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C I T Y  O F  F O R T  P I E R C E
 
COMMUNITYWIDE COUNCIL AGENDA
 

Regular Meeting - Wednesday, February 12, 2025 - 6:00 p.m.
City Hall - Second Floor Conference Room, 100 North U.S. #1, Fort Pierce, Florida
 
1.
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 6:11 pm by Councilmember Betty Jo Stark
 
2.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
 
3.
ROLL CALL
 
4.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
 
A.
January 8th, 2025
Motion was made by Betty Jo Stark, seconded by Quincy Arceneaux
 
5.
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Any person who wishes to comment on any subject on this Agenda may be heard at this time. Please sign the sign-up sheet in order to speak. Please limit your comments to no more than five (5) minutes, as this section of the Agenda is limited to thirty minutes. The Communitywide Council will not be able to take any official action under “Comments from the Public” section.
Record to reflect that Councilmember Ella Hodge-Wimes was present at 6:13 pm. 

Grants Division Manager to acknowledge the presence of Shyanne Harnage, new Director of Community and Economic Development. Ms. Harnage introduced herself and her role with the team and the newly formed division. 

No comments from the public are available.
 
A.
NEW BUSINESS
Review of the Following Small Business Grant Applications
  1. Amandla Wellness Center, LLC - Application - Amandla Wellness Center
  2. Coastal Wellness and Physiotherapy, LLC - Application - Coastal Wellness and Physiotherapy, LLC
  3. SSS Inlet Bait Tackle, Inc. - Application - SSS Inlet Bait Tackle, Inc.

The Council began the review and scoring of three business applications for $5,000 microgrant awards.
 

1. Amandla Wellness Center

  • Discussion: The application was found complete. Members reviewed mission statements, business plans, marketing strategies, and estimated costs.

  • Concerns: Lack of clarity in some marketing strategy descriptions; no nuisance anticipated; property ownership verified.

  • Action: Council members individually scored using standardized packets. All scores were collected for official recordkeeping.
     

2. Coastal Wellness and Physiotherapy

  • Discussion: Strong presentation of mobile therapy services targeting seniors and individuals with chronic conditions. Clear mission and thorough business plan.

  • Strengths: Clear measurable goals, mobile service justification, detailed breakdown of requested expenses.

  • Action: Members scored positively. No major concerns identified.
     

3. S.S.S. Inlet Bait and Tackle

  • Discussion: Application requested $50,000, exceeding the $5,000 grant cap.

  • Action: Council agreed this was not a typo and suggested the applicant be given the opportunity to revise and resubmit.

  • Comments: Some strengths identified, but noncompliance with grant limits prevented favorable scoring. Member comments and feedback were documented for applicant guidance.

 
6.
OLD BUSINESS
Due to time constraints, the discussion on committee suggestions for the City’s Citizen Participation Plan was tabled.
The motion to table the discussion was made by Wesley Sands and seconded by Betty Jo Starke. 
 
7.
COMMITTEE AND STAFF DISCUSSION

  • Councilmembers expressed interest in receiving a sample scoring packet in advance for future sessions.

  • Staff acknowledged misalignment between scoring sheets and application format; improvements will be made.

  • Chair praised new members for their engagement and efforts during the detailed review process.

 
8.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion to adjourn was made by Denetria Simms, seconded by Wesley Sands at 7:58 pm. 

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 286.26, Florida Statutes, persons with disabilities needing special accommodation to participate in this meeting should contact the City Clerk’s Office at (772) 467-3052 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.