And he about blackheaded me across the truck. Show some respect. Like, oh, >> we are online. They're picking everything up. >> Guys, ready?
>> We are. >> My phone says six. the March 3rd database regular council meeting will now come to order is not on books. No, >> actually I just don't have it where it
belongs. Uh we'll now come to order. If we could all rise for the pledge of allegiance, please >> allegiance to the flag United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all. >> And certainly if we can all have a moment of silence and reflect on what's going on in our world today, which is a lot. >> Hey, if I could have a roll call. >> Council member Coleman
>> present. Council member El Rey here. Council member McClendon >> here. >> Vice Mayor Herszog >> here. >> Mayor Kayne present. Town manager Ramaya >> here. >> Town attorney >> here. >> Community standards director Karen Garner Young. Acting public works director Craig Lowour
>> here. >> Okay. Um any additions, deletions, or modifications to the agenda? >> Mayor, I have a few updates staff. Um the first item is before the first presentation there will be a state of
the town address for Lockxahhatche Groves by Mayor Kaine. Item number five on consent approval of minutes. Um you guys were emailed today. There was a modification to page
eight with regards to the motion. Um it was changed from red speed to law enforcement. Item number seven, supplemental information was provided to you guys um which provides the uh lobbyist list for
Slugget and Associates. After item number 11, we're adding item number 12 under >> or 11 A. >> We can make it 11 A. Okay. And this is regarding her home's work order number seven.
And then item number 12 under discussion. Uh there was a resolution that was emailed out to you all today. >> I'm sorry. Can you explain the difference on approval of minutes? You said page eight. I didn't understand the change there.
>> It's actually page 52. >> Thank you. It's page eight of those minutes, but page 52 of this agenda. >> Oh, was just a typo. >> Okay. >> Okay. Can I have a motion to
>> I have changes >> and sorry we did add additional minutes to this set while we had the opportunity. >> You'd like to make changes to the agenda? >> I would. >> Okay. Sure. >> Uh pulling items seven and eight from consent and moving >> we have we're not doing consent.
>> Okay. Moving 15 and 162 discussion. Okay. All right. So, and I have a motion to approve the agenda with the addition of a state of the town address, with the addition of 11A her homes, with the addition of a resolution that was
emailed today for the permanent for item number 12, and changing item 15 and 16, which were administrative receipt files to discussion. Motion to add state of the town additional minutes.
Uh adding item 11A adding resolution to item 12 and moving administrator receive and file to discussion. >> Any amended minutes >> and the amended minutes but they're in but the amended minutes are in >> consent. So >> I'll second that.
>> All in favor? I post passes five to zero. Okay, we're good. All right. Um, last year I started a tradition. Um, this is my last year as mayor. Um, and so I'm going
to continue it and hope that the next mayor will continue it on after me. So, I just want to give a brief state of the town address of where we stand in the last year. So, I'm very proud of our accomplishments. Good evening residents, business owners, and partners of Lockxahi Groves. A year
ago, I stood here and gave you a simple message. We were looking for solutions so we could move forward. I told you that knowing what we don't want was no longer enough. I promised that we would stop building plans only to leave them on the shelf. That we wanted to bring
solutions to problems. Tonight, I'm here to report that we didn't just make a plan. We changed our behavior. We move from visioning to execution and we are slowly and surely bringing those solutions forward. More importantly, we're fulfilling the promises made
nearly 20 years ago when this town incorporated. The founders plan for this moment, protecting boundaries, protecting infrastructure, and protecting identity. And we are delivering on their legacy. As we celebrate the Grove's 20th anniversary and alongside of America's 250th
anniversary, it's a powerful reminder that local self-determination matters. We incorporated to protect something special and tonight's proof that we're honoring that decision with action. We promised to get back to basics and we did it by making hard choices. First,
fiscal health and transparency. We're running this town like a business, but we're protecting it like a sanctuary. We faced the disappearance of the surf tax and one-time revenues head on. We reduced our budget and shifted to structural recurring revenue disciplines so we stop relying on temporary dollars
to fund permanent operations. In this year's budget, we adjusted our rates for the first time in eight years and we're still among the lowest in the county, especially for what we oversee and govern. We also reduced costs, increased re reserves, and finished
projects that had stalled for years. We took what I call a capital pause because our capital improvement program took the biggest hit in funding this year. We've made real progress though. We're still out there doing the work. We've completed most of the $ 1.5 million of state funded project for
covert and catch basin replacements. What isn't done today will be finished by April. Craig, um tonight we are awarding a bid to complete the long- aaited A-Rod project. We did it correctly by completing the
necessary prep work, collecting easements, installing drainage, and restoring canal banks and slopes before finally paving the road. With the contracts awarded, we can see a road completed before this summer. >> Craig, I hope Craig,
hopefully we will also approve proceeding with a solid waste contract tonight that saves our residents about $200 per year October 1st of next year and for the six years thereafter. That's approximately $1,400 in savings over seven years for our citizens.
Because of careful management, including saving on the PBSO contract, we now have over $400,000 in one contingency account. And through a 5% set aside of budgeted funds, we have a similar amount in an operational contingency. Both are only available for use by council
direction. Decisions such as these will enable us to consider some of these savings for what we do next year. Hopefully, we can tackle Upper North Road. We completed our vulnerability assessment and modeled storm events so we can identify control structure
upgrades. This modeling is the foundation for positioning the town for continued resilient Florida funding. As we look toward next year's budget, we're identifying the top four or five neighborhood drainage strategies, planning for approximately $150,000 in cost sharing projects, and prioritizing
major structure repairs, including we pumps and gates, and building funding pipelines beyond resilient Florida. We've applied for more grants each year because we know it's a long game. We continue pursuing competitive and no match funding because this is a
marathon, not a sprint. And we are playing to win. For instance, we've applied for trail grants several times, and this year, our FERDAP applications to complete the North Road Trail was recommended by Ferdep for funding, bringing true connectivity to our trail systems. We're also working on a
resolution to create a linear park along our canal system, further connecting trails in a way that fits our rural character and for which we will continue apply for as many grants as possible. We aim to make transparency easy for everyone to see, but transparency only works if people can actually use it.
We're reworking our website and our messaging so that tracking, reporting, notifications, and access to information from permits to financial data is readily available and easy to find and easy to use. For instance, our new finance tool on the website allows residents to see invoices, contracts,
and expenditures directly, same as if they were in an actual accounting system, yet without needing any training to use. The founders incorporated this town to protect our boundaries from being swallowed by surrounding development. After years of persistence with the county and the no, we now have a formal
seat at the table for the countywide transportation master plan as well as for the Okchobee improvement planning. These issues are intertwined yet separate. Nothing happened by accident. Our involvement is the result of many years and months of deliberate and often daily interaction with the county at
every level. We didn't just ask once. We kept the heat up until we were heard. And for this, we owe a great deal of gratitude to our local lobbyists. Our vision remains clear. Okachobee must remain a rural parkway with a traffic control calming rural look and feel.
We're working to allow for reduced traffic stacking by fixing access management, but we will not compromise on the character of that road. On Southern Boulevard, we secured a state grant to design our gateway corridor, setting our own standard for buffers, branding, safety, and rural character.
The pressures around us aren't slowing down, but we are no longer unprepared. We promise to protect our lifestyle, and that meant finally holding everyone to the same standard. We created community standards because to keep this place unique, everyone has to uphold the rules. Compliance is the goal, but
accountability is the tool. Our crackdown in code enforcement is allowing us to find partners to restore and retrofit overutilized properties. And this council finally gave staff the teeth they've asked for to handle unpermitted activities. We passed the civil citations, strengthens the rules
on waving fines and penalties, and implemented a process for foreclosures. We aren't saying pretty please anymore. We're aggressively bringing properties into compliance and standing firm against unauthorized industrial creep. We're enforcing the standards this community adopted and we are
coordinating with Palm Beach County Property Appraiser, building and zoning and code enforcement when jurisdictions overlap. We have at least 20 active code cases on Okobee and another dozen in hard conversation regarded unpermitted uses. We have authorization to foreclose on properties owing the town upwards of
$1 million in total. We've identified over two dozen conservation easements and at least five or six required tree mitigation calculations. We're enforcing sign codes to protect rural character. We're not just enforcing codes. We're reforming how the code works. Staff training continues across all functions.
Standards are being standardized through checklists from permitting to inspections to enforcement. We're finally addressing livestock waste with real sustainable solutions. To keep this way of life alive, we have to manage it responsibly. Sometimes that
meant a pilot program to see if an idea works, like our attempts with RVs. And sometimes it means a study to satisfy the law. But for there to be action, we must do it the right way. We still need solutions, and we still need to keep the heat up. No more delays. It's time to
move forward with purpose. Protecting our rural living means being accountable, and that only works if it's fair, consistent, and transparent. This is about fairness and protecting those who follow the rules. We promised a more efficient government and we delivered by building a strong, resilient, and talented staff. We're implementing
secession planning to protect institutional knowledge beyond any single individual. We've overhauled the process to reduce applicant burden. And at the same time, we've changed engineers so we could get a more personal approach to reduce frustration. We also made three key accommodations to
allow residents to reduce or avoid the full-blown process for normal fill storage, minor projects, and sanding maintenance. We're continuing to evaluate and streamline the FDA process. We've been methodically updating our SOPs and checklists and making our
website more friendly, more user friendly. We transitioned our legal team, saving money while clearing a backlog of issues dating back to 2021 and even before. Our committees have been busy making headway in all areas. A special thanks to the rec gag. that PSA
at Seminal Palms was a fabulous example of our committees and lobbyists working in sync. The group said they wanted to get good stuff done and they are. They've been instrumental in at least half a dozen grants, one which we have a good chance of receiving as noted above. Currently, PCB is looking at how we can
better allow for the growth in estates. If we do not create a path, the development will will find ways to occur. It's better that we get upfront of it and have the code ready. ULDC is looking at what we can do to get ready for updating the code and implementing
our our at long last formalized rural VISTA guidelines as soon as the restrictions imposed by the state through SBA 180 are lifted. Meanwhile, six months of unfiltered council workshops surfaced real issues and priorities for town. In February,
council produced a preliminary list which gives us the platform to update our strategic plan, not by reinventing it, but by building on the town's previous plans responsibly. Strategic planning should reflect where you are and where you're going. And that's exactly what we're doing as we head into
the next budget. Lockx grows is a promise that we make to each other. Thank you to the residents, especially those who look past the rumor mill and help us move ahead responsibly. Thank you to the property owners, rural businesses, farmers, and newcomers.
Thank you to our committees. Thank you to our staff, the most talented, committed, professional team we've ever had. They love this town fiercely. Thank you to our lobbyists, local and state. They've been invaluable in securing funding and building our presence. They've gotten our funding to the
governor's office every year. And since he cut us last year, let's hope he funds us this year. And thank you to my fellow council members, current and past. 20 years ago, people stood up and said, "This place matters." Tonight, we prove that promise still holds. As we approach
the Gro's 20th anniversary alongside the 250th anniversary of America, we have an opportunity to unite our community. This anniversary is not just a celebration. It's a chance to leave a visible marker of who we are. If you care about this town's future, we need you on our
committees, at workshops, and engaged in the process. We have momentum. We have discipline. We have tools. No more delays. It's time to move forward with purpose. Thank you. Okay, we're on to item number one, presentation on wildlife prevention and
preparedness by the forest. >> Mayor and and council, before you move forward with item number one, I would note that Mary McNicholas is um on the uh on the call >> um and she wasn't able to be here in
person to today. Um, and the item, one of the items that I guess she's involved is is the consent agenda. And I heard that there might be a removal of that item. Um, and I was just wondering in consideration of um her
being uh online, you might want to move up the consent agenda um and consider uh that item so she isn't tied up all night. >> Okay. Um, so what items did you want to pull from consent, Lisa? >> Seven and eight.
>> Seven and eight. Is everybody okay with that? >> I'd like to move uh seven to be four. >> We could maybe do it with two since that's Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. Somewhere earlier because >> is that okay with everybody if we give
it to two? Call it 2B. >> Well, do you want to make it before >> number two? Okay, we'll do seven. >> Well, actually, well, >> is is Mr. Book here with us tonight? I know they're busy >> to be here with us tonight. They sent >> I tell you what, we'll just move seven
and two. We'll combine seven and two and we will let uh Mary decide how she wants to whether she wants to do whatever first. Does that work for everybody? And then eight. Everybody's okay with pulling eight too.
>> Fine. You put eight under eight under four. >> Where do you want to put eight? >> Or we drop it to the bottom. >> Well, let's >> We do it to the bottom. >> We usually do it to the bottom. >> It's not new business, so we'll drop it after nine. No, nine is part of the consent. Okay, never mind. We'll drop it
after I guess 11 or 11 A. We'll move eight to after 11 A. Okay. >> All right. So, a motion to approve the consent with mayor seven with two and moving eight after 11 A. >> So, moved >> with the amended minutes. I'll second
that. >> We already did approve the amended minutes. >> No, we didn't. >> No, we didn't. It's in the consent. >> Oh, yeah. And leave the leave the amended minutes in the consent. >> Okay. All in favor? >> I I passes five to zero. >> Okay. Now, we can go on with the
Wildlife Service. Thank you, gentlemen, for your patience with the Florida forestry. >> I'm sure you want us to address you. >> There's great. >> The mic's good because then it records. >> Then it records if you speak into the mic. Thank you.
>> Yes. >> Is it on Craig? Craig >> just have to speak very close. >> Very close. Can you hear me? >> There you go. >> Hi everybody. My name is Chris Wel. I am the forest area supervisor for the Florida Forest Service for Palm Beach
County. And this is Ed Aldridge. He's my senior ranger. I've been here in Lockxa Hatchee for 30 years working out of this fire station. And uh Ed's been with me for 20. So we wanted I guess we're asked to come
here today to uh kind of talk about what's happening with the wildland areas right now. And uh we wanted to give a little uh briefing. Our drought index right now is 652 which means 800 is droughtlike
conditions and the whole state is uh very dry right now. Not only didn't we get the rainfall, those freezes really hurt us with this light vegetation, grasses and everything else and see that's dead everywhere. Locks of Hatchee right now. I was just
uh driving around and uh it's um know everything's very dry. We have large lots and so it's going to be imperative that people are not backyard burning. It's going to be very very important that uh we don't see people burn in
their backyards because fires right now it's not going to take very much. I know we just got this little bit of rain lately, but we're way behind. So, um I think we need
to just make sure I saw your sign on Okachobee saying no burns out here by the school today. No burning. And uh that's fantastic. I uh was just in a meeting this morning with FHP
on some of our large fires we've had down the Everglades and uh you know we were talking about probably 25 30,000 acres and different things happening right now. So the state so far this year from January we've had 68,461
acres burn with 1141 fires throughout the state so far. And being that this is just the beginning of our fire season pretty much, it's going to go through
May into June, depending on when those rains come back. So, we have a long time to go now. And I've been talking with Palm Beach County uh the fire marshall for Palm Beach County Fire Rescue and you know, they put a burn ban on because
of the countywide also. So, not only are we as department of agriculture not allowing agriculture burning, the county and what they control also is uh not allowing any burning either. Some things that we could talk about uh
too for just homeowners. Uh please uh keep your yards up. These are big areas. Roofs right now, very important. your gutters. I know these are basic things, but yards. I was coming today. Some of the yards are foot foot and a half tall
and that grass is all dead. I saw a log cabin right over here on collecting canal and the grass is high. Comes right up to that log cabin. And even though fire rescue is right there, it's still at least 5 to 8
minutes. On a bad day with these cold fronts, these fires are going to move through the areas very fast. So, we want to make sure people have addresses that we can see, everybody knows how to get into them. Like there's an address somewhere we get called and
just access. I know a lot of times it's tough, but when these fires are happen, you want these big large trucks to be able to get in there to get these fires put out quickly. So, please uh with your yards cleaning up a little bit, just um not having
backyard burning, roofs, gutters, and uh because it's very volatile right now and uh it's only going to get worse for the next three months. >> I believe Mr. Coleman has >> I was just going to wait till it's done. >> Thanks. Oh. Oh, yeah. So, so you
mentioned so there's a there's a burn ban across a everything, right? regardless of your state statute ability to burn to burn debris for land clearing etc. There is a burn ban. I mean, I've seen the graph, the state graph that's like multiple shades of red, right? >> Yes. Yeah.
>> So, I mean, and it it's for our our county. And what we also do is we are in the Everglades district for the Florida Forest Service. We're part of Palm Beach, Broward, Miami Dade, and Monroe counties. That's the fire district we're in under the Florida Forest Service.
It's broke up to districts with so many counties in 15 different districts throughout the state. and we decide, you know, what's going on in our areas with my boss that's out of Fort Lauderdale and how dry it is and depending on every
week we're deciding actually every day if uh you know we're going to let agriculture burning. But since we're having so many of the counties putting burn bands on also, we wanted to make sure we're pretty much together as much as we can with them. I of course we try
to allow the a if we think it's uh going to be okay, but right now we're we're getting into such a a time to where it's going to be um hard enough, I think, to keep up with fires uh that just start from people just accidentally starting.
Right. >> Let alone having a lot of piles going on in. >> So if you possess that a burn permit, right? Right. >> Because in order you can't just burn just because you're a you have to you have to have a permit. So I know I really think Zag can just do what they want, >> right? Yeah. That's always been kind of
a problem we've had here in locks in a lot of the areas that way is just because it's zoned a doesn't mean you're actually, you know, for us to give you permit uh to burn. It's it's for helping clean up most businesses like if you have agriculture, you have horses, you
have cattle, you have a a nursery um you know to where you're cleaning up. So, we're trying to help those type a not just I guess just businesses, but people that have horses or cattle or paddics that that's what we're for. Not just because you have a five or 10 acre block
that's in an agricultural zoned area that you want to cut some trees down and just burn. You know, there needs to be reason for it for some type of agriculture. >> And this time of year, instead of just driving by and looking for a flag or going, "Oh, it rained yesterday, so I can burn." they probably really really
probably ought to contact you before they try to do something like that. >> Yeah. So, every day when we do do on-site inspections for a if you get a permit through us, uh they still have to call daily. We do an inspection. It's good for five months and then they have to go, you know, call in daily because
what we do is each house we go to, they might be next to Southern Boulevard or Kachchobee. So, they'll put wind restrictions on wherever that pile might be for that agriculture type burner. And if that's not the right wind, you're not going to be allowed to burn anyhow, even
though maybe a neighbor will. So, we individually look at each pile where they're at and decide, you know, one whether or not they can do it and if it's safe enough to do it. We put restrictions on them. >> Last point, I'm going to hush. So, if if
somebody's burning, right, I know we hate to tell on our neighbors, but if somebody's burning, it's 911, right? Yes. >> Don't call the forestry. Don't call Just call 911. >> Yeah. That's usually the fastest, you know, and because, you know, we mostly bring the bulldozers, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, they have more water than
we could ever dream about. And so, you want them coming. They have the army that's coming, but we have the specialized big equipment that gets into if we're getting into big trees and heavy areas, they can't get brush trucks in. That's what these bulldozers are for. We bring them in and cut fire lines
and we're we're going to stop it. But uh >> because we've already had like two two major inst what I would consider not major like catastrophic but major calls here in the past couple weeks. Correct. >> Yes. I'm going to let Ed talk about that in a minute. Yeah. Just this last week I
was gone and uh yeah there have been quite a few uh incidents already. So >> let let me let Mr. Mendin ask his question and then we'll >> you might be about to answer it. So typically when there's a fire Palm Beach County Fire Rescue is the one that responds. At what point do you guys get
involved and would respond? >> Well, right now we're monitoring everything that they're getting called on vegetative fires. You know, we we have an app. So, every call that they get called on that's a a vegetative fire, we're looking at right
from the station. And I'm seeing where it's at, what it is, and the potential for us because I don't want to give it that time for them even to get there before they call. So, if it does have potential, it's a large acreage area and I feel it's a bad day, I'm going to I
can send the guys right out too, even before they call us, you know, to just start. If they get there and put it out, they can always cancel us or we can turn around. But, uh, you know, we have a lot to also up in Jupiter Farms, we cover the whole county. So, getting these
bulldozers to areas that's 45 hour, hour and a half away takes some time. So, I try to get ahead of that, but we are constantly monitoring, but they usually call our dispatch if they need us to request us and then our dispatch has to
call. But right now, because it's so dry and going to only get drier, I want to get to jump on it as soon as we can because the trucks are slow and they don't recognize that bulldozer like they do uh Palm Beach fire truck coming to an
emergency. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Yeah, sorry. And we just did a bunch of cooperative training with fire rescue with all the battalions in our area on this western side of the county. So, uh I think we had just short of 400 firefighters, chiefs, and captains,
lieutenants that we we did a face toface uh training with over the last couple of months. Going into this fire season, we knew we were going to be historically dry, so we we got ahead of it and got all that planned. Um, so we feel pretty good about um meeting with our cooperators so they're on the same page.
So you guys not hearing me at all? Uh, but going back to the question about something happening here locally u a couple instances over the past couple weeks. >> Uh, the two that I went to actually one was uh it was a I think they're both
outdoor burning that got away. Uh, one left the the gentleman's yard, went under his fence, hit some shrubs, and then went toward his neighbor's house. So, we almost lost two structures there uh because he it was just he didn't think it was a big deal. Wasn't listening to the news and realized that
there was a burn ban. Um, he felt pretty bad about almost taking his neighbor's house out. They had two over on in the other letter roads to to the west. Uh, I think we get called to one of them. They ended we ended up helping out on
one and then the other uh they left one fire and went to to the other. So within about two or three days I think we had six call outs just within the letter roads alone here in Long Hatching. That doesn't include the roadside fires out towards uh the
Belgade area on 27 or on State Road 80. Uh we've had a few down in in the southern area as well. So it's been a pretty pretty busy few weeks. Hopefully people are listening to the news and they're hearing the weather reports and they're they're taking that burn ban for serious because uh the yards are pretty
crispy. Uh and it and it Sorry, go ahead. >> I was just going to line up so I could say thank you to you all. I just want the council to know that we actually partner very well with the division and they have come immediately when we have
called and we just are very thankful for it. some of those fires we were at. So, we appreciate it. >> Mr. McLendon, have one more question. >> Sure. You kind of mentioned it earlier and you correct me if I'm wrong. One of the biggest things that starts fires is
gutters, right? Dry vegetation in the gutters gets on the roof goes into the gutter and it was some kind of like 60 minutes or something in California where they did a big study. So, it's important to keep that dry vegetation out of your gutters because primarily structures start on fire because of that. Correct.
>> Gutters. Sorry. Sorry. gutters and as well as we've had the issue with uh some wooden fences as well even carrying the fire to your house if it if the the gutters aren't clear. Did you? >> Yeah. You know, and as far as spread, you know, years ago, Port St. Lucy, >> can you speak in the microphone? >> You can come speak.
>> Yeah. Years ago, I was uh on a bad fire in Port St. Lucy where we lost uh forget 20 30 houses or so up there and it was going from just block to block and sweeping through yards like it is right now. You know, so dry it was just
sweeping through that fire to where I was on a bulldozer and I remember up against somebody's house actually peeling their shrubbery uh away from their house to try to keep it from catching on fire. There were so many different fires happening at that time and structures the structure
departments didn't even know which house to go to first. So, you know, not to scare anybody, but we are in a very uh dry time to where we could have, you know, some pretty big issues. Luckily, the acreage is almost built out. When I first came here 30 years ago, it was we
had a lot of fires out there and there was a lot more unbuilt property, so it gave the fire, you know, a lot more area to build. So the the larger they get, the harder they are to stop. You know, they start drawing more and more oxygen
and they spot further and further out. And what happens even with somebody's uh you know, fire right now that they have a pile in their yard, those embers float. You know, they could float 50, 100, 200 feet, drop on your house. You
have uh needle cast on there from the the pine trees around. maybe dry palms. Doesn't take much. And once those roofs start on fire, it goes very very quickly. So, I just seen that there's a lot of
woodframe homes in Lock Aache and uh we just have to be very careful even mowing right now. You you know, you hit rocks, it's it's that dry. Hitting some hard things to where it could start sparks. cars, trucks being hot, coming
in on high grass, parked along the road somewhere. Even the the road shoulders, we're getting fires from that. Just cars pulling over. So, yeah, please be careful and uh take care of your house and don't worry about telling on your neighbors. It's not about that. It's
just about, I think, everybody wanting to be safe and not uh you know, having a big problem this year. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much, gentlemen, for being here. Okay. So, item number two. So, we're
we're not having >> leg is Miss Nicholas. >> Mary, you're there. >> Hi. >> Hi. >> Okay. Item number two is a legislative up update from the town's lobbyist. Is that supposed to be you or is that I
believe that's Ron Book's office. Would you like to comment on any of the things that are in the update or have you had an opportunity to see it or no? >> Um I I've reviewed it. However, I think that it's best that Ra or Ron Book address that you know what is going on
with their >> Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Okay. Um they are not >> the reason that they are not here tonight is that they are still in meetings in Tallahassee and they asked
that they could um send the updates in lie of being on the call and reschedu this for April 4th but um you know some of the committee meetings were still ongoing today and some of the bills are
still moving around. The budget session is not moving and there appears to be a special session coming at the end of the current session to handle the advorum
taxes and any of the um significant budget issues. Okay. So, we'll just wait for that update. So, then we're on to item number seven. This is the um contract. Lisa, you wanted to pull this consent. I did. >> Please.
Well, I don't know if you all had time to review the the list of of clients provided, but a cursory review shows land owners on that list, business owners on that list, the developer on the list, a
vendor on the list. And while we can all assume that in this small community we're going to see conflicts of interest, I know that there's been an intervention on behalf of some of these uh properties with code
enforcement, code enforcement cases that never move forward, code enforcements that that stall out. Um I don't know if you've also looked at invoices provided by this vendor, but they're vague. We've never gotten a quarterly report from
this vendor updating anything of we get an occasional grant update from the manager or we get um you know a presentation made. Uh but I I would like to see also a separation of this vendor's
participation in the uh comprehensive plan technical assistance grant. when I asked this question in January whether this was going to be covered under their monthly uh retainer or were they going to be providing uh billing for that specific
study because state statute requires that spending be documented for that study. So I have concerns about renewing this contract at this time given the request for the conflict of interest
waiver. Um, I think that being the people that are supposed to be protecting taxpayer dollars, we need more uh clarity in how this time is being spent on our behalf and the money is being spent on our behalf and a
limitation on this vendor taking on properties that may approach the town either through code enforcement or application um or otherwise uh trying to do business or dealings with the town directly. We
can't stop obviously their their role with other government agencies and surrounding towns, but uh I think certainly properties within our own boundaries. That should be a limitation that we don't accept up here. >> Um I'd like to ask could you please be
more specific? You made a lotations as to exactly your allegations. I'd really like to know what it is that you're speaking of. um >> on your client list specifically. Is that what you like? >> I don't have it in front of me, so I don't know what it is that was
submitted, but everything that we have is very very transparent. We have to register just like any one of the other lobbyists anywhere in the county and in the state. Everyone has to register and that's a very specific thing that we
have to pay a lobbyist registration and that's exactly what's there. But clients that we had before we represented you all for many many years um there's not been any conflict of interest and if
you're aware of it I would like to know what it is. >> We got a client list provided by somebody. Was that not you that provided this client list to the council? >> The the client list came off of the lobbyist registration that Mary was referring to.
>> Okay. Was is that up to date? >> I think what Mary's asking is with respect to the code enforcement or the other issues that you're suggesting that she had contact with the the town on, what client or client are you referring
to? >> Would you like that level of specificity? Well, if we're going to make com I I mean, I guess I I can't be clear on what it is that you're requesting if you don't state what it is that there's an
issue with because you may >> Is this list current and accurate that we we received? >> Our our lobby's registration list and everything that's lo that's on the county is specific. Everything that I have registered for is where I assume
that Mr. Curts took that off of the lobbyist the county lobbyist registration. Is that correct? >> That's correct. We had discussed that. Yes, >> for sure. Okay. So, do you want specific properties?
>> I guess I'd like to know what it is you're even speaking of because it's not clear to me and I don't understand grave generalizations. Okay. The ridge specifically was cited for no FDA and for mil asphalt millings.
That went into code enforcement and then it was administratively dismissed. It was never dealt with. >> And ma'am, >> Red Barn had a complaint against them for lighting. >> May I please interject here? >> We specifically were not representing the town at the time.
>> They're on your list. I asked if this was a current list. It is a current list but in essence they were not we were not doing any work for the ridge when we worked for town of blocks she groves.
>> Okay. So it's not a current list. >> No I think she's indicating that the ridge >> they're on the list Jeff. Yes, they're they are on the list, but the work that you're speaking of um was done before they contracted with us last year. I
think that's I think that's the the source of the conflict discussion. >> Red Barn um had a complaint turned in about their new lighting and you contacted the complainant of the code complaint >> and who would that be?
>> Again, I don't think that's appropriate. Okay. I think in order to get anything resolved, if someone wants successful completion of it, I think you you go ahead and take care of what it is that's been done. But we've represented Red Barn long before we ever represented
Town of Lock Statue Groves. And there was no conflict of interest whatsoever. >> Are they a current client? >> Yes, ma'am. They are. >> Okay. And then the um eco mint eco people on the car wash down at B- road.
I know a complaint has been turned in about their lighting not being turned off per their development orders. That's never come forward. >> That's car wash. >> Excuse me. Mint if I may. Mint ego has nothing to do with towns groves
>> that you're correct. That's not the mint e's in like on that. My apologies. Then um DS Eeken who's provided to the town are they currently >> um in past we have done work with them but I have not specifically done
anything that might be someone in my firm. >> Okay. And then lastly I believe um the Delaware what was it? Holding company don't they have something to do with Solar Sport?
I had nothing to do with that project whatsoever. In fact, I'd like to if you're done with your list, I'd like to >> No, Red Speed. >> Yes, ma'am. >> That was represent Red Speed. >> We have done that in the past. Um and
that was prior to we actually worked with them prior to bringing on town of Lock Hatche Groves again and um in fact we've looked at that and quite a few other revenue resources that we could bring to the town and that was as
residents to begin with. >> Okay. So the list we were provided not current or up to date. >> It is these things weren't revealed at the time. >> It looks like a historical list to me. It list it was Bill Underwood as a principal for the town of Ox droves. I'm
just saying I I get where you're going, but I mean I'm just saying it this Bill Underwood three times as the principal. >> I agree. And then as far as your invoicing every month it's a vague invoice of a monthly retainer.
Can we get something generalized like three grants applied for? Um spoke with these agencies. It doesn't need to be like attorney billing, >> but I do think the the billing associated with the study. Do you guys not mind whispering over there?
>> I I'm sorry. I can't I don't know who you're addressing, Councilwoman. I'm sorry. >> Yeah, >> it's hard for me. I don't know what you're talking about. >> I think that this I know it's really hard to do the the virtual. So, I I do think that >> profusely I apologize profusely. It
could not be it it could not be avoided. >> Yeah, I understand. No, I just think that if if Slugot is going to be involved in the study, I think that that needs to take this contract and it needs to be delayed until that study work is done. I
don't think that should have any gray area as far as the monthly retainer and the involvement in the study. I'm sorry. I don't know which study you're speaking of. Could you please elaborate? >> The comprehensive plan technical assistance grant.
>> Are we speaking of the Southern Boulevard corridor? >> Correct. >> Correct. >> So, >> what does it have anything to do with the timing of our of our contract? I'm sorry. I apologize. I'm not following that part.
I asked back in January if the monthly retainer was going to be paying for the participation of Slugot as a as one of the listed vendors and we were told at the time that you guys had not decided if you were going to renew your contract. So this is just an ongoing
inquiry on my part regarding that study and your monthly retainer in association with that. So that's something that needs to be clarified. just point of order. Regardless of who the local lobbyist would be is, right?
Say it's Jimmy Smith's lobbyist company and and they work handinhand with Treasure Coast. You don't expect them to bill us if they're working doing their job as a lobbyist to work with Treasure Coast to do this study. >> I expect them to bill as a vendor under
that grant. My concern is there's a retainer that's a more overarching retainer to projects and grant grant applications etc. intergovernmental relations and then this study being a separate
entity and the state expressly does not permit lobbying as part of that study expenditure. >> Right. So I I'm concerned that there will be some misconception of that spending. So I
>> understand more for our protection. We should have a more itemized bill. >> I think we need a more itemized bill in general moving forward 100%. Because we're we're just paying $7,500 a month and we're not getting any monthly accounting of that. At least Ron Book is
giving us weekly updates of the marathon up there in Tallahassee. So, but >> well, let me if I may. Um, as far as the grant goes, I follow whatever your town manager directs, you know, as far as what work we're working on. We're
working on so many multiple projects that it's almost it's too difficult to actually, you know, continue. Uh, I I shouldn't say too difficult. it's almost impossible to keep up with every single one of the requests that come in or for
example your past workshop where there were more than multiple requests to get things done. Um granted we love absolutely love representing the town and love representing anything that we
can do to improve as far as the town. But our agreement was very specific as far as you know how we would do this. And you know if if we need to modify something I I might consider it. But at this point, um, we've had to, and just
so you know, c all of all to the councilman, if anything, we've had to turn down multiple opportunities for other contracts because we represent the town. And I have absolutely no problem doing that as
long as our agreement with the town is still at the way that we manage this. So, I hope that I've answered your questions. Paul, you have something to say. >> So, is it feasible that
when you're working on the Treasure Coast study, we'll call it that, Southern Boulevard, the technical, and since there's some stipulation in the grant verbiage that you know about no lobbyists, etc. Is it possible that we
can you can I don't know itemize that out as as you know I understand what you're saying. You're when you you're sitting here in the office you're working you got working on 10 different projects but is there is there a way to pull that out? I
guess >> I think um I'm not really certain as to what Councilman uh Councilwoman Arammy is referring to with the actual you know paying to part of the grant because in essence I specifically bill you a
retainer so it includes everything you ask for or at least we attempt to meet every you know thing that you ask for. Um, very specifically, we also do community outreach, and that is only the part that I believe that is going to be
doing with the grant at this point. Um, Francine might be able to address that more. >> I don't think I could address it any better than you did. I don't believe the grant ever contemplated a portion of your billing being charged to it,
although you do always help with community outreach. And I think that it's part of the um you know interlocal operations that you do for us. I would also point out that we have some other
items that are on this agenda that the local lobbyist is integral for and that is with the um partnering with the county on Okachobee Boulevard and also with the community master plan. And I think that she's also
been very important beyond just the treasure coast partnership, but she's been very important partnering with FDOT and other agencies along Southern Boulevard. So, um, while she may not have a specific billing to the, um,
Southern Corridor grant project, um, she is an integral part of how we reach our community and how we work with other agencies that help us bring our vision to fruition. That includes Treasure Coast as a
partner, but it doesn't subcontractor her to Treasure Coast or make her billings part of this grant. >> Thank you. Todd, do you have something to say? >> Yeah, I guess it's more of a question for Lisa. So, I assume you see the importance of having a local lobbyist, and you're not against that. It's just
against his firm. >> I I don't I don't see this lobbyist as a lobbyist. I see this lobbyist as a a staff member at this point because they're doing inter local government
agency um coordination and everything else and and granted we're not paying Florida retirement and everything else on this some of this stuff I know we're limited staff but my big biggest concern whether any lobbyists were to come to work in
the town is that there has to be an agreement that they're not going to take on anybody that would come before staff or council for code enforcement, applications for development, anything like that. So, this conflict of
interest waiver is is very broad and I think that is something that is important that we have in there that they cannot do that while they're representing the town. Well, I agree with you that she spends a tremendous amount of time on this contract and it almost seems like she's
an employee because she spends so much time. I'm not disagreeing with that. She does spend a tremendous amount of time and I don't know if we could replace her with an employee if we wanted to. >> I don't disagree with that. Yeah. So, you know, I know understand that there's perceived conflicts, but I have known Mary for years and I have faith if there
was a conflict, she would recuse herself from it. No different than, you know, staff would or town attorney would or that sort of thing. >> Yeah. We've never gotten >> right. >> We've never gotten a client list before. This is the first time >> it's it's online forward. You can you can go on Palm Beach County website and
pull it up at any time. >> I'm talking about in the agenda provided with their documentation. Yeah, it's been public record for since I've worked with our firm, which has been over 25 years. Um, it's no different than anyone
else's, you know, and I don't think any of your other lobbyists have provided any, you know, specific list. It's online. It's all available. But, you know, if there's anything else that you think that I can do, um, you know, I can certainly look at some of the things and
we can put it in. But I last time um you know it was brought up that things were not timely and our contract is March 1st to March 1st. So I absolutely still worked on your projects in the last couple days regardless if I had a
contract or not. And um I specifically feel very comfortable going forward with what we have and we'll certainly try to do you know even a better job as much as we can. >> Mayor I know.
>> Okay. So I you know I mean I don't know that they're as stringently as bound by an ethical obligation as we are or I am in my other profession. Oh this is really profession. Um but you know you know what I'm saying. So I mean I but I there is an e there is a a sense of an e
ethical obligation and I think that anybody in that realm or whatever is subject to the same kind of scrutiny. Right. So, you know, hypothetical, you know, a client that resides on, you know, well, they were already brought up. So, Red Barn gets a complaint and
they and she's, you know, she has to recuse herself. That's I mean, from the scenario, that's the way it works, right? So, that's on her. If she doesn't, that's on her. That's on the rest of Jeff Sluggum Associates, right? That's not, you know, I mean, it's their
prof. It's no different than having an attorney sitting here that we're paying by the hour and he has another uh municipality and we getting, you know, and we're but so if there's a conflict, he's got to recuse himself, right? So I I think at at some point we all have to
be adults and we all have to say this is their ethical obligation. And if Jim Smith's lobbyist is working for us, whether it be at looking like a a a an employee, which I agree, you know, it seems that way sometimes, but I don't think we could pay, like you said,
because F FRS, etc., etc., we couldn't afford to that caliber, right? Um, so I I think at some point we have to say, you know, people have to, you know, they have to govern themselves. They're a contractor. They're not an employee. They have to govern themselves. they get theirel in a bind with a conflict of
interest, we can sever the contract, they're liable for that. They're, you know, you feel what I'm saying? >> This contract waves conflict of interest. It's in the cheetum contract. I I think that it should not be waved. And I think that it needs to specifically spell out what would happen
within our boundaries, what happens outside of our boundaries and the conflicts of interest that arise. You know, maybe they represent a property to the county, right? that that would not be to us, right? And that would not prevent them from doing that. But anything that's coming to our town
should not be a conflict of interest waiver. >> I mean, it might not be currently, but like I heard I saw a news report a while back. It seems that our state lobbyist actually works for Palm Beach County as well. So, I mean, >> and solid waste authority. >> Yeah. So, it's a very small pool, right? So, you know, we're not going to go hire
a lobbyist from Washington State to come here and work. So, I >> I think it's too broad a language for me. Okay. I'm thinking back to our last workshop on our strategic plan and how many things we talked about that Mary will be working on and she does a tremendous
amount for this town and perceived conflicts aren't enough to tell me not to approve this. So, I'm going to make a motion to approve resolution 2026-10. Do >> I have a second? >> Second. >> Okay, we have public comments. Yes, Miss Miles.
Good evening, council and Mary. Um, I can't believe this contract is $90,000. When we looked at lobbyists years ago, they were 50 $60,000. And when we decided to do the roads and
was looking for money, um Mary's contract was cancelled because we needed the money to do the roads and do other projects within the town. Then Mr. Book came on and when Mr. Book
came on, he went to Tallahassee for a specific project for money. It wasn't broad. It was one thing at a time. And he was lucky enough to get awarded the grant of $750,000
appropriations. Um, when you hire a lobbyist, it it's like going now, I feel going to the casino and saying, "Well, we're going to do the work, but we don't promise anything."
If Mary's doing work or any lobbyist is doing work, it should be in Tallahassee that they're doing it and stay away from our town code enforcement and town business. If they're a lobbyist and they're a
company, they're trying to get money, not due to day-to-day operations. I'm sure Mr. book doesn't come into our town and and get involved in code enforcement cases or anything else. But I cannot believe since the town has been looking
for money and I'll uh you know to pay contracts that are already on the books and to spend $90,000 for a lobbyist is I I I can't think of the word that you
guys would go and say, "Well, we're just going to do that and we're going to see if we can get some money somewhere else." And Todd, you're shaking your head. But any lobbyist, even Mr. Book, you're not promised tomorrow. You're not promised that the that the you're going to go up
there in Tallahassee and you're going to get awarded money. So, yes, Mary does a lot for the town, but $90,000 if it's specific projects and you can
work on them and this project pays this amount and this project pays that amount. Okay. But $90,000 for a blanket contract and then she's doing many different things. It's a lot of money to me. >> Thank you.
>> Anybody else? >> No. to this. >> When we um first were a town, we hired Gordano uh to do
our um grant writing and we paid them dearly. Look back in the minutes and so forth. It was a lot more than the 90,000
that we're paying Mary and they they did not have a specific thing that we directed them to look into. So I I I don't understand with all that Mary is doing
why it's an issue. When we were just a new little town, we were spending a lot more than what Mary is asking for. >> Todd, lobbyists don't just bring checks. They work on Okchobee Boulevard,
stopping the They try to stop Okchobee Boulevard from getting extended. It's not just checks. It's not just about bringing you money. Dividing our town with a six lane road that goes out to to the 20 mile bend, how do you put a price tag on that? Those are the things that our lobbyist works on. It's not just
about bringing checks, >> Paul. >> Yeah. And just um an average salary, I was not texting. I was calculating um just to be clear um because I know that comment's been made. Um $70,000 salary for an employee. I think you can go
about 1.75 times that to kind of roughly get, you know, what it costs to employ that person, etc. That'sund just under a quarter, right? So, you know, I and then and that's an average cause. So, I mean,
I I I get what Lisa is saying that the the the conflict. I I I get that. But the reality is Sluggen Associate has brought forth the TPA grant that got turned down, right? The 10-cent on the dollar windfall for the for the town
that we probably at the end of the day when it was all said and done probably wouldn't have had to pay the whole 10 cents on the dollar. Um there's been multiple the the last TPA grant, you know, and I have my own theories about that, it got denied, but it got before
the TPA. Um there's been multiple, you know, workings with with, you know, road and bridge engineering, etc. And like like Todd was saying, it's an ongoing thing. It's not just writing grants. Um that's kind of the win
because they can write grants as well. It's it's you know Book isn't writing grants for us right now. He's trying to get a bill passed for us. But you know I mean that that's so it's it's we're trying to get grants everywhere we can. So if we get a grant from the county level we don't have Ron
Booking Associates doing the county level stuff. They're doing state level stuff. They're focused. It's like hire you know you hire a surgeon for a specific job. So >> the bill has already failed. >> I I know. >> Okay. Let's just go ahead and We have a motion in a second. Let's take a vote.
All in favor? >> I. >> All opposed? Opposed? Passes four to one. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Mary. All right. Thank you. Item number three. >> Appreciate. Thank you all. >> Thank you. Good night, Mary. The next item is Sheper Boulevard. If you'd like
to stay on, >> I'll stay on. >> We have Ramsey coming up next. Okay. Hi, good evening. Uh Ramsey Balkley. Uh he had to give a quick update on what's going on with code enforcement issues along Okchobee Boulevard and obviously
that leads to a whole bunch of other other properties as you know people like to tell on each other. Uh real quick what's happened this week. um thanks to Jeff and Karen and staff managed to get the agreements to proceed with two foreclosures and also they won uh two
fine assessments uh this last week. So that that's pretty good. The foreclosures are quite a huge big deal. As far as cases along Okobi, what we have and you can ask me questions after I just break down some of these numbers. Um first week of April, we have six of these cases being scheduled for hearing.
Second week, we have about 11 cases being scheduled. Um and then they'll keep picking up after that. We've been working with the county uh with the rightway department and engineering uh along the signs on Okchobee's for Noachchobee. We've issu they've issued seven notice
of violations and they've removed approximately 12 of them. Uh some of these signs you can see are obviously huge big signs that are you know been constructed block etc. So that's where we are with that. Um I know there are some questions that people wanted to know are people working with us? or they
come to the table. A couple have come um and want to know what to do and how they can fix what they have going. But it's been I think maybe two. The others have all asked for extensions or have been extremely unhappy that code enforcement is you
know doing their job and going to be scheduled in for magistrate. So um the vast majority of the issues are you know the mayor mentioned in the beginning is the illegal uses. Um they start with the small a use or an egg use that takes up
the whole property which is fine. We like a we support a but then that egg use slowly disappears and gets taken over by a big commercial use that has these massive impacts and a lot of folks are trying to use the egg protection or these legal activities as a way to bypass the code. And that's obviously
what we find with the vast majority of these. So with that, I think the best thing is to entertain any questions that you might have. I don't have all the specifics on all the properties because we're in the process of still researching, but also setting up for hearings and they're active cases. So I don't want to divulge too much, but
that's essentially where we are. We're short staffed. I think I've mentioned before we were we're down one officer. Um this is this is a heavy lift to get all these properties to come into compliance. Uh we've probably only scratched the surface of Okchobee and
probably pushing touching 15% of what's really going on there. Uh because it quickly spirals out of control because the minute you get everyone's in competition, they all want to be friends, but they're in competition. The minute one person gets in trouble and he says, "Well, what about this and what about the next one?" Then we have to go
there and then they say the same thing. So this quickly spreads like wildfire uh and everyone turns on on everyone else and it's exactly what happened in the unincorporated areas. It's now happening here. Um so with that I'll answer any questions if anyone has any specific
questions and take it from there. >> Lisa does well there is a burn ban just saying can't spread like wildfire. Um so so um I'm glad that uh this is moving forward and and the pace at which it's moving forward. Uh, and that that kind
of touches on with the the lack of um resources that the town has. I know I've expressed concern to you in the past about our special magistrate um capacities and abilities. Um, so you've had a chance now to observe some of these uh hearings. Um what do you
anticipate as far as uh issues at the hearing level and also what do you propose moving forward as far as what is needed at staff level and
um as far as training and abilities um to be as successful as we hope with this endeavor. So, first off, magistrate, we've actually just gone through and added another one. Um, we've been reviewing, so we have another one. So, we've doubled that capacity. So, that that should be sufficient for
>> what we're doing. Um, as far as staff goes, definitely one one more at the two more at the bare minimum, one more um full-time staff person to help with these >> code enforcement officers. >> Code enforcement officers, but also a trained code enforcement officer. A lot
of what I'm doing right now, not only, you know, helping with all these cases, but it's also all training. Um, because that's, you know, a huge amount of training these folks have to do, you know, you have your code, you have building code, you have fire code, you have engineering code, you have a whole bunch of codes that the important, you
know, code officers have to, you know, react to. So, uh, it is difficult to find someone that knows everything about all of this. It's it's it's a big field. So, we definitely, you definitely do need some more help with that. So hopefully once we get these up and rolling, we can you can put in for some
more. And I'm helping trying to uh pick pick some folks or at least look at some folks and and see what qualifications are actually really needed for around here. Um and that's you know putting together somewhat of a template so the code officers when they go to these problem these properties a lot of the problems are very similar in nature.
They know exactly how to go through with them. But that's what that's what we need. We're trying to get these up in front of a magistrate to get some rulings. uh you know I don't know how a magistrate's going to act but it they have to be impartial and frankly all we doing is enforcing the rules and the
laws it's it's in my mind it's fairly straightforward if you're legitimate a you pretty much protected on a lot of things if you're not our code applies and you have to abide by that you know people are under this false impression that it's owned AR that means your use
can be agriculture or residential doesn't mean that you are and agriculture is pretty well defined exactly what it is. Um, landscape service is not AR. I mean, not not agricultural. So, you know, been working closely with the property appraiser and going after all these properties to see
exactly what the property appraisers classifying as as them and and working together as well as the building department and fire department. There's a lot of issues. You mentioned wildfire. Yeah. We got problems with a lot of these places that haven't got building permits because they were classified as a at one point, but that's long gone.
and they, you know, you got full-blown officers running, which supposed to be a offices. They're not. Um, so a lot a lot of those types of things. So, we'll see how these hearings go. I mean, I'm fully prepared. We have, you know, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue. We have our building official. You know, it's it's a fairly
straightforward case. >> You know, obviously people are upset. It's going to, you know, we're just going to have to see how they go. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Anybody else have any questions for Randy Paul? Is that your light on? >> Well, is it still on mine? Okay. Thank you.
Um, Francine, we have one unfunded code position right now. And we have one, I'm sorry, funded code position that's unfilled right now. Right. >> We have a part-time code officer that's unfilled right now that we are advertising for
>> and um just following up on what Mr. Fley said, um, we were bringing forward another magistrate to for council approval so we could have two magistrates. Um, and also we were trying to bring forward the additional
positions that he mentioned. And we were going to ask council if they would move some of the funds that we put in the operational contingency from the 5% cut towards the code enforcement because as
our group has said we can't do it with the resources that we have. >> Okay. Thank you. >> So I know it's probably going to be difficult to find an employee and that sort of thing. Um, but I know there's some companies out there that that
provide code enforcement officer. We used to have two in Taylor. I'm sure there's other ones. Is that something that would help if we contracted out with with a company to get an officer here? >> You you can I can tell you my experience from being in Palm Beach County. A lot of folks wanted to contract. It ends up
being extremely expensive. Um, so if they're available, you know, let's look at their qualifications, but it's also unique qualifications. I we I'd prefer to I'd like to vet someone and make sure that they can actually handle doing this. We this is place is a little bit unique. You got to know a little bit
a little bit about you know certain things. It's not a downtown type of area. Um you know I I think you we need someone more long-term. Um you know we had a lot of contractors in the county and it's good and it helps but you know
it's better to be part of the same team to a certain degree. um you know but we can try to work out some of those details if we don't get anyone qualified um through what we're going through but I think it would be better if it's a full-time position inhouse um you know that has a direct report uh that way
>> so what you need from us is money >> recognize >> yeah the old the old age question money right >> yeah and unfortunately I don't you know we're putting a ton of time energy and resources into into enforcing what should have been a long long long time ago and we we're trying to get it up um I it would be such a shame to make this
progress and then we have no way to keep enforcing it. You know that it's like the broken window theory, right? If you see one broken window, then everyone thinks it's a bad neighborhood and it all spread. So that's what we have to do here. Once we get on top of it, which will definitely take some time, it's the constant constant monitoring and it's
the constant not just monitoring educating folks of what can and can't happen, what signs can be there, why and how. Um already we have a lot of you know not a lot but some of the folks that we've approached with these violation notices they want to come running to you to change the code so they can be there. Um so you're going to
be hearing that soon too. They be going they definitely want to change the code. Um but yes the money is definitely needed. >> Well if I recall the last few contract code enforcement officers that we had >> were not good.
>> We're not good. I mean >> that that's a nice way to put it that we're not good. No offense to to and Taylor and the others out there, you know, could be different experience, but I mean, you come into a into a town
where 80% of the yards are over 6 in tall and you start writing citations because you want to justify your spot going down Compton for stuff that's four inches tall and you know, what have you. So, >> while you're at the beach. >> Yeah, exactly. While you're at the
beach. So, do we have any unfilled positions? I'm not going get hit for this later. I'm probably that that aren't that really that we don't need to fill right this minute that we could shift. >> Like, no offense, we do we have a shovel
guy that we don't need or are they all full? >> Yeah, we're full. >> We're full. >> We have a half We have a part-time position available in code enforcement and everything else is full. And in fact, we have hired temporary people
up with the pace. >> Thank you. That answers our question. >> Well, money brings me to uh Mr. Ramsay's hiring under the the threshold of spending. Where do we stand with that since we knew this was not going to be a
cheap endeavor when we launched it? >> He's under contract for five months. Yeah. >> How far are we into that? >> Two. >> Two. Okay, >> we got three more months. >> 90 days. No problem. >> I remember I think it was only been a month though.
>> Beer. >> Yeah. Yeah. We haven't expended two months. We only spend one month. First month was free. >> Speed. So it does the first month doesn't count. >> Yeah. First month. You know, one of the the things I'm I'm trying to do is, you know, education, right? Is teach some of these folks. Um you there. >> Nobody's saying you're not doing a good
job. >> No, I'm just saying but also, you know, >> you know where the spending's at. >> I you know, fixing the problem is one thing, but we got to teach folks so they can keep on doing this. You know that's what we have to do. So whoever comes on education is important to understand what's going on and how to actually process these things and move forward. >> Yes.
>> Do you have at one point someone that we hired as a town manager told me that he had a very large rolodex and uh when he was on his way out I said thanks a lot for never using that rolodex. So um my question to you is do you have I mean
you've been doing this for a long time. Do you have some resources or people in mind that you could recruit that you think would be >> I've picked I've picked all of those and I've looked at and words out there. Um Palm Beach County is probably one of the biggest ones around. They're all members
of Florida Association of Code Enforcement through that and they're all off most of them are senior officers there. The word's been put out um to try to get folks. Um I'm also trying to see who applied to Palm Beach and see if they don't get picked for Palm Beach potentially we could use them here. So I
I've spread the >> You're spreading your wings. >> I'm spreading the wings. You know, I'm trying to >> steal whatever I can steal. It's just >> we call it call it what it is. >> Trying to be a little more delicate, but okay. I I think the good thing on the back side of this once we get through
this process too, whichever officers make the cut or don't make, you know, that are here are going to have a better semblance of building a case build, you know,% compiling information because that's one of your concerns has been for a while, right? We show up and we don't have this or we don't have that or we
can we we need >> that's why you said a template. So I was >> so Yeah, it's it's it's you know a checklist >> checklist, right? >> Yeah, checklist. I need this. I need this. I need this >> and and also you know training folks that aren't used in a courtroom setting. We are having some other magistrates
that work for other jurisdictions. They have offered to do training for fee. Um those are some of the options we're going to look at because that training is going to actually one-on-one with one of these magistrates to see what's important they are and what's not. How to prepare, how to not, how to answer questions, how to deal with all of this
in a setting type. Um, so I'm looking at all those to bring those forward and uh, you know, working with building department. There's certain building codes you just have to know. >> We could do mock trials. >> Well, it's kind of like that. That's exactly >> like in law school. That's cool. >> Yeah, that's that's kind of like what it is.
>> All right. Thank you for your time. I think you said you had a public comment. >> Yes, Marian Miles. >> Okay. Go ahead. Thank you, Ramsey. Good evening again, Council Maryanne Miles. Um, I feel like I'm just spinning my wheels, but I'm going to say it anyway. The council has the ability to
change things in Locks Hatche Groves. Bring in money for the town. I'm not saying you have to make Okachobee Boulevard full commercial, but we have commercial businesses on Okchobee Boulevard. We have businesses
that just have been there. We have businesses that want to make a living, whether they're a res and doing something else. We had code enforcement for health and
safety issues. Now, it seems to be, well, you come into our town and you don't comply, and we're not going to change the rules and regulations for you, so you can do your business.
We're just going to say you can't do it. That doesn't bring money into the town for businesses that are already there. You know, a year or two from now, we lost the gas tax money. What are you
going to do? Raise rates, raise the taxes on people that are already here, that are already retired, that can't afford now. Look around Locks ahead. There's a ton of for sale signs up everywhere. And it's not just because
they don't like their neighbor. Things are going up and up and up. And we have the ability on Okchobee Boulevard. You have height restrictions in place already. If you don't want a building there, you go, you know what? You built it. You're not going to build it a threetory. You're not going to
build a twotory. You can build a one story. You don't have to build anything. But look at the businesses that are already there and instead of putting code enforcement on them say look if you want to comply you can't have your zoning as
a res and stay there pay the tax and if they don't then you go if they don't want to comply in that way then you say okay well we don't have much of a choice we're trying to work with you to get your business to bring
the proper amount of money in because you can't have a business there and pay residential taxes, but yet we want to now bring on another code enforcement person to spend more money to fight something that's already
there. If you look at Papa, go take the time see how many see how many LLC's are out here. see how many homes are not out here, but other people are buying property that live in other states. They're just going to sit on it.
We are a unique town. We are a unique community. I think we're becoming part of Wellington. >> Okay. On to item number four, presentation on the countywide master transportation plan.
>> Thank you, Ramsey. >> Thank you, Ramsey. >> Thanks, Ramsey. I'm gonna I'll Let's see. >> Where? >> Yeah, right. >> Right.
right there again. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Good evening. I'm Randy Wartnik, the cash of ours and associates. Actually, I should wait for uh >> No, pass the G. >> Okay. Be back. >> Great. So, this is just an update on a handful of things that are happening
right now within Palm Beach County. First and foremost is the Palm Beach County 5-year road program. So, the county has recently reached out to staff. Um, they do this with most their municipalities uh within the county and uh they issued a letter saying, "Hey,
here's our updated 5-year road plan and uh please let us know if you have any input with the county roads within your your jurisdiction andor intersections within your jurisdiction." So, uh that that uh would be Okachobee Boulevard and
Folsam Road are the two juris uh county roadways within your jurisdiction and they're asking for input uh from the town by March 17th. Okay. Here is a list of the roads that
uh are within proximity of the town. Uh part of the agenda package should have had the complete five-year program from the county. So, you should have that. We kind of just broke it down and and looking at specifically the ones that are within proximity of the town and you
should have also had a uh exhibit with the addended or the amended uh board package just given a graphic representation of where those particular projects are. So, there there are a few
that um uh for instance, Okachobee Boulevard is on that list. What they're looking for in Okchobee Boulevard is for a study to uh evaluate the corridor and consider the corridor for four lane. Uh
another item on that list is a study and design for the Okachobee Boulevard extension from Seminal Pratt West to 20 Mile Bend or State Road 80. Um, so there there are a number of projects that they
have out there and they're looking for your input. Um, some of which, you know, depending on what the town's goals are, may or may not help traffic flow outside of the town. So, it may divert traffic from coming into the
town. For instance, one of the things that's on their plan is design and construction of 60th Street all the way to State Road 7. Okay. Um, on this map, we put the uh
when construction dollars were earmarked in the CIP plan. So, anything you see in red, which is a small section of Royal Palm Beach Boulevard as well as North Lake Boulevard, that is 2026 coming under construction. And then uh by the
time you get to the magenta, those are are not included as far as construction dollars funding the project because it's still under evaluation to try to uh help kind of complete the big picture because there's other
projects that FDOT has on their 5-year roadway plan as well that kind of connects the dots of uh some missing links that have been under discussion. for instance, the State Road 7 extension up to North Lake Boulevard. So, that is
something that is actually earmarked for construction um in the excuse me, for design right now um with FDOT. So, they are looking at that as we speak. In fact, they're looking for the design of the new road
in construction in 2029 for the extension to get State Road 7 from 60th North to North Lake Boulevard. >> Excuse me, just one second. I saw some people trying to take a picture. This is up on our website, too, so just so
everybody knows. Okay, I'm sorry. Go ahead. Oh, and just to one point of clarification, what was on your website was only the county CIP. So, uh we did download the PDF maps that you'll have them today. So, you could give them or
or upload for the uh the town residents all the exhibits you see here today because the uh >> I I believe the town clerk said she already has the exhibits you gave her. So, I'll upload them. So that's why I was letting people know who were trying to get angles that it's on the websites.
>> Thank you. Excuse me. >> All right. And then the other component that uh is occurring right now is a transportation master plan through Palm Beach County. And this is where they're looking at um you can see the data on here is 2050. They're looking at long
range planning. And this is more big picture corridor analysis. Um there's been uh uh several meetings that have been occurring. They're trying to get input and feedback from the various municipalities uh just to look at uh several options.
They want to know what improvements that the town has uh has underway. So that information was uh provided to the county. For instance, there's the TPO or excuse me, the uh is it the TPA grants
along Okchobee Boulevard. That information was presented to them as well as some of the concerns and thoughts as far as keeping the rural character of of the town. Something similar that uh I believe the county is
going to be looking for from the town at least to give feedback. But, uh, this map kind of brings everything together. Southern Boulevard, they're looking at it for a multitude of things. They're looking for access, access control on
Southern Boulevard. Considerations of mass transit from 441, excuse me, State Road 7 east to uh, somewhere in the downtown. So, I think just east of I 95. So, they're looking at some other big picture items. Um what you're seeing on
here now is uh seminal Pratt. I believe they're looking at potentially six laning that for the uh you know long term. So this is a long range plan. A lot of the uh roadways and improvements in the long range plan happen, some of them don't for various reasons.
Okay. Um big picture action items right now. Uh there is a draft letter that was included in the the town agenda package as far as a response to Palm Beach County specifically related to to their
CIP plan, which I will get to that original exhibit. I just felt you might want to see the big picture uh graphically to help you uh navigate this. Any uh questions? So just so everybody's
clear, there was a letter that's drafted uh from me which is a more personal approach and then it's supplemented by I guess eight or 10 pages of more engineering, more technical information regarding the roadways and what we're
doing and what we would like to see moving forward. >> Correct. >> That's all included here. >> That is included right there. Yes. >> Thank you. and everything has been done with the goal to protect the town and our
interjurisdictional boundaries. We are trying to make sure that we are um very clear with regard to all the conversations that we have had with the county for the last 10 or more years.
And if Mary is still on the phone, what we try to include in these letters are the numerous things that we have talked to the county at all levels with regard to >> and we've also been doing the I park meetings, Mary and I, everything. So, >> right. And we also have been doing Mary
I'm sorry Karen and Randy have been doing the um transportation master plan meetings. Yeah. Um, and we have all been interviewed relative um to as as shareholders in the master plan.
>> Lisa, you had a question. >> Yeah. Uh, how long do you know will they be taking on the CMTP website? They're taking public comments. Do you know how long that that will be available to the public to weigh in on this? Uh I I know
that they requested information from the town to be >> March 17. >> Uh okay. That's for the county. Yes. >> As far as from the general public for Palm Beach County's uh capital improvement plan or excuse me, their
5-year roadway plan. >> The Yeah, the countywide transportation master plan. >> Okay. So, the countywide transportation master plan is a separate process. >> Okay. >> Yep. So, there there is a um a slight difference. the map that you see now for the five-year road plan, these are
projects that the the county uh county road and bridge staff have allocated. There's there's funds for at the very least design earmarked between 220 uh 2026 through 2030. >> Yes. And do you know if there's any way
for the public to >> There is I can't remember the website right now, but that it was announced at that meeting. Do you remember the website that was announced that name that people could go on to and do you remember that? >> That's the other program. >> We sent it out to council. I actually
sent out a supplement from the meeting where it's Palm Beach moves. >> That's the CMTP. >> Yes. >> Not just saying this is a separate I'm asking if there's public comment available. >> Asking if there's some place they can >> Not that I'm aware of. I think the best opportunity is to reach out to the
county engineer, David Ricks, with uh questions and concerns. >> Okay. I I just want to be able to tell people if there is a process for them to weigh in on this that they can do that. >> Not that I'm aware of. I believe uh the the county's goal is to have municipalities reach out.
>> Okay. So, uh, you also flashed up there 2050 for eight lanes of from Bea Road to Royal Palm Beach Boulevard for Southern and four lanes of Okachobee from Seminal Pratt Whitney to Crestwood. >> Mhm.
>> That with a target date of 2050. Was that the table that you put up there? >> Yes, that is correct. >> Okay. >> So, this is coming directly out of Palm Beach County's uh master plan. >> Okay. So >> this is the >> as our engineer
um obviously we're seeing more and more cutth through traffic particularly on the southern end of town. Um I when I met with Treasure Coast Planning regarding the comprehensive plan technical assistance grant that um the uh conversation was a little bit
about what can we do on our internal roads to try to push back on this. Um council previously got redesign from uh Solar Sport and Publix there for some of the traffic issues coming into that B- road Southern Boulevard intersection
which is great except now if you go there at peak the straight lane now that they've added the the other turn lane is backed up past the the exit out of the north side of Solar. So people actually trying to turn right to go home can't even get out of there. So obviously the
projection for 2050 is a lot more traffic >> and our internal process. I think we need to be looking much longer term than just how we fight the whole Okchobee or address the Okachobee expansion future.
But how do we also design internal structures that are going to help protect those residents on the south side of toll booths? with an AI agent sitting in them. So, >> basket, the coin basket >> that we I know that we've bantered
around like um weight limits on trucks and how do you enforce it and and you know things that >> Well, we have weight limits on trucks, but how do you enforce it? That's >> I'm pretty certain those considerations are being looked at right now through your TPA grant for the Southern
Boulevard corridor analysis. So, that is something that has been brought up that they're specifically looking at as far as uh the the traffic on Southern Boulevard as well as the traffic that is being routed through the town,
>> especially when there's an incident on Southern Boulevard. That's when the people like Collecting Canal really suffer because >> and do you serve any role in that? Um, I've been asked to uh to to be interviewed and and provide information and feedback, you know, just from for I
guess our history with with the town. But no, I don't I don't have a uh a specific role. I don't have a contract to uh work underneath that grant. >> Okay. Thank you. >> I don't Who was first? Todd, go ahead.
>> Um I had a couple suggestions on these on the wording on page nine. Um it wasn't a question for Randy but Randy may want to interject there. The last the last sentence says um talks about access boulevard for east or west passage. It may include additional
acceleration merge lanes or similar design to promote this safe access. I'd rather that say roundabout there on that last line of page nine the very end. >> Additional acceleration merge lanes roundabout add roundabouts. I would remove remove lanes, additional lanes,
>> and just put roundabouts. >> Roundabouts, >> roundabouts, >> crossings, safe crossings. >> Okay, I'm I'm okay with that. >> Traffic mitigation basically. >> Well, I I'd prefer the specific roundabout in there. And then and then
um something that was this reminded me of it on page 12 >> um after the bullet points it says although the town ordinance prohibited direct roadway connection to Indian trails. It reminds me that we never put that in a comprehensive plan and I think we need
to do that. >> Well that was one of our workshop >> Yeah. >> bullets. Yeah. >> So that's it. That was my thoughts. Paul, >> is there a way I mean I hold on back up. So to your point, I
think that you like comment on the expansion etc of roads. I think the other program is the spot to do that because that's their how they're moving forward and how they're going to do it future-wise, you know. So I think if they're looking for a contact to input
there to the planning council, etc., that's probably that avenue, right? instead of just going to I I don't think getting a hold of David Rick and going I don't want to you know I don't want to be expanded right he's just he's allocating funds and how you know what's
more of a priority right um how do we get speaking of southern Lisa you're bringing up all good points and I'm just >> going bring up holiday and express lab right um you can stay at Hilton sweet soon um Dro and Southern Dro and
Southern you know, how how do we because when you look at that and I if I offend somebody, I apologize, but it doesn't seem like we were very intrical in the design of those intersections. Okay. Um
it just really I mean I traverse D- Road and Southern every day because I live right there, right? Craig does on his way to work. That is the most dangerous intersection. Not just turning off of there because whatever, but I mean the way the turn
lanes everything's set up, right? So I'm sure somebody at DOT said, "Oh, we can just do this." And it was done, right? I mean I >> DOT typically goes through a uh pretty significant regimen for the design of of
the roadways. >> Nobody there's ever driven a truck in a trailer or a truck. >> I'm not disagreeing with you. It's a very tight intersection. It's three lanes and the way the turn regardless >> how you know. Okay, so they're saying it's going to be 20 lanes by 2050. All
right, we're going to have a super highway with overpasses and monor rails and all kinds of stuff, flying cars. Um, you know, so how how do we how do we be how are we involved in that process? I'm not saying we can stave it off that we
you know, it's a major artery. It's a hurricane. It's disaster relief area. I mean that's a emergency route. So but how do we how are we involved in that so it it doesn't hinder us. I'm not saying it's going to benefit us totally but you know how are we part of that pro that
that look >> okay well the one of the the best ways is is to to be involved to be active and to when when FDOT when the county reach out to to to be active with your responses and have a uniform voice which what is is what you are doing right now.
The other is I would recommend engaging your traffic consultant. I believe Simmons and White was your traffic consultant at some point in time. >> Um, somebody that uh can study the traffic patterns and have a a better defense for the town. Specifically,
you're looking at Okchobee Boulevard. I'm going to move back there real quick because right now Palm Beach County, what they're doing is a study. They're doing a study and then the design of whatever improvements they're going to work on Okchobee Boulevard. Well, if they're studying uh based on, you know,
if they're studying the corridor to determine, hey, do I need to widen it? It's likely going to be doing uh associated with the traffic counts, >> right? >> And and the future improvements within that corridor. So, that's something that I think it's time to pass the baton to a
traffic consultant to represent the town for you with something specific like that. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Okay. It's like Christmas up here, so I'm just going to go down the line, Todd. >> Yeah. >> Um page 22. Um and I I had talked to staff about
this ear or yesterday, I guess. Um the number two there, it says traffic calming or signalization intersection at BNF road. I like that change also to roundabout so we're consistent. >> Signals scare me. >> It Yeah, it says signalization. >> So, and I don't know if it should be
limited to BNF road. >> So, >> and there was development order money associated and that's probably not the right term with Westlake funding >> some of the traffic um calming in our town. >> We're probably never getting that. >> Yeah, exactly. >> Well, there hold there was something for
Folsam also. There was funding put in put aside from the day property for signalization at Fulsome. Now we still might be able to get that funding. Sorry. Go ahead. >> No, no, no worries. Uh you brought up something earlier on the comp plan for the cut through. Uh, one thing that I I
I noticed in in some of uh, just the history of what I guess the vision was at one point in time, which was 140th, which happens to be connected to E-Road, making its way south um, to Okachobee
Boulevard. I I don't know what language you're going to have on there, but the cut through the cut through at least from from my experience and and history in the town is related to 40th, not necessarily. So, I think the long-term vision was to
go almost due south 140th directly into E-ROD and not tying into North. So if that um it might be something worth considering to exclude that specifically in your comprehensive plan >> many times discussed and planned.
>> Yeah. >> Talking about >> I'd like to remove that from the record. >> About no additional connections. Okay. >> Around our border. >> Yeah. No. No. Okay. No problem. I just uh >> it wasn't just there. It was anywhere on the border. >> Okay. >> Madame Mayor, may I please interject
something? >> Sure. Oh, Mary still. >> This is Mary McNicholas. I apologize, but I got bumped off the last time I tried to raise my hand. Um, one thing is is that with regards to what Randy just mentioned is that specifically it is
inconsistent between at this point between our own comp plan, which I believe Councilwoman Orammy just brought up and another um, council member, but in essence uh, it's inconsistent between our comp plan and potentially the
county's um, uh, five-year road plan, long-term road plan. So, that specifically needs to be ironed out and I followed up with the uh county engineer that way. Um and also with regards to what uh council member
McClendon was speaking to um with just adding roundabouts on Okchobee, I know it's back one or two issues, but in in essence with regards to what uh Randy uh where Tiffany was just speaking to, we
really need to have some additional resources so that we don't limit ourselves. Obviously, we want I I believe you all just said you wanted roundabouts. Of course, with what Council Councilwoman El Remy said, you
know, we could try to um potentially get some of that uh development funding towards another project. This just a potential. It's it's been done in other entities. Um, so I think it's something that we could work towards, but if we
limit ourselves to what council councilman um McClendon said as far as just roundabouts, and I know you took off other um potentials, the traffic engineers will will lose resources there. And I think we need to really,
you know, just say what it is that we're trying to accomplish and not tide their hands um with this. And that's my strong recommendation. Okay. Thank you, Marge. >> Yeah. Um I I was um concerned when I saw
the uh the the graph that showed uh all of the things that are going to be completed for 2050. They are all within our town. and it involved Okachobee and it involved uh
State Road 80 Southern Boulevard. Um if all of these things come through at the same time, we're not going to be able to move anywhere in our town. You know, we'll be cut off in the middle, we'll be cut off uh at the south end. So they
they need to space this stuff >> and and most things on that 2050 plan, it's uh that's just a date they throw out there. They're just looking in the long-term future. So again, not every
one of those will come to fruition, but a large number of them could. Lisa, >> so I think Mary and and Randy bring up um something that I know we don't currently have a workshop on our calendar for March and I think you said
the deadline to get back to the county engineer was the 17th which I think would be our date. Sorry, Paul. Um it seems like it would behoove us to workshop this with the traffic engineers
um so that we have a more comprehensive uh picture to share with the county. Would you say that's worthwhile or not worthwhile? >> Um that uh would be helpful. I don't know if uh I I believe the traffic
consultant that has the most knowledge within the town is going to be Simmons and White. >> That's fine. >> Mary, do you have a thought on that? I know you you have a lot of history on on what has been proposed in the past and the town has brought forward multiple times to the county. Can we just weigh
in with that? I I think we can because you've been very specific even to the point of where I gave an update last month on multiple items and you all weighed in on it and I think you were very clear on what your goal is. Um but
we the one thing is is that we can go with what you just said, Councilwoman Orammy, and then if we need more specifics, if we need an additional workshop, it's not going to hurt. we can just add more uh breadth to it at it at
a later date as well. And I think that gives us an opportunity to also engage um perhaps at Simmons and White uh at that some of our internal conversations about what can be done to
to start to stem the flow of the cut through um traffic like the Bway Beline Highway there we have down on south of Okachobee going down B road. So, I don't know if everybody's on board with the
March workshop, but anyway, thank you. >> Yeah, I'm on board with that. Are you saying to hold off on these letters until after that workshop? >> Well, no, we do I think we we, you know, clarify what's being sent now, but I Mary said we can, you know, sus some of that out and and bring it forward again.
Um and I think while 2050 is is a place marker for them, I think we also need to be thinking in these long terms and and Marge, yes, I think the concern is is real. Um and when you read the CMTP, it also takes into account um behavior
patterns in the future like ride sharing and things like that. And uh so I mean I know Paul was making fun of flying cars, but you know I think that those behavior patterns in traffic um and the changes that they anticipate seeing. Um so
>> you'd be surprised how low those things scored when when we did like they did like a you know you're there survey thing. We would be surprised how low this like everybody wants a solution but that whole thing ride sharing and >> I I'm thinking more like Ubers and Lift
versus you know personal car travel and things like that but public transportation is it's never been popular in South Florida. So good. So >> yeah, I and I understand what what Mary was saying about additional, you know, funding or other funding resources for
those acceleration and merge lanes, but I don't think we should be giving up the roundabouts right now. I think we go back to putting in roundabouts. And if the county comes back and says they've got an idea for acceleration lanes and all that, then we can, you know, >> Well, and I think that's going to encourage a lot of the pulloff traffic that we haven't really curtailed on
those corners as well. >> Yeah. I mean, the idea is to try to slow people down at those intersections so you don't have the high impact collisions and a merge lane and that sort of thing doesn't do that. >> Right. >> It help it actually speeds things up >> on a roundabout emerge lane perhaps or the east and westbound. >> Right. Right. >> So, yeah, I I still want to stick with
roundabouts, you know, on both of those sections that I talked about, you know, including where it talked about signalization. >> I don't think we should limit to roundabouts to be an F-ro because Folsam, of course, is one we'd want one. So, >> that's a county intersection. >> Yeah, I think we should just talk about
roundabouts at those intersections. >> If I may, I just was stating to just not limit ourselves. You know, let the traffic engineer weigh in. Let's put in what we've got right now because it's substantial. Um, and the engineer and
the technical information is very, very specific. Um, so at least we should get that in and then continue to pound the issue. One more thing is is that we definitely need to come up with an additional um uhformational
communication to give to the countywide transportation master transportation plan. I'm sorry I said it a little bit confusing. Um, but quite frankly, their online uh uh survey, if you will, did
not meet the requirements that our town is is interested in. It was a much more urban type survey that did not meet the requirements that we're require that we've talked about. So, we've got that on our list to do as well.
>> Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Randy. Anybody any public comment on this? >> Nope. >> Okay, we're on to uh approving the consent agenda. >> I have a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> We already did that. >> Did we Did we get the consent?
>> We didn't approve the consent. We just pulled stuff up. >> We pulled stuff up, but I don't think Did we approve? Did we approve it? >> I thought it was just an amendment to the to the agenda. Period. >> Valerie, did we approve it? Uh yeah because you cool I thought we pulled
like had that initial discussion and then you guys >> modified minutes. >> Okay. All right. Perfect. Okay. Then on to number 10. New business. >> We see this one come up each year. It is the appointment or the nomination of a
council person to the f uh to the Florida Municipal Insurance Trust. That is a decision amongst you all. May you do not have to nominate anyone. What what does it entail?
um you sit on the board of trustees for the municipal insurance fund and you basically would um set policy as a member of that board. You would be functioning in a
stewardship position and the meetings are generally four times a year. Is it an annual position that they >> um it is a term position. So um you would be on there
for um Hold on. I have to get back and take a look. But it's a term position. It's a three-year term. >> So what if you are not a council member after you >> The longest council member right now is only two, >> right? But I think it says that you only
have to be a council member. You get nominated onto it. I believe I was reading some of the fine print. >> Oh, yes. >> Right. Because they also have unexpired terms, right, >> that they fill as well. So, if you're nominated, you may be getting the full three-year term or you may be getting an unexpired term.
>> Okay. >> Todd, what did you have to say? Yeah, I I wish it didn't have a specific name and we could just put the mayor or or or if you want to do the vice mayor because a mayor has so many responsibilities already, but we have to we have to include a specific name and it has to be
done by March 6, right before we before we select our next mayor because there will be another mayor. Um, but >> let me say that I was nominated and we never had a meeting. I I I'll just make a motion that we make the the current mayor Anita Kane.
>> Do I have a second for that? >> Second. >> Okay. >> Is this a a board? Right. >> It's just a board. >> Yes. >> Okay. All in favor? >> I opposed. Okay. Passes five to zero.
Did I >> No, I just want to ask a question, a point order question. So, we we were talking in our workshop about like terms of like looking at things before they come like Todd said, this has got to be done today, >> three days from now.
>> Three days from now. Is this something we found out about Monday or have we known this is coming? Is this something that happens annually at the same time every year? Can this >> just ask just asking? >> I don't know the date that we actually
received it, but it was after your last business meeting. Oh, >> okay. So, was something we just felt, hey, listen, we need we need >> It's not the same. >> It's not the same date every year. >> Yeah, but that was at best. >> It's not the same. All right. >> It's whenever they deal. >> Okay. All right. I thought we could add
that to our little pack. >> Add that to our package. >> Good catch. Okay. Item number 11. >> 430. Yes. Yeah. Consideration of approval number resolution number 202613.
Valerie, would you like to >> a resolution of the town council of the town of Locks Hatchig, Florida, approving a contract for construction services with JWT LLC for town fiscal year 26 a road and collecting canal road improvement program authorizing the
mayor to execute necessary documents and forms acceptable to the town manager and town attorney to implement the intent of the resolution authorizing the town manager and the town attorney to take such actions as are necessary to implement this resolution and providing
for an effective date. >> Okay. >> I I need to >> recuse yourself. >> Um >> recuse yourself. >> Do you want to give the reason why I have to do it now but didn't have to do it before?
Up until this point in time, all the um voting with respect to these uh these issues have been in the context of the entirety of the capital improvement project. So it wasn't specific with respect to a road standing alone. Um
this obviously is uh specifically about a road and collecting canal um road and you reside on a road. So it is uh advisable for you to recuse yourself from this particular vote.
>> Okay. Does she have to remove herself from the room or could she just sit here and remain silent? >> I think sit sitt sitting here and remaining silent is >> is fine. >> Got it. Got it. >> I think some used to do that for dramatic effects.
>> To remove yourself >> first on the light. Yeah. >> So >> my questions are quite vast here. So I went back in budget to actual for
last year for a road and collecting and I couldn't grasp what the scope of work is. I've driven the road a couple times. Was rip wrap originally um foreseen as part of the cost of this
project? >> Yes, ma'am. Okay. >> The rip wrap rock is what's on the canal bank at the bottom of the banking. >> I know what rip wrap is. So then we've got the paving. So there's a $200,000 for canal bank stabilization. There's a
south repaving where there's already no paving. Uh and then some cost for some road rock I guess 12,000 and and 75,000 for repay. Anyway,
what was totally budgeted it looks like was 600 and something,000 for those two sections. That sound about right >> for a road and collecting canal >> for 2025 fiscal year. So,
>> um >> I'm curious what the total is that we've spent so far. >> Expensive. >> Yes. >> I don't know. Do you want to look at the memo on her homes? I think it's got the
the relevant numbers about the entirety of the project. I can't give you the exact on what we spent totally because we're we have put in pretty much like blanket POS for road rock and certain like for the the rock for the the rip wrap and everything. We're not meeting
these POS because we're not using as much material. >> Is your microphone on? >> It was not a little closer. >> Talk a little closer. >> Got to love that microphone. >> It's on. It's on. Yeah, >> but we have not met like we're not going
to meet the max of these POS. So, we're still in the process of building the whole entire canal bank. So, I couldn't give you an exact number on what it's going to totally cost for us to finish these canal banks. We still have to sod over 50% of it still >> during a drought.
>> Well, that's why you see if you go down it, there's a lot of it that is not solded because we're waiting. >> Yeah, of course. I was there last week. So, I think my concern is is are we going to come in on on budget with this project? The paving is from my estimate,
it's about 3/4 of the cost of the project. >> We're actually under for the the paving contract, we're under the initial cost that we budgeted for it. >> Okay. >> So, we for the actual what we budgeted for paving the contract that we're going
to present is under the budget. for that actual >> not what's in the actual budget to actuals that was given to us. That's why I'm asking how much of this is >> when you take into consideration all of the all of the segments that are
>> No, I get that. But I'm just looking at what was budgeted prior >> for a if you look at a road and collecting canal, I think it's about a $10,000 differential um on the high side. When you take a look at the um additional gap
um uh the gap roads, if you will, um the project comes in at $27,000 under what was budgeted specifically for paving. >> Okay, I'm looking at what was provided as budget to actuals. That's why I'm
questioning the numbers because the some of the stuff isn't on here. So that's why I'm curious where we are with the cost. Uh so are all the easements obtained for those two segments?
>> All of the easements except uh two are. >> So not all of them. >> We're down to two. One will one will not and the other one is not going to be in effect of the swailes. So we don't need that one. >> So we're going to go ahead without easements on all the properties.
>> One property will not give an easement. >> Okay. it will not affect the roadway. >> Okay. >> So, that brings me to um segment four on this proposal. We are literally going to mobilize to do about half of what's left
on the gap of E- Road North because that property won't give an easement is my understanding. Is that correct? >> Uh you're talking about E- Road now? >> Yes. >> Okay. Okay, segment four on this list.
>> Um, E-ROD, there are uh two properties that gave us easements, but they gave us easements late for the prior paving on it. Um, and there is the northernmost
property that um on on E- Road. Uh, and that's not really suitable. They haven't given us an easement, but it's not suitable for paving at this point in time because of the narrowness of the >> um rightaway at that point.
>> So, we're extending we're extending E-Road as far as we can um and we do have easements from both of the property owners up there and they are very interested in moving forward with this project.
>> So, Paul, I know that you've mentioned about width of road that I know that Mayor Kaine has mentioned we're not going to leave these gaps empty um with trying to go up and maintain 660 ft of dirt um you know
hopping around with the grater all over town. So, >> you know, my concern is this segment is going to be left incomplete yet again. So, >> well
kind of already got pavement on it. I mean it does right the t the north road portion does portion does so but you're so you're talking about going up to that you're not talking about leaving any gap right >> he's leaving 660 ft >> no there's there's no there's no gap at
right now goes up to a certain point >> road goes to north road >> I I under I understand that road goes to north road but the p I'm I should have said the paving goes up to a certain point >> to 3765 five.
>> And then um there are two properties um above that that they would like they've given us easements and they would like it up to that point in time. It's not going all the way up to north
because the last segment of you if you will there's two issues there. Number one, we were never able to obtain um an easement. And number two, the width of the road at that point in time is a
problem. So, I'll leave it to Craig to explain it further, but >> we'd have to fill in that canal pretty much 3/4 of the way. So, there would be no flow >> to get a particular width. >> Correct. >> But we have widths of different roads all over town. We had on the other
canals that we have roads on, the canals were bigger. >> I'm not about the canals. I'm talking about Sea Road with with power poles next to it. That's in some places I think it's as narrow as 14 ft. I'm talking about the fact that council has directed previously we are not going to
leave gaps of dirt on these paved roads and this is a 660 ft gap that's going to require maintenance twice a week. I I just think this is a fool's errand to say, "Well, these two properties gave us easements when actuality, you just
said that we're going ahead with collecting an a-ro and we've got a property that won't give an easement." Why why are we playing these games? Because on a road, we were able to to fill in majority of a portion of the canal to widen the entire roadway so
that we can have a wider road at that portion on E at the end down there, there's even if we did get an easement from the property owner, the way the property lays out is that canal actually goes a wrong way alongside the earn
property. We'd have to fill it in and couldn't even redig it because we going into earn property. We would have to fill in that entire corner of that canal to make the roadway there. >> But but didn't when we dug that canal out before, didn't we give them dirt? I mean, they they built up that that east
bank and that canal >> for me. I couldn't tell you. >> Yeah, they because they cleaned that canal at some point and then they piled it all up there just like they had done on a couple other roads. I say we we add that segment in there and and check that box off. And if you need to put a road narrow ahead, drive
with caution sign. >> If you ask me, there's a lot there's a lot more uh and and I sorry to those people up at the the northeast end of town, but you know, there's there's a there's a segment there's segments of road that are way off way worse than
having to grade a northern section of E- Road still. I mean, you got sections of North Road that are just >> it's like driving the cra like driving the moon, right? >> Yeah. >> I mean, it's I mean, it's it's insane. >> I know. Well, what I can imagine
watching those videos, you know, >> but I I guess that's my point is like I I get what you're saying and these people were told by other folks that, oh, it's going to get paved, right? But my point is is we have an unsafe road
right now that this from three to five would fix. I I'm just saying. >> Have we gotten a number on on fixing North? >> I would I would say
>> cuz I don't think 305 is going to pay for that. >> Well, you're pay Well, they're going to have to grind it and they're going to have to go back. I mean, it's Right. But I mean, you're talking about how many feet It's a massive amount of work. >> Like three miles a >> not the whole not it's not the whole thing.
>> You can't do the whole thing. I know the whole thing's bad but not as bad as >> it probably 50%. >> I would say more than 50%. >> I would say the whole >> more than 50 very bad >> and we're patchworking it as as we can. >> Oh, I agree. But I mean, it's just it's
>> the previous year capital plans showed, I believe, $400,000 for it next year and $400,000 for it the year after, but those are based on several years ago prices. Um, if we use
the current pricing that we got here, >> um, it might be 800, it might be a million. >> Yeah. >> I'm in agreement with Lisa. Pay what we can there. It gets very narrow at North Road anyway, right?
>> Can we can we get a can we get a a price a change order before >> to finish that out with what the width is there? >> Let's do it right. I mean, let's not >> is that is that possible? >> We can get a price to pave it out. We just got to see how we're going to get the area the road. >> I'm saying just with with what it's at
now and get only 14. >> It's 36,000. It's about 37,000 to do an an estimate half of it. So you figure 72 which was the original budgeted amount to finish to North Road. >> Yeah. I mean >> I would say what what do you have it
now? Why not? I mean and alleged warning sign >> but but there already are warning signs. You know >> we have well you have endro signs there. Correct. >> Because that certainly is a one lane turn and you know it's got the mirrors on it and everything else there. So just
>> so we can approve this tonight and you can come back with a change or at the next meeting to finish that. >> Yeah, we'll bring you back the analysis and the call. >> If you guys ask, we can. >> Yeah, let's do it >> at the current current width and right of way. >> Correct. >> Yeah. >> Well, I guess you could reach out to them again and see if they've changed
their mind. If not, then what it is? >> Yeah, I talked to him as well not too long ago. He was a platin. Do we need do we need a motion to move forward and bring the corrections back in the second reading? >> We're going to approve this tonight and then come back with a change order at
the next meeting. >> And we're going to have the change order. Is that what you're saying? >> Yes. >> Approve in a second right now. >> Motion to approve. >> 2026-13. >> That number >> with with the stated changes to be brought back. >> Yes. Correct. See, >> do I have a second?
>> Second. >> Okay. >> Say it. Lisa, you miss public comment. >> I'm going there. Hang on. Hang on. Okay. >> Miss Standish. >> Favorite topics. >> Virginia Standish. North Road.
>> Remind me what you just said about North Road. >> It's like driving the moon. >> Landscape. >> No. Nobody says drive. Just Hey, >> trust me. We don't complain because people don't speed down the road and we love it when the stocks have to slow
down. So you you know >> we were happy with the dirt because we saw what a lousy job was being done before. On that point, >> um I would like to remind you a few things. Narrowing of roads is used as a
traffic caling method. Please remember that we don't need the highway down every road. Thank you very much. Uh, double yellow lines are not needed down entire roads. Okachobee Boulevard doesn't even do that. Some places even
just put the double yellow lines at the beginning and the end of each road. Just a concept. Might save you some money. We're trying to save pennies. What I do want to remind you about is hard drives. And in this contract, whatever you're doing, what is your warranty? You had a
warranty with hard drives on North B Road. A member of my household came before this council twice and there's approximately 700 feet at the very end of North B Road that is not the full 2 in in thickness that was supposed to
have been put down measured and I analyzed and this is someone who understands asphalt you can feel the shortage when you pass over it heading north or south on B road why was the and reminding that the leftover asphalt was
placed on Mororrow port which it was never intended to be there. Um so you had a warranty. This town never pursued its warranty on hard drives. Ranger bottom out. There was discussion. So I would say to you
see if you can get your warranty work done on B-ro um if you have a warranty on this who's going to monitor that? Who's going to make sure it happens? or once again people like myself and a member of my household come forward and we get chastised for bringing up facts
of information to this council. Thank you. >> Anything else? >> No, that's it. >> Okay, we have a motion and a second. All in favor? >> I >> I >> I oppose. Passes four to zero.
>> I It's four. She had to abstain. Oh, that's right. Got so so long ago. >> Got an extra. >> Okay, we're on to number 11 A. >> Are you going to read it? >> I can find it.
>> Is that Craig again? >> It is Craig again. What we have here is an opportunity to save time and money. And um basically we didn't talk about the timing of doing a
road map paving, but um if our staff does the drainage work before we do the paving, which obviously we want to do it right and do the drainage, we will not be able to start the paving for um several months.
>> Correct. Um, and that will have us finishing a road sometime in the mid to late summer. However, if we use her homes under our existing contract for roughly the same price as what it would
cost for staff to do it, we would be able to get a 3month reduction in the timeline. and we would be able to have um that team the her team save time and money because they will be out here doing the F and collecting work
concurrently at the same time. So the A-RO um drainage work and the F and collecting drainage work would both be done in the April May time frame >> and the catch basins and covers as well,
>> right? would all be done small. >> Same or less cost? >> Yes. >> At the same or less cost? >> Yes. >> Okay. I think Todd, you were first. I mean, I think Paul, you were first this time if I didn't describe it. >> Yeah. Um, so, as I understand it, we're we're
under budget right now on the collecting canal a road project, right? >> Yes. And this addition to the this change order, >> for lack of a better term, would still bring us in within budget from all those savings we've had on material, etc. >> Correct. >> Correct. So, we're still maintaining
that budget line item. >> Be right inside that budget. >> Right inside that. >> All right. >> Well, thank you. >> I think the total amounts are about 50. There's about $60,000 that we think we're going to have to to find from uh the swelles and color. um the general
swelles and cover color covered bridge uh budget um and there is sufficient money in there um but a road standing alone when you look at it um I think it was $1.16 million and we probably need another 60 grand
>> right I think I think what I was what I'm getting at is is I would assume that the money for hers to do culverts would come from the culvert budget just >> you know so I'm just I'm just maintaining that we are falling within
the butt line item that the budget that we have set already >> that 60 is in like what I was speaking earlier it's it's in that >> where we have POS that we're not going to fully fulfill. Yeah. >> And right now it shows we're filled but we're not going to fully fulfill these POS because we're pretty much done with
dirt filling in the canal bank. We still haveund 100 something loads in that PO still to go on. We're not going to fill that. We're not going to fill the rock the rip wrap rock either. >> So yeah, once you've completed that little part of your project that that'll get closed out, right? >> I'll close the POS out
>> and we'll have a credit for lack of a better term sitting there. >> That money will come out of incumbrance and it'll be back in the account, >> right? And then it's going to move forward the timeline, right? >> Yep. >> Okay. Thank you, >> Lisa. I would laugh if it wasn't so
disturbing. her homes hasn't been able to complete F road and collecting canal and yet we're going to give them more work. >> Yes, ma'am. >> So, we were under a miscommunication with previous staff and previous uh
attorneys as well as the of me coming in, previous staff leaving. Same thing for the attorneys. We had to readjust a lot of the work orders, the way the pricing and everything was getting paid out. We had to readjust it all >> and that takes months. I I'm not blaming
you, Craig. These are out of your hands. I'm I just find this incredible that a company we've been asking repeatedly for. When is this work going to get done? It's going to be given more work and oh look, it's going to be done faster. We've even asked about the materials
that this company has brought in to use on site. >> That hasn't been resolved either. they once they return they know that they have to remove the materials from F road completely >> and they're going to get the work done. We've been promised a lot of things. Um so I find this really worrisome at best.
>> Um and I guess another question would be when this we're focusing on the canal bank and the paving and the road rock. What's going to happen on the easement side? Is that going to get sawed? I mean yes ma'am. So, is that all included in these costs or there's more to to?
>> No, I've and and the actual cost if you look on this, I've um quoted it out to be right at like 35,000 for saw all the way down. >> Okay. >> It's cheaper for the town to do it under our current contract than it is to have a contract to do it than them put the saw down. >> Okay. >> So, we're doing it in-house. >> And when we look at costs like this,
we're already paying public works people this this capitalization of staff time, you know, when it's convenient to to use as an argument. I mean, we don't look at that with BTRs and RV uh ordinance enforcement. You know, I I find again,
this is this is a little disingenuous, but yeah, her homes. Yeah, that's a problem. >> I would like to just say I don't think it's disingenuous in that they have to stop work on other projects. Um because it's not as if they don't have a
continuing list of projects. The agenda item that they shared with you said that if we use her homes, they would be able to keep on with the projects that they're currently doing and not lose any time. So, I I think that was transparent
and good disclosure. Um, it's a choice. Do we want them to do the drainage at a road and that'll probably take two to three months or do we want to use her homes and allow the project to start earlier and complete earlier and let the
public works staff stay on task with their other projects? Yes. And if we need to write this stuff a little bit more clearly, we're certainly willing to do that. But nobody's trying to be inauthentic or, you know, get out of something. Maybe something more
realistic is to put it in the context of what work would not get done otherwise because >> well you're looking at right now her homes is going to work at the same time we're building a canal bank. >> Now if we wait we have two months still
out for us to finish canal bank and then we have to jump on that. >> I don't think you're understanding my qu my point. My point is is if you guys have to do that two more months of work what other projects are not getting done by public works? It's stated at the top of the second page. By awarding the work
to her home's public work staff will be re redirected to other high priority projects, specifically the North Road Trail rehabilitation installation, which is a continuous project of multiple drainage pipes
throughout the town and removing and installing horse trail gates throughout the town's future horse trail connectivity. And they also continue to do the canal bank maintenance. >> How many guys do you have working on that? >> Right now we have total of six guys over there.
>> Six. Cuz when we were budgeting, remember we were told if we cut and we didn't approve the additional tax that we'd have to cut an entire crew. >> Yeah. >> So >> we have two mowers and one guy doing signage to the whole town right now. That's all he's doing is going trying to
fix all the signs through the town. And that's our part-time guy. And the North Road Trail Rehabilitation, the all that road rock and stuff that was put down on North Road on the north side of the canal, that was the trail and then it became a road. >> Oh, 100%. We know that.
>> There showed him that someone put red rock >> somebody that spent money on something that was supposed to be a trail. And now where's the trail going to go? Are you ripping the road rock out? >> No, ma'am. As we we had mentioned before, um the trail will go on the north side of the road in between the
roadway and the property line. Have >> Okay. >> So, we do have an easement there already. >> Have you been like by dancing crane where there's like dirt piled up on it and it's still a canal bank and >> so no where you see no road at there is
not an actual easement for roadway on North Trail. There are certain properties that there is not an easement for a roadway. That's why there's not a roadway alongside that portion of the roadway, >> but there is a road. >> But if you if we can go through on
property to property, because I've gone down every single one of them and looked up every one of their easements, you look at some of them, there is not an easement for a roadway in front of some of those properties between the canal bank and the property. That's why the trail would be there. But as we can
spend more money to remove all the rock, roll it all over up against the property line >> to be meandering is what he's saying. >> I get I get all that. So, but some of the properties that have roads in front of them where there's not a road >> the trail will go between them.
>> I I I get that. Was there a road easement provided for that or no? We just put material there. >> The road easement is against the fence line. That is where the ingress and egress is per roadway. So previous management obviously like you're saying they put
the road in the wrong place. >> Okay. >> Mhm. >> Do do the north side of the canal on north road. Are there any properties that there is a road easement? >> Yes. >> For those >> where the road is. That's why they built
the road there. >> But you just said some of them have roads that aren't supposed to have roads. >> Some do have the ingress and egress for roadway. Some do not. That's why you see some that don't have road. >> But the ones that do have road in front of them, we do know that some of that material that was put down was not actually a road.
>> It was where the road is, that's where the roadway is. >> That That's not true. Off of uh 145th. This this predates you. Uh there was road material put there after those properties were told to move their entrances to 145th because that was going to be closed off as part of the
trail. And there was a bunch of material put down there. It was a lunar landscape. Um, and riding a horse there was like, you know, cross country riding because you had to jump, you know, giant ditches. But there are portions where road rock was put down that is not a
road, but it is now. And my question is, is having ridden that portion, there's not enough room on some of those properties to be riding along the north side of that. >> But this has nothing to do what we're talking about. >> Yes, it it does. No, it doesn't have nothing to do with
>> it. Has to do with the fact that the time for staff was being shifted from that project and if we hire her homes, that's where they're going to go do. >> Okay. But then we're not talking about the specifics of that project that you can go work on that project and get it fixed. >> Well, I'm just trying to understand what the work is going to be. >> Lisa, in all due respect, this is why
you have meetings with staff before we sit here and there's 20 people here. >> This is why the public needs to hear this. >> You could have had this conversation with him yesterday or earlier today. No, this needs to be heard by by the public. I'm sorry. This is this is the kind of
money being spent and and frankly, >> okay, >> that's not what we're voting. >> This money this I get it and I'm not usually one to expand on these things endlessly. But I think tonight the addition of her homes for this when her homes is not
delivered to date on stuff waiting months for >> what reassurance do we have that they're going to get this done in the timeline that you provided? They've already committed to the timeline. >> Oh, >> as long as soon as we approve this, I we send an email right to them and they're they're ready to start sending all their
mach everything back. >> The the time frame the time frame for their payment um would be that uh for this work to be done on this, it's
approximately a 30-day job. Um, and so their pay application um would not be paid until the work was done. >> I I get that. But frequently when I've been in a situation where I've had to do
business with someone who I've had difficulties with in the past, regardless of whether, you know, it was their fault, my fault, whoever's fault, um there have been consequence clauses placed in. Is there a consequence clause in this agreement or is it or can we put
some a consequence clause in the agreement? >> There is um there is a provision that if they do not um do it within the time frames there is uh liquidated damages. >> So they would be it could be >> there's a percentage penalty.
>> That's good. That's fine. question regarding a-ro collecting that I forgot before, but since we're talking about this now, um, you mentioned sod and we're holding off because it's a droughtish, right? But the problem is we're going to go from drought right into pouring rain, right? >> Right.
>> Hopefully. >> Do we still? Yeah. Right. We hope. So, I guess my question, do we still have that little camel trailer with a pump on it? >> We have the tank. That's all that was was there when I came in. I don't see the trailer. No, >> I think the trailer disintegrated. Oh,
but my my thought was pump it out of the canal and and you know because because we don't have a water truck anymore because that thing fell apart, right? >> I already have a quote open for a water truck for a rental. >> Okay. For rental. >> So, we're if we have to put saw down and we I have a quote. >> I'm just thinking that you know rental
>> from who did we get one from water for the No, we needed water for the animals. Somebody loaned us one. >> No, that was Palm Beach County. >> Yeah, Palm Beach County. I was just thinking >> cuz we might >> mess around and find out that poor drain then we got erosion while we're thinking
>> I'm ready for it. Yeah. >> I'm telling you how to do the ready to go as soon as we can >> sitting by. We have a motion for this. We have a second. Do we have Do we have a motion in a second? Okay. Can I have a motion? >> I'll make a motion to approve resolution 2026-14.
>> I have a second. >> And if we have a motion in a second. Do we have any public comment, Dolly? I think Cassie had a a public comment. It does matter. This is a course of business. You make a motion, then you make a second, then it's open for discussion. Right? That's how procedure
is. Cassie Suchi, insanity, extreme foolishness, and irrationality, stupidity, behavior that shows a lack of good sense or judgment. Do we need to change the motto to our town to home of the insane and stupid? When I when I
listen to this thing about this business who obviously has been over a year on a project there, did we have a consequence clause like the mayor wants or are we going to pay them in good faith and just hope that they do it? I mean, I I don't
think they have a lot of good faith in even use them and that we're even considering using them. And I just I think it's insane and stupid. They already have a bad record and that we're going to try to do that. I would prefer to stick with our guys. At least we know
they're getting paid and they're going to get done. I mean, maybe we can have a uh a betting pool of 50/50 betting if her home's going to get done in the timely manner. I just I'm sitting there just racking my brain.
>> Okay. Well, >> yeah, I know. But there was there there there was paperwork that was not right that needed to be changed. there was things that weren't right that need to be changed. So, the project was put on pause. They have an execution of we're going to once
this is approved, they're going to start here and they're going to finish here. And if they don't finish, there's a consequence clause. And you know what? If the previous administration did put a consequence clause in, you know, I I So, yes, insanity, all
that. Uh, you know, we're we're this is an opportunity to keep this ball moving forward and get it done. And if they don't if if they don't make the timeline, they don't get paid, right? >> Our council hired these people, not a previous administration. Our council
hired this. It hasn't been. >> And if we didn't, okay, then if we didn't read in and we didn't say consent clause in the beginning, our bad. It's our fault. But the problem is is I don't I don't think that it was 100% the contractor's fault that they're not
still working right now. Okay? I think it was some previous management and some previous other stuff that was not completely correct that had to be changed. So things were put on pause and here we are. So I think it is more cost
effective for us to have a contractor to speed the process up to get a-ro done, get the get the drainage in way faster than our guys. You know, I I it's going to that's just reality. They have more equipment, more people, etc. They're
going to throw another crew in the town. Okay. Yeah, I'm right here. They're going to throw another crew in the town. They're going to have multiple people here working more than what we have. It makes perfect sense. Our guys can go start working on the on the North Road Trail or whatever else needs to be done. It you're you're battling more things at
once. It makes perfect sense to me. Thank you. >> When are they supposed to start collecting? >> They said they'll start mobilizing as soon as I get the >> March 16th, I think it is. Right. For the record, they already started f and collecting. They're fabricating all
of the catch basins. Those catch basins will be complete on the 20th. We do require LD, which is liquidated damages in all of our contracts. The last contract had LD in it. There were three months of time that the
contractor could not get payment from the previous project manager, which is what slowed this project down. I personally got involved in this project and they did not meet the criteria for
us to charge them LD. We had a second engineer come and take a look. We also changed the project manager and we got the project done all of their projects that they were working on. Don't forget we had CSX and we took them off this
project when they were going to do it and we put them on to four other projects. So I think that what Council Member Coleman said without the details I just went through, he summed it up the best. There were technical difficulties.
There were some communication gaps. Other heads, other more reasonable heads prevailed and we worked the project out and we are very comfortable with the contractor and we still have liquidated damages. We have no more than two pay
applications and we're holding them to a schedule that they have committed to meet. So the real question is if you're comfortable, we are. If you're not, don't vote for it. But we are comfortable that the the company can
deliver because they have delivered and we did have the problems that council member Coleman mentioned and we work through them. >> Okay. I have a motion and a second take a vote. All in favor? >> I >> I oppose. >> Prove me wrong. I oppose.
>> Okay. Passes three to one. You could not vote on that one. >> Thank you, sir. >> Yeah, she did not vote on that. >> Okay. She did not vote on that one. So, it passes 3 to one. Okay. All right. We're on to number 12. >> Is this going to keep popping up every
month for the next six months? >> I thought I thought we already direction. >> I don't think so. >> So, sorry. Stop. We're on to number eight. That was moved to that pulled and moved 11A. I'm so sorry. >> Go ahead, Lisa. You pulled that.
>> Yeah. Hopefully that's a quick one. It I hope so. >> I was cur curious as to the there's comments in this agenda item that says it's not exactly aligned the uh oh hi the scope of work that was um
was in the county and I just wanted some clarification for what residents could expect. I'm I'm looking forward to the cost savings though. Before Bella speaks, what's not exactly aligned is our current contract provides for livestock collection as part of their
franchise. The county's franchise, the contract award does not include livestock waste. The coastal was awarded the contract which they're still negotiating on the biomass site which is
for green waste and livestock waste and therefore as introduction to Bella. I'll let her explain the rest of it but that is the only difference and um we will be talking about livestock um several times in our future. So
>> later. Thank you. Hi everyone. Bella Martinez, can you hear me? Okay. Yes. >> Yes. >> Um, so yeah, Francine said it well. The >> the livestock waste would be the difference there. And any kind of additional services that the town needs that you guys would see as necessary for
residents, we could discuss sort of as allocart agreements separately with the company. Um, but those just won't be included in that original contract. um the parcel of land agreement that the town manager mentioned, we do have a few proposed uses for that. As soon as we
have operation of that land and we begin construction, then we'll have a clear idea of exactly what those facilities look like. But a transfer station of sorts for that livestock waste is in our proposed use of that land. >> And it's my understanding, and Mr. Kasa
Grande couldn't be here tonight, but he can be here in April. And that will be after the negotiations for the biomass site. Um, which I think is what March 13th or something like that. >> And so we can talk about the
opportunities with that site. One of those included that perhaps existing clients would get preference for use of the site. >> Yeah, absolutely. Can you clarify where that's located? >> That is off of Jog Road. It's two miles from a current facility that we own and
operate on Wallace Road. Okay. Thank West Palm. >> Thank you. That was my >> That's your question. >> What? >> Mic drop. >> I just wanted to thank staff for working on this. I mean, this is a huge savings for us. Um, and we're sticking with the
same contractor. What's the odds of that, right? You know, I'm thinking back to when we switched waste haulers last time and how it almost doubled. And that happened because we didn't piggy back. And we didn't piggy back because we had just ch changed town managers and three council members and everything was all
crazy. And I'm just thinking about had we been for the past six months try to hire a new town manager, try to hire outside legal counsel, we wouldn't be able to take this opportunity to do this and this is a huge savings and I thank staff all of staff that work towards getting this done. Thank you.
>> Paul, did you have something or were you? >> Yeah. No, I had I had I had a question other than the land. as soon as she said land and I was like where? >> Um for those of you who aren't aware that's a southern and jog as well. So um >> yeah you have a very nice recycling they keep it clean even when the wind's
blowing. >> Yeah. >> Um so um franchise fees etc. Does that carry over with the new deal with SWA? Do we still have the franchise thing? >> That'll be handled directly with Salt Waste Authority.
>> Okay. So that that that kind of takes that away. So, >> all right. So, >> right. No, >> no, >> sorry. >> Our franchise fees are through our ordinance, >> right? >> And our ordinance will remain in place because we have a franchise fee on
residential and commercial, >> right? So, we're we're technically if you get a construction dumpster to do construction, you're supposed to use coastal, >> correct? >> That still is good. That ordinance still maintains because it's an ordinance, right? still in place, but we'll have to work directly with Coastal on how that
will work because we will now be using the solid waste authority commercial and specialty fee race which will also save our commercial folks money as well. >> Well, that's was my question. We had to take a look at that because I know there's a separate franchise fee when
you order that dumpster. the franchise >> like when I call them an order dumpster they pay an extra fee because >> but that is from the town >> and it's on top of the commercial rate right now the town has let's coastal negotiate the commercial rate in the
piggyback or the cooperative purchase whichever you'd like to call it um we use call it piggyback >> yeah we use the publish rate that is in the solid waste authorities contract and it gets our franchise on on top of it.
>> Thank you for the question. >> Thanks, Bella, for answering all that. >> Yeah, >> just kidding. >> Anything that we can do to be a resource during the transition or along the way, you know, we're here for that. >> Bella's going to be the new John over time. >> Yes. Takes time to get there, but >> can I have a motion?
>> Motion to approve resolution 202611. >> Second. >> Second. >> Everybody's excited. Everybody's excited about this one. We're all excited about cheaper trash. >> Any public comment? >> Okay. All in favor? That one passes five
to zero. >> I requested somebody fill out public comment to say I I agree. >> Favorite item number 12. >> Thank you there so long. Bella. >> Yeah. >> Uh I'm hoping that we won't have to
discuss this again for uh ever. uh um the the status on uh on Wednesday that was that I was going to be seeking additional direction and follow-up direction from from you all because as
you may recall um you had passed a a motion um it was to be all inclusive um and we had gotten some feedback from the
um PBSO um that they would be willing to re-up the agreement, but they did not um want to have red speed included in that. Um and there were also uh questions as to
uh not challenging um our right to to move forward, which to me was primarily a potential legal challenge. um and they did not want to execute um any complete release with respect to um
their rights to potentially sue us. Um although in the discussions with their attorney um their attorney thought that there was a breach of contract on our part which
could lead to a contract action. She also agreed that their failure to um provide services would be a defense to to that action. Um and while she wasn't
willing to agree to a waiver on on those issues, um she did concede that that point. She did not think that um the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office had a
cause of action with respect to anything in our charter. Um she did not think that there was any um cause of action under current state law. Um u but she was not willing
to she on their behalf in the discussions. Um they were not willing to wave any rights with respect to those things because her answer was that we don't have a cause of action. Um in my mind that would be a simple reason to
um be able to wave that right. If you didn't think you had a cause of action, what's the harm in waving it? um uh but she wanted uh more specificity as to what potential
actions um would be released. Um in any event, we weren't able to to work that out and I wasn't able to to come up with anything that I thought would be beneficial to the town without further
uh direction on the issue. Um, also in the interim time period since we've last discussed this, um, you had the the House bill, um, which went through and which is now on not going to be taken up
by the Senate, but um, will probably be the subject of a subsequent special session. Um and in the House bill there was um if it was adopted uh there would be a
situation in which the amount of this year's budget for law enforcement services would serve as a base that um municipalities um would have to and counties would have
to continue to spend. and or budget for. Um there might be an argument that you might have to budget, but you wouldn't necessarily have to spend. But um that language is uh in the proposed
constitutional amendment as passed by the the House. Um so I thought it was going to be coming for direction on on those issues. And then we got the um correspondence from their attorney uh
that said we haven't been able to work this out and at this point in time um while we reserve all rights uh we consider the matter closed. Um so it kind of gets us back into this situation
um in which we have not paid pursuant to the the contract. They are not providing services pursuant to the contract. Um so I think the the argument if there was um
any uh legal action taken on their behalf would be uh in essence both parties have agreed to terminate the the contract and it's a null and void. Um I don't know that they
will um seek a contract action. I don't know that they they won't. Um what I do think we should do and there's a resolution that has been prepared uh for you is two things. One um acknowledge
that the current contract is effectively terminated um for this year. And then two, just from a safeguard perspective, um take take advantage of article 12, which allows for termination of the
contract with notice by March 31st for the next effective year because um the seventh addendum did contain um a provision for services in uh the
2627 7 um fiscal year and the natural time uh for the end of the contract was September 30th of of 27. So I hope I haven't lost you here. Um but what's
being proposed is a resolution which will do two things. um we will send them an acknowledgement that the contract for this fiscal year has been effectively terminated by the
the parties. Um and secondarily um we will provide them notice that says uh we are cancelling the contract for the 26 27th time period. >> Hey Todd, you have your
>> Yeah, I mean we went in unchartered territory with this contract. no municipality has had the backbone to do what we've done. Um, I wasn't necessarily pleased with the negoti quote unquote negotiations that took place between us and the representatives
for PBSO. However, they were good in the spec aspect that they pulled the extra service when we stopped funding it. Um, they could have been tough on that and not done that. and it's given us the opportunity for
several months to see that we're fine without it. Um, I have seen less service at Southern and B-roll. However, I've seen them throughout the town, the sheriff department, and they're going to do a good job for us. The We appreciate the men and women of PBSO. They have a
tough job and they're going to continue to do the tough job for us. Um, I'm very pleased with how it's turned out. Um, so I'm happy to see this moving forward. Oh, >> so just to clarify, Jeff, because you said a lot of stuff,
>> maybe I should have just I try not to tell it all, you know, I always give it the five five words or less rule, right? >> Said a lot of stuff, Jeff. Yeah. >> So So just just to be clear, right? So we're going to pay till the end of the
year. No, we're done paying. >> They're done offering >> and they're done offering services. the um they didn't accept >> Oh, they didn't accept the the partial thing. >> No. >> No. Really?
>> That's why I wanted clarity. >> That's why I wanted clarity. >> Maybe if you met with staff before the meeting, you know that >> I did a lot of words, Lisa. A lot of words. Um, listen, I I
you know, this question's been asked of me a lot over the past couple months or whatever, and I'm just going to say it one more time because it seems like no matter how often I say it, it doesn't get heard. So, I'm just going to say it again just to go. I have not believed in this con.
And again, what preface? I have members of my family that are in law enforcement. I have friends that are in law enforcement. I have first responders in my family, etc. It's not about the performance of the deputies. It's not about, you know, the
service, whatever. I'm just none of that. It's it's a matter of we have been paying a premium contract for how many years, >> right? A premium contract on top of what we already pay.
Okay. just so we can have our name on a truck or a car. What we already pay gives us service. And I can tell you from personal experience, and maybe I'm the odd man out, but I've had one instance, two
instances I've had to call the sheriff's department to my house. Okay? One was outside the contract, one was inside the contract both times, right? 30 to 45 minute response time. So when
we're outside the contract, you kind of understand, okay, there it was years, decades ago, not as many people sparsely. Okay, they're at the other end of the zone, whatever. The one inside the contract, right? Well, we have our own dedicated
deputy, right? At least two two a day, I think the rule is, plus a supervisor. 30 to 45 minutes to get from one end of Lock Hatch Groves to the other. And then you look at the contract. We're paying for marine patrol. Who here can tell me where we're going to put a 32 foot
contender in the water in Lock Hatche Groves? It it some of these stuff just doesn't make sense. You know, I'm for reasonable negotiation. I'm for, you know, a contract that meets our needs. So that's
I mean, and it's it's nothing new. Um, you know, I'm gonna hush, >> Lisa. >> So, back to five words or less. Uh, so the the letter, the latest letter from
the sheriff, basically they reserve the right to still take legal action. >> Correct. >> So, we're we're the fact that we're not paying them, the fact that we're in breach still exists. >> Yes. as as does the fact that they're in >> this this agreement that we might agree
to tonight terminates for the next fiscal year per the terms of the contract. >> Correct. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay, we have a motion and it's Do I have a motion? >> Answer public comment. >> I'll make I'll make a motion to approve
20 resolution 2026-15. >> Okay. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Do we have any public comment? >> No. >> Okay. We'll take a vote. All in favor? I >> oppose. >> Opposed. >> Passes four to one. Okay. Discussion and
direction on the RV program. >> That's you, Karen. You're patiently sitting here all night long. Oh, did you have the opportunity to see the one public comment that came in on the RV program? Okay, good. >> As a matter of fact, I'm addressing it in a PowerPoint.
>> Okay, great. Point over here. Yeah. Oh. Good evening. Wow, it is working. Good evening. Try to get closer. Karen Gardner, community standards director for the town of Lacahachi Grows. This came before we've had numerous
discussions regarding RVs. The last discussion that we had, there was a request for uh staff to come back to provide a simple a simpler process and a more efficient and effective because some of the comments that you have
received in the past is from staff's perspective, it's actually costing you money in order to implement the RV program as it is today. Um, just to throw out some numbers, we're figuring it's costing about $90,000 in order to
implement the program and you're collecting probably about 20. So, uh, this is a question for I think we came back, do we want to keep the program? And the idea was yes, but maybe we can come up with a different format. So, this is just a suggestion. that's not
written in stone, but did a little bit of research and came back with some ideas that might be able to help some of some of the um concerns that we have had in the past. Whoops, went too fast. So, again, directions simp make it simpler and make it more efficient and
effective. So, some of the bullet points that I wanted to point out is that the proposed program divides the program into occupied and unoccupied. >> If you want me to go, >> okay, trying to make it simpler. So there's less categories. We're not
making a distinction between a exemption or a or non-ag exemption. Again, the idea to keep it simpler. The concern that we had gotten from the letter was regarding the number of RVs that are allowed. Okay. So this is a good way to
show you from an occupied. Now again, occupied means that the property owner um unoccupied, sorry, means that the property owner has the RV and they're using it for a vacation RV. So nobody is physically living at it on a regular
basis. It's at the house and they use it whenever they want to travel or maybe it could be >> by no limit. Does that mean that I can have 40? >> That is correct. on on on unoccupied. >> No, >> absolutely.
>> This is that's why it's here. It's for discussion. >> Okay. Um then we what we did. So that was less than two acres. Okay. It's the same as the existing. So o let me I apologize. Let me start.
Unoccupied we said means nobody's living in it. Occupied means somebody's living in it. In other words, they're showering in it. They're eating food in it. They're they're living sleeping in it. So that's the two distinctions. So we said the unoccupied because it's just a
vacation RV. The idea was should there be a limit? And I'm okay with that. Again, this is you're the policy makers. We're the implementers. So it's to give you an opportunity to have a discussion. The occupied is less than two acres.
You're allowed to have one RV. It is the same as it exists under your existing RV ordinance today. If it's two to five acres, you're allowed to have two RVs. Your existing language only allows one
if you're not a if there's no egg use and allows two if you have a use. So, they made a distinction between bonafideed a and non-bonified egg. And the suggestion was don't make that distinction. two. If you have between two acres and
five acres, it's two RVs. So, actually, in some respects, some people could be getting the opportunity to have an extra RV than we do under this existing ordinance. The third division we did was if you're greater than five acres, we said you
could have four RVs. The way that our existing ordinance works is that if you have 5 to 10 acres and no agricultural use, you're only allowed two. If you have 5 to 10 acres and you have an agricultural use, you're allowed
three. And if you're over 10 acres, you're allowed four. So you see the existing ordinance gives us 1 2 3 4 5 six categories. whereas the one proposed is three. And again, I'm
not necessarily saying that they're the right acres. That's something we can discuss. But again, the idea was to make it simpler. >> Okay. >> Okay. So, >> you want to stop there? >> I want to stop there. >> Perfect. >> So, the no limit on personal unoccupied
is forget forget that. >> Yeah. I mean, that's >> I would say >> not a good story. >> One personal unoccupied. I mean, we don't want to become an RV storage facility for everybody. They would just say they're all their personal ones and they're unoccupied,
>> right? So, just one person occupied regarding regardless of the acreage, one on less than two acres, does the one on less than does the one occupied on less than two acres, is that addition in addition to the personal unoccupied?
>> So, in other words, they can have two >> and it would be that's how it's worded today as well. And then the two unoccupied I mean two occupied would be an addition to one personal one. >> That is correct. >> And then the greater than five acres four >> with the addition of one unoccupied.
Heard your the suggestion. >> All right. I just wanted to clear all that up. Okay. Well, I usually go last, but I'm absolutely completely opposed to note anything that says no limit anywhere. But anyhow, I think Lisa's got her light on. But I thought you did.
Okay. Thank you. Um Not for it seems like the the only thing that we're making simpler here is we're just taking out the distinction between a and not act. Right. >> No, that's already in. >> No, that the the the is the idea is to make Oh, this is the new rule.
>> So on the on the left side is the new rule and on the right side is the existing. >> So this is >> Yeah, that that's what I'm saying. Yeah, that that the proposed on the left. So that's we're just make we're just taking out a to make it simpler. >> Yes. >> And then
>> and then getting rid of the over 10. I I get that. But I mean >> I mean is it does it take that much time to to distinguish whether they're a or not a or is that where we're having a problem where we're citing people that shouldn't be cited?
>> Yeah. you know the person generally you're going to go to the property appraisers's office right you're going to pull up the report that tells you whether it's a exempt or not and you're >> but then you show up with a violation and they go it doesn't matter I don't have to go to the property appraiser >> right >> again sign an affidavit that says we
have a non-residential affidavit county probably also has that says you know for bonafide act so again you're chasing your tail I yeah I get it I get make people.
>> You done, Paul? >> Yeah, I turn I I turned it off. >> So, I I I'm aware and this could no longer be the case, but I know there was one parcel that they owned all the RVs and they kept them on their property until season when they rented them out
to people who took them places and stayed with them wherever they were. >> So, they storage facility. >> So, they that was their business, right? So, I mean, I think if it's it's personal and not associated with a business, I'm I'm a little concerned
because you've got living quarter horse trailers, you've got RVs, you know, you've got car haulers, you've got other um iterations of something that has living facilities inside of it that may be unoccupied. >> I think trailer quarter horse horses are
often hidden because it's not something that a code officer knows, right? wouldn't recognize. Oh, it's a horse trailer, right? >> An RV now. >> Space up front. There's a living quarter. >> I'm sorry. >> So, we're counting RV living quarters horse trailer as an RV. >> Oh. Oh, if somebody's No, I'm looking at
think of the unoccupied. >> It's technically still an RV. It It meets all RV standards, >> right, >> for carbon monoxides and all that stuff, right? That that all still has >> standards. And then you have the parhaulers, right, that >> people put theirs and stuff like that in
the backup. So, I'm a little concerned about cracking down on that. I think we need to be a little more sensitive, but I and I'm pretty sure that's not a widespread activity that people are using to do that with. Um, >> and enforcability is what it always
comes down to. I mean, you know, that's the thing. I mean, this enforcability is really the issue. >> I mean, I I do commend staff. This is a lot of work and and it it doesn't seem simpler as it's being presented, but I think it will simplify some stuff. And again, the goal is to get compliance and
to to help people become compliant. My concern is when the previous council passed this and the egg use, I know there was talk about, you know, a use like you wanted nursery be people in a nursery for
security. Um, people at horse farms wanted people there in case, you know, the horses needed, right? and you know something through the night. You wanted people there. >> We've got parcels now that have ad classification. They might have a one horse and four
cows on 10 acres and they've been approved for four RV sites. So now that we've got an unintended consequence and de facto um higher density and your the statement here about RV is permitted all
year round, which you haven't gotten to yet, right? Uh, I think that should be specific. I think we have some um people that we allow under certain circumstances to live year round >> that are no that are disabled people. I
think that's part of that right. I think that again we have to be super careful that this is not de facto higher density and we need to address the a uses that are basically becoming campgrounds. Um because there's more people there than animals,
>> right? >> Or plants perhaps. I don't know. But I do think that's a concern that I don't think that was thought through as a possibility. But hey, creativity on the parts of people to find their way around the rules, >> right? And it's I mean and none of it
addresses the people that have you know five or 10 RVs, horse trailers, wood living quarters and everything on a property with no house already also exists >> right >> in our town. >> Right. So yeah anyway sorry I I got off
further. >> So maybe we take the no limit to two. Well >> I think we should do this in a workshop but I you think we should get this all out and see it. >> Yeah. Okay, >> sure. I mean, I'll continue. >> Yeah, >> sorry.
>> This is all great conversation. Um, so the next was the differences between the unoccupied RVs. So again, this is your private RV. So the existing requires an affidavit to be provided. The affidavit is required to be renewed
every year. There's no fee for the affidavit and there's no inspection for the affidavit. The proposal would be to also require the affidavit and it creates a sticker system. So when you come in to fill out your
affidavit, you get a sticker that you could place on your RV. So we know that that RV has already been registered or has gone through the requirements that the code uh requires the property owner to follow through with it. Is the
proposal is not to require them to have to renew it every year. The idea is if there's been no changes, like you haven't changed the RV vehicle, you haven't added anything to it, then the sticker still remains valid and you can continue. You don't have to come in and
get another sticker. The cost of the affidavit uh would be the cost of the sticker. In other words, we don't want others to be paying for the the fact that they have an RV. So, whatever that cost is, if it's 35 bucks, it's 35 bucks. If it's a hundred bucks, it's a h
100red bucks. Uh, and there is again no inspection required for a unoccupied RV. So, I'll stop here. So, how does the town currently
determine as they're driving around that they do they have a list of properties that have already complied with this? So what we generally do is staff would go out that includes public works as
well as as code enforcement. Uh and they would be able again remember we can't go on people's property. So we have to be able to see it from a rideway or from a neighbor's property. And if we see an RV typically we would first of all we would go back and see was there an affidavit filed in the past and
>> that's my question. >> Yeah. And then we would see >> Mr. Smith um his property. Uh, but seems to me you could have a little booklet you could just flip through and you, oh yeah, they've already got an affidavit on file. Right. So, I guess my concern is a sticker. You're still not even going to be able to see the sticker. So,
it's not going to >> There's a giant panda there. >> Right. You know, how I guess my my question is is are we going to cut down on labor and staff time because we can
see a sticker or there's already documentation that an office or code officer or public works would know Mr. Smith has already qualified for this. So, we just drive past or we have a photo of what that RV looks like and we go that's a different
RV. >> Right. >> Right. So maybe there and I know the sticker part, but then you got to get access to see the sticker from from a roadway. >> So it's a great way you're looking at it, Lisa. And the way that I look at the sticker is to me is going to help from a
staff's perspective. One is if you're traveling through the town, right? And code officers or I could be around and I'm going to go, "Oh, great. There's a sticker on that. I'm good. I'm not going to follow. >> I don't have to follow them. I don't have to >> Oh, I see. You're just saying you're
seeing it drive. So you drive out their personal one and they're out for the weekend glamping or whatever they call it. Yeah. >> The the other thing too is that if an inspector goes out for a reason other than the RV and they happen to be there,
let's say a roof and they see an RV and it has a sticker again, they can stop and say, "I don't have to worry about it. I see that it's got a sticker. It's good to go." So years ago when we used to show at WE, they used to issue a park a paper parking pass. I'm not saying I ever
duplicated one of these things, but they worked really well on a color copier. That's what I'm saying. Um, but then they got smart and they came up with things. I think whatever we come up with, if it's going to be something associated with a a permanent application that it's not something that's easily duplicated and that that
adds to money of having a book with a picture of the RV like when it I mean I do like the idea of an initial inspection and not taking an inspe you're saying no inspection done at all but but I think it's important to do an inspection at least initially a no cost
one right I mean when people enter the program you've done them already for however many >> or they bring photos and their VIN number and they put it on file your tag number would be good. Yeah. Photo of the back with the tag on it or whatever so you can put it on that which
would tell you the kind of it >> and that could be uploaded >> you know to to a system somehow, right? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. It again the idea would be we have the MGO system. The idea would be eventually that we put it into the MGO system so they have their iPads out in the field. you can go under the address
and you'll be able to locate to see if it has it. Yeah. I mean, again, >> trying to save some of the costs because remember, an inspection requires somebody to schedule it and let me tell you, it takes four or five phone calls because people want to do it over a
weekend. They don't want to do it during the week. But we said they be roadworthy. So, yeah, I think that the >> tagged and licensed is pro will probably help with some of that. Although I guess you can tag something that >> Yeah, I think the owner owner, you know,
some of this is, hey, I signed this under perjury, you know, and so if you're lying, right, we might catch you. So >> I think that >> the fact that they again, it's about compliance and about the people who are unwilling to comply being able to
identify who that that party is. And then I down here, you're talking about consequences. So I I think we keep it as simple as possible and agree self-submission of documentation and what that looks like. >> And again the the idea too is people
have to submit it right and that takes time and I'm not saying you know some are more computer literate than others. >> So you know again I'm trying to eliminate an a property owner or the owner of the vehicle to have to go out of their way. Now again we're all going technology. Paul can tell you, you know,
you could now you could you could take you could take exactly what I was going to say, Lisa. You take your your phone, your iPad, put it on video, you walk around the vehicle, and you submit it, right? So, I mean, there's ways of accomplishing it, but anytime we have a submitt or anytime we have to go
anywhere, it then becomes a cost. And again, I understand we want people to do it, so we don't want to make the cost prohibitive. So, we're not covering our costs, which again is not a requirement under the law, right? you're providing a service. >> Yeah, I think you know technology exists
to create um a record of the RV the VIN number and stuff and submit it. that might be in lie of a sticker and the cost associated with a sticker and the fact that you, you know, even with binoculars, can't see the sticker. >> But I do think you're going to have to consider that there's going to be
people, elderly people, whatever, that do have them. But there's going to be people that you're going to need to go out and take a picture. >> If they're that old, they probably shouldn't be driving an RV. >> They shouldn't be, but I can think of at least one person in this town who has one that they drive quite frequently that probably shouldn't be driving it,
but that does. And and I think the unoccupied one, we were trying to make it as again as simple as possible because the likelihood of a change is not generally I mean you hold on to your vehicle for several years. So the idea is why make them renew it every year? What am I going to check that their
tires are are inflated? I'm like >> it was my understanding it was to save staff time so they weren't revisiting the same property because they saw an RV there. Was that incorrect? >> It's a number of ways. I think it's from both sides, which is how I looked at it. it was staff didn't have to go out over
and over again to do it. But at the same time, I was looking at it that it saves the resident from having to come in and fill out a form. And our forms are are all notorized. You have, you know, again, we do it here. But, you know, >> all the people that already that's that already did get inspected this last year
and have already complied. Are they just going to be like grandfathered in? Like, are we going to go out and take picture or just ask them to just submit a picture like they're already done? You know, again, I think once we get it the ordinance in place, my thought is because we're not electronic,
I think we have to start from scratch kind of with electronic. Now, that doesn't mean that staff can't input the information. Literally, here's your affidavit. >> Here's your 90 affidavit that have been filed, >> right? So, I mean, you have to have some organization obviously to be able to
determine which ones were filed and which ones weren't. docu sign and uh no again but but it's a program you got to pay for right so there's always money associated as we had said earlier in whatever you're you're eventually implementing so that was
again the idea of the unoccupied RV >> right had a question for you oh >> well it's not a question it's more of a statement and I hate to sound like a Debbie Downer so here's what I'm looking at I'm listening to this stuff and I'm thinking about the places that have six RVs that are dumping their sewage. It
doesn't address that. It doesn't fix that, right? >> Well, yeah, because it only allows you to have four. >> Hold on, let me finish. >> Okay. >> So, having people come in and get a permit for their legal ones, they're going to come in. The legal ones that aren't dumping sewage and all that are coming in and going through all this process, but it doesn't fix the real
issue with the people that are dumping six of them in the sewage. So, why go through all this and make the people that are doing it right get a permit? Why don't we just set rules and say this is the amount you can have and when you drive by a site and somebody's got six, they're in violation. It's simple as that. Why are we going through this
entire process for permits and stickers and all that stuff, those people are going to do it, right? So, it's almost like we're just looking for a money grab to get $250 or whatever it might be. Why don't we just set the rules? Here are the rules and that's it. Just like we do with all the rest of our ULDC. Why are
we setting up this whole process to stop people from dumping sewage? We just say you can't dump sewage and if Jimmy over there is dumping sewage, he's in violation. >> Thank you. >> Sorry. >> Well, I think that >> the numbers.
>> Yeah, we had remember this started back when I was on council and I wouldn't pass it then because of all these concerns, right? Right. and the implementation and you know the code enforcement aspect of it hopefully is
going to be moving forward in a more aggressive way. But so you simplify it down to just setting numbers. >> I'm good with having rules on it. I'm not saying no rules. We set rules, but there's no reason to have all this permitting and inspection and all that stuff because all those people are going to do it right. That's not the ones
we're concerned about. We're concerned about the other 200 people that aren't doing it right. And this process only hurts the people that are doing it right. Sorry. >> Because those people who aren't doing it right aren't going to come in. They're not going to comply no matter what. They're not doing it now. They're not taking a picture of
>> that was the point of asking for simplification is because >> just set numbers and rules. >> Do you want us to do that at our next workshop is set is is hash out what we think the numbers and rules are going to be. >> Yeah, that would be great. Back to you. And I know the state limits the the
fines and but I thought that was one of the reasons we passed the citation was this was an immediate >> was an immediate >> action that that could be dealt with. So maybe we need to under I'm sure that's part of your presentation. >> Maybe we need to understand where we have the capacity to go with that.
>> So I'm sure citations can be written instantly. >> Yes. So I want to see >> yeah that is the n again that is the nature. I mean you can do it a combination. I mean you can do it you know you can go either code enforcement or you can regular code enforcement or you can do citation
>> or or and or >> I don't think Jeb I don't think for the same violation you can do both. I think you have to decide to do one or the other >> or the other. Um >> if you did a citation today, >> you could and it was it was still there.
>> Um you could then initiate a case. >> Correct. You can >> you can do both just not simultaneously, >> right? >> Has to be some time lapse. >> But each each day could be a separate violation. >> Each day can be a separate violation. But I think when you start thinking
about the four or more is when you start crossing over into the state laws and you start getting into the irreplaceable and irreparable type of harm, which again you can only do every time you see it. But I think those
are the kind of rules. I try very hard to be diplomatic and not share my opinion, but having been through the end of the pilot program, the moratorum on the RVs, and a couple of different shots at trying to regulate them, we've been
fairly ineffective um with an awful lot of effort and I think we've just kind of made everyone frustrated. So, I would be all for a very simple approach that has
>> penalties for not following rules. So, that you know, >> yep, >> you're away from registrations and you're into the penalty for not following the rule. You're supposed to have a septic tank or you're supposed to have a pump out.
That's not necessarily >> legal for electric hugely because we know that that fire this last weekend was probably an electric board, >> but it wasn't electric to the RV. It was electric in the barn. But blah blah. It's there. The point of it is, and I
would have to go ahead and defer to Council Member El Rey, she more than once said, "Make it easy and make it um cost a lot not to comply. And if I misstated your words, I think
>> close. It's close and it works. It works. >> I think that's the issue. But we'll take this to our our next workshop. >> Yep. >> Um you can make sure we have a copy of this at our next workshop. We each have a copy of it and we will come up with some simple numbers and some not so
simple fines or consequ consequences. >> Correct. >> Yeah. And I think the the idea of and again just I wasn't here when this was all implemented. I think the idea originally was to have the registration so you knew what RVs were here,
>> right? Because if you go >> now we're just saying >> and I'm again not you know me I'm here to to keeping the thinking going. So, I think that was why we were coming back with the registration was because the the goal of the council, I believe, or
at least discussion was for you to know how many RVs do we really have. The pro the way you're looking at it, it it's a proactive finding them out, right? So, we really don't know how bad the problem is unless
we're going up and down the streets and trying to catch I mean obviously we have some knowledge of people in the past who have had them. Um but it's a little different focus I guess is what I'm saying. No right, no wrong. And listen, I'm extremely happy not to be involved
in a program that's not meeting its its goal. Well, and I think um to that end, like like Council Member McClendon said, you you put it in place, you enforce you heavily enforce the the rule breakers, and then and then I think you revisit it
again if it if it becomes an issue. >> Just like we did this year, we had to get it was something that never could get put into place. We put something in place. We looked at it for a year and now we're looking at what didn't work and we're going to try and do something. Well, and I think a previous council member had estimated the total number of
potential RVs under certain scenarios. Um, and it was pretty astounding actually. So, um, I I I think Yeah. >> Okay. Sounds good. I'll make sure I'll work with Francine. I'll make sure we'll get you the materials. >> Perfect.
>> At the next meeting. Great. Thank you guys. right on something. >> But but to Lisa's point, not everybody's going to run out and buy an RV and rent and you know, it's just not it's not realistic that that's going to
>> But even but even if they did, >> they're still within the >> Thank you, Karen. Right. >> Guides, you know, so it's like >> I'm just saying not everybody's going to run out and buy an RV and rent it out. So it's not going to happen. >> I just realized that my my living quarters was considered an RV and I should have a waiver. I mean, as you know,
>> you can rent it out. Okay. >> That's awful. >> There's got two public comments. >> Oh, we have public comments on this item. I'm sorry, >> Miss Suchi. >> I'll speak for the work. >> Okay. >> Yeah, me too. >> Okay.
>> All right. Uh, item number 14, discussion of comprehensive livestock waste program. >> We've brought this forward a number of different times over the years. Um, and we have all the work that we've done on
it since 2021. Most recently, what we did is we amended section 38 to allow non-exclusive franchises for livestock waste haulers. But we need to go back and we need to
basically codify and incorporate all the other ordinances with regard to livestock waste that have been done from 2010 all the way through I think like 2017 or 18. The permit program is no longer legal by
the state of Florida. However, section 403 of the Florida statutes allows for um regulation of livestock waste pursuant to special waste which is under
solid waste. And so we still have the ability to regulate livestock waste haulers. And so what we are proposing here is a timeline where we would um within the rules within Florida statutes
within our existing ordinances which um would still be the same in terms of spreading and irreparable and irreplaceable harm would be defined. Um put together
um a more complete ordinance and the accompanying best management practices um on how we could do this program better. Now, this does not conflict with any other solutions that could come up.
Like for instance, if Coastal has some type of way that we would be, you know, um, preferential customers at their transfer station, well, we can certainly go ahead and build some more of a program around that. But this is just to
clean up the patchwork of regulation that we currently have in place. and it gives you time schedule that we would bring it forward to you and that we would implement it as of October 1st. So this is just a discussion item to see
if we're ready to start moving this forward. We have drafts. We can bring forward drafts for April. We could bring forward drafts for May. >> Good with either.
>> I'm sorry. So I'm good with either. Yeah, I I mean I've been I've been harping on this for a while now since we've had some pretty serious egregious situations occur in town and I I think I think you absolutely need to move forward with it. I mean, you know, absolutely
>> needs to be moved forward with something something has to be done. >> Um >> Okay. And and I know that you're looking at a lot of different things and I hope all of them I hope all of them come to fruition and we have we resolve the problem for the whole region not just for our
>> Well, I hope so too. >> But I think the first step is to go ahead and make sure that our code is strong enough to >> we have consensus to let you see something in April. >> Yeah, >> that's a realistic timeline. >> No, it is a realistic timeline. We have
drafts. I guess the only question would be whether or not you wanted it to do it at your initial meeting which is a lot of pomp circumstance and >> getting um >> things together or whether you want us
to present it your April workshop >> workshop >> probably have a nice discussion we just 5:30 workshop will a half hour be enough time probably to present it do you think >> oh I was thinking we would just have it as our workshop
the 5:30 meeting ahead and then then our other workshop >> and they need to present it because it's ordinances and stuff, right? So, resolutions and then basic >> five o'clock we're going to link in some rules of the state so that the
>> So, it has to be a five o'clock meeting. Well, I whether it's five and we eat into a little a bit of your time, I think it's more uh an hour discussion rather than a half hour discussion. Right. >> And this uh I'm sorry, did you say the
BMPs would align with the state BMP? >> Yes, they they will, but the BMPs are going to take us a little longer to get done. You see on the time schedule, >> are we not just adopting state BMPs? >> Excuse me. >> Will we not just adopt the state BMPs as part of it? do that by reference, but we
also want to go ahead and make sure that um anything specific to the town that we also address as well. Like I'll give you an example. Okay. Do you want people to use lined um container, you know, a slab
for their containers? No. Of course not. Right. Other places do that, but we'll go through the different We have to be like roads. Well, I I I would think state best management practices are adequate and I think no because they allow for that.
>> Well, I think the real issue for us besides state BMPs is that we have to look at the water quality standards that we locally as a town have to apply. So, it's still part of state standards, but it's, you know, from different parts and
pieces. But I see your point. >> Okay. So that brings me to the question of does the state right to farm as long as the property is following state BMPPS does that limit what the town can do? >> There's not if the but those are for only over 10
>> paral. Got it. Okay. >> Uhhuh. So I mean I'd love to have that BMP manual done as soon as possible. I was just trying to be a little realistic here. >> Okay. All right. Lisa, you wanted these pulled from receive and file to discuss
them. So, what did you want to discuss about number 15? >> Uh 15. Um that those were my notes. I just wanted to make sure that everybody was um happy with the notes that I provided and it was accurate. Um because I might have taken a little artistic
license on a couple of them. >> Very good spreadsheet work. So, I mean >> definitely noticed some artistic license. However, however, I I wanted to thank you for the incredible speed with which you got it done. Clearly, you
didn't sleep that night. That's fine. I mean, if >> Well, I want to make sure I still could read my writing. >> Yeah. Well, that was probably good. Um, and I think that it's gi it gives us a really great I mean, there's clearly more work to do with this, but it gives us a great jumping off point.
>> Okay. I think there was like one I left blank cuz I wasn't sure on page two looks like 260 280 260 260 sorry my glasses um on the resiliency
study um I think I just put utilizes applicable >> that's that's accurate >> okay so and I think that was the only one that I was really resiliency study is complete right now, but we may be able to get more resiliency funds.
>> Well, the way that implement Yeah. The way it works is you have to have that study in order to be able to apply for the construction grants. However, the resiliency study actually lets us go ahead and look at perhaps a better way
to do our watershed, which means we could ultimately move away from some of these individual property FDAs. >> It will help us in many ways. >> There's a subsequent V I thought we did the vulnerability study. >> We did. We have to do a watershed plan.
That's the next thing. And we've applied for grants for that. We'll go back and see if we can't get another grant for that. But the vulnerability study, now that we have it, you saw the rankings that we have on the LMS grants. Now that
we have those rankings and a vulnerability study, it is more likely that we would be able to get a resilient Florida construction grant. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Is the gak committee helping you on the
20th anniversary event? like a mural, a thing, a couple. >> Oh, okay. I was I thought maybe it was a a typo or something. >> No, no, they have they're involved. >> Yeah, that was my notes. >> Okay. >> So, and then on the last one, >> the agurism Yeah. venture.
>> My question on that is that envisioned as the day of the the event or is that an ongoing? >> So, this is just a vision at this point. It's just a >> Well, I know I've talked about a >> it's an outline thing. Yeah. So it's what a treasure hunt.
>> The vision exactly the vision is to start with start the ball rolling with some mailings and things, right? and some chachki kind of stuff. And then on July 4th, have a 250th anniversary event
at the park where all of the vendors who would like to are invited to come and have tables and sell food and do whatever and all that kind of feature their farms or do whatever they want to do, right? And then in
between then and our Veterans Day, Founders Day, 20th anniversary day celebration in the beginning of November, between that July 4th and then have some kind of like you said, scavenger hunt, whatever, where the QR codes guide people around town and things like that. Maybe we can come up
with something cute. We tossed a whole bunch of ideas around like, you know, scorch points for having visit or whatever, you know, that kind of thing. Who can do the whole adventure? Who can see everything and experience it all? So, yeah, that's that's where we're that's the direction we're headed. Yes.
>> Okay. So, it it would be they would be on site on the day of of the event and then it would be something that could be an ongoing thing that that people participate in >> scavenger hunt sort of however you um I think we should not just call agriurism
though because I know that there's agriculture operators that don't have an agurism component to what they're doing. >> Yeah, that's in those first one. I agree with you and we were trying to get away from that because there are certainly some farms there even some beautiful equestrian farms here that would open
themselves up for a tour and things like that. So, you know, if it was scheduled obviously. So, yes, we're we're trying to >> work away from that. >> I think my original idea included those pe those people that want to be included on the map >> was I I'll pick on McCoys just because
they're an easy one because they do like the honey straws, right? So that could be something that they give away when the people come. >> And um I think one of the things was you get your frier to give you all the shoes that they've taken off and then when people come by if they want to take a horseshoe with them, >> you know, you have something to give
them. >> Not a bag of you know what some shavings for your rabbit back home. >> One pound one five pound at a time. Five pounds at a time. >> Yeah. Hey, Starbucks gives away coffee,
right? I mean, >> that was the extent of my questions. I >> Yeah. So, and it's, you know, please feel free to text in. Karen's working on this with me. Valerie's working on this with me. Francine's working on this with me. So,
please feel free, anybody, if you have any ideas to send us an email and and add to it. I >> discover the groves >> week or two. Um, >> and we're trying to come up with Yeah. like the sign thing. I kind of like like
those historic signs you see like, >> you know, George slept here kind of signs, you know, but we started Craig's looking into the cost of those signs and they're kind of expensive. So, we'll have to we'll have to see. >> Ted Bundy slept here. >> Yeah, Ted Bundy slept here. We did have
a murderer that slept in our town for a while. So, that would be good. But anyhow, yes, that's it. Okay, so that's all. Anybody else have any questions about that? >> Okay, Francine, >> those tours. >> Yeah, Francine, you're up. I just wanted to say kudos to everybody for such a
very efficient meeting. And um also, since I know we have elections coming up next week, I just wanted to say how much staff has enjoyed working with this council. And um Marge,
you're always going to be the mother of the town regardless of whether you sit up there or you don't. And we hope that you stay involved. So other than that, thank you and good night. >> Okay, before I did that, I need to just see if we have any comments from the
public on non-aggenda items. I'm sorry, Francine, and I went out of order. >> Sorry. >> Way to go. >> My bad. >> I'm okay. >> I was getting excited. Um, >> getting excited. >> You've heard it all, huh? >> You You can tell who they are. I just
grabbed u Virginia Standish Northro. This is a topic I'll keep bringing before you as I'm researching it until it gets back to the ULDC because quite frankly just something because something's in your code does not mean you won't be sued at the state level. Um
I've been talking to many people in the community regarding tree issues, new land owners, old land owners and we we have all driven around this community and we see new people moving in just chopping down trees who are not bonafideed egg. There's a lot of
inconsistencies on what's going on and previously I've given you some but I'll give you I really think this needs to go back to DC and then once you refine it, review your inconsistencies and come up with a better plan. Uh you need to put
together the town needs to put together a pamphlet, a flyer. They're like boom boom boom boom. This is it. Whatever pictures picture pictures speak a thousand words. It's just like the fire department. No burning, folks. A or
not, no burning. We we just need to simplify this. Uh the number one issue I'm hearing is that people are not to and I realize this can change. One councilman said we need to train change that, but that's why you need to go back to ULDC on this. A lot of people aren't
being told if you're bonafideed a you don't you're not going to be charged for this. They're not being told that, hey, if you want to keep the trees, but move them somewhere else somewhere else on your property, you won't incur a penalty, but you need to communicate with the town. Um,
there are, you know, this is not just about one property owner that I represent. I'm talking to people throughout this community and hearing this problem. I drive down Sea Road to Northward, seeing the new person, all the trees lined up, chopped down on the property, no problem. So once again, the people who are trying to do things right
and are honest are getting penalized and then everybody says, "Oh, we didn't know." Well, you didn't go to town. Oh, yeah, but the town doesn't bother us. We can do whatever we want here. Um, same thing. And it's applying to the tree issue. Uh the one thing I don't understand and we clarified during one
of our conversations, if a site plan is transferable and trees were removed in that site plan and someone's going to use that site plan, why would somebody have to pay for those trees if they're selling a property? So, there's a lot of inconsistencies and I'll put up a
spreadsheet. Happy to get this to ULDC, but you have some serious problems because when somebody's charged 25% of their property value for tree mitigation and they've got over 200 trees still sitting on their 5 acre property and
meanwhile all around them, the bonafides are bare. We have a serious discrepancy issue in this town. Thank you. Okay. Anybody else? >> No. >> Okay. Sorry for uh skipping the line, but Francine, you you were done,
correct? >> Oh, James, you have to say thanks, Mr. Curts. >> Um, I'll thank you all for a good meeting and and being efficient. And I'm not going to say goodbye to Marge until I have to. Um, and that's not this
meeting. She's officially sitting for a little while longer. Uh, so my report um is on the election. Just a friendly reminder, election day is March 10th, 2026 at Palms West Presbyterian Church. Polls open at 700
a.m. Uh you will be voting on two seats. Seat one is an unexpired one-year term. The qualified candidates are Steve Hoffman, Joe Stevens, Robert Sullivan, and Ste uh seat number five is a three-year term. Qualified candidates are Todd McClendon and Manish Sud. There
are also two referendum questions. One with regards to the removal of charter officers from office and the second question is the town attorney review of contracts. All of this information is available on our website. Um, and additionally at the
April 7th, 2026 meeting, uh, we will have the recognition of outgoing council and swearing in ceremony. Cake and coffee will be served. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, B. Uh, Karen. >> Nope. Good. >> Okay, Craig,
>> just an update for Miss Lisa. I did get the reports back. >> Nutrients? >> Yes, they stopped the reports in 2024. I do have them. It's just putting them together to be presented to is a whole another world because they would go off a whole app system, a whole online system. So I have to break it down so I
can present each app that they did for each testing and you'll have the full nutrition breakdown on it. >> So when they stopped, are they no longer testing them? >> They defunded the program. >> Interesting. >> That was their exact remarks. They defunded the program for the testing on
D road at in front of our shop. >> Interesting. and and I thank you for getting the appropriation information to me on the spending and then I had a couple questions if you could just shoot me an email on that when you have a >> Yeah. Yeah, I have the whole things right here. >> So, it's those are some of the summaries
for for getting money back right now. >> Okay. Awesome. Thank you. >> Done. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Mr. McClendon. >> Yeah. I wanted to thank the council for giving me the opportunity to sit here with you guys for the past few months. Um, we've done a lot of huge things. You
know, I talked with Lisa before I got on here and we talked about code enforcement and we've come a long way with code enforcement and leans and fines and that sort of thing and foreclosures moving forward. Um, we've made a lot of cost cutting issues.
Um, our two biggest contracts were PBSO and Coastal and both of those are drastically cut or eliminated. Um, so those are our two biggest contracts. if I remain here in the future, I still want to go after other things. There's
definitely more things on the books that we can cut costs at. Um, so I appreciate working with staff. They've been great to work with and um, I'm not sure who gets beat up more, the staff or us council people because there's a lot of beatings going on here. So, so, so I
don't know. I don't know what but we're probably pretty even. So, I appreciate the committee members that donate their time to the town. um they've got tough jobs, too. So, thank you for that opportunity. >> Lisa, uh riffing on that uh code
enforcement, uh some of the comments made to me is it's all starting to feel like a HOA. Um I I think that it's important that the residents understand that our goal is the egregious land use is the most
important level at this. In in my Treasure Coast meeting, they used a term that I think really applies here, and it is called predictability and the ability to come in and invest in your property, whether it's just a fancy nice house or
fabulous landscaping, and know that you're not going to have a tractor trailer repair place open up next to you. >> And that's most of the comments I get, >> right? And and I think that it's important for people to understand that that is the the main thrust. Obviously, as things become more into alignment
with what the uses are and we see that stuff start to become more curtailed and we see traffic reduction in the town hopefully as a result. Obviously, the concern would be at that point that the that present council at that time should possibly cut back on the funding for that because then we don't just need
them running around looking at your grass height. So, that's where the HOA part is the real concern for me. um wanted a little update on on my portion of that that list. I did meet
with um the town clerk and um I know we're waiting for some Asana um information still. Uh the notification to opt in that that was going to be looked into. I haven't followed up on that yet. the MGO connect. Um we talked
about providing the flexibility and that may be provided the ability to sign up um for uh potential case notification or permit notification. Uh the website upgrade it's a pretty significant cost to jump to that next level and ENA was still researching you
know what those options would provide to us. Um again, uh the satisfaction survey is something that it's just a question of implementation. There's a lot of free options. Um providing a QR code possibly at the front when people come in. You know, like when you go out of the
bathroom, you got the smiley, the sad, and the me face, right? Um so, and then obviously continuing to promote the newsletter from that. So, that's just a quick update on that. And I think council had asked
uh if Gary, the the new FDA guy, could come in and do us a little presentation. So I think we're still waiting to see that. So >> is he the guy with no name? >> The guy with no name is Gary. >> Gary. >> Gary. That's it. Thank you. >> Well, >> all right. So I'll try to lightning
around. You know, I I was in a class a while back and and you know, just a and it was the discussion was who's responsible, the inspector, the contractor,
you know, depending on the violation, whatever. And the instructor of the class came forward and he said, "Y'all are wrong." And we're like, "What are you talking about?" He goes, "The person responsible is the property owner.
There's case law, and this is just this one little thing has to do with building, but there's case law. It's no different than when you're driving your vehicle, right? You're driving down the road. It's your your your responsibility as a licensed motor vehicle operator to know the law of the
road wherever you may be, whether you're in Ireland or Texas or Caribbean, wherever it may be. So, item one. Item two uh came up in conversation when we were having our our uh agenda meeting. I have a severe
concern that our SB80 window has now gotten bigger because as of a few weeks ago there was a state of emergency due to frost. It >> is a natural occurrence, natural
disaster. Um so I asked Jeff and Francine to look into to see how that affects because that that or you know because that that's a real concern for our plans in the future. >> The fix bill did not get heard.
>> Yeah. Exactly. So if it clearly just said state of emergency due to natural disaster, that could potentially be a bad thing, right? So, um, you know, not to beat a dead horse, but we do need
I I I'm a strong believer that we need representation at the county level. We all cannot be at every county meeting or be at the county level. We can't be knocking down the door of David Bicks of Commissioner so and so or what have you. And I I think it's you know and 50k a
year ago is kind of relative to you know we used to pay a starting tech you know 15 $20,000 a year years ago and you know cost of living increases etc. So, um, and then my last point is, uh, you know,
the fireworks bill, as we, Lisa pointed out, it didn't make it through, u, unfortunately. We were kind of hoping it was going to make it through this year. Got a lot of resistance of it even being heard. Um, and there were some, you know, folks I reached out to some folks, get some emails for, you know, to help
support, etc. A couple people I reached out to go, well, what else is in this bill? I'm like, this bill still is strictly to keep fireworks from being Yeah. It's it's it's it's not a, you know, 30,000page federal bill that has, you
know, multiple things inside of it that these funding this little project over here. So, you know, if we get the opportunity to bring it back again next year, which I hope we will, I think we will, um, you know, we'll just keep bringing it back till it comes to fruition. >> Yeah. >> If you get the opportunity to support
it, please do. Um, it's not about stifling your right, your freedom to celebrate the independence of, you know, the birth of this nation or whatever. It's about the safety of our neighbors. And, you know, and as you can tell, even if we start getting rain in mid June, I
don't think we're going to be dry enough to support fireworks in July. So, that's all I got to say. Thank you very much. Have a great night. >> March. >> Yeah. Um I don't know whether anyone noticed the um the pine tree on a road
uh was in pretty bad shape. Uh it's been many years since the uh the limbs on that uh that structure had been replaced and um they sent a crew from Missouri
down with a a load of uh new new uh branches and uh um I took the phone number off of the truck and I called and I I spoke to u the representative in
Missouri. And she had had said that uh they um they reinforced uh a lot of the uh old uh attachments and the branches are longer and uh that uh they they look
a lot better than what they had had looked after so many hurricanes and rainstorms. is that a new a new identified horiculture tree in our town. I'm hungry.
>> And I'd like to say that um it's been a pleasure uh being a part of this town that uh I've seen a lot of changes over the over the years, but always in the heart of the uh people was to keep it
rural and uh you know to to help each other when and where we can. And um I hope to be in the town for many more years. Uh we'll see, you know, God
willing, and the creek don't rise too high. I think it's a deal saying. So, uh I I just love that. uh a lot of the residents in the town, they look after uh the senior folks that
are here and it means a lot to me, you know, that uh I get phone calls on a a pretty frequent basis, checking up on me, making sure I'm behaving myself or keeping active,
>> waking you up to go read. >> Yeah. Yeah. Um but I I made it a point that when I was on the council um the first time that I continue to attend the meetings
and stay active with what was going on and to offer any of my skills that uh I uh developed during my 28 years as a a school teacher and having to run school
plays and dance recital of three classes of third graders. It, you know, it uh it it helped me to uh to do a lot of the things that people comment about that I
did over the years. So, you'll still see me. Are we third graders? We're almost third graders. >> So, yeah. I mean, uh, thank you guys for everything that you do.
I know I won't be serving with you for my last year. Hopefully, we'll be serving with you for my last year, but if not, it was a pleasure working with you both. And this is the book that we read. Thank you to all the council members and people in town, town residents who came and joined us in
reading this book at Blackside Elementary School last week. >> It was actually a cute little story >> and it was actually very like pertinent to the groves. It was about a garden and growing your garden and everything. So, we're going to have copies of it if anybody wants to borrow it to read to
their children, grandchildren, whatever. We'll have them here in town hall for you. >> I'm so nervous. >> And can I >> So nervous. That was quiet. >> All right. Can I have a motion to adjourn? >> Motion. Second. >> Okay. All in favor? I
>> get out. Vote on Jim today.