Mayor Hudson called the  April 20, 2020 Regular Meeting of the City Commission to order at 6:30 PM.

Commissioner Alexander was present via conference call.

Motion was made by Commissioner Thomas Perona, seconded by Commissioner Jeremiah Johnson to approve the minutes from the March 27, 2020 Special Meeting and April 06, 2020 regular meeting.

AYE:

Mayor Linda Hudson, Commissioner Rufus Alexander, Commissioner Jeremiah Johnson, Commissioner Thomas Perona, Commissioner Reginald Sessions

Passed

None.

Motion was made by Commissioner Jeremiah Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Reginald Sessions to approve and set the Agenda.

AYE:

Mayor Linda Hudson, Commissioner Rufus Alexander, Commissioner Jeremiah Johnson, Commissioner Thomas Perona, Commissioner Reginald Sessions

Passed

Mark Barnes, of DiBartolomeo, McBee, Hartley & Barnes, P.A. was present and provided an overview of the audit prepared for the 2019 fiscal year.  The audit report presented included balance sheets showing assets, liabilities, and fund equities.  Mr. Barnes also went over the Government Fund Revenues and Expenditures,  Community Redevelopment, Solid Waste Fund, Stormwater Fund, Golf Course Fund, Marina Fund, Sunrise Theatre, and Building Department.  This Comprehensive Annual Financial Report covered all governmental, proprietary and fiduciary funds for the period ending September 30, 2019. Also included are notes to the financials and the auditor's reports on the statements. The City of Fort Pierce ended the fiscal year in a strong position.

Motion was made by Commissioner Thomas Perona, seconded by Commissioner Reginald Sessions to accept the Auditor's Report as presented.

AYE:

Mayor Linda Hudson, Commissioner Rufus Alexander, Commissioner Jeremiah Johnson, Commissioner Thomas Perona, Commissioner Reginald Sessions

Passed

Motion was made by Commissioner Jeremiah Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Reginald Sessions to approve items 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d.

AYE:

Mayor Linda Hudson, Commissioner Rufus Alexander, Commissioner Jeremiah Johnson, Commissioner Thomas Perona, Commissioner Reginald Sessions

Passed

City Clerk Linda Cox introduced the ordinance, read by title only, into the record.
 
ORDINANCE NO. 20-010
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2018-19 BUDGET OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA BY INSERTING THEREIN A SCHEDULE ATTACHED HERETO AND DESIGNED AS THE 2018-19 FINAL BUDGET AMENDMENT.  THE SAID SCHEDULE PROVIDES FOR THE INCREASES AND/OR DECREASES IN REVENUES AND APPROPRIATIONS IN THE GENERAL FUND; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.  SECOND READING
 
Mayor Hudson opened the Public Hearing.  Seeing no one, Mayor Hudson closed the Public Hearing.
 

Motion was made by Commissioner Thomas Perona, seconded by Commissioner Reginald Sessions to approve Ordinance No. 20-010.

AYE:

Mayor Linda Hudson, Commissioner Rufus Alexander, Commissioner Jeremiah Johnson, Commissioner Thomas Perona, Commissioner Reginald Sessions

Passed

City Clerk Linda Cox introduced the Resolution, read by title only, into the record.
 
RESOLUTION NO. 20-R21
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA ACCEPTING THE PROPOSAL OF JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. TO PURCHASE THE CITY'S NOT TO EXCEED $6,100,000 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT REVENUE REFUNDING NOTE, SERIES 2020A THE PROCEEDS OF WHICH WILL BE APPLIED TO CURRENTLY REFUND ALL OF THE CITY’S OUTSTANDING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT REVENUE NOTE, SERIES 2014A AND TO THE EXTENT NOT REFUNDED WITH PROCEEDS OF THE CITY’S TAXABLE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT REVENUE REFUNDING NOTE, SERIES 2020B ALL OF THE CITY’S OUTSTANDING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT REVENUE NOTES, SERIES 2016B AND SERIES 2016C AND TO PAY COSTS OF ISSUANCE THEREOF AND ALL OF THE CITY'S NOT TO EXCEED $3,000,000 TAXABLE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT REVENUE REFUNDING NOTE, SERIES 2020B THE PROCEEDS OF WHICH WILL ADVANCE REFUND ALL OF THE CITY’S OUTSTANDING TAXABLE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT REVENUE NOTE, SERIES 2016A AND TO THE EXTENT NOT REFUNDED WITH PROCEEDS OF THE CITY’S CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT REVENUE REFUNDING NOTE, SERIES 2020A ALL OF THE CITY’S OUTSTANDING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT REVENUE NOTES, SERIES 2016B AND SERIES 2016C AND TO PAY COSTS OF ISSUANCE THEREOF AND THE CITY'S NOT TO EXCEED $7,350,000 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT REVENUE REFUNDING NOTE, SERIES 2020C, THE PROCEEDS OF WHICH WILL ADVANCE REFUND ALL OF THE CITY’S OUTSTANDING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT REVENUE REFUNDING NOTE, SERIES 2018 AND TO PAY COSTS OF ISSUANCE THEREOF; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF LOAN AGREEMENTS WITH SAID LENDER TO SECURE THE REPAYMENT OF SAID NOTES; PROVIDING FOR THE PAYMENT OF SUCH NOTES FROM THE CITY'S COVENANT TO BUDGET AND APPROPRIATE NON AD VALOREM REVENUES ALL AS PROVIDED IN THE LOAN AGREEMENTS; AUTHORIZING THE PROPER OFFICIALS OF THE CITY TO DO ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL THINGS DEEMED NECESSARY OR ADVISABLE IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXECUTION OF THE LOAN AGREEMENTS, THE NOTES, AND THE SECURITY THEREFOR; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF OTHER DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE ISSUANCE OF SUCH NOTES; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
 
Johnna Morris, Finance Director provided an overview of this resolution.  In an effort to further cost reduction, this resolution will allow the refinancing of the 2014, 2016, and 2018 series bonds which will save the City of Fort Pierce approximately $662,000.00 over ten years without extending the terms of the loan.  We will remain on the same debt schedule but will be reducing costs significantly thereby saving approximately $66,000.00 per year for the next ten years.

Motion was made by Commissioner Thomas Perona, seconded by Commissioner Jeremiah Johnson to approve Resolution No. 20-R21.

AYE:

Mayor Linda Hudson, Commissioner Rufus Alexander, Commissioner Jeremiah Johnson, Commissioner Thomas Perona, Commissioner Reginald Sessions

Passed

Ionis Jefferson Knowles
George Collins
Rick Reed
Fred Bell, via email

Mr. Mimms, City Manager, provided a brief update of what the City of Fort Pierce staff has been working on regarding the pandemic situation.  Several facilities remain closed, and moratoriums have been placed on public meetings.  Communication to the public has been constant through text messaging, video public service announcements, and emails.  Text messaging has been expanded to include many of the City’s pastors so that information can be passed along to our community through that channel.  Re-opening and recovery are some issues we will be facing in the upcoming weeks. 
 
The city will continue to work together with Indian River County, St. Lucie County, Port St. Lucie and Martin County cohesively as a group.  Working together with our neighbors will be the key to a successful transition in the re-opening of our City.  We will be using State and Federal guidelines as well as data analysis to move forward and accomplish our goal. 
 
Internally, we will put together a task force to deal with business recovery, housing assistance, family assistance, and the establishment of a virtual recovery center.  We plan to re-purpose funding such as the State Housing Initiative Partnership (SHIP) program.  This type of fund will be used to help families with rent and mortgage assistance.   We have been awarded funds through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to assist residents with their day-to-day needs.  In addition, FPRA Economic Development Incentives will be made available for small business recovery. 
 
The beaches will reopen together with Indian River County, St. Lucie County, and Martin County.  The executive order keeping the beaches closed expires on April 30, 2020.
 
Mr. Mimms stated they are working with city employees and dealing with their individual needs regarding childcare, caring for individuals at home, and extenuating circumstances.  Employees with qualifying issues are advised about the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) which is a federally funded program for employees unable to work due to qualifying circumstances.
 
The 2020 Strategic Action Plan was distributed to the City Commission on April 16, 2020.  This plan includes our top priorities.  It is a very detailed document that will be utilized as our road map to the future.
 
The City of Fort Pierce has reached tentative agreements with the PBA Unions for both officers and sergeants and lieutenants.  The agreements should be ratified and will be presented at the next City Commission meeting.
 
City Attorney, Peter Sweeney had no comments.

Commissioner Alexander stated he has been quarantined for three weeks. He is deeply concerned with the City of Fort Pierce.  Commissioner Alexander expressed concern that Commissioner Sessions did not receive support from the City or the County to run the drive-thru testing facility.  Commissioner Alexander would like to see funding be directed to feeding the hungry and assisting families with basic necessities in the City of Fort Pierce.  Commissioner Alexander expressed thanks to the medical community and to the police and fire departments.  He also sent thanks to the bus drivers in our community who take people back and forth to work.
 
Commissioner Perona had no comment.
 
Commissioner Sessions shares the same sentiment expressed by Commissioner Alexander. Commissioner Sessions helped to facilitate a testing site for COVID-19 with an independent lab at Dreamland Park.  A St. Lucie County Sheriff was present for approximately three hours.  Commissioner Sessions was disappointed that the City of Fort Pierce Police Department was not present.  Commissioner Sessions also expressed concern for citizens in our community who have not utilized the various options for food or groceries in the City and may be hungry.  Because the city is in a strong financial position, Commissioner Sessions would like some of the surplus general funds to be given back to the community.  Commissioner Sessions expressed disappointment with the City Manager and would call for his termination if he thought he had the support.
 
Commissioner Sessions made a motion to allocate $50,000.00 from the General Fund to assist the community in this State of Emergency.  $10,000.00 to feed the hungry and $40,000.00 as a small business loan or grant.
 
Commissioner Perona raised a point of order which as to whether action could be taken on the motion.  The appropriate time to have added this item requiring a motion and vote would have been under item 9 when the agenda was set.
 
Commissioner Sessions has requested a Special Meeting of the City Commission to be called to address this issue of additional funding directly to citizens and small businesses.

Commissioner Sessions left the meeting at 8:06 PM.
 
Commissioner Johnson  is also concerned for the citizens of Fort Pierce.  Testing is a great service to offer, but efforts take coordination through the EOC and/or with community partners.  Commissioner Johnson supports the City Manager's proposed plan to re-purpose funding options for a give back to the community and working with our neighboring counties for a smooth transition back to regular business.
 
Mayor Hudson would again like to thank every essential employee who has worked through this event and especially first responders, medical personnel, and those working in the service industry.

Mayor Linda Hudson adjourned the meeting at 8:23 PM.