roller who will be given an update on ongoing scams in the county. Welcome. >> Thank you, Mayor Kitzky, Vice Mayor Choy, Council members, residents of the beautiful town of Jupiter, and of course, our amazing artists that are among us
tonight. Yeah, give them a hand. Uh, I'm Mike Caruso. I'm the clerk of court, comproller, Palm Beach County. When I got appointed back in August of 2025 by Governor Dantis to be the clerk, I had five priorities that I that I wanted to focus on. One was to modernize
the payment system in Palm Beach County uh for our payable system. Uh right now it it's they literally go from stack to stack, review, review, review. Uh we digitize them at the clerk's office. And one of the things we want to do is modernize that system, advocate for a
statewide unified database. And if you're an attorney here, you probably know that to look something up and to do a search throughout the state of of somebody or something, you've got to go to all 67 clerk offices to do that. Wanted a unified database. Wanted to maintain conservative and sound
investments, protect our citizens against guardianship abuse, and of course protect them against property deed fraud and all the scams that are are out there right now. Um, back in back in December, I read in the Palm Beach Post by Anne Gagas, she wrote, "It is the season to be scammed." And and
sadly or not, it's it's still the season to be scammed. It's a must be a 12 12 year holiday, 12 month holiday every year. But um throughout Florida, people are getting fake phone calls, text, emails from scammers that are pretending
to be uh individual. They pretend to be the clerk of court myself. they they call up and they say, "Hi, this is Mike Caruso, the clerk of court or Palm Beach Sheriff's Office." And they pretend to be actual officers of of the law and of course the IRS and other government agencies. Um what they do is they try to
trick you, scare you, create a sense of urgency uh regarding some things. And the ones I'm going to be talking about tonight are um scams involving unpaid traffic tickets, uh missing jury duty, and uh and property uh theft. It's a big
business. The FTC says it was a 12.5 billion dollar business, but they also say that it's uh last year and they say 95% of the people don't report their scam when they get scammed because they're embarrassed. They got taken. And so that would mean that it's probably a
$ 160 billion industry. And of course, where does Florida land? We're number one in the country for for scams with uh 21,294 scams last year. Um no, just in the last three quarters of last year. So uh
that's probably equates to about 28,000 people got scammed last year. And that's the ones that got reported. And no longer are the scams as obvious as they used to be. It's no longer you've won you've inherited $20 million from a Ugandan prince. Okay? Okay. And all you
got to do is pay the tax on it. Nor is it an IRS agent. Somebody pretending to be the IRS says, "Hey, meet me in the parking lot of Home Depot with $4,000 of of um of uh what do you call this? Gift cards." Uh like you can pay your taxes with gift cards. Um although it still
pops up from time to time, it's it's gotten so much more sophisticated. They literally focus group their scripts. They focus group them. they found out which which script is more effective at stealing money from people. So, you know, our our job at the clerk's office,
um we've teamed up with the state prosecutor, teamed up with Palm Beach Sheriff Rick Bradshaw um to form a a task force where of education, apprehension, and prosecution. So, the clerk's office is education. That's why
I'm here tonight. um the the sheriff arrest them and and the state prosecutor puts them in jail. But uh you know, as in education, you need to beware, be smart, be safe, and when in doubt, don't give your info out. If somebody is calling, texting, or emailing you, and
they eventually get to the part where they ask you for money, it's not maybe a scam. It's always a scam. Guaranteed it's a scam. And and just don't fall for it. And and if anybody starts asking you for any of your personal information,
don't give it out. When in doubt, don't give it out. I don't if you have this much belief in what they're saying, and they're good. And I'm going to I'm going to go over one of the scams in a second. Um but if you have a mustard see this out of doubt, just hang up. So traffic ticket scam, that's where they pretend to be Mike Caruso, the clerk of court,
and they call you up and they say um they go, and I'll I'll I'll use my wife as an example. Okay. Say hi, honey. Um um hi, this is Mike Caruso from the clerk's office. Is this Tracy Caruso? Yes, it is. And Oh, you could have done
that part. Okay. Okay. You do your part, honey. Is this Tracy Caruso? >> Yes, it is. >> Yes. And uh Well, we've we've I'm just a courtesy call here. We're calling to let you know that you had a traffic violation about 3 weeks ago and and that
um we see that it's due tomorrow and if it's not paid by tomorrow at 5:00 um your license is going to get suspended. Your fines will double and you'll you know you could get arrested if you get pulled over driving without a with a suspended license. >> I never had a traffic violation.
>> Oh yes you did. Um, and and it's very before I get started, they they what they've done is they just created a sense of urgency by saying it's due tomorrow at 5:00. And it really is because what people don't know is everything on that traffic citation is public record. And so when they ask you,
do you live at 220 Lakeshore Drive, apartment 1703, you say yes. Okay? and they ask you if you were born in 1983, March 3rd, 23rd, 1983. You say, "Yes, of course." I just made her a few years
younger. She's going to it's going to be great. Um, and and do you have green eyes and and blonde hair and and etc, etc. And now they've built your confidence that it's really the clerk of court from Mike Caruso calling. And did
were you going 85 miles an hour in that 35 mph zone? did you get uh a ticket from Palm Beach Sheriff's Officer Deputy Beasley back there? And she says, "Yes, it is." And you believe them. Okay, understand clerk's office will
never ever call you and then they ask you for your credit card and then they run your credit card, they max it out, and you never did pay your ticket, which means your license will get suspended. So, don't, you know, when in doubt, don't give your info out. And, and you
should know that the moment they ask for money, it's a scam. Jury duty scam. You, this is Palm Beach Sheriff's Office Deputy Beasley calling. You failed to show up for jury duty last week. There's a warrant out for your arrest. That's
one of the scams, okay? And and it's so good. I got this call one week after I got appointed by the governor. I'm the clerk of court. I'm in charge of juries, okay? and and I get this call and um I
believe it so much that I pick up my wife's phone and I call Rick Bradshaw. He's our sheriff. I said, "Rick, blah blah blah blah blah." And he says, "Mike, hang up the phone. It's a scam." I go, "No, Rick. This is this is um this is sounds real." He says, "No, Mike.
This is a scam." And he says, "Trust me, if we wanted to, if you there was a warrant out for your arrest, we're not going to call you, give you a courtesy call, tell you we're coming. We're just going to show up at your door, knock it down if we have to, put handcuffs on you, throw in your back of the sheriff's car, and and take you to Gun Club Road.
That's the way we do it in the in the sheriff's office." Right. Right. Uh, Deputy Beasley, >> get a thumbs up back there. But here's those scams will make your day bad. They'll make your week bad. They could make your month bad depending on your financial situation. But the worst one
is they're now coming after your homes. They want to steal your home and and that's the bad one because that'll ruin your life. And and what they're doing is within they download a quick claim deed. They um within an hour they fill it out. They forge your signature. They have a
fake notary on there. And within a week they file it in the courthouse. Within a week they borrow against your home. Within a month they sell it. you get uh at you find out when somebody knocks at your door and they go, "Who are you?" And you say, "I'm the homeowner." And
they say, "Well, who are you?" And you go, "Well, we just bought this property this morning. We just closed on it this morning." You know, and and that's the that's the kind of scam that's going on. And to undo that at that point is tremendous. It takes forever. Now, how
bad is it? Does it happen often? Palm Beach County has 650,000 properties in in our county. It's pretty big. Two years ago, according to Lexia Cox, our state prosecutor, we had four cases of stolen deeds. Not bad. That's
only four, right? It's not going to be one of you out of four out of 650,000 people. Okay? But a year ago, we had 32 cases. Last year, we had 184 cases. This year, we're over 500 cases.
And the year is only 5 months long, the fiscal year. Um, I predict next year we'll have 7,000 cases, meaning one out of 80 properties will be stolen in Palm Beach County. What we're doing, we're telling people to sign up for our property fraud alert where you attach
your email address to your property and you go to my palm beachclerk.com/pfa property fraud alert and you attach your email to your to your property. The moment some there's activity on your property, we send you an email and and notify you and then we give you
instructions if it is it could be something benign as you paid off your mortgage and Bank of America is filing a satisfaction of mortgage or or you you're having your kitchen redone and and mechan the plumber files a mechanics lean or something like that and you go,
"Okay, I'll remember now to to um make sure I get a release of lean when I pay him his last payment." Uh, but if it's if it's you look at it and it's quick claim deed with your name on it and a fake signature of you and and it's you transferred your property for $10 and
other consideration, you want to do something. And so we instruct you to call the police, then call us and uh come in to our office, fill out an application for a quiet title, and then we kind of lock your property down once a judge signs off on that and we record
it and and then you go about undoing that uh that phony deed. So, um, that's that's, um, my palm beachclerker.com/pfa. I'd in advise everybody to to to do that. I appreciate the opportunity to share that with you tonight. Uh, um, I
give out my cell phone number in case you have trouble with it. It's 561-702-9319. It's 561-7029319. That's the one I give my wife and that's the one she calls me on. And Right. >> It's Yeah. No, that's really mine. Uh, but and and call me. And I tell people
if it's 10:00 at night, you're trying to fill that out and then on a Sunday night and you can't get it filled out for some reason, you just don't understand or you're not good on the computer, call me, text me, and and I'll make sure somebody contacts you the next morning and and and get you signed up for
property fraud because I'd rather get that call than the call from you in a hotel or motel because somebody bought your property fraudulently and has kicked you out of your own home. So, thank you for um the time tonight. I appreciate the opportunity to speak
before y'all and uh I'm excited to hear about the artist here tonight. So, thank you very much. Thank you. >> Okay. Uh and that was very informative. Thank you. Uh it's kind of scary to uh hear the uh skyrocketing numbers on uh
property uh fraud, but uh thank you for being proactive about that and giving us a way to uh not be one of 80 unfortunate um um so moving on uh to the Drop Saver
poster contest awards. I want to welcome Miss Haley Johnson, special projects coordinator for utilities, who will be presenting the drop savers poster contest awards. And uh I want to ask if uh councelor
Sunstrom will join on behalf of the council. >> Good evening, mayor and town council. My name is Haley Johnson and I'm the special projects coordinator for the town of Jupiter Utilities. Thank you for the proclamation recognizing the role that water conservation plays towards
protecting our local water resources and providing safe and reliable drinking water. It is a great segue into my presentation tonight. I would like to introduce you to some special guests who understand the importance of water conservation. They are our winners of
the 2026 Drop Savers Poster Contest. Each year, the town of Jupiter participates in the Florida section of the American Waterworks Association's Drop Savers Water Conservation Poster Contest during National Drinking Water Week. The contest gives students from kindergarten through high school the
opportunity to showcase their creativity and design a poster about water conservation. This program is a fun way for our students to learn about the importance of water conservation and the role it plays in protecting the local water resources necessary to produce
safe and reliable drinking water. The program also serves as a good reminder for the community. Though we had over a 100 local students participate in the poster contest this year, tonight we are honoring the top three winners for each of the five age
divisions. Um, but before the winners are announced, I would like to acknowledge the generosity of our local business sponsors who donated items for the prize bags each winner will receive tonight. Let me introduce you now to this year's winners. Um, students, when I call your
name, please come forward to be congratulated by um, Counselor Sunstrom and receive your prize bag. After you have received your award, please remain standing up front so we can take a group photo at the end. All right. So, for division one, which
is kindergarten and first grade, we have third place, Paige McRoberts from kindergarten. A big bag. Got it. There's a lot of good stuff in there. bigger than she is. >> Okay. Um, so second place for division
one is Gracie Kner from first grade. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. All right. In first place for division one is a drun novelist, first grade. >> Congratulations.
These are so cute. Okay, moving on to division two, which is second and third grade. Third place goes to Wyatt Pakornney, second grade. Got awards for you. Congratulations. We got presents. Hold on. Wait. That's
the best part. All right, second place for division two is Nicholas Johnson from third grade. And first place for division two is Maya Hill in third grade. All right, division three, which is
fourth and fifth grade. Third place goes to Hadley Gap. Fourth grade. Okay. And second place goes to Tessa Drowski from fifth grade. And first place for division three is
Riley Fiser from fourth grade. All right, division four would be our middle school winners, sixth through 8th grade. Third place goes to Helen Remundo in seventh grade. Second place goes to Payton Laauo in 8th
grade. All right. in first place. Um I would like to say that our first place winners all also got to compete at the state level against schools across the state. And Giana Lipet was uh third place for the state, first place for town of Jupiter.
All right. So, our um fifth division is high school. This year, we only got two submissions. Um so, Preston and Caroline, I'm going to need you to tell your friends about this next year so we can get some more participation from high school. Um so, second place goes to
Preston Laauo in 9th grade. And first place is Caroline McCarthy who also got first place in the state. All right. Congratulations and thanks again for participating. Counter Sunstrom, >> you want to get
>> How about everyone? >> Come on. >> Yeah, there we go. That makes sense. >> You'll have to send your photo to everyone else. I love God.
We'll give everybody who who wants to leave a few moments to uh depart. You're welcome to stay, but I imagine you have places to go. >> I don't think so. Make a little force with their fries if they leave early. Make them stay the
whole meeting. Sorry. off. >> You say on or off? >> Oh, on. >> Place empties out. Do we have any citizen comments? >> Yes, sir. We have one citizen comment,
Eric Whita. >> Eric Whitet 230 Ocean Grand Boulevard, Jupiter. Um about four weeks ago, uh I wrote to Maria Marino at the county about because uh on A1A to make the sidewalk wider so
people don't have to walk on the road. Uh we get wheelchairs and baby carriages and whatnot. For two weeks, I didn't hear anything. So, I came here and uh read the same letter to you and I got a
roaring response from the full packed house and I was hoping that would happen tonight here, but they all left. So, what um the next day, the very next day, I got a message from Marino's
department that she's going to put an engineer or somebody on the job to see what can be done by the county. And I think that's great. But I think I'd also like to see you folks chime in if this is uh what you want because this is
Jupiter after all. It's a county road, but this is part of Jupiter and I think the whole town would enjoy that. I'm out there for 9 years walking in morning at night. I love it and so do many other people. So when you get a chance, please
chime in. you can give uh give me some feedback uh advice on how to move forward on this, but I think it's a good idea and uh we should have this in the township. Thank you very much. >> Just to add on that one, um we don't
normally talk about these, but uh >> I'm sorry. >> No, we don't normally talk about these, but I think it's appropriate in this one. You've been persistent about this item, and we appreciate that. Um we all would love to see something done. Um when I saw the response um uh which uh
came from was routed to you but uh ultimately was initiated by Joanne Keller the deputy county engineer. I did pick up the phone and speak to her. I know her and uh you know she's first
person below the county engineer. So you got the attention of somebody um who oversees you know the engineering department and we had some conversation and um while I do believe right away is really limited um she knows how important it is and she's going to
confirm whether or not it truly if there's absolutely anything that can be done. So, uh I'm not trying to build false hopes, but uh I do want to say that uh um you know, you got the attention of someone who uh is uh
responsible for that. And I I know and I'm saying this, my colleagues also know this, that the county is going to genuinely look at it. Not again trying to foil false hopes because years ago when that road was established, it was a uh a compromise to enable
everybody to use I believe every inch of the rideway. But uh but again um Joanne Keller is going to make sure that uh leave no stone unturned to take a look at it. So thank you. >> I appreciate it very much. When I look at this beautiful building here and I'm
saying that other parts got to be nice too, the same way. Thank you very much. Thank you. Okay. Um that's on citizen comments, correct? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Um moving on to the minutes. Councelor, we
have before us uh some minor revisions uh to the minutes. Uh if there's no other revisions, I'll take a motion and a second to approve the minutes as amended. I'll make a motion that we accept the minutes of April 21st, 2026
with the amendments as submitted. >> Second. >> Motion and second. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Motion carries unanimously. >> Moving on to the consent agenda. This is items 6 through 11. Is any member of the
public wish to pull a consent agenda item? >> No sir. >> Seeing none, any member on the dis want to pull a consent agenda item? >> No. >> Yes. Number nine. >> Number nine. And I wanted to pull uh number seven. So uh I'll take a motion
and a second to approve uh an amended consent agenda consisting of items 6, 8, 10, and 11. >> So moved as amended. >> Second. >> Motion is second. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I.
>> I. Motion carries unanimously. Moving on to public business. I mean, excuse me. Number seven, um, approval of an agreement with industrial shade ports for the purpose purchase and installation of shaded bleacher covers
at Jupiter Community Park. I pull this item. Um, I believe that uh this isn't the right solution to be used. uh I have been uh interested in and you
know this goes along with uh the work that's being done on uh multi-purpose fields seven and eight on at Jupiter Community Park that I had advocated for to find a way into budget. The reason
I'd like to defer this item is I've been in conversation with staff. Number one, we don't have a master plan for the uh benches, bleachers, shade ports, and something is being worked on, but it
wasn't not yet available. Um I I don't know um how many people on the DIS get the opportunity to go uh to events at the multi-purpose fields. Uh but it was my expectation that we'd be
providing, you know, some amount of shade uh amenity much like we were doing at the playgrounds. And um I un I understood so I was interested in seeing the master plan to make sure it's done right as we as we
progress. And I'm concerned that we're this what is before us is not the right solution. And the reason I say that is uh having the opportunity to attend games at the Avaccoa Community Park that was somewhat
a um a standard that was being replicated if I understand correctly. Uh but while it has a a great uh bleacher of sorts uh with shading, I'm talking about
Abcoa. Um it uh and it works well because there's trees behind it for the western uh sun. Um we're not going to get that at Jupiter Community Park. What we're going to get
is I understood is what is what I see. It's a threele with um with shade and um I think there's been some confusion here about what the purposes
for that was at Abacco. Again, I'm just sharing from my colleagues. Uh but when I asked I said I wanted to see what the amendies were with shade for the teams and the fans. uh in the last iteration hearing from
staff was number one the engineer of record whoever that may be is doing up the plan so that wasn't yet available but number two what's before us is the three-level um benches if you will with the shade
structure and if it's like abaccoa it doesn't provide shade and um what when I asked are we going to get what amenities we're going to get. They said the priorities, there wasn't enough room and the priorities were just going to be the fans. So, we weren't
providing anything in the way of shade for the teams. Number one, I think that's wrong. I think the priority should be the teams. Secondly, um and I sent some photos uh to staff from this weekend. Um
the three-level bleachers to are not uh first of all they're right they're next to each other. It's uncommon to put teams sitting next to each other. Usually um there's some separation you know for when coaches are you know u talking
strategy and whatever. Uh but the shade structure is so high that in most of the afternoon there's absolutely no shade. Um, so the picture that I took, um, you know, my son-in-law brought a lower
shade and a bench to the game on Sat on Sunday. Um, and you know, I asked him and he's the one that pointed out there's no shade, the one where the other team was using. So, I do think we need to get this
right. I'm anxious to get it done, but I want to just kind of I'm hoping council will just kind of pause this one. Let's get a plan. Let's make sure that the plan maximizes shade for the team first and foremost. And then to the degree
that there's any additional space that can be provided, you know, for the fans. Um but, you know, I don't want to replicate what's there because there it doesn't provide sufficient shade uh for the team. Um, it's it's far too high. If
you were to see it, if you ever been to Abico, I suggest you go there. >> I would do. >> It's way too high. >> Um, >> I have no problem pausing something or deferring. >> I agree. We got to get this >> plan of the bleachers in the shade and all out. >> I have a problem with that. >> Yeah, I don't want to see some
renderings and >> Thank you. I appreciate it. I mean, again, this is important. So, let's get let's get it correct. And thank you. So, I'll take a motion. Um, and a second to uh I guess what would the action item be? Would we're really just
>> postponing >> postponing it? >> Postponing resolution or the postoning agenda item number seven. >> Motion. Okay. Good. >> Go ahead. >> Uh motion to postpone item uh number seven, shade ports. >> Second.
>> Motion to second. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. I. Motion carries unanimously. Moving on to resolution 4126 uh pulled by councelor Giser. What's your pleasure? >> Yeah, thank you. Um my concern was um I
realize we've had a 48% increase in the cost of sulfuric acid and and I understand why that is happening now with the current global market for sulfur coming out of the Middle East and everything. But my question is, I guess to the town staff, particularly director
Barnes, what is the risk obtaining sul sulfuric acid in the future? Has that been assessed by the town? Right now, we're paying a 40 48% for the next what 15 16 months. Where does that look outward towards 27 28 as far as what we might be paying? Do you have any feel
for that? >> Good evening. Amanda Barnes, director of utilities. um as far as the future and can't if if you look in the agenda package I did provide like historical pricing of how it's gone up and down and it is highly variable depending on the
global economy and um I think the last time that we saw a large increase like this was in 2022 when right after COVID and we were having supply chain concerns. So, I I don't really know what the future holds, but I do expect um I
can't say I don't expect it to go higher. I hope it doesn't go any higher. Um we do have chem other chemicals that will be bidding this summer and um I do expect we might see some increases in those as far as acid and acid is a necessary chemical for water treatment.
it it's what we use to adjust pH um and promote you know efficient treatment through the membranes and removal of hydrogen sulfide. So, I mean, other than it if the economy gets better, if the um
geopolitical tensions in the Middle East get better, I think we'll see pricing come down for sure. But what's happening is some of those other countries are holding on to their sulfur >> um because of concerns the concerns of fertiliz they use it for fertilizer. So,
>> and mining. Yeah. Too. >> Yes. concerns of food, you know, being able to support their own economies from a food perspective. >> Well, my then my follow-up question based on what you said, are there any alternatives to sulfuric acid we may be considering? I know there's carbon
dioxide, hydrochloric acid. Are any of those compatible with our systems or it be a complete overhaul of how we >> it would be a major retrofit? um >> standard standard there are there are opportunities some places have
eliminated um acid addition we tried that we did some pilot testing to try to reduce the amount of acid we use in the nano plant it wasn't it didn't work well it we'll put our me our membranes in jeopardy and we'll be cleaning and replacing membranes much more frequently
than we are which is very expensive >> we we do not use um acid for pre-treatment of the RO plant. So, it's just the nano plant, but in both plants, we do use acid for um post treatment. We can definitely investigate
in our master plan, our five-year update that we're going to do um other post- treatment options to sulfuric acid. We can add that. >> I'd appreciate that. So, okay, that's all the questions I had. So, >> Director Barnes, I have one question just as a followup. Um, I remember 2022
very well and with supply chain issues across all of our water treatment chemicals, can we expect similar changes? Are are all of our water treatment chemicals similarly impacted by geopolitical events or um are there,
you know, some will be, some not be, but are we expecting hikes in the future across all of them? I I mean I expect some will increase maybe just a little and and others might be a little higher. Um anti-calants
are made for the most part made here. It's just it's going to vary by chemical. Okay. Thank you. >> Um I just want to make one comment on this one since it was been pulled. First of all, um I want to recognize I
appreciate the way um how chemicals have generally been managed. Um and understand and through the volatility that happens and uh one thing my first reaction when I saw this was oh yeah
when the price goes up they want to you know change the contract but when it goes down you know they don't. Uh but I'm I'm grateful that as was indicated the contract had 120day advanced notice
and the fact that uh you know Shrieve honored the commitment of supply uh >> at the contract price range for 120 days. So um which I would imagine at that so it was not in default but they honored that. Um, so it's probably the
case that uh there isn't anything that could have been done better than's been done and it was and that provision protected the town as best as we could. >> Yeah. >> Um, so I don't have any suggestions other than, you know, let's
factor that into when we're doing updates, you know, a year from now, you know, if there's anything beyond what we already have in the contract that can be done. And I don't know of any here's a good protection provision that we had because to the degree that I guess the
contracts generally are every year the 120day provision gives us at least and and so long as we would have it right if if the market was going in the opposite direction um to give 120day notice you know so that we were enjoying a
significant drop when and if it ever happened. Yes, this this contract does so the previous contract with Shrieve did not contain um it contained it contained a cost adjustment on an annual basis. This one contains a cost cost
adjustment up or down on a six-month basis. >> Okay. >> Based on the PPI, >> but but there's also the 120day uh notify. >> Yeah. Cancellation, right? >> And that that's enough time to allow us to rebid the contract. >> Yeah. So, that worked well. >> Thank you. Thank you.
>> Do we want to >> Yeah. With that, I'd like to make a motion to approve resolution 41-26. >> Second. >> Motion and second. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Motion carries unanimously. Moving on to the regular agenda. Um,
public hearing resolution 5926. I'll turn it over to staff. Good evening, Mayor and Council. Scott Reynolds. I'm the finance director for the town of Jupiter. Uh again, we're here this evening uh to discuss
resolution 59-26. Um, this resolution establishes the estimated initial per property fire protection fee uh to be assessed beginning October 1, 2026 and ensures a transparent process for
establishing the fee. Uh we'll be notice noticing all the residents if uh this passes this evening, all residents in the town, all property owners will be notified of their fee. Uh I want to make clear uh the fee itself is going to be
replacing uh the Palm Beach County uh fire rescue that people are being uh assessed currently uh um starting in October. So I just want to make that clear. I'll talk a little bit more about that as we go along. Uh but it requires a final hearing. Uh I want you to think
of it in terms of what we're asking this evening uh such as the trim process. uh when you're setting the initial trim rate in July uh it's a proposed rate uh and then you have a final hearing in September to finally adopt it. So that's
what we're doing now is we're uh proposing an initial rate uh that'll go out for notification to the residents just like with TRIM you have to go out on the trim notice to uh advertise any kind of abalorum rate uh to the residents. Same process we have to notify all the residents. Uh this will
require the final hearing uh in June uh 16, 2026 to adopt any final fee after the public notification process. So again, we've talked about this before as well. Uh the there's two different funding options. U we have the fee
that's before you this evening, uh which will help fund the Jupiter Fire Rescue. It's only a small portion of the overall budget. Again, uh this fee will be replacing uh the current county fee that's currently being assessed to the residents. This is will happen after
October 1. Uh there's a number of fees that will go into there's three different components to funding the Jupiter Fire Rescue. Uh what's being proposed this evening uh is the uh property taxes, EMS transport fees, and the per property fee that uh is uh
within the resolution. And then an additional funding option uh if you so wish when we go forward if we do not adopt the per property fee uh we can use property taxes uh the MS transport fees and then ultimately sales tax uh to make up that difference for uh any debt
service that we take on. So um keep hammering this home because this is very important uh going forward. there's an immediate savings to the property owner uh next year uh when you compare it to uh the county uh that they're there's a $10 million delta
there uh that residents are anticipated to save. Again, uh this is all based on the fees that will be replacing uh the current fire rescue fees that residents are currently receiving uh this year uh going into next year. But uh there is an
estimated $10 million savings between the $35 million estimate for uh Palm Beach County Fire Rescue next year uh and the $25 million uh that we're going to be proposing uh to the council when we talk about the budget.
So what are the future steps uh if uh to if you approve tonight's resolution? Uh there'll be a public uh hearing uh that and we'll also be uh notifying all the residents uh and those uh notices will go out on May 26th uh to all the
property owners in Jupiter to notify them of what their fee will be. So they'll be able to see that and then there'll be a final resolution for cons consideration by the town council on June 16th. uh within the notification uh everyone will get notice when that hearing will be uh to give the public an
opportunity uh between even before the hearing to to weigh in, ask questions uh and send their questions ahead of time uh to the clerk uh but also to come to the hearing on the 16th uh and voice if they have concerns or if they have questions.
With that, are there any questions from the council? >> Council have any questions? Yeah, I have a few. Um, Director Reynolds, on your I'm looking at the uh executive summary
under analysis. You have five possible exemptions you're proposing. >> It's on the first page. >> I'm sorry, what was the question? You have five potential or exemptions you're proposing >> that that's that's within the rate resolution as well.
>> Okay. What is the value of those exemptions the buy down for those? >> Uh well what I did I went back and looked at page 25 that the asensure memorandum >> and four of those were listed and it came up to 1,4 1,497,507.
It did not include um the agricultural structures exemptions. So is that a fairly accurate assessment that 1.5 million? >> Yes, sir. Yes, sir. I believe so. >> Okay. How do we propose to make it that difference?
>> These uh I'm sorry, what I'm looking at here is uh governmental entities will have a a buy down amount of $180,000. Uh institutional uh $59,000. VA exemptions just over $11,000.
Uh, and then we have the statutory discounts. And then there's also the uh disabled veterans or the I'm sorry, the seniors. Uh, I don't have that number in front of me. >> So, it's a lot less than what's on page 25 of the Accenture report >> cuz that totaled up to the one point
almost 1.5 million. >> Let me turn to that page. >> Okay. It's table 16 on page 25. >> That may assume 100% fun. >> Yeah, that is that's at 100%. >> Okay. I didn't see that. All right. Okay. So, we're not near that amount.
>> No, sir. We're we're only recommending the 15% of the total 100% funding that could be available. >> But those areas you're looking at, those five are what you're proposing. >> That that's within the rate resolution. Those those five categories. >> Are those five categories consistent
with what's in the uh MSTU we had with Palm Beach County Fire? >> Well, I'll give you a perfect example of that. um the especially for the um this the the buy down for the senior
exemptions. Uh the the town and the county uh elected some time ago to give that exemption that 25,000 $25,000 exemption to all those individuals that met that criteria. Uh the town sometime later gave an additional exemption on
top of that. The county did not. So, uh, when the MSTU, the county MSTU, when they assess that, they do not recognize that additional exemption for the county portion, when we implement this, those individuals will actually receive that
benefit of that 25 additional $25,000 because it's a town adopted uh benefit. >> And we'll fund that buy down through what? Like general fund or >> through through the general fund. Exactly. >> Okay. All right. No further questions. Thank you. Any
other questions? >> Uh, another question. Just uh on page 29. Um, I appreciate the chart breakdown of the square of properties, the different square footages and the fees. Um, just I mean, I know we had questions last time about equity and all that. So,
I I I just um it it looks looks about as fair as it can be without going just way into the weeds on this. So, you know, um I don't know how you could get any any closer to equity. So, um could you in just in a nutshell, uh I know we spoke about this
early, but for the record, just uh briefly uh uh sort of describe the calculation how do you get like from the say 500 ft² to 11 to,200 ft $15 annual assessment on a home? It's it's it's
based on uh the the whole uh fee is based on the cost of fire rescue and the number of calls by property type. Uh and then then they parse that out uh by the uh uh the square footage across the town by property type. >> Okay, great. Thank you.
>> I just want to say I appreciate you being very clear that this is replacing the Palm Beach County cost. I think it's important. Everybody recognizes that. So, thank you for that clarity. >> I have a couple questions uh just to clarify because I know we're getting a
lot of questions. We're seeing a lot um on social media and elsewhere and I've had a couple of residents ask me, you know, we're get we're saving $10 million, so why am I getting an assessment? So, I just want to make sure that we are being clear on it because um
when I look at my trim notice or my property tax bill, we pay property taxes to a bunch of people. It's not just the town that collects all of your property taxes. It's a bunch of buckets. >> Um, a bunch of people that collect. And we have right now with Palm Beach County Fire Rescue a dedicated millillage on
your bill that you're paying currently. That will disappear and be replaced by two things. A fee potentially if we approve this tonight, which is a very small portion. And it's 8% is what
you're saying according to the pie chart. It's 8% of the cost for Jupiter Fire Rescue. So it's a small amount. The majority will actually be a lower mill than the current millillage that we're paying to county fire. So the savings
comes when you're charged say $100 currently and then you're charged like $70 the next year. So it's a lower cost. it goes to Jupiter fire, but that's how the savings is going to be realized. So,
you had talked to me about um like a at a household level because we had talked about kind of describing it. I know a resident came and spoke up about the household level. So, if we look at it like an average household, I think you had shown me like 2500 to 3500 square
feet, one of those maybe 3500. Um, and you talk about taxable value because the market value might be whatever, but the taxable value is another matter. So for a household of whatever, can you just walk through
what the county fee would be, what the town towns would be and how the towns would be broken up and then the savings just so that all of us can understand at a household level. Sure. What's going on? >> Sure. I've actually been carrying this around the last couple meetings just cuz
I've done some analysis uh with our consultant uh to do exactly that. >> Okay. >> Um so just for instance, the 2500 ft home, let's say the assessed value uh is $300,000. That's the taxable value. I mean >> taxable.
>> So uh if we break that down into what the uh projected advalorum dollars would be to fund that portion if you adopt the NAV. Mhm. >> Uh that portion would be $347.
The uh NAV that we're looking at or the per property fee uh would be $50. So that'd be $47 annually that that person would pay. Now, how does that compare to uh the county's fee that they're current currently assessing uh or for FY27? Cuz
you got to compare apples to apples. uh that would be $581 uh82 uh annually. So they're looking at a savings of $174 annually. >> Okay. >> For that for that one property.
>> And you showed the millillage from the town and the nav from the town. Those two combined are still less than the millillage correct for the county. Correct. Will every resident save >> every every resident as it stands right now looking at the FY27
uh looking at at comparing apples to apples yes they should all save >> well every property owner >> every property owner should save yes there will I will uh preface that by saying uh we did buy down the nursing homes if you remember right there was a
very large disparity based on the number of calls with the with the nursing homes uh they they will may see a small increase at least one or two of them in the town. Uh but that's based on the number of calls but overall yes everybody's going to be uh receiving a
savings. >> Okay. Thank you. Oh one more thing sorry um appendix F. This is a draft of the letter that's going to be mailed out. Is that correct? >> I know it's in there. Yes.
>> Okay. So, um, if we approve this on first reading, a a physical letter will be mailed to everyone >> with their with their personal information. >> So, it'll be customized to their home
and they will get what they would be expected for this small fee. Um, which is part of what we're doing for Jupiter Fire going forward. So, you have the draft letter here, and I just wanted to ask because I know that you've added a lot of language. Some of it's legally
required, and so we have it in there, but we also have um like question and answer and that type of thing. And I know we've been trying to put more information on the web page, all of that. Um, but I wanted to ask, we have four bullet points here. It says what this means for you and it kind of
summarizes it. And I wanted to ask if we could move the fourth bullet to the second bullet and just reorder it a little bit. This is appendix F. Um the form of notice to be mailed. >> I just want to make sure that >> I can ask that question. I did uh the
the consultant indicated that we needed to sign off on this uh for printing today, which I did. Uh but I can I can request if we can move that up. You want >> I mean I don't want to change the content of the letter. So the content is fine. Yeah. I just I didn't know if we
were able to reorder. If not, you know, what's done is that I wanted to >> we'll ask the question and you want to move it up to where >> to maybe the second bullet. So it says the town is considering a nonavalorum assessment to help fund fire protection services. And then number two, if approved, this nonavalorum special
assessment would be included on your property tax bill listed at the bottom section labeled nonavalorum assessment. you will no longer be charged for the item on your bill labeled Jupiter Fire Rescue which equates to a millillage of blah blah blah. Sure. >> So I would I mean that's that's
something I thought might be helpful for res for residents so they can understand. >> I'll ask first thing I'll ask this evening after I leave the meeting. We can do that >> because in sharing with residents that you know clears it up. They start kind of confused until they hear that and
then they can kind of understand the rest of it when they go from there. So, I didn't know if there's consensus. That was just a thought. So, >> I agree with you. I think there's still going to be questions on this. It's a lot of verbage here. >> Absolutely.
>> And let's be ready for those phone calls or emails or texts, whatever will come in, be able to answer these questions. >> We we've put together a procedure to handle all the uh emails that we'll be receiving. Yes. and a procedure on how to handle return mail and all those kind
of things. >> And directors, if we want to um if we want to go back to all advalorum or if we want to end it early, if we want to change our process, I understand this is just like a tool in the toolbox for us to fund. But do we have that flexibility
over the years if we want to make changes to this program? >> Absolutely. You're not locked into it. um if you if now if you want to raise the fee above what you're currently if you were to set it, >> that's where the hurdles start coming into place. Uh you you would have to do
pretty much the same procedure we're doing right now. Uh we'll have to draft a resolution. We'll have to decide what that rate is. We'll have to notify all the residents again. It's just like we're starting back over again, right? >> Um but so yes, but if you wanted to eliminate the fee uh and do something
different, that is completely up to the council. you have that ability. >> So if some future council or if something led to it wouldn't be me, but you if someone wanted to do 100% or something crazy, every resident would be notified. There would be letters. It's
very hard to do. It's not something done often or easily. >> So >> again, you would start back over with the notification process and doing the the public hearings. Exactly what we're doing right now. >> Okay. I think by design it's somewhat of an arduous process for notification,
education. >> Correct. >> You know, transparency the biggest, you know, >> but I want residents to feel better about that knowing how much of a hurdle it would be for anyone to do that. >> Um, which I think is important. And one more question on sales tax. I saw seen
something that we can't we don't do sales tax. That's the county. Is that right? >> So, we receive sales tax as one of our many streams of revenue. We could use some of that for it. Okay. >> All right. Thank you. >> We have any public comments?
>> No, sir. >> Okay. Um well I have one question and I have comments to make but uh but you know as and while I don't agree with the process being used and been opposed and will oppose it throughout the entire budget process but uh on the nursing
homes as an example uh so the um not out of law fire assessment fee reportedly tries to spread to the different types of uh units. So single family has to kind of
cover residential units covers the percentage of the fire departments, you know, correct. But nursing homes to the degree we made an exception. I think I just wanted to point this out because this had been explained that uh they way
use the uh services far beyond um and so rather than set the fee what they currently use like everybody else, they're setting it lower and the intention is to work with them um so they understand. >> That's correct.
>> Uh because there's things they can do. I mean, I looked into this with my mom. there's things you could do where they could be um equipment you could they could be buying so they're not making as frequent calls and whatever. Um, so that's a that's a give, but you know,
they've gonna have to change their process. Otherwise, I would expect it's not being fair to everybody else. >> To your point, the the chief and he's even stood at this dis to that he is committed to work with them on >> and I understand that. And while we appreciate that, they need to be
motivated that if they don't change, then the fee is going to be, you know, higher. >> Um, and so I'm supportive of that. But, um, okay then. I just want to comment on the record here as I've done all along the process. First of all, I read an executive
summary and it says with a town assuming responsibility for fire services, a dedicated and equitable funding source may be established. That's where this fire protection assessment comes in.
I submit if you look up equitable, the definition says fair to all parties is dictated by reasons and conscience. Well, doesn't pass the smell test for me. I don't know how a two family, two
individual family living in, 1199 ft residential unit pays $15 a year versus two member family living in 3100 ft residential unit will be paying $93 a year. That's more than six times as
much. other municipalities that had been shared with us uh go with have gone with non-envel fire fees that use the same dollars per year for all residential units, West Palm,
Boon, Bokeh, Atlantis. Now, there may be others out there that have done it differently. I'm just literally going by what staff told us on day one here. So, West Palm, Boon, Bokeh, Atlantis, they use the same fee per residential unit.
And we got this uh scale that somehow I think is penalizing those that have more could be the same two people. As an engineer, it's not logical to me that you're going to have more that much six times as many fire calls if you're
living in a 3100 ft unit versus 1199. That said, I've made this case. I'm going to make it every single time this comes before us. I will not support a budget. I'm going to I'm I'm one of I'm going to be the no vote throughout the entire process here. I just want to make
sure that's clear with that. I mean, I'm just being consistent. And that's the way this process works. Five make a decision. And uh but I'm going to say because we've we've represented to the public. I know we talked about hypothetically we might have this fire
assessment fee, but for two and a half years, we went ahead and told people look at your property taxes and there's going to be everybody's going to get, you know, a percentage reduction and now the, you know, the rules are different.
Well, gee, if you live in a 3100 ft unit versus 1199 and you happen to have the same tax value, no, you're not going to pay you're not going to get the same fee because you're going to one's going to be paying six times as much for the for the uh
nonadalum fee. Um, so with that, um, I just wanted I'm going to continue to say this every time on the record. I'm going to advocate through the entire budget process. This is not equitable. It's by the definition when I looked it up. Fair
and to all parties as dictated by reasons and conscious. Doesn't pants my conscious. With that, um I'll take a motion and a second uh to approve resolution 5926.
>> Motion to approve 50 resolution 5926. >> Second. >> Motion a second. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Opposed? Nay. Motion carries 4 to one with uh Mayor Kitzky opposing.
Moving on to public business resolution 6026 authorizing an option purchase agreement for 3126 Jupiter Park Drive. Is that Do I turn it over? Is it the town manager or who?
Mr. Mr. Reynolds. >> Uh good evening again. Uh Scott Reynolds. I'm the finance director for the town of Jupiter. Um, this evening, uh, we have a, uh, purchase option, uh, for a piece of property at 3126 Jupiter
Park Drive. Uh, we're requesting the authorization to proceed forward uh, with the option to purchase. uh to also authorize the use of reserve funding to to make the purchase and authorize the town manager uh to execute all
agreements. U just to go back um when we built this building uh one of the things that we did not envision at the time uh was having our own fire department. Uh well
now we do. Uh and what comes along with the fire department is they will have their own in uh inspectors and plans examiners uh and those types of things. Uh a year and a half ago uh we started uh reserving funds to possibly build a
building. We were going to, it was speculative at the time, uh, to house, uh, building personnel, uh, meaning code enforcement, uh, plans examiners, uh, uh, code compliance, fire inspectors, uh, and, uh, uh, building inspectors.
Uh, we started every year during the mid midyear amendments. Uh just like this evening uh you all passed a mid-year budget amendment and on there we were restricting certain building funds uh for future uses uh to be incorporated into future CIPs and one of those was
for a building. U uh recently uh there's been some development at the state level uh that uh they will be taking away that option to be able to possibly build a facility or purchase a facility or uh use utilize those funds in that way.
uh we had before that even arose as an issue uh we had already started seeking out other alternatives uh for combining uh where our personnel for these types of uh occupations would be housed. We started actually looking at leasing uh
some property and anybody that's tried to lease property in the town of Jupiter uh commercial space knows how expensive that can be. Uh but we did research that option. Uh and then at that point then we started looking at possibly purchasing a building. We all know how
expensive construction costs are. Uh we have a couple of construction prog uh projects that are going on currently. Uh so we do understand how expensive that can be in the town of Jupiter as well. Uh so we did find a building uh that we were interested in uh that can bring all
these uh disciplines together. they can all work together. Uh and uh one of the things when we did find the building uh that we saw that also checked a box uh that the council had been uh looking for is a possible future training facility
uh for uh police officers. So that that checked the box. So we proceeded forward uh and and looking at the at the building further. Uh again, some of the the benefits of the purchase. It integrates the plans review and inspectors in the building along with
the fire department inspectors. These are all people that are in uh in charge of enforcing the building code along with code enforcement. Uh provides dedicated training space if uh we so wish to do that and it definitely can fit that mode. It's cost-effective and
alternative to new construction. uh uh existing use aligns with the town's intended use uh that we've been seeking uh over the last couple of years. So uh in order to to make any kind of
offer uh Florida statute is pretty clear uh anything above a $500,000 price tag, we have to have two independent appraisals uh done. Uh we've done that. Uh one appraisal came in at $10,800,000. Uh the second appraisal came in at
10,520. You average those together. Uh the the price was 10,660 uh which is exactly what was offered. Uh the building was originally uh listed at 11.4 million. Uh and the owner has agreed uh that he would sell the
property uh for 10.660. So then the question comes how how will we uh pay for it? Uh again we we had been reserving building funds uh for the last couple year and a half actually uh for a building. So the utilization of
the building reserve funds and then some uh uh participation within the general fund because of the training facility uh if you're going to utilize the building in any other way outside of building fund use, you have to have an alternative funding uh coming from the general fund.
And so what I want to show here is the reserves. Uh currently if you looked at the uh last uh financial statement that our auditor presented, uh we had just over $19 million in the uh building
fund. Uh there was 5.3 that is their general operating reserves. And then the restrictions that were on tonight's uh agenda, 9 million for uh facility reserves, uh 3.9 for any kind of software or GIS upgrades, uh virtual
inspection, which is the future, I'm being told, from the building officials and training room and anticipated multi- uh disciplinary license training. That's another big issue that's that's facing the town is having the multilicens uh training. Uh so the next thing is the
general fund. Uh I always like to make sure that the council is aware if we're going to be looking at our reserves uh where we're currently sitting. Uh if you remember looking at the reserve balance for 930 just over $62 million. Uh we've transferred some funds out uh for the
funding of the Jupiter Fire Rescue uh and some other operating carry forwards and some capital funding. That leaves us with just over $43 million currently uh sitting in the reserve balance. Uh, one of the questions that came up is, well, how did we uh, arrive at the split
between the uh, $9 million and the $1.6 million? Uh, when we first looked at it, uh, again, this was speculative. We knew the pime primary uh, objective was the housing of the building fund and, uh, the code enforcement people. Uh, and
then the secondary uh, was the uh, um, the training uh, for the police department. Uh so looked at use of the building. How often are people going to actually be in the facility? Uh the building fund people will be there 5
days a week, 52 weeks a year. Uh the training facility uh they do it in block training 20 times a year. They they have training for the police officers. And out on one of those weeks that they're having training, four days will be for training, one will be actually at the
firing range from what I'm being told. 3 days will actually be training uh meaning that they would be at the facility. So when you look at those percentages it comes to about 17% for the training facility and the remainder would be for the building fund use. So
that's how we came up with the split initially. Now these are all speculative at this time for the police training that could expand in the future but for right now that's exactly what we're uh looking to uh put at the facility. So in order to purchase there are some
statutory requirements uh and it's outlined within the purchase agreement. Uh it falls under 166.045. Uh requires a 30-day public notice and inspection period uh which is included in the option to purchase. Uh it's also
included in our due diligence period to commence including uh uh inspection of the facility, a phase one environmental, a property survey uh and then the closing to take place uh on or before June 30th. And with that, I'll take questions.
>> I have um a few questions. >> I'm sorry, one other thing, Mayor. Uh I did ask uh Chief Hennessy to come uh to talk uh high level about the training. >> Good evening, Mayor, Town Council. For the record, Don Hennessy, chief of police for the Jupiter Police Department. Uh I just want to take a
moment to to talk about some of those training opportunities that this facility would present to the department. Uh as Director Reynolds mentioned, we do 20 block weeks of training per year. Um give or take. We slot officers into one each officer does one week a uh a year uh to go through
that training. Um one of the things that I'm most proud of among many things is the training program we've put together at the police department. Uh the training officers and supervisors that have put our training curriculum together um in my opinion is second to none. Um one of the ongoing challenges
that we've had over the years and this is not new. It's kind of it's been part of the strategic plan um for years to find a training facility for us. um it's been one of my strategic priorities as well as you know my predecessors before me to find a uh a suitable facility to
do that. So as we talk about 20 weeks a year and trying to find adequate space that's dedicated for training. Um they've been creative. Our training staff has used schools um which obviously we know we can't use 5 days a week for the majority of the year. Um
that limits us to the summertime. Um, we've used town facilities, right, that have their own operations that are not designed for that use. Um, by putting a building like this in place, um, it it will allow for us to better customize that training as we go through for both
new hires, those going through block training. Uh, it'll provide a uh a facility that we can be proud of to host leadership training both for our officers and for officers and supervisors in the area. Um, so it just provides that that piece that we've been
looking for and gives us a solution to that strategic initiative that we've been looking to find um over the years and and um again I think it'll help us to not only do the training we do in a more conducive environment but it'll also allow us to expand and provide better training in the future. So thank
you. So just um couple qu a few questions and comments to together from my point of view. Number one um there I think I want to make sure that we're dispelling some of
the misunderstandings I've seen on social media. Uh number one because this is not a surprise to us and um I want to just point out in the way of where where there is transparency. So number one,
the building department is an enterprise fund and therefore all of its revenues come from basically building fees. Correct. >> Building permit fees. Yes. >> Not a penny from the general fund is
crosses. It was set as a it's got to be at least three decades ago, but whenever. It's been a long time. So, we've been building up reserves over the course of time,
more than just the last year and a half. >> That's correct. >> Um and um and what's being presented to us to to take action on is to buy a building to move forth with using those reserves that again not a penny comes
from taxpayers. It's correct. >> That is correct. That's 85%. I just want to make that clear. So 85% of the building is funded by the building fund reserves. Um, and I don't really know how other governments are structured. I
do know that the county, for example, is building a building for the building department the same way. It's right next to the county engineers building that I go to on occasion. Correct. And I think you're aware of other municipalities doing the same thing. Correct. >> Yeah.
and uh a bit of urgency and you may have said this but legislature action we either go ahead and finally invest what we have here or there's some consequences that we would lose that. So I appreciate the proactiveness on the
part of staff um to move to find a building that not only will serve um you know the purpose for the building uh enlarge building department if you will. I think it's nice to bring in code
enforcement and the fire inspe uh uh plans you know ex you know reviewer and whatever allin-one common place that number one will free up some space in the police building headquarters um which is a benefit and this 15%
while I know I and I'm sure my colleagues might have some questions about it that can be worked out uh over time so I was delighted to learn that the seller was just finishing up a million dollars
and not yet done. I heard this from our building department. A million dollars worth of interior upgrades basically for the office space essentially. Correct. >> Yes, sir. and uh they basically um decided corporately to uh consolidate
into Atlanta, the Atlanta office or something like that. >> That's my understanding. >> Okay. So, I mean, I just wanted to make sure we were getting, you know, facts on the record on why, you know, we're this is on the agenda and why I'm really
supportive of it. It really makes a lot of sense. as our police chief had said, we've had in our strategic plan about a training facility for a long time and uh you know we and to that we're going to
invest 15% of it from general funds and uh I'm sure the more details about that uh we'll uh we'll all be getting updates through the town manager about that. But we I think we all got a tour of the
building. Um it's it's a phenomenal uh uh building that'll serve the town well and so I'm supportive. But anyway, I just thank you. You in nodding you've confirmed what I've said correct for the record. >> Yes. >> Anybody else in the dis have any questions?
>> I do. Yeah. I just wanted to ask just a comment um being made. Could you elaborate for our residents or anyone here um here in the council what legislature is telling
everyone that they need to do with that general fun building fund and why if there's any rationale >> so that it's clearer >> with within this uh the statutes we're allowed to restrict uh uh uh reserve funds within the building department the
building funds for certain types of activities and one of those is uh for a facility. Uh and over the last year and a half, we've actually been doing that. Uh and along with what we've been discussing here this evening and u here
recently uh they they they're going to be changing the the legislation come uh July 1, uh that will take that that ability away uh that you cannot use uh those reserves uh for a facility. So uh we were already in the process of
looking uh to possibly lease a building. Uh so we were already in the process of planning and then we were going to put together a CIP to bring back before the town council. So we were already in the process. Uh this just kind of expedited the process of us uh trying to seek a building.
>> And where did the permit fees where are they going to go in the future that we collect >> the the permit fees? >> Yes. We've been putting it into the building fund. >> Uh they will continue to stay in the building fund. They're restricted. Uh they have to stay within the building fund. >> Okay. >> Yes, ma'am.
Okay. Um, just quick comments. Uh, I toured the facility last week. Like you said, they did the recent renovations. It's part of a building like brand new and it has those gigantic warehouse spaces that can be used for whatever the town needs. So, it's and if we were to build that out, you'd be at 20 $22
million cuz any anything building that size, this size, everything's $20 million these days. >> That's what I'm being told. Yeah. >> So, just this is just perfect fit at the perfect time. Um, and you know, it has, you know, plenty of power source coming into it and it's just, um, I think it's
just ready to go. I think it's just a great fifth fifth for the town to get the, uh, you know, police and fire training integrated together. It's another step in that right direction, you know. So, I think it I think it's I'm all in favor of this this resolution. So, thank you.
>> I agree. I think it's use it or lose it as part of it for sure. Um I was expecting CIP but this accelerates all of it. Um it does check a number of boxes. We have talked about training facilities, other things. I am excited though for the upgrades to building
generally because I know what we hear from our residents and businesses is the length of time it takes for permits. I'm excited about some of the software and technology upgrades that we're going to be um focusing on. So, it's not just the building, but it's also just the process and digitizing everything, all of that.
Modernizing our building department, which I think everyone can agree is a great thing. Um, so I'm really excited about that. Um, also, yep, with the police, I'm really glad to see that we can do this. We didn't know what shape it would take going forward. Um, I
think, you know, we wouldn't have arrived at this or found this unless we had this constraint. It was kind of a happy accident in a way. So, um, really glad to see that and to have everyone together, um, including now we have this
fire inspector and fire marshall responsibility. So, it's great to have everyone together. I know we hear from our business community that we really want to see, um, improved customer service there. So, it'll be great to have all the pieces together, modernize that department, give them a space. code
compliance used to be with building. They removed to JPD, so now they're going to go back to building so that everyone's under one roof. So, thank you. It is a bit of an unusual item, but I'm really glad that uh it worked out this way. Didn't have to and you know,
it could have been could have lost a lot. So, thank you. >> Had one question with the building being 20 years old. I assume the roof is 20 years old also. Do we have we assessed the condition of that roof and when will it have to be replaced? >> That's part of our due diligence. Uh we
we do understand that it is 20 years old. Uh we will be assessing all that. We're waiting for the assessment to come back. Uh and then when we do, we'll we'll we'll make that part of the discovery. >> Okay. And if it's determined that we should replace it immediately, should
will we do that before we move into it? >> Uh we we will assess uh how how bad it is uh during the assessment period. Okay. >> To see if that's if that's necessary right away. >> And one thing else, uh, Director Reynolds, I don't know if you can answer
this or not. One of the town's 2026 strategic, uh, plan initiatives under organization excellent is to develop a master plan for the town maintenance facility property. Remember, we had two actions there. One was phase one, the vehicle maintenance facility. Know we all know how bad that conditions of that building
is out there in working conditions. And also the advanced phase administrative facility. Mhm. >> Will be be able to retire those two actions with the purchase of this building. >> That's that's one of the possibilities that we're looking at. Uh now, counselor.
>> So, there could be a future cost savings there if we're able to do that then. So, >> yes, substantial. >> Okay. All right. I just want to confirm that. No further question. Ju >> just in wrapping up uh before I'll take a motion. I just want to emphasize again
and talk about the building department and know these things are dynamic and it does change over time but uh um over the years I've heard from uh contractors that do significant amount of volume with the building department and what I
had heard and granted it's been probably two or three years old now getting this feedback but the we were head and shoulders favored with the way we had online permitting and things like that. Um, and
so, and I know people leaprog and maybe we were the best and maybe we're not now, but but my point was I just wanted to say on the record that or I appreciate the work of our building department and uh this is one of the few times I mean in recent years or I'm
going to say here in recent years I kind of feel like the legislature keeps passing down all these unfunded mandates and I wonder who they're representing. But um I'm kind of delighted. And I want to thank them here because they accelerated ironically uh
if we were to go with the normal process. >> I mean we've just accelerated something that's going to improve significantly efficiencies within town government. So thank you legislature for giving us this June 30th deadline. >> Thanks for the nudge. Right.
>> Yeah. Right. >> With that I'll take a motion in a second uh to approve resolution 6026. I'd like a motion to approve resolution 50. What was it? 15. >> 6026. >> 26.
>> 60-26. >> Second. >> Nope. >> Motion a second. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. >> Motion carries unanimously. Thank you staff for >> Yeah. Good >> for that. Moving on to reports. Town
attorney. >> Thank you, mayor. I have two reports tonight. Uh first I would like to ask the council to authorize uh the town clerk and town manager and I to coordinate the notice of a private
attorney client section under a session under section 286 Florida statutes to discuss a lawsuit uh initiated by the town against Equix. Uh, this lawsuit has to do with damage to a town water
utility line. Uh, the line was damaged by the contractor for People's Gas who was installing the line. Uh, the People's Gas contractor and People's Gas have denied liability and they started pointing the finger at a third party.
Uh, so we had to amend our complaint and add that third party. Uh we'd like to discuss our litigation strategy with you uh moving forward because it is a substantial damage case and uh want to make sure you understand all of the
ramifications to the town in that regard. My uh so if I could have a motion to uh authorize the notice of attorney client session that would be excellent.
Take a motion. >> Motion to approve an attorney client session on what was the name? Equix. >> Town of Jupiter versus Equix. >> Town of Jupiter verse Equix. >> I'll second. >> Motion second. All in favor signify by
saying I. >> I. >> I. >> Motion carries unanimously. >> And Mayor Fid, just for the record, is that the um water man that was struck out on Indiantown Road crossing the canal? Okay. >> Yes. Um, second,
we've been in discussions as recently as this afternoon with CVS, uh, which is one of the property owners in the Lakewood Commercial Association. The other property owner is um, Cassa
Tequila Mexican Restaurant. And then the town of Jupiter owns the 9 acre parcel. So as we've been going through the due diligence um as part of the uh buyer's due diligence they have discovered this
uh association maintains a declaration of covenants. There are several covenants in there that are uh somewhat burdensome and really irrelevant just to give you an example. And these these covenants were drafted by PY Holmes. I
think they they pulled off the shelf a declaration from one of their residential communities because there are architectural uh an architectural board in review of things and although those sometimes apply to commercial properties here we
know there's only three three properties and of course the town staff does an excellent job with architectural review of build any building that goes on in Jupiter. So we are trying what happened was pties
had three directors on that association all three py directors resigned leaving the association without any directors which means the association can't operate. So one of the things that happened was the association is
responsible to for paying uh an assessment for maintenance of the landscaping and roadway that runs between Soma Isles and these parcels and those assessments did not get paid.
The result was that Sonoma Isles brought a an action against Lakewood Commercial Association and has achieved a default judgment because there were no directors to authorize any lawyers to defend the Lakewood Commercial Association.
So, the association now has a $17,000 default judgment against it. The purpose of the call with CVS was as you know uh town manager Kits Row was appointed as the director for the town. We have been
asking CVS to appoint a director. They have been to put it mildly dragging their feet and now um as recently as Monday they made a public records request. they've lawyered up with this
lawyer from a law firm in Bokeh. I would say the two conversations we've had with that lawyer um have not been pleasant and they haven't been productive. So, we're not sure where this is going, but uh we are
exploring different options in order to resolve this. But, um I want to express my unhappiness with CVS. Um, I'd like to thank as many facilities
as CVS has in the town of Jupiter that could be a little bit more cooperative and they haven't been. Um, we will continue to try and cooperate. Uh, our other twist in all of this is Cassad Tequila, the owner of Cass Cassadila
is in Mexico and lives in Mexico 90% of the time. I've had three conversations with him. He's reluctant to appoint himself as a director and he has apparently no one else to appoint as a director.
Um, so I want you to be aware that this is taking a little bit more time than we thought. We would, you know, we we had hoped that we would already have a site plan submitted on the 9 acre parcel, but essentially what's holding it up is the
reluctance to appoint directors other than um Mr. Kitsero and um the reluctance to really from my perspective cooperate with the town in addressing the issues in this declaration.
And I'm sorry that that's the the bad news on that. But uh the good news is that you have some good lawyers on your side of the equation working very hard to turn the table. >> Well, I appreciate the update. We all
appreciate the update. Thank you. And uh we had we've gotten previous updates. We know the complications here. Could you confirm uh our understanding that so while we were an owner of one of the three parcels as as the town we never
were obligated is that correct for any of the maintenance? >> That's correct. The town was not responsible for paying assessments, right? >> That was uh essentially negotiated when the town uh acquired the the parcel
through dedication, >> right? So we were not obligated because now in wanting to sell it, the party buying it would then become obligated which why this association of sorts, you know, has to uh exist to manage that.
>> Correct. Um I think um and I we don't want to get in the weeds of this, but I just wanted to ask uh I think a town manager did take some action um to do some maintenance by staff even though we had no obligation. >> That's correct, Mayor. We we um we're
working on cleaning that area up out there. >> Right. We had we had complaints from the the neighboring residential community because it hadn't been kept up. Um and we the staff was about to initiate a
code enforcement action against the association. I talked with the director. I said, "Well, you can go ahead and initiate it, but no one's going to respond to it." In the meantime, uh Mr. Kitzone and I decided that what was in the best
interest of our residents was for the town to exercise the public works department by going out there and doing the maintenance and picking up the debris that had been discarded in the along the roadway there. And uh as far as I know,
we will continue to do that because that's in the best interest of our our residents. And you know, we value, of course, the council values all of its residents. Um, and certainly Soma Isles is is a nice residential community and
been a good partner to the town and want to make sure that um the area is kept up. Um, I think one thing that we might do and um I think I think I want to give them a a
third chance before uh we do this, but I think uh if we don't get some positive movement soon, I think a letter from the mayor authorized by the council to CVS
uh might stir some action on their part. you know, just to add and then I we'll take a motion on that, but um you know, my wife prefers that CVS, so I occasionally go there with her, uh pick a prescription or whatever. Um and you
know, I had noticed the neglect, if you will, um which really is by CVS. So the irony here that I see here is that CVS really the only entity that really had existed there for a number of years has
allowed the landscaping to be neglected and here we are and I while I appreciate this and we're doing that for the public and the residents doing some maintenance you know we need to get uh certainly uh CVS to wake up and start taking on that
obligation. So, um, do we need a resolution? Do we need a motion to uh authorize the letter or >> or is direction sufficient? >> Yeah, a motion would be great. >> It's a motion to approve um a letter by this council to CVS.
>> I'll second a second. All in favor? >> I say I >> I >> And just mayor, on your last comment, uh this is common property. It may or may not be CVS property, but
>> but I'm going to examine with planning and zoning staff. I've already read the development order for that property. >> We need to examine the the plans and see if there is landscaping on the CVS site, which is a common problem we've had
through throughout the town with CVS. >> Yep. >> Um maintaining their landscaping. So, we're going to look at that and uh see what we find. >> Yep. Thank you. Well, there's a I would imagine the common road somebody owns, so I would think that's but get let us
know what that what that is. But thank you. Any other uh reports? >> No, thank you. >> Uh town manager. >> Thank you, mayor. Um just a few things. Uh last week our community relations department and our assistant town
manager attended the annual Florida Municipal Communicators Association conference and came home with several honors as they do almost every year. And um I'm pleased to announce that the town's Centennial at the Ballpark video
created with the help from Rogerine Chevrolet Stadium won the FMCA award for best collaboration video. Uh the town also received their certificate of excellence in government communications for the fourth straight year. And uh
meanwhile, our assistant town manager, Kate Morettto, uh and director of community relations, Shawn Reed, were two of only 18 individuals from across the state to complete the FMCA's new certified local government communicator
professional certification program. And I understand it's a pretty extensive program. And then finally, um, Kate was sworn in as the new FMCA president, a role she will hold for the next year, and I've been told we don't have to call
her Madame President or anything. So, congratulations to her. We're all very proud of her. Um, at the beginning of this month, the town's utilities department published a 2025 drinking water quality report. This report helps residents understand the town's ongoing
efforts to produce its award-winning drinking water supply. And the report is being mailed in this month's water bills and is available online uh or by visiting town hall. Uh also want to take a minute to recognize the Jupiter Police
Department's employees of the first quarter. Uh Detective Nicole Hansen was recognized as the investigator of the quarter. Officer Michael Denier earned the officer of the quarter and code compliance officer Destiny Julian was named the civilian employee of the
quarter. Um, on a somber note, next Thursday, May 14th, the Jupiter Police Department will hold its annual memorial service to honor Major uh Edward K. Humphrey and police officer First Class Bruce St. Laurent, both of whom gave their lives in the line of duty. The
ceremony will be held at Riverside Memorial Park in Tequesta and will begin at 9:00 a.m. And finally, as I as I always do, I want to recognize some long tenure uh town employees. If you give me a moment, mayor, uh the celebrating work
anniversaries with the town. Our own Stephanie Thobber, one of our assistant directors in the planning and zoning department, celebrates 30 years of service this month. 30 years. Um, two of our police officers, one of whom guards us most nights here, officer Marin Nucci
and Joe Binlick, along with GIS specialist Wayne Walker are celebrating 25 years of service. I think N started when he was like 10, right? Is that what it was? And so, um, he's got 25 years of service. And then, uh, one of our
all-time favorites, uh, police officer Roberto Diaz Hernandez will be completing 20 years of service with the town this month. So here again, you know, I'm always so impressed with how many long tenur employees uh we have and
uh and how club 30 continues to expand. That's my report. Mayor, >> moving on uh to council. Uh I'll start at councelor Gisinger. >> Yeah, just two quick things. Again, congratulations all the town employees
celebrating service anniversaries this month. Also, I'd like to uh personally congratulate and thank the Jupiter Police. I attended the family autism day they had on April 25th. That was a very very nice event and very well attended by our residents of the town. And what a
special day for residents. They provided community service uh resources to families and also I think generally the kids had a lot of fun and I never seen so many handprints on a police car. I took a picture of it. I'll send it to you. So, but it was a really nice event and well attended. Hats off to the JPD
for hosting that event this year. So that's all I got. >> Council Sens, >> permission to go second to last. >> Uh I went to Council Geyser. I went to that event a few years ago and it is a great event. It It's a lot bigger than you think it would be and it's just um
great support from the police department and um everybody has a really good time there. Um town manager is still on my thunder on all the recognitions for town staff. So, congratulation everybody that um um town manager mentioned and I was I haven't been on the water in a while and I was this past weekend and I was able
to go by the uh the Jupiter inlet the lighthouse area where the the state's doing the federal government's doing the renovation and um it's intense. uh they have, you know, they put in the last summer the seaw wall was about finished and now there's a tier I guess there's a
there's a pathway and then there's another wall of a very some sort of like a limestone colored rock. Um and now there's uh at least four very large wooden staircases that come all the way down to the water. So what I'm hoping is they
it doesn't look like boats can even get in there. I know they're going to put some living shoreline in there. I hope they jungle it up and make it softer, but it is a far cry. I knew I know something had to be done. I don't They wanted something this intense. I know a lot of locals are very unhappy with it. I'm not sure how I feel about it, but I
hope they can sort of make it look a little more like Jupiter as opposed to a national park. I don't know what they're going for, but it the the renderings we were shown here when they it's not what I saw. And I know you really shouldn't judge a project when it's not completed,
but we'll wait and see. But um just uh I hope they can kind of soften it up a little bit. So that's it. >> Vice Mayor, >> thank you. Um again, congratulations to all our staff, the 30-year clubs. It's amazing the number of employees. Just
want to ask um just became aware of our memorial out on the town green. I'd like to see a plan for getting this out to our community so that they know it's there. Um I hear we've got some trees
there. I really again it's it's beautiful. Did you all see it yet? It's it's quite nice. So just a game plan for how we're going to publicize that. Vice Mayor, we we have we um will be doing a
ribbon cutting as we do for all other projects and uh Sean Reed and I have had some preliminary conversations about that. And uh now that we've got all the trees in and everything done, uh you'll see that coming up very shortly. I I do want to
give a kudos if I could to Stephanie Thoburn um who was out there the other day in her big Jupiter straw hat moving pots of plants and all this stuff around and that's her specialty and she really did quite a quite a great job with that.
Um but we will be having a ribbon cutting and we will invite the community. Um, just wanted to ask if we can be kept in the loop with the build building negotiating as you go forward. Um, whether it's the environmental, just keep us posted on that. I'd like to
Yeah. And then last thing on some of the lots that we own in and around our area, I' I'd like to see an update at some point what we have. Daniel's way. Is there any plans for for what could go
there? Residents are asking. So, just put it on the to-do list just to keep us posted. Thank you, >> Council Sunstrom. >> Thank you. Um, mayor, I have the honor
of presenting a proclamation to you this evening. And I've never done this, so I'm going to try to read fast, but um, this is from the Florida League of Cities in honor of your 25 years of elected service. So, let me just read
this to you. It's from um, President Holly Smith, president of the Florida League, the State League. So, um, as our representative, I just wanted to present this to you and and read it, um, to everyone here. So, a resolution of the board of directors of the Florida League
of Cities honoring Jim Caretsky for 25 years of elected service and presenting him with the John Land years of service award in recognition of his selfless commitment to municipal leadership and governance. Whereas America's municipal
governments have long relied upon the selfless leadership of their citizens for local self-government, and Florida's municipal governments share the same honored role or the time-honored role as the level of government closest to the people. And whereas this reliance places
extraordinary responsibilities upon citizen legislators, municipal elected officials who make significant sacrifices of their time and energies on behalf of their citizenry. making this commitment a true labor of love. And whereas municipal leaders
strive for excellence in the governance of their city, town, or village and commit themselves to providing quality services, governing effectively and working to improve the quality of life. I see what you go through with these things now. Um, and whereas the league has named its years of service,
recognition, and honor of John Land, the mayor of Apopka between the years of 1949 and 2014, a leader whose dedication is unsurpassed at the national and state levels and who's modeled the way for decades of municipal leaders. And whereas several terms in office are a
high compliment voters give to an official. And with these years of experience comes a strengthening of wisdom, discernment, and strong leadership skills that bring tremendous value to the municipal governments of Florida. And whereas Jim Caretsky has
held office in the town of Jupiter for 25 years and is recognized for this achievement. Now therefore, be it resolved by the board of directors of the Florida League of Cities that Jim Kretzky is commended for his dedication
to the town of Jupiter and is hereby recognized as an outstanding public servant in Florida. Adopted by the board of directors, assembled this fourth day of December, 2025. So that's when they did it. But I am so honored to give this
This isn't going to be like the >> No. >> Terry, would you like to come up? our first lady. >> Get up here. >> How about uh everybody on council? >> You should do you guys first.
One more. Got it. What do we >> got it? Well, just to say a few words. First of all, um it really has been an honor and privilege and uh particularly um just
been uh delighted to work with this council. Not that every council didn't have, you know, unique u team going, but I really enjoy the team that we have. Um and um you
know really as I reflect back um I am so grateful that the public has entrusted me to serve this long. I um think back on so many elections um where I feel like I had a bullseye.
Uh but um but I've come through it. Uh thankfully thanking God and u certainly my wife and family for helping me in those elections as well as residents and supporters. And um I think many know
this, but um one of the things I've always done is I every term that I've served, I bring with me in my in my meeting book my pledges that I made for that term
and uh and I periodically look at them. I make sure it's in my binder because I make sure I am fulfilling and I believe there may be others on the council that that are doing that practice. But just to kind of I'll just share. Um so we're
a year in on my uh ninth term and last one. Um and my first commitment was on fire rescue services. Uh, I'm just going to read through this. To continue with creation of new new Jupiter Fire Rescue Department and have it ready to begin
full service throughout Jupiter on October 1st. We're certainly going to deliver on that one. Managing overall cost of government, creation of JRFRD enables the town's advorum tax rate to continue to be the lowest of all
municipalities in Palm Beach County. And to the degree that the benchmarking we did included both the town and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue because that's the equal uh equal uh scope of services
that most municipalities have. We'll be able this year uh to uh enact a reduction if you will. We're all grateful for that. of course keeping our Jupiter uniquely special um you know preserving our quality of life for and
enhancing it preserving it and further enhancing it for our children and grandchildren and future generations. Um traffic mitigation solutions we've certainly been working on a number of those for a number of years and it's
starting to uh we're starting to see a number of them get implemented. And then lastly, uh, historic preservation, continue efforts and collaboratively work with property owner to respect and preserve the unique and archaeological and historical nature of portions of
Sunnis Sand sites and we're well on the way to deliver on that. So, uh, I couldn't do any of this without five members on the council. I'm grateful for that. I'm but I am uh humbled uh by this
recognition and uh and again thank you to the public uh for entrusting me to uh to sit up here and represent you. With that the time is now 9:07. We'll adjourn the meeting. Thank you. >> Great.
>> Congratulations. We enjoyed you as mayor, counselor, and >> regular attender before that. >> Thank you. Yeah, I signed it right there. >> Okay, >> thank you very much.
>> Thank you. >> Yesterday