Sep 05, 2024 City Council

[Call to Order]

[00:00:04]

GOOD EVENING. I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR SEPTEMBER 5TH, 2024.

WILL YOU ALL PLEASE JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU. IF EVERYONE COULD SILENCE THEIR PHONES, PLEASE.

WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? MAYOR REED HERE.

VICE MAYOR MIDDLETON.

HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER.

WOODS. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER.

TINSLEY. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER.

PRIMAROSA. HERE.

THANK YOU. PATTY. DO WE HAVE ANY ADDITIONS, DELETIONS, OR MODIFICATIONS TO OUR AGENDA THIS EVENING? NO, MA'AM. THANK YOU.

IF IT'S OKAY WITH COUNCIL, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE UP THE CITY MANAGER REPORT TO MOVE IT FROM ITEM SIX TO ITEM FOUR AND MOVE IT UNDER ANNOUNCEMENTS AND

[III. ADDITIONS, DELETIONS, MODIFICATIONS]

ALL RIGHT. SECOND SET.

OKAY, SO WE'VE GOT TINSLEY AND MOROSO FOR I MIGHT TAKE A ROLL CALL.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY, SO WE WILL MOVE ALONG.

DO WE HAVE ANY? WE DON'T HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS OR PRESENTATIONS THIS EVENING, SO WE'LL BE GOING RIGHT INTO.

[VI. CITY MANAGER REPORT]

WE HAVE SEVERAL VIDEOS TONIGHT OR A FEW VIDEOS TONIGHT BRINGING ATTENTION TO SOME VERY SPECIFIC PROGRAMS AND INDIVIDUALS. AND I APOLOGIZE.

PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN UNDER PRESENTATIONS TO BEGIN WITH.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT AND APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE.

FIRST OFF, I'D LIKE TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO A PARTICULAR PROGRAM AT RIVERSIDE.

OUR 20 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OCCURRED ON AUGUST 20TH.

AS A RESULT OF THAT CELEBRATION OF 20 YEARS OF RIVERSIDE YOUTH ENRICHMENT PROGRAM THERE WAS A VIDEO PRODUCED BY STAFF.

IT'S BEEN ON YOUTUBE.

I KNOW ALL OF YOU HAVE SEEN IT, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO PUT IT OUT BEFORE THE PUBLIC.

SO WITH THAT, IF YOU WOULD START THE VIDEO.

REMEMBER WHEN RON GAVE US 20 DAYS TO BUILD THIS PLACE? 20. YEAH, WE WERE NEGOTIATING.

I THINK WE WERE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 20 AND 30 DAYS.

$600,000. THAT WAS 20 YEARS AGO.

20 YEARS AGO.

AND WE BUILT THIS IN 60 DAYS.

SO RIVERSIDE ALWAYS HOUSED A CHILD CARE PROGRAM.

IT'S A TRADITION IN THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS.

THERE ARE MANY KIDS WHO CAME THROUGH WHAT WE CALL PLAY SCHOOL.

IT WAS JUST A COUPLE HOURS A DAY.

AND ACTUALLY A LOT OF THE TEACHERS THAT WE HAVE TODAY AND SOME OF THE REC STAFF WERE HERE AT THAT TIME.

WE RECOGNIZED THE NEED TO HAVE A LICENSED CHILD CARE NOT ONLY FOR OUR RESIDENTS, BUT FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.

SO OUR CITY MANAGER SAID ONE DAY, HEY, LET'S JUST DO THIS.

HOW DO WE MAKE A LICENSED CHILD CARE SO WE CAN HELP OUR EMPLOYEES GET TO WORK, IN TURN, HELP OUR CITIZENS, BUT ALSO HAVE A PLACE FOR RESIDENTS THAT'S A SAFE PLACE TO PUT THEIR CHILDREN? I WAS THINKING AT LEAST BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE GOOD DAYCARE FACILITY FOR THE CHILDREN OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND THROUGH THE LEISURE SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE GREAT MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP AT RIVERSIDE, THEY WERE ABLE TO SEE A BIGGER PICTURE, EVEN MORE SO THAN I.

THEY BROUGHT THE EDUCATIONAL ELEMENT AND THE SOPHISTICATION TO THAT PROGRAM OVER THERE THAT FAR OUTRANGED MY VISION.

SO LITERALLY ON THAT CONVERSATION, WE PUT TOGETHER A POWERPOINT.

WE SAT DOWN WITH EACH COUNCIL MEMBER ACTUALLY HERE IN THE BUILDING, AND WE TALKED TO THEM ABOUT THE NEED OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE NEED OF THE EMPLOYEES, AND THROUGH THAT, THEY APPROVED THE FUNDING.

AND LITERALLY WITHIN ABOUT 60 DAYS, WE TOOK THIS FACILITY FROM JUST A NORMAL COMMUNITY CENTER THAT HAD PLAYSCHOOL PROGRAMS TO A LICENSED DAYCARE WHERE THE CHILDREN OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR STAFF COULD FIND A SAFE PLACE FOR THEIR KIDS TO BE.

I THINK THESE ARE THE ACTUAL ORIGINAL PLANS FROM THE BUILDING.

I DON'T THINK SO.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY'RE REBUILDING THE PLAYGROUND AGAIN.

REMEMBER THAT USED TO BE PARKING OVER THERE.

WE TOOK THAT PARKING TO CREATE THIS PLAYGROUND FOR THE BUILDING ACROSS.

DOING. WE'RE REMINISCING ABOUT THE OLD BUILDING AND WHAT IT USED TO BE AS A COMMUNITY CENTER, AND HOW WE CONVERTED IT TO A GOING BACK 20 YEARS OR PLUS.

WOW. THAT'S CRAZY.

I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT YOU GUYS ACCOMPLISHED IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

[00:05:03]

OUR KIDS WERE THE FIRST ONES THROUGH THE DOORS.

YEAH, I REMEMBER WELL OUR KIDS WERE ALSO THE TEST DUMMIES.

WE USE OUR KIDS TO TEST THE PLAYGROUNDS HERE BEFORE WE OPEN THE BUILDING AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS WORKING CORRECTLY.

I'M NOT SURE AT THIS POINT.

YES, THE THINGS I REMEMBER AT RIVERSIDE, I THINK THE MAJOR MEMORY WOULD BE FIELD DAY.

THEY USED TO DO THIS. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY DO IT ANYMORE, BUT THEY DO THIS DAY WHERE WE WOULD GO OUTSIDE AND SOMETIMES THEY HAD A BOUNCE HOUSE, BUT THEY ALWAYS HAD SNOW CONES.

AND WE WOULD HAVE LIKE THOSE LITTLE TATTOOS THAT YOU JUST LIKE PUT A WASHCLOTH ON IN THE ENTIRE DAY, IT WAS JUST WE WOULD PLAY OUTSIDE, YOU'D COME IN, HAVE SNACKS, AND THEN YOU'D GO BACK OUT. AND IT WAS IT WAS ONE OF THOSE ONES WHERE YOU DID IT BEFORE BREAK.

AND IT WAS SO MUCH FUN.

AND I REMEMBER GOING ON BREAK AND LIKE, CRYING.

I DIDN'T CRY AT ANY OTHER DAY GOING HOME.

BUT I DID CRY THAT DAY GOING HOME BECAUSE IT WAS LIKE, DANG, FIELD DAY IS GONNA END.

BUT YEAH, THAT IS A MAJOR MEMORY I THINK I HAVE.

THERE WAS THIS ONE TIME, A LONG WHILE BACK WHERE RIGHT IN THIS ROOM, THEY PUT A BOUNCE HOUSE IN, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'VE EVER DONE IT AGAIN, BUT I WASN'T TOLD THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A BOUNCE HOUSE.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN ONE AFTERNOON THERE WAS A BOUNCE HOUSE AND WE WERE BOUNCING.

SO THAT'S, I THINK, MY BEST MEMORY HERE.

ANOTHER WEIRD MEMORY I HAVE IS THE FIRST TIME USING A STENCIL.

I DID NOT KNOW HOW TO USE IT.

I GLUED IT AND I STUCK IT TO A PIECE OF PAPER WE WOULD READ AND WE'D GO OVER LIKE THE ALPHABET AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.

SO I DEFINITELY THINK GOING INTO KINDERGARTEN, YOU DO GO IN AT A DIFFERENT LEVEL.

BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING IN STRAIGHT FROM HOME, YOU'RE GOING IN WITH ALREADY THE, THE MANNERS, AND YOU'RE GOING IN WITH ALREADY, LIKE THE CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF AND ALL THAT.

SO I DEFINITELY THINK IT WAS A LOT EASIER FOR ME TO MIGRATE INTO LIKE NORMAL SCHOOL INSTEAD OF JUST LIKE DROPPING STRAIGHT IN.

THE DIFFERENCE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, FROM EVEN FROM 2004 TO 2024 IS WORLDS OF DIFFERENCE.

IN 2004, IT WAS MORE OF A PLAY SCHOOL.

IT WAS LEARN YOUR ALPHABET, KNOW YOUR LETTERS.

IT'S BECOME A WHOLE DIFFERENT THING.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION HAS BEEN PROVEN THAT IT HAS SET A STANDARD FOR THESE CHILDREN'S ACADEMIC JOURNEY.

WE TEACH THEM SOCIAL SKILLS.

WE TEACH THEM EMOTIONAL SKILLS WHILE LEARNING THE ACADEMICS THAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

IT'S BECOME FAR MORE.

I'LL USE THE WORD COMPLICATED THAN IT WAS BEFORE.

HONESTLY, I CAN'T TELL YOU MANY NAMES OF TEACHERS.

I THINK THE ONE THAT STANDS OUT IS MISS MANDY.

SHE SPENT THE MOST TIME WITH ME AND THAT'S WHY I REMEMBER HER THE MOST.

OH MY GOODNESS EMMA.

GOOD MORNING.

WELCOME. OH, IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE YOU.

IT'S SO GOOD TO BE BACK AND SEE YOU AGAIN.

I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE HERE.

LOOK HOW GROWN UP YOU ARE.

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING? YOU KNOW, JUST COLLEGE AND HANGING OUT.

COLLEGE LIFE IS GOOD IN COLLEGE.

YES. ALL RIGHT. WELL, WHAT ARE YOU STUDYING? SOCIAL SCIENCE EDUCATION.

WHAT? THAT'S AMAZING.

WHEN DO YOU GRADUATE? I GRADUATE NEXT YEAR ALREADY? HOW CAN THAT BE? I KNOW IT'S CRAZY.

EMMA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MY CLASSROOM.

I WOULD LOVE TO CATCH UP.

I WOULD LOVE TO. OH, COME ON, LET'S GO.

NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED COMING DOWN THE HALLWAYS.

YOU KNOW, I KNOW IT LOOKS THE SAME.

YOU HAVE CUBBIES AND THINGS, BUT WE'VE BEEN EXPANDING OUR PLAYGROUNDS.

IT'S BEEN REALLY EXCITING.

SOME OF OUR CLASSROOMS HAVE CHANGED THEMES AND GOTTEN A LITTLE BIT BIGGER.

AND IT'S SO EXCITING TO WATCH.

SO THIS IS WHERE YOU HAD YOUR CLASS.

DO YOU REMEMBER? I KNOW IT LOOKS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

SO EMMA, HOW EXCITING TO SEE YOU.

FIRST OF ALL FOR TODAY.

AND I'M UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE A TEACHER.

CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A TEACHER? WELL, YOU KNOW, JUST ALL OF MY TEACHERS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, ESPECIALLY LIKE YOU AND MY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS, JUST REALLY SHOWED ME THAT THAT IS WHAT I WANTED TO DO FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

OH, THAT IS SO EXCITING.

SO ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS TO ASK IS WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY? OH, I MEAN, MY FAVORITE MEMORIES, I THINK FROM HERE ESPECIALLY, WAS JUST MEETING A BUNCH OF NEW FRIENDS AND GETTING TO LEARN ALL THESE NICE THINGS HERE AND MEET ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT I STILL GET TO COME SEE NOW AND JUST FEEL LIKE I WAS IN A LITTLE FAMILY.

KIND OF. THAT'S EXACTLY MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT OUR SCHOOL.

[00:10:01]

IT DOES REALLY FEEL LIKE A FAMILY.

THAT'S VERY COOL.

I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU GOT THAT VIBE AS WELL.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOUR FAVORITE PART OF TEACHING IS? YOU KNOW, MY FAVORITE PART OF TEACHING IS, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A BAD DAY.

SOME DAYS, THINGS DON'T GO RIGHT EXACTLY THE WAY YOU'D LIKE THEM TO BE PLANNED.

YOU PLAN YOUR LESSONS, YOU GOT EVERYTHING PREPARED.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU JUST GO AHEAD AND SEE THOSE SMILES ON THE FACES.

AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE FAVORITE THINGS I REALLY DO LOVE IS CALLED AN HA MOMENT.

YOU'LL GET IT ONE DAY.

YOU'LL SEE WHEN THE CHILDREN ARE STRUGGLING, THERE MIGHT BE A CHANCE FOR THEM TO NOT UNDERSTAND SOMETHING.

AND THEY TRY AND THEY TRY AGAIN.

BUT AT ONE POINT THE LIGHT BULB JUST GOES ON AND THEIR FACE JUST LIGHTS UP AND THEY'RE LIKE, I DID IT! AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES IT ALL WORTH IT FOR ME EVERY DAY JUST TO WATCH THOSE MOMENTS.

BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT? THAT'S THE VERY BEGINNING OF OUR EARLY EDUCATION IS TO START THAT FOUNDATION FOR THEM, TO GET THEM TO LOVE LEARNING AND GET EXCITED ABOUT NEW THINGS.

SO THAT'S THE BEST PART FOR ME.

SO WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO FOR IN TEACHING? I'M HONESTLY JUST EXCITED TO MEET SOME NEW PEOPLE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN CHILDREN'S LIVES, JUST LIKE YOU HAVE IN MIND, SO AM I.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT STUDENTS LIKE YOU THAT COME ON BACK TO COME SEE ME IS ONE OF MY SWEETEST OPPORTUNITIES.

BECAUSE AGAIN, WE GET TO SEE YOU AND LOOK OFFICIALLY DIFFERENT AND AMAZING HOW YOU CAN GROW AND CHANGE.

I LOVE THE SUCCESS STORIES.

WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON BEING A WARM, LOVING, NURTURING ATMOSPHERE FOR CHILDREN TO COME AND LEARN AND FEEL SAFE WITH US HAVING A LOT OF CITY EMPLOYEES, CHILDREN.

WE REALLY ARE A FAMILY.

YOU KNOW, WE ALL WORK TOGETHER FOR ONE COMMON GOAL, AND THAT'S THE CHILDREN.

I'M ACCUSED OF RAISING THE NEXT GENERATION OF EMPLOYEES, AND I DON'T MIND THAT AT ALL.

ANNIE IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT.

LITTLE OLD ANNIE FROM RIVERSIDE HAS GROWN UP, GONE TO COLLEGE, AND IS NOW AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY.

KNEW HER FATHER WELL, AND I'M JUST AS PROUD AS I CAN BE TO HAVE ANNIE JOIN OUR TEAM AND BRING WITH HER THAT HERITAGE THAT SHE HAS FROM RIVERSIDE ALL UP THROUGH COLLEGE AND BACK TO US ONCE AGAIN.

WE'RE REALLY PLEASED TO HAVE HER.

SO I AM A PLANNER WITH THE PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT, AND WHAT WE DO A LOT IS DEALING WITH THE CITY CODE AND THE LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS AND REVIEWING VIEWING PROJECTS THAT COME IN FOR DEVELOPMENTS.

SO IF A NEW BUILDING WANTS TO GO IN, WE GO START TO FINISH, GO THROUGH THE CODE, MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS APPLICABLE WITH THE INQUIRIES COMING IN TO A FINISHED APPLICATION.

GOING TO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.

ONE OF MY BEST MEMORIES HERE AT RIVERSIDE WAS THE FIELD TRIPS.

ONE IN PARTICULAR WAS GOING TO ARBOR DAY AT LAKE CATHERINE TO PLANT A TREE, AND IT WAS REALLY LOVELY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE HERE AND NOW.

I DO WORK WITH MARK HENDRICKSON CLOSELY, ACTUALLY IN THE SAME DEPARTMENT IN PLANNING AND ZONING, AND IT'S REALLY AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT MEMORY AND THAT EXPERIENCE.

AND GOING UP TO NOW, IT'S REALLY AWESOME TO SEE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THERE FOR SO LONG THAT I DO REMEMBER FROM WHEN I WAS YOUNGER AND SEEING THAT, YOU KNOW, THE CITY DOES FOSTER LONGEVITY WITH THEIR EMPLOYEES.

SO IT'S LOVELY TO SEE PEOPLE THAT I'VE KNOWN FOR MY WHOLE LIFE.

LOOKING BACK, I CAN SAY THAT I TRULY APPRECIATE THE FOUNDATION OF LEARNING THAT RIVERSIDE PROVIDED FOR ME.

I CAN SEE NOW THAT HAVING A QUALITY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION THAT'S GIVEN BY THE CITY IS SOMETHING THAT'S NOT COMMON, AND I TRULY DON'T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED.

WE ARE OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE MUNICIPALITY AND IT'S VERY RARE.

IT IS NOT COMMON.

I KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY CITIES THAT CALL.

I'VE HAD 2 OR 3 ANYWAY.

CALL AND ASK HOW WE'VE HEARD ABOUT YOUR PROGRAM.

HOW DOES IT WORK? AND I GIVE THEM HOW TO START IT, HOW TO GET IT GOING.

AND AS YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT'S A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL BENEFIT FOR CITY EMPLOYEES.

AT RIVERSIDE WE DO IT MORE OF A PLAY THERAPY.

YOU CAN LEARN THROUGH MUSIC.

YOU CAN LEARN THROUGH DANCE.

YOU CAN LEARN THROUGH STORIES.

WE ALSO TEACH SPANISH AT RIVERSIDE IN EVERY CLASS.

TEACHING A CHILD IN ANOTHER LANGUAGE TEACHES THEM ABOUT THE WORLD.

IT ALSO HELPS TO PROMOTE INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY.

HOW CAN YOU COME IN THIS BUILDING EVERY DAY AND NOT SMILE? THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT.

THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING TO BE HAPPY FOR.

SO HAPPY ANNIVERSARY RIVERSIDE.

HERE'S TO 20 MORE REMARKABLE YEARS EDUCATING CHILDREN.

I DON'T WANNA LET GO.

[00:15:10]

LET GO.

I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES AT RIVERSIDE FOR 20 YEARS OF RUNNING A HIGHLY RESPECTED EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION.

THANK YOU.

WELL, I THINK THE VIDEO SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.

AND I THINK THAT I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE GLUE THAT HOLDS ALL THIS TOGETHER FOR ABOUT THE WHOLE 20 YEARS.

CHRISTY WILL NEVER PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED.

NOW. THANK YOU.

CHRISSY. YOU KNOW YOU'RE MY HERO.

I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO BRING TO YOU CERTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING OUR AQUATICS COMPLEX.

WE SENT OUT A MEMO EARLIER, A FEW WEEKS AGO, ABOUT THE ATTENDANCE OF THE RECORD BREAKING ATTENDANCE OF OVER 20,000 PEOPLE THIS SUMMER IN OUR NEWLY RENOVATED AND REPLACED POOL FACILITY.

AND AT THAT TIME, THERE WERE A LOT OF PUBLIC COMMENTS ABOUT THE SWIM LESSONS, THE TEACHERS, THE PROGRAM, THE FACILITIES. BUT RIGHT NOW, I THINK WE HAD 22,000 IN ATTENDANCE THIS SUMMER.

AND WITH THAT, WE HAD A SURVEY DONE.

AND THESE ARE THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY.

EVERY ONE OF THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY INDICATE THEIR PLEASURE WITH THE POOL, WITH THE FACILITY, WITH THE LESSONS, WITH THE TEACHERS.

NOT ONE NEGATIVE COMMENT FROM THOSE PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE SWIM PROGRAM PROGRAMS. SO I JUST AGAIN WANTED TO RECOGNIZE AARON ANDERSON.

ARE YOU HERE? OH, THERE YOU ARE. PLEASE STAND UP.

THE POOL PROGRAMS AND THE WHOLE OPERATION THERE HAS SKYROCKETED FROM WHERE IT USED TO BE TO A MODEL PROGRAM TODAY, AND THAT IS DUE TO AARON'S DEDICATION AND HARD WORK.

SO WE THANK YOU FOR THAT, AARON.

THE NEXT THING IS RECENTLY ON AUGUST 28TH IN ORLANDO, THERE WAS A FLORIDA RECREATION AND PARKS ASSOCIATION AWARDS CEREMONY.

I'D LIKE TO PLAY A VIDEO.

TODAY WE GATHER TO CELEBRATE THE INCREDIBLE INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES THRIVE.

FROM THE SCENIC TRAILS TO THE BUSTLING PLAYGROUNDS, FROM INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS TO HEARTFELT COMMUNITY INITIATIVES, IT'S THE DEDICATION AND PASSION OF THESE HEROES THAT BRING OUR PARKS AND RECREATION SPACES TO LIFE.

AS WE HONOR THESE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS, LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO APPRECIATE THE VISIONARIES AND CHAMPIONS WHO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO CREATE VIBRANT, INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE RECREATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS ACROSS THE SUNSHINE STATE.

THEIR TIRELESS WORK ENRICHES OUR LIVES AND SHAPES THE FUTURE OF OUR PARKS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.

WE NOW PROUDLY PRESENT THE 2024 FPA AWARDS.

THE INNOVATIVE PROGRAMING AWARD IS AN AWARD THAT IS PRESENTED TO A DEPARTMENT THAT HAS USED NOVEL TECHNIQUES TO CREATE NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEISURE ENGAGEMENT, WHILE ALSO ADDRESSING AN IDENTIFIED NEED IN THE COMMUNITY OR TO REACH A NEW AUDIENCE.

THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS AQUATIC DIVISION HAS LAUNCHED AN INNOVATIVE INITIATIVE, SPLASH INTO STORY TIME, WHICH UNIQUELY MERGES WATER SAFETY EDUCATION WITH INTERACTIVE, INCLUSIVE PROGRAMING.

THIS ANNUAL MINI SERIES ADDRESSES THE CRITICAL NEED FOR INCLUSIVE PROGRAMS BY BLENDING ENGLISH AND AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE ASL IN ITS STORYTELLING SESSIONS.

[00:20:03]

THIS DUAL LANGUAGE APPROACH IS KEY AS IT BREAKS DOWN COMMUNICATION BARRIERS AND GUARANTEES THAT ESSENTIAL SAFETY INFORMATION REACHES EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR LANGUAGE OR HEARING ABILITIES.

PARTICIPANTS ENGAGE IN THE PROGRAM THROUGH INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES.

STORIES ARE NARRATED IN ENGLISH AND ASL, AND PARTICIPANTS LEARN KEY SIGNS RELATED TO THE STORIES.

AND THIS IS MY DOG, CLIFFORD.

TODAY WE'RE GOING TO THE TOWN WITH MY PARENTS.

I'VE BEEN TAKING SWIM LESSONS, AND TODAY ALL THE FAMILIES ARE COMING TO SEE WHAT WE'VE LEARNED.

THIS HANDS ON METHOD REINFORCES LEARNING AND ENCOURAGES PARTICIPATION AMONG CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

THE PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES FAMILIES IN WATER SAFETY PRACTICES BY DESIGNATING THEM AS WATER WATCHERS, STRESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF SUPERVISION AND ENHANCING COMMUNITY WIDE SAFETY AWARENESS. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2023, SPLASH INTO STORYTIME HAS ATTRACTED NEARLY 700 PARTICIPANTS AND CONTINUES TO EXCEED ATTENDANCE EXPECTATIONS. THIS STRONG TURNOUT UNDERSCORES THE PROGRAM'S SIGNIFICANCE AND THE COMMUNITY'S INTEREST IN ACCESSIBLE AND ENGAGING WATER SAFETY EDUCATION.

THE INITIATIVE DIRECTLY ADDRESSES HIGH DROWNING RATES AMONG YOUNG CHILDREN IN FLORIDA BY EMPOWERING FAMILIES WITH VITAL SAFETY INFORMATION THROUGH INNOVATIVE, INCLUSIVE AND COMMUNITY FOCUSED PROGRAMING.

SPLASH INTO STORYTIME EXEMPLIFIES THE AQUATIC DIVISION'S PROACTIVE APPROACH TO FOSTERING A CULTURE OF SAFETY AND AWARENESS ACROSS PALM BEACH GARDENS.

THE EXCELLENCE IN SPORT TOURISM AWARD RECOGNIZES DEPARTMENT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SPORT TOURISM EFFORTS OF THEIR COMMUNITY.

NOMINATIONS ARE SUBMITTED FOR THIS AWARD BY FLORIDA SPORTS FOUNDATION'S INDUSTRY PARTNERS, RESPONSIBLE FOR OVER $57 BILLION IN TOTAL ECONOMIC OUTPUT.

SPORTS AND RECREATION ARE MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS TO FLORIDA'S ECONOMY.

SPORTS TOURISM ATTRACTS MORE THAN 16 MILLION VISITORS TO FLORIDA ANNUALLY.

FLORIDA'S COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENTS ARE KEY SUPPORTERS IN THE SPORTS TOURISM MARKET BY PROVIDING SPACE, PLANNING, SERVICES, MAINTENANCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT NUMEROUS REGIONAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SPORTING AND RECREATIONAL EVENTS.

THE PALM BEACH GARDENS RECREATION DEPARTMENT'S VISION IS TO BE A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PARKS AND RECREATION LEADER THAT CONNECTS PEOPLE AND PARKS BY BEING THE PREMIER OUTDOOR RECREATION DESTINATION IN SOUTH FLORIDA.

BY PARTNERING WITH THE PALM BEACH COUNTY SPORTS COMMISSION, THEY ENSURE THAT SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD KNOW OF, VISIT AND USE THE PARKS AND SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THE EXCELLENT SPORTING OPPORTUNITIES IN PALM BEACH GARDENS.

BETWEEN APRIL 2023 TO APRIL 2024, THIS PARTNERSHIP CONTRIBUTED OVER $23.5 MILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT AND CONTINUES TO BE A PREMIER DESTINATION FOR SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS AROUND THE WORLD TO BRING THEIR GAME TO PALM BEACH GARDENS.

THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS RECREATION DEPARTMENT TAKES IMMENSE PRIDE AND PROVIDING ITS RESIDENTS, ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES WITH A DIVERSE RANGE OF FACILITIES FOR USE, LEASE AND RENTALS.

THESE FACILITIES INCLUDE PROFESSIONAL LEVEL SOFTBALL AND BASEBALL FIELDS, PAVILIONS, MULTI-PURPOSE FIELDS, GYMNASIUMS, MEETING ROOMS, A TENNIS AND PICKLEBALL CENTER, AND AN AQUATICS COMPLEX.

THE FACILITIES HAVE BEEN DESIGNED TO CATER TO THE COMMUNITY'S DIVERSE NEEDS AND OFFER AN UNPARALLELED RANGE OF OPTIONS.

THE INVESTMENT IN WORLD CLASS FACILITIES IS PAYING DIVIDENDS FOR THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

AS AN EXAMPLE FOR THE DEMAND OF SUCH FACILITIES, PALM BEACH GARDENS HOSTED MEN'S NATIONAL TEAMS AHEAD OF THE CONFEDERATION OF NORTH, CENTRAL AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL GOLD CUP.

MOST TEAMS STAYED AND TRAINED FOR A WEEK.

THIS OPPORTUNITY BROUGHT OVER 50 ROOMS, STAYS AND A $1.1 MILLION IMPACT.

THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS TENNIS AND PICKLEBALL CENTER STANDS OUT AS A PREMIER COMMUNITY PUBLIC FACILITY AND HAS WON NUMEROUS STATEWIDE AND NATIONAL AWARDS.

THE CENTER HOSTS MANY USTA LEAGUES AND TOURNAMENTS.

ABLE BODIED AND WHEELCHAIR TOURNAMENTS.

MORE THAN 130 ADAPTIVE TENNIS PROGRAMS AND THE PALM BEACH COUNTY WOMEN'S TENNIS ASSOCIATION LEAGUE.

THESE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF THE FACILITIES AND SUPPORT OFFERED TO VISITING SPORTING EVENTS AND TEAMS. THE AGENCY EXCELLENCE AWARD RECOGNIZES AGENCIES EXCELLING AT POSITIONING THEMSELVES AS A KEY PARTICIPANT AND PROVIDER IN THE CATEGORIES OF COMMUNITY BUILDING, HEALTH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.

AGENCIES MAY SELECT AN INDIVIDUAL CATEGORY OR APPLY IN THE SUPER CATEGORY IF THEY EXCEL IN ALL FOUR CATEGORIES.

PALM BEACH GARDENS RECREATION PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN DRIVING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.

THE CITY IS RECOGNIZED FOR ITS PROACTIVE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT THAT PROMOTES INNOVATION, ENCOURAGES BUSINESS GROWTH AND SUCCESS, AND PLACES A HIGH PRIORITY ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF ITS RESIDENTS.

PALM BEACH GARDENS, RECREATION, PARKS AND FACILITIES ATTRACT TOURISTS AND VISITORS WORLDWIDE THROUGH VARIOUS PROGRAMS AND EVENTS WHO SPEND MONEY ON ACCOMMODATIONS, FOOD,

[00:25:05]

ADDITIONALLY, CITY ORGANIZED EVENTS AND FACILITIES PROVIDE A SPACE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES SUCH AS VENDORS, ARTISANS, MUSICIANS, AND PERFORMERS TO OPERATE.

PALM BEACH GARDENS RECREATION IS WIDELY ACKNOWLEDGED AS A PREEMINENT PROVIDER OF SPORTS AND FITNESS PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES, AND HAS BECOME A DRAW FOR INTERNATIONAL SPORTS TEAMS. THE STATE OF THE ART FACILITIES ARE METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED TO PROVIDE USERS WITH AN EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIENCE, BECAUSE OF THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS AND EVENTS.

PALM BEACH GARDENS RECREATION ENSURES THAT SOMETHING IS ALWAYS HAPPENING.

THE DIVERSE RANGE OF RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL OFFERINGS HELP TO STIMULATE TOURISM AND BOOST THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

PALM BEACH GARDENS RECREATION'S ABILITY TO ATTRACT VISITORS, PROMOTE COMMUNITY PRIDE AND ENHANCE THE CITY IMAGE AS A DESIRABLE PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY MAKES THE DEPARTMENT AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT.

INVESTING IN PARKS AND RECREATION CONTINUES TO BE AN ECONOMIC STRATEGY FOR PALM BEACH GARDENS, WHILE WORKING TO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES AND VISITORS.

AT THIS TIME, WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME PALM BEACH GARDENS RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO THE FRONT TO RECEIVE THE AGENCY EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR ECONOMIC IMPACT AND DEVELOPMENT.

GUARANTEE.

AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO CALL ON CHARLOTTE BRZEZINSKI, OUR LEGAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR.

THIS IS THE REAL GLUE THAT KEEPS ALL THE OTHER GLUE TOGETHER.

GOOD EVENING. COUNCIL.

JUST TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, IT'S KIND OF OUTSTANDING EVERY YEAR TO SEE THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES THAT GO TO THE ARPA CONFERENCE AND BE RECOGNIZED.

I WILL TELL YOU, IT IS VERY UNIQUE THAT ANY ONE AGENCY WINS THREE.

SO THAT'S PRETTY PHENOMENAL FOR THE TEAM AND FOR THE CITY.

AND IT TAKES A AMAZING GROUP OF PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES.

SO YOU HEARD THE WORD RECREATION QUITE A BIT, BUT THAT'S NOT THE PEOPLE WHO DO ALL OF IT.

THEY MAY BE THE FRONT PEOPLE, BUT COMMUNITY SERVICES, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT, HR, HIRING IT, MAKING THINGS HAPPEN, THE CLERK'S OFFICE, HELPING US OUT WHENEVER WE NEED ANYTHING.

JUST. AND IF I FORGET ANYBODY, I DON'T MEAN TO DO THAT, BUT HONESTLY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE AWARDS SPORTS TOURISM STANDS OUT TO BE ONE OF THE MOST BECAUSE MOST OF THE TIME IN MID TO LARGE MARKET, THOSE ARE COUNTIES AND VERY LARGE CITIES THAT WIN THAT.

SO THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT WE HAVE THROUGH OUR FACILITIES IS TRULY TREMENDOUS AND COMPARABLE TO THOSE LARGER AGENCIES.

BUT JUST THE INNOVATIVE PROGRAMING THAT THINGS HAPPENING AT THE POOL AND AGENCY EXCELLENCE IS ALSO A BIG ONE.

SO JUST REALLY NOW WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO DO IS ASK THE RECREATION TEAM TO COME UP AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH THE AWARDS WITH COUNCIL.

SO IF YOU COULD PLEASE COME DOWN, WE'D LIKE TO DO THAT.

THANK YOU. COME ON UP.

HOW ABOUT.

ANYBODY ELSE? I'LL GIVE YOU A. IT'S.

HERE. IT'S HIDING.

NO, NO. YOU CAN'T SEE.

DAVID. YOU CAN'T. YOU.

OKAY. YEAH.

IT'S OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

[00:30:32]

I HAVE SOME THINGS HERE TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION RE ATTENTION OF THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC.

I'D LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS ENTERED INTO AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY WITH RESOLUTION 38 BACK IN 2017, AFTER YEARS OF NEGOTIATIONS AND INVOLVEMENT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS AS WELL AS STAFF, AND TRYING TO PUT AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT OR A LEASE AGREEMENT TOGETHER TO USE THE ACREAGE.

THE 82 ACRES AT NORTH COUNTY DISTRICT PARK AT THAT TIME.

NOW IT'S GARDENS NORTH COUNTY DISTRICT PARK.

THAT RESOLUTION DID A LOT OF THINGS.

THAT RESOLUTION BACK IN 2017 REMAINS IN, IN IN COMPLETE COMPLIANCE TODAY.

THAT RESOLUTION APPROVED A MASTER PLAN FOR THE PARK, WHICH HAS NOT CHANGED SINCE 2017.

THAT RESOLUTION DIRECTED THE CITY MANAGER TO DO ALL THINGS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PARK, IN SUBSTANTIAL CONFORMITY WITH THE CONCEPTUAL MASTER PLAN THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, PHASES ONE AND TWO, WE DEVELOPED FIRST, WE COMPLETED IT, AND I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT THAT'S A HUGE SUCCESS. AS EVERYONE IS AWARE, IN ORDER TO LOOK AT PHASE THREE AND COMPLETE THE REQUIREMENT OF THE AGREEMENT TO BUILD AN INDOOR FIELD HOUSE.

WE ATTEMPTED TO INVITE PRIVATE ENTITIES TO THE TABLE TO SEE IF THE WAY THAT WE COULD GET A PRIVATE ENTITY TO PROVIDE US A FIELD HOUSE, ALONG WITH WHATEVER ENDEAVOR THEY HAD IN MIND, TO BE ABLE TO OBTAIN A FIELD HOUSE AT SOMEONE ELSE'S COST, WHICH IS ALWAYS MY FAVORITE THING TO DO.

SO WE INVITED THE MEN, AND WE HAD A COUPLE OF P THREE ATTEMPTS, PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR ATTEMPTS TO DO JUST THAT.

WE EVEN TRIED IT WITH THE PBMA.

THAT'S THE ICE SKATING RINK.

WE TRIED IT ALSO WITH ANOTHER GROUP CALLED MAMMOTH INVESTORS.

BOTH OF THESE GROUPS FAILED TO OBTAIN THE NECESSARY FINANCING TO BRING THESE PROJECTS FORWARD.

THEREFORE, WE HAD TO CONTINUE TO SEARCH AND TO MEET OUR OBLIGATION TO THE COUNTY.

SO STAFF BEGAN TO DISCUSS AND BRING FORWARD IDEAS TO MEET THAT OBLIGATION, BECAUSE IT IS REQUIRED TO BE MET BY 2028, OR WE WILL BE IN VIOLATION OF OUR INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT AND LEASE AGREEMENT.

IT IS TRUE AND OBVIOUS THAT THE CLEARING OF THE SITE WAS IS NECESSARY FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.

CLEARING OF THE SITES NECESSARY.

NUMBER ONE, BECAUSE WE WANT TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PARKING FOR ALL OF THESE SPECIAL EVENTS THAT WE HAVE.

OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH ALL THE SPECIAL EVENTS THAT WE SPONSOR, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SPONSORS, THE GOLF PEOPLE SPONSOR, THERE'S NEVER ENOUGH PARKING.

SO WE WE NEED TO ADD ADDITIONAL PARKING.

BY DOING THIS NOW, WE CAN REDUCE THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND AND JUST GET IT OUT OF THE WAY AND LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN DO TO REDUCE THE COST OF THE ELEMENTS.

WE ALSO NEEDED TO REMOVE EXOTICS AND WE STILL HAVE MORE TO REMOVE.

WE HAVE LEFT THE PRESERVE AND WE INTEND TO ENHANCE THE PRESERVE AND MEET THE CITY CODE AND EXCEED THE CITY CODE.

THIS. THE EXOTIC REMOVAL.

[00:35:04]

WE ISSUED THAT MEMORANDUM TO THE COUNCIL WEDNESDAY MORNING TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON, EVEN THOUGH WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT.

SO THE MEMO TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, ONE IDENTIFIES THE FACT THAT WE ARE FULFILLING THE CITY'S OBLIGATION THAT HAS BEEN ON THE BOOKS SINCE 2017.

THIS IS NOT NEW.

CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THAT IS? IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE.

THE OBLIGATION IS TO BUILD AN INDOOR RECREATION FACILITY, WHICH WOULD HELP FINALIZE THE MASTER PLAN.

STAFF DEVELOPED THE APPROACH OVER THE YEARS IN TRYING DIFFERENT WAYS OF ACHIEVING THE INDOOR FIELD, HOUSE OR RECREATION FACILITY.

WE ADVISED THE COUNCIL FURTHER THAT WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE FIRST READING OF THE BUDGET, WE WOULD THEN PUT THE ILLUSTRATION ON OUR WEBSITE AND WE WOULD PLACE PROJECT SIGNAGE AT THE LOCATION OF THIS FACILITY.

PROPOSED FACILITY.

AGAIN, THIS IS A CONCEPTUAL IDEA OF WHAT IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE.

WE PRESENTED STAFF, PRESENTED THIS CONCEPTUAL IDEA TO THE COUNTY WHO HAS TO APPROVE THE PLAN.

AND FRANKLY, THEY LOVED IT, THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT IDEA AND ENCOURAGED US TO MOVE FORWARD.

THAT'S PART OF OUR REQUIREMENTS.

IN ADDITION, HALF OF THE FUNDING WAS PUT IN THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR, SO HALF OF THE FUNDING IS THERE.

IT WENT THROUGH THE BUDGETING PROCESS, WHICH I DON'T THINK IS ANY GREAT SECRET THIS YEAR IN THE BUDGET PRESENTATION THAT YOU WILL SEE TONIGHT. THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE FACILITIES WILL BE PRESENTED IN THE BUDGET PRESENTATION BY OUR FINANCE ADMINISTRATOR, AND IT WILL BE IDENTIFIED AS IT WAS LAST YEAR, AS ANOTHER BUDGETED ITEM FOR OUR CIP.

SO I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OUT THERE.

A LOT OF MISINFORMATION WAS PUT OUT TODAY, AND I JUST THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BEST TO BRING THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY IS TO BUILD THAT FIELD HOUSE BEFORE 2028, AND WE HAVE ELECTED TO DO THAT.

WE HAVE ELECTED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT, PROVIDED WE GET APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET IN ORDER TO FUND IT.

SO THAT'S A BRIEF EXPLANATION OF WHY AND WHEN THIS OCCURRED.

THERE'S A LOT MORE TO IT.

BUT TRYING TO BE BRIEF, IT'S AN OBLIGATION WE HAVE TO MEET.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, A LOT OF OTHER TALK GOES ON.

I WANT TO REPORT TO THE COUNCIL HERE IN A PUBLIC MEETING THAT THE CITY HELD A DRC, WHICH IS A DEVELOPMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING OF STAFF WITH THE PROJECT SPONSOR OF THE PALM BEACH NORTH ATHLETIC FACILITY, THE ICE RINK.

ON WEDNESDAY THE 28TH AT 2 P.M.

HERE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, THE DRC MEETING WAS NOTICED, AS ARE ALL OF OUR PUBLIC MEETINGS ON THE WEBSITE.

THE CITY AND THE NRF HELD A DISCUSSION REGARDING 117 STAFF COMMENTS ABOUT THEIR PROPOSED PROJECT, THEIR AWARENESS.

THEY HAVE DISCUSSED THE COMMENTS AND IT IS UP TO THEM TO COME BACK TO THE STAFF ADDRESSING THE COMMENTS.

D'ARCY MEETINGS ARE RECORDED AND IF ANYONE WANTS A COPY, PLEASE CONTACT THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE AND THEY WILL HELP YOU PROVIDE A COPY FOR YOUR USE.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. I BEG YOUR PARDON?

[00:40:03]

PLEASE DON'T YELL FROM THE AUDIENCE.

BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, YOU CAN.

THE PUBLIC CAN ATTEND DRC, BUT THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO COMMENT.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE SEE RECEIVED A RATHER DISTURBING EMAIL TODAY ABOUT GOPHER TORTOISE.

I'D LIKE TO CALL OUR CITY ENGINEER, TODD ENGEL, TO THE MICROPHONE, PLEASE.

I BELIEVE THAT BASED UPON ERRONEOUS INFORMATION AND COMMENTS FROM INDIVIDUALS THAT WE RECEIVED THIS EMAIL TODAY, AND I'D SORT OF LIKE TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.

MR. ENGEL, WE'VE BEEN ACCUSED OF DESTROYING GOPHER TORTOISES AND THEIR HABITATS AND NOT GETTING AN FWC PERMIT.

CAN YOU TELL US WHAT PROCESS YOU WENT THROUGH BEFORE WE STARTED THE CLEARING AND GRUBBING OF THE ACREAGE THERE ON THE NORTH DISTRICT PARK? SO BEFORE WE ENTERED INTO THE AGREEMENT BACK IN 2017, WE AT OUR OWN EXPENSE DID AN ENVIRONMENTAL SURVEY OUT ON THE SITE WHICH SHOWED THAT THERE WAS GOPHER TORTOISES OUT ON THE SITE. SO IN FEBRUARY 2018, BEFORE WE CLEANED, WHAT WAS PHASE ONE BACK THEN? WE GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL PERMIT FROM THE FWC TO REMOVE THOSE TORTOISES AND RELOCATE THEM NORTH OF ORLANDO.

WE QUICKLY MOVED INTO PHASE TWO.

SO IN JULY OF 2018, WE GOT AN EXTENSION TO THAT PERMIT TO INCLUDE THE ADDITIONAL ACREAGE.

IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, WE WENT AND DID OUR GOPHER TORTOISE ANALYSIS ON THE SITE, WHICH SHOWED THERE WAS NO LIVING GOPHER TORTOISES IN THE AREA TO BE CLEARED.

THEREFORE, AN FWC PERMIT WAS NOT NECESSARY.

SO WE BEGAN THE CLEARING PROCESS.

MR. ENGLE, WHEN YOU SAY WE DID, DID YOU HIRE SOMEONE TO DO THAT FOR YOU? YES. WE HIRED A LICENSED GOPHER TORTOISE INSPECTOR OUT THERE FOR THE SITE, AND THEY DID THAT AND GAVE US A REPORT WHICH WE'LL MAKE AVAILABLE TO WHOEVER WOULD LIKE IT.

AND IF BY CHANCE WE SHOULD SEE A TORTOISE THERE.

WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO OBSERVE ONE AND WHY? IF WE SEE ONE THERE, IT'S BEEN IT'S NOT IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA THERE IN THE 22 ACRES OF PRESERVES THAT WE HAVE ON SITE WHERE THEY SHOULD BE LIVING OUT ON THE SITE.

WE'VE ONLY REMOVED THE ONES THAT LIVED IN THE AREAS THAT WE WERE DISTURBING, THE ONES THAT EXISTED WITHIN THE EXISTING PRESERVES.

WE HAVE NOT TOUCHED THEM.

SO WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH FWC.

CORRECT. HAVE THEY BEEN OUT THERE SINCE? YES. THEY WERE CALLED OUT HERE WHEN WE STARTED CLEARING.

THERE WAS A WOMAN OUT HERE.

MR. DAVID REYES MET WITH THEM IN MY ABSENCE AND PRESENTED HIM WITH THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAD IN THE FWC WAS SATISFIED.

SO HAVE WE BEEN GOOD? I GUESS WHAT DO YOU CALL IT WHEN STEWARDS OF THE GOPHER TORTOISE, TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY AND GONE THROUGH ALL THE PROCESSES? YES.

AND WE'VE MET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE FWC AS WELL.

AND SHOULD A GOPHER TORTOISE ENTER THE AREA OF CONSTRUCTION, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN? WE WILL RELOCATE THEM BACK OUT OF THE AREA OF CONSTRUCTION.

THANK YOU FOR THAT, I APPRECIATE IT.

APPRECIATE IT.

THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT FOR THE EVENING.

THANK YOU SIR.

SO THAT WOULD BE THE END OF OUR ANNOUNCEMENTS.

PRESENTATIONS. LAST CITY MANAGER REPORT.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS.

WE HAVE QUITE A FEW CARDS THIS EVENING AND A LOT OF COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, SORRY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.

[V. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC]

SO IF YOU WHEN YOU DO COME UP, IF YOU ARE REPEATING SOMETHING SOMEONE HAS ALREADY SAID FOR THIS WE UNDERSTAND YOUR DESIRES.

BUT CONSIDER BREVITY.

FOR ANYONE WHO HASN'T SPOKEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING WHERE YOU WILL PROVIDE US YOUR THOUGHTS. WE LIKE TO SAY THAT THIS CHAMBER FUNCTIONS EFFECTIVELY WHEN WE HAVE DECORUM AND RESPECTFUL PROFESSIONAL TONE.

SO THAT MEANS IF SOMEONE IS SPEAKING, PLEASE DON'T SPEAK WHILE THEY'RE SPEAKING.

IF YOU COME UP TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE BE PREPARED.

YOU'LL HAVE ABOUT THREE MINUTES.

THAT'S ABOUT 450 WORDS.

SO IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO READ, MAYBE CHECK FOR 450 WORDS SO YOU CAN GET ALL YOUR WORDS IN.

AND WE DO ASK THAT YOU ADDRESS THE PRESIDING OFFICER DIRECTLY, WHICH IS ME AS OPPOSED TO INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF COUNCIL STAFF OR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

WE ASK YOU TO BE COURTEOUS AND RESPECTFUL.

WE ASK WE ASK YOU TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO COMPLETE THEIR COMMENTS WITHOUT INTERRUPTION NOISES, COMMENTS, GESTURES, OR CAJOLING ANYONE WHO'S SPEAKING.

[00:45:05]

WE ARE ALL HERE BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT SOMETHING.

AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE US TO LISTEN, WE WANT TO HEAR YOU.

SO PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO RESPECT THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU THAT ARE SPEAKING.

WE TRY TO CULTIVATE AND PROTECT AN ATMOSPHERE WHERE THE MEMBERS OF OUR COUNCIL AND OUR PUBLIC CAN ATTEND TO WHAT IS CALLED MUNICIPAL BUSINESS OPENLY, FAIRLY AND RESPECTFULLY, WITH FULL PARTICIPATION.

WHEN I CALL THE NAMES, I'LL LET YOU KNOW WHO THE SECOND PERSON WILL BE.

SO IF YOU COULD BE PREPARED TO COME UP, THAT WILL HELP US GET THROUGH IT.

YOU KNOW, IN AN EXPEDITIOUS WAY.

BECAUSE WE HAVE TO PASS THE BUDGET TONIGHT, YOU GUYS.

SO WE HAVE A LOT TO DO.

THE FIRST PERSON TO SPEAK WILL BE CHUCK HARVEY, FOLLOWED BY MIKE MARTINO.

IF YOU COULD COME UP, STATE YOUR NAME, SIR.

AND YOUR ADDRESS.

MAYOR. VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO YOU TONIGHT.

MY NAME IS CHUCK HARVEY, AND I HAVE THE HONOR TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF HORSESHOE ACRES.

HORSESHOE ACRES, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, IS 150 FAMILY RESIDENTS JUST OFF OF NORTH LAKE BOULEVARD.

FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, WE'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE RESIDENTS IN HIDDEN HOLLOW, WHOSE PROPERTY ABUTS OUR ONLY ENTRANCE ROAD, COUNCIL DRIVE. THE PROBLEM STARTED IN 2022, WHEN I WAS NOT A MEMBER OF THE BOARD.

EVERYTHING ABOUT THE INITIAL SITUATION IS HEARSAY FOR ME BECAUSE I WAS NOT THERE AND I DO NOT WANT TO DWELL INTO THIS.

THE PRIMARY SITUATION.

SORRY. THE PRIMARY SITUATION IS THAT THE RESIDENT IN HIDDEN HOLLOW HAS CONSTANTLY TRASHED ASIDE THE PROPERTY ALONG KELSO DRIVE, PUTTING RECYCLE BINS AND GENERAL RUBBISH ON THE WEST SIDE OF HER LOT AND FENCE.

SHE HAS PLACED VULGAR SIGNS ON THE FENCE FACING KELSO DRIVE THAT, IN OUR OPINION, ARE FAR OUTSIDE THE STANDARDS OF PALM BEACH GARDENS. I HAVE PROVIDED YOU WITH THE PHOTOS OF OUR ENTRANCE AND ALSO THE PROBLEM AREA, WHICH ARE ABOUT 100 YARDS SOUTH OF OUR ENTRANCE, COMING INTO HORSESHOE ACRES. THE FIRST THING YOU SEE IS THE TRASH AND VULGAR SIGN FROM THE RESIDENT AND HOLLOW HIDDEN HOLLOW.

THE SAD PART IS THAT OUR CHILDREN, WITH ALL THEIR PRESENT DAY PROBLEMS, ARE FORCED TO SEE THIS SMUT EVERY DAY AS THEY APPROACH THE BUS PICKUP AREA AT NORTH LAKE BOULEVARD, GOING TO AND COMING FROM THEIR HOMES.

THE RUBBISH AND YARD DEBRIS ALONG THE FENCE LINE IS NOT JUST AN EYESORE.

IT HAS BEEN AT TIMES INCLUDE ITEMS THAT COULD ENDANGER YOUNG CHILDREN, FOR EXAMPLE LOOSE CHICKEN WIRE.

SOME OF THE ITEMS COULD BECOME WIND DRIVEN PROJECTILES OR EVEN A FIRE HAZARD.

OVERALL, WE FEEL THE INTENT BEHIND THE OBJECTIVE SIGNS AND THE TRASH FULFILLS THE DEFINITION OF A SPIKE FENCE WOULD NOT SIGN, SUCH AS THIS ONE SEEN IN PUBLIC.

LEGALLY BE CONSIDERED OUTRAGEOUS CONDUCT AND POTENTIAL HARASSMENT.

WE ARE ASKING YOUR HELP TO REVIEW THE SITUATION WITH THE RULING.

OPINION OF ATTORNEY AND ASSISTANT ATTORNEY OF THE PALM BEACH GARDENS.

BOTH MEN HAVE BEEN VERY POSITIVE WITH US, AND THE ASSISTANT ATTORNEY CAME TO OUR SUBDIVISION TO REVIEW THE PROBLEM FIRSTHAND.

AND WE DO APPRECIATE THAT.

ALSO, WE HAVE A CODE ENFORCEMENT CASE NUMBER PENDING AN OUTCOME.

AGAIN, GREAT PEOPLE TO WORK WITH.

THE RULING BY THE CITY ATTORNEY ASSISTANT ATTORNEY IS THEY HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE CONTENT OF THE SIGN DOES NOT RISE TO THE LEVEL OF BEING OBSCENE FOR A SIGN TO REACH THAT LEVEL OF OBSCENE.

HE STATED THAT IT MUST OFFEND THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF PERSON OR PERSONS.

OF COURSE WE RESPECT IT AND WILL ABIDE BY HIS RULING.

THANK YOU AND AS ALWAYS, FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.

AND MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA.

THANK YOU SIR.

NEXT WE HAVE MR. MIKE MARTINO.

THANK YOU MAYOR. APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.

MIKE MARTINO, 320 BALSAM STREET FOR THE LAST 60 YEARS.

I APPRECIATE WHAT I SAW TONIGHT IN THE WAY OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT HAS MADE SINCE 1968. THE ONE THING IN THE WAYBACK MACHINE THAT CAUGHT MY EYE WAS THE RIVERSIDE SITUATION.

THAT'S THE BUILDING THAT WHEN I WAS THE MAYOR THAT WE BOUGHT.

SO IT'S NICE TO SEE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT THAT BUILDING IS BRINGING TO THE COMMUNITY.

THOSE THINGS ARE WHY I'M HERE.

PLANT DRIVE FALLS INTO THAT CATEGORY, AND IT'S NOT GOT THE RESPECT THAT IT DESERVES.

[00:50:04]

AND NOW WE'RE FACED WITH A SITUATION THAT'S UNTENABLE, TAKING EIGHT ACRES OF OPEN SPACE AND COVERING IT OVER WITH ROCK HARD CONCRETE AND THEN ON TOP OF IT, PUTTING 120,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING, NOT IN THE INTEREST OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR ANY OF THE RESIDENTS OF PALM BEACH GARDENS.

SO THE CITY MANAGER DID AN EXCELLENT JOB OF THE SECOND THING I WANTED TO DISCUSS, WHICH IS THIS FIELD HOUSE PROPOSAL.

THERE IS NO REASON THAT I CAN FATHOM THAT THAT FIELD HOUSE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO CONTEMPLATE AND THE ICE RINK THAT YOU'RE FORCING ON PLANT DRIVE CANNOT BE COMPATIBLE ON THAT SAME SITE, WHICH WAS APPROVED IN 2019. JUST IN THAT FORM, A FIELD HOUSE IN AN ICE RINK.

THAT'S A WIN WIN SITUATION.

YOU MOVE IT FROM PLANT DRIVE WHERE IT DOESN'T BELONG.

THE NEIGHBORS WOULD APPRECIATE IT.

THE RESIDENTS WOULD APPRECIATE IT, AND IT WOULD BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF ALL.

SO THAT'S MY PROPOSAL.

ONE OTHER THING BEFORE YOU RING THE BELL.

THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS, THERE WAS NO PUBLIC INPUT.

YEAH. OKAY.

SO. SO WHAT I'M PROPOSING, AND I'M CHALLENGING THE CITY COUNCIL TO DO, IS HOLD A PUBLIC FORUM ON BOTH OF THESE ISSUES, UNLESS COMBINE OUR TALENTS AND MAKE IT WORK FOR EVERYBODY.

THANK YOU. NEXT UP WE HAVE DONALD J M A L A H, I THINK, AND WHEN PEOPLE ARE SPEAKING, PLEASE ALLOW THEM TO SPEAK WITHOUT INTERRUPTION. I WILL INTERRUPT AND I DON'T WANT TO.

I WANT EVERYONE TO BE ABLE TO FULFILL WHAT THEY CAME UP HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT.

SO PLEASE, WHETHER THEY'RE SAYING SOMETHING POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE THAT YOU AGREE WITH OR DON'T AGREE WITH, PLEASE DON'T INTERRUPT THEM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AFTER THAT WILL BE VICKI.

CARMEN. THANK YOU.

IT'S DONALD JONATHAN MALLOCH.

I LIVE AT 12741 1/59 COURT, NORTH JUPITER, FLORIDA.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOMETHING I'M DEEPLY PASSIONATE ABOUT.

YOUTH HOCKEY.

THIS IS A SPORT THAT'S MORE THAN JUST A GAME.

IT'S A FOUNDATION FOR BUILDING CHARACTER, FOSTERING THE COMMUNITY AND SHAPING OUR LEADERS TOMORROW.

THE ROLE OF HOCKEY IN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT.

HOCKEY IS NOT JUST ABOUT SCORING GOALS AND WINNING GAMES.

IT'S ABOUT TEACHING OUR YOUTH PLAYERS THE VALUES OF TEAMWORK, DISCIPLINE AND RESILIENCE.

ON THE ICE, THEY LEARN THE IMPORTANCE OF HARD WORK, HOW TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES, THE VALUE OF PUSHING THEMSELVES TO BE BETTER EVERY DAY.

THIS LESSON EXTENDS BEYOND THE RING.

THERE ARE LIFE SKILLS THAT OUR YOUTH CARRY WITH THEM IN EVERYTHING THEY DO.

BUILDING LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS IN THE COMMUNITY.

ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ASPECTS OF YOUTH HOCKEY IS A SENSE OF THE COMMUNITY IT CREATES.

PLAYERS, PARENTS, COACHES AND FANS ALL COME TOGETHER, FORMING BONDS THAT LAST A LIFETIME.

FRIENDSHIPS FORGED IN THE LOCKER ROOMS ON THE ICE ARE SPECIAL.

THESE TEACH OUR KIDS ABOUT CAMARADERIE, TRUST AND JOY OF SUCCESS, THE SENSE OF BELONGING AND BEING PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER THAN ONESELF. IT ENCOURAGES HEALTH AND AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE.

IN A WORLD WHERE SCREENS ARE OFTEN DOMINATING OUR KIDS ATTENTION, HOCKEY OFFERS A CRITICAL ALTERNATIVE.

IT GIVES THEM MOVING, BUILDING THEIR PHYSICAL FITNESS, ENCOURAGING HEALTH AND AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE.

BUT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT PHYSICAL HEALTH.

HOCKEY ALSO SUPPORTS MENTAL WELLBEING.

THE CONFIDENCE GAINED FROM MASTERING A SKILL, THE STRESS RELIEF OF A PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND THE JOY OF PLAYING A GAME ALL CONTRIBUTE TO OUR YOUTH'S OVERALL HAPPINESS AND HEALTH. SUPPORTING DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS.

FOR MANY OF OUR YOUNG PLAYERS, HOCKEY IS MORE THAN JUST A HOBBY.

IT'S A DREAM WHERE THEY CAN ASPIRE TO PLAY AT A HIGHER LEVEL, OR SIMPLY CONTINUE TO ENJOY SPORTS THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES.

HOCKEY GIVES THEM A GOAL TO STRIVE FOR.

AS FOR COMMUNITY, IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SUPPORT THESE DREAMS AND TO PROVIDE RESOURCES AND ENCOURAGEMENT THAT THEY NEED TO FULFILL THEIR DREAMS.

[00:55:03]

HOCKEY BRINGS FAMILIES CLOSER TOGETHER.

IT CREATES MEMORIES FOR A LONG LIFETIME, STRENGTHENS FAMILY TIES, AND FOSTERS A SENSE OF PRIDE AND ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT EVERY PARENT WANTS FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

IN CLOSING, YOUTH HOCKEY IS ABOUT MUCH MORE THAN JUST A SPORT.

IT'S DEVELOPING STRONG, CONFIDENT, WELL-ROUNDED YOUNG PEOPLE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE HAVE VICKI, CARMEN, AND THEN RYAN, A DRIGGERS.

WHEN YOU COME UP, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.

THANK YOU. MY NAME IS VICKI CARMEN.

AND 12910 BRIER LAKE DRIVE IN PALM BEACH GARDENS.

I AM HERE TODAY TO REPRESENT LILAC DOG PARK.

AS SOMEONE WHO'S PARTICIPATED IN THE COMMUNITY EVERY MORNING FOR THE PAST DECADE.

WHILE I MAY RESIDE.

CURRENTLY IN UNINCORPORATED.

MY DAD STILL LIVES HERE WITHIN THE CITY.

LILAC DOG PARK HAS BEEN MY SECOND HOME, AND I HAVE BECOME INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH THE COMINGS AND GOINGS OF LIFE ON THAT CORNER BETWEEN PLANT DRIVE AND LILAC.

EVERY MORNING BETWEEN 8 AND 11, I WITNESSED THE REALITY OF TRAFFIC ON THIS BUSY CORNER.

SPEEDERS ARE A CONSTANT PRESENCE.

MANY CAUSED BY THE PICKLEBALL PLAYERS CARS WHO ARE ZOOMING IN AND OUT OF THE PARKING LOT TO MAKE SURE NOBODY TAKES THEIR COURT.

NOT JUST HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO ARE SHOWING OFF THEIR NEW CARS ANYMORE.

WE RARELY EVER SEE POLICE TRYING TO SLOW DOWN THE TRAFFIC THERE, OR GIVE WARNINGS OR TICKETING ONCE IN A WHILE, AND THEY SHOULD BE THERE MORE OFTEN TO BOTH HANDLE BOTH CONCERNS.

THIS INTERSECTION IS ALIVE WITH ACTIVITY, AND I'VE SEEN PLENTY, FAR MORE THAN ANYONE LOOKING AT STATISTICS OR REPORTS THAT OUR REPORTS MIGHT UNDERSTAND.

RECENTLY, CHANGES HAVE COME TO THE AREA WITH THE ADDITION OF THE PICKLEBALL COURTS ON THE FORMER SOCCER FIELD.

WHILE I'M ALL FOR RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, THIS HAS CREATED A REAL ISSUE FOR THOSE OF US WHO FREQUENT THE DOG PARK.

OUR ONCE RELIABLE PARKING SPACES HAVE NOW BEEN OVERTAKEN AND FINDING A SPOT IS A DAILY STRUGGLE.

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE LONG USED THIS LOT TO AVOID PAYING PARKING PERMITS AT THE SCHOOL, FURTHER SQUEEZING THE LIMITED PARKING THAT WE HAVE.

AND THEN THERE'S THE THE LOOMING TRAFFIC ISSUE OF A POTENTIAL ICE RINK.

HOW DO YOU EXPECT THAT WE HANDLE MORE CARS, ESPECIALLY DURING PEAK SEASON WHEN THERE IS NOWHERE FOR THEM TO GO EXCEPT THROUGH OUR RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS? IS THAT WHAT WE WANT TO FUNNEL OUT OF TOWN TRAFFIC THROUGH OUR QUIET STREETS SO THAT THEY CAN ACCESS A RINK AND ICE RINK? I URGE THE COUNCIL TO RECONSIDER THE TRAFFIC REPORT SUBMITTED BY THE FOUNDATION AND TO COMMISSION A NEW STUDY DURING PEAK SNOWBIRD SEASON AND WHEN SCHOOL IS IN FULL SWING. TO TRULY UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT, THIS PARK WAS GIVEN TO THE CITY AS A PLACE FOR RECREATION, AN AMENITY THAT SHOULD ENHANCE THE LIVES OF THE NEIGHBORS WHO LIVE HERE, NOT AS A SITE FOR INCREASED COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT.

PALM BEACH GARDENS WAS NAMED FOR GREEN SPACES FOR ITS COMMITMENT TO PRESERVING NATURE.

WE'RE LOSING THAT IDENTITY WITH EVERY NEW CONCRETE BUILDING.

I PROPOSE A DIFFERENT VISION.

LET'S REDESIGN PLAN STREET PARK AND TRULY SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.

MOVE THE DOG PARK TO THE OLD PICKLEBALL COURTS WITH ARTIFICIAL GRASS.

USE THE CORNER PARKING LOT BY THE HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE DOG PARK PARKING AND REPURPOSE THE OLD DOG PARK LOT.

THE OLD DOG PARK FOR ADDITIONAL PARKING FOR PICKLEBALL AND FOR OVERFLOW TRAFFIC.

OH WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NEXT WE HAVE RYAN DRIGGERS AND THEN LISA FENTON.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS RYAN AUSTIN DRIGGERS.

I'M FROM 126 PARKWOOD DRIVE OUT IN ROYAL PALM BEACH.

I WENT TO PALM BEACH GARDENS HIGH SCHOOL MY FIRST TIME EVER.

GOING TO THE SKATE PARK UP IN HERE IN PALM BEACH GARDENS WAS BACK IN FIFTH GRADE.

IT'S SOMETHING I HAVE NOTICED IS IT HASN'T REALLY CHANGED, NOR HAS YOU GUYS.

I FEEL ADDED ANYTHING TO THE PARK.

IF YOU GO TO JUPITER SKATE PARK, IT'S A LOT NICER AND IT'S BETTER COMPARED TO WHAT WE HAVE HERE IN GARDENS.

YOU GOT ZION WRIGHT, WHO'S AN OLYMPIC SKATER FROM JUPITER, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE PARKS ARE A LITTLE BETTER.

LEARN MORE TRICKS. I THINK YOU GUYS SHOULD ACTUALLY ADD MORE FUNDING TO THE SKATE PARK HERE.

ICE HOCKEY RINK. I DEFINITELY DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD KNOCK DOWN A WHOLE PARK.

THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

HONESTLY, IN MY OPINION AND EVERYONE ELSE'S OPINION, REALISTICALLY, I THINK IT SHOULD GO OUT TOWARDS MORE NORTH LAKE AREA WHERE YOU GUYS ARE DEVELOPING TOWARDS.

WHAT IS IT? I BELIEVE IT'S COCONUT AND NORTH LAKE OUT THERE WITH THE NEW DEVELOPMENT YOU GUYS ARE BUILDING OR PUT IT SOMEWHERE ELSE, JUST DON'T KNOCK DOWN A PARK.

[01:00:02]

AND AS FAR AS THE WHOLE GOPHER TORTOISE THING AS YOU GUYS ARE GOING ON OR DESTROYING THAT HABITAT, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.

I KNOW, I'M SURE IT WAS PROBABLY FOUND BEFORE PRIOR THAT THERE WERE TURTLES THERE AND THAT WAS ALL HIDDEN.

BUT JUST KIND OF SOMETHING I PICKED UP WHILE BEING HERE.

AND IF YOU GUYS CAN ALSO WORK ON THE TRAFFIC ON NORTH LAKE, IT'S ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS IN THE MORNINGS.

BUT, YEAH, DON'T DESTROY THE SKATE PARK ICE HOCKEY RINK.

I USED TO SKATE. NOT IN HOCKEY OR ANYTHING.

JUST THE LOCAL RINK WOULD GO THERE.

HAD A GOOD TIME, BUT YEAH, I, I CARE ABOUT SPORTS.

SPORTS ARE IMPORTANT. I SEE BOTH ASPECTS, BOTH SIDES.

SO I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME COMPROMISE OF MOVING THE PARK OR YOU GUYS PLAN TO DEVELOP ON PLANT DRIVE.

I SEE WITH THE TRAFFIC FROM LOCALS HERE TO WHERE THEY DON'T WANT MORE PEOPLE COMING IN AND OUT.

SO IF THERE'S A WAY TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE TRAFFIC ISN'T GOING THERE AND YOU GUYS CAN PROVIDE PROPER PARKING, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

BUT OVERALL, JUST DON'T KNOCK DOWN THE SKATE PARK AND YOU GUYS WILL BE COOL.

OTHERWISE, YOU KNOW YOU GUYS SUCK.

BUT THANK YOU.

NEXT WE HAVE LISA FENTON AND THEN MATT VAN DER POL.

THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

AND MY NAME IS LISA FENTON.

I LIVE ON CARNATION CIRCLE SOUTH IN PALM BEACH GARDENS.

I'M SORRY, MA'AM, WE NEED YOUR FULL ADDRESS.

WHAT WAS THAT? YOUR FULL ADDRESS, PLEASE.

YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS? 3855 CARNATION CIRCLE SOUTH.

LISA J. FENTON.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT SKATEBOARDING AND MENTAL HEALTH.

YOU KNOW, THE KIDS TODAY ARE SOME OF THE SADDEST KIDS EVER.

UNDER 20.

THERE'S BEEN STUDIES DONE THAT ARE THE SADDEST AGE GROUP IN AMERICA.

THAT'S WHY IT IS A SIN TO TAKE AWAY THE SKATE PARK.

DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE ARE AT HIGH RECORD HIGHS.

SKATEBOARDING OFFERS LIBERATION FROM MENTAL STRAIN AND OPPORTUNITY FOR CREATIVE EXPRESSION, FREEDOM FROM TRADITIONAL TEAM DYNAMICS, AND FORGING AN INDEPENDENT IDENTITY.

SKATEBOARDING FOSTERS RESILIENCE AND SELF-CONFIDENCE, TEACHES RISK ASSESSMENT, AND TRANSFORMS THE FEAR OF FALLING INTO LESSONS OF DETERMINATION. IMPORTANTLY, IT ALSO PROVIDES THE SKATER COMMUNITY WHERE KIDS OF VARYING BACKGROUNDS CAN MINGLE AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER, MINIMIZING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT COULD ARISE FROM ISOLATION AND ANXIETY.

WE ALL WANT TO FOSTER ENVIRONMENTS FOR OUR CHILDREN TO THRIVE, LEARN AND CONNECT WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND WE ALL WANT A HEALTHY COMMUNITY. SO THAT'S WHY I'M SPEAKING HERE TONIGHT.

LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO LOOK AT ORGANIZED SPORTS LIKE HOCKEY.

AS THE YOUNG MAN FROM JUPITER WAS TALKING ABOUT.

HOCKEY'S GREAT.

AND FIGURE SKATING.

WE ALL LOVE FIGURE SKATING.

YES. THERE, THERE. RIGOROUS, TEAM BASED AND THRILLING.

BUT LET'S FACE FACTS.

ENGAGING IN THESE ACTIVITIES OFTEN COMES WITH A HEFTY PRICE TAG.

THE COST OF HOCKEY IS ASTOUNDING.

IT IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE YOUTH SPORT YOU CAN PUT YOUR CHILD IN TODAY.

SO SKATES ALONE CAN COST FROM 500 TO OVER $1,000.

FACTORING IN LESSONS, UNIFORMS, TRAVEL TEAMS AND YOU'VE CREATED AN EXCLUSIVE CLUB.

FIGURE SKATING IS ALSO FAIRLY EXPENSIVE.

MANY FAMILIES JUST SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD ALL THAT COME WITH IT, IN CONTRAST, THIS VOLUME KEEPS GOING UP AND DOWN. FIGURE SKATING.

IN CONTRAST, LET'S LOOK AT THE KID WALKING DOWN THE STREET ON HIS WAY TO THE SKATE PARK.

HE HAS HIS HELMET AND HIS BOARD AND SOME SHOES, AND HE'S SET.

HE'S ROLLING.

HE'S READY TO ROLL INTO HIS WORLD OF SELF-DETERMINATION, CREATIVITY AND EXERCISE ALL SERVED UP WITH A SIDE OF FUN. SO PLEASE DON'T TAKE AWAY THE SKATE PARK.

WE OWE IT TO THE COMMUNITY TO DESIGN SPACES OF ACCESSIBILITY FOR EVERY CHILD WHO SEEKS THEM.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE MATT VANDERPOEL AND THEN ERIC BROWN.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MATT VANDERPOEL.

I AM A NATIVE.

I WENT TO PALM BEACH GARDENS HIGH SCHOOL AND I.

SORRY. I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU.

WE CAN PAUSE THE CLOCK. WOULD YOU PLEASE REPEAT YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS IN FULL? OH, I APOLOGIZE, MY NAME IS MATT VANDERPOEL.

[01:05:03]

I AM A NATIVE OF PALM BEACH GARDENS.

I WAS BORN IN PALM BEACH GARDENS HOSPITAL, BUT THERE'S THERE'S NO OTHER PERSON THAT WAS PROBABLY BORN THERE.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT THERE, BUT I WAS BORN THERE IN 1974, AND I WENT TO PALM BEACH GARDENS HIGH SCHOOL, HOWELL, WATKINS, NORTH PALM BEACH ELEMENTARY.

I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT PLANT DRIVE.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PARK.

WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE HOLD HANDS ON JONATHAN DICKINSON'S.

OKAY. WE ALSO HAVE GOPHER TURTLES ON THAT SITE.

AND SCRUB JAYS WHICH IS JUST SOME OF THE NATURAL ANIMALS THAT HAVE BEEN IN THIS AREA SINCE DAY ONE.

THE KIDS LOVE THAT PARK.

IT'S A GREAT PLACE.

WHEN I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL, SKATEBOARDING WAS ILLEGAL.

NOW IT'S IN THE OLYMPICS.

MY MY SON IS A CHAMPION SKATEBOARDER.

YOUR POLICE ALREADY TOLD ME TO CONTAIN MYSELF AND HOLD MYSELF.

I MEAN NO HARM.

I'M HERE FOR THE FUTURE.

AND THE CHILDREN AND THIS BEAUTIFUL PARK.

THE TRAFFIC DOWN HOLLY DRIVE AND THE OTHER AREAS WOULD JUST BE RIDICULOUS IF THAT TYPE OF ICE SKATING RINK OR WHATEVER THEY WANT.

AND I SAW THE PROPOSAL.

THEY THEY WANT A SPORTS BAR IN THERE.

IT'S BEHIND A HIGH SCHOOL.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO HOW ARE YOU GOING TO SERVE OF ALCOHOL BEHIND A HIGH SCHOOL.

I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING.

I'M A NATIVE, AND I'M ALL ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.

EVERYONE HELD HANDS FOR JONATHAN DICKINSON STATE PARK.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S SCRUB JAYS, GOPHER TURTLES, AND WE HAVE CHILDREN.

THIS IS OUR FUTURE.

WE NEED TO PRESERVE IT.

THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT AREA.

IT NEEDS TO BE PRESERVED AS IS.

I AM NO THREAT TO YOU OR YOU, SIR, OR ANYBODY ELSE.

I AM THE SPEAKER OF THE FUTURE BECAUSE I HAVE A CHILD.

PLEASE, PLEASE RESPECT PLANT DRIVE.

IT'S A WONDERFUL PARK.

IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE CHANGED AT ALL.

AND THE ICE SKATING RINK IS A GREAT IDEA.

JUST PLEASE PROPOSE IT IN ANOTHER AREA THAT WOULD BE MORE ACCOMMODATING FOR THAT TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT.

THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE ERIC BROWN AND THEN AFTER ERIC BROWN WE HAVE HELEN BROWN.

THANK YOU. HELLO AGAIN.

MY NAME IS ERIC BROWN, 162 PLANT DRIVE.

AND I'VE ALREADY ADDRESSED YOU MANY TIMES ON THIS SUBJECT, AND I SINCERELY HOPE THAT YOU'RE TAKING ME SERIOUSLY. I SEE THAT YOU'RE ALL LOOKING AT ME, PAYING ATTENTION, BUT WE DON'T SEEM TO BE GETTING ANYWHERE WITH THIS.

I'VE LOOKED AT THE PLANS THAT YOU'VE PROPOSED FOR THIS ICE SKATING RINK, WHERE THE PARKING LOT IS GOING TO THE ENTRANCE AND EXIT IS GOING TO BE RIGHT ACROSS FROM MY FRONT DOOR OF MY HOUSE.

AND I REALLY WONDER, WOULD YOU GUYS LIKE THAT OUTSIDE YOUR FRONT DOOR? THE BUILDING IS GOING TO BE A BIG, UGLY BLIGHT ON OUR NEIGHBOR, ON OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

BUT THE PARK WITH THE SOFTBALL FIELD THAT THE HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS PLAY SOFTBALL ON IS BEAUTIFUL.

THE SKATE PARK IS BEAUTIFUL.

THE TREES ARE BEAUTIFUL.

WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE PROPOSED IS REALLY PRETTY UGLY.

I THINK THAT IF YOU WANT TO DO ICE SKATING, THERE HAVE TO BE SOME COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.

SOME OTHER PLACES WHERE IT CAN BE DONE.

BUT TO TAKE AWAY A FREE PARK WHERE KIDS PLAY BASKETBALL, RIDE BICYCLES, RIDE SKATEBOARDS, I THINK IS A DISSERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

I THINK THAT YOU GUYS ARE HERE TO DO A SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY, NOT TO A BUNCH OF PRIVATE INVESTORS WHO WANT TO BUILD A BAR

[01:10:06]

I LOOKED AT YOUR PLANS.

YOU WANT TO PUT THE DUMPSTER RIGHT OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH? IS ANY THOUGHT GOING INTO WHAT YOU ARE PLANNING TO DO? THIS BUILDING IS A BLIGHT.

IT IS BIG, UGLY AND DISGUSTING.

AND IT DOESN'T BELONG WHERE OUR OLDEST PARK IN PALM BEACH GARDENS NOW STANDS, WHERE AMANDA J.

BUCKLEY SOFTBALL FIELD NOW STANDS.

DO YOU KNOW WHY IT'S CALLED AMANDA J.

BUCKLEY SOFTBALL FIELD.

WITH GOOD REASON.

UNFORTUNATELY, SHE WAS MURDERED IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THANK YOU SIR. NEXT WE HAVE.

PLEASE RECONSIDER THIS.

NEXT, WE HAVE HELEN BROWN.

AFTER THAT, WE'LL HAVE MADELINE.

AARON.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS HELEN BROWN.

I LIVE AT 101 62 PLANT DRIVE, 101 60 PLANT DRIVE.

AND I AM HERE THIS EVENING ONCE AGAIN TO ADDRESS YOU ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY, TO EXPRESS OUR STRONG OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSAL TO BUILD AN ICE RINK ON TOP OF OUR COMMUNITY PARK.

THIS PARK SERVES AS A VITAL FREE OUTDOOR SPACE WHERE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES GATHER TO PLAY AND ENGAGE IN OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES.

REPLACING THIS PUBLIC SPACE WITH A PAY TO PLAY ICE RINK WILL GREATLY DIMINISH THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

IN ADDITION TO OUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE LOSS OF THIS CHERISHED PARK, WE ARE DEEPLY WORRIED ABOUT THE IMPACT THIS PROJECT WILL HAVE ON OUR LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE. THE STREETS SURROUNDING THE PARK ARE NOT BUILT TO WITHSTAND THE HEAVY MACHINERY AND TRUCKS THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO CONSTRUCT AN ICE RINK.

ALREADY DURING THE WORK TO CONSTRUCT THE PICKLEBALL COURTS, WE HAVE SEEN CRACKS IN OUR ROADS, MY DRIVEWAY AND AREA IN FRONT OF MY MAILBOX ARE ALL BROKEN UP DUE TO THE WEIGHT OF THE TRUCKS IN.

IT CONTINUED UP OUR DRIVEWAY.

THEY'VE DRIVEN AROUND ON THE GRASS.

WE'VE CALLED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT, AND WE'RE TOLD IF WE DIDN'T HAVE PICTURES BEFORE, IT WOULDN'T MATTER FOR THE PICTURES THAT WE HAVE NOW TO SHOW WHERE THE DAMAGE IS OCCURRING.

IT RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT POTENTIAL DAMAGE TO OUR PLUMBING AND OUR UNDERGROUND UTILITIES, AS WELL AS THE OVERALL SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY WITH THESE GIANT TRUCKS DRIVING AROUND. FURTHERMORE, THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS ITSELF WOULD IMPOSE SIGNIFICANT DISRUPTIONS TO THE LIVES OF THOSE LIVING IN THE AREA.

WE ARE LOOKING TO POTENTIALLY TWO YEARS OF NOISE, DUST, DIRT AND TRAFFIC CAUSED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRUCKS THAT WOULD MAKE EVERYDAY LIFE UNBEARABLE FOR MANY.

IT IS SIMPLY NOT FAIR TO ASK OUR COMMUNITY TO ENDURE SUCH HARDSHIP, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE END RESULT IS A PAID FACILITY THAT MOST OF US DON'T EVEN WANT. WE URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER THIS PROJECT AND PRESERVE OUR COMMUNITY AS A FREE PARK.

OPEN SPACE FOR THE RESIDENTS TO ENJOY.

OUR COMMUNITY DOES NOT WANT TO LOSE THIS ESSENTIAL OUTDOOR AREA, AND WE DO NOT WANT TO DEAL WITH THE LONG TERM CONSEQUENCES OF PROJECTS THAT WILL NEGATIVELY IMPACT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE.

WE DO HOPE THAT YOU LISTEN TO THE VOICES OF THE RESIDENTS AND PRIORITIZE THIS WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY.

I HAVE 23 SECONDS TO ADD.

I PLAY CARDS, I PLAY MAHJONG, I'M ALL OVER TOWN AND IT IS SAID THAT THERE IS SOMEBODY ON THE COUNCIL THAT LIVES IN PGA NATIONAL WHO IS SAYING THAT THIS IS A DONE DEAL, AND THEY'D RATHER OUR NEIGHBORHOODS NOT EVEN BE THERE AND BE BUILT OVER.

I DON'T KNOW WHO LIVES WHERE, BUT I'M TELLING YOU, I'VE HEARD IT FROM FIVE DIFFERENT MAHJONG GAMES AND ONE THAT'S IN THE MIRACLE CENTER.

SO IT'S RATHER UPSETTING.

WHO? WHOEVER LIVES IN PGA NATIONAL.

I FOLLOW YOU OUT.

MADELINE ZARIN AND THEN SCOTT GUILLOT.

GOOD EVENING. FOR THE RECORD MADELINE ZARIN 8054 MURANO CIRCLE.

AS YOU ARE CLEARLY ALREADY AWARE, CHAPTER 68, A SECTION 27 OF THE FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE STATES THAT GOPHER TORTOISES IN THEIR BURROWS ARE

[01:15:04]

RELOCATION PERMIT MUST BE OBTAINED FROM FWC BEFORE DISTURBING BURROWS AND CONDUCTING CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES.

PER FWC, GOPHER TORTOISE ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND A LEGAL TAKE OF A GOPHER TORTOISE BURROW INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, DAMAGING, COLLAPSING, OR COVERING A GOPHER TORTOISE BURROW FROM LAND CLEARING, BULLDOZING, GRADING, PAVING OR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATED WITH LAND DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT A PERMIT ISSUED UNDER CHAPTER 68 OF THE FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE.

YOU CAN CALL ME AN ENVIRONMENTAL FREAK, A TURTLE LOVER, OR ANY OTHER NAME THAT YOU CAN THINK OF, BUT IT IS VERY IMPERATIVE TO SHED LIGHT ON THIS SITUATION BECAUSE I'M REALLY NOT HERE LOOKING FOR A VERBAL EXPLANATION.

I'M HERE SEEKING RECEIPTS.

SO PLEASE SHOW US THE INQUIRIES TO THE FWC AND LET'S SEE THE RELOCATION PERMITS TO ADDRESS THE GOPHER TORTOISES ON THE PROPERTY.

FEDERALLY PROTECTED SPECIES HAVE RIGHTS.

THE ONLY THING THAT THEY DON'T HAVE IS A VOICE.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE CITY SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON THIS AND PROVIDING THE THE PROOF THAT THE FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, THE FWC. GOPHER TORTOISE ENFORCEMENT POLICY, AND THE GOPHER TORTOISE MANAGEMENT PLAN HAVE BEEN FULLY COMPLIED WITH.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE SCOTT G.

I L O W AND THEN PAUL CAMERON.

IF YOU COULD STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE, SIR.

NO PROBLEM. SCOTT. 738 DUCHESS PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA.

THE REASON I'M HERE TODAY IS I'M HERE TO SAVE PLANT DRIVE, SKATE PARK.

THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS.

PLUS MR. FERRIS.

YOU'RE A GREAT MAGICIAN.

YOU ALWAYS MOVE YOUR HANDS AROUND AND PLAY GREAT VIDEOS.

EVERY TIME I COME, THERE'S AN AWESOME VIDEO.

LAST TIME IT WAS ICE HOCKEY AND HOW GREAT ICE HOCKEY WAS.

HAVE ANY OF YOU WATCHED THE NEWS? BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY YOU DO WATCH THE NEWS.

YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

SAVING PARKS IS THE HOTTEST TICKET RIGHT NOW.

SAVING PARKS.

THE SECOND HOTTEST THING IS, IS THAT THE GOVERNMENTS ARE NOT BEING TRANSPARENT WITH THEIR RESIDENTS OR HAVING RESIDENTS SAY IN WHAT'S GOING ON? YOU GUYS ALL SMIRKED AT ME.

BUT IT'S IN THE NEWS EVERY DAY THE LAST THREE WEEKS.

YEP, YEP.

FACT. AMEN.

AMEN. AMEN.

AMEN. I'M ALSO A PALM BEACH COUNTY FULL TIME EMPLOYEE, BESIDES A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER HERE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY.

SO I KNOW WHAT THE PALM BEACH COUNTY CODE OF ETHICS SAYS.

I'M. I'M REQUIRED TO TAKE ETHICS TRAININGS EVERY THREE YEARS.

MR. FERRIS. YOU NEED TO HAVE YOUR BOARD RE ETHIC TRAINED BECAUSE ONE OF THEM HAS VIOLATED THE PALM BEACH COUNTY CODE OF ETHICS, WHICH YOU GUYS ADOPTED.

APRIL 5TH 20, 2012.

SO YOU GUYS ARE BOUND BY THE PALM BEACH COUNTY CODE OF ETHICS, AND ONE OF YOU HAS VIOLATED THE PALM BEACH COUNTY CODE OF ETHICS.

NOW. YOU ALSO NEED TO HAVE THE ATTORNEY, MAX LOHMAN, WHO WAS ADVISED ABOUT THE ETHICS VIOLATION ASSOCIATED WITH HIS CODE OF ETHICS.

THAT'S YOUR JOB.

MR. FERRIS.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE PAUL CAMERON.

GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

MY NAME IS PAUL CAMERON.

I'M A 38 YEAR RESIDENT OF PALM BEACH GARDENS.

28 YEARS AT BANK TREE.

BEFORE YOU CONTINUE, COULD YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR ADDRESS AS WELL? SAY AGAIN. I NEED YOUR FULL NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS AS WELL.

YEAH, IT'S PAUL CAMERON, 207 BENT TREE DRIVE, PALM BEACH GARDENS, 33418.

OKAY. I WAS GOING TO COME UP HERE AND I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE GOPHER TORTOISES.

I'VE ALREADY BEEN KIND OF DERAILED ON THAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF IF YOU WERE AWARE THAT WE ALSO KNOCKED OUT THE LIVING QUARTERS TO OSPREYS, RED TAILED HAWKS AND TWO BALD EAGLES.

THAT'S A FELONY.

AND WE TOOK DOWN TWO OF THEIR NESTS.

YESTERDAY I HAD A MEETING WITH TWO MEMBERS OF THE CITY STAFF, AND WHILE WE WERE THERE, THE BALD EAGLE CAME BY.

HAPPENED TO BE CARRYING A BASS RIGHT SET UP IN THE STADIUM, LIGHTING DIRECTLY ABOVE US.

AND AT LUNCH, WHILE WE HAD A CONVERSATION DOWN BELOW, I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY REGARDING THE THE FIELDHOUSE.

I BELIEVE YOU CALLED IT, AND THAT GOT DERAILED TONIGHT.

SO I APPRECIATE THE THE CANDOR OF THE MANAGER.

THANK YOU. THE THE ONE THING THAT REMAINS IS I LOOK OVER HERE AT A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T WANT THE ICE RINK.

[01:20:10]

THAT SCORCHED EARTH THERE NOW.

SO ME FIGHTING AN ENVIRONMENTAL BATTLE THAT'S USELESS.

BUT WE DO HAVE A PIECE OF PROPERTY THERE THAT COULD ACCOMMODATE THE ICE RINK.

THEY DON'T WANT IT, RIGHT? IF YOU GOT SOMETHING SET IN STONE WITH THE COUNTY THAT YOU HAVE TO BUILD SOMETHING, PUT THE ICE RINK THERE.

RIGHT? IT WOULD BE PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

I MEAN, NOW I HEAR SET IN STONE.

SET IN STONE, SET IN STONE.

NOTHING IS SET IN STONE BECAUSE YOU'VE ALREADY HAD FOUR PREVIOUS OPPORTUNITIES TO PUT OTHER PEOPLE IN THERE THAT JUST FELL THROUGH.

RIGHT. LET'S GIVE THIS AN HONEST CHANCE TO, YOU KNOW, TO WORK.

A LOT OF THE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE ICE RINK DURING ITS PERIOD WAS DURING THE COVID TIME.

A LOT OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES DRIED UP DURING THAT TIME.

YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T WANT IT.

WE'LL TAKE IT.

RIGHT. IT'S KIND OF KIND OF A SIMPLE OPERATION.

THE, YOU KNOW, THE DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE ENVIRONMENTALLY OVER THERE IS IRREVERSIBLE.

I SEE THE, YOU KNOW, BIG, BEAUTIFUL PICTURES THAT THEY HAD OF THE ARTIST'S RENDERING OF WHAT MIGHT GO IN THERE.

A STEEL BUILDING DOES NOT LOOK PRETTY PERIOD.

END. RIGHT.

IT SHOWS A BIG OPAQUE BUFFER THAT'S NOT AFFORDED TO US ANYMORE.

THEY WENT RIGHT TO THE TRAIL SOME PLACES TEN FEET FROM THE ROAD.

I CAN SEE CENTRAL BOULEVARD FROM MY DRIVEWAY WHERE I NEVER COULD BEFORE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR.

NEXT WE HAVE DANIEL HIRSCHMAN AND THEN DENISE.

I'M SORRY. I THINK IT'S D E P O L O OR IT COULD BE D P A L A.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DANIEL A HIRSCHMAN.

I'M AN ATTORNEY.

MY ADDRESS IS 2240 PALM BEACH LAKES BOULEVARD, SUITE 101, WEST PALM BEACH, 33409.

I REPRESENT AN OWNER OF A HOUSE ON HEATHER CIRCLE WEST.

I BELIEVE WE'RE SORT OF OUT OF ORDER BECAUSE YOU WILL HEAR AFTER ME.

I BELIEVE CERTAIN NEIGHBORS WHO ARE GOING TO ASSAIL MY NEIGHBOR IN SOME FASHION, OR PERHAPS RAISE THEM SOME ACCUSATIONS OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

IF THERE'S ANY WAY I COULD FOLLOW THAT UP, I'D APPRECIATE IT.

OTHERWISE, IT WOULD JUST COME BEFORE YOU TO TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE BEEN HEARING SOME THINGS FOR A FEW WEEKS.

WE PROACTIVELY REACHED OUT TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO TALK TO THEM, TO FIND OUT IF THERE'S ANY SITUATION.

POLICE DEPARTMENT TELLS ME THERE IS NOT ANYTHING GOING ON THERE.

I MADE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO SPEAK TO ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS WHOSE RESPONSE WAS, I DON'T NEED TO DOCUMENT THIS.

YOU'LL SEE IT ALL TONIGHT.

TONIGHT HERE.

AND SO RATHER THAN LISTEN TO ALL THIS AND AND MAKE THIS INTO SOME KIND OF AN AMBUSH WE WOULD PREFER THAT A REAL, HONEST DIALOG GO ON WITHIN WITH THE NEIGHBORS UNDER THE EGIS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR SOME OTHER MEDIATOR OR OMBUDSMAN WITHIN THE CITY, BUT NOT TO RAISE THIS SPECTACLE WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THIS MEETING AND TO HAVE A QUICK 18 MINUTE ROAST OF MY CLIENT WHEN IT'S CERTAINLY UNNECESSARY AND NOT APPROPRIATE WITHIN THE CHAMBERS HERE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS THEM.

THANK YOU SIR. WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANY OTHER COMMENTS AS OF YET.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

WE DON'T. YEAH. SO LET'S.

WE'LL CONTINUE. DENISE, I'M SO SORRY.

DE PAULO, PERHAPS.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

DENISE DEPAULO, 9695 HEATHER CIRCLE, WEST PALM BEACH GARDENS.

I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT POSSIBLE DRUG TRAFFICKING.

DRUG TRAFFICKING ON OUR STREET.

THE RESIDENTS DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM ME.

I'VE LIVED THERE NOW FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR.

AND WHEN I FIRST MOVED IN, I WAS NOTIFIED BY SOME OTHER NEIGHBORS AND ALSO THE CONTRACTOR WHO WAS DOING WORK ON THE HOUSE, THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF SUSPECTED DRUG ACTIVITY ACROSS THE STREET.

I HAVE SINCE WITNESSED CRUISERS COMING AND GOING OCCASIONALLY.

NOT SO MUCH LATELY, BUT EARLY ON WHEN WE FIRST MOVED IN.

[01:25:02]

CAR PULLS UP, HORN BLASTS, SOMEONE COMES OUT, SOMEONE GOES IN, WE'LL SWAP.

SWAP. OFF THEY GO.

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON NOW, LIKE I SAID, FOR OVER A YEAR THAT I'VE BEEN THERE.

IT SLOWS DOWN EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, PERIODICALLY.

AND THEN IT'S LIKE A NEW SHIPMENT OF SOMETHING COMES IN AND THEN ACTIVITY INCREASES EXPONENTIALLY FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS OR SO.

I BELIEVE IT'S THE THE MAN WHO OWNS THE PROPERTY.

I BELIEVE IT'S HIS SON AND HIS AND HER AND HIS GIRLFRIEND.

THEY'RE NOT CHILDREN.

THESE PEOPLE ARE IN THEIR PROBABLY 40S AND 50S, AND IT'S A NEIGHBORHOOD WITH A LOT OF CHILDREN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS TYPE OF DRUG ACTIVITY TAKING PLACE, AND THEY CAN DENY THAT IT'S HAPPENING.

BUT I HAVE SOME PICTURES.

I HAVE WITNESSED IT FIRSTHAND.

3:00 IN THE MORNING, 4:00 IN THE MORNING, ALL HOURS OF THE DAY AND NIGHT.

I'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN AND IT'S JUST SO OBVIOUS OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

YET THE POLICE DON'T SEEM TO REALLY CARE.

I CALLED THE POLICE ABOUT MAYBE A MONTH OR SO AGO SAYING, YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY PATROLS IN THE AREA FOR QUITE A WHILE AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD RESUME THEM.

I THINK I SAW ONE PATROL CAR GO BY SINCE THEN.

MAYBE THEY'RE COMING WHEN I'M NOT HOME OR WHATEVER, WHICH IS HIGHLY PROBABLE OR HIGHLY POSSIBLE, BUT IT'S VERY OBVIOUS.

IT'S VERY CONCERNING.

ALL OF US NEIGHBORS HAVE GOTTEN TOGETHER AND TALKED ABOUT IT.

I'VE PUT UP A SIGN IN MY PROPERTY THAT SAYS ANY SUSPECTED DRUG ACTIVITY WILL BE REPORTED TO THE PALM BEACH GARDENS POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND I WILL REPORT IT AS I SEE IT.

IT'S JUST IT IS WHAT IT IS.

IT'S VERY DISTURBING. IT REALLY IS, BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A NICE STREET, NICE PROPERTY, NICE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND TO SEE THIS ACTIVITY COME AND GO, I MEAN, PEOPLE DRIVE UP ON BIKES AND CARS.

THEY MEET THEM ON THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE.

THEY MEET THEM IN THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE.

THEY WALK DOWN THE STREET, A LITTLE EXCHANGE THROUGH THE WINDOWS AND OFF IT GOES.

IT'S JUST LUDICROUS.

AND I THINK YOU'LL SEE HERE SOME MORE PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME THING.

IS JUST SO BLATANTLY OBVIOUS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOU SPEAK CONNECT WITH OUR CHIEF PAPE, OUR CHIEF OF POLICE IF YOU'D LIKE TO.

NOW, I DO SEE THAT WE HAVE A COUPLE OF CARDS THAT ARE ALL REGARDING THIS ISSUE.

SO IF ANYONE WOULD WANT TO SPEAK WITH CHIEF PAPE NOW, OR YOU GUYS CAN GO AHEAD AND DO YOUR THREE MINUTES AS WELL.

BUT WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK DIRECTLY WITH OUR CHIEF OF POLICE RIGHT NOW.

NEXT WE HAVE DAVE.

SORRY, IT GOT SCRIBBLED OUT.

NEWELL. DAVID. STOCKWELL.

STOCKDALE. AFTER THAT WILL BE GREG.

KENNY. GOOD EVENING.

THIS IS DAVID STOCKDALE.

I HAVE A 4342 FUCHSIA CIRCLE SOUTH.

I COME TO YOU.

YESTERDAY WAS MY 47TH BIRTHDAY.

I WASN'T ABLE TO GET A BIRTHDAY CARD OR A CALL FROM MY DAUGHTER BECAUSE, SADLY, ON MAY 29TH, 2022, SHE WAS MURDERED WITH FENTANYL POISONING.

SO THAT WAS A DAY THAT FOREVER CHANGED MY LIFE.

IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOUR CHILDREN, YOUR CHILDREN OR YOUR CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN.

AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT THE POLICE DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

WE HAD TEXT MESSAGES BETWEEN HER AND THE DRUG DEALER TELLING HER WHAT HAPPENED, ADMITTING TO THEM THAT YES, SHE BOUGHT THE DRUGS FROM THIS INDIVIDUAL.

THE COPS DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

THEY SAID THEY HAD TO HAVE MORE EVIDENCE.

WHICH BLOWS ME AWAY, BECAUSE IF YOU THINK ABOUT EVIDENCE, WHAT MORE DO YOU NEED THAN A TEXT MESSAGE BETWEEN A PERSON AND A DRUG DEALER? SHE DIDN'T KNOW THAT SHE WAS BUYING FENTANYL.

SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS BUYING A XANAX.

SHE WAS 22 YEARS OLD.

SHE DID. SHE MADE A STUPID, TRAGIC CHOICE.

BUT WE AS A SOCIETY, WE CANNOT ALLOW THIS TYPE OF STUFF TO CONTINUE TO HAPPEN TO OUR PEOPLE.

I'M HEARING ABOUT GOPHER TORTOISES AND BALD EAGLES, WHICH I LOVE.

ANIMALS. EVERYBODY LOVES ANIMALS.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR CHILDREN BEING KILLED AND MURDERED.

IT STARTS IN CHINA.

IT HEADS OVER TO MEXICO AND THEN THEY WALK IT ACROSS OUR OPEN BORDER.

IT HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE DAY.

THERE'S 100 PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM.

300 AMERICANS TODAY WILL DIE FROM FENTANYL.

TOMORROW, 300 AMERICANS WILL DIE FROM FENTANYL.

SO I ASK EVERYBODY HERE TO DO SOMETHING.

PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DO SOMETHING.

THE INDIVIDUAL THAT'S BEING REFERENCED, IT'S A DRUG DEALER.

I CAN TELL YOU. HE ABSOLUTELY IS A DRUG DEALER.

HOW DO I KNOW THIS? BECAUSE I WENT TO HIS HOUSE.

I WENT TO HIS HOUSE TO LOOK FOR BECAUSE IT WAS FOR SALE.

SO I SHOW UP, ME AND MY WIFE, WE GO AND WE WALK THROUGH THIS GENTLEMAN'S HOUSE, AND THERE'S THIS 50 YEAR OLD DEADBEAT SITTING IN HIS BEDROOM DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, ASLEEP.

AT 4:00 IN THE AFTERNOON.

HIS DAD HAD TO GO WAKE HIM UP TO SAY, HEY, YOU NEED TO GET UP SO THESE PEOPLE CAN COME LOOK AT YOUR HOUSE.

NOW, WE DIDN'T BUY THE HOUSE, THANKFULLY.

WE BOUGHT A DIFFERENT HOUSE.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, YOU NEED TO CHANGE THE LAWS SO THAT WE CAN GET THESE PEOPLE OFF OF OUR STREETS.

THESE PEOPLE ARE MONSTERS.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT DRUGS THEY'RE SELLING.

[01:30:02]

SO I ASK ALL OF YOU TO PLEASE MAKE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO GET THESE DRUGS OFF OF OUR STREETS.

THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

THANK YOU SIR. WE'RE SORRY.

SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.

MR. GREG KENNEY.

WELL, WHILE YOU'RE COMING UP, MR. KENNEY, AFTER MR. KENNEY, WE HAVE ZELMA PORTER AND THEN EVAN CARSON.

HELLO. MY NAME IS GREG KENNEY.

I LIVE AT 4267 HEATHER CIRCLE WEST.

I AM A RETIRED POLICE OFFICER, BOTH FROM THE CITY OF MANGONIA.

EXCUSE ME. THE TOWN OF MANGONIA PARK AND THE CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH.

IN MY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS AN OFFICER IN THOSE CITIES, I HAD NUMEROUS ARRESTS FOR DRUGS AND HAVE SEEN OPEN AIR TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN A PERSON WHO ACTUALLY WALKED FROM THE HOUSE IN FRONT OF OURS AND EXCHANGED SEVERAL WHITE PILLS.

I DID NOT SEE MONEY TRANSACTIONS, BUT WE DID CALL THE POLICE AND THEY CAME OUT.

ONE OF THE OFFICERS THAT I ACTUALLY WORKED WITH IN MY CITY THAT NOW WORKS FOR PALM BEACH GARDENS PATROLLED THE AREA, LOOKED FOR HIM, BUT WAS UNABLE TO FIND THEM.

NOW, I KNOW THAT SEVERAL COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN LODGED ABOUT THIS RESIDENCE, AND I CAN TELL YOU FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT I HAVE SEEN OPEN AIR TRANSACTIONS, BOTH FROM WALKING THE PERSON WALKING DOWN IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, AS WELL AS WHEN I'M DRIVING BY, OR WALKING MY DOG AND SEEING THEM COME OUT FROM THEIR GARAGE AREA AND COMING OUT TO VEHICLES THAT ARE IN THEIR DRIVEWAY.

I'VE HAD NUMEROUS NEIGHBORS ASK ME TO COME OUT AND SPEAK, WHICH IS WHY I'M HERE TODAY.

I WILL TALK WITH THE CHIEF AFTERWARDS.

YOU JUST CALLED MY NAME RIGHT WHEN HE WAS WALKING OUT, SO I WILL SPEAK TO HIM AS WELL.

YES, SIR. THAT'S BASICALLY ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

WE'LL MAKE SURE HE FOLLOWS UP WITH YOU DIRECTLY ALSO.

WE HAVE ZELMA PORTER AND THEN EVAN CARSON.

I'M ZELMA PORTER.

I LIVE AT NINE, SIX, SEVEN.

EXCUSE THE RECIPE.

I'VE GOT IT. AND IT'S GOING TO STAY WITH ME FOR A WHILE.

NINE. SIX. SEVEN.

SEVEN HEATHER CIRCLE WEST IN THE GARDENS.

I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT AT THAT HOUSE OVER 50 YEARS.

IT'S BEEN A VERY SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD UNTIL.

WELL, IT STILL MAY BE SAFE, BUT I DON'T FEEL AS SAFE AS I DID PREVIOUSLY.

I HAVEN'T OBSERVED AS MUCH ACTIVITY AS YOU'VE HEARD PREVIOUS, BUT I HAVE OBSERVED THE VEHICLES COMING AND GOING.

A COUPLE, MAYBE TEN DAYS TO TWO WEEKS AGO, I ACTUALLY TRIED TO TAKE A PICTURE OF A LICENSE TAG OF A CAR THAT PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY OF THE HOME WE'RE DESCRIBING, BUT THEY PULLED OUT AND WENT THE OPPOSITE WAY ON THE CIRCLE, SO I DIDN'T GET THE TAG NUMBER.

BUT I HAVE SEEN VEHICLES COMING AND GOING AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE DAY AND THE NIGHT.

THAT'S WHAT I'VE SEEN.

WHAT I WANT TO COMMENT ON HERE IS HEARSAY.

IT'S MY HOUSEKEEPER WHO I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO HELP, BUT I'LL GIVE IT A TRY.

WHO LIVES ON HONEYSUCKLE NEXT DOOR TO WHAT WAS THE FORMER WALLACE HOME, WHERE THE INDIVIDUAL THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING HERE TONIGHT WAS A GOOD FRIEND OF THE RESIDENT OF THAT HOUSE, AND FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, SHE OBSERVED FREQUENT ACTIVITY AND FREQUENT RESPONSES BY THE GARDENS POLICE DEPARTMENT TO THAT PROPERTY.

THE MOTHER OF THE RESIDENT OF THAT HOUSE SOLD THE HOUSE.

SO THE INDIVIDUAL LIVING THERE HAD TO MOVE, BUT THEY WERE AWARE OF ACTIVITY GOING ON IN THE DRIVEWAY, IN THE HOUSE, IN THE BACKYARD. SO THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO OFFER.

[01:35:01]

I DON'T BECAUSE I FEAR THAT SOMEONE MAY COME TO MY HOUSE, OR THE HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET, OR THE HOUSE NEAR THE NEXT DOOR TO ME BY ERA.

AND IF THEY'RE USING DRUGS AND CAN'T GET MORE DRUGS, IT CONCERNS ME WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN TO ME.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM.

AND OUR CHIEF IS ALSO AVAILABLE TO SPEAK WITH YOU.

THEN WE HAVE EVAN CARLSON, PLEASE.

EVAN CARLSON, 9676, HEATHER CIRCLE WEST.

MADAM MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL THIS EVENING.

I AM HERE RAISING SIMILAR CONCERNS RELATED TO WHAT YOU'VE JUST HEARD.

I AM NOT HERE TO ASSAIL ANYONE OR MAKE ANY FALSE ACCUSATIONS, BUT SIMPLY TO REPORT THINGS THAT I CAN PROVE AND MY OWN OBSERVATIONS.

I AM A FLORIDA NATIVE.

I AM A VETERAN OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND A MEMBER OF THE FLORIDA BAR.

MY WIFE AND I MOVED TO PALM BEACH GARDENS IN 2022, TO A WONDERFUL NEIGHBORHOOD THAT MY NEIGHBORS AND I LIVE IN, KNOWN AS GARDENIA GARDENS.

IN FACT, IF I COULD GET MY NEIGHBORS TO STAND FOR A MOMENT, PLEASE.

WE'RE ALL IN DANGER THERE.

THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE SMALL CHILDREN LIKE MYSELF, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HANDS.

THAT'S ONE. TWO. THREE.

FOUR. 2345 ON MY STREET.

MAYOR REED, WHO HAVE SMALL CHILDREN.

WE'RE TALKING UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHT.

MY SON IS ONE BEGINNING IN THE SUMMER OF 2022.

I STARTED TO OBSERVE WHAT APPEARED TO BE DRUG TRANSACTIONS.

WHY DID THEY APPEAR TO BE DRUG TRANSACTIONS TO ME? BECAUSE LIKE SOMEBODY ELSE YOU HEARD HERE TODAY, I MYSELF WORKED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OBSERVED AND WAS INVOLVED IN DRUG TRANSACTION ARRESTS.

IF IT LOOKS LIKE A DUCK WALKS LIKE A DUCK, MOST OF THE TIME IT'S A DUCK.

THE INDIVIDUAL THAT YOU HEARD MISS PORTER JUST REFER TO, JEFFREY DAVID WALLACE, IS A LONG TIME FRIEND OF THE HOMEOWNER OF 9692 HEATHER CIRCLE, WHICH IS THE HOUSE THAT WE ARE HERE COMPLAINING ABOUT TODAY.

THIS INDIVIDUAL WAS A AND IS A FREQUENT VISITOR AND CUSTOMER AT THIS PROPERTY.

I HAVE RAISED THESE CONCERNS MULTIPLE TIMES TIMES WITH PALM BEACH GARDENS POLICE AND THEY HAVE BEEN FANTASTIC IN RESPONDING AND VALIDATING MY CONCERNS.

IN FACT, PALM BEACH GARDENS POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS CONFIRMED TO ME THAT THEY'VE INVESTIGATED THIS HOUSE, MADE TRAFFIC STOPS AFTER SEEING TRANSACTIONS AND MADE ARRESTS.

BUT THEY CANNOT FURTHER INVESTIGATE BECAUSE ALL OF THESE PEOPLE ARE FRIENDS AND THEY WON'T ROLL ON EACH OTHER.

THIS ACTIVITY CAME TO A HEAD APRIL 29TH OF 2023 WHEN I FOUND JEFFREY DAVID WALLACE, THE FRIEND OF THE HOMEOWNER'S SON, ON MY PATIO IN HIS UNDERWEAR AFTER HAVING JUST BURGLARIZED A CAR TWO BLOCKS AWAY.

HOW MUCH LONGER ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS? I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

MY WIFE DOES NOT FEEL SAFE.

MY NEIGHBORS DO NOT FEEL SAFE.

PLEASE HELP US.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR.

IF YOU COULD ALSO SPEAK WITH OUR CHIEF.

THANK YOU. NEXT WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

[VII. CONSENT AGENDA]

SO IF THE IF WE COULD GO AHEAD AND GET A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IS.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IS.

SECOND. OKAY.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO ORDINANCE SIX AND ORDINANCE SEVEN FOR OUR PUBLIC HEARING.

ORDINANCE SIX AND ORDINANCE SEVEN WILL BE A COMBINED PRESENTATION WITH SEPARATE VOTES.

YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M JUST GOING TO TAKE A MOMENT.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL JUST PAUSE TWO MINUTES.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S MOVE ALONG TO OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS OFFICIALLY.

SO WE ARE GOING TO START WITH THE QUASI JUDICIAL STATEMENT.

SO TONIGHT WE'RE HOLDING QUASI JUDICIAL HEARINGS ON THE FOLLOWING CASES.

ORDINANCE SEVEN 2024 AT SECOND READING AND ADOPTION FOR CITY INITIATED ZONING DESIGNATION FOR 1156 RICHARD ROAD.

[01:40:06]

THIS MEANS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO BASE ITS DECISION ON THE EVIDENCE CONTAINED IN THE RECORD OF THIS PROCEEDING, WHICH CONSISTS OF THE TESTIMONY AT THE HEARING, THE MATERIALS WHICH ARE IN THE OFFICIAL CITY FILE ON THIS APPLICATION, AND ANY DOCUMENTS PRESENTED DURING THIS HEARING.

THE COUNCIL IS ALSO REQUIRED BY LAW TO ALLOW CROSS EXAMINATION OF ANY WITNESSES WHO TESTIFY TONIGHT.

CROSS EXAMINATION MAY OCCUR AFTER THE STAFF, THE APPLICANT AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS HAVE MADE THEIR PRESENTATIONS AND WILL BE PERMITTED IN THE ORDER OF THE WITNESSES.

APPEARANCE. IT IS NECESSARY THAT ANYONE WHO TESTIFIES AT THE HEARING REMAIN UNTIL THE CONCLUSION OF THE HEARING IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO ANY QUESTIONS.

IF YOU PLAN TO TESTIFY THIS EVENING OR YOU WISH TO OFFER WRITTEN COMMENTS, PLEASE FILL OUT A COMMENT CARD OVER HERE TO MY RIGHT AND GIVE IT TO OUR CITY CLERK WHO IS HERE ON MY LEFT.

THE CLERK WILL NOW SWEAR IN ALL PERSONS WHO INTEND TO OFFER TESTIMONY THIS EVENING ON ANY OF THESE CASES.

AND IF EVERYONE COULD PLEASE SILENCE YOUR PHONES.

DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR TO TELL THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, SO HELP YOU GOD? WHOOPSIE. ALL RIGHT, WE'LL START WITH ORDINANCE SIX AND ORDINANCE SEVEN, WHICH IS A COMBINED PRESENTATION WITH SEPARATE VOTES TAKEN ON EACH ITEM.

[Items VIII.a. & VIII.b.]

WE'LL START HERE ON MY RIGHT.

COMMISSIONER. TINSLEY NONE.

ALL RIGHT. MOVING ALONG.

NONE. NONE. NONE.

ALL RIGHT. AND I HAVE NONE EITHER.

SO IF THE CLERK COULD PLEASE READ THE TITLE ORDINANCE SIX 2024, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA, ORDER, ADOPTING A SMALL SCALE AMENDMENT TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FUTURE LAND USE MAP IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MANDATES SET FORTH IN CHAPTER 163, FLORIDA STATUTES, PURSUANT TO APPLICATION NUMBER CP S DASH 24.

DASH ZERO SIX, DASH 0002.

IN ORDER TO ASSIGN THE LAND USE DESIGNATION OF PALM BEACH GARDENS PUBLIC P, APPROXIMATELY 14.15 ACRES OF RECENTLY ANNEXED PROPERTY CURRENTLY DESIGNATED PALM BEACH COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITIES.

FACILITIES UT GENERALLY LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF PARK LANE, APPROXIMATELY 0.2 MILES WEST OF THE INTERSECTION OF ALTERNATE A-1-A AND RICHARD ROAD, PROVIDING FOR COMPLIANCE WITH ALL REQUIREMENTS OF CHAPTER 163 FLORIDA STATUTES.

PROVIDING FOR TRANSMITTAL TO THE STATE LAND PLANNING AGENCY.

PROVIDING THAT THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP SHALL BE AMENDED ACCORDINGLY.

PROVIDING A CONFLICTS CAUSE, A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND AUTHORITY TO CODIFY, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE FOR THE PURPOSES YOU ALMOST COULD HAVE RECORDED THAT ONE.

LET'S OPEN THE HEARING.

HAS ANYTHING CHANGED SINCE FIRST READING? EVENING, MADAM MAYOR. NO, THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. COUNSEL.

WOULD YOU LIKE A PRESENTATION AT SECOND READING FOR ORDINANCE SIX OR ORDINANCE SEVEN TOGETHER? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE.

LET'S CLOSE THE HEARING.

MAY I PLEASE GET A MOTION IN A SECOND? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE SIX 2020 FOR SECOND READING.

SECOND. THANK YOU, MA'AM AND SIR.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

WE'LL MOVE ALONG TO ORDINANCE SEVEN SINCE IT IS A SEPARATE VOTE.

IF THE CLERK COULD PLEASE READ THE TITLE ORDINANCE SEVEN 2024 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA.

SIGNING THE ZONING DESIGNATION OF PALM BEACH GARDENS PUBLIC INSTITUTIONAL DISTRICT TO APPROXIMATELY 14.15 ACRES OF RECENTLY ANNEXED PROPERTY CURRENTLY ZONED PALM BEACH COUNTY PUBLIC OWNERSHIP DISTRICT.

GENERALLY LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF PARK LANE, APPROXIMATELY 0.2 MILES WEST OF THE INTERSECTION OF ALTERNATE A1, A AND RICHARD ROAD.

PROVIDING THAT THE ZONING MAP SHALL BE AMENDED ACCORDINGLY, PROVIDING A CONFLICTS CLAUSE, A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND AUTHORITY TO CODIFY, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. THANK YOU. MA'AM, LET'S OPEN THE HEARING.

WE'VE ALREADY DECLARED EX PARTE.

THE PRESENTATION WAS NOT ALREADY HAPPENED WITH ORDINANCE SIX PREVIOUSLY.

WE DO NOT HAVE ANY COMMENT CARDS, SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE HEARING.

MAY I PLEASE GET A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ORDINANCE SEVEN 2024? MADAM MAYOR, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE SEVEN 2024 ON SECOND READING.

SECOND. WAIT.

WHO SECONDED? CARL.

OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ALONG TO ORDINANCE EIGHT.

ORDINANCE EIGHT AND NINE ACTUALLY IS A COMBINED PRESENTATION WITH SEPARATE VOTES TAKEN ON EACH ITEM.

[Items VIII.c. & VIII.d.]

SO WE'LL GO THE SAME WAY AGAIN.

NONE. ALL RIGHT.

NONE. NONE, SIR.

ALL RIGHT. I HAVE NONE EITHER.

SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE HEARING.

I'M SORRY. THE CLERK COULD READ THE TITLE ORDINANCE 18,024.

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA, ADOPTING A SMALL SCALE AMENDMENT TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FUTURE LAND USE MAP IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MANDATES SET FORTH IN CHAPTER 163, FLORIDA STATUTES, PURSUANT TO APPLICATION NUMBER C, S DASH 20 406, DASH 0003.

IN ORDER TO ASSIGN THE LAND USE DESIGNATION OF PALM BEACH GARDENS PUBLIC B TO APPROXIMATELY 14.92 ACRES OF RECENTLY ANNEXED PROPERTY IN PALM BEACH GARDENS RURAL

[01:45:01]

THE SUBJECT SITE, CONSISTING OF FOUR PARCELS TOTALING APPROXIMATELY 48.39 ACRES, CURRENTLY DESIGNATED PALM BEACH COUNTY RURAL RESIDENTIAL RR, GENERALLY LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF NORTHLAKE BOULEVARD BETWEEN GRAPE VIEW BOULEVARD AND 130TH AVENUE NORTH, PROVIDING FOR COMPLIANCE WITH ALL REQUIREMENTS OF CHAPTER 163 FLORIDA STATUTES PROVIDING FOR TRANSMITTAL TO THE STATE LAND PLANNING AGENCY.

PROVIDING THAT THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP SHALL BE AMENDED ACCORDINGLY, PROVIDING A CONFLICTS CLAUSE, A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, AND AUTHORITY TO CODIFY, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

THANK YOU. MA'AM, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE HEARING.

HAS ANYTHING CHANGED SINCE FIRST READING? NO, MADAM MAYOR. NO CHANGES ON ORDINANCE EIGHT AND ORDINANCE NINE.

NO CHANGES. ALL RIGHT.

AND I DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENT CARDS.

AND DOES ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING TO DISCUSS AT ALL? ALL RIGHT, LET'S CLOSE THE HEARING.

MAY I GET A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ORDINANCE EIGHT? MADAM MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE EIGHT 2024.

SECOND. LOVELY.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

MOVING ALONG TO ORDINANCE NINE.

IF THE CLERK COULD PLEASE READ THE TITLE ORDINANCE NINE 2024 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA.

ASSIGNING THE ZONING DESIGNATION OF PALM BEACH GARDENS PUBLIC INSTITUTIONAL PIE DISTRICT TO APPROXIMATELY 14.92 ACRES OF RECENTLY ANNEXED PROPERTY IN PALM BEACH GARDENS.

AGRICULTURAL. AGRICULTURAL.

RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT TO APPROXIMATELY 33.47 ACRES OF RECENTLY ANNEXED PROPERTY.

THE SUBJECT SITE, CONSISTING OF FOUR PARCELS TOTALING APPROXIMATELY 48.39 ACRES, CURRENTLY ZONED.

PALM BEACH COUNTY AGRICULTURAL RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT GENERALLY LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF NORTH LAKE BOULEVARD BETWEEN GREENVIEW BOULEVARD AND 130TH AVENUE NORTH.

PROVIDING THAT THE ZONING MAP SHALL BE AMENDED ACCORDINGLY.

PROVIDING A CONFLICTS CLAUSE, A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, AND AUTHORITY TO CODIFY.

PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

WOW. ALL RIGHT.

LET'S OPEN THAT HEARING.

WE'VE ALREADY DECLARED EX PARTE.

WE HAD THE PRESENTATION PREVIOUSLY, AND THERE'S NOTHING THAT HAS CHANGED.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENT CARDS, SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE HEARING.

DON'T CLOSE HERE JUST FOR JUST FOR THE RECORD, I HAVE NO EX PARTE FOR ORDINANCE EIGHT, 8 OR 9 FOR THE RECORD.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

EXCELLENT. THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.

OKAY. DON'T WANT TO GET IN TROUBLE.

LET'S CLOSE THE HEARING.

MAY I PLEASE GET A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NINE AT SECOND READING? MADAM MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NINE 2024.

I'LL SECOND MA'AM. ALL RIGHT.

SECONDED BY VICE MAYOR MIDDLETON.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

MOVING ALONG TO ORDINANCE TEN.

AT FIRST READING, IF THE CLERK COULD PLEASE READ THE TITLE ORDINANCE TEN 2024 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA.

[VIII.e. ORDINANCE 10, 2024 – (1ST READING) ADOPTING THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024/2025. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2024, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2025; PROVIDING A CONFLICTS CLAUSE AND A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.]

THANK YOU. MA'AM. LET'S GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE HEARING.

AND TONIGHT WE HAVE OUR FINANCE ADMINISTRATOR, ARIANE PANCHIK IS ALREADY AT THE PODIUM READY TO GO.

AND IT'S REALLY YOU. IT'S NOT A CARTOON.

IT'S REALLY ME. OKAY.

GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR.

COUNCIL FOR THE RECORD.

ARIANE PANZER, FINANCE ADMINISTRATOR.

BEFORE I BEGIN TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION, I DO HAVE A SPECIAL PROJECT THAT THE PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION HAS BEEN WORKING ON TO HIGHLIGHT THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND RUN THE SHOW.

HELLO, PALM BEACH GARDENS, THIS IS ARIANE FROM THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, AND I'M EXCITED TO SHARE SOME GREAT NEWS ABOUT THIS YEAR'S UPCOMING BUDGET.

WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US AT CITY HALL FOR OUR UPCOMING BUDGET HEARINGS, WHERE WE WILL DISCUSS THESE PLANS IN MORE DETAIL.

TO START, I'M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT FOR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR, WE HAVE REDUCED THE TOTAL PROPERTY TAX MILLAGE RATE BY 2.25%.

THIS ACHIEVEMENT REFLECTS OUR COMMITMENT TO FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND PROVIDING FINANCIAL RELIEF TO OUR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS.

AS OUR COMMUNITY GROWS, SO DOES THE NEED FOR PUBLIC SERVICES TO ENSURE WE MEET THESE NEEDS.

STAFF HAS RECOMMENDED THE HIRING OF SIX FIRE MEDICS FOR OUR BUSIEST STATIONS, AND FOUR ADDITIONAL POSITIONS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

BEYOND PUBLIC SAFETY, WE ARE ALSO FOCUSING ON LEISURE SERVICES.

AS YOU KNOW, A NEW RECREATION CENTER IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION ON BURNS ROAD, AND WE ARE PROPOSING THREE FULL TIME POSITIONS TO BE FUNDED BY RECREATION SPECIAL REVENUE, WHICH SUPPORT THESE ROLES BASED ON REVENUE GENERATED FROM RECREATION PROGRAMS. ADDITIONALLY, WE WILL BE ADDING TWO FULL TIME GOLF POSITIONS AT THE NEST PAR THREE TO ENHANCE MANAGEMENT OF FOOD AND BEVERAGE SERVICES, EVENTS AND TOURNAMENTS.

THESE POSITIONS WILL ALSO BE FUNDED BY THE REVENUE GENERATED FROM GOLF PROGRAMS. WE ARE ALSO EXCITED TO SHARE THAT THROUGH MATCHING GRANT FUNDING.

IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, WE WILL BEGIN WORKING ON A NATURE TRAIL AND AVENIR, FURTHERING OUR COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

[01:50:03]

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EACH PROJECT PLAN FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT THE BUDGET HEARINGS AND DISCUSSING THESE EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS FURTHER.

TAKE CARE.

THANK YOU.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE I HAVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU FOR CANDACE AND HER TEAM, AND DAVID FOR ALWAYS BRINGING THEIR CREATIVE JUICE OF MAKING THE BUDGET INTERESTING.

THEY ALWAYS MAKE ME LOOK LIKE A SUPERSTAR, SO I THANK THEM FOR ALL THEIR EFFORT.

SO ON ALL THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, SO ON TO THE MAIN TOPIC FOR TONIGHT.

TONIGHT I WILL PROPOSE DO A PRESENTATION ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 25.

SO TO BEGIN, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE BUDGET ADOPTION TIMELINE.

ON JULY 11TH, COUNCIL ADOPTED THE PROPOSED MAXIMUM MILLAGE RATE AT 5.0537.

THE BUDGET WAS ISSUED TO COUNCIL AND THE BUDGET REVIEW BOARD ON JULY 15TH, AND THEN WE POSTED ONLINE FOR THE PUBLIC'S REVIEW ON AUGUST 2ND.

THE BUDGET REVIEW BOARD REPORT WAS RECEIVED AND SHARED WITH COUNCIL ON AUGUST 30TH AND TONIGHT IS OUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING, WHERE WE ALSO WILL HAVE OUR SECOND PUBLIC HEARING HELD ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH AT 6 P.M., RIGHT HERE IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

SO MOVING ON TO PROPERTY VALUES.

THIS YEAR, WE SAW AN ADDITIONAL $514 MILLION IN NEW CONSTRUCTION AND ALSO AN 8.16% INCREASE IN EXISTING PROPERTIES, BRINGING US TO A TOTAL PROPERTY VALUATION OF 19.8 FOR FISCAL YEAR 25.

THIS IS AN UP FOR OUR TOTAL TAXABLE VALUE OF 11.4% FROM LAST YEAR'S 17.9 BILLION.

WE ALWAYS LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE WORK THAT THE BUDGET REVIEW BOARD DOES, AND LAST YEAR THEY WERE PLEASED TO SEE A CONTINUED DECREASE IN THE MILLAGE.

AND THEY WROTE IN THEIR FINDINGS, IF THE ACTUAL FINANCIAL RESULTS DO NOT FORECAST THE REQUIREMENT TO USE 100% OF THE BUDGET STABILIZATION AND ELIMINATE THE NEED TO DIP INTO THE UNASSIGNED RESERVES, THEN COUNCIL SHOULD GIVE CONSIDERATION TO REDUCING THE MILLAGE RATE.

SO ON JULY 11TH, UNDER RESOLUTION 30.

COUNCIL SET THE PROPOSED MAXIMUM MILLAGE RATE AT 5.0537, WHICH IS 2.25% LESS THAN THE CURRENT YEAR'S RATE OF 5.17, WITH NO DEBT MILLAGE.

THIS IS 5.73% DECREASE INCREASE ABOVE THE ROLLBACK RATE OF 4.7798.

THIS WILL ENSURE THAT MOST HOMESTEADED PROPERTIES WILL SEE VERY LITTLE CHANGE IN THEIR UPCOMING THEIR PROPERTY TAX FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR, AND IT WILL ALSO ENSURE THAT OUR BUSINESS OWNERS WILL ALSO SEE REDUCED TAXES.

SO, TAKING A LOOK A QUICK PEEK AT THE HISTORY OF OUR MILLAGE RATE IN 2006, THE RATE REACHED ITS PEAK AT 5.9.

AFTER THE HOUSING MARKET COLLAPSED IN 2008, HOME VALUES DROPPED AND THE MILLAGE RATE DECREASED TO PROVIDE RELIEF TO HOMEOWNERS.

GRADUALLY INCREASE THE MILLAGE RATE TO RESTORE ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT WERE CUT DURING THIS PERIOD, AND BY 2015, HOME VALUES BEGAN TO REBOUND AND WE SEE THE MILLAGE RATE BEGIN TO DECLINE AGAIN UNTIL WE FIND OURSELVES WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

WITH THE PROPOSED OPERATING RATE OF 5.0537, WHICH IS 14.75% DECREASE FROM OUR PRE-RECESSIONARY RATES.

SO WE'RE MAKING GREAT PROGRESS.

WHICH LEADS US INTO TAKING A LOOK AT THE COUNTYWIDE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE COMPARISON SCHEDULE THAT WE ALWAYS LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT.

THE AUTHORITIES HIGHLIGHTED IN GREEN ARE PROPOSING A TAX DECREASE, WHEREAS THE AUTHORITIES HIGHLIGHTED IN RED ARE PROPOSING AN INCREASE AND EVERYONE ELSE IS REMAINING FLAT. YOU'LL NOTE THAT THE FAR RIGHT COLUMN, THE PERCENTAGE ABOVE THE THE INCREASE ABOVE THE ROLLBACK RATE, THEY RANGE FROM 3.2% TO AS HIGH AS 47.9. SO IN COMPARING WHERE PALM BEACH GARDENS STANDS WITH OTHER LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES, YOU WILL NOTICE THE INCREASE OVER THE ROLLBACK RATE.

WE ARE AMONG THE LOWEST AT 5.7%, AND THE ONLY CITY TO PROPOSE A CONSIDERABLE DECREASE IN OUR MILLAGE RATE THIS YEAR.

SO NOW LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT IMPACT THE PROPOSED RATE WILL HAVE ON A TYPICAL HOMESTEADED PROPERTY UNDER OUR SAVE OUR HOMES AMENDMENT, THE ASSESSED VALUES OF HOMESTEADED PROPERTIES MAY INCREASE BY EITHER 3% OR CPI, WHICHEVER IS LOWER.

OUT OF THE TWO, THE MAXIMUM INCREASE FOR HOMESTEADED PROPERTIES THIS YEAR WILL BE 3%, AND WILL ALSO BE OFFSET BY THE 2.25% DECREASE AS A RESULT OF OUR PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE.

THIS SLIDE IS MEANT TO ILLUSTRATE THE CHANGE IN TOTAL TAX LIABILITY FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

[01:55:04]

NOW, TAKING A LOOK OF WHAT IMPACT THIS WOULD HAVE ON A TYPICAL NON HOMESTEADED PROPERTY, WE USE THE SAME VALUE ASSUMPTIONS IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE.

AND THESE HOMES WILL HAVE AN ANNUAL INCREASE RANGING FROM ONE.

75 TO 409.

SO THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SLIDES.

I ALWAYS LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT HOW MUCH OF A RESIDENT'S TAX BILL ACTUALLY GOES TO THE CITY.

SURPRISINGLY, ABOUT $0.72 OF EVERY DOLLAR GOES TO PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD, THE HEALTH CARE DISTRICT, AND OTHER SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICTS.

WHEREAS $0.28 OF EVERY DOLLAR IS ACTUALLY PAID TO THE CITY IN CITY TAXES.

ALL RIGHT. SO NOW WE'LL MOVE INTO THE BUDGET SUMMARIES, AND I'LL START BY PULLING UP OUR OPENGOV BUDGET PLATFORM, WHICH CAN BE FOUND ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE UNDER THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

SO THE TOTAL PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR IS A LITTLE OVER 263 MILLION.

YOU'LL SEE GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS TOTALED 233, AND THE PROPRIETARY FUNDS TOTALED 29 MILLION.

SO IF WE SCROLL DOWN TO REVENUES BY TYPE, YOU'LL SEE AD VALOREM TAX IS OUR LARGEST SOURCE OF REVENUE AT 36.7%.

THE BEGINNING FUND BALANCE IS THE NEXT LARGEST AT 29.6%.

AND THEN CHARGES FOR SERVICES IS OUR NEXT LARGEST AT 16.2%.

AND THEN SCROLLING DOWN TO EXPENDITURES BY TYPE PERSONNEL IS NO SURPRISE.

IS OUR LARGEST USE OF FUNDS AT 111 MILLION.

OPERATING IS 50 MILLION.

CAPITAL OUTLAY IS 17 MILLION.

DEBT SERVICE FOR OUR PERFORMANCE BONDS AND OUR OPERATING LOANS IS 7.2 MILLION.

OTHER USES ARE TRANSFERS IS 5.3 AND OUR RESERVES ARE SET AT 68.4.

SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH IS THE CITY'S LARGEST FUND.

AND THIS FUND COMPRISES 188 MILLION OF THE TOTAL PROPOSED BUDGET.

YOU'LL SEE AD VALOREM TAX IS OUR LARGEST REVENUE SOURCE AT 51%.

THE BEGINNING FUND BALANCE IS 26%.

AND THEN WE HAVE ALL OF OUR OTHER MISCELLANEOUS REVENUES, SUCH AS PERMIT AND FEES AND CHARGES FOR SERVICES, JUST TO NAME A FEW.

AND THEN MOVING DOWN TO EXPENDITURES.

OOPS, SORRY.

BY TYPE. PERSONNEL IS OUR LARGEST AT 88 MILLION.

OPERATING IS 38 MILLION.

WE ALSO HAVE CAPITAL OUTLAY OF 15.6.

DEBT SERVICE IS 3.6.

OTHER USES OR TRANSFERS IS 3 MILLION.

AND THIS IS A PLANNED TRANSFER TO RECREATION SPECIAL REVENUE TO OFFSET PROGRAM LOSSES THAT WHILE THE FACILITY IS STILL CLOSED OR AT BURNS ROAD DURING CONSTRUCTION AND THEN RESERVES ARE SET AT 39.4.

ALL RIGHT. SO THERE ARE A FEW COST DRIVERS THAT ARE AFFECTING THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, THE LARGEST BEING THE INFLATIONARY PRESSURES THAT WE'RE SEEING ON COST OF GOODS AND SERVICES, AS WELL AS SALARY INCREASES TO KEEP UP WITH CURRENT MARKET CONDITIONS.

NEXT, ALL THE NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GOING ON AROUND OUR CITY IS DRIVING OUR GROWTH WITH THE ADDITION OF 26 NEW FULL TIME STAFF MEMBERS.

AND THIS CATALYST IS THE GROWTH.

THIS GROWTH IS THE CATALYST THAT IS DRIVING THE EXPANSION OF OUR FACILITIES AT THE NORTH DISTRICT PARK, WITH A FUTURE OBLIGATION TO BUILD AN INDOOR RECREATION FACILITY.

SO OVERALL, A GENERAL FUND PERSONNEL COSTS ARE UP 5.6 MILLION FOR A TOTAL OF 8.4.

THIS IS A 6.84% INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, WHICH IS PRIMARILY DRIVEN BY HIGHER SALARY COSTS AND PARTIALLY OFFSET BY A DECREASE IN HEALTH AND PENSION EXPENSES, WHICH WE'LL DISCUSS NEXT.

SO MOVING ON TO SALARIES.

GENERAL FUND SALARIES ARE UP 6.3 MILLION TO 59 MILLION DUE TO THE PROPOSED SALARY INCREASES FOR PERSONNEL UNDER THE PBA BARGAINING AGREEMENT.

MEMBERS VOTED TO RATIFY THEIR CURRENT CONTRACT TO ACCELERATE INCREASES STARTING IN MAY OF THIS YEAR, SO THERE WILL BE NO ADDITIONAL INCREASES FOR FISCAL YEAR 25 AT THE TIME OF PREPARING THE BUDGET.

IAFF WAS UNDER NEGOTIATIONS, BUT FOR BUDGETING PURPOSES, WE DID PROJECT AN ACROSS THE BOARD INCREASE FOR SEIU.

ALL MEMBERS OF THE BARGAINING UNIT WILL RECEIVE A 6% INCREASE PER THEIR BARGAINING AGREEMENT THAT EXPIRES IN FISCAL YEAR 26.

[02:00:03]

WE CONDUCTED A COMPENSATION STUDY, WHICH WE DO ONCE EVERY THREE YEARS, THAT PROPOSED AN 8.8% AVERAGE INCREASE ACROSS THE ENTIRE GROUP, AS WELL AS A RECOMMENDED 5% COST OF LIVING INCREASE SUPPORTED BY THE LATEST EMPLOYEE COST INDEX FIGURES.

SO FOR NEW POSITION REQUESTS, WE HAVE FIVE POSITIONS REQUESTED UNDER SPECIAL REVENUE FUND THAT WILL BE FUNDED BY REVENUES GENERATED FROM A USER.

FEES RECREATION HAS REQUESTED.

ONE REC SUPERVISOR AND TWO CUSTOMER SERVICE SPECIALISTS IN GOLF, HAS REQUESTED A GOLF OPERATIONS QUARTER COORDINATOR AND ONE FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANAGER.

AND THIS IS ALL TO ACCOMMODATE THE GROWTH OF OUR PROGRAMS OVER AT BURNS ROAD AND ALSO THE GROWTH OF OUR NEW PAR THREE THIS YEAR.

THE GENERAL FUND REQUEST INCLUDE 21 ADDITIONAL POSITIONS WHICH ARE LISTED ON THE SCREEN, AND THESE ARE ALL ALSO NEEDED TO KEEP PACE WITH ALL THE DEMANDS FOR SERVICES THAT WE ARE SEEING FROM THIS GROWTH THAT'S OCCURRING AROUND US.

FOR A TOTAL OF 26 NEW POSITIONS.

AND IF APPROVED, WOULD INCREASE OUR FULL TIME EMPLOYEE COUNT TO 603.

SORRY, 632 OR APPROXIMATELY 9.73 POSITIONS PER THOUSAND OF THE POPULATION.

AND WE ALWAYS LIKE TO TO HIGHLIGHT THIS PAGE, TO SHOW CAYCE HOW WE ARE ABLE TO ACHIEVE GREATER EFFICIENCY, DOING MORE, BASICALLY WITH FEWER RESOURCES THAN WE WERE DURING OUR PRE-RECESSIONARY TIMES.

ALSO, OUR PENSION COSTS ARE DOWN 800,000 FOR PER ACTUARIAL VALUATIONS FOR PD AND FIRE, AS WELL AS STATUTORY RATES FOR FRS FOR A TOTAL OF 13.9 MILLION, OR A DECREASE OF 5.6% DUE TO PLAN TRENDS AND MEDICAL COSTS ARE ALSO DOWN 1.6%, OR 167,000, IN FUNDING FOR PREMIUMS PAID THROUGH OUR SELF-INSURANCE FUND TO ALIGN WITH OUR ACTUARIAL RESULTS.

WE STILL HAVE A VERY HEALTHY RESERVE BALANCE, ESTIMATED AT 7.6 MILLION, SET ASIDE TO COVER ROUGHLY EIGHT MONTHS WORTH OF CLAIMS. AND THE OFFICE OF INSURANCE REGULATION REQUIRES THREE MONTHS.

SO WE HAVE WELL OVER THE REQUIRED MINIMUM AND MOVING ON TO THE MAINTENANCE, REPAIR AND OPERATING COSTS.

DAVID AND HIS TEAM OVER AT PUBLIC WORKS HAVE A FIVE YEAR MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE THAT IS REVIEWED ANNUALLY TO PRIORITIZE PROJECTS AROUND THE CITY.

WE HAVE 465,000 EARMARKED FOR PARKS, IRRIGATION, FENCING, NETTING, SOD, COURT RESURFACING AND EQUIPMENT.

WE HAVE 908,000 FOR REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE OF VARIOUS EQUIPMENT AND STRUCTURES, INCLUDING ROOF AND PAINTING.

WE ALSO HAVE 670,000 REQUESTED FOR ROAD RESURFACING, STRIPING, PARKING LOT AND SIDEWALK REPAIRS, AS WELL AS 500,000 FOR ROADWAY TREE TRIMMING, TREE TRIMMING AND PLANT REPLACEMENT.

THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A TONGUE TIE.

THANK YOU.

A LOT OF NUMBERS.

250,000 FOR CANAL MAINTENANCE AND OUR CANAL MAINTENANCE AND DREDGING PROGRAM.

AND 250,000 FOR OUR ANNUAL STORMWATER REPAIR PROGRAM.

THE CITY DID SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR A $500,000 STATE GRANT THAT WE, IN ADDITION TO THIS, THAT WE WERE UNSUCCESSFUL IN SECURING THIS YEAR.

BUT WE WILL TRY AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

ALL RIGHT. SO MOVING ON TO OUR FIVE YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, WHICH IS ALSO REVIEWED ANNUALLY TO PRIORITIZE PROJECTS AROUND THE CITY.

THE GENERAL FUND MAKES UP 14.4 MILLION OF THE TOTAL BUDGET.

SPECIAL REVENUE MAKES UP 175,000, AND OUR CAPITAL PROJECT FUNDS OR OUR IMPACT FUNDS TOTAL 703,000 THIS YEAR.

AND THEN JUST TO GO THROUGH THE PROJECTS AND HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE LARGER PROJECTS PLANS.

WE HAVE 800,000 EARMARKED FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE PDS PUBLIC SAFETY TWO WAY RADIO SITES.

WE ALSO HAVE 750,000 REQUESTED FOR THE BURNS ROAD RECREATION PLAYGROUND THAT WILL COMPLEMENT THE REOPENING OF THE FACILITY, SLATED FOR SPRING OF NEXT YEAR.

WE ALSO HAVE 8 MILLION REQUESTED OR EARMARKED FOR THE DISTRICT PARK FIELDHOUSE, WHICH IS AN OBLIGATION OF THE LAND LEASE THAT WE HAVE WITH COUNTY TO BUILD THAT INDOOR RECREATION FACILITY. AND WE ALSO HAVE 900,000 FOR THE GARDENS, NATURE TRAIL AND PARK, WHICH WE JUST LEARNED.

THE CITY WAS AWARDED A $1.5 MILLION MATCHING GRANT FROM THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND.

SO WE WERE VERY PLEASED TO HEAR THAT.

AND THEN FINALLY, WE HAVE 703,000 FOR OUR PLAN FOR OUR MOBILITY FUND, WHICH ALSO MOST OF THESE

[02:05:01]

ALL RIGHT. SO FINISHING UP WITH THE REST OF THE BUDGET SUMMARIES, WE'LL TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT SPECIAL REVENUE FUND.

THE TOTAL PROPOSED BUDGET FOR SPECIAL REVENUE IS 25 MILLION.

YOU'LL SEE THAT RECREATION MAKES UP 9.8.

GOLF FUND COMPRISES 8.1 MILLION.

AND THE HOUSING FUND IS OUR THIRD LARGEST FUND AT 5.5 MILLION.

THIS IS AN INCREASE OF 7.9 OVER THE LAST YEAR'S ADOPTED BUDGET.

SCROLLING DOWN TO REVENUES BY TYPE, YOU'LL SEE CHARGES FOR SERVICES IS OUR LARGEST SOURCE OF REVENUE, AT 55.2%.

WE ALSO HAVE THE BEGINNING FUND BALANCE AT 6.8.

AND THEN THERE'S THAT TRANSFER FROM THE GENERAL FUND FOR REC SPECIAL REVENUE FOR 3 MILLION AND THEN TAKING A LOOK AT EXPENDITURES.

PERSONNEL IS THE LARGEST AT 11.8 MILLION.

OPERATING IS 5.7.

CAPITAL OUTLAY IS 275.

DEBT SERVICE FOR OUR LOANS IS 107,000 AND RESERVES IS 7.2 MILLION.

AND WHAT'S NEAT IS I CAN CLICK RIGHT HERE AND GO RIGHT INTO THE NEXT FUND WE HAVE.

NEXT UP IS OUR CAPITAL PROJECT FUND, WHICH HAS A TOTAL PROPOSED BUDGET OF 19.7 MILLION.

YOU'LL SEE THE $0.01 SURTAX FUND IS OUR LARGEST AT 11.8.

WE ALSO HAVE RECREATION, WHICH IS 2.5, AND THE POLICE IMPACT FUND AT 2.1.

AND THOSE ARE OUR TOP THREE FUNDS THIS YEAR.

MOVING ON TO OUR REVENUES BY TYPE, THE BEGINNING FUND BALANCE IS THE LARGEST AT 12.9.

OUR HOUR INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVENUES OR ALSO OUR $0.01 SEARCH TAX REVENUES, WE'RE ESTIMATING 3.5 MILLION AND THEN IMPACT FEES ARE 3.2 MILLION.

AND THEN MOVING ON TO OUR EXPENDITURES, OUR RESERVES IS OUR LARGEST AT 13.3 MILLION.

WE DO HAVE MOST OF THIS MONEY SET ASIDE FOR THE $0.01 SURTAX FUND.

IN THE EVENT THAT THAT PROGRAM DOES SUNSET EARLY, WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY SET ASIDE IN RESERVE TO COVER THOSE FINAL PAYMENTS.

AND WE ALSO HAVE A 2.3 MILLION AND OTHER USES OR TRANSFERS.

AND THIS IS THE TRANSFER FOR THE GOLF BOND PAYMENTS.

WE DO EXPECT THE GOLF FUND NOW THAT THEY'RE OPEN AND OPERATIONAL AND GOING INTO THEIR SECOND YEAR, TO GENERATE ENOUGH REVENUE TO COVER THE COST OF THAT LOAN. IF THEY DO MAKE ENOUGH, THEN WE WILL NOT MAKE THIS TRANSFER.

AND LASTLY, WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS, WHICH HAS A TOTAL OF 29.6 MILLION OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

YOU'LL SEE THE SELF-INSURANCE FUND TOTALS 21.7 MILLION, AND THE FLEET FUND IS 7.8 MILLION.

REVENUES BY SOURCES.

THE LARGEST IS CHARGES FOR SERVICES AT 20 MILLION.

THEN WE HAVE THE BEGINNING FUND BALANCE AT 8.2, AND THEN WE HAVE OUR OTHER MISCELLANEOUS REVENUES TO THE SIDE HERE.

AND FINALLY, THE EXPENDITURES BY TYPE.

PERSONNEL IS THE LARGEST USE AT 14 MILLION OPERATING AT 6.6.

OUR CAPITAL OUTLAY IS 499.

DEBT SERVICE 78,000 FOR SOME OF THOSE OPERATING LOANS.

AND OUR RESERVES ARE 8.3.

ALL RIGHT. SO NOW LET'S SWITCH GEARS AND TAKE A LOOK AT OUR TEN YEAR FORECAST AND WE SEE WHICH IT REMAINS FLAT. WE HAVE A FLAT OPERATING MILLAGE OF 5.0537 WITH NO DEBT MILLAGE THROUGH YEAR TEN, WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE BECAUSE IT DOES PROVIDE STABILITY AND PREDICTABILITY FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS.

ALSO IN YEAR TEN, OUR UNASSIGNED RESERVES ARE ESTIMATED TO BE 35 MILLION.

THIS YEAR, STAFF DID PROPOSE TO INCREASE RESERVES TO A 19% MINIMUM THRESHOLD IN RESPONSE TO RISING COSTS DUE TO INFLATION, AND TO STRENGTHEN OUR POSITION FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLANNING.

SO THIS DOES MEET COUNCIL'S POLICY, WHICH IS SET AT 17% OF EXPENDITURES.

AND THIS WILL ADD ROUGHLY 2 MILLION TO OUR UNASSIGNED RESERVES, LEAVING US WITH 1.7 MILLION IN OUR ESTIMATED BUDGET STABILIZATION IN THAT 10TH YEAR, OUT IN 2034. SO ON THIS SLIDE, IT KIND OF SHOWS A BRIEF LITTLE GRAPH OF THAT SCENARIO.

YOU'LL NOTICE THE PURPLE IS OUR BUDGET STABILIZATION.

THE GREEN IS OUR UNASSIGNED RESERVES, AND THE GOLD DOTTED LINE IS OUR MILLAGE RATE.

AND THE MILLAGE RATE REMAINS FLAT AT THAT 5.0537 ALL THE WAY THROUGH YEAR 2034.

[02:10:06]

AND FINALLY, YOU SEE THE UNASSIGNED RESERVE BALANCE REMAINS FLAT UNTIL FISCAL YEAR 2029.

EXCUSE ME WHEN IT SLOWLY TICKS UP TO 35 MILLION.

IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN STAFF'S PROPOSED THRESHOLD OF 19% OF EXPENDITURES.

AND THIS DOES MEET COUNCIL'S POLICY AT 17%.

SO WE ALSO LIKE TO INCLUDE THE TOTAL COST COMPARISON SCHEDULE TO COMPARE OURSELVES TO OTHER LOCAL AGENCIES AND MUNICIPALITIES, TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE CITY CONTINUES TO NOT LEVY ANY RESIDENTIAL CURBSIDE TRASH COLLECTION, ANY FEES FOR ELECTRIC, WATER OR NATURAL GAS UTILITY SERVICES.

AND WE DON'T CHARGE FOR.

WE DO NOT CHARGE FOR STORMWATER OR FIRE ASSESSMENTS.

SO FOR THIS COMPARISON, WE ASSUMED A $450,000 ASSESSED PROPERTY VALUE WITH A $50,000 HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

AND FOR THE UTILITY CALCULATIONS, WE ASSUMED 2400 A YEAR FOR OUR ELECTRIC GAS CHARGES AND $780 A YEAR FOR WATER.

AND THEN FOR OUR COMMUNICATIONS TAX, WE ASSUMED $3,600 A YEAR FOR INTERNET, PHONE AND CABLE SERVICES.

AND ONCE YOU BRING THOSE ALL TOGETHER IN THIS TABLE, YOU'LL SEE HOW WE COMPARE WITH OTHER LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES.

YOU'LL NOTE THAT GARDENS IS AT THE TOP WITH NO UTILITY TAX.

SOLID WASTE COLLECTION FEE OR STORMWATER OR FIRE ASSESSMENTS.

ANOTHER THING YOU'LL NOTICE IS THAT THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES IN BLUE ARE A PART OF THE FIRE MSTU, SO THEY'LL HAVE A LOWER CITY TAX, WHEREAS AT MSU IS UNDER THE OTHER AD VALOREM SECTION.

SO THIS WOULD BRING OVERALL BRINGS A CITY IN WITH THE LOWEST TAX LIABILITY AT OUT OF THOSE SCENARIOS AT 7436 A YEAR. AND FINALLY, TONIGHT, I WOULD LIKE TO END WITH TAKING THE TIME TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR BUDGET REVIEW BOARD COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR THEIR TIME AND EFFORT THIS YEAR IN REVIEWING THE BUDGET WITH STAFF.

STAFF HAS SHARED THE BUDGET REVIEW REPORT WITH THE COUNCIL ON AUGUST 30TH, AND I WOULD LIKE TO READ SOME OF THE SUMMARIES FROM THIS YEAR'S REPORT.

SO THE REPORT, THEY STATED THE CITY HAS TAKEN AFFIRMATIVE STEPS TO AVOID A TAX INCREASE FOR FISCAL YEAR 24.

25. BUDGET WHILE MAINTAINING EXPENDITURE RESPONSIBILITY AND RESERVE BALANCE REQUIREMENTS AND PARAMETERS.

THEY ALSO STATED CITY STAFF HAS BEEN TRANSPARENT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE BUDGET PROCESS WITH ITS RESIDENTS AND CITIZENS, AND HAS TAKEN SIGNIFICANT STEPS TO ENSURE THE BUDGET INFORMATION IS ACCESSIBLE TO RESIDENTS.

SO THIS WRAPS UP THE PRESENTATION TONIGHT.

AND ONE LAST NOTE I'D LIKE TO ADD IS OUR FINAL BUDGET HEARING WILL TAKE PLACE AGAIN ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH AT 6 P.M.

IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

WHICH LEADS US TO THE REQUIRED ACTION FOR TONIGHT.

WHICH STAFF HAS TWO MOTIONS? THE FIRST MOTION IS STAFF RECOMMENDS A MOTION THAT THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS ADOPT A PROPOSED OPERATING AND TOTAL MILLAGE RATE OF 5.0537 MILLS, WHICH IS GREATER THAN THE ROLLBACK RATE OF 4.7798 BY 5.73%.

AND THEN THE SECOND MOTION STAFF RECOMMENDS A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE TEN 2024 ON FIRST READING, ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2425. AND THAT CONCLUDES TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU. MA'AM. THANK YOU.

THAT WAS GREAT. OKAY, SO WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENT CARDS.

SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE HEARING.

I'LL BE ASKING TWICE.

SO FOR THE FIRST I'M GOING TO ASK FOR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE PROPOSED OPERATING AND TOTAL MILLAGE RATE.

NO, MADAM MAYOR, MADAM VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M GOING TO MOVE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS ADOPT A PROPOSE AN OPERATING AND TOTAL MILLAGE RATE OF 5.0537 MILLS, WHICH IS GREATER THAN THE ROLLBACK RATE OF 4.7798 BY 5.73%.

I'LL SECOND. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SIR. SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS.

AND AFTER WE HAVE WE'LL GO AHEAD AND PASS THE ORDINANCE SEPARATELY AFTER WE'VE HAD DISCUSSION ABOUT THE MILLAGE RATE.

SO UNLESS YOU GUYS WANT TO GO AHEAD AND GO THROUGH, JUST GO THROUGH.

OKAY. SO WE'VE GOT THE MILLAGE RATE.

ALL IN FAVOR.

AYE AYE. ANY OPPOSED.

MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

SO LET'S GO AHEAD. IF I'M ASKING FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE TEN NOW ON FIRST READING, ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2425.

MADAM MAYOR, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE TEN 2024 ON FIRST READING, ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 AND 2025.

[02:15:08]

ALL RIGHT. WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO, BERT? GO. YOU ALREADY GOT YOUR BUTTON TURNED ON, I CAN SEE.

GO AHEAD. WELL, ERIN, YOU BASICALLY WROTE.

YOU READ MY WHOLE SPEECH.

SO NOW I FEEL LIKE I'M GOING TO BE REPEATING A LOT OF STUFF.

BUT YOUR PRESENTATION WAS EXCELLENT.

SO LET ME TAKE OFF MY GLASSES AND READ WHAT I WROTE.

FIRST OF ALL, LET ME THANK THE CITY MANAGER AND OF COURSE, YOU, OUR FINANCE ADMINISTRATOR, FOR MEETING WITH ME A COUPLE WEEKS AGO TO GO OVER MY LAUNDRY LIST OF QUESTIONS. I'D LIKE TO READ THE BUDGET, AS EVERYBODY DOES UP HERE.

I'D LIKE TO ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS TO KIND OF UNDERSTAND THE NUANCES OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

AND I APPRECIATE THE TWO OF YOU GETTING TOGETHER WITH ME, AND THEN ALSO ADDRESSING MY QUESTIONS IN WRITING AND GETTING THEM BACK TO THE COUNCIL.

THAT MEANT A LOT TO ME. I DIDN'T EXPECT THAT, BUT I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT FOR YOU GUYS DOING THAT.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE ENTIRE SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM, AS WELL AS THE BUDGET REVIEW REVIEW BOARD, FOR ALL THEIR EFFORTS IN PUTTING THIS TOGETHER AND REVIEWING THE BUDGET.

I MEAN, I USED TO BE ON THAT COMMITTEE 20 YEARS AGO, AS WELL AS STANDING IN FRONT OF RIVERSIDE FOR THE RIBBON CUTTING.

WITH THAT.

CHRISTIE PUT THAT PICTURE IN THERE TONIGHT.

SO WHEN I HAD HAIR AND I WAS ABOUT 100 POUNDS THINNER, BUT A LOT OF GOOD MEMORIES AND APPRECIATE LEARNING HOW THE CITY KIND OF WORKS IN THAT BUDGET REVIEW BOARD WAS PRETTY SPECIAL TO BE ON.

WAY BACK WHEN, WE HAD EVERYTHING ON PAPER AND A LOT OF PRESENTATIONS, AND I'M SURE YOU GUYS DO THE SAME TODAY, BUT A LOT OF THINGS ARE ONLINE.

SO IT'S IT'S A GREAT PROCESS AND I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP ON THAT.

AS WE KNOW, THE CITY HAS AN EXCELLENT BUDGETING PROCESS.

THE ENTIRE TEAM ALWAYS APPLIES A VERY CONSERVATIVE APPROACH WHEN IT COMES TO FORECASTING REVENUES, COUPLED WITH AN AGGRESSIVE FORECASTING OF EXPENSES.

WE LIKE THAT THIS STRATEGY WILL CONTINUE TO DELIVER POSITIVE GROWTH OUTCOMES WITH NO ANNUAL SURPRISES TO OUR TAXPAYERS.

THE BUDGET THIS YEAR CONTINUES TO ADDRESS A LOT OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTAL FUNCTIONS, PROJECTS, OTHER AREAS.

AND AS I SAY THIS YEAR, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS BUDGET, IT INCLUDES THE KITCHEN SINK.

I MEAN, YOU'VE GOT IT ALL IN THERE.

AND IT'S THAT'S A GREAT COMFORT FEELING FOR ME WHEN I LOOK AT IT.

AND I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL GOING FORWARD INTO NEXT YEAR.

SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FOR ME WAS PROPERTY ASSESSED VALUES HAVE NOW GONE UP FOR 13 CONSECUTIVE YEARS, STRONG UNASSIGNED RESERVES OF 28 MILLION, WHICH DOES NOT INCLUDE THE 7 MILLION IN THE BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND, WHICH AGAIN, IF THERE ARE SURPRISES WHICH WE DON'T HAVE, A LOT OF THOSE FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO COVER ANY SHORTFALLS IF NEEDED.

SO CONGRATULATIONS ON KEEPING THAT BALANCE HIGH.

THE THING THAT IMPRESSES ME THE MOST BECAUSE I WAS INVOLVED WITH IT IS THE EXCESS OF THE SALES SURTAX FUND WHEN WE DID THE BOND BACK IN 2017.

IT WAS A TEN YEAR BOND AT A 2% RATE, WHICH WAS PRETTY AWESOME.

AND THAT THAT $30 MILLION OR SO THAT WE BORROWED IS PROBABLY MORE LIKE 50 OR $60 MILLION TODAY.

SO WE'VE DOUBLED THAT MONEY BY GETTING TO THE MARKET EARLY, PUTTING THOSE CAPITAL PROJECTS IN PLACE PRIOR TO COVID.

AND WE ALL KNOW AFTER COVID HOW EXPENSES INCREASED DRAMATICALLY.

SO THAT WAS JUST AN UNBELIEVABLE DEAL.

AND FOR US TO HAVE THE RESERVES IN PLACE, IF THAT GETS SATISFIED NEXT YEAR OR THE YEAR AFTER, IF IT SATISFIES EARLY, WE AND WE LOSE THAT REVENUE, WE HAVE THE FUNDS TO COVER THAT DEBT, PAY IT OFF AND NO RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR TAXPAYERS.

AND THEN ALSO, I GATHER IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE TRUE VALUE OF THOSE PROJECTS AND WHAT WE PUT INTO IT, DAVID REYES PROBABLY HAS EIGHT HOURS.

HE CAN TALK TO YOU ABOUT ALL THE PROJECTS THAT WENT ON AROUND THE CITY, AND ALL THE MONEY THAT WENT IN TO INTO EVERYTHING THAT YOU SEE THAT'S BEEN BUILT IN THE CITY IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS TO ACCOMMODATE RESIDENT GROWTH AND THE EXPANSION OF SERVICES.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TEAM FOR THAT AS WELL.

YOU MENTIONED THE BURNS ROAD, $3 MILLION.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE NEED. WE'RE TRANSPARENT.

RIGHT. WE KNOW THE SYSTEM IS DOWN.

WE KNOW PROGRAMS OVER THERE HAVE BEEN SHORTENED OR OR MOVED ELSEWHERE FOR THE SUMMER, OR WE CAN'T ACCOMMODATE ALL THE THINGS WE USED TO DO.

SO WE'RE GOING TO SUBSIDIZE THAT UNTIL THAT NEW CENTER OPENS UP NEXT YEAR.

GET BACK TO THE REVENUE STREAM, WHICH WILL PROBABLY BE GREATER THAN WE EVER HAD BEFORE, JUST DUE TO THE SIZE OF THE BUILDINGS AND THE THINGS THAT WE CAN OFFER TO RESIDENTS.

SO CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.

ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE NEW INDOOR REC FACILITY AT GARDENS NORTH COUNTY DISTRICT PARK.

SO WE CAN FINALIZE THE AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE FOR EIGHT YEARS THAT WE KNOW WE HAVE TO DO.

WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING.

I KNOW THE CITY MANAGER IS GOING TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A PLACE WHERE BIRDS ARE GOING TO HANG OUT ON THE ROOF.

WHEN IT GETS ALL DONE, IT'S GOING TO BE SPECIAL.

IT'S OUR REQUIREMENT TO DO IT.

I DON'T HEAR ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT ALL THE OTHER STUFF THAT'S BEEN DONE TO THAT DISTRICT PARK FROM ALL THE PEOPLE THAT USE IT.

SO IT'S A GREAT FACILITY IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR CITY.

SO SUPER KEEP THAT GOING AS WELL.

EMPLOYMENT EXPANSION OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DIVISIONS.

WE KNOW THAT'S IMPORTANT AS WELL AS OUR GENERAL STAFFING, BASICALLY TO ACCOMMODATE ALL THESE NEW FACILITIES AND THE GROWING POPULATION.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO HOLD BACK ON HIRING, AS YOU CAN TELL BY THE NUMBERS WE'RE STILL UNDER, WHERE WE WERE 14 YEARS AGO ON PEOPLE, EMPLOYEES TO POPULATION.

SO WE ALWAYS DO MORE WITH LESS.

THAT'S KIND OF THE THEME I THINK THE CITY MANAGER RUNS WITH AND YOU GUYS AS A LEADERSHIP TEAM, PASSING IT DOWN TO THE EMPLOYEES IS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE BECAUSE THEY THEY BUY IN, BUT

[02:20:05]

THEY GET THEY GET REWARDED, THEY'RE PAID WELL, THEY'RE GOOD BENEFITS.

AND THAT'S ALL PART OF THE FAMILY THAT YOU GUYS HAVE BUILT HERE.

SO LET'S LET'S CONTINUE TO KEEP THAT GOING AND HIRE THE RIGHT PEOPLE, KEEP THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN PLACE.

I KNOW CHERYL, SHE'S VERY ACTIVE IN THAT EVERY YEAR WITH CONTRACTS AND NEGOTIATIONS AND BENEFITS.

IT'S A FAMILY, AND AND WE TRUST YOU GUYS TO DO IT.

AND A LOT OF TIMES, MOST OF THE TIME, MAYBE ALL THE TIME, YOU REALLY NEVER DISAPPOINT.

SO KEEP THAT GOING AS WELL.

CHALLENGES. FOR ME, THERE'S ALWAYS GOT TO BE A COUPLE IN THERE.

SO I THINK SALARY ADJUSTMENTS FROM WHAT I LEARNED IN THE, IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHERE I AM WE HAVE HR PEOPLE WHO LOOK AT THE SALARIES OF OUR EMPLOYEES IN THE BANKING INDUSTRY, AND THERE ARE ADJUSTMENTS MADE.

AND THIS HAS STARTED REALLY AFTER COVID WHERE SALARIES GOT COMPRESSED, POSITIONS GOT COMPRESSED, AND I THINK WE HAD PEOPLE LEAVE.

SO IT'S KIND OF AN AREA WHERE WE NEED TO EXPAND UPON OUR SALARY RANGES, MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE BEING PAID THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF MONEY, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE INCENTIVIZING ENOUGH TO KEEP THEM HERE AND REALLY DISPLAY HOW GREAT THE CITY IS TO WORK FOR, TO OUR RESIDENTS AND TO YOU, TO YOU EACH OTHER, BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT EVERYBODY GETS ALONG DEPARTMENTALLY, WHICH I THINK HERE IS PRETTY SPECIAL FOR WHAT YOU GUYS DO AND HOW YOU GUYS WORK TOGETHER.

THE OTHER THING IS THE ESSENTIALLY THE UNASSIGNED RESERVES AT 17%.

YOU KNOW, AS THE GENERAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES GROW, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MOVE THAT NUMBER UPWARD ON THE RESERVE SIDE.

SO I KNOW YOU'RE WATCHING THAT.

THE TEN YEAR FORECAST SHOWS IT, BUT DON'T GET CAUGHT BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL ON EXPENSES.

MAKE SURE THOSE FUNDS ARE WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.

SO WE NEVER HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING LIKE WE'RE BELOW KIND OF THE THRESHOLD MINIMUM OF WHERE WE NEED TO BE.

IN CONCLUSION, THE SUMMARY BUDGET CONTINUES TO BE FORWARD LOOKING, WHICH INCLUDES LOWERING THE MILLAGE RATE FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR.

THIS IS GOING TO RESULT ROUGHLY, I THINK, IN ABOUT ANOTHER 2 TO $3 MILLION OF REVENUE.

GOING BACK TO YOU, THE TAXPAYERS, BY LOWERING THE MILLAGE RATE.

DID WE HAVE TO DO IT? PROBABLY NOT.

I MEAN, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF CITIES THAT ARE DOING IT, BUT THAT'S NOT THE WAY WE OPERATE HERE IN PALM BEACH GARDENS.

I THINK WE LOOK AT THE EXPENSES THAT NEED TO BE PAID, AND THEN ESSENTIALLY, IF THERE'S SOME EXCESS REVENUE TO GO BACK THAT DOESN'T GO TO RESERVES, WE GIVE IT BACK TO THE RESIDENTS. SO THAT'S THREE YEARS IN A ROW.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE CITIES AROUND US, YOU PROBABLY TALK TO SOME OF THOSE RESIDENTS AND YOU'RE NOT HEARING OF ANY REDUCTIONS IN THEIR TAXES, THAT'S FOR SURE.

SO CONGRATULATIONS.

I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE BUDGET.

I LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR.

MAYBE THE MILLAGE RATE GETS BELOW FIVE INTO THE FOURS.

NO PRESSURE ON.

AS I SAID LAST YEAR, I DIDN'T THINK THERE'D BE A MILLAGE RATE REDUCTION THIS YEAR.

BUT WITH THE GROWTH OF THE CITY AND ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT A FOUR IS GOING TO BE IN THE NUMBERS NEXT YEAR, AND I HOPE YOU COME BACK NEXT YEAR AND REPORT THAT TO US. AND, AND WE'LL BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT EFFORT.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SIR. ALL RIGHT.

COUNCIL MEMBER TINSLEY THANK YOU.

MAYOR. BERT STOLE A LOT OF MY COMMENTS, BUT I DO ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU, AARON, AND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM FOR PREPARING THIS BUDGET.

I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF WORK.

YOU KNOW, WE SEE THE TAIL END OF IT, BUT YOU'VE PUT MONTHS AND MONTHS OF PREPARATION INTO IT FOR YOUR TIME AND ALSO THE BUDGET REVIEW COMMITTEE AS WELL FOR THEIR TIME AND RECOMMENDATIONS.

I WANT PEOPLE TO REALIZE THAT WE TALK ABOUT TRANSPARENCY LIKE IT'S A SIMPLE WORD, BUT ARIAN WAS DOING HER PRESENTATION LITERALLY ON OUR WEBSITE.

EVERYBODY CAN SEE OUR BUDGET IN REAL TIME.

THE ACTUAL ACTUALS.

AND THEN EVERY I THINK IT'S EVERY NIGHT IT'S MODIFIED FOR REAL TIME R AND PR TRANSACTIONS THAT OCCUR IN OUR CITY. SO SHE DID IT.

WE THAT'S HOW WE REVIEW IT.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY SPECIAL THINGS THAT NOBODY ELSE SEES.

WE LITERALLY GO ON THE WEBSITE AND WE DRILL DOWN EVERY SINGLE LINE ITEM ALL THE WAY DOWN TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS OR WHATEVER EACH DEPARTMENT HAS IN THEIR BUDGET.

AND I'M VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS, FOR THE MOST PART, ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS ARE SELF-SUFFICIENT, INCLUDING OUR BRAND NEW THE NEST AT SANDHILL CRANE.

IT'S IN THE BLACK, WHICH IS UNHEARD OF HAVING IT BE SO NEW.

SO I'M VERY, VERY PROUD OF THAT.

THIS YEAR WE SAW AN 11% PROPERTY VALUATION INCREASE.

YOU KNOW OBVIOUSLY ASSESSED VALUES ARE FOR HOMESTEADED.

PROPERTIES ARE GOING UP 3%.

WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A VERY HEALTHY WE'RE VERY LUCKY.

WE HAVE A VERY HEALTHY GROWTH RATE WITH THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS THAT WE'VE WITNESSED, APPROVED AND HAVE SEEN, GROWTH IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ALL HAVE TO FACE.

[02:25:02]

WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, AVANIR AND PGA STATION, FPL PHASE TWO AND ALL OF THE OTHER HOSPITAL AND PGA, MARINA AND CARL RITZ-CARLTON.

SO ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE GOING TO BE COMING ONLINE IN THE FUTURE, WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR OR SO.

YOU KNOW, YEARS AGO, AS KIND OF BURT MENTIONED, STAFF MADE A GREAT SUGGESTION TO ADD OUR BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND, WHICH ALLOWED OUR UNRESERVED FUNDS TO GROW.

AND WE'VE ACTUALLY REALIZED A SURPLUS OF OVER $3 MILLION A YEAR IN OUR PENNY SALES TAX REVENUE, WHICH IS AMAZING.

AND AGAIN, KIND OF SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU SAID.

STAFF'S DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB IN PLANNING AND BUDGETING THE MANY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT WITHOUT SPENDING A DIME, I MIGHT ADD, OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS. AND KUDOS TO EVERYBODY THAT MADE THAT POSSIBLE BECAUSE WE THOUGHT ABOUT THE PROJECTS WE WANTED WAY BACK THEN.

WE TOOK A BREAK.

WE WEREN'T ON THE COUNCIL ANYMORE.

AND YOU GUYS CONTINUED PLUGGING AWAY AND MADE THAT PLAN COME TO FRUITION.

AND HERE WE ARE BACK ON THE BURTONI ACTUALLY ARE BACK ON THE COUNCIL AND SEE THAT HARD WORK THAT YOU GUYS DID TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

AND LIKE HE SAID, THE DOLLARS WERE EXPONENTIALLY LESS THAN WHAT A LOT OF MUNICIPALITIES ARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH NOW.

THEY'RE ONLY ABLE TO BUILD HALF OF WHAT THEY WANTED TO BUILD BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T YOU KNOW, ACQUIRE A BOND LIKE WE DID IN ADVANCE.

SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S OUR FORWARD THINKING STAFF AND WE ALL REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

WE'VE BENEFITED GREATLY FROM THE, YOU KNOW, COST OF MATERIAL AND LABOR COSTS.

TO TALK ABOUT SALARIES.

I'VE SPOKE TO MANY MUNICIPALITIES.

YOU KNOW, IN DOING MY HOMEWORK, I ALWAYS DO MY OWN LITTLE SURVEYS TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW, WHAT I'M LOOKING AT IS, YOU KNOW, IN AT PAR AND, YOU KNOW, MOST ARE ALLOCATING, YOU KNOW, 3 TO 5% INCREASES AND SOME MORE.

WE'RE VERY LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE DOLLARS THAT WE NEED TO, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE ANY OF YOU.

YOU GUYS ARE A GREAT TEAM.

YOU DEFINITELY DESERVE IT.

AND YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE WE CAN RETAIN THE HISTORY AND THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE AND THE TEAM THAT WE HAVE IS SUPER IMPORTANT.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT AS WELL.

I KNOW WE'RE ALL ALSO DEALING WITH THE, YOU KNOW, THE HIGH COST OF INSURANCE AND GROCERIES AND ETC.

SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WE TAKE CARE OF THAT.

AND I WOULD BE REMISS TO NOT MENTION THE WHICH I KIND OF DID, THE SURGE OF DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, BUT OUR TEAM HAS KEPT UP WITH THAT DEVELOPMENT, WON NUMEROUS AWARDS OVER THE PAST YEAR, I MIGHT ADD.

AND IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE, THE HELP AND THE ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES NEEDED TO KEEP UP.

AND AS YOU SAW IN THE PRESENTATION, IT'S NOT THAT MUCH DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WAS IT 2007 I THINK WAS IN THE NUMBER.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING DEFINITELY TO BE PROUD OF AS WELL.

WITH THAT SAID I'M ALSO SUPER PROUD THAT WE'RE ABLE TO LOWER THE MILLAGE RATE AGAIN FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW.

I DON'T THINK ANY MUNICIPALITY CAN SAY THAT THEY'VE DONE THAT.

AND AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE BEEN FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

IN SUMMARY, OR IN CLOSING, I'D ALSO WOULD LIKE TO BRIEFLY DISCUSS OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, WHICH I MENTIONED EVERYONE CAN SEE.

WE HAVE THE DOLLAR SET ASIDE FOR THE DISTRICT PARK FINAL PHASE.

I APPRECIATE THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I KNOW WE AS A TEAM HAVE WORKED ON FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.

THE PHASE IS THE LAST OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL AND SOMETHING UNIQUE.

I THANK YOU FOR SHARING THE PLAN VERY MUCH WITH THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC.

RON, I ALSO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU RESPONDED TO MY EMAIL SO QUICKLY AND PUT TOGETHER A PRESENTATION ON THIS AGENDA.

LIKE WITH NO NOTICE WHATSOEVER.

SO I REALLY AM GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

I KNOW THE BUILDING WILL BE COMPATIBLE.

WE'VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING POORLY IN THIS CITY.

I WAS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING DIFFERENT, BUT I HAD TO CATCH MYSELF.

WE'VE ALWAYS DONE SOMETHING SPECIAL IN OUR CITY, AND I KNOW THE BUILDING AT THE DISTRICT PARK.

ALTHOUGH THE RENDERING MIGHT NOT HAVE MADE IT LOOK PRETTY, I KNOW IT'LL BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE OTHER BUILDINGS.

[02:30:05]

AND ALSO JUST TO ADD A LITTLE COMMENT THAT THIS IS A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY AND PLACE FOR UTILIZING OUR ARP FUNDS FOR UNIQUE FUNCTIONAL ART.

MAYBE LIKE A SOLAR LIT BUTTERFLY BENCH OR SOME UNIQUE MUSICIAN SHELTER OF SOME KIND.

BUT WE DO HAVE THOSE FUNDS, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO USE OTHER TAXPAYER DOLLARS FOR THAT AS WELL.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I KNOW STAFF HAS DONE IN THE PAST AND CAN DO HERE AS WELL.

SO WITH THAT SAID, I'M VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF THIS BUDGET AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR WORK.

OKAY. WONDERFUL. MOVING ON DOWN.

VICE MAYOR MIDDLETON.

HI, ERIN.

THANK YOU. I MEAN, TREMENDOUS PRESENTATION.

AND I KNOW MONTHS HAVE GONE INTO THIS AND OUR STAFF IS AMAZING.

AND I TRULY LOVE OUR CITY AND LOVE EVERYBODY THAT I'VE BEEN INVOLVED AND WORK WITH ON A DAILY BASIS AND AND APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU.

I DON'T KNOW MUCH THAT I CAN SAY BECAUSE BERT AND MARCY TALKED A LOT, AND I DON'T WANT TO BE REPETITIVE, BUT I ALSO I KNOW WE LOVE THE BUDGET. YOU LOVE NUMBERS.

I KNOW I GET IT, BUT I DID WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT.

WE DIDN'T TALK MUCH ABOUT GRANTS.

JOHN, I KNOW THAT'S YOUR BABY.

I KNOW YOU WORK REALLY HARD AND TIRELESSLY ON GRANTS, AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO THE CITY AND ALL WE DO, AND IT'S JUST EXTRA, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT TO THE CITY THAT WE CAN MOVE MONEY AROUND FOR BUDGET ITEMS AND OTHER AREAS.

SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.

AND AND I KNOW YOU WORK WITH KELLY AND THE TEAM.

SO THANK YOU BOTH VERY, VERY MUCH.

GRANTS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE CITY AND YOU WORK HARD TO TO GET THEM AS PART OF THE PROJECTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO ALSO, I KNOW THAT BERT BROUGHT UP SOMETHING NEAR AND DEAR TO THE MAYOR'S HEART IS THE FUNDING FOR VARIOUS STREET IMPROVEMENTS TO ENHANCE PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC FLOW AND SAFETY.

AS PART OF THE CITY MOBILE CITY'S MOBILITY PLAN.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I KNOW THAT BERT WANTED TO MENTION THAT BEFORE AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

I MEAN, FANTASTIC, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.

WE LOVE WHERE WE WORK AND WE ARE ABLE TO DO ALL THESE GREAT PROJECTS AND AND KEEP OUR CITY SAFE AND SECURE AS WELL.

SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT.

THANK YOU. MA'AM. COUNCIL MEMBER WOODS.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE REST OF YOU, BUT I'M EXHAUSTED.

SO LET'S JUST PUT THE GAVEL ON IT AND LET THE CITY DO WHAT THEY DO.

AND LET'S LET'S MOVE ON.

THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB.

NO. IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE TO TALK ABOUT, I HAVE A COUPLE THINGS.

ROCK N ROLL. NO, I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS.

DO IT. ALL RIGHT, SO KICK OFF.

I THINK KICK OFF ALREADY HAPPENED.

SO I'M SORRY ABOUT THE KICKOFF, CARL.

I AM SO I THINK THAT THE CITY IS UP TO CLOSE TO 30 AWARDS FOR THE BUDGET.

YES WE ARE. YES, THAT'S SAYING SOMETHING.

THIS BUDGET IS 29, 29.

OKAY. SO CLOSE.

I IMAGINE THAT WON'T HAPPEN.

THAT WILL HAPPEN SOON ENOUGH.

BUT THIS THIS IS BEYOND TRANSPARENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER TINSLEY MENTIONED THAT YOU'RE LITERALLY ON THE INTERNET SHOWING EVERYONE HOW TO USE OUR BUDGET, AND I HOPE THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE DOING THAT.

AND THEY SHOULD, BECAUSE YOU'VE SENT OUT VIA EMAIL AND SOCIAL MEDIA, YOU KNOW, CARTOONS AND VIDEOS AND, YOU KNOW, COME, YOU KNOW, WE'VE LIFTED UP THE CURTAINS, BUT TAKE A LOOK AT EVERYTHING. SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, GROWING UP HERE, THERE WAS ALWAYS CONCERN ABOUT TRANSPARENCY.

AND I SINCERELY HOPE THAT THAT HAS GONE AWAY BECAUSE WE DO OUR BEST TO SHARE ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME.

THIS BUDGET IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.

ALSO, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN OPEN UP OUR PROJECTS PAGE AND SEE EVERY PROJECT HAPPENING, WHETHER IT'S BEEN APPLIED FOR APPROVED OR NOT.

IT'S EVERYTHING IS THERE ON THE WEBSITE FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO DISCOVER THE BUDGET ITSELF.

SOUND. THE TEN YEAR FORECAST IS EXTRAORDINARY AND IT'S ALWAYS COMPREHENSIVE, COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT AND REALLY, REALLY SHOWS WHERE OUR MONEY COMES AND GOES.

MY FAVORITE PART IS THAT SLIDE THAT SHOWS THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, NINE POINT, THE 632 POSITIONS NOW AND 514IN OH SEVEN. SO WE'RE TALKING DECADES AND HARDLY ANY DIFFERENCE IN STAFFING AND DOING, YOU KNOW, MORE WITH LESS, AS BERT MENTIONED.

BUT THE PART THAT I LOVE ABOUT THE BUDGET THE MOST IS THAT IT'S BASED ON OUR RESIDENT SURVEY.

SO WHEN YOU GO TO THE KEY INITIATIVES PAGE, WHICH IS MY ALSO MY FAVORITE THINGS LIKE 96% OF OUR RESIDENTS IN THE SURVEY SAY THAT THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE HAPPY HERE AND THAT OUR OVERALL SATISFACTION RATING IS 98%.

AND THEN THIS IS WHERE THE BUDGET COMES IN THAT OUR RESPONDENTS ASKED FOR PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLE FRIENDLY STREETS, GREENWAYS AND PATHS.

OKAY. YOU CAN SEE THAT IN THE BUDGET.

LIKE LIKE BERT AND DANA JUST MENTIONED OR THAT THEY WANT MORE COMMUNITY EVENTS.

WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL CARD HERE FROM REC ABOUT ALL OF THE FREE EVENTS THAT RESIDENTS CAN COME TO FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, THAT RESIDENTS ARE SUPPORTIVE

[02:35:07]

OKAY GUESS WHAT? THAT'S WE'RE HEARING A LOT ABOUT THAT, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.

THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE ASKED FOR.

THEY WANT MORE ATTRACTIONS THAT THEY ARE SHOWING A DECREASED WILLINGNESS TO RAISE REVENUE FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES BY RAISING PROPERTY TAXES.

OKAY GUESS WHAT? WE LOWERED PROPERTY TAXES THAT 91.4% WANT TO GENERATE ADDITIONAL REVENUE THROUGH USER BASED FEES.

WE'RE DOING THAT AS WELL.

AND ALL OF THIS IS COMING DIRECTLY FROM THE RESIDENT SURVEY.

SO WHILE WHAT YOU DO IS EXTRAORDINARY, AND I CANNOT IMAGINE THE LEVEL OF MATH THAT YOU SPEND YOUR TIME DOING EVERY DAY, THE FACT THAT YOU'VE TAKEN THE DESIRES OF OUR RESIDENTS AND YOU'RE TURNING IT INTO SOMETHING THEY CAN SEE IN REAL TIME ONLINE, IS REALLY EXTRAORDINARY.

SO THANK YOU TO OUR FINANCE STAFF.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR STAFF, EVERYBODY THAT MAKES THIS HAPPEN.

WE'RE SO PROUD TO REPRESENT YOU.

AND WE DO THIS ALL WHILE KEEPING THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY AT 50% GREEN SPACE AND BUILDING IT ON THE HEARTS OF THE RESIDENTS.

SO I COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD TO PASS THIS BUDGET TONIGHT.

ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE BUDGET PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

WE DO NOT HAVE ANY RESOLUTIONS THIS EVENING.

AND THE NEXT ITEM IS COUNCIL ACTION, DISCUSSION OR ITEMS OF INTEREST.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING INTERESTING? ASIDE FROM MISSING THE KICKOFF OR WHATEVER? PARDON ME. MATT.

OH, NO, NOT IN A MOMENT.

ANYTHING MARCIE FOR YOU TO SHARE.

ALL RIGHT. NEXT IS THE CITY ATTORNEY REPORT.

MAX, DO WE HAVE A REPORT THIS EVENING? NO, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, SIR. WITH THAT, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.

THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.