Brian Keith Stephens

The Board meeting included discussions on several key items: the design services for the new Island Lift Station (Phase 1), gate maintenance and repairs, and a five-year preventative maintenance contract for the ESC Building UPS. Additionally, the Board reviewed lawn and ground maintenance contracts for the Water Reclamation and Refuse Facility, an illumination agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation, and budget requests for the Sunrise Village PUD. Regulatory and policy matters addressed included an interlocal agreement with the Town of St. Lucie Village for potable water construction, the adoption of a Contribution in Aid of Construction credit policy, electric line extension agreements, and amendments to organizational rules and regulations.

The board discussed and took action on several items, including the purchase of Motorola radios, firewall appliances, and post-budgeted project requests. The meeting included presentations on the St. Lucie County Economic Development Council partnership, an update on electric service disconnects and COVID-19 relief efforts, a 2020 NERC regulatory compliance overview, and progress on the Advanced Metering Infrastructure system. Additionally, the board approved contract amendments related to the AMI system, awarded unit price contracts for water and wastewater underground utilities, and authorized the purchase of seven fleet vehicles. Finally, the board discussed an unsolicited proposal regarding the wastewater plant.

The committee meeting featured a panel discussion on utility infrastructure, covering water and wastewater expansion, broadband fiber expansion efforts by FPUAnet, and electric and gas capacity upgrades to support infill development. Additionally, the committee updated its six-month work plan, identifying new topics for future discussion including wastewater basics, brand ambassador training, utility transfer processes for homeowners, and emergency preparedness. Staff also highlighted upcoming community outreach activities and events for the following two months.

This Expansion Overview details FPUAnet's strategic initiative to expand its fiber network, driven by the need to connect utility and community assets, support SMART Grid and City Services, and provide essential, reliable internet. The plan prioritizes expansion based on community impact, financial sustainability, and infrastructure feasibility. It outlines targeted strategies to improve access, including public Wi-Fi and neighborhood-based services, and details current and future expansion zones (e.g., Holly, Lawnwood, Ormond, Beach Zone 12). The strategy emphasizes subscriber interest and demand tracking for informed capital deployment and long-term business planning to ensure reliable service and local control.

The committee reviewed electric outage response processes, reliability metrics, and storm restoration protocols, including the Text Power notification system and generator usage. Additionally, the meeting included the review and approval of two new at-large membership applications, an update on a new utility transfer process for real property closings to prevent service disconnections, and a discussion on strategies to increase neighborhood interest in FPUAnet broadband expansion. Staff also provided highlights on upcoming community events, job fairs, the summer internship program, and the Indian River State College Promise Cup.