Have a listen. >> Good morning and welcome. Nobody's listening. >> Good morning and welcome. >> She likes that. >> We're going to get started now. >> Yeah. Take out your taser. We are delighted that you've joined us
this morning. Welcome to our April 21st, 2026 Board of County Commission meeting. Uh let's I'm calling the meeting to order. Let's have a moment of silence followed by the pledge of allegiance which is going to be led by John Spuraga.
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. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Uh we have a number of presets today. We will have public comment at 9:05. At 9:30, we're going to have a comprehensive agreement for public private partnership. At 50:05 or at the end of our meeting, we'll have public
comment. Again, there are two additional items. Consent 8 is a proclamation commending Kevin Joseph Okconor, Nicholas Degrassia, Graden Miller, and Jake Croto upon the achievement of Eagle Scout. Consent 9 is a local planning
agency commission district 1 appointment. Is there a motion to approve the agenda? >> I'll move approval of the agenda. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I opposed. That motion passes unanimously. We will now begin with
proclamations. The first proclamation is a proclamation recognizing Master Gardener Volunteer Week in Martin County, Florida. >> Good morning, commissioners. We have a we have a large crew here today. The master gardeners with the University
of Florida EFAS Extension Martin County have been serving their communities through plant clinics, demonstration gardens, youth education, community outreach events, and one-on-one guidance, improving the quality of life for our residents since 1984. Their dedication, professionalism, and spirit
of service exemplify the highest ideals of volunteerism and reflect positively on UFAS Extension Martin County and our community as a whole. April 19th through 20 19th through the 25th 2026 is recognized as UFAS extension m Martin County Master
Gardeners volunteer week. Oo that's a mouthful to honor the outstanding contributions of our local master gardeners and here to accept along with a lot of a lot of uh her her crew I guess I would say Jennifer Bellum who is with UFIS extension Martin County. Thank
you. Thank you and good morning. Good morning. Um, first of all, I'd like to thank you for your continued support with the University of Florida Extension here in Martin County. The Master Gardener volunteers are just one of our many volunteer groups we have with UFIFAS Extension. The Martin County
Master Gardeners are have been volunteering in Martin County for over 40 years and they provide education on gardening and landscaping practices through community vents, school gardens, community gardens, one-on-one consultations, our Florida friendly landscaping program, just to name a few.
In 2025, the Master Gardeners hit a new record and recorded more volunteer hours than they ever have before. They volunteered 12,699 hours. This is only what they recorded because I know there's probably thousands of hours they didn't record um into our volunteer management system,
which has a value a inind value of over $420,000 um that they've volunteered back into Martin County. To make this week even more special, tomorrow we are graduating 18 new master gardener volunteers who have went through over 75 hours of
training just to become volunteers with uh University of Florida EFAS extension Martin County. And so I want to thank all the master gardeners for their dedication, hard work to educate the residents here in Martin County and also want to thank the commissioners for their proclamation today. So thank you so much. >> Nice.
>> Would you join us for a photo? >> We're going to do the photo in the well. commissioners >> into the well. Just going to move >> and we can just >> I guess we'll just stand right down here. >> Yeah, I might need to. >> Those are fine.
>> Those are okay. >> There's no reason. >> All right, >> come on in. We're going to have to layer here. It's a lot of people. >> Multiple layers. >> Definitely going to have to layer. >> Wild group. Okay, >> I know.
>> Just keeps growing. Tallest. >> Yeah. The taller taller plant, you know, just like in the garden. Tall in the back, middle, front. >> That's a group. >> Yeah. >> Sarah. Sarah.
I got to go. >> She going up. She's going. >> There you go. >> Okay. >> All right. Make sure you can see well >> so you can see you. >> All right. Everybody right into this lens. Three, two, one.
>> Get another one. And three, two, one. >> This is the biggest I know. GREAT. >> Just keeps growing. >> I got I got your phone. >> Thank you. >> Nice camera.
>> Oh, I have a shot on 35, but this is a back then sort of like >> well for coming I mean out of the way >> right right That's our first line of defense. Those velvet ropes.
>> Even better. >> You give me food, I'll show up. >> Thank you for what you guys do. >> Yes, it is. >> Parties at your house. Wow. Where'd everybody go?
>> Showered. >> And our next proclamation is a proclamation declaring Earth Day in Martin County. April 22nd marks Earth Day, a global observance highlighting the need to protect the Earth's ecosystems which span 510 million square kilometers and
support millions of species. Sustained efforts by residents and organizations can preserve these resources, ensuring their lo their ecological and economic value endures for future generations. Earth Day provides an opportunity to celebrate Martin Countyy's commitment to green initiatives such as expanding storm water treatment areas, promoting
native plantings, and fostering community engagement in conservation. And here to accept we have Mark Perry, executive director and CEO of the Florida Oceanographic Center. >> Always good to have you here, Mark. Thank you. >> Word I got um you know today, tomorrow
is actually the Earth Day special day. I mean back 54 years ago in 1970 uh some of us were around and we were very active and we started the first Earth Day back then and allowed about 20 million people all over our our planet. mostly in our country gathered up to uh
kind of kind of recognize the earth as a precious resource. The folks before me obviously are taking care of that earth and we're we're really working hard to uh to try to all work together to try to understand our sustainability on this planet. We're at 8.2 billion people
right now. When I was born in 1952, there was only 2.2 billion. We've grown a lot and there's a there's a lot of need to the more we occupy this plant, the more we need to be recognizing how to sustain it. I've got for you a little picture. So, this is the Earth uh taken
from space in in um Apollo 17 back in 1972 from about halfway to the moon, about 125,000 miles up. What I want you to note is that the um all this white puffy stuff that's around the planet, that's our thin atmosphere which
sustains about all that water vapor. You know, the water on our planet covers about 71% of the of the Earth's surface and and about 96% 96 and a half% of that is salt water in our oceans. So only 2.5% is freshwater locked mostly into
glaciers, ice packs and even a little bit of our rivers and streams and lakes. But a lot of that also is is needed to uh understand that water vapor right now is is in the atmosphere and it condenses into those clouds and is constantly
moving around our atmosphere. The earth has three forms of water, you know, gas, solid and and liquid. But right now, Lake Okachchobee is about uh 10 uh n 11.94 feet. But the evaporation rate for
today is is almost at 3.5 billion gallons a day of evaporation off the lake. Where does that happen? That happens that water vapor and it goes into there. We're breathing it constantly. We're constantly hydrating our lungs with this water vapor. So
water's a big part of our planet and I appreciate all that Martin County's done and this area where I've grown up in as a resident and I really really appreciate Martin County's efforts to try to protect and preserve our water planet um with all the initiatives that
they've done as we mentioned storm water and all the other kind of things that the county works to stop the pollution and clean up the water so that we have a viable sustainable environment for the future. So, thank you for declaring this ev this Earth Day and I appreciate it very much.
>> Thank you. >> All right. One, two, three. >> Thank you so much. Thank you, Commissioner. Bye, Mark. >> Thank you. Bye. Bye, Mark. >> Next is a proclamation honoring Nurses Week in Martin County, Florida. Nurses
are the backbone of the health care system, providing compassionate, skilled, and evidence-based care to individuals, families, and communities across Martin County. The dedication, resilience, and unwavering commitment of nurses has been especially evident during times of public health challenges, demonstrating their courage,
leadership, and adaptability in the face of adversity. In recognition of nurses week, May 6th through the 12th, the board encourages all residents to join in honoring and celebrating the dedication, compassion, and essential contributions of nurses nurses within our community. And I don't think Lisa
with uh the Florida Nurses Association is here, so we will accept it on her behalf and get it to her. Okay, I think we need a motion to adopt this proclamation. >> I'd make a motion to adopt. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I >> opposed. That motion passes unanimously.
Thank you. >> Thank you, commissioners. >> Thank you, Laura. >> The gardeners left it got very quiet. We're going to need you folks to really rev it up a little bit. They're a wild bunch. >> Get it?
>> Uh, next is public comment. I have one request to speak form and that is from Justin Ducas. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. My name is Justin Ducass and um it is nice to see you guys and see how this
thing works and it's cool that you guys are here. Um I wanted to start off by saying that I am a native of Martin County and I graduated from Martin County High School. Um so I'm just going to get
straight into it. um House Bill 1365 which was passed uh I think was late um 2025 or somewhere um it pretty much makes sleeping in public illegal and
trespassing is also illegal. There are no shelters for me to sleep at tonight or any night. So, um I have to commit a crime in order to go to sleep along with the hundreds of Martin County residents
who um do not have a house to sleep. Um and I feel like this is an emergency and a civil rights crisis and I'm speaking for the behalf of everybody um that is going through a uh similar
circumstance. Um, and I feel like we need to designate a camping area or something to alleviate um, this emergency in which I have to commit a crime to sustain my
biological body. Um and uh if we could talk about that at a later time, that would be great because um this is an emergency. Um this is also
uh a federal lawsuit. Um but I do not want that to um be an indication that I do not like you guys because obviously I like the Democratic way. It's just that I have pretty much
exhausted all of my legal ways of going about this and I don't know how to proceed forward and um if we could uh do something about this. >> Thank you guys. >> Thank you, Mr. Tass.
>> Thank you. >> Very well said. >> Would you like to address us, sir? >> Please come forward and then fill out a request to speak form. Hand it to the baiff. You'll have three minutes to address us. >> Morning.
>> Morning, Mr. Campy. Uh Charlie Bartholomew. I'm from Palm City. Uh just a couple quick things. I'd like to just give more appreciation to Mark Perry for everything he's done over there in the Oceanographic
Institute. He's an old friend and a picking partner. known him forever and his brother and family. Uh I was just curious if there was any recent information on how the CRA in Palm City is rolling along. I see
them working. Um sometimes civil contracts have pauses in them once in a while. Uh, but I was curious how we're doing with the city water and service as they would apply Oops. to the southern end of the
CRA district there. Does anybody have any recent updates or >> We don't do that here at the meeting, but if you call my office, I can I can give you the answers and if I don't have them, we have staff that will absolutely give you the answers. >> Very good. Thank you, Commissioner. >> My pleasure.
>> Thank you. Would anyone else like to address us? Seeing none, we'll return to Oh, Mr. Flanigan. >> He was doing that on purpose for drama. >> You hit your head on the ceiling. >> Yes, I did actually on a doorway, but
that's a whole another story. Um Joe Flanigan. As some of you may not may know, I am the last few years been in charge of the parades, the Veterans Parade, memorial parade, Martin Luther King parade. And this year after the Veterans Parade back in November, I let
everybody know that I was going to have to step down from that position because in May, project graduation and my lovely wife is retiring finally. Um and so I need to kind of free up my schedule. So, I let everybody know that somebody else
is going to have to pick up the ball. And I worked with the veterans council and talked to them and said, "You guys have enough of the information and I can give you I can give you the manual. I can have everything you need to be able to do this." And I was told, "We don't have the resources or the personnel to
do this." And I kind of went, "Seriously, you guys are the veterans. Y'all are in charge of battalions and platoons and who else. All I need is five people." I ran it by myself, but that's that's a skill set. And before that, Jim Reirden ran it very very well.
And he had an office staff. He had a couple of people that were helping him. It can easily be done. But now I'm hearing, it's a rumor, so I can't confirm it that there is a group that is very upset, feel like we're being disrespectful to the veterans, which I
disagree with. My personal opinion, Veterans Day, parade, fireworks, huge celebration. Memorial Day is a solemn moment. It needs to be revered. And the city of Stewart now has a beautiful
park in Memorial Park. And the city of Stewart said they support that and said the commissioners said they would not support the parade. So anyway, just uh just on there I I've got all kinds of information if you wish to talk to me more, but I also offer this is
everything on how to run the Memorial Day parade. Three different times I've offered it to the Veterans Council and I'm not here to bash them. They are great people. They have a great service. I'm ready to hand it to somebody. It can be done in seven weeks.
>> Thanks, Mr. Flanigan. Anybody else want to address us? And we'll move to commissioners. Commissioner Vargas. >> Well, uh I on a light note, that was a light note too, Mr. Flanigan. Uh University of Florida Extension. and I
had personal experience with them. Uh they helped me plan my butterfly, buzzing bee and hummingbird garden and they came out uh five of them came out and they gave a lot of information and we're trying to promote obviously growth and uh uh nature here in Martin County.
So uh that was a a success for me. Um University of Florida I've had the pleasure along with Commissioner Caps to uh continue commissioner training up in Gainesville. uh a stellar group up there and now they've been um they've been
tagged as a uh uh on par with some of the Ivy League schools. So, we have them right here in our backyard. I urge everyone to take advantage of the services. There are many that they have. Um the young man that spoke a moment ago about homelessness, would that be a
social services uh matter? Um Commissioner Herd, Chairwoman Herd. Okay. in possible we can refer him to to that that department. I'd appreciate that. So yeah, that's it for right now. >> Mr. caps.
On April 16th, I attended the Apollo School winter speakers series and the speaker was Katherine Larson and she is the keeper of the house at the House of Refuge and she talked
about the restoration that has been done there and that there's going to be a ribbon cutting event on a Saturday. When is that? Uh >> it's coming up in May. >> May second.
>> And so we we would invite everyone to come or who can. Uh we look forward to seeing the renovations there. She did a great job. It was really fascinating to hear all about the history of the House of Refuge. Uh I'm sure you all will enjoy
uh seeing how it's been restored. Thank you. I serve as your representative, our representative on the Children's Services Council. And as your representative, I get invited on field trips to visit a lot of the the organizations that the Children's
Services Council funds. Um, last week I uh visited the Little Lights Dentistry. It's a homegrown uh uh organization. It's from Martin County. No other one exists any place else. Um, it's for lowincome children
who don't have any insurance. And Little Lights Dentistry provides free dental care to ch newborns to 18 years old. And there's a a dentist who's been on the staff there for 9 years. There are three dental hygienists. The uh offices are on
the St. Joseph's campus and they are just beautiful. I uh my own dentist's office is really state-of-the-art a fi fine fine uh office but this place has just new wonderful equipment beautiful rooms
every all of the rooms have beautiful murals that were uh painted by Lynn Barleta's group it's just an an astonishing asset uh last year they provided uh dental care to over a thousand
Martin County kids for free. Um, another uh organization that I visited that also is homegrown and exists no place else in the world is Banner Lake. Uh, if you don't know about it, it's in Hob Sound. It's grown tremendously over the last 20
years. It now has a school that provides excellent education for, I think, 200 and something children. Uh, it's just terrific. And added to that campus uh recently is Project Lyft, another
homegrown Martin County uh organization. Bob Zakio start started that organization I think about maybe 16 years ago, something like that, with a $5,000 grant and now it's just an unbelievable organization. We have so many uh organizations here that are
singular and distinct and provide so much wonderful care to uh particularly to to kids in in Martin County, particularly low-income kids. Uh they're extraordinary assets that we should be very very proud of. Um also on Friday, I
attended the celebration of the acquisition of the easement for Barbie Ranch. It was held in Indian Town and it was the first gathering of its sort of that sort that the best one that I've ever ever attended. It was incredible.
It was really well attended. Uh really diverse group of supporters. Uh the entire ELOC was there. Uh Army Corps of Engineers was there. South Florida Water Management was there. Lots and lots of people from our agricultural community
were there. um you know some of our best greatest philanthropists from the eastern part of the county. It was such a wonderful gathering and of course it all was made possible because of the inevitable troop family and uh they are
so reliably full of joy and they're so gracious and so grateful and so emotional and uh every time Lance Troop uh speaks about this acquisition he's very tearful and on Friday there wasn't
a dry eye in the house either so it was just a wonderful celebration. ation of a terrific acquisition and showed so much community support for the halfsent sales tax. Thank you. >> Very well said.
A couple of quick things. One to Mr. Flanigan's point about the Memorial Day parade that has been swirling around for quite a few months now. I know that I had heard from a couple of folks. I agree that uh Veterans Day is the
appropriate day for more celebration type events and that Memorial Day should be more solemn. I do also, you know, I've been reading what's been in the paper and on social media, uh it's obviously sort of a split group. I think part of what knowing that the ceremony
portion had still been planned to take place and and give up the parade, which the folks that were concerned about it were thinking it it got a little broader than it needed to be. There was car clubs and and other events and a little too celebratory, a little too upbeat for
Memorial Day. And I guess if you know, God forbid I become a gold star family, my son is in the military. I hope to never have to walk in those shoes, but I can imagine if I were one that it would be difficult to see people celebrating
Memorial Day or saying happy Memorial Day, which I know is not meant to be a knock, but I think we've sort of faded from it. And until someone brought it up, and I give Colonel Win a lot of credit, he had been really quietly saying that for a long time. And I think
people have gotten that. So, we're still, from what I understand, we're still having the ceremony. Uh, it's just the parade portion. And, and Mr. Flanigan, your idea now that I was thinking that where they normally have it right in Memorial Park with the tents that they put up, if we get the crowd
that I would hope we get, it would be too small. But immediately next door, steps away, is a much larger uh venue that the city of Stewart did a beautiful job putting together that could easily handle anyone that is
interested in coming. Uh I still think it's important that if you have young children, scouts, or anyone else, that they come and still understand what we're going through. Now more than ever, I mean, under the current political circumstances, now more than ever, we
should remember um who did what so that we could say and do what we please in the United States. And sort of on that, my So, I appreciate you, Mr. Fanigan. I know that putting parades together is is
crazy uh lot of work. And probably if there was one person could do it by himself, it's probably you. Um, last meeting I had mentioned to Mr. Donaldelson about uh creating some kind of uh discount structure for some of
county um activities or services uh for veterans, active duty, military and uh first responders. Many many communities already do it. Many private organizations, private companies already do it. Uh, I would like to see just a as
a reminder that that would be something uh and that Mr. Donaldson I was thinking I had gotten some very positive feedback about that people that live in other communities that shared with me how they do it there. Um, if each of our department heads would try to brainstorm
with their staff on what they could offer. It doesn't necessarily have to be a discount. It could be some type of incentive. I think it's an appropriate way that we uh respect and honor what those individuals go through.
And then finally, I'm having an additional uh the next in in our in my series of Dish with the Kamish, which will be this Friday, April 24th. It starts at 8:00 a.m. at the Palm City Community Center at the base of the Palm
City Bridge. Now, Charlie Leighton Park is under construction, and when you come by, you'll see we're had in the last couple of weeks a tremendous amount of activity. They're redoing the parking lot, which is the northern parking lot closest to the bridge. So, instead, if you're
familiar with that, if you came directly over the Palm City Bridge and made the left to go into Charlie Leighton Park, the first entrance is detourred. You go down a little bit further. you make the left onto uh the side street and you'll come around by the by the rowing club and
then there's a parking lot there. My guest this month is Dr. Shadri who is the vice president and medical director of Cleveland Clinic. He was the they had split that responsibility between tradition which was his area and then
Martin North and South which was someone else's and they have consolidated them back and he is now over all three of those areas. He is a tremendous wealth of information. He's a great person. I've had the opportunity briefly to meet with
him. Uh I think he will be an excellent uh guest. He'll have a lot of information. you know, there's a lot of sadly there's a lot of misinformation floating around. Uh he will be able to be there to set the record straight. It's not recorded. It's a little more of
a casual conversation. Um he is prepared to answer any questions that are asked. We're obviously hoping to keep it very civilized uh as a nice conversation with amongst our community. It's a free event. Uh it's hosted um or I guess
helped to be hosted by the Palm City Chamber of Commerce. So, I invite you all to come out this Friday, 8:00 a.m. It's about 8:00 a.m. to 9:15. So, if you're a working person, you still can come and hear what Dr. Shadri has to say. And, um, thank you very much. >> Thanks, Commissioner Heatherington.
>> Yes. Um, briefly, um, Commissioner Herd mentioned some of my comments. Friday was a a really amazing day as we celebrated Martin County Forever's um success and we put Barbie Ranch uh celebrated putting that under a conservation easement. I had the
opportunity to of growing up in Indian Town and being able to explore all those beautiful ranches and properties. So, it was an emotional day and I wanted to thank the troop family and our ecosystems department here at the county
and the DP for all of the partnerships that made that possible. It was worked on for years and years and it wasn't easy and thank you to the voters who approved the Martin County forever land acquisition program um to put such a beautiful property that you'll see in
preservation forever. So, thank you to the troop family and all of the parties that made that possible. It was a wonderful day. >> Thank you, Mr. Donaldson. >> I have some recognition I'll present at the end of the day. >> Okay, >> I'm all set. Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Anybody else? Then we will >> dispense. >> We'll take up department three, which is a public meeting for consideration and approval of comprehensive agreement for a public private partnership P3. agenda. >> Sorry, before we do that, uh, let's
approve the consent agenda. Is there a motion to approve? >> There is. So move. >> Yes. I >> There's a motion. There's a motion and a second. Any objections? That motion passes unanimously. Thanks. >> Advice. >> Good morning.
>> All right. Good morning, chair and commissioners. Matt Graham, assistant county administrator. Joining me today is Shawn Donahghue, our general services director, and Stephanie Merley, our OM director. Today is the third required public
meeting under section 255065 Florida statutes for the Martin County Operations Facility Public Private Partnership or P3. >> Why are you here? At this meeting, staff will present the final negotiated comprehensive agreement
and provide both the board and the public an opportunity to review and comment prior to consideration of approval. This represents the final step in the statutory process before board action. This item is a result of a multi-step
public and statutory process. As a reminder, we received the unsolicited proposal on October 31st, 2025. The board held the first public meeting in December, followed by the second public meeting in February, where the board made a formal public interest
determination and authorized staff to proceed with negotiations. Since that time, staff and our consultants have completed negotiations, bringing us here today for the third and required public meeting.
So, this project addresses several long-standing operational challenges. Currently, the county operations are spread across multiple locations as we know um including facilities on the airport property. Currently, excuse me, these conditions create inefficiencies,
duplication of services, and increased operational costs while many facilities are also aging and outdated. Additionally, the county is required to comply with the FAA voluntary corrective action plan or the VCAP which requires
location of the non-eronautical uses from airport property. So, this project provides a long-term centralized solution by consolidating multiple departments into a single modern operations facility. It supports improved coordination, enhances service
delivery, and aligns with the county's long-term capital planning and infrastructure goals. Um, and importantly, it ensures compliance with the federal requirements with regard to the VCAP. So, why the P3 approach? Um, the public private partnership model was selected
because it provides several key advantages. Um it allows the county to transfer certain project risks and achieve greater costs and schedule certainty as well as accel accelerate the project delivery. Um we're going from 18 months of building this as
opposed to 36 months with the traditional method. It includes um it also leverages private sector expertise in design and construction while maintaining public ownership of the facility. Overall, this approach was determined to provide the best value to
the county. Um, and with that, Sean's going to talk about the evaluation and uh what we've been going through with the negotiations for the past uh two months here. So, the proposal has undergone a thorough and comprehensive evaluation
process. That process included uh hiring some consultants, financial adviserss uh for technical review uh and legal review by the county attorney's office. Uh the evaluation confirmed that the proposal meets statutory requirements. it's feasible, appropriate, and in the public
interest. So, the staff e effort uh since October has been extensive. Um we've met with the developer, we've met internally, we've met several times uh up to 100 hours, 100 plus hours uh discussing the
unsolicited proposal, the department's needs for the new facility, uh conceptual plans and cost estimates, uh legal framework, and in details of the comprehensive agreement. Uh the the administration uh county attorney's office, OMB, and the county's financial adviserss have spent the last several
weeks negotiating the terms of the comprehensive agreement and the financial arign arrangements for the project and in negotiating key areas of the contract, including insurance, liquidated damages, uh county's comprehensive requirements for development, uh the project schedule,
project milestones, and completion terms. And I'll talk a little bit more about those. >> Thanks. Uh so the scope includes the construction of 114,000 ft² facility plus an additional 4,000t hazardous
material storage area. Uh the bu there's there's 10 acres of of secured material and equipment storage. uh 300 parking spaces plus uh storm water improvements, landscaping, utilities, a lift station, a chilled water plant uh for cooling, uh
covered storage, material stoages, storage areas, and and a fuel station and emergency backup power. So, it's a pretty comprehensive plan uh meeting the needs of all the county's departments. The facility uh meets the requirements of the CIP uh the capital improvement plan with a central core component
shared by all departments. Uh individual department spaces for offices, warehouses, labs, storage areas, and trade areas. Uh the schedule's aggressive, like Matt said, 18 months for completion and includes several milestone requirements along the way. It's a guaranteed maximum price not to
exceed $74 million. Uh this will be this will payments will be based on completion of the milestones and work performed not ahead. Uh the project has several um areas where the county's protected with bonds and and liquidate and provisions for liquidated damages.
Uh the county was involved in significant decision-m across across the agreement uh including a non-substitution list where we get to define what we want in the building and the developer can't come in with a cheaper product or something that doesn't meet our requirements. uh we get we still have design review to go. We
still have to pick and and deal with the fixed fixtures, furniture and equipment and then we still we can do inspections and and construction permitting. Uh the design will be minimalistic uh and cost effective uh while still meeting the needs of all the departments in the county's LDRs and once the once complete
the building improvements will be conveyed directly to the county as required by statute. Uh some of the benefits uh of the project uh include a hardened facility uh able to withstand 180 mph wind speeds which will allow the county departments
uh to better respond to the the residents and infrastructure needs after a storm. Uh we can actually stay in this facility and be ready to mobilize as soon as the storm's over. Uh the reduced construction costs provide additional efficiencies. Uh the design was intended to dup avoid duplicated spaces such as
shared locker rooms, uh conference rooms, uh communal spaces, layown areas, storage areas, receiving operations, all that's combined into one centralized space. Uh consolidating into one space, one space and one main building provides for better collaboration between and and
within the departments. uh combining the departments to a new modern facility will also provide a cost avoidance uh of not having to maintain the older facilities that we're at now. Uh the plan complies with the FAA requirements as Matt pointed out. And then finally, our consultants uh performed an analysis
of of the cost per square foot of the project uh initially and then compared it to what we could do now as a if we did this on ourselves in a design bid build process. If we did this on our own, we'd be paying around $700 a square foot. This project is coming in at $533
a square foot. So, it's a significant savings and just the process alone, the speed of the process and getting that done uh is something that we just can't do as a county. Uh so, we're we're laying on the expertise of the developer and their and their uh uh experience.
And then overall, as we ne negotiated through the through the project, we increased the size of the building. We added a whole bunch of required improvements and that total cap never changed. the developer met all of our needs and never increased or never even talked about increasing costs.
And from here, I'll turn it over to Stephanie. >> So, a little bit about the financing structure of this project. Based on analysis by the county's municipal advisor, PFM, self- financing, the construction of the Martin County operations facility has been identified as the most cost-effective option and
the approach that delivers the greatest overall value to the county. The proposed financing structure includes bonds pledged by the county's existing halfsent sales tax revenues with the annual impact anticipated to be budgetneutral. This is due to debt obligations the board paid off during
the current fiscal year which offset the annual repayment requirements of this bond, thereby improving the project's overall financing structure. It also includes a $10 million budgeted buyown with approximately 64 million in total debt issued to fully fund the project. A
20-year repayment term is recommended, reducing overall interest costs by about 22 million compared to a typical 30-year term. This approach comprehensively delivers approximately 45 million in total savings to the county over the life of the term. This includes cost advantages
from reduced square footage costs compared to traditional design bid bid del design bid build delivery estimated time value of money impacts avoided rent payments to the airport and savings compared to the proposer's lease purchase alternative option.
Finally, the strategy ensures the county retains full ownership of the facility upon completion, supporting long-term operational flexibility and maximizing value to the public over time by allowing the county to directly control how the facility is maintained, adapted, and utilized without the constraints or
additional costs typically associated with long-term lease or third-party ownership structures. Um, with us today we have Jay Glover from PFM, our municipal adviser, and Dwayne Draper, the county's bond council with Bryant Miller Olive. And they're here and
available to provide additional detail on the county's financial position and the bond issuance if needed. >> She didn't state her name. >> Pardon? >> She didn't state her name. >> So, for the comprehensive agreement considerations in accordance with section 255065, the county has made
several key findings. The project has been determined to be in the public interest and the financial plan has been reviewed and confirmed to be feasible. The agreement includes adequate safeguards to protect the public from additional costs or service disruptions.
And then um based on all the analysis, evaluation, and negotiation, staff is recommending board approval. Um and there's five recommendations here. In the third bullet point, uh, commissioners were asking that, uh, should we approve this that that be a
separate, uh, vote on the third bullet point. So, I'll go through them. Um, the first bullet point, move that the board adopt a resolution determining the proposed project and comprehensive agreement, comply with section 25565, Florida statutes. moved that the board
approve the comprehensive agreement between Martin County and building tomorrow's infrastructure for the design, construction, and conveyance of the Martin County operations facility and authorize the chair to execute all documents related to this request. Move
that the board approve supplemental bond resolution authorizing the issuance of half cent sales tax revenue bonds to fund the project. move that the board approve the budget resolution appropriating the debt proceeds into the
fiscal year 26 budget. And finally, move that the board authorized the chair to sign all related documents to effectuate the issuance of the halfsent sales tax revenue bonds series 2026. That concludes our presentation and we'll be happy to answer any questions
you may have. >> Mr. caps. >> You know, when I think about this project, I think of uh it's a very large contract, $74 million. And the first thing that comes to mind
is the need. Why do we need this? And I'd like to remind uh the public of of a couple of things that have been brought out in prior meetings regarding this matter. And one is that we need the new operations facility
because the FAA is asking us to get off of the airport property because our operations facility there is not an aeronautical use. So we're kind of under a time limit. Uh we need to uh to get off the airport
property. And then also I remember visiting the current operations facility uh when I first got elected and uh it's like a bunch of trailers bolted together as I remember that's what I remember uh and
it's it's kind of subpar for the uh this very large department in our county government has uh has been working in sort of substandard conditions for like 25 years And this issue has been talked about for about 25 years as I remember.
So there is a a great need to have a new operations facility. The second thing that comes to mind with regard to this is how uh would we pay for it and that has
to do with this uh halfsent sales tax revenue bond. Apparently, there's a half cent component in the sales tax that we pay that gets shared back to the counties from the state and we're actually
actually able to um uh use that for bonds um to bond that amount and that's how we would raise the money to uh to pay for the project uh
not through adalorum taxes. So that's uh really important to note. You know, it won't be we won't be uh raising your tax bills, property tax bills in order to pay for it. And then in prior
discussions with Ms. Merly and the staff, uh which the presentation was excellent by all of you. Thank you very much. Um I remember something that was very interesting. We retired about $4.5
million a year in debt last year. Several things like the Veterans Memorial Bridge comes to mind and there were a few others that we we knocked off and it it it created about it was about $4.5 million a year in debts that we
erased last year and the payment on the operations facility will be about $4.6 million. So, um it's it's a large payment, but um it's pretty much on par with the the
uh debts that we retired. And also, we're going to be saving $250,000 a year um that we paid the airport fund for to rent space at the airport. So, actually, we're going to be to the positive about
100,000 a year. So, we've got the room in the budget to do this. I thought that was important. Um, lastly, I would note that the county has strong credit ratings
and very low debts um as a whole. And it looks like we're aiming toward having a 20-year repayment instead of a 30-year repayment, which saves $27 million. >> $22 million. >> $22 million.
So, uh, I'm impressed with the proposal and and I'm comfortable supporting it. And I think Mr. Graham, you mentioned that you thought the motion should be to
initially to cover the number one, two, and four >> and five >> and then then we would do number three as a separate motion. Is that what I >> heard? We'll do three and five separately. >> Three and five. Okay. Well, anyway, I
would initially I would make a motion I would like to go ahead and make a motion to approve this project, but >> second. >> Excellent summary. Thank you, Mr. Vargas. I brought this up at the previous
meeting also in the way that I practice when I'm getting bids. I get at least three bids. I just don't go with one bid. And it seemed as if it was a push just to have one organization submit a bid, negotiate with them, and it was
hurry hurry. I I'm I'm really uncomfortable with that because I don't know what else to compare with. I understand the money. I've got that down. you're going to float a bond and those that choose to invest in it that's fine and I understand about the half cent sales tax
and the cost savings. However, this is $74 million. I think one of the previous commissioners previous meeting said that we're going to compare this to a roof. This is not a roof. Um there are many companies that would be interested in putting their hat in the ring and we have to get the best value for those
taxpayers in Martin County. um you you know this is not something that's impossible to do and and I have a very very big problem with this um this has just been pushed forward and there's not a lot of thought gee is this really the
best deal this is really the best deal for us so I I'm very reticent just to go ahead and approve this with one vendor coming in one one contractor to come in I said that in the previous meeting also
Commissioner Campy. >> Thank you. Um, couple of things. Um, sort of side notes to the process. Uh, I know that there'll be a consolidation, as you mentioned in your presentation, a consolidation of other
areas where county departments have been located. I know obviously the the biggest one is the airport property and we know that that will revert back to being aviation or flight aviation
uh uses on the airport property, but there are several others. I had heard uh a couple of clever uses uh reuses of some of the properties, but I would seriously like the county's leadership to consider evaluating properties where
operations will be moved and where appropriate should be considered for sale back to the private sector, back to the tax roles. uh we shouldn't just creatively figure out a way to repurpose the
property if there is a legitimate and I know speaking at Hal Patio there is already a vision of what could work and make the park more efficient but if there are other areas uh the property on the southern portion of the fairgrounds
at Indian Street uh one of the more valuable pieces of property that the county owns I would prefer to lower the cost of this project to think about putting that back out for sale back to the private sector.
And then secondly, uh when the private partner in the public private partnership, the private partner that organization um if not the ability to require them, I would strongly uh appreciate uh and
value our connection with them if they would utilize as many local contractors and service providers as possible. I know that it's a big organization. It's a tremendous project. Every opportunity
to use our local folks, to engage our local folks as consultants, contractors, service providers, whatever the case may be, that brings an extra value to this project, you know, which will serve the public um residents of Martin County for
decades. But I also think it's an additional opportunity for us. So, I don't know if we can structure that. And I see our folks that are part of that shaking their heads. Yes. Um I'd like whoever is going to be overseeing the project, especially in the beginning, to
see that that is not something that we set at the meeting and hope for the best that we literally would see either in collaboration with the Treasure Coast Building Association or whoever else might be needed. Uh I think that although you have structured a very well
done plan and I can hear my colleague and I don't disagree with what Commissioner Vargas is saying the traditional way to negotiate something would be to collect bids uh from multiple people. But this as we have discussed in
meetings uh in the past is a strategy that is not familiar necessarily to a lot of folks. It has not been utilized everywhere, but it has very much been utilized globally, I'm sure, in the United States. And I think Commissioner
Herd and I have having sat up here for quite a while. This is sort of a an interesting day. As Commissioner Heatherington has been uh in her shorter term, has heard this many times, but Commissioner Herd and I, this has been
discussed for decades. Um, Commissioner Caps touched on it by saying how it looks almost like an encampment. It looks like something that was slapped together for a temporary use on a piece of property at the airport where like, hey, you know, we're going to just push
everything in here. We'll put some people in trailers. We'll put some people in in metal buildings and we'll utilize some structures and we'll just hope for the best. Except decades have passed, and it really is inappropriate for our community. Uh, I don't think
most residents have any idea how this portion of the county employees have to exist. I remember touring our old fire stations uh and looking and saying, you know, sewage coming up through the shower pans, the cabinets falling off
the walls, and we asked our employees to live like that and to work like that. And now if you look at these facilities, and I get it, we're trying to be fiscally responsible and we dragged those projects and those facilities out as long were well past their life
expectancy. I think it's disrespectful and it's not because we weren't trying to come up with something, but I think uh enough is enough. It's well past time that we do this. I know that certain residents will think like they get nervous that we're spending tax dollars
reinvesting into the organization, which most private sector businesses do. Uh but people get frustrated that we're spending money on building things. But anyone that had a concern that this project shouldn't move forward or that we're building a Taj Mahal for our employees, I invite them to come and see
what we've been up against. When I say we, I mean our staff has been up against for decades. lining up to use a restroom before you have to go out for the entire day. Uh, inappropriate. So, I know that we kid with Mr. Donaldelsson because it
was he just celebrated his 30 he's 31 years into the county now, but probably for at least 25 years, this has been an issue. Uh, all the way back when he was the engineer and head of public works. And I think we're finally, you know, I don't want to jinx it. I think we're
finally here. Um, and I'm glad we don't have to name it the Don Donaldson Memorial Building that you that you lived long enough to see this happen. >> Um, but if, god forbid, something happened to you, we will name it after you. At least I'll make I'll make a motion. But
it's nice that you get to see the project come to fruition and that you'll get to be at the ribbon cutting uh, for this. So, I second Commissioner Cap's motion with my two caveats. Sell any property that you can and employ locals. >> Thank you,
>> Commissioner Heatherington. >> Many of my notes have already been spoken. So, >> I read her notes and then I that long before I was here, the the day I arrived, this has been a priority. I've been here seven years and opportunity also to take a tour and it
can't be the way. It's not an efficient way to deliver the public works services to our residents that they expect, demand, and deserve. And um in addition to even accelerate that further is the
FAA um requiring us to use that property for aeronautical uses. So uh that was my first point. And as far as uh building tomorrow's infrastructure, that is a group that has um actually they have
proved that they can do this kind of project and be successful at it with what they did at the Indiantown High School. So, I'm excited to be partnering and I do agree that um the more local vendors you can hire, the better the project will be for our entire
community. So I absolutely support that and I'll just say that this has been in the planning process. It's been well planned. It's been a capital project that has been discussed. It's been planned and I think it's um the financing the P3 mechanism. We were not
talking about this, you know, 5 years ago. I think that's going to give the residents and the county a huge significant benefit to getting this project done on time and on budget. and I support the way it's fiscally planned
and it's the best um way to move the project forward and the most fiscally I think sound and efficient and I will absolutely support it. >> Commissioner Vargas. >> Okay. So, in light of everything that I said um I'm not going to reiterate that because I'm not verbose. I get right to
the point. Yeah, properties need to be sold. Um that's important. We can't be hanging on to this. This is not in the best interest for the county and for the taxpayers. As a matter of fact, I'm glad Commissioner Campy brought this up. I've
had small contractors approach me and they said, "You're locked up there at the county. I can't get in." And these are people that have successful businesses, but it's the same names that come across for engineering, plumbing,
electrical, whatever it may be. This is not correct. This is not correct behavior. We have to afford the opportunity to everyone and give them a hand up to be able to offer their services as vendors andor contractors. And I think that anything that we do in
the future should be included in contracts um if they want to be considered uh to be successful. I'm still very reticent. I don't have anything to compare this with. I see a $74 million price tag here. Um,
I already said before without the additional information and the knowledge, I cannot go along with this. I cannot go along with this. There are other companies out there, believe me, that would love to throw their hat in the ring here. Absolutely, without a doubt. This is not a roof. This is not a
small project. This is huge. Doesn't come along every day. And I've had this discussion with staff. You did a great presentation and I appreciate it. And of course, our accounting and I get the money crystal clear. However, we're in tenuous times right now and we have to be extremely frugal and prudent with our
money as we do personally. This is what I've heard from folks and said they're incredulous. What you're spending how much? Why? And I understand all about the trailers and how they're cobbled together. I get all of that, but there's a certain way in order to make this more effective. This is where I
stand right now. >> Mr. Donaldson, >> I I just wanted to point out two things that this project that are unique and and certainly the P3 is a unique process. It's it is new. However, you must recognize that you just see a small
part of the team here. Part of the uh initial contract also included us hiring a number of consultants to help us evaluate that. and we don't have them here today because quite honestly we have some excellent experts on our staff that allow us to present those in those
details. You know, our county engineers had a number decades of experience working for the private sector. U Mr. Donghue also has similarly decades of experience building large facilities at colleges and other areas. Um and financially too
we have significant resources within and then our consultants are here. So there's two critical elements of that and one of them is you know the first one is are we getting built what we need and uh and absolutely guarantee that we have that and then the other piece is
how does it cost to put the site together. Site development is a complicated business in Martin County and in Florida in general. you know, all the utilities have to be brought in, all the all the inf storm water infrastructure meeting the codes and
that assemblage of of infrastructure is expensive. And so we did have between ourselves and our experts looking at how that would cost and Mr. Donnie who brought up those costs of $700 a square foot, which is really for the entirety of the site, all of those uh
pertinances, everything that goes into putting the site together. Um, and those are real numbers. And those are real numbers that are compared to other particular projects. Um P3 contracts are complicated in that fact that u they have a not they they can't exceed a
dollar. It's a it is a I would say that for a contractor is not for the weak. You know it is uh it is a uh it is a cutthroat business that they work in and building large facilities for very sophisticated uh private sector uh
developments. and uh when they get it wrong, they go out of business. There is no um second chance, if you will. It's a oneand done. So, I think that's to the advantage. That's why we're interested in it as well is that it is a tight
contract. We um they have the experience to do it. And I think the other thing that's really important that as I've been told by our taxpayers association, Miss Merley speaks too fast. Um the financial piece is is also I think a
piece that is uh uh uh very noteworthy and I invite the public to to pull that apart in the fact that we have a really great financial team that put together that is saving significance amounts of money both in terms of the financing and
how the board supported buying down debt and uh the actually having uh over $100,000 a year in revenue. Uh, and to build a $74 million facility all at the same time is is is really quite creative and and I don't want to over gloss that
because it was pretty significant. Um, and uh it kind of goes to the heart of Martin County's pay as you go mentality and our ability to deliver on um significant needs when we need to. So that I think just wanted to make sure that there was a lot work on here. There
was a whole team of experts that were behind them. We didn't need to bring them because quite frankly, we have some of the best right here. Thank you. >> Yeah. I just want to say that this project was done in full compliance with the law. And uh how many public works
employees work out of the Wamfield facility? >> We're going to name a wing after you, Jim. Jim Gordon, public works director. So we have about 110 employees out there just in public works, but we also have general services with another 50
>> 50 plus >> 50 plus employees out there. So we share that facility currently. >> So 160 employees there >> and then we're adding the parks department as well. >> Right. >> Yep. >> Yep. And I just want to say we have the team in front of us here. Uh Mr. Abate
and Mr. Gorton were uh significant parts of the design team and then the negotiating team was Miss Merley and Mr. Donghue and Mr. Graham and I could not have more faith in the team that we've put together. I have complete trust and
confidence that this will be a terrific project. It's the biggest project that we've ever contemplated, but it's one that I have no reservations about approving. I I think that you've I'm so proud uh and so confident in in uh uh
that this project is the best that we can do. Terrific job. >> And that's coming from Sarah Herd. >> That's right. I'm a pushover. >> Yeah, that's what people call you. Pushover. >> 23 years I've been pushing pushed over. >> So, there is a motion to approve bullet
items one, two, and four. Is that correct? >> Yes. >> Okay. There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? >> I opposed. >> Opposed. >> That motion passes 41 with Commissioner Vargas dissenting. Now on to three and five.
>> I'd make a motion to >> separate or together. You can do those two together. >> Good. I'll make a motion to uh accept items three and five. >> And for that, it looks to me like you're going to have to buy me a new box of >> pens.
Right. Yes, >> there's a motion. A motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> There's a motion. >> We just need to ask for public comment. >> This is a public hearing. Would anyone from the public like to address us? >> Yes, Mr. Mcrist. Thank you.
>> You're right. It has been a long time. a long time of people fighting to keep as many jets out of the sky as possible at WHM field 30% of the property still does not put jets in the sky. So when I'm going over this uh item on
your website the agenda website I didn't see uh building tomorrow's infrastructure mentioned uh all I saw was building tomorrow's schools. Building Tomorrow's Schools is an operation that's been
actually in functioning for only two years out of North Palm Beach. And uh then when I researched that, I saw that it was a uh a shoot off of building tomorrow's infrastructure.
So this feels icky to me. there the the the appetite for jet hanger space at WMfield is insatiable and uh obviously you guys have decided what you're going
to do. I think at this point all we can really hope for and I hope you would at least throw us a bone knowing that the illegal extension of runway 1230 in 1998 started all this. I think you at least throw us a bone and
do what you can to preserve the 23 acres on the airport property that uh border the YMCA and then all the neighborhoods to the north of there. Yeah, this is icky knowing that uh the
real need for hanger jet space is coming out of North Palm Beach. It just has an icky feel to it. And uh it's over. I fought it as long as I could. But again, throw us a bone. Preserve that 23
acres uh of buffer between the airport and the uh the YMCA and those neighborhoods to the north. >> Sir, would you identify yourself for the record? >> Francis Joseph Mcristel III.
>> Thank you. Any further? Anyone else from the public? Seeing none, there's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I >> opposed. >> Opposed. >> That motion passes. 41 with Commissioner Vargas dissenting.
>> Thank you very much. Uh we're now going to take up department four if that's okay, which is adoption of a resolution approving the surplus and disposition of a county owned property to the town of SS Point for the benefit
of the public or community interest and welfare. This is Miss Sigura. >> She's coming down. >> Okay. He's on her way You want to start it?
>> We could sit here in awkward silence. >> She's got to be like sprinting that. Imagine like that's right. I mean like >> uh Jim Gordon, public works director for the record. Uh, this is a request for acceptance and approval of a resolution
for the surplus and disposition of a.23 acre county-owned property that's currently that's located adjacent to the SS Point Town Hall. The subject property is currently leased to the town and the lease term expires uh next month, May
10th, 2026. The property is not currently needed for county purposes. There she is. >> And uh the town of Schools Point has proposed purchasing the property for public or community interest in welfare. >> You don't have to say sorry.
Um >> take a deep breath. >> Go. >> Sorry. This is my fault. I moved out of out of order. >> I was watching and I was like, wait, I thought they were going to come out of here. um >> came all the way from Willoughby Boulevard. >> How much did you do? >> I just did this. >> Oh, okay. The executive
>> um the county currently has a public purpose lease agreement with the town of Souls Point for the 23 acre parcel, which it's directly behind and adjacent to their town hall parcel. The lease is scheduled to terminate on May 10th of
this year. And rather than entering into a new lease, the town at their September 2025 meeting authorized staff to explore the potential of purchasing the property. They completed an appraisal which came back with a fair market value
of $50,000. Um, by way of background on this piece of property, the county acquired this property in 1981 as part of the Southern Gulf Utilities purchase. In 2010, the county determined that the site was no
longer needed for county purposes and removed the storage tank that was located on the property. Then in 2011, the county entered into that public purpose lease agreement. More recently, the town manager brought forward an item to proceed with purchase
of this parcel, which was approved at their board meeting on April 14th. staff is requesting that this parcel be declared surplus and authorized for sale to the town of SS Point, who is a municipal corporation pursuant
to Florida statute 12538. The statute allows the county to convey property that is no longer needed for county purposes to a municipality in support of public interest and welfare and a mutually agreed upon price. Um,
the mutually agreed upon suggested price would be the appraised value of the property, which is 50,000. With that, we ask that the board adopt a resolution declaring the property surplus and approving its sale to the town of SS Point for $50,000 and
authorize the chair to execute the contract and a county deed transferring the property to the town of SS Point. If there's any questions, we'd be happy to answer. Commissioner Campy. Thank you, Madam Chair. C. Mr. Gore, can you pull
up onto the screen uh the location of the property so folks at home can see >> Okay. >> what exactly we're discussing? >> It's on 396. If that helps you, >> there you go. Can you um I guess that's as big as we
can make it. >> See how that's >> There we go. Sorry. Uh, can you zoom in a little bit? Donna, are you in charge? >> Oh, that's it. Okay. The Perfect.
Perfect. The point I wanted to make is I'm surprised this was county property in the first place. It literally is that building to the right that says TSP, Town of Souls Point. That's their town hall. This is like their if you would, if you didn't know any better, you would assume this is their parking lot or
their property. I think it makes perfect sense that we would uh finalize. We don't need to continue to lease it. And I would remind people that when they think about the county is selling off property. SS Point is in Martin County. SS Point residents are Martin County
residents. So it's not like we're selling this off to Port St. Lucy. We're selling this off basically to ourselves uh other residents. And uh if the uh appraisal came in at 50,000, then that's a fair number. Uh, we shouldn't be
trying to twist the arm of our fellow residents behind their backs. I would make a motion to staff's recommendation to sell this property to our friends at the town of SS Point. >> I would be glad to second it. >> Mr. Daniels, do you want to add anything
else? >> Bob Daniels, uh, town manager, SS Point. Uh, just wanted to thank the commission. you know, it's it's great when we work on cooperative efforts and this is one that's been a little bit uh time in the making and and u so I really appreciate your cooperation and hopefully you all
vote to approve. Thank you. >> Thank you. Would anyone from the public like to address us on this matter? Seeing none, back to the board. Any further questions for our staff or Mr. Daniels? There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I
>> opposed. That motion passes unanimously. Thank you. Thank you very much. >> Put that 50,000 towards the maintenance facility. >> Need to get as much revenue as you can. >> Costing a fortune. What that looks like.
>> Shall we take an early break for our morning break and then come back in 10 minutes? >> Is Isn't there something else? The hotel and >> Punk. I don't think that'll take that long. >> Let's let's just just funnel through it. >> Take up public hearing quasi judicial
number one, which is a request for approval of a revised ma major master site plan for Palm Palm Pike Crossing and a revised final master site plan for lot five. This is quasi judicial. Uh
Commissioner Vargas, any exparte disclosures? >> If I have any, they've been filed. >> Commissioner Caps, >> if I have any, they have been filed. If I have any, they've been filed. And Commissioner Campy, >> I don't have any and that's been filed. >> And Commissioner Heatherington, >> if any, they've been filed. >> Excellent. Mr. Aguilar, have you
provided all of your important materials to the clerk? >> Good morning. Uh, a copy of my work history has been turned in as exhibit one. >> Okay. Anyone who's going to be providing sworn testimony in this uh public hearing, please stand up, raise your
right hand, and be sworn in. Do you swear or affirm the evidence you're about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? >> Okay, I do. >> Thank you. Please proceed. >> Thank you, Madam Chair.
Good morning, members of the board. My name is Luis Aguilar, principal planner for the growth management department. The anointing vendors proof of public notice was turned in at the LPI meeting. I'm presenting a request from Bradford
Threading Partners LLC to revise the Palm Pie Crossing master site plan by expanding lot 5 and to approve a revised final site plan for a threetory 2000 uh 20,959
square foot hotel with 105 units on approximately 6 uh 57 acres. included is a request for a certificate of police facilities reservation. The subject site is located in the
southwest section of Palpai Crossing, a master planned commercial development south of southwest Martin Highway and west of Southwest High Meadow Avenue in Palm City. This is the Pampai Crossing
development. This an enlarged area of the site. The property is undeveloped. The suning district is limited industrial. The properties to the north, east and south are limited industrial as
well. The future land use designation is industrial and the abiding properties have the same designation. And this is the approved master site plan. Here's lot five and the proposed addition to the lot, which is a lake and
a dry retention area. North of north of the subject site, you will find lots one through four of the Palai Crossing development, which includes a convenience store with gas station, a vet clinic, retail, a daycare
facility, and a pet care facility. Here's the proposed revised master plan showing the expanded lot. And this is the approved site plan for lot five which was for a 120,600
square ft residential storage facility. However, this building was never constructed. This is the first sheet of the proposed site plan. Access to a property is from two locations on an internal roadway
here and here. And here's the enlarged version of the site plan. You can currently see the entrances to a site, the circulation, and some of the features such a pool and
outdoor seating areas. This is the addition to lot five. The applicant is proposing site enhancements such a gravel pathway, a gazebo, and a paved seating area with benches.
So, you can see the pathway here, the gazebo, and the seating area. The applicant is requesting alternative compliance from the primary facade transparency penistration criteria of
article 4 division 20. Staff recommend approval. The board of county commissioners is the final decision maker for this application. And these are the proposed building elevations.
This here are the primary facas. This matter was heard before the LPA on April 16, 2026. The LPA voted to approve 3 to zero. Development review staff have found the
Palmai crossing lot fire application to comply with all applicable regulations and the comprehensive growth management plan as detailed in the staff report. We recommend to move that the board receive and file the agenda item and its
attachments, including the staff report as as exhibit one and move that the board adopts the resolution approving the revised major master site plan for Palai Crossing and move that the board adopts the resolution approving the
revised final site plan for the Palai Crossing lot 5 project. This concludes my presentation. Um, the applicant is here has prepared a presentation as well and is ready to answer any questions. >> Commissioner Campy.
>> Thank you, Mr. Agular. Two quick questions. Uh, I know you mentioned it, but can you tell me again what was the square footage of the proposed and approved storage facility that was going to go there? >> 120,600 square ft.
>> 120,000. And what's the proposed square footage of the hotel? >> So, it is for uh 20 >> mm 60 >> I lost it over here. Um 20,959 foot hotel.
>> It's 62,877. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Correct. Is is a three three-story hotel? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um I'll hear from the applicant before I continue. I just wanted to get those two square footage totals for something I'm going to tell you later.
>> Thank you. >> Any further questions? Applicant, would you like to give us a presentation? >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. All right. Good morning, board of county commissioners, chaird. My name is Leah Hinesman with Cotler and Hearing here. On behalf of the applicant
for Palm Pike Crossing lot 5, I wanted to thank Louise and staff for their coordination on this project and their presentation. So, we are here to present a revised major master site plan and lot 5 final site plan for proposed hotel use
within the existing master plan commercial development. This request reflects a vision that aligns with both the market demand and Martin County's long-term goals. This project is supported by a highly experienced consultant team, many who have been involved from the original
master plan. You can see on the screen our full team and together we have worked collaboratively with staff throughout the review process to ensure a comprehensive and compliant design that meets all applicable county standards. As background, lot 5 was originally
envisioned for a hotel and the master plan was approved under the assumption one would be designed in this location. During the uncertainty of the CO 19 pandemic, the project was transition to a self-s storage facility which received approval in 2022. Today, with a
stabilized and growing hospitality market, we are returning to the originally intended hotel use, an evolution that better serves the area and supports economic activity within Martin County. The application includes both a revision to the existing master site plan and
final site plan approval for 105 room three-story hotel approximately 62,870 total square ft. The proposal has been designed to integrate seamlessly within Palm Pike Crossing while meeting all requirements of the comprehensive growth
management plan and land development regulations. The site is located at the southwest corner of Southwest Martin Highway and Southwest High Meadow Avenue and consists of approximately 6.57 acres. The property is well positioned within
an established commercial and industrial corridor with strong regional access this close to the turnpike. The subject property carries a future land use designation of industrial consistent with all surrounding parcels. The proposed hotel is compatible within
this designation and supports the broader employment and service framework intended for the corridor. Staff has confirmed consistency with the comprehensive plan. The site is zoned light industrial LII and the proposed use is permitted within
the district. The surrounding zoning context is also predominantly industrial, further reinforcing compatibility. The revised master site plan contains the overall framework of Palm Pike Crossing while allowing the expansion of lot 5. This adjustment supports the
operational needs of the proposed hotel while maintaining compliance with all site standards. The site has been designed with a strong emphasis on open space and environmental performance. Over 64% of the site is either open space or landscape,
significantly exceeding minimum requirements. Extensive pvious areas and storm water features enhance both function and aesthetics. Part of the reason for the existing dry detention was included. The site not only includes an outdoor seating and cafe area, but
also outdoor amenity pool as well as an overlook to the modified lake, pedestrian pathways, and extended landscape areas. The site accounts parking for the total hotel room count, employees, and outdoor seating areas requiring 113 spaces. And this design
provides 121. As outlined in staff's report, the project satisfies all applicable criteria, including storm water management and water quality compliance, compliance with flood elevation requirements, enhanced landscape and tree preservation standards, minimal
traffic impacts with acceptable levels of service, adequate utility capacity, and full compliance with fire access and ADA requirements. Alternative compliance is requested for a facade transparency on the select elevations. Staff has reviewed and
confirmed that the design meets the intent of the county standards and is appropriate for the site context. Here's a look at the architecture of the site with the proposed landscape. As mentioned earlier, we are above the requirements for landscape and open space, creating a beautiful hotel for
future guests to enjoy. This project provides meaningful benefits, including supporting tourism, activating an underutilized parcel, and aligning with the county's long-term vision for growth. The CA applicant respectfully requests approval for the revised major
master site plan and lot 5 final site plan. The project is fully compliant and provides a positive community and economic benefit. And I want to thank you for your time and I'd like to invite our applicant up to say a few words. Good morning, Mr. Patel.
>> Hi. Good morning, chair. Good morning, commissioners. Um, very excited to present this project to the county. Um, my name is Raj Patel. I'm a county resident for almost a quarter of
a century, which implies I'm pretty old. But um I just wanted to uh thank you for the opportunity to speak to you about our proposed hotel project. I was um advised by my team to stick to script because I'm usually involved with the
city of Stewart and things get exciting over there. So um anyhow, Palm City is growing. There's a need for more places for visitors as you all know. Uh travelers, families to stay. Our our Palm City is very it's pretty affluent.
It's doing very well compared to 20 years ago. There was a little bit of difficulty. Restaurants couldn't even survive. Today we have so many beautiful restaurants in the CRA and um we got other ones opening and they're all busy. They're all
thriving and they're doing very well. So, um we're just part of the whole thing. We just wanted to make sure the our project functions well, includes enough parking as you've seen. traffic flow is exactly what it should be and obviously storm water systems are very
important to all of us. Um the project will benefit the community by creating jobs bringing in tax revenue. Uh this is not a 3P project. This is a private private project. We'll be contributing to the tax role which is
fantastic for everybody. We'll be supporting local businesses like restaurants and shops. And we'll be giving visitors a convenient, nice, safe place to stay in Palm City. It's a Hilton hotel. We've presented a beautiful layout, lots of green space,
places for people to walk, congregate. It's nice. Um, I believe this is a responsible project that supports growth while maintaining the character of Palm City and Martin County. Um, you know, just to let you
know, my kids all studied here. They went to all the Martin County school systems. Both graduated from Martin County together with uh my ex- neighbor um, Commissioner Gampy. And um, we're very much involved in the county, very
much involved in the city of Stewart. I'm building the other hotel in downtown Stewart that faced a little bit of u resistance. rightfully, you know, uh, city of Stewart is small and people wanted to preserve, um,
the quaintness, but, uh, we definitely need a hotel in downtown Stewart. So, that's going to start in a a couple of weeks, but I just wanted to let you know, um, I'm trying my best to make everybody happy here. Um, one more thing before I finish up. It would be very,
very nice if I get a 50 unanimous approval. That's all. Thank you very much. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. I'll try to answer them. >> Questions for Mr. Patel or Miss
Heinselman? Commi Commissioner Campy? >> Not so much questions. It's just I wanted to give my feedback on the process that's been here. Um, originally, as you heard in the presentation, the they were going to build a fourstory
storage facility. That was the plan. not these folks, but somebody else. And I was very unhappy with that strategy. Uh, as a Palm City resident, as the district commissioner, and for 20 years, as Mr. Patel said, I could literally walk to
this site from my home. Um, if I felt the urge. Uh that being said, I was frustrated, but rightfully so, the board voted uh to approve the storage because they basically had to. And I voted no. >> Uh because it just my vote was more of a
symbolic vote of just not pleased that uh we would have been adding an additional storage facility, 120,000 square ft. And for reference, the Publix, the original Publix on Martin Downs Boulevard is 55,000 ft. So
imagine stacking the Publix on top of the Publix. Uh for more reference, the Publix, what we call the the small Publix on Martin Highway behind the Palm City Post Office is 27,000 square ft. So you're talking approximately four or
five Publix, four stories tall storage that within again walking distance of that site, there were five others. So I was very frustrated that it was going to be storage. And as I've driven past there every single day waiting to see
this monstrosity start to come up out of the ground and magically it's not. Uh there's been talk as as the applicant said there's been talk about a hotel going on the site. It makes perfect sense because it is one of the few areas
in South Florida where you can get on and off the turnpike and on and off 95 right there. uh Indian Town Road in Jupiter and up in Fort Pierce are the only other spots that I can think of where you can do that. There is hotels
uh down by Caner. Most of the time they're busy. Um as we had heard, Palm City is the largest of the communities. 26,000 currently approximately 26,000 residents live in Palm City. So, if you have the convenience of in and uh on and
off of 95 and the turnpike right there and the largest of our communities in Martin County, uh a hotel makes sense. The other thing that frustrated me about storage is that if you were not storing things there, there's no benefit for the
overall community that a hotel would have. Um I also like, you know, I travel quite extensively for work. uh and stay in hotels similar to this one and they're lovely. Uh uh all of the brands that whether it's Hayyatt or the
Marriott or the Holiday Inn, they're fine. But I think Hilton and I know you'll they're independently operated a lot of them with the with the brand, but the brand requires the independent uh operators to really maintain the
exterior and the interior and the services provided at a very high level. Uh, so I was very happy to hear that it would be also a Hilton. So you put all those things together and I'm very pleased to make a motion to accept staff's recommendation. The final
thing I would say is that other than this alternative compliance for some I I didn't even really I read it two times. Some what is it windows or lack of windows too many windows? What's what give us the layman's uh definition of what the alternative compliance is meant
to be? So for the transparency on the first floor of the p primary facas it requires a 40%. And uh the hotel is proposing uh 37%. So a 3% decrease in transparency which
obviously means the windows. Okay. On the first floor I other than that they would be allowed to build this without us really you know so it's not like we are you know giving up the farm to allow some crazy project. So I'm I'm pleased.
I think there'll be always, as we know, folks that won't want it to be anything, but I think that uh it'll be an an excellent uh new project for Palm City and for Martin
County. And um Mr. Patel is, as he mentioned, a longtime resident of Palm City. He's building in his own community and and I personally thank you for doing it. Mr. Caps.
>> Yes. I will second the motion and remind us all that this is a master final site plan approval. So, uh, no comp plan amendments are needed and no zoning changes are needed. So they're going
straight to uh major master site plan approval which basically means this is a byright project. Is that a good description? Uh Paul
>> thank you. Good morning commissioners. Paul Schilling growth management director. So in essence, yes, the the proposed use is consistent not only with the zoning, the land use, the uh proposed master site plan, and the accompanying uh revised final site plan.
So um all of the evidence has been provided, all of the staff reports and compliance findings. So uh yes, sir. >> Great. And um I I want to remind the younger people today of what motel life
was back like back when I was a kid. I have a few memories that I always like to share with with younger people. The first thing I remember is this was the days before cell phones. And my mom
would drive us in under the awning at a motel and she would have me go inside and check the price of the hotel. And if it was5 or $10 too much, we'd get back in the car and drive to the next corner
and and check on the price on that one. And we might make three or four stops before we make a decision. And that that's the way you had to do it back in those days. And it seems like the prices back then were like4 or $50 a night
>> as I remember. And then my my next memory of early days and and using motel was the days when you had to use an actual key for the door and not a little
plastic thing. And and it was very important that you check out. not just that you check in, you had to check out to return your key and get your little deposit and and people would drive away with the keys. So, I don't know how the motel kept so many spare keys, but I
suppose they had to. And uh so that was interesting. And then there's the ice bucket. Um the kid, that was the kid's job. When the family checked into the room, the first thing you did is hand the ice bucket to one of your kids and say, "Go down the hall and get us some
ice so we can we have some water to drink." This was before bottled water was commonly used. So, you you had plastic cups and you had your ice bucket and you just drank water out of the tap. Uh go to the bathroom sink and get
yourself a drink of water. So I on those lighter notes, I thought I would share that with the young folks. >> I don't have any memories of that. I'm much younger than you. >> Commissioner K, you're forgetting the water bed. >> Oh yeah. >> Oh yeah.
>> Commissioner Caps was Expedia before there was Expedia. >> Commissioner Heatherington. >> And all the hotels that we stayed at had access on the out exterior of the building. Motel. Yes. So, I would just say many of us remember that this was
the the very sought after site of Costco. Um, and then the community um rejected it being on that site. And I also remember sitting up here and it came in as a basically a straight zoning project where we and I thought that was
approved unanimously. So, um, >> it was a straight zoning project and, um, so it the land owners were entitled to build what they're doing. So, what you're doing, I I believe is a straight zoning entitled project and I believe it
has um its benefits and I will be supporting it and I wish you all the best. This is a public hearing. Would anyone from the public like to address us? Seeing none, I'll close the public hearing and return. And I also will be supporting this and also I appreciate
that you have far exceeded the open space requirements and also that you are only planting native trees. Both wonderful decisions. So there's a motion and a second. All those in favor I opposed. >> That motion passes 50. You got your
wish? >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Uh thank you to staff for all the work you guys did. Appreciate it very much. >> You're in the county. >> Thank you. >> Sorry. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> We're going to take a 10-minute break now.
Okay, thank you. We are back taking up uh workshop one which is a review of the fiscal year 2027 tenative capital improvement plan. Miss Shelby Delapietra. Oh, a new name. >> New name. >> New name. No longer a Baker.
>> So, once uh before Shelby gets started, I just wanted to make a just a few quick remarks on the capital improvement plan for this year. And the the short story is there's not a lot of uh um any additional requests. There's a few
requests for additional funding, but largely it is flat. Um, but I think it marks uh uh achievement in Martin County and the fact that for a number of years we've talked about backlogs
and the need for significant uh new funding sources to deal with maintaining what we own and operate uh and re from resurfacing number of years. We talked about that parks, uh, facilities,
and while Sean is here, he knows that we still have, uh, some needs in in building operations. um the last few years we were able to um to catch up on some of the uh uh well our fis uh far funding so that we're
able to keep some of our our numbers flat. Now, in terms of um making repairs to the courthouse and our jail facility and some of the other major projects that um >> we were largely having to do emergency
repairs and come to the board throughout the year for reserve funds. So I think just as just I think we should be proud to look at that we have made some uh progress that we are no longer going backwards in in a lot of our operations and maintenance farms and that we're
actually starting we are catching up and so I just wanted to uh thank the board for our pre past o uh projects uh and and funding opportunities and while there's always a a need for uh resources
uh this I think represents a uh uh CIP that can achieve our goals and still uh keep up with our uh maintenance opportunities. Thank you. >> I just wanted to tell you that Commissioner Campy is over here whispering about the improvements to the courthouse. He thinks that you're
partial because your daughter's going to be working there and that's why they're finally getting the repairs that they need. Any truth to that? I plead the fifth, >> which is fantastic. >> She's going to be working there as a
judge. So, congratulations to you. >> That was a secret out of the bag. Now, >> I don't think it's a secret. >> It's not a secret. >> Please proceed. >> All right. Good morning, Commissioner. Shelby Delipra, budget and CIP
coordinator, here today to present to you the fiscal year 27 capital improvement plan. During this workshop today, we'll walk through the key objectives of the fiscical year 27 capital improvement plan. It begins with defining the CIP, outlining a project's origination
process, and reviewing revenue planning and proposed expenditures. Then we'll move into project highlight slides, the CIP's impact to the overall county budget, and wrap up with board review. What is the capital improvement plan? When we talk about the capital
improvement plan or CIP, we're referring to a multi-year planning tool that helps the county identify infrastructure needs and the funding sources to address them. It plays a critical role in supporting the services provide to our community by ensuring that we plan for future
construction, maintenance, and to protect the infrastructure over the next 10-year period. Throughout this EIP, you will see fixed asset replacement budgets, also known as FARBs, which are essential for planning and maintaining our current assets. All revenues in the CIP are required to
both be available and feasible. With approval of the CIP, the board acknowledges that the projects contain the plan represent a reasonable interpretation of the anticipated needs for the county. Projects included in the first year of funding of the fiscal year 27 CIP will be included in the fiscical
year 27 county budget that will be presented to the board in July. CIP projects originate from a variety of sources such as FDOT work plans, mandates, strategic planning, level of service requirements, and more.
The capital improvement plan's ever evolving process that assists in identifying and planning for the county's capital needs. The process begins in December. Departments develop and refine their CIP sheets. These are then submitted to the office of management and budget in February for funding and then are reviewed by county
staff and administration. In April, we have the CIP workshop as we are here today. With approval, the CIP projects presented to you today will be included in the tent of budget that will be brought to the board in July. The annual budget workshop, the board will review the tent of annual
budget and will set a ten of millage rate. The final step in the budget process is in September. The annual budget that will begin on October 1st, 2026 will be adopted at the board at two public hearings. The fiscal year 27 CIP is a continuation
of previous year's projects. Let's take a look at some key projects across departments that include parks and recreation, the sea turtle beach cafe and beachside restroom, ecosystem management, we have the Cypress Creek flood plane restoration, coastal MacArthur Boulevard beach and
June restoration, storm water management, we have the Bessie Creek retrofit roads, we have Old Pump City North neighborhood restoration, community development, we have Maple Avenue drainage improvements in Jensen Beach CRA
utilities connect to protect force main and grinder systems public buildings Martin County operations complex library we have the Elizabeth LSI library audiovisisual upgrade as presented today the CIP includes a 1%
increase in budget Avalor revenues over fiscal year 2026 This slide represents an ablum impact per department which totals to approximately $385,000 increase over fiscal year 26. Here's a snapshot of the products that
have contributed towards the fiscal year 27 ADLRM impact. These will be discussed in depth with each department's highlight slides. CIP projects typically involve the the outlay of substantial funds. Therefore, numerous sources of revenue are necessary to provide financing over the
duration of the project. Most capital funding sources are earmarked for particular purposes and cannot be transferred from one capital program to another. An example of this would be an enterprise feebased project such as airport fees to assist in the rehab of a runway
with a CIP being presented to you today. ABLORM only makes up 17.7 all revenues proposed. The fiscal year 27 CIP represents 7% slice of the total countywide budget which is still under development and
will be brought to the board in July. This concludes my portion of the presentation. If there are no questions, we can proceed into department highlight slides. >> Questions? >> I don't see any. So, let's proceed. >> Um, first is airport.
>> Good morning, Madam Chair. Good morning, commissioners. Andrew McBine, airport director. Today we present the fiscal year 27 CIP highlights. Uh in fiscal year 26, the airport utilized approximately $235,000 of enterprise fund towards a CIP. In
fiscal year 27, we're looking to utilize $1.2 million of airport enterprise funds towards a CIP. This is an overall impact of uh $970 additional. What stayed the same commissioners is with and field remains an enterprise fund with no
support from local taxpayers. We operate entirely from the revenues generated at the airport and our grants are matched with both FAA and FDOT grants. What's changing in fiscal year 26, we had a number of design projects and we're moving into construction projects which
is reflecting the $970,000 increase in our CIP request. completed uh completed fiscal year 26 CIP projects included the airfield signage replacement project, the airfield security improvement projects as well as vehicle gate security
improvements. Current airport CIP includes the taxi lane bravo rehabilitation. That project was paused due to season. The runway 1230 papy and reel replacement. That's the precision approach uh path indicators and runway end identification
lights as well as the taxiway alpha hold bay. Upcoming CIP projects commissioners is a runway 725 rehabilitation that is a crosswind runway at the airport with the state participating in funding that as well as the residential sound insulation
program that is the insulation of homes that are affected by aircraft at the airport. Any questions commissioners? >> Any questions? He funds his improvements from their own money. >> That's correct. Airport Enterprise funds. >> Thank you, commissioners.
>> Thank you. >> Can we do tenative approval for each one as we've done in the past? >> Sure. >> Okay. >> Move approval. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I opposed. That motion passes unanimously. It will take up
community development. >> Good morning, commissioners. Susan Corores with the Office of Community Development here with my colleague Jordan Pastorius. What stayed the same as I come every year and say we are focused on infrastructure installation and
improvement in all six of our CRA areas. Um we look at programs, projects uh that forward that goal and concentrate on the completion of each community's redevelopment plan.
completed projects. I'm Oops. Let me just tell you what changed. Increased private investment. We're proud of this one. Um and that is because of some of the streetscapes that we've all uh and I and I include the county in that built around the county. Um, and you can see
that if you drive down Map Road or Bridge Road or Dixie Highway in Hobound, uh, the increase in private investment on those streets. We have new social media in the CRA. We're going to have a Facebook. So, that's exciting. Um, >> is that something new? Is that a new
thing? >> It's a new Facebook. >> How about that? Um, I will point out some AIP projects when we get to completed projects. And we did receive four project awards this year. So that was exciting. If you go to
completed, uh I again I'm going to point out AIP because it really was a stellar year for art and public places. Uh we have Windy Day in Palm City, Navigating Martin Waters, a gorgeous mosaic in Port Serno, and the Hobound Library should be
celebrating shortly their new mural and their book benches, 3D printed book benches. Um, the other highlight I believe for us would be the sale of the Palm City property and that was completed as well. Moving on to current projects, I'll
point out those that are under construction uh at this time. Golden Gate El Camino is under construction hopefully to be finished at the end of the summer. We have Port Solerno Park Drive improvements and those improvements include uh sewer
for that street and the entire pocket. The CRA is doing that street and some improvements to the dock and the parking and the streets there. New Monrovia Park should be underway in a couple of weeks. We should have shovels in the ground and that's going to be an exciting project
for that neighborhood. And of course, still working with Habitat for Humanity on Petway Village. They have completed 14 homes I believe and we have four left. Yeah. Um upcoming projects,
we've done so much design this past year that we will have lots of projects in engineering next year. And I would point out specifically in Rio, two very large projects. Uh in Palm City, we do have Cornell A, which we
hope uh to be getting underway as well. Construction for Jensen Church Street should be completed next year, and that's going to be an exciting project for that community. Additional parking. Uh we did receive a very nice easement,
a rightaway donation from a property owner there that will allow lots more parking for uh those residents and that downtown. And we also have some uh projects in New Monrovia that will be construct in construction next year. Any
questions? >> Questions for Miss Cory's? >> Seeing none. >> Motion to tentatively accept this CRA CIP. >> Second >> ABC. >> There's a motion and a second. All those
in favor? I opposed. That motion passes unanimously. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Next up is fire rescue. >> Morning commissioners. Chad Jane Julie, fire chief, Martin County Fire Rescue. >> Matt Rush, fire rescue administrator. >> So we're here to present our CIP
highlights. If I just look at FY26, our request was 2.171. We move to FY27, our request is 2.169. And that's a decrease of $1,096.
Now, why is that impactful? $1,96. Let's talk about the challenges, what changed. So, if I look at just fire apparatus alone of the increase in cost over the last several years, they have gone up. These are fire trucks and rescues by 85%.
If I was to buy a ladder truck today, I have to spend roughly $1.5 million in that truck. Years ago, that was under a million dollars. Fire trucks, no different. It's just insane what we're up against, but we were still able to decrease by a,000 that just almost
$1,100. The other is, and this is I'm going to contribute this to Matt Rush. Matt Rush is always our secret guy out there that really does an amazing job with how we impact and negotiate with our vendors. We took our vendors really we kind of pressed them hard this time
this year. We're able to press them regarding our firefighter ensemble of our bunker gear which is pretty much what firefighters wear to go into building fires. This is what protects them. It's our it's their personal protective equipment. and we're able to do a 20% reduction because we put these
vendors up against each other and we saved over $200,000 with that gear alone. The other is that we absorbed the AED replacement program that we now have in the parks which is an amazing program that is really benefiting the community. What stayed the same if you look at the Avalorum
impact um we have sustained for four years straight roughly $2.1 million and up against the challenges that I'm sharing with you. That is absolutely amazing. The other is our app our apparatus replacement program. This year we're able to purchase 10 new trucks,
$7.2 million, and that has zero budget increase, and we're able to sustain that. And we've just been ongoing with just how we uh present our budget, how we apply it with the vendors, how we negotiate with them, and it has really put us in a very healthy place. And
again, I just want to kind of thank Matt for what he does along the way because he works hard and he demonstrates here where it actually pays off. So with that, if you have any questions, be more than happy to take >> questions. We do have a question. Commissioner Caps, >> can you state that again about 85%
increase in the cost of trucks? Uh what? Say that again if you would. >> So before CO, I'm going to kick this to Matt because he's got the hard numbers. Before COVID, we're able to p the purchase the trucks and this would be the fire trucks and our rescues. We had roughly a one-year turnaround. Everything, even our most expensive
truck, we were under that million-doll price point. Ladder trucks are usually our most expensive. Then we go into COVID. Then it turns into a supply issue. And then these vendors, they really, and this is just my personal opinion, I think they took advant advantage of a situation and these
prices inflated and they never ever came back. Now we're at the point where we're putting we're really putting a lot of pressure on them to decrease it. But the actual number I'll I'll pass that off to Matt what they were prior to CO. >> Yeah, he's pretty close as far as the percentage there. The um and it's even
postco I think in FY21 we purchased a truck for 635,000. That same exact truck, same specification, same manufacturer, same everything is now 1.1 million. And we're seeing the same thing. And he me he alluded to the bunker gear situation. Those prices have
increased 100% in an 8-year period. We used to buy a set of bunker gear for approximately one uh $1,600 and it ballooned to over $4,000 per set for one coat, one pair of pants, and they're not Versace suits. So, not really sure what
they're making of them. >> I I think that's a a good example of what can happen in county budgets. And you know, there there's a lot of talk in the legislature about uh cracking down on local governments and they're all wasting tons
of money and uh uh you know, this is a great example right here of what what happens. There are lots of things in the county budget like this where perhaps you would look at the overall county budget and you would look at the inflation rate of five or 6% in a given
year and you would think to yourself, well, the county budget should only go up 5%. This is a great example of why that is not always possible. There are weird things that happen in the economy where health insurance spikes 20% in one
year or gasoline prices spike 20 or 30% in one year. Uh there's a lot of stuff like this uh in county budgets. So uh uh I think that's a good thing to keep in mind throughout this whole
discussion as we're talking about the CIP. Another thing about the CIP that's interesting to note is that this is not the budget. This is not what we're actually spending. This is kind of a wish list. Uh a thing that it's a planning document
and what we would like to get done if the resources could support the plan that we're putting in place here. So that's all also good to keep in mind. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I'll move approval. >> Second. >> Any further discussion? There's a motion
and a second. All those in favor? I >> opposed. That motion passes unanimously. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Library is next. >> Good morning, Miss Salas. >> Good morning. Um so what has stayed the
same in our CIP requests is for our radio frequency identification system. Um we're continuing the funds from FY26 into FY27. What has changed is we have a request in for a new audiovisisual system at the Elizabeth Latte Library and we are
requesting a library materials increase within our impact fees. Um we have a very healthy impact fee fund right now. um and we could use with um cost of doing business increasing for books both electronic and uh print.
Our completed projects we almost um are very close to finishing the Hobestown public library outdoor space. The pavilion is finished. Um Susan Cor mentioned in her presentation we have our 3D book benches um through the public art program as well as a mural. Um so we're just working on one
component and so we'll be setting up a ribbon cutting soon for that. We recently had our ribbon cutting for the Hoke Library outdoor space and um I'm happy to report that it has been used quite a bit by the community. We haven't even planned any library events in the space yet and it's getting used all of
the time. Um we do have a future potential project through the uh public art program to do an eco art project as well in that space. And then um we did just complete our Peter and Julie Cummings library um in Palm City, the audiovisisual upgrade there which has
improved significantly our ability not only to host our own library program seamlessly but outdoor outdoor outside events too from other um entities. Our current projects we're working on is the Hoke Library radio frequency
identification system. That's our check-in and checkout of materials which is an automated system and our upcoming CIPP projects again request to um implement an audiovisisual system. You can see in the picture there that's our current setup at the Latte Library. Um
we have a cart with a projector and a microphone hooked up to a portable sound system. So with the increase in residents um in that community and increase in usage in our space, we could really use um a fully implemented system. Um, and then we're still waiting
on the New Field Library for developments in that. >> Happy to answer any questions. >> I'll move approval. >> Second. >> There's a motion in a second. All those in favor, sorry. Sorry. >> Um, Miss Solace. The Newfield Library
700th dwelling unit. Could you explain that? >> Sure. We have to wait for a certain amount of residential uh units to be built before they build the library. >> Okay. Just wanted to clarify. Yes, >> there's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I
>> opposed. That motion passes unanimously. I inadvertently passed over number four, which is public buildings and law enforcement. >> Okay. >> They've already had a big day. >> Yeah, really. >> Thank you. >> Good morning. Sean Donahghue, general
services director. Uh we are asking for a $127,90 increase. Uh, and I'll explain that in the, uh, in the changes. Uh, what stayed the same though from a fire rescue, and I'm I'm going to jump around for a couple different ways, different departments that we represent. Uh, fire
rescue has been consistent in their, uh, their request to expand the station 23 uh, Caner Highway Station. Uh, that's their third busiest library or, uh, library, uh, fire station. It only has two bays and they've increased the equipment uh, numbers there uh, to do
the responses. So, it's a much needed uh, expansion. and it also was built to have an expansion down the road. So, uh we'd like to start working on that. Uh the Western Palm City Fire Station, uh uh new station and the uh Indian Town Fire Station, the the fire rescue department has been working with the
local developers uh trying to get contributions to to fund some of those improvements. Um what's changed is we had a project uh that was in the hopper for bay door replacements at all the older stations, all the older older fire stations to do the newer, quicker uh
biffold doors. Uh fire rescue department is in the queue for receiving a local mitigation uh grant uh funding to fund all of those. So we actually took that off the list as a potentially fully funded project. uh sheriff's office has been uh very consistent in their
prioritization of their projects. Uh been looking at that gun range for quite a while to expand that for their operational training. Uh and what we're trying to do there is uh now that we've saved up a couple couple dollars over the years, we can start to design and start some early construction on those
projects. Uh what's really stayed the same is is the department's continued commitment to maintain the county's assets in a most uh efficient and economical uh standpoint. And then the increase that we're looking for is for specifically for libraries. Libraries take a lot of abuse, a lot of people in
and out. Uh the restrooms need some attention. Uh the flooring, uh some of the furniture needs attention and and the way libraries are used now has changed quite a bit. So we're looking for some sound attenuation in certain spaces. Some of the uh projects that we've completed uh or near completion. The
House of Refuge, uh, Commissioner Cass mentioned earlier, uh, is just on the last leg of, uh, of completion. We just did the final punch list yesterday. As a matter of fact, uh, we did complete the chiller plant at the Ly Massing building project, and there's a second phase of that coming. Uh, the sheriff's office
had to have their tank replaced, their fuel stores tank replaced. Uh, crucial infrastructure for them. Uh, required a full replacement of the tank, the dispensers, the underground, and the canopy. And then we did manage to paint the uh the Blake Library as a as a project.
Um current projects include the energy and operational project that you approved uh last year. Uh that's nearing completion. You can see in the top left the chillers are being loaded into a chiller plant that will serve the public safety complex. A very valuable cost-effective solution there. Uh top
right Larry Massing building expansion is coming. We just released a the contract to uh Remnant Construction for that. uh Holt correctional fence replacement project was a muchneeded uh uh replacement. Uh that fence is 20 or 30 years old. You can see the uh bottom
right picture of that slide there. Uh the fence is actually wiggling because it's just losing its structural components. >> Expense. >> Yeah. And then we are finishing the uh the 911 dispatch renovation. That was a great grant-f funed project. Uh I think 3/4 of a million uh funded helped fund that
project. upcoming projects. Uh we need to do some work on the courthouse. Uh we're still saving some money to replace the courthouse rooftop air handler units. Uh it's going to be a significant uh project. A lot of um you know, we got to figure out a way to keep that building
occupied while we're doing some major improvements. And then they also have requested some uh some major uh security enhancements uh to the to the building and the complex. Uh thank you for approving the uh Martin County operations complex. We're going to start on that very quickly. Uh, I mentioned
the Morgate library or library improvements. We'd like to start with the Morgade library. That bathroom and that that facility needs a lot of attention. And then we are in the middle of negotiations for the uh employee wellness clinic. That's it. Is there any questions?
Questions? I have a couple. I'm looking at the Western Palm City Fire Station, which is on page 119, and there are impact fees of $3.5 million. What kind of impact fees are those? Those are going to
Stephanie Merly, um, director of OM. The impact fees should be the, um, actually the fire rescue impact fees that are being paid from Newfield. >> From Newfield Okay. Uh, also fire station number 24, which
is Indiantown relocation. Um, and I see uh $10 million and what's the developer contribution to that? So, that's what we're actually currently in talks right now. We're trying to see if impact fees can be a part of that. um
what they can do. But actually the developer they this is the village of Indiantown. They did a state appropriation for roughly I think it was $13 million. Um unfortunately state they went into the special special session. So we don't know if that appropriation
has happened or not. But if the appropriation does happen that's what funds the building for the relocation of station 24 is the appropriation from the village. And if it's not appropriated, >> well, then we have to really uh talk to the developer and see what we can get from the developer and we can uh also
look at the impact fees for the building itself. >> Have you been talking to the developer? >> Yes. Yes, Commissioner. We have we have been talking to the developer quite a bit quite extensively, but we're kind of in a holding pattern because of the appropriation. So, we need to know what kind of conversation we need to have until the state actually decides what they're going to do.
>> Okay. >> Okay. Now I'm asking about uh the Martin County Sheriff's Office firearms training facility. I'm on page 62. What's this proximity to the Newfield development and to Newfield's improvements like the FPL substation?
It's a firing range. >> The firing range is located at the very southwest corner of the Newfield development. Uh it's about as far removed as you can get from any of the residential. Uh there there's a lot of preserve and and uh upland preservation
areas in between the shooting range and any residential development >> to the northeast. >> And is the is the uh firearms range indoor, outdoor, or both? >> It's it's outdoor. Uh but it does have a series of uh BMS and you know protection
devices that can keep the uh projectiles contained. >> And that's all advalorum. >> Correct. >> $5.4 $4 million of adalorum. >> Correct. >> Quite a bit. >> Okay. And also the sheriff's office
logistics and operations center. Um that is $14.5 million all at Valorum. Tell me about that. Looks like expenditures are to be made uh
5 a.5 million in 2028 and 7.5 million in 31. >> Correct. That's that's a much needed improvement. Uh it is replacing what is the oldest building on that complex. Uh that building was I believe used as an old packing house when that complex when
that land was used for u fruit production. Uh it's 50 60 years old. Uh it is literally falling down. The the awnings on the building that were on the north side and the east side actually fell off the building. Uh we we couldn't
do anything with it. We had to take them down. Uh the building needs some significant help if we're going to try to keep them in there. But what we're looking at since we saved up a little bit of funding for the project is do a partial phase construction. So if we can build the uh critical parts of the the
sheriff's office uh would be the um painting booth for the cars and for uh their logistics uh uh basically receiving and purchasing departments. If we can get those started then we can come back later and look at adding on to the the building with a met maybe a
metal warehouse building uh that has you know some good wind resistance similar to the uh other building right next door to it. Uh, so we're looking at strategically trying to phase it while getting the project moving because literally it is falling down. >> Miss Merly, I don't see any carryover.
So, but I do see um 3 point over $3 million each year that we're going of adorum money that we're going to be spending toward these projects. It's new money. Where is it coming from? So this is maintaining the current levels of ad valorum that we have um increased law
enforcement over the last couple years. Um mentioning what uh Don had mentioned earlier about kind of getting those programs to that level. So if you look at the summary of law enforcement, it is maintaining a constant level over the next 10 years. So essentially they're prioritizing their projects, completing
one, moving on to the next with no increases in advorum. We expect the same level of funding for the next 10 years. So that level of funding is how much each year? I'm seeing just for this project 3.2 a year. >> Right. So the total advalorum that's
programmed in law enforcement every year is $4,753,073 for all of their projects. Okay. Any further questions for Mr. Donnu? >> I'll move approval. >> Second.
>> There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. That motion passes unanimously. Parks and recreation is next. Good morning. Uh Kevin Abbate, parks and recreation director. Um this uh the FY27
CIP was approved by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board uh last month unanimously. And um I'll talk about what's happening. Um what stayed the same for for FY27 CIP is the funding levels for our fixed asset replacement budget. That's been the same for almost
the last decade. And that's mainly for um all of our fixed assets throughout the entire system. Our parks building um program, paving, fiber security and Wi-Fi. Those are generally the the same. Um our boat ramp funding uh is also to
replace our boat ramps over the next 10 years. Right now, we're currently replacing the Leighton Park program, the TR Leon Park uh boat ramp right now. And then Sailfish Sands Golf Course um replacing all the aging wells and pump houses which are nearing 50 years of uh
old right now and need to be replaced and will be replaced by the end of this year. Uh what has changed um is the uh uh additional request to complete the final funding of the Sea Turtle Beach Cafe and Beachside Restroom. that project um to take it back in
history. We actually started in 2013 as a public design workshop um just after I first arrived about 15 years ago. Um and then we started our uh our funding for this project that we're on right now in 2023 and our design funding in 24. Uh
we're at right now about 60% design through that project right now. That includes the beachside public restroom. that includes the the deck which is 800 800 over 8,000 um 750 square ft. Also the it replaces the dune crossover which
is currently not there. Um the new kitchen uh that this in um includes the seating, furniture, fixtures and equipment and storage for this facility. Um which is right now has a seating capacity of about 120 plan and 31 at the bar. Um so that
one is moving along quickly. What we've completed and in our CIP program is we did a nice ribbon cutting this past year for the Langford Park playground state-of-the-art. Um where we resurface all of how Piokeoki Regional Park uh with all new parking spaces,
road surfacing and parking stop bumpers. Uh also we resurface with a state-of-the-art product um the new hockey rink flooring. And of course at Jock Lton Park, we replace all the skate park equipment. >> When you build those gorgeous
playgrounds, now every community wants one. >> Yes. >> Getting a lot of people in Palm City wanting one of those playgrounds. >> Understood. Um so the current CIP programs that we're actively on right now are Charlotte Park, which is um
scheduled for hopeful ribbon cutting this summer is the goal. And we replaced the boat ramps. They're doing the parking now. We have pavilions, open space, security cameras, and working very closely with the Treasure Crows Rowing Club. U Mary Broen Park replacing
the skate equipment. Uh Langford Park. We're currently working with utilities on um sepic to sewer program. And then we're going to be replacing um outside of the boat ramp program, the JNS Fish Camp, which is much smaller project, but um we're going to take care of that now
out of our FAR budget. and upcoming uh CIP projects. Uh the WJEX smallsided soccer uh court uh and restroom which is for smallsided soccer um synthetic turf course over at um Wesk
Park that is uh almost designed. We expect to put out the bid this summer. The Sea Turtle Beach uh cafe and beachside restroom which I just spoke about it. We expect that project to be completely designed with anticipation of full funding in FY27 and out to bid by
the end of the year. The Francis Langford dock pavilion improvements first floor second floor um that project uh we expect to be that out the bid sometime this summer. If you recall the first floor of the Francis Lford doide
pavilion has been vacant for most of my career and 15 years with the county. And then the second story building unfortunately had a fire. Um this gave us an opportunity to reimagine and reinvision the entire project. The project is uh funded. Um but we're working on a really new concept with
brides and grooms rooms. It could be a something I'll be sharing with the leadership team next week and we're very excited about some great opportunities for the community. And then the Vince Bokino Community Center improvements is something we've been working on um to kind of rehab and remodel a very aging
building. And then as I said earlier um before we move to any um grass improvements on the 18hole course which has not been done um is to replace the aging uh the wells. Actually we will need all new wells at the golf course because they're beyond repair and
replacement. So, we need new ones. And we'll be replacing our golf course pump houses with the goal of connecting all lakes on all three courses with wells and pumps and motors so that if a well goes down, we can water all three golf courses with one well and we're all
connected. It's a it's quite the project. We just received a 25year consumptive use permit with the South Florida Waterman Management District which requires um that we have well monitoring and um this is a big project for the future of the golf course which
is doing quite well and if you have any questions um here >> questions for Mr. Avante. Commissioner Heatherington. >> So the seaside cafe what's the overall budget for that cafe?
Um it's I have uh 5.281 million and that includes everything I spoke about furniture, fixtures and equipment. Um all D permitting for the new Dune crossover which we have to connect to the back side of the building for beach access. The beachside restroom. Um
there's actually a little basement for the project for um for storage. There's storage underneath cuz the this cafe is elevated about 14 ft above elevation. um includes all the um the kitchen equipment. So includes all the all the
work that needs to be done in ingress and eress to the sidewalk to and from the cafe to the beach and from the parking lot. >> That sounds like a lot of money for a beachside cafe. What did we get for insurance proceeds? >> Um we didn't get much um on the burden build on
>> we received 255,000 >> year to date. >> That's that that's all we got for the proceeds. 255,000 >> so far. >> I thought I saw something about 2.8 million somewhere in here. So the balance of the 5
x million minus the 255,000 insurance proceeds is all adorum funded. >> Um there is beach impact fees and um there's also district MSTU fees towards this project and um along with bed tax.
If we see some cutting this year at the state, then we're going to have to to analyze our wants versus needs and this is probably going to be scaled down immensely. >> We're to to be specific, we're using
park fees from proceeds from the other cafe at 339,000 um $200,000 allocated towards the beach crossover and bed tax. Um the advalorum asked for this year is 1.49. Um we have district MSTU district 1
funds that were allocated uh last year at 964,000 and um beach impact fees and then insurance proceeds for the total. So it's a combination of several funds. Last year if you recall we did some um we reallocated some funds from other
products to move over to get this done. This was the final year of funding. We met I've been working with the design team every two weeks to really hone in on the final dollar. It this is a conservative estimate. I didn't want it's not aggressive at all and I think it's probably the spot. It's about $600
a square foot all in for everything when I calculated it um for this project. >> Seems like a lot for a cafe on the uh Indian Riverside Cafe. What did we get for insurance proceeds? I'm sorry. The Indian Riverside Park, what did we get for insurance proceeds for that one?
>> Oh, I I have that here. Hold on. Actually, I don't have that number, but I recall being just about just around 400,000 total for that one because it included revenue loss. And the thing about the cafe, the Jensen Beach one, we were closed when that fire took place.
So, the insurance company wasn't going to give us any um reimbursements for uh revenue loss. That's why this is higher because we lost all the wedding wedding revenue and all the event revenue. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you, Commissioner Vargas. >> Yeah. Um I I just want to reassure my
fellow commissioners. I am overseeing this project with a fine tooth comb. >> We talked about cost going up. This is a big draw. Hutcherson Island is a huge draw. So rest assured that we are pulling as much money from different
sources as possible. This is not just some park stuck in the middle of Martin County somewhere. This is very, very visual. It was unfortunate that we had the fire and we had to close, but we're working diligently to put this together.
So, if you have any questions, feel free to reach my office and I'll disseminate that or certainly Mr. Abate can do that. >> Commissioner Campy. >> Mr. Abate, thank you very much. Can you share with us what portion of your
budget you guys are reluctantly having to spend on repairing vandalism? I know that in Palm City we have a whole horde of kids going around vandalizing, not just permanent destruction, but the constant littering and graffiti that
requires your team to go out every single day to clean stuff up. Give us an idea of what you're up against, please. My my guesstimate and I've done some numbers over the years is right around 90 to 100,000 in actual product damage throughout each year. That's um not
including staff cost to to fix things, you know, sending the team out there. So, and we plan for that in a big park system when you have 74 beaches and parks throughout an entire system. We fully expect the public to accidentally and then purposely vandalize
unfortunately and we deal with it um probably weekly, you know, cleaning things up. But, um it's part of the the process. We do in our fixed asset replacement budget, I do hold, you know, back a couple hundred thousand a year for the uh oh moments that we get. And
uh yeah, >> thank you. >> And Mr. Bate, um the new field, community fields and trail heads, there's talk about the uh four soccer fields. Are those about constru are those about finished?
>> I haven't worked directly with Newfield on it. I don't think it's uh I don't think it's unconstructed yet. So um the biggest question will part of this reason we have the sheet in here so that we can actually um provide the impact fee credit as a part of you know the
development agreement. So, we'll be engaging with them on, you know, the operations of that. And, you know, um I believe that the property the the four fields are across the street from where they're building. It's their property and I believe they're going to operate and maintain it. We haven't got a
finality on that, but the purpose of bringing this sheet forward was to have those discussions as a part of the development agreement for impact fee credits. >> And who's going to be using the soccer field? It >> it would be open to it. They would have to be used in the same way at any other county park facility in order for them
to use >> we're managing them. >> So we we're we haven't likely we are responsible for how they're managed whether we manage them directly or the CDD manages them for a period of time. That negotiation hasn't been finalized.
But nonetheless, it has to operate just like any other public field in order for it to receive impact fee credits. So, you know, this the the the traditional method is we would operate it. We would own and operate the facility would be
the the traditional method if there is an advantage for them to have some party that will bring that to the board for final approval. >> It's a terrific new public asset. I just wanted to make sure that we're using it as wisely as we should. Um and also, um
you're keeping an eye on the um Twin Rivers boardwalks. They're they're really getting warped and worn and I I I don't know if they're they're nearing the end of their useful life, but it looks like they might be. They're really really well utilized
every single day of the year and they're showing their their wear. >> And I'm glad you brought that up. I was that was brought to my attention by staff. Um it it is quite the project. We may consider bringing it as an independent CIP sheet next year um to
look at redeveloping it, maybe make it not so wide, not so expensive, but it'll be more than just your typical replacement if we're going to look at trying to, you know, do some permitting to reduce the size of it. Um save some dollars, but um we're work we'll work on
something for next um CIP for 28 to get it funded. I I don't think it's in dire straits now, but it's something that it is it needs to be addressed. Well, we also need to look into alternative materials, >> correct? >> Composits because wood just doesn't last. >> Oh, it doesn't.
>> Correct. It's a great example. So, right now at Charlie Park, we re are redecking the entire deck there along the water with a new composite. It's a 50-year warranty on a new um recycled plastic, if you will. So, that's what we're moving to. And as a matter of fact, um
we're doing this. We would be doing the same thing for the new Sea Turtle Beach Cafe. It would all be not wood. It would all this new decking which has a longer shelf life and it's easier to clean. >> Yeah. Commissioner Campy. >> Yeah. To your point about the soccer fields, I remember when we were
originally negotiating with it was called Pineland Prairie back then and now Newfield. uh we collaborated with them and I want to give Madame and Newfield credit because they could have put those soccer fields deeper into the community and it would have been very
difficult to coordinate uh with us when we originally built the baseball facility there. There was a plan in the initial phase to have a couple of recreational multi-purpose, we call them soccer fields, but it could be lacrosse
and football or whatever. And when we weren't able to do that, Mr. Avat and I met with the folks uh that were just in the preliminary stages of Newfield uh to build them as close to now Newfield Parkway then Citrus uh as they could.
And they've lived up to that commitment. they could have tucked them in and they wouldn't have been so u so much of an advantage for the rest of the community but where they are now and I hear they are moving along on them so I think >> yeah that's a plus and then also do you
have any thoughts even if it's in the future there's a lot of talk of a Martin County fieldhouse or a you know a bigger recreational facility that might be a public private partnership >> um what's your what's your
>> so in in our master plan and end this current CIP sheet. Um there is funds in there for a feasibility study for Martin County to so we can so right now we have out to bid firms for engineering services, feasibility studies, conceptual plans and we'll select the
team will select three or three vendors I believe that should happen within the next month. Um after that happens, we intend to for all the planning documents that we have that are tied to our master plan, specifically a regional commun indoor community center, um we'd be looking at doing a feasibility study
that would um find out, you know, how big something should be. Um what you know, what it will cost, you know, I just tooured Palm Beach Gardens last week and they have a facility that acts as a a hurricane shelter, has a multiaceted approach. So that is something that um that we plan on doing
in this document and also um and at Lance Corpal Justin Wilson Park in this document. Um we have um your district funds to move forward on that. Um and I think that we we had discussed about advancing that today uh at this at the
CIP to move forward with the dog park. We are ready to go on our end to move forward with a small dog park over at Lance Corpal which is one of your goals. So that would be something that um >> not just small dogs, larger dogs. >> No, I mean small a smaller like dog park in size. Correct. Yeah. So that's
something that we have in the CIP sheet to move forward if you would like to advance that CIP sheet today. Um we can begin on it, you know, tomorrow if you will. Um >> you make a motion while you're speaking of that. >> It's part of it. >> Is it part of or is it separate? >> It's it's in the CIP. Um but you have
the funds now and um and per budget and so we can move it forward now. instead of waiting till October. >> Good segue. I'd like to make a motion that we advance the Palm City Dog Park CIP sheet. I will be using district
funds to uh prime the pump for that project so that we can start immediately. We've been waiting a long time. Um I'm hoping that this district 5 dog park will be a motivation for the other districts to have dog parks as
well. Second. >> We've been talking about dog parks nearly as long as we've been talking about the public >> DonaldElsson facility. >> Donaldson, >> there's a motion in a second. All those in favor? >> I
>> opposed. That motion passes unanimously. Commissioner Heatherington. >> I just said it. Uh, we had a conversation maybe last meeting about the how patio geese skating rink and I was just going to suggest that as a part of your farb that you put in floor
covering for that so that multi multiple organizations can use it. It really is beautiful and this the skating rink turned out great but we want to make sure that multiple organ organizations can use it. So I would just recommend maybe putting that as a part of your farb. Do you want a motion for let's
make a motion to include that as a part of your farm? >> Word on the street was that staff had asked the not for profofit to pay for it themselves, which I know wasn't the conversation, and I'm sure they would just >> misunderstood our direction, but it certainly is not for the not for-p profofit to have to pay for that
themselves. I I think the challenge for this facil, this new surface, which is a beautiful surface, is what sports does the manufacturer want to permit on there? And it's really for them it's roller hockey. But this events that are coming our way are not sports. They're just more of like just community events
where they're standing. And the goal is to protect the floor. So certainly u we are looking at just a standard policy on you know the sports that we won't allow and then the events that we will allow so that way we can protect the investment because it was it was a pricey investment. We want to keep our
stakeholders happy at the same time as those that want to come in and use it. So, we'll be looking at um the fees for that, you know, to the rental fees for this new floor, of course. And then, of course, now we look at some product um that we can select. Maybe we can, you know, if we have fund balance now in our
far, we can look at buying something now as opposed to waiting till October, but we can get that done. >> Good. >> Whose district is that? >> Mine. I mean, Commissioner Hers, >> she got plenty of cash. >> It's cuz I'm a saver.
eventually have the concept is to utilize the funds for the people that >> Is there a motion to approve parks and recreation CIP? >> What about the other? >> So moved. >> So second >> there's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I opposed. That motion passes
unanimously. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> We will take up uh >> Yeah, we didn't do I'm sorry, Madam Chair. We did not vote on the covering the >> I don't think we need to. Do you? >> Well, we do. Yeah, we have a motion in a second anyway. So, >> okay.
Is there a motion in a second for the covering? >> There's a motion and a second for the covering of the Hal Pattyoki skate rink. >> All in favor? I opposed. That motion passes unanimously. >> Thank you. Thanks. >> Now we'll take up miscellaneous which is
Miss Dela Petra. What >> Shelby Delpietra, we're showing an adorm impact of approximately 312,000. Um what stayed the same is the continuation of the communications fixed asset replacement budget. Um along with constant level of funding for the
countywide radio replacement project. What changed includes a $23,600 increase to the comm communications farb to support ongoing replacement needs as what supports the disown here. We also added two new CIP sheets into for the
county's data centers. These support mission critical infrastructure. Um it's just important to know that these were previously funded in the technology investment plan. So this isn't a new request. It's just a reallocation into the CIP to show the long-term need and planning for this and staff's here to
answer any questions if there are any. >> Questions were Miss Sinclair or Miss >> Dela Petra. Commissioner Heatherington, >> are are we seeing um any additional unfunded mandates come down from the
state as far as technology as we've seen in the past in the coming year? >> Um we have not at this time. Most of what we like are bringing to you today is to secure and replace what we have and utilize and need for critical support.
>> Okay. Because in the past they've the state has >> Yes. has uh instituted like fairly significant unfunded mandates that we've had to comply with. >> Thank you. >> I'll move approval. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. All those
in favor? I >> opposed. That motion passes unanimously. >> We'll now take up Coastal with Mr. Gorton. Good morning, commission members, uh, chair, Mark Cavaney, deputy director, public works, uh, for our coastal CIP
highlights, we'd like to highlight, uh, the FY26 advorum request of 5,75,000, the FY27 advalorum request of 5,815,000 for an impact of $110,000.
What has stayed the same as you can see on the slide is the funding for our important waterfront assets of the St. Lucy Inlet Management, our beach programs, as well as our bathtub beach and Sailish Point. Uh this the addition of the 110,000 is for something we're calling strategic waterfront asset
management projects. As this commission well knows, we have about 27 non beachfront waterfront parks along our inland waterways. uh and those constantly need help in terms of bulk uh bulkheads, rip wrap, boat ramp stocks. Um and often public works is called upon
to do those. So, we're proposing um some funding for that. In looking at some of our completed projects, I'd like to specifically highlight an exciting uh project that was done this year. The 20 the 227 ft freighter with the name of the Baro now lies 200 f feet down at the
bottom of the Atlantic about 9 miles off the coast of uh Stewart. And that successful project uh is now uh getting a lot of wildlife, sea life, uh fisher, fishermen, uh divers, etc. So that was a very successful project that occurred uh just this this past uh couple months uh
for the coastal CIP. And also, interestingly enough, it generated the most internet engagement on the Martin County website to date. So a lot of interest from up and down uh the coast looking at that project. That's until the CRA site is live
>> and they'll punch it up. >> We we'll have to think of something to to compete with that. Uh for our our our current coastal projects that we're working on, uh you see a number of projects there including the Indian Riverside Park living shoreline, the Hutchinson Island shore protection, which is ongoing as we speak. Um and
we'd love to do a tour for commission members to uh to look at some of that. Um in uh Commissioner Vargas' district, we have a number of exciting upcoming projects as well. Um in particular, um we've uh going to be starting the Bathtub Beach, Sailish Point uh beach
nourishment program and also the MacArthur Boulevard beach and dune project. As this commission well knows, there was some hurricanes that um did a lot of damage to that and we've been trying to keep up with that and some erosion. Um and we are getting some homeowners to contribute to that as
well. So, we're excited to begin that project this year for ecosystems. >> That's it for coastal. >> Yeah, that's it. >> That's it for coastal. I apologize. >> Okay. >> Do you want to describe in further
detail what the MacArthur Boulevard dune restoration is and also the shoreline management uh >> living shoreline projects? >> Absolutely. So, for the uh MacArthur Boulevard, my understanding is that the dunes were damaged by hurricanes uh in
'04 and they were restored, but then Ian and Nicole also caused some significant erosion problems as this commission well knows. Um and so this is just repairing that that ongoing damage. And I'll let Mr. Bordon handle the other item, the uh
living shoreline project. Our first living shoreline project was at Twin Rivers Park. That was a successful project. We're already seeing um uh sand coming in behind it and building out that beach that is very beloved by that community. Um and the project we're
working on now is the Indian Riverside Park project. Um, and it's actually shown in the bottom photo there on the left where we're building a living shoreline and uh we're putting those rock mats in in various locations along the shore and uh in the
locations that we've already put that we have sand accretion behind it and we also have um some native plants, some mangroves uh volunteering in that area. So uh we with that project we're also going to plant quite a number of mangroves and that's going to provide protection for the park. It's going to
reduce the erosion of the park and there's some very important um historical assets uh at and underneath that mansion uh that we're going to protect with that project. >> Fantastic. Any further questions about Coastal?
>> No. I'll move approval of Coastal. >> I will second it. >> There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I opposed. That motion passes unanimously. >> Commission members for ecosystems. We had an FY26 advorum request of
1,775,000. For FY27, the request is 1,924,500 for an impact of 149,500. What has stayed the same is the funding that we have for our very important storm water treatment areas, our implementation of our BMAP and TMDL
compliance for water quality and leveraging our state and federal funding currently over an impressive $5 million in match funds for these projects. So, we're very pleased that to have that. What has changed is the uh stormwater master plan. And as we talked with
commission members uh this past week, as you know, uh our last stormwater master plan was in 1998. And a stormwater master plan or watershed management plan is a plan that includes community involvement and looks at flood resiliency um different types of
stormwater projects uh that are important for the community. So, what we'd like to do with the commission's okay, of course, is to begin that project again since we haven't really looked at that in detail since 1998. And that's the beginning of that process.
Uh some completed projects. Uh you could see East Fourth Creek phase 2. Uh we planted 15 acres of seaggrass, which we all know are important for our manatees. And then obviously Martin County Forever, we have over 3,500 acres that have been preserved and we're very
proud to have participated in that project. Uh some of our current projects are listed there. Um, in particular, um, we would like to point out, um, that we're going to do some more seaggrass planting. Uh, we're going to continue with Martin County Forever. Uh, we're
going to look at some of our storm water treatment areas and look at how we can make them perform even better for water quality and and so forth. So, that might require a little bit of of extra work as well. Um, a lot of these projects occur in each of your districts and we're happy to uh to do that uh for the
betterment of the community and for water quality. some upcoming projects that we have. Um I did talk about the um storm water master plan, also known as our watershed management plan. And then we'll also continue with um with our Martin County Forever looking for
properties that we can add to uh to that. >> Are there any questions on e >> system management? Any questions? Commissioner Caps, >> you know, in talking with staff uh about an issue
um and where to inject this into the CIP. Uh I have a concern about exotic vegetation in the county and there was talk about talking about it in the context of e ecosystem management and
then there was talk about us bringing up the issue when we get to roads but I guess I'll go ahead and address it here. Um we have a huge problem with exotic
vegetation all over the county. Um, and it's it's very complicated because a lot of it is on private property and our county does a pretty good job of keeping it off the roadways, but there are places where exotics are still in
the ride ofways. Um, and I asked staff to give me a little history of what kind of resources we have devoted to this purpose of for a several year period. And it appears that there's been a
rather flat budget for exotic removal. Um, I would encourage our residents to learn more about exotic plants and how thick they are everywhere. Um, and once
you get it in your head, it'll start to irritate you. Uh when you see these beautiful cypress hammocks with climbing ferns that go all the way to the top of the cypress trees, uh you know uh some of the the names of them are Brazilian
pepper trees which are just by the millions everywhere and acacia trees, willow bushes and then these vines of various types, air potato, kudzu and oldworld climbing ferns.
All of these things are are smothering old Florida in our county. You know, if it's not a pine tree or a live oak or a sable palm or well, I know there there are a lot of
native species, but a lot of what you see along the roadways is just garbage vegetation that's eating us up. And I I think we need to uh increase our budget
for exotic removal uh particularly in light of all of the conservation lands that we're bringing on board uh now and in the next several years. And it appears that the budget for eradicating
in uh exotic plants for about a 6 or 8 year period has been somewhere in the range of five or $600,000. And I just think that's totally inadequate for the problem on our hands.
And I I would propose that we substantially increase that. It doesn't necessarily mean we will spend it. Once again, a CIP is a planning document. It's sort of a wish list and we'll wait and see when the budget rolls around as
to whether the resources are actually there to where we can uh utilize them for that purpose. But I just think that that is a very lean budget for the problem at hand. and and I'd like to see that
increased at least 50%. Um to perhaps $900,000 instead of uh $600,000 and I will make that motion. >> You will or you won't? >> I will. Yes,
>> Commissioner Vargas. >> Yeah. Um, are you talking about exotics on private property or >> Well, there are all over the place and and we're obtaining thousands of uh acres of additional
uh sensitive environmentally sensitive lands that are also have exotics all over them. Uh so we're going to have a need for more exotic removal in the coming days because of the new lands that we're going to be obtaining. And then also, I think just in some of the
more visible areas, in talking with staff, it appears that more could be done um uh along the roadways and and in some of the lands that we've had for many years. >> Okay. So, if it's on private property,
then unless there's a PAMP, we cannot force a land owner to remove exotics. I just had this discussion. >> Yes. with growth management actually um and I wish they were all here but we can continue that at another time uh but just to take a broad brush and say oh
let's just double it or you know 50% I think that we need to look at this carefully because we have other needs here um when we're talking about purchasing lands I don't know is that in the agreement if we're just buying the rights that they will make sure that
it's cleared that property owner of exotics so there's a lot of you know questions that I have about this I definitely could not go along with something like this right now. I have to speak with our directors and I have to see exactly what's out there. You have a comment, Commissioner Campy.
Thank you. It is an issue. Uh the private property portion is important. Obviously, we're not going to be able to do that, but I think the compelling part to Commissioner Cap's point is that we've all been celebrating this new uh
acquisition of land. And I know that one of the biggest expensive in general is, you know, it's one thing to build something or purchase something, it's the maintenance that gets very expensive. >> That's true. >> And if we're going to celebrate uh these new acquisitions, obviously, if it's a conservation easement, the folks that
are using the property are continuing to use it. But the ones that we are genuinely purchasing, I think it's a smart uh proactive strategy, Commissioner Caps, that we would, it makes sense that if it was 600,000 that we'd put something additional towards it because we've just layered in thousands
of additional acres. And I think we do everyone a disservice if we just purchase it and let it just completely overgrow. So, I second Commissioner Cap's motion that $300,000 be added to that uh spec, you know, especially considering our most recent
acquisitions as well as the fact that we need to catch up on what we already owned for a long time. I agree with you, >> Mr. Donaldson. >> I was just simply going to clarify that all the expenditures would be on publicly owned properties that we would
use it on. That's all. Thank you. >> And Mr. Gordon, >> I wanted to clarify that same thing that the expenditures will be on public property. Um, an example of a so we would be focusing these efforts on county owned property as well as
county-owned rightaways. An example of exotic removals is one we did about 10 years ago is Cove Road on the west end of Cove Road near 76. There was a sidewalk near the school that the students couldn't be seen from the road and it was a safety issue. We removed all the exotics in that area. we've
opened that area up and it's it looks much more presentable. Things like that could be done with this funding where we were able to um especially when the rightaway touches a preserve area. If we can get rid of that seed source and get all of those pepper trees out, then it's a lot less effort um going forward on
those preserve areas as well. Uh one other thing I wanted to point out is the sales tax properties. There is a provision in the sales tax that allows us to maintain those properties and do a one-time clearance. But the other properties that are coming over, the donations that we're getting are going to require a big lift as far as uh
removing exotics. So, and we can't use sales tax funds for for for those properties. >> Commissioner Heatherington, >> you started to touch on it, but I and and I support that we need to probably um invest more into exotic removal. I
don't know exactly what that number is. I think it would be better to outline a priority list and what we're spending. Now, I I would certainly in support in the CIP to add that. I think before the budget comes around, we probably should
have an item which talks about prioritization. How are you going to analyze and and spend that and prioritize it? And um what exactly are we looking at countywide um as far as maintenance?
Commissioner Vargas. >> Yeah. Um, uh, this is one of those times I definitely agree with Commissioner Heatherington. We just can't put a number right on something. Let's put 50%. That that's not well thought out. We really have to look at this. We have to think about where our dollars are
because it's always about let's go get this, do this, but then it's the back end, the maintenance. >> So, I think we need to tighten this up, but I don't think this is the moment to just put a number out there. I I could not support that at all. I think we need to take a step back. We pay people here,
directors, folks that understand this a lot better than we do. So, I don't want to need your reaction today. My understanding of the proposal is that this be put into a planning document and then before the budget is is uh uh
approved, then there's prioritization for spending those dollars. >> Second agrees. So, Commissioner Heatherington, >> I just wanted to clarify that was my interpretation of it as well that we were adding a finite number, but that this is part of the CIP and that that
would come back and we would prioritize and then we would look at it as part of the budget as a whole. >> Correct. >> Correct. >> Right. Commissioner Vargas. >> Okay. So, I I definitely understand that. We'll take a look see at it. That's where I am. A look see cautiously.
>> Understood. >> There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I >> opposed. That motion passes unanimously. Uh so this is there a separate motion for approving the ecosystems uh management CIP.
>> Move approval. >> There's a motion in the second. All those in favor? I opposed. That motion passes unanimously. >> We done? >> Yes. >> Moving on to transport. Public transportation. >> Okay. This is the uh public
transportation uh CIP sheet for the um Marty system. So what has stayed the same is a constant level of funding for bus fleet purchasing. Uh much like the chief said about fire trucks, same thing is true for buses, the cost has gone up
quite a bit. Um so we uh acrew those funds over multiple years to replace a bus. And we also have a constant level of funding for our transit stops um to upgrade the the transit stops and to provide additional maintenance to them. Uh what's changed is really a budget
neutral change, but we moved the um cost for the fleet replacement for the light fleet. There's some uh small uh sedans that uh support the program. those were moved out of operations and into CIP solely because um this is a
federally funded program and we can't enter into a lease uh for those vehicles as we have with the rest of the county. So, we just moved money from uh operating over to capital to accommodate that change >> and that's all I've got for that one.
>> Commissioner Vargas. Okay. So, um, if you could clarify for me, is it my understanding that within 2 years or less, you'll be phasing out some larger vehicles? >> Yes. Our our uh most recent purchase based on the information, the board
direction that we got in the transit development plan, which was about two years ago now, um, uh, we were asked to explore using smaller buses. And uh our next bus purchase is going to be two of the midsize buses um so that we can
serve some of the uh um routes that don't get as much ridership with those smaller buses. So we think it'll be more cost effective to do it that way and so too will the bus purchase. We can get two of the uh mediumsiz buses for the same cost as one large bus. >> Right. And what happens with the two
large buses then if you're going to >> the the way the FTA the Federal Transit Authority works is we we have to keep the large buses in service until they reach one of two things. The total number of years in service or the total number of miles on the bus. So we have
to keep those in service until they reach their mileage. We do have uh two buses coming off in two years. So those buses will be replaced accordingly. >> So it will happen simultaneously. >> Yes. Yeah. So, we have to order the buses two years in advance because they take quite a long time to um get
>> y delivered to us. >> Motion to accept tentatively accept staff's recommendation. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I opposed. That motion passes
unanimously. We'll now move on to roads. >> Okay. And in roads we have >> Well, we're getting our money's worth out of you, Jim Gordon. always do. >> So in roads we have um a uh significant reduction in advorum on
this pro on this uh program. It's a million dollars of a reduction. Uh we've been able to keep a constant level of funding for traffic safety measures, signal maintenance, intersection improvements. Those are um continuing service uh programs that we use to maintain our assets. We've got a
constant level of funding for our bridge maintenance program and we've got a constant level of funding for our heavy equipment replacement. Uh what changed that million-doll decrease was because we've been very aggressively seeking grant funding and we have about $8
million in grants in this year's um CIP budget for roads. So um we were able to reduce the local impact by offsetting those costs. We didn't push any projects out. We're still bringing the projects forward at the same rate that we previously had. Uh but we were able to
reduce the uh advalorum impact. While I'm talking about uh grant impacts, um uh in the entire CIP, there's uh $21.4 million in grants um that are able to reduce those costs. Um 17 and a half are
on the the public work sheets. So we are aggressively going after uh grants for all of our programs. So, here's some completed projects under the roads. Um, as you know, we have a a neighborhood restoration project program where we go in and completely replace
all the infrastructure in a neighborhood. Sometimes that includes water and sewer. Sometimes it just includes storm water and roadway resurfacing. So, we've got a couple of those projects in here. The Port Serno Peninsula, we did the storm water and sewer phase one. Um the uh uh Lani
Heights, that's a complete project. That was just the storm water and the resurfacing. We just completed out west the Fox Brown Road resurfacing. Um which is one that's come full circle that was paved right at the beginning of my career. It used to be a dirt road and uh now that pavement uh needed to be
replaced. So I've seen >> no seen it replaced twice now. And then uh also out west, we had to replace the railroad crossing on 714 under the tree canopy. That crossing was a little um uh it didn't ride very smooth. So we
designed in-house, our staff designed it and uh um installed a a fix for that and it rides much much better. The current projects, County Line Road Bridge replacement, that's in in South County. Uh we're just waiting for some
utilities to move their utilities out of the way before we can get that one on the street. That's another example of a grant-f funed project. That's a $6 million project and we have federal and state appropriations for $6 million. So that project is being funded uh state
and federal dollars and not local dollars. Um we also have uh phase one of the Rocky Point neighborhood restoration. We're going in there and just doing the streets that aren't getting water and sewer. So, it's kind of a peacemeal project, but we're we're uh catching those streets up and um some
resurfacing projects as well. Upcoming projects, we have a multimodal path that's going to um fix a issue we have with cyclists and pedestrians between Airport Road and Monterey Road. We're going to make that a lot safer for our um cyclists and pedestrians. Right
now, the the bike lane ends right at Airport Road, and we have a conflict point there that we want to address. We also have uh resurfacing the the the second phase of Port Solerno as well as Boraage. We're going to finish that one out with some resurfacing and we've got a sidewalk. Um we're able to move that
project up and work with the school board on a safe routes to school project to get a sidewalk going into South Fork High School. Um right now there's kids just um you know walking along the side of the road which is in a great condition. So, uh, that's all I have for the road
department for, pardon me, the road CIP >> questions about the road CIP. I have additional comment to make and it's it's about uh turn lanes on Caner Highway and US1. And those are these should make
everybody in Martin County so happy because we're not we're not funding it. It's $8.5 million of state funding and we're going to get two new turn lanes. >> Fantastic. One of them is going to be a northbound and one is going to be a southbound off of off of Caner Highway.
And that will relieve so much pressure at that hideous intersection. >> So >> yeah, good news. >> Yep. Backs up in both directions at that intersection. >> It does. Commissioner Heatherington >> and Jim, do you want to um clarify or or
talk about how State Road 710 is funded and how that's wholly um or Stephanie DOT funds and while it looks like it's part of the CIP, it is wholly funded by DOT. >> Yeah, absolutely. So, we have um we we
have in our CIP concurrence projects that add capacity and um oftent times those are DOT funded projects. They're in our planning document because they have to be um but they're fully funded through um state and federal monies. So,
um State Road 710 was a project that was the number number one priority in the MO planning board uh for a couple of years and it's because of a number of traffic accidents that are occurring out there. uh our partners at FDOT uh went after
funding and and we were very um happy to find that they were able to fund almost three million $300 million worth of improvements out on 710 to widen that. They split it into four phases. Um but they're actively in design on the project and then the next step is
rightaway acquisition which could be another two years and then construction will come after that. So, um, fully funded. It's in our CIP, so it looks like a really big number, but it isn't local dollars. That's it's still tax dollars, but it's state and federal money that's going to, um, build that
project. >> Thank you, Commissioner Vargas. Yesterday at the MO meeting, I did address 714710. I did speak with Congressman Brian Mast office. He is on the transportation committee. It is unlimited the funds.
Can we request, madame chair, that we get funding for 710, 714? I went to open house and they were just talking about a couple of turn lanes. The money is there for us for the asking >> for 714
>> and 710 specifically. >> 710's funded. >> I'm talking about purchasing portions of land to expand. that is not >> and I I spoke with his office and he said nobody is coming to us.
>> So So the 710 project is fully funded. It's fully funded over a multi-year period. Um this year is design, next year's rightway acquisition. So um but they they need to complete the design before they can acquire the rightway because they need to know how much space they need for the turn lanes and
everything. Um so uh the project is fully funded as it stands now. If more money was brought in up front, they might be able to accelerate some things. But the the the trick is with rightaway acquisition, it really takes 18 months to two years to get that done. So, um
you know, throwing additional money at the front end won't make the project go any faster on the front end. Once they have the the uh property, the rightaway acquisition, then additional monies definitely can help because you can do multiple phases at the same time. >> Yes, I understand that. commissioners,
they they actually do have all the funds for the rideway acquisition and the construction. Yep. Which is why Steve Braun has made it a a point to try to figure out how he can fasttrack it, who's our District 4 secretary. And so
this is really the federal funds for this project comes through Tallahassee, through the state DOT, and then to the district. Um, and they they are they're on it basically because of all of the input from this board and the NO and
that also includes of the the the uh 714 and 710 intersection alignment which includes the Okachobee uh connecting to a road in Okachobee which they're also working on. So it is fully funded. They can't build it all at once. It is sequenced. So, um, as I
understand it, no additional federal funds are needed because the state has used their federal allocation plus their state allocation to fully fund the projects. >> Projects plural, >> right? Okay. I I understand all that, but in so far as identifying the
properties either through eminent domain or outright purchase, which they do give the appraised value for the property, I mean, they said there's nobody moving this forward in our county. So I'm coming back to the board here. >> The the DOT is moving forward on it.
They have to follow uh NEPA process. So um and in order to follow the federal acquisition process, they have to have gone through NEPA, which from us our standpoint seems fairly simple. Seems obvious which right away they need.
However, they have to have the record of decision recorded with uh before they can actually negotiate the price. They have the money to purchase it. So unless uh as I understand it, Steve Rom was looking at art methods to try to speed
that process up, but they still in order to condemn the property or voluntary acquisition of property, they have to have a recorded record of decision which is all following the national
well I can't remember the acronym right now. I know the NEPA process. So um um so the good news is the pressure that we put on has generated the funds. They just now have to go through the bureaucratic process of putting all
those pieces together. Um and uh and we're still working with our DOT partners to see if there are ways that we can uh help them um speed it up, but there is there are some hurdles that they have to go through. So there additional funding as I understand it is
not their issue. It's actually getting through their um record of decision and uh and following it up with the acquisition process. I think they're prepared to do con design the construction design and building at the
same time, but they have to get the rightway. >> Okay. I spoke with Secretary Perurdue about this twice. He says, "Well, you know, I'm kind of not sitting on my hands, but I I don't have a direction here." So, somebody needs to maybe have a conversation. I've
done as best as I can at this point. I spoke with Brian Mast office also. Um, I understand about the funding, but they also said, "Well, you know, we don't hear from the county." So, I'm bringing this up again as I brought at the MO. People are dying on these roads.
>> We've all been having conversations with District 4 and the DOT, and I can assure you they're moving forward on the project. >> Yeah. and we just uh um two weeks ago we participated in a field safety review on 710 with DOT. So we're not only working
on this project to expand it, but we're also working with DOT to um see if there's any measures even no matter how small if there's anything we can do out there to improve safety. Um they're committed and we're committed to make sure that happens in the short term. >> Okay. Wanted to bring this up at the
meeting. Yep. >> So the public can hear. >> One of the difficulties that are huge are uh easements with FPL and FPC along this corridor. So, that's slowing things down, too. >> And and there's also a gas line that
needs to be moved. >> It's very complex. >> Is there a motion to approve the road CIP? >> So moved. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I opposed. That motion passes unanimously.
Uh, Chair Herd, commission members, Mark Cavaney, deputy director, public works. Uh, wrapping things up for public works here, we want to talk about storm water management. The FY26 advorum request was $600,000. For FY27, it is 700 for an
impact of $100,000. Our level of funding for stormwater management and flood control has not changed, and our leveraging of grant funding for our resiliency projects has not changed either. However, we are requesting an additional $100,000 for our storm water infrastructure rehabilitation. And I'll talk a little
bit more about that in the next couple of slides. Uh in uh district 3, uh we had uh successfully completed our bridge road so slope stabilization. Uh this stabilized the stormwater management ditch and future phases will continue uh
towards I95. As you all know, our stormwater infrastructure uh needs maintenance and needs to be uh kept up with, and we're certainly endeavoring to do that with our CIP. For current CIP projects in District 4, uh we uh replaced or will replace about 2,800 ft
of a major ditch, really an old farm ditch, uh with very steep slopes prone to erosion erosion in the Hibiscus Park Ditch Bank stabilization project, and that's currently under design. And then for future projects, uh the number one priority in our stormwater management
plan uh was the Bessie Creek retrofit. This roadway uh drainage crossings which act really as a um a stop for the flow of water. Uh we need to upgrade those um those road crossings there to allow better flow of water. Um and we will be
planning um that activity uh in this coming fiscal year. That's my presentation. Sam ready to answer any questions on the storm water management. Any questions on storm water management? Commissioner Caps, >> just a a point of curiosity about how
storm water is paid for in different counties. Um, and I believe that in some counties there's like a what they call a storm water utility which would make it it's
um like a line item on your tax bill instead of an MSTU. >> Yes, it'd be a nonadvalorum assessment. >> A nonadalorum assessment. Oh, that that's an interesting difference. and like why would a county choose to do it
that way instead of the way we do it? >> So, um there is a storm water utility in Martin County, but it's the city of Stewarts. So, they they operate under that um methodology. Right now, a lot of communities will utilize storm water utilities rather than adv funding um
because it's the most equitable way to do it. It's usually based on it's always based on the amount of impervious area that's on a property and they will uh backcharge the property owner based on how much runoff is contributed to the storm water system. So um it's a
different way to imagine how to fund uh storm water u mechanisms but um the storm water MSTU that we utilize is we're we're definitely in the minority. We're one of the very few counties that use that u funding mechanism. We have
brought a storm water utility a couple of times just to get board input. Um but we haven't proceeded with a storm water utility um to date. >> So it we are in the minority using the MSTU but uh it does serve the purpose and funds most of our operating as well
as some of the CIP. >> The the other area that a lot of communities have are what's called 298 districts, special taxing districts that are specifically for drainage. Um, if you live in uh, you know, there's uh,
Fort Pierce Farms Water Control District to our north of several other names. South of us in Palm Beach County, there's a South Indian River Water Control District, nickname is Sir Wicked. You have the Lake Worst Drainage District. And so, a lot of them were
originally set up for um, um, uh, agriculture and some of them and they have specific plans of reclamation. you know, Palmar is a drainage district that um is as an example. Um so, so you'll
find it's one of those areas when you look at comparing governments and counties to how they operate where you really find apples and apples are hard to to measure up. So you may have a community that has both a storm water
298 district along with a county advor program and a storm water utility. So the thing about a storm water utility is it is very specific as an enterprise run on being having to spend monies that
specifically benefit the properties within the district. So there are um financial reasons that make the storm water utility more um cumbersome especially if your goal is purely water quality as opposed to flood protection
and of course we do a lot of both. So I think there are some real advantages of having a um having it primarily MSTU driven especially on the flexibility of trying to do water quality projects uh where storm water utilities are usually
focused purely on um on flood protection or implementing um the BMPs required by a um a total maximum daily in an impaired water shed. So anyway, well, I
gave you way more than you wanted to hear, but the point is is that um there are other choices out there um and and they um the business practice if if we had any changes that would require it, we would we would dig into it much
deeper, but uh anyway, sorry to go on and on. >> That's great. I will tell my new colleagues that the time that we set a record for filling this room and the lobby and the parking lot was when we brought up the idea of a storm water
utility. Um it it it's too late here. There's too many people that would be wickedly adversely affected. um when he talked about impervious, anybody that has a large parking lot. So, businesses, retail, flea, the flea market guy, uh
lost his mind over at the mall. Um it was absolutely packed in here of people not interested. Plus, isn't there like a tax you can't write it off on your taxes or something else? So, there was a several different reasons why it wouldn't work here. Maybe every several
years people forget and the staff tries to bring it back. Look at Mr. Donaldson. He loves a stormwater assessment and uh and pretty sure as long as some of us are sitting up here. Not I don't you don't need to beat that drum again.
People are probably nervous when they hear us talking about it now. >> Well, it was interesting learning about it anyway. I'm not an advocate. I'm not an advocate of anything. I just wanted to learn about it. You know,
today's headline caps interested in the storm water assessment. Just wanted to learn fake news. >> Is there a motion to adopt the storm water management CIP? >> I don't even like anything with the word storm water in it. I'm out. >> Yes. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. All those
in favor? I opposed. That motion passes unanimously. Moving on to solid waste. >> Uh, can I ask a question? I want to go back to roads. >> Sure. >> Um, sorry, >> I forgot to ask you. On page 202, what
what is this? Uh, operating budget impact >> says 49,731. Then it talks about bright line sealed corridor requires quad gates at crossings increasing the license to 100. That's three times. >> Oh yeah. >> 152,000. then it could go between 150 to
300,000 which is six times what what is this? >> So annual commitments is our CIP sheet that we use for maintenance of the crossings of the FEC and CSX track. So um going back in in Florida history those railroads existed before our roads
did. So um we have to get easements from them or license agreements or leases to um utilize the crossings to build roads across them. So in in the bottom when we're talking about the operating budget impact for um the uh increase for Bright
Line, what that stemmed from was Bright Line had a settlement agreement with the county and they were required to make safety upgrades and install quad gate crossings at at a lot of the crossings in the county. Um the intent of that was to make it so that we could consider in
the future quiet zones. Um but uh with those improvements that Bright Line paid for, they paid, you know, through the settlement agreement, they had to pay to upgrade every single crossing, put in striping, put in quad gates, put in new signage, and um now the license
agreements have gone up because there's more infrastructure there. So someone has to maintain all of those quad gates that exist now, the lighting that's out there, the fencing that's out there, the the lights that have been added. So all of those things have cost to maintain and uh this sheet is where you maintain
them. Secondly, um the crossings themselves have to be maintained. So the roadways that cross them within the FEC rightway from time to time, they've got three projects that are going to happen this year. uh FEC comes out and does a crossing maintenance project where they
replace all of the pavement in in between their rightaway lines. Um now that we have two tracks, the cost for that has gone up. So each one of those projects is going to be, you know, 20% more than they used to be because we have more area that we need to cover with those projects. So um that's what
that is is there's more infrastructure that needs to be maintained because of the safety improvements that Bright Line was required to put in. Um and then the the cost for the maintenance of the the rightaway crossings as well. >> Okay. You're talking about countywide. >> Um so >> just at certain
>> this is only at the 17 or 19 crossings that Martin County controls. There's there's 27 total crossings countywide. Um but but this sheet only addresses the ones that uh our county maintained. So >> okay. Or city of Stewart. >> City of Stewart separate. They have their own they've got seven crossings in
the city and they have their own funding mechanism to maintain those. They too have leases. Um they've got, you know, leasing leases for the parking that they have within the rightway and and the crossings themselves. So they have quite a number of leases with FEC.
>> Okay. All right. Okay. Shall we move on to uh solid waste? Mr. Ammerson and Mr. Cubby. Mr. Cubby. Hey, good afternoon. For the record, Jeremy Kobe, deputy director,
uh, Martin County Utilities and Solid Waste Department. Uh, we'll start with solid waste. Our fiscal year 26 request was roughly $2.1 million. In fiscal year 27, we are asking for $1.2 million, which is roughly a $900,000 uh decrease.
>> Decrease. >> Yep. Yeah, that's always nice to hear. >> Um, what stayed the same? Um, renewal and replacement projects such as roadways, capital improvement, and scale. uh improve uh replacements are still in there um with a majority of our funding requested uh for equipment which
is basically 70% of our CIP for equipment. Um what changed uh the decrease was mainly due to the transfer station fuel island was fully funded in fiscal year 26 which drops out in 27 and that was roughly $1.1 million. Um
additional funding is also requested for capital improvements and the floor replacement. uh capital uh improvements were additional 150 and the floor replacements additional 100,000 and we also moved the inbound scale uh timing from fiscal year 28 to 27.
Um a couple completed projects uh the transfer station admin building with public restrooms. Um you can see a photo in the upper left there. Um this allows us to move the portaotties off site for the uh residents. Um, also water and sewer is now extended and complete out there. So,
we are fully hooked up to Martin County water and sewer. Um, the middle photo on the bottom is covered area for employee parking is completed. And then we also had some renovations for the hazmat unit. Current projects out there are the
transfer station fuel island, um, which are three tanks. um 8,000galon off-road diesel tank, 8,000galon gas tank, and a 2,000galon on-road diesel tank. Um the single stream recycling uh relocation is currently in design as conceptual design
right now and hopefully our goal is to be up and operational within two years and then additional capital equipment upcoming projects. Um, the largest item on there would be a street sweeper under capital equipment. Um, right around
$150,000 for transportation capital improvements, which is uh building renovation, security, uh, landscaping, that kind of stuff. Um, $100,000 for floor uh, rehab and $100,000 for scale replacement on the inbound scale.
>> Questions for Mr. Ky? Seeing none, is there a motion to approve solid waste? >> Move approval. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I >> opposed. That motion passes unanimously.
Now we're taking up utilities. >> All right. Well, we'll continue forward with utilities. >> Um, in fiscal year 26, we had roughly a $60 million request. In fiscal year 27, it's a $17 million request, roughly uh 42 million or close to $43 million uh
decrease on that. Uh we'll get to know why the decrease. Um what stayed the same is projects such as the septic to sewer ongoing uh renewal and replacement. Um project specific renewal and replacement. Those are all still in there. Um what changed is we had two
large expansion projects, the tropical farms waist uh water treatment plant expansion and Jensen Beach. And both of those roughly were uh $43 million and budget in fiscal year 26. Um another item that changed is light vehicles were
in our FARB. Now they are in uh our operating budget. So they got taken out of capital which are F250s and smaller. Um and we do have one additional project in our CIP. Um the bioolids dewatering rehab. Um, this sheet allows us to save
up roughly $400,000 a year for the next four years to eventually buy another centrifuge for the tropical farms wastewater tra uh treatment plant. Um, some completed projects uh in the north uh water treatment plant high service pump improvements was adding uh
VFDs to two pumps out there. That's the picture in the upper right. Um, a Dixie Park generator improvements. We had a new 1,00 kilowatt generator added there. the bottom right photo. Uh Martin Downs wastewater repump station. We added a fifth booster pump, Evergreen Windstone,
uh we completed the water main assessments just recently in there to roughly 400 homes. And then we also have our rehab projects which reoccur on all three sheets. Um lift stations, we have roughly 378 lift stations and five vacuum pump stations.
um your sanitary collection system which is mainly now uh manhole rehab and and ARV maintenance. Uh water meters, we have approximately four uh 40,000 water meters and right around 8,600 are still manually read. So we're replacing those
out with a goal of uh 3,000 to 3,500 meters a year. Chemical tank replacements, those are anywhere between se 7 and 10 years replacement depending on the chemicals. And then fire hydrants, we do completely replacements of 45 per year and the operating budget
handles the actual maintenance and painting of existing ones. Current projects are the two large projects are the first ones here. The tropical farms water treatment plant expansion um currently under design and permitting and the north water treatment plant operating half million gallons a
day um is currently under design and permitting. We're going to build bid those two together hopefully within uh the next month or month and a half year or so. And both of those combined are right around $43 million worth of work. Um the north wastewater treatment plant
dosing pumps are under construction. We just started one of one of the three new pumps up. Parallel force veins in Palm City down High Meadows uh to handle additional flow for Palm City. Um small diameter force veins in multiple neighborhoods. Right now, there's
roughly 650 homes or a service for 650 homes under construction for the small diameter forest panes with another 240 in design. Um, Coral Gardens is now kicked off and in construction that broke ground roughly a month ago. That's going to serve 638 homes and should be completed
in October of 2027. Port Saron Monroia vacuum system is currently finishing design. Uh we're tweaking some some mains to try to minimize roadway impact on that and our goal is to have that um bid hopefully
within the next two months or so plus or minus. uh SS Point water mane replacements currently under construction and then our general rehab projects that I discussed earlier and then upcoming CIP projects uh small diameter forest bands uh next fiscal
year would be Boage East and Skyline um roughly $600,000 for that uh chemical or uh capital equipment replacements such as pump trucks, utility equipment and generators. There's a far sheet on the um water manes and service replacements. MacArthur Boulevard and Center Street
will be next. Uh Dixie Park rehab station uh improvements is adding a fifth booster pump out there on the wastewater side. Uh the north water treatment plant filter uh rehab uh the actual system is roughly 20 years old and the media is 20 years old. So it's
it's time parallel force bands in Stewart on Cove and Solo to handle additional septic sewer flows and then our general rehab projects. >> Questions for Mr. Kobe, Commissioner Vargas. >> Mr. Kovi, um the utilities and solid
waste is enterprise. Is that correct? So what does that mean to the public? That means the actual fees from either the actual solid waste side or your water and wastewater bill pays for the upgrades and >> everything that we've talked about here. That is correct. Your wish list and maintenance and projects. Is that
correct? >> And if you can't do it, you can't do it. You >> push it off, right? >> Yes. >> I like your management style very well. Thank you both of you. Thank you. >> Any further questions? Is there a motion to approve utilities? accept tentatively
accept the utilities. >> It's all tentative. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I >> opposed. That motion passes unanimously. >> Which brings us to the end of our CIP workshop. Do you need a wrap-up motion to ex to approve the CIP?
>> No, you approve each one. >> Okay. What other loose strings are there? >> That is it. I would just if I could um I just want to thank the board for your support. Um all of the county department heads and staff that are involved in
formulating this process, my OMT OM team, but specifically Miss Mrs. Dela Pietra um for kind of reigning it all in and also Melissa Khalif who is behind me who assisted big time in compiling all this information.
>> Fantastic. >> Your department's terrific. >> Thank you. I agree. Mr. Vargas, >> you know, as a closing comment, I I would just like to say that everybody I've met with that is a director or subdirector or co-director within these
walls, I think you do a fantastic job. Um, I I do pick apart a lot as you know, but u you are very professional in explaining and I may come back again and ask because I'm working here for my 160,000 bosses, a lot of people out there. So, I want to thank you so much
um all of you and those that aren't here uh they know who they are. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. Thanks. So, we've reached the end of our uh agenda. Any commissioner comments? >> I just of a very light note um I saw on
my calendar that tomorrow is administrative professionals day. So, I wanted to wish um District 2's five-star customer service um liaison and rockstar Patricia Higinbotham a happy administrative professional day as well
as all of the the administrative professionals that keep every all the wheels running in this county. So, thank you and happy administrative professionals day tomorrow. >> Thank you, Commissioner Campy. >> All set. Commissioner Caps >> all set.
>> And Commissioner Vargas, >> I would like to thank all of our aids upstairs. U my aid Kathy Bowden, she carries a lot of things and at one time and she juggles and I don't know how she does it. But having said that, everybody is very cooperative. I've been very appreciative when you know we've had
maybe some some little loose ends up there, but everybody knows what's going on and that's what I like. That's the way I operate. So, thank you very much, girls. You know who you are, too. >> Mr. Donaldson, you said that you had something. >> Yeah, I had two things. First of all, just on the uh P3 agreement, I there was
one thank you we left off of there uh to the chagrin of all of us and that is our legal department uh and Miss Elder was a critical part of getting all of that uh together through multiple meetings and details. And so uh I just she was they
are really critical part of No, she she didn't say a thing. uh but her and her team really are are instrumental in making it happen and so thank you Elise for that. Um then I also have uh you know staff got some recognitions last
week the safety council of Palm Beach which is really a conglomerate of public and private entities. Some of the private entities are like Tropical Tripping, Cheney Brothers, Pratt and Whitney, and we have public entities uh
um uh like the Solid Waste Authority, Martin County, Curtain, St. Lucy County. In any event, uh they have an annual meeting celebrating and and we submit uh uh awards and Martin County got several and I thought our our little county
competing against all the others. I I'm always impressed by those that received awards and I just going to list them off really quickly here. Uh we got an excellence words for worker safety and a special uh uh award for our safety manual that went to our risk management
group. There was also a recognition of our burn building and how we had implemented uh uh state-of-the-art training, but it was more importantly on the training program that was actually developed for that facility. Uh and as a part of that, a
separate uh actual was a special recognition to Kevin Moore, our uh Martin County Fire Rescue Chief, uh for his uh safety initiatives uh and the program that he's put developed. Um uh also Sailfish Splash Water Park
obviously we have a lot of customers there and and and there was special recognition for them. Solid waste uh uh and utilities and solid waste our transfer station safety enhancement. We heard from staff earlier today. So anyway, I want to recognize all of our
our departments and recipients who u who were recognized at a banquet in Palm Beach County last week. uh and I was proud to to participate with them and and really proud to see that really um there was a lot of really great reward recipients, but Martin counties uh I
think were certainly noteworthy in our class uh of amongst the best. So, I just wanted to point that out to you all. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Elder. >> I'm all set. Thank you. >> Excellent. We are joured. Thank you. Nice.