PSL On The Mic

What was Port St. Lucie like before it became a city? In this episode of PSL On The Mic, Nate Spera, of the Port St. Lucie Historical Society, shares how the city grew over the past 65 years, why preserving its history matters and the stories that connect past and present. Plus, get a preview of the PSL 65 celebration on April 25 at The Port. PSL 65 Celebration: https://link.cityofpsl.com/psl65 Po...

Port St. Lucie’s unconventional beginnings — without a traditional downtown or employment hub — led to decades of out-commuting and limited access to high-paying local jobs.  To reverse this trend, City leaders envisioned the Southern Grove Jobs Corridor, a 1,200-acre tract along Interstate 95 that could redefine the City’s economic future. Though experts projected a 30-year build-out, today, fewe...

The City of Port St. Lucie is hosting its first-ever Autism Awareness & Community Resource Event, designed to connect families with essential safety tools, services and community partners dedicated to individuals on the autism spectrum. The Port St. Lucie Police Department is leading the effort and on the latest episode of PSL On The Mic, Chief Leo Niemczyk and Capt. Brian Kenny talk about the...

Zero visibility. Submerged vehicles. Critical evidence. The Port St. Lucie Police Department’s Dive Team handles it all — underwater. In the latest episode of PSL On the Mic, Sgt. John Fazio and Officer Michael Scaringe talk about what it’s really like to search canals and waterways, the challenges they face and how this new team is changing public safety in Port St. Lucie. Let's dive in. Lea...

Ever wonder what goes into creating a meaningful internship experience for local students? In the latest episode of PSL On The Mic, Corrie Johnson and Alyssa Figur from our Human Resources team share the vision behind the new PATH Student Internship Program, a summer internship for St. Lucie County high school students. What makes a strong candidate? What kind of real-world experience will you gai...

Residents in one Port St. Lucie neighborhood are turning ideas into real change. On the latest episode of PSL On The Mic, we're joined by Melissa Yunas, engagement and marketing team manager, and Stephanie Vernot, engagement, who talk to us about the Love Your Block program, powered by the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins, that brings city leaders and residents together...

2025 was a big year for Port St. Lucie. We were named an All-America City, we made great progress on key infrastructure projects and, with help from residents and volunteers, we transformed neighborhoods in inspiring ways. On the year's final episode of PSL On The Mic, Mayor Shannon Martin shares a recap of 2025 and looks to 2026. PSLinProgress: See the progress we're making in Port St....

Conservative financial management is our City’s foundation. We operate with a lean, efficient government and emphasize long-range financial planning.  That has allowed us to: Reduce our millage rate for 10 straight years, making us the third-lowest millage rate among the 20 largest populated cities in Florida. Reduce our debt by $400 million Improve our bond ratings Increase services while decreas...

The essence of civic engagement is connecting a city with its residents. On this episode of PSL On The Mic, we sit down with Makenzie Spittler, Communications' assistant manager for engagement and budget, who shares with us the story behind two recently launched community-driven programs that have already made lasting impacts in Port St. Lucie. The first initiative is the Flag Retirement Box...

Florida’s newest professional soccer club now calls Port St. Lucie home. Port St. Lucie Sports Club has been awarded a USL franchise and will launch professional men’s and women’s soccer teams with plans to play at a new soccer stadium to be constructed at Walton & One. So, how will a professional soccer team and a new stadium kick-start development on the east side of the City? On Episode 60,...

The Police Athletic League (P.A.L.) is a nonprofit youth organization that partners with police departments to provide kids and teens with safe, structured and positive activities outside of school. On Episode 59, we're joined by Port St. Lucie Police Officers Amanda McCarty and Fabio Improta, the director and assistant director of PSLPD P.A.L., who share with us how a revamped P.A.L. is keep...

Want a front-row seat to the projects shaping Port St. Lucie's future? PSLinProgress.com is a dynamic new website that highlights projects across the City, from traffic improvements and vibrant new parks to drainage system upgrades and revitalized neighborhoods. The easy-to-navigate site doesn’t just list projects. It tells the stories behind them, whether it’s planning for growth or solving...

On Episode 57, we're joined by Mayor Shannon Martin who answers some frequently asked questions from residents and shares highlights and key points from City Council's Summer Workshop. Sign up for Mayor Martin's newsletter Budget information Your City tax bill explained Stay informed about City news, events, meetings and activities: www.cityofpsl.com/stayinformed   Like what you’re...

Public art brings color, culture and character to Port St. Lucie and creates beautiful spaces that draw our community together. On Episode 56 of PSL On The Mic, Bethany Grubbs, senior planner with Planning & Zoning, tells us how public art benefits residents and visitors, and she also shares news about two upcoming projects, including the Heart in the Park, which opens to the public Aug. 23. P...

The Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County's Mobile Club is changing the game — bringing fun, learning and support directly to Port St. Lucie parks. Through our partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs, and with funding from the Community Development Block Grant program, more than 5,000 young people in the past four years have been positively impacted. On Episode 55, Alex Tasca, deputy...

Get ready to dig into Port St. Lucie’s most exciting riverfront development yet!  In this episode, we’re joined by CRA Director Jennifer Davis, who talks all things The Grove, a vibrant new dining destination coming to The Port District. Jennifer gives us an inside look at the five unique venues debuting in Phase 1 and shares how The Grove is designed to be more than just a place to eat. It’s a we...

Have you ever wanted a first-hand look into City operations? City University is the way to do it. On Episode 53, Makenzie Spittler, assistant manager, engagement and budget in the Communications Department, talks about City U, a free nine-session course that gives residents an opportunity to learn about City departments, talk with City leaders and officials and connect with other residents just as...

Mayor Shannon Martin visits the studio for Episode 52 and answers frequently asked questions posted to social media, including updates about the Port St. Lucie Boulevard South project and changes coming to the Convenient Drop-Off Center.  She also talks about our Youth Council's accomplishments for 2025, the importance of Juneteenth and how a sculpture will connect communities and solidify Po...

On Episode 51, we're back with John Dunton and Louis Johnson, director and assistant director of Public Works, who share how their staff mobilizes in the aftermath of a hurricane — clearing roads, restoring services and keeping residents safe. You'll learn how the team dives into storm recovery to bring our City back to life, but you'll also learn about some of the challenges the te...

During the first part of a two-episode podcast, Public Works' Deputy Director, John Dunton, and Assistant Director, Louis Johnson, walk us through each critical step of the department's hurricane readiness plan. Learn how crews clear drainage systems, secure infrastructure and work closely with emergency management to ensure the safety of residents and minimize storm impact. The most imp...

We're one month away from the start of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, and on Episode 49, we chat with our director of emergency management, Billy Weinshank, who explains what it means when the City "activates" for a hurricane.  Learn what this means for our staff, our government counterparts and most importantly, our residents. Communication is the name of the game, Billy says,...

Naturally PSL is a community-driven initiative inspired by the collective vision of Port St. Lucie residents. It brings awareness to our City's green spaces and places while encouraging the community to help conserve our natural areas. On Episode 48, Deputy City Manager Kate Parmelee and Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Fellow Nikki Zheng share with us the origin of Naturally PSL and how Cit...

Quite often, people think the coordination of traffic signals on the main corridors of Port St. Lucie means they'll hit a green light every time, but that's not the case. Many factors can affect timing, and on Episode 47, we learn the ins and outs of the City's adaptive signal coordination system from Traffic Operations Administrator Paul Johnson and how it helps -- in real time --...

The Port St. Lucie Police Department's increased traffic patrols on our roadways has led to more speeding citations, more drunk driving arrests and less red-light runners than ever before.  On Episode 46, we chat with Sgt. Ian Harris, who tells us why the Traffic Unit's high-visibility enforcement efforts are paying off and how a new push on social media to showcase those efforts has con...

Each year during the Winter Workshop, the Mayor and City Council receive in-depth presentations from staff on City priorities in preparation for the upcoming Strategic Planning session and the development of the annual budget.  On Episode 45, Mayor Martin drops by the studio to share her top takeaways from the workshop, including updates on major road improvements, new park construction, Port St....