On the agenda

1. 1Call to Order – Roll Call▶ 0:00
2. 2

   Pledge of Allegiance

   The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

   ▶ Jump to 0:15 in the video

   ▸Show transcriptHide transcript

   Auto-transcript · machine-generated, may contain errors

   [00:00:21] the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, [00:00:28] indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. First business item is, let

   This text was generated automatically from the meeting video. It is not a verbatim or official record. For exact wording, consult the video or the city clerk.

3. 3

   Moment of Silence

   Moment of silence and Pledge of Allegiance.

   ▶ Jump to 0:15 in the video

   ▸Show transcriptHide transcript

   Auto-transcript · machine-generated, may contain errors

   [00:00:21] the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, [00:00:28] indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. First business item is, let

   This text was generated automatically from the meeting video. It is not a verbatim or official record. For exact wording, consult the video or the city clerk.

4. 4.a

   ↳You arrived here from a search for “The Wilds” — transcript expanded below

   Resolution No. 2025-05: Extending Local State of Emergency for Hurricane Milton

   approved

   Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-05 extending the local state of emergency for Hurricane Milton for an additional seven days (through 12:00 a.m. Monday, October 21, 2024) to allow continued recovery and mitigation efforts. Discussion followed on debris pickup prioritization, termination of the city's emergency debris contractor for failure to perform, private/commercial property cleanup (notably Harborview being declared a public nuisance), Duke Energy power restoration, and estimated solid waste costs near $1.5 million.

   Ord. Resolution No. 2025-05

   • motion:Move to approve Resolution No. 2025-05 extending the local state of emergency for Hurricane Milton through 12:00 a.m. Monday, October 21, 2024. (passed)
   • direction:City to declare Harborview a public nuisance and pick up debris in the park, assessing costs back to the property owner. (none)

   📍Harborview📍Hudson Library🏢Briar Patch🏢Duke Energy🏢FEMA🏢Harborview🏢Jackson's AC🏢Pinellas County🏢The Wilds👤Councilman Altman👤Crystal👤Joel👤Mitch Jackson👤Ron DeSantis#50% rule#Centennial/anniversary committee#Disaster response plan#Executive Order 24-14#Hurricane Helene#Hurricane Milton#Resolution No. 2025-05#Section 252.38385 Florida Statutes

   ▶ Jump to 0:30 in the video

   ▸Show transcriptHide transcript

   Auto-transcript · machine-generated, may contain errors

   [00:00:42] me just say here, we're not having Vox Pop tonight. This is just a one business item [00:00:47] to have to do with the storm. If you're interested in Vox Pop, you can come back tomorrow night [00:00:52] to speak. I'm not trying to rule you out, I'm just telling you how we're working here. [00:00:57] So resolution number 2025-05, extension of the local state of emergency of Hurricane [00:01:06] Milton. Yes sir, Mr. Mayor. On October 4th, the Governor, Mr. Ron DeSantis, issued Executive [00:01:15] Order number 24-14, which declared a state of emergency across several counties to include [00:01:24] Pasco County in advance of Hurricane Milton. On October 7th, the City Council conducted [00:01:32] a special meeting to declare a local state of emergency due to impending storm, and that [00:01:43] state of emergency was effectuated as of October 8th, and it spanned through October [00:01:51] 14th. As the city is still very much in the recovery mode, and since the order is due [00:02:05] to expire as of Monday, October 14th, the purpose of this agenda item today is to ask [00:02:12] you to extend it to allow the city additional time to tend to our mitigation efforts in [00:02:22] respect to both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. So we are asking for an additional [00:02:29] seven day period of time, which is allowable under the provisions of Section 252.38385 [00:02:41] of the Florida Statutes, and we are asking in accordance with the attached resolution [00:02:48] to the agenda item for the time period of Tuesday, October 15th, 2024, and remaining [00:02:57] in effect through 12 o'clock a.m. Monday, October 21st, 2024. And we would appreciate [00:03:08] your consideration of the resolution and support therewith, and I'm prepared to respond [00:03:14] to any questions that you may have of me. [00:03:16] Do we have a, somebody would like to bring up something here? Possibly a vote? [00:03:27] Are we required to have public comment? Because I know we're always reminded of that on every [00:03:31] agenda item by the attorney. [00:03:34] No, not on this agenda item. [00:03:37] Okay. Move to approve. [00:03:40] I'll second. [00:03:43] To the maker. [00:03:45] So yeah, we're just extending it to make sure that we can still take care of our business [00:03:50] items and we're still a local state of emergency. [00:03:53] Second. [00:03:54] Mr. Mayor, I know in the past, during certain items or even during communications, we've [00:03:58] been allowed to invite people up to give public comment. Is that something allowed under this [00:04:02] motion? [00:04:03] No, tomorrow night. I already said that before you got here. [00:04:05] Tomorrow night's an opportunity for them to speak publicly. And then about tonight's, there's [00:04:09] a town hall with the county too, 6 to 8, over at Hudson Library. [00:04:17] I wanted to say Hudson as well, so 6 to 8. I know it's not necessarily related to the [00:04:21] city limits, but it's still an opportunity to learn about FEMA and some of the, right. [00:04:30] I did have a couple things related to that. Just a debris pickup. What are we doing for, [00:04:34] I know I talked to you about the map. [00:04:37] Well, there's a new map out, I believe today, isn't it? It's on our website. [00:04:43] I don't know that one has been posted today. [00:04:46] Well, it said it was going to come out today, so I figured we'd make it on our site probably [00:04:50] by tomorrow. [00:04:51] I just haven't seen it, so I don't know that. [00:04:53] But we are updating that as we move into new areas. [00:04:56] Well, yes. [00:04:57] I saw, as I was going from New Port Richey to New Port Richey, you could clearly see the [00:05:00] delineation because we're starting to pick up, and so you see debris still, debris, and [00:05:04] then you cross into New Port Richey. I'm seeing that on some roads, so I'm assuming [00:05:07] they're making their way to their next spots. Do we know where they're going to next? [00:05:13] Well, that's what's on the, that's what's going to be. [00:05:15] I don't know, but I don't know where they ended today. I know they're still working, [00:05:22] so I don't know specifically where they'll start tomorrow, but I know that we will update [00:05:27] the map, and if you need to know specifically where they're going to start tomorrow, we [00:05:32] can let you know that. [00:05:33] I'm just curious because I was basing it off of FEMA's list of highest, excuse me, lowest [00:05:38] resiliency areas, and I know some communities, like I noticed parts of Harborview in particular, [00:05:44] it looked like there was still debris there, and they're marked by FEMA as one of the lowest [00:05:48] levels of resiliency in our city, so I'm assuming they could use the most city support [00:05:52] when it comes to picking up debris as the highest priority. On that note... [00:05:57] If you'll allow me just to interject for a second, what we're doing is we're prioritizing [00:06:03] the hardest hit areas first, and trying to deliver the most efficient service plan as [00:06:10] possible. [00:06:11] With two contractors too, right, correct? So in addition to city staff, we have... [00:06:14] We are using city staff, yes. [00:06:17] And contractors. [00:06:18] And we have subcontracted out for service as well. [00:06:22] Right. [00:06:23] We are in a bit of an unfortunate situation though, and we have, as of today, had to terminate [00:06:33] our contract with our emergency service provider for failure to perform. [00:06:40] Are we going to do a different contract with someone else, or are we just going to continue [00:06:46] with the city? [00:06:47] That's very difficult at this point. [00:06:48] Understood, okay. [00:06:49] To obtain another contractor, particularly in respect to the fact that Pinellas County [00:06:54] has really upped the ante in terms of what they're willing to pay per ton for pickup [00:07:02] and transport, we have brought on some additional trucks for service through our subcontractor, [00:07:13] and our current thinking is that we will be able to do it with our own service vehicles [00:07:22] and with the subcontractor. [00:07:24] Okay, thank you for... [00:07:25] I just wanted to add one thing, just for anybody in the public that's listening. [00:07:29] Don't put your house trash out there, because that'll draw the rats and the other animals [00:07:35] and stuff. [00:07:36] I mean, we're just looking for stuff that has just been destroyed, furniture, walls, [00:07:40] things like that. [00:07:41] But you must have some other place that you normally put your house trash and then... [00:07:45] Just keep it separated. [00:07:46] Yeah, keep that separate. [00:07:47] Yeah, just keep it separated. [00:07:48] Yeah, and whether it's a dumpster, trash cans or whatever. [00:07:51] Good point. [00:07:52] Yeah. [00:07:53] And thank you to the city staff for pivoting and figuring out a way around that contractor issue. [00:07:56] I just had two more quick things. [00:07:59] The issue of... [00:08:00] I know Councilman Altman made a request before, and so I'm going to do something similar. [00:08:06] If we can get a report on those houses on that map from Herc and Helene, and I guess [00:08:11] we could say Milton, although I don't know if there was as much surge from this one, [00:08:15] for power outages, not the ones that were with the 50% rule. [00:08:20] And so I don't know if you have a number for those that are without power, if you have [00:08:25] a number for that. [00:08:26] Well, I can tell you that there were 59 additional structures in the city that were impacted [00:08:32] by water as a result of Hurricane Milton, and Duke Energy has an online site which provides [00:08:41] up-to-date data on the sites in the city that do not currently have power, and they update [00:08:49] that regularly as they're able to restore service to the structures. [00:08:54] Thank you for clarifying that. [00:08:55] I'm referring to the ones that received a notice that until the electrician comes out [00:09:00] and checks it, that the power can't be turned back on for safety reasons to prevent a house [00:09:06] fire. [00:09:07] I'm just curious what number, what percentage, or even if it gets worked on that map with [00:09:11] the damage assessment that we've already done, if there's a way to highlight the ones that [00:09:15] are without power currently. [00:09:16] I'll see if there is a distinction. [00:09:19] And the last thing, I saw in the disaster relief, or excuse me, disaster response plan [00:09:25] that we approved, that we were looking into having a lineman from Duke join one of the [00:09:31] strike teams. [00:09:32] Has that happened since? [00:09:33] I know that we just approved that guide, but I didn't know if we have a lineman that was [00:09:37] working during Milton, or if that never was able to happen. [00:09:39] We actually do have a lineman that works during the hurricanes. [00:09:45] He works out of the EOC Center, but he's our representative, and he has been very responsive [00:09:53] to issues as they have surfaced during the emergency. [00:10:00] Great. [00:10:01] I was just curious if we ended up doing that. [00:10:02] His name is Joel. [00:10:03] Great. [00:10:04] Thank you. [00:10:05] Do I? [00:10:06] Yes, sir. [00:10:07] A couple of things. [00:10:08] And I know we're under a motion, which is to extend the local state of emergency. [00:10:13] So, keeping it tight to the issue today, and hearing the invite for folks to come and [00:10:19] speak, if need be, tomorrow on things that they have. [00:10:22] I just feel there is, from the comment that we received about the prioritizing of the [00:10:29] removal of the debris, and the information that had been given to us before that commercially [00:10:38] owned properties. [00:10:39] I just started with a conversation I had with the Wilds, which is private roads. [00:10:44] I know the Briar Patch is another place that's private, and we've got a number of them that [00:10:48] have their own internal road systems, or are owned privately, that perhaps we have difficulty [00:10:56] in receiving aid or reimbursement from FEMA for those expenses. [00:11:02] It's my understanding that some of the advice has been given out that areas that are public [00:11:10] roads may not be picked up by us. [00:11:14] And if those are the facts, then I need to make sure that that word gets out. [00:11:19] In particular, the group here tonight apparently believe that they are now at the mercy of [00:11:25] the landowner to clean up all the debris that's out there. [00:11:28] So I wonder if that – you have stated priority, so I want to confirm it's still our intention [00:11:34] as a city to pick up the trash from all of our residents as best we can. [00:11:39] You don't have a funding source for it, perhaps. [00:11:42] And I know that that's been another issue when we've asked for, like, the removal [00:11:47] of the inspection fees, or not charging folks. [00:11:52] The real problem that has been – that I understand is happening in just one place, [00:11:59] which I'm sure is happening, you know, physically and damage-wise. [00:12:03] But each area, just like cities around the state, have a different way of running things [00:12:08] and a different setup. [00:12:09] So one answer doesn't work for everybody. [00:12:12] But there – an old high school graduate before me, Mitch Jackson, who used to have [00:12:20] Jackson's AC, who lives in town, had expressed to me the time that he spent in Harborview [00:12:26] way back, I'm going to say in the 70s, or whenever the last big storm hit in that community, [00:12:32] and having to hire a bunch of people to climb under the units because that's where they're [00:12:40] delivering their air conditioning, and that that no longer is available. [00:12:45] I know we don't have the building contractor here. [00:12:48] But one of the problems that's occurring is with a clear understanding of what can [00:12:54] and can't be done. [00:12:56] And the other problem, of course, is that as time clocks by, houses are not habitable, [00:13:02] rents are being told to be collected, and titles are being turned over to ownership [00:13:08] as a result of negotiations, as I'm hearing it. [00:13:11] So there are obviously, I think, people here that are in an urgent situation. [00:13:16] But the most urgent thing, of course, is cleaning the debris up. [00:13:19] And I'm hopeful that it's still the intention of the city that we will clean up debris. [00:13:25] And I don't know what we can do. [00:13:26] If it's someone else's responsibility to say, you didn't do it, it's an emergency, [00:13:31] we had to do it and send them a bill. [00:13:33] But if it's the responsibility of a landowner or a private community to do it, we should [00:13:38] try to hold them responsible as well. [00:13:41] Am I somewhat on track with your strategy? [00:13:44] I'd be glad to respond, Councilman. [00:13:46] Thank you. [00:13:48] There are a couple of different ways that we've approached the neighborhoods in the city [00:13:53] that have private roads. [00:13:56] Understanding completely that we're not going to leave any area of the city unserved. [00:14:04] No question about it. [00:14:05] Just a matter of approach. [00:14:09] FEMA allows us an opportunity, if we have permission of the owner of public or private property, [00:14:20] to go in and service them under certain conditions and to receive reimbursement for it. [00:14:28] In some cases, we've been able to establish contact with the owners, receive permission, [00:14:38] we've gone in, done the work. [00:14:41] In others, we haven't been able to establish those connections. [00:14:46] What we've done, and I had a conversation as late as today with the manager of Harborview, [00:14:57] I have not been able to connect. [00:15:00] have not received anything responsive from the owners of Harborview and advised [00:15:07] her that they were to be declared as a public nuisance for their failure to [00:15:12] pick up any of the debris from the first hurricane and as such the city would be [00:15:20] picking up in their park and assessing the damages, the cost of the damages of [00:15:28] picking up and disposing of the materials that we collected to their [00:15:34] property and the the manager I don't know if she really spoke on behalf of [00:15:41] the ownership or not I think I'll find that out in the coming days indicated [00:15:47] that she needed two weeks to be able to collect the debris that's that's a long [00:15:51] period of time that's in my estimation too long of a period of time I expect [00:15:59] that I now will hear from the ownership now that that message is being [00:16:03] disseminated back to them about the city assessing charges to them so I'm [00:16:09] hopeful to have a productive discussion with them and be able to bring that [00:16:14] matter to closure and give give those residents the relief that they deserve [00:16:19] certainly good and when you have that conversation to the degree that you feel [00:16:25] it's appropriate to let them know some of the stories that we've heard of the [00:16:30] imposition of rent in an unlivable condition that's their fault for not [00:16:36] cleaning it up at this point and so hopefully that they'll you'll be have a [00:16:41] stern conversation with them it would be my pleasure thank you yeah I was gonna [00:16:47] say I want to thank the staff everybody's been working real hard I [00:16:50] know it's been real trying you know especially back-to-back hurricanes [00:16:54] everybody's rushing real hard to try to clean everything up before the second [00:16:58] storm hit and then I know in between that once once Milton hit then FEMA [00:17:02] kind of pulled back and they weren't reimbursing hopefully they will be back [00:17:07] here soon helping with that so we can get more debris picked up but been been [00:17:14] very trying with both hurricanes and power outages and flooding and it's [00:17:18] something that well something that weren't used to around here you know [00:17:22] hadn't happened in a long long long time but from all these things that happen [00:17:27] at least you learn and then the next time you know you know exactly what you [00:17:30] do have to do and be on top of it but I'm gonna thank everybody for working [00:17:35] hard out there and it's been I know it's been tough for everybody I appreciate [00:17:38] your comments on that very much and Saturday was a great demonstration on [00:17:44] the part of city employees and volunteerism we had a good number of [00:17:49] volunteers come out that weren't assigned to work to pick up our parks [00:17:54] and and many of them inquired if they could bring their children to work and [00:17:59] teach them a little bit about giving back and we were certainly grateful that [00:18:04] they chose to do so and found children could be very helpful as well and it was [00:18:13] nice to see the symmetry in the families and them all working together on a [00:18:22] common project. Let's hope we don't have to go through this again. I just want to [00:18:27] say I've been thrilled as neighbors helping neighbors and people coming from [00:18:33] out of town to help neighbors or help friends and stuff or family it's just [00:18:37] been amazing it's just you know something we see at local level we don't [00:18:41] hear very much at the higher levels you know outside of the state or outside you [00:18:46] know in Tallahassee so there's nothing else all those in favor signify by aye. Aye. [00:18:51] Those opposed by five nothing do you have any communication to start with you? No [00:18:58] communications I think I jumped the gun with the motion. Yeah I know that you [00:19:03] have another meeting coming up of the centennial. The anniversary committee at [00:19:08] five o'clock. And I would just only readdress the interest in us trying to [00:19:17] get you know some kind of inventory of damage at some point as I know everybody [00:19:23] still reeling and just working to collect the debris and deal with getting [00:19:29] back at it but the gravity of this is still you know it's apparent but at the [00:19:38] same time it's an economic it's a potential huge economic hit to the [00:19:43] city's properties private properties homes businesses and I will waiting [00:19:56] finding out just how how things are as we have to adjust for the new reality [00:20:01] that we're in. Yeah at this point we're estimating our solid waste pickup and [00:20:05] disposable solid waste and disposal costs to come in near a million and a [00:20:12] half and we will have an updated map to you in your report on Friday and [00:20:23] Crystal's working on a report for staff because we have assigned a lot of [00:20:29] overtime to cover both hurricanes all of which will of course be eligible for [00:20:37] FEMA assistance and as you know without me telling you that's great except that [00:20:45] there's such a long period of time that lapses before that money actually comes [00:20:51] in and a year and a half sometimes more before we actually see that funding. [00:21:01] I'll save it for tomorrow. [00:21:06] Move to adjourn.

   This text was generated automatically from the meeting video. It is not a verbatim or official record. For exact wording, consult the video or the city clerk.

5. 5Communications
6. 6Adjournment