C I T Y O F F O R T P I E R C E
CONFERENCE AGENDA MINUTES
Conference Agenda Meeting - Monday, September 14, 2015 - 8:30 a.m.
City Hall - 2nd Floor Conference Room, 100 North U.S. #1, Fort Pierce, Florida
1.
Call to Order - Mayor Hudson called the meeting to order at 8:33 a.m.
2.
Pledge of Allegiance
3.
Roll Call
- Present:
-
- Linda Hudson, Mayor
- Rufus Alexander, Commissioner
- Thomas Perona, Commissioner
- Reginald Sessions, Commissioner (arrived at 8:39 a.m.)
- Absent:
-
- Edward Becht, Commissioner
- Staff Present:
-
- Robert Bradshaw, City Manager
- Robert Schwerer, City Attorney
- Linda Cox, City Clerk
4.
New Business
A.
Wayne Gent, Superintendent, St. Lucie Public Schools
Mr. Wayne Gent, Superintendent of St. Lucie County Public Schools gave an update to the City Commission of where things stand overall in the St. Lucie County Public Schools. He explained that the schools will undergo a new assessment testing system called Florida State Assessment which will be implemented in the next few months. The four areas that the school district is focusing on are teaching and learning, safe and caring schools; talent development and management and community/parent engagement. There was an extensive discussion on exploring charter schools in Fort Pierce. The general consensus is to look more at channeling resources through partnerships with the School District.
Commissioner Perona and Commissioner Sessions shared concern for the youth in the community and asked what the School Board plans to do about the situations with violence and behavioral issues. Commissioner Sessions also expressed a concern about the school system having a zero tolerance for minor offenses. He asked what was in place to keep kids from being expelled for minor offenses. Superintendent Gent explained that when students are expelled from school they go to Dale Cassens Center which is an alternative school and the last resort is to put them out on the street.
Commissioner Alexander agrees that all agencies should share in the responsibility for the children in the community. He thinks it is a good idea to ask the Fort Pierce Police Chief to send staff to the Juvenile Courts to see what is happening in the system. He praised the Palm Beach Police staff for being in the Juvenile Courts and asked that Mr. Gent bring that same innovation from Palm Beach to Fort Pierce. Commissioner Alexander hopes that there can be a collaborative effort between agencies to create jobs and trades for our youth.
Mayor Hudson commented that parent involvement is important to having better schools and she is very happy to see that an emphasis is placed on improvements to Westwood High School.
Commissioner Sessions commented that he hope Westwood High School can be brought up to the facility standards of some of the neighboring schools.
The overall consensus from the Mayor and each of the Commissioners is to do all that is possible to work with the School Board and other entities to make schools a better and safer place for our children.
Mr. Wayne Gent, Superintendent of St. Lucie County Public Schools gave an update to the City Commission of where things stand overall in the St. Lucie County Public Schools. He explained that the schools will undergo a new assessment testing system called Florida State Assessment which will be implemented in the next few months. The four areas that the school district is focusing on are teaching and learning, safe and caring schools; talent development and management and community/parent engagement. There was an extensive discussion on exploring charter schools in Fort Pierce. The general consensus is to look more at channeling resources through partnerships with the School District.
Commissioner Perona and Commissioner Sessions shared concern for the youth in the community and asked what the School Board plans to do about the situations with violence and behavioral issues. Commissioner Sessions also expressed a concern about the school system having a zero tolerance for minor offenses. He asked what was in place to keep kids from being expelled for minor offenses. Superintendent Gent explained that when students are expelled from school they go to Dale Cassens Center which is an alternative school and the last resort is to put them out on the street.
Commissioner Alexander agrees that all agencies should share in the responsibility for the children in the community. He thinks it is a good idea to ask the Fort Pierce Police Chief to send staff to the Juvenile Courts to see what is happening in the system. He praised the Palm Beach Police staff for being in the Juvenile Courts and asked that Mr. Gent bring that same innovation from Palm Beach to Fort Pierce. Commissioner Alexander hopes that there can be a collaborative effort between agencies to create jobs and trades for our youth.
Mayor Hudson commented that parent involvement is important to having better schools and she is very happy to see that an emphasis is placed on improvements to Westwood High School.
Commissioner Sessions commented that he hope Westwood High School can be brought up to the facility standards of some of the neighboring schools.
The overall consensus from the Mayor and each of the Commissioners is to do all that is possible to work with the School Board and other entities to make schools a better and safer place for our children.
B.
Mr. Pete Tesch gave an update and presentation on the Economic Development Council Strategic Plan. He explained that the focus of the Plan is to create quality jobs for the community, expand the tax base and make this a prosperous area to live, work and play. The partnership between the EDC, City of Fort Pierce, City of Port St. Lucie, St. Lucie County, St. Lucie County School Board, and the Work Force Board is critical in moving forward with a coherent strategy. The strategic goals of the plan are related to economy building which includes:
Land Building and Infrastructure
Marketing and Branding
Business expansion and competitiveness
Workforce and education
Tourism
Over the next few months, the EDC will create a working group around the goals, prioritize the objectives and assign responsibilities and timelines ensuring that the plan has relevancy to our economic condition and being able to fund the plan.
Commissioner Sessions commended Mr. Tesch for his mission to bring economic development to Fort Pierce. He asked what needs to be done by the City Commission to make it easier to accomplish the goals of economic development.
Mr. Tesch responded that the EDC cannot participate financially the way they need to right now. Step one is to prioritize economic development with job creation. He referenced Rocla Industries as an example of the assistance the EDC can provide. He explained that if a business wants to expand, the EDC will do everything they can to help, including making a commitment as well as sharing the vision with the City.
Commissioner Perona praised Mr. Tesch for realizing the uniqueness of Fort Pierce and the opportunities that exist. He asked Mr. Tesch if the plan will have measurable results and are there intentions to revisit the plan on a continual basis.
Mr. Tesch explained that there will be a score card and in critical industries will measure how many jobs have actually been created or lost over a 5-year period. Another part of the metrics would be to look at capital investment and expanding the tax base.
Commissioner Sessions asked City Manager Bradshaw what he foresaw our plans to be from a financial standpoint.
City Manager Bradshaw explained that the relationship with the EDC since Mr. Tesch has come on board, has been strengthened. In the next budget cycle, staff will look to find the proper funding to address the initiatives with the EDC.
Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County Strategic Plan Presentation and Update - Pete Tesch, President
Land Building and Infrastructure
Marketing and Branding
Business expansion and competitiveness
Workforce and education
Tourism
Over the next few months, the EDC will create a working group around the goals, prioritize the objectives and assign responsibilities and timelines ensuring that the plan has relevancy to our economic condition and being able to fund the plan.
Commissioner Sessions commended Mr. Tesch for his mission to bring economic development to Fort Pierce. He asked what needs to be done by the City Commission to make it easier to accomplish the goals of economic development.
Mr. Tesch responded that the EDC cannot participate financially the way they need to right now. Step one is to prioritize economic development with job creation. He referenced Rocla Industries as an example of the assistance the EDC can provide. He explained that if a business wants to expand, the EDC will do everything they can to help, including making a commitment as well as sharing the vision with the City.
Commissioner Perona praised Mr. Tesch for realizing the uniqueness of Fort Pierce and the opportunities that exist. He asked Mr. Tesch if the plan will have measurable results and are there intentions to revisit the plan on a continual basis.
Mr. Tesch explained that there will be a score card and in critical industries will measure how many jobs have actually been created or lost over a 5-year period. Another part of the metrics would be to look at capital investment and expanding the tax base.
Commissioner Sessions asked City Manager Bradshaw what he foresaw our plans to be from a financial standpoint.
City Manager Bradshaw explained that the relationship with the EDC since Mr. Tesch has come on board, has been strengthened. In the next budget cycle, staff will look to find the proper funding to address the initiatives with the EDC.
Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County Strategic Plan Presentation and Update - Pete Tesch, President
C.
Mr. Peter Engle from Kessler Consulting Firm gave a presentation on the feasibility of having an in-house commercial and multi-family recycling program. He explained that the City provides garbage collection service for commercial and multi-family properties through mechanical containers or dumpster service and the smaller properties receive carted service. However, the City does not provide commercial recycling service to its customer base.
Through the outreach and education program, the City is involved with the “Do More Blue” campaign to increase the awareness and participation of residential recycling. The City is unable to provide commercial recycling at this time. The goal is to bring commercial and multi-family recycling in-house to the City of Fort Pierce.
Commissioner Perona commented that the incentive to bringing commercial recycling in-house is to avoid the tonnage cost for hauling.
If the City Commission directs staff to move forward, the Solid Waste Ordinance will be updated to include verbiage about the residential and commercial recycling program. Also the dumpster enclosure Code of Ordinance will be updated. After an extensive discussion about the rate structure, the consensus of the Commission was to start with the multi-family recycling and incrementally go with commercial recycling.
Solid Waste Commercial and Multi-Family Single Stream Recycling Presentation - Public Works Manager
Through the outreach and education program, the City is involved with the “Do More Blue” campaign to increase the awareness and participation of residential recycling. The City is unable to provide commercial recycling at this time. The goal is to bring commercial and multi-family recycling in-house to the City of Fort Pierce.
Commissioner Perona commented that the incentive to bringing commercial recycling in-house is to avoid the tonnage cost for hauling.
If the City Commission directs staff to move forward, the Solid Waste Ordinance will be updated to include verbiage about the residential and commercial recycling program. Also the dumpster enclosure Code of Ordinance will be updated. After an extensive discussion about the rate structure, the consensus of the Commission was to start with the multi-family recycling and incrementally go with commercial recycling.
Solid Waste Commercial and Multi-Family Single Stream Recycling Presentation - Public Works Manager
D.
Mr. Kori Benton explained that at 601 Seaway Drive, there is future consideration for rezoning the property from R3 to C5 increasing development in exchange for other community benefits. There is no formal application or site plan for conditional use yet however the applicants want the opportunity to explore different components of the request preliminarily.
The two components for development of the property include:
1) Developing a commercial marina; and
2) Relocating the Wastewater Treatment Plant
Further discussion ensued about relocating the Plant.
Proposed Development of Causeway Cove - Planning Manager
The two components for development of the property include:
1) Developing a commercial marina; and
2) Relocating the Wastewater Treatment Plant
Further discussion ensued about relocating the Plant.
Proposed Development of Causeway Cove - Planning Manager
E.
Mr. Kori Benton reported that at an earlier Commission meeting, staff gave a presentation on short term vacation rentals, regulations and implementation of the types of uses. Staff has since established a user-friendly implementation policy.
Staff will also look into the requirements for conditional use for vacation rentals.
City Attorney Rob Schwerer commented that Harbor Isle has declaration restrictions that would prohibit vacation rentals.
Mr. Benton informed the City Commission that there may be perspective applications that will be brought before them on a case by case.
Dwelling & Vacation Rentals - Planning Manager, Code Compliance Manager
Staff will also look into the requirements for conditional use for vacation rentals.
City Attorney Rob Schwerer commented that Harbor Isle has declaration restrictions that would prohibit vacation rentals.
Mr. Benton informed the City Commission that there may be perspective applications that will be brought before them on a case by case.
Dwelling & Vacation Rentals - Planning Manager, Code Compliance Manager
5.
Adjournment - The meeting was adjourned at 12:00 p.m.