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Home My WebLink About5-12-2026 - Revised Final Agenda Packet on 511 (1) BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA ST. LUCIE COUNTY BOCC Informal Meeting Tuesday, May 12, 2026 9:00 AM Commission Chambers 2300 Virginia Avenue 3rd Floor of Roger Poitras Building Fort Pierce, FL 34982 BOARD MEMBERS District No. 4, Chair JAMIE FOWLER District No. 2, Vice-Chair LARRY LEET District No. 1 JAMES CLASBY District No. 3 ERIN LOWRY District No. 5 CATHY TOWNSEND Mission Statement Committed To Service, Focused On Our Future, Grounded By Tradition *Revised Final on 5/11 Page 1 of 73 BOCC Informal Meeting Tuesday, May 12, 2026 9:00 AM 2 | P a g e 1. CALL TO ORDER - JAMIE FOWLER, CHAIR BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. St. Lucie Public Schools Impact and Efficiency B. Hutchinson Island Gateway Proposal - ADD ON 4. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS 5. ADJOURNMENT NOTICE: All Proceedings before this Board are electronically recorded. Any person who decides to appeal any action taken by the Board at these meetings will need a record of the proceedings and for such purpose may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made. Upon the request of any party to the proceedings, individuals testifying during a hearing will be sworn in. Any party to the proceedings will be granted the opportunity to cross-examine any individual testifying during a hearing upon request. Anyone with a disability requiring accommodation to attend this meeting should contact the St. Lucie County Human Resources Department at (772) 462-1546, humanresources@stlucieco.org or TDD (772) 462-1428 at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the meeting. Page 2 of 73 Board of County Commissioners Meeting SLPS Impact and Efficiency May 12, 2026 Dr. Jon R. Prince - Superintendent Page 3 of 73 Agenda •Impact •Education Quality •Impact with Community •Impact with Efficiency Page 4 of 73 Board Vice ChairDebbie Hawley Board MemberTerissa Aronson Board MemberDr. Donna Mills Board MemberJennifer Richardson Board ChairTroy Ingersoll School Board St. Lucie Public Schools Page 5 of 73 What Is the Impact of High Quality Schools? Page 6 of 73 As an adult and a Treasure Hunter I am committed to search for all the talents, skills, and intelligence that exist in all children and youth. I believe all children are capable of success, TREASURE HUNTER’S PLEDGE NO EXCEPTIONS! Page 7 of 73 Count of School Grades Over Time SLPS Schools 2016 2017 2018 2019 2022 2023 2024 2025 A 3 5 8 6 7 6 9 11 B 8 16 16 18 11 12 15 18 C 17 13 11 11 16 16 13 8 D 7 3 2 2 3 3 F 2 30% 45% 25% 78% 22% 0% Page 8 of 73 Page 9 of 73 Are Good Schools the Result of Good Communities? Or Are Good Communities the Result of Good Schools? An Analysis of School Quality and Crime Rates 2013-2024 Page 10 of 73 68% 94% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 St. Lucie Public Schools Graduation Rate Rising SLPS Graduation Rate & Falling SLC Crimes Crime Statistics Taken from FLHealthCHARTS.gov Page 11 of 73 864 447 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 St. Lucie Public Schools Graduation Rate St. Lucie County Index Crimes Per 100,000 Rising SLPS Graduation Rate & Falling SLC Crimes 68% 94% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Crime Statistics Taken from FLHealthCHARTS.gov Page 12 of 73 864 447 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 St. Lucie Public Schools Graduation Rate St. Lucie County Violent Crimes Per 100,000St. Lucie County Index Crimes Per 100,000 Rising SLPS Graduation Rate & Falling SLC Crimes 68% 94% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Crime Statistics Taken from FLHealthCHARTS.gov 38% 48% 42% Page 13 of 73 How Efficiently Does SLPS Operate? How is Our State Funding Spent? What is St. Lucie’s ROI? Page 14 of 73 Florida Commissioner of Education Anastosios Kamoutsas October 28, 2025 Leon County School Board Meeting Page 15 of 73 How Efficiently Does SLPS Operate? •Analyzing use of district funds for school and district administrators *Source – DOE Full-Time Administrative Staff by Activity Assignment •Consider district needs, size and location in the comparison •Comparison of St. Lucie Public Schools and other districts Page 16 of 73 How Efficiently Does SLPS Operate? How does SLPS compare to neighboring districts or similar districts when looking at enrollment and performance relative to the use of spending on administrators? Page 17 of 73 Source: https://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/7584/urlt/ARAdminDistStaff2425.xlsx Page 18 of 73 Definition of Terms in this Analysis •Full-Time Administrative Staff by Activity Assignment •School Based Principals Assistant Principals •Non-School Based District administrative staff that are not assigned to a school site who serve as officials, administrators, and managers Page 19 of 73 Definition of Terms in this Analysis Efficiency The number of school and non-school based administrators per 1,000 FTE 5.0 would translate to 5 administrators per 1,000 students Page 20 of 73 Definition of Terms in this Analysis Efficiency 5.0 would translate to 5 administrators per 1,000 students A district with a lower number would be considered more efficient A district with a higher number would be considered less efficient Page 21 of 73 St. Lucie Public Schools State Ranking (out of 67 Districts) District Administrators Per 1000 Students School Administrators Per 1000 Students 1.02 2.50 For every 1,000 students, there are 3.52 administrators employed by SLPS. (1.02 +2.50 = 3.52) Page 22 of 73 St. Lucie Public Schools State Ranking (out of 67 Districts) District Administrators Per 1000 Students School Administrators Per 1000 Students District & School Administration Rank 1.02 2.50 3rd Only 2 other districts have smaller administration to student ratios statewide. Santa Rosa (31,000 FTE) A (F/R = 47%) Osceola (80,000 FTE) B (F/R = 55%) SLPS (54,000 FTE A (F/R = 64%) For every 1,000 students, there are 3.52 administrators employed. (1.02 +2.50 = 3.52) Page 23 of 73 Local and Adjacent District Counts of Administrators Per 1,000 StudentsRanked by Efficiency District District School Efficiency State Efficiency Rank St. Lucie 1.02 2.50 3.52 3rd Broward 1.03 2.63 3.66 6th Brevard 0.96 2.93 3.89 8th Palm Beach 1.02 2.95 3.97 10th Dade 1.08 3.01 4.08 15th Martin 1.76 3.38 5.14 32nd Indian River 1.83 3.55 5.38 36th Page 24 of 73 St. Lucie 0 Collier Marion St. Johns +52 +28 +10 Similar Sized Districts as SLPS (approx. 50,000 students) How Many Additional Administrators Do They Have? +28 Lake Manatee +33 Sarasota +38 Page 25 of 73 What if our neighbors were the same size as SLPS? (Approx. 50,000 Students) *Comparing Costs if Districts were Proportioned to Our Size District Efficiency How many more administrators would they hire? St. Lucie 3.52 SLPS has 190 administrators. Broward 3.66 +8 Brevard 3.89 +20 Palm Beach 3.97 +24 Dade 4.08 +31 Martin 5.14 +89 Indian River 5.38 +101 Page 26 of 73 Enrollment Trends – 10 Years •Has SLPS spending on staffing levels been aligned to enrollment trends over time? •Staffing trends “should” be proportional to enrollment trends. Page 27 of 73 22%23%26% Changes in St. Lucie Public Schools 2016-17 to 2024-25 Instructional Staff Students Administrators-20 0 20 40 60 16-17 24-25 Students 40,417 49,308 Instructional Staff 2,760 3,384 Administrators 151 190 Schools 44 47 80 Page 28 of 73 Changes in a Neighboring District 2016-17 to 2024-25 Instructional Staff Students Administrators-20 0 20 40 60 80 21% -4 -4 16-17 24-25 Students 19,014 18,323 Instructional Staff 1,383 1,331 Administrators 84 102 Schools 24 27 Page 29 of 73 Key Takeaways: SLPS Success, Impact and Efficiency •SLPS Prioritizes Classroom Teachers over Administrators The majority of resources are directly invested where learning happens… in the classrooms. •Low Overhead, High Impact SLPS is THE MOST ACADEMICALLY IMPROVED DISTRICT with the lowest administrative costs. •Exceptional Return on Investment Resources are used wisely, producing powerful results for every dollar spent. SLPS is a Model of Operational Efficiency SLPS is an outlier for performance compared to challenges (student socioeconomic factors) and low administrator/teacher ratio Page 30 of 73 Questions? Page 31 of 73 From:Mayte Santamaria To:Sydney Halleran; Katrina Slay Subject:FW: Information for May 12 presentation Date:Monday, May 11, 2026 2:18:00 PM Attachments:County Presentation slides.pdf County Presentation.pdf FDOT Requirements County Sign.pdf Outlook-iwtcup1i.png Outlook-aaaujvbt image001.png image002.png Please add this email and attachments to the Informal Meeting tomorrow. Please send update to the BOCC of the agenda update. Mayté Santamaria – Deputy County Administrator II Ph: 772-462-1960 | 2300 Virginia Ave. Fort Pierce 34982 facebook.com/stluciegov | twitter.com/stluciegov | instagram.com/stluciegov | youtube.com/stluciegov From: Jamie Fowler <Jamie.Fowler@stlucieco.gov> Sent: Monday, May 11, 2026 2:12 PM To: George Landry <George.Landry@stlucieco.gov>; Mayte Santamaria <Mayte.Santamaria@stlucieco.gov> Subject: Fw: Information for May 12 presentation Don't kill me.....I forgot I told them they could do a presentation on this tomorrow. I know they have already made the rounds with some commissioners on it so we may as well all be briefed together because I don't really know where this is going. They say they don't need anything from us, but I feel like there could be an ask down the road and want to go in eyes wide open. All the best, Jamie Lee Jamie Lee Fowler | St. Lucie County Commissioner, District 4 Ph: 772-462-1413 | Cell: 772-979-4347 | 2300 Virginia Ave. Fort Pierce 34982 facebook.com/stluciegov | twitter.com/stluciegov | instagram.com/stluciegov | youtube.com/stluciegov Page 32 of 73 From: Charlie Wilson <mediaartsgroup@yahoo.com> Sent: Wednesday, May 6, 2026 2:38 PM To: James Clasby <James.Clasby@stlucieco.gov>; Jamie Fowler <Jamie.Fowler@stlucieco.gov> Cc: Editor <fortpierce34949@gmail.com>; Charlie Wilson <mediaartsgroup@yahoo.com> Subject: Information for May 12 presentation SECURITY WARNING: This email originated from outside the County systems. Please show caution when clicking links or opening attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Presentation St. Lucie County Commission by Hutchinson Island Committee May 12,2026 Please Note: Florida has very broad public records laws. Most written communications to or from County officials regarding County business are public records available to the public and media upon request. It is the policy of St. Lucie County that all County records shall be open for personal inspection, examination and / or copying. Your e-mail communications will be subject to public disclosure unless an exemption applies to the communication. If you received this email in error, please notify the sender by reply e-mail and deleteall materials from all computers. Page 33 of 73 Page 34 of 73 Page 35 of 73 Page 36 of 73 Page 37 of 73 Page 38 of 73 Page 39 of 73 Population 8,000 Business Licenses 193 Expected New Jobs 1,000 Page 40 of 73 Page 41 of 73 County 91% Fort Pierce 9% Page 42 of 73 Page 43 of 73 Page 44 of 73 Page 45 of 73 Page 46 of 73 Page 47 of 73 Page 48 of 73 Page 49 of 73 Page 50 of 73 Page 51 of 73 Page 52 of 73 Page 53 of 73 Page 54 of 73 Page 55 of 73 Page 56 of 73 Page 57 of 73 Page 58 of 73 Page 59 of 73 Page 60 of 73 County Presentation 1. Describe & define Hutchinson Island a. History b. Sections i. North ii. South iii. Martin c. Statistics i. Population 4900, 8,000 ii. 193 Business Licenses iii. Next 100 years 2. The Problem a. Loss of identity b. Ft. Pierce declines to participate c. Ft. Pierce 9% of Hutchinson Island County 91% d. New name versus new city 3. What we have done about it a. Formed committee-Hutchinson Island Committee b. Postal designation c. Census Designated Place d. Addressed signage e. Working with FDOT 4. Why we are here a. Invite input-participation-public private partnership-good news no money. b. Take the lead with FDOT i. I-95 Signage ii. Right of Way signage c. Welcome to Hutchinson Island i. Only entrance for 26 miles ii. Styles possible (several slides) iii. Locations possible (several slides iv. Two public private proposals 1. Small Electronic partnership – approval and prep for FDOT 2. Large Monument 3. Theme park- Pirates, Photo park, cannons, suggestions? 5. Close-Thank you. Questions? Page 61 of 73 County Presentation 1. Describe & define Hutchinson Island a. History b. Sections i. North ii. South iii. Martin c. Statistics i. Population 4900, 8,000 ii. 193 Business Licenses iii. Next 100 years 2. The Problem a. Loss of identity b. Ft. Pierce declines to participate c. Ft. Pierce 9% of Hutchinson Island County 91% d. New name versus new city 3. What we have done about it a. Formed committee-Hutchinson Island Committee b. Postal designation c. Census Designated Place d. Addressed signage e. Working with FDOT 4. Why we are here a. Invite input-participation-public private partnership-good news no money. b. Take the lead with FDOT i. I-95 Signage ii. Right of Way signage c. Welcome to Hutchinson Island i. Only entrance for 26 miles ii. Styles possible (several slides) iii. Locations possible (several slides iv. Two public private proposals 1. Small Electronic partnership – approval and prep for FDOT 2. Large Monument 3. Theme park- Pirates, Photo park, cannons, suggestions? 5. Close-Thank you. Questions? Page 62 of 73 Hutchinson Island Committee Hutchinson Island Gateway Proposal The Hutchinson Island Committee is organized to promote the unique lifestyle found on Hutchinson Island in Saint Lucie County. Our efforts include: • Local community public involvement • Tourism • Environmental issues • Opportunities for business and economic development • Events • Communications • National and international branding as a destination Our efforts are privately funded and directed by a seven member board of directors. We have already obtained approval for a designation as Hutchinson Island Florida 34949 from the United States Postal Service and a designation as “South Hutchinson Island” from the United States Census Bureau. We have discovered one thing, however, that Saint Lucie County can do that we as a private community organization cannot do. It is called a “Gateway or Community Welcome” feature located on Florida Department of Transportation right of way. Such features are common in Florida and usually feature a public private partnership between a local sponsoring organization and the government. We would like to propose such a partnership to mark the entrance to Hutchinson Island here in St. Lucie County. Our proposal is simple. If the County will help secure the FDOT location, we will pay for the sign and provide for its operation and maintenance. We will provide access for the county to promote events and locations such as the Museum, Backus House and notable features such as the County Beach Cam or Christmas Boat Parade. We have two proposed options, and several possible locations for your consideration. The good news… our proposal requires $0.00 in funding. Attached, please flnd, a discussion and materials related to our request. Thank you, The Hutchinson Island Committee Page 63 of 73 In many cases a city or county in Florida can place a welcome sign on Florida Department of Transportation right-of-way, but it almost always requires FDOT approval through a permit, maintenance agreement, or landscape/beautiflcation agreement. Here is how it generally works. FDOT Typically Allows Governmental “gateway” or “welcome” signs such as: • “Welcome to Fort Pierce” • “Entering St. Lucie County” • Historic district markers • Community branding monuments • Decorative landscaping walls • Public art integrated with a sign These are usually treated differently from commercial billboards because they serve a governmental/community identiflcation purpose. Common Requirements FDOT usually requires: 1. Permit or Agreement The local government normally enters into: • a Right-of-Way Use Permit, • Landscape Maintenance Agreement, • or Beautiflcation Agreement. The agreement states: • the city/county pays for installation, • the city/county maintains it, • FDOT can require removal if roadway improvements are needed. 2. Safety Clearances FDOT will review: Page 64 of 73 • sight distance, • crash history, • proximity to intersections, • clear zone setbacks, • drainage impacts, • utilities, • railroad visibility, • hurricane wind loads. A sign generally cannot obstruct driver visibility. 3. Size and Placement Restrictions The sign usually must: • stay outside recovery/clear zones, • avoid interfering with utilities, • avoid appearing like a traffic control device, • use breakaway supports if elevated. Low monument signs (like your Hutchinson Island concept) are often easier to approve than tall vertical structures. 4. Maintenance Responsibility FDOT almost never wants to maintain the feature itself. The city/county or sponsoring organization usually handles: • landscaping, • irrigation, • lighting, • repairs, • liability insurance. 5. Scenic Corridor / Beautification Coordination Page 65 of 73 Projects are often easier when tied to: • tourism promotion, • corridor beautiflcation, • economic development, • public art, • gateway identity programs. Your earlier Hutchinson Island entrance concept near: • U.S. Route 1, • Seaway Drive, • and the bridge corridor is actually the type of project FDOT frequently reviews under gateway beautiflcation programs. What Usually Gets Rejected FDOT becomes resistant if: • the sign appears commercial, • sponsors dominate the design, • it resembles billboard advertising, • it blocks future road widening, • or it creates distraction at a high-confiict intersection. Typical Process 1. Concept rendering 2. Survey/site plan 3. Preliminary FDOT district meeting 4. Engineering review 5. Maintenance agreement 6. Final permit approval Page 66 of 73 7. Construction approval/inspection For St. Lucie County you would normally work through FDOT District 4. A strategic approach is often: • local government sponsorship, • tourism/economic development justiflcation, • public-private funding partnership, • and professional renderings showing the project improves aesthetics rather than advertising. A well-designed tropical gateway monument with landscaping, lighting, and historical elements (such as a 1715 Fleet or nautical concept) has a much better chance than a conventional sign panel. Page 67 of 73 Key FDOT Rule Sections Here are the most important Florida statutes, administrative rules, and FDOT manual sections that support a city or county placing a gateway or welcome sign on FDOT right-of- way. 1. Rule 14-51, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) This is one of the primary FDOT rule chapters governing traffic control devices and community wayflnding signs on the State Highway System. The FDOT Traffic Engineering Manual speciflcally states: “All Community Wayflnding Guide Signs on the State Highway System must be in conformance with Rule 14-51, Part V, F.A.C.” It also states: “Local governments are responsible for designing, installing, and maintaining community wayflnding guide signs on the State Highway System.” This is important because FDOT already recognizes a framework allowing local- government-sponsored identiflcation and directional signage within state right-of-way. Important FDOT Manual Sections FDOT Traffic Engineering Manual (TEM) Section 2.36 — Community Wayfinding Guide Signs This is probably the strongest authority for your concept. Key provisions include: • FDOT and local governments developed statewide criteria for local identiflcation signage. • Local governments may design custom systems. • FDOT District Traffic Operations reviews and approves plans. • A pre-planning meeting with FDOT is recommended before design work begins. This section is directly relevant to: Page 68 of 73 • gateway monuments, • tourist entrance features, • district identity signs, • downtown branding, • scenic corridor identiflcation. Your proposed Hutchinson Island gateway concept flts this category very closely. FDOT TEM Section 2.33.7 — Sign Maintenance This section conflrms that FDOT commonly requires maintenance agreements for signs on state roads. The manual states: “Sponsors must have a contract with a private sign installation contractor or a maintenance agreement with local government for signs on the State Highway System.” This is why cities and counties typically: • maintain landscaping, • pay utilities, • maintain irrigation, • insure the structure, • and assume liability. Florida Statutes Affecting Signs on State Right-of-Way Section 479.11(8), Florida Statutes This statute generally prohibits private signs on state highway right-of-way. However, governmental identiflcation and approved wayflnding/gateway signs are commonly treated differently from commercial advertising or political signs. That distinction is critical: • Commercial billboard = usually prohibited Page 69 of 73 • Government gateway monument = often approvable Community Aesthetic Feature Agreements FDOT has entered agreements with municipalities for “community aesthetic features” including welcome signs and decorative gateway elements. One public example involved: Fort Myers Beach The agreement speciflcally referenced: • a “local identiflcation marker,” • “community aesthetic feature,” • and FDOT right-of-way approval. That is extremely useful precedent for a Hutchinson Island entrance feature. Beautification / Landscaping Agreements FDOT also routinely enters beautiflcation agreements with municipalities. Example: North Miami entered an agreement involving: • landscaping, • irrigation, • and maintenance within FDOT right-of-way. This matters because gateway monuments are often approved as part of: • corridor beautiflcation, • tourism enhancement, • or landscape improvements. Most Important Practical Reality The biggest factor is usually not whether FDOT can approve the sign. Page 70 of 73 It is whether: • FDOT District 4 Traffic Operations, • FDOT Right-of-Way, • and FDOT roadway engineers believe the project: • improves aesthetics, • does not reduce safety, • does not interfere with future widening, • and is fully maintained by the local sponsor. Concept near: • U.S. Route 1, • Seaway Drive, • and the Hutchinson Island bridge corridor, a low-proflle monument wall with landscaping and lighting is likely far more approvable than a tall vertical sign structure. A “tourism gateway / scenic corridor / community aesthetic feature” approach is probably the strongest positioning strategy. Page 71 of 73 Page 72 of 73 Page 73 of 73