Good morning and welcome to our May 11th MO meeting. I'm calling this meeting to order. Please join us uh by with a prayer by Pastor Jim Harp followed by the pledge of allegiance. Good morning pastor. >> Morning. >> Good morning everyone. >> Good morning.
>> Happy Monday. Let's pray. Father, thank you for this day once again. Lord, I always uh just want to thank you for the day before us and uh your direction and your guidance. And I pray especially that today for these who are gathered to meet here and
all who are going to participate in the decisions and the direction that Lord you've laid out for us. As I was speaking to someone earlier Lord uh an invocation is not to ask you to be here because your word tells us there's nowhere where you aren't. So you're here
and we come this morning and acknowledge your presence that you are an observer that you're listening to every word. That you're watching everything that's going on. And so, Lord, we thank you for that. Lord, it's it's to me it's comforting to know that the God of the universe is is here and he's intimate.
Lord, I thank you for the word that I read this morning uh in my time uh with you in in Psalm chapter 1. It says, "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of scoffers. But his delight is in the law
of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water which yields fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Lord, thank you for that promise to us this morning as we seek you in your ways and
your direction and your guidance and your wisdom. Lord, you promise to bless and we can be prosperous. Maybe not in the way the world defines it, but in a way that is pleasing unto you. And so God, I just lift these before you this morning. Again, I pray for our uh our uh
those that are in office and those that have been put into leadership. I pray for their families. I pray God for your protection and for your provision and for your guidance and and for healing and health. Lord, so many in our communities today are uh struggling with with illnesses and sicknesses. And so,
God, we pray that you'd bring healing and health. And so, God, we commit this meeting now especially into your hands. and I thank you for your presence here and your blessing upon us in Jesus name I pray. Amen. >> Amen. Thank you.
>> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Would you please do roll call?
>> Commissioner Eileen Vargas, >> present. >> Commissioner Sarah Herd. Commissioner Stacy Heatherington is excused. Commissioner Blake Caps >> here. >> Commissioner Edward Campy >> here. >> Commissioner Sha Reed >> here. >> Commissioner Ka Mayfield >> here.
>> Mayor Carmine Depollo is excused. We do have a quorum. >> Excellent. Uh, is there a motion to approve the agenda? >> Make a motion. >> I'll second. >> There's a motion and a second. Any objections? That motion passes unanimously. Is there a motion to
approve the minutes of April 20th? >> So moved. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Any objections? That motion passes unanimously. Uh, Mr. Mcrist would like to address us from the public. If anyone else would like to address us, please
fill out a request to speak form, get it to the baiff, and he will make sure that it gets to me between you guys. >> I'm sorry. >> Good morning. Thank you, chair, for this opportunity to speak. This is a letter
from LA. Robert Leu, the vice president of the FEC. It's a letter dated April 27th, 2026 to then Mayor Christopher Collins. And I'll skip to
the good part. FEC does not approve or support a passenger station in Stewart at this time. Specifically, FEC cannot support any station that would result in the existing Stewart Bridge being down in
violation of US Coast Guard rules. The FEC system would require the bridge be down while the train stops at the station. FEC has notified Bright Line that they have not met the requirements of our
agreement for FEC to approve any Steuart passenger station. Bright Line cannot unilaterally build anything on FEC without FEC's express written approval. Therefore, the city's concern for
parking is moot. From the beginning, I've just been asking for a little common sense. Thank God for the Coast Guard recognizing that a train station that close to the bridge is a disaster.
That one cog in the wheel in the whole system from Jacksonville to Miami is right there at the St. Lucy Bridge. The only spot that only has one track instead of two. So, common sense says you've got some guy in Orlando playing a video game
making sure that no two objects occupy the same space at the same time at the St. Lucy Bridge. That's going to require slowing down freight trains to a crawl, leaving the citizens of Martin County sitting in their car for god knows how
long. So, a little common sense, a little empathy for the uh citizens. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Would anyone else from the public like to address us?
We will turn to our agenda. 8A is the final draft for the 2728 unified planning work program. Um yes, this is the final draft of the fiscal year 27 through fiscal year 28
UPWP. You all reviewed and discussed the draft last month. Um that was the beginning of the public review period. We didn't have any um comments from the public. We did um submit this uh document to our uh reviewing agencies,
Federal Highway and um FDOT. They did have minor comments. FOT um actually pointed out we had two of the same acronyms on our acronym list. So, we removed that. And they also um just requested we have a sentence in there that the NO is part of the county's
annual audit that we don't have our own annual audit. Um Federal Highway also just had minor comments. Um, one was just um requesting the paperwork that we're waiting on for um from FDOT that you all actually have already authorized the chair to sign. You all did that at
the last meeting and those are the um the the forms that we discussed at the last meeting that we that state that the um NO is following all the federal guidelines and as well as things like um not lobbying with our federal planning money and using the um disadvantaged b
business enterprise utilization requirements following those. Um and then I think they did have one other uh comment about um the project schedules for our task with the long-range transportation plan for the implementation of that plan. We had put
as a project schedule ongoing and they said don't do that. Put the last um month and year in this doc of this document which is June of 2028. And so that's that's we changed it to June 2028. And also for um the LRTP amendments, we just put as needed and
they said to do the same thing to put June of 2028. So they were all just minor comments. So I'll be happy to answer any questions and staff is recommending approval of this document. It is a federally required document that we do every two years. >> Questions?
>> Mr. Campy. Uh, seeing no questions and if there's no one from the public, I'd make a motion to accept the report as submitted. >> Second. >> There's a motion and then a second. All those in favor? I opposed. That motion passes unanimously. >> We now move on to 8B, which is the
transportation disadvantaged planning grant and resolution. >> Yes, this is a state planning grant that we get every year for the trans the Martin County transportation disadvantage program. It's a grant allocation that comes to us in the um form of a formula. It requires no local
match. Um this year it's 26,000 or for I shouldn't say this year for fiscal year 27 it's $26,975 and it's used for NO staff time to staff the local coordinating board for the transportation disadvantaged. Um so this
item is to approve the grant application the resolution as well required resolution as well as authorizing the chair or her designate to sign the grant agreement when it comes in and I'll be happy to answer any questions and staff is recommending approval of this item.
>> Questions? Seeing none, is there a motion to approve staff's recommendation? >> I make a motion to approve. I'll second. >> There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I opposed. That motion passes unanimously. Thank you.
>> On to C, which is the draft 27 through31 transportation improvement program. Yes, this is our five the NO's 5-year short range program. It's coming to you in the draft form at this meeting and it'll be coming back to you next month
for final adoption. This is the federally required five-year program that reflects or mirrors the state's five-year work program. And you all approved the draft tenative work program uh last uh it was early November, November 5th, I believe. And once that
happened, it was submitted up to Tallahassee. The legislature approved it as part of the state transportation. Well, I guess they're that's not not I don't know if that's final. they it's part of the state transportation budget, but then it comes back to us in the form of the federally required tip um that
comes before you today in draft form, like I said, and it's up for public review at this point, and it'll be back to you next month for final adoption. And this does include the $300 million for the widening of State Road 710 that you all discussed with the um district
secretary last fall. And I'll be happy to answer any questions. And staff is recommending approval of this item. >> Are there questions? Move approval. >> Second. There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I opposed. That
motion passes unanimously. On to D, which is US1 congestion management study from Southwest Joan Jefferson Way to Southeast Lilian Court. Um, yes. This US1 congestion management study was actually requested by the no board a
couple of years ago when you all were approving the US1 congestion management study north of the Roosevelt Bridge. You requested this to look at the US1 corridor south from Joan Jefferson. Originally the conversation was um south
to Cove Road, but because of the way the traffic signals are grouped, the county traffic engineer recommended it be just south of Cove Road to Southeast Lillian Court. So it'll include the intersection of Cove Road and US1. Um so we are asking Kimley Horn to prepare this um um
study. They prepared the US1 study north of the bridge. Um and they their subconscious. Bonnie is here today to talk a little bit about the scope and answer any questions that you all may have um going forward.
>> Good morning everyone. >> Good morning. >> Um as Beth said um my firm is teaming up with Kimley Horn for this US one congestion management study. Um also as she mentioned the area is like a phase two from the first project which was
from Joan Jefferson north to the county line. This phase will go from southwest Joan Jefferson to the St. Lucy County line. And uh you may ask why are we doing this? >> Why are we doing this?
>> Current conditions on US1 are constrained. Um you probably experienced it, but widening the road is not a feasible option. So we want to put in different strategies um to address this congestion.
And as we h saw in the f phase one project, um there's not a lot of options that run parallel to US1 and there's not a lot of connections. So one of the challenges and one of the reasons why it's congested is because the road the uh cars have to get on and off the road
to get down US1 to other uses because they're not connected. So it puts more uh cars on the road. And how are we doing it? We're collecting data such as and just like the first project, travel time data, speed of the vehicles. Uh we're looking for transit routes and how
we can make those more efficient and uh how we can make it safer for bicyclists and pedestrians because right now it's not very a safe place. Um and we also um had a BPAC meeting. We're going to coordinate this with the city of Stewart because there is a portion of the
project in the city of Stewart. They currently have a program where they're trying to uh get additional right ofway to make the sidewalk sidewalks wider. Um we're also going to collect data and my portion of the project is to actually
talk to the users along US1. Um we're going to have an open house. Um we're going to look to our advisory committees for answers. Uh we're going to do a survey that you can get from the NO website. We'll collect comment cards and we'll also have a project web page on
the NO website. Um, after we analyze all the data, we're going to develop some strategies. Some of them will be capital projects such as striping and protected bike lanes. Some of these options will be operational where we work on signal
timing of the traffic lights. um look at ways to encourage people to have more flexible hours so there's not so many cars on the roadway during rush hour. And then one of the strategies that we used in phase one will be explored which is uh the flashing yellow turn arrow if
we're a left-hand turn so that if if the traffic is clear you can make a left even it doesn't stop you if you know what I mean. And that's all I have to say about that, but we I'm here for answering questions. >> Questions?
I have a question about the flashing yellow uh arrow on US1. That sounds like a terrible idea to me. Really unsafe. >> I think that I think that a congested intersections, those permissive arrows are dangerous.
>> They can be challenging. Yes. >> Yeah. >> Anybody else? That's just one strategy though obviously. >> Nicely done. >> Thank you. >> Is this a approval >> Mr. Reed? >> Yes. Thank you, Bonnie. Uh what was the
total for the congestion management study? Is was there >> for this particular >> for this particular one? >> I think it's around 55,000. >> Is that what we're authorizing in Yes. this agenda packet? >> And that covers both the outreach that for my firm and the engineering portion for Kimley Horn. And when you do your
portion, this is strictly from like infrastructure. Does it correlate with the development side like with the port of county commission on like projects being approved or density? Is there any correlation at all or is this strictly infrastructure and roads?
>> Strategies that could get funded by FOT since US1 is a federally funded roadway, >> right? >> There were some projects that they, you know, the capital projects could be funded through the TIP. It would have to be consistent with what the city and the um Martin County board have have
approved. It's not going it's it's strategies on how to um improve the safety and the mobility along US1. It's it's not that >> congestion right along US1. I guess >> looking at key intersections where the challenges are and then putting forth some projects too.
>> Is there any correlation if we worked with St. Lucy County Mo? Because the argument I always see is that it's St. Lucy County that's affecting our traffic. So if there was some sort of correlation or you know working with them through a congestion management study. I don't know if that's possible
to >> in the northern segment we did they were aware of ours and they they listened to our board meetings and we did the same. They they they um they did a US1 um um they did a study up there. They actually um said that more cars were coming into
St. Lucy than St. more than St. Lucy cars coming into Martin. So, um our study that based on the data did not um was not um consistent with that. It had more cars coming from St. Lucy County into Martin County. >> Yeah. In this portion since it's in the
city, we'll do more coordination with the city of Stewart and in that northern >> it's south of the bridge. It's Joan Jefferson south to just south of Cove Road. >> Yeah. And there is a project uh from uh Joan Jefferson to Colorado that they're currently trying to get a voluntary ride
ofway so they can make that sidewalk wider. Um again, it's it's to make people feel safe if they are using an alternative >> mode of transportation and then it takes cars off the road. >> Yeah. All right. That's all the questions I have. I think I went to one where you did at um Flaggler, I think,
and that was probably one of the top ones. People not feeling safe going down US1. >> Yeah. >> All right. So, this will take care of that portion of US1. >> All right, that's all I have. >> Mhm. >> Further questions? >> Is there a motion to approve the scope of services for this congestion
management study? >> I make a motion. >> I'll second. >> There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I opposed. That motion passes unanimously. Thank you. >> I was a no on that one. >> It was a no. >> Oh, I'm sorry. The motion didn't pass
unanimously. Uh, Commissioner Reid voted no. Uh, next we'll take up safe routes to schools. Um, yes, this is um about a grant application that was submitted um from the county for the it was a safe routes to school grant application. It
is um federally it's a federal grant and it's a discretionary grant and I wanted to give you some background on that. And um I also there's a representative from the school district here. So, I wanted because um um it's this grant was um um
prepared in um collaboration with both the county and the school district. I wanted them to be here to talk a little bit about, you know, the the what went in the application. Um the board of county commissioners actually approved this application back in December and
then it c because it's federal money, it came to the no board in February. At the last NO board meeting on April 20th, Commissioner Reid asked for there to be um a request for a vote recision on this grant application in February. It was
approved and submitted to FDOT and FDOT the district reviewed it and um um um analyzed it and approved it. So they elevated it to central office. It's in Tallahassee now. Um, so, um, I w but because it was a collaboration between
the county and the school district, I wanted um the leadership from the school district to to kind of give you a little background. And after that, I'd like to turn it over to Sebastian Paparovski. I'm sorry I didn't pronounce your name right. Um, if you can kind of talk about the process of what happens with a
request for a vote recision. >> So, um, with that, I'll I'll turn it over to you. >> Good morning, Madam Chair, board members. Frank Frangela, chief of safety and security for the Marin County School District. So for us, it affects about 45 students. Um five that actually walk to
school, they would be going to Jensen Beach Elementary School, 30, a little bit under 30 that would be walking to the bus stop for middle school, and the rest would be walking to a bus stop for high school. So for us, for the safety of the kids, we're all for it.
>> Okay, questions for the school board. Is that their top guy? >> Commissioner Caps, you have a question? >> I'm good. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Thank you. >> I have a question. >> M Comm Commissioner Reed, sorry. I'm sorry. >> Sorry, Frank.
>> Thanks for everything you do, by the way. Now, was that data pulled, I guess, from the school district based off of students registered in that neighborhood? >> Yes, correct. >> Timberwick. Correct. Um cuz the reason I brought the the recision forward was cuz there was 26 or 27 petitions from people
that were directly affected that didn't want it in that neighborhood. Um and I had asked at the prior meeting um if there was feed like specific feedback like were you contacted via email? Were there phone calls where there were residents like hey we need these
sidewalks so we feel safe walking to JBE? >> Unfortunately not that I know of. um I could find out from my district if anyone else had gotten any feedback and I could get it back to you guys. >> That was the whole purpose of >> sure the public of the um the public involvement for this item was actually
done by um in conjunction with the school board but with the capital projects division for the county but they're not here right now. I thought they would come down here. So hopefully they're watching this and they will come down here to give you some information about the um about the um um public
involvement that was done in the development of that application. >> Okay. >> In fact, thank you Baker and um >> Sure. >> Jamie and Katherine. >> So do we want to turn it over at the
moment to Mr. Paproski? >> Thank you, Commissioner. And um it this vote goes much like any other vote. Um there's an introduction, there's a discussion, there's a a motion has to be made uh to resend it. Uh it could be
made by anybody on the commission uh at this point because it was noticed uh at last meeting. There has to be a second and there has to be a vote on it. So it's it's quite simple like any other vote that you all take. And is the vote just to reconsider the motion or is it
>> it's to resend the entire vote on the on the so as if it did not occur. >> Okay. I'm sorry. I just I wanted to include this in my um introduction that this um I did inform the um advisory committees, the citizens advisory committee, the bicycle pedestrian
advisory committee and the technical advisory committee that always meet before this board meeting. And um both the citizens advisory committee and the bicycle pedestrian advisory committee actually passed motions um to um support
continue to support the submitt of this application application by the county. We act the BPAC the bicycle pedestrian advisory committee actually um made another motion to appoint one of their members Bonnie Moser to come and speak on their behalf at this meeting. So, she
is here um today. If you would like to um >> would you like to to uh address us? Please come up. >> Um good morning everyone. Bonnie Moser from the bicycle and pedestrian committee. Um I'm just here on behalf of
of our committee um to um show continued support for um for this sidewalk project. Um, a few things that were mentioned during our meeting were that, um, you know, this was something that was already advocated for. Um, and it
would be such a shame if we had advocated for this safety improvement and then rescended it and um, risked a child coming into harm's way because of of of taking it back. Um I understand that maybe
can I can I just say personally what I do or >> you sure I'm a designer. I actually work in uh multimmodal transportation and I have done dozens of road safety audits for the safe routes to schools program in the state of Georgia. I'm pretty
familiar with the program and and what the goals of it are. Um so I'm a big fan. You don't need sidewalks everywhere, but you want to make sure that our kids can get safely to school on sidewalks. Um, especially these days with folks having phones in their hands while they're driving and
people speeding and our cars are getting bigger than ever, which puts children specifically at an increased risk if they are hit by a vehicle because they are, you know, cars are up here and they're down there and so, um, the injuries now are much more fatal than they used to be. Um, from my
understanding, the project's going within the public ride ofway. Um, so we're not taking any property from folks. Is that correct? >> That's correct. >> Okay. Um, and so yeah, just here's an advocate for this the sidewalk and making sure that our kids can get to
school without conflict of vehicular traffic. >> Thank you, >> Commissioner Vargas. >> Yes. Uh, this is my district area. So, um, my understanding is that there were a number of people that were opposed to the sidewalks being installed in this
area. I did tour. It's very narrow. So, how how would that be? It be a one way. You a car would have to stop, let another car go through. So, this is this is why it would have been helpful to have capital projects here and and hopefully someone from there is on their
way down. There is um it is in the county rightway. This is to provide this is to it's it's narrow but I mean the there's there's enough room there's enough rideway so cars it's a two-lane road it's in a neighborhood it's a two-lane road this is county rideofway
that is on either side of the roadway and on one side that's where the sidewalk will be >> so I I don't I'm not sure I understand your question >> okay but but the sidewalk would be built because it
looked like it was a continuation of the property owner. >> It's a it's a sidewalk connection along Rose Tree and Lake Drive that connects to the sidewalk on Savannah Road so kids can go walk to school. Um I know you I know the board of county commissioners um had a um it was a consent item on
your meeting um back in December um and you all um approved it. So um I I um >> is good. >> Hi. >> Morning Mr. Baker. Hey, good morning. I'm Keith Baker. I'm the capital project administrator.
>> Okay. Yes. They um I they the qu there were kind of two questions. Um Commissioner Reid had asked about um the public involvement that went into the preparation of this grant application that you all prepared in collaboration with the school district. So did so he
would is interested in finding out about the public involvement component of the grant development of the grant application. And then after that, Commissioner Vargas, if you could repeat your question for Eth Baker, that would be helpful, but if you can, the first question was about public involvement. >> Okay. So, we we have a like a required
public involvement meeting that we had. And then in addition to that, we had over the years request for um excuse me, for um sidewalk and um maybe speed bumps and things of that nature for people.
requesting just for like safety for pedestrians and we could we could provide that for um any of the written requests over the years that have been received for those things >> specifically in this neighborhood. >> Yeah, specifically for this street.
>> All right. So, I had a question because it's my district and I did tour the area. >> Um and my question is it appeared to be as if it's a continuation. you say the right of way
uh of the property owner. So, is there enough room for cars to pass in either direction there? It's very narrow those those streets. >> Um is the question is is there enough room for a sidewalk?
>> No, no, no. In other words, the property owner grass goes to the road. So, you're saying there's public right of way that the county will take. How wide will the sidewalk be? >> Uh, it's existing right of way. The
sidewalk's proposed to be 6 foot wide. And then, um, I'm going off memory, but I think on average it's like about like between 12 and 15t of county rightway between the edge of pavement and the existing ride ofway line. So that leaves
room for um >> um a swale in between there at there's like one narrow point I believe where it's kind of at the S-curve. >> Yes. >> Where the sidewalk would be um approximately 5 foot from the edge of pavement. That that's at the like most
um constrained point. Um that that's kind of what the existing ride of way um is like along that road, >> right? But the cars will be able to go in opposite directions without one having to stop and let the other go through. >> Yes. >> Safely.
>> Yes. I believe the existing roadway width is about 18 ft wide. Um so the two cars could pass. >> Mhm. >> Commissioner Caps, >> I'm definitely in favor of keeping this
or installing this sidewalk in this neighborhood. We're talking about child safety here and the schools have made it clear that they feel that it's needed. The citizens advisory committee of the
no and the bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee of the no both unanimously recommended it. Also, it was brought out in our last meeting or our prior discussion about
this that this grant is really competitive. We are very fortunate to be getting this grant for this sidewalk. Uh that also needs to be emphasized as well. So,
uh I'll I'll definitely not be voting to resend this. >> Commissioner Mayfield. >> Yes. Thank you. Um besides the fact that I am supportive of uh sidewalks when possible and especially for safety, um
you know, this is a this was voted on by the county and I look at my role here personally on the MO and if there unless there's some glaring reason to not I uh respect what the county approves um and so I would think that some in my opinion just my opinion I understand the reason
for bringing it back but I think that should be addressed at the county first. If they don't approve of this project, then take it to their level. But as far as my level here, I uh I would I think it's a good idea. >> Commissioner Reid. >> Yeah. I just wanted to state my reasons
for bringing it forward wasn't that I'm against child safety by any means. I respect what Bonnie Moser does, what Bonnie Landry does. Um it's that there were 26 residents that it directly affects that they just don't want the
sidewalk. And my other issue was I've seen sidewalk projects approved in the county where residents then block the sidewalk because they don't have enough driveway anymore for their boat, their vehicles, and then they have code enforcement. Uh Martin County is here
and city of Stewart, they'll write traffic citations. So those are my reasons. Um and I I feel good about giving the residents in that neighborhood what they've asked me to do. um they believe in child safety improvements as well. They just didn't
feel it was necessary in their neighborhood and that was the reason why I brought it forward. So that's all I have to say. I I also strongly support this uh this sidewalk grant and and also um
the Martin County doesn't uh run its meetings according to Robert's rules. We have our own policies and procedures and we have a a policy for uh uh recisions and those are and and and I
think they're far superior and more more predictable than Robert's rules. It seems like Robert's rules you could reach back two years and resend a vote perhaps for political reasons. And I don't find that uh
well I I I I think that our rules of procedure for our in our in the county any person voting in the majority can reconsider make a motion to reconsider their vote on the same day as the vote was taken or at the very last the the
next meeting. uh or if the meeting goes two days commissioner then you can make it on the second day but it has to be during that session >> and you have to vote in the majority >> correct. >> So that is so much more clear to me. I think I think you know this is this is
not the place to I think that we need to make that change to our rules. You know, I've I'm perfectly okay with following Robert's rules, but the votes but the the uh reconsideration votes are so much better uh from my perspective, so much
more predictable uh in the county's rules and procedures >> and that would be on the prevailing side that could make a reconsideration. So, I wouldn't even >> That's the only way. You can't vote uh in the minority. So, I wouldn't even be able to make a reconsideration motion at
this meeting or the last meeting. That's correct. >> It'd have to be on the prevailing side. So, I didn't really have a choice. >> But, I get where you're coming from, chair. >> It's It just seems erratic to me. It seems like you can pull back a vote from three years ago so that you for political purposes so that you can clear
your record. And I think that's undesirable. So, just to clarify, would you like me to make do would do do are you directing or I guess that's a question for the board or you is that the direction for the staff to have an
agenda on the next board meeting to um >> that would be my preference. Yes. >> Okay. Like and any commissioner can propose an agenda item. You know, >> Commissioner Campy, >> do you want a proposed agenda item or do you want a motion for that? I think it'd
be helpful to have to direct staff to have an agenda item at the next board meeting to discuss. >> That's sufficient. >> I'm sorry. >> That that's sufficient to have to have. Okay. >> To read. >> Yes. I had a question for legal. So,
could you >> either way? >> Okay. >> You could not allow motions for rescending during a board meeting. You could pick and choose what Robert's rules of orders that you wanted to follow. How does that work? From >> uh the county uses a very for the
majority of our boards, the county uses its its its policy, which is um a more relaxed version of Robert's rules. >> Um I don't have it memorized uh exactly, but Robert's rules does allow a recision
to go forward so long as no action has been taken forward to move that whatever was previously voted on forward. um if nothing was taken then you can feasibly do it for something that occurred 10 years ago. Uh the county's policy does not allow that to to occur.
>> So we we Robert's rules are used in the minority of boards in this county, but mostly it's it's the county policy uh as BOCC uh meetings are are held. I I I don't understand why some are one way or the other, but that's the way uh we've we've
come here. So it would we would require an amendment to the bylaws of the no uh bylaws. >> I don't see any action occurring. So we'll we'll move on. >> Well, >> okay. But you have to make a motion. >> The attorney said that you making the
recommendation was good enough to have it as an agenda. And if the next agenda >> Okay. So you don't need a motion. >> I I would a motion would probably be better. I'd make a motion that it uh we request Miss Beltran to review and bring forward an agenda item discussing the
county's policy on reconsideration and recision uh and how it and uh based on the no's uh bylaws to create a more uniformed version of that. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. All those
in favor? I opposed. That motion passes unanimously. >> I was said no. >> I was a no. I don't think we should be changing the rules. >> I was listening. It's hard to hear you. >> Commissioner Reid dissented. Can we move on then to F?
>> Okay. Is there any other motion for that item? >> Yeah, we haven't resolved E, have we? >> I thought there was just no nothing happened. Took a vote. Well, a mo a motion was never made on >> Yeah, I never made a motion because the board obviously doesn't feel the same, you know, reasons that I brought it
forward. So, I didn't see the point in bringing a motion. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> So, if we we don't have a motion, then we can move on. Let's move. >> So, we'll move on to the to E I mean to F, which is the ebike presentation. >> Um yes. So, um a lot has been a lot of
conversation has been going on with ebikes. Um the um we were asked the MO board was asked to have their bicycle pedestrian advisory committee have a special meeting to discuss kind of what's going on with ebikes at that time back in February when they had the
special meeting. The legislature was in session and um they were having a conversation on um regulations on ebikes and micromobility. And um the um the sheriff's office came um the Jupiter Island rep from Jupiter Island came.
Jupiter Island is actually the only um um local government in Martin County that has already passed a local ordinance regulating ebikes and I think that was done like back in December, early January around that time. Um but they had a lot of good conversation and
then the re recommendations from the special BPAC meeting came to the joint advisory committee. So all the advisory committees could talk about it, the technical advisory committee, the citizens advisory committee as well as the BPAC. um when I brought when this was originally um an agenda item for the
February 23rd meeting, but at that time the legislature was still in session discussing kind of what they wanted to do. So, the board asked us to table this item and um since that time we have reached out to the sheriff's office, the school board, the Jupiter Island, and as
well as the Steuart PD who have all been um kind of um um taking action and and having u making decisions on how to handle ebikes because there's just a lot of them out there on the roads and there's not a lot of regulation. So,
what I'd like to do, um, Bolivar Gomez, the senior planner for the NO, he's going to give a presentation to update you all on what the legislative legislature decided and then what the conversation was at the advisory committee level. And then after that, I would like each of the stakeholders that
I mentioned, the sheriff's office, I mean, we have representatives here from all of them, the sheriff's office, the school board, um, Jupiter Island, and then Steuart PD to kind of stand up if that's okay and kind of update you all on what they've been doing as far as regulating ebikes. So, with that, I'll
turn it over to you, Boulevard to presentation. >> Before you start, Commissioner Campy has a question or comment. >> I just wanted to clarify. I see you have the photograph here and we're using the word ebikes. But I hope that the conversation would also include scooters, electric scooters, and also
motorcycles, little mini >> because I don't know about everywhere else, but in Palm City, we're having just as many scooters >> and actual gas powered motorcycles, >> miniature, you know, like little miniikes or whatever or bigger. But it's not exclusively ebikes. It's all of the
above. >> It's on here. It's micromobility devices. Right. But I watched yesterday our fine deputies stop someone on Martin Highway and bury two kids on probably an 80cc motorcycle. Uh, one helmet, two
kids, teenagers, young teenagers, and luckily our deputies caught them before they raced into traffic or whatever, but way faster than an ebike. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> All right. Well, good morning everyone. As mentioned, Boulevard Gomez for the record. Um, as Beth mentioned, the
purpose of this item is to give you all an update regarding uh recent actions that have occurred on the legislative uh session as well as provide you all recommendations from the bicycle pedestrian advisory committee as well. So, very general, what are ebikes?
Electric bikes or also known as ebikes are essentially bicycles that are equipped with an electric motor and a rechargeable battery. They provide power assistance to the rider uh which ultimately reduces pedaling effort for the user. There are three distinct classes of
ebikes which I will go over with you all. The the first class is class one ebikes which can reach a maximum speed of 20 mph and also offer pedal assistance to the user that's that's operating the ebike. Uh, class 2 ebikes
um also reach a maximum speed of 20 miles per hour. Um, they also offer pedal assistance. And what's what separates them from class one ebikes is that class 2 ebikes um also provide a throttle assistance to the user. And what that really just means is that the
um the motor gets power um for the ebike. So if you're at a stop sign or stop light, then that the user basically gets like a nice uh uh power to to kick the the ebike in into motion. And then also class 3 ebikes uh is the
last uh class of ebikes class 3 which reaches a maximum speed of 28 miles per hour. And this one also provides pedal assistance to the user. So uh it's not to be confused with e- motorcycles or e-otos. Uh, e-os e-motos
differ from ebikes in that e-motos are essentially intended for use on public streets and are subject to federal motor vehicle safety standards. They are fully motorized uh pedalless and are more highowered and faster than ebikes with some e-os reaching a maximum speed of 65
mph. They also require that the user uh have a license registration and for the e-moto be uh insured as well. So the the term microobility gets uh associated very closely with ebikes. Um however the US Department of
Transportation they actually define a microobility device as a small lightweight low-speed vehicle which is typically designed for short distance travel. And there are several different examples of uh microobility devices such
as bikes, ebikes, ecooters, escapeboards, and other emerging new devices. Okay. So, what are other municipalities doing? Um, as I'm sure you all are aware and Beth alluded to, the the the topic of ebikes has been a growing discussion
for a number of years now. um in particular with how the youth are utilizing them in the different uh municipalities. Um this here is an example of a recent municip municipality that took um action to address the topic of uh ebikes. Um this is the the u
ordinance from the city of Arrow Beach which um to really to provide you a summary. The the city of Arrow Beach prohibits anyone under the age of 16 years old from riding a class 3 electric ebike on public roads, bicycle paths,
and shared roadway/pathways. Uh in addition, anyone that is 16 years or older and operating an ebike is required to operate the ebike in the bicycle lane if a bicycle lane is available and with the flow of traffic. So the the ordinance also speaks to
allowing adults that are operating an electric bicycle. the the ability to operate the electric bicycle on the sidewalk um is allowed for a for an adult if they are accompanying a child under the age of 16 years old in order to not separate them from the child.
Also, the ordinance speaks to ebikes coming to a stop upon approaching a school bus which uh displays a stop signal. And finally, the ordinance requires all bicycles and electric bicycles to yield the rideway to pedestrians when they are on a shared pathway that is not located
adjacent to a roadway, such as those that can be found in parks and recreation areas. Uh this here's another example of a local municipality here in Martin County that is addressing ebikes. This is the town of Jupiter Island ordinance number 414.
And under this ordinance, it defines what an electric ebike is as well as sets the minimum age requirement as 16 years old in order to operate uh an ebike on any public street, sidewalk, park, path, or other rideway within the
town. It also requires any operator of ebikes to carry a valid governmentissued ID while operating the device and also presenting this ID to uh any law enforcement officer upon request. So the town of Jupiter Islands ordinance
also requires that a functional lamp be on the front of every ebicycle that is in use between sunset and sunrise. All right. So, moving forward. So, um as mentioned previously, during a special meeting of the bicycle pedestrian advisory committee, which was held back
on February 2nd, 2026, the the BPAC actually came up with several microobility device recommendations, which can be found here on your screen, and I will go ahead and go over those with you as well. Um the first recommendation is for Martin County to adopt a threeclass system with age
limits. Class one ebike users would be 11 years and older. Class 2 and three ebike users would be 16 years and over. And also any ebike that doesn't fall under the current classification system would be deemed illegal.
Also, the BPAC recommends placing an age restriction on passengers of ebikes as nothing currently prohibits uh a minor for riding as a passenger on an ebike. uh helmet requirements. A recommendation from the BPC is to require anyone under the age of 18 to wear a helmet on all
bicycles, ebikes, and scooters. Also, placing speed limits on ebikes is another recommendation. um specifically the speed limit of 12 miles per hour while operating on a sidewalk, 15 miles per hour if operating on a 10-ft shared use path, and riders on shared pathways
shall yield to pedestrians and provide an audible signal before passing. Uh in addition, the BPAC also recommends that all wheels on ebikes must have contact with the ground at all times. Uh light require lights required for daytime and nighttime use is also
another recommendation. And additionally, uh, signage and education is the last recommendation. All right. So, following the special EPAC meeting, um, Senate Bill 382 was actually passed as part of the recent legislative session. And what this bill did was it created a micromobility uh,
task force that is tasked with submitting a report on legislative recommendations to both the governor and legislature by October 1, 2026. The the bill also updates reporting requirements for both uh Florida Highway Patrol as well as local law enforcement
agencies who must uh now produce crash reports involving microobility devices and also maintain relevant statistics as required by the state. And finally, the bill also updates penalties for the op operation of ebikes, specifically prohibiting the
operation of ebikes at speeds greater than 10 miles per hour on sidewalks when a pedestrian is within 50 ft. And failure to comply is a non-criminal traffic infraction which is uh punishable as a non-moving violation.
>> So with that, happy to answer any questions. Um, as Beth mentioned, we do also have representatives here from the uh, >> yeah, the um, the sheriff's department. Like I said, we have representatives from the sheriff, the school board, Jupiter Island um, police department, as well as the Steuart Police Department. So, I would ask you in that order if
y'all could come up and kind of give a brief um um um kind of a um brief overview of what your agency has been doing. And so, first up is Lieutenant Rosco from the Martin County Sheriff's Department. >> Good morning, everybody. >> Good morning. >> Morning. Um, actually I would like to
step back to the your emoto uh page on that one. Sure. >> That one there. So um emot I know you have it on public streets that that they're intended for use. Uh these typically are sold for private use only on private property not for public
streets. Um typically cuz as designed by the manufacturer the neck cannot be legally registered. Therefore they can't be operated on the roadway. So I just want to make sure that cleared that up on that side. Um so the sheriff's office though we receive numerous complaints on a daily basis as far as ebikes are
concerned. Uh the biggest issue that we have is going to be these emotives that you're looking at picture of it here but um ebikes in general. So it's going to always fall back onto uh the juvenile side of it is is not always but a vast majority of the time it's for the juveniles that we're having issues with.
So it's when uh immediately upon school being released or on the weekends is when we're receiving the bulk of our calls for service as far as relating to juveniles. whether it's for egregious behavior, uh driving in and out of uh traffic. Uh we actually recently just executed a warrant on a juvenile that
was posting on Instagram for riding wheelies down Map Road. Um and actually got a reckless driving and a stunt driving uh warrant filed for him and he was arrested for that. Um but this is something that on a regular basis that we are dealing with. Um it does result
in a lot of manpower going towards this. Uh the Martin County Sheriff's Office is a a big advocate right now of what the town of Jupiter Island has done as far as their ordinances are to help curb this. Um again, as I said, it's typically going to be our juveniles that we're having these issues with. Um in my
understanding of it, it's once it's adults, we have incidents with them, but typically it's going to be a violation of rightway. A car hits them, something along those lines. It's not typically going to be uh anything as far as adults going out there and having these kinds of behaviors that we're trying to curb. Um Martin County Sheriff's Office. Also,
we've devoted manpower typically on the weekends because that's again one of the big times that we have issues with ebikes. Um as far as uh using drone footage to go out there trying to catch these kids out in the middle of the roadway, follow them because a lot of times when we go to stop them, they're on an ebike. They can be in the middle of the roadway, be on the sidewalk, hit
the woods, take off going, and there's nowhere for us to go at at that point. Um but I believe we ended up towing six emotos over that uh course of that weekend that we had for the bikes that were out there. uh for various violations. Um during school times, we are out there doing school zone
enforcement. Um in that same time, the deputies are stopping out with uh kids that are out there that are, you know, no helmets, anything like that. Just, hey, just you need to get a helmet on. Um typically when we are making contact with these kids, because they are juveniles, we are also notifying parents too, um of this behavior. Let them know
this is not acceptable. Um I don't if you guys seen too, we have numerous sign boards posted around the county. Uh we try it's it's a lot of information as you guys have seen that's on on these presentations of what is considered a legal ebike. Um so the sign boards are kind of limited as far as what we can
actually put out there to make it so one it's legible on the sign itself and two as people are driving by they actually can see all the information not have to stop in the middle of the roadway to try to read everything. Um, so it's a little bit difficult to do it on that end, but um, and then as well as social media, we've done numerous posts as well to try
to bring awareness to uh, parents and anything along those lines that we can do to try to curb these behaviors. >> Questions? Did you say that you were advocates of Jupiter Islands ordinance? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Excellent. Because it looks to me like it's the it's the best one that we
reviewed. And I did see the one the the Vero Beach one too which it is still a step in a direction that gets us somewhere too. And I know that looking at that one I talking about how the adults can ride on the curb or on the sidewalk with you. That was something I know the FSA did propose in this last legislative uh uh
session. Um but again we we are very big advocates of Jupiter Island and what they've proposed and have done so far. >> Me too. Commissioner Caps. You know, I recently saw a social media post where
there is a legal case in California >> where a parent >> is being charged with involuntarily involuntary manslaughter. >> Uh an 80-year-old man was clipped from the back
from an ebike. Uh the driver of the ebike was like 12 years old and the parent was warned about the dangers and chose to give the ebike to the kid anyway
>> and she's being prosecuted. So that could be something that starts happening in various states around the country. I was curious about enforcement issues like say you round up some ebikes >> tow them I guess is what it's called.
>> Yes sir. >> Um what happens next with the ebike after it's >> confiscated. >> So the ebike at that point it goes to the toward. They have to show proof of ownership for that ebike in order to get it because one of the issues we have is these ebikes uh like I said especially
these well so the ebicles long as it's a legal ebicycle that's not getting towed. If it's one of these Emotos that's again, like I said, it's sold for off-road use only is is that I don't think I've ever seen one that said public use or for roadway use, but um if it's sold for off-road use only, we
don't have any way to verify who the actual owner of those vehicles are because they're not registered. They don't have any certificate of title. So, it's at that point it becomes on the owner of that bike or who the claimed owner of that bike to show proof of ownership in order to claim that mo uh that motorcycle. So the parent can just
go over and retrieve >> they would have to pay a fee to the tow company though to get that bike back as well. >> Has anyone considered any type of uh uh tickets or or to parents or or um where they have to pay something? So
right now statutoily short of there being again in that case you talked about in California where somebody is injured to my knowledge there's nothing really that we can do to charge a parent for allowing them to do it um unless it's something that it's a document. So that California one I believe I I've read that too and I want to say that
they actually talked to the parents and said hey this is something this is an ongoing behavior you need to knock this off and still the parent allowed the child to do what they did. Um, at that point I I mean anything that you would be looking at would be a criminal violation for the parent. There wouldn't be any civil infractions or anything that associated with it, but that could
be potentially something as an ordinance that we do to make it because they don't necessarily want to go arresting parents because they, you know, let their 13-year-old go out there riding an ebike. But I do believe that there needs to be something more so that falls back onto the parent. Like I I think something that could really send a message would be, you know, if you had
to pay $200 or $300 or $400 to get your ebike back, >> you know, >> and that's the case with these tow companies that when they do get towed because the the classification for it, I believe it's $150 for hookup and then they have to pay to get them out of the toward itself after they can show proof of ownership.
>> So it is it is getting them fined on the back end of it. But again, uh it's we don't have any way to civily charge the parents with anything. So all the charges that we typically are getting at this point um it's for a violation of 261.11 which is off highway vehicles um
being operated in a roadway or for uh Florida statute 316195 which is operation of a motor vehicle on a sidewalk which again these these emotives would fall into those classifications. But when those citations are being issued they're only being issued to the actual operator of the motorcycle or the ebike which again
in this case could be an 11-year-old. So the the the entity or the person that picks up the ebikes off the streets and the sidewalks and stuff, are those tow companies or correct? >> They are the tow companies. >> Tow companies. >> Could we have an ordinance that says
that tow companies are allowed to charge a particular fee for the retrieval of the ebike just like they would charge, you know, like for picking up cars and stuff. You don't get your car back unless you give us a check, you
know. And could could that be done where we >> Well, I mean, >> we empower the tow companies to charge a fee. >> I mean, they are already charging a fee. They're they're not getting the easy bikes back for free once they get Yeah. Yeah. the company, they have it's a
hookup fee is what it's referred to as. Um, and I know the the legal for the uh for the county actually, we we work on the contract every year for them as far as what they can and can't charge. Um, and based upon the classification of the record that shows us, this would be a class, what is that? A class A. I think it's their their lowest class. Um, it's
minimum, I think it's $150 hookup fee. So, their minimum is they're paying is $150 to get that bike back. >> Oh, okay. Well, that's >> So, there is something fairly substantial that that sends a message, I think. >> Yes, sir. >> Does Commissioner Campy, >> thank you very much. It's probably the
number one issue that I've been facing. Uh, it's all over social media, both sides. People furious that we're not doing enough. Uh and then people furious that uh we've stolen all the fund and it's just another scam to make money for the government.
>> Uh there was a lot of it this weekend. So obviously the more successful and effective you all are collectively, all Martin County law enforcement, >> then the folks that think this is terrible and it's just a money grab. But
it started several years ago with a group of young people in Palm City that were on regular bicycles um and doing wheelies down the center of Martin Highway and Map Road and Martin Downs, >> but they were bicycles. >> Mhm.
>> Uh then it switched over like in the last couple of years and it's just been gigantic. But again to my point that uh I watched a kid doing a wheelie on a scooter right down Martin Downs Boulevard and through yesterday so Mother's Day
traffic on Martin Downs Boulevard from map heading towards the turnpike you know and you know well ahead and every time my wife would tell you that I'm always like I need to be deputized because I guess everyone is seeing so much of it
>> but to Commissioner Cap's point and to what you had mentioned about taking the bikes and seizing them or whatever, but and not having necessarily criminal actions that can be taken against them. At the patio on Map Road, it's turf.
It's artificial turf. And what we had started to see is kids must be doing, you know, burning out, leaving a set to the point that they're melting the turf. It's happening all over it now. >> So that's vandalism. That's beyond just, hey, I'm driving around like a lunatic
on my bike. The other case was similar to the case in California before it happened in California. We had a gentleman walking his dog on in the patio there in the evening, not dark, but in the evening and was hit by
a kid on the bike, knocked him to the ground. Knocked the kid to the ground. He picks his bike up, gets back on, runs the dog over in his effort to escape. People call me and you and say what's happening. >> So there's a fine line between, hey, we
want kids to be kids. But this is not what I'm not I'm not I have no issue with ebikes, ecooters. It's that's not what we're talking about here. We're talking about kids absolutely breaking the rules. >> Three kids on an ebike, you know, a boy
on an ebike with a girl on an ebike and she's in a bathing suit. No one has shoes on. No one's got a helmet. Mhm. >> And you know, they are absolutely racing all over the road. They're silent. And I know I'm preaching to the choir, but for the people that might be listening, they're silent. So, if you're walking on
the sidewalk, you know, even with the rule that the BPAP said about 12 miles an hour on the sidewalk, you would not want to get hit >> by an electric bike, even with a 12year-old on it in the back, uh, when he's riding or she's riding because
there's just I think it's it's co-ed because there's just as many girls in all of the categories as it is boys. They're wearing full helmets, full facial helmets, not for safety to be unidentifiable.
So I think I it's not even a helmet issue because most of them are wearing like motocross full motocross helmets so that you and everyone else can't recognize them. >> I don't know what the answer is going to be. I thought the signage was helpful. I thought the crackdowns are helpful. I
had heard a suggestion that the school district was considering uh not allowing them to be used to go back and forth to school, but then you know every reaction has a you know >> reaction has every action has a an
opposite reaction. Thank you. Um the kids will park them and lock them up to street signs and fences off school property >> and I don't want that either. So, I mean, you definitely have your hands full. I mean, if we're talking about what do we do beyond it today, if if you
all like the Jupiter Island uh version, I like it. And, you know, it's not a matter of, you know, there'll be parents that will say, "Shame on us for doing all of this." But if you are legitimately riding your ebike, and I'm sure there's a lots of kids that are,
being respectful of the rules, not riding all over the sidewalk, not having 50 kids at the patio every night, uh, and just doing total free-for-all stuff, someone sadly uh will get killed and then it'll be our fault, your fault, and
our fault for why didn't we do anything sooner. Um, so I think it's it's I would say it's one of the top issues. I love the fact of the drone. I know you can't use the helicopter all the time for that level of resources for this, but when
people die, resources are resources. Uh, and then the tragic part will be, look, yes, someone who was acting inappropriate caused their death, >> but how about the person that hit them that it was just driving? You know,
they're super fast. They're pitch black. I'll give you an example. I'm pulling off a side street onto Map Road. I look right, there's no one coming, cars or or bicycles. I look left. So, because now I'm waiting to try to make the left. And just as I'm now able to go, here's a kid
not stopping, not waiting at the intersection. Either they don't know the rules of the road or don't care. >> I could have hit that kid and and would not necessarily It's always your fault if you hit a person, but what a tragedy for everyone. And the driver in most
cases, it wouldn't quote unquote be their fault. They're always wearing black. The bikes are black. They're silent and they're super fast. It's it's a a recipe for disaster. >> And that's one of the biggest issues with that I see with them being able to operate on a sidewalk. When you're
talking 28 miles per hour on a sidewalk, that's a lot of your your professional bicycle riders that that's what they go is those speeds and you say they're they're moving along very well, but they're in the roadway. Gives people a little bit more time versus on the sidewalk when they're entering intersections. Typically along sidewalks, what do you have? you have
shrubs, you have signs for businesses, everything else that's obscuring the vision of the driver for anybody that's on the sidewalk. Um, with a normal person, I I know I don't pedal my normal bicycle at 28 mph on a regular pedal bike. Um, I'm going to be going significantly slower and therefore
making it safer to operate on the sidewalk. But when you're coming 28 mph down the sidewalk, that's as you said, you you can look left, look right, and by the time you're looking left again, they're already right there in front of you and they weren't there in the first place. >> And they're children, so they don't get it. And with with the ordinance being at the 16y old as the town of Jupiter
Island has now not not every person at 16 gets their driver's license. However, they've gone through through some type of driver improvement school or or driver educational program. Um that they could at least be a much higher propensity for them to understand the traffic laws and what is required of them and what to be looking for. Um
therefore making it safer all the way around. The last point I would bring up is that someone had made a recommendation of sidewalk speed bumps. You know, in front of station 21 on Map Road, I've had suggestions from
firefighters asking if into the driveway bay of in front of their doors on the north and south side of that area having speed bumps on the sidewalk. you know, wide enough that a pedestrian
could walk over without tripping over them, >> but something to stop some of this crazy >> Well, thinking about it that way, too. Sidewalk speed bump when you're talking again, it's not our normal uh ebike riders that we're concerned about here. It's it's the ones that are
above and beyond and these emotives and everything else. Well, what's a speed bump on a sidewalk now? That it's a jump form. That's something else for them to entertain themselves, to to do whatever. That's if anything that that's more fun. So then all you're going to do is now you have any wheelchair accessibility, anything like that. Now you're requiring
these people to actually go >> that's what I'm just sharing what I've heard. >> Even if we started like when we do music in the park the you know there's children and seniors and everyone just going back and forth like from the food trucks back to the music and the kids are racing. So I have on occasion said
hey you know do it anywhere else except for right here while we have a couple hundred people on the sidewalk and you you know what the answer is. Uh, so what we've been doing is trying to create with barriers where you'd have to like zigzag through. It's easy enough for a
pedestrian to do it, but at least for the time being of an event, we're doing like they do when they're stopping cars from going into embassies and stuff or onto military bases where you have to sort of zigzag through. That has worked for us on a very temporary basis. And as
far as the other side to the speed limits on sidewalks, I know we had that posted on there that a 12 mph recommendation for the speed limit on a sidewalk. Um, just a on a practicality level of enforcing and doing something like that. It's >> it's it's a good in theory thought just
and practicality as far as doing enforcement, doing anything like that. It's not a practical thing to do. >> Thank you so much, >> Mr. Vargas. Almost forgot what I was going to say. It was long, but I did remember. I'm a safe driver.
And the thing is, my heart has been in my throat as I've made a turn. Oh my gosh, they come out of nowhere. Um, thankfully, I was able to stop in time. I have seen youngsters weaving in and out of traffic on bicycles and then they
would take off. It wasn't enough time to call the sheriff. Well, they went this way or that way. Then I found out because I received calls that they went into the mall and were terrorizing shoppers. So, you know, I'm on the lookout for that. The other thing I do want to say is I have seen the signage
on US1 and it has a whole description. I believe that is north of the Roosevelt >> just in the median. Yes, just on. So, I've seen that that's been flashing right there. So, thank you very much for that. Um, I rode one of those or similar to that when I was in Vietnam, but they're
accustomed to writing that. >> People cannot afford cars and youngsters and they have the kids one right after the other. I mean, you'd be a guest. When I was in France, I did an ebike because you had to get up into the small towns and you needed that push and
bicycle. But by law, French law, cars cannot get closer to bicyclists within 10 ft. We don't have that luxury here. And I really appreciate everything you're doing. This is just another layer for you to take care of. And I really do
appreciate it. We just don't want any fatalities, but we have to get a handle on and just tighten it up. and maybe something as Jupiter Island has proposed and implemented might be >> worth it looking into implementing putting in in force very very quickly. So, thank you.
>> That would be great. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Madam Chair. We do have the school board here. I'm sorry. We Is that okay if the school board? Okay. >> Good morning again, Madam Chair, board members. Frankel, chief of safety and
security for the Mar County School District. Uh for us it's a little different cuz from what you guys had mentioned during this meeting and all the requirements of an ebike it's tough for us to enforce. So we have a procedure in place already where any
personal transportation device you have to dismount off of it at the property line of the school and walk it on campus. When I was here last time, um there were board members that were entertaining banning them alto together. And I think uh what the vice chairman
said about the uh other issues with having kids then having to uh chain it on county property like a pole or a tree. So what staff is going to recommend is what we have in in procedure and that's any personal
transportation device be it if it's electronic gas powered manual they have to dismount when they get at the property line and walk it on campus and for us to enforce through through the code of conduct it's a lot easier. So if somebody's on the bike obviously they
would be violation of student code of conduct. It's going it's going to be impossible for us to try to figure out who's going what speed limit, who's 16, uh checking licenses. We're not an enforcement agency. So, I think it'll be tough for us. So, that's what we're
going to do. And we consulted with um with our local law enforcement community and um I can't speak for my board. That's just going to be the staff me recommendation the next time it comes up for policy. questions.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> The town of Jupiter Island. >> Jupiter Island. >> Morning. Captain Scully with Jupiter Island Public Safety. How you guys doing? Um, Lieutenant Rosco pretty much covered um everything that same issues that we were having which led to us to
have this uh this ordinance. The biggest one is those emoto bikes. we're having the young 14-year-olds coming on going down Bridge Road heading east towards the bridge popping wheelies and it just posed posed a big problem for us uh and within Jupiter Allen. So they came
together and wanted to to put in an ordinance and when we discussed these different ages the of the class ones two and three we we were looking similar to how do we classify that? We have it to 11 years old, class one. And the biggest issue that we we were determining is
that these ebikes, class one, two, and three, what what they do is they want to modify these ebikes. So they take them apart, they powder coat them, which takes off that manufacturer's label that says class one, two, or three. And they're really hard to distinguish the difference between those. So as you were
coming, you wouldn't know 11year-old what what class that is. They get that covered, they powder coat it, and oh yeah, it's a class one, but it's really not. It's a class three. So, we just thought the easiest thing to do is make it one age limit that covers all three of those classifications for the ebikes. And it's it's worked uh it's been very
successful for us. We did the same same campaign as the sheriff's office is doing right now. The the message boards, the luxury we have, we only have two roads coming in. We have Bridge Road and then we have Beach Road at County Line. And that was easy for us to put those signs up, those message boards to give everybody that notification. Um so,
that's worked very successful for us. Um the other issue we have with the mic micro mobility devices is everybody likes to come to the public beach. They're at Hopetown. They park their car there and they want to go down North Beach Road towards the wildlife refuge. It's a nice road, not much traffic. But
the issue becomes there's no sidewalks there. So you have pedestrians that are walking, jogging. Uh then you have bicyclists. Then you have these scooters that are going down there. Then you have construction vehicles and just post too much of an issue. uh too much traffic on
there um with all these pedestrians and electric devices. We had uh hoverboards uh electric uh um scooters then ebikes and that just be became too much of an issue with construction vehicles. So that's the main reason that they added the micro mobility devices is to ban
those anywhere on the island um throughout the uh whole town's jurisdiction. So that's currently where we're at right now. So far, we've had a a very good success with this uh this ordinance. Once we posted those uh signs out there and put out that campaign, we really haven't seen that uh that that
much of a an issue. >> Are you contemplating adding any more restrictions? And did you have some more restrictions before that you made a recommendation to the board about that you removed? >> Um no, there's no talk right now to have
uh more restrictions. I I know we've talked with uh local jurisdictions just to the south of us. Uh I and I know Jupiter is having the same issues that Martin County is having. Um and a thing that they're thinking about doing and this might be a consideration here for for Martin County is some sort of a uh
education online almost like a boers's license. So you're you're getting a a license and it it would be for ebike safety. So whether it's a online version, something where they have to take a test, they have to pay pay a fee and you get a card that says, you know, I'm certified in all the laws and safety
with operating an ebike. I know that was one proposal. I know the logistics of that might be challenging of how to coordinate all that, but that's just one thing that they were were thinking about uh just south of us. >> Mr. caps.
>> Could you give us a a bullet point version of the Jupiter Island ordinance? Say the top >> four to six distinctives of the ordinance. >> Uh no bikes allowed on the sidewalks. I know we don't have many sidewalks on on Jupiter. The main sidewalk that we have
is that coming off from from Bridge Road. So you're coming over the bridge heading east towards the uh the public beach. Uh we eliminated all um all bicycles on on the sidewalk. We're having the same issue that, you know, Lieutenant Rosco was talking about. Um, pedestrians going on there, these ebikes
or, you know, e-motos coming down that sidewalk and these e-motos go faster than 28 miles per hour. So, those things were going, you know, 55 and if they're modified, they're going all the way up to 70 something miles per hour, which is just not safe uh at all, especially on sidewalks when you have uh um people
walking and and trying to get their exercise on on the sidewalk. No micro mobility devices. So, the biggest thing with that is we've eliminated hoverboards, electric skateboards, um um electric uh scooters, any of those
things on any town roadway within within Jupiter Island because that issues we're having is just all of the traffic, narrow roadways, some places don't even have a sidewalk, so a pedestrian can't even get off uh of that roadway to get onto the sidewalk while these, you know,
uh micromobility devices are are going down this uh the roadway pretty pretty quickly. So, we eliminated that um completely from uh the town's uh uh limits. The uh lamps, that's pretty standard um with the lamps. And I know we were
having issues with with uh with bicycles and it was more like the the workers, our club workers were, you know, using those for transportation. A lot of them come from from out of out of state or out of country that work during season. They don't have driver's license, so they were using uh you know,
skateboards. um uh scooters or or bikes and they weren't properly equipped. So, we want to make sure that no matter what electric device you have um on a bicycle that it it is equipped with the right lighting because in Jupiter Island there's no there's no street lights, there's no street lamps, so it's very
dark there. And then you put that on top with not having any lights visible on your uh on your bike is uh wasn't a good um wasn't a good outcome. And that's uh that's pretty much the the highlights. >> Great. Thank you.
>> Thank you. And Steuart Police Department. >> Good morning. >> Morning. >> Lieutenant Brian Bosio, uh City of Stewart Police Department. Uh I would just like to echo uh again Lieutenant Rosco, my colleague from uh from Jupiter
Island. Uh the city of Stewart has seen issues with ebikes just like you have throughout the county, of course, at a smaller scale. Um, we've had a couple of crashes that have resulted in injuries with juveniles operating their ebikes recklessly. And um, I do like what I see
with this ordinance with Jupiter Island. Um, really I would support any thing that we could utilize to enforce ordinance or even Florida statute would be great. Um, but again, I would refer to my my mayor and I would really be um
happy to be a part of any discussions as far as the city of Stewart goes and to be a part of uh any process here as well with the county. Does anybody have any questions regarding the city of Stewart? >> Questions for Mr. Bosio? >> Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr.
>> Commissioners. As I recall, um the for the county, the county establishes tow rates. Mhm. >> So we have discretion. >> Good. >> So is that something we want to take up and review?
>> I think I think that we you know this is I think that hopefully some some commissioner uh county commissioner uh brings up this at our next uh I know that we last week we asked for a presentation. So >> have to have this presentation. >> So we're going to get a presentation
perhaps the same presentation. Um, and I would assume that at that time we will take up u the the uh question of whether or not we want to have an ordinance. >> Okay. So, we can bring that up at that meeting. Okay.
>> Excellent presentation. Miss Moser, would you like to speak to us? >> Just one moment. >> Thank Okay, sure. Let me know when you're good to go. Okay. >> All right. Thank you, Bonnie Moser. Um,
city of Stewart resident. Um, I don't know if I'll be able to get all this in in three minutes, but um, I first I want to say this, working in the transportation industry, specifically multimodal transportation. I have two children, two and seven years old. They
are not allowed on ebikes, e- scooters, e anything. They even know when they go on play dates to friends houses that have them that they're not allowed to ride them because I have seen the crash data. Um, saying that though, I since the moment this came to the BPAC,
I have had this huge concern that we're going to start banning bikes and ebikes and things from sidewalks and that is a huge mistake. I want to go through a couple of talking points. Um, that's a policy decision that is not being very
thoughtful of our existing and our proposed infrastructure when it comes to bicycles and ebikes. We don't have any here. I mean, we've got a couple of shared use paths. As far as I know, we have no protected bike lanes in the city of Stewart or in the county, sorry. Um,
and if we're going to say that children cannot ride their bicycles on sidewalks and we're going to put them out in the road, I'm I'm just going to think about where I live in the city of Stewart. Kids biking on MLK, kids biking on East Ocean Boulevard, kids biking on Palm
Beach Road. That's not a safe that's not a safe policy decision for our children. Um, if I have time, I'm going to talk to you about a couple of the reasons why with our Astro bike guide. But, um, I also want you to consider all the other
responsible ebike users in the county. I live on 10th Street. We have dozens and dozens of ebike users that come through a day. A handful of kids, but most of them are adults, and they're just using that little bit of extra push that the ebike gives them to get to the places
that they want to go. Um when we're talking about not having ebikes or bikes on sidewalks. Oh, that was so fast. 15 seconds. >> Okay. Uh because because those um you know, let's say it's 250 lbs worth of force could hit a pedestrian and harm
them. A car weighs 4,000 lbs. If that person was in the road and they got hit by a car, the chance that they would um be severely injured or killed is significantly higher than if one of those ebikes hit a pedestrian. I'm not for emot. I think that irresponsible writing definitely needs to be
addressed. I think these parents need to have severe punishment when these kids are out breaking the rules totally. But we cannot say that they can't be on the sidewalk like what's happening in Jupiter Island. My family will ride frequently from Hope Sound to Blowing Rocks Beach with our kids. and I'm
breaking the rule every time I'm putting my seven-year-old on that sidewalk because he is not um mature enough in his mind to be able to ride on the road safely. So, please consider that. Please do not say that bikes and ebikes cannot be on sidewalks because when we're
talking about little kids, that's where they need to be. >> Do we have any dedicated bike lanes? This might be a question for the sheriff. >> Yeah, we do. >> Sure. in Martin County. Statement was made. We don't have any here. >> Yeah. Protected bike are or like there
there's a um >> um Well, you're the you're the you would probably be able to answer that. She's the designer. >> If you want me to. >> Yeah. No, it's the a barrier like a concrete barrier between the road and the and the um >> I understand that. But I mean, yeah, we
we do have devoted bicycle lanes, but yeah. No, nothing that actually completely delineates regular vehicular traffic from bicycle traffic. >> Mhm. >> So, yeah, >> Mr. Campy, >> thank you. Uh, from my perspective, to be clear, I'm not opposed obviously to
bicycles, especially ridden by children from operating on the sidewalk. I don't think anybody has. That's how it's been forever. You know, even when we were kids, you didn't ride your bike in the street necessarily. You rode it on the sidewalk. And I'm only talking about
people that are breaking the obvious rules, even if it's not a legal rule. You, you know, not to be doing a wheelie down the sidewalk. You know, if the sidewalks got people walking their dogs or people are walking on the sidewalk and you're racing your ebike through the
pedestrians on the sidewalk, that's what I'm talking about. Literal bad behavior. If you are operating your ebike or scooter appropriately, no problem. If you're riding a regular bicycle and you're on the sidewalk and you're doing it like you're supposed to,
no problem. I'm talking about specifically going after, you know, the obvious bad behavior. Wheelies, racing, vandalizing, evading the police, uh threatening or scaring people that are
just out and about, that kind of stuff. not just the traditional uh appropriate use of these items. If you're riding a minibike or this emoto and you're not supposed to at all, totally different story. >> Commissioner Mayfield.
>> Yes. I just wanted to clarify kind of in the same vein. um that the Jupiter Island ordinance did it ban fully propelled I mean fully self-propelled bicycles from the sidewalk kind of to the point I know that they you guys do you guys
>> just to the um public speaker's comment because I too wouldn't don't think it's appropriate to ban any bicycle from the sidewalk I'm so >> we banned all bicycles >> all bicycles even fully self-propelled okay I think motorized >> there's a big difference to me between fully a regular tradition traditional
bicycle and anything that has ebike. I'm not very well verssed in this topic clearly. I'm not referring to them well, but anything that has the electric power. >> The issue we have also is that our sidewalks are very narrow. >> You guys are unique. Yeah. >> Right. So, I I could see, you know, the sidewalks big enough not to ban all
bicycles from from the sidewalk. I I I can see that that point. But for us, they would just >> just the only thing to do with the size of the uh sidewalks that we have. >> Oh, that makes sense for you guys. So Jupiter doesn't allow any bicycles on sidewalks. >> Jupiter Island. >> Jupiter Island. Even if you're pedaling.
>> Even pedaling. >> Wow. >> Okay. >> Mr. Caps, >> I kind of think that regular bicycles should be allowed on the sidewalks countywide. You know, I can understand the reasoning
on Jupiter Island, but but countywide, you gota probably not be quite that strict. But the problems with enforcement, you know, where they're powder coating powder coating the uh the labels off the
bikes and trying to think about class one, two, and three and remembering that even the class one goes 20 miles an hour, that's fast. You get you get clipped in the back >> by somebody going 20 miles an hour. Uh
that's that's serious. You know, you're going to get hurt really bad. Um, you know, I would probably be for something of more strict where we just don't allow class one, two, or three on sidewalks.
Uh, but regular bicycles uh are are okay. And I also think I don't know why in the world any parent would want their kid to have something motorized. There's so much child obesity and lack of exercise for children. You
know, if if my kids on some type of bicycle, I want them pedaling, you know, and burning off some calories, but that's that's uh >> that's you. >> That's me. All right. >> Thank you, grandpa. >> I agree with you, but it's you. >> Any further discussion? Excellent
presentation. Thank you all. We look forward to having the presentation before the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. >> Great. We will now take up our state road 710 update. >> Yes, we have Rob Lopez from the district office to give that presentation.
>> Oh, to give the update. >> Yeah. Do you upload? >> We have the >> Do you have Okay. >> Oh, the website. >> Yes. >> Okay. I can do it off the website. >> Yeah, sure.
Sorry. Uh yeah, hello everyone. Uh here just to give a quick update on uh State Road 710. Not uh too much has uh changed as of now. Probably the big change that you see on the map in front of you is you'll
see that one segment that used to be labeled uh -1 is now you see a segment five and six on the map in front of you right there. And uh as we've spoke about before, that was done to try to
identify a segment that can try to be advanced. We've to try to be advanced at an earlier date. And uh that right now is going to be that uh segment number six. Right now uh that five and six is still
both programmed for uh year uh 2031. But uh segment six is currently being gamed to uh to be let in uh fiscal year 29. So we're hoping to to move that
forward that's not uh official yet, but that's what's being gamed at this moment. Uh that's probably the the biggest update. You know, one other change maybe goes in line with recent discussion. As everyone knows, uh part of the project
was all not just to widen the road but also create a shared use path alongside the uh road for for things like uh micromobility that uh that is currently uh uh going to be as you know that two section that you
see in front of you is where we currently have uh FPL power lines, transmission lines alongside the road. So the shared use path in that section would uh at the moment would have to be uh kind of based on the approval of uh
Florida Power of FPL. So that is the one section a long section where there is a a good chance that the shared use path would be removed from the project if it is not approved by FPL.
uh the dash the what you see the -4 segment six and segment five encompasses more of the urban areas where the shard's path would remain in place but we are currently looking at eliminating not eliminating it but it would be solely based on FPL's discretion which
at the moment looks like they believe it's in conflict with their future expansion so it will most likely be eliminated from that segment too. Uh that is those are most of the updates that I have. I'm really just open up for
questions if anyone has any other questions. >> How are negotiations going with CSX and FPL? >> CSX has uh been very responsive. So um we are currently
um gave the proposal to uh for up to 50 foot of permanent easement along their right of way. So they have uh said they are very open to the idea as long as it's needed. Their only condition uh one
of their conditions is that we accommodate their drainage that they have a requirement for a 100redyear uh 100red-year storm to be uh designed for their facility. Uh we are still trying to get more details from some of their review staff
of exactly what that entails. We have already submitted uh for negotiation that uh the -6 portion that we said is going to try to take place in fiscal year 29 that has been submitted to our right ofway
department. So that will be the first round that kind of officially gets makes its way to their real estate department to hopefully we get a little bit more feedback um a little bit more in-depth review. So we're we're we feel pretty confident of
uh the feedback we've had from CSX. They're willing to work with us. Um but it is a long process to go through all their channels. So they're they're cooperative but takes time. Uh FPL has um been very responsive. We have another
meeting this week with them. Their biggest concern is uh you know similar to what we're concerned with the growth of this area. We believe the roadway being widened is critical for the growth of this area. FPL also has a lot of concerns about the power transmission
for this this area and they believe at least one level of uh further expansion is is necessary that we need to keep uh enough room enough real estate for one level of transmission line expansion for
this area. And that that is uh that's what we're currently working with them on. And the biggest item that seems to be falling in that discretionary zone to allow that future expansion is the shared use path. >> Commissioner Bargas.
>> Yes. Uh the two sections you referred to initially, five and six, which one had you talked about might be moved up >> the closer this year? Section six. Have you talked about any particular >> that might be moved up to uh be let in fiscal year 29?
>> It was supposed to be >> it was supposed to be 31. >> Yeah. >> Possibility to move up even more. >> If uh everything gets negotiated with CSX very quickly and they sign their agreement all their >> Are you the negotiator? >> I'm not the negotiator. I'm just develop
that all goes to legal in the end. ultimately >> have a word with legal. >> So >> So yeah, obviously they need to make sure they're protected and everything, but uh that uh that's moving as quickly as it
it can at this moment. >> Commissioner Caps, >> I'm not sure if you're the person to ask this, but there had been some discussion on previous occasions about temporary mitigation measures. you know, this this
project's not going to be done for about four years, right? Four or five years. >> Yeah. Like 29 is possibly the earliest that the ultimate improvements will take place. Fiscal year 29. Um so we have been looking at multiple early measures
that can take place. I I have uh Chris is here, our operations engineer, if you want to come forward. He there's a lot of immediate improvements that are happening on a regular basis that uh our maintenance staff is taking care of. He
can maybe tell you about some of those. >> Good morning everyone. Chris Carris, Treasure Coast operations engineer. >> Most of you guys know me. Um when it comes down to the temporary measures, they've all been completed at this point. There's temporary measures, there was intermediate measures, and there was long-term measures, which the long-term measures were the construction and the
widening of the project, the corridor. uh short-term measures that were implemented restriping of the entire roadway from Alipata Road to the lake uh all new reflective pavement marker markings from Alapata Road to the lake. You also had the reflective sheeting
that was installed on all stop signs on every side street and u um speed limit signs as well throughout the corridor uh between Alipata and the lake. And then also um we are looking at intermediate measures where they're looking at adding
the uh the striping onto the roadway to uh highlight the speed limits in the corridor as well. So those are things that we are still exploring but everything from a short-term measure has been implemented to date. >> Thank you. And uh I I'll add to that I guess the
midterm improvements that we're looking at to hopefully happen in uh year 2728 is u uh turn lane enhancements similar to what we did for Tommy Clemens. We're looking to try to do something very similar to Spring Haven and that that
would be another kind of a mid midterm project that uh could potentially happen in year 27 or 28. Any further discussion? >> Thank you very much, Mr. Lopez. >> Thank you. >> Uh, comments from FDOT.
>> You have any additional comments? >> I don't think so. Comments from advisory board members. >> Comments from board members. Our next meeting will be on June 15, 2026 at 900 a.m. Any further comments?
Nope. We are journed. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you all.