[00:00:02]
>> GOOD EVENING. I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING OF THE CITY OF ST.
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
AUGUSTINE CITY COMMISSION TO ORDER AND ASK THE CLERK TO PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.>> THANK YOU. ALL THE COMMISSIONERS ARE PRESENT.
IT'S OUR HONOR THIS AFTERNOON TO HAVE PASTOR HUNTER CAMP FROM MEMORIAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, WHO'S HERE TO LEAD US IN INVOCATION.
I'D ASK YOU TO STAND, REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY VICE MAYOR SIKES-KLINE.
>> MR. MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, LET US PRAY.
GOD WHO ENLIGHTENS, WE ASK FOR YOUR WISDOM TO ENVELOP THIS ROOM AND REST UPON EACH CITY COMMISSIONER AS THEY SEEK TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS FOR OUR CITY, MAY THEY LISTEN CAREFULLY TO ONE ANOTHER AND TO OUR PUBLIC.
MAY YOUR PRESENCE CREATE A SENSE OF UNITY AMONG THE COMMISSIONERS, AND MAY THEY BE LED BY YOUR LIGHT AND YOUR GOODNESS.
MAY YOU GIVE THESE LEADERS CLARITY OF THOUGHT AND PURPOSE. AMEN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PLEASE BE SEATED, AND REVEREND CAMP, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU THE AGENDA AS PUBLISHED.
[2. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS]
ARE THERE ANY MODIFICATIONS OR AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA?>> SEEING NONE. MR. REGAN, ANY CHANGES? [OVERLAPPING]
>> MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, GOOD EVENING.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PUBLISHED?
>> I HAVE A MOTION FROM THE VICE MAYOR, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER HORVATH.
ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE AGENDA AS PUBLISHED, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
THIS IS NOW AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[4. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS OR FOR AGENDA ITEMS NOT REQUIRING A SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING]
AT THIS TIME, I HAVE A FEW CARDS.YOU ARE WELCOME TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON ANY ITEM.
WE'D REQUEST THAT YOU GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR OUR RECORDS.
WITH THAT, I WOULD OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENTS SECTION.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS MR. THOMAS SMITH.
>> ACTUALLY HERE JUST REAL BRIEFLY.
HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE POD THAT'S PROPOSED FOR 36 GRANADA STREET.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION AT LAKEVIEW CONDOMINIUMS. THAT'S THE OLD BARRACKS BUILDING, IF YOU WILL, AT THE END OF CORDOVA STREET.
I'M AT 172 CORDOVA STREET IS MY RESIDENCE.
WE COLLECTIVELY HAVE BEEN WATCHING THAT CONCEPT DEVELOP OVER THE LAST JUST ABOUT A YEAR NOW, FROM THE ORIGINAL CONCEPTS TO WHERE THEY ARE NOW IN THE POD.
GENERALLY, WHAT WE SEE IS THROUGH THIS PROCESS OF GIVE AND TAKE WITH THE CITY, THEIR PROPOSAL HAS ACTUALLY GOTTEN MUCH STRONGER, I THINK.
WHAT WE SEE HAVING INVESTED AND BEING IN THE COMMUNITY, IS ANYTHING THAT ADDS ENERGY TO THAT AREA IS A GOOD THING IN THE SHORT-TERM AND THE LONG-TERM FOR EVERYBODY WHO LIVES THERE.
I CAN EASILY SEE HOW SOME WOULD QUESTION THINGS LIKE PARKING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT I THINK WHAT I'VE SEEN IS IN THAT GENERAL AREA, AND I'M THINKING OF SOME OF THE OTHER BUSINESSES THAT I SEE DOWN THERE.
THERE'S A LOT OF FOOT TRAFFIC.
THE PATRONS THEY GO TO MANY OF THOSE BUSINESSES.
I THINK WHAT'S BEEN WORKED OUT AS IT RELATES TO PARKING, IN MY MIND ANYWAY, LARGELY MITIGATES THE IMPACT OF PARKING AS IT RELATES TO THAT SPECIFIC POD.
JUST GENERALLY, WE'RE IN SUPPORT OF WHAT THE CITY HAS DONE TO HELP PERFECT THE PROPOSAL.
WE ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT THE IDEA OF BRINGING THAT SPECIFIC TYPE OF BUSINESS INTO THE COMMUNITY AND HELPING US OUT ON THAT SIDE OF THE CITY.
>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU ALL TAKING THE TIME.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MS. NANCY GROTE. GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> MY NAME IS NANCY GROTE, AND I AM HERE REPRESENTING A CLASSIC THEATER,
[00:05:04]
WHICH IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION FORMED IN 2007 BY EXPERIENCED THEATER PROFESSIONALS WHO WANTED TO USE THEIR TALENTS AND ABILITIES TO ENHANCE THE THEATER ARTS IN ST. AUGUSTINE.THE ARTS ENHANCE OUR LIVES, AND ST. AUGUSTINE IS BLESSED TO BE THE HOME OF MANY ARTISTS.
BUT WITHOUT PERFORMANCE SPACE AVAILABLE, THE ARTS CANNOT THRIVE.
THE ARTS CONTINUALLY STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE IN LOCATIONS WHERE VENUE SPACE IS EITHER UNAVAILABLE OR COST-PROHIBITIVE.
ST. AUGUSTINE HAS A LONG HISTORY OF ADAPTIVE REUSE AT THE WATER WORKS BUILDING.
WHEN ITS ORIGINAL USE WAS NO LONGER REQUIRED, THE CITY SAID ABOUT ARCHITECTURAL MODIFICATIONS AND THE BUILDING BECAME A COMMUNITY CENTER FOR DECADES, ORIGINALLY HOUSING THE ST. AUGUSTINE LITTLE THEATER.
WE SEE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A COLLABORATIVE REUSE, MUCH AS EXISTED IN THE 1920S THROUGH THE 1950S AND PROPOSE TO RETURN THE WATER WORKS BUILDING TO A WORKING COMMUNITY ARTS VENUE.
A CLASSIC THEATER HAS SUCCESSFULLY PRODUCED QUALITY THEATER HERE FOR 14 YEARS, BUT FINDING AND RETAINING VENUE SPACE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CHALLENGE.
WE PROPOSE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ST. JOHNS CULTURAL COUNCIL, TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY TO OPERATE THE WATER WORKS AS A COMMUNITY ARTS VENUE.
THE WATER WORKS WOULD BE THE HOME FOR OUR PRODUCTIONS, AS WELL AS FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHER ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, BOTH PERFORMING ARTS AS WELL AS VISUAL ARTS.
WE RECOGNIZE THE INTENSE NEED FOR SUCH VENUES IN OUR CITY, FOR ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS OURS, AND BELIEVE THAT OUR EXPERIENCE, TECHNICAL AND ARTISTIC, AS WELL AS THAT OF THE CULTURAL COUNCIL, WOULD ENHANCE THE ARTS COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR CULTURALLY RICH AND DIVERSE CITY.
WHAT WE ENVISION IS A VENUE WHERE THEATER, DANCE, VISUAL ARTS, AND COMMUNITY USE CAN COEXIST WITH THE GOAL OF CREATING A SELF-SUSTAINING VENUE TO ENHANCE THE ARTS IN ST. AUGUSTINE.
WE BELIEVE THAT WATER WORKS CAN BECOME A LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE ARTS IN ST. AUGUSTINE.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION AND WOULD WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER DISCUSS OUR PROPOSAL WITH THE CITY.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR LISTENING.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRISTINA PARISH STONE. GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M CHRISTINA PARISH STONE, WITH THE ST. JOHNS CULTURAL COUNCIL AT 15 OLD MISSION AVENUE.
I'M ALSO HERE TO SPEAK TO THE WATER WORKS BUILDING.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON THE BEAUTIFUL RESTORATION OF THAT FACILITY THAT'S BEEN SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR COMMUNITY FOR SO MANY YEARS.
I'M GLAD THAT I'M FOLLOWING NANCY BECAUSE SHE SET THE STAGE FOR WHAT THE CULTURAL COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN AT THAT BUILDING.
WE HAVE SUBMITTED A PROPOSAL UNSOLICITED TO THE CITY MANAGER, ASKING THAT THE CITY CONSIDER A COLLABORATION WITH THE CULTURAL COUNCIL WHERE WE WOULD ASSIST YOU WITH ACTIVATING THAT BUILDING.
WE ARE NOT A PRESENTER OURSELVES.
WE'RE THE LOCAL ARTS AGENCY FOR ST. JOHNS COUNTY, AND WE WORK WITH ALL OF THE LOCAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS.
OUR MISSION IS TO SUPPORT THEM.
OUR CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY PROVIDES US WITH FUNDS TO PROVIDE GRANTS FOR THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AND TO HANDLE MARKETING FOR THOSE ORGANIZATIONS.
WE HAVE FINANCIAL CAPACITY TO MANAGE THAT BUILDING AND COVER ALL THE COSTS OF DAILY MAINTENANCE.
WE ALSO HAVE THE STAFF THAT COULD BE IN PLACE TO OPERATE THE BUILDING AND MAINTAIN A SCHEDULE SO THAT LOCAL CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS COULD USE THE FACILITY AT A VERY LOW OR NO COST.
IT'S IN AN INCREDIBLE LOCATION FOR PLACE-MAKING, NEXT TO THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY LIBRARY, WHICH I CONSIDER ONE OF THOSE CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT MIGHT LIKELY USE THE FACILITY AND A PUBLIC PARK.
I HOPE THAT WE'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS PROPOSAL WITH YOU FURTHER AND LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I HAVE ONE CARD LEFT.
BUT BEFORE I TURN TO OUR LAST SPEAKER, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE AT THIS JUNCTURE THAT WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION DURING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS? SEEING NO ONE, OUR LAST SPEAKER IS MISS [INAUDIBLE].
>> WITH CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
ORDINANCE 2021-24, THE SINGLE-FAMILY UNITS STORMWATER UTILITY, WATER BILL FEE SHOULD NOT BE INCREASED BY RESOLUTION.
[00:10:02]
THE USE OF THE WORD, MAY IN THE LEGAL MAMBO JUMBO ACTUALLY MEANS WILL.ALLOWING THE STORMWATER CHARGE AND WATER BILLS TO INCREASE ABOVE THE CPI IS ONCE AGAIN MANIPULATING WORDS TO ALLOW CHARGING THOSE WHO DO NOT CEMENT DRIVEWAYS, ETC TO BEAR THE BURDEN OF THOSE WHO CREATE STORMWATER RUNOFF.
NUMBER 1, HOW MANY PROPERTY OWNERS PAY THE MINIMUM 51.40 ON THEIR WATER BILLS, WHICH INCLUDES THE CHARGE FOR STORMWATER? NUMBER 2, WITH THE FUTURE INCREASE FOR STORMWATER, WHAT AMOUNT WILL NOT INCREASINGLY THE MINIMUM ON THOSE PAYING 51.40 ACROSS THE CITY? HOPEFULLY, THE SECOND APPOINTMENT TO THE PCB, WHICH WILL BE MAKING TONIGHT, WILL NOT BE CRONYISM BY POLITICIANS, BUT BY A QUALIFIED PERSON.
QUESTION 3, WHO WILL REPLACE MS. WOLF WHO IS RESIGNING? DO NOT MAKE YOUR HOME IN THE CITY LIMITS OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
DECISIONS BY BUREAUCRATS AND POLITICIANS ARE DESTROYING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS.
HOPEFULLY, THEY ATTACK ON DOLPHIN DRIVE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HEARD ABOUT THAT, WILL NOT BE HANDLED LIKE THE ONE ON ANDERSON IN EASTMAN.
BUT GETTING BACK TO THE WATER BILLS IF THOSE ARE MAKING OR HAVING PAYING THE MINIMUM SINCE EVER, 51.40 THAT WAS INCREASED, IF THEY ARE NOT GIVEN AN INCREASE IN THEIR WATER BILLS, HOW MUCH WILL THE CITY LOSE BY THEM STAYING AT 51.40? THAT'S MY QUESTION. HOPEFULLY, SOMETIME SOMEONE WILL BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT.
BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN CONSERVING AND DOING THE RIGHT THING OVER THE YEARS TO BE BENEFITING, NOT JUST AUTOMATICALLY INCLUDED ON INCREASES TO THE WATER BILL.
THE WATER BILL, THE STORMWATER, AND NOW THE TRASH.
THAT'S THE ONE YOU SEEM TO GO TO ALL THE TIME AND IT'S AFFECTING A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE ON A LIMITED INCOME OR HAVE BEEN AFFECTED TOO BY THE INCREASE IN ANYTHING THAT WE HAVE TO BUY NOWADAYS BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19.
I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THAT AND HOPEFULLY, SOMETHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION AT THIS TIME, DURING JOURNAL OPEN COMMENTS? I HAVE NO FURTHER CARDS.
SEEING NO ONE, [NOISE] THE PUBLIC COMMENTS SECTION IS NOW CLOSED.
WE'RE ON ITEM 7A1, A PRESENTATION FROM THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL COUNCIL.
>> I'M SORRY, I JUST GET AHEAD OF MYSELF.
THE CONSENT AGENDA. CITY MANAGER,
[5. CONSENT AGENDA]
WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE CONSENT AGENDA?>> MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS ON TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA, THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCES ARE TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR SECOND READING ON OCTOBER 11TH, 2021.
ORDINANCE 2021-17, ORDINANCE 2021-24, ORDINANCE 2021-25, ORDINANCE 2021-26, AND ORDINANCE 2021-28.
WE HAVE A REMINDER OF UPCOMING MEETINGS, OCTOBER 11TH, 2021, 3:00 PM, SPECIAL COMMISSION MEETING, WHICH IS BASED ON OUR CONVERSATION EARLIER HAS NOW TAKEN OFF.
OCTOBER 11TH, 2021, 5:00 PM REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING, OCTOBER 25TH, 2021 5:00 PM REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING, NOVEMBER 8TH, 2021, 5:00 PM REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING, DECEMBER 13TH, 2021, 5:00 PM REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
WE HAVE A RELEASE A LIEN FOR UNIT CONNECTION FEE MORTGAGE.
THE NAME OF DAN ALLEN DITMORE AS TRUSTEE FOR THE DAN ALLEN DITMORE REVOCABLE TRUST 731 CATHEDRAL PLACE.
WE HAVE ACCEPTANCE OF AUGUST FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, APPROVAL FOR PAYMENT OF INVOICE FROM CAVENDISH PARTNERS, AND THE MASKEVER CITY MATTER FOR $708.
THAT COMPLETES THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. REGAN.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA?
>> I HAVE A MOTION FROM THE VICE MAYOR, SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER HORVATH.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED.
NOW, COMMISSIONER HORVATH, PRESENTATION.
[7.A.1. Sean Lahav, Resiliency Coordinator with Northeast Florida Regional Council will discuss their Covid-19 economic recovery plan designed to bring communities together during this uncontrollable event. (R. Horvath, Commissioner)]
[LAUGHTER] THANK YOU.>> [LAUGHTER] I'M ON. I WANTED TO WELCOME SEAN LAHAV, WHO IS ON THE RESILIENCY COORDINATOR FOR THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL COUNCIL, AND HE'S HERE TO PRESENT THE TASKFORCE INFORMATION.
HIS BACKGROUND IS PUBLIC POLICY, LOCAL GOVERNMENT PLANNING, INTER-GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, AND CONGRESSIONAL LOBBYING.
HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN BRINGING US NUMEROUS SUBJECT EXPERTS AND KEEPING US ON TRACK.
[00:15:08]
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE PRESENTATION.>> GIVE ME ONE SECOND TO PULL IT UP, BUT TO GET STARTED, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT.
MY NAME IS SEAN LAHAV, AGAIN, RESILIENCY COORDINATOR FOR THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL COUNCIL.
TO START THIS PRESENTATION, I WANT TO SAY THAT THE FOCUS OF THIS PRESENTATION IS ON THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA COVID-19 ECONOMIC RECOVERY PLAN, A PLANNING DOCUMENT THAT WAS PUBLISHED IN MAY 2021.
ADDITIONALLY, THIS PRESENTATION WILL ALSO ADDRESS LOCAL GOVERNMENT ALLOCATIONS MADE AVAILABLE TO THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT.
HOPEFULLY, WE'LL GET THE PRESENTATION UP, BUT I CAN KEEP GOING.
THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL COUNCIL IS ONE OF 10 REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCILS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGION SERVES SEVEN COUNTIES AND 25 MUNICIPALITIES.
ST. AUGUSTINE, ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH, AND ST. JOHNS COUNTY ARE ALL MEMBER GOVERNMENTS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE COMMISSIONER HORVATH FOR HER DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE REGIONAL COUNCIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
SHE'S ALSO SERVED IN LEADERSHIP ROLES WITH THE FLORIDA REGIONAL COUNCIL ASSOCIATION AT THE STATE LEVEL AND MOMENTARILY I'LL TALK ABOUT ONE OF OUR RECENT EXPERIENCES TOGETHER.
GOING BACK ALL THE WAY TO THE PANDEMIC, WE REALLY SHIFTED OUR FOCUS OF THE TERM RESILIENCE.
THANK YOU. IS IT SHOWING UP ON THE SCREEN NOW?
>> OKAY. SOUNDS GOOD. GIVE ME ONE SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. HERE WE GO. THIS WILL WORK.
IN A PLACE LIKE ST. AUGUSTINE AND OTHER PARTS OF FLORIDA, RESILIENCE OR RESILIENCY HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN UTILIZED TO LOOK AT COASTAL FLOODING, SEA-LEVEL RISE, ISSUES RELATED TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
BUT DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE SHIFTED OUR FOCUS OF RESILIENCE TO ALSO ENCOMPASS ECONOMIC RESILIENCE.
WHEN WE'RE UTILIZING THIS TERM, WE'RE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW LOCAL COMMUNITIES CAN BOUNCE BACK TO NORMAL CONDITIONS AFTER LOSING FUNCTION FROM AN ECONOMIC SHUTDOWN, FOR INSTANCE.
BUT MOVING INTO THE FUTURE, IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO BOUNCE FORWARD, TAKE LESSONS IDENTIFIED FROM THAT PROCESS AND STRENGTHEN YOUR COMMUNITY MOVING INTO THE FUTURE.
GOING BACK ALL THE WAY TO THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, THE REGIONAL COUNCIL SHIFTED ITS RESOURCES TO RESPOND TO ECONOMIC IMPACTS.
ONE OF THE PRODUCTS PRODUCED WAS A SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCE GUIDE.
THIS WAS SHARED WITH MUNICIPALITIES ALL ACROSS THE REGION, INCLUDING ST. AUGUSTINE.
WE ALSO UTILIZED ECONOMIC FORECASTING SOFTWARE TO PRODUCE THREE SEPARATE STUDIES TO MONITOR DIFFERENT IMPACTS TO INDUSTRIES AND SECTORS ACROSS THE REGION.
THEN OVER A YEAR AGO IN AUGUST 2020, THE REGIONAL COUNCIL RECEIVED A FEDERAL GRANT FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION THROUGH THE CARES ACT.
UTILIZING THIS FUNDING, WE ESTABLISHED THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA ECONOMIC RESILIENCE TASKFORCE, A POLICY BODY COMPRISED OF 20 LEADERS FROM ACROSS NORTHEAST FLORIDA REPRESENTING DIFFERENT INTERESTS.
COMMISSIONER HORVATH HAS SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE ECONOMIC RESILIENCE TASKFORCE.
SHE'S BEEN VERY ENERGETIC THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS AND REALLY BROUGHT A LOT OF PERSPECTIVE TO THE DISCUSSION.
TO BEGIN THE WORK OF THE TASK FORCE, ORIGINAL COUNCIL STAFF PRODUCED A 100-PAGE BRIEFING GUIDE THAT PROVIDED DETAILED DATA AND INFORMATION FROM BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND AFTER THE PANDEMIC.
HERE FOR EXAMPLE, ARE SOME DATA INDICATORS FOR ST. JOHNS COUNTY RELATED TO BROADBAND, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND OTHER DEMOGRAPHIC COMPONENTS.
THIS MIGHT BE USEFUL AS YOU'RE APPLYING FOR A NEW GRANT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, AND THIS IS A VALUE ADDED RESOURCE.
BUT WHAT I'M REALLY HERE TO TALK ABOUT IS THE COVID-19 ECONOMIC RECOVERY PLAN.
THIS IS A 40-PAGE PLANNING DOCUMENT THAT WAS PRODUCED BY THE TASK FORCE OVER A PERIOD OF SEVERAL MONTHS.
THE TASKFORCE ENGAGED IN A SERIES OF PRIORITY AREA MEETINGS, FOCUSED AROUND INFRASTRUCTURE, SUPPORT AND RELIEF FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND EQUITY.
WITHIN EACH OF THOSE PRIORITY AREAS, THE TASKFORCE IDENTIFIED POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT COULD ASSIST LOCAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS NORTHEAST FLORIDA.
BEFORE BRIEFLY GETTING INTO THE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS, REALLY JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT MORE THAN TWO DOZEN ORGANIZATIONS WERE A PART OF THIS PROCESS THROUGH GUEST SPEAKER PRESENTATIONS, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND SUPPORT.
WE ALSO HAD REALLY GREAT SUPPORT FROM THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AS WELL AS THE ST. JOHN'S HOUSING PARTNERSHIP WITH BILLY OORE, ALSO SERVING AS A MEMBER.
HERE ARE SOME FACES OF THE TASKFORCE MEMBERS WHO SERVED.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THAT REUBEN FRANKLIN, FROM THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE WAS A MEMBER, AS WELL AS BOB PORTER FROM THE ST. JOHN'S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
[00:20:01]
REALLY JUST WANT TO TOUCH ON A FEW OF THE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE IN HERE THAT MIGHT RELATE TO ST. AUGUSTINE.ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT AND THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO RECEIVE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
IN TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE PRIORITIES, BROADBAND ACCESS BECAME A PRIORITY AREA OF CONCERN ALL ACROSS THE REGION WITH RECENT CHANGES TO WORK ENVIRONMENTS AND SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS, CONNECTIVITY HAS BECOME MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER BEFORE TO ECONOMIC SUCCESS.
ADDITIONALLY THERE ARE ISSUES RELATED TO CLIMATE RESILIENCE THAT CAN ALSO BE CONSIDERED WITHIN THIS CONTEXT.
I KNOW IN RECENT DISCUSSIONS WITH JESSICA BEACH, THE CITY'S CHIEF RESILIENCY OFFICER, AS WELL AS REUBEN FRANKLIN.
A LOT OF YOUR INTERESTS HERE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL IS ON ADDRESSING INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS RELATED TO STORM WATER MANAGEMENT AND FLOODING.
IN TERMS OF SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF, THIS WAS ANOTHER REALLY INTERESTING PRIORITY AREA.
WE HEARD FROM REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE JACKSONVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER AT UNF AND THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTER AT UNF.
WHAT WE REALIZED WITH THE TASK FORCE WAS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN PLACES LIKE JACKSONVILLE, BUT THOSE RESOURCES ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO ANYONE INTERESTED ACROSS NORTHEAST FLORIDA.
THERE'S SOME PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES THAT CAN BE EXPLORED BETWEEN DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS TO SEE WHAT TYPES OF RESOURCES CAN BE CONNECTED ON A LARGER SCALE.
ADDITIONALLY, SOME BEST PRACTICES WERE EXPLORED, INCLUDING CROWD-SOURCE FUNDING THROUGH ONLINE CAMPAIGNS LIKE GOFUNDME, WHERE BUSINESSES CAN RAISE COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO GAIN VENTURE CAPITAL TO SUPPORT THEIR GROWTH, AND FINALLY, THE ISSUE OF EQUITY.
I THINK THIS HAS BEEN ON ALL OF OUR MINDS THROUGHOUT COVID 19, THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT CHALLENGES THAT WERE EXAMINED WITHIN THIS PROCESS RELATED TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
WITHIN THIS PLAN, THERE ARE CONSIDERATIONS AND POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO BOLSTERING MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND UTILIZING THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT TO ADVANCED AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRIORITIES.
MOST RECENTLY, THE FLORIDA HOUSING COALITION GAVE A PRESENTATION ON HOW THIS MONEY CAN BE UTILIZED TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING OBJECTIVES.
I WILL MAKE SURE TO FORWARD THAT PRESENTATION AFTER THIS.
IN CONCLUDING THIS PRESENTATION, JUST HAVE A FEW MORE SLIDES THAT I'LL GO THROUGH PRETTY QUICKLY.
THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT HAS BEEN A REALLY INTERESTING THING TO NAVIGATE AND EXPLORE.
THERE'S A LOT OF GUIDANCE AVAILABLE.
THIS IS A REALLY GOOD RESOURCE.
THE LINK IS PROVIDED IN THE SLIDE THAT PROVIDES DETAILS SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO FLORIDA AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ACROSS THE STATE.
FIVE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IS COMING TO NORTHEAST FLORIDA THROUGH THIS INVESTMENT.
THAT'S A HUGE SUM OF MONEY AND THIS IS REALLY A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY IN TERMS OF FEDERAL INVESTMENTS COMING DIRECTLY TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
ACCORDING TO THESE ESTIMATES, ST. AUGUSTINE WILL RECEIVE UPWARDS OF AROUND $6.5-$7 MILLION; IS THAT ACCURATE?
>> WELL, THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR. THESE ARE JUST SOME ESTIMATES OF HOW IT'S BEING DISTRIBUTED ACROSS THE REGION.
OBVIOUSLY, JACKSONVILLE IS RECEIVING A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY AS WELL AS ST. JOHNS COUNTY, BUT THERE'S SOME DIFFERENT COMPONENTS THAT PLAY.
WHAT WE FOUND INTERESTING ABOUT THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT WAS THAT IT REALLY ALIGNS PERFECTLY WITH THE RECOVERY PLAN THAT WAS DEVELOPED BY THE TASK FORCE.
ALL OF THE COMPONENTS OF THE RECOVERY PLAN MATCH UP WITH FEDERAL PRIORITIES FOR INVESTMENTS.
WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE IS A POINT OF EMPHASIS, BROADBAND AS WELL AS INVESTING IN HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOODS.
THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO CONSIDER WITH THIS MONEY.
COMMISSIONER HORVATH IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS ALREADY.
BUT THE COUNTY MANAGER FOR NASSAU COUNTY, MR. TACO POPE, WHO IS ALSO AN URBAN PLANNER, THEY DEVELOPED A NASSAU PROSPERITY PLAN FOR THEIR JURISDICTION.
THE WAY THEY'RE EXPLAINING IT IS THAT THE CARES ACT WAS REALLY FOCUSED ON REAL-TIME ECONOMIC STABILIZATION, WHERE THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT IS FOCUSED ON LONG-TERM IMPACTS.
THEY'RE CONSIDERING MULTI-GENERATIONAL INVESTMENTS, SEEING MASSIVE RETURN ON INVESTMENT OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.
THIS MONEY CAN BE SPENT ALL THE WAY THROUGH 2026.
THERE'S SOME DIFFERENT IMPLICATIONS HERE COMPARED TO THE CARES ACT.
TWO MORE SLIDES AND THEN WE'LL BE DONE.
WE CAN OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS.
THERE WAS ANOTHER RECENT FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED OVER $3 BILLION IN SPECIFIC FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH RPA.
THE REGIONAL COUNCIL IS THE DESIGNATED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT FOR THIS REGION.
WE HAVE ACCESS TO FEDERAL RESOURCES AND CONTACTS AND ARE PROACTIVELY WORKING WITH PARTNERS ON THE GROUND TO IDENTIFY ELIGIBLE PROJECTS AND HELP THEM WITH FUNDING THESE PROJECTS MOVING INTO THE FUTURE.
WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO CONCLUDE RELATES TO
[00:25:03]
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE REGIONAL COUNCIL CAN PROVIDE.WHAT WE ARE ENCOURAGING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ACROSS NORTHEAST FLORIDA TO CONSIDER IS HOW THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA COVID-19 RECOVERY PLAN CAN BE UTILIZED TO POTENTIALLY SHAPES SOME OF THESE SPENDING DECISIONS.
REALLY THIS IS AN ADVISORY DOCUMENT.
THERE'S A LOT OF INTERESTING IDEAS IN HERE FROM ACROSS NORTHEAST FLORIDA, OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE, AND COUNTRY.
WE'RE SIMPLY ENCOURAGING YOU TO CHECK IT OUT, SEE WHAT'S INTEREST TO YOU WITHIN THE DOCUMENT, AND THEN MAYBE YOU RELATE THAT TO SOME OF YOUR SPENDING DECISIONS HERE ON THE GROUND IN ST. AUGUSTINE.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
JUST WANT TO MENTION AS WELL THAT A FEW WEEKS AGO WE PARTNERED WITH JESSICA BEACH FROM SAINT AUGUSTINE, ANGELA SCHEDEL FROM TAYLOR ENGINEERING, AND DR. LESLEE KEYS ON A FIELD WORKSHOP IN DOWNTOWN ST. AUGUSTINE, WHERE WE WALKED ABOUT 20 STUDENTS AROUND THE CITY TO LOOK AT COASTAL FLOOD SOLUTIONS.
WE LOOKED AT A LOT OF THE INNOVATIVE WAYS THAT ST. AUGUSTINE HAS ADAPTED TO SEA LEVEL RISE AND CLIMATE CHANGE AND FINISHED WITH A DISCUSSION IN THIS ROOM.
IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK HERE AND REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT.
ARE THERE QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?
>> MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE SPEAKER A QUESTION IF I MAY.
>> I SAW THIS QUESTION OF BROADBAND.
WE'RE NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF FIBER OPTICS, IT WOULD BE CREATION OF A WHOLE NEW UTILITY.
MOST OF THE AREAS ARE OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS ANYWAYS.
WHAT CAN WE DO AND WHAT IS THE VISION ON HOW TO IMPLEMENT BROADBAND ACCESS? WHAT CAN WE DO AS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO HELP FACILITATE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION?
>> THROUGH THE MAYOR, THANK YOU.
WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF INTERESTING DISCUSSIONS AROUND BROADBAND ACROSS THE REGION.
THERE'S A LOT OF SIMILAR NOTES BEING OBSERVED OR ARE MADE.
PUTNAM COUNTY AND OTHER COUNTIES HAVE RECENTLY HAD THE SAME DISCUSSIONS AND THEIR CONCLUSIONS IS THAT THEY HAVE TO REALLY START PUSHING THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO MAKE THESE INVESTMENTS BECAUSE GOVERNMENT'S NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO IT ALONE.
BUT IN TERMS OF AN INNOVATIVE SOLUTION THAT IS OUT THERE, IN NORTH FLORIDA, TPO, THE TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION AND THEIR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, SMART NORTH FLORIDA, RECENTLY DID A BROADBAND PILOT PROGRAM IN THE EASTSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD OF JACKSONVILLE.
THEY INSTALLED PUBLIC WI-FI TRANSMITTERS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD OF JACKSONVILLE AND CREATED A FREE PUBLIC WI-FI NETWORK ACROSS A NINE MILE RADIUS.
THAT'S ONE INNOVATIVE WAY, ESPECIALLY IN PLACES LIKE ST. AUGUSTINE, WHERE YOU HAVE AN EXTENSIVE DOWNTOWN AREA WITH A LOT OF TOURISM AND PEOPLE WALKING AROUND TO CONSIDER INSTALLING WI-FI TOWERS, CENTERS, ETC, IN PUBLIC PLACES TO CREATE THAT PUBLIC VALUE.
BUT IN TERMS OF COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL EXPANSIONS, THERE'S GOING TO BE A REAL NEED TO WORK WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.
>> WE DO APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN AND VISITING WITH US.
WE APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION.
>> WELL, HAVE A GOOD EVENING AND REALLY APPRECIATE BEING HERE.
>> MISS LOPEZ, WE ARE ON ITEM 881,
[8.A.1. Ordinance 2021-22: Modifies the definition of "salary" for firefighter pension purposes. (I. Lopez, City Attorney)]
SECOND READING, PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE 2021- 22.>> YES MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
THIS AMENDS THE DEFINITION OF SALARY FOR PENSION CALCULATION PURPOSES, FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS, IT DOES BRING IT IN LINE TO A SIMILAR LANGUAGE FOR THE POLICE PENSION BOARD AND AS WELL AS THE RECENTLY ACCEPTED COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT THAT BEGINS OCTOBER 1ST, SO THIS IS SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTIONS MISS LOPEZ.
AT THIS POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE 2021-22.
[NOISE] PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN, IS THERE ANYBODY THAT WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON THIS ORDINANCE? SAY NO ONE AND THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.
[NOISE] I WOULD MOVE APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE 2021-22 READ BY TITLE ONLY AND PASSED.
>> ORDINANCE NUMBER 2021-22 AND ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF ST. AUGUSTINE FLORIDA AMENDING SECTION 20-191, OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE MODIFYING THE DEFINITION OF SALARY FOR FIREFIGHTER PENSION PURPOSES, PROVIDING FOR SEPARABILITY, PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CODE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION?
[00:30:03]
SEEING NONE MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.>> THANK YOU ORDINANCE 2021-22 PASSES.
WE'RE NOW ON ITEM EIGHT B1 ORDINATES 2021-17,
[8.B.1. Ordinance 2021-17: (Public Hearing Required) Places "craft alcohol industry" into certain zoning districts. (D. Birchim, Director Planning and Building)]
THIS IS HERE ON FIRST READING, MR. BERTRAM.>> GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
ORDINANCE 2021-17 PLACES THE CRAFT ALCOHOL INDUSTRY USE IN CERTAIN ZONING CATEGORIES.
CRAFT ALCOHOL INDUSTRY AS A COMMERCIAL USE INVOLVING THE DISTILLING OR BREWING OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, THE RETAIL SALE OF THESE BEVERAGES, AND IN SOME CASES, CONSUMPTION OF THESE BEVERAGES ON SITE AS A BAR.
THIS NEW USE WAS RECENTLY DEFINED IN OUR CITY CODE AND THIS ORDINANCE PLACES THAT USE IN CERTAIN ZONING DISTRICTS AS A PERMITTED USE OR PERMITTED USE BY EXCEPTION.
THIS IS DONE IN DISTRICTS WHERE CRAFT RETAILING, WINERIES, CRAFT BREWERIES, AND BARS ARE ALREADY ALLOWED.
IN HISTORIC DISTRICTS HP2 AND HP3.
CRAFT ALCOHOL INDUSTRY IS A USE BY EXCEPTION WHICH MUST BE APPROVED BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD.
IF A CRAFT ALCOHOL BUSINESS WANTED TO SELL ALCOHOL FOR CONSUMPTION ON THE PREMISES IN THESE DISTRICTS, THAT WOULD REQUIRE A SEPARATE USE BY EXCEPTION ALSO TO BE APPROVED BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD FOR A BAR.
THIS IS FIRST READING AND A PUBLIC HEARING, AND I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS TO MR. BERTRAM AT THIS POINT? SEEING NONE, I'D LIKE TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON FIRST READING FOR ORDINANCE 2021-17.
THE PUBLIC [NOISE] HEARING IS OPEN, IS THERE ANYBODY THAT WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON THIS ORDINANCE? SEEING NO ONE THE PUBLIC [NOISE] HEARING IS CLOSED.
COMMISSIONERS, IS THERE A MOTION?
>> I MOVE WE PASS ORDINANCE 2021-17 ON FIRST READING.
>> ORDINANCE NUMBER 2021-17 AND ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF ST.
AUGUSTINE FLORIDA AMENDING CHAPTER 28 SECTIONS 28-165, 28-167, 28-209, AND 28-226 TO ALLOW FOR CRAFT ALCOHOL INDUSTRIES AS A PERMITTED USE.
AMENDING CHAPTER 28 SECTIONS TWO-184, 28- I'M SORRY, THAT'S 28-184, 28-185, 28-206, 28-207 AND 28-208 TO ALLOW FOR CRAFT ALCOHOL INDUSTRIES AS A PERMITTED USE BY EXCEPTION PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CODE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> THANK YOU MISS LOPEZ, ARE THERE ANY FURTHER DEBATE OR DISCUSSION?
DID YOU SAY 28-207 BECAUSE I DON'T SEE THAT ON THE ORDINANCE THAT I HAVE.
IT WAS 206 AND 208 BUT YOU MIGHT HAVE A MORE CURRENT.
>> THAT'S THE ONE I'M READING FROM WHAT IS ONLINE, BUT PERHAPS IT IS NOT THE LATEST AND GREATEST.
MAYBE OUR CLERK CAN CONFIRM THE SHORT TITLE, I DOWNLOADED IT FROM THE ONLINE VERSION BUT IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THERE'S AN ERROR.
>> DAVID WOULD YOU MIND TERRIBLY RE-READING THE SHORT TITLE THEN BECAUSE I THINK THE VERSION I DOWNLOADED IS INCORRECT.
>> CERTAINLY. ORDINANCE NUMBER 2021-17.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF ST. AUGUSTINE FLORIDA AMENDING CHAPTER 28.
SECTIONS 28-165, 28-167, 28-207, I'LL TAKE YOU BACK 28-209 AND 28-226 TO ALLOW FOR CRAFT ALCOHOL INDUSTRIES AS A PERMITTED USE.
AMENDING CHAPTER 28 SECTIONS 2-184, 28-185, 28-26, AND 28-208 TO ALLOW FOR CRAFT ALCOHOL INDUSTRIES AS A PERMITTED USE BY EXCEPTION, PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CODE AND THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> ARE YOU SATISFIED MISS LOPEZ WE HAVE THE CORRECT ORDINANCE AND TIME?
>> IF MR. BERTRAM BELIEVES THAT ALL THE CORRECT SUBSECTIONS ARE AS READ, I WILL TRUST HIS JUDGMENT.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU. MR. BERTRAM FEELS COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT WE'VE READ,
[00:35:01]
FURTHER DISCUSSION BY THE COMMISSION, SEEING NONE MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.>> YES, THANK YOU ORDINANCE 2020-17 PASSES ON FIRST READING.
WE'RE NOW ON ORDINANCE 2021-28, MR. BERTRAM.
[8.B.2. Ordinance 2021-28: (Public Hearing Required) As required by Florida law, this ordinance adopts a Property Rights Element into the City's Comprehensive Plan. (D. Birchim, Director Planning and Building)]
>> MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS ORDINANCE 2021-28 INSERTS A STATEMENT OF PROPERTY RIGHTS ELEMENT INTO THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
THIS ELEMENT IS REQUIRED BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA TO BE INCLUDED IN EVERY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND THE STATE HAS PROVIDED SPECIFIC LANGUAGE IT WILL ACCEPT FOR THIS ELEMENT, WHICH IS THE SAME LANGUAGE PROPOSED IN THIS ORDINANCE.
THIS IS ALSO THE SAME LANGUAGE THAT WAS REVIEWED AND RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD.
WE CANNOT MAKE ANY AMENDMENTS OR CHANGES TO OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UNTIL THIS REQUIRED ELEMENT IS ADOPTED.
WE LOOKED AT HOW 10 OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE HANDLED THIS, AND NINE OUT OF 10 SIMPLY ADOPTED THE STATES RECOMMENDED LANGUAGE, THE SAME LANGUAGE YOU ARE LOOKING AT IN THIS ORDINANCE.
I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE, THIS IS FIRST READING AND A PUBLIC HEARING.
>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE, I'M GOING TO OPEN UP THE PUBLIC [NOISE] HEARING, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE 2021-28.
I DO NOT HAVE ANY CARDS, IS THERE ANYBODY THAT WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON THIS ORDINANCE SEEING NO ONE, THE PUBLIC HEARING [NOISE] IS CLOSED.
COMMISSIONERS, FURTHER DEBATE, CONVERSATION, DO I NEED A MOTION?
>> YES, WE DO BUT I'LL JUST SAY THIS IS, YOU KNOW.
>> IT'S THIS DAY DOING IT'S THING INCREMENTALLY [NOISE] SO THERE YOU GO.
I WILL NOTE THAT I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE LOTS OF COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE HAD THIS, BUT NOW THEY WANT EVERYONE TO HAVE IT, THEY WEREN'T REQUIRED TO HAVE THIS.
>> BUT IT'S A STATEMENT OF THE OBVIOUS.
>> YEAH. I MOVE THAT WE PASS ORDINANCE 21-28, READ BY TITLE ONLY AND PASSED.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WE HAVE A MOTION OF A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER HORVATH.
>> ORDINANCE NUMBER 2021-28, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE FLORIDA, AMENDING THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO INCORPORATE CHANGES REQUIRED BY HOUSE BILL 59.
HOUSE BILL 59 REQUIRES THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ADOPT TO PROPERTY RIGHTS ELEMENT INTO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> IS THERE FURTHER CONVERSATION, FURTHER QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
THE ORDINANCE PASSES ON 1ST READING.
WE ARE NOW ON ORDINANCE 2021-24,
[9.A.1. Ordinance 2021-24: Amends Section 2905 of the city Code to provide the city with the ability to increase the Single-Family Unit Stormwater Utility Fee by Resolution. (M. Simpson, Director Financial Services)]
PERTAINING TO SINGLE-FAMILY UNITS, STORMWATER UTILITY FEES.>> GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR, MADAM VICE MAYOR, AND COMMISSIONERS.
MARK SIMPSON, FINANCE DIRECTOR.
TONIGHT, WE HAVE ORDINANCE 2021-24, WHICH AMENDS SECTION 2905 OF THE CITY CODE, TO PROVIDE THE CITY WITH THE ABILITY TO INCREASE THE STORMWATER FEE BY RESOLUTION.
THE WAY OUR UTILITY FEES ARE CURRENTLY STRUCTURED, THE CITY HAS THE ABILITY TO RAISE THE FEES BY THE COST OF LIVING ANNUALLY TO KEEP UP WITH THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX.
BUT ANYTHING OVER THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX IN THE STORMWATER FUND ONLY REQUIRES AN ORDINANCE.
ANY FEE INCREASES MUST BE APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION, CURRENTLY ONLY IN THE STORMWATER FUND.
WHAT WE'RE SEEKING TO DO IS MAKE THIS A LITTLE MORE UNIFORM WITH OUR OTHER UTILITY FEE INCREASES WHICH ONLY REQUIRE A RESOLUTION.
THEREFORE, THE ORDINANCE IN FRONT OF YOU ALLOWS YOU TO MAKE FUTURE FEE INCREASES TO THE STORMWATER RATES VIA A RESOLUTION AND NOT AN ORDINANCE.
THIS MAKES THE PROCESS MORE CONSISTENT IN OUR OPINION, AND WE CERTAINLY HOPE THAT WE CAN LIMIT OUR FUTURE FEE INCREASES TO THE COST OF LIVING.
BUT THE STORMWATER FUND IS THE ONE THAT MAY REQUIRE ANNUAL INCREASES OF MORE DUE TO ITS NATURE AND DUE TO OUR NEED FOR STORMWATER IMPROVEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
>> BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT ANY INCREASE WHETHER FOR SPECIFIC NEEDS OF THE FUND OR FOR COST OF LIVING HAS TO COME BACK TO THE COMMISSION.
>> WELL, I WOULD DEFER PERHAPS TO OUR ATTORNEY ON THAT BECAUSE THERE IS LANGUAGE THAT SAYS THE CITY MANAGER CAN ADJUST THE FEES BY THE COST OF LIVING ANNUALLY.
[00:40:06]
IT DOES COME BEFORE YOU, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE COST OF LIVING REQUIRES A RESOLUTION OR AN ORDINANCE.IT'S [OVERLAPPING] OVER AND ABOVE THE COST OF LIVING. I BELIEVE.
>> THAT'S CORRECT. THIS RESOLUTION OR THIS ORDINANCE WOULD REQUIRE A RESOLUTION.
SO, YES, IT WOULD COME BACK TO THE CITY COMMISSION, BUT ONLY IF THE ADJUSTMENT IS ABOVE CPI.
BY CODE, CPI IS DONE BY THE CITY MANAGER.
IF IT'S ABOVE THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, YES, FOR WHATEVER REASON, YOU ARE CORRECT.
FOR WHATEVER REASON IT WOULD NEED TO BE ABOVE THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, IT WOULD COME BACK TO THE CITY COMMISSION AS A RESOLUTION.
BUT IF IT IS SIMPLY BY AN INCREASE BY THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, THAT IS DONE ADMINISTRATIVELY BY THE CITY MANAGER.
>> MR. MAYOR, WE WOULD INCLUDE THAT ON A CONSENT AGENDA FOR YOU AS JUST A MATTER OF COURTESY.
IF WE'RE GOING TO RAISE FEES, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT WITHOUT NOTIFYING THE CITY COMMISSION.
>> I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF THE COMMISSION DELEGATING ITS AUTHORITY FOR AN AUTOMATIC RATE INCREASE, EVEN IF IT IS BY THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT SHOULD ALWAYS BE AN INTENTIONAL VOTE AND DECISION BY THE COMMISSION.
>> I SAID, I COULDN'T AGREE MORE.
>> THERE'S A REASON WHY IT WAS DONE THIS WAY.
I'M QUITE SURE THAT THERE WAS NO CONSENT AGENDA POLICY AT THE TIME IT WAS SET THIS WAY.
NOW WE HAVE A CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH WAS JUST MENTIONED AND WHICH EVEN ADDS MORE WEIGHT TO WHAT YOU JUST SAID.
HAVING THE ABILITY TO PUT THINGS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THERE'S ALWAYS A DANGER THERE IN MY OPINION.
I WANT TO GO ON AND ON, BUT I JUST AGREE WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
>> I HAVE NO CONCERNS WITH IT.
I DON'T HAVE A SENSE AS TO WHETHER IT SHOULD BE A RESOLUTION OR ORDINATES.
UNIFORMITY, ALL OF THAT MAKES SENSE. YES, MR. REGAN.
>> MR. MAYOR, I COULDN'T AGREE MORE TOO.
THIS ISSUE WHEN IT CAME UP WAS A BIT OF A SURPRISE TO ME.
I KNOW THERE WERE YEARS IN UTILITIES WHERE WE HAD A VERY SPECIFIC PLAN THAT RAISED UTILITY BY COST OF LIVING INDEXES, BUT IT WAS APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION.
IT MAKES ME DOWNRIGHT UNCOMFORTABLE THAT I COULD JUST BE RAISING RATES WITHOUT PUBLIC INPUT OR BY THE FINAL ARBITER.
>> THEREFORE, MR. LOPEZ, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IS IT A CHARTER AMENDMENT WE NEED OR AN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT?
>> NO, IT WOULD BE AN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT.
IF YOU'D LIKE, I CAN REVISE THIS ORDINANCE FOR NEW 1ST READING, SO SECOND 1ST READING.
>> TO REFLECT WHAT I'M HEARING [OVERLAPPING] FROM THE COMMISSION.
I'M SEEING NODS ALL AROUND. AM I CORRECT?
>> YOU WERE IN AGREEMENT THAT YOU REVISE THIS ORDINANCE TO REFLECT THE FACT THAT ALL INCREASES, REGARDLESS OF THE REASON, COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> WE ALSO FEEL STILL THAT THE CHANGE FROM AN ORDINANCE TO A RESOLUTION IS APPROPRIATE OR OKAY.
>> I DON'T HAVE A STRONG SENSE OF THAT.
ORDINANCE ALWAYS HAS KIND OF STRUCK ME AS MORE THAN WE NEEDED.
IF IT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE OTHER UTILITY FUNDS, I'M FINE WITH DOING IT BY RESOLUTION.
>> AS I RECALL, YOU SAID THAT THIS WAS THE ONLY INSTANCE THAT IT WASN'T BY RESOLUTION.
>> THAT'S CORRECT. LAST THURSDAY, WE ADOPTED THE SOLID WASTE RATES VIA RESOLUTION, UTILITY RATES VIA RESOLUTION, WATER AND SEWER.
STORMWATER, FOR WHATEVER REASON REQUIRED AN ORDINANCE.
SO WITH CONCURRENCY, IT WOULD BE FANTASTIC IF ALL THREE UTILITIES COULD HAVE SOME UNIFORM WAY OF ADJUSTING THE FEES AND WE'LL DO THAT IN AUGUST, NOTICE OUR CUSTOMERS IN SEPTEMBER, AND THAT RATES WILL TAKE EFFECT OCTOBER 1ST.
>> MR. MAYOR, FOR EXAMPLE, I'LL STATE THE OBVIOUS I GUESS.
LATER IN THE AGENDA, WE HAVE A RESOLUTION TO ADJUST THE FEES, SCHEDULE THE PLANNING AND BUILDING.
IT IS CONSISTENT, BUT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT I KNOW TO PUBLICLY NOTICE AND LET THE COMMISSION BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE DECISIONS ON FEES.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT UTILITY FEES AND INCREASES IN GENERAL.
WHEN WE MEET FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY,
[00:45:03]
RESILIENCY, SPECIAL WORKSHOP IN LATE OCTOBER, I'D LIKE TO REQUEST STAFF TO LOOK AT AN INCENTIVE STRUCTURE SO THAT THOSE WHO ARE USING LESS WATER, THOSE WHO ARE EMPLOYING PERVIOUS SURFACES AND OTHER WAYS OF REDUCING STORMWATER RUNOFF WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE A WAY TO GAIN A LOWER RATE STRUCTURE FOR THEIR ACCOMMODATIONS. THANK YOU.>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU, MR. SIMPSON.
WE'RE NOW ON ORDINANCE 2021-25,
[9.A.2. Ordinance 2021-25: Amends the zoning of 36 Granada Street (CL-1) and 8 DeSoto Place (RG-1) to Planned Unit Development (PUD). (D. Birchim, Director Planning and Building)]
PERTAINING TO A PROPOSED PUD, A PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT AT 36 GRANADA STREET. MR. BIRCHIM?>> THANK YOU, MAYOR, VICE-MAYOR, AND COMMISSIONERS. ORDINATES 202125 AMENDS THE ZONING OF 36 GRANADA STREET FROM COMMERCIAL LAW 1 TO PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT.
IT AMENDS THE ZONING OF 80 SUTTON PLACE FROM RESIDENTIAL GENERAL 1, ALSO TO PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT.
IT INCORPORATES BOTH PROPERTIES, ONE OF WHICH IS THE FORMER CORE ZONE THEATER ON 36 GRANADA STREET, AND THE OTHER IS A PARKING LOT ON THE SUTTON PLACE.
THE USES ALLOWED IN THE PUD INCLUDE ALL OF THE USES IN THE CO-1 ZONING DISTRICT.
PLUS IT ALLOWS FOR RESTAURANTS WITH MORE THAN 100 SEATS, AND IT ALLOWS A FULL LIQUOR LICENSE FOR THE RESTAURANT USE.
FOR THE 36 GRANADA STREET PORTION OF THE PROPERTY AND THE 80 SUTTON PLACE PORTION WILL BE LIMITED TO A PARKING LOT.
THERE ARE ALSO LIMITATIONS ON MUSIC AND LARGE GATHERINGS, OR LARGE EVENTS IN THE PUD.
THE FORMER MOVIE THEATER AT 36 GRANADA WILL BE REDEVELOPED AND THERE'S PARKING ON BOTH PROPERTIES WITH DRIVEWAY ACCESS FROM GRANADA STREET AS PER THE ATTACHED SITE PLAN.
THIS RE-ZONING WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD ON AUGUST 10TH AND TONIGHT IS FIRST READING.
THERE IS NO PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT, BUT I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE, AND THE APPLICANT'S REPRESENTATIVE IS ALSO HERE IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR HIM.
>> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS MR. BURTON?
I'VE SEEN THAT IT'S ON FIRST READING I THINK MAYBE WE STILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF FLEXIBILITY TO SAYING THAT IT'S A PUD TO ASK FOR PARAMETERS ON PERMITTED USES.
I UNDERSTAND THAT HE JUST TOOK THE CO-1 ZONING CATEGORY UP AS A WHOLE, BUT I WOULD RESPECTFULLY SUBMIT TO THE APPLICANT WOULD HE CONSIDER REMOVING TATTOO PARLORS FROM PERMITTED USERS?
>> GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR. I'M GARY DAVENPORT, THE ATTORNEY FOR THE OWNER AND APPLICANT.
ABSOLUTELY NOT A PROBLEM REMOVING THAT, OUR WAY OF COMING INTO THIS WAS TELL US WHAT YOU DON'T LIKE IN CO-1 AND WE'LL PROBABLY SOMETHING WE DON'T LIKE EITHER WILL ABSOLUTELY MAKE THAT IN THE CHANGE.
>> WELL, SOMETIMES IT JUST FLIPS RIGHT BY.
>>ABSOLUTELY. THERE'S A LOT OF USES THERE'S SOME THAT BOTHERSOME AND WE'VE SAID JUST TELL US WHAT YOU DON'T WANT WE WANT TO KEEP PROPERTY RIGHTS, BUT WE'D ALSO WANT TO REMOVE ANYTHING THAT PROBABLY WOULD NEVER BE THERE ANYWAY.
>> ARE THERE QUESTIONS OF MR. DAVENPORT, COMMISSIONER BLONDER?
>> ACTUALLY THERE'RE QUESTIONS FOR BOTH MR. BURTON AND MR. DAVENPORT PROBABLY.
I NOTE THAT THE PCB DISCUSSED THE PREVIOUS ITERATION OF THIS BEFORE IT CAME TO US AT LENGTH AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE ABOUT A FEW THINGS BEFORE I ASK THEM OTHER QUESTIONS.
THE FIVE TOWN HOMES OPTION IS OFF THE TABLE AT THIS POINT WITH THIS PUD.
>> THANK YOU. THE LEGAL DESCRIPTION HAS BEEN FIXED THAT'S TIGHT NOW AS WELL?
>> WE RECEIVED THE LEGAL DESCRIPTION FROM THE APPLICANT AND THEY DO HAVE TITLE INSURANCE.
WE DID NOT DO A SURVEY USING PUBLIC RESOURCES OBVIOUSLY, BUT THEY HAVE GIVEN US WHAT THEY ARE SHOWING AS THE TRUE AND ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTIES.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU THE REMAINING QUESTIONS I HAVE ARE FOR, THE APPLICANT'S ATTORNEY, IF YOU WILL PLEASE. THANK YOU SIR.
OVERALL, WE HEARD EARLIER ON IN THE PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT THERE IS SUPPORT,
[00:50:02]
BUT THERE'S ALSO CONCERN, AND I WANTED TO REGISTER SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS.A QUESTION THE PUBLIC BENEFITS OF THIS OVERALL, PUD.
BUT I DON'T SEE THAT THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC BENEFIT AND I AM WONDERING WHAT YOU SEE AS THE PUBLIC BENEFITS SINCE AM LOOKING AT SECTION 9 OF THE APPLICATION, I'M JUST NOT SEEING A WHOLE LOT.
>> THE PRIMARY PUBLIC BENEFIT WOULD BE RE-DEVELOPMENT OF A PROPERTY THAT HAS ONLY TWO SIGNIFICANT DISREPAIR.
ANESTHETIC. I'M LOOKING FOR SECTION 9 NOW, I DO REMEMBER IT THERE'S ANOTHER SECTION ABOUT REDEVELOPMENT.
>> ON PAGE 67 OF THE AGENDA, PACK IT.
>> AGAIN, THERE'S ANOTHER SECTION OF THE ORDINANCE THAT DARE TALKS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF RE-DEVELOPMENT OF BLIGHT OR AREAS THAT ARE FALLEN INTO DECLINE.
THIS IS INTENDED TO BE A COFFEE SHOP AND A BAKERY, THAT TYPE OF THING, IN A PEDESTRIAN AREA, AS WE ALL KNOW IS RIGHT HERE NEXT TO CITY HALL.
THERE'S A DEMAND FOR THAT AT THIS TIME.
WE WILL BE PROVIDING ENTIRELY OUR OWN PARKING ON THEIR SITE, CONTRARY TO A LOT OF IT WHAT A LOT OF BUSINESSES YOUR DOING AND OTHER BUSINESSES ALONG GRANADA WISP.
WHETHER THAT'S A NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE, IT'S NEUTRAL ON A NORMAL ZONING SITUATION, BUT IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, WE'RE PROVIDING ALL OF YOUR OWN PARKING. IT'S SIGNIFICANT.
>> ALL RIGHT. THOSE ARE A COUPLE OF PUBLIC BENEFITS AND I'M STILL NOT CLEAR ON HOW THEY WEIGH ON THIS SCALE.
ANOTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS WHETHER YOU CAN REDUCE THE CAB CUTS IN THE PARKING LOT.
THREE SEEMS TO BE EXCESSIVE TO ME.
AS WE ARE TRYING TO ENHANCE PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE SAFETY THROUGHOUT THE CITY, I THINK ANY ATTEMPT TO REDUCE CAB CUTS WOULD ACTUALLY WEIGH MORE HEAVILY IN THE PUBLIC BENEFIT, AND I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO SEE THAT.
>> I WILL ASK OUR DESIGNER TO LOOK AT THAT.
>> THANK YOU. THE PCB NOTED THAT THERE WASN'T A SEATING CHART AND I KNOW THAT GOES HAND IN HAND WITH THE PARKING.
BUT AT LEAST A COUPLE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE PCB STATED THAT THE OTHER PUDS THAT THEY'VE SEEN IN THE PAST WE'RE ALL MORE FINALIZED, THEY WERE MORE COMPLETE AND INCLUDED THE SEATING CHART.
I'M CURIOUS AS TO WHY WE STILL DON'T HAVE ONE.
>> WHAT WE TALKED WITH MR. BURTON ABOUT IS WE PROPOSED TO BE THREE USES THERE.
AS EACH ONE COMES IN TO GET THEIR DEVELOPMENT PLAN APPROVED OR CONSTRUCTION PLANS, THEY'LL HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR THE PARKING.
AT THIS SIZE AND THE SEATING CHART IS CONTROLLED BY THE PARKING AND IS NOT.
WE DON'T HAVE IT DONE IN THIS PART OF LAND RATHER THAN PROVIDING THE PARKING TO MEET THE SEATING, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SEATING IS GOING TO BE THIS IS AN EARLY STAGE AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET A CONCEPT APPROVED HERE.
THE PARKING WILL DRIVE THE SEATING RATHER THAN THE SEATING DRIVING THE PARKING.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT NOTE.
A LITTLE BIT LIGHTER STUFF HERE [LAUGHTER].
IN THE LANDSCAPING PLAN, I SEE THAT YOU HAVE SEVERAL NATIVE SPECIES. SORRY, THAT'S MY THING.
BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE APPLICANT TO FOCUS ON ENTIRELY NATIVE SPECIES, PERHAPS OUT IN A RAIN GARDEN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AGAIN, INCREASING THE PUBLIC BENEFIT BY REDUCING IRRIGATION, WATER USE, AND SO FORTH, WOULD BE AN INCREASE IN YOUR PUBLIC BENEFIT AND WOULD HELP WEIGH MORE HEAVILY IN THAT DIRECTION.
A CONCERN I HAVE IS THE RIDE-SHARE PROGRAM AND HOW THAT WOULD BE ENFORCED.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE A VERY DIFFICULT THING TO ENFORCE.
YOU'RE DEPENDENT ON THAT FOR YOUR PARKING SPACES.
I WANT TO BRING THAT POINT FORWARD.
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY IT.
>> IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH MR. [INAUDIBLE] DEVELOPMENT.
HE'S ONE OF THE PARTNERS, NATIVE SPECIES IS ONE OF HIS [OVERLAPPING] HE REALLY LIKES TO, SO I'M SURE THAT WON'T BE A PROBLEM.
[00:55:01]
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> TO RESPOND TO COMMISSIONER BLONDER'S DISCUSSION ON THREE ENTRYWAYS FROM [NOISE] DESOTO PLACE TO THE PARKING, I THINK PART OF THAT IS DRIVEN BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY A ONE-WAY AISLE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE PROPERTY.
YOU'D HAVE TO COME DOWN, CHECK IF THERE'S PARKING THERE.
IF THERE'S NOT, YOU COME DOWN THERE.
THUS, DESOTO BEING A ONE-WAY STREET IS PART OF THE PROBLEM.
SEE, YOU'D HAVE TO U-TURN HERE TO COME BACK AND U-TURN.
I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THE CURB CUTS ARE THERE BECAUSE OF THIS ONE-WAY DRIVE AND THE ONE-WAY STREET HERE. BUT- [OVERLAPPING]
>> I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THAT.
I'M JUST WONDERING IF THERE'S ANOTHER ENGINEERING SOLUTION THAT MIGHT ALLOW A CURB CUT OR TWO TO BE REMOVED.
>> I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT, MAYBE IT NEEDS TO BE A TWO-WAY ROAD HERE WHICH GIVES UP SOME PARKING WHICH REFLECTS IN YOUR SITTINGS.
I WOULD CONCUR THAT I'D LIKE THAT LOOKED AT AS WELL IN THE THREE ENTRYWAYS TO DESOTO [OVERLAPPING] EXIT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. ONE THING IS NOT IN THE PUD, BUT I GUESS I DID ADDRESS IT IN THERE.
THE PEAK PARKING WILL BE THE EVENING RESTAURANT TIME, AND THE PLAN IS TO HAVE A VALET PARKING THROUGH THERE SO WE WILL ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO CONTROL THAT TRAFFIC.
WE KNOW WHERE THE SPOTS AT BECAUSE THERE'S VALET PARKING.
IT WON'T BE PEOPLE WILL COME IN AND OUT LOOKING FOR SPOTS, WE WOULD HAVE OPEN PARKING UPFRONT, VALET PARKING IN THE BACK, SO ON RESTRICTED AREAS THE GUY WAS PARKING THE CAR KNOWS WHETHER THERE'S A SPOT THERE OR NOT.
>> THAT MAKES GOOD SENSE EXCEPT THAT I WOULD SAY THAT YOUR LUNCH IS GOING TO BE THE DETERMINING FACTOR BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT BOTH RESTAURANTS OPERATING TOGETHER.
>> AGAIN, THE RESTAURANT, NOT THE COFFEE SHOP, BUT THE RESTAURANT IS INTENDED TO BE A VERY NICE RESTAURANT, IS OLDER, I KNOW CAUSE WHAT IT'S CALLED, SO THAT'S THE PLACE WHERE PEOPLE EXPECT WHETHER LUNCH OR DINNER, EXPECT VALET PARKING.
>> OTHER COMMISSIONERS? OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS?
>> I HAVE NO QUESTIONS, BUT I'M READY TO MOVE THIS ONTO SECOND READING SO WE CAN GET SOME INPUT FROM THE CITY OR FOR THE CITIZENS TO SEE WHAT WE HAD LAND WITH.
>> IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS, BUT I'D BE HAPPY FOR YOU TO MAKE A MOTION.
>> I MOTION WE MOVE IT TO THE SECOND READING.
>> WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND READ BY TITLE?
>> ORDINANCE NUMBER 2021-25, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE ZONING FOR APPROXIMATELY 0.75 ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT 36 GRANADA STREET, PARCEL ID NUMBER 203240-0000 AND H DESOTO PLACE PARCEL ID NUMBER 2032300000, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREINAFTER FROM ITS CURRENT CLASSIFICATION OF COMMERCIAL LOW 1, CL1 AND RESIDENTIAL GENERAL 1, RG1 TO THE CLASSIFICATION OF PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT, PUD, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR. [INAUDIBLE], I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SEVERAL OF THE THINGS THAT COMMISSIONER BLONDER SAID PARTICULARLY ABOUT THE CURB CUTS.
I DO THINK THAT DETRACTS FROM THE WALKABILITY OF WHAT IS A WALKABLE PORTION OF OUR CITY, AND SO THAT'S AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION FOR ME AS WELL.
I'M MAYBE THE ONLY ONE IN THE ROOM THAT REMEMBERS WHEN THIS WAS IN FACT A FEED STORE.
PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THIS PUD TO ME IS PAINTING THE BUILDING IN THAT HISTORIC LOOK.
THAT'S A HIGH EXPECTATION AND I THINK A REALLY ATTRACTIVE PART OF THIS PUD FOR MY PERSPECTIVES, THERE'S A LOT OF COMMUNITIES THAT ARE RECREATING AND PRESERVING THEIR BUILDING SIGNAGE.
I DON'T KNOW THE PROPER NAME FOR IT.
BUT I LOVE THE FACT THAT YOU'VE INCLUDED THAT AND I THINK IT'LL REALLY MAKE THIS A DISTINCTIVE PROJECT AND REALLY BRING BACK THAT 1920S, 1930, '40, WHATEVER THE YEAR WAS, SO I APPLAUD YOU FOR THAT.
>> THE OTHER OPTION WAS TO DO CO2, WHICH ALLOWS YOU TO HAVE THAT GREATER THAN A 100 SEATS AND TO BE ABLE TO SERVE FULL ALCOHOL AT A RESTAURANT OR A BAR, AND PCB DID NOT LIKE CO2.
WE WERE LED INTO THIS AND THEN HAVE WORKED THROUGH ALL THE PROCESS.
[01:00:04]
IT'S CHALLENGING BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW AND SEBASTIAN, PUDS ARE USUALLY LARGER, USUALLY FROM THE GROUND UP, NOT TRYING TO RECREATE OR REDO SOMETHING.SQUEEZING THIS NEED BASED UPON ONE PARTICULAR THING INTO A PUD BOXES HAVE BEEN CHALLENGING, BUT DAVID'S WORKED WITH US AND WE'VE GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE AT.
BUT HONESTLY, AS THE ONLY REASON, EVERYTHING ELSE WE WANT DO IS ALLOW IT TO ANY EXISTING ZONING.
>> CAN I MAKE A COMMENT AFTER WE MAKE OF IT?
>> BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO JUMP ON SOMETHING THAT YOU SAID. DO YOU WANT ME TO GO AHEAD NOW?
>> ABSOLUTELY IF YOU AGREE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THIS IS REALLY THE FIRST STEP. JUST THE FACT THAT YOU HAD ASKED THE QUESTION.
WHY ARE YOU ASKING FOR THE PUD TELLS ME THAT WE HAVEN'T QUITE GOTTEN, DAVID BERTRAM AND I, TALKED ABOUT THIS.
WE DIDN'T QUITE GET THAT FORMAT RIGHT ON THE PUD APPLICATION.
IT SHOULD BE STRIKINGLY CLEAR AS TO WHAT TYPES OF DEVIATIONS ARE BEING ASKED FOR WHEN WE DO A PUD.
THAT SHOULD BE THE FIRST THING.
WE SHOT FOR THAT WHEN WE REWROTE THE PUD ORDINANCE.
COMMISSIONER HORVATH REMEMBERS THAT.
WE WERE TRYING TO GET THAT RIGHT AND WE STILL DON'T HAVE IT RIGHT BECAUSE I HAD THE SAME REACTION WHEN I READ THIS WAS, WHAT'S THE DEVIATION? WHY DID THEY HAVE TO ACT? WHAT'S IN IT? I GET THE JUSTIFICATION.
I DON'T SEE A CLEAR JUSTIFICATION IN HERE EITHER, BUT THAT'S NOT UNUSUAL.
BUT I THINK WE SHOULD TRY WORK [LAUGHTER].
I'M SORRY, MR. [INAUDIBLE], THIS IS NOT YOURS, THIS IS REALLY OUR ISSUE.
ALTHOUGH I DO THINK THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER FOR YOU TO MAKE THAT MORE CLEAR FOR US.
BUT I THINK IN THE FUTURE WE NEED TO WORK SOME WAY OUT AND THE WAY WE GET THESE APPLICATIONS TO PLANNING AND ZONING.
MR. [INAUDIBLE] I ALSO WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO YOU FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO TAKE THIS UP TWO WEEKS AGO.
I KNOW YOU WAITED A LONG TIME AND I APPRECIATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING WITH OUR AGENDA. ALL RIGHT.
WE HAVE SPOKEN, WE HAVE A MOTION, IT'S BEEN READ.
UNLESS THERE'S SOMETHING FURTHER, MADAM CLERK IF YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
THE ORDINANCE PASSES ON FIRST READING.
>> MR. BERTRAM, WE'RE ON ITEM 983,
[9.A.3. Ordinance 2021-26: Establishes a maximum impervious surface (ISR) ratio of 70% for Single Family Residential Dwelling development. (D. Birchim, Director Planning and Building)]
ORDINATES 2021-26 PERTAINING TO THE IMPERVIOUS SURFACE RATIO FOR SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DWELLING DEVELOPMENT.>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. ORDINATES 2021-26 ESTABLISHES A 70 PERCENT MAXIMUM IMPERVIOUS SURFACE RATIO FOR SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN ANY ZONING DISTRICT THAT ALLOWS SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.
IT ALSO DEFINES THE TERM IMPERVIOUS SURFACE RATIO.
THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH THIS COUNTY'S MAXIMUM IMPERVIOUS SURFACE RATIO.
THIS IS PART OF OUR ONGOING RESILIENCY EFFORTS AND THIS STARTED WITH THE WORK OF COMMISSIONER VALDES WITH THE BUILDING CODE TASK FORCE.
THIS WAS IN FACT ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE BUILDING CODE TASK FORCE.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. QUESTIONS?
>> NO QUESTION. JUST A COMMENT THAT I THINK THIS IS A GREAT IDEA.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE NO SUCH RESTRICTION AND ALL OF THE SURFACES THAT ARE DEVELOPED COULD BE IMPERVIOUS.
SO THIS IS A GOOD STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND I APPRECIATE MY FELLOW COMMISSIONER'S WORK WITH HIS TASK FORCE ON THIS.
>> I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION, DAVID.
WHEN WILL WE BE SEEING THE REST OF THE TASK FORCE WORK?
>> THIS IS THE LAST OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE TASK FORCE ALSO INSTRUCTED STAFF TO HAVE A MORE ROBUST GRADING AND DRAINAGE PLAN SUBMITTED WITH THE BUILDING PERMIT PACKAGE FOR NEW SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.
WE HAVE CREATED THAT PROGRAM AND SHOWN THE PLANNING BOARD WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO IMPLEMENT THAT.
THEY DEBATED THE CONCEPT OF TRYING TO CREATE INCENTIVES FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION, NOTABLY STEM WALL CONSTRUCTION OR PEER FOUNDATION CONSTRUCTION.
[01:05:02]
MEANINGFUL ENOUGH INCENTIVES TO MOVE THAT PORTION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS UP TO THE CITY COMMISSION.>> THIS IS THE LAST OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE WAITING TO BE IMPLEMENTED, THE 70 PERCENT.
>> THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THAT WITH THE RATE THAT BUILDING PERMITS ARE BEING PULLED AND THE RATE OF CONSTRUCTION IS OCCURRING. THIS COULD BE A MOOT POINT.
>> WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO MASTER PLAN TO COMMUNITIES SUCH AS MADEIRA OR ANTIGUA THAT HAVE THEIR OWN WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT PERMITS.
THIS WOULD BE INFILL DEVELOPMENT WITHIN OUR DOWNTOWN AREAS.
AGAIN, THIS IS TRYING TO PREVENT FLOODING FROM NEW INFILL HOUSING IMPACTING OUR OLDER ADJACENT HOMES.
LINCOLN BILL HAS A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION GOING ON.
YOU DRIVE DOWN LIBERIUS, ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE, YOU GOT THIS VERY CONTEMPORARY HOMES.
[INAUDIBLE] FOR DOING THE RIGHT WAY.
GET A LITTLE FURTHER DOWN TOWARDS SOUTH STREET, YOU GOT CONTEMPORARY HOMES GOING IN THERE.
[INAUDIBLE] DOING THE WRONG WAY.
WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF INFILL LOTS.
SO LIKE I SAID, BY THE TIME THIS GETS WRAPPED, WE'RE GOING TO BE WRAPPED ANYWAY.
>> BUT THIS PARTICULAR PIECE WILL BE DONE IN TWO WEEKS.
>> THIS PIECE IS GOOD. IT'S FLOWING PAST DUE.
>> I THINK MR. BLONDER OPENED THE POINT THAT I THINK THIS COMMISSIONER IS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE WORK THAT YOUR TASK FORCE DID.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO, PUN INTENDED, PERCOLATE THOSE IDEAS OUT AND ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT YOU AND TO SUPPORT STAFF WAS VERY NICE.
>> I GUESS I WAS REALLY JUST VENTING A BIT.
>> IT'S OKAY. BUT I'M TRYING TO MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER.
>> [LAUGHTER] I'M FEELING BETTER. YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB. [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER].
MAYBE IT'S JUST A MATTER OF EDUCATING PEOPLE TO THE FACT THAT DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY IS A BENEFIT TO OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DO THAT, WHETHER WE DO A LITTLE BLURB ON OUR WEBSITE THAT TALKS ABOUT PEER AND STEM WALL AS OPPOSED TO SLAB ON GRADE OR IN MORE PACKED EARTH UNDERNEATH THE HOUSE.
>> A LOT OF THIS HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY BUILDERS THAT INSPECT BUILDING.
THEY'RE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
THEY ARE ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE BOTTOM LINE.
THE PERSON BUYING THE HOUSE IS JULIE AND NOT KNOWLEDGEABLE, BUT WHAT THEY'RE BUYING IF IT'S A BAD IDEA.
IF I HAD KNOWN, I WOULD NEVER BOUGHT IT.
WELL, THEY DIDN'T DESIGN THE HOUSE.
YOU OR I WOULD NOT DESIGN A HOUSE TO GO IN A FLOOD PLAIN THAT CREATED MORE FLOODING PROBLEMS. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THE OTHERS ARE SIMPLY MOTIVATED BY BUILDING TO A COST AND MAXIMIZING PROFITS.
>> I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT.
HOW IS THIS AFFECT, EVEN I'M SURE IT MAY HAPPEN.
THERE ARE STILL VACANT LOTS DOWN IN THE HP DISTRICTS IN THE COLONIAL AREA.
HOW WOULD THIS AFFECT ME WANTING TO BUILD, FOR EXAMPLE, A 2ND PERIOD SPANISH COLONIAL?
>> IT SHOULD NOT AFFECT IT. [OVERLAPPING].
>> I FORGOT TO MENTION, IN THE HP DISTRICTS, IT'S AN 80 PERCENT MAXIMUM IMPERVIOUS SURFACE RATIO BECAUSE IN THE HP DISTRICTS THERE'S A 70 PERCENT MAXIMUM LOT COVERAGE.
WE'RE NOT PENALIZING ANYONE IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH THEY CAN COVER [OVERLAPPING] ON THEIR PROPERTY UNDER A ROOF.
WE GAVE A LITTLE 10 PERCENT ADDITION TO THE HP DISTRICTS BECAUSE THEY HAVE SUCH A HIGH LOT COVERAGE ALLOWANCE.
THIS SHOULD NOT AFFECT KNOCK ON WOOD ANYONE.
>> SURE. I DIDN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING AT ALL TO DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM USING THOSE STYLES ON.
THIS IS REALLY JUST ABOUT NEW CONSTRUCTION ANYWAY, RIGHT?
>> I WOULD MOVE THAT ORDINANCE 2021-26 BE READ BY TITLE ONLY, PASSED AND MOVE TO SECOND READING.
>> ORDINANCE NUMBER 2021-26 AND ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA AMENDING CHAPTER 28, SECTION 28-22, AMEND THE DEFINITION OF IMPERVIOUS SURFACE, CREATING A DEFINITION OF MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITY, CREATING SECTION 28-160 DIVISION THREE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS TO PROVIDE FOR REGULATIONS RELATING TO IMPERVIOUS SURFACES FOR SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DWELLINGS NOT WITHIN MASTERPLAN COMMUNITIES, AMENDING CODE SECTION 28-187 AND 28-188 TO CREATE AN IMPERVIOUS SURFACE RATIO, ISR REQUIREMENT FOR HISTORIC DISTRICTS, HP1,
[01:10:01]
HP2, HP3, AND HP5, PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CODE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT WITH OTHER ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ARE THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION OR DEBATE? SEEING NONE, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE ORDINANCE PASSES ON 1ST READING.
[INAUDIBLE] ON RESOLUTION 2021-38.
[9.B.1. Resolution 2021-38: Update to the Planning and Building Department schedule of fees and creating a new fee schedule. (D. Birchim, Director Planning and Building)]
RESOLUTION 2021-38, UPDATES TO PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT SCHEDULE OF FEES.
THE LAST UPDATE TO THE FEE SCHEDULE WAS 4 YEARS AGO.
THIS UPDATE CREATES AN APPLICATION FEE FOR THE CORRIDOR REVIEW COMMITTEE.
IT CHARGES A FEE FOR LEAN SEARCHES.
IT MOVES THE SUBDIVISION PLAT REVIEW FEE FROM CHAPTER 23 OF THE CODE INTO THIS FEE SCHEDULE, BUT IT DOES NOT CHANGE THE FEE.
IT CLARIFIES THAT SIGNIFICANT TREE REMOVAL AND APPEALS OF TREE REMOVAL PERMITS OF $165, WHICH IS THE SAME FEE WE CHARGE FOR CONSERVATION OVERLAY ZONE DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS.
FINALLY, IT UPDATES OUR BUILDING PERMIT FEES TO REFLECT CHANGES IN STATE LAW.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
>> ARE THERE QUESTIONS? I WOULD MOVE APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 2021-38. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
IS THERE DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE RESOLUTION PASSES.
COMMISSIONERS, WE ARE NOW ON A DISCUSSION CONCERNING
[10.A. Discussion regarding the future use of the Waterworks Building. (J. Wolfe, Historic Preservation Officer and C. Sakryd, Deputy Director General Services)]
THE WONDERFUL NEWLY REJUVENATED WATERWORKS BUILDING.>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
FIRST, I DO WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ATTENDING OUR OPEN HOUSE THAT WE HAD.
I THINK PERSONALLY FOR ME IT WAS A HIGH THAT I DON'T THINK I COULD EVER REPEAT IN ANY CAREER.
I WAS JUST SO VERY PROUD OF EVERYONE THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THAT WORK.
COREY, SACRED AND I ARE HERE TO LISTEN TO YOUR COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS ABOUT HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD TO FIND AN OCCUPANT FOR THIS GREAT BUILDING? IN YOUR PACKETS, YOU'VE HAD THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION.
YOU'VE HAD TIME TO LOOK THROUGH THAT.
WE'LL TRY NOT TO DWELL ON TOO MANY OF THE POINTS.
WE'LL JUST HIT THE HIGH POINTS.
BUT WE DO WANT TO DISCUSS THE CURRENT SITE AND BUILDING CONDITIONS AND EVALUATE THE POTENTIAL USES OF THE BUILDING. NOT TO GLOSS OVER THIS, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH EACH LINE ITEM, BUT THE COST FOR THE HISTORIC BUILDING REHABILITATION ITSELF WAS $1,115,307, AND THAT WAS MADE UP BY $639,000, ALMOST $640,000 FROM STATE GRANTS.
THE CITY CONTRIBUTED 475, SOME THOUSAND DOLLARS TO THAT EFFORT.
THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE COST OF THE ADDITION WHICH THE GRANT WOULD NOT PAY FOR, BUT IT WAS SOMETHING NECESSARY TO PROVIDE MODERN ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE FACILITY.
IT HAD BEEN CLOSED SINCE 2005.
UNFORTUNATELY, YOU ARE ALL ABLE TO SEE WHAT THE BUILDING COULD BE AND WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE IN THAT NEW SPACE.
SO WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE SOME GOOD OPPORTUNITIES TO DISCUSS.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO WANT TO PRESENT IS JUST LOOKING AT THE CURRENT SITE PLAN.
AS FAR AS THE VEHICULAR ACCESS IS CONCERNED, WE DO KNOW THAT THERE'S IN AND OUT ACCESS AT TWO POINTS, ON US 1 OR NORTH PONCE AND THEN ONE EXIT ACCESS OUT ONTO SAN MARCO AVENUE WITH A RIGHT TURN ONLY.
SO WE DO HAVE TO KEEP THAT CIRCULATION PATTERN IN MIND, WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT A NEW USE IN ADDITION TO PARKING, WHICH COREY WILL BRING UP IN A MINUTE.
THEN AS FAR AS THE INTERIOR CONDITIONS OF THE BUILDING, WE'VE SHOWED THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF EACH OF THE MAJOR ROOMS, AS WELL AS THE OCCUPANCY.
I WAS TRYING NOT TO FILL IT TOO MUCH OF THE SPACE, BUT WE DO HAVE AN AUDITORIUM STAGE, A STORAGE AREA THAT VARIES.
SOUTH EAST ROOM, WE CALL THE CULINARY PREP ROOM BECAUSE IT IS STUBBED OUT TO BE SOMETHING THAT COULD WORK LIKE A FOOD TRUCK WITHOUT A [INAUDIBLE] OR A MAJOR SYSTEM.
SOMETHING LIKE SANDWICHES AND COFFEE PREP OR ICE CREAM THING.
SO THAT WOULD WORK IN THAT SPACE.
WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE ADDITION TO HAVE THREE FULLY ACCESSIBLE RESTROOMS AS WELL AS THE LIFT.
[01:15:04]
JUST TO ORIENT YOU, ON THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE IS FACING SAN MARCO AVENUE.THE TOP IS WHERE THE LIBRARY IS, THE LEFT IS WHERE THE PARK IS, AND THEN THE RIGHT SIDE IS TOWARDS THE ARMORY FACING NORTH.
SO WITH THAT IN MIND, LET'S LOOK AT THE COMMUNITY SURVEY AND SOME OF THOSE LIMITATIONS AND COREY IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT THOSE.
>> MISS WOLFE, LET ME INTERRUPT YOU REAL QUICK.
>> THESE FOLKS ARE VETERANS OF THIS PROJECT AND I'M CERTAINLY NOT, WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR THE SECOND STORY AND WHAT POTENTIAL USES, ASSUMING THAT WAS BROUGHT UP TO CODE, ETC.?
>> THE SECOND FLOOR RIGHT NOW CANNOT BE INHABITED EVEN FOR STORAGE, BECAUSE IT'S NOT FIRE RATED OR STRUCTURALLY SOUND.
IF YOU WERE TO GO UP THE STEPS, IT DOESN'T HAVE THE RIGHT FLOOR DECKING.
THERE'S ONE OF THE LAST ORIGINAL TRUSS THAT'S BEEN PRESERVED IS UP THERE, AND YOU HAVE TO STEP OVER THAT TO GET THE OTHER HALF OF THE BUILDING.
BUT IT IS WHERE WE HAVE THE UTILITY ROOM FOR THE AIR HANDLER EQUIPMENT, THAT'S UP THERE AND IT'S ALSO WHERE WE HAVE THE PRESERVED DRESSING ROOMS WITH ALL OF THE NEAT GRAFFITI.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT KIND OF USE, EVEN LOOKING AT STORAGE CAPACITY IF THAT ONE AND TO BE BUILT OUT FOR STORAGE, HOW MUCH STORAGE COULD REALLY FIT IN THERE? THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE MIGHT HAVE TO CONSIDER.
>> AWARE, BUT WE DON'T EVER ENVISION THAT THAT'S NEVER GOING TO BE SPACED, THAT'S GOING TO BE AVAILABLE FOR PROGRAMMING?
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, SIR.
>> GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR.
GOING BACK TO WHEN WE STARTED THE INTERIOR GRANT, THE CITY WAS STAFF WAS ASKED TO GO OUT WITH THE PRESENTATION, WHILE TO DEVELOP A SURVEY, A COMMUNITY SURVEY.
IN THAT SURVEY, THERE WERE A FEW QUALIFYING QUESTIONS, BUT MAINLY WE WANTED TO FIND OUT WHAT KIND OF COMMUNITY VENUE WOULD ATTRACT YOU TO VISIT THAT HISTORIC LOCATION.
THEN ALSO THAT IS WHAT POTENTIAL BUSINESS VENTURE WITH THE PUBLIC ENVISION GOING INTO THIS LOCATION.
WHILE GOING INTO THIS, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE GAVE ALL OF THE LIMITATIONS AVAILABLE FOR THE PROJECT.
ONE OF WHICH IS THE BIGGEST ONE IS PARKING.
WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT ENTITIES THERE, THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY LIBRARY.
THEY HAVE THEIR STAFF AND PATRONS, WHERE THE NATIONAL GUARD, WHICH WE HAVE A COMMUNITY LEASE WITH UNTIL 2053.
ON DRILL WEEKENDS, WHICH ARE TWICE A MONTH, THE PARKING LOT THERE'S OVERFILL INTO THOSE AREAS.
THEN THE DAVENPORT PORT PATRONS.
WE ALSO HAD TO LOOK AT TENANT MAY REQUIRE ADDITIONAL FIRE CODE ALTERATIONS DEPENDING ON WHAT THEY [NOISE] WOULD DO INSIDE THE SPACE.
THEN OF COURSE, THE LARGEST THING IS WITH THESE GRANTS, THERE WAS A PRESERVATION COVENANT, THAT ALL INTERNAL CHANGES MUST BE APPROVED BY THE CITY, AND THEN THEY ALL MUST MEET THE STATE AND SECRETARY INTERIOR DESIGN STANDARDS.
[INAUDIBLE] MADE TWO QUESTIONS WERE AFTER THE QUALIFYING SUCH [OVERLAPPING].
HOW MANY PARKING SPACES ARE ACTUALLY UNDER THE NATIONAL GUARD'S CONTROL?
>> IT'S NOT REALLY LISTED IN THEIR LEASE, BUT WE'VE INITIATED THAT LEASE IN 1954, AND THEY'VE BEEN HOLDING DRILL WEEKENDS THERE EVER SINCE.
IT'S KNOWN THAT THEY'D BEEN WORKING OUT OF THE BUILDING, WHICH IS A CITY-OWNED BUILDING, AND IT'S A 99 YEAR LEASE, AND WE PROVIDE THEM PARKING IN THAT AREA.
>> THEY TAKE OVER THE WHOLE PARKING LOT.
THAT'S LIBRARY AND AND NORTH UP THE LIBRARY?
>> I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE LIBRARY, BUT I DO KNOW THAT DRIVING DOWN THE STREET TO THE NORTH OF THE ARMORY, THEY FILL THAT AREA ALSO, AND THEN TO THE SOUTH IN THE HISTORIC WATERWORKS PARKING AREA ALSO.
>> DID YOU SAY THAT THE CITY OWNS THE ARMORY?
>> YES. IT'S A CITY PROPERTY AND THE CITY HAS A LEASE SINCE 1954 TO THE ARMOR OF THE NATIONAL GUARD, SIR.
>> SO IN OUR SURVEY, AND YOU CAN SEE IT. THANK YOU.
THERE ARE REALLY TWO QUESTIONS THAT WE WANTED TO FIND OUT WAS ONE IS WHAT COMMUNITY VENUE WOULD ATTRACT YOU TO VISIT THIS LOCATION AND WE HAD QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DATA.
THE QUANTITATIVE WE TOOK FROM ONE JENNY'S PREVIOUS OPEN HOUSE.
WE TOOK A BUNCH OF THOSE SUGGESTIONS THAT WERE THERE AND WE PUT THEM INTO THE SURVEY.
BUT WE ALSO ADDED ANOTHER AREA WHERE PARTICIPANTS IN THE SURVEY COULD ADD THEIR OWN THOUGHTS.
[01:20:03]
WHEN YOU SIT AND LOOK AT THE QUANTITATIVE DATA THERE, YOU CAN SEE ONE OF THE LEADING IDEAS WAS ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISPLAY, [NOISE] COMMITTEE AND EVENTS CENTER, MEETING HALL.A LOT OF COMMUNITY ACCESS, HIGH IMPACT.
THOSE OTHER QUESTIONS AREN'T REALLY SHOWN ON THIS SCREEN, BUT THEY WERE ALL PART OF THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION TO THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE OTHER WAS REALLY GREAT BECAUSE THAT ALLOWED A UNIQUE AND PERSONAL MEMORIES OF THOSE AREAS AND THEY MIRRORED THE THINGS YOU SEE UP HERE FOR COMMUNITY USE.
THE SECOND QUESTION WE LOOKED AT WAS, WHAT KIND OF POTENTIAL BUSINESS VENTURE WOULD YOU ENVISION AT THE ST. AUGUSTINE WATERWORKS BUILDING? IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE PREVIOUS QUESTION, WE OFFERED SOME PREDISPOSED QUESTIONS, BUT WE ALSO GAVE THEM AN OTHER, AND SOME OF THAT OTHER THAT YOU DON'T SEE IS THERE IS, ALL OF THESE ARE LOW IMPACT, COFFEE SHOP, FOOD TRUCK VENDOR, SOUVENIR SHOP.
BUT ON THE OTHER QUESTIONS, THAT'S NOT REALLY SHOWN HERE, BUT IN THE LAST PRESENTATION, ALMOST 33 PERCENT WEIGH BACK TO A COMMUNITY USE, 26 PERCENT CAME BACK, SAID NONE BECAUSE OF THE PARKING ISSUE.
THEN ABOUT 19.65 PERCENT, 1/5 OF THEM SAID RESTAURANT TYPE USE.
>> SO WE WANTED TO FOLLOW UP AND LET YOU KNOW THAT, WELL, WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING ALL OF THESE YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE BUILDING AND WHAT IDEAS HAVE WE CONSIDERED, AND WE DID FOLLOW THE BEST PRACTICES APPROACH.
ONE OF THE THINGS IS TO HAVE A HISTORIC STRUCTURES REPORT DONE. WE DID THAT.
YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE SIX ITEMS THAT THEY LOOKED AT AS FAR AS CONSIDERING WHAT THE SPACE COULD BE VIABLE FOR.
BUT WE STARTED OFF GOING DOWN THE PATH OF THINKING OF AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL CENTER BECAUSE WHEN WE FIRST APPLIED FOR A GRANT, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY THOUGHT MIGHT BE A POSSIBILITY.
SINCE THAT TIME, WE FOUND OUT THAT WASN'T REALLY GOING TO BE THE MOST FEASIBLE OPTION FOR THAT LOCATION.
BUT THERE'S ALSO SOMETHING LIKE THE PRESERVATION RESOURCE CENTER OF NEW ORLEANS.
IN FORT LAUDERDALE, THEY TOOK A SCHOOL AND ADAPTED IT TO A SOUTHSIDE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER, WHICH HAS MULTIPLE ENTITIES THAT CAN USE THAT BUILDING AT ANYTIME.
I WOULD BE REMISS WITHOUT STATING THE OBVIOUS, THE FIRST AND BEST THING IN PRESERVATION IS TO USE A BUILDING FOR WHAT IT WAS ALWAYS WAS? THERE ARE TWO EXAMPLES, BOWLER SPRINGS AS IN GAINESVILLE.
BUT THERE'S ALSO A WATERWORKS BUILDING IN PALATKA, BUT THOSE RETAIN THEIR ORIGINAL PUMPING STATION EQUIPMENT.
THAT'S NOT REALLY APPROPRIATE IN THIS CASE, BUT THOSE ARE EXAMPLES OF OTHER SIMILAR BUILDINGS THAT HAVE EVOLVED OVER TIME.
WE'VE CONCLUDED THAT AS I SAID, THE BUILDING DOES NOT RETAIN ANYTHING TO INTERPRET IT AS A WATERWORKS PUMPING STATION.
WE DID EVALUATE WHETHER OR NOT IT COULD BE AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL CENTER BECAUSE EARLIER ON THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS BEING DISCUSSED.
BUT IT'S JUST NOT REALLY FEASIBLE.
OTHER ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROGRAMS HAVE SINCE DEVELOPED THEIR OWN NEEDS, SO THOSE HAVE CHANGED OVER TIME.
WE DO WANT TO NOTE THAT A TENANT AGREEMENT WILL REQUIRE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE LIMITATIONS THAT COREY'S BROUGHT UP.
WE WOULD SUGGEST THAT THERE IS A MASTER LANDSCAPE PLAN THAT IS DONE THAT REALLY CONNECTS THE DAVENPORT PARK AREA, WHICH REINTRODUCES THE WATERWORKS BUILDING, WHICH WAS HISTORICALLY THE DAVENPORT PART CLUBHOUSE, AND LATER THE DAVENPORT PARK PLAYHOUSE, REINTRODUCES THAT AS PART OF THE PARK.
SO PART OF THE PLAYGROUND, PART OF THE LIBRARY, MAYBE VISUALLY CONNECTING IT TO THE PEANUT CIRCLE AND WHATEVER LANDSCAPE PLANS ARE GOING ON WITH THAT.
SO WE WOULD ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON DEVELOPING A BUDGET TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN FOR THE LONG-TERM BENEFIT OF THE PROPERTY.
SO WE JUST TURN IT BACK TO YOU AND SAY THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE SOME COMMISSION PRIORITIES THAT WE'VE HEARD OVER THE YEARS, AND ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER THOSE IN WHAT WE ARE PREPARING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, AND THEN WE HAVE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOU TO LOOK AT, AND COREY IS GOING TO PRESENT THAT.
>> THESE ARE SOME OF THE COMMISSION PRIORITIES THAT CAME BACK FROM THE SEPTEMBER 2018 MEETING WHEN WE INITIALLY PRESENTED THE SURVEY.
OBVIOUSLY AT THE VERY TOP WAS PUBLIC ACCESS, REVENUE.
WHAT CAN WE DO WITH IT TO BRING BACK SOME OF OUR RETURN ON INVESTMENT? THERE WAS DISCUSSION ON LOW IMPACT, WHAT TYPE OF HOURS, CAN THIS BE SELF-SUSTAINING? GOVERNMENT USE.
BUT REALLY A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION CAME BACK WITH, HOW IS THIS GOING TO FUNCTION WITH A HIGH COMMUNITY USE?
[01:25:01]
STAFF [NOISE] DISCUSSED MULTIPLE OPTIONS AND STRATEGIES, AND WE BROUGHT UP A FEW HERE FOR YOU TO GENERATE SOME TYPE OF DISCUSSION.RIGHT NOW WE CURRENTLY HAVE THE GALIMORE CENTER.
IT'S CITY MANAGED AND THEN IT'S RENTED OUT.
IT CAN BE A CITY OFFICE SPACE.
EACH OF THESE HAVE THEIR OWN ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES.
I WON'T SIT THERE AND READ EACH BULLET POINT TO YOU, BUT THESE ARE SOME OF THE OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THE COMMISSIONERS TO DETERMINE WHAT WE WANT TO DO NEXT WITH THIS BUILDING.
CITY OFFICE SPACE, RESIDENT AND AN INFORMATION CENTER, SATELLITE SERVICE CENTER, ON THE NORTH SIDE OF TOWN.
WE CAN SOLICIT POTENTIAL TENANTS THROUGH SOME TYPE OF RFP PROCESS, VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID WITH THE MELDRUM COTTAGE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
THEN ALL DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS WITH SOME OTHER INTERESTED GROUP, FACILITY COUNTY AND ANY TYPE OF [LAUGHTER], THANK YOU, UNSOLICITED ENTITY, 501 C3S, A GOVERNMENT BUILDING, ETC.
THEN OTHER, LET YOUR IMAGINATION FLY.
>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. [NOISE]
>> WELL, I'M JUST GOING TO JUMP OUT THERE.
THANK YOU JENNY [NOISE]. I APPRECIATE.
THAT WAS A VERY THOUGHTFUL PRESENTATION. VERY THOUGHTFUL.
I WROTE THIS OUT BECAUSE I WANT IT TO BE PRETTY CLEAR AND CONCISE [LAUGHTER] OUT OF RESPECT TO THE MAYOR, HE LIKES TO KEEP IT CONCISE.
[NOISE] THERE ARE MANY THINGS TO CONSIDER AND I WOULD LIKE TO POSE A QUESTION TO YOU TO USE IN YOUR CONSIDERATION.
THE QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE MANAGE THIS VERY SPECIAL CIVIC PLACE TO ACHIEVE OUR CULTURAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL OBJECTIVES TO MATCH OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND MISSION STATEMENT? OUR STATED MISSION STATEMENT IS TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE THAT MEETS THE EXPECTATIONS OF OUR RESIDENCE AND CULTIVATES CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND PROACTIVE PLANNING THAT PRESERVES AND ENRICHES OUR COMMUNITY CHARACTER FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
THIS IS EVEN TRANSFERRED OVER INTO PUBLIC WORKS PRESENTATION WE HAD IN THE LAST MEETING.
OUR STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE FOR ARTS, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY, WHICH I PUT THIS INTO THE CATEGORY OF PRIMARILY, ALTHOUGH OTHERS IS TO BE MORE INTEGRAL PART OF THE COMMUNITY'SS RICH ARTS AND CULTURAL SCENE.
THE CITY WOULD LIKE [NOISE] TO PLAY A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ART AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS. I WANT TO KEY IN ON THAT A LITTLE BIT.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT MANAGEMENT BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SPECIFICALLY HERE.
SPECIFICALLY PASSIVE MANAGEMENT VERSUS PROACTIVE MANAGEMENT OF OUR CIVIC SPACES AND HOW I SEE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A NICE FIT.
PASSIVE MANAGEMENT IS WHAT WE DO NOW.
GALIMORE CENTER, ST. FRANCIS FIELD, ITS OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT.
IT'S A TAKE WHAT COMES APPROACH, THAT FACILITATES REQUESTS THAT FIT IN WITH OUR ESTABLISHED PARAMETERS FOR USE OF THE SPACES.
IT'S MANAGING A CALENDAR, PROVIDING GUIDELINES, FACILITATING EQUIPMENT NEEDS FOR EVENTS, AND SO FORTH.
PROACTIVE MANAGEMENT IS DIFFERENT.
IT DOES ALL OF THE SAME THINGS THAT PASSIVE MANAGEMENT DOES, BUT MORE.
IT USES THE MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC SPACES AS A POLICY TOOL TO REINFORCE AND CELEBRATE OUR IDENTITY.
PROACTIVE MANAGEMENT IS ON-SITE MANAGEMENT WITH REGULAR HOURS, BUT IT IS ACTIVE MANAGEMENT WITH A PURPOSE AND A MISSION THAT WOULD EXPRESS OUR VISION AND THAT IT WOULD ACTIVELY ENCOURAGE THE ARTS, EDUCATION, CULTURAL, CIVIC, AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMUNITIES TO FLOURISH AND GROW.
IN THE PAST, WE'VE HAD MANY HOURS OF DISCUSSION IN THE CONTEXT OF EVENTFUL CITIES, EXPRESSING OUR DESIRE TO USE OUR PUBLIC SPACES FOR PEOPLE TO ENGAGE WITH EACH OTHER TO SOCIALIZE, CELEBRATE THAT WHICH REFLECTS OUR VALUES AND IN MANY WAYS, WE'VE ACHIEVED SUCCESS AS PART OF OUR EFFORTS IN THE 4TH, 50TH COMMEMORATIONS.
IT SHOWED US TO OURSELVES, THAT OUR CULTURE IS DEEP, OUR HISTORY IS RICH, WE VALUE OUR DIVERSITY, WE CHERISH THIS PLACE AND PEOPLE, AND THAT WE ARE A LITTLE BIT SASSY EVERY NOW AND THEN.
[LAUGHTER] WE'VE SHOWN OURSELVES HOW PROACTIVE MANAGEMENT PRESERVES AND ENRICHES OUR COMMUNITY CHARACTER FOR GENERATIONS TO COME, WHICH IS THE MISSION STATEMENT.
IT SHOWS US HOW PROACTIVE MANAGEMENT WORKS BEST.
NOW WE'RE BEING ASKED TO CONSIDER PROPOSALS FROM AN ORGANIZATION, THAT IS OFFERING TO PROACTIVELY MANAGE THE HISTORIC WATERWORKS, THE CULTURAL COUNCIL.
[01:30:01]
WELL, WE MAY HAVE MANY OFFERS FOR VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS TO USE THE SPACE, AND WE MAY CONSIDER OUR OWN USE OF THE SPACE, AS STAFF HAS PRESENTED, THE CULTURAL COUNCIL'S MISSION STATEMENT IS TO ENHANCE ARTS, CULTURE, AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION.IT SEEMS LIKE AN EXCELLENT FIT WITH US.
I LIKE THE ASPECT THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE SYNERGY WITH OUR COMMON GOALS IF WE CHOOSE TO WORK WITH THEM.
I BRING US BACK TO THE ORIGINAL QUESTION, HOW DO WE MANAGE THIS VERY SPECIAL CIVIC PLACE TO ACHIEVE OUR CULTURAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL OBJECTIVES TO MATCH OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND MISSION STATEMENT? I WOULD SUGGEST AND ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THAT THE CULTURAL COUNCIL MAY BE SUCH AN ORGANIZATION FOR US. THANK YOU.
>> I'M PREPARED TO MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE THIS TO THE CITY MANAGER.
>> I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO SPEAK BEFORE ANY MOTION IS MADE.
[OVERLAPPING] I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I AM PREPARED TO MAKE A MOTION [LAUGHTER] TO INSTRUCT THE CITY MANAGER TO BEGIN PUTTING MEAT ON THE BONES AS HE LIKES TO SAY, OF ANY PROPOSAL OR PARAMETERS IN A COLLABORATION. THANK YOU.
[LAUGHTER] THE MAYOR CERTAINLY GREW UP GOING TO THAT VERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN NELMAR IN WHICH WHEN WE RETURNED TO FLORIDA 20 YEARS AGO, BOTH MY HUSBAND'S, MY HUSBAND'S A NATIVE, AND I GREW UP IN FLORIDA AND ST. AUGUSTINE HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF OUR FAVORITE LOCATIONS.
WE RETURNED TO RAISE OUR SON HERE.
WE LANDED IN NELMAR AND DAILY WALKED OUR SON ACROSS THE STREET AND ACROSS THE SAN MARCO TO GO TO DAVENPORT PARK TO GO TO THE CAROUSEL, TO GO TO THE LIBRARY, GRAB A BOOK OR TWO, DON'T LIKE THAT BOOK, GO BACK THE NEXT DAY AND BRING IT BACK.
IT IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART, THAT LOCATION, IT'S THE PART OF THE FABRIC OF MY FAMILY AND I AS A CITIZEN OF THIS CITY, KNOW THAT FAMILIES DON'T HAVE PLACES TO GO HERE AND HANG OUT FOR THE DAY.
THIS PIECE THAT'S BEEN MISSING FROM THIS CAMPUS BECAUSE IT'S BEEN UNDER RENOVATION, IS SUCH A CRITICAL PIECE TO KEEP AS PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
I'LL SAY IN A NUTSHELL, I HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF COMMENTS, YOU KNOW HOW I GET INTO THE WEEDS AND GET VERY SPECIFIC, BUT I'LL SAY IN A NUTSHELL, THIS CANNOT BE.
I WOULD BE VERY VERY DISTRESSED IF THIS BECAME ANOTHER TOURIST-FOCUSED LOCATION.
OUR COMMUNITY DESPERATELY NEEDS MORE THINGS FOR OUR CITIZENS.
OUR QUALITY OF LIFE HAS DECREASED.
MANY BLAME THE TOURISM INDUSTRY AND THE TOURISM-BASED ECONOMY.
I'LL BE DIRECT, THE COUNTY ORGANIZATION THAT HAS A GREAT FOCUS ON TOURISM, REGARDLESS OF THE FACT THAT IT IS THE CULTURAL COUNCIL AND HAS ALL OF THESE WONDERFUL ASPECTS TO IT, GIVES ME PAUSE.
ANOTHER CONCERN I HAVE IS ANY DEDICATED OFFICE SPACE TAKES AWAY THE POTENTIAL FOR LIBRARY READING GROUPS, SMALL HIGH SCHOOL PRESENTATIONS OR MEETINGS, OR COMMUNITY THINGS THAT ARE NOT GEARED TOWARD TOURISTS.
SPACES THAT WOULD BECOME OFFICES, WOULD BE REMOVED FROM OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE MEETINGS OF NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND SO FORTH.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT IF WE DO PARTNER WITH AN ORGANIZATION THAT WE ARE VERY DELIBERATE ABOUT HOW WE SOLICIT ORGANIZATIONS, I HAVEN'T SEEN A PROPOSAL, I'VE SEEN A VERY BROAD LETTER.
IT'S VERY GENERAL. IT IS NOT A PROPOSAL, AND I THINK IT'S PREMATURE TO CONSIDER ANYTHING THAT WE HAVE SEEN SO FAR COME THROUGH OUR EMAIL INBOXES OR WHATEVER AS PROPOSALS.
I THINK WE HAVE A WAYS TO GO, THOUGH OUR FOCUS NEEDS TO BE ON PROVIDING MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR CITIZENS AND OUR FAMILIES.
IN THE PAST, WE HAVE MET FAMILY MEMBERS THAT LIVE IN OTHER PLACES IN THIS CITY, THE COUNTY.
WE'VE MET FRIENDS AND WE HAVE STAYED NEARLY A DAY WITH THE KIDS PLAYING TOGETHER, THE ADULTS CHATTING AT A PICNIC TABLE, HAVING BIRTHDAY EVENTS THERE AND SO FORTH, AND JUST HAVING THAT WHOLE CAMPUS INTERRELATED TOGETHER WITH PERHAPS AN EVENING PERFORMANCE FOR THE KIDS OR WHATEVER.
I JUST SEE SO MUCH POTENTIAL THERE.
[01:35:03]
I'D HATE TO JUMP THE GUN AND RESTRICT WHAT WE CAN DO THERE TO A SINGLE ORGANIZATION AT THIS POINT IN TIME.YES, WHAT BARBARA WAS SAYING IS RESONATING WITH ME AND, OF COURSE, NANCY HAS SOME GOOD POINTS.
HAVING SAID THAT, THAT BUILDING IS IN NORTH CITY, NORTH CITY DOESN'T HAVE A GALIMORE CENTER.
THE CITIZENS OF ST. AUGUSTINE PAID FOR THAT RENOVATION WITH THEIR HARD EARNED TAX MONEY.
WE HAVE FAMILIES IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'LL WALK TO THAT FACILITY.
WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY SO MUCH ABOUT PARKING.
I DARE SAY THE CULTURAL COUNCIL AT ST. JOHNS COUNTY HAS A [INAUDIBLE] TO GO FIND OTHER BUILDINGS THAT WOULD SUIT THEM.
THAT'S THE ONLY CHANCE THAT PEOPLE IN NORTH CITY HAVE THAT I'M AWARE OF THAT THE CITY OWNS THAT COULD BECOME A COMMUNITY CENTER.
I SEE THAT AS A WILLIE GALIMORE CENTER FOR NORTH CITY.
IT'S A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE AND I SEE IT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PARK THERE, THE PLAYGROUND, AND MAYBE THE RETURN OF CAROUSELS SOMEDAY, AND OF COURSE, WHATEVER HAPPENS TO THE LIBRARY EVENTUALLY.
THAT WILL BECOME ANOTHER EPICENTER FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY, THE CITIZENS OF NORTH CITY, TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
I APPRECIATE WHAT THE CULTURAL COUNCIL DOES.
BUT TO ME, IT MAY BE JUST A LAYER AWAY FROM WHERE WE NEED TO BE, WHICH IS GRASSROOTS FOR THIS.
THE CITY ALREADY HAS THE ABILITY TO RUN THE GALIMORE CENTER.
WE BROUGHT SOMEONE IN LINE TO DO THAT.
I SEE WHERE THERE COULD POSSIBLY EXPAND TO COVER THAT.
I'M GOING HAVE A HARD TIME MOVING OFF HAVING A COMMUNITY CENTER FROM NORTH CITY ONTO SOMETHING ELSE.
WELL, BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THE NEXT ONE WOULD COME TO, IF WE DON'T DO IT WITH THIS ONE.
WE DON'T HAVE MANY STANDING IN LINE OUT THERE, SO I WILL STAND DOWN ON THAT.
I THINK A LOT OF GOOD COMMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE.
CERTAINLY, I DIDN'T GROW UP HERE, SO I DON'T HAVE ANY MEMORIES OF THAT.
BUT I CERTAINLY CAN SEE THE VALUE OF THAT BUILDING TO THE WHOLE CAMPUS.
I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE CULTURAL COUNCIL ON THIS.
I AGREE THERE IS NO PROPOSAL ON THE TABLE YET.
THE LETTER WAS A LETTER, IT WASN'T TRULY WORKED OUT.
I'M SURE THEY DON'T WANT TO GO DOWN THAT AVENUE UNTIL THEY FEEL LIKE IT MIGHT BE A VIABLE PLACE FOR THEM.
I SEE IT THAT WE PROBABLY DO NEED SOMEBODY TO BE THE NUCLEUS THERE THAT CAN OPEN IT UP FOR BOTH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, ALTHOUGH, THE ST. AUGUSTINE, WHERE THEY USE THAT LIBRARY, I KNOW I GO THERE.
I WOULD THINK THAT IT'S NOT JUST NORTH CITY, LOTS OF PEOPLE COULD BE USING IT.
THERE COULD BE EXHIBIT SPACE THAT YOU COME TO SEE, WHICH ALSO BENEFITS VISITORS.
I THINK, I'M WARM TO THE IDEA OF THE CULTURAL COUNCIL, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE OF HOW THAT WOULD ACTUALLY WORK, AND HOW MUCH DO WE KEEP IT OPEN FOR THE PUBLIC.
BECAUSE THERE'S WEEKENDS THAT WE'D WANT IT OPEN, THAT'S WHEN THE FAMILIES COME.
ARE THEY WILLING TO WORK WITH US TO HAVE SOMEBODY THERE STOPPING IT AT THAT TIME? HOW DO WE WORK OUT ALL THESE PIECES? I'M INTERESTED IN SEEING THEIR POSITION AND I'M INTERESTED IN SEEING ANYBODY ELSE THAT HAS A PROPOSAL TO COME TO US AND PRESENT IT I THINK, THERE'S A LOT MORE COMMON THREADS IN WHAT EVERYBODY IS SAYING ABOUT WHAT THEY ENVISION FOR THIS STRUCTURE AND THE BUILDING.
I THINK THAT WE AGREE THAT IT SHOULD BE A PUBLIC USE AND I AGREE WITH YOU ON CITYWIDE.
GALIMORE CENTER, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NOTICED WAS FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
IT WAS NOT A NEIGHBORHOOD IN LINCOLNVILLE ONLY, IT WAS FOR EVERYONE, SO I DON'T NECESSARILY GO WITH THAT CLUB HOUSE, IT'S OWNED BY THE CITY.
BUT I THINK THAT THE IDEA OF, YES, FAMILIES BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE IN THAT SPACE.
THAT AREA IS LIBRARY WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, A PUBLIC PARK WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, I TOTALLY AGREE.
WHATEVER HAPPENS THERE, NEEDS TO BE KIND OF A COMBINATION OF EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE HEARD SPOKEN TODAY.
I THINK, THERE'S A LOT MORE COMMENTS,
[01:40:03]
THREADS, AND WHAT WE'RE ALL SAYING TONIGHT.IT'S JUST HOW DO WE GET THERE.
I GUESS, WE'LL JUST HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE MAYOR HAS TO SAY.
[LAUGHTER] THE MAYOR IS NOT GOING TO UNTIE THIS, NOT NECESSARILY.
DID I UNDERSTAND FROM EITHER MS. STONE OR MS. [INAUDIBLE] THAT THERE AT LEAST ARE PRELIMINARY CONVERSATIONS WITH THOSE TWO ENTITIES WORKING TOGETHER? YES, MR. REGAN? MR. MAYOR, YES, MS. STONE, LAST WEEK PRIOR TO THE DAY OF OUR LAST MEETING SENT IN THE LETTER THAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU, DISTRIBUTED BETWEEN THE TWO WEEKS AND ALSO MADE SURE THERE'S A REFRESHER IN FRONT OF YOU TONIGHT.
THE LIBRARY, THE FRIENDS OF THE MAIN STREET LIBRARY ALSO SENT A LETTER TODAY THAT SHOWED THEIR WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE WITH WHOEVER IS MANAGING THE FACILITY FOR CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING ASSOCIATED WITH THE LIBRARY.
I'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH MS. STONE THAT BASICALLY, WE BOTH AGREE THAT IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND HOW THAT PARTNERSHIP WOULD WORK, WE WOULD HAVE TO REALLY SPEND SOME TIME SITTING DOWN AND NEGOTIATING THROUGH THAT.
AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE OF GROUPS THAT HAVE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST BUT HAVE NOT REALLY PUT OUT EVEN A LETTER, SO TO SAY.
I THINK, THAT THE STAFF DID A REALLY GOOD JOB OF PRESENTING YOU WITH YOUR OPTIONS.
YOU CAN NEGOTIATE, YOU COULD RUN IT OURSELVES.
WE RUN THE GALIMORE CENTER, WE WOULD RUN THIS WITH A DIFFERENT SET OF GOALS, WHICH WOULD BE THE GOALS OF THE COMMISSION.
COMMISSIONER HORVATH PUT OUT THE IDEA OF DOING THIS PROPOSAL SOLICITATION, WHICH WOULD OPEN UP THE FIELD TO PEOPLE THAT TENDS TO TAKE A LONG TIME.
YOU HAVE TO BUILD SOME SPECIFICATIONS TO IT AND A RANKING SYSTEM AND SO FORTH.
REALLY, THE ONLY WAY TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE PARTNERSHIP WOULD WORK WOULD BE TO HAVE A FURTHER DEEPER NEGOTIATION AND GET IT DOWN ON PAPER.
THIS IS WHAT I HEAR THAT I REALLY LIKE.
I LOVE WHEN YOU HAVE REFERRED TO IT AS A CAMPUS.
I LOVE THE IDEA OF THAT CONNECTIVITY.
I THINK MS. WOLFE REFERRED TO LANDSCAPING THAT ENHANCES, THAT PULLS IT ALL TOGETHER, BECAUSE THIS HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN HODGEPODGY.
WE BUILT A LIBRARY THAT ARCHITECTURALLY IS NOT NECESSARILY IN KEEPING, BUT THAT'S LONG OVER WITH.
I LOVE THE IDEA OF IT BEING A CAMPUS.
I LOVE THE IDEA OF IT BEING COMMUNITY ST. AUGUSTINE FOCUSED, TO SERVING THE NEEDS OF OUR CITIZENS.
I LOVE THE IDEA OF IT BEING PROACTIVELY MANAGED AS OPPOSED TO SIMPLY BEING REACTIVELY, AND I THINK THAT'S A REALLY INTERESTING DISTINCTION.
I WOULD CERTAINLY BE WILLING TO SEE WHAT THE CITY MANAGER COULDN'T NEGOTIATE WITH THESE GROUPS, WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT AT LEAST ONE OF THE LENSES I'M GOING TO LOOK AT IT THROUGH WOULD BE, HOW DOES IT SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND VERY SPECIFICALLY THE NORTH CITY COMMUNITY? I REALIZED, WE'RE NOT A CITY THAT CAN GIVE EACH PART OF TOWN THEIR OWN SPACE, BUT I THINK THIS ONE IS UNIQUELY SITUATED AND THAT IDEA RESONATES WITH ME AS WELL.
>> I AGREE. LIKE I SAID, I'M PREPARED TO MAKE A MOTION AS THE CITY MANAGER TO PROCEED.
THIRTEEN, I WENT THERE AT LEAST BEGINNING TALKS WITH THE ENTITIES THAT APPROACHED US.
WE HAVE A LETTER FROM THE LIBRARY, I'VE SPOKEN TO THEM MYSELF, FROM THE CLASSIC THEATER, FROM THE CULTURAL COUNCIL, AND BEGIN TO TALK TO THEM AND SEE WHAT IS FEASIBLE AND WHAT IS POSSIBLE.
THEN ALSO FOR US TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WOULD A LANDSCAPE, THE PARAMETERS OF THE LANDSCAPE PLAN COSTS? CAN WE SCOPE THAT OUT A LITTLE BIT AND SEE? SO THAT WE COULD GET READY TO DO WHATEVER IT NEEDS TO FIND THE MONEY TO DO THAT.
>> I THINK WE SHOULD EXPLORE WITH THE CULTURAL COUNCIL, BUT HAVING SAID THAT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN WHERE ORGANIZATIONS TAKE OVER VENUES,
[01:45:01]
IS THE VENUE GROWS AROUND THE NEEDS OF THAT ORGANIZATION AND WHAT THEY SEE AS CORRECT FOR IT, THAT I WANT TO HAVE MY PILATES CLASS DOWN THERE AND I CAN NEVER GET IT SCHEDULED AND I HAPPEN TO LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CONCERNS ME IS WOULD WE BE HAVING USES AND EXHIBITIONS THERE THAT WOULD GRADUALLY EXCLUDE THE USE OF THE LOCAL PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY? ANOTHER THING THAT BOTHERS ME TO SOME DEGREE THOUGH, CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, WE, THE CITIZENS OF ST. AUGUSTINE, WE PAY A LOT TO LIVE HERE.
WE ALSO GIVE UP A LOT TO A LARGE DEGREE BECAUSE WE PAY THE FREIGHT FOR SO MUCH HERE THAT THE CITY OR THE COUNTY AND OTHERS BENEFIT FROM.
I DON'T THINK IT'S EQUITABLE FOR THE AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION WE GET AS KNOW THE CONVERSATION, AND THE CITIZENS OF ST. AUGUSTINE PAY THE FREIGHT OF HOWEVER MUCH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF US TO RENOVATE THIS.
I THINK THAT PUTS US IN THE NUMBER 1 FIRST SEAT TO PLACE FOR ITS USE.
IF IT COMES DOWN TO HAVING AN EXHIBITION THAT'S GOING TO BE BENEFITING THE GREATER SALE OR GREATER ST. JOHNS COUNTY BUSINESS COMMUNITY, I'M A BUSINESSMAN. I APPRECIATE THAT.
BUT IF THAT GETS IN THE WAY OF THE LOCAL USE OF A CHILDREN'S GROUP OR THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE THAT ENDS UP MEETING A DOS INSTEAD OF SOMETHING THEY PAID FOR, THAT TROUBLES ME.
BUT AGAIN, I SEE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A GIVEBACK.
GIVE IT BACK TO THE PEOPLE WHO PAID FOR, AND GIVE IT BACK TO PEOPLE THAT HELPED PAY THE FREIGHT TO KEEP THIS PLACE WHAT IT IS FOR THE BENEFIT OF SO MANY OTHERS THAT USE IT.
>> FOR THE SAKE OF DISCUSSION, WE HAVE A MOTION, WE HAVE A SECOND.
>> NO, I'M JUST HELPING. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I CONCUR WITH A LOT OF WHAT COMMISSIONER VALDES HAS SAID.
WE DO BEAR THE BRUNT OF A LOT OF THE ATTENTION FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE DEMANDS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT COMES FROM THE COUNTY.
WE'RE NOT GETTING OUR FAIR SHARE BACK TO GIVE AWAY ANY OF THIS, TO SUPPORT A COUNTY OFFICE, WHICH REALLY TROUBLES ME DEEPLY.
I WOULD THEREFORE LIKE TO ADD A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION THAT BASICALLY STAFF DO A PRO AND CON LOOK AT WHAT THE POTENTIAL FOR PARTNERING IS VERSUS WHAT THE POTENTIAL FOR CITY MANAGED COMMUNITY CENTER IS.
WE HAVE AN OVERARCHING STRUCTURE HERE, BUT HANGS SOME DETAILS ON IT.
LET THE COMMUNITY WEIGH IN ON THIS, NOT JUST THROUGH A SURVEY, BUT WHAT THEY REALLY NEED.
WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE I'M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT NORTH CITY, THIS GOES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
LIKE I SAID, WE NEED MORE PLACES FOR FAMILIES WHO LIVE HERE.
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE PEOPLE WEIGH IN ON THIS IN A VERY SPECIFIC WAY.
RIGHT NOW, WHERE WE HAVE A QUOTE-UNQUOTE "PROPOSAL," I JUST THINK WE'RE JUMPING THE GUN.
I THINK WE NEED TO DO A COST AND BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF THIS.
I'D LIKE TO ADD THAT AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO YOUR MOTION.
>> SO IF I UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING NOW, WE HAVE A MOTION THAT'S BEEN MADE AND SECONDED, THAT WOULD DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO WORK WITH THE CULTURAL COUNCIL, AND RELATED GROUPS TO BEGIN TO FLESH OUT WHAT AN AGREEMENT MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
LET ME REPHRASE THAT. THEN CONCURRENTLY COME BACK TO US WITH THE PROPOSAL AS TO WHAT IT'LL LOOK LIKE IF IT WERE CITY MANAGED.
THAT AT LEAST GIVES US TWO OPTIONS TO LOOK AT.
>> NO. I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE ON.
I'VE MADE THE STATEMENT ABOUT ACTIVE VERSUS PASSIVE, AND THAT WAS MY POINT.
IT WAS NOT TO REMINISCE, IT WAS TO MAKE THE POINT OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ACTIVE MANAGEMENT AND PASSIVE MANAGEMENT.
WHAT WE DO AT GALIMORE CENTER IS PASSIVE MANAGEMENT.
WE KEEP A CALENDAR, WE BOOK EVENTS.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S BAD, BUT THAT'S NOT AT ALL WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
UNLESS THERE'S SOME PROPOSAL THAT I'M NOT SURE OF TO CREATE A WHOLE NEW DEPARTMENT THAT'S GOING TO SIT ON SIDE AND MANAGE IT, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A WHOLE CULTURAL DIVISION, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE PRESERVATION DIVISION, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE ARTS, NO. I'M SORRY.
[01:50:05]
>> IN ALL DUE RESPECT, WHAT WE DO AT THE GALIMORE CENTER IS RETURNED TO THE CITIZENS OF ST. AUGUSTINE AND WHAT THEY PAID FOR.
>> IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MANAGEMENT HAS TO A SERVICE.
IN MANAGING THIS FACILITY, YOU CAN'T BE ANY MORE [INAUDIBLE] MANAGE [INAUDIBLE] MANAGING THE GALIMORE.
I APPRECIATE WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM WITH THIS, BUT WHAT TROUBLES ME IS I DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS THING DRIFT OFF TO BECOME, I HATE TO USE THE TERM [INAUDIBLE] BUT THAT'S PROBABLY A TERM.
IT BECOMES SOMETHING THAT'S NOT OF US, IT'S BECOME SOMETHING OF THE COUNTY, AND WE ARE ALL PART OF THE COUNTY.
BUT HAVING SAID THAT, DAMN IT, THIS IS SOMETHING WE BOUGHT, WE PAID FOR, WE SHOULD GET THE BENEFIT OF FIRST.
OTHER PEOPLE SHOULD GET A SECOND.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION AND I DON'T HAVE A FEEL FOR HOW MUCH THE GALIMORE CENTER IS ACTUALLY USED.
>> I KNOW I'VE TAKEN TAI CHI CLASSES THERE.
>> MR. MAYOR, TO ADDRESS THE QUESTION DIRECTLY, IT'S USED QUITE A BIT.
IT'S ACTUALLY GOTTEN TO A POINT THAT IT'S HARD TO BOOK.
THE FEES, AT $35 AN HOUR COVERS THE COST OF OPERATING IT.
BUT IT'S USED ACROSS A WIDE ARRAY.
WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST TO THE COMMISSION IS THIS.
YOU'VE NARROWED THE DIRECTION THAT TWO PASS THAT ARE CATCHING TRACTION, THE CULTURAL COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGEMENT.
USUALLY, THIS IS THE POINT WHERE I WOULD SAY, WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS LOOK AT WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS? THEN LOOK AT BOTH OPTIONS, AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN DELIVER ON THOSE GOALS.
VICE MAYOR SIKES-KLINE BROUGHT UP THIS ISSUE OF A CULTURAL DIVISION, THE BOWLMOR SPRINGS FACILITY, WHICH IS WHERE MY GOING AWAY PARTY WAS HELD, AND THE THOMAS CENTER, MULTIPLE LOCATIONS IN GAINESVILLE ARE MANAGED DIFFERENTLY THAN THE TYPE OF FACILITY THAT'S A REC FACILITY IN GAINESVILLE, WHERE THEY MIGHT HAVE JUST HUNDREDS OF BIRTHDAY PARTIES.
PART OF IT IS LISTENING TO WHAT YOUR GOALS ARE AS A COMMISSION, AND SEEING HOW THE TWO PATHWAYS CAN DELIVER THAT LEVEL OF POLICY TO YOU, TO THE POINT OF THE ACTIVE MANAGEMENT CAN BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN PASSIVE MANAGEMENT.
WHAT I'M HEARING, IT'S PROBABLY MORE IMPORTANT TO ME, IS STARTING TO EXCLUDE THE IDEA OF A HIGHLY SOPHISTICATED RFP PROCESS.
TO ME, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT OUTCOME OF THIS CONVERSATION.
IT MIGHT BE THAT WE SCHEDULED THE NEXT MEETING A LITTLE BIT OF A GOAL-SETTING EXERCISE, SO WE KNOW WHAT YOUR EXPECTATIONS ARE.
I CAN TAKE WHAT YOU'VE SAID AND PROBABLY GET YOU PRETTY CLOSE IN THE BALLPARK AND THEN SIT DOWN WITH PARTIES.
COMMISSIONER BLONDER SAID OR SOMEONE SAID, NOT REAL BIG AN OFFICE SPACE.
TO MANAGE THAT APPROPRIATELY FOR A CULTURAL CENTER, DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE THEIR OFFICE IN IT, NO.
CAN YOU PROVIDE AN OFFICE IN THIS BUILDING? YES. THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
PART OF THAT IS REALLY NEEDED TO BEGIN WITH THE GOAL-SETTING EXERCISE, AND WHAT YOUR EXPECTATIONS OF THE BUILDING ARE.
THEN THAT BECOMES WHAT WE NEGOTIATE ON, AND GIVE YOU A MATRIX OF WHICH PATH BEST SATISFIES THE COMMUNITY, WILL OF THE CITY COMMISSION.
>> OKAY. WELL, I SEE THE GALIMORE CENTER IS MORE OF A WRECK FACILITY.
I DON'T SEE THIS AS BEING A WRECK FACILITY.
I SEE THIS AS BEING A VIBRANT SHOT IN THE ARMS FOR THE ARTS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
THAT'S WHY I THINK HAVING SOMEBODY THERE WITH A SMALL AMOUNT OF OFFICE SPACE THAT'S THERE ALL THE TIME MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
BUT I AGREE WITH YOU JOHN, I THINK YOU'RE GOOD AT GETTING A GRASP OF THESE TWO TRACKS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AND I THINK WE CAN BE WELL-INFORMED WHEN YOU DO THAT.
>> LET ME CLARIFY WHERE WE ARE.
WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE THAT DIRECTS THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE CULTURAL COUNCIL AND RELATED ENTITIES.
THE VICE MAYOR WAS UNWILLING TO ACCEPT A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.
THAT'S WHAT'S ON THE TABLE AND THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO ASK US TO VOTE ON AT THIS TIME.
DEPENDING UPON HOW THAT MOTION FAIRS, WE CAN COME BACK AND MAKE A SECOND MOTION. YES.
>> WELL, THAT COULD PASS AND THEN A SECOND MOTION COULD COME IN ON THE SECOND TRACK, CORRECT?
>> RIGHT. THAT WOULD BE MINE TO ADD.
>> OKAY. WE UNDERSTAND THE MOTION ON THE TABLE, AND I WOULD ASK THE CLERK TO PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
[01:55:01]
THE ONLY THING THAT I WOULD REQUEST IS COMMISSIONER BLONDER'S ADD ON THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER ANOTHER PAIRED ALTERNATIVE OF A CITY OPERATED FACILITY.THAT'S MY MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION.
I'M HAPPY TO HEAR IT IF WE DO.
>> IF NOT, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
NOW, MISS WOLFF, WILL WE SEE YOU AGAIN?
>> OH, MY LAST DAY IS OCTOBER 8TH.
I WILL BE AT THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD OCTOBER 5TH.
WE'RE STILL WORKING ON PARTIAL DEMOLITION ORDINANCE UPDATES, AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF WORKSHOPS TUESDAY EVENING AND THURSDAY EVENING OF THIS WEEK IF YOU WANT TO STAY TUNED ONLINE.
>> BUT THIS IS OUR LAST CITY COMMISSION MEETING WITH YOU, CORRECT?
>> YES. ACTUALLY, JENNY WANTED YOU TO COME FORWARD.
>> WE HAVE A MICROPHONE IF YOU CAN HOLD ON A SECOND.
>> THIS IS JUST A SMALL TOKEN OF MY APPRECIATION FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE OVER THE MANY YEARS YOU'VE BEEN HERE.
YOU CAME ON JUST SHORTLY BEFORE I CAME ON THE COMMISSION AS I RECALL.
YOU TAKE THAT. THAT'S A GOOD MEMORY.
>> WE WANT TO SEE WHAT IT IS. [LAUGHTER].
>> I'M GOING TO LET YOU HAVE THIS WHILE I TAKE THIS AND INCASE YOU WANT TO JUST SAY SOMETHING.
>> NOW, WHAT ELSE I COULD POSSIBLY SAY, THIS HAS JUST BEEN, AS I SAID AT THE BEGINNING OF MY PRESENTATION, REALLY THE WATERWORKS BUILDING AND THE OTHER WORK THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION HAS BEEN REALLY THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY CAREER.
LAST TUESDAY AT THE OPEN HOUSE WAS THE BIGGEST HIGH I THINK I COULD EVER POSSIBLY HAVE IN MY CAREER AND I DON'T EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO REPEAT THAT.
I JUST APPRECIATE EVERYONE I'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MS. LOPEZ, I ASSUME YOU HAVE NOTHING WONDERFUL.
[12.A. Request for two appointments to the Planning and Zoning Board. (D. Galambos, City Clerk) (Part 1 of 2)]
>> YES. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS.
I HAVE A REQUEST FOR APPOINTMENT FOR TWO POSITIONS ON OUR PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD.
THESE HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATELY ADVERTISED AND WE RECEIVED SEVEN APPLICATIONS, ONE FROM OUR CURRENT BOARD MEMBER WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO REAPPLY, CARL BLOW,
[02:00:01]
CHRISTINA GRIGGS, VERONICA RIQUA, CHARLES PAPPAS, ASHLEY BARNES, JUDITH BERTIN, AND MATTHEW SCHAEFER.I DO HAVE BALLOTS THAT I WILL BRING TO YOU.
>> PLEASE DISTRIBUTE THOSE IF YOU WOULD.
WHILE WE DO VOTE BY PAPER BALLOT, ALL THE COMMISSIONERS SIGN THOSE AND THE VOTES ARE ANNOUNCED.
>> I HAVE TO SAY THIS IS AN EXCEPTIONAL LIST OF CANDIDATES WE HAVE THERE.
>> [BACKGROUND] WHILE MS. GALAMBOS DOES THAT,
[13.A. Presentation of City Manager performance evaluation form to commissioners. (J. Regan, City Manager)]
MR. REGAN, LET'S GO TO YOUR ITEMS, PLEASE.>> MR. MAYOR, WE'RE AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, END OF THE YEAR.
IT'S THE TIME WHEN WE DO OUR EMPLOYEE APPRAISALS [NOISE] INCLUDING MINE BY THE CITY COMMISSION.
ANNUALLY I PROVIDE A DOCUMENT THAT CAN BE EITHER A DIRECT DOCUMENT USED BY COMMISSIONER OR A GUIDE ABOUT WHAT ARE THE QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS AND LEADERSHIP THAT YOU'RE LOOKING IN A CITY MANAGER.
EVERY COMMISSIONER HAS THEIR OWN WAY OF DOING THEIR EVALUATION.
IT'S FAIR TO SAY EVERYBODY ALWAYS EVALUATES ME, WHETHER IT'S WRITTEN OR ORAL OR PUBLICLY.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS SCHEDULE AN END OF YEAR SUMMARY OF WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED WITH MY OWN INTROSPECTION OF THE PAST YEAR AS WELL.
AT THAT TIME, ANYTHING THAT ANYONE WOULD WANT TO SAY PUBLICLY WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE MOMENT IN TIME.
I'D LIKE TO SCHEDULE THAT FOR OCTOBER 11TH.
>> THE FORM THAT IS IN THE AGENDA.
[NOISE] PERHAPS YOU COULD ASK MS. FOUNTAIN TO MAKE THAT AVAILABLE TO ALL OF US AS AN EMAIL ATTACHMENT?
>> IT'S A FORM THAT IS BASED ON THE INTERNATIONAL CITY MANAGER ASSOCIATION FORM WITH A LITTLE BIT OF ADJUSTMENT BASED ON OUR CONDITIONS AS ST. AUGUSTINE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANYTHING ELSE?
>> THAT'S ALL I HAVE AT THIS TIME.
[12.A. Request for two appointments to the Planning and Zoning Board. (D. Galambos, City Clerk) (Part 2 of 2)]
>> YES. I WILL READ THE BALLOTS.
MAYOR UPCHURCH VOTED FOR CARL BLOW AND CHARLES PAPPAS.
COMMISSIONER HORVATH VOTED FOR CARL BLOW AND ASHLEY BARNES.
COMMISSIONER BLONDER VOTED FOR CARL BLOW AND CHARLES PAPPAS.
VICE MAYOR SIKES-KLINE VOTED FOR CARL BLOW AND CHARLES PAPPAS.
COMMISSIONER VALDES VOTED FOR CARL BLOW AND VERONICA REQUO.
THE TALLIES ARE FIVE FOR CARL BLOW, THREE FOR MR. PAPPAS, ONE FOR MS. REQUO, AND ONE FOR MS. BARNES.
> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. PAPPAS FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE IN THAT CAPACITY.
WHAT IT ALSO MEANS, I THINK IS THAT WE WILL NOW HAVE A VACANCY ON THE [OVERLAPPING] ON ENFORCEMENT REALM.
>> I WILL HAVE A VACANCY THAT I WILL ADVERTISE PROMPTLY FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MS. GALAMBOS, ANYTHING FURTHER?
>> ITEMS BY THE MAYOR AND THE COMMISSIONERS.
[14. ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS]
COMMISSIONER VALDES?>> I DO. I RECEIVED A VERY NICE MAILING YESTERDAY IN THE MAIL.
JENNY WOLF HAS ONCE AGAIN HIT A HOME RUN WITH THIS FLOOD GUIDANCE FOR HISTORIC PROPERTIES AND THE UPCOMING CHANGES TO PARTIAL DEMOLITION GUIDELINES.
I JUST WANT TO COMMEND HER, THIS IS JUST A SPECTACULAR BROCHURE.
[02:05:02]
IT'S SUCCINCT.>> I'M IN ONE OF THOSE PROPERTIES, SO IT WAS MAILED OUT TO JUST HISTORIC PROPERTIES 50 YEARS AND OLDER.
THIS IS GREAT. I JUST LOVE WHAT THE CITY IS DOING AND WHAT THE STAFF IS DOING ON THESE ISSUES. I WANTED TO BRING THAT UP.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COMMISSIONER HORVATH?
>> I HAD SEVERAL THINGS ACTUALLY.
FIRST, JUST FOLLOWING UP ON COMMISSIONER BLONDER'S THING, SPEAKING ABOUT JENNY AND THE ACT OF WORK SHE DOES.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF RENEWING OUR ARCHITECTURAL GUIDELINES FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
THE FIRST WORKSHOP WAS HELD AND I THOUGHT JENNY DID A SPLENDID JOB.
THEY WERE WORKING WITH THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF PRESERVATION COMMISSIONS WHO ARE HERE AS CONSULTING.
THERE'S ANOTHER ONE TOMORROW AND IT'S ONLINE, SO IT SHOULDN'T BE THAT HARD TO PARTICIPATE IN.
IT'S BY ZOOM. YOU CAN GO TO THE CITY'S WEBPAGE OR ON FACEBOOK TO LOOK IT UP.
IT'S A PUBLIC WORKSHOP'S, PART OF THE SERIES FOR ARCHITECTURAL AND DEMOLITION GUIDELINE REVIEW.
I REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN IT.
THIS IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT EFFORT THAT WE'RE DOING.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT WORK WHEN WE'RE DONE.
I WAS DISAPPOINTED IN THE PARTICIPATION BY THE COMMUNITY IN THE FIRST WORKSHOP.
I HOPE THAT WE CAN GET MORE PARTICIPATION AND MORE EMPHASIS ON PROMOTING IT.
THE SECOND THING IS, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ARPA, THAT'S THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT.
THERE IS A RESOURCE PAGE FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS ON THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES' WEBSITE.
I JUST RECENTLY GOT AN EMAIL FROM THEM.
THEY'RE DOING A WORKSHOP I THINK TOMORROW ON BROADBAND COMMUNITIES USING ARPA MONEY.
I HAVE FORWARDED THAT TO YOU MR. CITY MANAGER.
THAT'S IMPORTANT TOO AS WE START TALKING MORE AND MORE ABOUT THESE ARPA FUNDS AND HOW WE WANT TO PROCEED.
MY THIRD THING IS THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER VALDES FOR HIS WORK ON RESILIENCY AND THE BUILDING CODES.
I KNOW IT MUST BE FRUSTRATING FOR YOU.
BUT I THINK YOU'VE MADE GOOD PROGRESS, ALL THINGS CONSIDERED.
THIS IS A REALLY ENTIRELY TOUGH ISSUE AND ESPECIALLY SINCE WE HAVE SO MANY OF THESE HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND IT'S JUST REALLY DIFFICULT TO DO ANYTHING WITH.
THANK YOU. I REALIZE THERE'S A RIGHT AND A WRONG WAY TO DO IT, BUT WE'RE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
I JUST CAN'T SAY ENOUGH FOR HOW WONDERFUL THAT IS.
THE LAST THING IS THE LIONS AT THE FOOT OF THE BRIDGE ON THE WEST SIDE.
I BROUGHT THIS UP AT THE WORKSHOP ON BUDGET BUT I DIDN'T REALLY GET TOO MUCH TRACTION.
[LAUGHTER] WHAT I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU IS TO SUPPORT ME IN INSTRUCTING THE CITY MANAGER TO GET INTO THE MEAT ON THE BONES ISSUE WITH HIM THAT HE'S REALLY GOOD AT DOING.
GET INTO, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO? DO WE NEED TO HIRE A CONSULTANT? DO WE NEED TO PUT SOME FUNDS AWAY? WHATEVER IT IS WE NEED TO DO TO BEGIN, WHAT DOES PROTECTING THE BRIDGE LIONS LOOK LIKE? WHAT IS THAT GOING TO ENTAIL? IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
WE'VE GONE WAY TOO MANY YEARS SINCE WE PUT THEM BACK.
NOT DOING ANYTHING TO PROTECT THEM FROM AUTOMOBILES AND PEOPLE CLIMBING ON THEM.
I STILL SEE THINGS ON FACEBOOK WHERE PEOPLE ARE LIKE, WE CLIMBED UP ON THE LION.
I DON'T REALLY KNOW, IT'S A TOUGH ISSUE.
NOBODY WANTS TO BLOCK PEOPLE FROM THEM BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THEY ARE A IRREPLACEABLE HISTORIC RESOURCE.
THEY'RE TREASURES, WE LOVE THEM DEARLY AND THEY ARE FRAGILE.
>> I'M CERTAINLY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT, COMMISSIONER SIKES-KLINE.
> I SEE NODDING HEADS AROUND THE TABLE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THANK YOU. THEN I WILL STOP.
>> MR. MAYOR, THE URGENCY OF THIS, I THINK IS ILLUSTRATED BY IN JULY.
WE HAD A CAR THAT NEARLY WENT OFF THE ROAD, NARROWLY MISSED THE LION.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT AT A STAFF LEVEL ABOUT HOW TO PROTECT THE LIONS.
[02:10:04]
THE REALITY OF IT IS, I CAN TELL YOU NOW THAT NONE OF US HAVE A REAL GOOD HAND ON IT.I THINK WITH THAT, WE DO NEED A CONSULTANT BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT AT A STAFF LEVEL.
I ALSO WILL SHARE WITH YOU THAT IN MID-OCTOBER, I SERVE ON A BOARD THAT INCLUDES MEMBERS FROM THE WORLD MONUMENT FUND.
I WAS PLANNING TO POSE THE QUESTION TO THEM AND MAYBE ALSO GET A LIST OF PEOPLE THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP US WITH THIS.
AT A LATER TIME, I'LL CIRCULATE A PICTURE OF THAT ACCIDENT SO YOU CAN SEE HOW CLOSE WE CAME TO HAVING THE LIONS HIT BY A CAR.
COMMISSIONER SIKES-KLINE, ANYTHING FURTHER? WE'RE ADJOURNED. [NOISE]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.