--------- I will call to order this regular meeting of the Steuart City Commission. Mary, would you call the role? >> Mayor Collins >> here. >> Vice Mayor Reid >> here. >> Commissioner Clark >> here. >> Commissioner Gio >> here. >> Commissioner Rich >> here. >> And we'll have our invocation. >> Would you also lead us in the pledge
afterward? Thank you so much for this opportunity today to present this invocation. Um I would like to if I can first give respects to Mayor Collins, Vice Mayor Reid, and commissioners.
Uh Commissioner Clark, good to see you again. Uh I'm going to base my prayer on um just a simple idea. We know that uh it's been said there's power with numbers. Um I would probably challenge
that thought and say there's power and unity. Um certainly we could have many numbers not have unity. The scriptures support this idea. In Matthew 18, it says that if two of you, there's your numbers, shall agree on earth as
touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done of them. So, we have our numbers, but it's important that we also have our unity. And I have been in enough of these meetings and been uh had the privilege of doing the invocation to
know there may be some in agreement and maybe some in disagreement today. Um, but I do think that if we start this meeting out touching just one simple idea, that is that we're all here for the betterment of our city and our
families and our citizens that I believe we could accomplish a lot today. So, with that idea, if you could bow your head and let us pray today. Lord Jesus, we thank you for this opportunity to come, Lord, for the betterment of our
city, Lord, and our citizens. We pray that you would bless this meeting as Lord God, we come in agreement with that one idea. Lord, we're touching that in your name. We thank you Lord Jesus for this opportunity. In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen. >> Amen. If we can, I'll lead the pledge of allegiance. I'm going to make sure I don't get this wrong because that would be the worst thing I could possibly do.
>> We'll help you out here. >> All right. If we can. >> I pledge allegiance >> 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. You want to go ahead and >> do it now. >> You have the letter. >> Want to speak to what you're doing? >> Yeah, true. Hi everyone, Commissioner
Joy here and today we're having a change of the guard and Roz who's been a most spectacular interim city manager is leaving and returning to her head of the HR department. But before she goes, we just had a little something for her
because we appreciated working with her and uh just wanted to say thank you from all of us. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Ros. >> Thank you. There's a little label on it with appreciation from all of us. >> Thank you. >> And you can look at our names until
you're tired and you can take the label off and throw it away. >> This is lovely. Thank you all so much. >> And that's not all. >> And then we we have a letter and I'll go ahead and read it on behalf of all of us. Dear Ros, this letter is presented in honor and
recognition of your exceptional service and steadfast dedication to the city of Stewart during a critical period of transition. Your leadership as interim city manager has been marked by professionalism, integrity, and a clear
commitment to the continued stability and progress of the organization. Your ability to guide the city with confidence, agility, and purpose has made a meaningful and lasting impact. In addition to these responsibilities, your
continued excellence as human resources director and your service as interim finance director reflect a remarkable breath of expertise and an unwavering dedication to public service. Balancing these roles with such effectiveness is a
testament to your work ethic for sure, adaptability, and commitment to excellence. Your contributions have not only ensured continuity in operations, but have also strengthened the foundation upon which the city will continue to grow and succeed. The
positive influence of your proactive leadership during this time has not gone gone unnoticed and is deeply appreciated. With sincere gratitude and respect, we recognize your stellar performance and the significant difference you've made for the city of Stewart.
>> Oh my goodness gracious. >> Signed by all of us. >> Thank you so much. Wow. >> Oh, I appreciate you. >> Wow. >> Misty, would you That's what I get for getting you new
chairs. >> Oh, we all have to go. Let's go. Thank you so much. And that will segue us into our oath of office for our new city manager, Michael Girardino. >> Testing. Testing.
>> There you go. >> Raise your right hand. >> I state your name. Do solemnly swear. >> I, Michael Jardino. I do solemnly swear >> that I will support, honor, protect, and defend >> that I will support, honor, protect, and
defend >> the Constitution and Government >> the Constitution and government >> of the United States and the State of Florida >> of the United States and the State of Florida. >> That I am duly qualified to hold office >> that I am duly qualified to hold office
>> under the Constitution of the State of Florida. under the Constitution of the State of Florida. >> and under the charter of the city of Stewart. >> and under the charter of the city of Stewart. >> And that I will well and faithfully perform >> And that I will well and faithfully
perform >> the duties of city of city of Stewart, city manager. >> The duties of the city of Stewart, city manager. >> On which I am about to enter. So help me God. >> On which I am about to enter. So help me
God. >> Let's get down there and get a picture with you, too. >> Thank you. >> Another picture. >> Yes. One more. >> One more picture. >> Got to remember the >> That's right. >> So we don't have to do it for a while.
Congratulations, sir. for you. >> May I get citiz? Okay. >> All right. You're all set. >> Welcome aboard. >> All yours. >> Thank you.
>> Wow. What a difference a day makes. >> Thank you all again so much. It was such a pleasure working with all of you. >> Same here, Ros. >> Thank you, Ros. >> Does anybody have any comments for him? >> For him? No.
>> Just making sure. Just making sure. >> Yeah. No. >> Okay. Moving on to presentations. U we have um >> this presentation >> is Darren doing that >> I'm going to be handling this presentation mayor we originally were
going to have we were going to have uh Darren do it but due to certain circumstances thought it'd be best if I took over okay >> speaking that it has to do a lot with the legal stuff >> so this started back in the fall of 2021 and I was not here so I do not have
personal knowledge so I want to disclose that I'm relying on both my investigation and Ros Johnson's investigation and we had spoken to multiple people that were here at the time. I've spoken to former city manager Mr. Das. I've spoken to former
commissioners, former police chief and I've also reviewed a bunch of records, documents and so forth and also discussed such with Roz and her findings and what she found in addition speaking with Darren our IT director. So, I wanted to disclose obviously I'm not the
things I'm saying are not personal knowledge. I'm just giving a timeline of things that resulted from the investigation. So, I'm going to start in the fall of 2021. The city lost $125,9912 and it was over increments over a 12-day
period of time. And so since this request for this presentation came up, I've been asked certain questions. I've seen questions and such questions include when did the city become aware of the missing money? Is the city still exposed? When was the
city aware of the crime? Why did the city not tell the public? And did the city seek to return seek return of the money? So, let's start with when did the city become aware of the missing money and is the city still exposed?
So, the fraud was perpetrated through the city's online bill payment software. A payment would be made to the city with un unknown account numbers and then the payment through staff would be cancelled through sta our city staff. and the time
that it would take to post the payment, it takes 10 days to clear, but when we would uh cancel it, it would be more instantaneous and so we would lose money. And so somehow this scheme was was found out by uh people out there and they took advantage not only of the city
of Stewart but four other cities uh across the country that were also the victim of the same crime spree. In October of 2021, multiple transactions on multiple days occurred, so for about a 12-day period of time,
uh, and like I said, it totaled a little under $126,000. But when these little transactions multiple each day, they they added up to that that amount of money. When when they were these small amount of transactions were being realized,
finance uh staff at the time were trying to ask other staff members of the city. They were trying to investigate to see how this money was missing. It took them about 12 days to figure it out. They eventually were talking to our third party vendor that was the software uh
vendor for the payment software, but apparently on 12 on the 12th or 13th day, we were able to figure out and stop stop the issue. However, at that point in time, they still weren't aware there was a crime. From that point on, for several months, the finance department
and our third party vendor were arguing back and forth. So, what caused how did this happen? And you know what finance director would email and then maybe seven to 10 days we'd get a response and then vice versa. So for a few months that went on back and forth and then I
it's my impression that the budget came around in springtime and with the finance department they focused on the budget at that time and this issue with the the missing money was put on the back burner for a while and then on May
see here I want to make sure I got my dates times so forth here. So when did the city first become aware of a crime? So May 16th, 2022. So we were talking about seven months later, a sheriff's deputy from Fyet
County, Georgia contacted the city to alert that city might have been the victim of a fraud that he was investigating. And apparently the county fet county got hit by the same fraudulent scheme. And
so they let they alerted us on May 17th. the finance director notified the Steuart Police Department who then they opened up its own investigation uh in collaboration with the Fiat County Sheriff's Office. Very next day on May
18th, 2022, the city manager David Das was notified. So that was the first time they were aware of a crime. And then with the investigation started with with the alert from the sheriff's deputy and also the city of Stewart police department, they were told not to
talk about it because there was an ongoing criminal investigation. They didn't want to let the bad people that were doing this be alert that we were now investigating them. So, it took until about December of 2022, so another seven months, that I saw a report online
that they finally said that they were announcing that they had arrested 60 individuals that were doing this to not only the city of Stewart, but the other four local governments and that they were being indicted and they were arrested and criminal in the criminal charges were then ongoing. At that
point, however, the city the city of Stewart police department didn't close its investigation until 2024. So, why did the city not tell the public? So, first during that period of time that there was a criminal investigation, they were told by both
the police officer in the uh Steuart Police Department and also the sheriff's deputy not to uh publicly announce this so that they can continue to investigate it. After dis after October 12th, 2021, the perpetrators of the crime were still
trying to commit the crime against the city, but we we had stopped it at that time. So there were multiple other times and I think I saw somewhere where if they had continued to do it, we would have lost well over a half a million dollars and I think one of the other cities or counties lost well over a
million dollars according to this fraud. So on the grand scheme of things, we did not get hit as bad as they did. So first off, the the police told city staff not to go public on the matter. Um, in speaking to the former staff members and
commissioners, um, they were alerted on a private basis, but just not publicly. The finance director continued to communicate with the software vendor, basically debating who was at fault and how this happened. And then eventually the software vendor retained a lawyer
who sent a a cease and desist letter for the finance director to stop talking about it. and and I believe that was another reason as to why they didn't go public at that time because there was a threat of a lawsuit. And then the last question, did the city
seek return of the money? So, in my discussions with the folks involved, it was concluded that it was going to be very highly doubtful that any uh return of the money would come from the criminal restitution part. There were, like I said, there were four other local governments that got hit significantly
larger amounts of money. And in looking at the criminals that were doing it, they were obviously going to jail. And I I saw accusations that they it was a lot of addicted to drug folks that probably spent the money versus they didn't have it's not like you would a lot of times
we do forfeite cases against uh drug drug dealers and stuff that actually invest their money in properties and vehicles. that was apparently that was not the the situation here. So then we went and looked at whether or not we could make a claim under our insurance policy. Now prior to this date
we had made cyber it's called cyber liability coverage and every year we have to renew the policy or we bid it out and get a new policy with a different carrier. And apparently we had had a prior claim under the cy cyber liability coverage and our our
deductible was significantly increased as a result of that. uh prior claim. I and I would be assuming that we did that because our insurance rates went up. So, a lot of times, just like on your regular personal insurance, a way of reducing
the premiums is increasing the deductible. So, at the time that this loss happened, our deductible was $100,000. So, if we made a claim for $125,000, the most we would get is $25,000. And I I know I've heard questions, well, why didn't we still to go forward with
it? They they had our staff had communications with our insurance administrator with relation insurance and they had recommended against it. If we had another claim, we could be potentially um cancelled with our policy that we had. And then we also would then
have to the next year when we're trying to seek new coverage, we would also have to disclose that now we have another claim and this one was much higher. and they they had made the decision at the time that it would cost us more in the long run if we make a claim than this
just to eat it and not make the claim. So those like I said those are the questions that I have seen and that's the results of what I had concluded. I'm happy to try and answer any further questions that you guys might have on the situation but I hope that was thorough enough to answer your
questions. >> Questions from the board? Well, thanks for the presentation, Lee. My my issue since um bringing it up wasn't necessarily with the vendor. It was more so with how it was handled and the public not being notified and how do we move forward so this doesn't happen
again. And you know, we can give transparency to uh the taxpayers in the city. I think they should know when money's stolen. Um that's that's my comment because I don't think we're going to get the money back. While I understand the need for full
transparency um in these cyber type crimes um you really don't want to alert the cyber bullies out there that you might be vulnerable even though we really weren't. Um I do understand that recently uh because of most of this
cyber ransom cyber type crimes that um now a lot of it can be done in the shade so that to protect for the future so that um those who would do harm to the city cannot. I would say that the the
one thing that I found in in hearing the explanation was that the one thing that we need to do better is there may not have been as many questions if the notes in the file might have been better better designating the fact of what took place after they were notified that it
was in litigation. I mean that it was being investigated than possible litigation. There seemed to be a part where the notes fell off. There were no notations and I think we knew we need as a city to do a better job of keeping notes so that when someone comes two or three years later and says what happened
here you actually have a full detail of what happened and that's all I have to say. >> Thank you. >> I just I wanted to touch base on that. So when we had ransomware the public was absolutely notified when that happened and it occurred. Um I I actually knew
about this issue back in 2021. I have a multitude of list inside my head that I'm going to address while I'm here for the next two and a half years at the city. Um, so I just think if I knew about it, um, some other people should have known about it. From what I understand, the the city manager at the
time didn't even know about it until uh, Georgia contacted Steuart Police Department. So, I think there's definitely a big disconnect between communication amongst maybe departments and we should absolutely know about these things. Um, from what I understand, I guess some elected
officials, they weren't allowed to talk about it. Lee might be able to touch base on that. He had conversations with maybe some current ones, maybe past ones. I know you spoke with the city manager. I don't know if I don't know how much you want to elaborate on it if he knew about it before he was
contacted. No, I think it was determined that the the city manager found out two days after the sheriff's deputy contacted the city and alerted that we might be the victim of a fraud. So that would have been about 7 months after it happened. But remember, as you recall,
>> the finance department didn't believe that it was a criminal issue at that point. They they were pointing fingers with the software vendor and the software vendor was pointing fingers at us. So, there was a ongoing dispute um as to who caused it, who's at fault,
>> and like I said, the city manager was not made aware until after the criminal once once a criminal element became apparent within two days, the city manager was alerted. And in situations like this, Lee, I don't I I I don't think we want to experience them. But
when they do happen, does like FDLE or any state agency have to be contacted if like a city gets hacked or if anything like this happens? >> Um I don't again when when this first happened, first off, there there wasn't
a hack and so there was never a compromise of the city's systems and and Darren can come out and attest to that. this what would had to do with this third-party vendor software. Apparently, these folks learned how to do this and and it there was never a compromise or a
hack into our system. So, if that's a different situation than what we had here. So, if there's a hack or um you know into our system, I think it's a different protocol that I don't know because that hasn't happened since
I've been here. But, uh Darren could probably come out and give you I I assume it's happened in the past. Um I know it's happened at other local municipalities locally and I see Darren walking to the podium now and maybe he can
>> so like for example Darren if we are hacked as like state agencies have to be not and I know this isn't a hack it was >> um Darren Duke technology services director of record so sometime in 2022 or 2023 the state changed the law
>> so now we have finite time limits for an actual cyber security incident to to report to the state um and to report to FDLE and report to what's called the Florida Digital Service. Um they didn't exist those reporting requirements back when this happened. And and to the city
attorney's point, this is not a cyber security issue. This is what we would term in the business a cyber enabled crime. So it was a finance crime that was made easier because of the internet. >> People were still robbing banks long before the internet came along. So that
wasn't just it didn't happen because the internet came along. >> Mhm. >> So we have to be very careful. Um you know I I remember a meeting where myself and the finance director at the time we we sat down with the cyber security policy to claim and there's
8 to 12 check boxes on that form and we couldn't check any cuz our systems themselves had never been compromised. The compromise as as as the city attorney said was some ingenious person had figured out how to you know bypass the checks and balances in an actual
system. Not a system we have not a system we manage. It's a third party vendor. >> All right. >> Thanks. >> Yep. Sure. >> Any other questions? >> No. I said what I had to say. I just think moving forward the public should
absolutely know about it. I know the case was closed in 2024, so there was definitely time to make a notification to the public, so they were aware. >> Okay, moving on to comments by city commissioners, Commissioner Rich.
>> Okay, thank you. Well, welcome, Mr. Gardino. >> Thank you, sir. >> And um for the benefit of the city staff and the city residents, I hope you enjoy considerable success. >> Um >> Thank you. One of the reasons I'm dressed up is because I had the honor
along with Commissioner Gio. Prior to this meeting, we attended a center uh a ceremony rather with the charged affair from France uh recognizing the contributions of a 101year-old member of the city of
Stewart at Addington. It was really quite an impressive ceremony and I will allow Commissioner Jobi to provide more details on that. um it was the Legion Donaire, their highest military award from the country
of France. So um secondly, I would also like to acknowledge the recognition received by the city of Stewart's own officer Kyle Ozinga. This Saturday, the Palm Beach Benevolent Association had their annual meeting and
recognized him as the officer of the year. Correct. And Mr. Mayor, if it's okay with you, Chief Z is going to >> absolutely come on >> describe his the incident that led to his recognition.
>> Thank you, Commissioner. Mayor Flores and Elevate, Chief of Police. Um, Commissioner Rich asked that I address this from a historical perspective. So, Officer Osinga was uh nominated to the Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association for Officer of the Year
along with dozens of other officers, mainly out of Palm Beach County uh law enforcement agencies and from Martin County Sheriff's Office. and he was involved in a critical incident, as we term it in our business, back in March of 2025 at approximately 7 a.m. He
responded to a 911 call on Monterey Road in the city of Stewart for the report of a person with a edged weapon, a knife, threatening people in this apartment community. Officer Osinga pulled up in his marked patrol car in uniform to address the complaint. He saw the
individual that was the suspect that was described as having a weapon and asked that person from a distance from about 15 or 20 feet. Can you please go in in your apartment and put your knife down? And the subject appeared to comply went inside his apartment as Officer Osinga
stood by his police car. And then the suspect and not two or three seconds later came running out of the apartment with it said a large knife. was more of a machete type hatchet, a largeged weapon and sprinted towards officer Osingo who
in just seconds, blink of an eye, had to uh you know re withdraw, retreat from his patrol car so as he wasn't stabbed or hacked by this subject and he had to uh he was forced to use deadly force against this individual to stop the attack and he did just that. He did what
he was trained to do and he did his job. Unfortunately, it results in a loss of loss of a life, which we never want, but sometimes it's we just can't prevent it. But he performed admirably considering the spontaneous uh action of the subject
and had he not done his job and performed according to his training, he or members of the community who were uh you know, a witness or victim of this knife attack may have been injured. though he was recognized by the PBA for his quick wit, his action to prevent an
attack and present or I'm sorry, protect himself and the community. And quite quite honestly, he was just a a true guardian of the community that morning. It was 7:00 on a Saturday morning when most people are sleeping in or having breakfast. He was out on a on his first call of the day and uh thrust into this
scenario. So, uh we are very proud of Officer Osinga. His training is very evident. it comes out in his actions and we appreciate the opportunity to address it here at the public comment portion. >> I would imagine that case I got to see that clip is going to be used as exactly
how to handle that situation. It was so fast what he did. It's it was incredible. >> Yes, Mayor, you're correct. Responded. Yes. from a training perspective that offers the body camera footage and the surveillance footage from the uh the apartment building offer a clear perspective of just how fast that
happened. And you know, I I'm just so glad that officer Osingo was there and he was prepared to react that quickly. And for us, it's always difficult as police officers to walk around. You can't walk around with your hand on your gun thinking that there's something going on around every corner because the reality is it's it doesn't happen that
often. You just don't know when it's going to happen. So you have to be on edge at all times and be prepared to go from being, you know, Mr. Nice Guy having an interview talking to somebody to being forced into a position of deadly force. And that's a difficult
position for any police officer to be put in. We know it comes with the job, but it's a, you know, again, it's a very impactful uh incident on their career both as an individual and as a police officer. >> He's a great reflection on the department and >> he truly is, and I appreciate you saying
that. He's very well trained officer, just over 10 years with the Stewart Police Department and he's a he's a father. You know, he wants to go home every day just like everyone else, but he did a great job to protect our community. And he's he's on patrol right now. He's on the midnight shift as a corporal uh helping to supervise the overnight shift. So, we're going home
tonight. They're working till 6:00 a.m. to make sure that we're we're safe and in the community. So, >> will you let him know from us? Good job. >> Yes, I will. Thank you very much, Commissioner. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Commissioner Gio. >> Okay. Um, and just to tag on what
Commissioner Rich said today, we were both over uh part of a celebration, Mr. Robert Czecho, a Steuart resident, was honored today. It was his 101st birthday. And part of that honor, he was presented with um the highest award that
you can uh from the French government. It's the Knight in Legion of Honor. and a council representative, Misha Trap, came to rep to present it to him and he was just an amazing man. I had a conversation with him, met with his family. He had been an infantryman in
the second division and participated in D-Day and landing on the Omaha beach and fought onward to liberate Normandy. He also was very um he was in other dire battles the sloow and hill 192 in
Normandy where he was wounded. He was then sent uh to recuperate. Once he recuperated he returned to his division and he went on to be part of the infamous battle of the bulge and was
very much instrumental in the liberation of France during the second world war. It was an honor for us to be there today. The city of Stewart did a proclamation to Mr. Greco and um I will tell you he's still driving. God bless him. He he had Right. Was he not? He was
amazing. >> Amazing. >> Amazing. And everyone, the honor guard was there, the uh veterans, there were so many people there to celebrate this event for him and it was really an honor for us to be there also. So, and thank you for being there, Commissioner Rich.
Um, I just want to share with everyone I didn't get to say because I was going on that again. I'm the house is full. I'm so happy. It always makes me great to see that people come and uh participate in local government. Uh, one of the things I wanted to say was this will be
this is out on the stands throughout the city. You should pick it up. It's called the local. It's finally a local paper or um information that is not filled with sarcasm and not filled with uh un you
know halftruths. It is um an excellent piece of information. It is not bias. It gives the story and you should all read it. I have one for each commissioner. So, it's finally so good to have something that is not
um always attacking people here in the city and not saying good words. This is something that tells the story as it is and everyone forms their own opinion. And that's all I have to say. >> Commissioner Clark, >> thank you. Thank you. I just want to say
again, thank you and welcome to our new city manager and we wish you all the best during your tenure here. Um, I had the privilege of seeing our police department in action. Uh, and our fire
department also. They came out to do safety training and just to work with the residents at Peer Point for the annual um night like a night out for crime, a neighborhood watch type thing. And it's um always good to see that
participation. and as was prayed about today, trying to create unity in the community. So, I just want to give um a big shout out to our police department and especially the um the K9 team. They
work so hard and they're so dedicated to what they do and it was great to see um their demonstration and and speaking to the residents at Peer Point. I have uh a couple of announcements that are from some events that are coming up and I
probably didn't put in the boxes of the uh commissioners, but I know that I think this week we're having our environmental awards coming up on the the 30th and I know that our city has um projects. I think Annie is here. Uh we
have projects that have been there for nomination and that we'll get awards. So, I just wanted to congratulate ahead of time those who've been working um to make sure that uh we have so many innovative things that we're doing at
the city and that we'll be recognized for. Um, with regard to before I give out my my notices, um, the summer is coming up and children always need something to do and we have
a young man in our community. Um, he's here tonight. He's probably going to get a chance if he's filled out a green card to say something to the public. But I know Mr. Ryan Carter is here. He's brought his team of young hand-tohand um students, middle school and
elementary school students that are hoping to work with our uh city recreation department to do at least a week um summer workshop reading activities with youth um in our
community. So, he's working on that project. And I just want to recognize Mr. Carter. Put your hand up, Mr. Carter for what he's doing with young people in the community. And and on that note, on April the 30th, we're going to be um
having our kickoff for the Martin County Historic Preservation right here at the Steuart Feed Store at the back of the Steuart Feed Store around 5:00 p. p.m. And we're just asking the community to come out. And there's a lot of um
activities for the entire month of May. And there's a calendar for that. And I hope that we have a link on the city's website or at least have that calendar where people can pick it up and look uh look at it through the city or if you want to just put in Martin County
Historic Preservation, you'll see all the activities that are going to be done. And one of those activities that will happen is that the city of Stewart will be uh recognizing the Steuart Training School on a uh the 12th of May
when we'll be having a ceremony for Florida Emancipation Day. And there'll be a historic plaque dedication at 400 PM at Steuart Training School, 800 Bahama Avenue on that day. So, that's something that's coming up. On um
May the 1st, um there will be a reading at the gazebo for Law Day. Law Day is May the 1st all over the nation. And we're asking adults, children, anybody who wants to come and read something that relates to uh developing community
unity, um developing a a a a better government system, making sure that we're being neighbors and kind and respectful to each other. Those kinds of things will be well regarded if we um bring those those out and we read on
that day. will be there from 11:00 until 2:00 p.m. on May the 3 at my church, St. Monica's Episcopal Church. I think this is about our 10th or 11th year that we're having a law day um ceremony at
the church at 10:00 a.m. And Judge Candace uh Jennifer Alcorta um Waters, sorry, I'm thinking of Candace because I missed something. um she'll be speaking at at our church on
that day and going to Candace on this past weekend. Uh they had as a part of Earth Day, there was a Stewart cleanup um down here in the downtown sweeping the streets. The Stewart Main Street did that program and I just want to give
kudos to Candace and her community team who planned that and executed it. And I think it was really uh a great thing to do for the downtown area and to just get people to to be down here and to do
something to help clean up. They said that they had a lot of cigarette butts and they were wondering about doing what we need to do to have more I guess more more places for people to put cigarette butts especially in the downtown area.
that kind of came up why there were so many cigarette butts on the ground, but maybe it's cuz people don't use the receptacles that are there. So, that was that was a an a shocker to people to see how many cigarette butts they they found. I mentioned the thing on the 12th
and then on the 16th there's going to be a reenactment of Florida Emancipation message that was um General Mcook brought to Tallahassee on May the 20th of uh actually May the 19th 20th of 1865
and this is going to be May the 16th at the gazebo and also at the Courthouse Cultural Center. There'll be a presentation inside the courthouse cultural center and the black heritage initiative by Mr. Lloyd Jones is working
on that project and it's something again for the public to participate in. Um I think that's it. That's all my that's all my notes. Thank you, >> Vice Mayor. >> I have a couple things. I I did do that trash cleanup too, Ula. It was uh I
think I got like six >> six five gallon buckets and I emailed Roz about the cigarettes. It was uh it was definitely an issue. Um Dave, don't fall asleep on me now. So Dave had called me about a fence at PP Creek and there might be a liability
thing. So I'd like that to come back as a discussion item for a fence at Pppleton Creek. Dave is going to know more when it comes back and provide more feedback. He said he had spoke to Milton already about it. Um,
I also wanted to mention and get a consensus from the board on maybe a long-term lease for the Steuart Boat Show. So, it doesn't go bye-bye like a lot of other things in Martin County. And I don't know how you guys feel about it, but it's only a one term one-year lease, so they can't always keep the
same vendors. Um, maybe they could get better vendors, but I'm all for the boat show. >> It brings revenue to the city. Um, I also wanted to mention, um, someone contacted me about protecting East Stewart. There's an event on May 6, something about the historic district. I
don't know if that's something where we should be contacting them to find out more information because >> no one has contacted me. I know there's a phone number that I'm supposed to call. I don't know if any of the board members >> I've worked with Mr. Johnson and he's been working with Miss um, Gandandy
Savdus. They're going to be meeting so that he can get his answers. On the 7th of May in Tallahassee at 1:30 p.m., the state historic preservation office will be presenting to the National Historic
Register our application for the East Stewart um historic district designation. And so this the the folks we've had several meetings and outreach and I if if Mr. Johnson or anyone else
has any concerns, we wanted to talk to him ahead of time. And then there's a webinar on the 7th where folks can sign up for that webinar and they can see and hear what's going on in Tallahassee on that day as our application that Mr.
Weaver put together and the community has participated in uh will be there. I don't know. I Yeah. >> Both the city and the state >> Stewart. Yeah. >> No, you had mentioned just each steward. It's both for the city also.
>> It's for the city. No, but the designation of the East Stewart historically >> for the city too being here. >> Yeah. Well, that the city too. That's right. There's two two historic applications. Yes. Thank you. >> And and then uh I also wanted to send condolences to the Jeremiah Baron
family. I uh I know he had passed away today that I saw. I know um some of us might not always agreed on development or anything like that, but you know, a life was lost. So, I'll send condolences to the Baron family. >> And uh also, uh I spoke to Roz about
this. I actually did a ride along with sanitation. Um, one of the reasons was because during the zoning in progress and uh our budget workshops and the exiting of a city manager, there was a lot of public comment and concern
about your trash not getting picked up. So, uh, Rasheed had trained me this morning on sanitation pickup and, uh, Jeff Coleman assisted. So, I'm going to do two more days. So, hopefully uh, you'll get another employee that's trained in sanitation pickup for the residents.
And that's all I have to say for tonight. >> Two things from me. One is on Thursday's river Thursday's river coalition meeting, I spoke with um Mark Perry and
he handed me a letter to ask of all of you. And so I I said I would bring it to you. They have on June 11th a they're hosting an international ocean film festival. >> Yeah.
>> And they had asked if the city would be interested in sponsoring the event as a film sponsor. And for $1,500 we would receive the city would receive recognition on their marketing
um logo and signage but five tickets to that event. So I I told him I would offer that up to all of you and see what you thought if you would be interested in sponsoring that. What say you?
>> I'm I think it's a great idea. I would hope that maybe they would include our environmental attorney in something in that um if Ruth is available. >> We'll see if we can coax a sixth ticket. >> You can have mine, Ruth.
>> I'm not going to be here. So >> there you go. We don't need another one. >> I'm be out of town. >> So we need to I I mean as long as we have the money to do it. Is that something city manager will >> find the money?
>> It sounds like we can find $1,500. >> Yeah. Spend 30 million on Bright Line. So Mike, it's definitely I make a motion that we Oh, you want to make the MO? You can't. You can't. >> No, he can't make a motion. make a motion. I would offer it up. >> Yes. To that we offer to the is it to
the rivers coalition or to more Paris organization? >> Florida Oceanographic >> Florida Oceanographic Society to for sponsorship of $1,500 for the um program that they're planning. >> I'll second the motion. >> Is there any public comment on the
motion? >> Seeing none comments from commissioners. >> I don't need a ticket. I'm not going to attend. What? >> I think the prices for for the table, correct? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean, you can just in those occasions maybe someone a city clerk or
something like that. >> City staff came. >> Yeah. >> I'll double check with them, but I believe so. >> Would you call the role? >> Vice Mayor Reid? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Clark? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Rich? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Gio? >> Yes.
>> Mayor Collins? >> Yes. And then Mike, I'll pass this down to you. That's that letter. So >> Yes, sir. >> Mayor Collins, are you finished with your comments? >> Almost. Almost. >> Okay. Well, I have one little thing I want to say. I just want to say since we're talking about the environment
um we've got a message from um our environmental attorney Ruth Holmes about the work that Congressman Mass did to make sure that letter got taken care of, sent up the line and and we just want to
commend Ruth on her persistence and following through and of course on the congressman and him getting that done. >> I would echo that. You are a very valuable member of this team. I'm glad you're on our side. >> We appreciate you so much, Ruth. You have no idea. >> Good work, Ruth.
>> Thank you. >> Uh la last thing for me is and I'll I'll lean on Lee a little bit. Uh with regard to uh Martin County Forever, there's been brewing and I just wanted to bring it up publicly with everybody. Uh I was
talking to John mail as well about this, but the Aan Leah parcels that we're aware of because that's been coming in front of us lately. Uh there exists an opportunity in some of those parcels, those are some of the most environmentally sensitive parcels
that we have in the city because that water flows into that Haney Creek preserve. And that's been an adamant stance from the environmental land oversight committee lately is that we we need to make sure that that's what we're putting our focus into. So, I I wanted
to offer up that there's the opportunity. I'm not sure if we've already submitted that that property into their application process, but to partner with uh ELOC and Martin County forever to potentially acquire
that pro some depending on the price tag obviously, but some of those parcels. >> I mean, how about we >> what restriction would there be on those parts? We have a resolution on the agenda tonight that addresses that. It'll be a resolution number 35-2026. So
>> we get this is additional >> what I'm also in there. >> Yeah, this will include >> collaborating with the county and acquiring the land. It was it was an addendum. It wasn't in the original agenda. We did an addendum a day later that added that item. So
>> thank you, sir. >> Sure. So, I just wanted to bring it up for public consumption for all of us to be considering that we very well may have a partner in Martin County Forever and ELOC. Um, again, with how adamant they were that it's environmentally sensitive land, I'm looking forward to
their partnership. I I anticipate it. >> Yeah. >> So, th those were my comments comments from our new city manager. >> Thank you, mayor. Yes, sir. >> And, uh, to the rest of the commission
commissioners. Um it is my honor to be here and I'm grateful for the opportunity. Um I I've been coming we my wife and I have been coming to this area for 20 years there and on a professional
perspective uh there have been two goals in in my professional life. One was to be a naval aviator and the second was to be a city manager in Florida. I have been so blessed to be able to
accomplish both of my goals and I know that that's not true in everybody's work life but I promise you that I have worked hard in getting uh to achieving both of those goals and I will work hard for you
um with regard to um the uh our alignment is 100% I am aligned 100% % with the policies uh with this board and with
also the employees who are dedicated employees the process for this Roz I want to thank you personally both personally and professionally because the process to choose a city
manager for this city was bar none uh one of the best if not the best and most rigorous processes and I'm grateful ful for that of that because now that I am sitting here I know how
professional the staff is and I'm grateful for that. So, mayor, commissioners, um, Lee, Mary, thank you so much for all of this and I am looking forward to
leading our team to accomplish the goals, the missions of the citizens of Steuart and the commissioners uh, who work so hard on their behalf. So, I'm grateful and thank you very much. Ready to get to work. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. Thank you. So, do we have an approval of the agenda? I was going to recommend that we add the addendum in as item 10. So, at the end if that suits the board. >> So, move add in. Let me see. Is there a better
place to have the agenda? We only have two other that's fine. After the ordinance second reading, yes, it's a discussion. Well, no, it's an authorization. So, that would be item number 10.
>> Okay. I move that we um approve the agenda as publish adding the item that was published as an addendum item as uh item number 10 uh for regular discussion. And
>> I'll second the motion. >> Is there any public comment on the motion? Comment from commissioners. Mary, would you call the role or no? That's >> a roll. It says >> roll call or all in favor. All in favor, guys.
>> I Okay. Comments from the public on non-aggenda related items limited to three minutes. Do we have comments from the >> We do. >> I have David Kelman. >> Thank you. Uh, Commissioner Reid. Uh David Kelman, 950 South County Highway.
Thank you, Commissioner Reid, uh for bringing up defense. >> This has been an ongoing issue. Um I'm be honest with you, I'm I'm tired to I'm I'm just disgusted with constantly reaching out to people in the city of Stewart. This is a liability for you
guys. I mean, if you all want to get sued, let people fall, break their necks, break their hips, cut themselves, whatever the case may be. These miscreants, that's what I'll call them. They they're going to the bathroom. They made a path. They tie their boats up to
the to the mangroves. You don't see it because you're not there. I run the property. I've owned it for 23 years. I own my unit. Okay. These people are disgusting. I had Milton, which is I don't know if he's still here. There he
is. Milton's a great guy. I call him, he comes. Ruth, wonderful. Commissioner uh Rich Coy comes. Everything is a roadblock. You know, Milton has a job to do, but he has to
answer to uh what was his name? Motel. And now he's going to answer to this gentleman. Good luck, by the way. He had to answer to the the sitting uh uh city manager. At the end of the day, what are we going to do about the
situation? It's a 15oot fence. If if I was able to do it, believe me, 15 foot fence is nothing. I take it out of my pocket. I pay for it. I can't do that because it's an easement that the city of Stewart has, you know, uh deals with. They these people have made a path. I
got to walk down there. I got to clean up beer cans, beer bottles. I can't ask the chief of police to use his resources. What What do you have? Seven cops and and supervisor or a canine unit. We're going to take the resources of the
police department to patrol that particular area because these miscreants want to do what they do there. Milton was there the other day. He's seen it. The path, the dog waste all over the place. It's all property. Okay.
Been there since 1974. And I've cleaned it up. Got rid of the drug dealers with the Stewart Police Department. Got rid of misgreants that live there. and trying to make it something special for the city stew it for us. When you have these people doing
what they do, it's just I've had enough. Okay. It's just I'm over it. Uh one of the officers has suggested Can you put another camera over here? I got 44 cameras on my property. I'm going to spend another $5,000 of my residents
money to put another camera in to for for what? to pick up these people that stock their boats in whatever what did you call it? I don't even know what that cove is where they all park their illegal boats to the people, homeless people. I don't even know what it's called. Uh so I I'm asking
I'm over but I'm asking the commission and city manager to please allow Milton to do his job and let's get a fence and a gate up there because you're going to get a lawsuit. That's all that's all that's all I got for you is thank you for your time. >> Thank you >> and thank you Commissioner Ree for
contact. >> You're welcome. >> You're welcome. >> Next I have Janine Alexander. I'll get the >> Oh, God. Help me. >> Children here. Are you ready to begin? >> There's only enough documents here for
three of the commissioners, so we'll have to make copies and provide them. If you'd like to go ahead and move forward with your comments, >> do you want me to wait until she's made? >> We don't make you started. Let someone we'll provide them the copies after your
comments. Congratulations to the new city manager, Michael Marie Geredino. I would like to see Stuart police take domestic violence policy 28 and evidence collection policy 27 a little more seriously. On March
23rd, I accounted for a domestic event whereby Dennis Gallas, former domestic partner, videotaped seven minutes in violation of dual consent made in his sworn police statement in March 1st of 2015. Yes, it has been 11 years. In 2018, Gallas accounted for the editing
of said video to 55 seconds as supervised by former officer Nuvo of Steuart police. In 2018, when reported to Michael Martell, city attorney, I was gaslighted, mind game, told I was delusional
when I filed a citizen's complaint at the and that the events never happened in over 200 emails. Really? An internal investigation was launched. I was denied an SIRB hearing by Mortell and Ros Johnson was relegated the responsibility
of making and signing a report on April 19th of 2018 as final investigative report. Stuart police presented the 55 second clip edited from a 7-minute video to the state attorney as the only evidence in the matter of battery of an
elder. 55 seconds really a charge for which I must seek clemency. Michael Martell persisted in denying any wrongdoing by law enforcement and as a result David Diaz was promoted to city manager in May of 2018 and served until
2023. Michael Martell succeeded him in taking position as city manager. I requested the production of public records in support of my clemency in 2023 and 2024 and Martell failed to produce those records. On May 25th um
brought a thumb drive to a court hearing. Really? Mary Kindle later provided certified copies which did not contain medical records or pictures sent with my citizens complaint in February of 2018. No fault of her
own. Missing public records. Really? December 2017. Stewart police officer Sudof and Ortado were called upon fielded by fielded my complaint for tampering with evidence prior to the filing of an INOI and citizens complaint
February 2018. tampering. Really? In 2018, Dennis Gallas committed perjury by emission and contradiction when he lied in the ini investigation about the seven minutes and was not charged in exchange for his
cooperation with Steuart police. Really? A cover up. I assert that a coverup was orchestrated and micromanaged by Michael Mortell from 2018 to 2025. I come before the new city manager tonight in request of a complete investigation as to why
Michael Martell and David Das were left unmonitored under supervised and to be able to condone the violation of due process >> city police policies and potentially obstructing justice. >> Thank you. >> When she brings you these copies, you'll
be able to finish reading what I really would have preferred to have said tonight. You're most welcome. Thank you for your time. Ryan Carter. >> Thank you. >> Hello all. >> Thank you city commissioners for the job
that you guys do. >> Uh welcome aboard Mr. Michael. I can't say your last name yet so I'm not going to even pretend to. And Miss Roz, it was a pleasure meeting you wherever you are. Yes, definitely a pleasure. Um, so Hand
to Hand is a nonprofit organization here in Steuart, Florida. Our mission is to uh empower our youth here through our recreational, educational, and mentorship programs. Right now, we are running uh four programs. The mentorship
program, which is pass the batons. We also are doing two basketball programs. One is called Bamentals where we're focusing on the fundamentals of basketball which it is definitely missing nowadays and a huddle up academy where it's more so centered around a
team uh effort and we are in we hope to be able to bring about the book program back titled the bookers which is uh focuses on the history especially our local history here in Stewart. Um yeah,
so the intent of us being here today or me is just to kind of highlight some of the things that we are doing here in the community and to make sure that uh our mission is aligned with of course the city's priority and uh okay so I'm going
to pass the baton down to some of uh the participants and let them speak on hand to hand. Thank y'all. within the three minutes >> right here. >> I have a Titan. It looks like
Handhand Commitment Outreach Initiative is a wonderful organization that helps many different kids no matter who you are or where you come from. Hand to Hand provides us with many different learning opportunities, different activities, and lots of field trips. Some of the wonderful field trips we have been on
include NBA game featuring the Miami Heat versus the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Florida Classics featuring the Batoon Cookman Wildats versus the Florida&M Rattlers and we also been on a boating trip which is very fun, very fun. Overall, I love hand to hand and I
will always like to be a part of it. Thank you, Titan Carter. >> Thank you, Skyler. Hand >> bring the mic down. >> There you go. >> Hand to Hand is amazing organization
that help many different kids in any different ways. In this organization, we would we do a variety of different things hand in hand provide us with many different learning
opportunities, many different activities and trips. Some trips that we had had include high school basketball and football games, a polo match, and selfish splash. I love hand and I will
be a part of it. Style. Thank you, Styler Robertson. >> Thank you. >> Can I have Elaine? Who would you hand to hand means standing beside someone when they feel alone and lifting them up when they need it most?
It's about showing up, not because you have to, but because you care. It's more than just a program. It's a community that feels like a family. A place where real friendships grow and moments turn into lasting memories. To me, handtoand
isn't just an organization. It's a place where I feel seen, supported, and at home. A true home away from home. Thank you. Next, I have Sage. Um, hi, my name is Sage and today I will be um speaking about what Handto means
to me. Hand to Hand is an amazing youth nonprofit program that brings learning and fun together. I really enjoy being a part of it because we get to try new things and go on exciting trips. For example, Mr. Ryan
recently took us to to learn about golf where we practice putting and had a great time. He always finds ways to bring the community together and give us opportunities we might not have otherwise. I'm very grateful to Mr. Ryan for creating this program and for all
the fun and meaningful experience we share. Thank you, Sage. Thank you, >> Shannon. >> Hi, my name is Shampri. I'm saying what hand means to me. Hands to hands means to mean that everybody has a chance to
be involved to show no matter who you are, you can make a difference by doing your part. Like saying putting things together, I think it means people working as a team to solve problems and support each other. When everyone shares ideas and helps out, we can accomplish more than we could do alone. It also
includes doing fundraiser and activities to get the support we need for our goals. is teachers responsibility and teamwork because everybody has a role. Even if we are not always together, we are still a part of the same organization. We stay connected, care about each other, and support one
another like a family. In the end, in the end, hands to hands is all about teamwork, helping others, and staying united. Thank you, Shreywood. Wobin Cartwright. >> Evening, commissioners. I'm not as cute as these kids. So, here we go. Um, you
guys are amazing, by the way. First of all, congratulations to the new city manager. It was a very thoughtful hiring process, and I say for many of us, we are very grateful that you are here. Um, I also want to acknowledge the gentleman who did bulk pickup at our property. We had a kitchen that was removed and it was a lot of particle board that had
gotten rained on. And to his credit, he got 99.9% of it. I just want to be let you guys know what a great job that he did because I feel like sanitation doesn't always get the acknowledgement that they deserve. Um, but tonight I want to talk about how I can apply for a refund for some permitting fees and
inspections that I've had done because I paid for an inspection that I missed due to a family issue because those are the rules. So, let's talk about one example of somebody who is not following the rules, and I will document the situation and email it to the commissioners and to staff. But here are the highlights. I sent in a public records request about a
solar panel that's being used to heat a pool, and the homeowner filed an after- the-act permit as he did work by himself without a permit and got caught yet again. The specs for the roof, fasteners, and plumbing are all handdrawn by the owner instead of stamped by plans by an engineer. and he
applied for the permit as an owner builder even though it's a documented Airbnb commercial property and I understand that that's not allowed. Also on the permit application, the owner listed the construction value of the work as $1,200, but on the permit itself, the valuation was listed at $500. So, was he given a discount on the
permit fees as a result, or did he pay the increased amount for the after the-act permit? So, specific to the permitting and inspection process, there is a documented inconsistency and favoritism towards some with the permitting and inspection process. Some would say it's
based on who you know, or rather whom you might have known at the city. I'm requesting an investigation into this permitting and inspection situation to determine what needs to be done to remedy the situation and what needs to be done to fix the approach to the process. Let's fix the process and make
it equitable for everybody. And this is further proof why we need to have access to this information online without having to request it in one or multiple requests from the city clerk to get the totality of the records. Thank you. >> Thank you,
>> Gail Goldie. Good evening. Gail Goldie, 1153 Northwest 12th Terrace. I'm not a city resident, but I am a county resident and I do attend as many meetings as I can because I'm just as involved and interested in what goes on in this city
as I am in the entire county. But I just like to say that number one, I want to thank Roz for the wonderful job she did standing in and sitting in that seat because I know it wasn't an easy task for her to take over. But I will say that she added some grace and she worked
very hard and it was a breath of fresh air to sit out in the audience and see her conduct such a professional uh association with everyone up there. And the other thing that I'd like to say is is that I'd like to welcome Michael
Gordano to the commission and we are very blessed to have you here and I hope that God shines all of his love and light on you and your job is much easier than you think it's going to be. Continue to do well.
And I also just want to just add one other comment and that is to both uh Michael and to Roz remember never never forget the importance of the job that you do because you do it so well. And sometimes it's just that it's
like a never and never uh you're not getting enough credit or you're you're feeling a lot of negativity or whatever. But we really do appreciate you and I'm really looking forward to uh the next year that you're working here and and all the years to come. So, thank you and
Roz, good luck to you back at your job. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> We have no further public comment, Mayor. >> Okay. >> Moving on to approval of the consent calendar. >> Is there a motion,
>> Mr. Mayor? The consent calendar is items 3 through six or seven through seven. >> Move approval of the consent calendar as provided. Do we have to vote for each item?
>> No, you're approving the consent calendar. >> So, we're okay. Just checking >> since there's some special monies. >> You got me. >> That's the whole point of the consent calendar, >> right? >> All of the items. Do >> we have a second? >> 327. Second. Okay, >> there you go.
>> Is there any public comment on the motion? >> Comment from commissioners? >> Seeing none, Mary, would you call the role? >> Okay, she's going to call the role. >> Commissioner Gobi, >> yes. >> Commissioner Clark, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Reed, >> yes. >> Commissioner Collins,
>> I just want to call the roll. >> Yes. Okay. >> It's not my uh yay name. That's what I want to make sure. >> I'm not crazy. >> You just got You got me. It was good. >> No, we I just want to make sure we did the roll call. You got me to giggle. Okay. So,
>> moving on to item eight, commission action, award of the ITB 2026 103 downtown courtesy dock replacement project. This >> Yeah, I'll read the resolution. Resolution number 28-2026,
a resolution of the city commission of the city of Stewart, Florida, approving the award of invitation to bid number 2026-102, City of Stewart North Stewart Lyft Station Rehabilitation Project to CK
Contractors and Development LLC, the lowest, most responsive and responsible bidder with a total unit price of $685,919 providing for an effective date and for other purposes. Um I don't know that we have Holly Bath
is not here but um I don't know that we have >> five. We're on eight. >> I'm sorry. You're right. >> Like man that's a cheap dock. >> I know. I was I >> was going to say million on the dock. >> Approve that baby. >> Sorry.
I didn't pull I didn't set aside the uh approval. >> Let me repeat this then. >> Resolution number 29-2026. >> There you go. >> A resolution of the city commission of the city of Stewart, Florida, approving the award of invitation to bid 2026-103.
City of Stewart downtown courtesy dock replacement project to Customuilt Marine Construction, Inc. the lowest, most responsive and responsible bidder with a total unit price of 2,674,713 providing for an effective date and for
other purposes. Yeah, I don't I don't Holly Vath is here to be doing the presentation, but I guess it would be Milton. Milton, if you have anything to say on this or >> I don't think everybody's been put on. You guys have questions for
>> Yeah, I don't know that we had a presentation ready for you on this one. >> Well, >> typically these are on consent calendar. So, public works director. Uh the the contract is here uh ready to get started. So, custom bill is there in the uh >> right now >> I'll back out there. So, they're ready
to get started and I don't have any questions for me on that. >> Vice Mayor. >> Uh no, I just I think it's great we're getting more uh dock space. Yes. Um, from a functional perspective, I will say I always appreciate a floating dock
over a fixed dock. The cost though when we get hurricanes and storms. I understand that's why we're doing it >> and it's just something that we deal with when we go to fix docks. >> Yes. >> Can you speak >> to that on and M on
>> as far as what now, sir? >> What we've been having to pay for the hurricane repairs and or some sense of at least the scope of work. >> Why? >> Well, with the floating dog, every year we go through the storms and stuff and
it's floating and everything. That's why we get all the wave action and everything and it's damaging the fingerprint that goes out right now. So, we decided to go with a fixed dock and then have ladders to get up to the that's why it's all fixed portion
>> which will ultimately save the taxpayer. Yes. A lot of money is what I >> over time >> and plus we have 30 slips also. >> Every hurricane or even >> after the first storm >> there'd be money saved. Nor Easter. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Excellent. >> We're going from >> We're going from how many slips to how
many slips? >> 17 slips to 30 slips. >> So there'll be more capacity for >> more capacity. Yes. >> And then were there other questions? Sorry, I didn't mean to hug you. >> No, you're good. That that was my my only comment.
>> Okay. >> Do we know what the the fixed height is? >> Yeah. How far above main high water? Oh, I have to get back with you on that. >> No, no worries. I >> Okay. >> I didn't bring that. >> Sorry. >> Put me on the spot. >> Didn't bring I get it back. I get your
answer, though. >> No worries. >> Okay. Do we have a a motion to approve this item? >> Oh, we didn't do that. >> Uh, did you want to do that, M? >> I'll move that we approve resolution 29-2026. >> Second. We're awarding the new
>> Is there any comment from the public regarding this motion? >> Seeing none comments from commissioners? >> No, just it's it's a tough choice as you know at the sailing center. Boy, we had this argument back and forth. The problem with this part of the river, if
the breeze is right, it's got a long way and boy that fetch builds >> like you say, Milton, it just it the action on those floaters can get >> Yeah. >> so destructive. So >> fix is the way to go. >> Yeah, I think fix is the way to go. >> Thank you, Milton.
>> Mary, would you call the role? >> Vice Mayor Reed? >> Yes. >> Mayor Collins? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Gobi? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Rich? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Clark? >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Moving on to item nine.
Ordinance number 2551-2026, an ordinance of the city commission of the city of Steuart, Florida, approving a major amendment to the Walmart commercial plan unit development, providing for an amendment to the adopted resolution number 28-201
to authorize modifications to the approved unified signage plan, install a new canopy, and paint the exterior of the building. providing for conditions of approval, providing for conflict, providing for severability, providing for an effective
date and for other purposes. And I just want to point out that this is the second reading mission. For the record, my name is Michelle Arbazowl, planner 2 in the development department. I should be presenting agenda item number nine. However, the applicant did not meet the
requirements of public notice. uh signage were taken down before this meeting. Staff request a rescheduling of the meeting so that public notice requirements can comply with the code. Um as you can see
on the screen during a site visit on Friday, April 17th, staff observed that the public notice signs had been removed. Staff contacted the applicant to inform them of the issue. At this time, staff is requesting
approval to reschedule the hearing to the May 26th, 2026 commission meeting. >> Okay. >> Is Miss >> guess they weren't a fan of the pastel blue, huh? >> Yeah. Is is is that a reasonable time
frame? We're just going to put them on the 26th, which is the next the next meeting. >> Correct. to meet to meet the public uh notice requirement because they would have to resend notice for the new dates. And as far as uh the posting of those signage again,
>> it's another month. Yeah, it's another month from now. >> Okay. Do we have a motion along those lines? >> I'll make a motion that we'll allow the meeting to be rescheduled to the What was the date in May? I'm sorry. >> May 26th. It will be uh the 25th is Monday, Memorial Day, but we're off. So
the 26th is the Tuesday. Will the other issues be addressed also? >> Uh it is ongoing that they are submitting. >> I'll second it. >> Okay. Is there any public comment on that motion? Seeing none comment from
commissioners. >> Um yes, Mr. Mayor. >> Yes, sir. >> Was there an issue with Walmart being informed of the comments that were made at the commission meeting? >> Are you aware of that, Mr. Bagot? for
>> what comments and what I'm not following you. >> Well, I thought there was some confusion as to the position of that young woman who made the presentation for Walmart. >> Were all the recommendations from this commission relayed back to Walmart? Are you aware? >> She wrote notes down. >> I can't answer that. I I don't know.
Okay. I mean, the the meeting would have been published online and anybody could view it, but I I don't know. And I don't know if Michelle knows. She wasn't on. >> I had no communications with the the the representative or anybody from Walmart on this issue. So, >> well, I'm sure they'll get into
compliance. >> Thank you, Michelle. >> You're welcome. Thank you. >> Would you call the role? >> Commissioner Rich? >> Yes. >> Vice Mayor Reid? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Clark? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Gobi? >> Yes. >> Mayor Collins? >> Yes.
And moving on to item 10, our addendum, >> resolution number 35-2026, a resolution of the city commission of the city of Steuart, Florida, authorizing the city manager or designate to pursue the creation of a trail head along with associated
infrastructure in Haney Creek off of Baker Road and to move forward with acquiring land in the Aan Lea area utilizing proceeds from the halfsent halfsent infrastructure sales tax approved by voters of Martin County in
the 2024 general election, authorizing city staff to collaborate with Martin County in the joint acquisition of undeveloped parcels in the Aan Lea area, including taking action to nominate undeveloped parcels in the Aan Lea area
to Martin County's Environmental Lands Oversight Committee for consideration, providing for an effective date, and for other purposes. And so this has this resolution obviously has multiple uh uh components to it. I put this one together. So I'll
give you the presentation. So as you recall the general election back in in 2024 um uh passed and it was regards to the half cent sales tax and it's going to be uh for a period of 10 years and the purpose of it uh is acquiring
environmentally sensitive land for preservation, conservation and restoration. And uh in resolution number 21-20224, the city commission adopted a resolution supporting the initiative to to place the proposed sales sir tax referendum on
the 2024 general election. And the referendum passed with more than 63% of the vote. On June 23rd, 2025, almost a year ago, the city commission adopted a resolution 57-2025, which authorized the city manager to
identify and pursue projects with a priority of acquiring land and converting the 2acre parcel on US Highway 1 in Haiti Creek into a trail head utilizing proceeds generated from the halfsent sales sir tax. So, we already passed a resolution last summer
that we would do a trail head or you instructed the manager with the proceeds from the half cent sales tax to put a trail head in the 2acre commercial property on US1. But since then, we've had multiple discussions regarding this issue and you have instructed us to go
back out to referendum to put that 2acre parcel back in conservation. And then there's also been discussion uh in with uh with regards to you guys wanting to move the trail head not on US1 but off of Baker Road. So that's what we're
addressing. You've already authorized us to do a trail head or to start working on a trail head but it was on US1 and now I you guys had I think it was in a DND you guys had discussed uh changing that to Baker Road. So I thought it was appropriate that we do it via resolution since the first one was resolution uh
wanting it on US1. Um number two uh on March 9th 2029 during discussion deliberation um you had the discussion of of that trail head being moved and also the Aania PUD. Remember we had something up
with Nick Schro uh a couple of meetings ago. He has an undeveloped parcel. We we showed some videos and of water issues and you also saw um pictures of a lot of undeveloped land other parcels. So since
then I I kind of investigated and there is a master PUB site plan and I attached that to the agenda item. I apologize I don't have it for for on the screen but if you look at the master site plan and um
on this agenda item I highlighted everything in yellow that is still undeveloped. So we have parcels 1 10 11 13 14 and 15 in the Aan lea master PUD which remain undeveloped. Some of these
are in natural state full of woods and you can see on there that there are designated wetlands already. So a lot of this development would occur adjacent to wetlands which could impact you know the natural flow of the water um from the
savas going on down to the St. Lucy River. These are also I put a a Google map kind of version. You can see I I I had these parcels are fairly close to the St. Lucy River and they're also very close to the Haney Creek which
is already in conservation and some of them are across the street from Haney Creek which is already in conservation. So if you look at the sky view uh Google maps that I put on there I I put a bunch of red marks red marks spot where those parcels are. And so they would
definitely in staff's opinion fit the bill for what the voters had voted for. And there's multiple parcels there. Um I have contacted all of the owners and all of them are somewhat interested
in discussion discussing with us about uh the city uh purchasing the land from them and putting it in conservation. >> Number two, >> Nick Dick had said when he was here, >> right? Um, and I've had conversations with him since then, and I contacted the
owners of the other parcels. Some some owners own multiple parcels. So, um, one more thing to address is the county, you had mentioned in your public comments, mayor, that, um, Mr. Mail at the county
had reached out to you. I've also spoken to Mr. mail as well and they are interested or he would say they would likely be interested in collaborating with the city and acquiring some of the land. As you recall the the Haney Creek
preservation area we 10 20 years ago we were in collaboration to buy all that land with Martin County. So we we both own that land together currently. So this would be a continuation of that efforts of putting some land into conservation. In order to do that, we have to at the
last the very last page I have attached to the agenda item is an environmental land acquisition parcel nomination form. If you go to martin countyforever.com and you go to their website, this this one-page form is on there. I had asked
like for example, I'd asked Mr. Schro if he would go online and do that and nominate his parcel. He said, "I I have no problem with the city doing it, but he was he did not want to nominate his own parcel." So, he said, "You have our authority to do it, but I still need to get permission from you guys to nominate
um his parcels and some of the other owners parcels to Martin County forever so that their board, it's the um ELOC is an acronym for it, but it's the environmental lands oversight committee. It's a nine member citizen advisory board that they assess recommended
parcels and they there's multiple parcels that have been you know recommended to them and they meet periodically and they vote on it. So Mr. May said in order for the Martin County to consider it we would have to do that nomination form and submit it and then at their next meeting those parcels will
come up. He said he couldn't do anything until we did that he said would be in June. I didn't get that date, but soon as I get approval from you guys, I've already got approval from one owner and I can contact the other owners and and likewise act accordingly.
>> Thank you for your work on this. You've been busy and I really appreciate everything that you've done here. So, I'm hopeful we will pass this. >> Right. >> Again, it's multiple components. >> Yes. We're talking about the trail head moving to uh Baker Road and we're
talking about collaborating with the county and also even without the county. Maybe the county doesn't want we we we're going to have enough money we could purchase at least some of these parcels and put them in conservation. >> Give them any idea. >> So, but what we would do is uh the city manager and myself, we would work on
negotiations and it would be an option contract. We couldn't bind the city to a contract. It would be an option that we'd still have to bring back that contract to the board and the board would have to vote on it at that point in time. It's probably not all going to be at once. It'll probably come in pieces, but you know, we're getting this
money every year for 10 years. >> In talking to him, he also mentioned a lot of different opportunities for grants. you know, like parcel 10 when we were talking talking about it last time, parcel 10 was never the the storm water
was never that infrastructure wasn't built because it was assumed that when it got developed that would be dealt with. So, one of those considerations would be, you know, how to properly update that drainage so it properly flows across
um the invasives. But in talking to John Mail, he he said I could share this. He felt confident that between a couple different organizations, one with storm water drainage and then like South Florida Water Management for invasives, there would be a lot of opportunity to
collaborate with the county for even, you know, moving forward what we would do with that property. So, I was very excited to hear he already had his wheels turning and and this is a I think a great opportunity for us.
Um, Commissioner Gio or Vice Mayor, you were first. >> Yeah, he was first. >> I think mine was from old. >> Okay. Old light. >> My question is for Lee. Does the resolution need to include the fact that we are agreeing to complete the environmental land acquisition parcel form? >> Well, it's already in there. Oh, it is.
>> It's in the title and it's also that's why I wanted to make sure you guys were voting on three components. >> Okay. >> Uh, I could have separated it out, but they all seem to roll together. It's on expenditures and actions on the half cent sales tax. Is there a motion for approval?
>> I make a motion to accept uh resolution 352026, resolution of the city commission of the city of Stewart, Florida, authorizing the city manager to pursue the creation of a trail head along with the associated infrastructure in Haney Creek off of Baker Road and to move forward with acquiring land in the Avalia area
utilizing proceeds from the half cents infrastructure sales tax. >> Second, >> comment from the public. So, uh, Joe, behind you, >> Joe, Jillio, and >> first is um Gail.
>> Ladies, first >> Dr. Joe, >> Gail Goldie, I just want to say that I do live up near this area and I think it's a wonderful idea to have the trail head there. I'm glad that it would be on Baker Road, but I did sit at a commission meeting uh many many months
ago and I know that there is a property on US1 and Baker. Uh you cannot get into that business off of US1. You have to make the right or the left into Baker to get down Baker Avenue, Baker Road there
and then down to the school. I believe he was in here to ask for um getting uh some kind of a variance or something to have his parking to to exit his building from the backside and then it would come
out and almost go down as far as the entrance where Publix has their entrance on Baker. So, um, and I know that road because I travel it and the school is there and oftent times the traffic is backed up
because of the school. Um, I just I'm just bringing this up because I know that it was discussed at a previous meeting and I don't know where you are in the process of looking at his request for um making an exit road out of his
business before you go ahead and do something to make sure that there's ample room for the trail head entrance for his business if that gets approved to have exit from his business and the school. And then you have the tennis association there. So, and it is one
lane in each direction. So, >> um the the parcel that you're talking about, Miss Goldie, is in the county. So, any building development permit has to go to the county. It's just adjacent to city land where we would want to put a trail head. So,
>> we get our Thank you, Gail. >> Thank you, Gail. >> Joe Julio from Martin County. I'm not a Steuart resident, but I'm very much involved with that parcel. In 1982 when I was a Wetlands Management, Inc.,
I told the developer that that 2acre parcel on US1 couldn't be developed. It's mostly wetland. So, to put a parking area there off US1, I think would be rather difficult. >> We're not doing that. Good. Yeah. >> Uh the other thing is that I also the
last thing I did before I sold wetlands management, I was the environmental professional who did all of the wetland delineation and the preservation. And uh we also cleaned up a lot of the exotics that were in the wetland. It's a beautiful piece. Um and I'm I'm I'm I
never really wanted to see it get developed. And if you people could buy it, great. It would make a great uh um um preserve as well as a use for the public. So, go ahead, Joe. >> Thank you, Joe.
>> Appreciate it. Any other public comments? >> I have none >> comments from commissioners. >> I have one. >> Good first opportunity. >> Um Lee, your light was on. >> I recovered. Okay. Vice Mayor.
>> Yes. So, Gail, as far as that, what what it was the the parcel in question on Baker and US1 is in the county. Um, it was pitched by prior city manager to potentially talk with the developer that
wanted to enex it into the city and potentially get them to pay for a trail head parking because their ingress egress and access to that parcel for their development of a gas station wasn't necessarily easy. So, that that's
where that came from. And if I remember correctly, we really didn't want them coming into the trail head >> exiting with the >> And then Commissioner Gio. >> Oh, sorry. >> Rich, >> we we all had our lights on by mistake.
Sorry. >> Well, yeah. I mean, that issue is a matter of safety. It's a It's a point well made because they can be aggressing too too soon after the turn. So, it should be considered. I would hope in creating that trail head, we consider
the offer from that business to pay for the construction and maintenance of it. If we can save the taxpayers money, it's we certainly should consider it. So, we want to create true two new trail heads. >> No. >> In addition, you want to put the one on
>> No, >> it says I think it still says, doesn't it? I thought he was referencing the previous one >> to identifying land north of the Rovelt Bridge for acquisition converting the twoacre parcel on US Highway 1 in Hanel
Creek spelling error please into a trail head. >> So we're going to put two new trails heads in about >> no >> I don't know a kilometer apart from each other. >> It's moving it's moving the trail head two off of Baker Road. >> That's not what this resolution says
though. All right. So, the city, let me read it. >> Page two, the second the second from the last whereas >> am I looking at the wrong No, I'm on the right one. >> Where? Which which whereas clause on page two?
>> On June 23, 2025, the city commission adopted resolution number 57. >> Correct. Yeah. In the past, the city commission had already authorized to do the trail head on US1. With this resolution, we are changing that. You guys had a discussion and deliberation
uh about changing it and not being on US1 and being off of Baker Road instead. So, this resolution is changing your previous resolution authorizing it to be on US1. And you guys had previously had a discussion and deliberation about
>> Ah, you're right. I see. instead of >> correct >> highlighted the >> Thank you. >> Thank you for that clarification. >> Um with regard to the the opportunity, I'll call it to have the
entry paid for like you mentioned. Uh my my issue with that was having gas station race track traffic sharing the entrance in there where uh families would be parking, kids would be walking
getting out of the car to go onto that trail to me did not seem worth the risk there of people, you know, flying in there and trying to get to that gas station. You know, we have we have these funds here to be able to do this without having to do to go in that direction.
So, >> um, >> personally, I didn't think >> Yeah, I don't know that that I that may well be, Mr. Mayor. I I think it's a valuable offer for the benefit of the taxpayer should be considered. They've got to move that entrance. They do want
to put it right where the public's where the Baker Road public's which is definitely safer. That we know is true. So, I understand your concern. I don't know if there a means. For me, that's not something I would be interested. >> I mean, of ameliorating the speed at
which they would leave the racetrack. I think it's a two it's a mix. >> It's a two-edged sword there. I think there's a benefit >> should be totally separate. I don't want any uh into our park for the gas station. Personally,
um Commissioner Clark, >> it's not about this item. I just wanted to say something after you finish voting on this item. >> Okay. >> Okay. Any other comments? >> I'd just like to say I'm sorry. Yeah. Um I think it's terrific we're finally
going with the group that the county has put together. You know, it was the vote of the citizens who created this opportunity and it's nice that the voice of the citizens gets to be heard in these acquisitions. >> Agreed. >> Great opportunity. >> Okay. Mary, would you call the role?
>> I will. Commissioner Clark. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Rich. Oh, yes. >> Commissioner Gobi. >> Yes. >> Mayor Collins. >> Yes. >> Vice Mayor Reid. >> Yes. >> Okay.
>> Yes. Forgive me. >> Yes. So, my comment that I wanted to say was during the time for the um consent agenda. What I wanted to emphasize that it was not going to be an all in favor item. It would have been a roll call
vote on all of the items. That's what I wanted to I don't know if you mistook what I >> No, no. F forgive me for laughing. You just like you got >> I just wanted to emphasize that you and you got you got a chuckle out of me. It was >> cuz sometimes you say all in favor and I
wanted to emphasize it and maybe I didn't say it right but that's what I wanted to emphasize. >> That's okay. Okay. I had to see no other business. This meeting is a journey. Part: 2
You like him, huh? >> The mayor. >> Well, we know who you are. >> I'm going to call this meeting to order. >> Mary, would you call the role? >> Community Redevelopment Agency and City Commission. Chair Collins >> here.
>> Vice Chair Reid >> here. >> Board member Clark >> here. Board member Gio >> here. >> Board member Rich >> here. >> Board member D Bard. >> Board member James >> here. >> Community redevelopment board. Chair Mc Crystal. Vice Chair Moser. Board member
Dard. Board member James >> here. >> Board member Laughlin >> here. >> Board member Mona >> here. >> Board member Whan >> here. >> And we'll stand for the pledge of allegiance. 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. >> Let the record reflect that Mr. D. Bard has just joined the meeting.
>> Sorry. >> Moving into uh presentations. The presentation of the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard Streetscape improvements plan. >> Thank you. Good afternoon. Panel Gandhi Sabdas for the record, CRA director. I'll introduce the item. Uh the
consultants are here with us today to give more details about the the plans. Um as you know, we've been working on the MLK Streetscape project for several years now. And we did put a temporary uh pause on this project because there were other projects that were being
prioritized in East Stewart neighborhood including the Guy Davis Park improvements um the CDBG COVID grant that we received for the new project lift facility uh neighborhood code rewrite efforts and designation of East Stewart on national on national register
of historic places. Um because those projects took priority, uh we did have to kind of uh pause on the MLK Streetscape project. Uh but now that those projects are underway and near nearing uh completion, uh we resumed
prioritization of uh the MLK Streetscape project um that we applied for the grant in February. Uh that came before the board um authorizing staff to apply for a grant for this project. Um, another thing, um, uh, the project is, uh,
within the project boundary of, uh, Dixie Highway to Tarpon Avenue. Uh, we did extend the project boundary to include sidewalk improvements from Tarpon Avenue to Palm Beach Road based on the feedback we received from from the neighborhood.
Uh, we did extensive outreach since 2021 on this project. Uh some of the concerns that we heard from the neighborhood was um they wanted to minimize any impact on on street parking um any tra uh concerns about the traffic calming measures uh
intersection visibility concerns and uh it was important that we incorporate uh historical elements within the corridor design. Um so the the consultant will go through those um those details. Uh we do have public works and utilities and
other departments review these plans and provide comments. Uh so throughout the process they they do have an opportunity to review and comment. Um last week we spoke with Bonnie Moser. Uh she's not able to attend today's meeting. She's a CRB member. Uh she did express some
concerns uh regarding the travel lanes and um the parking space width uh sha additional shade trees and widening the sidewalk to 8 ft. And that letter is provided to you um on your on your uh table today. And uh Brian Good is here
from Kimley Horn and he's going to present the plans in more details. Uh at the end of the presentation, staff is looking for feedback from the board on the proposed design. We don't have a >> We don't have the remote.
>> Okay. Can you just mash the button? >> Yeah. >> Good afternoon. Brian Good with Kimley Horn. It's been a few days since I had the opportunity to present to this group previously. Uh my presentation this afternoon will uh go over a project overview of uh what the project consists
of and what we have um done to date. It will provide an overview of the project design aspects. We'll talk on the project benefits uh as well as the public art uh components to be initiated and then conclude with uh what are the next steps.
So this is um just east of Central Avenue looking at the existing roadway section. To the left is the uh solid uh solid waste compound. You can see the two travel lanes on MLK. The parallel parking on one side and head in angle parking on the north side
with uh the sidewalks. You could hit it again. This is uh looking west just east of East Avenue. Um similarly the the two travel lanes of MLK parallel parking on the south side of the road and uh angle parking on the north side and uh the
sidewalks that are out there. If uh the sidewalk widths are approximately six feet wide within the corridor and the travel lanes are approximately 10 feet with a mix as I said angle and parallel parking. So this is um online survey feedback uh
that was solicited. Um we uh got uh 46 respondents to an online uh poll. Uh 70% identified as property owners and or residents. uh 65% believe the primary function of MLK Boulevard should uh be to serve uh local business. Uh when
asked to prioritize what they would like to see integrated into the overall design improvements of MLK, they rank these these the following five items in order of significance. So the highest uh level of uh of improvement the community would like to see is slow vehicular
speeds and improved safety of the corridor. They wanted to see improved sidewalks, uh an opportunity for gathering space. They would like to see improved roadway lighting and shade trees and green space. Uh 88 80% of the respondents were in
favor of trafficcoming to encourage slower speeds. 53% of the respondents were not in favor of sacrificing on street parking for wider sidewalks. 94% uh were in favor of cultural historical uh monuments to be in incorporated into
the corridor. Uh 96% of the respondents uh had a desire to extend the uh pedestrian improvements to Palm Beach Road and overall 89% of the respondents indicated uh to be in favor of improving MLK Boulevard. So this is the proposed
roadway section that was previously uh developed in the conceptual plan. uh consisted of 11 foot travel lanes uh 9 foot 4 inch uh parallel parking stalls on both sides of the corridor and 10- foot wide multi-use pass. Um based upon
um feedback that we've gotten from uh a number of the stakeholders, uh the travel lanes are being considered to be reduced to 10T uh in width. Uh the reason we had initially uh indicated or re recommended 11T wide was because we
have emergency services on the corridor. So we have a lot of uh police fire respondents as well as we have uh solid waste uh the solid waste disposal trucks that are running uh week daily seven I believe seven days a week on the corridor. Um but because of the
stakeholder input we are uh considering uh responding and reducing the travel lane width back down to 10t for the purposes of trafficcoming. So this is the concept plan. Um, it starts just uh east of the railroad rightway at Flaggler Avenue and as Panel
said, it extends down to Palm Beach Road going this is the eastern section. This showed the streetscape ending at Tarpon. At this time, at the time the concept plan was developed, um we had not entertained extending this the pedestrian
improvements east uh to Palm Beach, but that now is a component of the overall project to extend the uh sidewalk improvements on the north side to Palm Beach. And as I mentioned, 96% of the online uh survey respondents were in favor of it.
>> The north side, there is a side there is a sidewalk today on the south side. uh there is not one on the north side today. So the design aspects that I want to speak to uh and present on this afternoon consist of water quality, parking, traffic calming, the landscape pallet that's been identified for this
corridor, uh proposed rightaway needs, and uh just discuss briefly the community input that's been gathered. So this is the uh articulated um permeable pavers are proposed to be located in the uh on street parallel
parking stalls very similarly to what's been recently constructed on seminal street right in walking distance of where we are. Um that's uh will the permeable pavers will sit on 18 in of uh stone aggregate and it will represent
approximately 3/10en of an acre of additional water quality treatment um associated with the improvements of MLK Boulevard. So the proposed parking there respondents provided a lot of feedback and stakeholders provided a lot of feedback on parking and uh there was a
strong desire not to reduce overall parking. Uh the existing parking characteristics see as it's displayed in front of you. We have 51 head-in parking stalls, 29 parallel parking stalls for a total of 80 parking stalls today within the roadway rightway. Four of those 80
are accessible. So, the plan as it it stands currently, we have uh 68 parallel parking stalls. Uh we have an off- streetet uh parking lot, which I'll get into a little bit more detail um for a a total of I
believe 84 and four of those will remain um accessible. So the proposed off- streetet parking uh because of a lot of the stakeholder uh input from the community have reservations of reduction of parking in
in along MLK Boulevard. Um we have proposed to take uh a piece of city property that's currently used I believe as an impound lot for the police department on the north side just east of the solid waste compound. As you can see on the image uh before you this will
represent uh 18 additional parking stalls. It is within city property and this off- streetet parking uh parking lot will allow us to exceed uh current available parking associated with MLK. So traffic calming uh that was one of
the higher priorities that the community wanted to see is uh elements to encourage slower uh vehicular speeds along MLK. Um so they had identified that as being their top priority as well as 80% were
in favor of trafficcoming to encourage slower speeds. So the trafficcoming elements that are integrated into this project are on street parking, the lane width selection, intersection bulbouts, landscape placement, roadway material,
and intersection stop control. And I'll go into a couple of those. So uh intersection bulbouts or curb extensions are an extension of the curb line uh resulting in a reduced uh crossing distance for ped crossings of the associated roadway. Uh bulboutouts have
the ability to provide for improved uh sight visibility between pedestrians and vehicular traffic. It also encourages slower vehicular speeds by uh narrowing the roadway uh having that projection of the curb line out um coincidental with the on street parallel parking. Uh and
also another benefit of um the curb extension is that it pro physically prohibits motors from parking too close to intersections which can be an impediment to sight line and can be a hazard. So, the alternative roadway material um
like the uh parallel parking stalls being proposed to have the permeable pavers, we're proposing this stretch of MLK adjacent to Smith Turner Park uh to have an alternative uh to have the permeable pavers as an additional element for traffic coming to encourage
slower speeds. The the the uh rumble, if you will, transitioning from asphalt to pavers uh have been indicated to encourage slower speeds. So, um, this is the, uh, image at the top is the Georgia Central Avenue
intersection. Today, it's a two-way north south stop control. Uh, within the proposed improvements that have been submitted to the city, we are currently proposing this intersection to be converted to our four-way stop. Um, a couple of the benefits of this is it does encourage vehicular speeds to slow
down because they have to come to a complete stop at the regulatory stop sign. Um studies of four-way stops have indicated reduction a reduced crash character characteristic relative to two-way stop intersections as well as it it has demonstrated to be a safety
improvement for pedestrians landscape pallet. So these are the uh trees that have been identified that we are proposing to use. Um I won't read through them but you can see these are the tree selection that we have uh proposed uh uh for the project
and likewise these are the shroud uh shrubs and ground cover that are being proposed to use and then within Smith Turner Park in the the pond on the south side of MLK we do have are are contemplating proposing some electoral plannings for additional water quality enhancement and we've identified the
plant material that we're we would like to use in that areas as well. So proposed right away, there's three locations that I would like to highlight. So this is the the segment of MLK between Flaggler and Georgia Avenue on the north side is Sailfish Park. Uh
the current rightway today is 40 ft. And to accommodate the um it's really it's hard to see, but if you can see a red line, that's the red line represents the existing rightway. And that top of that green is a yellow line, but that's the proposed rideway. We we are proposing an
expansion of the roadway to 65 feet or a 25 foot expansion a 25 a 25 foot expansion of the existing rideway to accommodate the improvement. We're coordinating with parks and wreck relative to the alteration of of the the
field at Sailfish Park. Secondly, um just east of there, uh east of Georgia Avenue and to accommodate the uh the uh off- streetet parking lot, uh we're proposing likewise a uh 25 ft expansion of the 40ft existing roadway
rightway. Uh this expansion does not impact the buildings. Uh but a proposed fence for security purposes will be constructed approximately 15 in um south of of the existing buildings uh that are out there today.
And then lastly, uh, east of the the Boys and Girls Club entrance or the Steuart Middle School, however you refer to it as, uh, there's a schoolboard piece of property that we are also asking for the acquisition of 25 ft of rightway to expand the right the
corridor to accommodate the proposed improvements. So, this summarizes some of the community input that we've uh, we've solicited and obtained to date. We've had numerous stakeholder meetings with residents of uh East Stewart. Uh public works as panel mentioned uh utilities
and engineering and parks and recreation have all uh had an opportunity to provide input into the planned as it's been developed. Uh this is the second presentation to the joint meeting of the CRA, CRB and city council as well as we have coordinated with the city of Stewart emergency services regarding the
improvements. The overall project benefits is improved pedestrian mobility with the expansion of of the uh sidewalk network, improved corridor safety with the traffic calming and various elements such as the uh bulb out or curb extensions um and the
trafficcomming. Uh we are anticipating uh slower vehicular speeds as a result of the overall improvements. As mentioned, we have approximately 3/10en of an acre acref foot of additional water quality treatment. This will introduce opportunities for other uh community gathering spaces in the
corridor. Uh it results in a corridor beautifification with the landscape and hardscape improvements and also represents a direct investment in the East Stewart community. So public artwork, we continue to work with the CRA on identifying opportunities within the corridor to
integrate the master plan that's been adapted for East Stewart. And uh hopefully in the months to come we'll have additional um proposals to identify what that public art and opportunities will consist of.
So next steps um we've submitted 60% uh construction documents as of uh this year last month March 2026. We are scheduled right now for developing 90% construction documents to the CRA November 2026.
uh we coordinated with and worked with the CRA in uh completing and submitting a US DOT build grant application to help uh fund the overall improvements. We've uh will anticipate continuing having
stakeholder input as well as I believe uh it is scheduled for construction the beginning of 2028 based upon the CIP. So with that I would love to entertain any questions. Thank you for your presentation.
>> Thank you Jim. >> Thank you for your presentation. I appreciate it. I just had a question. Uh if we're utilizing the inbound section um for parking, where would Oh, sorry. Ah, I forget it's not in front of me. If
we're utilizing that inbound section for parking, where would the impound cars go? Do we have another site for them? I believe those were moved behind the public safety building. >> I'm sorry. I believe those were moved behind the public safety building. Um, yeah. So, on MLK, but behind it.
>> Okay. >> That's my understanding or impression, too, is they moved it directly behind the police station. >> Oh, okay. It was a good place for them. Thank you. >> Good afternoon, sir. Um could you please elaborate or quantify what you meant by stakeholder input from the move from 11
foot 10 foot? I mean was this a common concern? >> Um so the minimum by the the Florida green book in the state the minimum travel lane width that we're permitted to have for um thoroughare roads is 10 ft. Um the lanes out there today are
approximately 10 ft in width. Uh as as mentioned, we were initially proposing 11 foot width primarily because we had a concern about emergency services, just the utilization of that corridor so frequently as well as solid waste. We felt 11 foot would be um better served
for that purpose. Um but we've had input from members of the CRB that had concerns about it. Um we have coordinated with the fire marshal, um public works, engineering, utilities. uh no one voiced any reservations about
maintaining the existing 10-ft travel lane. So um unless there's uh an opposition to it, I believe that we would recommend to the CRA to consider revising the lane width back to maintaining the 10-ft width. >> That was going to be my next question if
emergency services was okay with that. I appreciate you telling me that. As far as emergency services and seven days a week by waste management, is there any issue with wear resistance of the permeable pavers in that section of road?
>> No sir. I mean we've I've done u permeable pavers. These are clay pavers. They're pineal clay pavers. I've probably have done I don't want to over five miles in the city of CM that have been down since 2009.
Um there there's not a problem in durability. The nice thing about the clay pavers that I actually advocate over uh concrete pavers um for those of you that probably see, you know, over time the concrete will oxidize and it dulls. Um the nice thing about the clay
pavers is they look the same today as they will in 12 years. uh they don't oxidize if they chip. It's the same color, not like a colored paper where if there's a gouge into the concrete. Uh there's a a color differential in the clay, you don't have that. Um so there
is, I believe, some uh much better maintenance performance from a clay than a masonry paper. >> Thank you, sir. Then my final question to you, the rightway approval from the school board, has that already been asked for and granted? >> No, it has not. We've uh through the CR
we've coordinated and we've we've opened up those conversations but it has not been finalized >> because the project was on hold. I did move forward but now that we're picking up the pace I'll start coordinating with them again. >> Okay. And that was be my question is what would the timeline for that be
before we get too far down one path only to find out they're not going to willing to do it. I believe the CRA was waiting for this presentation to take place so that we could get any feedback as based upon the presentation but I would imagine that we would move forth between
>> now in November we should have the answer >> to me. Thank you sir. >> Now um >> in going from 11 ft to 10 ft that foot is made up in the width of the parallel parking space. Is that correct? Or is it
the sidewalk? >> Sidewalk. I think we'll make it up in the sidewalk because we are reducing the width. >> Yeah, there's a couple in that typical section that I represented to you. I represented the multi-use path as 10 feet. Um, and I would say the majority is 10 ft. There are a couple areas specifically adjacent to the the the
waste management build, the waste compound. >> Mhm. >> Um, I think we reduced that down to seven so that we wouldn't impact those buildings. um with that extra foot of traveling width, we would anticipate giving that uh ex area to the sidewalk.
>> If the sidewalk's already 10 feet, we would not propose increasing it beyond 10 ft. >> But >> what would you do with the extra foot then? >> So, it would essentially we would use it as a grading transition area. Um we're building rightaway to rightway, which can be cumbersome with harmonization if
because we don't go want to go outside and touch private property. So, uh, we any green any green space that we can afford between the back of sidewalk and the rideway is a benefit to constructability. >> The other area that I'd like to mention to you that we've reduced the sidewalk
width was along the frontage of Sailfish Park. Um, to to minimize the encroachment, we had reduced the sidewalk width in that area from 10 feet to 8 feet. >> So, we would anticipate going to a 9 foot sidewalk in that area.
And then part of what you had shown was from uh was all the way to Palm Beach Road. >> I said we we will have pedestrian we do have pedestrian improvements. The um the streetscape improvements end at >> Tarpon Avenue.
>> Tarpon Avenue right just east of project lift is where the the >> Has there been push back about that ride ofway going into that rideway? >> It's just because it's more residential from Tarpon to Palm Beach. So, we didn't want to do on street parking or any of additional improvements. We're just
doing sidewalk improvements. >> Got it. That's what I was going to Yeah. Okay. >> Mr. Mayor, >> um, do you think you could put back up the I don't know what number slide it is, but it's the one that shows the constrained or potential constrained
area where you're having the bulb outs. So the bulb bouts will be coming into the roadway. And then if if you have children and a parent crossing in a in a a thing with a a prom, whatever a prom,
what do you call a pram here? Stroller, sorry. Okay. Um, if you have them coming uh out to that area and they hit the bulb out, they're going to be like in the street
right there. See? And then they have to cross and walk around the bulb out. So, even though it's giving them less area to walk across the street, it's not bringing them to a level place where they can quickly swoop over into the sidewalk.
And um they have to walk around this this thing because there are trees and plants right there. And it's just kind of like you come come over there and then you have to turn around and literally walk down the road to get around. So I I mean I didn't I didn't
see that as a good >> um um depiction of trying to get you know crosswalk >> across there. So >> yes ma'am thank you for that question. Um, so the bulb outs are accessible to the pedestrian and they get the pedestrian. If you look in the image to
the left, you can see the the view angles of the pedestrian versus uh the vehicular uh driver. And the benefit is is it gets the pedestrian further past the on street parking. So it doesn't allow for the on street parking to be an
opaque barrier to view lines. Um and it as mentioned earlier it also reduce as has the ability to reduce the pedestrian crossing distance which is a safety benefit. So bulboutouts are are viewed as a as a safety positive um versus not
having bulbouts for those various reasons. >> Yeah, I I I agree with the bulb out. I'm just saying that just having to walk around the bulb out to get to you know >> Yeah, I think that's where you might be missing the bulb. You're not walking around. You actually walk in the bulb out. Ula, are you talking about grade?
Are you are you assuming? >> Yeah, the grade. Yeah, because it's uh gradual. >> So the I mean there there will be an ADA ramp just like every other ramp. There's a a pedestrian ramp. These that you see before the image on the the right, while they do depict the bulb out, that's a
tabled intersection. And the tabled intersection, the sidewalk is flush with the roads. And if you start to look at that image a little bit more closely, you can see Ballards because the Ballards provide the the barrier between the pedestrian realm and the vehicular realm. We don't we'll have a curb just
like on Flaggler where we have a curb that separates the uh the pedestrian walkways from the roadways. >> Yeah. >> Um so it is viewed as a safety. >> Yeah. The grade wasn't showing there. And it looks as if there would be either still some plants or something there
because of the way that diagram is. That's what I want to be sure. >> Yes, ma'am. No, I I believe I I don't believe your your the concern you're expressing will occur. And I can I can give you a different image to better explain it to address your concern. >> Good. Yeah. >> Commissioner Joy or no,
>> no, Rich. >> Commissioner Rich, >> forgive me. >> Um, you had two slides that showed a a great amount of vegetation on both sides. Go back to those. >> I'm just >> I'm just wondering if I know M. Moser's
one of her primary concerns and it's ob obviously shared by the group is slower speeds and improve safety and we know that trees especially big impressive shade trees really slow traffic down. Did she see this picture and still think we need more
>> so because I know she spoke >> Yes. Yes, sir. She did. And and just so I'll just say at the preface I'm not speaking for Miss Moser just my understanding of our conversation. So this was a con. >> Yes sir. So this is a concept plan. So
what Miss Moser was looking at was the actual constru 60% construction plans. >> Okay. >> So when when we do this um we we aren't evaluating existing utilities all the the the water mains the gravity sewers the force mains the gas manes the fiber
lines the reuse mains the br I mean that are underground. Um as well as this concept plan didn't take into account or consider uh FPNL has uh distribution lines on the south side and one of the concerns that Miss Mosner Mosner
>> Moer Moser >> Moser >> Moer >> apologize um expressed us is once we had an opportunity to explain what the constraints were she I think she understood she still had a desire to see more shade trees and we we um recommend
that and we said as long as the the CRA and everyone's aware um that there has a potential if if uh if just for say live oaks go on the south side of the road uh when FPNL's trimming contractors come through um there is a high probability
of chewing those trees up as they do um we were trying to provide trees that were more in line with FPL you you may have heard uh FPL has a policy right tree right place based upon the tree and the placement to their infrastructure so we were trying to stay consistent with
their guidelines to minimize the the um hacking of the trees that take place. >> The hacking the the chopping of the trees that take place with the pruning, pruning, trimming them. >> Um sometimes they hack them up a little bit. So, um the the live oaks, we have
concerns about live oaks on the south side of the corridor for that reason. as well as uh the utilities aren't big uh city utilities aren't big fans of when we place a live oak either on to onto on top of or immediately adjacent to city utilities for the reasons you can
probably imagine. So we ensured her as we move forward we'll continue to look for opportunities to increase the uh the shade tree varieties that we had showed uh on the on the the pallet. >> Mr. Mayor, would you agree that fish like to see as much shade on that? Is is
it appropriate on the other side of I guess to have like two different >> Yeah, that was my concern. >> That that was we didn't and you can do that, right? Um the north side has >> poor planning aesthetically it just doesn't look where you have smaller trees on one side. I mean
>> is there a way to is there sort of an intermix or a way to to do it to where it's not going to interfere with the power lines yet we can get as much shade as possible kind of thing. >> So um that's what we believe we had proposed within the 60s. Um, but they're not the robust shade trees that you
think of, the the live oaks, the poinsietta trees, um, that I think Miss Mosner would like to to see on the corridor >> to go through all of this effort and not have that seems like a >> we don't we don't disagree and we don't have a problem putting the live oaks as
long as there's a recognition on the part of the city that as those trees mature um, they have a probability um, of being pruned um, to a degree that exceeds what the trees will on the north side. >> And that's >> so when we look at this, we we don't try
to think of it what it's going to look like on day one. We try to think of what it's going to look like on on year 18. And >> it's just it's a design decision. Um as long as everyone understands that and can can accept that, then we don't have a problem. But we had proposed um middle
tier trees >> that weren't as shade oriented as I believe some would like to see. But um we can certainly consider to evaluate that as we move forward. >> From my perspective, as much shade as we can provide >> shade would be ideal. >> Yeah. >> One more question. >> Yes, sir.
>> I think these 10 foot sidewalks are so important. I know the state coming in with legislation. The Florida League of Cities really wants to put multi what do they call >> multi-use >> multi-use sidewalks. I saw two small
children today just in the road. Oh my god. You know, if we can accommodate them on these sidewalks, just it's going to be so much safer. >> Yes, sir. >> And they're just be going to become more prevalent clearly
>> with all type. >> Yeah. One of the questions or one of the requests uh as we're talking about Miss Mosner's comment, we had as the um the streetscape ends at >> Tarpet Avenue. Tarpet Avenue. Um we transitioned to a 6 foot wide sidewalk
and it's proposed to extend a 6ft down to Palm Beach Road. Um that's commensurate with the sidewalk on the south side. Miss Moser wanted to see I think I think it was 8 foot she would like she or her request was to expand that to an 8 foot which we don't we have room to do and we can accommodate that
and I believe the CRA is amanable to doing that. So, >> because 8 foot is like the minimum for >> 8 foot is a minimum for a a one-way multi-use path, right? And since we have um sidewalks and pedestrian accommodations on both sides, um 8 foot would suffice. >> We just didn't want to impact the
driveway. So, if they're parking their car in the driveway and the sidewalk is in the way. So, we will look at that closely to make sure we can accommodate 8 foot without impacting their driveway. We we have approximately from the from the there's probably about eight homes um near Palm Beach on the north side
that um we'll be running sidewalk through. And I think based upon our measurements from the garage face to the nearest part of the sidewalk is about 27 ft. So that's enough for a I mean it it wouldn't be sufficient if you have a a
truck and a boat trailer. >> Um but it's enough for >> I'm all favor. You would just want to make sure that everybody on that streets at whatever meeting you have fully understands that that's what we're intending to do. >> I mean only 53% they didn't want fire
sidewalk. So I'm going to call that >> so I say for the sake of safety >> are you planning another community meeting? >> Yes. Yeah. with >> visual coordination >> show show the sidewalk cutting through the front of the yard >> and and just in full disclosure there
was um concerns of converting all of the on street parking today as I mentioned it's a combination of head-in angle and parallel parking out there today all the parking is proposed to be parallel parking um there was um concern from a
number of the residents about the conversion uh the the the challenge that we have is um parallel parking is a safer option for on street parking. It doesn't require one to back out of a parking stall, which you can do blindly if there's an OB something a large
vehicle next to you. Um so it's a safety benefit going to parallel parking as well as um the depth of into the rideway. My parallel um parking stall is mentioned is 9 ft 4 in. That's the the width of my um parallel parking stall.
for a a head install it would be roughly 20 feet. So the encroachments get to be a lot more. So I either need to take I need to ask for more rightaway to build it or that has to come from things like sidewalk. So everything is a give and a take. There's always a balance to um
your proposals and um we're trying to balance the parking need of the community and provide for enhanced um pedestrian mobility. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. >> Let me recognize Oh, somebody else was >> All right. Thank you.
>> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. >> Sir, >> a couple of questions. One of everybody wants the trees and shade. That's great. What type of uh you had several types of trees, but how the question is, how hardy are these trees? Are they going to require a lot of watering or or systems in place?
>> So, uh yes, we're in conjunction with the landscape improvements, we're proposing an irrigation system. Um we would not recommend u the extent of landscaping that's being proposed without a dedicated source of irrigation water to be provided. Um and uh I I I
can't sit here and tell you that maintenance wouldn't be required on trees. It's it's it's going to require more maintenance from periodic trimming. Um during the fall if if we have live oaks they drop their leaves. there's going to be removal of uh uh debris, you
know, leaf litter uh from catch basins and so forth. So, um I don't want to represent the improvements not to require a higher level of maintenance activity, >> right? I just know some like native plants are a lot more hardy than others. >> Yeah, they are. I tell you, I I stopped
doing landscape improvements um based upon watering it in for four months or five months. It's they just the roadway environment is a harsh environment for landscape material. It's it's it's high
mobility. There's a lot of impacts. Um there's a there's a heat source of the heat reflection off the concrete and asphalt. Uh it's a tough environment and um I I would not recommend doing landscape improvements to this degree without a dedicated water source.
>> Okay. Thanks. Second, I got two more questions. Um, second one you mentioned, uh, a 15-inch gap. I think there's a fence that provides a 15-inch gap with the solid waste um, treatment facility. >> Yes, sir. >> Is that going to provide enough for maintenance workers to get back in there
to repaint the walls or whatever they need to do on the maintenance or on the solid waste facility? 15 in is kind of narrow. >> It is. It is narrow. Um, >> but they're metal buildings. I believe >> they are metal buildings. Depending on what the uh maintenance activity would be, they might have to take down the the
uh the fencing, unfurl it, depending on what I what the hypothetical maintenance activity. The problem is is I'm right up to the building. So >> anything le I've already, as I mentioned, I've already gone down to a 7 foot sidewalk in that frontage. Um there's already there was strong
comments previous to this meeting wanting to have 10 foot path. So, we're trying not to minimize reduce it. 7 foot is is is tight already. I'm I'm excited to have the opportunity to add a foot to it if we go to a 10-ft travel lane. Um but it it will be cumbersome potentially
in the future depending on what maintenance activity would need to be performed. >> Okay. And last question, Mr. Whan and I were talking briefly about it about what was the I didn't catch the exact amount that you would be taking away potentially from Selfish
Park and how far would that or how much would that impact the ball field? >> It's um the encroachment um from the existing rightway to the proposed rightaway is 25 ft. Um it's a little bit uh the existing rightway is today is about mid sidewalk. So half of the
sidewalk that's out there today is actually in um the park itself. So it actually results in I want to say it's kind of radial. So at the ends we're zero, but at the apex of the radius we're probably 12 14 ft encroachment. We
had a meeting two or three weeks ago with members of the parks and wreck and we have a meeting at the end of this month >> with the club. What is it >> with the with baseball league? >> The the league. >> The league. Right. >> Counted little. >> So um we continue to coordinate with
them. Um but ba on preliminary feedback it seemed to be doable. >> Okay. Very good. >> Thank you. >> Oh, and just just so you know, the the fence out there along Sailish Park is an 8ft chain link fence. Um the plan um
based upon that encroachment, it was requested to go to a 10-ft chain link fence along that encroached area which we've integrated into the plan. >> Excellent. >> Very good. Thank you. >> 10 foot high. Yes. So for clarification that would impact that ball field you
have to it would be field >> it will encroach into the into in the right field there will be an encroachment only the right field >> is that does that create an issue >> well that's why we're going to have a meeting so far for parks and recreation they don't seem to have any issue but we'll have the meeting with the actual
league uh the teams that play out there so make sure that they don't have any concerns >> for travel teams and different sports >> different team for travel teams and different groups Exactly. For all different age groups, right, >> Fenway? >> Yes. >> The only the only additional thing that
could be done if if it unpalatable to the city um would be to completely eliminate the on street parking. I could gain that 9 ft 4 in. Um but then I would be a net reduction in on street parking if I lost the parking that's out there.
There is on street parking out there today on the north side adjacent to Sailfish Park and we're trying to maintain that um to the greatest extent, but that if if for some reason if it came back that it it just wasn't feasible for some unknown reason that I can't speak to right now, the our next
step would be to talk about eliminating the uh on street parking >> but that would result in other complications. >> Hypothetically, if Bright Line went in, uh you are going to have a deficit of parking. You're not going to be able to use the parking on that back side. where the courthouse parking is now. So, you
would really want to have maximum parking spaces for park use. So, that would be an interesting conversation on whether or not you really want to even improve that if you lose parking spaces >> or how valuable they very well could become. Yeah, the a number of uh the
residents that we've coordinated with and stakeholders in Eastward, I mean that's that's a that was a major concern was parking impacts, a loss of parking and that's the reason why we propose the um off- streetet parking lot so that we can represent an overall increase in
parking availability in along the overall corridor >> within that parking lot. Is there room it seemed like to expand it? >> There isn't. That's the maximum amount >> 18 is um well I take that back to the north there's another fence line and there they have another uh
>> looks like it's storage materials to the north right >> and to the east is a storm water management facility okay >> that we're trying to stay out of and to the west is the existing >> so you're maxed out on >> without without further encroachment into other elements we are maxed out in that area >> and it's really because of the
demographics there's a funeral home on that side of MLK and um the older generation they just don't feel comfortable doing parallel parking. So, we were trying to accommodate >> I appreciate that, >> Commissioner Clark. >> Yes. Thank you. Um going from
uh Tarpon to Palm Beach Road, do we need to get any right away from anybody on that north side or is everything already there and we can contain and plan within that area? Thank
you, Commissioner Clark. Uh, we have all the rightway we need between the limits you just identified to build the improvements that are associated with this project. >> Okay. Next question. Along uh MLK where
we have the park uh Smith Turner Park, we know that there's hardly any parking for Smith Turner Park. Is there anything in there that could allow any type of parallel parking along the roadway there to add some more parking for Smith
Turner Park? >> She's next to Smith Turner Park. Can you um >> cuz there's a parking lot there now. I think that has five spaces or something >> to the east of the pavilions, >> but there's nothing along the roadway.
>> Just takes me to And then I have one more question after that. Mayor >> um Panel's trying to pull up the image. So there is um an increase of parking in that area. Oh, really? >> This this is >> she's I'm getting there. >> She's the necklace that that So Smith
Turner Park is um to the top there. >> Um you can see the the the lake. Um and we have uh what I think is one two three four five six seven U parking. And then we have parking on the south side of the road. you only see the parking on the north side. And then also with project
lift, which I know isn't immediately adjacent to Smith Turner Park, but it's one block down, we've actually been able to add 10 10 additional um on street parking stalls. Okay. Uh in that area with the dedication of right away um that was done through project.
>> Okay. Okay, that sounds good. Then the next thing is right in that area. Well, actually all along MLK, but especially from Georgia Avenue going east. I noticed that you have something about a monument and then you had another label
that um where the seat walls and some other things or you had a certain name to it. Is that where you're identifying potential monuments? >> Yes, ma'am. That is correct. So, in that area that we were just looking at with Smith Turner Park, that's the plaza area. >> The plaza, that's the word.
>> Yes, ma'am. So we when we originally concept we had identified that to have a 20 foot wide plaza area on the north and south side of MLK. Um we have proposed to reduce that down to 16 ft on the north and 16 ft on the south. The reason being is um we have to do uh bulkhead
walls because we have lakes on both sides to minimize encroachment into those water bodies. And then I have FPNL distribution lines on the south side that run um parallel to MLK. And when we had laid 20 foot plaza widths out, our
gravity walls were having to jog around the existing poles. So we were having these pinch points every 250 ft to to neck down to 16 ft. So we thought it would be a better aesthetic just to maintain a consistent wall width as well as it reduced the encroachment into
those two water bodies. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Are you finished? >> Yeah. Yep. >> Okay. Um just let's go back a little to where the trees on Martin where we
discussed the fact that the um oak trees would provide the best shade, but there's an issue with how FPNL maintains if they need to cut them. Is there a possibility to make some sort of agreement even on a small monetary basis for them to trim them rather than to
hatch them? >> Uh I don't. So, and I don't mean to disparrage FPNL's m uh maintenance crews for their trimming. I mean, they'll tell you if FPNL was here, I'm sure that they will explain to you that they take due care in trimming the trees. Um, but uh,
as I think you probably have noticed in actual practice. Um, they're there to protect the infrastructure that the utility lines represent and not minimize the the the shock to the tree. Um, so we typically will see over pruning for that reason, which is a detriment to the
welfare of the tree. And I don't, >> that's what I'm saying. Is there a way to work with them? I mean, every utility country across the country does that. Everybody knows they hack trees. They don't trim them because they're only interested in their infrastructure. Is there a way to work with them locally is all I'm asking. >> Have the city take it over. Right.
I not those >> I >> I have not to my experience I've not seen a resolution to that. Okay. Um the what I think was what maybe the mayor just said is if if you were to go to FP if the city was to go to FPL and say we'll be responsible for the pruning of
the trees which I I I I'm sure that there's um staff when the city that that may not want to absorb that >> ready to be up on the he'll be on the bucket with the chain. >> Absolutely. I don't want the city Yeah, I don't want the city to be hanging over the wire. >> I want FPNL to do a better job.
Basically, that's I didn't know if there was a way to maybe work with them on that. >> Um the other >> tried to reach out to them and see if there's a better way to see if there's maybe they have a a really elite group of trimmer. >> I think FPNL would point me in direction
of their right tree, right place guideline to plant a tree that's consistent with the offset because they give for differentiz trees. They give recommended offsets to minimize that encroachment. Um, for a live oak tree specifically, uh, for that line, they
would they request a 50- foot offset. >> I have a 65 foot rightway. So, it the math doesn't doesn't >> And all we're looking to do is maximize the shade, which would be those trees. Yeah. >> Rather than >> the the only So, basically, I have in my mind I have two options. I can do um
shade trees on the north and a smaller tree on the south is option one, right? Because then they wouldn't be uh grow as large and be subject to the trimming that I'm trying to describe. The other option would be to put shade trees on the both on both sides and um hope that
in 20 years that they're not veed out and and and and chopped where they're lopsided. Aesthetically, I don't know how that would look because you have one side of the street has one type of tree in the other. Maybe we could interseize some shade and not give it all up to
have trees that the FPNL will not maximize and cut. The other question I had, because that's obviously not going to happen, the other question I had is there was discussion probably two or three meetings ago in regards to um the uh Boys and Girls Club
and the fact that they were utilizing uh two entrances and one really interfered with the school drop off and pickup. But I don't know if that's the same end of where we are here that we're talking. >> Yes, it is. We do have that. Um, I think
they exit out of on MLK. They enter from Fifth Street and exit on MLK. >> And there was some controversy in the neighborhoods as to everything taking place in one area and interfering with the children being dropped off at school, >> right?
>> Boys, girls, boys and girls, the other school. >> So, I guess the question is now, would this reverse that? >> No. >> Oh, okay. >> No, that won't reverse the traffic pattern. They'll continue. >> Oh, okay. But one good thing is that we're going to provide some on street parking. So if parents want to park on MLK and walk to school to Boys and Girls
Club, they can walk, you know, from that from that site to the parking. That could help maybe. >> Okay, that sounds good. We could encourage them to do that. The last thing I wanted to say is that Bonnie Moer does a really great job. Has lots of great ideas. I'm wondering if I think
they kind of get scattered because she's in all sorts of directions. it might make sense to have Bonnie have one dedicated person in the city to connect with and that person can then disperse out questions and answers to other
people other departments. Um it just might coordinate everything that Bonnie's trying to do rather than spreading it out in like four or five different departments. So a main contact point for her work. >> City manager. >> Yeah, city manager. >> Correct.
>> That's how that's supposed to work. 2.0. >> She's a CRB member. >> Member James. >> As long as Long as she clears it with the city manager. >> That's right. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Just one quick question. >> The proposed stop where there was two
there's a two two stop signs there now and then you're proposing for four. Has there been a traffic study to see how that's going to be affected? How the traffic is going to be affected coming out of that that area? Uh I believe the the city uh the CRA or the city are are is composing that study presently.
>> Correct. Yeah, we we're doing an inter interim solution for that intersection because of the latest accident that occurred, pedestrian >> accident that happened at that intersection. So we're going to do a study um to warrant four-way stop signs and then the location of those uh stop
signs. So Milton and I are coordinating with CAPTAC to do that study. >> So let me ask another question. Would a proposed stop light be uh out of the question? >> Yeah, not stop light. It would be >> it wouldn't it wouldn't meet um warrants
of vehicular volume warrants because there's actual volume warrants to support uh you can actually justify a signal based upon crash data >> um and I know that there has been um crashes there, but I don't believe the crash data is to a level that would
justify a traffic signal. >> Yeah. Is that a blinking device? So t so typically the evolution is um >> somebody has to die. Oh no, I'm just >> No, sorry. >> Two-way stop, four-way stop, flasher, and then traffic. So as you go through, you look at different safety uh
enhancements >> uh for signals, stop control signal. So it will essentially evolve through a two-way four-way to a flasher signal, you know, um yellow flasher and a red flasher and then um a traffic signal potentially.
>> Thank you. that it really answered my question. >> I have a question. >> Were you first? >> Oh, go ahead. >> Just a quick question. Uh um number two of Miss Moser's This is like the Miss
Moser show. Um but number two on that where she discussed um extending the parallel parking length as opposed to to the width which would encroach on the sidewalk. Is is that part of the part of the plan, part of the discussion? >> It is not. Currently, the majority of
the part the stalls are 22 feet in in length. >> That's what the standard is. Is the standard parallel parking is 8 ft by 22 feet. Generally speaking, um we recommend uh to make the parallel parking easier to use to widen it
because um a car is typically uh 6 and 1/2 ft wide. if it's 8 ft wide to not encroach in the travel lane. It it people it tends to become more cumbersome for people to use an 8ft parallel parking stall. The bigger that you can make the wider the the greater
uh range of air it can be accommodated in that maneuver. In fact, a lot of municipalities for urban high volume turnover areas where you have parallel parking, they recommend a 10-ft um parallel parking width for that reason. So um we we we are supportive of um in
including u the width of it from 8 to to 9 ft 4 in but we we don't feel that increasing the length benefits us that much and it has the negative effect as some of the other items that we've discussed of reducing um the availability of on street parking.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> Very nice presentation by the way. My only concerns would be this is for uh board member Frederick James. So I was the one that mentioned the the four-way stop and the only reason I mentioned that was it it wasn't necessarily traffic related. It's it's a blind spot. So I don't know how it affects the other
streets down MLK. Uh but you can't see at all when people are on street parked. So that's why we you know I proposed the four-way stop there. How does that affect other streets as we I guess see more development towards the lot line
with the line of sight if it's a concern for whether landscaping or on street parking? >> Thank you for that question. So some of the benefits of the uh curb extension or bulbout that I mentioned earlier, it allows us to move the stop bar closer to the travel way because the pedestrian
crossing area is that much closer to the road to the travel way. So we get an improved line of sight. Right now um all the intersections uh are being designed to um provide for 90 foot uh in either direction for clear lines of sight. Um
we don't have that today. Um a lot of the um parallel parking stalls that are striped out there are um rather close to the intersections and if they're occupied by vehicles they can based upon the size of the vehicle can serve to be an impediment to clear line of sight. So
in the the geometric layout of the roadway improvements as well as the selection of the uh landscape material, we are always keeping in mind uh providing for that clear line of sight along the corridor for the reasons of you. >> Now the line of sight is that specifically for pedestrians or
vehicular or >> it's both. I need I need both parties play a role. I have to have the pedestrian see the car and I need the pedestrian or the vehicular driver to see the pedestrian. So it goes both ways. And then my next one was I've been harping on the county for this heavily with the sidewalks. I think you should
be able to park two vehicles without blocking a sidewalk. So that's my concern for property owners down MLK. Like if you have a single driveway and you can only park one vehicle and if you park two if you block the sidewalk, that would be my only concern. I've been
posting about it heavily and contacting the county uh because they've voted on projects to where homeowners can't park their vehicles in front of their own house that they own. >> So, um I'm just trying to think >> it's like a rightaway concern, I guess. So, like when you buy the property, you
understand it's right away. But when we vote on a project like this, it's not your property, but we're putting a development in front of it, I guess, or a capital improvement project, but then you can't utilize your driveway. You can't park there. There's only one vehicle. And if you have like two or
three adults living in these single family homes, >> there's uh other than um the areas between um >> Tarpon >> Tarpon and Palm Beach Road where we don't have a sidewalk today. >> I think that's the only area that I'm introducing a sidewalk
>> that doesn't exist relative to a residential property um or reducing that distance. Everywhere else I believe I'm increasing the distance from the sidewalk to the residential property. Like I'm thinking on the south side of MLK across from uh Sailfish Park, I've
got some cottages. I I believe they're residential. They they look >> and so there's some driveways there and I all that I believe is being moved further away maybe a foot or two than what's >> it might be in the design phase. I guess when a presentation comes back if you could have that labeled. I guess we can
highlight that and maybe show two vehicles that are stacked so they could park them. Okay. >> I I can tell you that I'm increasing the distance over what is available today. I don't want to represent that. I I haven't looked, but we I have to check
if I can stack two vehicles. You're saying >> bumperto-bumper? Yeah, because that would be that would be that would be approximately 40 feet >> for for two ve using a 20 foot vehicular length. Um that that's a that's a good distance.
>> Yeah. And yeah, because there's there single driveways and stuff and I'm just worried about code enforcement coming after those property owners cuz even looking at aerial maps, some people currently park um not on paved surfaces. >> Would that warrant a citation if
somebody blocked that sidewalk? >> Yes. >> Depends on the city's ordinance. I I would refer to code enforcement sidewalk. We would have to look at the ordinance to see if there's something that prohibits them to park in uh city sidewalk. >> That would be a nightmare to create all
these. >> We haven't ever I don't remember we had to ever site them for that before. So, we'll have to look at that. >> That would be something else to mention to get community buy in or not. I know all the um between Tarpon and Palm Beach on the
north side, those residential properties, those are all uh 20 foot wide driveways. >> Yeah, they have plenty of room there. >> Like as I said, I think the distance from the sidewalk to the garage is like 27 ft. So we could while I couldn't put them nose to any
>> just to show a visual I guess so like we understand what we're voting on and and more so the homeowners that live there as long as they're aware what's happening because I don't want to take a vote and then get bashed online for my >> correct >> I understand >> if I'm voting on it I want to just see
it I guess that's all >> we can take care of that m just have one question >> I want to make sure that um even if it's not shown on the the signs along that
road that people know and I think Bonnie had kind of alluded to the use of the sidewalks. uh whether you're in the roadway walking or riding a bike or doing a stroller or you're doing it on the sidewalk that
people who are using golf carts because the city has rules and has streets that are designated and I don't think Martin Luther King Boulevard is one of those streets where they're supposed to be using a golf cart. So, we have to make sure whenever that comes up in the
future that uh if it if golf carts are not allowed um in that roadway, if it's not on the list, then we're making sure that that that's publicized, people know what what's going on. The other thing is
when you're doing whatever it is for the um monuments or anything like that, if in the future there's going to be one or two official bus stops along Martin Luther King, we
don't have any there now, I don't think. But if we if we're going to have that if there's a potential that they could be located somewhere along there if a bus stop were ever wherever needed a bus stop or um and also um bike racks I
think we have a couple of bike racks along there now. Um but uh the bus stop I don't know if that was covered in the survey for the community if there was a asking about any bus stop. >> I don't remember bike racks. I know that with project lift there was a bike the
obligation to add a bike rack uh along the the front edge of their property. Um other than project lift I'm trying to think of any other bike racks that I'm aware of. >> One at Georgia. There's one at Georgia and one >> bike um in lie of a parking space.
>> Yeah. >> All right. Thank you. >> Uh the question Oh, forgive me. I almost cut. You've been cut in front of a couple times and I almost >> short. I'm almost invisible now. >> I almost did the same. >> There you go.
>> Can't even keep my own sign up. Okay. It's just one question going back to the four-way stop. So, basically, we've moved from no stops, two-way stop, now a four-way stop. What is the What do we need to do? What study is it? Or maybe we're almost there to do the flashing light. bypass the four-way stop and use
flashing lights which are much more visible for people and make them aware. >> So >> in those four corners >> typically flashers that I see the installation of flasher signals when the um there's a crash history but the volumes aren't large enough to warrant a
signal um either based upon the crash history but there is a an increased sensitivity from the community from a safety aspect. Um it really is can be a decision based the city to uh install a flasher signal. >> Right. Okay. Because I would hate it really knows at the very core of me that
we have to wait for accidents or deaths or whatever to get to the next level of safety. So if there's a way that we could do that and the flashers would be more um beneficial than the four-way stops, then we should go that route. >> And I also want to thank you for great presentation.
>> Yes. Thank you. With regard to that four-way stop, my question was going to be around a circle versus a four-way stop >> and and >> traffic circle or >> Yeah, my sense was that four-way stops are kind of antiquated and often people blow through them.
>> Is it better to engineer >> the traffic flow or is it truly better to have just to entertain an idea? >> Yeah. So, if I if I may, that the issue with a roundabout, a traffic circle, however you want to characterize it, >> is um the the design vehicle that you
want to accommodate >> and the size of the rideway. >> Um just to accommodate a a WB67, that's tractor and trailer, I need an inscribed diameter of no less. This doesn't include pedestrian improvements, but just from curb line to curb line, I need
a minimum of 105 ft. >> It would make a mess with the bumpouts and all this. It it just I physically >> you can't do it. >> I would I would it would have substantial impacts on right away um to I have a building um the waste
management compound has a building right on the corner that I would encroach into. >> Totally makes sense. >> It it would have a substantial encroachment. >> So it's your opinion that the best practice there would be four-way stop versus any >> I I think a four-way stop um before um the city went through the expense of a
flasher signal. Um there are um other things that I would propose that I haven't mentioned this afternoon, such as um the LED blinker that has a a microwave beam. When a car comes up, the the flat the lights the the stop signs them themselves have LED blinkers around
them. >> Those are um cheaper than installing a a a span wire or a masked arm um flasher signal. Um and they I think they achieve uh the ability of providing a higher level of
emphasis on those on that stop condition. Um but those flasher signals the last time I priced them were I want to say around 12,000 a piece. Wow. >> 105 to 12,000. Um which believe it or
not is is far less than what a flasher signal a span wire flasher signal. My concern with that though would be that sign's going to be facing a single family home. >> It's an issue on southeast central >> on central. >> Yeah. >> Um
church there but >> I don't think on c on the south side I'm not aware of there's homes down that road but none that I would say while it's a flasher it's not it's not a uh it's not going to light up the place. >> I'm sensitive to it because we just had somebody here that had questions about a
flasher. >> Yes. too. >> Actually, we we we can if you'd like at the next time we come, we can bring a a video depiction of it operating at night just to get an idea of the illumination of it. Um, but it is if if you're additionally concerned about the safety
aspects of that intersection, that would probably be the next step that I would ask the city to consider. >> And I think the four-way stop signs, we'll try to install that sometimes this year. Um, so we'll have two years of indication whether it's working or not. And the bumpouts are going to provide a lot more safety to do.
>> Oh, be layers of improvement. >> Yes, sir. >> I think is that something we could do after the fact if we find that there's still an issue? >> Yes, wholeheartedly. >> We could save $50,000. >> I was actually going to ask about those uh blinking LED stop lights. Has there
been studies done as far as the the uh the efficiency of and and the reduction of accidents and versus standard >> ones? There has um there has been studies done um they have demonstrated uh safety enhancements just due to
higher level visibility um especially at night um as the the reflectivity of the stop signs decays over time um having that flasher indicator um is is is is a nice safety feature.
>> Okay, any other questions? >> All right, thank you so much. You were you did a really thorough job. I appreciated. It really seemed like you you hit all of the important things. >> Well, I appreciate it. Thank you very much. >> Thank you.
>> Okay, moving on to approval of the agenda. >> Approval of the agenda is published. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Approval of the minutes. And we would have two separate here. the joint CRA CRB minutes
and then the um approval of the CRA minutes. So, let's do number two. Do I have a motion to approve the joint minutes? >> I'll make a motion to approve the joint CRA CRBC minutes 126.
>> And is there a second? Oh, >> um yes. >> Okay. All in favor or do you want roll call? All in favor? >> All in favor? >> I I. >> And approval of the CRA minutes. Do I have a motion to approve?
>> Move approval. >> And is there a second? >> Second. >> This one needs to be CRA. >> Okay. >> Sorry, >> Mr. Dard. >> Um, needs to be CRA. Yes, >> CRA. >> All in favor? I
>> I >> I opposed. >> Any opposed? No. >> Comments from the public on non-aggenda related items? Anybody? John, how you feeling? No. You're good, huh? Okay. Seeing none. Comments from board
members. Just turn up your signs. All right. Seeing none, action items. Moving on to item four, CRA budget amendment. >> Great. Thank you. Panel Gandhi Savdas again. Um, so this
>> hold on a second. I need to read the resolution. >> Sorry. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Resolution number 02-2026 CRA. A resolution of the board of the community redevelopment agency of the city of Stewart, Florida, authorizing budget amendment number one to the
fiscal year 2026 CRA budget. Authorizing the city manager to execute a professional services agreement with Cummins Cedarberg, Inc. in the amount of $66,689 to assist with sovereign submerged land lease compliance and related
negotiations with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for the downtown boardwalk and festival deck, providing for conflicts, providing for severability, providing for an effective date and for other purposes. >> Thank you, Lee. Um again, so this is a
budget amendment to authorize staff to contract with coming Cedarberg uh to help the city with renewal of the uh sovereign submerged land lease for downtown Boardwalk and festival deck. Uh the existing lease is not in compliance with current state regulations. Uh so
staff is uh requesting to hire consultant to help us coordinate with FD uh with preparing documentation an application uh to renew the the lease. Uh they'll also perform uh riparian surveys and assist uh staff with
negotiating and acquiring the repairarian easements from property owners along seminal street from festival deck to Colorado Avenue. Uh we the existing repairarian agreements are no longer accepted uh by FT. Uh so we do
need to update those easements to comply with the current state regulations. um we have to uh uh we have to secure this lease by November 2026. Um so we do have to expedite um this uh this uh contract
with uh with the consultant to help us uh apply uh with FD to to renew the lease. Um the reason CRA supports this is because um funding this type of service um it will it's a festival deck is they're important assets to that
support downtown. Um so and if we don't secure this lease u by the deadline it could jeopardize uh for the continued use of these facilities. Um in the interim FD did provide city with a temporary use agreement um which allow allows us to continue using these assets
while we work towards obtaining the required lease. Um this effort is being led by Ruth and Milton. um they're here to answer any questions, but CRA supports this um this uh project and uh staff is requesting approval of resolution number 02-2026 approving
budget amendment to the CRA budget and appropriating funds to update submerged land lease. >> Do I have a motion for approval? >> I'll make a motion to approve resolution 02 2026. >> Second. Okay.
Is there any comment from the public on the motion? Comments from board members? >> Question. I'll defer to Lee or Ruth. As far as a fee, this is a fee for our expert consultant to assist us with
getting it. So, I don't know that this is an ongoing fee. >> I'm sorry. >> Ruth, I'll you on that one. We're going to do something. >> Our environmental attorney, Ruth Holmes, has been handling this issue more than myself.
>> Uh thank you, Ruth Holmes. Um environmental attorney of the city. U so uh these leases, these sovereigns emerge land leases, um they do have expiration dates. Um they do have fees associated with them. So, um the the regulation
landscape hasn't changed, but the staffing uh for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection um has increased and they're also um putting a lot more scrutiny on these sovereign submerged land leases all over the state. So, it's not it's not just here.
and um the permits that the city had obtained in the past um and the documentation that we've had in the past particularly for the um properties between the festival deck and Colorado Avenue are not sufficient any longer. Um
not to say that the legislation has changed, it hasn't. It's just that the staff has changed and they're giving a lot more scrutiny. So, um, with renewal of our lease that exists or did exist, they're not accepting the same documentation that we provided 15 years
ago. Any other questions from board members? Okay, seeing none, Mary, would you call the role? >> Board member James, >> yes. >> Board member Rich, >> yes. >> Board member Gio,
>> yes. Board member Dard, >> yes. >> Board member Clark, >> yes. >> Vice Vice Chair Reed, >> yes. >> Chair Collins, >> yes. Moving on to item five, modification of the CRA CIP to include confusion corner design.
>> Um, so the next two items are related. So I'll, if you don't mind, if Lee can read both resolutions and then we can vote on it separately. I'm just going to give one presentation. >> Number five does not have a resolution. I assume it's >> right. So maybe six. If you want to read that resolution because I'm going to
just kind of cover both together. >> Okay. So, I'm going to read the resolution number uh 30-20 26. Okay. >> Yes. >> A res resolution of the city commission of the city of Steuart, Florida, authorizing the city manager and city
attorney to evaluate and negotiate the potential acquisition of the property located at Southwest Ocean Boulevard, also known as the Lindell property, to support the redesign of Confusion Corner in the intersections, providing an effective date and for other purposes.
Thank you. Um so item number five and six are related. Um they're connected because of the um ongoing efforts to improve the confusion corner. Um as directed by uh the CRA board, uh we've updated the CRA CIP, the capital
improvement plan to include the design component for the confusion corner. Um this would allow staff to move forward with developing concepts and uh improving traffic flow and safety and overall functionality of the confusion corner. If approved tonight, uh the next
step would be for staff to uh work with a consultant on developing a scope and getting a cost estimate so that we could include that in the fiscal year 2027 budget. Um the second item builds on that effort. Uh it's a resolution that allows staff to begin evaluating and
negotiating for the acquisition of the Lindell property uh which is located uh near the intersection. The address is 11 Southwest Ocean Boulevard. Um we're not committing to a purchase at this time. We just want an opportunity um to negotiate with the property owner um
evaluate whether this acquisition would help us achieve a better design uh and a solution for that intersection. Um we I have talked to Captech because I'm working with them on the Dixie Highway improvements project and they do see a potential uh of you know um by acquiring
this property could help with the design of the confusion corner and the Dixie Highway improvement project. U so we just want the opportunity to gather that information uh should the board allow staff to uh allow uh staff to uh move forward with uh with that process. Um
and then anything moving forward uh any potential agreements uh whatever decisions that are made would come before the the board for review and approval. Um so together these two items um are the next steps to addressing the confusion corner uh issues in a more
comprehensive way. So staff is requesting approval to update the CIP to include the confusion corner design um as well as a commission com city commission action item for the acquisition for resolution number D number 30-2026
to negotiate and potential acquisition of 11 southwest ocean Boulevard. >> Vice Mayor. Yeah, >> panol. With the acquisition of this potential property, we voted on the Dixie Highway streetscape stuff already.
Correct. >> Correct. >> Does that correlate with that or is this Confusion Corner specifically? >> This will be specifically to Confusion Corner, but we can start looking. We're still working on the Dixie Highway improvements design. So, if there's some modification we can make, uh, we will bring that to you.
>> Okay. So, it doesn't have anything to do with >> No, not at this point. We're still in design phase because we received a grant that um we don't um we don't get until 2027. So this year is just a design phase. >> And what concerns did they have with Confusion Corner specifically? Because I
know one that I've heard continually is the pedestrian crosswalk that's on Colorado being moved further east. That's like really the discussion I've mainly heard. I don't know if the confusion corner redesigning it
discussion has anything to do with like quiet zones in the county and the city with bright line at all either. >> This is a whole different design that was >> just asking. >> Yeah, we we'd have to go out we would have to do outreach to see what the design options would look like
>> and and what's the goal? I know you said safety. Are there that many accidents that happen? >> There really aren't that many accidents. This is something that the CRA board asked to bring forward. Um that's why uh I'm proposing to amend the CIP to include this uh project so that I can
budget for it. So that was based on the direction from the CRA board. Um and in addition, I thought um you know acquiring this property could potentially help with the design. >> Do we and are there like issues that were foreseen then if we didn't acquire the property? Are there preliminary
designs? >> There could be some limitations. It can only help. it's not going to hurt and it could become a a little park or something that can provide some uh visibility because there's some visibility issue in that at that intersection. >> So there so there's been like concerns
or discussion pri I guess what I'm trying to get at is prior to it coming to us with staff I'm assuming you've seen something in maybe the thought process or >> yes >> it was just a discussion with capte
honestly so again this is What did Captech have to say? >> U they think that acquiring this could help with the with the traffic pattern in that area >> like if they had to like redirect it like with >> Right. Exactly. redirect the traffic. Um because right now you know there are two
yield signs that comes that people come on to um Dixie Highway. There's a lot of confusion where people don't stop and they they don't slow down. Um so there's some >> um I guess I'm confused a little bit. This would give us that opportunity if should you approve this resolution, it
would give staff the opportunity to evaluate and then bring some uh information forward. >> Uh so Chair Collins, there is not a resolution attached to the agenda. So I would treat this as a discussion and deliberation. I would say we need two
different votes. one for the resolution and one for this discussion and deliberation on adding it to the uh >> there's a chart included where you've added the the um conceptual and design cost into the CIP chart. >> Right. So that's just a discuss
>> approve is that what we're not approving that we're discussing >> we're just discussing that and giving direction to staff to go ahead and and resolution >> get a scope of work. >> Okay. >> Right. So uh and and also come up with a cost estimate which will be part of the
fiscal year 27 budget which will come before you for approval with the resolution >> associated dollar amount because you have here >> you know you you added 300 but is that just kind of you know >> ballpark
>> right? So that's if we move forward with the conceptual design and um the actual construction that those are the estimated costs. But right now what I'm asking is that we would develop a scope of work and the scope of work the design there's a cost associated with that
that's not listed here. So the design portion will cost I that's me contracting with CAPAC. >> So you don't need a number from us. >> I don't need a number right now. I'll have that in the budget and that's the one you're going to approve. >> Awesome. Okay. So right now seems the staff is looking
to modify the capital improvement plan to include confusion confusion corner design. All you would be voting on. >> Okay. Is there a motion along those lines? >> There is no resolution. Um >> Commissioner Joby >> Can you read that out one more time to
clarify what you just said? >> We have two agenda items. One is uh staff is requesting that permitted to modify the CRA capital improvement plan to include confusion corner design.
We have a separate resolution that deals with acquiring property in the CR. >> So right now for for item five, how would you characterize a vote? >> We would be looking for a motion to modify the CRA capital improvement plan to include confusion corner design. Is
there a motion along those lines? All right. Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Perfect. Is there any public discussion on the motion? >> We would need a roll call on. >> Yep. Seeing none, is there comments from board members? >> I have one. Yes, sir. Just um mine would
be the pedestrian crosswalk. Unless any of these board members see a an issue, I guess, with how confusion corner is currently done. I don't know if it's wasting taxpayer money. My only issue might be if you're going into Jensen on Dixie Highway where you're queued up and
you're racing to that next one when it was redesigned when they did all the track modifications. I would say that's probably the only issue. And then the pedestrian crosswalk. Other than that, I don't really see an issue with Confusion
Corner or that potential property being acquired. >> Sign it. >> Right now, we're not spending money. We're just starting the process. We're just trying to give us an idea of what it might cost, >> right, to design. >> We're just giving you >> a design contract will come back to you,
right? >> But before we haven't we're not spending any money quite. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. >> Only comment is about time. >> Okay. Yeah. >> It's pretty terrifying. >> The only thing they got right about it was the name. >> And we've been talking about it. I
can't. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Would you call the role, Mary? Yes. >> Board member Dard. >> Yes. >> Board member Rich. >> Yes. >> Vice Chair Reed. >> And this is for agenda item five and six or just
>> just five. >> Yes. >> Chair Collins. >> Yes. >> Board member Joby. >> Yes. >> Board member James. >> Yes. >> Okay. And now six. >> Six will only be city commission. >> Can I call Clark? I'm sorry. Board member Clark. >> Thank you. >> No.
And just to clarify, item six will only be a commission vote. >> Lee, would you characterize item six for us? >> Well, again, it's it's approval of resolution 30-26 or 30-2026.
>> Correct. I'm happy to read it again if you'd like, but it's basically a >> I think just for clarity, it would be good. >> All right. A resolution of the city commission of the city of Steuart, Florida, authorizing the city manager and city attorney to evaluate and negotiate potential acquisition of the property located at Southwest Ocean
Boulevard, also known as the Lindell property to support the redesign of Confusion Corner and inter and the intersections providing an effective date and for other purposes. >> Do we have a motion for approval? >> So move.
>> Okay. Is there any public comment on the item? Comments from board members. >> Yes. Panel, how far are we in the design process for the Dixie Highway streetscape? >> I believe we're at 60% 60% design. We're working towards 60% design.
>> Okay. >> We've already had FD review the the initial plans. Um we've received feedback from them, comments from them. So, the second plans will be submitted in June. >> There's like a four-phase project uh submitts. >> So, how does that work? If this agenda
item you stop the design process. You go to 100% go back and redesign. >> We won't pay the consultants or the company to go back and redesign it. Then >> uh we will have we we don't go to construction until um next year. So if
we need to modify anything at that point, we could modify it in front of Lindell property should we acquire because then we don't need to make those improvements that are on uh that are part of the Dixie Highway improvements project. So we could potentially modify it. Yes. So they would build the city, right?
>> I'm sorry. >> They would build the city then to modify it. The design >> they would build the city. >> They would they would build the city for their work. >> Well, we would just have to remove it because we wouldn't have to make the improvements. We just wouldn't construct that since we're going to acquire it. We don't need to uh we don't need to actually construct the sidewalks that
are around Lindell property. Uh and then we would just remove that from the construction documents and then that property will become part of the confusion corner design. So right now that property is part of Dixie Highway improvements project and and let's say
we we decide that this will help with the confusion corner design then we'll just eliminate that property from our Dixie Highway project. >> Okay. >> Could um so Capek is here. Um maybe he can help. >> I'm sorry. >> I didn't even
>> TJ. This is TJ. He can help maybe because they're working on our Dixie Highway project. >> Been here the whole time. Welcome. >> I didn't see >> I was told I didn't need to speak. Well, I asked if they were here and nobody uh in. Thank you. >> Um yeah, the Lindell property. So, we're
doing the sidewalk work along Dixie, redoing the road. That whole sidewalk is on his property. So, we're working with um the other owners that aren't selling like getting easements to replace their sidewalks. There's probably four or five
properties along the corridor that have a sidewalk on their property. Um, so that would there really wouldn't be any change. We would still be putting a sidewalk in. We would just own the property that, >> right? And what we do on the building
where the building is now would be, I guess, a bonus to the project. >> Did we know this was an issue when we designed the Dixie Highway project? >> Uh, what do you mean issue? >> Brought to the city, the the sidewalk being on his property.
>> Well, the there's sidewalk on his property. um Lee the Lee property >> and AT&T there's a vacant property and then there's that old otter shop. So those are the four properties that we would do sidewalk improvements on. >> We know this when we were discussing the
high I I guess like as a board member up here we might have you know notifying us would have helped I guess. Well, we don't have to do if we're not going to if we're not going to redesign the confusion corner, then we would just move forward as is with the Dixie Highway project and make the sidewalk improvements along um in front of
Lindell property. But if we're going to acquire it, then that changes a little bit. We don't need to make those improvements because we're going to be changing the traffic pattern in that area. >> Correct. I I guess what I'm getting at is we we voted on a Dixie Highway capital improvement project knowing that
his city sidewalk is on his property and now we're trying to acquire the property. So yeah, I don't >> but we're not we're not going to the project can go on without acquiring the guys. >> Yes, >> that really works. >> Yes, >> yeah, that's not what I'm getting at. But okay,
>> thanks. >> We don't have to replace those sides, >> right? The only reason we're considering this because at the CRA meeting, the board asked to relook at the confusion corner and uh redesigning that corner. So then we thought, okay, well maybe this property could assist with the
traffic pattern. Um, so that was never into consideration when we were doing the Dixie Highway project and when that when that came before the board. So we would have never mentioned we would have never discussed Lindell property separately at that point. >> Couple of thoughts. First was going back
to what Commissioner Reed had mentioned. What is the actual accident rate? I realize confusion corner is a disaster in some respects as far as it's very confusing, but is there a urgent need? Has there been like a tremendous amount of increases in accidents?
>> No. So, we did pull the traffic report and based on the traffic data um uh it was only like two accidents per month. Um so, there isn't a major concern. Again, I'm bringing this forward because it was directed by the CRA board. Right.
There's no if there's no desire to redesign Confusion Corner, we don't need to move this forward. It's just it was a direction from the CRA board. >> Very good. Yeah. And then that was my other concern was one of the things we're we're talking about something that makes the city of Stewart unique. I
mean, this confusion corner, I have a nephew is a a civil engineer road guy on the other side of the state. And when he came to visit, I said, "Well, there's one place you're going to find very interesting." So we go there and he's like he was literally kind of uh very impressed. He's like, "Wow, I can't
believe this even exists." Right? So it's unique and you see it in people doing YouTube videos of it. So it's one of those things that they do redesign it. I hope it's not redesigned so much. I mean, obviously safety is number one. There's not been a lot of increases in
accidents, but we don't want to basically take away one of the things that makes the city of Stewart unique. Thanks. I agree. >> I think and I'll go back to what I've said the last time is it needs sign it. I think that's the biggest problem and
that's not going to change the whole you know law allure of confusion corner but there needs to be better signage especially when you're coming nobody knows when to yield people stopping don't stop on the tracks just better signage and I think that not just myself but for the last four or five years that
I could remember people have been asking on the CRA and CRB please just let's get better signage and if that requires some sort of you know consultant to come in and say what signage do we need or maybe just you know traffic department does
that but we need to address it >> and again once we uh once I I consult with the with CAPAC and if we find that this property has no bearing on our on the design we don't have to move forward and I'll bring those findings before the
board this is just due diligence period >> I I agree with Will you know this is this is one of those. Forgive me, board member Laughlin. This is one of those things that
it's it's the character of Stuart. So, I want to give you the ability to investigate, but I also don't want this to go forward. >> I'm okay with that. It was a direction by the CRA board. >> I don't want you to actually spend money or waste too much time doing this personally, you know. So,
>> just give me direction how you would like me to move forward. So, >> can we spend money for better signage? Is there a way to find out what is the better? >> So, where I feel more comfortable with item five where you could do a little investigating. >> Sure. >> Before you start getting going down the path of acquiring property to do this
kind of a thing. >> Sure. >> I mean, as as much as another little pocket park would be nice. I'd imagine it's not going to be cheap. Um I I don't feel comfortable personally with item six, so I'm going to be voting against that. But, um that's kind of my thoughts
generally. I really don't want to go into this. >> Yes, >> Chair Collins. I think there's additional information. I think the the the property is up for sale listed. Sorry. >> It is up for sale. >> Might not be listed or, you know, in the
future. So, I think that's something that was left out of the record that we should probably identify >> and and you know, the CRA could, >> you know, acquire the the property. I mean, you're not necessarily back and tell us what it costs and this kind of a thing, >> right? Any anything we come back would
be an option contract. It would have to be approved by the board. >> Mhm. >> Um, but obviously we can't have public negotiations to come up with that number. It to our disadvantage, but we would come back with a number that you guys would have to be okay with.
>> Approximately how big is that parcel? >> Forgive me, I should have put >> and it's a very tight parcel if it ever gets redeveloped. So I >> have that >> I think that potentially could be Little Pocket Park and it could help with the visibility at that intersection
>> and it's arguable that it's blighted area. >> Okay. >> Then I'll roll I'll roll for this one. >> Yeah, I'll roll over. >> Okay. Any other
>> questions? Oh, yes. I just saw you. >> No, no, it's okay. Um Since that's looking at that, is there somewhere we could get on what I've been asking for is someone who's going to evaluate what signage we need because we're going to have to vote on it and I don't want it to be another four meetings before it happens.
>> That would be part of it. A redesign would >> Well, I hope so. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Even if we didn't want to turn it into confusion, kidney bean, >> we could redesign it with signs. redesign just a little more signage for
people who don't live here. >> Maybe that would be good to add into this conversation is looking at signage >> potentially. >> Would you need any additional from us to do that beyond mentioning it or >> not right now? Um
>> I would just develop a scope and then we would look at additional items as part of the scope. >> Anybody else? >> Do we have a motion on the resolution? >> We have a motion in a second. Would you like us to? >> No, I just like to make a I mean what we're trying to do is see if we can
provide another way of getting in and out of the city down west coast and this is a big part of that and also you know know that people they've looked at you know shutting off Dixie Highway at
uh uh you know right down here. So I mean they are looking at all these different alternatives >> provide a safer way in and out of the city. It would be a big deal if we could take some traffic off of Colorado and
put it onto West Ocean right out to US one. So the purchase of that building could turn out to be actually absolutely crucial. So it seemed serendipitous that it has so it is worth invest.
Yeah. No one wants to but the very small modifications I've make I >> think we're obliged to consider >> that that seems reasonable. >> Yeah.
>> All right. Seeing no other comments, Mary, would you call the role? >> Board member Rich? >> Yes. >> Board member Gobi? >> Yes. >> Board member Clark? >> Yes. >> Vice Chair Reed? No. >> Chair Collins. >> Yes. >> All right. >> Thank you.
>> What do you got? >> I had a conversation with you, city manager >> about maybe two weeks ago regarding that. Thank you. >> regarding the transportation grants that were available, but there's
a prerequisite to that. >> Okay. So, how do we get that prerequisite rolling? Because we've missed the deadline now. was the end of May was the deadline for those transportation grants. It was a two-part. First part was to provide grant funds to do the study. The second
part was to provide monies to to create the project. >> May I call on Milton? Is Milton still here? >> Okay. >> I think this one was in his hands that he could speak to it.
>> Right. But I know that we we there was something we needed to do before we could do those grants and we we hadn't done that. So I'm I'm wanting to get that piece done so that we're prepared. I don't know when the next opening for those grants are. >> Panel, were you part of that one either? >> I thought this might have on the city
commission agenda to authorize to apply for that grant. >> Well, that's what I wasn't sure because it's really citywide. It's not so much COVID. >> That's the SS4A. Yes, SS. >> S4A. That's coming up next. >> That's coming up. Thank you. Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> All right. This meeting is adjourned.