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Attorney May wanted certainty, and proposed that the Town agree with the abeyance of <br /> lawsuit for two months, until Monday, March 2, 2015. He asked the City to pursue all options to <br /> reduce electric rates, and provide the Town with an outline of their efforts prior to March 2, <br /> 2015. <br /> Attorney Wright stated the City agreed to no tortious interference and would sign a letter <br /> to that effect. <br /> Attorney May inquired whether the City could get the agreement in place by January 1, <br /> 2015. A discussion ensued regarding FMPA and due to the upcoming holiday season the parties <br /> agreed to January 8, 2015. <br /> A discussion ensued on the status update requested by the Town and it was determined <br /> Attorney Wright would get the update to the parties by February 18, 2015; the mediator would <br /> call the impasse if no agreement was reached by March 2, 2015. Attorney May agreed to write <br /> the draft Interim Mediation Agreement. <br /> Mediator Alvarez asked if the County would delay their meeting with the PSC on <br /> February 3, 2015, regarding its Petition for Declaratory Statement. <br /> Attorney Reingold was not comfortable telling the Indian River County Board of <br /> Commissioners there was a deferral of a month of their PSC Petition hearing. He was set to go <br /> forward with the February 3, 2015 meeting. <br /> Mr. Peter Gorry, a volunteer on the Finance Commission for the City of Vero Beach, <br /> spoke on the City's contract in place with FPL until the end of the year 2016, and noted that rates <br /> were set by PSC. He touched on dividends, ROI, the difference between rates and bills, and <br /> bond ratings. <br /> Mr. Charlie Wilson, President of the Vero Beach Chamber of Commerce, mentioned the <br /> City had been promising its residents lower electric rates than FPL for the last 36 years for a cost <br /> of$20 million a year, so the cost of litigation does not even come close to the funds spent on a <br /> yearly basis. He mentioned the only means of solving the utility issue was either an agreement <br /> from FMPA (of which he felt would never happen), so legislation and litigation have replaced <br /> negotiations as the only two means of solving the electric utility issue. <br /> Mr. Mark Mucher, City of Vero Beach resident, was concerned about the long-term risk <br /> of the City being in the electric business. He referred to the Utility Authority and argued that <br /> representation was a"feel good" thing, but would not make a difference in terms of the decisions <br /> made or the rates paid. <br /> Mediator Alvarez concluded that Attorney Wright would write a letter of Waivers and <br /> Consents by the City and FPL, and asked Attorney May to draft an Interim Mediation Agreement <br /> by Friday, December 19, 2014. He thanked all parties for handling this difficult situation in a <br /> cooperative and collaborative fashion. <br /> Town of Indian River Shores - City of Vero Beach - Indian River County <br /> Electric Utilities Mediation Page 11 <br /> December 17, 2014 <br />