WEBVTT METADATA Video-Count: 1 Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=f8LEpHhJKyk NOTE MEETING SECTIONS: Part 1 (Video ID: f8LEpHhJKyk): - 00:00:00: Meeting Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance - 00:01:09: Public Comment 1: Salerno Road Property and Basin Seafood - 00:02:34: County Response to Public Comment: Property Status - 00:03:48: Fiscal Year 2026 Second Quarter Report: Golden Gate - 00:05:17: Fiscal Year 2026 Second Quarter Report: Hope Sound - 00:06:15: Fiscal Year 2026 Second Quarter Report: Jensen and Palm City - 00:07:44: Fiscal Year 2026 Second Quarter Report: Port Salerno, Rio and CRAs - 00:11:19: Fiscal Year 2026 Second Quarter Report: Permits and Valuations - 00:12:52: CRA Capital Projects Review: Golden Gate, Hope Sound - 00:14:49: CRA Capital Projects Review: New Monrovia and Open Space - 00:18:06: Tentative Operating Budget Presentation and Discussion - 00:21:59: Motion to Accept Proposed Budget - Vote Passes - 00:22:38: CRA County Maintenance: Salerno Vision Plan Review - 00:25:19: CRA Infrastructure Design, Construction, and Maintenance Policy - 00:27:10: CRA Projects with Field Operations, Public Works and Parks - 00:29:05: Scheduled Maintenance and Pruning Concerns, Dixie Highway - 00:30:27: Wildlife Habitat, Endangered Species and Habitat Designation - 00:33:05: Salerno Unpaved Roads and Pressure Washing Contract - 00:35:12: Parks and Recreation Pressure Washing Request - 00:36:01: Mowing, Nuisance Vegetation Contractor and Tree Concerns - 00:37:23: Concerns about trees, tree wells, sidewalks on Indian River - 00:39:22: Staining of Natural Wood Fences, Railings, and Benches - 00:40:46: Road Repairs: Potholes, Dips, Pest Control, and Safety - 00:43:27: Road Repairs: Patchwork of Potholes and Dixie Issues - 00:46:24: Maintenance Discussion and Appreciation of Clarifications - 00:49:26: Back to Public Comment, Member Comments and Adjournment - 00:49:43: Member Comments: Park Project, Septic, and Dixie Highway - 00:50:38: Member Comments: Signage and Greenery Issues Part: 1 1 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:17.760 Are you ready? I am. Okay, then we'll go ahead and call the May 18th CRA meeting to order. Uh please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the 2 00:00:17.760 --> 00:00:36.120 republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Very well done by all of you. Next up is the approval of the minutes from the April meeting. So moved. 3 00:00:36.120 --> 00:00:51.440 Got a motion. Second. Motion by City, a second by Dr. Sentell. Any discussion at all? Any changes? Seeing none, all in favor of approval say I. I. 4 00:00:51.440 --> 00:01:10.480 Any opposed? None. Anyone have any conflict of interest to disclose heading into our meeting? No, sir. Then we'll move into the comment section. Um Anyone from the public who wishes to comment at this time, please stand and state your name for the record. You'll 5 00:01:10.480 --> 00:01:43.760 have 3 minutes to speak. Seeing one. One. Good afternoon, board. Thank you for allowing me to speak. Um I read over the agenda uh [clears throat] CRA 6 00:01:43.760 --> 00:02:01.680 draft report capital projects uh tentative budget pages. What I don't see on here what on and I'm not 100% sure it's a CRA Well, it's inside the CRA, so should be addressed by the CRA. Is the uh 7 00:02:01.680 --> 00:02:17.640 property to buy at 4070 Southeast Salerno Road, if in fact the county has I know it's been under contract. It had a 90-day to close. It's way past 180. Wondering an update on that. And the latest rumor is buying Basin Seafood 8 00:02:17.640 --> 00:02:34.680 from the county. Wondering how that Both two huge projects, both inside the CRA, both on Salerno Road. Just wondering if somebody from the county could give an update on both of those. Sometime today would be great or possibly our NAC meeting next month. Thank you. I'd be 9 00:02:34.680 --> 00:02:50.200 happy to do that, Mr. Chair. Okay. I think we're all interested in >> the property that's being purchased on Salerno Road is being purchased by the district commissioner, so that is not CRA dollars. Um and what I do know is that it is still uh we're still waiting 10 00:02:50.200 --> 00:03:06.840 on that to close. There's been some trusts and then some deaths and then we had to find people. This is what I've been told by real property. They're handling that. The CRA is not handling that. So, that's kind of the update there. They do believe it will close. It's just a time thing. 11 00:03:06.840 --> 00:03:23.440 Um secondly, I have not heard anything about Basin Seafood. Again, if the county is buying that, I haven't heard a word about it. Um the CRA at this point is not buying that. And that's my update. 12 00:03:23.440 --> 00:03:48.519 Okay, thank you. Any other public comment at this time? Seeing none, we'll move into old business. Fiscal year 2026 second quarter report. Oh, sorry. Good afternoon, Joy Puerta, uh program 13 00:03:48.519 --> 00:04:04.880 manager for the Port Salerno and Golden Gate. Um here to give the second quarterly report. Usually you see this in April. So Yeah, usually we're a month we're a month behind. Okay, you don't need to point that. Okay. 14 00:04:04.880 --> 00:04:22.520 Just a little bit behind. Whatever. [laughter] So the first area in Golden Gate, I was going to go over four projects. Septic to sewer, El Camino, landscape vision plan, and the multi-modal corridor drainage resilient plan. Uh septic to sewer, um we had an 15 00:04:22.520 --> 00:04:41.440 increase of one tie-in if I recall of 1% to 73% with one additional parcel added since last quarter. El Camino activities, here are pictures of the concrete areas in Lamar Howard Park. Um the project is moving along. 16 00:04:41.960 --> 00:05:00.040 Landscape vision plan, uh we moved forward with public input at the February NEC meeting. Next will be an open house on May 27th at the Cassidy Center in Golden Gate. The multi-modal corridor, we uh sent it to the Board of County 17 00:05:00.040 --> 00:05:17.480 Commission. They approved the permission to apply at their January 27th meeting. These slides include the sidewalk streets within the Golden Gate neighborhood with and without parking layouts. Hope Sound, we're going to go over four different projects. The unpaved roads, 18 00:05:17.480 --> 00:05:36.400 train station, Pedway Village, and Dixie Highway stormwater project. With the unpaved roads, the final exception of the paved roads on Elenore and Hammond in the Hope Sound survey was on February 23rd, 2026. The next roads for paving is going to be 19 00:05:36.400 --> 00:05:54.400 Savage and Haslam. This is in the >> Savage and Haslam. I'm sorry. Okay. >> That's okay. And this is before picture of those two roads. The historic train station fundraising continues to restore the station. 20 00:05:56.080 --> 00:06:15.440 Pettway Village house number 12 out of 18 is underway. If you have a chance to drive by the project, it turned out really nice and a lot of families are living and thriving there. The Dixie Highway stormwater project, it's still in the negotiation stage with the selected RFQ 21 00:06:15.440 --> 00:06:31.320 consultant. Hoping to finalize the contract in April. Again, of course, this is a past report, so Jensen Beach, we have two updates on the West End Boulevard drainage improvements and the Church Street project. 22 00:06:31.320 --> 00:06:52.000 The West End Boulevard drainage improve Okay, sorry about that. Just messed up there. What is the update on this one? The design options were submitted by the consultant for the West End Boulevard for the drainage improvements in Jensen Beach along Maple Avenue. 23 00:06:52.000 --> 00:07:10.960 And then the Church Street, we're requesting bids for the design of Church Street with the additional 30 ft of right-of-way. We're going to be able to build a two-way street instead of a yield street. Old Palm City, we've got two projects. The Palm Beach School Avenue property 24 00:07:10.960 --> 00:07:26.960 sale and the Cornell Avenue streetscape. This property was sold by the county, but we still own property access to the creek or the county still owns property access to the creek. And Cornell Avenue, as you can see the 25 00:07:26.960 --> 00:07:44.760 design for the improved Cornell Avenue streetscape is much needed for cyclists. You'll see the cyclists there on the left-hand side of the road. Also for pedestrian and of course drainage. Design and community engagement continues. Port Salerno, I have three updates on 26 00:07:44.760 --> 00:08:00.840 this New Monrovia Park, neighborhood improvements, and the unpaved roads. New Monrovia Park, the project was awarded to Formax Construction in December. Staff has contracted with Stantec for the CEI services that will be overseeing 27 00:08:00.840 --> 00:08:19.880 the construction. And a notice proceed will be issued in May. And it started today. Yes, and it started today. New Monrovia neighborhood improvements, the plans are at 100%. We've received them from the consultant and they were forwarded to the engineering team for 28 00:08:19.880 --> 00:08:38.159 final review. Staff met with the utilities and the capital projects and this project is being coordinated with both these projects into one bid. The New Monrovia unpaved roadways, that's at 100% plans, too. They were received by the consultant in mid-January. 29 00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:56.839 They were also submitted to the engineering team for final review and comments, which we received back the third week of February. Rio, I've got four projects update you on, the Dixie Highway streetscape, the town center civic property, the Dixie Highway crosswalks, and the light pole 30 00:08:56.839 --> 00:09:18.800 banners. The first one, Dixie Highway, these are renderings showing what Dixie Highway in Rio could potentially look like and what the new proposed Rio Civic Center would look like. The crosswalks, the design of the sidewalks in front of 31 00:09:18.800 --> 00:09:36.360 Mrs. Peters is being considered, but it's on private property, so that would take some negotiating, and blinking crosswalk signs are also being considered. The the light pole banners, they had subtle changes Um, the banners such as the 32 00:09:36.360 --> 00:09:55.520 coloring and the font. Um, so they would uh stand out brighter. Nice. The CRA uh overall projects um We introduced the CRA lot uh lot match that was presented and approved by the CRA board. 33 00:09:55.520 --> 00:10:11.520 Uh the office of community development did two sessions of cares. Uh we entered an agreement with the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council for the first CRA open space plan which was Port Salerno. Next will be Golden Gate. The community pulse continues to get 34 00:10:11.520 --> 00:10:28.800 great um reviews. Uh the CRA's um capital improvement plan was approved on March 23rd, 2026. Uh fiscal 26 annual report was completed and posted live on uh the website on March 31st. And the property in 35 00:10:28.800 --> 00:10:46.520 Indiantown was uh sold but I'll go over some in detail. Um if you recall the CRA lot match to refresh you, um this is the Martin County CRA is the match maker and the lots are the shy singles. Uh developers, creatives, entrepreneurs, 36 00:10:46.520 --> 00:11:02.200 and small businesses are the potential soulmates. So we look forward to having this be a successful program but this is what kicked off in the last quarter. As I said uh the property at Indiantown was sold. Do we know how much that sold for? 37 00:11:02.200 --> 00:11:19.880 I'm not too sure. Do you know? George, do you know how >> George, was it two Yeah. 275. Thank you. >> [clears throat] >> And then to go over uh the permits compared to last year like we do every quarter. Um compared to last year's 38 00:11:19.880 --> 00:11:36.200 permits, they declined overall for the county by 904 permits and that included the CRAs. Um the residential permits uh in Rio increased due to single family home residences and a lot of remodels. 39 00:11:38.240 --> 00:11:53.560 The valuation Um as you can see the residential values also increased in Rio due to the new residential residences and the additions. Um Golden Gate's valuation increased due to seven single family residences and accessory dwelling units. If you drive 40 00:11:53.560 --> 00:12:12.360 by Hawthorne, you can see them. They're the townhomes that have the ADUs in the back of them. The commercial permits Um they decreased from 217 to 97 throughout the entire CRA. 41 00:12:14.240 --> 00:12:33.440 The valuation Um decreased overall among the CRAs with the only increase in Hope Sound. And that was due to due to a large demolition. Not too sure which building that was, but that brought the cost up. And that is all I have. So if you have 42 00:12:33.440 --> 00:12:52.680 any questions, I'd be happy to answer them. Hearing none? Hearing none. That completes my presentation. Thank you very much. Okay. Uh we will move on to the presentations now. CRA capital projects review. 43 00:13:09.520 --> 00:13:25.680 Good afternoon. Susan Corres, Office of Community Development. Um we just did the past. I'm going to do the present. Not [clears throat] sure if we'll get to the future tonight, but we'll see. Anyway, um as always, I'll just pick out a few that uh really the status for 44 00:13:25.680 --> 00:13:41.920 those have changed somewhat since our last meeting and happy to answer questions on any of the projects that are happening. So I'm going to start with Golden Gate landscape vision pilot project. As Joy mentioned, we did some community engagement through the NAC 45 00:13:41.920 --> 00:14:01.000 last time and we're going to do some additional community engagement that is being put out to the community as a whole and I think you all got one of these maybe at your place. We're asking people to help shape a greener Golden Gate. 46 00:14:01.000 --> 00:14:16.880 So we're inviting people to come learn about the proposed landscape and beautification improvements. Meet the team, share ideas and get a free meal from Fork in the Road done by the Boys and Girls Club. So that should be a really nice event. 47 00:14:16.880 --> 00:14:33.200 It's May 27th, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Cassie Center in Lamar Howard Park. Next I'll talk about Hope Sound storm water and streetscape. The design contract for that project will go to the 48 00:14:33.200 --> 00:14:49.280 Board of County Commissioners tomorrow at the commission meeting. After that, we will begin advertising for our CMAR so that the design can start and we'll get to hopefully between 15 and 30% and then 49 00:14:49.280 --> 00:15:05.440 have our CMAR on board at that time to begin working as a team with the design engineer. New Monrovia Park. Jamie did mention that today is the notice to proceed. So May 18th is when they will start 50 00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:22.120 and the construction contract is for 588,000 and it's a 90 calendar day contract. So it should be a fairly quick turnaround which will be nice. Um maybe even [clears throat] well, by the end of the summer I guess 51 00:15:22.120 --> 00:15:37.400 we should say it will be completed. I was glad to hear it will it'll definitely be before the Bohemian Festival. Yeah, that's October, right? >> Mhm. Yeah, it should be it should be way before that. Yeah. That'll be great. >> Yes. It'll be finished in time for that. 52 00:15:37.400 --> 00:15:53.680 Um and last, I will mention CRA open space plans. We did complete our Port Salerno. That was our first It was brought to the CRA board last meeting. Um next, we have Golden Gate. We've done our initial kickoff meeting for that, and now we'll 53 00:15:53.680 --> 00:16:08.360 be scheduling um I'll have a schedule for you next time. We'll do start scheduling our internal team meetings, and also the meeting of when will meetings when we're going to uh the Golden Gate NAC and coming to the CRA board. So, that information should 54 00:16:08.360 --> 00:16:25.440 be available to you next month. And just also to ask if there were any suggestions that you would have for the team. And if you don't have them today, that's fine because I'm sure we'll have at least another month or two. Uh if you think of any, just let us know 55 00:16:25.440 --> 00:16:41.080 either at the meeting or via email based on what you saw for Port Salerno. If you have any other ideas, I think Bert might I don't know. Perhaps. I think it's great just the continued community, you know, outreach. I think that 56 00:16:41.080 --> 00:16:57.960 >> do the same same type of thing we did uh for Salerno. Seemed to be >> [clears throat] >> a good recipe. So, I think we'll we'll go that route, and uh and I look forward to seeing what they come up with for Golden Gate. Yeah. Yeah. I think they did a good job. I mean, I I 57 00:16:57.960 --> 00:17:15.880 I'm all in favor of more open space. So, >> Yeah. Yeah. I like to see what's there, what's potential, what you can do. Yeah, exactly. Challenges and opportunities. >> And and maybe their concept drawings maybe um uh was something that people um 58 00:17:15.880 --> 00:17:32.720 were kind of thinking could happen which we know anything can happen and so You know that's always a double-edged sword bird don't show any pictures people like well what are you talking about and then if you do show a potential picture well 59 00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:49.000 that's not what we want or you didn't tell us you were building Right. No I would just say make it clear it's not final. Right no doubt about it this is this is an exploration of what the future can hold. Exactly. Sometimes you still end up in that loop you know 60 00:17:49.000 --> 00:18:06.760 anyway that's all I have for capital projects if there's any questions on any others we'd be happy to entertain. No questions? We're all a very quiet group today. Really flying through this the agenda. 61 00:18:06.760 --> 00:18:30.160 We're just excited to get to the tentative operating budget. Oh that must be it yeah. Let's go there real quick. >> [clears throat and cough] >> So I have with me um Shelby Della Pietra. >> [clears throat] 62 00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:45.000 >> What's your title again Shelby? Budget and CIP coordinator. That's it. So we've offered you our tentative budget it's I think pretty clear the things that I will point out to you 63 00:18:45.000 --> 00:19:07.400 and we can pull it up. Can you make this smaller so they can Oh you can do that okay. So the things that I will point out to you is our addition is 3. 02% and that is due to contractual 64 00:19:07.400 --> 00:19:25.520 obligations the total for that is 24,134 dollars. So our adopted budget from last year I think was 800,000. Yeah, 800,224. So what you see in addition is just that 65 00:19:25.520 --> 00:19:41.720 amount 24,134. All of the other lines although some will look different, they've just been adjusted so that we can allocate the dollars more correctly based on what we used last year and where we used it really. So you'll see some differences 66 00:19:41.720 --> 00:19:58.120 up and down the columns but that does not add anything to the budget. It's just the line items have changed their amounts. More so based on anticipating needs for fiscal year 27. We look at budgets year over year to see where we 67 00:19:58.120 --> 00:20:15.200 lay last year and what we are projecting to use moving forward and it's just anticipating needs as a department year over year we look at it. So not much else to say. No significant change. Happy to talk about any of those items 68 00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:32.160 should you want to. I have a feeling Jamie has a question. Can you refresh my memory? How many are under regular salary? Um six of us. >> employees six And according to this you haven't spent 69 00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:47.960 any money on them in fiscal year 2026. We don't [laughter] show it yet. >> Oops. So my question is that where where Can you just give me an idea where we stand currently fiscal year 26? Um we're about second quarter in. I would have to get you those dollar amounts. I don't 70 00:20:47.960 --> 00:21:03.440 know off the off the top of my head um but we're on track. So I monitor the community development budget year over throughout every month we look at it and I let Susan and her team know if they're spending too much and we need to slow down as you know we got to make sure we finish out the year 71 00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:19.120 positive in that and the But there haven't been any crazy overages or any crazy underages or anything like that? >> them in check. >> Okay. And and we're at the same number. It was six last year as well, right? >> Right, same amount of full-time equivalents. There's been no increase in FTEs. If there's any particular line 72 00:21:19.120 --> 00:21:35.960 you're interested in, Mike Shelby can get you that info. >> I was just trying to, you know, again, halfway through the year, I was just curious how close to what the 400,000 we were. Yeah. >> you that. Um and a lot of the increase is based on Florida retirement system. We do have a 73 00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:59.000 Teamsters contract that the county did adopt roughly 3 years ago, and that's part of the obligation that we have to do. And just fringe benefits, health insurance costs, and stuff like that caused for the increase. Any other question? Comments? Concerns? 74 00:21:59.520 --> 00:22:16.440 I make a motion to accept the proposed budget. I've got a motion from Cindy. And a second from Sadia. Any discussion? Any comments at all? All in favor of approval, say I. I. Anybody opposed? 75 00:22:16.440 --> 00:22:38.840 Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you all. And now for the CRA county maintenance information presentation. So, we had some discussion last month about um maintenance. 76 00:22:38.840 --> 00:22:54.240 And so, we thought we'd try to bring back a little more information because I don't know that we answered those questions to everybody's satisfaction and thought we would open it up uh for whatever other questions you may have or to kind of give you 77 00:22:54.240 --> 00:23:10.400 um a better feel for where we are with that and and how the the county kind of approaches that. So, I'm going to turn it over to Sebastian first because Jamie did bring up something that was written in the Salerno vision plan and asked Sebastian to to look at that. 78 00:23:10.400 --> 00:23:25.680 So, we had legal do that and he wants to tell you what he came up with. >> Thank you. So, this is not only to you Jamie but to everyone. >> [laughter] >> So, I looked at chapter 163.37 79 00:23:25.680 --> 00:23:43.040 which governs the CRA's powers and I was looking to be quite honest. I was looking at it as finding any hook that I can hang my hat on that I can justify a maintenance an ongoing maintenance obligation or a one-time 80 00:23:43.040 --> 00:23:58.600 maintenance obligation. Just anything that I can you know, I was trying to read it as broadly as possible. So, I I read it with a fine-tooth comb. I also did research on Westlaw about it and it's evident that the legislature as you all know wants the CRA to use increment revenues 81 00:23:58.600 --> 00:24:14.960 to buy, build, enhance. You know, those are the kind of the that's that's the theory behind all of this. That's the theme I guess of the powers. However, the words maintain or upkeep is none in there. I tried to find the 82 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:31.280 word repair however is in there multiple times. But repair in the sense that oh, we're putting in a pavilion and it's part of another enhancement and we need to repair the existing paths that lead to this pavilion. So, now it's a project 83 00:24:31.280 --> 00:24:47.880 that not only builds the pavilion but it also builds the path repairs the paths or repairs the roads that are leading to some kind of building, buying, enhancement. I tried you know, it's unfortunate that 84 00:24:47.880 --> 00:25:04.760 I don't know who drafted that that presentation but I suspect it was some outside company that that was you know, and they maybe took a liberty and and throw and you know, they didn't read it. >> They were land planning consultants, yeah. Yeah, and they may have done that. 85 00:25:04.760 --> 00:25:19.960 I've also come across and I have a copy here. It's from 26 April 2016. It's when Taryn Krista was um was in charge and it is a county um policy that any existing CRA asset 86 00:25:19.960 --> 00:25:35.000 This has to do with CRA infrastructure design, construction, and maintenance. So, obviously it talks about the other things as well, but for maintenance it says for for the existing CRA assets in the inventory, assignment of maintenance responsibility will be determined by the 87 00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:50.720 assistant county administrator with OMB allocating funds for current and future maintenance of those assets similar to above. So, meaning we have a county policy and I I have a copy that um that it that it's going to be the 88 00:25:50.720 --> 00:26:07.400 county's responsibility going forward to maintain those and and OMB has to budget for those things. Um I would and this is aside from this piece of paper, I from reading 16337, you know, I would hate to have to defend 89 00:26:07.400 --> 00:26:23.840 it if somebody challenged us that that that you know, we took on a maintenance continuing maintenance obligation in perpetuity. Um I I wouldn't want to stand there and and and say, you know, well I I'm able to do this because, right? I I don't see the the the ability to do 90 00:26:23.840 --> 00:26:39.320 that. And and I think it kind of makes a little bit of sense. We're here to to enhance, to build new projects, but then if we had to if we had to pay for the maintenance in perpetuity for everything that we build, 91 00:26:39.320 --> 00:26:55.320 because that's what it kind of would be, I mean, we'd spend ourselves down [snorts] and we would have no new projects. So, we'd be busy doing all the maintenance for everything we did the last 10-15 years. Um So, that that's that was the result of 92 00:26:55.320 --> 00:27:10.960 my uh research. I If you have any questions, I'm happy to answer them. I have copies of this if anybody wants them. Um and I know Susan has Yeah, so so having that said, that's the legal opinion and the 93 00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:26.120 administration's opinion that we uh go by for sure depending on, you know, the statute. Um but that's not to say that we do nothing either. Um we do projects with field operations, for example. We do projects 94 00:27:26.120 --> 00:27:43.400 with public works and with parks. We do enhance uh landscaping when we need to. Good example, uh I think I brought this up last time when we had the freeze and everything on Map Road died. Yes, we will replace that. So, we can do that. We can do that in Golden Gate in the 95 00:27:43.400 --> 00:27:59.800 median. We can replace those plants that are incorrect or that have died. Um So, those are things we do and we've done plenty of those projects with field operations. Uh I'll give you another example, the the 96 00:27:59.800 --> 00:28:16.920 monument sign on uh that Golden Gate has as well. We re-landscaped all of that, put in irrigation, put in lighting. Um so, there are plenty of things that we do to repair and enhance landscaping and maintenance issues. Um and Jamie, you 97 00:28:16.920 --> 00:28:33.440 gave us some specific examples and I wanted to also speak to those and that's why I asked Todd and Samantha to come so that we can go through those and and give you a good picture of how we uh would, you know, who might be responsible and how we go about doing 98 00:28:33.440 --> 00:28:50.240 that. So, hopefully that will answer some questions as well. So, I'm going to introduce to you Todd Warren. He's the administrator for field operations and I kind of just made up that title um Todd, [laughter] so if you have a better one, feel free. I called you the administrator. I like it. It's a 99 00:28:50.240 --> 00:29:05.800 promotion. >> All right. I can do director or, you know, if that makes you happy. >> [laughter] >> Maybe George will bless it even >> And Samantha is our So Samantha is our horticulturalist. So, um just to sort of kick it off, 100 00:29:05.800 --> 00:29:22.240 some ongoing concerns that we've heard, uh scheduled maintenance with bush and tree pruning, especially with dead palm fronds that could be a risk of falling and hitting pedestrians. Uh the specific One of the places that was mentioned was Dixie Highway. 101 00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:37.840 So, what is it that you do about that? What's the scheduled maintenance and pruning and >> [clears throat] >> How do you handle that? >> do have an annual contract landscape contractor. Sorry, I moved this away so I wouldn't hit it, but Uh so, we do have a annual maintenance 102 00:29:37.840 --> 00:29:55.240 contractor. Um right now it's Main Guy Landscaping. Um they maintain both um CRA areas and right-of-ways around the county, um enhanced and those that are not enhanced. Um the maintenance that we perform in uh 103 00:29:55.240 --> 00:30:11.240 relation to let's say cabbage palms. I think that was one of the concerns that was brought up about uh how shaggy they look and you know, potentially unkempt. We have written in our contract that cabbage palms are maintained differently than other palms. Um 104 00:30:11.240 --> 00:30:27.840 that's for a number of reasons. Um and we use literature provided by uh um IFAS, um University of Florida, um to put that guidance into our landscape contract and have the contractor bid it accordingly. Um and obviously budget considerations, 105 00:30:27.840 --> 00:30:43.920 too. So, um wildlife habitat. There's There's a um endangered You're going to get it wrong. Sam's going to >> Um So, the US Fish and Wildlife in March of 2024 reclassed a rule expanding the range for the native habitat of the banded bat here in the state of Florida. 106 00:30:43.920 --> 00:30:59.800 They are a G1 level endangered species. They live in palm fronds most often cabbage palms and sable palms. Um that range expanded to Martin County back in 2024. So now it's something that we have to consider not only in our maintenance but also in the permitting of our new 107 00:30:59.800 --> 00:31:16.320 and existing projects. And does that means leaving the fronds on is the Those palm fronds in particular act as habitat. That is where they roost and and breed and such. >> The dead ones? Yeah. Mhm. Yes, ma'am. >> Yeah, the shaggy the shaggy part that >> Cuz I was literally driving down the 108 00:31:16.320 --> 00:31:33.080 road one day and one was coming down and somebody was walking by and literally almost got hit. I do home care so I'm driving all the time. So that was my main concern. They typically will hold onto their palm fronds even the dead ones until there's a big storm or 109 00:31:33.080 --> 00:31:47.560 >> windy that day. >> It was windy that day so >> There you go. Right. So we always run into that. Um it's that balance between managing trees and and palm palms for extreme weather situation which we don't really do for hurricanes 110 00:31:47.560 --> 00:32:02.960 and such. Um balance that with the safety of you know obviously dead vegetation that's above potentially above people's heads. So Um we don't see a lot of injuries. In fact, I can't even think of one right now where somebody was hit with a palm frond. >> Yeah, it was just so random for me to be 111 00:32:02.960 --> 00:32:18.080 driving at that time. It was windy. Um when was the last time that they were pruned? Uh I believe we did a Didn't we do a special pruning? We did one special pruning at the start when we sort of had this request and I thought maybe the maintenance area of 112 00:32:18.080 --> 00:32:34.480 concern was just the memorial garden. So we did a special event there. Um but we do pay monthly to have the memorial garden serviced um and then we also have just regular monthly routes that main guy will do all of Dixie throughout a month. But it's a monthly visit. They're 113 00:32:34.480 --> 00:32:49.560 documented every month and they [clears throat] invoice us every month separately for those two events. Yeah, and they they will not go trim the dead fronds as part of their contract. They bid that area a particular way for a certain price. So, it's just additional services. Of course, they're going to try to charge us for 114 00:32:49.560 --> 00:33:05.480 >> I I know I've never seen them pruned in that along Dixie Highway. >> Yes, the Memorial Highway. >> Memorial I did. Yeah. >> That does make sense. And it's just sabals they're not pruning, correct? Like >> Yeah, a lot of the other ones [clears throat] will self-prune, but yeah, if there's dead fronds at 115 00:33:05.480 --> 00:33:20.160 you know, like on a on a royal palm or something. Yeah. And you don't want to get hit by one of those. >> No, those are big and heavy. [laughter] That's why when I was driving down I'm like, "Ooh." Yeah. In fact, they were removed removed from the front of this building because of the concern. Mhm. Mhm. Yeah, that's right. So, there are 116 00:33:20.160 --> 00:33:35.600 several, of course, you know, right? I I live in Salerno as well, so I know. Um there are a lot of cabbage palms in our liner sidewalks and our pedestrian areas in that uh neighborhood. Um unfortunately, with that neighborhood being included in the habitat 117 00:33:35.600 --> 00:33:51.880 designation, I can't say that we could go and remove cabbage palms. I just don't see us being able to get past that. >> want them removed anyway, so. >> Okay. They're a state tree. We did get um an additional maintenance estimate for main guy counted 43 sable palms along 118 00:33:51.880 --> 00:34:07.160 that stretch in Salerno and they quoted us $4,160 for a one-time pruning event. So, if we wanted to do this to that degree monthly, we're looking at at spending quite a bit from our operational budget to do so. So, that's 119 00:34:07.160 --> 00:34:23.679 a good point um for me to say that we can do one-time enhancements or repair again. So, if a particular CRA had something and I'm and I'm speaking also Jamie to the pressure washing, um 120 00:34:23.679 --> 00:34:39.840 we are not going to take on a contract to do pressure washing, but if the need arose, you know, we did that actually when there was an event there, we would do pressure washing for that event for example, but if a particular CRA was really interested in having a one-time 121 00:34:39.840 --> 00:34:56.200 thing done, you could look at your neighborhood enhancements budgets and see if that's something that the rest of your committees would like to do. We could do that. Again, we're not going to sign contracts to do 122 00:34:56.200 --> 00:35:12.200 maintenance ongoing. Um our our legal team would not defend us and the county county's policy tells us not to. So, those things we can do. So, if that's of interest, we can offer you that. And based off the 123 00:35:12.200 --> 00:35:28.520 pressure washing, I did actually reach out to Parks and Rec because around the parks, you have the trees. So, everything that drops from the trees ends up making the sidewalk slick sometimes, which is a liability. So, we did reach out to them. Same thing can happen though along Dixie Highway as well. Jordan, if you notice that if 124 00:35:28.520 --> 00:35:44.720 anybody notices that either the board or residents, you can put a request for service in. And that has worked. I can tell you that. Yes. So, that's again a great another avenue if it's safety related, put it in RFS and and the proper department will respond. 125 00:35:44.720 --> 00:36:01.320 What about the regular trees like we have around the lakes, you know, in the Golden Gate? We have so many of them you couldn't even see the other side because they all kind of falling down. Used to they come and prune them and make them. Now, they I don't we don't even see them cutting the 126 00:36:01.320 --> 00:36:17.680 the grass. There is a project should be currently underway for the Salerno retrofit area off of Lee and Flounder and that whole I call it dog bone. It looks like a dog bone SDA. Well, I'm not talking about Salerno. >> She's talking about Golden Gate. Oh, Golden Gate. I'm sorry. You did say 127 00:36:17.680 --> 00:36:34.760 that. To your point about mowing, the county has been in between contractors for our nuisance vegetation contract. They handle the stormwater treatment areas, the lakes and ponds that you're mentioning near communities, and they will not start for another couple of weeks. So, we had about an 128 00:36:34.760 --> 00:36:50.600 8-week lapse there, and so that's why maybe some of your grasses are a little tall. Right. And if they notice that they can't do maintenance because the trees are too low, they either will prune it or ask us to do a special one-time But, at the end where we live, my husband already cut cut the grass all 129 00:36:50.600 --> 00:37:07.520 the time. He never wait on anybody, so he does it even it belong to you guys. However, the trees, I'm not going to lie to them. He's just turned 90, so he not going to go cut the, you know, prune the trees. That's something you guys have to do. Mhm. This is why he is 90, Cindy, because he [laughter] waits 130 00:37:07.520 --> 00:37:23.040 on no one. Sometimes he's lot healthier than I am, so. Um so, that leaves me a question because I know up in uh in Jensen um on Indian River Drive, there's a lot of complaints from the residents about the trees, the 131 00:37:23.040 --> 00:37:40.120 tree wells, the cracked sidewalks. Of course, they're wanting the CRA to do something about it, and we can't. Um but so, that question comes to mind. I mean, is there a plan for that, or has it been brought to your attention, or Are you speaking of the downtown area? 132 00:37:40.120 --> 00:37:57.880 On in Indian River Drive. >> Oh, Indian If if it's uh so, up towards um I'll think of it. >> Up by like Renar and Yeah, so near Cherry, and what's the other one? Mango? >> Mango, yeah. >> Yeah. So, right across the street from 133 00:37:57.880 --> 00:38:14.880 that, we did have an issue with um water that was coming undermining the sidewalk and that fence that was there. So, public works has been working on that to to fix the sidewalk and the issue that's where the water is coming underneath. Um 134 00:38:14.880 --> 00:38:31.600 I don't know if there's any other specific places, Cindy. I did know about that northern part, but I didn't know if there was anything else, and if there is, you know, RFS is a very powerful tool, and and you'll at least get an answer. And then at that point, if if, you know, the 135 00:38:31.600 --> 00:38:48.200 answer is we're not doing that until 2027 or 28, then bring it back, and and, you know, we can look at it as as a potential repair, or it may be we could put it into, you know, another project. It could be part of something. 136 00:38:48.200 --> 00:39:04.560 So, these are all ways that we can do things. Um so, those are those are some options. >> Yeah, I just know that residents, I'm I'm going to say at least, and Janet, you can correct me if I'm wrong, but at least the last two or three meetings, somebody brings that up. >> northern part. I don't know where they 137 00:39:04.560 --> 00:39:22.240 are in that in in repairing all of that. Probably still designing it. I'll make a point of taking a look. Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. And I and um So, you >> I know there's a couple more on there. Yeah, so the staining of natural wood fences, railings, and benches. 138 00:39:22.240 --> 00:39:39.320 Um there are certain departments that do that. Like, for example, in Manatee Pocket, right there on the bridge. Uh that's Art in Public Places owns the benches and the railing. So, we are, you know, we have a maintenance program uh 139 00:39:39.320 --> 00:39:55.520 in Art in Public Places. Uh you guys actually know that um when you put on your other hat. So, we can schedule that in to do if that's uh something that everybody would love I mean, we have a maintenance program for everything in Art in Public Places, so that will get 140 00:39:55.520 --> 00:40:13.360 its turn as it comes up. Uh as far as annual of any of the fence fences and other benches around, I I don't >> Like the parks. Like, there's fencing all around that. It's just I mean, it's [clears throat] never treated, so of course it's going to go 141 00:40:13.360 --> 00:40:29.120 bad They're just natural. They just turn that natural ashy gray. I don't know that anywhere in the county anybody is doing that. I would just think for longevity. No, we don't do staining. It's called a split rail fence. It's just your standard you know, post and 142 00:40:29.120 --> 00:40:46.240 and 2 by 6 railing. >> just come in and replace it when it's >> replace it when it's when it's damaged. I'm just thinking longevity it would save money. Potentially, but then we got to get an FTE to go do the staining. >> [laughter] >> Yeah, I don't know. I'm not sure it does save money, but anyway. Um we did not do 143 00:40:46.240 --> 00:41:01.680 that analysis. [laughter] Um and then Todd is going to talk a little bit about road repairs, um potholes, dips, those types of things and um pest control. Right. So as part of the landscape contract, we'll start there. The pest 144 00:41:01.680 --> 00:41:17.560 control is required. Um they don't necessarily treat medians where nobody's ever going to be. Um obviously we don't want big ant mounds in there. It's kind of unsightly. Um particularly along sidewalks, pedestrian areas, we we will have the contractor treat for 145 00:41:17.560 --> 00:41:33.480 ants and other pests. So when there's a pedestrian walkway between the medians, then they treat that. Okay. >> Right. Exactly. What do you do about rats coming out of the I mean We do not do rodent control. So for [laughter] 146 00:41:33.480 --> 00:41:50.120 for public works and maintaining your landscape assets, our biggest concerns are going to be either safety or just ensuring that the installation is successful, right? So if we go in and we put in some oak trees and there's fire ant piles at the bottom of these oak trees, we certainly don't want that. Trees won't survive. 147 00:41:50.120 --> 00:42:06.240 But if it's not a pedestrian area and there's fire ant pile, we're not going to have our landscaper treat the fire ants. Pedestrian area, fire ants, treat them. Rodents though, we we don't address rodents. Public health, the Department of Public 148 00:42:06.240 --> 00:42:22.120 Health might address any rodent concerns that you might have in certain areas. >> Um that would be my only avenue for y'all to explore. This is going to sound weird. I don't like snakes, but I don't mind those black snakes, but those are the rats I do. Yeah. Cuz they come from 149 00:42:22.120 --> 00:42:39.360 the water up to our We need more black snakes. >> Huh? We need more black snakes. Mhm. Rat snakes. They eat them. Yeah. >> And cats. So, as far as moving on to the the roads, potholes again, the RFS system is the is the easiest. In fact, that system is 150 00:42:39.360 --> 00:42:55.800 very well fine-tuned. So, if you put a request for service in for a pothole, it immediately is turned into a work order and shows up on the iPad for our asphalt truck patch truck, which we have two now. We just got a brand new one. So, we just need more crews to run them. So. So, they just do rounds? They do 151 00:42:55.800 --> 00:43:11.160 rounds. Yeah, and and pretty much RFS driven. Oh, oh, okay. >> are small projects that they will do. We have a new piece of equipment that can grind out parts of um, the road and and repave with Um, but we're pretty much reactionary more than proactive. 152 00:43:11.160 --> 00:43:27.000 >> That's what we needed to know. Okay. Yeah. So, but by all means put a put a request in cuz those those get fixed pretty quickly. And I know Dixie Um, you know, Rocky Point, Horse Shoe Point. I know a lot of those areas are pretty rough. Um, it's a patchwork of potholes, but 153 00:43:27.000 --> 00:43:43.920 we're in maintenance. We're not in complete overhaul. So, those are capital projects when they get kind of outside of our scope um, of what we normally do. Um, the the dip at the bridge right there by Mangia and Yeah. and Salerno. Um, that one drives me absolutely crazy. 154 00:43:43.920 --> 00:43:59.040 Um, and over the years, even before I was in public works, I was in growth management, I was putting in requests and I kept getting the same answer. I'm like, "No, when I get over to public works and field ops, I'm going to make them fix these." Here's the problem. It's not as easy as just patching a patching >> Yeah, that's not a patch. So, the bridge 155 00:43:59.040 --> 00:44:14.200 itself is lower than the adjacent asphalt road. So, I don't know if it's settled or or what is. I don't think there's was safety concern there, but it doesn't match. So, what you have is you have a dip going down to the bridge, then a little bit up on the bridge, then down the bridge, and then back up. 156 00:44:14.200 --> 00:44:31.520 So, we had our infrastructure uh maintenance manager go take a look at that. He did what he needed to do and said that I we can fix the actual holes that are there, but we can't fix that do do do do. It's a speed control mechanism. >> [laughter] >> Yeah, it's 157 00:44:31.520 --> 00:44:47.320 a man-made speed bump. Yeah, it's very frustrating every time I drive over that. I'm like, "Oh, we got to fix that. We got to fix that." But, there really is not much in the way of fixing. The way to do it, honestly, >> fill it or something because we we drive that all the time. The really the only way to do it, and I I'm not an engineer, so I can't even tell you if this would 158 00:44:47.320 --> 00:45:03.760 work, but you have to pave from the the adjacent high points on the asphalt straight across the concrete span and match it up. That's the only way to do it, and that's certainly a capital project. That's not a maintenance. >> And we are pending a project there. I've heard this. We're doing what? >> Just they are They are pending a project 159 00:45:03.760 --> 00:45:19.280 there. They're going to have a It's not us. Right, Joy? No, she's not in here. Joy? She's hiding over there. Oh, that's the capital projects. Oh, oh, oh, the Yeah, through the MPO we The Dixie Yeah, got you. >> funded, but we supposed to 160 00:45:19.280 --> 00:45:34.880 >> Hopefully. I've been I've heard for years there's going to be a project. We can't do it or we're not going to do maintenance. It's going to take, you know, no big maintenance project cuz we're going to have that big >> I told Beth about it, and she said she's going to send an engineer. So, obviously, everybody's complaining about that dip. 161 00:45:34.880 --> 00:45:52.240 Yeah. It's not a simple patch job, and it's it's good to go. We're going to do a little patchwork, but it's not going to fix the problem totally. So. Hopefully the project will Any other questions? Um We've addressed this. I don't know if anyone has any other ones or Bet you're 162 00:45:52.240 --> 00:46:07.600 glad they don't have nothing but Golden Gate Avenue. What's that? Golden Gate Avenue. Used to call all the time for the pothole for Yeah. That is beautiful. We don't complain. Because they did the 163 00:46:07.600 --> 00:46:24.320 They did neighborhood restoration. Yeah. Yeah. Well, um I regarding the ant infestation, um the the comment that I'd received from a resident, um I did mention request for services. It is in the crosswalk there on Dixie Highway where those mediums are and that's where 164 00:46:24.320 --> 00:46:40.840 she did see it. Um but um I want to thank Sebastian for looking up that info because it was a little weird that maintenance was written in the plan and so that's what was throwing it off. >> No, I So I appreciate you cuz that helps clarify it. And then I appreciate the 165 00:46:40.840 --> 00:46:57.280 clarification on the palms, the pruning because if I would have known that five requests ago >> [laughter] >> I would have not been requesting that frequently. So that's good to know. So thank you for that. I appreciate it. So >> also good if you do have requests to try 166 00:46:57.280 --> 00:47:13.520 to be as specific as possible. So addresses, street names, photos, yeah. That always, you know, that's an easier RFS to fulfill because they've got the information, they can schedule it and go out and and get things done. You can even 167 00:47:13.520 --> 00:47:29.120 It's like almost like you know, a map. Yeah, you can you can send yeah. Yeah. And then I wanted to thank you Susan for bringing them in because that was very helpful. I know you guys are getting sick of hearing me complain about maintenance, but I hear it a lot, so I 168 00:47:29.120 --> 00:47:45.360 wanted some accountability, some way of resolving the problem rather than just saying we can't do it. Why can't we not do it? >> way we have some avenues and you know how how that all works. An- another thing I just like to let you know is that we and and that memo says 169 00:47:45.360 --> 00:48:02.800 the same thing as that we are required pretty much to work with all the other departments at the start of every project. So we have an internal team at the start of every project which includes field ops, public works, parks, depending on what the project is, of course. So, we already are telling them 170 00:48:02.800 --> 00:48:19.400 this project is going to be done in June of 2028, then it becomes yours, whether that's parks or public works. And so that we get it in the budget. That's how it works, so that it gets into the budget kind of the year before. 171 00:48:19.400 --> 00:48:39.000 OMB knows that and and works to provide the funds. So, that's something we do for every project. We don't want our projects to go to weeds, either. >> Right. >> you put all this money into it. >> exactly. >> And work and and, you know, the 172 00:48:39.000 --> 00:48:54.720 community enjoys them, so we do our best to work with everybody else and kind of keep it going. And I thank both of you for coming. Thanks for inviting us. Really helpful. I know I'm kind of new to the group here at large, as well. Um I'm the new horticulturist, so I've only been in my 173 00:48:54.720 --> 00:49:10.680 role for about 9 months now, but if there are projects and places that are really near and dear to your hearts that you'd like us to look at, just let us know. Happy to do it. I live in these communities too, and I love them a lot, so we'll take a look at them and just make sure that we're staying up on maintenance. 174 00:49:10.680 --> 00:49:26.320 Thank you. >> Oop, thank you. All right. Thanks, you guys. Much appreciated. Thank you. And I learned something new about bats. Did you all learn about bats today? Cuz that was like >> [laughter] >> That's good to know. Wow. Have you got >> Forward, look up a picture. They've got 175 00:49:26.320 --> 00:49:43.760 these funny little teeth. >> Yes, they do. >> [clears throat] >> Moving on to the Back to public comments. Anybody have any comments at this time? None? Member comments? Rex? 176 00:49:43.760 --> 00:50:00.600 Nothing. Jamie? What? What? You have a comment? You know it. >> [laughter] >> I just wanted to, um again, so happy that the park project is is in play. It started today. So happy. So happy. Um so of course oh for um the septic to 177 00:50:00.600 --> 00:50:23.480 sewer Port Salerno CRA area, um I know we haven't gotten letters yet as far as the date um when that meeting is going to happen. I don't know if you guys have heard anything through the grapevine. No? Okay. And then the Dixie Highway project, if you've heard anything or 178 00:50:23.480 --> 00:50:38.240 update about that. I know it's not our projects, but I'm being asked >> a presentation in October to the October? Okay. >> That's what I had updated last time. >> So October they'll come to the NAC to uh present what's going on and 179 00:50:38.240 --> 00:50:54.320 get some feedback. That's it? Sadie, any comments? A lot of them. Any Any you want to share with us? >> [laughter] >> I mean you do my You know, like the sign, you know, the greenery in the front of 180 00:50:54.320 --> 00:51:09.400 it is just not showing, you know, the dates and stuff like we used to. We got to do something. If you want, I can ask my husband go chop it and do something in there like we had before. Uh I don't I I don't know how to how to 181 00:51:09.400 --> 00:51:25.760 I mean, everybody wanted it to be landscaped, so we did. And then everyone wanted it to be shorter, so we shortened it. And I mean, either we take out what's there or I We have to do something. >> know. We had some greenery you know, a long 182 00:51:25.760 --> 00:51:41.880 time ago. They should just left it the way it is because we did like what they call shorty or whatever, something. And it worked. I I will talk to field ops about that, but I I don't know that short of taking out what's there that 183 00:51:41.880 --> 00:52:00.120 it's that's going to happen. >> Uh you cannot see the sign. You see Golden Gate, but you don't see the sign and that's not that's not the purpose, you know, defeat it. Okay. Thank you. Cindy, anything? I'm good. Burt? 184 00:52:00.120 --> 00:52:16.360 Uh I'm good. I did look up a picture of a Florida bonneted bat, and it's definitely worth looking up. Uh I'm going to write that down. Bonneted >> you for bringing them in. They were pretty interesting and insightful, and I think answered a lot of questions that a few of us have had for a long time, so thank you for that. That worked out very well. 185 00:52:16.360 --> 00:52:25.040 Uh staff comments? Any staff at all? Seeing none, we are adjourned.