Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005 ;- CONCERNED CITIZENS AND OFFICIA S) ~ ,¡¡/ ~ December 1, 2005 1; CORE COMMUNITY SERVICE REPORT: I The monthly figures for community service hours worked provided by CORE are listed below. 11/05 10/05 9/05 8/05 7/05 6/05 5/05 4/05 3/05 Ft Pierce Public Works 0 0 50 0 0 0 50 0 235 Ft. Pierce Police Dept. 0 50 43 0 0 0 165 72 264 Treasure Coast Food Bank 439 410 165 290 607 302 364 426 499 St. Lucie County Leisure Dept. 0 204 530 341 50 398 230 50 110 PSL Parks Dept. 608 231 522 516 462 609 972 658 290 PSL Public Works 0 0 0 0 0 55 100 143 50 PSL Police Dept. 25 0 24 111 40 0 50 0 0 St. Lucie County Schools 0 0 0 0 50 0 0 327 0 Salvation Army 50 70 0 40 4 50 121 84 38 Mustard Seed Thrift Shop 232 1,194 70 20 61 103 0 0 0 Goodwill Industries 281 249 339 646 533 614 749 489 534 Miscellaneous Agencies 2.033 1.509 1.883 2.778 1.849 2.074 3.058 2.922 1.649 3,668 3,917 3,626 4,742 3,656 4,205 4,925 3,389 5,419 COMMUNITY SERVICE TO FINES (pAID OUT): St. Lucie Sheriff's Office Port St. Lucie Police Dept. Florida Highway Patrol Fort Pierce Police Dept. St. Lucie County Incarceration Fee Nov. 2005 $2,550.00 $2,000.00 $-0- $2,800.00 $-0- Oct. 2005 $1,807.50 $3,250.00 $ -0- $ 900.00 $ -0- Miscellaneous Agencies include ARC, Boys & Girls Club, and religious affiliations. The workers are given the option of where they want to work their community service hours. PUBLIC SAFETY COUNCIL: Mark Godwin, Criminal Justice Coordinator, reported that the legislature will soon be in session and there are some areas that the Concerned Citizens group may be helpful. Probation violators are housed in SLC jail. A survey was done reflecting information on probation violators that are in custody. In a letter to the Florida Senate from Mr. Godwin, he mentions that approximately 33% of the inmate population in the SLC jail is for violation of probation offenders awaiting a hearing. These probation violators include "technical violations" along with new offenses. Many of the technicals are positive urinalysis results from cannabis. The average length of stay in SLC for offenders on violation status ranges from 60 to 90 days before their hearing occurs. Counties are paying this $50 per day burden. Due to a "no bond zero tolerance probation" our county jail population has escalated to record levels. Correspondence received from our Dept. of Corrections Circuit Administrator recommended than an internal DOC policy change would result in less "no bond" warrants being issued and the discretion would be left to the Judiciary. The current policy is that everything has to go through the judge. Legislatively this could be changed. Certain violations could be!l~ided by .~ the probation officer. The Florida Sheriff's Association has identified this as a major issue to bring before the session. The League of Counties is also bringing this issue to the legislature. The St. Lucie County Legislative Funding and Issues Requests were discussed. This included Community Budget Issue Requests and Legislative Issue Requests. Budget issue requests include county jails housing state prisoners. The GPS system is starting within the next few days for pre-trial offenders. The judge can order areas prohibited by individuals and alarms will go off notifying if they violate. Information on their prior record and convictions is reported to the judge to determine if they would be a candidate for the program. As the pre-trial program grows, the possibility of using GPS at the end of their jail time is envisioned. They can be home under lockdown with GP A. The county rolled out data integration lines which should reduce the paperwork lag at booking. When a person is booked into county jail information will ultimately generate to the Clerk's office and State Attorney's office. This was a recommendation made by the survey mentioned earlier. Officers have the discretion to issue a Notice to Appear instead of having the person go to jail for shoplifting, uttering forged instrument, etc. Fort Pierce had 35 in the month of October. The Booking Department can also issue the Notice to Appear. This is being tracked monthly. The growth in the community has created strains on the infrastructure. Money is needed on the front end. Identify early on in the juvenile and at risk population. Programs and funding make a difference such as the Drop Out Prevention program, etc., to give them hope. Mental Health inmates are 20% of the jail population. A 20 bed facility is to be funded for crisis individuals. A Crisis Unit will evaluate and get them on medication, etc. A Mental Health Court will keep track of the follow up of these individuals. A $100,000 grant is available for Gang Prevention. More and more kids are becoming involved in gangs. Peer pressure is being placed on kids to be in a gang. The Shared Services Executive Roundtable of St. Lucie County has been around for close to 20 years. It includes all agencies that deal with children's issues. Each agency helps fund the Roundtable out of their budget. The Executive Director for the Roundtable is Christine Epps. A Steering Committee brings the issues to the Roundtable. They were concerned about gangs in the schools. A Request for Proposal invited qualified agencies or individuals to submit a proposal for services culminating in the publication and implementation of a Comprehensive Community-wide Strategic Plan for Gang Prevention and Abatement specifically designed to meet the needs of St. Lucie County. The objectives of the project are (1) completion of a thorough problem assessment and analysis, (2) development of a comprehensive strategic plan to address the problem, and (3) implementation of the plan. The Rocket docket was put together by Chief Judge Robey for a new docketing system to move the cases through the process faster. 59 individuals have gone into that process. The Public Safety Coordinator Council will be held December 29. The 17 member council will discuss issues including the county corrections system. .¡-c-: COURT ISSUES: We need information systems to share information between law enforcement, judges, Clerk of Court, etc. It should be statewide for everyone to plug into. This wiD make the court system operate more efficiently. Software programs to communicate with all agencies are needed and should be state funded. CORE: Community service hours are decreasing. Compared to a year ago, they are down 2,000 cases. Arrests are being made but offenders are not being placed on probation. The numbers for October and November were also affected by the hurricane. Funds are down for what would normally go to the Clerk's office. CORE budget is down as a result. Case loans have been shifted. One officer has been moved out of Fort Pierce. Nationally some categories of crime have gone down. The number of fIlings by the State Attorney's office will be checked. It was mentioned that the Floridacourts.org web site also has statistics on state filings. NEXT MEETING: The next Concerned Citizens meeting will be held on Thursdav. January 5. 2005, at 12:00 Noon at the St. Lucie County Courthouse in Fort Pierce. Lunch will be provided. /Is CONCERNED CITIZENS AND OFFICIALS JULY 7, 2005 J /). H /tf' 1-f/1i)) CORE COMMUNITY SERVICE REPORT: The June CORE numbers were not available for this meeting. The monthly figures for community service hours worked provided by CORE are listed below. 5/05 4/05 3/05 2/05 12/04 11/04 10/04 9/04 5/04 Ft Pierce Public Works 0 50 0 235 100 0 116 52 0 Ft. Pierce Police Dept. 165 72 264 150 110 0 68 0 100 Treasure Coast Food Bank 364 426 499 472 564 320 741 322 610 St. Lucie County Leisure Dept. 230 50 110 100 445 100 0 0 240 PSL Parks Dept. 972 658 290 1,001 652 907 790 250 1,283 PSL Public Works 100 143 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 PSL Police Dept. 50 0 0 50 0 0 0 19 0 St. Lucie County Schools 0 327 0 0 175 90 0 0 29 Salvation Army 121 84 38 67 97 71 221 104 153 Mustard Seed Thrift Shop 0 0 0 202 0 90 0 8 Goodwill Industries 749 489 534 589 205 795 264 205 Miscellaneous Agencies 3.058 2.922 1.649 2.810 2.599 3.098 3.008 1.498 3.306 5,859 4,925 3,389 5,419 5,533 4,791 5,829 2,509 5,986 Miscellaneous Agencies include ARC, Boys & Girls Club, and religious affiliations. The workers are given the option of where they want to work their community service hours. SLC SHERIFFS OFFICE: The SLC jail population today is 1,203. Over the 4th of July weekend it was 1,207. The average weekly population has been in the 1190's for some time now. The jail was built to house 756 inmates. With the added bunks (no toilets/no showers) the capacity was increased to 969. Staff is in place to open one of the new pods which will house another 256 inmates. However, the Commissioners are now questioning whether to open it. Programs to reduce jail population were recommended by a recent outside study but the programs won't be put into place for 12-18 months. The Sheriff's Office has received 26 letters of intent to sue over jail overcrowding. They noted lack of toilets, showers, space, and general overcrowded conditions. The Commissioners need to hear concerns over the $2.5 Million Sheriff Department budget cut. With the huge growth in the area, it was a total surprise. The national average is 2.5 deputies per 1,000 residents. St. Lucie County has 1.79 deputies per 1,000. The budget requested funds for 2 deputies per 1,000. The Sheriff has an obligation to respond countywide. Last year there were 3,200 calls in Fort Pierce to assist the city. So far this year there have been 2,500 calls in the incorporated city of Fort Pierce. The starting salary for deputies in Martin County is $39,000. In St. Lucie County it will be $34.1 MiDion if they get the raise. Indian River County is also higher than SLC. We will continue to lose our people to other agencies. Deputies live on special details and overtime. The Indian River jail is also very overcrowded and they are housing criminals at the fairgrounds. A 250 bed pod is under construction and cost what our 2 pods cost. They are adding 70 deputies per pod. ~ iUL 5 2005 Another meeting with the Commissioners will be held within the next 10 days. When the meeting is scheduled, the Concerned Citizens committee members will be notified so that you can give your support. Final budget approval is the second week of September. Expansion of parameters for SLC sex offenders is being requested. Parameters have been extended in other Florida areas and if we don't change ours the offenders will want to relocate here. Given the opportunity, they will re-offend. Detectives troll the internet to find predators and locate a couple each week. Stiff federal charges with minimum mandatory sentences are imposed. Cases are prosecuted where the longest sentences can be given. It is a third degree felony if an offender does not register his address. There is zero tolerance with registering. There are 329 registered sex offenders in SLC including 19 sexual predators. Reserve Deputies are used for house checks. Florida is an active jurisdiction that notifies you if one moves into the your neighborhood including pictures and addresses. Two full time investigators monitor this. A suggestion was made to use the media to make people aware of everything the county is doing re this serious issue. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: The One Stop Centers located in Port St. Lucie and Indiantown are scheduled to close in December. Their budget was cut 14%. FEDERAL COURTHOUSE: There is currently a moratorium on federal buildings. The Federal Courthouse in Fort Pierce is now scheduled for construction in 2007. COURT ISSUES: One of the new circuit judge positions in St. Lucie County will help Judge Cox with family assignments. Judge Cox currently has over 8,000 cases. One new circuit judge position will spend half of the time in SLC helping Judge Bryan and the other half in Okeechobee. One of the new circuit judges will go to Martin County to help with the criminal case load there. The new county judge will spend half of the time doing civil county at SLW Annex with Judge Walsh and half doing criminal. The application period for county judges has closed. The deadline for circuit is on the 12th. The judges will be contacted for their input on the applicants peñormance in court, how they act professionally, etc. Recommendations will then be sent to Tallahassee. Martin county will get 1 county judge. Indian River did not get one. Judge Roby intends to do an administrative order for pretrial release programs to serve as a model for other counties. Drug Court continues to do well and has been expanded to juvenile court. The program is very effective. NEXT MEETING: The next Concerned Citizens meeting will be held on Thursdav. AU2ust 4. 2005, at 12:00 Noon at the St. Lucie County Courthouse in Fort Pierce. Lunch will be provided. /Is " October 6, 2005 b IV 1 CORE COMMUNITY SERVICE REPORT: The monthly figures for community service hours worked provided by CORE are listed below. 9/05 8/05 7/05 6/05 5/05 4/05 3/05 2/05 12/04 Ft Pierce Public Works 50 0 0 0 50 0 235 100 Ft. Pierce Police Dept. 43 0 0 0 165 72 264 150 110 Treasure Coast Food Bank 165 290 607 302 364 426 499 472 564 St. Lucie County Leisure Dept. 530 341 50 398 230 50 110 100 445 PSL Parks Dept. 522 516 462 609 972 658 290 1,001 652 PSL Public Works 0 0 0 55 100 143 50 0 0 PSL Police Dept. 24 111 40 0 50 0 0 50 0 St. Lucie County Schools 0 0 50 0 0 327 0 0 175 Salvation Army 0 40 4 50 121 84 38 67 97 Mustard Seed Thrift Shop 70 20 61 103 0 0 0 202 0 Goodwill Industries 339 646 533 614 749 489 534 589 205 Miscellaneous Agencies 1.883 2.778 1.849 2.074 3.058 2.922 1.649 2.810 2.599 3,626 4,742 3,656 4,205 4,925 3,389 5,419 5,533 4,791 COMMUNITY SERVICE TO FINES (pAID OUT): AU2.2005 Sent. 2005 St. Lucie Sheriff's Office $2,830.00 $2,150.00 Port St. Lucie Police Dept. $5,840.00 $3,500.00 Florida Highway Patrol $-0- $ 500.00 Fort Pierce Police Dept. $4,700.00 $1,901.50 St. Lucie County Incarceration Fee $ -0- $-0- Miscellaneous Agencies include ARC, Boys & Girls Club, and religious affiliations. The workers are given the option of where they want to work their community service hours. COURT ISSUES: The state legislature has funded the judges but not the staff needed to support the judges, i.e., bailiffs, court clerks, etc. The cost of one support person is $36,000 in salary and benefits. The cap on the Clerk's budget is set by the state. Two new judges have been appointed - Judge Kathy Nelson and Judge Barbara Bronis. It is anticipated that Judge Nelson will be the Misdemeanor judge and Judge Bronis will be the Family Court judge. The cases for the Misdemeanor judge will be split 20/40/40 with 20% for case names beginning with letters A-C, 40% for D-Me, and 40% for the remaining names. The new Clerk's building should be underway in January with completion anticipated in 2007. The Chief Judge appears at each Legislation Delegation meeting. The judiciary is allowed to lobby anything that will improve the way the system operates. , 9 ')";1'" [JUJ SLC SHERIFFS OFFICE: Jail population today is 1,265 and was as high as 1,293 a few weeks ago. Jail capacity is 794. The final walk-through of the new building was done today. The area will now be secured and sanitized. The inmates will move in October 17. The county is only funding the opening of one of the two pods built. The Hometown News did an excellent article regarding the overcrowding situation at the jail. Sheriff Mascara and Chief Deputy Garry Wilson have been speaking at various community groups to get the word out. The population continues to go up while programs are being worked on. The new judges need court space and support staff. Sr. Judges and Magistrates require deputies. The County Commission would not support the additional personnel. CITY OF PORT ST. LUCIE: The population of Port St. Lucie is now over 135,000 with an annual increase of 12,000 expected for the next several years. Developers have invested too much money in the ground to let it sit there. Affordable housing is a problem right now. It is forcing a lot of people out of the market. The 3% cap on raising assessed value is a disaster waiting to happen. Governments will not be able to keep pace with the increasing costs of providing services, etc., without increasing the millage rate. Commercial property and renters are taking the brunt of it. Rents are getting higher and higher. They are caught in a bind. A plan is needed for people to be able to afford to live here. ST. LUCIE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD: The Bond Referendum will be voted on October 18 for the ~ penny tax. Voter turnout will be key. There are 36,100 students in St. Lucie county schools today with 70,000 students anticipated in less than 15 years. A new high school and new K-8 is in the process of being opened. Fort Pierce Central High needs to be rebuilt. A three county economic development plan is being worked on to brand this area as the Research Coast. PUBLIC SAFETY COUNCIL: Mark Godwin, Criminal Justice Coordinator, reported that the Public Safety Coordinating Council is identifying bottlenecks contributing to inmate overcrowding. · Efficiencies are being looked at, i.e. inmates waiting due to paperwork to be sentenced to state prison, etc. · The Commission met and selected a vendor for the GPS electronic handcuffs which would permit 24n house arrest. The County is in the process of contracting for $18 per day per inmate for the GPS electronic handcuffs (compared to 545 per day at the jail). · The Rocket Docket should reduce the violation of probation population by at least a couple hundred to help alleviate the overcrowding. It was noted that approximately 1/3 of the jail inmates are probation violators. · People that violate state probation are staying at the county jail for free. This was the #1 issue this year at the Jail Administration conference. . Approval by the County Commission is being requested for fiber optic lines to be installed for the Data Exchange Program to automatically transmit from the Sheriff's Department Booking and Receiving area to the State Attorney to the Clerk. Case numbers will .. automatically be assigned. It is anticipated that two staff members could then be reassigned to other duties. . A mental health program is also in the works. · Mark will attend a national pre-trial conference in Houston. A program is available to provide the judges with more information for pre-trial release. The judge will be informed if the person is a long term resident, has had prior convictions, has a history of drug/alcohol problems, etc. The program will provide information to the court to assist in making the right decision. . A couple hundred inmates who should be in substance abuse/dmg rehab/mental health facilities are now in jail. Some will do what they have to do to get into jail to get medical care, dental care, and "3 hots and a cot." STATE ATTORNEY OFFICE: Jason Berger wrote some new legislation for Rep. Gayle Harrell for harsher Dill sentences. We presently have minimum sentences for first, second, and third offenses within 10 years. The new legislation is for the fourth or subsequent Dill offenses to have minimum mandatory sentences between 1-2 years incarceration. NEXT MEETING: The next Concerned Citizens meeting will be held on Thursdav. November 3. 2005, at 12:00 Noon at the St. Lucie County Courthouse in Fort Pierce. Lunch will be provided. /Is ~ ,. CONCERNED CITIZENS AND OFFICIAL~ ~j September I, 2005 r' ~ N CORE COMMUNITY SERVICE REPORT: The monthly figures for community service hours worked provided by CORE are listed below. The August 2005 figures were not available at the time of the meeting. 7/05 6/05 5/05 4/05 3/05 2/05 12/04 11/04 ~ Ft Pierce Public Works 0 0 0 50 0 235 100 0 116 Ft. Pierce Police Dept. 0 0 165 72 264 150 110 0 68 Treasure Coast Food Bank 607 302 364 426 499 472 564 320 741 St. Lucie County Leisure Dept. 50 398 230 50 110 100 445 100 0 PSL Parks Dept. 462 609 972 658 290 1,001 652 907 790 PSL Public Works 0 55 100 143 50 0 0 0 0 PSL Police Dept. 40 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 0 St. Lucie County Schools 50 0 0 327 0 0 175 90 0 Salvation Army 4 50 121 84 38 67 97 71 221 Mustard Seed Thrift Shop 61 103 0 0 0 202 0 90 0 Goodwill Industries 533 614 749 489 534 589 205 795 264 Miscellaneous Agencies 1.849 2.074 3.058 2.922 1.649 2.810 2.599 3.098 3.008 3,656 4,205 4,925 3,389 5,419 5,533 4,791 5,829 2,509 MisceUaneous Agencies include ARC, Boys & Girls Club, and religious atT"diations. The workers are given the option of where they want to work their community service hours. ST. LUCm COUNTY: The interview process is near completion for the new county and circuit judge positions scheduled to start in November. The new circuit judge will be in Family Court. The county judge will be in Small Claims at St. Lucie West for 2 weeks and then at SLC Courthouse for 2 weeks handling misdemeanors. Another courtroom is being added at St. Lucie West. Additional possible courtroom space at the courthouse is being discussed. Judge Barnes and Judge Yacucci currently split the misdemeanor case load 50/50. It is anticipated that with the additional judge, they both will handle 40% each and the new judge will handle the other 20%. Assignment of cases for the 40/40/20 split will be determined. Senior Judges have come in to assist on felony cases and circuit civil. Senior Judges are retired judges which include Judges Fennelly, Trowbridge, Cianca, and Midelis. Bids are being received for the new 5 floor Clerk's building with 57,000 sq. ft. A 2007 completion date is anticipated. It will be located north of the existing courthouse behind the Public Defenders office. The City will redo the parking lot by the church and reconfigure it to pickup 15 parking spots. Two more Doors will be added on the parking garage. The parking garage will be closed while it is being renovated. Parking is expected to be a real problem during the renova~ion.ltÞtt1.~rage now has 190 parking spots. The city has a trolley system and will try to coorfliWat~ ~ witìí the ~ .- construction process. The Community Center on Indian River Drive and the piece of property across the street may be used. The county has also entered into an agreement to convert a piece of property south of the Willie Gary building into a parking area. Other interim alternatives are also being discussed. Having two days for Traffic Court is working out well. Previously Traffic Court was held only on Friday afternoons and it ran late constantly. Now Traffic Court is also being held in PSL on Tuesday mornings. The new fiscal year starts October 1. Seven new employees wiD be added on the court side to support the new judges (2 in Small Claims, 2 in County Court, 2 in Family Court and 1 Court Clerk in Juvenile. SLC SHERIFFS OFFICE: Jail population today is 1,247 (500+ over capacity). The first pod is scheduled to come on line mid-September. The County Commission doesn't see the need to fund the deputies necessary to staff pod 2. However, the jail will already be 200 over capacity when pod 1 opens. There are 13 different cases pending related to jail overcrowding. Four have case numbers and will come up in federal court. An inquiry was received from a company in Broward that has a history of suing government agencies. The pre-trial service program with electronic monitoring was discussed. Alachua county has had a similar program since 1976. Individuals going before the judge for first appearance are identified and verification of education, length of Florida residency, etc. is determined. National, state, and local records are checked prior to the first appearance. The judge will decide if OK to put in the pre-trial program at the minimum, medium or maximum level. 300 individuals are in the program in Alachua county and kept out of jail. The program maintains the integrity of the court plus keeps public safety. Individuals have been identified for other problems such as drugs, alcohol, etc., so that they can receive help. Approval for this program is needed by the Board of County Commissioners. There is not enough money in the budget to cover bailiffs for new judges. Since 1994 no new law enforcement deputies have been added. The County Commission said there is no growth and additional deputies are not needed. However, the same growth numbers were used to approve their 70 new employees. The jail population continues to climb every month by 10 inmates. The jail was expanded in 1994 when the population in St. Lucie county was 100,000. Now population is at 230,000. Port St. Lucie Police Department has been approved for 25 new officers and 50 for Firefighters. Yet the SLCSO was told they don't need the positions. The national average is 2.5 officers per 1,000 people. With all 3 agencies in SLC we are about 1.7%. This wiD become a real problem going forward. It was agreed that it would be helpful for the Commissioners to hear from outside sources to discuss concerns. SLCSO has adopted the Marion county sheriff's office in Biloxi, Mississippi. A tractor trailer with supplies will leave this weekend to assist that agency. Other agencies are also being identified. , . ST. LUCIE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD: Plans are being made to take children into the school system from the Gulf Coast. A workshop will be held on September 10 from 9-3 for the student assignment process which will be retooled for next year. There are very few teacher openings now. New teachers will be added as population grows. 4,000 additional students are expected this year. The budget is locked in with the state for the price per gallon for gas for the year. PUBLIC SAFETY COUNCIL: Mark Godwin, Public Safety Council Coordinator, reported that the CEO of New Horizons has indicated that 21 % of jail inmates have mental health issues. A program to identify issues early on for jail diversion for the mentally ill would save time, money, and resources. They would be taken to a stabilization unit at New Horizons or place other than jail. Treatment could be given to calm and resolve. Three vendors are coming in for GPS. Computer integration is needed with information to be reentered and downloaded between agencies. A survey is due next week for data tracking. The state has taken a zero tolerance position for probation violations. There are 139 in jail now on technical violations. FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPT. The FPPD is outgrowing their present facility. Ways to building for Category 5 preparedness are being discussed. Five positions have been approved in the Budget. These positions were lost a few years ago but now have them back. People and supplies are being put together to help victims of Katrina. There will be waves of people going. NEXT MEETING: The next Concerned Citizens meeting will be held on Thursdav. October 6. 2005, at 12:00 Noon at the St. Lucie County Courthouse in Fort Pierce. Lunch will be provided. /Is I > - , CONCERNED CITIZENS AND OFFICIALS JI' AUGUST 4, 2005 ~ CORE COMMUNITY SERVICE REPORT: The monthly figures for community service hours worked provided by CORE are listed below. 7/05 ~ 5/05 ~ ~ ~ 12/04 11/04 10/04 -- Ft Pierce Public Works 0 0 0 50 0 235 100 0 116 Ft. Pierce Police Dept. 0 0 165 72 264 150 110 0 68 Treasure Coast Food Bank 607 302 364 426 499 472 564 320 741 St. Lucie County Leisure Dept. 50 398 230 50 110 100 445 100 0 PSL Parks Dept. 462 609 972 658 290 1,001 652 907 790 PSL Public Works 0 55 100 143 50 0 0 0 0 PSL Police Dept. 40 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 0 St. Lucie County Schools 50 0 0 327 0 0 175 90 0 Salvation Army 4 50 121 84 38 67 97 71 221 Mustard Seed Thrift Shop 61 103 0 0 0 202 0 90 0 Goodwill Industries 533 614 749 489 534 589 205 795 264 Miscellaneous Agencies 1.849 2.074 3.058 2.922 1.649 2.810 2.599 3.098 3.008 3,656 4,205 4,925 3,389 5,419 5,533 4,791 5,829 2,509 Miscellaneous Agencies include ARC, Boys & Girls Club, and religious atrdiations. The workers are given the option of where they want to work their community service hours. COMMUNITY SERVICE TO FINES (PAID OUT): Julv 2005 June 2005 St. Lucie County Sheriffs Office $6,010.00 $5,416.25 Port St. Lucie Police Department $2,000.00 $4,897.50 Florida Highway Patrol $ -0- $ 515.00 Fort Pierce Police Department $2,000.00 $1,597.50 St. Lucie County Incarceration Fee $ -0- $-0- ST. LUCIE COUNTY: A discussion was held regarding remodeling of the old courthouse building damaged in the storms. It is anticipated this project will start in October. Two floors will be added to the parking garage. A discussion was also held re the serious damage to the schools. $120 Million has already been spent on repairs from the hurricanes. Traffic court has been split into two days to help with the scheduling. Six names have been sent to Tallahassee for the two circuit court judges to be appointed. SLC SHERIFFS OFFICE: Jail population today is 1,184 (400 over capacity). According to a study done by the Fire Marshall, maximum jail capacity is 794. Two new jail pods are ready. One 256 bed pod is available by September 1. A smaller pod would be ready by October 1. However, the County Commissions did not support the funding for additional law enforcement to man the pods. The Sheriff's budget asked for 25 more law enforcement officers but $2.5 Million was cut from the ~-= b~get. There are currently 26 pending jail overcrowding law suits. The number of inmates in the jail has been increasing approximately 10 per month. The state average is 4.3 inmates per officer. In St. Lucie County it is 5.9 inmates per officer. ST. LUCIE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD: There are 3,900 more students than last year. Of the 400 new teachers needed for this school year, they are running 40 short. Fingerprinting of a total of 11,600 school workers is required this year including 4,000 employees; 6,000 volunteers; 1,600 sub-contractors. Cost to fingerprint each person is $81. PORT ST. LUCIE POLICE DEPARTMENT: Major Gary Robinson attended this meeting for the Port St. Lucie Police Department. It was reported that Port St. Lucie is the safest city in Florida with over 75,000 population and is also the fastest growing. NEXT MEETING: The next Concerned Citizens meeting will be held on Thursdav. SeDtember 1. 2005, at 12:00 Noon at the St. Lucie County Courthouse in Fort Pierce. Lunch will be provided. /Is ~,~;~;0)~-- :!:)\j:JO I' .- r- \r;: I· , Ii \ \ \ 9}Ul' £ 3n\i I.. ~ j f~\V~ TO: Douglas Anderson County Administrator COPY: Commissioner Doug Coward Commissioner Chris Craft Commissioner Joe Smith Commissioner Frannie Hutchinson Commissioner Paula Lewis FROM: Carl Holeva ~ Human Resources Director DATE: September 23,2005 SUBJECT: CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR AUGUST 2005 Attached for your information is a copy of the August 2005 Consumer Price Index recently released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics Southeastern Regional Office. ~ ~\'~1 \~ \,....~ <;'11 .~ I,"~ ..- (,j \1 \'1,' r .' \..' .." _\'~l~"" CHImp Attachment SE?i;t\3 ~-------- cG þl" ._-'-~~. ,,- " News For Release: BUREAU OF l,ABOR STATISTICS 8:30 A.M., ET, Thursday, SOUTHEASTERN REGIONAl OFF , September 15, 2005 A TlANT A. GEORGIA TELEPHONE: 404-331-3415 Request Document 9105 CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (1982-84=100) August 2005 All urban consumers W Percent Percent Group change change 04 Jul05 Index 05 05 Index U.S. City Average All items (1982·84=100) 196.4 3.6 0.5 192.1 3.8 0.6 All items (1967=100) 588.2 572.3 Food and beverages 191.3 2.1 0.0 190.6 2.0 0.0 Housing 196.9 3.0 0.2 192.3 3.1 0.2 Sheltar 225.6 2.4 0.0 218.5 2.4 0.1 Rent of primary rasldence 218.0 2.9 0_2 217.1 2.9 0.2 Apparel 115.8 -0.6 1.8 115.5 -0.3 1.5 Transportation 177.7 9.1 1.9 177.1 9.7 2.1 MedIcal cara 323.9 3.9 -0.1 323.5 4_0 -0.1 R8CI'8IIUon 1/ 109.3 0.7 0.2 106.8 0_7 0.3 Education & communication 1/ 113.7 1.8 0.7 111.1 1.1 U Other and services 314.4 2.9 0.1 323.6 3.2 0.2 South All items (1982-84=100) 189.4 3.7 0.5 186.6 4.0 0_6 All items (Dee 1977=100) 307.2 302.3 Food and beverages 189.1 0.3 188.0 0.3 Housing 180.9 0.1 179.0 0.2 Apparel 123.6 -1.0 124.6 ·1.2 Transportation 176.2 2.3 174.9 2.6 MedIcal care 312.2 -0.1 313.6 -0.1 RllCRllltion 1/ 109.7 -0.1 107.2 -0.2 Education & communication 1/ 110.8 0.8 107.8 0.5 Other s and services 299.5 0.1 304.7 0.1 . Index Index Atlanta All Items (1982-84=100) 189.5 2.9 -0.1 188.3 3.2 0.4 All Items (1967=100 571.6 569.5 Food end beverages 197.7 1.0 -0.1 194.9 0.7 -0.2 Housing 185.9 1.5 -1.1 183.4 1.6 -0.4 Apparel 108.9 -4.8 1.2 112_9 -6.9 2.8 Transportation 169.1 10.6 3.4 170_0 11.9 4.1 Medical care 322.6 1.4 -4.4 317.3 1.5 -4.7 Recreation 1/ 112.5 5.8 1.6 107.2 5.5 1.6 Education & communication 1/ 103.6 0.5 0.2 101.7 0.8 0.0 Other oods and services 287.9 2.1 0.0 314.6 2.6 0.3 Mleml AlIIIems (1982-84=100) 195.6 5_7 1.6 193.8 6.0 1.6 All Items (Nov 1977=100) 315.3 314.9 Food and beverages 200.2 3.0 0.0 199.2 2.8 0.2 Housing 191.2 6.5 1.4 190.1 6.6 1.4 Apparel 14M 13_2 5.1 155.6 10.7 5.0 Transportation 183.9 10.2 4.3 181.8 10.4 4.4 Medical cara 310.6 5.1 0.5 313.5 5.0 0.4 Recreation 1/ 111.3 1.4 -1.1 109_2 1.4 -1.2 Education & communication 1/ 108_9 -0.7 1.1 111.5 1.5 1.0 Other goods and services 247.6 -0.6 -0_5 239_2 -0.1 -0.5 1/ Indexes on a December 1977=100 base DaI8 not available Fax-on-demand number is 404-331-3403. Intemet address: hllD:/lwww.bls.iov/r04/home.htm ·Ib' .db «),\:',l 'I íI\:(, CIVIL I\:CINffR\ "1 !RVIYIJR" ,\ ,\1,\I'I'LR5 CIVil f\CRICULTURAL \NAHR RESOURCES VV\TEf< ,\ \VASTEW/\TEr\ TRANSPORTATION SUfNFYINC & M;\PPINC CIS "Paltncr" tor Results Value IJY rJcc;ign' j,:;'îO S.VV. Corporate Pkwy. pzdll1 City. f L .J4990 i 7721 211b-3ß8 \ Fd\: i772.: 2116,YI2::; www.lbfh.com ~ May 17,2005 LBFH File No. 89-0605 Mr. Douglas Anderson, Administrator St. Lucie County 2300 Virginia A venue Fort Pierce, Florida 34982-5652 Re: ...." )1 / p" CJ I) j£ "yO ~ c· Vki Ii ~11p1 Capron Trail Community Development District Special District Public Facilities Report Annual Update Dear Mr. Anderson: On behalf of the Capron Trail Community Development District, I submit this letter report to you according to the provisions of Section 189.415, Florida Statutes, which requires each independent special district to submit an annual update of its Public Facilities Report. The public facilities owned and operated by the District have not been significantly modified in the past year and no major improvements have been constructed or installed. Please call me at 772-286-3883 if you have any questions. Best Regards, iCL- :), 'M~"'_O' Thomas F. McGowan, P.E District Engineer, Capron Trail Community Development District Florida Registïation No. 44742 FBPE & BPR #959 TFM/tm cc: Board of Supervisors Dan Harrell George Keller \\pc\Ernployee\torn-rn\temp\CTCDD\Facilities Reports\2005 Facilities Report,doc I: ~ ,- ~ ~ :'1 1..1 Mt~Y 1 t; I' ..J' ~' I L CO. ADMiN. Q¡;:FICE '-' t 'wi CONCERNED CITIZENS AND OFFICIALS ( MAY 5, 2005 J)¡Ø; ~ if CORE COMMUNTIY SERVICE REPORT: f Š )} The monthly figures for community service hours worked provided by CORE are listed below. Ft Pierce Public Works Ft. Pierce Police Dept. Treasure Coast Food Bank St. Lucie County Leisure Dept. PSL Parks Dept. PSL Public Works PSL Police Dept. St. Lucie County Schools Salvation Army Mustard Seed Thrift Shop Goodwill Industries Miscellaneous Agencies 4/05 50 72 426 50 658 143 o 327 84 o 193 2.922 4,925 ~ o 264 499 110 290 50 o o 38 o 489 1.649 3,389 2/05 235 150 472 100 1,001 o 50 o 67 o 534 2.810 5,419 12/04 11/04 10/04 9104 --- - --- - 100 0 116 52 110 0 68 0 564 320 741 322 445 100 0 0 652 907 790 250 000 0 o 0 0 19 175 90 0 0 97 71 221 104 202 0 90 0 589 205 795 264 2.599 3.098 3.008 1.498 5,533 4,791 5,829 2,509 5/04 o 100 610 240 1,283 o o 29 153 8 205 3.306 5,986 4/04 o o 763 194 961 50 7 25 163 o 536 3.240 5,939 Miscellaneous Agencies include ARC, Boys & Girls Club, and religious affiliations. The workers are given the option of where they want to work their community service hours. The Food Bank and Parks Department count on having this resource. They also maintain the field for spring training and there is a huge demand for workers at the land rdl. A Judgment of Lien is filed against people who do not pay their assessed fines and court costs. This affects their credit and prevents them from buying a car, etc., so eventually there is a collection. With Article 5 Revision 7, fines are being distributed differently. Meetings will be held with the judges, the Clerks office, etc., to discuss further. COMMUNITY SERVICE TO FINES (pAID OUT): Aoril 2005 $6,706.50 $8,666.25 $4,311.50 $ -0- $ -0- St. Lucie Sheriff's Office Port St. Lucie Police Dept. Fort Pierce Police Dept. Florida Highway Patrol St. Lucie County Incarceration Fee FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPT.: A leadership course was attended in Tampa where the St. Lucie County DVD re the hurricanes was presented. They were very impressed with the quality and content of the DVD. They discussed what occurred with gearing up for the hurricanes, during the hurricanes, after the hurricanes, etc. The meeting was attended by ChiefS and Sheriffs throughout:-~~~l~cis ~,::::-1 ; ¡ ~': : ' -, I,' .. ! ~ 1 "\ \ \ 2 :1 '-' ..."" , Dvn will also be presented by Doug Anderson when he makes a presentation at the Governor's hurricane conference coming up. PORT ST. LUCIE POLICE DEPT. The 2005 Law Enforcement Memorial Service will be held May 9 at 6:30 p.m. at Morningside Church in Port St. Lucie. Fort Pierce Police Dept., Port St. Lucie Police Dept., and St. Lucie County Sheriffs office will participate. A rose will be presented to survivors. On May 11 the Port St. Lucie Police Dept. will celebrate the agency's 25th anniversary and grand opening of the new police station on Rosser Blvd. to better serve the western part of Port St. Lucie. On Friday, May 13 the memorial service will be held in front of the Port St. Lucie Police Station at 8:00 a.m. On May 14 the Blue Knights Memorial Ride will be held from Jupiter to Okeechobee. They will make a stop at each policy agency. DEPT. OF CORRECTIONS: The 100th anniversary of the St. Lucie County Sheriffs office will be celebrated this year. The jail population today is 1,164. The daily booking has been going up with an average of 50 coming in every day. Last year it was in the 40's. This is a symptom of population growth. Major Tighe distributed a press release re a show which will air on PBS May 10 at 9:00 p.m. titled "The New Asylums." The program goes inside Ohio's state prison system to explore the topic of mental health behind bars. Fewer than 55,000 Americans currently receive treatment in psychiatric hospitals but nearly 500,000 mentally ill men and women are serving time in U.S. jails and prison. At the St. Lucie county jail 25% of the population is on psychotropic meds. It is a trend of growth and will only get worse. There are no social services in the community to do anything else but put them in jail. Corrections officers now have the responsibility of not only securing inmates but also working with mental health staff to identify and manage disturbed prisoners. They are kept separate in the jail until they can be treated and put into the regular population for eventual release. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL: The One Stop Career Center in Port St. Lucie and Indiantown will be closing probably in December. The Vero Beach One Stop reopened last month. The mobile unit and kiosks will be used in Port St. Lucie and Indiantown. A Job Fair was held with IRCC which was attended by 700 job seekers and 85 employers. 100 were placed. A Jobs Jamboree is planned May 24 in the Board office on U.S. 1 for jobs earning $28,000+ per year. The unemployment rate is now 3%. Employers cannot find the people they want. Florida is the 11th state to raise the minimum wage. "" '-' They are working with the Sheriff's Department for job training with costs to be split with the employer. BOYS & GIRLS CLUB: Norm Penner, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club, was unable to attend this meeting but informed Dr. Dannahower that, although funding for the successful diversion program had been cut off, receipt of a special grant for $265,000 is anticipated which will enable the Boys & Girls club to continue this program. FEDERAL COURTHOUSE: The construction drawing for the new federal courthouse is 80% complete. The money is not in hand yet. ST. LUCIE COUNTY: Doug Anderson distributed the St. Lucie County 2004 Annual Report. A copy of the Annual Report was sent to every county in the state of Florida. Many compliments have been received. A huge celebration will be held at the Fairgrounds on July 2 for St. Lucie County's 100th anniversary. Bids have been received on the Clerk of the Court building. Construction costs are $4 Million over budget (up 20-30%). A map to keep track of new housing developments in the county is being developed. There were 78,000 units approved or on the drawing board last month. The new map is already up 2,000 units. When the baby boomers retire here, it will create another wave. Weare looking at doubling the population in ten years or less. The infrastructure for roads, utilities etc., needs to be planned for. Are out to bid on widening 25th Street from Midway to Edwards. Meetings are being held to discuss possible solutions for 25th Street to U.S. 1 going through White City. The Sheriff's budget is in. A meeting is scheduled to discuss the increase and new deputies requested. NEXT MEETING: The next Concerned Citizens meeting will be held on Thursdav. June 2. 2005, at 12:00 Noon at the St. Lucie County Courthouse in Fort Pierce. Lunch will be provided. The Committee discussed taking a summer recess. It was decided to not have meetings during July, August, and September. /Is ~ ..., CONCERNED CITIZENS AND OFFICIALS A I . ( APRIL 7, 2005 r6/ ) CORE COMMUNITY SERVICE REPORT: The monthly figures for community service hours worked provided by CORE are listed below. 3/05 2/05 12/04 11/04 10/04 9/04 5/04 4/04 3/04 --~--------- '"" Ft Pierce Public Works Ft. Pierce Police Dept. Treasure Coast Food Bank St. Lucie County Leisure Dept. PSL Parks Dept. PSL Public Works PSL Police Dept. St. Lucie County Schools Salvation Army Mustard Seed Thrift Shop Goodwill Industries Miscellaneous Agencies o 264 499 110 290 50 o o 38 o 489 1.649 3,389 235 150 472 100 1,001 o 50 o 67 o 534 2.810 5,419 100 110 564 445 652 o o 175 97 202 589 2.599 5,533 o o 320 100 907 o o 90 71 o 205 3,098 4,791 116 68 741 o 790 o o o 221 90 795 3.008 5,829 52 o 322 o 250 o 19 o 104 o 264 1.498 2,509 o 100 610 240 1,283 o o 29 153 8 205 3.306 5,986 o o 763 194 961 50 7 25 163 o 536 3.240 5,939 100 51 781 150 527 59 o o 212 182 683 3.198 5,943 Miscellaneous Agencies include ARC, Boys & Girls Club, and religious atTiliations. The workers are given the option of where they want to work their community service hours. The Food Bank and Parks Department count on having this resource. They also maintain the field for spring training and there is a huge demand for workers at the land fill. A Judgment of Lien is filed against people who do not pay their assessed fines and court costs. This affects their credit and prevents them from buying a car, etc., so eventually there is a collection. CORE is seeing a drop in the misdemeanor numbers but may see then going back up since FEMA jobs have ended. The emergency grant ended March 31. A lot of cases are being handled by a "pay by" date. H the fine is not paid by that date or the time isn't extended, they go on probation. The Clerk's office is becoming a collecting agent. COMMUNITY SERVICE TO FINES (pAID OUT): March 2005 $4,229.75 $4,163.50 $ 500.00 $3,315.00 $ -0- St. Lucie Sheriff's Office Port St. Lucie Police Dept. Fort Pierce Police Dept. Florida Highway Patrol St. Lucie County Incarceration Fee h·,<'··!~I<-;-;"'"¿~ . ;"'¡ )['" '/1,; "¡ Y (1 6 ~ ¡ Lf' I cr'. "... I I_I, :1\; (jCr-¡"'E= I ---.---- ' " ~,' r v :J '-' 'wi ;= FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPT.: The Grand Opening for the Seniors vs. Crime program will be held today at the Courthouse Annex in Port St. Lucie. Volunteers help seniors with civil and criminal issues. Both the Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie Police Departments have liaisons involved. PORT ST. LUCIE POLICE DEPT.: The new Port St. Lucie Police Department substation is scheduled to open May 11 in the western part of town. ST. LUCIE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD: The funding stream for School Resource Officers has been decreasing over the last several years. Language is in the legislature for a funding stream to be divided among the county (25%), state (50%) and school system (25%) to keep the cost of officers in the same proportion. The proposal is on the docket for discussion. There is no backup plan if funds are not received for this year. The Youth Council was charged with choosing two organizations to distribute the $78,000 raised in·the school system for tsunami relief. 90 charitable organizations were rated and ranked. They are now taking on other projects and learning good advisory skills. The Youth Council program has been very successful. DEPT. OF CORRECTIONS: Jail population today is at 1,161 with an average of 1,150. 70% of inmates are felons. New construction is on schedule. When juveniles are brought to jail at Rock Road, the booking area has to be emptied out for that booking. The juvenile is then transported to BeU Avenue. there is no program for that juvenile. A pilot program is being discussed to set up booking at Bell Avenue. Programs needed to avoid going to Rock Road will be identified. The County has set aside funding and will discuss funding assistance opportunities with both cities. BOYS & GIRLS CLUB: Two additional facilities will be opening to accommodate a portion of the waiting list. The feasibility study has been received and a campaign will kick-off to build more facilities. A golf tournament is scheduled @ Tesoro to raise funds. It will be the only public opportunity to play on this course. 20 teams were targeted at 55,000 each. 19 have signed up mostly from outside the community. Truancy Court results indicates a 94% decrease in truancy in the elementary schools - outstanding! WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL: The Youth Summit will be held this Saturday, April 9, at mcc. Increased unemployment is anticipated due to the ending of the national emergency grant. '-' -..J ¡':--- The grand reopening of the One Stop office in Vero Beach will be held April 21. Closure of the Port St. Lucie and Indiantown locations is expected. Community kiosks, moving teams, etc., are being discussed for these areas. COURT ISSUES: Courthouse space issues continue to be discussed. On the House side, our legislative delegation agreed on a bill for 67 positions with St. Lucie County receiving the judicial positions certified. The problem is on the Senate side now. Under the Senate's version, St. Lucie County would get zero. Our three Senators should be contacted. It is the business community that has to relay that message. If we don't get any circuit judges in the next year, Judge Bryant will be pulled from civil and be assigned to family. Judge Cox has over 8,000 cases on her docket and needs help. Civil will take the hit which would affect foreclosures, litigation, probate cases to pass title, appeals of zoning decision will back up, etc. We have gone 2 years with no new judges across the entire state and none in this circuit in 4 years. We will be in a crisis situation unless we get additional judges. The legislature meets through the first week of May. ST. LUCIE COUNTY: Bids are being received for the new Clerk of the Courts building in downtown Fort Pierce. This is a $8 Million project. Damage to the old St. Lucie Court courthouse is being analyzed. Two floors will be added in the parking garage. Doug Anderson will bring the map showing the growth plan to the next meeting. NEXT MEETING: The next Concerned Citizens meeting will be held on Thursdav. Mav 5. 2005, at 12:00 Noon at the St. Lucie County Courthouse in Fort Pierce. Lunch will be provided. !Is FRONTLINE: press release I T'......~ . ~ C!E 'wi Page 1 of3 t¡; t¡; t¡; !cØ I&f ¡'~1'1'€" j'1.'1~..1S'l1 I;' 1t":¡;~1J?¡ '.'1:ffiÕ1.1't ,rnfj'f,,~ >itA'.tf'.t m tl'<f. ¡."Í'!r'ì :!'C'f'ltTf' ABOJi ¡::RONTUN~ (è It.. Press Release caption: In "The New Asyhuns," airing Tuesday, May 10, at 9 P.M. on PBS (check local listings ) FRONTLINE goes deep inside Ohio's state prison system to present a searing exploration of the complex and growing topic of mental health behind bars and a moving portrait of the individuals at the center of this Issue. Above, Inmate Charles Taylor, Southern Ohio Correctional Facility, Lucasville, OH. December 13,2004. Image may only be used in editorial conjtillction with the direct promotion of this :film in North America. No other rights are granted. AU rights reserved. © WGBH " The New Asylums Tuesday, May 10, at 9pm, 60 minutes Fewer than 55,000 Americans currently receive treatment in psychiatric hospitals. Meanwhile, almost ten times that number- nearly 500,000-mentally ill men and women are serving time in U.S. jails and prisons. As sheriffs and prison wardens become the unexpected and often ill-equipped caretakers of this burgeoning population, they raise a troubling new concern: have America's jails and prisons become its new asylums? "Weare the gatekeepers of a lot of persons who are mentally ill, and that's not something we relish....We don't like the idea that we're being charged with fixing a lot of the woes of our communities," says Reginald Wilkinson, director of the Ohio Department of Corrections. "In addition to being the director of the Department of Corrections, I became a de facto director of a major mental health system. " In "The New Asylums," airing Tuesday, May 10, at 9 P.M. on PBS (check local listings), FRONTLINE® goes deep inside Ohio's state prison system to explore the complex and growing issue of mentally ill prisoners. With unprecedented access to prison therapy sessions, mental health treatment meetings, crisis wards, and prison disciplinary tribunals, the film provides a poignant and disturbing portrait of the new reality for the mentally ill. "It was surprising to see how much treatment was going on inside Ohio's prisons," say FRONTLINE producers Miri Navasky and Karen O'Connor. "And while the prison system is doing a commendable job, you are sti11left with the feeling that http://www . pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/press/2313 .html 5/4/2005 FRONTLINE: press release I 1'......S . '- Page 2 of3 ....., prison is not the answer to this very large social problem. II As the rising munber of mentally ill inmates shows no sign of abating, those working inside the nation's prisons are struggling with a system designed for security, not treatment. Corrections officers now have the responsibility of not only securing inmates, but also working with mental health staff to identify and manage disturbed prisoners. IIProviding effective psychiatric care in a maximum security prison is extraordinarily difficult, II says prison psychiatrist Gary Beven. IIIfyou have untreated manic depression or bipolar disorder, untreated schizophrenia, somebody might be hallucinating and extremely paranoid. If you don't identify the fact that [a] person has schizophrenia, if you don't provide them with the proper medication, if you don't place them in an environment that allows them to function at an adequate level, then it's just a matter oftime, perhaps, [that] something aggressive might occur. II And because these inmates have difficulty following prison rules, a disproportionate number are placed in solitary confinement. IIPeople who are just so un-socialized and so psychologically fragile to begin with are deprived of any kind of social support, any kind of psychological stimulus. And they just, they just fall apart, II says Fred Cohen, a prison litigation specialist. Inmate Carl McEachron, sent to prison for stealing a bicycle in 1988, has spent much of his time in prison in isolation, unable to cope with the strict prison environment and racking up an extensive list of violations. His mental illness was left undiagnosed and untreated lmtil recently. IIHe was the type of individual who was very difficult to work with, II says Beven of McEachron. lI[He's] been very aggressive towards staff, including, I believe, by spitting on staff members and throwing body waste. And so there wasn't a lot of empathy for him....The tendency would be for somebody like that to just [say], 'Let's lock him away...1et'sjust not have anything to do with him.'" IIBeing placed in a solitary situation is like being placed in a prison's prison," McEachron tells FRONTLINE. "And that's worse than simply being taken from society and placed in prison. " Eventually, a majority of mentally ill inmates are released back into the community, generally with a limited amolUlt of medication, little preparation, and sometimes no family or support structure. "We release people ,vith two weeks' worth of medication. Yet it appears that it's taking three months for people to actually get an appointment in the community to continue their services...and if they don't have the energy and/or the insight to do that, they're going to fall through the cracks and end up back in some kind of criminal activity, II warns Deborah Nixon-Hughes, mental health bureau chief, Ohio Department of Corrections. Within six days of being paroled in 2000, inmate Sigmon Clark, a paranoid schizophrenic, was rearrested for robbery. IISix days \vith $75 in my pocket. Fare http://www .pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/press/2313 .html 5/4/2005 FRONTLINE: press release I 1'......S . '-' """" the best way you can, man. We done took twelve years out of your life, and you're mentally ilL. do what you can for yourself," Clark tells FRONTLINE. Some feel change will be difficlùt to implement. "Many of those persons who wOlùd have been in state hospitals are now in state prisons," Wilkinson says. "I've actually had ajudge mention to me before that, 'Hey, we hate to do this, but we know the person will get treated if we send this person to prison. "' "The New Asylwns" is a FRONTLINE co-production with Mead Street Films. The film is produced, written, and directed by Miri Navasky and Karen O'Connor. FRONTLINE is produced by WGBH Boston and is broadcast nationwide on PBS. Funding for FRONTLINE is provided through the support ofPBS viewers. FRONTLINE is closed-captioned for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers. FRONTLINE is a registered trademark ofWGBH Educational Foundation. The executive producer for FRONTLINE is David Fanning. Press contact: Chris Kelly frontline promotion@wgbh.org (617) 300-3500 FRONTLINE XXIII/May 2005 home ... previous reoorts .. watch online· about us .. teacher center ... newsletter. ernail FRONTLINE Drivacv Dolicv .. ~ . Q!lli new content copyright ©1996·2005 pbs online and wgbh/frontlìne http://www .pbs.orglwgbh/pages/frontline/press/2313 .html Page30f3 ~ 5/4/2005 ,... -...I ¡.' CONCERNED CITIZENS AND OFFIC ~ / MARCH 3, 2005 J JII) CORE COMMUNITY SERVICE REPORT: The monthly figures for community service hours worked provided by CORE are listed below. 2/05 12/04 !!L!!i 10/04 9/04 ~ ~ 3/04 2/04 Ft Pierce Public Works 235 100 0 116 52 0 0 100 23 Ft. Pierce Police Dept. 150 110 0 68 0 100 0 51 0 Treasure Coast Food Bank 472 564 320 741 322 610 763 781 1,787 St. Lucie County Leisure Dept. 100 445 100 0 0 240 194 150 221 PSL Parks Dept. 1,001 652 907 790 250 1,283 961 527 990 PSL Public Works 0 0 0 0 0 0 50 59 0 PSL Police Dept. 50 0 0 0 19 0 7 0 0 St. Lucie County Schools 0 175 90 0 0 29 25 0 138 Salvation Army 67 97 71 221 104 153 163 212 0 Mustard Seed Thrift Shop 0 202 0 90 0 8 0 182 50 Goodwill Industries 534 589 205 795 264 205 536 683 408 Miscellaneous Agencies 2.810 2.599 3.098 3,008 1.498 3.306 3.~40 3.198 3.456 5,419 5,533 4,791 5,829 2,509 5,986 5,939 5,943 7,073 Miscellaneous Agencies include ARC, Boys & Girls Club, and religious aff'diations. The Fort Pierce Parks Department has agreed to again be a provider for community service hours. The workers are given the option of where they want to work their community service hours. COMMUNITY SERVICE TO FINES (pAID OUT): Feb. 2004 $11,524.20 $18,244.70 $ 6,740.65 $ 1,143,70 $ -6- St. Lucie Sheriff's Office Port St. Lucie Police Dept. Fort Pierce Police Dept. Florida Highway Patrol St. Lucie County Incarceration Fee Judge BaI11~ has agreed to continue with this program. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD: On April 6 the Workforce Development Board/One Stop Career Center will be hosting a St. Lucie County Job Fair to be held at IRCC. On April 9 the Annual Youth Summit will be held at IRCC with 500 youths expected to attend. Volunteers are needed for this event. Over 13,000 people fIled for disaster unemployment which is now running out. For anyone looking for employees, this is a good time to contact the Center as these people will be looking for jobs when the benefits run out. '-' ...", .~_.... PORT ST. LUCIE POLICE DEPARTMENT: The western Port St. Lucie Police substation is expected to open next month. This wiD help with police service to the western part of town. DEPT. OF CORRECTIONS: Victim notification training was held this morning. Information about this statewide computer process will be reported in the newspaper. DRUG COURT: Next month there will be adult Drug Court graduating class in St. Lucie county. ST. LUCIE COUNTY: Tonight is opening night for Mets baseball. Storm repairs have been completed to the stadium. COURT ISSUES: The Probate Division is moving to the State Attorneys Annex on Second Street. They have started taking credit card payments for fines, etc. Additional judges are certified for 4 circuit and 2 county judges. Without these judges, it would have a serious impact. Judge Robey reported that a Court Space Needs Committee will be formed to discuss these issues going forward. A space needs study will be done to determine future needs to be just and fair ,to the judiciary, the people we serve, and the community. Currendy there are 9 courtrooms and 1 hearing room at the Ft. Pierce facility with 10 adjudicators and on any given day all will be used. The Family Division has an incredible number of cases. One of the new judges will be placed in the Family Division. There is no room for overflow. There is a critical need for space. There are not enough courtrooms in the courthouse. One suggestion was to move the Civil Division to St. Lucie West. When the old Courthouse is refurbished in 1-2 years, that space would be available. In the meantime something has to give. One suggestion is to move Court Administration to St. Lucie West. That frees up office space for judges, the Jury Room, and some space for mediations. It doesn't help with courtrQoms tbough. Weare looking at ways to move some of the Clerks duties into some modular units. There are 2 pie shaped areas in the courthouse also available. Magistrates and hearing officers could use this space. Modulars were used in Martin County while their courthouse was being rebuilt. Boston to Atlantic would have to be closed to set up the modulars but Second Street may already be shut down anyway due to construction. It is preferred to keep everything together on the same campus. St. Lucie West would become the Administrative Center for the 19th Circuit. Court Administration and staff attorneys would be out there. This would free up a lot of office space for Court Services. Could build out a portion of St. Lucie West for another judge to help out with exploding small claims cases and overflow cases. One is being used for traffic court and one for civil cases. St. Lucie West would be a very central location for Court Administration. '-' ...." . A court complex out at the jail is being considered. The 6th circuit (pinellas county) has it major complex at their jail facility and Martin County is doing this as well. Input is requested. We have to have adequate facilities to implement justice. ST. LUCIE COUNTY: Construction on the Clerk of Courts building will begin June 20. The monumental staircase for the entrance to the old courthouse will begin August 1. This will take a lot of people ofT the elevators. A chilled water system to cool the buildings will take the place of roof air units. This will begin June 21. We will either renovate the old courthouse or build a new courthouse. Ceilings and carpets have to be removed first to determine work needed. This will take approximately 8 weeks. To renovate the building we would hope to start August 4 for completion June 2006. To replace the building we would plan to start January 2006 with completion July 2007. Two additional t100rs will be added to the downtown parking garage. Construction will begin August 1. The courtyard in front of the courthouse will be the staging area. NEXT MEETING: The next Concerned Citizens meeting will be held on Thursdav. Aoril 7. 2005, at 12:00 Noon at the St. Lucie County Courthouse in Fort Pierce. Lunch will be provided. /Is ~ '......" COUNTY ADMINISTRATION DATE: ~/ Board of County comm~Sio r· Douglas M. AndersonµJ0unty Administrator March 3, 2005 MEMORANDUM 05-35 TO: FROM: RE: Concerned Citizens' Meeting -.Downtown Courthouse Update I Judge Roby Today Judge Roby gave a presentation to the Concerned Citizens group regarding court facilities space needs. He made the following suggestions: 1. Move Court Administration to St. Lucie West 2. If the County receives a new County Judge, put the Judge at St. Lucie West and also hold long-term civil trials at St. Lucie West (Le., 7 weeks long). Long-term civil trials are currently being held at St. Lucie West. To implement #1&2 would require moving Guardian Ad Litem to the Walton Road Annex. I have discussed this possible move with Guardian Ad Litem and they are okay with it. 3. Establish a Court Facilities Committee to report to the Public Safety Coordinating Council (PSCC). There will be discussion regarding the purpose of this committee at the next PSCC meeting, scheduled for March 31st at 3:30 p.m. Judge Roby also suggested the City of Fort Pierce and the County consider putting modular trailers on Second Street, between Boston and Atlantic, to house Clerk of Court personnel until the new Clerk of the Courts Building is competed on or about December 31, 2006. This would free up space in the existing Courthouse for hearing rooms. As you know, this portion of Second Street is currently closed due to construction. In the upcoming Budget, I will recommend to the Board of County Commissioners that funds be set aside for a Space Needs Study, including Court facilities, County offices, and Jail facilities. When the upcoming Court construction is completed in Fort Pierce, we will be basically built-out in Downtown Fort Pierce, unless additional property is made available. DMAlab 05-35 c: Ray Wazny, Assistant County Administrator Faye Outlaw, Assistant County Administrator Roger Shinn, Central Services Director Marie Gouin, Management and Budget Director Dan Mcintyre, County Attorney Ed Fry, Clerk of the Courts Tom Willis, Court Administrator Dennis Beach, City Manager, Fort Pierce Honorable William L. Roby, Chief Judge \. '-'" COUNTY ADMINISTRATION DATE: ~¿ Board of County comm~~io '";' Douglas M. AndersonµJounty Administrator March 3, 2005 MEMORANDUM 05-35 TO: FROM: RE: Concerned Citizens' Meeting -Downtown Courthouse Update / Judge Roby Today Judge Roby gave a presentation to the Concerned Citizens group regarding court facilities space needs. He made the following suggestions: 1. Move Court Administration to St. Lucie West 2. If the County receives a new County Judge, put the Judge at St. Lucie West and also hold long-term civil trials at St. Lucie West (i.e., 7 weeks long). Long-term civil trials are currently being held at St. Lucie West. To implement #1&2 would require moving Guardian Ad Litem to the Walton Road Annex. I have discussed this possible move with Guardian Ad Litem and they are okay with it. 3. Establish a Court Facilities Committee to report to the Public Safety Coordinating Council (PSCC). There will be discussion regarding the purpose of this committee at the next PSCC meeting, scheduled for March 31st at 3:30 p.m. Judge Roby also suggested the City of Fort Pierce and the County consider putting modular trailers on Second Street, between Boston and Atlantic, to house Clerk of Court personnel until the new Clerk of the Courts Building is competed on or about December 31, 2006. This would free up space in the existing Courthouse for hearing rooms. As you know, this portion of Second Street is currently closed due to construction. In the upcoming Budget, I will recommend to the Board of County Commissioners that funds be set aside for a Space Needs Study, including Court facilities, County offices, and Jail facilities. When the upcoming Court construction is completed in Fort Pierce, we will be basically built-out in Downtown Fort Pierce, unless additional property is made available. DMNab 05-35 c: Ray Wazny, Assistant County Administrator Faye Outlaw, Assistant County Administrator Roger Shinn, Central Services Director Marie Gouin, Management and Budget Director Dan Mcintyre, County Attorney Ed Fry, Clerk of the Courts Tom Willis, Court Administrator Dennis Beach, City Manager, Fort Pierce Honorable William L. Roby, Chief Judge '-' '-....I t>~, ){,ol CONCERNED CITIZENS AND OFFICIALS JANUARY 7, 2005 CORE COMMUNITY SERVICE REPORT: The monthly figures for community service hours worked provided by CORE are listed below. 10/04 9104 5/04 4/04 3/04 2/04 1/04 12/03 11/03 Ft Pierce Public Works 116 52 0 0 100 23 0 8 0 Ft. Pierce Police Dept. 68 0 100 0 51 0 50 79 95 Treasure Coast Food Bank 741 322 610 763 781 1,787 719 929 734 St. Lucie County Leisure Dept. 0 0 240 194 150 221 50 135 98 PSL Parks Dept. 790 250 1,283 961 527 990 1,251 841 685 PSL Public Works 0 0 0 50 59 0 0 0 0 PSL Police Dept. 0 19 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 St. Lucie County Schools 0 0 29 25 0 138 0 50 106 Salvation Army 221 104 153 163 212 0 89 150 220 Mustard Seed Thrift Shop 90 0 8 0 182 50 150 57 50 Goodwill Industries 795 264 205 536 683 408 688 142 311 Miscellaneous Agencies 3.008 1.498 3.306 3.240 3.198 3.456 3.354 2.162 2.818 5,829 2,509 5,986 5,939 5,943 7,073 6,391 4,553 5,117 The community service numbers were not yet available for this meeting. Miscellaneous Agencies include ARC, Boys & Girls Club, and religious affiliations. The Fort Pierce Parks Department has agreed to again be a provider for community service hours. The workers are given the option of where they want to work their community service hours. DEPT. OF CORRJ Jail population w: before Christmas expected to contiDl COMMUNITY SFDVTC']¡' Tn UTXrVC' I'D '" ~ I)UT): The numbers were ~ c\ ' ~eting. cf-\ ~~ lt~ A\1/~ (j the hurricanes. Population was down to 950-960 ice then. Population today is up to 1,020 and is New construction IS underway and is about 20% complete. The cells are being made in Jacksonville. They will start trucking them down and putting them in place next week. Completion is antidpated for August. With the loss of beds at Savannahs Hospital, 220/0 of the jail population is composed of mentally ill patients. There is no place to put them. This is being addressed at today's Legislative Session. LEGISLATIVE MATTERS: At the Legislative Session Senator ,-mitt proposed a donation per home to be put into a fund that would go towards the Learning and Research Center combine ..,_ control the dollars. There would be a cap on the amount per unit. . I n' .wt ~ JiÞtf~.,. tj¡x Ef 1 impact fee. It is only when there is a transfer of ownership. A sp~~ I election ìšDèëaëil ¡~ ¡ I Iii: , .. 3 I æfi :.:; I' Ice. ;\'""/::'L OF¡::ICE I _.,.._ .__..... _,.._____...._1 _._--.J '-' ....., ,~ establish. September 2005 is the date for referendum and the election would be in 2006. The proposal received the unanimous vote of support from the legislature. COURT ISSUES: We need to push for the judges we have been selected to receive at the current level. Tell legislators how important it is. If we know of people that would be good as judges, please encourage them to apply. The Governor is dedicated to diversity on the bench. BOYS & GIRLS CLUB: Storm Update - The Boys & Girls Club staff focused on trying to serve the children of the emergency and rescue personnel. The structures survived except for one trailer that needs to be replaced. Ken Pruitt is working on their behalf with a builder who constructs concretables and has committed to donate a number of them to Boys & Girls Club. They will be moved on the property to replace the one lost which will triple the floor space and enable them to serve a significant number of kids. There are hundreds of kids on each list of 15 sites. All are filled to capacity. On January 19 a meeting has been scheduled with a consultant re a feasibility study to raise funds for a new facility. Staff is slowly being added but hiring qualified people is a problem. The fiscal year for Boys & Girls Club ended September 30. United Way helped out with $3,200 for some costs not covered by insurance for program supplies and $1,500 to prepare the ground for the concretables. A question was asked if there is any tracking done after kids have left the Boys & Girls Club. Tracking can only be done re criminal behavior through age 17 through DJJ. There is no other mechanism in place beyond that. A radio and TV public service announcement is being prepared asking for previous participants to identify themselves so they can be invited to come back to see the Club and the many improvements made. Approximately 30 Boys & Girls Club kids, who were selected because they made the Honor Roll, attended a Christmas party hosted by Mary & Mac Mascioli. Hot dogs were served, teddy bears were passed out, gift certificates from Dunkin Donuts and movie tickets were given out. Also, Ken Pruitt provided computers and 5 kids won computers by a lottery system. PORT ST. LUCIE POLICE DEPT. There are 20 vacancies at PSLPD. It is difficult finding qualified people. H you know of anyone interested in law enforcement and are qualified, please let them know. The west substation to better serve the people in western Port St. Lucie is about 3 months from completion. Funding of programs has been difficult because of the storms. FEMA money has not yet been received which has created a budget strain. Cash flow is also difficult for the county. \w "'" WORKFORCE DEVELOMENT BOARD: Job placements are a struggle across the board. The ad campaign for jobs available migbt be helpful. The Workforce Development Board always had one unemployment office in each of the 4 counties. Due to budget cuts some will close. One model combines Vero Beach and Fort Pierce at a northern center and Port St. Lucie and Stuart at a southern center. ST LUCIE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD: $20 Million was spent for hurricane clean up to date. Consultants were hired and long range plans for the future are being worked on. Several libraries lost all the books. Over 500 of the 4,000 employees lost everything they own. Counseling was provided for employees. Teachers were given lesson plans for each level to help the students deal with the storms. St. Lucie county is a model for the state on how to handle the emergency situation. The federal government is not expanding grants for School Resource Officers. We need a mechanism to make sure the deputies are kept in the schools. A funding stream is being discussed. There is a piece of legislation to designate money to the districts. Because of law enforcement presence there is respect for them and a chance to interact in a positive way. There is a lot of parental support for the Schoòl Resource Officer program. DJJ: The Legislature is addressing a $90 Million shortfall in the department. There are currently more beds than kids. Will be going to the legislature for those facilities with a surplus of beds to put those funds into a needed category and convert kids to those programs Some reorganizing is being done. Programs for Indian River county south may go to Palm Beach. The Orlando programs may go to the Tampa area. NEXT MEETING: The next Concerned Citizens meeting will be held on Thursdav. Februarv 3.2005, at 12:00 Noon at the St. Lucie County Courthouse in Fort Pierce. Lunch will be provided. /Is i -", '-' '.J CONCERNED CITIZENS AND OFFICIALS FEBRUARY 3, 2005 (1;'¡) CORE COMMUNITY SERVICE REPORT: The monthly figures for community service hours worked provided by CORE are listed below. 12/04 11104 10/04 9/04 5/04 ~ 3/04 2/04 !L!M ---. ---- - - Ft Pierce Public Works 100 0 116 52 0 0 100 23 0 Ft. Pierce Police Dept. 110 0 68 0 100 0 51 0 50 Treasure Coast Food Bank 564 320 741 322 610 763 781 1,787 719 St. Lucie County Leisure Dept. 445 100 0 0 240 194 150 221 50 PSL Parks Dept. 652 907 790 250 1,283 961 527 990 1,251 PSL Public Works 0 0 0 0 0 50 59 0 0 PSL Police Dept. 0 0 0 19 0 7 0 0 0 St. Lucie County Schools 175 90 0 0 29 25 0 138 0 Salvation Army 97 71 221 104 153 163 212 0 89 Mustard Seed Thrift Shop 202 0 90 0 8 0 182 50 150 ~odwill Industries 589 205 795 264 205 536 683 408 688 Miscellaneous Agencies 2.599 3.098 3.008 1.498 3.306 3.240 3.198 3.456 3.354 5,533 4,791 5,829 2,509 5,986 5,939 5,943 7,073 6,391 Miscellaneous Agencies include ARC, Boys & Girls Oub, and religious atrdiations. The Fort Pierce Parks Department has agreed to again be a provider for community service hours. The workers are given the option of where they want to work their community service hours. COMMUNITY SERVICE TO FINES (pAID OUT): Nov. 2004 Dec. 2004 St. Lucie Sheriff's Office $500.00 $5,686.75 Port St. Lucie Police Dept. $515.00 $5,706.00 Fort Pierce Police Dept. $ ·0- $2,534.25 Florida Highway Patrol $ -0- $ -0- St. Lucie County Incarceration Fee $ -0- $ 50.00 Jan. 2005 $1,257.50 $ -0- $ -0- $ -0- $ -0- DEPT. OF CORRECTIONS: Jail population is at 1,040. New construction is progressing. Cells are being set. Interior and exterior walls will be started soon and the first pod should be on line August 1. FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPT.: 1,600 arrests were made as a result of the task force. Project Safe Neighborhoods is promoting gun safety. r~l~ (~ Œ.J.J7_t í~ Ii''':' ! ¡' I t ~ fEB 2 8 '1ßIE :J ~ ¡ l CØ6 :....J ¡ l-------.J I ! . .__...C~~/~~'~._~!._~f!!:~_ ;; ¡. 'i '-" ""'" ST. LUCIE COUNTY: St. Lucie County has $140 Million in building projects. The 2 hurricanes added another $110 Million for a total of $250 Million in projects which include: · Mets Stadium - One year ago 510 Million in renovations was made to the stadium. The stadium then suffered $5.4 Million in damages to the facility from the storms. Repairs should be completed prior to spring training. · Indian River Drive - 13 miles of road were damaged. H the work is completed by March 23 the county will be reimbursed $35 Million to cover the cost (project is running ahead of schedule). The embankment is being restored. Phase 2 is 54.2 MiDion for native vegetation along Indian River Drive. $3.3 MDlion of that is coming from USDA. Property owners along Indian River Drive can pick the vegetation on their property. The average value per lot is $8,000 in landscaping. · Civic Center - The Civic Center was used as a Special Needs Shelter during the hurricanes. 240 people were being housed there when the roof peeled 00: The plan is to replace the roof and redo the Civic Center. FEMA thinks the repair cost will increase 50% of replacement costs. It is on the Agenda for the Board to approve the contract for temporary repairs on the roof which would be paid 100% by FEMA. The building will then be dried out after which it can be determined whether to replace or flL It will not be ready as a Special Needs Shelter this season. The county is working with the Health Dept for alternative locations in Florida. Funding for a Special Needs Shelter at the Fairgrounds has been requested from the Florida Legislature. The Legislative Delegation has supported the funding and is recommending it for St. Lucie County. · Operations Center - A new Emergency Operations Center is needed. During the hurricanes, the air conditioning broke down, generators stopped working, etc., while 100 people lived and worked there 24 hours a day. COURT ISSUES: Chief Judge William Roby addressed the Concerned Citizens group and other interested parties in attendance. He reported that a proposal to move the St. Lucie County civil division to St. Lucie West which was discussed 5 years ago is again being considered primarily due to the crowded courtroom conditions due to the growth in the county. Growth last year alone was 40/0. This explosion in population growth has created huge caseloads particularly in the Family Division. The legislature has approved funding of 4 new judges but we do not have the space. One is needed in this county to just hear Family cases. Courtrooms and offices are needed and there are none available in the Courthouse. We are required by law to deal first with the criminal cases, then juvenile dependency, domestic violence, family cases, then civil cases. We have to take action in the next 5-6 months. H the civil division moved to St. Lucie West, it would not be permanent. The old Courthouse is scheduled for renovation within the next year and a half. To reconsolidate everything back in the main judicial campus is the goal. The logical fit would be to move the civil division out to St. Lucie West on a temporary basis. Once the old courthouse is renovated, they could move back to Fort Pierce. Judge Conner mentioned that the Courthouse in St. Lucie West is not conducive to incarcerated litigants. It can handle only 4 dangerous people at a time which is another reason that cÎvD makes sense for St. Lucie West. Doug Anderson reported that before the hurricanes the cost to renovation the old Courthouse was estimated to be $2.5 Million. After the hurricanes damaged the old Courthouse the cost has gone up to $4.5 Million. The insurance company said they would fund $1 Million. H repair costs '" \.f' """'" exceed 50% of the replacement cost, the insurance company may recommend demolition. An engineer is being hired to inspect the building and report back to the insurance company and FEMA. The Clerk of Courts building is a $6.9 Million project and should come on-line this next year. A new staircase wiD be constructed in the Courthouse to move people better. A new cooling system using chilled water will be installed with a considerable savings in electricity anticipated. Funding for the downtown parking garage has been approved. The St. Lucie West courthouse is secure. There are two cells that hold a maximum of two each. Gary Wilson noted that it is presently not conducive to prisoner movement. Putting a facility at Rock Road would solve some issues. Numerous visitors attending the meeting expressed concern about the effects the proposed move of the civil division to St. Lucie West would have on downtown Fort Pierce. It was emphasized that no decisions have been made. It is in the exploratory stages right now. NEXT MEETING: The next Concerned Citizens meeting will be held on Thursdav. March 3. 2005, at 12:00 Noon at the St. Lucie County Courthouse in Fort Pierce. The meeting wiD be held in Courtroom E on the second floor. Lunch will be provided. /Is w ....,,¡ COUNTY ADMINISTRATION FROM: ~/ Board of County comm~Sio ~ ;'" Douglas M. Andersonj¥bunty Administrator March 3, 2005 MEMORANDUM 05-35 TO: DATE: RE: Concerned Citizens' Meeting - Downtown Courthouse Update / Judge Roby Today Judge Roby gave a presentation to the Concerned Citizens group regarding court facilities space needs. He made the following suggestions: 1. Move Court Administration to St. Lucie West 2. If the County receives a new County Judge, put the Judge at St. Lucie West and also hold long-term civil trials at St. Lucie West (Le., 7 weeks long). Long-term civil trials are currently being held at St. Lucie West. To implement #1&2 would require moving Guardian Ad Litem to the Walton Road Annex. I have discussed this possible move with Guardian Ad Litem and they are okay with it. 3. Establish a Court Facilities Committee to report to the Public Safety Coordinating Council (PSCC). There will be discussion regarding the purpose of this committee at the next PSCC meeting, scheduled for March 31st at 3:30 p.m. Judge Roby also suggested the City of Fort Pierce and the County consider putting modular trailers on Second Street, between Boston and Atlantic, to house Clerk of Court personnel until the new Clerk of the Courts Building is competed on or about December 31, 2006. This would free up space in the existing Courthouse for hearing rooms. As you know, this portion of Second Street is currently closed due to construction. In the upcoming Budget, I will recommend to the Board of County Commissioners thatfunds be set aside for a Space Needs Study, including Court facilities, County offices, and Jail facilities. When the upcoming Court construction is completed in Fort Pierce, we will be basically built-out in Downtown Fort Pierce, unless additional property is made available. DMAlab 05-35 c: Ray Wazny, Assistant County Administrator Faye Outlaw, Assistant County Administrator Roger Shinn, Central Services Director Marie Gouin, Management and Budget Director Dan Mcintyre, County Attorney Ed Fry, Clerk of the Courts Tom Willis, Court Administrator Dennis Beach, City Manager, Fort Pierce Honorable William L. Roby, Chief Judge ~: ~ ...." CONCERNED CITIZENS AND OFFICIALS FEBRUARY 3, 2005 CORE COMMUNITY SERVICE REPORT: 'P p The monthly figures for community service houn worked provided by CORE are listed below. 2/05 12/04 11104 10/04 9104 5/04 4/04 3/04 2/04 ---- Ft Pierce Public Works 235 100 0 116 52 0 0 100 23 Ft. Pierce Police Dept. 150 110 0 68 0 100 0 51 0 Treasure Coast Food Bank 472 564 320 741 322 610 763 781 1,787 St. Lucie County Leisure Dept. 100 445 100 0 0 240 194 150 221 PSL Parks Dept. 1,001 652 907 790 250 1,283 961 527 990 PSL Public Works 0 0 0 0 0 0 50 59 0 PSL Police Dept. 50 0 0 0 19 0 7 0 0 St. Lucie County Schools 0 175 90 0 0 29 25 0 138 Salvation Army 67 97 71 221 104 153 163 212 0 Mustard Seed Thrift Shop 0 202 0 90 0 8 0 182 50 Goodwill Industries 534 589 205 795 264 205 536 683 408 Miscellaneous Agencies 2.810 2.599 3.098 3.008 1.498 3.306 3.240 3.198 3.456 5,419 5,533 4,791 5,829 2,509 5,986 5,939 5,943 7,073 Miscellaneous Agencies include ARC, Boys & Girls Oub, and reUgious affiliations. The Fort Pierce Parks Department has agreed to again be a provider for community service hours. The workers are given the option of where they want to work their community service hours. St. Lucie Sheriff's Office Port St. Lucie Police Dept. Fort i'ierce Police Dept. Florida Highway Patrol St. Lucie County Incarceration Fee COMMUNITY SERVICE TO FINES (pAID OUT): Feb. 2004 SI1,524.20 SI8,244.70 S 6,740.65 S 1,143,70 S -0- Judge Barnes has agreed to continue with this program. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD: On April 6 the Workforce Development Board/One Stop Career Center will be hosting a St. Lucie County Job Fair to be held at IRCC. On April 9 the Annual Youth Summit will be held at IRCC with 500 youths expected to attend. Volunteers are needed for this event. Over 13,000 people fIled for disaster unemployment which is now running out. For anyone looking for employees, this is a good time to contact the Center as the~~u!~ople ~~~.!»e I~~~~~. for jobs when the benefits run out. I ::-) ;': 1 !! ì i;~ I I 'Ii ; ; lrU MAR' 5 æri l~¡ --,----.j j ce." ADM::'J. OFFICE ¡ -.... frO '-' ...", PORT ST. LUCIE POLICE DEPARTMENT: The western Port St. Lucie Police substation is expected to open next month. This wiD help with police service to the western part of town. DEPT. OF CORRECTIONS: Victim notification training was held this morning. Information about this statewide computer process will be reported in the newspaper. DRUG COURT: Next month there will be adult Drug Court graduating class in St. Lucie county. ST. LUCIE COUNTY: Tonight is opening night for Mets baseball. Storm repairs have been completed to the stadium. COURT ISSUES: The Probate Division is moving to the State Attorneys Annex on Second Street. They have started taking credit card payments for fines, etc. Additional judges are certified for 4 circuit and 2 county judges. Without these judges, it would have a serious impact. Judge Robey reported that a Court Space Needs Committee will be formed to discuss these issues going forward. A space needs study will be done to determine future needs to be just and fair to the judiciary, the people we serve, and the community. Currently there are 9 courtrooms and 1 hearing room at the Ft. Pierce facility with 10 adjudicators and on any given day all will be used. The Family Division has an incredible number of cases. One of the new judges will be placed in the Family Division. There is no room for overflow. There is a critical need for space. There are not enough courtrooms in the courthouse. One suggestion was to move the Civil Division to St. Lucie West. When the old Courthouse is refurbished in 1-2 years, that space would be available. In the meantime something has to give. One suggestion is to move Court Administration to St. Lucie West. That frees up office space for 1 judges, the Jury Room, and some space for mediations. It doesn't help with courtrooms though. We are looking at ways to move some of the Clerks duties into some modular units. There are 2 pie shaped areas in the courthouse also available. Magistrates and hearing officers could use this space. Modulars were used in Martin County while their courthouse was being rebuilt. Boston to Atlantic would have to be closed to set up the modulars but Second Street may already be shut down anyway due to construction. It is preferred to keep everything together on the same campus. St. Lucie West would become the Administrative Center for the 19th Circuit. Court Administration and staff attorneys would be out there. This would free up a lot of office space for Court Services. Could build out a portion of St. Lucie West for another judge to help out with exploding small claims cases and overflow cases. One is being used for traffic court and one .. for civil cases. St. Lucie West would be a very central location for Court Administration. i'~ '-" ...,; A court complex out at the jail is being considered. The 6th circuit (pinellas county) has a major complex at their jail facility and Martin County is doing this as well. Input is requested. We have to have adequate facUities to implement justice. ST. LUCIE COUNTY: Construction on the Clerk of Courts building wiD begin June 20. The monumental staircase for the entrance to the old courthouse will begin August 1. This will take a lot of people off the elevators. A chilled water system to cool the buildings will take the place of roof air units. This will begin June 21. We will either renovate the old courthouse or build a new courthouse. Ceilings and carpets have to be removed first to determine work needed. This wiD take approximately 8 weeks. To renovate the building we would hope to start August 4 for completion June 2006. To replace the building we would plan to start January 2006 with completion July 2007. Two additional floors will be added to the downtown parking garage. Construction will begin August 1. The courtyard in front of the courthouse will be the staging area. NEXT MEETING: The next Concerned Citizens meeting will be held on Thursdav. Aom 7, 2005, at 12:00 Noon at the St. Lucie County Courthouse in Fort Pierce. Lunch will be provided. /Is -- i -- ~i~' -. ..., CONCERNED CITIZENS AND OFFICIALS ~ /' DECEMBER 2, 2004 \ iVl1' \ CORE COMMUNITY SERVICE REPORT: The monthly figures for community service hours worked provided by CORE are listed below. 10/04 9/04 5/04 4/04 3/04 2/04 1/04 12/03 11103 Ft Pierce Public Works 116 52 0 0 100 23 0 8 0 Ft. Pierce Police Dept. 68 0 100 0 51 0 50 79 95 Treasure Coast Food Bank 741 322 610 763 781 1,787 719 929 734 St. Lucie County Leisure Dept. 0 0 240 194 150 221 50 135 98 PSL Parks Dept. 790 250 1,283 961 527 990 1,251 841 685 PSL Public Works 0 0 0 50 59 0 0 0 0 PSL Police Dept. 0 19 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 St. Lucie County Schools 0 0 29 25 0 138 0 50 106 Salvation Army 221 104 153 163 212 0 89 150 220 Mustard Seed Thrift Shop 90 0 8 0 182 50 150 57 50 Goodwill Industries 795 264 205 536 683 408 688 142 311 Miscellaneous Agencies 3.008 1.498 3.306 3.240 3.198 3.456 3.354 2.162 2.818 5,829 2,509 5,986 5,939 5,943 7,073 6,391 4,553 5,117 The numbers were not available for the November 2004 CORE community service report but will be distributed at the next meeting. Miscellaneous Agencies include ARC, Boys & Girls Club, and religious afTdiations. The Fort Pierce Parks Department has agreed to again be a provider for community service hours. The workers are given the option of where they want to work their community service hours. COMMUNITY SERVICE TO FINES (pAID OUT): The numbers were not available for the November 2004 report but will be distributed at the next meeting. SLC COURTHOUSE: It is very helpful for the judges to have officers present in the courtroom at sentencings. This could be coordinated with law enforcement. Judge McCann will start after the first of the year. He has been sitting in on Judge Conner's court in the interim. The Supreme Court has certified us for 6 judges (4 circuit, 2 county). Space for these judges will be needed. Another division at St. Lucie West may be needed. This will be discussed further with Doug Anderson. There is also discussion about having a courtroom located at the jail. LAW ENFORCEMENT: The Port St. Lucie Police Department received an award at the rece~.. a=-m~.OIi.. .·.çe. conference in Los Angelos. The Department was one of 3 winners . ~ <, c l)~e~ 7,000 people attended. John Ashcroft was the speaker. ; r·· . i· I ' JAN I I 2005 I I I I I ¡ C( .' ..-~ .a .....", ...." A Fort Pierce police officer received an award from Parade Magazine. He was named in the list of Top 10 police officers in the country. Two traffic awards were also received. Mayor Minsky suggested having an Awards Hall of Fame to recognize these achievements. A ceremony could be held to make people more aware of them. Mac Mascioli offered to call the newspaper to be sure they have an article to cover these awards. A grant has been received to start a gun safety program in schools. This will begin either the end of this school year or beginning of the next. A grant has also been received on a project to help save neighborhoods. PORT ST. LUCIE: A meeting will be held on December 10 to discuss hurricane issues. Complaints have been received on out of state contractors. People are also upset about insurance issues. This should be addressed at the legislative level. Information is being collected from agencies to broadcast important and helpful information to residents before the storm hits next time. An exploratory group has been formed to visit the city of Pembroke Pines to observe their charter school. There is an influx of housing developments with thousands of units underway. The quality of education should be consistent throughout the county. The subject of bussing is also a great concern. LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION BREAKFAST: The Legislative Delegation Breakfast is scheduled for Thursday, January 6. A suggestion was made to request that the insurance issue be placed on the agenda. Judge Angelos will invite Ken Pruitt and Joe Negron to the January 6 Concerned Citizens meeting. NEXT MEETING: The next Concerned Citizens meeting will be held on Thursdav. Januarv 6. 2005, at 12:00 Noon at the St. Lucie County Courthouse in Fort Pierce. Lunch will be provided. /Is