. A roll call vote, please. >> Mayor Foley, >> I. >> Vice Mayor Outwwater, >> hi. >> Council member Carroll, >> hi. >> Council member Alieri, >> hi. >> Council member Teddesco, >> hi. >> Let the record show. The motion passes unanimously. >> All right. Thank you. We have item 8 D,
ordinance number 598, which is the amendment to sections 150.036, 160.02, and 161.07 regarding a utility easement. As it's the first reading, Mr. Mr. Hartbring, if you could kindly give a background and a
discussion of what this uh what this amendment to the ordinances is in uh uh in connection with. Thank you. >> Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor, Council. Uh this ordinance addresses some operational issues that uh that come up time to time. So, it establishes a formal process which here to we did not
have in the ordinance for utility easement encroachment approvals. Um these are uh utility easements that exist and the process would require the applicant to secure approval from the easement owner whether it's FPNL, City
of Vero Beach utilities, Florida City Gas before they could uh technically encroach upon that utility easement. Of course, there are details associated with what uh could be placed in there uh in terms of the types of uh features and structures. generally what we see is
landscaping uh and fencing. Uh and so we're just trying to establish a formal process. It also puts the uh property owner on notice that uh whatever they place within that easement is going to have to come out if the easement is going to be used.
>> All right. Thank you very much. Um is that uh clear to everyone on council and is there any any further discussion or comment on this? No. Is anybody uh affected by or want to make a comment on the uh the aforementioned amendment
to the utility easement? All right. Uh there there being no further comment, Mr. Sweeney, if you can read the language as required by statute. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This is ordinance number 598, an ordinance of the town of Indian shores amending section 150.036 construction within utility easement
amending section 160.02 02 R1A single family residents districts meaning section 161.07 encroachments in utility easements providing for applicability and inclusion providing for severability providing for an economic impact estimate providing for scrier errors and providing for an effective date this is
the first reading thank you Mr. Thank you Mr. Sweeney. Is there a motion to approve? >> So move. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay, you guys are on a roll. So it's the motion by uh Councilman Carroll and the second by Vice Mayor Alwater. Uh roll call vote, please.
>> Mayor Foley, >> I. >> Vice Mayor Awarter, >> I. >> Council member Carroll. >> Hi. >> Council member Alieri. Council member Teddesco. >> Hi. >> Let the record show. The motion passes unanimously. >> Thank you. Staff updates. Item 9A, the building
department report. Uh, Mr. Held is here today. Thank you. >> Good morning, Mr. Mayor, Vice Mayor, members of council. Uh, instead of me reading this, uh, monthly report, u, I'll just go over some quick highlights
that I saw from it. Uh looks like that the uh fiscal year to date the building department has issued approximately 900 permits consisting of uh 12 new construction permits. Looks like 11
single family residences and one commercial project. uh 360 addition and alteration permits and 536 miscellaneous permits. Um the addition
and alteration permits continue to represent a significant portion of the uh departmental activity and it's really demonstrating um ongoing reinvestment in the existing homes and
the commercial properties. The miscellaneous permits remain the largest permit category and have increased from 431 permits during the same period last
fiscal year to 536 permits this fiscal year. So that's really uh indicating sustained construction and maintenance activity across the town. Um so again it looks like the overall
permit volume remains strong reflecting a healthy level of residential and commercial improvement activity. Um I did some more research as well uh within the uh fiscal year and the
appears that the uh overall permit volume remains strong and it's reflecting a healthy level of residential and commercial improvement activity overall throughout the town. Are there any questions at this point?
>> Any questions for Mr. H? No. Okay. >> Okay. Great. Thank you. >> All done. All right. Thank you. And thank you. Just just because, >> you know, a significant portion of the town goes away doesn't mean your your schedule gets any easier. In fact, some
of the some of the communities require the construction or bulk of construction to be done during the offseason. So, thank you for your hard work in this sweltering weather. Okay. Thank you. Appreciate it. Uh item 9 C 9B code enforcement report. Inspector microns.
>> Good morning. Uh I have no further updates on any items listed in the report. Be happy to answer any questions. >> Any questions beyond the report which is adopted and part of the public record? No. Okay. Thank you. Easy day for you.
>> Yes. >> Okay. At least here. Item 9 C, facilities department report. And here she comes. >> The the wonders of the wonders of remote uh remote TV meetings, right? Uh Miss
Shite, please uh >> take a breath. >> Good morning, council. Um you have the report. I think you can see uh the subcontractor for Flor City Gas, Equix, has been doing a lot of work out there. And um everything else is kind of
outlined in the report. So if you have any questions, >> any questions for the facilities director? No, just uh thank you. Uh >> thanks guys. >> Yeah, the the only thing I would say is this report and code compliance, the the
the detail, understand what's going in those departments. I I I think it it is great. And I know this has come up from time to time with the Florida state CFO stating, well, you know, what do local
municipalities really do? And a lot of municipalities are scrambling to put reports together like this that we've had around for some time. So, I think it's great. >> Very good. Thank you, Vice Mayor. >> Agree. Thank you. 9D,
Finance Department report. Treasurer Heather Christmas. And we have a subparagraph to this uh called the update to fiscal year 2627 budget. I hope I didn't steal your thunder by letting some stuff out. >> It was really more just a reminder that
next month we are going to have our budget workshop for at 8:30 before the town council meeting. So that was more July 23rd I believe. Um, in regards to that, we are having a finance committee meeting this afternoon at 2 PM to go
over the budget that we actually already have changes to because you just approved the the 15% for the health insurance. I budgeted at 35%. So, it's a nice reduction, which is nice. Well, that was what we
initially had. Um, in regards to the the property tax reform that you mentioned earlier, Mayor Foley, right now, based off our current millage rate envelope math, less than 250,000 for the first year, less than 500,000 for the second
year. Based off the millage rates that we are currently proposing, about 225,000 and 450,000. So that's where we're currently back of the napkin math. So just just as an FYI, so we are
in a good position for for the if it passes in November. Um, one other item that we had this morning, thanks to chairman Alieri for the audit selection committee this morning. We had that and ranked the two firms for the proposals that we came in
and we will be recommending car rigs as our auditors at the July meeting. I have so that you should see that at the July council meeting. Other than that, you have my report and I'm available for any questions. >> No, thank you. I I mentioned to uh on
the way in that uh after the auditor committee selected the the auditor, I expected white smoke to go up, but uh other than that, we had uh we're we're always in great shape and uh the auditors always compliment you on the work that makes life easy. We file our
stuff on time. Uh, thank you so much for doing doing what you do to make our life easy. So, we appreciate that. Anything for Heather? >> One thing. >> Yes. Vice Mayor, >> what are we looking at in terms of price change? >> Um, um, for Miller?
>> No, no. I'm sorry. I didn't ask the question the right way. Uh, you're selecting CRI. Oh, how what's going to be the change in price? >> I actually won't know until later this afternoon or first thing tomorrow. Right now the price proposals are sealed in my
safe because we do not rate on prices. We race on technicalities or technical proposals. >> Yeah. >> Anything else? Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Appreciate it. >> 9E public safety department report.
>> Good morning, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Vice Mayor, members of council. Um I really don't have any updates regarding the submitted report. Um just to add kind of uh what the mayor said a few minutes ago that you know a lot of our residents are out. However, um obviously traffic safety is
a huge one still even though traffic is down. Um and that's it. >> Terrific. Thank you. Uh just want to compliment public safety on the presence. Um, inversely, when people are out of town,
sometimes people that are up to no good come into town cuz they suspect people are away. And, uh, at least for me, and I won't speak for my fellow council members, the uh, the patrol presence is uh, palpable. You know, we see uh, we see increased activity, the visibility
uh, which should be a great deterrent to anybody who would do harm to persons or properties in our town. So, thank you very much for that. >> Definitely priority, sir. >> Yes. Anybody for comments for public safety. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Uh item number 10, the town attorney report. Mr. Sweeney.
>> Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh not much to add other than following up on obviously the information you provided in your report related to the governor signing the uh proposed amendment which will be coming up. Um we, you know, continue to monitor as you said 1451 as they
continue to get signed and rolled out. Um and working with Mr. harping uh on current ongoing things such as the alll for the anchoring limitation. Um we continue to work with our jurisdiction. So if there are any questions, I'm happy to look into anything if anybody has any.
>> Anything for the town attorney? Um, other than 1451 and obviously the property tax uh, referendum, any other bills that you believe have a significant impact on the operation of the town that were that were passed by
both houses and signed by the governor? >> Not at this point. Um, and again, the Florida League of Cities, as this council knows, kind of puts together a very comprehensive report. Um, so in working with them, but this governor has been different than governors in the past where he's rolled out legislation,
you know, sort of a very long range. So, uh, the report sort of has not been as finite as it typically has in the past. It's much more to be added to. So, I will continue to provide, but those are the f the primary ones we've been focused on. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, but I I just, you know,
would like to note on 1451, we we we've been talking about it up here for so long. It's uh uh I know the the vice mayor and uh Councilman Alieri uh Councilman Carol and um uh before you were on council now, Councilman
Toedesco, we we talked about this on numerous occasions whether in Publix or other places um safeguarding our our taxpayers in terms of the utility rates they were charged. So, it took 6 years for us to get relief that we couldn't get in the courts, but we got I'm I'm
going to estimate 80 to 90% of it in 1451. The final um the final victory on that uh will have to be written, but that will be uh either a limitation or an outright ban on transfers of uh large sums of money from the utility funds to
the general fund. uh because that's a hidden tax that is placed on uh everyone uh without regard to um uh property valuations or or anything. And and uh in in some places it's truly egregious uh in our community. Uh we were always
concerned that we were going to be hit with a search charge in order to um uh provide more money into the general fund. There are municipalities around that are already talking about looking for creative ways to generate utility revenues to transfer to the general fund
to cover any potential shortfalls um that that they may have. So, just to recap, number one, um we have at the next renewal time the unfettered ability to negotiate with another utility provider should we want based upon a
consent uh judgment that was entered by the federal court in uh Fort Pierce. Um, in other words, if the if the county uh and the and the town have negotiations at some point in the future, we will no longer have to litigate the issue of whether or not we can do that. uh that's
that's been resolved. That was a huge part of the equation here because if you're locked into the to the provider uh which is currently the city of Vero Beach contractually um you have to go to court and fight it. The time comes and goes before you know you have the
ability to negotiate the contract. uh in terms of the nuts and bolts that matters to most people and not lawyers like the comment I just said uh we have uh we've achieved a a significant amount of uh protection for rates that uh you know
will be will be charged on the same criteria and the same rates as u as the taxpayers. The vice mayor always likes to point out that if if if your house is in Vero Beach and you're on this line and you're across the street on this line in Indian River Shores, you know,
it's utterly ridiculous that this house, you know, gets to pay um a discounted utility rate or put another way, this this house has to pay an enhanced rate simply because of geography. Um so that there's great protection now as a result
of 1451 for that. And um thank you to council and staff. I think uh I think we we just uh it's well worth taking the time out to to show that our persistence and hard work on this did a great benefit for our taxpayers now and in the future. >> And Mr. Mr. Mayor, just to follow that
up, just note uh tomorrow the city will be having their meeting, city of Vero Beach, our utility provider, where they'll be talking about rates. And one note in the new 1451 is that bonds uh if they're issued cannot have a higher search charge for outof territory
customers. So I know the vice mayor is intimately aware I know councilmani has been involved whatever assuming those bonds would be issued for it they could not charge town residents a sir charge above and beyond what they're charging everybody else. It's pertinent obviously because the numbers are well north of
$150 million and and we've heard numbers higher than that. So again in context um just wanted to mention that. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Greatly appreciate it. Uh item 11, town manager report. Um I'll let you tick through these. Uh you can
go ABC in whichever order you want which however much time you want on it. Uh so I don't interrupt your flow. But we'll basically have a report on the river river club, minor modification approval on a curb, uh minor modification on a garage depth, and an update to paving
and subject to sewer project um uh pending the meeting on June 24th. So, go for it. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, councel. Uh first item under ADA, excuse me, is a minor modification uh report. Uh section 168 uh 01 of the code
of ordinances authorize the town manager to approve a minor modification of a previously approved site plan. This site plan was already approved by the council. Final engineering has been submitted. The changes requested are noted which relate to uh curbing
portions of a sidewalk and a curb. Uh I determined based on the review and discussion with our personnel that this is constitutes a minor modification for reference and transparency. As the council knows, River Club personnel, residents, and others uh have been interested in this and we previously
communicated this uh information to the River Club residents that have been involved in the past. So with that, that is uh there's no council action required. It's just simply my report to council of the minor modification. I'll move on to 11B if there's no questions in that regard. 11B is similar a request
for minor modification. In this particular case, it was garage depth. Uh final engineering had been submitted and approved. Excuse me. The site plan was approved. And in this particular case, I determined that the request of a reduction in the depth of the garage
from 24 ft originally designed to 22 ft uh as requested uh was a minor modification based on the fact that the request to reduce the depth to 22 ft is within the code of ordinances. No variance would be required for a garage
depth of 22 ft and there was no increase in the overall floor plan. So pursuant to the ordinances, I've just reported to council on those two items if there's any questions in that regard. Just a brief update as we've noted on the septic to sewer uh project. Uh as
everyone can see, it's uh ongoing and in full force on Beach Comr waiting for segue of some additional construction to begin on uh Pebble. We have a meeting that was noticed to every property owner uh through
these uh mailers that we send everyone on Beach Comr and Pebble Lane. They've been notified of the meeting that we have on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. here in council chambers. It's going to be a substantive meeting on the cost allocation relative to the septic to sewer project and what
the property owners will be looking at. We continue to go over those uh spreadsheets in detail to make sure that those are final when they will be handed out and delivered and everyone will have copies uh to to have and to to use. And uh I would like to note uh uh my thanks
Mr. Bolton will be there to discuss it because as the mayor noted this is the septic to sewer portion is really a city project. The town doesn't have any uh statutory involvement in regards to the the project because we are not the water provider. Uh however Mr. Bolton's been
working uh with us very closely and uh just a note he was on a vacation uh out of continental US. He took time on numerous occasions to speak with me and we had a team's uh call the other day. So we're working through these final allocations. The important thing as I kind of referenced the phrase in the
past we don't want to let quick get in the way of write. So Wednesday we'll have the final cost allocation spreadsheets. They'll be available to everyone and uh we'll provide an update on on the costs and the process at that time. Uh, absent. Any other questions? I don't have anything else for my report.
>> Are there any questions for the town manager? >> No. Okay. Well, um I I take it we've publicized once again the June 24 report well on the website and those that are interested can can attend. Um
12A council committee reports and non-action items. So, we'll start with Councilman Tedesco and we'll move down the podium to um provideformational reports on the intergovernmental committees. Again, it's summertime. These committees don't meet very
frequently in the summer. So, uh um many of us may not have a heck of a lot to say. So, >> only one meeting to report and that was a barbecue held by the name. The barbecue committee They had a grand time.
>> Nothing else to report. >> All right. >> All right. I'm hesitating to say this, but I did attend the barbecue. Um, and it's the uh Florida League of Cities and uh Treasure Coast Council local governments. They have a joint meeting. Uh, in addition to the barbecue in
Okachobee, uh, substantial substantial work gets done. uh great networking and talking to other elected officials about what's uh what's present on our minds and what we have in common uh for issues in our area. uh and um what we uh what
we had and uh what I'll be happy to circulate I know the vice mayor and other council people had an interest in this was a special presentation by Kushman and Wakefield uh concerning data centers uh and the information and
misinformation floating around about data centers. How much water do they really use? What you know what's the noise quotient? What's the new technology? um if we don't do it, who's going to do it? Uh interesting interesting things like that. Um so, uh interestingly
enough, Texas leads the US in terms of, you know, data center uh construction and planning and um I I found this pretty interesting. According to Kushman and Wakefield, pretty reputable consulting group. Um, the media
according to polls is trusted more than local elected officials on this issue. So, it's uh uh and don't get excited. I think it's like 18% trust level and 20% trust level. So, it's pretty low in both regards. But, uh it's it's clear that
people have great concerns about data centers, what they're going to do to their particular areas. Uh it's also clear that um we need to do a better job as local governments and the media needs to do a better job to the extent they're interested in getting the story out
there uh about the whole the whole picture of data centers and what the costs are for it, what the costs are against it. So uh very very interesting meeting. Uh we will not be meeting um until September I believe is the next
meeting. Um, we we do not meet in July and August. So, um, actually I think we do meet in July, but we won't meet in August. So, Vice Mayor, do you have anything to report? Um, I see >> may we switch over I that's fine. I see you've got two fairly lengthy reports on
no and beach and shores. So, >> nothing to report. >> Nothing to report. All right, Vice Mayor, items 12B and C. As with the town manager, uh, do it in whichever order and flow you want. We'll just call both B and C together. And so Duke, go for it. Thank you.
>> Okay, I'll I'll go quickly through this. Every county in the country in order to obtain federal highway money must have a organization that determines the allocation of that money. Uh in the in River County, it's called the Metropolitan Planning Organization.
Other counties called the transportation planning uh organization. So uh our primary output is to uh put together a list of priority projects and allocate that money. There
is some uh further approvals by FDOT and and the and the Federal Highway Administration. So uh the the first page looks at the how a project goes through it various phases. My reason for putting this up, I'm sure many of you share my
frustration about how slow it is to get projects done. And this sort of explains why all these various steps that you have to go through. In particular, the one about right of way uh there in the yellow that can really drag things out when you're trying to grab pieces of
property in order to uh get the project done. Often times there's a lot of litigation and so forth. So it's conceivable depending on how big the project is, you can be 13 years from concept to uh concrete. Flip the next page, please.
Okay. So these are the priority projects and a lot of these roll over from year to year. They tend to do in a uh 5-year uh cycle. The one that was added was uh County Road 512. When it says Willow
Street to I95, if you go out 512 to I 95 uh exit there. Sebastian exit. If you continue to go west, 512 goes into downtown Felsmere, Willow Street. That's a very narrow road and it really builds
up with traffic. So, we're going to try to improve that by going out to uh four four lanes. Most of these, as I say, have been been around. Uh 510. The widening the four lanes I think is the one that hits us probably more than
anything else because that would provide a road to for hurricane evacuation and as part of this ultimately but I think you're probably looking at 2033 when you uh go up to the light at five to 510 and head west there's going to be
a bridge over uh US1 so you won't be stuck in that uh uh traffic uh there other One that might be of interest to us is Aviation Boulevard in terms of widening that out past the airport again to provide another east to uh westbound
road in order to relieve uh pressure on on US1. Flip the next page, please. So, this is just a map that lays out what these various uh uh projects are. There's one other one I'll talk about at a moment in the green along on A1A. Uh,
next project, please. I mean, next slide, excuse me. Uh, so the big one that's going to be happening is the Sebastian Inlet Bridge. They're starting that now, and it's going to take a fair amount of time because they're going to do it in sections. So, that bridge is
not uh shut down. They're basically going to take half of it down, but half of new bridge up, and then continue on. I think one of the good news is uh I don't know how many of us is has taken A1A down to the North Causeway Bridge
down there at Fort Pierce that moved on to what I felt was a pretty rapid pace. That same contractor is going to be building the Sebastian Bridge. So I think that's some uh uh good good news there. So we flip to the next page. So the uh total funding over the next five
years is going to be a uh $254 million, a quarter of a billion dollars. A lot a lot of money. And in particular, as you can see there, the A1A Sebastian Inlet project is going to be $129 million. So there's a lot of money that is been
committed to Indian River County, particularly given, you know, we're roughly about 175,000 in in population. So, does anybody have any questions at the council before I move on to the next one? Okay. Okay. The uh next one is
about offshore uh sand resources. So, there is the Indian River County Beach and Shores uh preservation advisory committee. I'm the town's representative on the on the chair and what I asked coastal engineering staff was to look at
what the potentials are to use offshore sand resources. Uh those of you who lived in the northeast uh oftentimes would see sand being being uh piped in from offshore particularly south Jersey they do that a lot and then questions
have kind of why don't they do it here as much they tend to use onshore sand resources. So I asked coastal engineering to at least provide some information on that. So, so in terms of the up upland sources
which you what is currently used where what you basically have to do is find a sand resource that meets a whole set of various standards that are put in place by the Florida Department of Environmental uh protection. So,
traditionally in the county we have used onore uh sand resources. One of the problems that I see with that is you have these big heavy trucks. They're constantly going back and forth on the roads and be beating the roads up. So, right now, uh, Stewart Materials, which
is the primary contractor for sand that the county has used, is uh they're opening up a new mine near I95 and State Route 60. That red star is not in the in the correct uh location. And as noted there on the third bullet point, there's
a potential 10 years of sand from their four Pierce mine. Otherwise, what we're limited to doing is going all the way up to Oyola, Pulk County, and transporting sand down that distance, which of course raises the price uh very uh substantially. Next slide, please. So, I
asked them, as I said, to look at uh you know, you know, what are the factors involved in using offshore uh sand. So I got to give you a very quick geographical thing. You got to look at the differential between state waters and federal water waters. So state
waters is not that goes out to three nautical miles. You're working with DP. It's typically easier and faster to get things done with that. Although I can tell you they're pretty damn slow uh in terms of trying to get things uh uh
done. Federal start from 3 miles. The uh statutory limit is 12 miles, but then it also goes out onto the continental uh shelf that is managed by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, which is a a
part of the Department of Interior, and they're they're even slower than the state, but as I'll show you in a moment, they tend to have more uh larger sand uh sources. One of the issues with the state waters is you have the offshore
reef. So that reef has a lot of uh marine life and you have to be very careful in terms of moving sand around that that you're not killing that off by dumping a lot of sand there. That typically makes it a lot more difficult to get things uh done there. So in terms
of looking the offshore borrow area, the permitting overview the say it's ownorous is is uh putting it putting it lightly. you have all these different bullet points, but you have to go through multiple steps in order to get things done. And what I'll do is I'll
show that in a chart. And I won't bore you by going through every every item. If you you fly two slides ahead, please. So this small uh step here you have to do a lot of uh geological geoysical
uh work in terms of looking at bores sand doing different spacing coming up with different uh permits doing all sorts of analysis. This is a a consultants uh uh just this is like
Christmas for consultants because you need their specialized help in terms of getting uh anything uh done. So I put this slide in just to give you an example how slow this process can be and at times can be so frustrating. And I think all all of us know when living
here in Indian River Shores to try to get sand on our our sector 4 when our beaches were just getting absolutely pounded and how difficult that was and all the work that that we had to do including trips by the town manager and others going up to Tallahassee.
So again, uh this uh next page just shows some of the different uh permit uh requirements. And you know, every one of these uh cost a lot of money. So in terms of using offshore federal waters,
if you flip to the next page, please. Once you go through all these steps, here's the particularly frustrating thing. It's estimating it to take 5 to 10 years to get done. Then you sign an agreement with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management which is valid for
only five years. So you got to then go out and once they approve it, go out get bids. You're subject to when you get the sand and place it on the beach. You can't do it during turtle season because impacts their nesting and so forth. So you got to work hard to get these
projects done, particular if you're doing multiple projects up and down the uh county. the I'd say the risk really the chances of being able to get uh multiple projects done at the same time uh on the
different sectors is going to be very difficult. There's just not the kind of resources cuz remember not only are we putting sand down all all up and down the Florida coast whether it's the Atlantic or the Gulf, they're competing for contractors as well. And there's
been time when sand has been dropped and there's a request for bid and we've only gotten one bid today. So that's what makes it makes it difficult. So the idea that you have to come back and get this re-evaluated in five years seems insane
to me but that's the the process works. So next page please. So we got ex existing sand offshore sand sources right now. We have the north borrow site which is relatively uh uh small that has
about uh 900,000 uh cubic yards. And just remember when I say 900,000 cubic yards then you have to look and see well does it have shells in it, gravel, different mud layers and things like that. The central borrow
site is a little bit uh uh bigger there. We're looking at 3.1 million cubic yards. And then the south borrow site is uh quite a bit uh bigger. And if you flip to the next page. Yeah. Okay. So
you got the central bar site and then the south bar site which is on the next page originally was estimated to have 4.2 million cubic yards. Now the latest survey is 2.5 million cubic yards remaining of uh usable uh sand. And I
think that will go down from here. So my my point in bringing this up with coastal engineering was start to get them to think about some other offshore uh sources. So flipping to the next page, the Bureau of uh Energy Management
did a uh study in 2025. And if you flip to the map on the following page, they did a sand resource study. So if you look at that dotted red line, that's the three-mile limit where to the west of that inshore
is state jurisdiction. So this is a a couple potential sites. The areas in uh blue, the darker the blue, the more potential sand there is there. But they're reasonably far offshore and you
have to get uh dredges and you have to be able to pipe that in. And you know based on my experience and going down to South Jersey uh most of my life before moving down uh here generally the U
barges and the dredges are not five six miles offshore which is what uh what uh these are and uh also so but you do have potentially up to 682 million uh cubic yards. So that's the good news. bad news
as preliminary data indicates elevated shell content uh there. So u again the the key takeaway by on the part of coastal engineering is that this resource 22 which was on the previous page there would take 5 to 10 years to
fully permit and enter into uh uh production. So, but we may have to look at that uh down the line. That'll be another beach and shores advisory committee to to make that uh recommendation. So just to give you an
idea on the uh last page here uh sand it says sand needs these are actually sand that was placed and uh particularly if you look at sector 3 and sector 4 you see which looks like a decent amount of sand but remember that was dune only
other places up and down the the county they did also went out and did the did the uh beach as well. So, we did the best we could with with the money that was available and so forth. But, uh, so it says there's been 1.1 million yards
placed since 2020. There's currently on the committee, if you go down to sector 7, that's down around Porpus Point. Those people are begging for sand. The water's coming right up to uh their houses and there's a lot of uh uh
renance down there to try to block the uh the water from coming in. They could use hundreds of thousands. So that 1 million yards uh place since 2020, it could have easily been twice as as much. So we have to keep looking at it. So be
happy to take uh any questions or we move on. So, >> all right. Uh, thank you, Vice Mayor. Um, this is the public comment time. Uh, how many people intend to make a public comment? One, two, three, four.
Okay. Four or five. The reason why I asked is um, Mr. Chalopo. Um I presumed you wanted to come up and introduce yourself and you can either wait till the end of these public comments or you can come up now if you have other things to do on your schedule and introduce yourself. So
good morning. Good morning. I'm Thomas Shallo and interesting you talk about soil and sand and uh trucking it from Poke County is a pretty expensive deal. So, I'm, you know, I'm a 30-year Army veteran, Army Corps of Engineers, so I
have a real interest in what you're talking about along with transportation, uh, issues and, uh, certainly that's always becoming a problem, particularly in District 9. I am Thomas Shall, retired Army Colonel, uh, B, successful businessman for 40 plus years, and, uh,
like you, I served on the board, uh, eight years on the Ocola County School Board. And I know you don't do it for the money. you do it because you see a need for that. But thank you for the opportunity to say something. >> Thank you, Mr. Shalifo. >> Okay.
>> All right. Time for public comment. Um there's no rhyme or reason. Just first one first one up. Come on up. You have three minutes to uh to u say what's on your mind. >> Mr. Mayor, Vice Mayor, council members.
Uh I'm Paul Chatterton. Uh I live on Pebble Lane with my wife there and I've been well I'm here to on behalf of the residents over the sewer septic uh conversion septic to sewer. Let's go
that way. Uh given your comments earlier, Mr. Mayor, uh I was going to make a more extensive uh presentation. I'll like to shorten that some and just hit kind of the highlights of that. Uh first off, we we
fully recognize the the state mandate and how that uh been in effect for a while. Uh so we are we are not objecting to the conversion at all. Our primary concern and a major concern is the financial impact on the homeowners uh
which is substantial and uh you know typical home on Pebble anyway uh could easily exceed $30,000 uh for putting in that plus an additional at least 10,000 for the
private connection to that sewer installation. So, it's not pocket change, at least not for us. The um and you're looking at a a community with, you know, long-term uh residents, many retirees, long-term home
homeowners, um those living on fixed incomes. Uh and this is a significant financial burden. And it, as you mentioned, it it's been in planning for how long, sir?
The statute was passed uh with deadline several years ago, but it's been talked about for 20 20 plus years. Yeah. >> Yeah. Um and kind of all of a sudden we're being hit, you know, with the 30 $40,000 bill. Uh
and it's not obvious to me at least that there has been any long-term planning uh in the way of pursuing grants, legislative appropriations, outside funding. um and and trying to find other options. I talked asked Mr. Bolan that
question at a previous meeting and his response was kind of a handwave of well, you know, it's hard to get those and there's not many around. It sounds like they've had 20 years to try and instead we're being hit with this is
the bill and apparently uh we're going to find out Wednesday what the final bill is. Uh one of my the detailed comments I had was one to aggressively pursue all the grants etc. Delay the final assessments until those funding
opportunities have been explored. Provide homeowner financial uh financing options. Ensure project costs are allocated fairly and transparently. Extend any available homeowner incentives and credits. uh uh and fully disclose project costs, funding efforts,
and financing alternatives before the final decisions are made. Now, I recognize it's not your, you know, option to do that, but certainly any influence that you have on the city in this manner would be greatly
appreciated. There's a lot of people who have been there for a long time and if you just look on paper, you look at the house and say, "Oh, they got a really or at least a reasonably expensive house." Well, they bought it 20, 30, 40 years ago, which is cases, um, you know, they
didn't pay anywhere near that. And that is really just paper money. uh it's not something you go and write a check against the um as of today um we have approximately 70 70 signatures representing
50 households a little more than 50% of the various neighborhoods who are going to be affected by this conversion and I'm assuming they're all going to get hit with the same charges you know just you No, no, no grants or anything else. Just
nope, there's the bill, you know, go pay it. Obviously, I'm not real happy with that answer. Um, so it I guess what I'm saying really is if you
have any influence at all over how the county or the city handles this, you know, and how they look into financing and trying to find some other sources that would really be greatly appreciated. Um, at this point, what I would like to
do is I would like to present the petition and the signitories for it to be included in the uh public record. >> Uh, we we've already received it. It's all part of the it's part of the public record. So, it's consider it done. So, >> okay. It's a it's it is officially in
the record. >> Yeah, it's a public record. Once it once it was sent to any of us or to the town, it's a public record. Yeah. >> Okay. Just wanted to be clear on that one. All right. Thank you for your >> Thank you for your comments. Appreciate it. We we are trying our hardest. Um and thank you for understanding we have
limitations as well. So uh we'll um hopefully uh get more final details on June 24 and um you I hope you can attend the meeting here. >> Yeah. Okay. I figured you would. So I figured you would. But thank you for your comments. Um, next you can either
adopt this gentleman's uh comments and add to them or come up and make your own statement. You're entitled to three minutes for public comment. So, >> yeah. I'm Steven Shurock. I live on Pebble Lane. Um, one of the two roads that are being impacted. We we truly
support the uh the uh conversion. It environmentally it needs to get done. What we don't support is the um is the lack of efforts to help the homeowners. And I'm going to give you an example because you brought it up today about the um the deferral of the payment
through your taxes and which is a great idea. Great idea. But the the problem is is that they're charging you a six they're advertising a $30,000 loan over 10 years at 6%. That $30,000 loan now
becomes over the 10 years a $40,000 nut. And so I don't understand why there would be an interest charge for the ability to advertise a loan through your own taxes that you're responsible for for paying.
But if we do it the way they're laying it out, it's going to be an additional $10,000 payment. So that $3,000 over the 10 years now goes to $4,000. Now, everyone says, "Well, you get the ability to pay your taxes early," which
is a 4% reduction. But that's only a 4% reduction off the $4,000 additional tax. The 6% off the 30,000 is an additional um $1,800 of interest just in the first year. So, the difference between $1,800
and $160 is not equitable. So, what we ask is that somebody apply some pressure because I think a lot of the homeowners to write that 30 or $40,000 check is substantial. To defer it and advertise it over a loan with 0% or 1% interest is
a much fairer way to look at it. Just my comments. I appreciate it. >> Okay. Thank you. Appreciate that. That was one of the points in the document sent to us. Uh thank you. Uh anyone else? Yes, sir. >> Yeah. Hi, my name is Wayne Summers. I
live on Beach Comr. And and my point is that you brought it up earlier. It's like the people that live in Ver Beach and the people that live in Indian River Shores. Why is it fair that us as the
residents of those streets are charged the assessment? Why isn't that considered a joint benefit to Indian River Shores, to Vieira Beach, to Indian River County, and ultimately to the United States? Why are we
specifically going to have to pay for it? I don't think it's equitable at all. We don't want to we'll pay our fair share on a broad basis, but to individually be responsible for it is
just not just not right. That's my point. >> All right. Thank you. Thank you very much. Um I I just do want to note that back in 2005 or six when I was looking for my home, um the listing sheet had uh
septic or sewer. And I know that, you know, you have a choice when you buy a home that you're going to buy a septic tank for which you're responsible for the cost or, you know, in my view it was a benefit to have to have a house which I ultimately bought several years ago
that was hooked up to to sewer. So, um I I understand I understand your point. Um once again, we're not, you know, we're not the the final repository. We will continue to put the pressure that we can. Uh but we're not we're not the
entity that provides the financing on this and I know Mr. Horping has fairly well bruised his knuckles uh in terms of trying to get u financial relief on this stuff including the waving of the impact fees. Um I think on June 24 you'll see
the the items that have been negotiated down. Uh I know it's not enough in your mind and in my mind if I were in your position perhaps it wouldn't be either but uh there there are some uh some things that we're still trying to negotiate on your behalf. Um if if you
were to write your legislative representatives here at the state level and say that you know we're you know we're in favor of a lowterest cost subsidy for it at the state level. I' I'd be I'd join you in that I would join you in that request. Uh but believe it
or not, the Indian River Shores municipality has relatively few of these septic to sewer conversions. Sebastian Felmmeir, there are even the city of Vero Beach, they've got multiple numbers of these. So, um and I I don't know that
they're going to even see uh the kind of relief that that we're negotiating from the city on this. So, um it's it's it's a remedy that doesn't lie solely with us. We will we will use our political pressure as much as we can on this, but uh there are limitations on what we can
do. So, uh we fight for our taxpayers every step of the way and we'll continue to do that. So, uh thank you. Uh is there anybody else that wants to make a statement? Yes, ma'am. >> Good morning, mayor and council and staff. I'm Sheila Seville from Surf
Lane, and I just have a few comments. Um, you mentioned earlier in talking about the septic to sewer that many things have been discussed in previous meetings. Well, I have to say that at least from my standpoint, the first meeting I'm aware of was about a year
and a half ago followed by a meeting about a month ago where we walked into the meeting and the first thing that was stated was we're not going to talk about any financial issues. We can't talk about that yet. Hopefully that is coming
up in two days. But you said something about out of the blue earlier and so we've been talking a year and a half potentially about this, but we still have not received an actual final number on what it's going to cost each
resident. So, as far as out of the blue, it's still out there. We don't know what that final number is. Um, and as far as city responsibility, we live in Indian River Shores. You are our representatives. I've talked to the county who points back to Indian River
Shores. When we talked to initially to um Mr. Harping, um the kind of responses we got were, "You need to talk to the city. They're the ones supplying the water and sewer." Everybody keeps pointing the finger down the line. You are our representatives
and you guys did sign the franchise agreement with the city. We need you to fight for us. We are a small number of people compared to some of the other areas. And I do have more more of a statement. I'll just hit a few points. When we
bought our house, there was no septic to sewer conversion mandate. The estimates when they started talking about it a couple years later was $3,000 to connect your house to a step system. Well, now we're talking unofficially 10 times that
to $30,000. Like many residents, our homes have increased in value quite a bit over the last 5 to 10 years, but our incomes have not increased. You know, a lot of us are on fixed incomes. And so,
yes, we have a lot of equity, but equity does not pay our bills. Am I poor? No. Do I need assistance in making that 30 to $40,000 payment? Absolutely. Individual homeowners cannot apply for grants,
legislative appropriations, government funding programs. The town and the city can do that. I respectfully ask you pursue every available funding opportunity and delay final homeowner assessments until those
opportunities have been explored. We need your help. We need your leadership and we need it now. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. Anybody else? All right. There being no further business, um I'm sure you you all will
be there on June 24 and uh we are adjourned until the July meeting. So, thank you everybody. Have a great day. Thanks. Part: 2
Thank you. Um, just for the record, uh, Jim Harper and town manager. Um, uh, Chair Oxner, uh, member Stevenson, just like to note that, um, for just a variety of reasons, we're not going to have a quorum today. However, we are going to proceed with a report and a
presentation in the same way as if we did in terms of delivering all the information that we have. Uh we did receive one um email inquiry with questions and we will go over that as well. So, we will cover all of the information that we have and and proceed
from there. So, at this time, if it's okay, I'll just turn it over to Heather and we'll proceed with our presentation on our budget presentation. >> Very good. Good afternoon. So, we're going to go over the 2026 2027 budget draft that you
received on Friday the 12th. I don't even want to know what time month of the month of year it is. Let me get my mouse going. Sorry. I'm voting in. >> So our 2026 2027 budget, we have the
proposed millage rate of 1.2402. This is down from the current budget of 1.2810 and it is set on our mill rate our ad valerum revenue at about $7.4 million.
It is only up about 3.4%. I can't even read what I'm looking at. 3.4%. Um, our total appropriations are 10.97 million for operating, 12.54 million all-incclusive. That includes including
in contingencies, i.e. transferring money to our infrastructure reserve and projected general fund reserves are going up to about 7.7 million. That is about 545,000. That is solely related to discretionary taxes. That's that 1 cent
tax that we have here in Indian County for our capital projects. So that is solely related to that. Our the miller rate that we chose in this budget is basically a break even. We're not I think it was $5,000 when I was doing this initial just trying to break even.
We're trying to give back to the residents >> which is appropriate >> always. Yes. There are no cuts in services to this budget. So everything is done as business as usual. Some of the highlights that I want to go
over are personnel. This budget contemplates a 4 to 7% increase by classification. I.e. the union contract is set at 4%. We may give staff 5 to 6% or sorry, let me rephrase that. That's
the other way around. Department heads or directors five to 6% and 7% for our lower staff just to keeping up. But that is still contingent on the annual valuations that are done. Health insurance. This budget was done at 35%.
>> Which astounded me and and then I looked and saw that the range was well it included the 30 but it went up to like 45%. Yeah. And I just haven't seen those kind of increases. >> Yeah, we are rated um just on our own.
We are considered a large um employer because we have more than 50 employees even though we only have 30 members in our plan. So we are rated based off our current activity. >> Just a quick comment on health insurance. Just just >> I know I was talking about
>> just No, no, that's fine. Just um to your comment on that number um uh we've seen uh just locally the county is increasing 35 plus% across the board on the health insurance. So it's uh it was of concern
for us and also relief when we were able to you negotiate the the number that we got. >> Yeah, it is. >> So you negotiated it? >> Yes, we actually are coming in at 15%. So, but I when I got the budget, that
was the number. We actually had it like 38%. So, we settled on 35 just to get the budget because otherwise I wouldn't have got even got this out to you by June 12th if I had kept waiting. So, we're like we're going to go with the worst case scenario. And I've already
kind of done a pre-calculation on it. It's about a hundred 130 $140,000 that I'm going to actually take out of this budget. >> Oh, good. >> When we get there. So, sorry, I'm going to digress for a moment simply because there's just two of us here and we don't have a quorum. And I
know we talked about asking uh members of the finance committee to at least commit to being here at this time of year. >> Has has that gone any farther? >> It has. and and there is physically someone here, but there was a
communication um issue that I can relate to uh offline or off record related to the individual who just was at a physical location right now and just couldn't physically make it here from where they physically are not withstanding anything else.
>> So we we but for that we would have had quum. This is important stuff and and we don't do a lot on the finance committee and seems to me that folks should commit to being here >> the and I appreciate all your input on
this. So I will say from my perspective because it is it is good to have an outside perspective looking at this but um let's see where was I at? >> Health insurance. >> Health insurance. >> Just moving on. Our legal services are budgeted at
$275,000. We're It's similar to prior year. If we do for some reason have a something happens and we have to get further attorney fees, we will just pull it from reserves. We're not trying to
>> Well, th this is a little bit of a sore subject with me simply because, you know, we spent a lot of money trying to get divorced from the city of Barrow Beach utilities and we're still stuck. And not only we stuck, now we're going to stuck being paying for their their
new uh plant, which makes no sense. U back in 2012, I'm going to get on my soap box there for a second. Um there was discussion about the county taking over all of it and because that
uh the city's was decaying >> and um I remember Jay Kramer was the mayor at the time and Kramer was you know adamant against giving that up of course because they're stealing that 6%.
Uh, but is there nothing we can do? I mean, at the time, Eric Olsen said that, who was the county uh water sewer guy, he he suggested it cost about two grand or $2 million to
connect up and go that way. Uh, and but at the time we made the deal with the city. Jim Okconor stood here and said, "We're going to give you county rates and
that's it." And uh we saved more by going to the city, at least in the short run, because we we were going to honor the the franchise agreement. The franchise agreement didn't expire, I think, until like 2018 or something like that. And so during that time when they
lowered the price, we saved well more than $2 million for the town residents. But now, of course, they play by their own rules. So, uh, what do you think about that? Um, >> well, in brief, uh, a great
understatement is water is a challenge. >> Don't want to certainly relitigate those issues. >> Uh, that being said, in a larger umbrella over time, >> we've seen the county rates go up significantly as well. So,
that's more of a long-term analysis. and the in the winter loss on that narrow but important piece in terms of now when I began here as town manager in 2021. One of the first major endeavors I
undertook was to look for alternate water providers. I met on numerous occasions with the then uh county administrator uh Jason Brown and county attorney Dylan Ryold. Uh since then I've met with the new county administrator
John Tanich. The during my period of time we retained consultants uh Arcadus specifically to do a very specific uh cost analysis and study which we have and was completed and in the end the
county declined to be involved in that process for a variety of different reasons. And uh that then of course leaves us with the end of the litigation which was twofold. One, it did preserve the city's ability to
essentially change the rates that they agreed to in the contract. However, the second piece of the litigation, which was the federal claim, the antitrust claim did prevail. We did prevail on that and it did open the door and allow us to look at and negotiate
with other providers. The problem uh has to do with our physical location and the other providers. I did have personally I had discussions with uh senior management and senior uh officials at Aqualia which is a
it's a it's a private water company uh primarily it's it's based in Europe but they have very substantial and strong inroads in the United States all across the country. uh for water. They were looking at the Fort Pierce water system at the time,
>> but in the end, for a variety of reasons, there was really no economic purpose for anyone to come in and take this number of customers when we are both literally um and structurally, financially on an
island as it were. as to the uh pieces to you know the north and south those were some of the challenges and they those drove the costs up exponentially because we would have needed to do the sub aquous >> oh really >> pipes and it was and again we had a had
detailed reports and engineering so in that regard the reality of it is is we have the provider with whom we are attached >> we're stuck >> for the foreseeable future yes sir And just uh by way of note, though it may
not be everything that interested observers in the town was hoping for relative to relief from Tallahassee in the most recent legislative sessions. Uh the governor did sign uh HB1451
uh which is a bill that will uh while not answer all the requests that we have essentially made over time, it will require the city to do a lot more publicly both from a documentation
standpoint, from a public meeting and a public delivery standpoint than they are otherwise required to do right now. So that's a plus. Uh and the other note that I'll make um Mr. chair and and Mr. Stevenson is that we are in a renegotiation period for our
franchise agreement that we initiated with communication to the city a number of years ago and the impact of that legislation 1451 and anything else that we see next year will certainly have an impact on on the
negotiations and in the end I think we certainly want to be treated fairly. We want to be treated no less equal than anyone that lives in the city jurisdictions. Um personal >> except we aren't because of that 6% or
that transfer to the general fund because that general fund transfer lowers the millage rate for the city, but we pay it. >> Oh yes. And I I didn't I didn't say otherwise. I don't I don't think I >> No, I No, I don't think you did. But yeah, >> I'm just emphasizing the fact that
somehow this looks like taxation without representation again. >> And that is a narrow point that I alluded to literally 90 seconds ago when I said we didn't get everything that we wanted, which would have either capped or in some way required some accurate
measure or appropriate cost allocation as to transfers from funds such as a utility fund. Uh certainly not ideal. I think the legislative step that was made this year was demonstrable.
And a lot of times with legislation like that, I promise Heather, I'm going to stop talking. Uh I think a lot of times with with legislation like that, one of two things happen. either there's no great hue and cry over the
implementation so it remains the same or generally there there could potentially be an appetite for more because now we have some cornerstone some foundational piece and it's easier to add a step onto that than to have started with that
>> with four or five steps that I I I'm not polyiana I swear um focus direction topics change, you know, annually um with with all legislative bodies. So, we'll just we'll just have to see, but your your your points are
accurate and well taken. I don't don't dispute with with any of them. >> Okay. Thanks. Sorry. Thanks for >> No, it's a budget item. We were talking about attorney fees and say something happened, it could that was a big expense in the past that we've had. But
if for some reason we do, we're not budgeted to pull from taxpayer money. We have 275 just to deal with the day-to-day and operating costs, but if we have anything else, we'll pull from reserves. Um, I'll kind of skip and talk about the reserves. We have about 7.6
months of reserves, operating reserves set aside in case this will cover us for an emergency. Say, um, a hurricane throws and just kind of wipes us out, knocking on wood, saying we never have to. But FEMA does take a while to reimburse.
>> Yeah, >> it was two years. It was it was just one thing. It was a small amount. It was a thousand less than $1,000, but it took two two years to get that finalized. So, FEMA can take a long time to get everything wrapped up and get all the paperwork in and get through their red
tape. So, >> that's one of the reasons we got the the million-doll line of credit. >> So, we have that as well. So, we do have a line of credit. So, in case an emergency and it's it's going to will be backed by the FEMA funds, but yeah, that's we have that in place. But you
also, you never know, something could happen, wipe us out. And this way, we have a chance to make sure we pay all our bills, people get paid, our emergency folks. So, it's comfortable. Gazsby usually recommends two months, but with us being a beachside community, there was always recommendations to have
that five to six months just to have that because you don't know what could happen. Um back moving back to revenue assumptions, most of these revenue assumptions I don't get from the state until July or August. >> Yeah. And these revenues that um even
our property values, they're based off preliminary numbers. I don't get that number until July 1st. So our millage rate could actually it's usually lower. So it probably our millage rate might actually even be lower than what I'm presenting in here. And finally, I think I've mentioned just
this on the side, the transparency, House Bill 1329 goes, we're assuming it's going to be signed. It was presented to the governor. It makes us have to be a lot more transparent in our financials, including our budgets with, in this example, four years of data,
narratives, graphs, just making sure so the reader of the budget actually understands what's going on. So that's this budget was actually prepared in advance of that. It's actually not effective until next year, but I wanted to be ahead of everything. So that's
what this budget's set up as. >> Go ahead. >> No, not at all. Just a quick note on that. Um uh 1329 every year we're looking at legislation and what we have to do uh as requirements.
the financial requirements associated with that uh un unfunded mandate which is all fine that's not a problem we we we'll manage that however that happens to be but those are not actually in effect until next year uh but I I I do note Heather took the initiative uh some
of that has to do with formatting and uh by that that's I don't mean that uh in a I I don't want to underplay what that actually means because of the the nature of the documents and the volume and the amount of material information and and as to the transparency piece,
this is all information that the town otherwise has and is otherwise available. If somebody asks, whether they pick up the phone or send a letter or send an email, we have it all and it's all readily available. The legislation uh really wanted to allow
people to go to your website and click and, you know, and find this information for, you know, for years in the past, which is, you know, which is all which is all good and well. Uh but it does require a lift on our side. So I just want to emphasize uh um that they're
really I mean we're we strive here as best as we can for you know full transparency. Anybody wants anything they've they they've got it and and maybe add infin item but um uh but we're trying to get a step ahead in terms of how you see the budget actually
formatted and how everything is laid out and how that looks for compliance next year. So, it's it's really not not new to anyone. And that's, you know, uh tipping the hat to Heather for being, you know, a year ahead of the game. So, it's just not going to be new to us.
And, uh, I want to make sure that everyone knew that as well. >> Well, I don't know if you were in here, but I I told Heather that I thought this was the best looking, best prepared budget I've ever seen. >> And obviously, she does a great job. >> Yes. Touche.
>> Thank you very much. >> I've seen previous ones. really good. >> They are available on our website, but I appreciate it very much. Just kind of wanted to put it in kind of a graph format about where we are at with our millage rate. So, as I said, we
had about a 7% taxable growth, taxable value growth. Because of that, we we we needed to cover cost of living. So, 3 point we were able still able to reduce the millage rate by 3.2% to get to the new rates. But I wanted to show what our
historical we had been at the 13 or the 1.3349 for quite a few years prior to that. >> And last year we decided we wanted we were at a comfortable rate with our reserves. So we were all right, we are going to reduce the millage rate.
There's no reason to keep the millage rate at this higher rate because the reserves are comfortable. I'm comfortable. Let us we just need to give back and not overcharge the taxpayers. So we were able to do that last year and we were able to do this again this year.
>> This is a mindset that is unique among municipalities and certainly living here. When when I moved here, I didn't know Indian River Shores from a hole in the ground. I mean, I was coming to Bureau Beach. I
thought I'm so happy I moved to Indian River Shores. >> We try. Yeah, >> it's a it's a good mindset to have. We build our budget from zero base. I basically tell all the all the I I eliminate all the extra and then say,
"Okay, you need to tell me if you have special projects or is there something going on? I'm not just going to take your um budget from last year and roll it forward." There's certain things, >> which is a lot of governments do that or a lot of government entities. >> Yeah. Now, there's certain things that do roll forward and I build in cost of
living or the cost of increase CPI. Yeah. Because they're guaranteed to happen, but we we look at all our salary. We look at our positions. Jim, we don't even talk about any pay increases until after the entire budget's even done. >> We build it based off what we need when
that's how we start. >> So, we it's a modified zero base because I there are certain things they're just going to keep rolling. But in honesty, our net revenue was about 240,000 which is about 3 and 3.4%.
So that in right now CPI is running about 3.8. So it's right on target. And I'm just trying to see we have basically cut our millage rate for the last two years by 7.1%. Now it was asked how did we establish
our millage rate? So we did a roll back basis. We went back to the roll back and we did a 1.358. That is what the state has said as our per capita increase and that's how we got to the six on the
6.163 and then I reduce it by 96% or to 96% of it because majority of our residents pay in November and they get a 4% discount on their taxes. >> I'm one of those guys. >> I'm one of those. I pay as soon as I
can. So that's why our no matter how you set it, our mil our revenues are pretty much going to be 96% of what we assess because the majority of our residents pay it early. But that's how we established it. And we looked at it
again, made sure this was a zero. Basically, we're not adding more than like, like I said, $5,000 to our unrestricted unres unreserved funds. So those are just general operating reserves. I appreciate the fact that we
know that assessed valuation has gone up. >> Mhm. >> And you're not like taking that money and just sort of squirreling it away somewhere, giving it back to the the taxpayers. >> Yeah. Um it was asked what's the impact
of the new legislation that's coming out. >> So I did it based off this new the new millage rate. So we're looking at about $226,000 in year one. if valuations don't go up, if um expenses don't go up, nothing changes.
>> So is that that's going to the 150 from the >> Yeah, that's to the 150. It's about $226,000, which is about three >> basically it's a 3% cut. And then in year two, it's a 6% cut. So it's 226
452,000 in years one and years two. And there's basically how are we absorbing that? There's two ways we could there's three ways we could go about. We could do a partial millage rate adjustment. We would go up 3% in years one and we would
go up another 3% in years two. That's again, as I said, that's assessed values not increasing. That's no new no new construction expenditures we don't need for our expenditures. And it's still the 1.3167 is still below the 1.3349
of two years ago. So, >> well, I think at one point we were up at like a 150 or thereabouts, 151, something like that. >> I believe we had gotten up to a 1.7, but I do not remember exactly. We've always >> I don't remember that one, but >> I think it was only one year, but I'm
not 100% sure, but we had gotten up and around 20 just before COVID, we started um decreasing actually after the sale of the land. >> Yeah, >> we do we decreased. >> That's right. We used the sale of land to subsidize the reduction.
>> Yeah. And we were also we were also running out of deficits during that time >> because we were actually giving back between 100 to 400 to $500,000 back to the residents at that time. So our millage rate was actually artificially low >> during that time because we had extra
proceeds. So that was our decision at that time. >> Yep. >> Um >> can I ask a question? I think I know the answer to, but you you might be helpful. You seem you you guys seem comfortable with it. It's going to be a little hit,
but you're will able to absorb it. Why is Vero Beach just flipping out? Um, it's a lot Barrow Beach and Jim, you can correct me if I'm wrong, but they have a lot more homes that are under the homestead and it will significantly
impact their um their property taxes. And in other cities, not just Vero Beach, there's some cities that are already at the 10 mills, so they can't raise their millage rate anymore. >> Yikes. >> So, and they're and they're small. So, some cities were saying it's going to
wipe us out because they're small. They don't have the the the the val they don't have the homestead. But I'll let Jim finish that. >> I think that's entirely accurate. And then the other piece of it
I I think it's just me pontificating probably. um requires, you know, a combination of real thoughtful evaluation of the nature of the operation and a reasoned articulation by
the municipalities of what services will either be cut or enhanced or stay the same as a result of any particular, you know, revenue changes. And many times I believe um
that required review allows some clarity occasionally in terms of what's a need >> and a want and I can appreciate it having worked in other agencies before. There are sometimes very strong wants.
Um, but you have to definitely make those changes and I think the e every every municipality does have to be really looked at differently. But the point of mitigating
a jurisdictions's trying to be kind, mitigating a jurisdiction's millage rate based on fund transfers from a source that aren't from that jurisdiction. Uh, how was that? is uh uh is just unrealistic in the long run and I think
that's that's one of the challenges uh that they have and of course that that we have. Um but just to reassure you we definitely I'm keeping that in mind during our franchise agreement discussions. So, um, I was a California
resident when Prop 13 was passed, 1977, I think it was, and every every politician said, "The sky is falling and jobs were cut and everything went crazy for maybe a year and then
everything was fine." It was a little bit like the Y2K hysteria, too. Just >> that was fun. >> Yeah. but everybody going crazy without really understanding what the impact is going to be. >> I'd like to just make one more very
brief comment because it's been said that it's it's been said to me, well, it's easy for you because you're a small operation. And my response is actually it's incredibly difficult for us. It's exponentially more difficult for us
because of where we already are. Um, if you look to your right, Janice has three jobs at least on paper, more that are not on paper. Heather juggles multiple. We are, you know, we're stripped down that way. So, I I say to those that say
our scale makes it easy. I I say it's actually to the contrary. And I think it's a it's just it's a good example of sometimes just bearing down, you know, as I said, and um, you know, looking at those wants versus those needs. But yeah, I mean it's a challenge and I'm
not minimizing it. But uh I I just I wanted to point that out because I get that a lot where it's like ah you're just this is your your budget and you know it's and actually I know fromce I came managing larger budgets that there's always money you can cut.
There's always money around. So um I just note that for whatever it's worth. or discrain. >> Yeah, fiscally a constraint. Um, so you want did you want to say something about that, Jennice? >> Just that those municipalities that don't have properties, many of them
don't have properties that even can take a $150,000 hit or $250,000 hit. They are exempt from this, correct? They protected a little. >> No, they are not. >> No, that I'm aware of. I'm not aware of any exemptions. I I actually can't
account to it, but I do know that to your point about fiscally constrained counties, um I I believe there is some consideration in that regard. I I just don't know what it is. And candidly, the reason I don't is because it wasn't applicable to us. So, I felt not
>> Yeah. >> compelled to to dig into that. >> I knew know there was consideration of setting up a trust fund, but that didn't go through either. that. >> So, but if for some reason the town council doesn't want to raise the
millage rate to offset this, we do have some untapped revenues that we've never used in the past because we prefer transparency. >> But FPL, we are allowed to have an elect electric franchise fee up to 6% and
honestly I believe that >> would cover us just there that alone. But we choose not to do that because we wish to be transparent to our residents. So that's what it costs. But there are some untapped revenues we could pursue. At this time, I don't believe we need
to. >> One of the things we did way back when was started charging for the ambulance because prior to that, we didn't charge for it. >> No, because >> we just charged Medicare, not the residents. >> Actually, at that time, back in 2012, I do not believe we were even charging Medicare. We weren't doing that.
>> No, we weren't. No, I'm saying we weren't. But but the decision was made to charge the Medicare. >> Yeah. >> But if the Medicare didn't pay, then they still didn't have to pay. >> Yeah. And we still don't we don't pursue. We send a bill and there because
usually a lot of them have two types of insurance. So they have Medicare and then they have the supplemental. Yeah. >> So >> um >> Yeah. The point was the insurance company could pay, but we weren't going to make the resident pay. >> Yeah. And that's aboutund 100 to $125,000 extra a year that we do not we
don't have to increase our taxes. But so there are other sources of revenue that we could pursue. >> Um just in general this is a the breakdown of our reserves. We have on our unassigned this is what considers our emergency reserves. Our just our general these can be used for separate
these are set aside in case we need it about 5.6 million. We have 1.1 million in assigned reserves. Our assigned reserves are primarily our infrastructure for the um roads that we're setting aside to cover road
repairs, road work. Um the other one is the cell tower. It's like a hundred and something thousands in case we need to do work ourselves to remove it. Restricted is primarily our capital outlay, our capital projects,
reserves. Those are this the half cent sales tax that we get for the 1-centent sales tax that we get from the state and from the local county. And our non-spendable are prepaid in our inventory from the postal center. >> You mentioned roads and um
I I looked at the kind of the the schedule for repaving roads, but notice that 46th place wasn't on the list. >> Um >> that's actually a county road. >> I I don't think it is. You sure? because well whatever the case I years ago it
was pretty bad shape of course it's just been repaved so now it's perfect but um it was in get in pretty bad shape and so I asked Joe Fletcher I says you know you you guys take money from us all the time but you never give us anything how about repaving that road and he did it or he
arranged it >> it's a strange nuance but uh 46th place uh because it goes from the tracking station is actually a county road >> okay That's strange. >> So, so I guess he didn't give me anything. I thought he did.
>> Outstanding politician. >> So, in general, this is our this is the breakdown of our appropriations, which is another term for our expenses. Public and this is the entire town as a whole. That includes all our special revenue funds, including the building
department. Public safety makes up 60% of our expenditures. That 60% is public safety department and the building department. The state of Florida considers the building department to be a public safety function. >> So that's just kind of a breakdown of
what our expenditures are by fund. And this is the breakdown of just the general fund. Public safety makes up about 66% of the general funds budget at $5.7 million and it is fully staffed. This budget is as if our employees were
fully staffed. No, there's no new shifts, but in case even if we have an open in position at the point, this budget is set at fully staffed, fully insured, everything. Um, again, as I said earlier, this includes pay increases. The it includes the 35%
health insurance that will be adjusted down and as I said, no new positions. facilities makes up our next highest budget and that includes the maintenance of all of the town properties and also when we have our emergency if we have
any no it's basically maintenance of all our town property and some of our roads just the general very very minor parts of the roads that's not part of this finance makes up the next highest budget and that was me and two of and one other
person and we also had >> retired Darlene did retire. She retired after 18 years with us. And if you ever get a chance, Erica is my bookkeeper and she has been doing very well with me. So,
the capital improvements that we've got going on that we are new for for next year is including we are doing roadway engineering. This is on Fred Turk Reef and Sunrise. This is just engineering work.
It's actually not road work. We want to get ahead of it. So, we want to make sure we have all the engineering lined up. We have our public safety cameras, which is the lease that we have for the incar and the body cameras. We have one new patrol vehicle. We have to fix one
of the roofs on the public safety building. And hopefully, we'll be able to get our a new phone system that we can kind of modernize a little bit more. So, those are the kind of the major projects. Any projects from this year that are in this current budget, if for some reason they are not completed,
which there might be a like the roadway won't finish it, we'll put it in we'll do a budget amendment in November to encumber the remaining amounts of that. >> Speaking of that, what what are they doing on Beach Comr? >> So, Beach Comr Lane and also I'll note
Pebble Lane are the first two roads that are going to be involved in septic to sewer. >> Okay. uh conversions that was what it was. >> And for those roads, they're actually going to be gravity sewer going to central sewer. Um primarily because the town had those two roads scheduled to be
paved. >> So that because they were paved, the location of the roads, the fact that you know the gravity of sewers there, the city decided to coordinate uh or we uh coordinated with the city on our paving projects. So they're going to be doing
um septic to sewer the installations uh storm water management improvements Miami curbing at the end of beach comr there's also going to be a culde-sac placed there for turnaround which which prior was a was a major issue for for folks >> uh and shortly once certain foundational stuff
is done there uh the engineering's already been done for Pebble they're going right down to Pebble Lane uh and the contract was bid as a as a two road um bid for the septic to sewer That is an important part of the um unfunded
mandate in HB 1379 from back in 2023 which required in our particular area that being the Indian River uh basin management uh area um conversion of septic systems to sewer by 2030. That's
a big lift. Um it was our goal to try to get ahead of that. So some of that engineering as we're trying to get ahead, we're trying to get, you know, at least that non-changeable information, not that it doesn't change a little bit over time, but get that engineering done and and
move forward. One of our challenges though, uh, is that Fred Turk and Sego Palm uh, and in particular Fred Turk are is our is a major roadway, uh, specifically for public safety. So, we have to make some determinations about
what the next road we're going to do after um after Pebble Lane is completed in terms of putting out the bid and and and what we're going to do in that regard. >> So, Oh, >> I was just going to ask are Pebble Pebble and and Beach Comr the last two
that are hooking up or you have >> they're the first two. >> Well, first two. >> We actually >> Sunrise and Sunrise. >> No. And there's there's a mix. We actually only have about 145 homes. in the town jurisdiction right now that we have to address. Uh some are on the east
side of A1A, some are on the west side of A1A, and that is is a little bit of a factor. And keep in mind that the city is as the provider is going to make the determination as to whether or not it's going to be a hookup to sanitary sewer or is it going to be a step system. Both
comply with the state mandate. Um, but obviously there's there's fundamental differences in terms of the installations and the and the cost uh in that regard. So that's that's where we are with that. We're hoping aiming for that to be done um hopefully the end of August.
>> So you mentioned Fred Turk of course and Sego Palm, but >> isn't it Jack Mitchell until it gets to the to the gate and then it's Sego Palm? Um yeah, in fact, I had a conversation with um uh some of our friends this morning in in in that community. They're
going to be doing some paving and about how far out they're going to come and and so on and so forth. So, um, you know, we'll be obviously looking at the details of the surveys, but we do have our lot there, which we're looking to enhance, uh, the entrance way because right now it's just dirt, but really
primarily because of the main use by public safety, drainage, wear and tear. Uh, it it really is looking like Fred Turk really has to be our next our next roadway. And associated with that, uh, no promises at all and and probably not
may not come to fruition. has to do with um you know getting consideration for a um short duration time frame turn light on A1A uh you know left to come in it's really in the morning >> that would be nice >> that that's an issue. So we're looking
at you know maybe one that's operational 7 to 9 in the morning and uh maybe sometime in the afternoon as well as uh just trying to enhance the movement of traffic heading on Fred Turk eastbound. Uh what we'd like to do is have uh
essentially two lanes heading eastbound that way. A right lane which would be straight whose traffic is few and far between because it just goes directly to Beach Comr from this side or a right-hand turn so people could just go and then the other lane would be a dedicated left turn lane. But to
Heather's point, circling back to that, you didn't think I was going to do it, but circling back to that, we wanted to try to get ahead on the engineering um because costs never go down in those areas and and we just we really just don't know what the actual timing is
going to be on being able to fully fund those roadway projects because they they are not cheap at all. >> Yeah. And I'm sorry if you do the engineering that that study stays and it it doesn't change really. >> Essentially that's correct. We get to a
point in time for example we started some engineering on this a couple of years ago uh and it was you know obviously it's still valid. They do updates relative to utilities and things like that but um an entire new study survey and those things wouldn't need to be done.
>> Thank you. Okay, so Jim pretty much covered this. I wanted to give an update that we initially the carrier initial renewal was 38.5. We budgeted 35 just so that we could get the budget out, but we came in at 15%. Kind of gave some history that
we typically have negotiated down, but because we're so small, if we have just one employee who has a significant event, it will cause our insurance to go up. It's ironic that you're classified as a large group in one sense and a small group in reality.
>> Yeah. And it's just that's how it is. They they don't care that half of your people are part-time or even a quarter or you don't have all your people on your plan. They don't care. They're like, "How many employees do you have?" And once you hit that threshold, you're considered a large employee. >> Can't help myself. I promise to note
that uh over a two-year term, if we're going to look at a at a chart, uh we were able to command zero last year. So over two years, we're looking at a 7% increase. Uh but it just the marketplace is so volatile
>> um that we were bracing for the worst last year actually >> and the way it came in, we we were able to do a few things in terms of uh I don't want to sound like a progressive commercial, but we bundled we saved um and and we continue to try
to do that. But it's it's one of our it's aside from paying people, it's the greatest benefit that we can provide to our employees and their families and their children. But it's also the thing over which uh Heather and I angst about the most in like February and March
because we're talking to brokers and you know everybody's looking around and we were actually pleasantly surprised because we knew quite a way of example the county uh also uh bundles in with five constitutional officers. So they have a
very large economy of scale and they're as I noted their insurance went up 35% of which they're passing along 23 24 25% directly just to the employees. >> And and our goal has been to to not do that. >> Sure. >> Yeah.
>> Who's your carrier? >> Blue Cross Blue Shield. >> Yep. And I will note for the last five years, it was kind of a small little line in there, our insurance has only increased 10.2% over the last five years. So when you average everything out, You're welcome.
>> So it's only 2% a year. >> Well, it's averaged. It's averaging 10% per year. >> Um, this item comes up every year. The the postal center, >> I think it's a great spend of money. >> I It's one of I'll say it again. I've
said it a lot of times. It's the only, I'll say, benefit for the residents that they want to use. The other three, they really don't want to use. >> They don't want to use a cemetery
>> or they don't want to see EMS or they don't want to see a fireman. Exactly. >> They don't want to see a policeman. >> Exactly. >> But they want to see that. >> Yep. And that's pretty much our our stance on it. This is a service. This is this is a benefit that we provide our residents. So yes, it's gone up, but the
entire pretty much the entire loss is the cost of having an employee manage this. We do we don't pass along we don't charge sir charges on stamps and I don't think in some cases you can't. >> We we don't try to nickel and dime our
residents. We we're passing on the service. We do charge a box rental and that helps offset some of it, but the primary cost is having somebody manage who our residents get to know. they enjoy. She knows them. It's a concier service for our people. >> So,
>> can I ask about that employee in particular because I noticed that her insurance is 80% of her salary and with the other PA and the retirement benefit is equal.
What is it? She ill or >> No, she just she went from a um she joined our It's pretty obvious. It's she joined our family plan. >> So that's the cost of the family plan. >> So it we are small and so we we pay
>> it. It just seemed ridiculously expensive, but I understand the situation. >> So let me see if there's anything else. Yep. Um some other questions that were asked from from us and I wanted to make sure I addressed everything is our
public safety pension. This is actuarily determined. We actually now have it. It's done in January for the next year. So, whatever was done in this past was the um the rate that we received from the actuary. We got it in January so that I could budget appropriately. I
believe it's 14%. Don't quote me 100%. I don't have that number right in front of me. But that is we are actually required to pay that amount. So, it it's not something that I pull out of thin air or what the um council is. is whatever our actuary says
we must pay. Um our contractual services for cleaning and landscaping. We have been with our cleaners and landscapers for the last 5 years. They have held those rates. But in order to m make sure we maintain quality of service and make sure
everything gets done properly in accordance with the contract, you should and this is highly recommended you go out for procurement at least every five years. And you need to verify those rates. And while it would be better if we could keep the lower rate, I agree
it's a reality. We have not gone out for new landscaping, but we do intend to after the rainy season passes. So, but we did go back out for cleaning services and it did go up about 20%. So, I just wanted to explain that to everyone. It's
just we have we've been lucky and they haven't raised the price on us, but there are month-to-month contracts. They could in theory cut it and raise their prices on us then, but they have honored them in the past. Engineering, we have returned to our base from a few years
ago. It was asked whether or not we think this is enough. Most of our engineering costs have been one-time projects that have been significant, i.e. the vulnerability assessment. This was grant this was fully grant funded. We would not have pursued it if we hadn't had the grant funding. We also
have the comprehensive plan updates. These have to be done every 5 to seven years. Those are an unfan unfunded mandate that we are required to do. So we have done those and Jim has assured me we don't have any other major non-road projects for engineering
needed. Can't say that it won't happen, but that's why we feel comfortable with this. If for if for some reason we do have another project that pops up, we will pull it from reserves and hopefully it's just a one-time project, which is great for what you can use reserves.
You're not trying to use ongoing expenses to you're not using reserves to cover ongoing um solid waste. Solid waste is a contract with the county. We have a
um special assessment fund. We It's basically a net neutral. We don't try to we're not trying to make a gain on anything. We charge we actually are charging our residents less. We're trying to keep it flat this year for the solid waste, but it is honored by the contract that we have with the county.
So, whatever the whenever their rate goes up, our rate could potentially go up, but that is tied to it. It did go up 1.22, but we were able to keep our rates flat this year. and grants. We don't
because of our demographic, getting grants can be difficult because there's a lot of more fiscally constrained areas in the state of Florida who have a much higher need for grants. But this was asked if we are pursuing. We have successfully gotten grants for road
projects in the past and I know we are contemplating especially for Fred Turk trying to get a grant for that and since it is an emergency road for our public safety we may qualify but I don't I don't budget on that we
will get it. I'd rather say we're trying to do it and have that in the future if we need it. And we were asked if we have any other major capital projects that we might what's in the budget is what I think will happen. I don't foresee any
other majors, but you can't you can't always know what you might see when something opens up or what could happen. But those were really the majority of the questions and items that I wanted to go over through the budget. And that's my presentation.
>> Well, >> well done. So, do you have any other specific questions or comments? >> Um, I had a couple of questions. >> The non-spendables being a prepaid and inventory. Can you kind of review that
just a touch for somebody that has not seen this before? >> That is an accounting term. Okay. >> So, if you have we because that's an asset, but you can't actually cash that out. That is prepaid expenditures that you've done. and inventory is that
that's really what that is. The Gazsby identifies that you need to restrict those reserves aside because you can't you can't use them to fund future operations. >> My second question uh pertains to John's Island Cemetery. Um how many plots are
there still for sale or what? >> Miss Janice, do you have time? >> Janice is actually >> I knew that. Yeah. But unfortunately, >> we have a waiting list of about 28 people. >> 28 more. >> A waiting list? >> No, waiting list. >> A waiting list to get in.
>> Yes. >> So there there's only uh earned plots that were left, right? >> No, there are some. So we embarked on a project earlier um in the season identifying those plots not used and
there very very many >> Turks ech. >> Oh, okay. So, we're trying to reach out to >> or something >> um to see what they'd like to do with those lots.
>> But right now, we have nothing available in any way, shape, or form. >> And the second question is, can can we deed it back to them? Can we deed it back to John's Island or >> We can't I just I pulled the deed out the other day and I want to say that it
has to be always used as a cemetery and believe it does go back to >> there are there are some there are some restrictions um to that relative to uh deeding it back and use
and of course um uh it it would take uh two parties of the same mind. Um, I I would say this. Um, I from from my perspective as as a town manager,
um, sorry, Janice, I don't think it would be best to give up the cemetery. From a management standpoint, I I I don't think the economics uh support what I've seen
uh Janice delivered to the residents that come in, those that they're actually theirs and they're preparing for something and you know the just the just the grace and the dignity with which she deals with those folks and then the you know then the relatives and
stuff like that that that might come in. Um I think that's an important piece and um if it was solely for an economic reason or otherwise certainly it would be cons I think it everything has to be considered. I jokingly told Janice she was the only
one legally that needed a job here. We could outsource everything, but but I think much like the postal center, I think the residents have and their
relatives uh over time have become very comfortable with having this be that place where they sit down and, you know, and and Janice is because she's been here now for a number of years and and they they just expect that kind of um I I guess warmth and and familiarity.
>> Yeah, >> essentially. >> Last question. It says cost of the cemetery are funded from plot sales, burial fees, and cemetery reserves. How how much is in the cemetery reserve ballpark? >> There is none. We actually did end up using it. So, anytime we sell it will go
into there, but it gets offset. So, we ended up draining that a few years ago. Okay. >> So, you sell a plot and then use that money to maintain. >> Yes. That's it.
>> I I just have a couple. Um there was uh on page 15 there's u insurance proceeds $356,000. What was that for? >> That was for the ambulance that um >> Oh, burned up. >> That burned up.
>> Oh, >> yeah. We're not going to get that money again. So that was a one time. >> No, I was just curious as to what it was. Um, another in in California the workers compensation has experience factor that
modifies. Is it the same here in Florida? >> It's the same here as well. >> And so what's our modification? Do you know? >> I thought it was like 1.3. I I >> I don't know. >> It's over one. >> It's You know what? I don't know 100% and I don't want to be misconstrued. I
know it was close to one, but I don't want to say one way or the other >> cuz my my recollection, it's just curiosity, but my recollection is that um you know, they they set the rates and that's based on the one and but then your experience factor can either go
above that or below that. >> I I know I experience >> Yeah, but I don't remember. >> I I just can't speak to that number as we sit here right now. >> Yeah. And I remember >> more than one less than one I should only give you a lawyer
answering, but uh I think the vicinity, but I just like I said, I didn't want to even say something uh to get your head set in a particular direction. I I think it's in that vicinity. Um I I know I'm going to be wrong. I think it's below close. >> Okay. But you're see the pants. Have you
had many industrial or claims? >> I mean, in terms of our our Yeah. our claims. >> Yes. >> Uh yeah, we do. We we we we have we have claims uh not with great frequency but with some >> okay >> regularity. Uh some
>> um you know are often you know dimminimous you know a scrape or cut something like that. Um other times what you often see with sometimes with public safety um you know back or knee issue because of a lift a move uh you know a patient >> you know type of trans
>> 1.08 >> 1.08. >> Oh so it's just about one. >> Okay. Thanks. I had to pull up the audit. >> And and lastly, on page 61, >> 61. >> Page 61, >> it's it's the planning, zoning, and
building fund budget, but down at the bottom, it says public safety function. >> So, I think that's a typo. >> Nope. Actually, that's what I explained earlier. >> You said that. >> Mhm. That's why we have in some places in the front parentheses building department, even though it's part of the building.
>> That's my bad. >> No, it's No, he did the same thing to me. reminds me annually. I'm like, why does it say that? She says we can't change it. >> Okay. >> It is a it is a function of public safety. And so, but thank you. I appreciate I'm finding Hey, if I can
find all if I can get all these typos fixed, then it makes it easier next year, too. >> Sure. >> Well, good job again. >> Thank you. And I'd like to recommend that that we uh recommend to the council that that they accept it, but I guess we
can't do that. >> No, unfortunately. But >> well, just note that we had, you know, the meeting there was no quorum. Um and of course, as in the past, um any particular like individual comments or
emails that you send to us, you know, we we'll we'll make those available to council. um >> we'll include the questions that were asked today. >> Yeah, we'll do the collective um uh piece prior to the 23rd >> I believe and how they'll coordinate.
>> Yeah, I believe we gave a time frame for all questions for the other two members um July 13th. So, we'll get we'll gather that. So, right you haven't gotten them all yet. >> We only got a set of questions from one so far. So, we'll have those and the
questions that we had today from you and if we get anything else from anybody else, we will include that in that packet and then we'll make sure the finance committee gets all those questions. >> Okay. >> And that's it. >> Thank you, Heather, for your diligence. >> I appreciate it very much.
>> And um do we we have to set a meeting another >> you know there's there's really no um meeting per se that we're having. So maybe I'll just defer to an email out about range of dates for the next
meeting. >> Well, the next one would be for the OPED calculation. >> My favorite >> your favorite calculation. >> Mark the date, >> Mr. Steven. >> What point is that? >> Um, that is usually actually January, February. So >> Oh,
>> so it's it's typically usually if I can get it in December, it would be awesome, but that's around Christmas time. So typically early January. I'm not sure if you were I I mentioned that at the audit selection committee we do our own OPED calculation in house. So traditionally I
calculate it. I have somebody come back behind me to double check to make sure I'm not misdoing something or just double-checking my calculations and then I present to the finance committee first and then it goes to the council after that. So that's usually our process for the OPED calculation and after that we
would have a meeting in March for February or March for the audit. >> Mhm. >> So that is typically what we have. Jim, do you have anything else? >> No, there's anything ex in between or anything we're otherwise required to do, you know, other than that. >> Okay.
>> Well, I appreciate >> Thank you both very much. >> All right. Pleasure for everyone's hard work. >> We're we're dismissed.