Special City Council

121 SW Port St. Lucie City of Port St.Lucie Blvd. Port St. Lucie, Florida 34984 Special City Council Meeting Minutes Gregory J. Oravec, Mayor Stephanie Morgan, Councilwoman, District I John Carvelli, Councilman, District II Shannon Martin, Vice Mayor, District III Jolien Caraballo, Councilwoman, District IV Please visit www.cityofpsl.com/tv for new public comment options as a result of COVID-19. NOTICE: INDIVIDUALS ARE SUBJECT TO MEDICAL SCREENING PRIOR TO ENTERING ANY CITY BUILDING AND ENTRY MAY BE DENIED IF ANY INDICATOR OF ILLNESS OR PRIOR EXPOSURE IS IDENTIFIED. Monday, October 19, 2020 1:30 PM Council Chambers, City Hall 1. Meeting Called to Order A Special Virtual Meeting of the CITY COUNCIL of the City of Port St. Lucie was called to order by Mayor Oravec on October 19, 2020, at 1:31 PM, at Port St. Lucie City Hall, 121 S.W. Port St. Lucie Boulevard, Port St. Lucie, Florida. 2. Roll Call Council Members Present: Mayor Gregory Oravec Vice Mayor Shannon Martin Councilwoman Jolien Caraballo Councilman John Carvelli (virtual) Councilwoman Stephanie Morgan 3. Pledge of Allegiance Mayor Oravec led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance. 4. Public to be Heard No one signed up to speak under this item 5. Special Presentations 5.a Approve conceptual renderings for US Highway 1 2020-702 Beautification from just north of Crosstown Parkway south Page 1 of 32 Special City Council Meeting Minutes October 19, 2020 to the city limits at the Martin County line. Mayor Oravec reviewed the geographical boundaries of the City of Port St. Lucie. John Dunton, Public Works, presented a brief PowerPoint presentation. He stated that since the time Crosstown has been built, modifications have been made to their street tree policy. He said that as a result of their 2020 Summit and Outreach, the citizens of the City overwhelming want a change in the landscaping of the US-1 corridor. Mayor Oravec stated that this was eighteen years overdue. Mr. Dunton noted that a portion of this project is funded by the referendum of the half-cent sales tax. Mr. Dunton stated that the City offered the public a rural theme and a tropical theme to choose from. He said the tropical theme was more popular and allows the City to put in plantings they normally would not be able to do west of the turnpike or I-95. He showed Council the location of the median along US-1 as well as the types of the plantings that will be used. He said Council wanted to see improvements in front of the Mid-Florida Credit Union Event Center. He stated that based on the street tree policy, they minimized the number of plantings and added sod and trees. Mr. Dunton stated that the orange stamped concrete has been used in all the plantings and improvements the City has made. He suggested using the celery green color after seeing how nice it looked in a municipality down south. He showed Council before photos of the median and then concept renderings with the different plantings and the stamped concrete in the celery green color. Mr. Dunton indicated that with Council's approval today, this project would begin at the end of 2021. Councilwoman Caraballo asked staff to look into fuller bushes and hedges for the median in the southern limits of the City, to which Mr. Dunton stated that staff will explore her request. Councilwoman Caraballo moved to approve the conceptual renderings for US Highway 1. Councilwoman Morgan seconded the motion. Under discussion, there was Council consensus on utilizing the celery green color around the medians. Mayor Oravec stated that with Page 2 of 32 Special City Council Meeting Minutes October 19, 2020 whatever staff creates, they need to find a vendor to maintain it. He said the City's medians are currently being maintained at an unacceptable level, to which Mr. Dunton stated that he would work on that issue. Mayor Oravec also noted that more spacing was needed between the shade trees in some of the renderings. The motion passed unanimously by voice vote. 6. New Business 6.a Update on Adventure Park Design 2020-616 Kelly Boatright stated that the design for Adventure Park began in April 2020 with their consulting team, Stantec. She said they reached out to the public and other stakeholders in July 2020 and received some good input for the design. David Nardone, Stantec, stated that they will present the results from their public outreach and online survey as well as show Council a few concepts based on that input and review the next steps. Sean O'Connell, Stantec, stated that 25 to 30 people participated in the July meeting via Zoom and that about 400 online survey responses were received. He said that 82% of the respondents were between the ages of 25 and 54, and mostly from the City of Port St. Lucie. Mr. O'Connell indicated that the following adventure activities ranked the highest: BMX Track, Mountain Biking, Zipline, Ropes Course, and Artificial Wave. He said that Skateboard/Scooter rated the lowest. He stated that the skill level of the respondents was between beginner and intermediate and that 55% would use the park daily or weekly. He indicated that the team plans to include other elements in the park, such as rock climbing, mountain biking, ninja warrior course, running/walking trails, playground, BBQ/picnic areas, food truck areas, and restroom buildings to enhance the other activities. He said that a lot of water related elements, such as pools, water park/slides, lazy river, splash pads, as well as a roller skating rink/trail, area for go-carts, paint ball, ATV trail, disc golf, water ski/wakeboard lines, and a trampoline park, were also suggested by the respondents. He noted that the respondents currently visit Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Halpatiokee Regional Park, Fort Pierce Trail, Alafia River State Park, Okeeheelee State Park, and West Delray Regional Park for their activities. Page 3 of 32 Special City Council Meeting Minutes October 19, 2020 Concept 1 Mr. Nardone reviewed Concept 1. He stated that they looked at ways to access the site, park the site, and provide the overall space for some of the facilities. He said they also considered the future access ramps to the turnpike, which is ten to twenty years out. Mike McIntyre, with Action Sports Design, explained that the concept is pretty close to realistic layouts for a BMX racetrack that could host the Florida State and USA BMX series as well as the National and State World Cup events. He explained that the parking and unloading of bikes have been kept to the right of the loop for ingress/egress, and from there the bikes can go to the racetrack, pump tracks and dirt jump lines. He said the left side will be more of a hardscape environment with the skate plaza, which will be bike friendly as well. He stated that there will be a flow rider with an amphitheater off to the side for spectators as well as a support building. He said that the best environment for the zip lines and rope courses is in the triangular space to the left. He stated that of great importance is the circulation throughout the site for single and multi-gear bikes to loop around and stop at the different areas to spectate. Concept 2 Mr. Nardone stated that Concept 2 lays out the parking in a horizontal versus a vertical configuration as in the prior diagram, and lays out space for the various events around the site. He said the big changes include the parking layout; location of the rock climbing; larger skate/wheel friendly flow for the BMX bikes, scooters, etc.; and zip line and ropes course area. Mr. McIntyre stated that Concept 2 shows a different configuration. He indicated the BMX racetrack on the right gives them a sense of scale and reality. He said it is more organized, sanctioned, and for practicing, while the other dirt activities, such as the pump track and dirt jump lines, are for the free riders between the ages of three and seventy years old. He stated on the left side of the ingress/egress loop is a boulder zone for the young kids as well as the rock climbing. He explained that the flow rider does not have as much of an amphitheater environment as in the last diagram. He said it is more of a skate plaza for urban street skating with an open flow and more of the radius bowls. He noted that the retention zones are located there and that they are Page 4 of 32 Special City Council Meeting Minutes October 19, 2020 working with their engineering team. He stated the highway ramp goes through there and that four different bike/pedestrian routes go to the zip line/ropes course. He said this diagram is more focused on the ropes courses, which could be programmed and rented out to corporations, schools, churches, etc. Mr. Nardone reviewed the differences between Concepts 1 and 2. He said #2 has better access to parking, focuses on the rope courses, and is more street skate/wheel friendly versus the wave rider. He said #1 has more pump track and a slightly different configuration for the BMX track. Concept 3 Mr. Nardone stated that in Concept 3, the parking lot and everything is to the right, which is very similar to Concept 1. He said they tried to work in a roller hockey/blading speed oval, similar in size to a short track or speed skating on ice. He explained that they tried to show some other elements as well, but at some point there will have to be tradeoffs. He stated the first scheme has two artificial waves, then they dropped down to one artificial wave, and then they reconfigured the elements here, so it is not a huge impact. He said there is nice access from the parking lot. Mr. McIntyre stated that the footprint for the BMX has a larger competition format, which is more accommodating for the overall circulation and for pedestrian viewing and staging. He said the pump tracks and dirt jump lines are very similar throughout the different options. He stated that the biggest change here is adding the roller track, which he believes came more from the community's input and not so much the public meetings. He said it is not a velodrome for bikes, as it is strictly for inline and quad skates. Council Discussion Councilman Carvelli inquired about the parking and if the rest of the site will have to shut down during the USA BMX sanctioned events. In response, Mr. McIntyre asked if the City would have access to the sport field across from the site. Mayor Oravec directed staff to work with St. Lucie County public schools on an agreement to utilize the large parking field located between the two schools. Mr. McIntyre stated it would be possible for events to co-exist, as he was just in Colorado Page 5 of 32 Special City Council Meeting Minutes October 19, 2020 where they had a dog agility competition and other sports going on at the same time. He said their parking was well organized and they charged $25 per car. Councilman Carvelli asked if staging occurred during the events, so that it is not all occurring at once, to which Mr. McIntyre responded in the affirmative. Councilman Carvelli stated if the City wants to host state and national events, they need to have the infrastructure in place, as parking is a big issue. Mr. McIntyre indicated that the track, overall site, and location is perfect and highly desirable for USA BMX. Mr. Nardone stated that the circulation access drive is big in terms of getting people into parking and letting others navigate to other parts of the park if they are staging an event. Mr. McIntyre indicated that everything to the right coming into the site would be at about 70% capacity to almost full for a weekend BMX race. He said that one track will run on Friday, another one will run on Saturday, and so on, as they all agree as to who is running when. Vice Mayor Martin stated that as the City’s destination points, like The Port and this park, start to take off, they will need to focus on the transportation aspect. She suggested investing in tram type vehicles to assist with parking and accommodate visitors and residents at future events. Councilwoman Morgan stated she thought about deleting the artificial wave or any of the water elements, because a wave garden is coming to Fort Pierce. In response, Mayor Oravec said he thought the artificial wave was an important element and different than what is being proposed in Ft. Pierce. Vice Mayor Martin stated that the cost and maintenance of any water element is significant, but she wants to be able to provide what the people want to see, which is more water activities. She said unless the cost is way beyond what they can do, she would like to keep it in there for now, especially since it is high on the list. Vice Mayor Martin stated she was unsure about the roller track. In response, Mayor Oravec stated he agreed and that he had to take some responsibility for this. He explained that the City has a Page 6 of 32 Special City Council Meeting Minutes October 19, 2020 rollerblading community, and some are training to make the Olympics. He said they have been having difficulty accessing Sportsman’s, although that may have been resolved. He stated that rather than wedging it in this park, the City needs another track to accommodate runners and rollerbladers. Mayor Oravec reiterated the importance of the water elements and how desirable they are by the residents of the City. He stated that they need to have the conversation of a water facility in Port St. Lucie at their Strategic Planning sessions later this year or as the Parks and Recreation Master Plan continues to be implemented. Mayor Oravec stated that based on the presentation, the zip lines and rope courses are in a great spot. He said they are trying to fit too much in with the roller track, so they need to go back to the other concepts. He stated Concept 1 has a stage that plays to the turnpike and the industrial district, which is great for a concert, as they get complaints when there is a concert at the Civic Center. He said this is a better place for an amphitheater than a roller track. Mr. Nardone explained that the plan was to get Council's initial thoughts and feedback, and then take two concepts to the public for their reaction. He stated that the team will then develop a final concept and bring it back to Council. He said the team probably agrees with the comments regarding the roller track, because all of the elements feel comfortable in Concept 1 and in Concept 3 they begin to feel squeezed in. He noted the significant need for stormwater ponds, so they do not want to lose sight of that. He said if Council agrees, the team will use Concepts 1 and 2 for public comments. Mr. McIntyre stated that they also plan to do a cross-matrix listing of all the program elements and make note of what could be outsourced and operated by a third party through an RFP from the City. He said they could have an independent operator for the rock climbing wall and the artificial wave as well as have an agreement with USA BMX for the track, so they could be highly programmed and generate revenue. He explained that he built a wave house in South Africa, where the stage was in the background of the flow rider and had amphitheater seating. He stated it worked out well for the community and for those who will never step foot on the flow rider, as they could do movies in the park while people are surfing. He further explained that it can be done well if the contextual environment is right, but if the flow rider is done in Page 7 of 32 Special City Council Meeting Minutes October 19, 2020 isolation with no seating, and is only mechanical where they just get in line and surf, it does not become an event and it is not as cool. He said the wave house in San Diego has more of an outdoor restaurant/bar environment with the flow rider there. He said he liked the dual concept here. Vice Mayor Martin stated she likes the wave rider and how the stage is set, as it reminds her of a cruise ship. She said the wave rider provides great entertainment and becomes another activity to watch as a spectator. She stated that background music is always playing on a cruise ship. Vice Mayor Martin inquired about the differences between the BMX racing from Concept #1 to #2. In response, Mr. McIntyre stated that both tracks could host national, local, and regional races, as they just have different site configurations. Vice Mayor Martin asked if there was enough space to do one parkour for kids and one for adults. She said the kids like to do the ninja type courses. In response, Mr. McIntyre stated that if it is strictly parkour, the different sections would go from easy to difficult. He said he thought there was room for a bit of the ninja warrior. Councilwoman Caraballo stated that she loves all the concepts as far as what they could and should have in them. She said if the main element is going to be BMX, they need to create a destination that is competitive with that market. She stated that she likes the elements that are provided, but if they need to incorporate more BMX items to make it more competitive, she is okay with that. Councilwoman Caraballo stated she liked the artificial wave with staging, as that will set them apart for sure. She said she wants to make sure that whatever they do, they are constantly thinking about how to keep it fresh. She stated that the ninja elements are neat, but asked how often they would have to change it to keep it new and fresh. She suggested creating an open space for the Spartan races or where people can bring in certain elements to do their own type of Spartan or ninja warrior race. She said she liked the zip lines that zigzag, instead of just one straight zip line. Councilman Carvelli asked if they were to outsource the BMX park and had someone run it as a revenue source, how often the City could Page 8 of 32 Special City Council Meeting Minutes October 19, 2020 expect to put on large events. In response, Mr. McIntyre stated that with this location, they would get one national a year, the state finals, the gold cup finals, the Florida series, racing twice a week, and practice twice a week. He said for the actual BMX track itself, there would be a track operator appointed USA BMX and shared revenue. He stated the City could charge the BMX organization for light usage for the practices at night as well as take all the parking fees for the major events and bring in $10,000. Councilman Carvelli stated there could be 25 to 30 major events a year, to which Mr. McIntyre said there would be about 25. He stated that there will be single points races, Olympic days, and triple points races, so quite a lot. He said the team could provide the intentions of USA BMX. He highly recommended that for any decision making, the City have some sort of commitment from the manufacturer of the flow rider, because they also bring a series of events. Councilman Carvelli questioned if the BMX can co-exist with all the other activities and have a place for everyone to park. He said they will have to talk to the operators, get a feel for their schedule, and then look at surrounding facilities to see if parking will even be available or accessible. Councilman Carvelli asked if Friday was a common day. In response, Mr. McIntyire indicated that the races in the Austin, TX area are on Friday nights, Saturday nights, and Sunday. Mr. McIntyre stated that regarding the overall demographics, if they posted three concepts to vote on for the next meeting, thousands of people would show up for the BMX. He said California, Texas and Florida are the three coasts that are hot beds for BMX. He stated that there is a very large membership of BMX racers in Florida. Mayor Oravec complemented the citizens, the City Council and their team, as they were recently ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the Third Best City in the United States for Retirement. He said that parks like this will help them to become one of the best in the country for families. He suggested making the extra investment to make it a special destination and a place that Port St. Lucie is known for. He stated that might mean working with the School District on joint parking, as they owe the City a little help. He said they should have a sanctioned track that can bring activity and help people decide that they Page 9 of 32 Special City Council Meeting Minutes October 19, 2020 want to live in Port St. Lucie. Mayor Oravec stated he is concerned about the layman understanding the difference between the concepts. He said he did not want to lose the team's expertise, if they have learned through traveling the world that a flow rider works best with this stage configuration. He stated the park will be a place for everyone, whether they engage in the activities or not. He said he did not want to put together a different concept, if the team of professionals already knows that one is a best practice. He stated the team should use Council's input on the threshold issues of whether they should have the different elements. He said if they should have it, and the costs are relatively similar, they should just go with Concept 1. Vice Mayor Martin stated she agreed with Mayor Oravec. She said they want to show the best model they have based on all the data and analysis, and then go from there. Mayor Oravec suggested just being on standby with a template, if they have to trade one element out for another, because it did not have enough support. Councilwoman Carabello stated that the BMX element looks well represented. But if rock climbing is not necessarily at the top of the list, and they want to do the flow rider to add another element to support the BMX, she is willing to do that if it will make it one of the top BMX locations around. She said she agreed with Mayor Oravec on the wave rider, as she thinks that model is going to be very successful. She stated she is good with moving forward with Concept 1. Mayor Oravec asked about the differences between Concepts 1 and 2. Mr. McIntyre stated that Concept 1 has the skate plaza and skate park with the flow bowls. He said from his experience and knowledge, the skate plaza should be swapped out with the other concept that has the bowls, because that will be in the Olympics in 2021. He stated that Florida has quite a lot of concrete skate parks; however, there are not a lot of bike specific concrete skate parks. He said that when there are a lot of kids and adults on bikes, the transition from track to jumps to pump to concrete will be much better and more successful, which would distinguish Port St. Lucie from all other concrete skate parks in the state. Mayor Oravec stated that it sounds like Mr. McIntyre favors the flow rider versus the plaza. He said that Concept 2 has a flow rider and a Page 10 of 32 Special City Council Meeting Minutes October 19, 2020 plaza, but he does not know if those elements will fit into one. He stated that is why they hired Stantec. He said they should do the flow park as the main element, unless there is countervailing public input. Councilwoman Caraballo stated, if they can work something out with the Department of Transportation, she is envisioning skateboarders in the open play area. Mayor Oravec said he feels they can find a flat service for the skateboarders. He stated the bowls have to be made in a park. Mr. McIntyre stated that he and the Stantec team have a pretty good idea and an overall matrix of program elements. He said that anything they put in the park should be phased in and done right. He stated that they should look at the long term maintenance, lifecycle costs, etc. He said that blending the plaza with the flow will accommodate both types of riders. He stated he will make sure that it is awesome. He said he has had the opportunity to build rock climbing walls and flow riders around the country and internationally. He stated they have learned what works and what doesn't. He said what may be cool, may become their worst nightmare for maintenance. He stated he has seen both ends of the spectrum with what has been built out of dirt and what has been built out of concrete, asphalt, etc. He said they will be bringing over 25 years of expertise to Port St. Lucie. Vice Mayor Martin stated that the Council is looking to be unique and wanting the wow factor. She said they want an amazing destination point that everyone will want to come to and keep coming back to. Mr. McIntyre stated that most BMX tracks in Florida do not have the skate park, the pump tracks, or the flow rider. He said the parks and the park elements of actual sports cannot exist in isolation, as they need to be integrated with other activities. He stated they also have to be wheelchair and stroller accessible to accommodate everyone. He noted that shade structures will be in the destination and spectator zones. He said that people can stop and sit under a picnic shelter to watch the kids ride the pump track. He stated it needs to be just as friendly for spectators, parents, and those individuals who do not participate. Mayor Oravec encouraged the team to use their feedback to come up with the concept plan. He said they could have alternate elements that did not make the plan when people ask why something is not in there. Page 11 of 32 Special City Council Meeting Minutes October 19, 2020 He stated that might be another way to go about it, then to create dueling plans that are not that much different or maybe do not have the best practices. He said he hated for people to make a decision for Concept 2 over Concept 1 based on the color scheme. Mayor Oravec requested that the team assist with the RFP for a third party as well as the financial models for the BMX and flow rider, including revenue sharing. He explained that several cities in Florida are able to harness the revenue model to offset their costs. He said to be able provide that kind of an amenity at a net operating cost of close to zero is outstanding, because they get the ancillary benefits of being a destination, the sports tourism, and then just being one of the best places to live in the country. He asked Mr. Blackburn to bring that information back to the Council. Councilman Carvelli stated that they need to see a strong financial model for each concept, estimated revenue sharing amounts, parking accommodations and agreements, annual maintenance costs, and required staffing to run this park. Mayor Oravec stated that in Councilman Carvelli's honor, one thing he has contributed to their team as their time together comes to a close, is that he has always been good about making sure they have had project management timelines and budgets. He said they need to understand how this all comes together on what timeline and with what milestones. He stated it is going to be a major investment. He said they will use their strategic planning ability to successfully navigate it to the finish line. Councilwoman Caraballo stated they need to know where the restrooms, maintenance buildings, concessions, and other ancillary facilities are going to be placed, especially if they are going to host big tournaments. Mayor Oravec stated that this is going to be a special destination just like The Port, so they will get to that level of detail. He said to Councilwoman Morgan's point, there will be liability waivers to sign because of the nature of these sports. Mayor Oravec inquired as to when this project will come back to Council, to which Mr. Nardone stated that Council will see it again in December 2020, after the team reaches out to the public. Mayor Page 12 of 32 Special City Council Meeting Minutes October 19, 2020 Oravec requested that the team work with the Communications Department to make a big push on getting public feedback on the conceptual plan, to which Mr. Nardone responded in the affirmative. He said the internal staff has done a great job and the Communications team did an excellent job on the last public meeting. Mayor Oravec thanked the team for putting together some great concepts and for working with the public. He said they look forward to taking the next steps. (Clerk's Note: A break was called at 2:48 PM and the meeting resumed at 2:56 PM.) 6.b Discuss Walton Road Charter Project 2020-759 Roxanne Chesser with the Public Works Department presented the Council with the first Walton Road conceptual plan. She indicated that two representatives from the County were there to answer any questions. Ms. Chesser stated that today's presentation will provide information from which Council can begin to discuss their vision for this corridor. She stated that staff would also like to receive direction on how to assist and prepare for the January 2021 joint meeting with the County. Ms. Chesser showed Council an aerial map locating Walton Road in the east, central part of the City. She said the site map shows a closer view of the 3.1 mile corridor, which extends from US-1 to Indian River Drive. She stated that the roadway is owned and maintained by the County. She indicated that through a 2009 Interlocal Agreement, the City maintains the signals and lighting from US-1 to Lennard as well as maintains the landscaping to Village Green Drive, but the City extends that maintenance to Lennard Road in order to provide a more consistent appearance. Ms. Chesser indicated that the four-lane section is 1.4 miles and extends from US-1 to just east of Lennard, and is in a 150 foot right-of-way. She stated the pavement and amenities appear to be in pretty good condition. She said there are bike lanes, sidewalks, multiuse path, landscaping, traffic signals, street lighting and underground drainage in this area. She stated the traffic volume from US-1 to Village Green Drive is higher and has a level of service D, while Village Green Drive to Lennard Road is a little less traveled and Page 13 of 32 Special City Council Meeting Minutes October 19, 2020 has a level of service C. Ms. Chesser noted that for last fiscal year, the City's cost to maintain the landscaping, the signals and the lighting was almost $40,000. Councilwoman Morgan questioned the level of service and the opening of Crosstown. In response, Ms. Chesser stated the TPO counts are from the fall/winter of 2019, which were done in September/October when Crosstown opened. Mayor Oravec asked if the TPO counts were different now. In response, Ms. Chesser stated that with COVID happening, the counts they are getting are a little skewed. She said they need a little more time to see where that falls. Ms. Chesser stated the two-lane section goes from east of Lennard to Indian River Drive and has a right-of-way width that varies from 150 to 50 feet wide, with the most restricted areas being in front of the School Board site and the Savannas Preserve State Park. She said the road also crosses the FEC Railroad. She stated that the pavement through this two-lane section is visually fair to poor and there are no traffic signals, bike lanes, sidewalks or multi-use paths. She said there is an open drainage system with areas that have deep swales. She stated the traffic volume between Lennard and Green River Parkway is a little higher and both segments have a level of service C. Ms. Chesser stated that St. Lucie County has a Florida Department of Transportation (DOT) grant to construct a multiuse trail along the southern side, between Lennard Road and Green River Parkway, and construction is anticipated in FY 2024-2025. She indicated that this spring, DOT will construct part of Florida's SunTrail. She said this ten-foot-wide, hardened trail will run south from Kitterman and Lennard Road, along the western edge of the Savannas, and on the north side of Walton Road, and then connect to the Green River Parkway Trail. Ms. Chesser stated that in 2016, the St. Lucie TPO commissioned a study to identify the feasibility of multimodal improvements on Walton Road between Lennard and Indian River Drive. She said the study recommended maintaining the existing multimodal facilities in segment A, which is from Lennard Road to about 800 feet to the east where it tapers back down to the two-lane segment. She stated that for the two-lane segment east of Lennard to Green River Parkway, or segment Page 14 of 32 Special City Council Meeting Minutes October 19, 2020 B, the study identified two potential options, while there were four options for the Green River Parkway to Indian River Drive section, Segment C. Ms. Chesser stated that the options are very conceptual and do not have the benefit of a detailed survey or geotechnical information, and that the estimated conceptual costs are over four years old. She said the first option for Segment B is to add bike lanes, sidewalk, and multiuse path at an estimated conceptual cost of $2 million. She stated the second option reconstructs the roadway with curb and gutter, bike lane, sidewalk, and multiuse path at an estimated cost of $7 million. She said both options require 15 feet of right-of-way from the School Board. Ms. Chesser stated that for Segment C, three options include a kayak crossing within the Savannas Preserve State Park. She said the first option to add bike lanes, sidewalk, and the kayak crossing has a conceptual cost of $4 million and requires 17 feet of right-of-way from the state. She stated the second option is like option one, but has curb and gutter and will reduce the right-of-way requirement to 10 feet, at an estimated cost of $7 million. She said the third option is to construct a boardwalk and a kayak crossing at an estimated conceptual cost of $3 million. She noted that this option does not include any roadway improvements, but it does require the placement of the boardwalk in the Savannas Park. She stated the fourth option is to create a bridge with a sidewalk and paved shoulders, and that the kayaks will be able to go underneath the bridge. She said this option has an estimated cost of $45 million. Ms. Chesser stated the second study that involved Walton Road is the Savannas Regional Restoration Project. She said this was completed in April 2018 for the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. She stated the study identified the need to replace the twin 48 inch diameter and twin 72 inch diameter culverts. Ms. Chesser stated that this presentation has reviewed existing conditions, upcoming projects, and prior studies. She said that staff has discussed City Council’s desire to create a conceptual plan for Walton Road with the County and with State staff. She stated that both the County and the State indicated that they were open to further discussions about this corridor. She said that staff looks forward to Council’s discussion and learning about their vision for this corridor. Page 15 of 32 Special City Council Meeting Minutes October 19, 2020 Mayor Oravec inquired as to the County’s schedule on any improvements to Walton Road. In response, Ms. Chesser stated that she does not know of any projects right now. At this time, Mayor Oravec recognized Mr. DePasquale and Ms. Griffett. Selena Griffett indicated that she represents St. Lucie County Public Works Engineering and that they currently do not have any plans for any improvements to Walton Road. Ms. Griffith also provided an update on the Green River Parkway segment to Indian River Drive. She indicated that it has been closed for testing, but it will officially open at 5:00 PM today. Vice Mayor Martin stated that she does not know how the County spends $1 million to put in a kayak crossing and sidewalk improvements without addressing the roadway. She said they talk about doing things right even though it may end up costing more. She stated she would like to know what the County Commissioners and Department of Transportation are doing to move forward on the roads in the Savannas. Mayor Oravec explained that he tried to introduce a different vision that would address Walton Road and restore the flow of water through the Savannas. He said he is perplexed as to how the City could do that without spending their money on the County’s road. He stated he is looking at the Council to understand how big of a priority this is. He said the City needs to have a process and a plan, in the absence of the County running its own process, otherwise they are just looking at what the TPO did. He stated that the road needs to be redone, because it is subject to flooding. He said he would like to preserve the vacant lots at the intersection of Indian River Drive and Walton Road as well as have public access to the lagoon at some point. Councilwoman Caraballo provided some suggestions, including asking the County if the City’s impact fees could be used to fix the road and the flooding issues in this area. She also recommended combining their design ideas with the County’s and having the County phase out the project for financial feasibility. Councilman Carvelli suggested that the City Manager meet with the County regarding the road and associated issues and bring back recommendations. He also advised that the meeting with the County be placed on the agenda. Page 16 of 32 Special City Council Meeting Minutes October 19, 2020 Councilwoman Morgan stated that they need to discuss all County owned roads in the City of Port St. Lucie at their joint meeting in January 2021. She agreed that Mr. Blackburn should meet with Mr. Tipton prior to the joint meeting. In response, Mr. Blackburn indicated that all the roads mentioned by Councilwoman Morgan are eligible for impact fee expenditures, but most are spent on Midway. He stated that St. James and Walton Roads are listed in their Interlocal Agreement as roads that the County should be targeting for spending impact fees collected from the City. Councilwoman Caraballo recommended tracking the complaints and issues the City receives on County roads, and sharing that information with the County at their joint meeting. She said she agreed with Councilman Carvelli that the Board-to-Board conversation needs to be placed on the agenda for a discussion. Mayor Oravec requested a master matrix of the roads for which the City and County have agreements. Councilwoman Morgan asked for the data on what the City is responsible for versus the County for the jointly owned roads. Councilman Carvelli suggested that the City Council prioritize and rank the road issues prior to the City Manager's meeting with the County. Mayor Oravec explained that the City needs to get the County to agree that Walton Road is a priority and needs to be fixed. He said the County needs to invest in the process to upgrade the road and have a public input process to come up with the conceptual plan. He stated that the City will be invited to help make sure the public is invited. He said the professionals will then take all the input and create the best possible conceptual plan, the City Council will vote on it, and then the County will agree to build it. Councilwoman Caraballo stated that the question becomes, what is the County willing to do, and then how can the City help. She recommended providing the County with an update of the City's Strategic Plan as well as looking at the County's Strategic Plan. She said the road issues, multimodal and transportation, and impact fees need to be discussed with the County. Mayor Oravec stated that the bigger question is, why are the five Page 17 of 32 Special City Council Meeting Minutes October 19, 2020 county roads in a city of 120 square miles the worst roads. He said he would ask the County what they could do to address this and make it better, especially given the level of impact fees they collect from the City. He stated they then could prioritize these roads. He said he agreed that Mr. Blackburn needed to have a tough conversation with Mr. Tipton. Councilwoman Caraballo suggested having a mini strategic planning process with the County. In response, Vice Mayor Martin stated that the City has all their plans, and the County is just starting theirs. She said it would be good to discuss it, so that maybe the County will put some of it into their strategic plan. Councilman Carvelli stated that the City has a good plan in place. He said that their priorities represent their citizens’ priorities, which need to become some of the County’s priorities. Mayor Oravec asked the City Manager to bring back the County's working agenda to next month's Special City Council meeting for discussion and prioritization. He said the City and County need to be strategic and outcome driven. He also asked the City Manager to have some conversations with Mr. Tipton to figure out how they can be successful when they get together. In response, Mr. Blackburn stated that the City will have to prioritize what they are looking for to begin to determine if there is some consensus with the County. Mayor Oravec noted that the County is going through their strategic planning process and preparing a Master Plan for the Parks, but he was not invited as a stakeholder. He asked how it could be that the City was not a stakeholder in the process, as they should have something to say on regional parks, facilities, etc. He said that in most communities, the big special parks are County parks. 6.c Adoption of the Multimodal Plan 2020-787 Laura Dodd with Planning & Zoning presented the 2020 Multimodal Plan for the City of Port St. Lucie. She said that the strategic initiative is to improve mobility, which means to prepare and implement a multimodal plan to improve mobility goals. She stated that this includes all users and mobility projects throughout the City, including next steps, initiatives, and infrastructure improvements. Ms. Dodd stated the project team involved Planning & Zoning, strategic initiatives, Kimley Horne as the consultant, and partnering with the St. Page 18 of 32 Special City Council Meeting Minutes October 19, 2020 Lucie TPO to work and provide for the plan. She thanked the internal review team and staff, such as Public Works, Utilities, Parks & Recreation, and Police Department. Ms. Dodd stated the National Community Survey is a good representation of the needs of the City and one facet of that survey has been mobility, which has shown lower than national averages. She said that some of those aspects include enhanced sidewalk connectivity, expanding transit coverage, reducing congestion, and accelerating street repairs and improvements as some recommendations. She stated that overall, the key message and consensus the citizens have provided is that mobility continues to be a challenge. She noted that this survey was done prior to COVID. Ms. Dodd explained that they met with local representatives and leaders, such as Council, to learn what multimodal could be within the City and found that one size does not fit all. She said that Port St. Lucie would need a tailored multimodal approach and improvements would need to be multifaceted, and include policy changes, exploring new mobility models, and planning for long term changes. Ms. Dodd stated they structured the plan into six different concepts: overview, such as the background guiding principles; emerging trends and best practices for transit oriented development and multimodal planning; accessibility and connectivity analysis, which is the existing conditions assessment; the multimodal plan; the policy; and project recommendations and recommended project list. Stewart Robertson with Kimley-Horne provided an update on the Multimodal Plan. He stated the Mobility Challenge indicated a lack of multimodal facilities in the City when reviewing the data from the citizen survey. He indicated that 80% agreed that transportation options available in the City is the most important City initiative. He said that 62% cited that issues related to mobility should be a priority for the City to focus on this year. He stated the team also looked closely at the relationship of the Multimodal Plan to other city plans and strategic initiatives, such as the Parks & Recreation Master Plan, the City’s Ten-Year Sidewalk Master Plan, and a draft map of planned and proposed trails around the City. He said the relationship of the Multimodal Plan to the strategic initiatives is something they pointed out in the documentation for the project. Page 19 of 32 Special City Council Meeting Minutes October 19, 2020 Mr. Robertson showed Council a map that represents the existing facilities, including SunTrail, which is the East Coast Greenway along the eastern portion of the city. He said the City’s portion along Green River Parkway connecting into the Savannas Preserve is complete, and that the TPO, County, and City have been able to win SunTrail funding for completing even more of that segment up to the north. He also showed Council a map with the existing bicycle lanes and multiuse pathways. Mr. Robertson presented a map of speed limits within the City boundary and indicated the green area is primarily residential streets with limits of 30 to 35 mph. He said that most cities have a speed limit of 25 mph on residential streets, as it is more comfortable for people to walk or ride a bicycle without the aid of a sidewalk. Mayor Oravec requested that the City Manager provide a list of roads, with and without sidewalks, that have speed limits of 40-45 mph and indicate whether they are included in the Sidewalk Master Plan. Vice Mayor Martin stated that they need to lower the speed limit to 25 mph in the residential areas. Chief Bolduc indicated that the default limit is 30 mph, but state law provides for them setting it to whatever they want. Vice Mayor Martin moved to approve directing the staff to come back to Council with a speed limit plan for the City. Councilwoman Morgan seconded the motion, which passed unanimously by voice vote. Mr. Robertson resumed his presentation. He stated that in addition to the local conditions, the team also reviewed national emerging trends in mobility and documented information related to micromobility, such as shared bicycles and scooters; microtransit, a pilot project the City has in the Tradition area; the smaller low cost, more dynamic transit vehicles that supplement the County’s fixed route system and provide circulation within a local area; the concept called ACES (Automated, Connected, Electric and Shared) vehicles, which includes the electrical vehicle charging stations and the sharing of a vehicle. He said these trends are happening and are beginning to make mobility-as-a-service a concept, more so than relying on private automobiles. He stated that Transit-Supportive Development is another trend in land development that is happening around the country right now. He said that not every neighborhood within the City of Port St. Lucie is going to be entirely Page 20 of 32 Special City Council Meeting Minutes October 19, 2020 transit supportive, but every neighborhood could be a bit more transit supportive by investing in sidewalks and connectivity to their bus stops. He stated that some neighborhoods are already quite walkable, like Tradition, which creates a great sense of community and connectivity. He said that cities are getting the fundamentals right and doing the little things early on, and then making incremental steps toward some of the larger implementation. Councilwoman Caraballo stated that legislatively speaking there has been issues with certain cities bringing in scooters and other types of microtransits, especially when trying to create ordinances after that technology is there. She asked if Mr. Robertson recommended City Councils to set the stage on what they want to see as far as their outcome prior to these technologies coming in or to take more of a wait and see approach. In response, Mr. Robertson stated that there are enough examples for the City to look to right now, such as Coral Gables and Ft. Lauderdale, that they could begin something legislatively within their code as to where these micromobility options could operate. Councilwoman Caraballo stated that she would like for the City to be ahead of the legislative piece, so that they do not have to deal with it as it happens. Mr. Robertson showed Council the completed Active Travel Network Vision with the proposed multiuse pathways and bike share locations. He stated that many of the streets proposed for multiuse pathways already have funding from the Ten-Year Sidewalk Master Plan and City staff is striving to build these sidewalks at the wider widths of eight or ten feet. Mr. Robertson presented the Motorized and Shared Mobility Network, including the new proposed transit routes and the proposed microtransit areas, in addition to Tradition. He said they have also identified St. Lucie West and the Torino area as locations that make sense from a microtransit perspective to get circulation on that type of a vehicle versus a fixed route. Mr. Robertson stated that the next steps serve each of the three goals and include implementing the Multimodal Plan recommendations; coordinating efforts with Parks & Recreation; conducting a feasibility study for new transportation financing mechanisms; and supporting the development of the C-23 Canal Trail. Page 21 of 32 Special City Council Meeting Minutes October 19, 2020 Vice Mayor Martin discussed the need to provide transportation from the high school to IRSC, so the students can participate in the free dual enrollment program. She said it is unacceptable as a City to not offer this transportation, especially one that is growing and values education so much. She stated that they need to find a way to fix that within the Multimodal Plan. Mayor Oravec stated he supported the concept. He said they could use more on-demand ride sharing for any demographic, including students and seniors. He stated he was fully onboard with addressing one of the biggest improvement opportunities in the City of Port St. Lucie, which is transit and mobility according to their citizen survey. Mayor Oravec indicated there was Council consensus to direct staff to find the most cost-effective way to provide more transit, mobility and ride sharing opportunities for all residents. Councilman Carvelli indicated that the Council on Aging is no longer providing transportation for the County, as a new contract has been awarded. He suggested that Mr. Blackburn bring that up when he talks to Mr. Tipton or they could contact the Council on Aging directly. Mayor Oravec stated that they are still doing their senior programs and may be looking for opportunities to serve. Ms. Dodd noted that a checklist is being reviewed by Planning and Public Works. She said they have also scheduled monthly meetings with the Multimodal team, because so many strategic initiatives overlap, and a lot of coordination needs to take place. Mayor Oravec stated that he still has a dream of Port St. Lucie Boulevard South and Becker Road being major portions of the multimodal connection in the City of Port St. Lucie. Vice Mayor Martin said that she agreed. Ms. Boatwright stated that for the high school “connector,” the School District and the County are a part of the Multimodal team and are working in collaboration to see how they can make that connection. She said she knows this is critical and part of the Strategic Plan. She stated they need to get there and implement it. In response, Vice Mayor Martin stated that for every month they wait, more students are not able to get to college. She said her concern is, Page 22 of 32 Special City Council Meeting Minutes October 19, 2020 as with everything with the County and the School Board, they do not work at the pace this City works. She stated she realizes they need the partnership, but the City needs to be driving it. She said they may need to figure it out without their help and have the County and School Board come online later. Vice Mayor Martin moved to approve the adoption of the Multimodal Plan in concept. Councilwoman Caraballo seconded the motion, which passed unanimously by voice vote. This New Business item was Approved. 6.d Accept the Strategic Plan Fourth Quarter Progress Report 2020-786 and Review the City Manager's Biweekly Report Ms. Parmelee presented the Fourth Quarter Progress Report of the City’s Strategic Plan. She thanked the Council and the City Manager for their leadership, as it allows staff to do some important work on behalf of the citizens. She also thanked several staff members for their help in preparing for these presentations and projects. Ms. Parmelee reviewed some of the major outcomes of this year’s Strategic Plan as well as the Citizen Survey to get their process going again for next year. She stated the City is progressing on all seven of their strategic goals. Goal 1: Safe, Clean & Beautiful Ms. Parmelee stated that Goal 1 has two strategic initiatives: Improve Safety and Beautify Landscaping of Roadways, Public Parks and Gateways. She said the City has made incredible progress and outcomes on improving safety. She stated they are in year two of their five-year implementation plan to expand District 5 and create a new policing district for western Port St. Lucie. She said the number of sworn officers has increased to 261 to address and maintain, which is now their designation for the tenth year in a row, the Safest Largest City in the State of Florida. She stated the City has also seen improvements in traffic safety with their funded investments and operational changes. She said citations have doubled as a result and the Police Department is working hard on this issue. She indicated that traffic crashes and fatalities per 100,000 population declined in this last fiscal year. She noted that the Department of Justice awarded a microgrant to support the modeled Traffic Stop Program. Page 23 of 32 Special City Council Meeting Minutes October 19, 2020 Mayor Oravec questioned whether the City was tracking their sidewalk dashboard for traffic accidents and fatalities. In response, Ms. Parmelee responded in the affirmative and stated that the Police Department has a more robust Traffic Safety dashboard that the City links into. Council discussed their experiences with residents who do not want to take responsibility for the fact that they got pulled over speeding. Vice Mayor Martin noted that the City of Port St. Lucie does not have quotas for citations. Mayor Oravec informed Councilman Carvelli that speed tables and a radar were installed in Verano, and that they will be giving warnings and then revoking passes. In response, Councilman Carvelli stated that the residents are very appreciative. He said it would be nice if they followed up with the City Manager and provided a run down on everything they are going to do. Ms. Parmelee continued with her presentation. She stated that the crime rate declined by 15.6% for 2019 and that traffic fatalities decreased by 19%, from 5.7 to 4.6. She said that residents rating traffic enforcement as excellent or good has increased over last year and increased considerably since 2009. She indicated that traffic crashes per 100,000 population decreased by 16%. Councilwoman Caraballo asked that staff provide the top five deadliest roads at the next Strategic Planning Meeting, so that they can be addressed. She said she is concerned with the road with the wide turning radius, which might be Walton and Village, as there has been a lot of motorcycle accidents and issues there. In response, Ms. Parmelee stated that staff will collect that data. Ms. Parmelee stated that for the Clean & Beautiful initiative, the US-1 update was provided at this meeting, the Village Green Drive beautification conceptual design is underway and will be completed by the third quarter of 2021, and a preferred concept will be brought to the Council. She said the Keep Port St. Lucie Beautiful Beautification Plan is well underway and that the team will be coming to Council’s November meeting. She stated they have been incorporating feedback, as they work on the NICE Neighborhood Park Development Plan, gateways, and other features. She explained that the team Page 24 of 32 Special City Council Meeting Minutes October 19, 2020 wanted to get the pulse of the Council before coming to them next month. She stated they wanted to focus on lift stations and stormwater ponds, because they have mapped and itemized that for this fiscal year. She said the team felt like the committee could take that on this year, but in the meantime, as the Stormwater Master Plan gets fully developed and these other projects get incorporated, they would like to bring back a more updated plan in the next few months. In response, Mayor Oravec stated that this seems to be fine with the Council. Mayor Oravec stated that he would like each Council Member to nominate a project in their district and asked staff to create those parameters. He said that sometimes there is a need to address certain gateways and intersections. In response, Ms. Parmelee indicated that staff is developing a prioritization matrix, which can be provided to Council as well. She stated they are also looking for areas of overlap, to get the most return on their investment. Mayor Oravec requested that staff come up with a naming system for the smaller parks, to which Ms. Parmelee responded in the affirmative. Ms. Parmelee stated that resident satisfaction in cleanliness of the City jumped from 78% to 83% and has gone up 20% since 2009. Ms. Parmelee noted that since the Tree Challenge was started, 49,676 trees have been planted in the City of Port St. Lucie. In response, Vice Mayor Martin stated that a lot of residents complain when the lots get cleared, but at the same time a lot of trees are getting planted. She said that this is important to point out to people. Mayor Oravec stated that there is a lot of overlap in what the City is doing with their trees, beautification and public space. He recommended having targeted tree giveaways with new sidewalk installations and having the homeowner care for the trees, as this would result in shaded sidewalks and a beautiful streetscape. He stated that they get much more out of their investment when they leverage and combine projects. He said he wants staff to think about opportunities like this and explore his idea. In response, Ms. Parmelee stated that it was a great idea. She said staff was seeing the overlap in this year’s Strategic Plan and departments are working together for the first time. Mayor Oravec noted that Thornhill needs some trees where the Page 25 of 32 Special City Council Meeting Minutes October 19, 2020 sidewalk was installed, and that Savona needs trees as well as stormwater drainage and additional storage. He said that some of these opportunities dovetail with NICE and beautification. Goal 2: Vibrant Neighborhoods Ms. Parmelee stated that Council asked staff to define “vibrant neighborhoods.” She explained that the definition speaks to what the NICE Program aims to do. She said the proposed definition is: “Vibrant neighborhoods are places where all residents feel connected and empowered to make improvements, big and small, in the community that they call home.” Council agreed to adding "beautiful, diverse" to the definition so that it reads, "Vibrant neighborhoods are beautiful, diverse places where all . . . ." Ms. Parmelee indicated that the neighborhood signs have been designed, permitted and installed, but that the NICE office believes there are opportunities for future signs over the next few years. She stated the Neighborhood Parks Development Program is currently in the works, as staff members are going to the neighborhood park sites. For the Community Engagement and Improvement projects, she said that eight NICE neighborhood meetings will be held in November 2020 and that they are looking to launch a neighborhood grant program in Spring 2021. Vice Mayor Martin explained that each neighborhood has different ideas and referred to the Canal Street Pilot Program as an example. She stated that if they do it for one neighborhood, the others ask why it was not done for the whole city. She said that when they analyze a project that could go from neighborhood to neighborhood, they need to determine if the City can afford to do it across the board and if it is reasonable over time. She stated that currently the street signs across the City are inconsistent. In response, Mayor Oravec stated he asked if the City could team up with Tradition to get a lower price point by buying in bulk with the districts that have already put in these signs. He said they could start with the arterials and then have a rollout plan. Vice Mayor Martin asked if there was a way to do that and how much funding it would take each year. Mayor Oravec asked if the signs could be consistent for every Page 26 of 32 Special City Council Meeting Minutes October 19, 2020 neighborhood, as he thought everyone was going to get them. He said if a neighborhood becomes organized and comes up with a neighborhood improvement plan, their first project is funded by the City. He suggested creating a signage plan for the City and rolling it out over ten years for financial feasibility. Councilwoman Caraballo asked that the NICE program put more emphasis on neighborhood events, where residents can get to know their neighbors and start to build their organization or unit, so the same people are not speaking for the neighborhood. She said that people need their community now more than ever. She noted that she agrees with Council’s comments regarding the signs. In response, Ms. Parmelee stated that NICE has several initiatives underway and will provide Council with a more substantial update at their next meeting. Mayor Oravec explained that he did not want staff deciding on street signs in the absence of Council having a conversation. He stated that Council should be involved in the decision process and informed of the neighborhood projects under the NICE program. Vice Mayor Martin said that she agreed. Ms. Parmelee stated that Council has given staff a lot of good ideas, before going into the November neighborhood meetings. She said staff will review this information and report back. In response, Mayor Oravec requested that any takeaways, commitments or promises be carried through by staff to completion, so there is no misunderstanding. Ms. Parmelee indicated the ratings for Overall Quality of Life as Excellent or Good has continued to increase. She said the ratings for Efforts to Welcome Citizen Involvement and Quality of Life in Their Neighborhood Positively have also risen since 2009. Goal 3: Quality Education for All Residents Ms. Parmelee stated that the two strategic initiatives are to Partner with St. Lucie Public Schools and Career Technical Academy. She said that staff has already updated Council on their legislative agenda for this year and that they are working on several issues. She stated that they are sending individual Wi-Fi access cards; supporting the Virtual Learning Center at the MidFlorida Event Center; and participating in City Government Week at the St. Lucie Public Schools. She said that staff will return to Council at the November Special Meeting with an Page 27 of 32 Special City Council Meeting Minutes October 19, 2020 update on the Career Technical Charter School. Ms. Parmelee stated that the City’s ratings on adult education have grown and that K-12 education overall has grown. She said that childcare has decreased some as has childcare pre-schools. She explained that the partnership with St. Lucie Public Schools has realized a 68% reduction in truancy and that last year resulted in a 33% reduction. Vice Mayor Martin stated that she did not like the 10% drop in 2019-2020 in K-12 education, as they had a 12% increase from 2018 to 2019. She said that percentage should continue to increase every year. In response, Ms. Parmelee stated that staff will monitor these stats and work the program this year. Mayor Oravec requested that staff determine why there was a drop in ratings for K-12 education as well as for childcare and preschool, if the City wants to be one of the best places in the world for families. In response, Ms. Parmelee stated that it is in their legislative program to support this year. She said that staff will be bringing this forward, along with the Federal, State and County Legislative Program, to the November meeting. She stated they are looking to partner with other agencies to support increased access to childcare and preschool. For the education goal, she said she will get more information from the Children Services Council and their partners for her next update. Goal 4: Diverse Economy and Employment Opportunities Ms. Parmelee stated that this goal has three strategic initiatives: Facilitate Build Out of Southern Grove, Reimagine City Center, and Support Small Businesses. She said the sales are ongoing in Southern Grove; the Southern Grove Master Plan will be coming back to Council for final adoption in December 2020; and the Florida Research and Innovation plans to have 40 employees, including faculty, by the end of 2020. She stated that financial analysis is underway for Reimagining City Center by a third-party consultant and that Kimley-Horn is developing the small area plan, and both will be completed by December 2020 and presented to the Council. She noted that the Small Business Plan was going to be presented at this meeting, but the agenda was so full. She said that Elijah Wooten will be bringing that plan to the November 16, 2020 Special Meeting. Page 28 of 32 Special City Council Meeting Minutes October 19, 2020 Ms. Parmelee stated that the outcome for 2020 for Port St. Lucie Being a Place to Work as Excellent or Good has risen from 20% in 2009 to 39% in 2020. She said that Economic Health jumped from 46% in 2019 to 60% in 2020 and that there was a 12% jump in rating their Economic Development as excellent or good. Vice Mayor Martin stated she is concerned that their survey will be off because of COVID and that it may have a negative impact on the City. In response, Ms. Parmelee said that one benefit of the National Community Survey are the benchmark comparisons from other cities to see how they are faring as well. Goal 5: High Quality Infrastructure & Facilities Ms. Parmelee stated that this goal has the strategic initiatives to Plan Roadways for Future Needs, Advance Mobility, and Improve Water Quality. Mr. Blackburn provided an update stating that Mr. O’Reilly is committed to the Port St. Lucie Boulevard South plan for the advanced funding. He said that Mr. O’Reilly is expecting to rework the priorities after he receives the adjusted numbers as a result of the reduction in state revenue due to COVID and have the definitive answers to Port St. Lucie Boulevard South by the end of December 2020. He said that Mr. O’Reilly indicated that no decisions have been made not to fund Port St. Lucie Boulevard South at this point. Vice Mayor Martin stated that construction for the Port St. Lucie Boulevard South project needs to start in 2021, even if the state is not prepared to move forward. She said she hopes that staff is simultaneously working on how the City is going to do that. She stated that she does not want to hear in December that things have changed for Mr. O’Reilly or tell the residents that the first phase is not starting in 2021. She said this Council cannot keep blaming it on the state. Mayor Oravec stated that he agreed. Mayor Oravec requested that the City Manager find out how much of the Port St. Lucie impact fee money the County is sitting on. Councilman Carvelli asked for a commitment date from the TPO and the state for the Saint Lucie West overpass. He said it is a major choke point and wants to make sure it is on the funded list. Page 29 of 32 Special City Council Meeting Minutes October 19, 2020 Ms. Parmelee noted that St. James Boulevard is another corridor that will be discussed in the joint meeting, as there was a stakeholder meeting a few weeks ago. She said that this roadway will have additional landscaping and corridor improvements. Ms. Parmelee stated that the preliminary Crosstown Connector Exploratory Report will be completed by the end of the year and presented at the Winter Retreat. She said the Bus Shelter Public Art improvements will be coming back to Council soon. Ms. Parmelee showed Council the ratings for Improved Roadways and Mobility, which were discussed during the last presentation and indicate the importance of this initiative in their strategic plan. Ms. Parmelee stated that for Improving Water Quality, areas 1 of 2 have been completed and area 3 is under construction. She said the Septic to Sewer Master Plan is coming back to Council at the Winter Retreat. She stated that resident ratings on stormwater drainage continue to increase and sewer services remain steady. She indicated that the City has withdrawn 2.2 billion gallons from the C-23 canal, as a result of area 2 being constructed. Goal 6: Culture, Nature & Fun Activities Ms. Parmelee stated that the Council received an update recently on The Port and Pioneer Park, as the master planning process is well underway. Mayor Oravec inquired if staff was working on the drinking water. In response, Ms. Parmelee stated that a follow-up survey was done with the residents and showed some extremely positive results. She advised that the City’s drinking water issue is in the Business Plan for the Utilities Systems Department. She said that staff will provide an update on their efforts at Council's Winter Retreat. Ms. Parmelee stated that the other projects are all underway with the ten-year Parks & Recreation Master plan. She said the Council will receive an update on some of these initiatives at their next Special Meeting. Ms. Parmelee indicated that resident satisfaction has increased for Page 30 of 32 Special City Council Meeting Minutes October 19, 2020 Special Events, City Parks from 71% to 80%, Recreation Programs from 55% to 69%, and Path & Walking Trails from 36% to 45%. Vice Mayor Martin stated they need to have a conversation with the County about Torino Park and future parks to discuss partnering together, as the 2022 MTSU funds are coming up. Mayor Oravec said that he agreed. In response, Ms. Parmelee stated that this will be the kick-off for their January 26, 2021, meeting, as Dr. Barth will be presenting both master plans to both Boards. Goal 7: High Performing Government Organization Ms. Parmelee stated that progress has been made in all initiatives. She said that the millage rate has been reduced for the fifth year in a row while improving services. She stated that 1PSL has processed over 47,350 calls. She indicated they are working on a voice assistant integration and an AI chatbot. Ms. Parmelee discussed the Swale Project, as the number one request to 1PSL is drainage and blocked swales. She stated that staff is working with a nationally known innovation expert, Brian Elms. She said he has created the City’s PSL Forward Innovation Academy, which is the first virtual innovation academy in the nation. She stated that a group of twelve people have created more than 37 different interventions to help reduce the call volume. She said they saw a 10% reduction with the last rain event over the previous. She noted that Mr. Elms stated that the City’s Communication Team is the best he has ever worked with in the nation. Mayor Oravec asked to see the heat map for the swales in the City, to which Ms. Parmelee responded in the affirmative. She explained that they are piloting a virtual inspection of swales, where the City can use FaceTime to give residents immediate feedback. She indicated that Mr. Elms advised them that a phone call costs about $8.00 and a click costs $0.13 cents. She said they are trying to reduce the calls from coming in, so that residents can get what they need quicker and the City can save money while serving the residents better. Ms. Parmelee stated that the County Legislative Program, as well as the State and Federal Program, is coming to Council at the November Special Meeting. She said Council has been asked to prioritize the different legislative requests. Page 31 of 32 Special City Council Meeting Minutes October 19, 2020 Ms. Parmelee stated that City’s service ratings have remained steady, from 55% in 2009 to above 70%, which is similar to cities nationwide. She said their Customer Service rating is in the 70% range and that the Value of Services is similar to cities nationwide as well. She stated that staff will continue to track these ratings in this year’s citizen survey. Ms. Parmelee stated that they continue to advance their organization’s vision, which is to be recognized nationally as a leader providing superior services through a diverse, empowered and visionary City team. She said they received, for the second year in a row, the Voice of the People Award for Transformation. She indicated that this year for the first time, the City received a special performance measures recognition. She said the City was also just featured by the International City County Management Association for their strategic planning process. Vice Mayor Martin moved to accept the Strategic Plan Fourth Quarter Progress Report. Councilwoman Caraballo seconded the motion, which passed unanimously by voice vote. 7. Adjourn There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:00 PM. ______________________________________ Sally Walsh, Assistant City Clerk ______________________________________ Shanna Donleavy, Deputy City Clerk ______________________________________ Traci Mehl, Deputy City Clerk Page 32 of 32