Good evening. The time is now 700 p.m. and I'll call to order the town council meeting of Tuesday, July 7th. We're going to begin with an invocation followed by a moment of silence and the pledge of allegiance. If all those that
are able, please join me in standing. >> Let us pray. Almighty God, we gather this evening grateful for the privilege of serving this community. May we be faithful stewards of the public trust, the resources entrusted to our care, and the responsibilities we have accepted.
And may our words be thoughtful, our decisions guided by wisdom, and our actions reflect our commitment to those we serve. In all that we do, may grace and peace be with us all. Amen. >> Amen. >> We will now pause for a moment of silence. Please join me in the pledge. I pledge
allegiance to the flag of the United States of America >> and to the republic with liberty and justice for all. >> May we have a roll call, please? >> Mayor Kitzky >> here. >> Vice Mayor Choy >> here. >> Councelor Gisinger >> here. >> Councelor Sunundstrom here.
>> Assistant town manager Morettto here. Town attorney Baron >> here. Okay, we begin tonight. Uh, we have a proclamation. I will be presenting uh for to recognize parks and recreation month. And I'll be presenting the
proclamation to Kristen George, director of parks and recreation, and whoever else she chooses to have join from her staff. proclaiming the month of July 2026 as Parks and Recreation Month. Whereas
parks and recreation is an integral part of communities throughout the country, including Jupiter, Florida. And whereas parks and recreation promotes health and wellness, improving the physical and mental health of people who live near parks. And whereas parks and recreation
promotes time spent in nature, which positively impacts mental health by increasing cognitive performance and well-being and alleviating illnesses such as depression, attention deficit disorders, and Alzheimer's. And whereas parks and recreation encourages physical
and social activities by providing space for sports and fitness activities, walking trails, playgrounds, waterways, open spaces, and many other activities designed to promote active lifestyles. And whereas parks and recreation
programming and education activities such as schools out and summer camps, youth sports leagues, and open playtime are critical to childhood development. And whereas parks and recreation increases a community's economic prosperity through increased property
values, expansion of the local tax base, increased tourism, the attraction and retention of businesses and crime reduction. And whereas parks and recreation are fundamental to the environmental well-being of the of our community. And
whereas our parks and natural recreation areas ensure the ecological beauty of our community and provide a place for children and adults to connect with nature. And whereas the US House of Representatives has designated July as
Parks and Recreation Month. And whereas the town of Jupiter, Florida recognizes the benefits derived from parks and recreation resources. Now therefore, I Jim Kitzky, mayor of the town of Jupiter, to hereby proclaim July 2026 as
Parks and Recreation Month, in witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal this first day of July, 20, 2026. Man, you want to join? Congratulations.
Thank you, mayor. Thank you, members of town council and the office of the town manager. I know July celebrates National Parks and Recreation Month, but here in our department, we celebrate every day what we do as servants to this community. I just want to thank you for your continued support, especially over the last several years. I've spent 26
years of my life with the town, which is almost half of my lifetime serving the community here. And I've never seen the volume of projects and programs that were continuing to offer to our residents every day as I've seen over the last two years. So that comes at in part to your support and backing the
community, backing us in what we do. We've had tremendous successes over the last two years. Today, we just broke ground on one of four new playgrounds that are breaking ground this month. We're currently replacing fields out at JCP, Jupiter Community Park. We've got new showers and drainage going in at the
beaches here within the next couple of months. Lots of projects and that's due in part again to your to your support and commitment. And I couldn't do it, we couldn't do it without this team that's here. This is just a small portion, probably about half of our team. They are committed daily whether it's out maintaining fields, you know, escorting
kids to the bathroom during summer camp, uh scheduling fitness classes for our 50 and over population. They're the ones that really put the effort into everything that we do. So for that, I ask that we give everyone a round of applause and celebrate with me on that. Thank you. >> Thank you very much to uh to you and
your staff and uh as we normally do, please I want them to feel uh compelled to stick around. They I appreciate them being here, but they may leave at their convenience. Okay. Uh we're moving on to citizen
comments. This is the time for non-aggenda items and are limited to three minutes. Anyone wishing to speak is asked to state his her name and address for the record prior to addressing town council.
Council will not discuss these items this evening. any issues that come forth will be referred to staff for investigation and report forwarded to council and the citizens will be contacted and um when you get called up I would uh
I'll point out uh under both of the uh uh screens right now it shows the time but when you're introduced um there'll be a three minute clock I would ask you to wrap up when you see it yet uh a
minute to go and we have a number of people that wish to uh speak tonight and so I'm going to be pretty diligent diligent about cutting people off at 3 minutes. So, thank you. >> Mayor, we have 24 speakers. As we call the speaker names tonight, if you'll
please use both podiums and approach as we call your name. Our first speaker is Dr. Stacy McDonald, followed by James Dohy. Mr. Kretzky and the board appreciate you having this open hall. Um, I've been
visiting here since 1976. My father lived here when it was a small town past US1 was farmland. We have always been an environmental city. The town dancers had an option to move to Carlin Park and they rejected
that. So, I have a petition with over 2591 signatures to support them moving, not to shut down. I I believe in the whole mental health and happiness of dancing. All we're asking is during turtle
nesting season to relocate and they don't understand that or they choose not to do that. So, we're asking for your help to enforce the federal and state law of protecting the endangered turtles. Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Our ne next speaker is James Dhy followed by Janine Soul followed by Donna McCay. Please approach the podium as your name is called and wait for your turn. Thank you. >> Good evening, mayor and town council. Um, be honest, I regret to even have to
bring this up and it's pretty much the same along that lines. Um, the reason why I'm here today is not because we have endangered turtles that are endangered species. What we have is a group that failed to do what they were
supposed to do. A lot of these people were here for a long time, have lived in Florida, and they they know about about this thing. We have signs everywhere. um as a former hiker and a hike leader and and I led whitewater kayak groups for uh
Appalachian Mountain Club, which is a pretty large organization. Um I knew I had to follow all state, local, and federal laws. You didn't have to tell me, I just did it. If I didn't know a law and you told me, I right away
corrected it. It never happened, though. And there there were areas we didn't kayak at certain times because the eagles would vest in certain areas. Um, this group could have simply relocated without being axed. They brought this
attention to themselves. Now they're in the uh local news. They're all over Facebook. I could tell you about a beach in Long Island very quickly. It was quiet. It was nice. It was fine until it ended up in the newspapers. It became
overcrowded. And some of the problems that that caused, the town had to shut it down. They had to stop it. And some of the problems that started to happen are now happening there. I used to go myself and used to like it. I thought it was a beautiful thing. I want to see
people go out and have a good time. I was there last May. And what I discovered was because there's not a a bathroom too nearby, not far away. They're climbing up into the dunes and they're using that for a bathroom. Um,
unfortunately, if this doesn't get stopped, we're going to invite other groups here. And I could tell you it's probably going to be a disaster. That's what I saw on Long Island in New York. It was a disaster. And uh once you open up a box, some boxes are hard to close.
So, um I'm hoping that uh in some kind of way and I don't know they're already violating laws, but I know there's some kind of loopholes or something that they're taking advantage of. So, I'm hoping that the town will maybe get with the county or the state or whatever is
necessary. I don't know what's necessary and close those loopholes or maybe make a new ordinance and get this thing to stop happening. I wouldn't care if they gave them a pavilion for free across the street or whatever. They need to be off that beach. It's not right what's going
on and that's about it. Thank you. >> As a reminder, we have the two podiums. As your name's called, please approach the podiums. We have Janine Soul, Donna McKay, followed by Stacy Carrian. Hi, Jeannie Soul. My address is 2000
South Highway A1A Jupiter. Um, I'm here to talk about the sea turtle protections. Also, um, the first speaker mentioned, you know, the Endangered Species Act. We have the Florida Marine Sea Turtle Act. Um, I personally think Jupiter and Palm Beach have been great
stewards for the sea turtles. We've been, you know, doing well with the lighting ordinances. We have very clean beaches, gorgeous beaches. We keep our dunes almost natural, beautiful dunes. So, we're doing a lot on our part. I do
think now is the time that we're going to have to put better language and better law into our ordinances. I think it's prudent. Um the speaker before mentioned, one event starts other events. And I do think this going this
is going to get a ball rolling. So, I do ask that at a minimum we get this put on a an agenda in one of the future meetings, possibly workshops to work on this. I would love to see staff directed
to create the language to set some new rules, prohibit the lighting on the beaches itself. We're doing great on streets and condos, but we need to get light in for the people on the beaches. We need to prohibit open flames. We need to prohibit the
amplified music and sound systems and possibly groups of five or more 10 or more. I think we have loggerhead experts that could help with those numbers. Um there's going to have to be exceptions obviously for education and the research
science things like that. But I think we can do better. I think it's time to look at a way to do better. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKERS ARE Donna McKay, Stacy Carrian, and Linda McDermott.
Hi, I'm Donna McKay. I live at uh Xanadoo off the beach road across from Beach Access 56. Uh several of us are big donors to the Loggerhead Marine Center. We've been involved with them for well over 10 years. Uh they know about the situation. They've spoken to
the town before. One of their comments uh they said that they are very concerned about this activity during nesting season because excessive noise people and lighting can affect the nesting. Um when we see people on the beach with lights during the night, you
know, flashlights that don't know they're from out of town, we have asked them, "Oh, hey, you know, it's nesting season. Keep the light off." Everyone always complies. Uh, so I'm I'm really shocked that this beach party has been going on for I think at least two years now, well into the dark and no one's
done anything about it. Um, Palm Beach County is aware. I haven't heard anything back from them. Uh, like the gentleman said before, we do have our there's no bathrooms in the area because it's Seabbrook, Xanadoo, and Oceanwalk. And they do go to the bathroom in the
dunes. It stinks in the morning around the when you first walk down. Um there's no reason why they can't go do this at Carlin Park or Deo or some other place. Uh and I'm just really surprised we can't even rake the beaches with to get the seaweed off with a a machine because
of turtle nesting season. We clean the beaches. We help the little turtles. Um everyone's compliant, but you know, they insist on going out there into the dark with lights and noise and people. and we just asked that the town do something to stop it because everyone in this area
knows about the sea turtles. It's it's not a secret and it's not a little thing either. And I'm from Long Island and the other gentleman said, you know, there was a problem with the beach. I know exactly what he's talking about. Uh people know not to go on the dunes there. There's nesting birds and
everyone's compliant or you want to keep the dunes up because if they erode, you know, when there's a hurricane, there's a problem. So we can't have people continuing the trapes down through the sea grapes upsetting the endangered species and wrecking the turtle nest. So we ask please take this into
consideration and and do something about it. Thank you. >> Our next speaker is Stacy Carrian, Linda McDermott, and Abraham Kum Panel. >> Hi everybody. Stacy Carrian 203 Xanadu Place. Um, thank you so much for
providing this forum for us tonight. Um, longtime Jupiter resident, I've been across the street from the beach for the past six years. I know that there's a con a perception on the part of some of the dancers and their supporters that the residents don't like the noise or we
don't want the parking or we think we own the beach. It's absolutely not the case. We move to the beach knowing full well that there's free parking across the street. Everybody has access. My house backs up to Carlin Park. I hear the the circus when it comes to town. I hear all the Shakespeare plays. I think
it's great. I love the people watching. I I don't think anybody should not have access to the beach. I think the gathering is lovely. I think the premise is lovely. The people all seem to be really nice. Um, but like Donna, I don't understand why somebody would actually
want to continue to be there when two of the three species that nest on the beach are actually endangered and the other one is threatened. Um, I did a little bit of research because I'm I'm not an expert. Um, but, uh, in 2023
um, there were over 15,000 loggerhead nests, but in 2025 there were 13,000. For the green sea turtle, it reduced in 2023 from 9137 to 7638. Leather bag hung around the
same at about 200. Um, I wanted to show you I did, this is very hastily done. I did it after work today. I went to the beach at my access and I walked all the way to 54, so past 55. And what I found
was down at exit 5if uh entrance 53 up to 54 54 nests 59 nests between the ocean and the dunes. When you get to 54 to 55 that area in between there's 34 nests. Then when you go from 55 to 56
there's 45. Then when you get back to 56 to 57 there's 60 nests. So, it's almost cut in half the two accesses that they they occupy. Every time you walk to the beach to go
down to the shore at 56, 57, the entire shelf where it goes down, tons of uh sea turtle nests. You got to be careful. Wind your way through. Um not touch anything at exit 55. And I I
please go go check it out. Straight to the beach. There's nothing. Um and and you also you can't have 300 people there and be more than 50 feet less thanif more than 50 feet away from the nests. So I believe that there's a direct impact. Turtles are spooked by
silhouettes, by sound. They hear low frequency noise. Um, and the the female turtles will actually sometimes drop their eggs in the ocean. >> Linda McDermott followed by Abraham Karen Panol and Cynthia Fasher.
>> Linda McDermott, Chadbook Drive, Jupiter. I'm so glad everybody said all of this because it gives me a little more time to say what I want to say because I agree with every bit of it. Um the last presenter really gave a very good illustration um of why there may
not be as many nests because sea turtles come here on shore. The mother leaves their eggs for us. We the people to take care of and nurture for eight weeks. They're there every minute of the day
for eight weeks. That means at night when they're stomping and dancing and putting poles in the ground for umbrellas and torches and what have you. Eight weeks, not just at night, not just in the morning. Those eggs that are underground could die because of this
activity. And we will really never know. Okay. So, the sea turtles were here first dancing can move to a more suitable location. Sea turtle natural habitats cannot. We the people must be
advocates for protecting our sea turtles and reducing threats to their natural habitats. Each nest has around a hundred hatchlings each. I want to protect them. I feel like I'm
mother nature with children. Well, we need to protect our sea turtles like we do our own pets. I have had healthy conversations with Deputy Chief Scott Kimbart here of Jupiter and I know the council as well as him continue to lead
the way to try to find a more suitable location and compromise with the stakeholders. The issue is the organizer of this group is enjoying the advertising she's getting is trying
not to compromise and delay the decisions and leaving all the actions to the town and the town has been working on it. But to me, we cannot wait for an ordinance, although we probably should.
And let's be the prize of the state and have the best ordinance there is because we have the densest sea turtle nesting grounds in the country. Let's be up there. Let's go to the state. Let's make this a national. Let's give news to us
and our sea turtle protections. The dancing needs to stop. It needs to stop now. Not just when they find a new. Stop it now. I believe a big obstacle here. Maybe
Thank you. Maybe that mile market 55 where this promoter has the dance gathering is privately owned by Oceanwalk community. Their community representative seems to support beach dancing. We need Oceanwalk residents as
advocates for our natural habitats. Thank you. >> Our next speaker is Abraham Car Panel, Cynthia Fasher, and Linda Emerson. >> My name is Abraham Kernel. I live at 17033 Brian's Way. Uh I agree with all
these gentlemen and ladies that have talked about turtles. I do care for turtles. However, there's a big contrast here. We are looking for another place. We have stopped using lights and we stop at dusk. However,
however, here comes the complaints when we have stopped that there are cars in the parking lot at 9:45 on July 4th. We were gathering after the dance. The music is stopped. We are talking as a group. The
complaint was we are still talking as a group but somehow nobody notices there was fireworks going on all around us. There is a problem. You're targeting a small group and on top of that I have been attacked as an immigrant. Let me
make it clear to you. I am an immigrant. I am brown and just because I'm not from here doesn't mean you can tell me to go back where I came from. That is absolutely not called for. I've got threats all my life. This is how you behave. I think outside people have
died. The memorial says they died so we can live in peace. I don't see peace. When I said I have a problem at the beach and I feel unsafe, they said my life was irrelevant. I'm sorry. This is not how we approach
things. This is not how we discuss and this is not how we find a solution. We are looking for another place. However, we as a group are being targeted and July 4th marked very clearly. Fireworks everywhere, but we have pointed out
we're still on the beach talking. I'm sorry. And however, yes, I'm an immigrant. I came from India. But originally, I'm from the Middle East. But my ancestors came with Thomas the
disciple and that's why my name is Abraham and I can tell you about 2,000 years of immigration how we are still good where we at. Thank you very much. >> Our next speaker is Cynthia Fasher followed by Linda Emerson and Meg
Robinson. >> Good evening Mayor and council members. Before I begin, um I just want to say that I do not believe that the dancing and music is a direct portrayal of uh
chastising immigrants or anything like this. I think it is all because of the turtles. Be that as it may, my name is Cynthia Frasier and I live in Juno Beach. I'm here tonight because I'm concerned that the large organized gathering continues to take place on our
beach every Saturday during sea turtle nesting season. This issue has been raised publicly. Residents have spoken out and we've heard from conservation professionals that large crowds and concentrated activity on the beach can
discourage a female sea turtle from coming ashore to nest. Every Saturday night, the gatherings continue. I want to be clear. I'm not against dancing. I'm not against music, gathering, and enjoying themselves. My
question is simple. Why does it have to happen there? Why during the months when sea turtles are coming to shore to nest, can this gathering not simply move somewhere else? And there has been places that they can go.
This is not a few friends quietly watching the sunset. This is a reoccurring gathering at the same place and same time every Saturday night with music, dancing, and large numbers of people concentrated into one area. So I
think it's fair to ask at what point does a gathering become an event? I am asking this council I'm asking this council to determine who has jurisdiction over these reoccurring gatherings, what
regulations currently apply, and what can be done either by town or in cooperation with Palm Beach County to protect nesting beaches from large organized gathering during turtle nesting season. This does not need to be
complicated or confrontational. Let them dance. Let's gather. Let's enjoy our community. Not just on a sea turtle nesting beach during nesting season. We have other places to go. The turtles do not. Thank
you. Our next speaker is Linda Emerson, followed by Meg Robinson and Jason Willen Brink. As a reminder, please approach when your name is called to the podiums. Thank you. >> Hi, council. Um, thank you so much for
listening to all of us this evening. I'm deeply encouraged by uh the amount of knowledge and uh facts and rational um communication regarding this issue. Linda Emerson, 3900 County Line Road.
I'm a coastal environmental scientist and educator. State permitted uh by the state of Florida to lead guided sea turtle nesting walks for four years. So I was out there for four years, four nights uh of the week. Um two years at
Blowing Rocks Preserve and two years at Loggerhead Marine Life Center. Our town has something incredibly special. A worldrenowned sea turtle nesting beach. It's something we can all be proud of. Or as the town might say, it's uniquely Jupiter. There are two reasons we started the
Marine Life Center: research and education. As we learn more over the years, we realize just how critical Jupiter's stretch of coast is to loggerheads, greens, and leatherbacks. We learned that the density of nests is an average of almost one every 5t. And
when genetic testing was developed, we learned that the loggerheads who nest on our beach and swim to the Mediterranean to grow up as juveniles return here to the same beach where they were hatched. We learn more about sea turtle conservation every year.
Regarding this issue, I saw a news clip where the son of the dancing group leader questioned the oceanfront building just south of Carlin Park. U that's the reef club and for those of us who are locals, we call it the ranch. that um it was it was uh but the question was
posed more like a challenge like if that building is there we're not doing anything worse but that building was built before the endangered species act before we knew better. Um it was before we learned what we know now about the importance of the dunes and the importance of our local nesting beach. A
comment also on that group page said, "The marine life center takes large groups and equated that with the dancers, but guided walks are highly regulated with only two trained scouts walking and watching in the dark with a night scope until a female emerges. Uh they stay a good distance away and only
bring the group along when she is uh actually uh digging the nest cavity and about to to drop her eggs. The dance group has tried to make it seem like those uh supporting sea turtles object to dancing when it's never been that. It's always been the location of the dancing and the
important time of years. Do we need more regulations and enforcement because of one group? I hope not. We have a community that respects and cares deeply about sea turtles. A recent post on the dancing uh page said the attendance was down. Quote, "I know many of you are lying low until this blows over, but
maybe it's something else. Maybe some people in that group have come to see how harmful it is and decide to do the right thing. I personally know someone who fits that description and that's what we need to do the right thing. >> Our next speaker is Meg Robinson
followed by Jason Willenbrink and Elizabeth Murray. >> Okay. Hello. I'm not much of a speaker so here we go. Um my name is Meg Robinson. Um, I live in 1902 Windsor Drive and I've been living in Jupiter for about 30 years and I've done volunteer work with the turtles with
Loggerhead, Blowing Rock and um up in Hope Sound. Uh, one thing I was I was a guide up in Alaska for a couple of years taking people out to Glacier Bay National Park and one thing that we did was we knew exactly what the rules were.
We knew where to take our people, when to bring them out. We knew where we were allowed to go, we were not allowed to go. And I feel that Jupiter needs to have things cut and dry so that we know exactly what is allowed on the beach so that there's no gray area. This is
allowed during turtle nesting season. This is not allowed during turtle nesting season. Um, and I feel that if um, you know, if we knew exactly what um, what is allowed, then I think things would be a lot more clear. And I also
feel that it won't invite other parties to come into the beach say who may want to have a um a drum circle or whatever you know after dark. So that that's my input there. Um also uh I used to work in the Juno Beach Pier and that is run
by Loggerhead Marine Life Center. Their pier closes at sunset and opens up in um at sunrise. So, there's a reason why they shut their lights off, why they get the people off the pier during these particular hours. And uh and if you ever
try to get a group of fishermen off the pier when the bite is on at sun at sunset, you know, you know, we can get the people off the beach who are dancing. So, uh that's my input. Um I I don't, you know, I I don't have a problem with people enjoying themselves and so forth like the rest of the group
here. It's just the timing and the location. Thank you. Our next speaker is Jason Lillenbrink followed by Elizabeth Murray and Melinda H. Hearnden. >> Uh Jason will bring 7,000 block military
trail. I'm a native Floridaidian of 55 years. I've seen it all um out on the beaches in the ocean. Um I'm totally against this beach dancing at number 55 uh put on by this lady forelli the organizer. Uh, one of my first concerns
is, uh, she's like advertising these large gatherings with hundreds and hundreds of people on all these Facebook groups throughout South Florida. I'm not I'm not sure if you're all aware of that or not. Okay. When you have a large gathering and according to town code,
where is this lady's permit? Where is this permit? Look it up. I've looked it up. 44 signatures. The other one has 1,488 signatures. Also, um I control a couple
Facebook groups dealing. One of them is called that I've had for 10 years called Jupiter Dog Beach Sharks Teeth Group. I have like 5,000 and so commenting on my website on Jupiter Dog Beach totally against this beach dancing. This
lady and her group is the laugh and stock of South Florida and Palm Beach County right now and something needs to be done and shut down. I've contacted also our congressmen, our state senators. I've gone all the way to Tallahassee on this matter. If I have to
get Governor DeSantis involved in it, myself and my groups will. Um, I'm asking that the city council ban this all together year round out there and make a town law to get rid of them. They
can go dance at the pavilions across from the pier there, Carlin Park, anywhere else. they can go back to Europe or wherever half of them are from because apparently they don't know Florida and what we have out there that's special. The sea turtles and all the nesting grounds that they're
stomping, kicking sand on for 4 and a half or 4 hours every Saturday night from 6:00 to 10:30. They're out there with lanterns, drums, music, lights, and then you put 150 to 250 cell phone lights out there, too, and you have a
disaster. I mean, and they're out there, I mean, stomping, kicking like this. Watch their videos. Uh, and that's about all I had to say on this matter. Thank you. >> Our next speaker is Elizabeth Murray, followed by Melinda Hearnden, followed
by David Eufelder. >> Hi, my name is Elizabeth Murray, 100 Paradise Harbor Boulevard, North Palm Beach. Um, first of all, I'm all for love, peace, and the American way or whatever,
but um, I'm not against dancing. I like dancing. I used to go to the safari club and go dancing. Uh, I'm pro turtle. I am more pro turtle than going to the beach to dance.
Um so I believe in conservation and it's not about restricting them from their activities just asking them to adjust their activities to make it more possible to do the conservation of the turtles. Um
some of the issues that the for the speaker just mentioned are about um the behavior and they accuse some of the people who are not in favor of what they're doing um as being haters
um all kinds of bad things about us. And it's really not true. Uh what it is is it's a classic tactic used by charismatic leaders who want to divide and conquer so that they can
uh get their agenda met by you know having their followers agree with them and then start you know problems between the groups. And really it's not that that's not what it's really about at all. Um what this is is uh it's called
what aboutism. It's misdirecting the rhetoric. Um diverting attention from the original criticism which would be saying you know don't go to the beach and dance at night during uh turtle nesting season and then they say well
you hate us because we like to dance. And that's not the case at all. Um, and it's a classic technique used to control and manipulate people and it appears to be working. So, um, it's a toxic
behavior, but it ends up resulting in some sort of a a plot or a plan that these people want to do. They don't want to have accountability for what they're really doing, so they want to gaslight
everybody else. And I believe that I I decided to focus on the social aspect of it because all the scientific information had already been given. Also, um there was an old TV commercial. A lot of you are young, but you don't
you won't remember this, but some of you might. If turtles could talk, they'd say, "Get off my sand." Remember that commercial? Our next speaker is Melinda H. Hearnden followed by David Eupfelder and Lori
Bertrand. Melinda Hernen, 200 Beach Road. Um, I've lived many places on Earth, but Jupiter is the best because of the fortunate intersection of nature, kind people, and true freedom. And I'm here to speak about turtle welfare because I'm
genuinely interested in it. Um, and I think we're paying attention to the wrong problems. Uh, did you know that 100 people dancing for 4 hours once a week on a thousand square ft spot of beach presents a risk factor to nesting
and live bursts of 3/10en of 1%. As opposed to walking dogs off a leash on a beach, which has 150 time greater risk factor to those two situations. and most painfully and the the
organization which we adore. Um but the loggerhead Marine Center has some very important work to do because the highest risk to the nesting and to the life birth of turtles has to do with their ATV activities and this creates a 400
time greater risk proposition to uh that versus the happy beach dancers. So, this is something that can get resolved by a foot uh uh foot patrol. Uh it can also get resolved by better driving patterns.
You've all seen the marks. You've seen the way the ATVs drive on the beach. This is the number one problem for live bursts and for mess. Uh it you cannot have compacted sand and have success in this area. Um and we're blessed to have
them. But, you know, please remember they're a post-t trauma organization and we need to consider how to avoid the post-t trauma uh the pre-trauma in their daily efforts. So, you know, we can take these two actions to improve that outcome for nest and live births. But
I'm a big advocate of uh marine prop guards. 40% of our turtle population is decimated and they are there to attend to them. Thank goodness for them for that purpose. But let's mitigate against that issue in the first place. Uh marine
prop guards are taking out 40% of our turtles. This is the fundamental underlying problem. And if I am interested, my personal position on this is I choose kindness, freedom, conservation, and equal measure. And I know it's possible if we pay attention to the right things. And I have a few of
these outside. If you're interested in meaningful next steps, everybody would contact and how we can get the ball rolling on a powerful basis for fundamental change that will affect the outcome of the number of turtles, uh, the safety of the nest and the number of
live births. Thank you. >> Our next speaker is David Eufelder, followed by Lorie Bertrand and Linda Smith. >> Good evening, commissioners. Thank you for letting me speak tonight. I'm a Florida native. I was born in Good
Samaritan Hospital 75 years ago. I'm a n I have lived in Jupiter for 40 years. I have been on the beach committee for 10 years and I'm now the chairman of the beach committee. I'm here to talk about several issues and
the main one is that this turtle situations is we are speaking for the turtles. They can't talk for themselves. We have to protect them. One of the missions or the the reason the beach committee exists is to aid the
commission in coming in solving issues like this. The last time we were involved was the straws where they were trying to ban the straws on the beach which incidentally is a problem for the turtles as well. So I'm suggesting that
what we do is try to channel all this discussion and help the commission and work let them work let these everybody work through the beach committee to come up with solutions and then we can help present those solutions to the commission because I know you have a lot of issues to deal with but that's what
we are here for from my understanding. So that's why I'm here tonight to offer those services. I can't necessarily speak on behalf of all of them, but we have discussed this, but it's we haven't been able to do this in a concise manner. And having possibly a commissioner once in a while, especially
during these discussions, we I propose is to maybe come to the beach committee and help us discuss this together and come up with a solid proposal to stop this situation from occurring. Thank you. Our
next speaker is Lori Bertrand, followed by Linda Smith and Elena Fedo. As a reminder, please state your name and address for the record. Hi, I'm Lori Bailey Bertrand. I live at 504 North Lockahhatchee Drive. Been in Jupiter for
close to 30 years. Um, I've been to the beach dancing um situation about four to five times. I just go with my dogs, kind of sit away from the crowd just to relax. People come up and meet my dogs
and pet them. Some of you know them and know how cute they are. So that's why we go. In the few times that I've been there, I've only seen 20 to 30 people there. I haven't seen anything near 100 or 300. The last time I went was a few
weeks ago before all of this um controversy started and I didn't even realize that it was turtle nesting season, but then I saw that the nests were marked. I do understand the concern for the turtles and I think that we
should protect them and their nests. I advocate protecting them. I actually, you may not know this, but I obtained an LLM in environmental law in 2012, and my goal was to work with
endangered species. So, if I can do anything to assist in this regard, I would be happy to do this. I think we should approach this in a more factual manner. There's been a lot of attacks of people personally. I don't think we get
anything done in that regard. I think we need to look at it as fact-based and what our goal is here. I've seen a lot of um hateful things on social media. And I would also like to say that when I was last there a few weeks ago that the
Jupiter Police Department was riding around on an ATV and I did not think that that was very helpful to the turtlene if they need to monitor the situation. I do believe that they should be walking rather than
riding on ATVs. Thank you. >> Our next speaker is Linda Smith, followed by Elena Fedo and Penny Payne. >> Hello, Linda Smith, Sierra Club Lockxahhatche Group environmental chair
uh Jupiter, Florida via Rio. I'm going to talk a little bit about the beach party. Your strategic plan under green and blue open spaces. It says, "Encourage good stewardship and maintenance of the town's natural resources." We can all agree that
Jupiter's beaches are fabulous, and they're critical to Jupiter, our identity. When I refer to our beaches, I include the birds, fish, crabs, shellfish, and the sea turtles. We need to be good stewards to all of it, no
matter whose jurisdiction it is in. Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, they manage strict lighting and beach activities and to prevent disturbances during nesting season. I think that's a big part of
this whole criticism. Palm Beach County's Unified Development Code also addresses these issues. Is there a permit? Do they need a permit? um if um FDAP, FWC, Alphabet Soup, and PBCM
don't have the resources to enforce their regulations and laws. I hope Jupiter will fill in the gap. Just today, Commissioner Marino said in public that this is not in her jurisdiction. Okay, I don't know. Um,
so listen to the experts. The ones at Loggerhead are the ones that are most expert in the area. Craft an ordinance as soon as possible. There's no reason not to have an ordinance in the books, even if you don't have to use it. And
uh, I cannot fathom the benefit to the town. I think it gives Jupiter a black eye. Please stop it at least until October 31st and be a hero. So now I'm going to switch topics because I don't come too often. I want to thank you and all the single family
residents in Jupiter who religiously recycle. I remind everyone to reread the instructions on the bin because they're there. But you knew there'd be a butt. Commercial
and multifamily recycling is virtually non-existent. Palm Beach County is proposing a 1.5 billion, that is with a B, incinerator. And we're all going to be paying for that. And we're all going to be paying to be able to pollute more. Uh we need
to protect all of our natural resources. Yes, the beaches, but also that aluminum can, that cardboard box. Yes, there's a Solid Waste Authority drop off down on Military Trail. it's not usually on the way to going to someplace. So, please
consider some recycling collection points in populated areas, maybe um in regularly used areas, maybe next to the yellow clothing bin. Thank you. >> Our next speaker is Elena Fedo, followed
by Penny Payne and Anita Sade. Good evening, Elena Fedto. I am an admin of Jupiter's largest local Facebook group. We have 40,700 members and over the past several months
I have watched this issue bring a lot of division to our community. Mayor, I really appreciated your comments at the last meeting where you recognized that this isn't about just one group. This is also about future groups.
And there will always be new gatherings. There will always be new new organizers and new activities. I really appreciate the council's willingness to bring clarity regarding amplified sound, large organized gatherings, consistently scheduled and
widely promoted events, and when permits should be required. I asked the council to consider science-based protections that include reasonable limits on amplified sound, restrictions on fireworks during turtle
nesting season, thoughtful management of nighttime beach activity, and educational signage at every public beach access. These are not new ideas. Communities such as Valuchia County and
Pon Inlet have prohibited fireworks on their beaches. And the city of Naples has embraced public education through its lights out for sea turtles campaign and educational materials explaining why
artificial lighting threatens sea turtles. Clear science-based ordinances and public education will benefit everyone. They will provide residents, visitors, and conservation groups, and law enforcement with the same clear
expectations while helping protect one of Jupiter's greatest natural resources. I'll close with a personal reflection. Many Christians know that God's word to mankind is, "Be fruitful and multiply."
What stands out to me is that before God spoke those words to humanity, he first spoke them over the creatures of the sea. He said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the waters in the seas.
Thank you for protecting our mother sea turtles and allowing them to carry out God's commands. Thank you." Our next speaker is Penny Payne, followed by Anita Sade and Lisa Stack. Um, I came up for my mother. I'm
speaking for I think she might have checked the wrong box on the green paper. My name is Lisa Stack. Okay. >> Her name is Anita Sad. She's not speaking. >> Okay. Thank you. If you'll wait till your Of course. >> Good evening, mayor and counselors. My
name is Penny Payne and I'm a lifelong resident of Palm Beach County. I'm here tonight to speak on a matter that requires immediate decisive division, sorry, decisive action and unpermitted large-scale social gatherings and free form dance events taking place on our Jupiter beaches, especially on Saturday
evenings. This is not an attack on the casual use of our beaches, nor is it a rigid demand to disallow social endeavors, community expression, dance, or wellness circles. 17,400,045. That's the amount of money that's been invested over the last 10 years. All to
be negated by one group. Our ask one standard for our sands JPD and FWC to know the ordinances to respond and to enforce a review and an update of the code and mandates to address the
concerns today and future as related to our community's resources, residents, and sustainability. and if need be through the beach committee a task force to review and make recommendations for the ecological regulatory and legal necessity for
coastal enforcement. Florida Atlantic University, the University of Florida, the University of Central Florida, Nov Nova Southern University, University of Miami, and similar research centers all agree that relocation and continued protection of our natural resources are
essential. The conflict before you arose before a periodic and regularly recurring human activity directly threatened federally protected endangered species on our local shores, systematically bypassed public health
laws, and flagrantly violated basic municipal ordinances. When the line was crossed, it ceased to be a harmless community gathering and became an ongoing regulatory violation. It is our collective responsibility as residents and your explicit duty as our governing
body to step in. In 1966, the Jupiter Town Council first established to prevent activities that obliterate our marine nursery systems. This body, forgive me, this body of exhausted research started by Elellanar Fletcher,
the local researcher who founded what would eventually become the Loggerhead Marine Center, eventually became the Palm Beach County's Unified Land Development Code. And with that, the Sea Turtle Protection Zone, you know it, to be protecting our beaches and our nesting March 1st
through October 31st. We have both considered the peaceful intent of the gatherings of happy dancing and that a nighttime beach event that utilizes amplified sound or unauthorized activities such as the happy beach dancing group causes a nesting female to spook and abandon her nesting attempt.
The activities transition from a simple municipal noise nuisance to a severe violation of local, state, and federal law. I'll just mention a few other laws. the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the Florida Marine Turtle Protection Act
codified under section 379 2431, and I just want to mention that the town municipal code section 13201 and the county ordinance article 14 section 3, I believe, all protect us. Thank you for
your time. Our next speaker is Lisa Stat, followed by Tyler Severs. Hi, thank you for letting me speak tonight. My name is Lisa Stack. My address is 420 Celestial Way, apartment
302, Juno Beach, Florida. Um, there are other challenges that our sea turtles already face that make protecting every successful nest even more important. Beach erosion continues to shrink and alter the nesting habitat
that female turtles have relied on for generations. In some areas, excessive seaggrass and algae growth can also affect the health of our coastal ecosystem and the nearshore habitat that turtles depend on for feeding and survival.
These environmental pressures are already working against them. We can't control every natural challenge, but we can control the human activities that add even more stress during the short and critical nesting season. If we truly
want to protect Jupiter sea turtles, we need to address every avoidable disturb disturbance. Giving nesting females a quiet, dark, undisturbed beach is one of the simplest and most effective things that we can do.
When history books look back, I hope it will say that our community chose conservation over convenience and stewardship over short-term entertainment. Thank you. >> Our next speaker is Tyler Severs. >> Good evening, uh, town council. Uh,
unlike a lot of the other people here, I'm not a resident from, uh, Jupiter. I actually come from Boca Raton. Uh but I was pointed to this issue by a colleague and on Facebook and several uh the Jupiter residents on Facebook uh reached out to me and asked for me to drive the
hour and a half here uh so I could speak because of my unique experience. Uh give you some background on my qualifications. I have been a career park ranger for both state, city, and county governments. I've also been an educator in environmental sciences and worked for the Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources
Management. I've done hundreds of sea turtle walks. I have rescued and rehabilitated sea turtles uh personally and I've been an enforcement uh in the law enforcement sector with uh enforcing ordinances rules uh for several city organizations uh including uh Deerfield
Beach and other cities that have sea turtle nesting season. I've issued citations. I've removed people and I've issued warnings for bonfires, music, crowd control, all these things that happens on every beach. So, I was kind of baffled when I learned about this
situation up here in Jupiter. Um, I've never seen any group that was as stubborn as this group seems to be uh in complying. I have no problem with them doing, and I'm sure a lot of other people here have no problem doing what they're doing as long as they do it
before sunset. Uh, and as long as they don't have lights or music. Uh, I have personally myself seen sea turtles turn around and head back into the water at a mere flashlight. uh hundreds of yards away down the beach. So to say that dancing is not going to affect them is
just ridiculous. Um the whole what aboutism and thing like stuff like that with fireworks and I don't unfortunately that uh lady left but the talking about the tracks of the ATVs is absurd. Um, in fact, I don't know obviously what the
town of Jupiter Police Department uses on their ATVs, but every ATV I've ever driven on the beach has special tires that are specifically designed to be driven on the beach. And all of this is done to protect sea turtles. So, this group seems to be misguided. And I don't
understand why this hasn't been uh a solution hasn't been presented uh yet. So hopefully what I'm hoping you guys will do is look to other cities such as Bokeh, Deerfield, uh Miami Beach, Naples, dozens and dozens of other cities, counties across Florida that
have ordinances that prevent groups like this from uh participating during sea turtle nesting season and take their word for it. Not ours, not uh other visitors. go to their Facebook page and they're talking about 300 people attending attended their event last time
and they have videos and showing the music and stuff. I don't understand why this has been such a big deal, but I'm hoping that these uh solutions will come about by writing these ordinances to prevent this because as other people said, this is just the first group. It won't be the last group. Thank you,
>> mayor. That was our last speaker. We do have four cards that did not wish to speak. Anita Sade, Gwen Said, Daren Scorgorge, and Sophie Robinson. All with a note to save the turtles in the beach. >> Thank you. >> Okay. um as we wrap up citizen comments
and I had indicated that we won't be discussing these matters tonight but just want those that took the time to come here tonight uh we appreciate uh I think every one of us on the dis every single person that spoke I was writing
down notes so uh we uh we appreciate everybody's inputs and thoughts um we we're taking this matter very seriously we're looking into uh what perspective regulations need to be
enhanced um so that um in the future this could be uh dealt with quicker than we have. I know that our police have been putting a lot of time on this trying to work with the group. Um and um and I'll acknowledge and that and chair
I'm just surprised that they're being as stubborn as they are as well. Um, but we are taking this very seriously as a council. We're taking this very seriously as as a council and uh I know our staff's been
working. We we each meet individually with our town manager and get updates on this. Um, and I think it probably will be the case that uh others beyond our uh jurisdiction may need to kind of weigh in with regulations uh uh to really do
this properly. um because if those existed already we would have been able to take action and and they don't. So uh um again appreciate everybody's time. Just want to assure you you've heard been heard
but we all value uh our environment and uh cherish the fact that sea turtles have chosen Jupiter to nest at. It makes makes us it's one of the many many things that make us special. So, thank you for coming out and uh we're going to
move on with our regular meeting. So, if those that would like to leave, go ahead because we're not going to be discussing it any further. Two minute rest. >> Sure. Honestly, I can't even see a stocking.
Okay. Uh, I know one of our council members stepped out, but we do have a quorum. So, I'll just let me just move. We have before us the minutes of uh the um June 16th town council meeting and June
18th workshop. And there's some corrections on the dis for the June 16th meeting. And I'll take a if there's no other corrections, I'll take a motion in a second to approve the revised minutes of the 16th meeting and the minutes of
the 18th workshop. >> Motion to approve the minutes as amended. >> Second. >> Motion to second. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. Motion carries unanimously with uh councelor Geisinger just having stepped
out momentarily and he'll be he'll be joining us back. Um moving on to the consent agenda and I'll wait until he's back to we proceed with it but was there any member of the public that wish to pull a consent agenda item?
>> No sir. >> Uh any member on the DIS wish to pull one? >> Yes, mayor. Item six, please. >> Um, and I was going to pull number 11. >> And I'm gonna pull three and 12.
>> Three and 12. >> Correct. So when uh we have a request to pull agenda items 3, 6, 11, and 12. Councelor Gising, did
you have any other agenda items, too? Seeing none, I'll take a motion and a second to approve the amended consent agenda excluding items 3, 6, 11, and 12. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor signify by
saying I. >> I. >> I. >> I. Motion carries four to zero. Okay. Moving on to uh the first item pulled U ordinance 29 26 I from I think it was from councelor
Senstöm. >> Correct. Thank you. I just had a quick question um for for these fees. I see that we're going to be looking at it in 2030. These are one-time fees. Why would they not be attached to CPI? And do others typically
do that? Others do do that and currently um Palm Beach County does do that. Uh they they allow for CPI because the department is so new. Uh we want to go back and re-evaluate uh in the next few years to
re-evaluate the the fee itself. Uh this is based on current data that we have in building the department, the fire department. Uh so we felt that it would be necessary in the next few years to come back and re-evaluate uh to set the fee properly.
>> Okay. Okay, thank you. That's it. >> Um, nothing else. I'll take a motion, a second on ordinance 2926. >> Motion to approve ordinance 2926. >> I'll second. >> And it asks town attorney to read ordinance 2926. Ordinance 2926, an
ordinance of the town of Jupiter, Florida, creating article 9, chapter 24 of the town of Jupiter code of ordinances entitled fire rescue impact fee providing for the imposition of an impact fee beginning October 1, 2026 on land development in the town of Jupiter
to provide for the funding of capital expenditures associated with the construction or improvements of public facilities and fire department and emergency medical services vehicles necessitated ated by new development. Providing for intent and purpose of as
authorized by section 16331801 Florida statutes providing for computation of the amount of fire service services impact fees. Providing for the payment of fire services impact fee as the prerequisite for issuance of a building permit. Providing for the
periodic review and adjustment of the impact fee. Providing methods for payment of the fee. Providing for the placement of revenue collected from fire rescue impact fees into a fire rescue impact fee trust fund established for that purpose. Providing for the limitation of expenditure of funds from
the fire services trust funds to certain capital costs. Providing for exemptions and credits. Providing for refund of unexpended fire rescue impact fees. Providing for codification. Providing for the repeal of laws in conflict. Providing for severability. Providing an
effective date. Got a motion and a second on ordinance 2926. All in favor signify by saying I. I. >> I. Motion carries 40. Um I missed an item on the consent agenda and I just
think I should still bring it up. Res agenda item four was the quasi judicial. Uh does council have any exparte disclosures on that item? >> None. >> No. >> No. >> None. And I thought that was the case, but I should need to get it on the
record. Moving on to number six, pull by assistant town manager. Um, I think you want to give us an update on that. >> Yes, mayor. Staff would just like to request that council consider moving the start time to 6:30 p.m. to allow for a
CRA budget workshop at 6:00 prior to the council workshop. take a um motion >> and approve 6:30 start time. >> Is that make it a motion? >> Yeah. To approve a change to the 6:30 start time for that workshop.
>> Okay. Second. A second. >> Second. >> Motion a second. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Motion carries unanimously. Moving on to uh agenda item 11, resolution 7226.
Uh, I pulled this item. Um, I pulled this item and I had asked and gotten answers to my questions and I appreciate that response from staff. Uh, but uh, I'm not supportive of
issuing an award a contract to Calvin Gardano and Associates. You know, my concern was the fact that uh um their bill rates were 47
to 106% higher than the number one ranked bidder. The 106% was would be to uh during disaster events and what have you. I just feel uh and I appreciate they would be used staff indicated as a
last resort. there's an obligation to to statutory obligations to do certain functions. I I just don't feel right about the possibility of uh you know in a disaster situation using somebody that's 106%
times you know what the you know the normal base rate is. Um, and I just wouldn't want to get into a situation particularly with some of that might even be FEMA recoverable. So I I I'd rather I would rather not. So
I will not be support I will gladly support a contract award to uh the first two uh uh but not to Calvaj or Donno. So I just turn it to council. And I didn't really have any questions. You did answer. Thank you. >> I'd like to ask one question. Is there
any advantage having two contractors versus three? It looks like this third contractor um CGA just regurgitated our proposal back what we'd be willing to pay as opposed to give them what their price would be. So
>> uh the only advantage is the u it's hard to find licensed people in each each discipline. So, if we're short on, let's say, electrical plants examiner and I can't
get one from UEES or CAP, they would be our last resort to try and bring somebody in so we can continue to uh get the permits out. >> May I ask how often that happens? >> Not very often. Um
I I don't remember the last time we actually used Calvin Geodarno. We have them on contract right now. Um, but I don't think we've we have used them the past eight years.
So based on that, I would I'd be okay leaving them on since it the opportunity for using seems to be small >> and in case of a natural disaster, it would be beneficial to have three. So, I'd be supportive of the resolution as written. So, >> I agree with that. I think it's
important to have the redundancy. Um, I agree with the mayor. The pricing um is just advantageous, but it's helpful to just have them as a tool if if it ever comes to that. And it's good to hear that we haven't had to have those prices
yet. So, thank you. I agree with the mayor on the on the pricing, but I do agree we have to have something in the toolbox in case it's necessary. So, I would support it. >> Take a motion and a second. Resolution 7226.
>> Motion to approve resolution 7226. >> Second. >> Motion a second. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed? Nay. The motion passes 3 to one with uh Mayor Caresky dissenting.
Moving on to number 12. I believe it was pulled by councelor Sunstrom. >> Correct. Um I am being told that we should try to postpone this item. The school district needs more time for review. Um so with that, I'd like to make a motion to postpone resolution
9026. >> I'll second. Motion second. Uh all in favor signify by saying I. I. >> I. >> Motion carries unanimously. Moving on to uh reports. Town attorney.
>> I have no report this evening. Thank you, mayor. >> Town manager. >> Yes, mayor. I have a couple of updates for the council. Um, as you all may have heard and hopefully have, two members of the Jupiter Fire Rescue Team recently
deployed to Venezuela with Florida Task Force 2, which is a specialized urban search and rescue unit uh, deployed by FEMA to assist with recovery efforts after the devastating earthquakes that hit that country. Division Chief Robert Ramirez and Captain Kenneth Olsen left
on June 26 and then safely returned this past Sunday, July 5th. While there, Chief Ramirez and Captain Olsen worked 12-hour shifts and helped to locate individuals buried under collapsed buildings. Chief Ramirez and Captain Olsen are getting some well- earned rest
tonight, but we'll be sure to bring them to a council meeting in the near future to recognize their their efforts. Next week, the Jupiter Police Department will partner with the Florida Department of Transportation for Operation Southern Slowdown. This campaign will involve
officers conducting additional awareness and enforcement efforts regarding speed limits and aggressive driving. And I wanted to remind the council that next Thursday, July 16th, the town will hold a dedication ceremony for the
statue at our recently um dedicated police memorial. The ceremony will be held outside of the Jupiter Police Department building and will begin at 3 p.m. I'm also happy to announce that the town recently completed three more high visibility crosswalks around town,
bringing the total uh for this project to 15. The new crosswalks were installed along Heights Boulevard, Jupiter Lakes Boulevard, and University Drive. And they include flashing lights to better alert drivers when pedestrians are in the crosswalk. And as you're all aware, this is part of one of our strategic
initiatives aimed at improving pedestrian and bicyclist safety within the town. Uh, another announcement uh, of good news. For the fourth consecutive year, the utilities department was selected as utility of the future today by the water
environment federation. This award is based on the town's commitment to innovation and excellence in utility management. So, congratulations to our utilities team. And finally, I'd like to recognize some of our employees who are celebrating milestone work anniversaries with the
town in July. Two of our police officers, Brandon Lowe and Matt Hobby, are both celebrating 10 years of service. Meanwhile, Kelly Hills, a building support specialists, and Paul Reick, one of our code compliance officers, are also celebrating 10 years with the town. and CJ Lan, the town's
traffic engineer, and Mike Low, one of our engineering inspectors, are both celebrating 20 years, as am I. So, that's all I have. Mayor, thank you. >> Thank you. Uh, Council Ger, >> I just want to add one thing. Um, some
of you may already know this, but, uh, I'd like to recognize our Jupiter area public schools. Last Wednesday, the Florida Department of Education released their school ratings for the 2025.6 six school year and proud to report that Jupiter public area schools received an
A rating which I believe is a first for the community. Uh congratulations to our students, teachers, staff and school leadership for their hard work and dedication achieving this outstanding m milestone. This is a remarkable accomplishment and the entire community should be proud. I've also requested in
the future that uh our district representative on the school board, Mark Lane, come and make a presentation and maybe bring some of the local high school leadership here for that. And that'll probably be uh planned sometime in the fall when school returns. So that's all I have.
>> Thank you, Councelor Sstrom. >> Lots of good news all around. Uh, I just wanted to report and I'm sure you all know already, but we were able to get um six of eight of our appropriations requests, which is wonderful news. Um, two of the projects that we didn't get,
one of them was the athletic field repairs, and there will be a report um circulated to you, but the county has its final legislative report with all appropriations requests across the county as well as what was vetoed. So you can see some trends and every single
request to do with parks or recreation was vetoed. So it's not just us, it's everyone. Um >> the other one was um traffic signal preeemption. We were able and I'm so excited to say that we're getting the Tony Pennan Central Boulevard intersection improvements. That's a
really important one. Um and so that's wonderful to hear, but some of the signal preemption was also vetoed out in other communities as well. So, you'll be getting that tomorrow and we're thrilled. I understand that our lobbyists may be coming to a future meeting. It may be the next meeting or down the line, but we want to thank all
of our representatives, all of our senators who fought so hard for us and for these appropriations. Um, and I also want to thank just everyone that came out tonight. You know, we we don't typically comment during public comment. We but we do occasionally make comments
now during our our comment period, which is council comments at the ends of meetings. So, in case anyone's watching tonight, I just want to say thank you. I want to thank you for coming. I want to thank you for sharing your perspectives um and ideas. Some of these ideas are new to me. I I thought I had collected
most of them from social media, but some of them I'm hearing for the first time tonight. So, we are working hard on this as the mayor said, and our JPD I'm very thankful for sitting here right now, was here the whole meeting, listening to everything. Um has been on top of it
truly. So, we are working very hard on this. We're very aware, we're listening. Thank you. And thank you for being so respectful. I thought it was a really um good evening and very helpful to us. So, thank you, >> Vice Mayor. >> Thank you. Um I want to repeat Council
Sunstrom. I was very proud of the respect that was shown in the council this evening. Many, many opinions have come forward, a lot of nuance, which was very interesting, and I appreciate that. Um,
it has to be a priority for the town of Jupiter. There's no question. And I think the passion on the council um will help demonstrate that a solution has to come forward and a solution needs to come forward sooner rather than later. Um, want to congratulate Parks
and Rex again. Um, I believe the unique Jupiter that we have comes from our parks and Rex, our staff. um the quality of life that we can offer um in addition to what we're what we heard tonight. I
think for me sitting here brings back we are uniquely Jupiter and we will solve what has to come about whether it's an ordinance code we'll all work together and congratulations to all of our staff um the long-term staff members um I
don't know if there's another municipality town city that can hold the record against Jupiter um the staff is amazing and I want to thank you all and the Jupiter Police department. I was so glad to hear the gentleman speaking
about his ATV on the beach. Um, I learned something on the wheels on that one. Um, but thank you for everything that you do. Um, and thank you for being here all the time. It's important for our residents to see it, but I
appreciate it sitting here. Thank you. >> Just a few quick items. Um I just you know our town man town manager or assistant town manager in our meetings talks about
those that have had anniversary dates you know 5 10 15 um but we also had in uh the June 26 weekly report our club one club 20 which are employees with 20
or more years of which we have 102 14 of which um were new first timers. So uh and that includes a number of people. When you look at the list, it was interesting to see many that have done have provide great
contributions. You know, some we don't get a chance to see as council, but a number of them we're well familiar with and uh and certainly uh our assistant town manager was on there, so I I really want to give her a special recognition. Um, you know, she was the communications
department when she started. So, look where we've come. Tremendous. Um, appreciate all the efforts. So, thank you for that. Um, crosswalks, I just want to give a shout out on that. And that's an item that, you know, I brought
it up as a strategic item, but I'm just delighted how as as in many of these items, staff just takes it and, you know, continues to progress, you know, uh, on that to make sure we're dealing appropriately with pedestrian safety.
And for those that may not know, the crosswalk at Longshore and Central one for my neighborhood, it's a very unique intersection that changed over the years. When I first when we first annexed into the town, we used to have
two police officers that would uh control traffic leaving the community uh for every single school day for a number of years. And then that intersection was uh and it was even at
that it took 20 third you know 20 minutes or more to get out of the neighborhood. But it's changed over the years. But just what I wanted to share was so we hire consultants that you know I I try to make sure I'm holding to a higher high standard and our the
consultants we were using said that there was no crosswalk that could we be put at Longshore and Central Boulevard. It was uh it was an it was an odd situation and there was nothing was allowed. Our staff didn't give up
very famili familiar with codes and in fact found a crosswalk that would work there and that's an area that um you know it's some pedestrian safety enhancements were needed particularly to help out the school crossing guard you
know in the morning. So uh and I got a big thank you from her passed on to me from my wife when she saw it for the first time because uh just the nature of that crosswalk. So just shout out to staff for never giving up state grant
funding success. Thank you. Uh you know I attribute that to a tremendous uh team effort. Certainly we had our designated council representative uh councelor Sunstrom helping to champion that. know staff put in a tremendous amount of work
and then you know our lobbyist I believe and I don't know this and I don't want to spend the time to research but this may have been the most successful state grant funding I think that I can ever remember uh and I think it's attributed it's
attributable to the team and this is and I didn't expect to get any you know the way uh the governor had been I thought he was going to line item everything so you to get six of eight is just is extraordinary. So I I just want to recognize the entire team, not leaving
anybody out because there were so many that had been involved and even the guidance for us as a council to put in letters and such, you know, all that probably probably did make a difference. Um and again, I think it's the most successful we've ever had. And then um
then lastly, just turtles on the beach. you know, I know members of the public come and particularly since it is our rules, you know, not to kind of talk about them, but uh but I always find it interesting that how much I learn from the different speakers and you know,
people sitting out there don't know when if you're not making eye contact. But I always write the name and I I do a takeaway from individuals and it's remarkable on a topic that I would have thought I was already versed in how many kind of new ideas and information that
is relevant you know that I heard from the group. I appreciate you know the individual that came from all the way from Bokeh. Um, and um, and I especially want to thank our police department. Often, particularly our police department, but this applies to really
all of our staff. You know, these situations when they arise, they're handcuffed some to some degree by what regulations are in the books and they just still try to navigate it to a conclusion. So, I appreciate that and
just want to reemphasize that it was the council's request that you know we obviously need to get some kind of reg improve regulations uh enacted and it may be beyond the town and if that's the state we need to do it
because um you know we can't we we can't go through this again another total season you know with not being able to stop that kind of activity um during turtle
season. Um but uh and I think I'm speaking for all of us on council and emphasizing that. Um and so with that, the time is now 8:29 and we'll adjourn the meeting.