I will call this meeting of the Steuart City Commission to order. Cece say, would you call the role? >> Mayor Collins >> here. Vice Mayor Reid >> here. >> Commissioner Clark >> here. >> Commissioner Gio >> here. >> Commissioner Rich >> here. >> And Chaplainkea is not here today. So
I'm going to do something a little unorthodox and I'm actually going to lead us in prayer and then the pledge. >> Thank you. Father in heaven, we thank you so much for the opportunity to come together today as a community
and to put you first in our proceedings. Father, I ask that you be above any agenda or ego or frustration and that you unify us as one voice to implement what is best for this
community and for the people who live here and their families. Father, I ask you to be in the room tonight to be with each one of us as we consider what's in front of us. To be with the public as they hear what we
talk about and for there to be peace and unity and respect in our chambers. We love you. We thank you for caring about us and this community. And in Jesus name we pray. Amen.
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. Moving on to our arts moment.
We've got the sopimus. Are we doing the video first or presentation? >> Okay. >> Long before lighouses marked safe passage. And >> you're going to Jim, let them speak first. >> Well, good afternoon everyone. My name
is Marie Kennedy. I'm a past president of Seroptimist International of Stewart. How many people in this room have heard of Seroptimist? Hey, we always say we're the best kept secret. And of course, our friendly, our
wonderful Hula is a suroptimist as well. We are an international organization volunteers. We work to provide access to education for women and girls so that they can attain economic empowerment.
Sir Optimist of Stewart is part of a very large international organization but has been here in the Stewart and Martin County communities for 71 years. Didn't know that, did you? >> So they say that, you know, they don't
always remember what you say, but what you did. So we started out in 1955 with saving the house of refuge >> and helping to start the Historical Society of Martin County. We went on to do the Christmas parade and many other
communityoriented projects. However, now our focus is totally on education and every year we help women and girls get that education that they need. It's a hand up, not a hand out to lift them out
of poverty, lift their families out of poverty. So, we'd love to have you come and work with us and help us achieve that goal of helping over half a million women and girls by 2031. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Hi there. I'm Jess Robinson and I'm honored to speak in front of you tonight as both a sopimist and the collections director for the Historical Society of Martin County. Uh for many Martin County citizens, the House of Refuge is a symbol of the exploration of youth, of
school field trips, of um stories of service and shelter, and the long tradition of neighbors helping neighbors on this coast. Uh in November, as Marie mentioned, of 1954, 11 women in Stewart came together to create the chapter of Seruptimus International. And their
first task as sisters created what became the historical society. with the difficult dream of saving the House of Refuge. They recognized its importance and created coalitions to make sure this incredible history would endure. All these years later, we feel the same commitment to the shared history of the
House and the truth that big things don't happen on their own, that they happen in community with others. The 71-year-old relationships created around the House of Refuge through collaboration and responsibility speak volumes about Martin County's dedication
to preservation on all sides. I am proud to be a resident here in our beautiful downtown Stewart. The recently completed restoration project focused on the foundational and structural elements that helped to physically secure the future of this remarkable site. Just as
the 1950s ladies of Seroptimus gave of their service and volunteer labor to consider the future of culture and education in Martin County, we all continue to seek ways to protect the unique nature of the house and its legacy. The House of Refuge, long considered the
jewel of Martin County, has always reflected the spirit of its neighbors, those who come to breathe in the salt air, to witness the power of the experience, and then answer the call to help preserve our shared history. I'm proud to stand in that tradition as a Seruptimus sister and as one steward
among many of this very special place and time. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> All the film. >> Long before lighouses marked safe passage and ships brave these perilous waters, this coastline belonged to the
eyes Indians. For centuries, they lived in harmony with the sea, sustained by its bounty. Their existence now whispered through ancient shell mounds. The foundations upon which modern history stands.
Gilbert's Bar, named not for any gentle natural formation, but for the notorious pirate Don Pedro Gilbert. In the early 19th century, Gilbert terrorized these waters, infamous for
plundering merchant vessels and burning ships to erase evidence of his ruthless crimes. His chillingly famous saying, "Dead cats don't knew," meant simply, "Dead men tell no tales." His reign of
terror ended in 1835 as he became the last pirate executed in the United States, leaving his name etched permanently into this perilous reef. By the mid 1800s, shipwrecks along Florida's coast had become alarmingly
frequent, prompting Sumner Kimble, head of the US Life Saving Service, to act. In 1876 on Hutchinson Island at top the ancient Isis Mound, the house of refuge at Gilbert's Bar was commissioned and
number two of only 10 constructed as sanctuaries for shipwrecked sailors. Remarkably, of those original 10, this house of refuge on Gilbert's Bar alone remains, making it the oldest building in Martin County. Life here was
challenging. The Florida landscape in 1876 was inhospitable, harsh, and isolated. Keepers and their families endured loneliness, harsh weather, and constant vigilance, dedicated solely to saving
lives from the sea's grasp. With the advent of World War I, the House of Refuge was incorporated into the newly formed US Coast Guard in 1915, continuing its vital role in maritime
safety. During World War II, it took on additional strategic importance as a coastal lookout station. Vigilantly scanning the horizon for German Uboats threatening the American coastline, the brave personnel stationed
here provided critical surveillance, protecting countless lives, patrolling the beaches, and safeguarding maritime trade routes. Over decades, the house witnessed countless tales of courage, rescuing sailors from vessels like the
George's Valentine and Cosmic Alsado. Each wreck a testament to humanity's resilience against nature's fury. Eventually decommissioned in 1945. By midentury, the house stood in
silence, weathered and abandoned. But in the 1950s, a group of remarkable women from the Seroptimist Club of Stewart intervened, refusing to let this historic gem decay. They rallied support, raised funds, and partnered
with the county to breathe new life into its story. Soon after, the Historical Society of Martin County was formed in 1955 and has continuously preserved this vital piece of maritime heritage,
ensuring the stories of bravery and survival would never fade. In 1955, the Historical Society of Martin County was born. its founding mission to preserve and share the legacy of this house.
Through decades of stewardship, community events, and educational outreach, the society has protected the house as a living museum, open to all who seek to connect with Florida's maritime roots. Yet, this shoreline is
not only known for human history, but also for an enduring natural legacy. From 1955 to the 1980s, marine conservationist Ross Wam, known as Martin County's turtle man, pioneered
efforts to protect endangered sea turtles. His groundbreaking sea turtle project here at the House of Refuge significantly bolstered turtle populations, leaving an indelible mark on conservation practices worldwide.
Today, the House of Refuge stands not merely as a historical site, but as a testament to the enduring bond between humanity and the sea. From the indigenous eyes people and the treacherous pirate Gilbert to heroic
wartime efforts and pioneering conservation by Ross Wam. Each chapter echoes along this shore, reminding us that history is alive in every wave that touches these sands. May the stories
told here inspire and remind us of our eternal connection to the sea, and our shared responsibility to preserve its history, its wildlife, and its mysteries for generations yet to come.
Thank you. >> Whoever your creative is made a fantastic AI video. >> Somebody who's recently dived into AI videos. It's not easy. >> 10 months ago. >> I have certificates.
>> You ladies. over here. >> Marie, come on. >> Yes. If you want me, I'll come, too. I'm just gonna >> Thanks. >> Thank you. Thank you. Moving on to proclamations. Public
safety telecommunicators week. >> We're going to watch the film first on this. >> Perfect. >> Okay. Good job. >> Mr. Bagot, will you be reading the proclamation? >> Absolutely. >> Public Public Safety Telecommunicators
Week, April 12th through the 18th, 2026. Whereas emergencies can occur at any time that require police, fire, or emergency medical services, when an emergency occurs, the prompt response of police officers, firefighters, and
paramedics is critical to the protection of life and preservation of property. And whereas the safety of our police officers and firefighters is dependent upon the quality and accuracy of information of obtained from citizens who telephone the city of Stewart's
emergency communication center. And whereas public safety telecommunicators are the first and most critical contact our citizens have with emergency services. Public safety telecommunicators are the single vital
link link for our police officers and firefighters by monitoring their activities by radio, providing them with information and ensuring their safety. And whereas public safety telecommunicators of the city of Stewart
have contributed substantially to the apprehension of criminals, suppression of fires, and treatment of patients. and each dispatcher has exhibited compassion, understanding, and professionalism during the performance of their their job in the past year.
Now, therefore, I, Christopher Collins, mayor of the city of Stewart, do hereby proclaim April 2nd or April 12th through the 18th, 2026 as public safety uh telecommunicators week. Good evening,
mayor, vice mayor, commissioners, staff, and department heads. My name is Michael Gerwin. I'm a captain with the Stewart Police Department, and I'm here on behalf of Chief Zanelvic. We both wanted to present this. Um, I just wanted to read a little about a little bit about what the dispatchers do and
then introduce some of the ladies here. Um, the Steuart Police Department's public safety communication center is a critical critical operation hub for the public safety within the city. Public safety communicators, our dispatchers, serve as the first point of contact for
community members seeking help and provide a central support to our police officers. Their expertise, professionalism, and commitment ensure that emergency response in the city of Stewart remains timely, accurate, and effective. store police officers have a
very efficient and prompt response to 911 emergency calls due to our telecommunicators. So, a little bit about our staff. The communication center is staffed with nine full-time police dispatchers, four part-time police dispatchers, and one communications supervisor. What's unique
this year is we achieved an award, a milestone if you will, in 2025. We became accredited by the Florida Dispatch Accredit Accredititation Organization. This accredititation recognizes agencies that meet or exceed statewide best practices for training,
operational performance, policy compliance, and quality assurance. Achieving this status demonstrates the department's commitment to excellence, professionalism, and continuous improvement in public safety communications. The credit the accredititation reflects
the hard work of the dispatch team, their adherence to high standards and effectiveness of the cent's policies, procedures, and quality control measures. So, a little bit about the volume that they completed last year. They took
34,783 calls service. 13,000 of them, a little bit over that were emergency calls and 21,000 a little over that were non-emergency calls. So they work very hard and I can tell you as the husband
of a former dispatcher, they receive the brunt of the call because every call that we receive, it starts with them first. So when someone's not having a good day, they're emotional, they're in panic, they receive the brunt. So their blood pressure goes up. Sometimes they
take verbal abuse, yet they maintain their professionalism and get the call organized to give it to us police officers. So, I really do appreciate each and every one of you. Thank you. >> All right, here we go. >> I'm Tammy Champion. I'm the supervisor
of the dispatch center. I've been for a little while now. Um, some of my dispatchers here are Emily Coin. She's my assistant team leader. So, when I'm out, Emily kind of takes the role of what I do. Um, I have McKenzie Shanahan. She's been here for a couple of years.
She's kind of a newbie. And we have a very new person here, and I'm probably gonna say her name wrong. Juliana Hernandez. It was her very first day in dispatch. We appreciate all your support and your help. We do have a lot of things that go
on in there. You're all welcome to come visit anytime. I know Misty came and spent some time with us for that video and I think she was it was fun for her and she saw some things she probably didn't realize maybe kind of happened in there. So >> you're all welcome to come visit and
spend some time in there. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I would just like to say that I guess as the mayor I am incredibly thankful for all of you. You do not get enough credit. You're all invisible angels.
And you know, you not only are people having a bad day, they're probably having the worst day of their life when they call you. And to to have the composure that you have on that line to help get people help as fast as
possible. Thank you so much. You're doing God's work and keep it up, >> Mr. Mayor. >> Yes. Uh, I'd also like to thank you. You guys are spectacular and you keep us out of harm's way all the time. But I do want to say that a lot of people in the city
will say, "Well, where do our taxes go?" And when we represent, when we um do this with different departments, this is where our taxes go. This is what you're paying for. The safety, the engineering, parks, and all of those departments help keep this city running, and that is what your taxes do. So, I just wanted
everyone to understand that. Thank you. Thanks. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Carolyn. Moving on to donate life month. Whereas one of the most meaningful gifts that a human being can bestow upon
another is the gift of life. Over 105,000 men, women, and children are currently on the national waiting list for organ transplant plantation, of which over 6,000 reside in Florida. And whereas a number of transplants
nearly 49,65 occurred in 2025 thanks to the generosity of over 23,787 deceased and living donors, of which Life Link of Florida honored more donors than ever before, serving 360 organ
donors who provided 995 lifesaving transplant patients in need. And whereas the need for organ, eye, and tissue donation remains critical as new as a new patient is added to the national waiting list for
an organ transplant every 8 minutes and each day roughly 17 people die due to the lack of available organs. And whereas more than 10 million Flidians have already registered their decision to give the gift of life through organ and tissue donation at
www.donatelifef.org. oorgg or on their driver's license. Nonprofit LifeLink of Florida is dedicated to the recovery of organs and tissue for transplantation therapy in Florida with a mission to honor donors
and save lives. Now, therefore, I, Christopher Collins, mayor of the city of Stewart, do hereby proclaim April 2026 as Donate Life Month. >> Thank you. Hi. >> Hi. >> I'm Tara. Thank you for having me. I did
not bring a video. >> It's okay. >> Probably be glad about that. Um, anyway, I am so proud to accept this proclamation of donate life month from Stuart. A fun fact about me is that I was born and stayed right here in
Stewart. You know, it's a big deal to me. It's pretty special. Um, and another fun fact is that when I was 12 years old, I met my best friend Denise on a potato field in Palm City, Florida. It's important that I share this connection with you because this is why
I'm so connected and so proud to represent Donate Life and LifeLink of Florida. You see, 10 years ago, Denise was diagnosed with liver failure, and she was told that without a new liver, she would die. I hope no one ever
has to hear that from a doctor about a friend or a relative, but it happens every day. Sorry, I'm a little nervous. Um, she was put on the UNO's transplant list where she stayed for over four years. The thing is that people on the
list, they get sicker and sicker because we just don't have enough registered donors. That's why I'm speaking today. In 2020, right in the middle of CO, Denise met a new surgeon and that surgeon said that she may not make it
until a donor became available. He asked her, "Do you know anyone who might give you part of their liver while alive? Can anyone figure out what happened?" I got a Facebook note, not even kidding,
asking for half of my liver. I of course said yes. And 5 years ago, um, I gave half of my liver to my friend. They took her dying one out and they replaced it with mine. We'll be celebrating our
fiveyear liversary in August. Thank you. Thank you. Now, not everyone can receive a a living donation of a liver lobe or a kidney. A lot a lot can. And now you know about it, right? you know someone someone that lives right here, a
neighbor that did that. But what you can do now that you know my connection to donate life um I don't expect you all to be donors right now like I did but I do hope that you've all registered to be donors and if you haven't that you'll take some time to do so today. You can
find information at donatelife florida.org or you can even find it in your phone's health app now. It's kind of cool. If you're registered or if you intend to, the thing that I want to express and share with you the most is that you need to share your decision with your family.
Sometimes they are the final consent. Having it on your license is of the utmost importance, but if your family says no, it may not happen. So, make sure they know what your intention is. Just a few general facts before I leave you.
As you mentioned, over 6,000 Flidians and more than 105,000 people across the country are currently waiting for life-saving organ transplants. One donor can save and heal many lives. A single organ and tissue donor has the
potential to save the lives of eight people and heal the lives of dozens more through tissue donation. So again, I thank you so much for the proclamation from Stuart today. THANKS. >> OKAY, GREAT. sexual assault awareness month.
>> Whereas sexual assault remains a serious and pervasive issue that affects individuals of all ages, genders, races, and backgrounds. And whereas raising awareness about the prevailance of sexual assault and the need for prevention is essential to
fostering a safer and more supportive society for all for all. And whereas sexual assault awareness month serves as an as an opportunity to educate communities about the impact of sexual violence as well as to empower survivors
by providing resources, support, and encouragement for healing. And whereas it is crucial to continue advocating for policies and programs that prevent sexual assault, support survivors, and hold perpetrators
accountable to ensure the safety and dignity of every individual. Now, therefore, I, Christopher Collins, mayor of the city of Stewart, do hereby proclaim April 2026 as sexual assault awareness month.
>> Good evening, everybody. Hey, I'm Jessica Bright. I'm the executive director at the Inner Truth Project. And um Tara, I did one better. I did not bring a video or notes. So, so um honestly, I just wanted to come today
and and really thank you all for honoring April as sexual assault awareness month. Um again, I'm the executive director. The Inner Truth Project has been on the Treasure Coast here since 2012, and we support women, men, and children who've been through
any type of sexual abuse or sexual trauma. Our programs are open to children ages 10 and older. We provide therapy, support groups, empowerment workshops. Even furthermore, since I've been with the Inner Truth Project for
the last eight years, my main mission has been to to really empower our families. Sexual abuse numbers, statistically speaking, one in three women and girls before the age of 18 will experience some sort of sexual
abuse or violence. For men, it's one in six, depending on where you get the statistics from. Sometimes it's one in four, sometimes it's one in five. Regardless, those numbers are too many. One is too
many. So having programs like the Inner Truth Project, we're able to come and celebrate survivors of sexual abuse, whether it's been trafficking, rape, molestation, whatever it is, whatever their story is, we're here to empower
them and show them that this crime happened to you, but we can move forward together. We're here to support you. Um, we are newly funded through the Children's Services Council of Martin County this past year. It's been a very
um number of years and we're really proud of that. Um thank you all to the taxpayers here that are in Martin County because a portion of your taxpaying money goes to programs to serve that are here on M in Martin County and in
Stewart. Um, other than that, again, you know, if there's anything that you all take from this, you know, just just know that sexual trauma does not discriminate. It can happen to anybody, whether you are
um homeless, not homeless, substance use, not substance use. Um, it looks like people that are right here in this room. And if you could ever just pass along our information, uh, we would be forever grateful. You can go to
innertruthpro.org, learn more. If you're on Facebook, you could search us there. Um, you know, we are on Instagram as well. I just can't figure out Tik Tok, so I'm sorry if there's any Tik Tockers in here, but um, you know, just or Google us. Um, other
than that, thank you all so much. stamp out hunger Okay. >> Whereas every year on the second Saturday in May, letter carriers across the country collect non-p perishable food as part of the nation's largest one-day food drive, distributing the
donations to local food banks. And whereas the letter carriers stamp out food hunger drive is just one example of how letter carriers work to make a difference in the lives of those they serve. Since the pilot drive was held in 1991,
more than a billion pounds of food have been collected. And whereas food collected during the stamp out hunger food drive provides a critical supply for House of Hope and partnering local agencies who strive to empower Martin County residents to overcome hunger and
hardship. collected food items supply the four client choice pantry services in Martin County and expanding nutrition initiatives designed to combat the rising levels of obesity related illnesses in lower inome households
and whereas we would like to recognize all letter carriers for their hard work and their commitment to their communities. All food collected in our community stays in our community and we support Carriers's efforts to help those
in need in our community. Now therefore, I, Christopher Collins, mayor of the city of Stewart, do hereby proclaim May 9th, 2026 as Stampout Hunger Day. >> All right. Well, thank you commissioners. We appreciate the opportunity to be here. I'm Rob Reeri,
the CEO for House of Hope. Um, so the letter carriers food drive. First of all, special thanks to all of our letter carriers. They do an absolutely incredible job on that day um retrieving all the food that our generous community puts out by their mailboxes. Um
residents receive in most cases a yellow uh bag that they can fill with non-p perishables. You can feel free to fill as many bags as you like as well. Um, and on that day again, the letter carriers retrieve them, bring them to the post offices where we have teams of volunteers waiting to unload their
trucks, uh, load it into House of Hope vehicles and get it over to our office. Um, that drive is especially important for a couple reasons. Martin County last year, for example, was so incredibly generous to contribute over 70,000 pounds of food on that day. Um it is our
largest by far our largest one-day food drive and the largest one-day food drive across the country. Um summertime is extremely uh important for food insecurity in in every community including ours. Uh the seasonality of
our local economy, the fact that schools are closed, so all the free and reduced breakfast and lunch opportunities are literally off the table for so many of our lower income children. So, um, so we see a spike or as many things kind of slow down in the summer, we're the
opposite. We see a spike in need, uh, and the letter carriers through drive goes a long way to helping us meet that expanded need that occurs over the summer months. Um, so we appreciate the support of our letter carriers, of certainly all of our community and residents, the commission as well. Thank
you for helping us get the word out as we work hard to empower our residents to overcome hunger and hardship. and Florida Emancipation Day. Whereas on January 1st, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the
Emancipation Proclamation freeing enslaved people in the rebelling southern states, announcing that on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord, 1,863, all persons held as slaves within any
state or designated part of a state, the people whereof, shall then be in rebellion. against the United States shall be then thence forward and forever free. And whereas it is more than two years later at the end of the Civil War
on May 20th, 1865 that Union Brigadier General Edward M. Mcook announced in Tallahassee, Florida, the freeing of the state's African slave population. On that same day, special order number 63 arrived from Major
General Quincy A. Gilmore and stated that the people of the black race are free citizens of the United States. Newly freed slaves celebrated this announcement with a picnic at Bull's Pond, which is located in Tallahassee
and today called Lake Ella. And whereas for decades after the initial proclamation, African-American communities across the state carried out celebrations as a way of both honoring the past and celebrating the present. While the end of slavery in Texas is
commonly observed at the end of slavery as the end of slavery in the US and celebrated as Junth, Florida's own day provides an opportunity to honor the history of and continued fight for freedom for historically marginalized communities. And whereas emancipation
day helps shed light on the continuing challenges our country faces in combating racism, inequity, and inequality. Now therefore, I, Christopher Collins, mayor of the city of Stewart, do hereby proclaim May 20th, 2026 as Emancipation
Day. >> We're going to do this together. U Mayor Collins, commissioners, staff, thank you for having us. My name is Mark Collins with the Martin County School District. Standing beside Mr. Lloyd Jones here. It's uh not often that you get to stand next to a Martin County legend. So today's your lucky day, Mr. Jones.
You're standing next to me. >> Anybody know who knows Lloyd Jones knows that that's the complete opposite. This man is a Martin County legend and u I've gotten to know him over the past year and I consider him a friend and I'm blessed to know you, sir. And you brought a folder and everything, so I'm gonna let you speak now.
>> No, I was gonna let you do this. >> Good afternoon, Commissioner. I'm really glad to be here today and thank you. You know, my my name is Lloyd Jones. Uh I am a Martin County native. I uh I'm a retired Martin County Sher deputy
sheriff after 36 years of service. And I I do appreciate the job that the dispatchers do. I mean, they kind of saved my heart a few times. So, I I really appreciate them and thank you for honoring them today. You know, uh I'm current I currently serve as the president of the Martin County Black
Heritage Initiatives. Uh we are also affectionately known as the beehive. We we we're actually pretty active and uh I really appreciate the people who work with us. And know uh Mr. Mayor, we are very grateful to the uh the Florida legislature for
officially recognizing Eman Emancipation Day in Florida back in 1997. Today, by presenting me with this proclamation, you are helping the Martin County Black Heritage Initiatives create a unified setting where the Martin
County Board of County Commissioners, the city steward board of commissioners, and the village of Indiantown Council can collectively and publicly recognize Emancipation Day. The recognition of this emancipation day of this emancipation proclamation would
take place during a special event we are planning for May 16th, 2026 at Gazebo Park here in downtown Stewart. Our program will feature a historic reenactment and reading of emancipation proclamation
commemorating the moment it was read at the not house Museum on May 20th, 1865. making freedom for enslaved people in Florida possible. This event is supported by Martin Arts, the daughters and union the daughters
the daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War tent 12 and the sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Camp 3. I must admit that since beginning this project, I have gained a deeper appreciation for the profound impact the
Emancipation Proclamation has had on American culture and society even today. Our goal is to shine a broader light on Florida's rich and diverse history by using a wider lens, one that includes
all voices for inclusion. We respectfully invite you. I've given you an invitation by the way. Uh I hope you guys show up. >> Uh we we've invited you to attend this event. >> Uh and we view this event as being the
kickoff season for celebrating all the freedoms in America June June 19th as well as our 25th anniversary on July 4th. So I look at this been the season of celebration of freedom. We're especially grateful for for your willingness to issue the proclamation
which will be which will be acknowledged at our program. We also extend a sincere thank you to Commissioner Clark for her support and assistance. This year marks the beginning of what we hoped will become an annual growing collaboration.
In the future, we plan to include additional municipalities and partners. Our motivation is simple but meaningful to use the this historic occasion help our community learn more about the moments, places, and people that shape
our shared freedoms and our collective humanity. Thank you, >> Mr. Mayor. So, thank you, Mr. Jones. So, for the past six years, I've worked through the information from the League of Cities
and the Caucus of Black Elected Officials to get our city involved. And we've been having our city involved. And this year, we're going to have our um program at a probably the most famous school in Martin County, the first
school in Martin County, the Stewart that's that has a building still there. uh the Steuart Training School and so Mr. Cow's from the school board is here. There'll be a program at at um at Spectrum Academy. Uh it was scheduled
for the 20th which is the day we we've always done it on the day of because we this is a school board um collaborative event and the school will be having graduation. I think Jensen Beach High School that day and most of the
community in Steuart is related to Jensen Beach High School. The event is going to be on the 12th of um May. Is that right Mr. Calls? on the 12th of May. So, we'll be there and um this is in Stewart and as Mr. Jones says, we're
going to be working with the whole county to get different days from May until Junth to make sure that everybody knows about Florida Emancipation Day and why we celebrate um that time in our history.
Thank you. going to do one off and both off. Moving on to item seven, the OB and Cleveland Clinic transports presentation. For context, I had sat next to U. Dr. Shepki at a recent Martin
County Board of County Commissioners meeting where the interlocal agreement with fire was being discussed and I asked him if he would be willing to come and be very clear with all of us um both
our city policies and the rationale for the reasons we do the things we do as our fire medical director because in my opinion there was some confusion being espoused uh from the county side. And so I thank you for being here and taking
the time to do this. I think it's very important so people understand why we practice the way we do. >> Thank you, mayor. Thank you, vice mayor, commissioners, staff. I appreciate the opportunity to clear up some of the
record. Um my name is Dr. Kenneth Shepki. I'm a board-certified emergency medicine physician who is subsp specialty boarded in the field of EMS, which is our 911 system. Want to go over a few different things. Uh we serve as your medical direction group. And our
group is unusually uh specialized and has unusual amount of expertise in this field. I'm going to explain why that's important. It's not just one physician that serves as your medical director. We have a group of 10 physicians.
Uh we cover four counties worth of 911 systems, over three million residents in Florida we serve. We don't have any local hospital affiliation issues, meaning we don't have any conflicts of interest or competing interests in terms
of what we do either from financially, politically or otherwise. No pressure can be put on us by hospital administration or anyone else. Uh we've got just one goal which is to do the best thing possible based on the science and the national consensus for the
patient. And I take that very personally because I'm of the belief that every single person listening to me in this room, myself included, is the patient, not some nameless face faceless stranger. Every single one of us, some point along the timeline, it will be your turn to dial 911 for an emergency
for yourself or a loved one. So we take that responsibility extremely seriously. Now I want to talk a little bit about our group and why we have an unusual concentration of expertise and why we actually serve as the resource
and reference for many EMS physicians across this nation. There are roughly 22,000 groundbased 911 systems across our country, but there are only a little over 1,000 physicians who are actually subsp specialty boarded
in the field of EMS. Our group has four of them. That's very unusual to to have. And why that subsp specialty certification is important, I'll just give you an analogy. I mean, if you had heart problems, you could certainly go see an internal
medicine physician, and they can handle most issues. But when you start having complex and nuanced things, you want a cardiologist, a subsp specialist. That's how this works, too. Most groundbased 911 systems have someone I would refer to as a generalist. And then there's a
handful that have EMS subsp specialists like we do, not to mention four of them. And I want to mention just a few of the physicians here. our nally and I apologize this is not for self agrandisement this is basically to show that we literally are the reference to
go to if I'm going to tell you what the standard is and the scientific is we have the credentials to tell you and back that up so the national association ems created the national EMS medical director of the year award that's only been given out 12 times our group have
three winners of that national award the journal of EMS MS gives out the NA the national top 10 innovator EMS award. We have two of those winners. Dr. Pepe there on the bottom right is widely considered to be one of the fathers of
the field of EMS having published over 500 peer-reviewed articles in the EMS literature. Dr. Antevy, who's on the bottom and the left, is widely considered to be the most influential pediatric emergency physician in our country, if not the world. having
revolutionized the treatment of pediatrics in the field of EMS. Dr. Farsy on the top left there is one of the past presidents of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine, this specialty organization for emergency physicians and also runs a residency program Mount Sinai teaching physicians
to be EMS physicians. I myself was the past state EMS medical director before I became the chief medical officer for the division of emergency management before I was named the deputy secretary for health of Florida Department of Health. This is not and I'm not here speaking by
the way on behalf of the federal government. I'm speaking here as your medical direction team. I just wanted to let you know there's significant expertise and about what what I'm about to tell you. Not to mention that we have unparalleled exposure to national experts. Dr. Pepe
developed an international group of EMS physician known as quote colloquially as the eagles from EMS physicians across the globe are top researchers and experts in my field. And literally the joke is if you want to be a member of the team your jurisdiction has to be
seen from space because these are people Berlin, Paris, Melbourne, Australia. You get the idea. We get together every single week to discuss the latest advances in the field of EMS science. Now let's talk about the medical
independence. I mentioned a little bit why that's important. We take our role very very seriously not only locally but on a state and national basis. So we don't take sides other than the patient's side. So when I put a protocol
together, it is absolutely for every single person in this room and for myself based on the latest most cutting edge science. And sometimes that actually causes that causes friction because we're doing things sometimes the hospitals haven't even heard of yet because I've exposed to so many researchers, but eventually they'll be
they'll be doing what we do already. I'm going to go over nine different things during this presentation and I I promise I'm going to try to make it as brief as possible. Uh, we know that Cleveland Clinic North dropped OB services and I want to go over what that that means for EMS. And by the way, I'm not here to disparrage anyone. I know Cleveland Clinic North is
trying to do the best thing for their patients. I know Morton County Fire Rescue is doing the trying to do the best thing for our patients. And so are we. And this is not about disagreements. This is about what the science says and what we should be doing and how we can collectively come together to improve the system for all of us. I'll go over
the drive times from Stuart to the now OB capable hospitals and what that makes why that makes a difference. I'll talk about the National Association of State EMS officers, which is a group of leadership from each of the 50 states. I was a former member, by the way, when I was a state EMS medical director. The National Association EMS physicians,
American College of Obsetrics, and Gynecologists, and what the literature shows on imminent delivery. I'll talk about the morbidity, mortality data on delivering a baby in an ambulance versus a hospital, even a nonob hospital. And I'll talk about why a patient including clinic north can't just simply be
retransferred. and and I'll talk about the presentation that the mayor pointed out that was at the Martin County uh meeting, why the number of babies a woman has had really changes the uh what you need to do and talk a little bit about how we can tell some of the signs
of imminent delivery from an EMS standpoint. And then I'm going to leave you with evidence-based scientific evidence-based suggestions on how we improve the process here locally. All right. So, Cleveland Clinic North no longer has OB. Neither does Martin South. The two that do is are uh
Tradition and St. Lucy. And this is where it becomes an issue. Pretty much anywhere from in the city, we can get to north within a matter of minutes. Single-digit minutes. There's no single-digit minutes here. If we were going to bypass the hospitals
locally to go to any of the OB hospitals, if you are a woman who's had more than one baby, you can go to second stage labor from second stage labor to delivery in six minutes. Does anyone see six minutes up there if I bypass the
local hospital? Or is that basically going to be a baby born in the back of a truck? I want to talk about why that's important. Now, the fire chief for Martin County did go up there and talk about how we should be bringing cases to OB hospitals. He is 100% absolutely
correct, and I applaud him for saying that. But what he's missing is some of the nuance, some of the complex medical decisionm that requires a subsp specialist in field of EMS and basically, frankly, some of the national
standard guidelines for certain cases. These is these are basically the national guidelines. The national model EMS guidelines from the SEMO and NMSP. You want to take these folks to OB unless delivery appears imminent. What does delivery mean appear imminent
mean? Means the mother wants to push. There's rectal pressure or contractions less than two minutes apart. That's one of the nationally recognized scientifically founded EMS data points that we look for for imminent delivery. The NIH National Library of Medicine
signs of immunity divert to the nearest hospital. That's the lit what the literature's telling you. I'm I'm quoting it straight out of the literature for you here. American College of Obstetrics Gynecology and the American Academy of Pediatrics unplanned out of hospital deliveries carry significantly higher risk of perinatal morbidity and mortality.
Other literature at the bottom, same thing. Out of hospital deliveries, bad thing. Bad things happen. You are two to three times more likely to die if you deliver outside of the hospital versus a nonob hospital. So I don't want a woman
or their baby to have two to three times the risk of death if there's going to be an imminent delivery. If we do deliver a baby, half of them going to suffer from hypothermia is going to cause all sorts of medical issues down the road. Let's talk about MTA. What does MTA
stand for? Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act. It was put in place specifically for scenarios like we're discussing today to prevent hospitals from transferring patients who are pregnant in labor who are going to have a disaster on their hands if they do not
make it to the other hospital before they deliver. Nobody argues that the gold standard is an OB capable hospital. I agree that's an o that's the gold standard. What we're arguing is you have someone that does not have time
to make it there. What's the next best thing to do? So, let's go over the four cases that were raised. There's a case from April, from January 2026, September 2025, and February 2026. And just a side note, this sort of began as a complaint
that Steuart Fire Rescue was unwilling to transfer cases um emergently from North Hospital to one of the other hospitals. And I already reviewed that data and we've we over the years we've accepted every single one of them except for two and I looked at both of those
two and they're appropriately appropriate refusals which I can talk to and then it sort of morphed into well you're bringing cases that are should be going to the OB hospital and these are the four cases that were presented. I mean you can just look at some of the things I bolded up there and you got to see what I'm going to tell you about about those cases but I'll go into them
one by one. All right so this is the first case. This is a 35 weeks pregnant patient. Contractions one minute apart. Let me point out that paramedics, it is not within their scope of practice to do cervical exams and measure dilation of
cervixes. So, we use other measures, other clinical clues such as the urge to push and contraction frequency with less than two minutes being what is the national consensus for imminent delivery. This patient went to Cleveland Clinic North on her own. She didn't go by 911. So now she falls under the
Antala law, meaning it is Cleveland Clinic uh North's job to completely stabilize this patient prior to transport. Mala defines things as emergency medical conditions. It is actually written in
the MTA law that a woman in labor is considered to have an emergency medical condition. It is actually that is emergency medical condition which means that woman cannot be transferred until according to MTA but the delivery of both the baby and the placenta has been accomplished.
That's what stabilization means according to Mala. Now if you are going to transfer and thereal does allow you to transfer under certain very minor uh very narrow exceptions you have to transfer that patient in what's considered a
safe manner and a safe manner means a dedicated neonatal team with a pediatric warmer and specialized training which I will submit that neither Martin County Fire Rescue nor Stewart Fire Rescue nor just about any fire rescue has. These
are specialized teams that are used to transport these type of patients. So yes, I would agree that you should not transfer that patient till delivery. And Tala would agree with me. Miss Emo would agree with me. Number two, this was a uh patient that had contractions
10 minutes apart, not less than two minutes, 10 minutes apart, 32 weeks pregnant, no signs of imminent delivery. This is a non-emergency case. Okay, non-emergency case. Why did we not transfer this case?
The 911 system exists for emergencies. Cleveland Clinic North has a non-emergency transport system. They have a secondary COPCN. Exactly. For this case, we don't want to use rarified precious emergency response vehicles and
take them out of zone for 90 minutes to two hours. So that zone that they're supposed to cover, they're out of that zone for two hours for a non-emergency when Cleveland Clinic has the ability to do an e a non-emergency transport themselves. That
unit apparently was 40 minutes away. They didn't want to wait. It was a convenience factor, not an emergency factor. If I were to take that 911 unit out of service and someone in this room were then to have what we in emergency medicine and EMS call seconds to minutes emergency, stroke, cardiac arrest, heart
attack. Now our now it's delayed. Your response is delayed because I'm doing a non-emergency case. So it is our protocol that we will happily help them with e transfers when it meets the criteria to do so. Not when the patient can be meaning the patient can be
properly stabilized prior to transport but not for emergency because we're here primarily for the emergencies for the residents of this city. Cases three and four both follow under the same standard. Both cases were identified situations where Steuart Fire Rescue transported an active labor
patient with contractions less than two minutes. Both of these were less than one minute by the way, which meets every validated national imminence threshold for a multiparis uh patient. I already mentioned median second stage to delivery six minutes. This is a patient
that would have a two to three times increased perinatal mortality if they deliver it in the back of the vehicle on route to a further hospital which you I gave you the transport times already. So just suffice it to say the national literature the national consensus
guidelines my subsp specialty organizations all agree with everything that we are doing right now. Now, um, it was presented at the Martin County Commission meeting that we take all be patients regardless of gational age to the closest facility. That I I
believe that was uh they were probably given some bad information. That's not correct. We take patients that can safely be transported the extra distance to the OB hospital. That's where you want to go. The only time that
we will stop is if it's not an OB related issue or if the patient's going to deliver in the back of the truck based upon those national guidelines. That's the only time we'll stop. Otherwise, we do take all these cases and if you look at our records, we have taken these cases straight to the OB
hospital. So, let me just clear that up right now. Uh here's our inter uh interfacility transfer policy. Basically, it says that we will we'll help you if it's emergency. uh but if it's not if it's basically a convenience thing we want to keep our units close to home for people
who have true emergencies. So just a summary these are the four cases and defining is every single one of them are consistent with the standard and the science. So core argument just to go over it sorry I'm beating it a bit every argument against this protocol ultimately asks us to answer the same
question. Is it safer to deliver a baby in an ambulance on the way to an OB hospital or in an by the way in the back of an am I? I want you to picture this. You have a paramedic. You have no anesthesiologist. You have no respiratory therapist. You have no warmer. You have no blood products. You
have no you you don't have half of the things you have in emergency department. No O, no surgical staff. I get that they do not have OB at Cleveland Clinic North, but you still have an emergency physician that has it's part of being an emergency medicine
physician. You learn how to deliver babies. That's just part of it. That's that's one of the skills you have to learn. And I I get that they are probably uncomfortable at Cleveland Clinic North because they probably haven't delivered a baby in a long time because they practiced at a place that had OB service so they didn't need to do it. So now their skills are rusty.
But the answer from every national organization, NMO, NMSP, ACOG, NIH, the hospital, it's unambiguous. The hospital is safer. The only question is which hospital when deliveries imminent, it's the closest hospital. And that's not a departure from the national standard.
That is the national standard. So, we do have issues and these are my evidence-based proposals to improve the system. This is not a unique thing. As I mentioned, we cover multiple different counties. Hospitals because of various reasons,
financial, demographics, and otherwise are changing the services they provide. We are seeing loss of OB, pediatrics, and other things. And that creates issues for EMS, but there are guideline, there are wellrecoognized evidence-based things to improve the system. I put them up on the on the screen here. They've
got sister hospitals between the Cleveland clinics. What some of them have OB. the staff in the emergency department, both the physicians and the nurses should be rotating through the OB service so they can polish up those skills that they should have already. Uh they need to polish them up so they're comfortable handing these imminent deliveries because they're going to get
them. You can hire a dedicated uh labor and delivery nurse. Now you've got somebody who's done a lot of deliveries. Nurses, these labor and delivery nurses end up doing a lot of deliveries on their own. And now you've got that expertise right in the emergency department. They work as an ER nurse in between cases. You can
go one better and put a nurse midwife in there or you can do a dedicated interfacility transport team. Now these four, five and six, I got to say this absolutely has to be done in this county. It is not safe to let a baby either whether it's born in the hospital
at the ER to the nonob hospital and then put it in a truck to another hospital or born in the back of an ambulance to do it without these four, five and six things. Meaning you if you're going to transfer a neonate, you absolutely have to have specialized equipment, specialized resuscitation gear, warmers
at the absolute minimum. These are things that 911 vehicles don't have. We don't routinely carry this. They Martin uh Cleveland Clinic North already has a transport unit. They should outfit that unit to beef up their skills, beef up the that the equipment so they can do
this safely. That's what we need in this county. That's the fix for this. So, I'm going to just go through this. You'll see these are levels of evidence. I'm not going to read it for you, but they're all uh strong to moderate to strong is for the six suggestions I've just given you and I've given you the references there. This is the path forward. The national evidence confirms
that that we're doing what is the current national standard. I did a transparent case by case review of every incident that has been raised. Be happy to review more if they want me to review more. And I've given six evidence-based proposals to strengthen OB services in this county. And I'm going to tell you, I'm going to leave it with this. Uh I'm a huge fan of fire rescue. The fire
rescue service is a brotherhood of uh and sisterhood. And I I don't mean any disparagement event of anyone. Uh I have no doubt that Barton County Fire Rescue is looking to do the best thing just as we're doing the best thing. What we need to do is come together as a unit, as a
brotherhood, and a sisterhood and work with our hospital partners to develop a system that's going to strengthen the the linkage of care throughout throughout our county and throughout our city for everybody here. Thank you so much. I'll leave you with the references for this. Mayor, I'm here for questions if you have any >> questions from the commission or Dr.
Shepki. >> I want to thank you for the detailed information. It was well needed. Thank you. >> I'm glad you're on our team. Uh I'm thankful that you could bring clarification to our position and our policies. Um, moving forward,
would you recommend uh that there's maybe a a joint meeting with Cleveland Clinic's medical directors to try to shore up any disparity between what is clearly the national standard of care and what is
happening procedurally at Cleveland? >> Yeah, I I believe we have some meetings on the books. I we're planning to meet tomorrow with with some of the folks both from Martin County Fire Rescue and from Cleveland Clinic. I >> I plan to share the six suggestions that I've got. They're all evidence-based suggestions well supported in the
literature that we can use to to beef up the system here locally. This is a this is a problem that we're facing nationwide. This this is not unique to our community and these that's why these suggestions exist here. We do need the distance is when you regionalize care
which it's very efficient from an economic standpoint and a >> demand. Can you give clarity to everybody in this room of what that means? >> Yeah. So instead of every single hospital doing every single specialty, you combine certain services at certain
hospitals in the region. Uh and and there are some benefits to that because anything you do lots of times in a row, you get practiced at it and you get excellent at it. So if you're going to have something done, you want to go to a place that does a lot of volume in that. So rather than have 10 places do one
case a year, you want to have one place do 10 a year. So that's regionalization. That's an oversimplification, but what it does is it creates destination barriers, transport barriers. It increases the amount of time to get to that service. So when you do that, you
have to strengthen those non service areas so that when you have cases like what we're talking about here where you don't have the time to get to that regional expert that they have the ability to do at least some stop gap measures to the best of their ability based upon the the latest science.
>> That's that's basically what those recommendations are for to beef up the non-ob hospitals. Some of them come straight from the American College of Obsessions and Gynecologists to so that they can handle these emergency cases because the error would be to allow one of these babies to be born on the back of an ambulance. That is by the science
the worst outcome >> both for mother and baby >> or both. >> Yes. >> Yes. My my ask to you would be through your conversations with these meetings that you're going to be having over the over this issue and the ILA
if you would give us feedback as a board on if there needs to be special meetings scheduled with Cleveland be because my concern is that if your standard of you know this national standard of care is not meeting what they're doing policy-wise that's how we get disjointed
and these kind of things happen. So, anything this board can be doing to try to make sure that Cleveland is on the same page with what is a national standard, I would appreciate and I and I know you're committed to doing that. You're here taking your evening breaking this down in a very impressive way with
all the receipts. So, thank you. >> It's my pleasure. Happy to help. >> Absolutely. Okay, seeing no comments. Thank you so much, Dr. Shepki. Moving on to comments from commissioners. Commissioner Rich. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So, I just like to
mention that Commissioner Clark and myself attended on Saturday evening the annual NAAC NAACP gala. Unlike their usual very formal affair, it was much more casual down at the
Hosan Farmers Market. Um, it was entitled Boots on the Ground. The reason I mention it is because one of Stuart's own CRB members, Pastor Frederick James, received special recognition for
outstanding community outreach and involvement and I just wanted to congratulate him for that. Um, on another point, um, I am not only the city's representative to the Treasure Coast region, Florida League of
Cities, I also sit on the statewide board of directors for the full floor Florida League of Cities. And as such, the city of Stewart gets priority access to their grant um, consultant.
And in that capacity, I arranged a Zoom call on the 25th of March for Miss Holmes and myself to speak to her. And uh we were very impressed. She is just a few years younger than I, so she has decades of experience. She's from the
Clearwater area, and so she's very familiar with the negative impacts of releases. uh we concluded that call and um we looked forward to be able to take advantage of her uh services in the near
future. A mere five days later, she sent me notice of a grant application and this was for it's called the number is SS4A but it's safe streets for all.
We had not spoken about this but she provided it anyway. Knowing that um another CRB member, Bonnie Moser, is very familiar with this, I sent her this and asked her her opinion and to
uh summarize her response, it was it's about time. Um I then spoke briefly with Mr. Trollski and asked him if this is something the city should look into taking advantage
of. Uh Mr. Chowoski was nice enough to provide you with this very detailed summary of this program. I'm pretty sure most of you are familiar. But let me summarize very briefly what it's about because it does
three minutes. >> Is my time up? Thank you, Mr. Mayor. No. A a vision zero plan is a practical datadriven approach aimed at eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries. Instead of treating accidents as
unavoidable, it focuses on the idea that most crashes are preventable with better planning, design, and behavior. The plan would emphasize street design changes that naturally make roads safer. This includes things like clearer
crosswalks, better lighting, trafficcoming features, and safer options for pedestrians and cyclists. A key part of this approach is managing vehicle speeds since lower speeds significantly reduce the severity of crashes.
Beyond safety, these changes can enhance overall quality of life in Stewart. Safer, more walkable streets can make downtown and waterfront areas more accessible. support local businesses and increase the city's appeal for residents
and visitors alike. Um, oh, and by the way, I did not meet with her, but uh, Jod apparently says this is her jam. So, we have the expertise of experience
of our CRB member. We have uh, Mr. Trollski has gotten to be quite an expert in a short period of time and familiar with these programs. So, what I'm really asking is if there's no objection that we continue to uh prepare
an application and then I think at the first meeting of our new city manager, we would have a resolution or and uh and you know agree to submit it if that's the best way to go forward. I'm in agreement with that certainly.
>> And unfortunately, the need for this has become very apparent in just the last few days. >> Yes. >> With a very unfortunate incident with some small children in exactly the area where we'd be able to take advantage of this. So, >> Mr. Mayor, if you could
>> Well, that directive, do we need to just >> You have enough head shaking. Yes. >> Yeah. I think we can all just say we have a consensus to go forward. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> Good. Thank you. Agree. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. >> Commissioner Gobi. >> Hi everyone. First, I want to thank all of you for attending these commission
meetings. Um, I want to give a shout out to those who attend online. Your participation is so important and much appreciated. I like when the community gets involved. I also want to thank Mr. Kim for continuing to keep us updated on legislative bills from Tallahassee. Jim
recently forwarded the 2026 session wrap-up from John Jord uh Jordan Connors which was specific to the status of legislation pertaining to the local government. Some bills passed, some did not. Um I there were a few that I'm glad
that they did pass. There are I mean I'm glad that they did not pass. Sorry. And there are some that passed that I'm not happy with. But we can just fight on another day. Uh on April 1st I want to thank Chris Ficaro. he's not here today for inviting me to the kickoff of the
capital campaign for the hope now center. The event was attended by prominent members of the community as well of representatives from the state, the county, and our mayor, Christopher Collins. This organization fills a need in the community, not only to rise the
awareness of autism, but the number of children, current and those who are nearing adulthood, that require safe space and address needs as they enter adulthood. A thank you to Chris Ficero who has made this his mission and his passion for this cause which is admirable and thank you for all of those
who have been generous to the cause. I also would like a consensus from the uh commission I received today uh there will be honoring a World War II veteran, Mr. Robert Krexio on April 27th.
Unfortunately, that is our commission meeting at the end of the month. Um but I had offered to go a little earlier if I could meet with the committee and with the veteran himself. This is great. This is really a great honor. It is given to
him from the um French Republic Council General Raphael Trap who's going to recognize Mr. Robert Kretzio who participated in the liberation of France during World War II. He will receive one of their highest honors with the
insignia of my French is not good. So it's chave de la de day honor and that would be Monday at 3:00 over at Addington Place. So this is a gentleman who helped liberate France and Europe from the Nazi regime and this is a great
honor and I think that the city should he is a city resident and I think we should somehow have a proclamation for him ready and I need a consensus from the commissioners if we could move forward with that and have it available on the 27th and I would be happy to deliver it.
>> Absolutely. No problem. >> I actually attended an event uh identical to this. I think my first year as commissioner and the French ambassador >> oh wow >> came and it was a very impressive and
moving ceremony and um their appreciation for the sacrifice of our soldiers is is really something to experience. So I would recommend anybody who can go to attend. >> Thank you. And the consensus for the proclamation. >> Oh absolutely
>> absolutely. Thank you. >> Yes. >> Okay. I'm good. >> Commissioner Clark, >> thank you. Thank you so much. Just following up on a couple of things. Um, with regard to the NAACP event,
uh, not only was a member of the community, but also a member of our staff for work that they've done in the community. Pinol again they sabbed us and um it was just um full circle to see
that the community appreciates the work that the city of Stewart is doing um with our residents in all areas, economic development, housing, um just community revitalization. And so it's just so important to know
that that is happening. And all the projects that seem like small projects, but they're important to somebody when they get their house painted or they get somebody just come out to look at something and evaluate something or plant a tree in their yard, whatever it
is. And um that has been a project that has been going through a lot through the Miss Candace Savas with the CRA and she was it was well appreciated what what she has done. With regard to safety,
I do have those same concerns that I've watched and I've talked to Miss Moer several times and I I am just glad that we've all agreed to try to move forward. the more grants and opportunities we can get to um to use for anything to help
with the schools and save schools. And we do not have a traffic engineer and maybe it's because of the nature of our city and I know I've worked when I worked in Ocala back in the 80s. They were small then, but they had a traffic
engineer and um you know, we depend a lot on what the DOT does and what the the county does and uh we probably need to work much closer. I don't know if Mr. Uchin and Mr. um Leot I don't see Oh
yeah, Mr. Leot is not here today. I have to mention him because he's not here. No, but um we um we just need to work harder cuz I hear that about the accident that was at Steuart Middle School. East Oceanian is a um state
road. But the most important thing is that the network of roads or what you know everybody uses whether they're state or local or city county people are just concerned about making sure that they're in a safe environment. I know
that we're always into taking less from the budget, Mr. Mayor, instead of adding to the budget, but maybe it's just in our organization for the city. We need to look I know that we've had Kimley Horn to look at
development projects from the traffic perspective, but we probably need to lean more we lean a lot into drainage and to other things with our um utilities department, but we probably need to um you know dedicate some time
and effort into um more traffic planning and some traffic issues in our city. Um, even if we don't, you know, hire a traffic engineer, we do have people who are um contract who we we work with and we probably need to work closely with
them and make sure that we're working on on those things. And it is my understanding that we're going to try to work you mentioned the the idea from um Miss Moer. >> Yes. So, okay. So, we we All right.
That's good. um with regard to East Stewart and trying to maintain that uh community with a character and a history. Um they've been working for the past four years, four and a half years
to survey the area to get the area um set out to meet some very strict and stringent um federal standards, national standards. And the documentation is all
ready. It's all been submitted, all been looked at, and there'll be um a hearing and a review in Tallahassee on May the 7th. I don't have the exact time, but the letters have been sent to
residents not just in the specialized neighborhood where the boundaries are, but people in in other areas of Stewart and in uh that East Stewart area. So, those who are interested, please get on
the webinar and and listen and if there's the ability to participate, participate. But we just need to make sure that everybody um is aware of what is happening and everybody has a a fair
and clear opportunity. So if you haven't received a letter, contact Jod Netwick or contact city manager's office and say I hear that something is going on in East Stewart. What is it about? I need to know. I whether you own property or
not, please be interested. But those who own property, they should have received um that letter. Um we already went over the emancipation day and how important it is to recognize
spectrum school um for education and the things that are going on uh in our nation and in our community and how important education is. So, this is one of those relics from the past when um
black people were not allowed to attend uh school together with white students. The Spectrum School was created by the Rosen Wall Fund and um that has a history that is very very um important.
Mr. Jones has been working to pull it together and so events like this will help us to pull our community together and to help us to get our shared history um out there. So this is so important to have that school building within our
community. Those who are interested in learning more about Florida's Emancipation Day, the state of Florida has a whole website at the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, and it's so important to go to that website and learn more about Emancipation Day. I'm
going to put out a couple of notices, but these are for May, but we did have a few things for May, but um this is Law Day coming up in May. May 1st is law day. And that's the day that our nation under
President Eisenhower, we had set aside some time to consider the freedom and liberties that we um enjoy in America and the ability that we have to be governed under a rule of law. And so May
1st at Gazebo Park uh in right next door to the courthouse um gallery, there'll be a time to read and the Dr. Larry Howell Book Club will be putting that on from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. So this is
around lunchtime. You can bring your own reading materials. You will be limited to 3 minutes or five minutes depending on the reading material or there'll be reading material there such as the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, um all kinds of things will be there for
you to read from. You can read speeches, poetry, anything. This is a day that the American Bar Association is asking communities to be involved and to um learn about your your nation and express
yourself. So that's important. And then on the 3rd of May, traditionally, uh St. Monica's Episcopal Church has always had a law day probably for the past, I don't know, 15 years or more. Um, and we'll be having a service at
10:00 a.m. And Judge Jennifer Waters will be our speaker at that at 10:00 a.m. at St. Monica's the first Sunday in May. And everyone is invited. Last year we honored um I think it was Sheriff Snyder and then Buddhen seek this past
time. I think it was Sheriff Snider in 2025. Yeah. So he was just retiring then. So, um it's about law and justice and equitable um life in our community and we want um you to please come out
and participate in that as a part of the community. I I think that's it. I if Milton is not here, but I'm going to get back with Milton and Bonnie on East Ocean Boulevard and um Confusion Corner. we
had looked into it and I'd gone with them and I'm looking for some other results and of course we're waiting until we have our new city manager also. So, thank you >> vice mayor. >> Yeah, I have a couple things. I told Lee I'd mention it uh this one. So, is
Street from Doug Bowiser and >> yes that >> I believe in some past emails he's instructed where staff hasn't responded to his emails. I don't know what the city's policy is on responding to
residents, whether it's Doug or other residents with issues. Are they required to email someone that sends one? I don't know if that's for Lee or Roz or how that works. >> Um, we actually appreciate citizens
reaching out to express a concern and we tend to forward them. If we respond to them immediately, we can. we may forward them to the department that might be better suited to answer that question instead of one of us. Um, so if we missed one, I'll express for myself my apologies. I try to be very tuned into
that and very attentive. Um, so I'm not sure what happened there, but appreciate >> and where are we at with Isa Street? It's just kind of floating in the wind, I guess. Or >> city staff has taken the Isa Street matter before the magistrate many, many
times through the last few years. It's a code enforcement issue. It's in the magistrate's hands. You guys, not your predecessors, delegated that authority to a magistrate to handle code, so you don't have to handle code enforcement matters. And
there is a running code. He's got a violation. I don't know what it's at now, but it's a significant number and it keeps rising. >> So, there is no safety issue. We're not going to go busting down the door and clean it up. It's all behind a fence. I
can't see it from the road. You can't see it from the road. We're not allowed to go peeking over fences uh and looking in people's backyards. But there is a running code violation. There are a couple other issues that Mr. Boiser raises that there's
safety issues where our building official has been at the property and he does not believe that there is a safety issue. So that's not that's another reason he's trying to get us to go on the property. So I I the only person that's complaining is Mr. Boisler. I've not heard from any other person around that lives there, and I don't think he
lives there. And I I don't want to go through the history, but I've explained the history there between Mr. Bo Meer and Mr. Hos. They're they're heated with each other. Uh they used to live together in that house, so there's bad blood there. So,
the last magistrate uh was Mr. Nicolleti. He suspended the the fines. I think we had a hearing if I recall November or December. He suspended the fines for 3 months, but that was through March. Now the fines start acrewing again. And so
that's where we're at currently. >> So it'll come back in front of the magistrate board. >> Yeah. And it's just the the fine is continuously running. He g he gave him a three month or two or three month pass to get things done. Um and and I'm
assuming things have not gotten done. So now the the fines will start accumulating again. >> All right. >> So I don't know what the number is, but it's a significant number. >> Yeah, I think it's in the six figures. >> Yes, I I would probably say that. >> Um and then my next thing is I'm curious the board's consensus. I've brought this
up multiple times as far as the Rudges case and the Stanovich. I believe uh Mayor Collins and myself were the only two that supported Stanovich coming back in front of the board, which I believe it's a legal thing now that's been filed for Stanovich. >> Mr. Denovich filed a lawsuit against the
city and are out we have an outside council defending the case >> and and mainly my my comments are for like the history on it from like an independent research because a lot of the comments and and stuff that I've
heard since my tenure here for the last year and a half has been from prior city staff that are no longer here and they give me the information and I feel it should be independently researched. searched so it's not as like personally tied to the case from the beginning in
the inception and maybe things could have been bent and twisted um because this is a similar case my opinion to Isa Street but the process was done differently um but I would like to see it researched um but I don't know how the board feels
>> what are you asking for >> um for for them to like go through everything and compile it and find out what truly happened >> from start to finish >> are you lost. >> So, are you asking for staff to do that? Are you asking for something from outside of staff? >> I mean, it could be staff. I don't even
know who it would be in in >> What case are you referring to? >> What would it be achievement? >> Um, what I'm trying to achieve is is I feel as if the entire back history has been presented from, like I said, from prior city staff that has been presented
and passed along to the new city attorney, the interim city manager. I don't know if someone has actually sat down and looked at everything from start to finish or if we're just going off what the court is saying. >> That's what the court just >> case you referring to. >> Oh, u the Rudges in particular, right?
>> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Well, the Rud is we're in litigation now. So, not recommend doing that because we are currently defending a lawsuit by the Rudes. >> Yeah. >> If we filed, our attorney has filed the motions responses to their motions >> within the last week. >> So, that's a pending case. I would not
recommend that. >> We can't do that. Yeah. Same thing with Stanovich because he filed a lawsuit against us and we're also in litigation on that one as well. >> We're not a court, >> Mr. Mayor. >> We didn't file the lawsuit. >> I'm just making comments. >> Okay.
>> I just want to ask the city attorney. Maybe people don't realize that once there is a lawsuit filed, we really can't get involved. I mean, that's really the issue. And I think that we've only the commissioners can't get involved. >> You will end up in a deposition or trial eventually. >> That's it. But right now, we can't. It's
it's in the courts in the courts and levy your history. >> Mr. Bagot, is there a file that the vice mayor could review at his leisure that exists? >> Um I'm I'm happy to go through any of them with them on a one-on-one basis.
>> You know, I'm happy to on any of them. >> I've had to learn about all of them >> on my own. >> Is is there a summary? I mean, you've when you came on board, you went through some of it. I'm sure there's a summary somewhere and that's been updated over the last couple of years >> on the various cases. Yes.
>> Yeah. We we did this with uh Miss Alexander and you know you know the result of that. We we I I spent a lot of time going back and creating a summary and now she's threatening to sue me for giving you that summary. So, I I I would rather do
it in one-on-one meetings with you so that I don't have that situation again because I might be a defendant in a lawsuit again as well. So, >> all right, I'll move on to my last one then. So, I made a social media post on Facebook about $125,000 that was stolen
from the city of Stewart back in 2021 and I want to get a consensus from the board for it to come back as an agenda item just to find out. Like the biggest thing for me is transparency. And for anybody that knew about it and that never discussed it, shame on you, whether you were elected or unelected.
>> Uh but basically $125,000 and change was stolen from the city of Stewart through a flaw in the payment system. And the only reason that the city of Stewart became aware of it seven months later was because a detective in the state of Georgia contacted the city of Stewart to notify them that the money was stolen
from them because they had a half a million dollars stolen from them as well. The city never filed an insurance claim because I from what I understand it was $100,000 deductible. The biggest problem is it went unreported though and
I don't think we'll get the money back. The bigger thing is is why were the constituents and the residents in the city of Stewart not notified about it? That's a big problem and I think there's a disconnect on why people don't trust government typically. Um so I wanted to
get a consensus from the board like where do you go? Um should this have been reported to the state? I know when we had ransomware that was notified to the residents and I believe the only reason it was notified was because it disrupted services to the city residents. So, the city had no
choice but to notify them publicly. They did do an insurance claim for that situation and I believe we were paid $26,000 roughly, but we paid the deductible for that. Why was this situation different? Um, people that were aware of it no
longer work at the city. So, I don't know how it works moving forward. I would support a presentation u just to get everybody up to speed on what happened if it's appropriate. >> I don't know anything about it.
>> Can we just have staff look into it and maybe have the city manager >> presentation? >> Well, well, the city manager can decide or work with us provide the information. >> Yeah, I think it should be presented to the public. I mean, I work for the public, so that's why I'm here. Well, just present some information to us so
that we can find out while it's been going. >> Were you aware of it when you were elected in 2020? No, >> no, not that. >> Because in the police report, Dave Das mentioned that he was going to update all elected officials, >> but I guess that didn't happen. I can't I can't say for sure, but um
>> they're saying an invest uh >> so there's a >> we could if they could if we could find out the information and while they're finding it out um if they need to talk to us or we need to you know I I like to hear from staff and city manager at
least we know what they're going to present or what's going to happen in blind but but do you support it being public >> as Well, yeah. If we find out what's happening. Yeah. >> All right. >> So, for clarification,
>> you're saying direct staff to >> find out >> go in and take a good look at what happened. >> Yes. Which which Roz has already Roz has provided me a summary on what happened. I just disagree that the public wasn't notified. Should the state of Florida
have been notified? Should we have pursued legal charges? like how does that work for ex staff that are no longer here? I feel as if they didn't do their job appropriately for the public. >> So you drive the bus. Do you want to have that be in the form of a presentation at an upcoming meeting or do you want to handle it internally and then
>> I want it external so the public and they have questions and >> so I I'm happy to support a presentation at an upcoming meeting. >> Right. >> I'm happy to find the information. >> The only thing is that in this presentation we can't go back really at this point. And I understand it's
several years ago, but it's a good exercise in what to avoid in the future. >> Yeah. >> Well, I think like my my biggest thing is setting a transparency because we set policy, right? >> Yes, we do. >> So, like I'm looking for a transparency thing when situations like this happen as a tax city. I'd like to know.
>> Yes. And that would be part of the presentation, but all I'm saying is is that the real the meat and potatoes of that presentation is going to be how to avoid that in the future. So, it is transparent. Everything is documented. So yes, I'm all in favor. >> I'll go back. I'll talk with Roz about the time frame. I'll check my emails and
see or have them check my emails for Mr. Das or whatever. See what was sent to us about that. >> Mr. Mayor, >> sir, >> Mr. Bagot, could that report potentially contain implications of criminal and or
civil liability? So we need to have >> with regard to >> discuss >> well the civil liability would be the city the cities who lost it. >> So u I I don't know the details of this. >> Yeah. >> You know if the the charter the code of
code of ordinances and the charter allows you guys to do an investigation on employees but the result is discipline. But if those employees aren't here anymore which is I guess is what I'm being communicated here. I I don't you know other than
giving a presentation on what happened and like Commissioner Joey said trying to prevent this from happening again >> make it policy >> I don't know right I don't know that there's um civil or criminal liability on the city's behalf by doing a
presentation on what happened and how we lost 125 grand through some sort of uh >> flaw that it was a flaw I think it was intentional >> well I mean not only the city but individuals individual employees of the city just you need to be we need to be very
careful >> right >> to protect people >> in those types of allegations >> at this point I don't really know I I exactly what happened so I didn't do an investigation or come up with this I guess Roz I know she did a little investigating on something and created a
summary um I didn't personally do it so I don't at this moment I don't see an exposure um of civil or criminal um maybe negligent Okay. >> You know, >> yeah, >> and and people do not have to be named. The fact that the employee did it or
was, you know, maybe just procedure wasn't followed or they thought there was no procedure. I don't know. But those are the things to correct for the future. >> I think it was a creative criminal who >> um was very successful in >> getting not here in the city. It was
someone Yeah. I mean, people need to understand that. And it's >> a computer software that affected the city's >> payment, >> right? It was a software issue. We did lose 125,000. We do have a $100,000 deductible. So what really was
not recovered was 25,000 and there might be reasons for that. That might have just been a corporate decision at the time. >> And these things happen. I mean I when I was at Port St. Lucy something it was like a million dollar loss there. So >> um >> I don't think it's necessarily the dollar amount though. To me, it's
principle of staff that intentionally >> I can't remember everything >> information and they knew about it. >> Let's check. >> And even outside anybody being specifically at fault, you know, I I do think it's a good practice to admit, you
know, where something could be done better if there was a mistake. I think it it helps strengthen public trust in government versus if we bury our mistakes, you know. >> That's all. >> Yeah. Yeah, it's humility. >> May I add something to that? Because I'd like to get on the record right now that
the analysis I did, the investigation and analysis I did to piece back together what transpired, >> the reason it was initially kept quiet and there was indication that commissioners were supposed to be advised individually and not publicly. There was an open investigation. And
this was a very sophisticated ring that was operating out of Georgia. And they found a deficiency in the payment system. And this was during the time of COVID. So there were hacks going on all
over the world. And they had time on their hands and they were very sophisticated. They got in, did what they did. Vice Mayor Reid is correct. There was another agency that was hit for 533,000. So the staff knew within a week that
this had actually happened, >> but then we were notified by Georgia uh Fyet County uh notified us in May of 2022. >> I remember that >> that hey, you're one of about eight >> cities and counties hit by this ring. So, I just wanted to get that on record
that the staff didn't uh based on my investigation and the analysis that I did, staff did not >> bring anything forward because it was an active investigation and the protocol in those cases is to only speak to need to know such as law enforcement. So, you
know, it's you have to keep that very tight. >> I agree with that. Just want to get that out there. possibly part of the protocol going forward. If it's active investigation, when something you can't be transparent at that point, >> but once the investigation's over and all parties have noted, then it can be transparent. Let the city know this is
what took place. This is what was resolved. This is why we did or did not do what we did. And that's just a good lesson going forward. >> Yeah. Just it wasn't done. I mean, the police report wasn't created till 7 months after the fact that it was stolen. And that's >> Well, it's not our police department, so
that's negligence in another area. I mean, another state. >> Yeah, actually it was this department um finance department that never reported it, >> right? >> Um >> but the police were the Georgia police that finally investigated the criminal, >> right? They caught the criminal. That was the investigation. >> Yes.
>> And then I'm sure we've made updates to how we do things, right, with Darren here. >> The big issue was the payment software. There was a without going into a lot of detail because we can certainly do a presentation if you'd like, but there was a button on there that allows staff
to reject a bill pay that doesn't seem to fit the city. The account number doesn't match, a name doesn't match. The thing with that reject button is it automatically reduces funds from the city and just gives it back to the party instead of a
period of time of Yeah. Now that button >> describe it kind of >> well it's gone fixed it. >> It's gone. Yeah. It's it's not even available at this time anymore. But that's >> businesses are very reluctant to reveal that they've been hacked in the manner in which they've been hacked. It's just
common sense. I know. So it's >> you just have to be careful. >> So careful. You got to be so careful. >> You don't want to become the target. I mean these hackers are I mean they're just they they hack the US defense department. They hack banks. So they are
just always one step ahead. So you don't really want to give them >> our tech department is on top. >> We do of of what you know what they're looking for. >> He left. >> He didn't get to hear that. I said that we were the best. >> No, he is the best. >> He is the best.
>> So my comments uh centered around Memorial. >> There he is. >> You're the best. >> There he is. >> Thank you, Derek. >> We know we're safe. You're here. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Just watch out for the button. Okay. So my comment centered around Memorial
Day and the observances there. Uh I know Chuck Wyn got a hold of all of us, Colonel Wyn, and I appreciated he he had given some recommendations for how to handle this going forward. Uh, one was to eliminate the Memorial Day parade,
uh, and instead just have the observance and then have the city of Stewart take over the, I'm going to say it as he phrased it. I thought it was good. Permanently remove sewer parades and make a city department
the proponent and decision maker in conjunction with the veterans council, i.e. making sure that there is an observance moving forward to guarantee that you would basically need the city to take the responsibility for it. And then um
in lie of a parade, conduct a dignified solemn Memorial Day ceremony in the park with featured speaker. Include a section of the program for a representative of each veterans organization to read the names of members they've lost in the
previous year. and then really just limiting uh participation to color guards, honor guards, and salute detail to fire blanks after taps are played. So, uh, in summary, I wanted to if if there was
support from the rest of you guys, I brought this up to Raz as well, having the city take responsibility now going forward for Memorial Day. Uh, so that we don't have um the kind of disorganization we've had. So the council has been doing it,
the veterans council. >> It's for the council. >> We we would work with the veterans council, but the city would take responsibility >> for the >> for a memorial event, which is what Memorial Day is all about, not a parade. It's not a >> And it's our parade. >> No, it's a solemn occasion.
>> It's our park. Yeah. So >> So is that something the rest of you find reasonable? Okay. So if that's okay, Roz, would you speak to that? >> However, we need to do it procedurally. So, and recreation. Well, yeah.
>> And those are my those are my comments if there's none others. >> And who who who do you think should >> be responsible for >> community services? >> Give Jim one more thing to do. >> If it's in the park, it's Troy. >> We know it'll get done if you're going to do it.
>> For for for what it's worth, we've been doing that every year as it is and so we're just kind of formalizing it. >> That's right. >> Mr. since you're here on that and I see in the audience Mr. um >> Flanigan >> Flanigan who has done it for the past
six years or so and so thank you. >> Thank you Mr. Flanigan. >> Thank you Mr. Flanigan. >> I think you might have a comment. >> Do you want to make a comment? Yes. >> The Irish are coming. Yes.
No, I just Joe Flanigan um the former parade coordinator. I did let everybody know in uh in at the Veterans Day in November that I would no longer be in charge of the parades that way. Uh my lovely wife is retiring as a teacher after 45 years. She's been at Pinewood
since it opened in 1988. Go ahead and do the math. Um and so I'm trying to kind of cut back on a lot of the things. But anyway, I support 100% what the mayor was sharing that uh Veterans Day is a celebration and needs to have a parade
and everything. Memorial Day is a solemn occasion and I love the amphitheater that the city had. We had a great opening last month and what a wonderful venue to have that. So, I I greatly support that uh very much so. Uh there
was discussion and the proverbial rumor mill of a group that wants to still have the parade and is trying to move forward with it. Uh you know at their discretion. I can only say that uh whatever they want to do with that one. But the veterans council in their bylaws said that they will be responsible for
things like that. Uh and but the city has always done a really good Jim and I have worked very well together. So, but again, my 100% support of a uh of a ceremony in the park. I'm not a fan of the parade. That's just to go on record.
Thank you guys. >> Yes, sir. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Um and then comments from our manager. >> Just a few. Uh some already know, but this is Commissioner Clark's birthday today. Happy birthday. >> Thank you.
>> Happy birthday. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Um want to salute. Yeah. >> No, no speeches, no songs. >> Today's the day. >> Yeah, the 13th. Yeah. >> Isn't it your birthday later on Thursday? >> June. >> Yeah. Happy. Happy birthday.
>> Uh, no. Commissioner Rich, >> uh, we had tremendous success with employee appreciation week. And I really want to say thank you to all of the members of leadership in the city who stepped up to make that day so special. There were there were uh opportunities for employees to eat together, to do
events together, to do friendly competitions together, to celebrate one another, and it was a really an incredible week. Um employees seem to really enjoy it, and we try to do that every year. So, thank you to all the members of leadership that stood up and and uh took that. Uh very excited. Uh we
have won for the third year in a row, the city has received the Sigma Workplace Wellness Award gold level. That's the highest level you can attain for superior employee wellness programming. So that's exciting. And also for the third year in a row, the
city received the bell seal platinum level, which is the highest level you can get for workplace mental health from mental health America. So these are very difficult to obtain, very hard to maintain. Yes. And took a lot of work. So good on the city.
And uh I think uh Misty may have already posted this, but the city did receive second place in the nation as one of the best coastal small towns. Shh, >> don't tell anybody. >> Visit from USA. That's right. Come see us. And a couple of employee highlights.
I think it was Commissioner Clark who mentioned Panal because I also had her on my list to celebrate her for receiving the Trailblazer Award from NAACP. Very good, Panal. Trailblazer you are. and also to Brian Falls who uh is in utilities and engineering, works with
our lift stations out there and he started with us as a utility service worker and in a year and a half has promoted I believe maybe twice and he's now received his um certification of class B distribution which is a very difficult thing to obtain and he did
that and last but not least in the back of the room I'm very excited very excited u introduce a commission to our new financial services director Kate Ambersini Yes. And our budget and procurement manager,
Anthony Cooling. Sir, both are in the back of the room. We're delighted to have you here. Welcome. >> Welcome. >> Welcome aboard. >> Speech. >> No. I'm on the spot. >> You can say no if you want.
>> Yeah, she's You can say no if you want. >> She can come on up. >> She's ready. No, I just wanted to say thank you for the very warm welcome. Everybody in the city has been so delightful thus far. Um I think between Anthony and I, we bring a a vast array of uh financial
knowledge. I have 20 years in finance, 10 of which is in public financial leadership. So some of it in a school district, some of it in a municipality. So bringing a lot of my knowledge here, I'm excited to. My husband and I are moving to this town and just thrilled to be able to bring my experience and knowledge here to the city. >> Well, thank you.
>> Thank you. work. So excited. >> Hi. So, Anthony Cooling. Uh, I like to think I bring a lot of experience, too. I did uh about um eight years active duty military, used my GI Bill, went back to school, and I did uh six years in Lake County, Illinois, which is right
uh north of Chicago, and then uh about five years in Decar, Illinois, which is right in the middle of the state. in Springfield. So, I got county and municipal experience and military experience and uh appreciate the opportunity and I'm just, you know, full speed ahead.
>> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. >> I just wanted to say it's it's interesting. You know, God works in mysterious ways >> and for for you Roz to be in the position of manager while we had some change up in finance
to be the HR director with all of your experience and then end up as the interim man. It just it's really wild how it all works out and I'm really thankful it it all happened the way it did and that finance is going to be in really good shape. the city's going to
be in really good shape. And so I I really thank you for working three different jobs. >> Five. >> Five. Yeah. I can't I have no idea. So, thank you for your hard work. Thank you for making sure that there's good people in the city. The finance is in is
in good hands. And thank you. >> Do I have an approval of the agenda? >> Um move approval as published. One, >> you have a change. >> It was my understanding there was an item being removed. >> Well, that will come up. >> Not yet. >> Okay. >> Soon.
>> Okay. >> Is there a second? >> Agenda. >> Second. >> Thank you. >> All in favor? >> I >> I. >> Moving on to comments from the public. Susay, do we have any green cards?
>> We do. Mr. David Kelman. Good evening. 950 South Caner Highway. Uh, I have two things. Will the current and future city manager review be be reviewing the uh Enterprise rental car
contract that the city is paying for for the police cars and and fire truck, you know, I I mean five uh I don't know if it's a couple of pickup trucks that they have. I reviewed it. I I was just wanting to know if uh you guys are going
to be reviewing the future, possibly make some changes to save the city a lot of money. >> Um that's my one thing. My second thing is >> the old Wendy's on Palm City Road and US1. Has any of the commissioners, the
mayor, or anybody passed that place lately? >> It's an eyesore. It's disgusting. There's rats all over the place. You have every I can't even tell you how many times I see people dumping stuff there in the in the the dumpsters over there. I think it really needs to be addressed. It's a hazard. And on top of
that, it's full of rats. I mean, every night when I leave my development, there's rats everywhere. Now, right across the street, you're building $600,000 condos, town houses. People want to be seeing these rats all over the place and garbage. It's like uh you know, everybody in their mother parks
their cars there cuz nobody's over there paying attention. So that's that's my second thing. The third thing is I would like to thank you personally and Ruth for being on the phone me for I don't know how long we were on the phone for talking about public the creek again.
Okay. Um I wish the rest of you would have come out to see what I deal with on a daily basis but unfortunately nobody wanted to. I've been in contact with Reed, you Ruth, so I want to thank you. >> Okay. And that's what I have. So, if we can maybe look at this disgusting
Wendy's over there with the garbage and you know, if you want to review or have the future city manager review that Enterprise rent the car contract, it would be very good for the city, I think. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Vice Mayor. >> Yeah, I just want to say Dave, uh, you can always call me, email me for the
Wendy's stuff. Um, and for anyone in the crowd too, uh, there's an app called Seclick Fix, which I'm subscribed to, and you can take photos of any issues in the city, and it allows I mean, I personally follow along through it, so you can see when the city responds to it
when it closes, and it's it's a good app, by the way, for stuff like that. So, I try to push it to all the residents in the city. And then as far as the vehicles and the enterprise stuff, I'm going after stuff like that and the budget um because I have, you know, gotten some information like
>> I have 150 pages sitting on my desk right now. I've been reading through it. I think it's ridiculous. >> I think there was one where we were paying like $1,600 a month for ridiculous police transit vans. You know, you know, our our city police officers, the captains and chiefs and everybody, even our fire department,
they take care of their vehicles and to be turning in these cars at such a short time with 60,000 miles on them and we're paying all this money. Don't Doesn't the city think that we could cut deals with Chevy or Ford or something to bring in,
you know, bulk rate like everybody else does? >> Looking forward to a new manager coming in. >> I It's going to be wonderful. Hopefully we we do look at that. >> But it is on my radar. And and also going back to the enterprise stuff, I know the city did take care of it. The city was paying, I believe, like $3 to
$500 for wiper blades and an oil change and that was rectified. Um but yes, that that was rectified a couple years ago. >> You go back 10 10 years or whenever this contract was signed and you look at all the money the city spent on that nonsense. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> All right. Thanks, Dave.
William Raj. Good evening. My name is William Raj of 1701 Southwest Palm City Road. I have stood here since last year providing evidence of perjury in exhibits G1 and G2 that I handed to commission.
Everybody's got a copy of this. statutory provisions violations in G3. I have written to DOJ, the FBI, and federal offices from Miami to DC. And yet, you all still sit there like deer in the headlights. Let me address Mr. Bagot's earlier comments. The Rogers did
not initiate this litigation. The city initiated this with a fraudulent exparte injunction that was uh obtained by perjury and fraud. Now, the vice mayor says he doesn't know what to do. I think I know why. That's
because you all are so scared about the political cost of acting is higher than the cost of ignoring me. You're betting that I'll run out of breath before you run out of excuses. But I have to ask point blank, what is so radioactive in these files that you are willing to look this incompetent just to keep them
closed? What are you afraid of? If you pull the thread on this 16-year legacy of litigation, does the whole sweater unravel? Here's a list of related cases y'all have been presented with. You talk about investigating these legacy cases.
There's a good place to start. Okay. You You're refusing to investigate. You aren't proving your innocence, you are proving your fear, the threat. You treat the truth like toxic waste because you know once the once the seal is broken,
the damage is total. You sound like Bart Simpson. I don't know what to do, man. But this ain't a cartoon. This is the integrity of our city. You're outside attorney. You hire outside attorneys to defend yourself in these litigacy cases. But you won't hire one investigator to
look at the facts. Last week, these exhibits were delivered to the FBI and DOJ. Since you weren't hiring an investigator, I've given the road map to the people who actually enforce, uphold, and respect the law. The installation is gone. The federal authorities are holding the GA counters.
Now, you have my comments, a third copy of the litigations, a third copy of the allegations, and a third copy of the case list in front of you. Decide today. Are you running from the bulldozer or are you pushing it? Take action or don't. The consequences are yours and yours alone. conduct yourselves
accordingly. Thank you, >> Mayor. I have no more public comment. >> Good evening. Thank you for your service. Karen Hall, Yost Road, 1701 Southwest Palm City Road. Um, I want to remind us tonight at sundown it is Yom
Hashoa, the Holocaust. And I think that we all um can think about that tonight and um be grateful that um that we're not speaking German. Um, I wanted to uh
I I I I wanted to to talk about how the you guys are not you still have no oversight over your attorney's office. I was in here I was in here telling you that your Ki Leninger had defrauded the
federal court. I gave you the examples. Then you hired her now for the state court. is as if you you um people get a promotion if they lie to a judge. And so all this m Mr. Bagot has really had nothing to do with our case. But what
happens is there's a lot of spinning going on. Just like it's always been the thing that we started this, oh the Rudes are bad people, Karen's crazy, blah blah blah. We're still here. It's 16 years later. You will take accountability and
you will settle the issues. you started. Now, I just put this in last week, but I just want to read the last two things. The city has always prevented the truth from coming to light in the court and for good reason. They are guilty of the gross violations of the Rudge family's
constitutional rights. The cover up is worse than the original sin. City v. Rudge was the original sin, but this cover up is so much worse. It has become an abhor lack of accountability of public officials. The city has incessantly,
naturally, and successfully spun the denial of Karen and Williams due process constitutional rights under the fifth and the 14th amendments as a success. Not good for we the people. So,
I just I don't understand why you let your attorneys just keep lying. Then you're going to say you have nothing to do with it. I would suggest people who think they're going to go on to a higher office or to to have more constituents. You know what? Take care of your own stuff here. If you cannot be faithful in
the little things, you don't get to do greater things. And anybody that's running for office, we need integrity. That's the only thing that's going to protect us is integrity. God bless our city and God bless America.
>> That's it. Okay. Do we have uh mo a motion to approve the consent calendar? >> I'll make a motion to approve this consent calendar. >> Second. >> Is there any uh public comment with
regard to the consent calendar? Seeing none comments from commissioners? Seeing none, Susay, would you call the role? >> Commissioner Clark, >> yes. >> Mayor Collins, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Reid, >> yes. >> Commissioner Rich, >> yes. and Commissioner Gobi. >> Yes.
>> Okay. Moving on to item 12. >> Sure. Ordinance number 2537-2025, an ordinance of the city commission of the city of Steuart, Florida, amending the city's official zoning map to reszone a.33 acre parcel which is located at 255
Southwest 6th Street from the urban waterfront zoning designation to urban highway zoning designation. providing directions to the city clerk, providing for repeal of all ordinances in conflict, providing for severability, providing for an effective date and for
other purposes. Um, this was obviously put placed on to redo the second reading of this ordinance and the applicant has requested that we do a continuence to a date uncertain. Uh, the the difference between a date certain and a date
uncertain. Under the law, if we publicly announce a date certain here, they won't have to revertise and send out the mailers to the local residents. But since they are requesting to do it to a date uncertain, they would then have to repeat and send out all the mailers and the cost incurred and such. But they are
requesting that we continue the second reading of this to a date uncertain. So, we would be looking for a motion to continue it to a date uncertain. >> Move the applicant's request to continue this matter to a date uncertain. Second.
>> Is there any public comment on the motion to move >> to a continuence and just make sure you fill out a green card when you're done? >> What? When I'm done? We have it here for you. >> We have little comment cards. >> Sorry. Yeah, I'm not prepared to speak.
I came to just hear what was going to happen. Could you please speak into the microphone, ma'am? >> Sorry. >> Thank you. >> Um the ne I'm just representing the neighbors that are on the other side of the creek. >> What we care about and we've read through
>> whether it's going to be highway or water. Um what we care about are things like where will the trash recepticle, the dumpster go? Um, you know, and we're a little concerned
about that particular point because we like the idea of the structure going up against the highway, right? But does that mean that the dumpster is then closer to us? >> So, I'm not sure who it is that like
maybe it's all of you, but that has our interests and our concerns. Like, who is that? Like, would it be you? Each one of the five of these humans up here you would communicate with and talk to care about the obvious things like light, noise, landscaping
buffer. >> Yes. >> But then that trash receptacle. There are raccoons back there. There are rats. >> We like the dumpster as far away as we can. >> So I guess I just maybe that should just be recorded somewhere. >> It is. >> It is. It has. >> Thank you. Thank you very much.
>> Thank you. >> You did great for not being prepared. >> Yes. >> Fantastic. Any other comments on this motion? Comments from commissioners? No. Seeing none. Okay. Susay, would you call the role?
>> Commissioner Giovi? >> Yes. >> Vice Mayor Reid? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Clark? >> Yes. >> Mayor Collins? >> Yes. >> And Commissioner Rich? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Okay. Moving on to item 13. 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 to the commission that this is the first reading. So at the end, we'll be looking for a motion to submit it or transmit it to the second reading. And it is quasi judicial mayor. So if you can pull out the yellow card and follow that, appreciate it, sir.
Do any of our commissioners have any exparte communication to disclose? >> Uh, I do. I had a discussion with the interim city manager. >> I I also spoke with Mr. Bagot regarding this issue. >> I spoken to the city manager to Miss
Johnson strong. I haven't spoke to anyone that I can recall about this >> and I have communicated with staff. >> Um, will the city attorney place any potential witnesses under oath? >> Would all um people that intend on
presenting evidence stand? Raise your right hand. You affirm that the evidence that you're about to provide will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So help you God. >> I do. >> Thank you. You can be seated. Will the development department please provide a brief summary of the agenda item
including the location, size of the property, current zoning, zoning requested, and list the applicant's request to deviate from the land use development regulations if any. >> Good evening, chair, vice mayor, and city commission. For the record, my name
is Michelle Arbazowl, planner 2 in the development department. I am presenting agenda item number 13, a request from Walmart Stores East LP seeking to amend the CPU ordinance number 1915-03
and the previously approved resolution number 28-201, development condition number four to allow modification to the approved unified signage plan on February 20th, 2026. Six notification
letters were mailed out to property owners located within 300 ft of the proposed petition. Two public notifications uh sign detailing the local planning agency and the city commission were posted on the premises.
The subject property outlined in red total approximately 33.7 acres. The site is located at 401 Southeast Federal Highway and is situated on the northeast corner of Southeast Federal Highway and
Southeast Marketplace. The subject parcel is zoned, it's a CPU, commercial plan unit development. Most of the surrounding properties have the same zoning designation except for the residential PUD to the north and the industrial PUD to the southeast.
The current future land use designation is commercial and almost all of the surrounding properties are designated the same except for the multif family residential to the north and the industrial designation to the southeast. The applicant is seeking approval from
the city commission to amend the commercial pen unit development. Uh since the LPA hearing on March 12th, 2026, it came to the attention uh of the applicant that signs were not reflected on the existing signage schedule. The
request has been modified to show those changes. The applicant seeks approval for the removal of 642.14 square ft of existing wall-mounted signage, which totals about 19 individual signs and installation of
588.89 square ft of all new wall-mounted signage, 27 individual signage. phase changes to the four existing monument sign, construction of a new canopy, and the previously approved expansion, and the repainting of the
exterior uh building. The request that went uh in front of the LPA was uh the removal of a 607.58 square feet of existing wall-mounted signage and an installation of a and the installation of a 608.90
square ft of new wall-mounted signage. The proposed amendment reflected on the signage schedule tables on the screen shows the existing 642.14 square ft of wall-mounted signs totaling 19 to be removed and proposing of 588.89
square ft of wall-mounted signs totaling 27 to be installed. Upon approval, the applicant will be required to comply with all applicable conditions and requirements out outlined in the CPU agreement and the Florida building code.
The total number on the existing signage schedule totals 587.58, not what is shown on the I'm sorry, that was just a note from previous the LPA. The signs are uh one auto care sign, the
eight numerals, one pickup, four oil change sign, one outdoor, the address numbers, four tire signs, one wine and spirits, two Walmart signs to include the two sparks, one on the side and the
other on the front of the building, and then one grocery and one home and fashion sign, which equals 27 signs. The applicant is requesting face changes to the four existing signs on site for the rebranding of the store.
The applicant is requesting approval for the installation of a 7x 20 ft canopy at the entrance of the store's online pickup and delivery operations. Uh that was the expansion pre previously approved.
The applicant is requesting to repaint the store utilizing the colors on the legend. The colors you see are dark, medium, and light gray. I can actually true blue, safety yellow, black, white,
and cream. According to the color legend, per section 6.05.07.3 C of the city's land development code, exterior colors for commercial building shall be restricted to muted pastel or
art tone shades. The section goes on to state that the use of black or fluorescent colors are prohibited as a predominant exterior building color. the new request after the recommendation of the LPA board.
That was the original uh request which was like the darker gray. The new request is for mostly the lighter and medium gray. The existing colors are reflected in the
image on the screen. So the original request before the local planning agency the uh was the additional the 607 square feet of signage to be removed and then the 608
uh which total 28. uh the face changes to the monument sign, the installation of a new pickup banner sign on the existing light pole uh and the construction of a new canopy and a repainting of the building.
However, after the local planning agency hearing, the applicant uh removed the request to the uh modifying and not asking for the pickup banner sign.
the LPA recommendation approval of the canopy installation on the previously approved expansion and the monument sign changes. The LPA board did not recommend the pickup banner on an existing light pole. They did not recommend the color scheme and made recommendations to the
application to change the color scheme to be lighter shades that meet the Steuart code requirements. Uh they mentioned for example different shades for the trim and shutters awning to show the architectural features of the building.
Uh the wall signage was recommended for approval with the condition that the signs stay within that 607.58 square ft. That was the number before uh the applicant realized that there were an additional sign that was not placed on
that sign schedule. Overall st uh staff supports the updates and face changes to the already approved signage and structures and all of it are required to follow the Florida building code. Uh staff do not support increasing the sign the the size of the sign
previously approved. Although the total square footage of the signage has decreased from 642.14 square ft to 588.89 89 square f feet uh which is the difference of 53.25
square ft. Staff does not support repainting of the building in the predominantly gray colors. It does not comply with the land development code section 6.05.07 C. This ends my presentation. The applicant
and staff are here to answer questions the board may have. Hello, my name is Christine and I work for Harrison French and Associates. We are the AO ER for the whole project. So, it's uh an
expansion and an interior remodel. Um signage, paint, canopy were all separated specific for this, but we were the architect for the full project. Um, and I do have I was bad and didn't give it to Michelle, but I have individual
packets that give existing pictures with details. If you guys don't mind, >> I brought one for you and I can send you the digital file. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much.
Thanks. >> So, overall, the plan is to really give the exterior of this building a facelift, make it um just in general look better. the uh the signage
you'll notice is increasing the total number of signs and that increase is specific to just the numbers over the bay doors. I'm sorry. I'm really nervous. There are a lot more people here than there were at the last
meeting. So maybe now that I've said I'm nervous, I'll stop being so nervous. Um, so I guess uh just to start the first several pages of this are individual pictures of the actual signs
and what will be put in in that place. Um, the store when you enter from Southeast Federal Highway, the Walmart and Spark, those two signs will be put back. They will be slightly smaller and
the auto center sign is to be removed. That auto center sign is going to be put on the front of the autoare bay doors and will be auto care instead of auto center. Um the
tire signs will all be replaced. The lube signs are going to be switched out for oil change. And again, the autocare will be put on the front of the bay doors versus on the side of the building.
>> I don't know if I should. >> Is that when it rolls up the doors? It's on the door, the rollup doors or >> um they'll be up on the corner, but yes, it'll be one through four on the tire doors and then five through eight on the oil change. That way when
customers whether they're in the store talking to an an associate or they're pulling up to the doors, an associate meets them out there, they can say go to bay door number three versus trying to point them or saying, you know, go to the empty one or the second one from the
left, just directionalwise, being able to point customers in the right direction. Those number signs are really small. They're 1.56 square ft each. They're not large by any means. Um, moving to the front of the building,
the lawn and garden is going to be removed and be replaced with outdoor and home and pharmacy is going to be rebranded to the home and fashion. I asked her to bring that up to give you
a different creative direction when you're done. >> Okay. Um from there, so the front Oh, the address sign will be replaced like for like
and then which sign is next? grocery similar. It'll be replaced. Pickup with the spark is going to be removed and a pickup with an arrow will be installed. And then the tenant sign on the front of the building will be the
responsibility of the actual tenant to permit their own signage. We are not doing that for them. And then the beer, wine and spirits sign is going to become just wine and spirits. So overall the front front and side elevations
are decreasing in the total square footage of signage just increasing in the total number because of the the eight new numbers. >> Yes. >> So um was this you? >> Okay.
>> Uh this is for for legal. I searched my email Lee and I just want to make sure this suffices. because I did have exparte and I guess I was on a team's meeting back in 2024. >> Yeah, that's fine. As long as you disclose that before the end of this meeting, that's fine. So, I did have exparte. >> That's good. Thank you.
>> All right. And then do I get a question? >> Absolutely. >> Okay. So, my question for the applicant is the signs for the automotive. Um, you mentioned that they're there so the customers know to go to that bay. Do you allow like customers in the service area
bays >> like to get out of their cars >> or do they just park it in front or >> um oil change customers >> you can drive the customer drives into those? Yeah. Yeah. Uh I don't believe customers are supposed to get out of
their cars in those bay doors, but I am not 100% sure on that. >> But yes, I the customers drive their cars into those doors. That's all I have for now. >> Commissioner Clark. >> Yeah, I was saying that I I I don't have
the report in detail, but with Walmart, is there a subless or you said something about a tenant? >> Uh they are the interior of the building is getting a Dunkin Donuts. >> Oh, inside the building. >> Yes. And Dunkin Donuts, um their
corporate will be the ones to permit their own sign. So right now the front of the building it just shows a dashed square box that says tenant sign to be installed by tenant. They'll have to come to you guys and get their approval and do all of their own sign permitting
for their sign. >> Uh that sign I'm sorry um staff comments. Uh that sign is not included on this schedule or the square footage is not included >> on the schedule.
Was there room for that in the monument signed >> to have because of the the McDonald's is in there now. Nobody else has had a >> sign the optometrist >> is there now. >> Oh >> yeah. There's no sign outside >> the mail place. I mean I What's going on
with the signs? >> I right now there is a very old tenant sign. It's not It doesn't even have a face on it. That'll be removed. But otherwise, Walmart is permitting just
their signs. The incoming Duncan will be responsible for their own sign. So, it's not included in the square footage or the number. They'll have to re amend the PUB to be able to get their sign put on the front.
>> And that would be a minor amendment. any sort of signage change if they're not included in the PUD would have to come back before the board as a major. >> It would be major, not >> just like this, right? Correct. >> Yeah.
>> Is that all? >> Yeah. >> Uh do our commissioners have other questions? Yes. >> Yeah, I do. Sorry. I just going on that. There are other franchises in there. So, are you not putting up signs for those and only for the Dunkin Donuts? I'm a little confused.
>> We're not doing any tenant signs. >> Not doing anything. >> The tenants, like if McDonald's wanted one, they would have to go through Walmart and put forth their proposal to have a their tenant sign on the front of the building. >> Okay. So, >> and then they would have to come back to you guys with their own architectural
lead. >> I understand that. But are you giving all the tenants in that? Because there is a spa. There's a few things in there. Are they all have the ability to put a sign outside or you're just offering one to Dunkin Donuts? Uh, it must be in their contract. Um, but again, we're not
doing the Duncan. It's just going to be a sign in the future. >> Well, I'm only asking because you're obviously making a place for it. I know they have to come before us to get it approved. >> And I only called out because we have to because we designed the inside for the
Duncan. The contract between Duncan, Walmart, and then us and Walmart was that we would provide the A2 sheet, the details >> to Duncan to say this is where Walmart said you can put your sign. >> So, we called out that box. That's why I
brought that up. It's >> understood. And I do understand it has to come back for us. But all of a sudden, a year and a half from now, I don't want all of the franchises coming said, "Well, we want to sign and there's like 10 other signs." >> Nope. The only incoming would be that Duncan, that brand new Duncan space. No one else is >> just number-wise on the signs it says
that you're going to 27 signs. >> Did I say 28? >> I mean 24. Let me go. >> Okay. Because then there's a mention of four additional signs and then one that was missed. So that brings the count a little past the 24 27 number.
>> Nope. The actual numbers we are going from 19 to 27 and the actual square footage is the uh right. I know it's a little less square footage, but it's a lot of signage.
Um, my next question is I also I didn't say anything. I did speak to Walmart in 2024, but it was not in regards to any of this. They really wanted to redo the pickup area. So, that's not really in here other than a sign. Um, but they were looking to take away parking spaces
and different things like that. So, I don't know if that this doesn't pertain to that. >> That was a prior issue. >> Oh, okay. All right. >> Okay. It's better to disclose it than not, >> right? I just I know I spoke to them, but it was not anything about this. It was just um Well, they've pulled it, so
that's fine. Um and then I have an issue with the color palette, so that's just my uh >> Did anyone else have any questions on the wall-mounted signs? >> It's a lot of signs. >> That's not black.
>> No. Um so then going from and I promise we'll come to the paint. This is just a little bit later in the packet. Um the monument signs, those we are proposing to do some minor fixes. You'll see uh it is monument number two has a fairly
large crack. We want to get that fixed. The signs themselves, the monuments will be painted and then the Walmarts will be the actual letter signs will be removed and new will be replacing those. The sparks will be also coming off the ones that have the spark on them. Um, but for
the most part, like structurally, those are staying exactly as they are, just being painted with the new sign um being installed on them and just minor repairs to the cracks and things like that.
>> Questions? Okay, next. >> All right. And then after those is the paint. Um, and we were previously proposing a very dark shade of gray. Um,
even compared to the the the plans, when you look at the plans, the light gray and the medium gray look really dark, but these color chips on page 11 are closer, significantly closer to what will end up on the front of the
building. the medium gray uh P135E. That color will be kind of the lower portion of the building. Um it's a little bit darker than the light gray specifically because it will hide the
mud splash, sand splash, dirtiness that can happen on the lower portion of the building from storms. And then the lighter gray will be up top with um the medium gray as an accent behind the
two white outdoor sign. And outdoor and there's one more on the front of the building. Oh, beer, wine, and spirits. That medium gray will go up to the top so that the white sign will actually stand out against it versus
being kind of a white look. and then the true blue as accent behind the pickup behind the Walmart branding and the auto repair signs. But like for instance on page uh on your
page five or six you've got you've got that blue um be you know behind the wine and spirits and the windows and um >> Yes. Yep. So okay,
>> there is um I believe right now I guess I'm not 100% certain right now on two of the locations of blue if it's already existing or not. I know the pickup is orange and behind the two main
branding is the bright true Walmart blues. Um, >> who wants first crack at the color conversation? >> Yeah. >> Well, I I just want to make note you you have here a a photo and it's Jupiter.
You obviously have gone to a more coastal look there. Um, I just don't know that this really adheres to the colors that we would want um that go to code. >> And and for context, the nature of this PUB agreement, you know, we're not
trying to function as a glorified HOA right now, but the nature of our PUD agreement does give us the ability to negotiate the color scheme that that would go here. >> Right. I I do want to point out that this true blue is already existing on
the building >> on uh behind the larger Walmart logo, >> but on both sides and >> but not with the grocery section or beer, wine, and spirits. >> Correct. >> Yeah. >> So, we we would be doing more of that
blue. >> Or it looks like they changed it up there. They they have a different color background, but they utilize the dark color with the lettering. So, so I'll go into my color thoughts. I want to do this. I want to do creams, whites. We we did a very cool thing with this PUB
originally where we added um these and I'm not an architect. I'm not uh you know, this is not my trade, but we added a lot of architectural elements even more so here than in Jupiter that I I think >> to just you know, create shades of gray
with these overhangs and um pillars. It's it's it's such a shame. And so if you were going to go in a direction to go in more of a coastal direction with this kind of coastal blue creams, you know, when we say earth tones in our code, uh there's probably nothing more
earth tone than like rock facade. You know, this kind of a thing that to me is more appropriate for Steuart, Florida than um a collection of shades of gray. you know, it's uh and it's, you know, it's it's Walmart's business, but if I do have any say in
it, I I would like to see something much more reflective of this uh as we go into second reading. >> So, would you be opposed to the P134E being a primary exterior color with
accents of more of the coastal pastel? We don't have any coast. I mean, we're not looking for just brought that out as an example that they were able to utilize that to make coast, >> right? So, if you notice, the dominant color here is is really that pastel blue,
>> right? >> You know, and then and then you do you do have something like that P134E um underneath. Forgive me. Do you mind going back to that one of Jupiter real quick?
you know, in that sit there, you do have gray in there along with the white trims and things. So, so that does live in there. Uh, but it does feel more pastel, more friendly. I I can't tell from this photo exactly if the um
the coverings over the windows are a white or more of a cream or that kind of P134. But >> and is that like a brick? >> But generally the the pastels, the whites and then you know >> I didn't look at that. Those are those
tones too. >> I don't want Jupiter to get the best one, you know. >> Yeah. I mean, I can look and tell you when Jupiter's next remodel is incoming and whether or not they were forced to do those colors. Um, but I can I can
definitely take it to Walmart for a proposal. I can tell you that it is way outside of their normal branding. Way outside their normal branding. >> We can do that in a PUT. Correct. >> Right. Yes. And that's probably what they did in Jupiter. likely forced um
>> but you have to adhere to the code. So >> correct that our land development code states that >> technically true but we also have pastels in our in our >> it gray it gray conforms strictly speaking >> I mean obsidian is an earth tone as well
but we don't necessarily want to you know go to the dark side >> but they're not actually being painted. >> How does this like bleed over into like the gazebo? Yeah. Is it that same color scheme onto that gazebo as well? Michelle, do you know that >> the gaz
canopy? >> Oh, the canopy over the um expansion for the um >> there is a gazebo. >> There's a gazebo on the property. >> Yeah, we we required a a gazebo on that PUD. >> Oh, to the side. >> If you're going out the >> to the left of the back entrance anywhere
>> pick up. It's not being altered in any way. I >> that that is not part of this application though. That there that request it's not being changed. >> That kind of a thing. you have this beautiful woodwork on site, you know, to be able to match the sophets and and those outriggers and things with that
kind of woodwork and white is my >> my hope. >> I can definitely take it to them uh to Walmart and see if we can't get towards that pastel. Um >> and then also the siding, you know, you
have that that board that plank siding. I think that's very attractive as well. Um, for that Florida coastal >> I like >> Hardy board. >> There you go. >> I don't know what actual product you
guys use, but >> I couldn't tell you. Um, >> you're supposed to know. I have to grill you. You're the one that's here. >> Not on that part. Um, I know that they are not planning on changing anything uh architectural like stucco, brick,
veneer. They're uh except for on the expansion. >> What was Jupiter originally before you redid it? >> She doesn't know. >> I have absolutely no idea. >> I I threw Jupiter at her. This She wasn't prepared for Jupiter. >> I have like a 100 projects and Jupiter is not one of them.
>> Right. But I would like to know only because they may have changed that facade. So it might not. >> But you can you can relay some of this back to Yeah, >> I can. Yes. >> Love this beautiful pastel blue. I want people from our our town to walk into Walmart with a smile and not be bombarded by gray and gray.
>> There's a very damn There's >> beautiful sighting, some light blue. >> These are my thoughts. I would not feel comfortable approving what we have here. I have no problem with the signs. You guys have all the signs you want that's appropriate for your business, but the color does impact
I'm a big fan of being surrounded by beautiful things, right? It affects your mood. And I want everybody who walks in here that lives here to experience beauty as they walk in those overhangs and and everything. >> And it's the Walmart and Steuart. They know it. They walk over there. They know it's the Walmart and Jupiter. I have a
question for staff. When you have a I think that I think that um the church is next. >> All right. Go on. This I think uh you had your light. >> You had your light first. >> I'd just like to make a request. Could you provide us prior to the next meeting
an accurate rendering accurate rendering of the color scheme on the building as you would like it to be so that we have a better idea because you've shown us a lot of facades but I don't think they accurately represent what you would like to do.
>> You mean for the paint colors? >> Yes. >> Yeah, I can send a digital file of that. >> Okay. Thanks. Absolutely. >> Commissioner Ji, >> I had a question for staff. Yeah, Michelle, I just find that a lot of these PUDs,
what is the expiration date on this one? Has it already expired? >> It's it's ongoing when it comes to signage um and all of that. As far as the expiration, Walmart's um there's there's no other areas for the
this is the phase that they're in. They're redeveloping what they already built on. Um there were no other phases as part of this PUD. >> Okay. Thanks. >> And um I didn't go back to the PUD, but
I will. The color palette is set out in the PUD that they have now. And what they're trying to do is to add >> uh according to the request, it's a rebrand of Walmart and they are going towards the darker colors. But um is
there a specific language change to the color palette? >> No, I mean per our code it's it's pastel art tone. >> Well, that's what I thought. >> Uh this, you know, this doesn't comply with that language in our code. >> Okay, that's what I want to hear. Thank
you. >> Does the applicant have anything else to add before concluding the presentation? Uh the last part is just the canopy over the doors at the expansion for the OPD uh online pickup area. That uh canopy is
for associates only only. That door is only for the associates. Customers won't be going in and out, but that canopy is currently being proposed to be painted um a slightly darker shade of gray than the rest. Um >> well, we want them to smile, too. Yeah.
>> And be dry. >> Certainly if they're going to work all day. >> I personally think everyone will smile a little when it's all done and over and the whole building has had a facelift and it just looks >> when it's pastel blue. You >> better listen.
>> I I will take it to Walmart. I will ask them. But I have a feeling that I'm going to be emailing Michelle and saying, "Hey, uh, this is bad. I will snip this I will snip this image and put it in our portal for an example.
>> You're going to send them a sign at at headquarters of that sign when you come over the bridge that says what do you know this is Steuart Florida. You're supposed to know this. >> Listen, I'm from Michigan. I don't know if you can tell that. >> The most the most beautiful small town,
right? Coastal town. >> Coastal town, >> right? >> It is very pretty. Yes. >> Okay, you got me. Okay. Okay. I'm going to stop. I'm being I'm being asked question. >> Yes. >> Just um on and I don't know if it's for staff or for you, but there's is this the canopy this extension here? That's
the canopy extension. >> Uh that's the addition and the canopy will go over the entrance to cover. >> Okay. >> Um yes. >> And maybe I missed it. What the expansion was for? >> I mean they make a lot of reference to
the canopy. What is the expansion for? >> The online order pickup area. It'll be refrigerators, coolers, reaching gra not reach. >> So that was part of that original discussion with Walmart was the ability to change their pickup area.
>> Yeah. But this is just putting a canopy over that section >> expansion was approved under um >> administrative variance. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> We just have to get the canopy approved because it's >> Okay. I don't remember it ever coming back before. So >> because it was administrative.
>> Oh. Okay. Any other questions for the applicant? Okay. >> All right. Then the hearing of evidence has ended. Uh it is in the hearing is closed. Does any member of the public wish to make a comment? Public comments
limited to three minutes. Absolutely. Make sure you fill out a green card when you're all done. >> Uh for the record, it's 420 Southeast Central Parkway. Um, I definitely agree with the city on going with a coastal
blue. Dark grays definitely don't fit here. If you look at the room everywhere, it's blue. We've always been a coastal town. We've always been super pretty. I don't want to change that. I sometimes have to go to Walmart, and that's my thing, um, is that it doesn't look very nice. It's never looked very
nice. I think one thing that I would like Walmart to consider as well is bringing these colors into the gazebo because that's one thing that I noticed when I moved here. It's the only Walmart I've ever seen with a gazebo. I think it's really nice. So, bringing those colors into that is something I think it's pretty important as well. And
that's all I've got. >> I just want to say it's not just the colors. We like that facade that they've done there. So, it's not just the color. >> It's also that facade >> which was approved and never >> Are there any other comments from the public?
>> Okay. Um, so do we have a motion to move this to >> second reading without us voting on it? Yes. >> You need anything else, attorney?
Just move it to second reading. We're not voting on anything. >> We are looking for a motion to transmit it to second reading. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> I'm making the motion. Okay. Is there a second? >> I'll second the motion.
>> And then would you just clarify that one more time, Lee, for the record? >> It's Yeah, you did say what the motion was. 2551. >> Yeah. So, there was a motion to transmit >> from first reading to second reading of this agenda item. >> Right. And traditionally, if anything
needs to be fixed up or cleared up, we'll work with it between now and second reading. And when um >> do you have a timeline or >> uh well construction has already started on the overall project, but the exterior
will do once it's approved. So technically no, but maybe before before the season's over would be ideal for Walmart's timeline, >> depending on what you need. >> Yeah, this is being transmitted to the next meeting in two weeks, >> right? >> Well, I so I have a question on that. Um
the renderings if we do it takes a while to get things turned around signed and all official but if we just send unofficial renderings of what Walmart is okay with doing to Michelle can she provide those to you to say you're on
the right track or >> way off re-evaluate that way we're not officially changing everything and then not hitting the nail on the head kind of situ situation. >> Uh would it be official to move it out to >> comments would be to not
>> if if I could say that >> to not send it to the second if there are conditions that needs to be met. >> Okay. >> Uh because the second reading is that that to either yes or no. It's a final. >> Uh I would suggest that
>> they sort of uh hear your conditions. uh >> submit those and table it for the next that way it gives us an opportunity on both sides to review. >> Okay. So you'll have to >> I would recommend that we transmit it to a date certain if it's not the next
meeting then the next meeting but nothing prevents us from coming to the next reading and and say that >> continuing it on that way we don't have to repeat the advertising and >> you can get that new color palette you can let us know. Well, and I'm wondering then, can we approve the signs so that
our sign contractor can go in and do the signs? >> It's all part of the PD. >> It has to all be in one. Okay. >> So, we should move it out to the following meeting. That gives them time to come up with >> She's got the two weeks. You'll get they'll get it done in two weeks.
>> Yeah, we can get it done in >> We need to continue it to the following meeting. We can. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> You can let us know. >> Do I have to start over or do new signpostings? if you guys say no at the next meeting. >> I think I you know other than than potentially um board on the wall that
was the only thing that that was a little bit unusual. It's really just a color palette. That's the only thing that there's really any discussion over. >> Right. >> So if you can provide that a color palette that's appropriate with that light blue. >> Okay. >> But we would like that board.
>> Yeah. And of course the hardy board would be nice if it's possible. >> I can propose it to Walmart. I I'm not sure that we're doing anything that large exterior wise, but I can take it to them and ask for >> I would rather ask for the board and settle on the light blue, you know,
>> if I had to. >> Well, I don't >> I can try my best. >> Listen, all I do is permit. >> We have no right to require that. >> No, they >> it's a PUD. >> No, but they have guidelines also of what they're wanting to do. They've done it in Jupiter. So they've already done
something outside. >> What's the point that they may have their guidelines too? >> Yeah, it's a different thing. >> Right now we're amending the existing PUD and the existing PUD has the true blue >> and a very similar light gray with
absolutely no definition in >> trim or anything like that. This new color, it's giving definition. It's giving more than just one flat color all the way across. And >> and this is our time to negotiate that within the
>> PD. Right. That's right. >> And so you've heard from our board what we're interested in seeing. >> I can try. >> You can do this. I believe >> you can do this. We know. >> Yeah. >> So two weeks. >> I'm here to tell you Walmart >> makes a whole lot more money than I do. That's just a little guy.
>> They have more money. >> But I can try. >> Thank you. >> Okay. So back to the motion >> to the second >> or 20 25 >> are we going two weeks out or
>> yes we said two weeks right >> they have to get a turnar around they won't have that turnar around >> and if she needs to continue she can >> yes she said she can have >> they can't meet it we'll table it >> yeah we'll table it at that point >> okay so is there deliberation from the
commission on this motion >> further Okay. Susay, would you call the role? >> We asked for public comment on the motion. >> Yes. We had it up earlier. >> On the motion, >> uh, within the quasi judicial that's up
before, >> Mayor Collins, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Reid, >> yes. >> Commissioner Rich, >> yes. >> Commissioner Gio, >> yes. >> And Commissioner Clark, >> yes. >> Okay, so that's a unanimous vote to transmit it to second reading. Moving
on to item 14. >> Yes. >> Sorry. >> Let's take a five minute break. Stretch our legs. What you want? >> I need your face on.
>> Yes. >> Okay, >> I'm ready. >> Okay, >> mayor. Are you ready? >> I am ready. Go for it, Jody. >> Uh, good evening, chair and members of the board. For the record, my name is Jody Cougler. I am the development director with the city of Stewart. At
the March 9th city commission meeting during public comments, a resident expressed concern regarding the recent installation of a blinking light along Central Parkway located in located near the new on-site street parking for the selfish K residential development.
This just shows a rendering uh from their engineering plans that were approved and also um have been finalized by both sides of the engineers. Um we received letters as you can see in the circle in red that is where the location
of the blinking light is. Um and it was the light says install. It says caution parallel parking ahead and it's in a yellow diamond with flashing lights that are powered by solar. These are some renderings. Uh this right
here as you can see um in the middle of the median is the actual pole that shows where the blinking light is attached and it is like a uh diamond and uh is you can see the power solar light.
just shows it a little closer up and this shows it a little further away. Um you can see it's parallel to the town park where the entrance is. Um and it further up would be where the new on-site parking spaces are that are um exiting and entering onto the roadway of
Central Parkway. This kind of gives you a little bit of what it looks like at night. Um, we don't have it blinking, but you can see um the light is lit and it does blink. And you can see the uh right across is a town park monument sign. You can see
that's it's also um very uh lit up as well. This kind of gives you a little bit closer up to the light. And this is when you're right up on it. This is what it looks like um if you were taking a picture right in front of it.
Um this was required as part of their um safety measurements along Southeast Central Park Parkway. Um also the police chief had given us some further data and analysis um down this roadway just showing some crash data. Um
this is a report that was um conducted from January 1st of 2021 through December 31st of 2025. Um it stated that um uh after a followup of the discussion regarding the yellow blinking light on Central, I had our crime analysis pull
crash and calls for service data for the last five years. We have a low number of crashes on Central Parkway, averaging nine per year. Also, reckless vehicle calls on Central Parkway remains low, averaging eight calls per year. FDOT
reported an a average annual daily total of 2,700 cars traveling east on Central Parkway from South Caner Highway to US1. And this just kind of gives you the overall data what the um different terminology means within the report.
Um again, this is the um average calls that you will see that um you'll see the police calls were um in 185 in 2021. Um the crash data was 101 and then uh reckless driving was 34
um disabled vehicles. As you can see down the line all the different uh descriptions of things. This also shows the traffic stops and reckless vehicles uh throughout the years for the for those five years. Um
you can see in 2022 the um the crash data was I mean the reckless driving was higher and also in 2024 2025 the traffic stops were increased to 263. Again this just gives you a little bit
more analysis of the total crashes. And this also gives you um crash incidents with with injuries, without no injuries, and serious injuries. And this just shows the the uh area that was analyzed in red that shows it from
Caner to uh Southeast Central Parkway. And this concludes staff's uh conclusion. Uh just as a um looking at this this the on-site parking was a requirement for the Selfish K as part of their project to to
build their project for um to add some more parking for the Pleton Creek and also for the add some uh pedestrians along uh Southeast Central Parkway. Uh any questions or I can go back to any of the slides if you like. This is a
discussion and deliberation that you asked staff to bring forward. >> Question and this might be more of a legal question, Jody. And thank you, by the way, to you and Michelle. You guys do great presentations for the city. Thank you. They're very thorough. Um Lee, this is a legal question, though. How does this work with >> um a development order because those are
permanent like and I know this sign involves it. How does that >> Yeah, because this sign was part of the development order. So, it was required of the developer to put that sign up. We we required it. >> Correct. But like if if residents were complaining whe whether it was a sign or
another development order, would they have to come back in front of the board just to take care of the sign from a >> I mean that's the requirement that they have the sign there. So I mean they're not the ones wanting to remove it. You have one resident asking to remove it basically.
So it's not the developer or the it's I don't even know if the developer still owns the project. I don't I don't is it >> maybe ask that different >> like would the board have that authority I guess when it comes to that >> vice chair if I may answer that I apologize uh
>> Mr. Um, so whenever you're looking at these uh off-site infrastructures, a lot of these are designed by professional engineers. >> And at this particular case, the professional engineer that designed this intersection and adding these on-site parking spaces felt it was a safety
measurement for people that were entering exiting off those on-site parking spaces. So, this would be something that an engineer would have to go back and look at and redetermine or to re-engineered this area. um for safety purposes.
>> And I would add in a prior career I was a defense litigator for personal injury. You guys vote to remove that sign and someone gets killed next year, you guarantee you're going to be >> that's on us. >> I know. So I I you it's take a risk
going down that if a traffic engineer engineer is saying that that that's needed or required for safety purposes to now remove it. Um >> maybe not necessarily removing it, but I think it's the flashing right >> that might be. >> So, Vice Mayor, um this flashing is
facing the uh commercial, uh portion. This is not facing any residential. You would just see the flashing as you're driving by as it's supposed to warn you that there is um oncoming traffic ahead. And this is right around that turn. So, it can be a little bit dangerous. That's why the
this probably was proposed. I I have a question. Okay. So, I think I missed what the the one person who's asking for it to be removed. Um is it that it's an issue with blinking uh into people's homes or they can see it from the road? I mean, is there a way to
maybe we could mitigate some of the blinking? Maybe, you know, it doesn't blink as intense between 12 midnight and 6:00 in the morning. So, that would be something I would have to bring back to the engineer that designed this this uh intersection. That's not something the city can
randomly uh agree to without having any type of um redesigning of the project. I think the intent was to have it blinking all night. So when people were going up and down uh southeast central Parkway, they knew that there was oncoming um
traffic backing out onto Southeast Central Parkway from those on-site parking spaces. >> Oh, I can see the need for it. I guess my my question was what was the complaint? They just didn't want the sign there or they >> I believe the woman's here. >> Oh, >> I do believe the uh the concerned
resident is in the audience. >> Would you like to come up and >> Yeah. Well, first of all, I'd like >> on the microphone. On the microphone. >> Who in the heck said the res asked the >> microphone? Microphone. >> The uh light to be removed. How did you
get that information? >> That's what I just heard here that someone complained about the light. I I was wanting to know why they complained. You >> like to tell Miss >> Microphone. Microphone. Microphone. Barbara Grass 63 Southeast Polarmo Court
in Stewart. I'd like a clarification. Everybody along here seems to say a resident name that resident asked to be it removed. Evidently, you've got information that says a resident asked that the light be
removed. Is that correct? >> Do Do you mind speaking >> Is that correct? Do you mind speaking to the nature of of what the issue is though from your perspective? >> The issue was it wasn't in the plan for either development. I had a conversation with
Rez that says how did it get approved to put on there. Whose cost was it to put it it in there and how is the cost maintained? It was that simple. So it got Wait. So now it's gotten to the
point where a city commission thinks a resident asks that the light be taken out. >> I didn't know about that. >> That's got to be a lot of gossip, doesn't it? >> I have not heard that. >> This is a deliberation and discussion. >> We're just trying to get We're all trying to wrap our head around what's going on. That's why having you speak to
like what the issue is. >> A conversation that said how did the light get approved? Who installed it at at whose cost? And what is the maintenance and the maintenance cost? >> So there's not an issue. >> The light is probably very useful. >> Okay. So you have no issue with the
light. >> Yeah. >> No. Okay. So it's a cost factor. >> Okay. So um >> how did the light get approved? >> Do you have that? Could you recap that to your the best of your ability just for the record? >> U Mayor Mayor, yes I can. So, this this
light was approved during their visit with um FDOT and and the city's also um expressed concerns about people backing in and out of the intersection or the roadway onto Southeast Central Parkway.
The um engineer record for the developer felt it was safe that they added this in there, which they did, and the development order said that they had to make this intersection safe. So during that process, they added this light and it is on the developer's extent expense
and ongoing perpetuity maintenance. >> So the developer paid for it. They're going to maintain it, >> but it was not part of their first reading or their second reading. This was an addition because of safety. Correct.
>> That FD FDOT became >> That is correct. In the development order, it did state that the the engineer will review the intersection at the time when it was installed to verify that there's no issues or any type of safety measurements will never be added
in the intersection. >> Safety issue. That's a good good explanation. The question was just how did it get there? Who approved it? Who's paying for it? Perfect. Well, perfect answer, which is the great thing about discussion and deliberation. We weren't voting on it.
Forgive any miscommunication. >> All right. Are there any other comments or deliberation on this item? >> No. >> Question asked and answered. >> Happy birthday, Ula Clark. Should we sing you happy birthday? >> No. >> No. I can't sing. I don't want to sing. >> I'll sing, but you'd have to sing to
Ken. >> Missy's going to do it. >> All right. >> Happy birthday, Ula. >> Day two. >> All right. Seeing no other business, this meeting is adjourned. Happy birthday.