🌅 🚗 Paid Parking in Fort Pierce? What’s Next for City Parks!

Good Morning, Sunland

It’s Wednesday! And I first want to thank everyone that has been sharing the newsletter! The referrals recently have been going up in a really nig way! Every little bit helps! I’ll take this time to remind you if you know of anyone that could benefit from staying up to date with what’s haooening locally, consider sharing this newsletter with them! Alright…

🏆 Shoutout to IRSC Swimming & Diving! 51 straight titles for the men. 47 for the women. Pure dominance. Huge congrats to Indian River State College for once again being crowned NJCAA National Champions! A legacy of dedication, drive, and excellence—both in and out of the water.

🍗 Meal Deal: It’s $10 dinner day at Stoney’s BBQ! Grab a chicken or rib dinner for 2012 prices. Ha! Tell them Sunland sent you! (*Sponsored Post)

🌡️ Weather Update: A picture-perfect day with clear skies ahead

☀️ Day: High of 77°F | ☀️ Plentiful sunshine
🌙 Night: Low of 56°F | 🌙 Clear skies
🌅 Sunrise: 7:33 AM | 🌇 Sunset: 7:28 PM
🎵 Sounds like: “Brighter Day” by Kirk Franklin ☀️🎶

🍋 The Main Squeeze: Fort Pierce Moves Closer to Paid Parking at Three City Parks

Catch Up: Fort Pierce is moving forward with a paid parking plan for Jetty Park, Jaycee Park, and South Causeway Park to help cover park maintenance costs. Originally, the city planned to keep parking free for locals, but a federal grant requirement may force them to charge everyone.

What’s happening: City commissioners are finalizing a contract with PCI Municipal Services to install paid parking kiosks at the three parks. The plan would:

• Charge $3 per hour, $20 per day, or $60 annually

• Generate an estimated $900,000 per year, with $585,000 going to the city

• Allow payment via kiosks or mobile app for added convenience

The city currently spends $303,000 annually on park maintenance, but officials say that’s not enough to keep up with repairs. Commissioner Michael Broderick put it bluntly:

💬 “Our general fund cannot continue to underwrite persons outside of our community using our assets for free.”

Why it matters:

• 🚧 Park upkeep is expensive – Without a dedicated revenue stream, city officials say parks are deteriorating, and upgrades are needed.

• 🏖️ The grant issue complicates things – The city originally promised free parking for locals, but a federal beach nourishment grant tied to Jetty Park requires equal access for all visitors.

• 🚗 Businesses want more turnover – Limited parking on South Hutchinson Island means some visitors park all day, leaving no room for others. Paid parking could help with turnover.

What’s next: The commission hasn’t officially voted on the plan yet, but a majority supports moving forward with paid parking and an annual pass option. The final contract will be brought back for a vote soon.

💭 What do you think? Should Fort Pierce move forward with paid parking, or should locals get a free pass? Drop your thoughts here!

🍊 The Press Round: Fee Hike!

🏡 Fellsmere’s Population Set to Grow with 332 New Homes

The Marian Estates development will bring 150 townhomes and 182 single-family homes to Fellsmere, starting at $250K and $300K, respectively. While some welcome the growth, others worry about rising taxes and the loss of the city’s small-town feel.

👉 Read More

🗑️ St. Lucie County Tipping Fee Hike Could Raise Trash Collection Costs

The St. Lucie County Landfill has increased its tipping fees, meaning garbage collection costs will likely rise for Port St. Lucie residents unless the city finds an alternative. County officials say the rate hikes are necessary to keep the landfill financially sustainable.

👉 Read more

🚆 Martin County Rejects Quiet Zones for Train Horns

Martin County commissioners voted unanimously against implementing quiet zones, citing safety concerns after three rail-related deaths in the past decade. Officials say additional studies and safety measures would be needed before reconsidering.

👉 Read more

💰 Salary Status: City Goes Back and Forth

TL;DR: After weeks of back-and-forth, Fort Pierce’s pick for city manager, Richard Chess, has agreed to a 7.5% pay cut, now proposing a $200,000 starting salary with a potential 5% raise after six months. After not being okay with his intial asking price, commissioners are now split on whether this signals commitment or if Chess sees Fort Pierce as a stepping stone.

What’s happening:

• Chess originally asked for $258,000, later dropping to $235,000—both figures exceeding the city’s advertised range.

• In response to commission pushback, he’s now offering to start at $200,000, with a possible $10,000 raise after a six-month review.

• For context: Chess currently makes $215,000 in Broward County, meaning this would be a pay cut.

💬 Commissioner Michael Broderick: “Why is he willing to go from $258,000 to $200,000 in a few conversations? Is this just a stepping stone?”

Not everyone is concerned. Commissioner Curtis Johnson Jr. sees this as a positive move:

💬 “It doesn’t trouble me… We have someone motivated to move Fort Pierce forward.”

Why it matters:

🏛️ Fort Pierce needs leadership – After former city manager Nick Mimms was fired amid a criminal investigation, the city has been in crisis mode. Commissioner James Taylor put it plainly:

💬 “We gotta get someone in here.”

💰 The salary still raises questions – Some worry about long-term commitment, while others say a motivated candidate willing to take a pay cut shouldn’t be overlooked.

What’s next: The final hiring decision is set for the March 17 commission meeting.

💭 What do you think? Should Fort Pierce move forward with Chess at $200K, or keep looking? Drop your thoughts here!

🎉 Weekender: 5 Weekend Events

Friday, March 14

• 🌕 Full Moon Tour – Fort Pierce, FL | Explore the waterways under a full moon with guided motorized kayak tours. | 6:30 PM | Tickets Required

Saturday, March 15

• •🏃‍♂️ Slate Rock’s 5K | Honor Darin Slater’s legacy with this meaningful run spreading awareness for Colon Cancer. | 7:30 AM–11 AM | Register Online

• 🌿 St. Patrick’s Farm Day Market | A special market featuring local vendors, farm activities, and more. | 10:30 AM | Get Tickets

• 🥋 Rise of a Warrior | Experience an action-packed MMA fight night featuring amateur and title fights. | 4 PM–11 PM | Tickets Required

• 🎥 Saturday Drive-In Movie Night: Transformers ONE | Watch the latest Transformers movie under the stars. | 7:45 PM | Tickets Required

If you have an event, send it to me here

💧 The Last Drop: 3 Things To Go!

1. 🎡 St. Lucie County Fair Draws 120K Attendees Rides, animal shows, and a demolition derby made this year’s fair a big hit. Read More

2. ✈️ Breeze Airways Adds Key West Flights A new summer route is coming to Key West Airport—just in time for beach season. More Info

3. 🌟 50 Years of Service! Martha Vickers was honored at the St. Lucie Schools meeting for 50 years of dedication. A true legend! Celebrate Her Legacy. Watch the video here

📸 This is Sunland: Programming Note!

Quick programming note!

Next Monday, March 17, is my birthday! 🎉 And no, for those wondering—I’m not Irish, I just happened to be born on St. Patrick’s Day. Thanks for asking, though…

But seriously, this year, my birthday gift to myself is taking a bit of a break! So, I’ll be taking next week off from writing the newsletter. That said, I’ll still be working behind the scenes—catching up on a few things and getting ready to come back better than ever on March 24.

Anyway, thank you for being here, and…

I’ll see you tomorrow!
With Love, Ja’Min

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