Oct 11, 2021 City Commission

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GOOD AFTERNOON.

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

AND SINCE I THINK WE'RE READY, WE'LL GO WITH THE EARLIEST.

I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE TO ORDER, AND I WOULD ASK THE CLERK TO PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

MAYOR SIKES-KLINE OR COMMISSIONER BLONDER WILL BE WITH US THIS EVENING, BUT WE DO HAVE A QUORUM. WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE OUR OLD FRIEND, THE REVEREND TIM FLEMING, WHO'S GRACIOUSLY AGREED TO COME AND GIVE US OUR INVOCATION.

I WOULD ASK THAT YOU RISE AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

LET US PRAY. ALMIGHTY GOD, WHO HAS GIVEN US THIS GOOD LAND FOR OUR HERITAGE.

WE HUMBLY BESEECH THEE THAT WE MAY ALWAYS PROVE OURSELVES THE PEOPLE MINDFUL OF THY FAVOR AND GLAD TO DO THY WILL.

BLESS OUR LAND WITH HONORABLE INDUSTRY, SOUND LEARNING AND PURE MANNERS.

SAVE US FROM VIOLENCE, DISCORD AND CONFUSION, FROM PRIDE AND ARROGANCE AND FROM EVERY EVIL WAY, DEFEND OUR LIBERTIES AND DO WITH THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM, THOSE TO WHOM, IN THY NAME, WE ENTRUST THE AUTHORITY OF GOVERNMENT, PARTICULARLY THIS ELECTED COMMISSION, THAT THERE MAY BE JUSTICE AND PEACE AT HOME AND THAT THROUGH OBEDIENCE TO THY LAW, WE MAY SHOW FORTH. I PRAISE AMONG THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH AND THE TIME OF PROSPERITY, FILL OUR HEARTS WITH THANKFULNESS AND IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE, SUFFER NOT OUR TRUST IN THEE TO FAIL, ALL WHICH WE ASK THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.

AMEN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, REVEREND FLEMING, WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING TIME TO BE WITH US THIS EVENING. IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO SEE YOU.

[2. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS]

MR. REGAN, COMMISSIONERS, ANY OTHER CHANGES? NONE FOR ME. SEEING NONE.

MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, GOOD EVENING; STAFF HAS NO OTHER MODIFICATIONS.

THANK YOU. I WOULD MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE AGENDA AS REVISED.

SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, AYE.

THANK YOU, ANY OPPOSED.

SO THE REGULAR AGENDA IS APPROVED.

THE FIRST PROCLAMATION WE HAVE THIS EVENING IS TO PROCLAIM OCTOBER 2021 AS DOMESTIC

[3.B. Proclamation 2021-16: Proclaims October 2021 as Domestic Violence Awareness month. (R. Horvath, Commissioner)]

YES, WE HAVE SOMEBODY TO RECEIVE IT.

MS. [INAUDIBLE]. ONE MOMENT I'LL READ IT FIRST AND THEN I'D LIKE YOU TO COME UP AND I'LL PRESENT IT TO YOU.

THE PROCLAMATION SAYS WHEREAS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS A SERIOUS AND PERVASIVE CRIME AFFECTING MILLIONS OF WOMEN, MEN, CHILDREN AND COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES EVERY YEAR.

AND WHEREAS ALL PERSONS HAVE A BASIC RIGHT TO FEEL SAFE FROM HARM, ESPECIALLY IN THEIR HOMES, YET MORE THAN 1300 HELPLINE CALLS WERE MADE TO BETTY GRIFFIN CENTER IN ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY LAST YEAR.

AND WHEREAS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AFFECTS PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, RACIAL, SOCIOECONOMIC, EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS AND OCCUPATIONAL SEGMENTS OF OUR SOCIETY, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN.

AND WHEREAS CHILDREN FROM VIOLENT HOMES ARE PHYSICALLY ABUSED OR SERIOUSLY NEGLECTED AT A RATE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE AND HAVE GREATER RISK OF ALCOHOL, DRUG ABUSE, JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, COGNITIVE AND DEVELOPMENTAL PROBLEMS, AS WELL AS FEAR, ANXIETY AND GUILT.

AND WHEREAS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS NOT A PRIVATE FAMILY MATTER, BUT A CRIME, THE CONSEQUENCES OF WHICH REACH WITH DEVASTATING EFFECTS ON THE COMMUNITY, SCHOOLS AND WORKPLACES OF OUR NATION.

AND WHEREAS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE REPRESENTS A PATTERN OF ASSAULT AND COERCIVE BEHAVIOR THAT WILL ESCALATE IN FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY IF INTERVENTION DOES NOT OCCUR AND PERPETRATORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR CRIMES.

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NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2021 AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH AND URGES ALL CITIZENS TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SUPPORT LOCAL EFFORTS TO ASSIST VICTIMS OF THESE CRIMES IN FINDING THE HELP AND HEALING THEY NEED.

I WOULD ASK MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS TO COME FORWARD ALSO AND MS. [INAUDIBLE].

WE HAVE A SECOND PROCLAMATION THIS EVENING THAT'S MY PLEASURE TO READ.

[3.C. Proclamation 2021-19: Proclaims October 18-24, 2021 as Florida City Government Week. (T. Upchurch, Mayor)]

AUGUSTINE WILL JOIN OTHER CITIES ACROSS FLORIDA IN CELEBRATING FLORIDA CITY GOVERNMENT WEEK. THIS WEEK HAS BEEN SET ASIDE TO RECOGNIZE THE MANY SERVICES CITY GOVERNMENTS PROVIDE AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE IN FLORIDA.

AND WHEREAS THEME "MY CITY, I'M PART OF IT AND I'M PROUD OF IT." PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE ROLE CITIZENS PAY IN MAKING OUR CITY'S GREAT.

CITY GOVERNMENT IS TRULY GOVERNMENT OF, BY AND FOR THE PEOPLE.

THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING THE DECISIONS ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY ARE YOUR NEIGHBORS, BUSINESS OWNER AND COMMUNITY LEADERS.

CITY GOVERNMENT IS ADMINISTERED BY AND FOR ITS CITIZENS AND IS DEPENDENT UPON PUBLIC COMMITMENT TO CARRY OUT ITS RESPONSIBILITIES.

AND WHEREAS STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE LEARN INFORMATION ABOUT STATE AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH INFORMATION? WHILE INFORMATION ON CITY GOVERNMENT IS BARELY HIGHLIGHTED AND EVERY CITIZEN DESERVES THE RIGHT TO KNOW ABOUT THE LOCAL IMPACT OF GOVERNMENT DECISION-MAKING, THIS IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH STUDENTS AND ADULTS ABOUT THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT THAT AFFECTS THEM DAILY. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE DOES HEREBY DECLARE OCTOBER 18 THROUGH 24, 2021 AS FLORIDA CITY GOVERNMENT WEEK AND DURING THIS WEEK, THE CITY COMMISSION URGES ALL CITIZENS TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANT ROLE CITY GOVERNMENT PLAYS IN OUR LIVES, FROM PUBLIC SAFETY TO TRASH COLLECTION TO PROMOTING OUR COMMUNITIES, CULTURE AND RECREATION.

AND THIS HAS BEEN ADOPTED BY THE CITY COMMISSION AND REPRESENTING CITY GOVERNMENT IS MELISSA WISSEL, OUR COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR.

OK. THIS IS NOW WE'RE ON ITEM FOUR OF OUR OF OUR AGENDA.

[4. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS OR FOR AGENDA ITEMS NOT REQUIRING A SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING]

I HAVE SEVERAL CARDS.

I'M HAPPY TO RECEIVE OTHERS, AND OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS OUR FRIEND REGINA GALE-PHILLIPS, MS. PHILLIPS. GOOD EVENING.

FEEL FREE TO ADJUST THAT MICROPHONE, SO IT'S COMFORTABLE AND WE CAN HEAR YOU.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MAYOR COMMISSIONERS, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU.

I'M JUST HERE TO TALK ABOUT A PROJECT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR MORE THAN 3 YEARS, WHICH IS THE MARKER FOR ISAAC BARRETT, WHICH IS PART OF THE EJI LYNCHING PROJECT.

AND REALLY HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHEN WE CAN CONSIDER AN INSTALLATION DATE.

IT WAS APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION BACK IN 2019, AND OTHER CITIES ARE ALREADY INSTALLING MARKERS JACKSONVILLE, ORLANDO, GAINESVILLE AND OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS IN ADDITION TO EJI, BUT

[00:10:03]

AND THIS IS A PART OF THE HISTORY OF WHAT WE ARE PUTTING OUT HERE.

AND SO WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO USE THIS AS A TOOL FOR RECONCILIATION BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE PROJECT IS MEANT TO DO IS TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

AND WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SAY WE'RE MOVING FORWARD THAT IF WE WANT TO HAVE SOME KIND OF PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS, WE'RE WILLING TO DO THAT.

AND WE'D ALSO JUST LIKE TO USE IT AS A GREATER AREA OF VISIBILITY FOR PEOPLE COMING BECAUSE WE HAVE PROBABLY CLOSE TO A BILLION DOLLARS IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN TOURISM, DOLLARS THAT ARE LEFT ON THE TABLE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT TELLING THAT WHOLE STORY.

SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS TO CLOSE THAT GAP TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TELLING OUR WHOLE STORY, NOT JUST THAT, BUT TO TELL THE STORY OF OVER 450 YEARS OF PRESENCE HERE IN ST.

AUGUSTINE. AND THAT BECOMES A PART OF THE NATIONAL NARRATIVE AS WELL AS THE INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE. AND WE DON'T WANT IT TO BE INCOMPLETE BY US JUST OMITTING PARTS OF THAT HISTORY. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO USE THAT AS A WAY TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PARTS. THERE ARE A LOT OF PARTS OF OUR HISTORY THAT YOU KNOW, WE DON'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT. YOU KNOW, ALL OF US HAVE PARTS OF OUR EVEN OUR PERSONAL HISTORIES WE DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN IT DIDN'T EXIST.

AND IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU DON'T USE THAT AS A TOOL TO TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO BE BETTER, TO BE BETTER CITIZENS, TO BE A BETTER CITY, TO BE A BETTER COUNTRY, TO BE A BETTER WORLD.

SO THAT'S THE PART OF WHY I'M HERE JUST TO ENCOURAGE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US IN THE PAST.

YOU GUYS GAVE US YOUR UNANIMOUS SUPPORT AND THEN WE HAD COVID AND A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT TOOK PLACE AND WE PUT IT ON HOLD.

BUT WE'RE READY TO MOVE FORWARD.

WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO TELL THIS STORY.

SO WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SAY WE HAVE A DATE THAT WE CAN INSTALL IT AND THAT WE CAN GO AHEAD WITH THE PROGRAM AS PLANNED.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARY COBB.

GOOD EVENING, MISS COBB.

IS THIS THE MICROPHONE RIGHT HERE? YES, OK. HELLO, COMMISSIONERS, MAYOR.

MY NAME IS MARY COBB.

AS YOU KNOW, I HAVE ALSO WORKING ON THIS PROJECT WITH THE EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE, AND I SEE IT AS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT IN REALITY, WHEN THEY SAY 1619, THAT'S WHEN SLAVERY CAME TO THE UNITED STATES; IN REALITY IT CAME TO ST.

AUGUSTINE FIRST.

SO I THINK WE HAVE AS FAR AS A GREAT DUTY TO BE ABLE TO TELL THE FULL STORY.

I KNOW THAT BEFORE WE HAVE MET SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE I WILL BE HONEST, I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS SINCE 2017, MAYBE EVEN 2016 BECAUSE OF WHAT I WAS TOLD AS FAR AS THE BIGGEST THING IN ST. AUGUSTINE.

YOU KNOW, THE FEEDBACK THAT I'VE GOTTEN FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE IS DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.

AND WHEN SEEKING OUT TO HAVE THIS DEEPER DIALOG I MET WITH EJI BECAUSE THEY WERE DOING IT SO RIGHT. AND IF YOU EVER GO TO THE MUSEUM IN MONTGOMERY, THERE'S NO WAY TO DISPUTE THAT.

AND WITH THE DISCUSSIONS THAT THEY HAVE, IT'S ABOUT THAT TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION.

AND I FEEL THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT AND THE STORY THAT WE'RE TELLING OF OUR CITY, THE CULTURE THAT WE'RE BRINGING TO IT.

I THINK THERE'S GREAT OPPORTUNITY WHEN YOU'RE SPEAKING ABOUT LINCOLN VILLE, WHEN YOU'RE SPEAKING ABOUT TELLING THE WHOLE STORY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE, THE PAIN, MORE OF THE STUFF THAT WHAT MAKES US WHO WE ARE BECAUSE I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT WHAT WE ARE.

AND I THINK THERE IS DEFINITELY WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE TIE TO RACIAL INJUSTICE, THERE ARE TIES HERE.

AND I THINK JUST TELLING THE STORY OF ISAAC BARRETT NOT ONLY TELLS THE STORY OF WHAT WE KNOW, BUT WHAT WE DON'T KNOW, AND I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SAY WHERE WE STAND. I KNOW JACKSONVILLE IS HAVING THEIR FIRST INSTALL, WHICH I'M PART OF 904 FORD AS WELL.

IN JACKSONVILLE, THAT'S HAPPENING NEXT SUNDAY.

VOLUSIA COUNTY HAS ALREADY MOVED FORWARD, AND I KNOW OCOEE DID DEDICATE THEIR MARKER TO JULY PERRY, WHICH WAS A VERY BIG EVENT THAT THEY TOOK TO HEART AND THEY PUT IN THE CENTER OF THE HISTORICAL SQUARE AND IT'S NOT NECESSARILY WHERE IT HAPPENED, AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO TELL THESE STORIES AND THEN HONOR THE COMMITMENT THAT WE MADE AS FAR AS UNANIMOUSLY IT WAS DECIDED AND IT WASN'T BASED ON ON ANY OTHER CONTINGENCIES.

IT WASN'T TIED TO THE CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL.

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AND THAT'S NOT REALLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE.

WE'RE TRYING TO GROW AND WE'RE TRYING TO BE MORE DESCRIPTIVE OF WHAT OUR PAST IS.

AND, YOU KNOW, SHOW THE MOSAIC OF WHAT MAKES ST.

AUGUSTINE, ST. AUGUSTINE.

SO I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MS. COBB IT'S NOT OFTEN THAT WE RESPOND TO PUBLIC COMMENTS, BUT I TAKE GREAT OFFENSE AT YOU SUGGESTING THAT THIS COMMISSION THAT THIS CITY GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN FEARFUL IN ANY OF THE STEPS THAT WE HAVE TAKEN OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

SO THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER'S MR. ED SLAVIN.

BE NOT AFRAID, ED SLAVIN BOX 3084, EDSLAVIN.COM, I AGREE WITH MS. COBB AND WITH MS. PHILLIPS--IF YOU COULD PULL THAT UP A LITTLE BIT--HOW'S THAT? HOW ARE WE DOING? OK, I AGREE WITH MS. COBB AND MS. PHILLIPS, AND I THINK THE MARKER IS LONG OVERDUE.

ALSO, THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA WAS FIXIN' TO PUT IN A MONUMENT, AS YOU ALL RECALL, TO THE U.S. COLORED TROOPS, AND THAT HAS GONE BY THE WAYSIDE, APPARENTLY.

I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHEN THAT MONUMENT IS GOING TO BE BUILT AND WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO DO WHAT THEY PROMISED HARB THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO, WHICH IS TO CONSULT WITH THE DESCENDANTS OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE HONORED AS U.S.

COLORED TROOPS. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE DONE RECENTLY, WHICH ARE JUST COMMENDABLE.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ASKING REALLY GOOD QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT ON 36 GRANADA STREET, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE HEARING ON THAT IN 2 WEEKS.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR VOTING DOWN THE MANIPULATION THAT WAS PROPOSED BY THE APPLICANT ON SEBASTIAN INLAND HARBOR.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HONORING LGBTQ PRIDE.

THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY COMMISSION CHAIRMAN WOULDN'T DO THAT, WHICH NECESSITATED A FEDERAL COURT LAWSUIT. ST.

AUGUSTINE AND ST.

AUGUSTINE BEACH HAVE SHOWN THAT OUR HEARTS ARE OPEN.

WE'RE OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND WE'RE OPEN TO DIVERSITY, AND I'M PROUD OF THAT.

I THINK WE'VE MADE SOME REAL PROGRESS HERE AND I WANT TO SUGGEST JUST IN TERMS OF PROCEDURE FOR THE HEARING ON THE 25TTH ON THE 36 GRANADA APPLICATION.

YOU ALL RAISED SOME REALLY GOOD QUESTIONS.

I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION CONCERNING THE FACT THAT OUR MOVIE HOUSE, THE ONLY MOVIE HOUSE WITHIN THE TERRITORIAL LIMITS OF THE CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE, WAS SHUT DOWN ABRUPTLY AND I'VE REQUESTED AN INVESTIGATION PURSUANT TO THE ANTITRUST LAWS AND THE SECTION FIVE OF THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION ACT UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES OF HOW IT CAME TO BE THAT THE MOVIE HOUSE WAS CLOSED AND THE NEW OWNER HAS NO INTENTION OF EVEN CONSIDERING PUTTING A MOVIE HOUSE IN THERE.

THAT WAS A CULTURAL CENTER.

IT WAS A PLACE WHERE WE WENT TO CELEBRATE EVENTS WAS A PLACE WHERE WE WENT TO SEE MOVIES LIKE NOTORIOUS RBG.

IT WAS A PLACE WHERE YOU COULD GO FOR TRIVIA NIGHT OR ANY NUMBER OF OTHER LOCAL EVENTS.

IT'S PART OF OUR LOCAL TEXTURE AND MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, YOU RAISED SOME REALLY GOOD QUESTIONS AT THE LAST MEETING ON THIS.

WHY IS IT A PUD, YOU ASKED, MAYOR, AND I TOTALLY AGREE.

IT'S NOT A PUD. IT SHOULDN'T BE TREATED AS A PUD.

IT SHOULD BE A MOVIE THEATER, AND WE SHOULD ASK THE APPLICANT.

IF YOU WANT A PUD, IF YOU WANT A FULL LIQUOR LICENSE, YOU'VE GOT TO GIVE SOMETHING.

THERE'S A MOVIE THEATER WITH 3 SCREENS, WONDERFUL PLACE.

AND LET ME JUST ASK THE APPLICANT WHO'S A FULL TIME FEDERAL LAWYER ABOUT THE THEATER, MAY WE HAVE IT BACK, PLEASE.

ANYWAY, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ALL'S GOOD WORK.

THANK YOU, MR. SLAVIN.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOHN G.

FORGIVE ME IF I MISPRONOUNCED THAT.

GOOD EVENING, SIR. HI, IT'S [INAUDIBLE], BUT THAT'S OKAY. THANK YOU.

I'M JOHN G.

I LIVE AT 7 16TH STREET IN ST.

AUGUSTINE BEACH.

AND IN JUNE, MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A CONDO JUST DOWN THE STREET HERE AT THE LAKEVIEW CONDOMINIUMS, AND WE HAD A CONDO IN ANOTHER STATE AND WE DECIDED TO MOVE OUR ASSETS TO OUR HOMETOWN, BRING IN THE MONEY, BRING IN TOURISTS AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.

OUR CONDO HAS A MASTER BEDROOM AND 2 TWINS AND ANOTHER ROOM.

WE APPLIED FOR A SHORT TERM RENTAL LICENSE WITH THE UNDERSTANDING WE NEED IN ONE PARKING

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WE APPLIED TO USE A RESERVED PARKING TAG.

WE HAVE FOUR PARKING TAGS.

WE HAVE 2 PERMANENT TAGS AND 2 RESERVED PARKING TAGS FOR STREET RESIDENTIAL PARKING.

WE APPLIED TO USE ONE OF THOSE WHEN/IF EVER NEEDED FOR OUR SHORT TERM RENTAL.

BEFORE GOING ANY FURTHER, I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MEREDITH WITH THE, I GUESS, THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, [INAUDIBLE] SHORT TERM RENTAL OFFICE AND TRACY WITH PLANNING AND ZONING WERE GREAT ASSETS TO THE CITY.

THEY WERE COOPERATIVE AND FRIENDLY AND REALLY HELPFUL TO US.

BUT ULTIMATELY PLANNING AND ZONING DENIED OUR REQUEST, EVEN THOUGH IF WE LIVED THERE, WE COULD PUT FOUR CARS IN THE STREET.

AND QUITE HONESTLY, THE NEXT DAY WE COULD HAVE TAKEN ALL FOUR OF OUR CARS AND OUR TAGS AND PARKED THEM ON THE STREET. BUT WE'RE GOOD NEIGHBORS.

WE KNOW OUR NEIGHBORS AND WE WANT TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS.

SO OBVIOUSLY WE DIDN'T DO THAT.

BUT WE UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE OF SHORT TERM RENTAL PARKING IN THIS TOWN AND WHY ORDINANCES ARE REQUIRED. BUT A LITTLE COMMON SENSE NEEDS TO BE APPLIED, ESPECIALLY IN THIS CASE.

WE HAD TO GO BACK AND ULTIMATELY WE SPENT $800 ON 2 PLANNING AND ZONING MEETINGS.

THE SECOND WE HAD TO REQUEST USE OF THE PARKING GARAGE BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING AVAILABLE WITHIN 400 FEET OR WHATEVER, 400 FEET/YARDS, BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL TAKEN OUT BY BAYFRONT HOTEL AND LARGE HOTELS.

MAYBE THERE OUGHT TO BE A REQUIREMENT TO SAY ANYBODY WANTS OFFSITE PARKING NEEDS AT LEAST PROVIDE 50 PERCENT ON SITE BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING IF EVERYTHING IS TOWN IS BOUGHT UP BY THE BIG PLACES. I DON'T KNOW WHY OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAD TO BE SENT LETTERS FOR US TO PARK ACROSS TOWN. IT REALLY DIDN'T AFFECT THEM.

SO ALL SAID AND DONE, YOU KNOW, IT WAS APPROVED FOR US TO USE THE PARKING GARAGE FOR OUR SECOND SPOT AT $30 A MONTH.

I DID ASK SOMEONE ON THE PLANNING AND ZONING WHY DON'T WE JUST USE OUR PROPERTY AT THE BEACH AND KIND OF LAUGH THAT SAYING WE CAN'T DO THAT.

BUT QUITE HONESTLY, I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT IS, AND I DIDN'T PUSH THAT SUBJECT BECAUSE WE JUST NEEDED TO. BUT IT'S NOT PLANNING AND ZONING'S AUTHORITY IN THAT AREA.

WE [INAUDIBLE] PROPERTY.

WE CAN PROVIDE SERVICE TO OUR TENANTS TO BRING THEIR CARS BACK AND FORTH.

SO MAYBE WE'LL PURSUE THAT LATER, BUT WE INVESTED IN ST.

AUGUSTINE, BUT IT TOOK 3 MONTHS AND $800 LATER TO GET APPROVAL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND I'M NOT DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T SEE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION.

SO OUR LAST SPEAKER IS MS. BJ KALAIDI.

BJ KALAIDI, WEST CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE, 8 NEWTON STREET, 9A1, PROPOSED ORDINANCE 202124 WILL INCREASE STORM WATER RATES BEYOND CPI BASED ON FINANCIAL NEEDS OF THE STORM WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN.

THIS LANGUAGE DOES NOT PUT THE RESPONSIBILITY ON THOSE CREATING THE NEED FOR INCREASES AS THE VOTE TODAY ON ORDINANCE 202126 FAILS TO DO.

ST. JOHNS COUNTY IS IN THE PROCESS OF PROVIDING SPACE AT 285 SOUTH HOLMES BOULEVARD FOR HOME AGAIN, SINCE THEY WILL BE KICKED OUT.

ALSO KNOWN AS REQUIRED TO MOVE FROM 1850 STATE ROAD 207, WHERE THE SALVATION ARMY USED TO BE. SO TURNSTONE DEVELOPERS CAN PROVIDE HOUSING.

IF YOU REMEMBER MS. ANDREWS WITH THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY PRESENTED TURNSTONE'S DEAL TO THE CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE FOR USE OF CITY OWNED PROPERTY IN WEST ST.

JOHNS COUNTY, BUT WE DIDN'T PICK UP ON IT, WHICH WAS GOOD.

HOPEFULLY, BILL HARRIS, OUR EX CITY MANAGER OF THE CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE, WHO LIVES ON BAY FOREST ROAD, JUST SOUTH OF 285 SOUTH HOLMES BOULEVARD, WILL VOLUNTEER WITH HOME AGAIN TO SERVE THE HOMELESS.

IT WILL SOON BE TIME FOR POLITICAL SHENANIGANS AS TERMS OF 3 POLITICIANS ENDS IN 2022.

LET'S SEE IF CYNTHIA GARRIS, WHO HANDLED WORK ORDERS FOR THE CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE, WILL RUN FOR MR. VALDES OR MS. KLINE'S SEAT.

JUNE 17, 2022 IS THE DEADLINE WHEN THOSE WHO WANT TO SERVE TAXPAYERS AND NOT THEIR CRONIES HAVE TO NOTIFY THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS.

ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23RD AT THE TROUT CREEK MEMORIAL PARK STATE ROAD 13, THE ST.

AUGUSTINE HERITAGE FESTIVAL IS BEING HELD WITH RE-ENACTORS CELEBRATING ST.

AUGUSTINE'S HERITAGE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

HAVING NO OTHER CARDS, SEEING NOBODY ELSE THAT WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION, THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION IS NOW CLOSED.

WE'RE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

[5. CONSENT AGENDA]

[00:25:03]

ORDINANCE 2021-24, ORDINANCE 2021-25, ORDINANCE 2021-27, ORDINANCE 2021-28.

WE HAVE A REMINDER OF UPCOMING MEETINGS.

THE OCTOBER 25TH, 2021 3PM SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING.

IT'S A WORKSHOP ON RESILIENCY.

OCTOBER 25TH, 2021 5:00 P.M.

REGULAR CITY COMMISSIONER MEETING AND NOVEMBER 8TH, 2021 5 P.M.

REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.

WE HAVE APPROVAL MINUTES FROM PRIOR CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS, INCLUDING SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2021 CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING, SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2021 SPECIAL MEETING COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, AUG 19, 2021 CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL BUDGET MEETING AUG.

19. 2021 COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY SPECIAL BUDGET MEETING AUGUST 3RD, 2021 CITY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING.

WE HAVE A RELEASE A LIEN FOR UNIT CONNECTION FEE MORTGAGE FOR JEANETTE GILMORE 1334 TRUMAN DRIVE.

WE HAVE APPROVAL OF FINAL SUBDIVISION PLOT FOR WOODWARD PLACE.

IT'S A RE-PLAT. WE HAVE FOURTH QUARTER LEGAL REPORT AND THAT CONCLUDES THE CONSENT AGENDA. AND THEN I THINK BY OUR MOTION TO MODIFY THAT WE HAVE THE CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION 2021-05CR TO THE LIMELIGHT THEATER.

SO WE MOVE THAT TO THE CONSENT AGENDA AS WELL.

IS THEIR MOTION TO APPROVE? MOTION. SECOND.

MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

MAYOR, DID YOU SAY SECOND OR DID--I SAID SECOND.

OK, THANK YOU.

THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED.

WE ARE NOW ON ITEM 8A1 ONE ORDINANCE 2021-17.

[8.A.1. Ordinance 2021-17: Places "craft alcohol industry" into certain zoning districts. (D. Birchim, Director Planning and Building)]

GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.

ORDINANCE 2021-17 PLACES TO CRAFT ALCOHOL INDUSTRY USE IN CERTAIN ZONING CATEGORIES.

CRAFT ALCOHOL INDUSTRY IS A COMMERCIAL USE INVOLVING THE DISTILLING OR BREWING OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.

THE RETAIL SALE OF THESE BEVERAGES AND IN SOME CASES, CONSUMPTION.

OF THIS ALCOHOL 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 AS A PERMITTED USE BY EXCEPTION IN DISTRICTS WHERE THIS CRAFT RETAILING, WINERIES, CRAFT BREWERIES AND BARS ARE ALREADY ALLOWED.

IN DISTRICTS, HP 2 AND HP 3 ARE HISTORIC DISTRICTS, CRAFT ALCOHOL INDUSTRY IS A USE BY EXCEPTION. WHICH MUST BE APPROVED BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD AND IF A CRAFT ALCOHOL INDUSTRY BUSINESS WANTED TO SELL DRINKS FOR CONSUMPTION ON THE PREMISES IN THESE DISTRICTS, THAT WOULD REQUIRE A SEPARATE USE BY EXCEPTION TO BE APPROVED ALSO BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD AS A BAR.

THIS IS SECOND READING AND A PUBLIC HEARING AND I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

QUESTIONS FOR MR. BIRCHIM AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE, I WOULD OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

I DO NOT HAVE ANY CARDS AT THE CURRENT TIME.

IS THERE ANYBODY THAT WISHES TO ADDRESS THE CITY COMMISSION ON ORDINANCE 2021-17? SEEING NO ONE, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.

COMMISSIONERS. I WOULD MOVE APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE 2021-17 READ BY TITLE ON [INAUDIBLE] PASSED.

SECOND. THANK YOU.

ORDINANCE NUMBER 2021-17 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF ST.

AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 28 SECTIONS 28-165, 28-167, 28-207, 28-209, AND 28-226 TO ALLOW FOR CRAFT ALCOHOL INDUSTRIES AS A PERMITTED USE.

AMENDING CHAPTER 28, SECTIONS 28-184, 28-185, 28-2026, 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 VERY MUCH, MADAM CLERK, IF YOU'D PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

THANK YOU, ORDINANCE 2021-17 PASSES.

MR. BIRCHIM WE'RE ON ORDINANCE 2021-26.

[8.A.2. Ordinance 2021-26: Establishes a maximum impervious surface (ISR) ratio of 70% for Single Family Residential Dwelling development. (D. Birchim, Director Planning and Building)]

ORDINANCE 2021-26 ESTABLISHES A 70 PERCENT MAXIMUM IMPERVIOUS SURFACE RATIO FOR SINGLE

[00:30:04]

IT DEFINES IMPERVIOUS SURFACE RATIO AND DEFINES MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITIES, AND IT ESTABLISHES AN 80 PERCENT MAXIMUM ISR FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION DISTRICTS HP 1, HP 2, HP 3 AND HP 5.

BECAUSE THOSE DISTRICTS CURRENTLY HAVE A 70 PERCENT MAXIMUM LOT COVERAGE RATIO.

WE TRIED TO MAKE THIS EQUITABLE, BUT WE DO NOT.

THIS ORDINANCE DOES NOT APPLY TO MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITIES WHICH ALREADY HAVE THEIR STORM WATER REQUIREMENTS PERMITTED BY THE WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.

THIS IS THE LAST OF THE ITEMS THAT WERE GENERATED BY THE BUILDING CODE TASK FORCE BY COMMISSIONER VALDES.

IT RECEIVED A POSITIVE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD.

THIS IS SECOND READING IN A PUBLIC HEARING AND I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. BIRCHIM? SEEING NONE AT THIS POINT.

I WOULD OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

I HAVE ONE CARD.

TWO CARDS.

THANK YOU. OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS MR. ED SLAVIN.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. ED SLAVIN, BOX 3084.

I SUPPORT THE ORDINANCE, AND I'D APPRECIATE IT IF YOU ALL COULD HAVE A COLLOQUY FOLLOWING PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT HOW IT MIGHT BE STRENGTHENED.

I WANT TO COMMEND COMMISSIONER JOHN VALDES FOR HIS LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE.

I REMEMBER EVEN BEFORE HE WAS ELECTED, HE TALKED ABOUT THAT AND IT WAS SOMETHING THAT HE CARED DEEPLY ABOUT.

AND IF WE'RE GOING TO CONFRONT OCEAN LEVEL RISE, WE NEED THIS ORDINANCE AND WE NEED TO CONSTANTLY LOOK AT OUR CODE AND REEVALUATE HOW COULD IT BE IMPROVED? AND I THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MS. BJ KALAIDI.

BJ KALAIDI, WEST CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE, 8 NEWTON ST.

IN LISTENING TO MR. BIRCHIM, I THINK HE ANSWERED MY QUESTION.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT HERE, THAT HAVE PROPERTY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE. I WANT TO KNOW IF THIS ORDINANCE WHEN YOU PASS IT, 2021-26 MEANS THAT IF SOMEONE HAS THEIR HOME AND THEN THEY HAVE A LOT OR LET'S JUST SAY, THEY HAVE A LOT; THEY COME IN AND BUY A LOT AND A SINGLE FAMILY.

DOES THAT MEAN THAT THEY ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE 70 PERCENT CONCRETE WHERE THE WATER DOESN'T GO INTO THE GROUND? BECAUSE IF THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT, I DON'T THINK THIS IS RIGHT.

I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU HAVE MADE 70 PERCENT.

AND THEN MR. BIRCHIM WAS SAYING THAT THE DEVELOPERS CAN DO EVEN MORE THAN THAT.

SO REALLY, I DON'T SEE HOW THIS IS HELPING WITH OUR STORM WATER PROBLEM WHERE WATER IS RUNNING OFF OF THESE PROPERTIES.

SO THAT'S MY QUESTION.

IF ANYONE COULD ANSWER IT--I KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER IT--SO THAT THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE NOT HERE THAT WILL BE LISTENING AND STREAMING THIS, ARE THEY ALLOWED TO HAVE UP TO 70 PERCENT CONCRETE OR SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT ALLOW THE WATER TO GO DOWN INTO THE GROUND ON THEIR LOTS WHEN THEY BUILD THEIR SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES? THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

PUBLIC HEARING, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT STILL WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION? SEEING NO ONE, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.

COMMISSIONERS? MAYOR UPCHURCH IF I MAY ADDRESS BJ KALAIDI.

WE WERE AT 100 PERCENT LOT COVERAGE.

70 PERCENT IS NOT ENOUGH.

YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. WE SHOULD HAVE A SMALLER NUMBER THAN THAT, BUT THAT'S THE NUMBER WE ENDED UP WITH AND IT'S MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

WE HAVE LOT OF COVERAGES THAT GO FROM 25 TO 30 PERCENT IN THE CITY.

THAT'S ACTUALLY FOR STRUCTURE.

[INAUDIBLE] LIKE TO SEE THOSE STRUCTURES ELEVATED SO WATER CAN GET UNDERNEATH THEM AND PERCOLATE. AND I'D LIKE TO SEE THE BALANCE, ALL PERMEABLE PAVERS OR OTHER MATERIALS.

BUT AGAIN, WE WENT FROM 100 TO 70.

IT'S THE BEST WE COULD GET.

IT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH, BUT I WILL VOTE FOR THIS BECAUSE IT'S MOVING THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

THANK YOU. FURTHER QUESTIONS, FURTHER COMMENTS? WE HAVE A MOTION. I'M SORRY.

I'M HAPPY TO MAKE THE MOTION TO MOVE ORDINANCE 2021-26 TO SECOND READING AND PASS.

SECOND. ORDINANCE NUMBER 2021-26, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF ST.

AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 28, SECTION 28-2 TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF IMPERVIOUS SURFACE, CREATING A DEFINITION OF MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITY CREATING SECTION 28-160 DIVISION 3 RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS TO PROVIDE FOR REGULATIONS RELATED TO IMPERVIOUS SURFACES FOR SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DWELLINGS NOT WITHIN MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITIES.

[00:35:04]

AUGUSTINE, PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT WITH OTHER ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CLERK, IF YOU'D PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

THANK YOU. ORDINANCE 2021-26 PASSES.

WE'RE NOW ON ITEM 9A1 ORDINANCE 2021-24.

[9.A.1. Ordinance 2021-24: Amends Section 29-5 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)]

I'LL BE FILLING IN FOR MR. SIMPSON TONIGHT. MEREDITH BREIDENSTEIN, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.

ORDINANCE 2021-24 AMEND SECTION 29-5 OF THE CITY CODE REGARDING THE ABILITY TO INCREASE THE SINGLE FAMILY UNIT STORM WATER UNIT FEE RATE, WHETHER BY CPI OR ANY OTHER ADJUSTMENT BY ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION.

THIS MEANS THAT NO ADJUSTMENT TO THE STORM WATER UTILITY WILL BE MADE WITHOUT COMING TO THE CITY COMMISSION WITH THE RESOLUTION.

BUT IT SAVES US FROM HAVING TO DO IT BY ORDINANCE.

YES, IT DOES. IT MAKES IT CONSISTENT WITH OUR OTHER FUNDS? YES, IT DOES, AND BRINGS THE CPI APPROVAL FROM THE CITY MANAGER TO RESOLUTION BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

FURTHER QUESTIONS? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? I MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 2021-24 READ BY TITLE.

SECOND.

ORDINANCE NO. 2021-24, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF ST.

AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING SECTION 29-5 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE, PROVIDING FOR STORM WATER UTILITY FEE RATE INCREASES BY ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY.

PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CODE OF THE CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

THANK YOU. ORDINANCE 2021-24 PASSES ON FIRST READING, AND WILL NOW BE ON SECOND READING IN THE NEAR FUTURE. MR. BIRCHIM WE'RE ON ORDINANCE 2021-27.

[9.A.2. Ordinance 2021-27: Changes the City Code to reflect changes to state law increasing small scale future land use map changes from 10 acres to 50 acres and conform definitions to state statute. (D. Birchim, Director Planning and Building)]

THESE CHANGES TO THE STATE LAW MUST BE REFLECTED IN OUR LOCAL ZONING CODE FOR CONSISTENCY WITH STATE LAW. ADDITIONALLY, THIS ORDINANCE ELIMINATES A REFERENCE TO CHARGING DOUBLE THE NORMAL REQUIRED FEE FOR PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD APPLICATIONS, WHICH HAVE DOUBLED THE NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT.

THE CITY WAS CHARGING A DOUBLE FEE BECAUSE THE ADVERTISING NOTIFICATION RANGE WAS EXPANDED FROM 150 FOOT RADIUS AROUND A SUBJECT PROPERTY TO A 300 FOOT RADIUS FOR CERTAIN APPLICATIONS. THIS IS NO LONGER NECESSARY BECAUSE THE CURRENT FEE SCHEDULE NOW REQUIRES THE APPLICANT TO PAY THE COSTS FOR ADVERTISING.

AND FINALLY, THIS ORDINANCE UPDATES THE PROCEDURE FOR PUBLISHING NOTICES OF PUBLIC HEARING. THE CURRENT PROCEDURES IDENTIFY THE PLANNING AND ZONING DIVISION AS RESPONSIBLE FOR WRITING AND PUBLISHING NOTICES OF PUBLIC HEARINGS WHEN, IN PRACTICE, THIS IS DONE BY THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE.

THESE ARE THE CHANGES BEING PROPOSED BY THIS ORDINANCE.

THIS IS FIRST READING AND I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY QUESTIONS MR. BIRCHIM. I'D MAKE A MOTION THAT WE PASS.

ORDINANCE 2021-27 ON FIRST READING THAT IT BE READ BY TITLE ONLY AND PASSED.

SECOND. ORDINANCE NUMBER 2021-27 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF ST.

AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 28, SECTION 28-2 TO AMEND THE DEFINITIONS OF COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT.

LARGE SCALE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT.

SMALL SCALE AMENDING CHAPTER 28, SECTION 28-59 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS BY PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD 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, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

THANK YOU, ORDINANCE 2021-27 PASSES ON FIRST READING.

THANK YOU, MR. BIRCHIM. THANK YOU.

WE NOW HAVE MR. PIGGOTT FOR A REPORT CONCERNING EDDIE VICKERS PARK, THE BASKETBALL COURT

[10.A. Eddie Vickers Park basketball courts renovation plan. (J. Piggott, Director General Services)]

[00:40:01]

MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, JIM PIGGOTT, DIRECTOR OF GENERAL SERVICES.

I WAS APPROACHED BY ST.

JOHNS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE USING SOME ARPA MONEY--THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS--TO RENOVATE THE BASKETBALL COURTS AT EDDIE VICKERS PARK.

THEY HAVE CURRENTLY 2 HUNDRED ELEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS EARMARKED FOR THAT PROJECT.

IN OUR DISCUSSIONS, THEY WANT TO KNOW IF WE WANTED TO KEEP ALL FOUR BASKETBALL COURTS THAT ARE DOWN HERE AND THEY WANTED MAYBE SOME IDEAS SUGGESTIONS AND WE TALKED ABOUT IT ON THE PHONE AND WHAT WE CAME UP WITH WAS POSSIBLY, LET'S RENOVATE 2 OF THE BASKETBALL COURTS. THEN IF WE CAN, ADD TWO PADDLE TENNIS COURTS BECAUSE PADDLE TENNIS IS AN UPCOMING SPORT ALONG WITH PICKLEBALL AND TO BE MORE PRECISE, YOU CAN PLAY PICKLEBALL IN A PADDLE TENNIS COURT, BUT NOT VICE VERSA.

SO ESSENTIALLY, WE'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE 3 SPORTING EVENTS IN THAT ONE FOOTPRINT DOWN THERE, AND I'D BE LOOKING FOR A CONSENSUS.

MR. PIGGOTT, HOW MANY BASKETBALL COURTS ARE CURRENTLY THERE? THERE ARE CURRENTLY FOUR AT THAT LOCATION.

IS THERE DEMAND FOR FOUR OR IS THE SENSE OF STAFF IN THE COUNTY THAT THERE'S NOT A DEMAND FOR FOUR BASKETBALL COURTS? WELL, I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 16 YEARS, MAYOR, AND I HAVE NOT SEEN MORE THAN ONE QUARTER BEING USED. LAST EIGHT OR NINE YEARS, PROBABLY HAVEN'T SEEN ANYONE USE THOSE COURTS A LOT BECAUSE, OF COURSE, ARE IN DISREPAIR.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE A ACCURATE FIGURE ON HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE USING THOSE COURTS, AND I DO HAVE MR. RYAN KANE HERE TONIGHT.

MAYBE HE CAN ANSWER ABOUT WHAT THEY SEE FOR USE OF BASKETBALL COURTS, BUT IN MY DISCUSSION WITH THE STAFF MEMBER, WE DIDN'T THINK AT THAT POINT IN TIME THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE USING ALL FOUR COURTS AT ONCE.

A LOT OF THE REASON IS IT'S ON CONCRETE.

IT'S IN THE SUMMERTIME.

WHEN THEY WANT TO USE IT, IT'S REALLY HOT.

IS ANY OF THAT MONEY AVAILABLE THAT THOSE COURTS COULD BE LIT SO THEY COULD BE USED AT NIGHT? THAT WOULD BE A ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY PARK QUESTION.

THE QUESTION COMES UP, WE'RE GOING TO CONVERT THEM TO PICKLEBALL COURTS OR PADDLEBALL COURTS SUFFER THE SAME ISSUE.

IT'S HOT OUT THERE PLAYING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY.

AND I MEAN, I SEE WHERE THE DEMOGRAPHICS CHANGE IN LINCOLNVILLE IN PARTICULAR IN THE CITY, YOU HAVE FEWER YOUNG PEOPLE, SO YOU HAVE FEWER PEOPLE PLAYING BASKETBALL.

PROBABLY NOT THAT IT'S JUST YOUNG PEOPLE WHO PLAY BASKETBALL, BUT I KNOW A LOT OF OLDER PEOPLE PLAY PADDLE TENNIS AND PICKLEBALL.

IF THOSE WERE LIT COURTS, WE'D PROBABLY SEE A LOT MORE ACTIVITY ON THEM, MORE USE, BETTER RETURN FOR THE BUCKS SO TO SPEAK ON FIXING THEM.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT. RIGHT, AND I DON'T DISAGREE.

THAT POSSIBLY COULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE ADD AT A LATER TIME.

I DO KNOW THAT TWO HUNDRED ELEVEN THOUSAND WAS THE TOTAL THAT WAS EARMARKED FOR THE RENOVATION PROJECT AT THIS TIME.

BUT I'LL BE GLAD TO TURN OVER TO RYAN TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY POSSIBILITY FOR ANY EXTRA MONEY AND EXTRA FUNDS.

AND THEN, IF THERE IS, THEN WE'D HAVE TO DEVELOP A PLAN ABOUT WHEN THE LIGHTS COME ON, AND WHEN THEY COME OFF. WELL, YOU DON'T GET IT UNLESS YOU ASK, DO YOU? WELCOME SIR.

THANK YOU, RYAN KANE, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION, ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY.

TO ANSWER THE QUESTION OR TWO QUESTIONS.

ONE IT'S HARD TO REALLY GAUGE THE USE OF THAT FACILITY JUST BECAUSE OF THE DISREPAIR IT'S CURRENTLY IN. BUT THE TRENDS WE'RE SEEING ACROSS THE COUNTY WOULD QUANTIFY FOR WHAT MR. PICKETT'S REQUEST WAS FOR A CHANGE FROM FOUR BASKETBALL COURTS.

AS FAR AS LIGHTING, THAT FUNDING IS NOT PART OF THAT.

RIGHT NOW, IT'S CERTAINLY GOOD FOR ME TO HEAR THAT AND TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT FUTURE PROJECTS.

BUT THE IDENTIFIED AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS THAT WERE APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THAT WAS NOT IDENTIFIED.

OK, I'M PREPARED TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION THAT WE REFURBISH 2 OF THE BASKETBALL COURTS AND ACCEPT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION THAT THE BALANCE OF THE SPACE BE USED FOR PADDLE TENNIS COURTS WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THEY'RE ALSO FUNCTIONAL AS PICKLEBALL COURTS AS WELL.

SECOND.

FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, RYAN.

WE ARE NOW ON ITEM 10B, A PRESENTATION ABOUT THE WILDLIFE ON JULIA'S ISLAND, FORMERLY

[10.B. Julia's (Bird) Island presentation by (Jean Olbert, Regional Shorebird Biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) and (J.B. Miller, Land Management Coordinator). (R. Franklin, Director Public Works)]

[00:45:14]

JB MILLER, LAND MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR AND WITH ME IS JEAN OLBERT FROM FWC.

SORRY, LET ME BE A LITTLE BIT CLEARER.

FROM FWC, WHO IS THE SHOREBIRD SPECIALIST FOR THIS PART OF THE STATE FOR FWC.

WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO REAL QUICKLY IS GO THROUGH AND SHOW A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY OF THE ISLAND, HOW IT WAS FORMED AND NOT SPENDING ANY TIME ON THAT BECAUSE WE'RE REALLY GOING TO GET TO THE MEAT OF THE PRESENTATION THAT JEAN WILL GIVE.

BUT BASICALLY, JUST SO EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT ISLAND THAT USED TO BE CALLED BIRD ISLAND STILL IS CALLED BIRD ISLAND BY A LOT OF PEOPLE, WHICH WE'RE CALLING JULIE ISLAND IS PART OF WHAT IS THE ACTUAL FLOOD SHOAL FOR ST.

AUGUSTINE INLET? AND THAT FLOOD SHOAL REALLY, REALLY CHANGED QUITE A BIT IN ITS SIZE AND A LITTLE BIT TO ITS LOCATION AFTER THE LATE 1930S AND EARLY 40S, WHEN THE INLET WAS MODIFIED DRAMATICALLY AND JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU GUYS A FEW PICTURES.

IN THAT PICTURE ON THE LOWER LEFT, THAT'S THE FORT THAT'S RIGHT HERE.

JUST TO GIVE YOU, SO THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW OR DO KNOW WHERE WE ARE.

AND SO THIS ISLAND RIGHT HERE IS WHAT IS BASICALLY BACK THEN WHAT WAS JULIA'S ISLAND? THIS IS FROM A U.S.

COAST SURVEY. AND SO IN THE LOWER RIGHT HAND SIDE IS 1942.

THERE'S 1952 ON THE LEFT, AND 1960 ON THE RIGHT.

1971, AND OF COURSE, SOME OF THESE PICTURES WERE TAKEN AT HIGH TIDE.

SOME ARE TAKING A LOW TIDE, SO IT SHOWS THE SHOALING.

BUT BY THE TIME YOU GOT INTO THE 70S AND 80S, YOU COULD SEE IT WAS REALLY STARTING TO GROW IN TERMS OF ITS SCOPE.

1989- 2002.

AND THEN 2010 AND THEN CURRENTLY IN THE PICTURE ON THE LOWER RIGHT, WHICH IS 2019, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S SMALLER, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY THE ISLAND IS BIGGER AND THE SHOAL IT JUST HAPPENED TO BE TAKEN AGAIN AT DEAD HIGH TIDE.

SO THAT'S KIND OF A QUICKIE OF SOME OF THE HISTORY.

AND NOW, AS SOON AS I GET THIS UP, JEAN WILL.

PRESENT AND TALK ABOUT ALL THE WONDERFUL WORK THAT FWC AND VOLUNTEERS HAVE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST 11 YEARS.

GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TONIGHT.

SO I'LL BE TALKING A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE SHOREBIRD AND SEABIRD BIOLOGY ON THE ISLAND ON JULIA'S ISLAND, ALSO KNOWN AS BIRD ISLAND.

SORRY.

MY APOLOGIES FOR THE DELAY.

SO, I'LL BE FOCUSING ON WE HAVE FOUR SHOREBIRD AND SEABIRD SPECIES THAT NEST ON THE ISLAND . FIVE, TECHNICALLY, IN TOTAL, BUT WE REALLY FOCUS ON THE LEAST TERN THE AMERICAN OYSTER CATCHER, THE BLACK SKIMMER, ALL OF WHICH ARE STATE THREATENED SPECIES, AND THE WILSON'S PLOVER, WHICH IS THE SPECIES OF GREATEST CONSERVATION NEED DUE TO THE POPULATION DECLINES THEY'RE EXPERIENCING.

SHOREBIRDS AND SEABIRDS ARE KIND OF A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, GROUPS OF BIRDS BASED ON THEIR NESTING BEHAVIOR, SHOREBIRDS TEND TO BE SOLITARY IN THEIR NESTING BEHAVIOR AND RELY ON THEIR CRYPTIC BEHAVIOR TO KIND OF HIDE THEIR YOUNG AND EGGS, WHEREAS SEABIRDS TEND TO BE COMMUNITY NESTING SPECIES AND RELY ON SAFETY AND NUMBERS, ESSENTIALLY, SHOREBIRDS DO

[00:50:02]

SO THE IMPORTANCE OF JULIA'S ISLAND I HAVE OUTLINED IN THIS SLIDE FROM 2011 TO 2020, 10 PERCENT OF ALL AMERICAN OYSTER CATCHER AND WILSON'S PLOVER NESTING ATTEMPTS IN ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY WERE REPORTED ON JULIA'S ISLAND.

ST. JOHN'S COUNTY IS HOME TO THE MOST PRODUCTIVE AMERICAN OYSTER CATCHER BREEDING AREAS IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA.

THE TOLOMATO RIVER AND JULIUS ISLAND COLLECTIVELY ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT SITES, BOTH IN THE COUNTY AND THE STATE FOR THESE SPECIES, WHICH IS SOMETHING TO BE REALLY PROUD OF.

FROM 2017 TO 2020, JULIA'S ISLAND SUPPORTED THE SECOND LARGEST LEAST TERN NESTING COLONY IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY.

THAT'S SAYING A LOT, CONSIDERING THAT ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY HAS SOME OF THE MOST PROLIFIC NESTING ALONG THE ENTIRE ATLANTIC COAST OF FLORIDA, SO IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT GROUND NESTING LOCATION FOR THESE SPECIES.

AND IN 2019, OUR BLACK SKIMMERS NESTED ON JULIA'S ISLAND AFTER ATTEMPTING TO NEST THE ANASTASIA STATE PARK AND FAILING.

ALTHOUGH THE NESTS WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL, WHICH IS COMMON FOR THE SPECIES ON THE SECOND ROUND, IT SAYS A LOT THAT THIS IS THE ONLY OTHER GROUND NESTING LOCATION THE BIRDS HAVE UTILIZED IN THE PAST 10 YEARS.

SO IT'S A LOCATION WE COULD MAYBE MANAGE TO MAKE EVEN MORE HOSPITABLE FOR THEM.

SO THE TIMING OF NESTING REALLY FOCUSES BETWEEN MARCH AND AUGUST BETWEEN THE SHOREBIRD THAT'S STARTING EARLY IN MARCH AND THEN ALL OF THE NESTS AND CHICKS KIND OF FLEDGING AND FINISHING BY THE END OF AUGUST.

SO THAT'S WHEN WE PRETTY MUCH FOCUS OUR MANAGEMENT EFFORTS IS DURING THIS TIME FRAME.

SOME PRIMARY THREATS TO THE BIRDS, BOTH ON THE ISLAND ACROSS THE STATE INCLUDE EROSION AND OVERWASH.

HERE WE HAVE IMAGES FROM THIS 2021 BREEDING SEASON WHERE WE LOST 30 PERCENT OF OUR LEAST TERN NESTING DUE TO OVERWASH AT A HIGH TIDE EVENT ON JUNE 24TH, THE EVENING OF JUNE 24TH.

ADDITIONALLY, ALONG WITH BIRDS SOMETIMES COMES INCREASED NUTRIENTS INTO THE SYSTEM, SO WE HAVE SEEN AN UPTICK IN VEGETATION GROWTH ON THE ISLAND, WHICH IS GREAT FOR PREVENTING EROSION BUT IS PROBLEMATIC FOR KIND OF THE HABITAT THE SEABIRDS AND SHOREBIRDS ARE LOOKING FOR, WHICH IS KIND OF A BEACH SANDY ENVIRONMENT.

SO IT'S WALKING A FINE LINE OF MANAGING SO THAT THERE'S OPEN AREAS BUT VEGETATION STILL PRESENT TO PREVENT EROSION.

HUMAN DISTURBANCE CAN BE AN ISSUE FOR THESE SPECIES.

UNFORTUNATELY, EVEN THOUGH A LOT OF DOGS CAN BE WELL-MEANING AND ARE JUST ENJOYING BEING OUT RUNNING IN THE WIND AND THE SURF, THESE SPECIES DO SEE DOGS AS KIND OF ONE OF THEIR NATIVE PREDATORS, WHICH IS THE COYOTE, SO IT CAN CAUSE A GREAT DEAL OF DISTURBANCE AND EVEN CAUSE ABANDONMENT WHEN WE DO HAVE A LOT OF DOGS OR PEOPLE TOO CLOSE TO THE NESTING AREA. AS YOU'RE SEEING, ALL OF THAT EGGS ARE LAID DIRECTLY ONTO THE GROUND, WHICH IS A COMPLICATED STRATEGY, OF COURSE, FOR BOTH PREDATORS AND PEOPLE WHEN THEY DON'T SEE THE BIRDS AND MAY ACCIDENTALLY STEP ON EGGS OR CHICKS.

AND, OF COURSE, SINCE THEY ARE SMALL GROUND NESTING SPECIES, THEY REALLY HAVE SAFETY IN NUMBERS, SO IT REALLY HELPS TO KEEP THEM SAFE.

THE ADULTS SITTING ON THEIR EGGS AND CHICKS AND NOT DISTURBED SO THE PREDATORS DO NOT COME INTO THE SYSTEM AND EAT THE EGGS AND CHICKS.

SOME OF THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE TO PROTECT THESE SPECIES CURRENTLY.

WE WORK IN A GROUP KNOWN AS THE FLORIDA SHOREBIRD ALLIANCE, WHICH IS MADE UP OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE ALSO HAVE VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT HELP OUT WITH PROTECTING THIS ISLAND, AS WELL AS NONPROFITS SUCH AS AUDUBON FLORIDA.

SO THIS ALLIANCE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2009.

WE HAVE 12 PARTNERSHIPS ALONG THE ENTIRE COAST OF FLORIDA, AND IT IS A STATEWIDE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM FOCUSED ON PROTECTING AND MONITORING THE STATE THREAT IN NESTING BIRDS. SO THIS INCLUDES FOR JULIA'S ISLAND, WE HAVE FWC STAFF THAT GOES OUT TO KIND OF COUNT THE EGGS AND CHICKS EVERY WEEK.

WE DO HAVE A RESEARCH INSTITUTE STAFF THAT WILL EVEN BAND THE AMERICAN OYSTER CATCHER.

SO IF YOU EVER SEE A BAND, YOU CAN LOOK UP THAT INFORMATION OR REPORT IT AND FIND OUT WHERE THOSE BIRDS ARE FROM.

WE HAVE PREDATION MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AS NEEDED, SUCH AS PERCH DETERRENCE.

AND THEN WE DO POST THE ISLAND STARTING IN MARCH AND APRIL, THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT STRATEGIES AGAIN, BECAUSE OTHERWISE PEOPLE WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT THE NESTS WERE [INAUDIBLE] THERE.

SO WE USED 120 DO NOT ENTER SIGN SINCE THESE BIRDS ARE PROTECTED BY FWC REGULATIONS.

THIS PAST FEW YEARS, WE'VE USED FWC LAW ENFORCEMENT TO ASSESS ASSIST WITH POSTING, BUT WE'VE HAD OTHER VOLUNTEERS THAT HAVE HELPED IN THE PAST.

LAW ENFORCEMENT DO PATROL THE AREAS AND HELP TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC WHENEVER POSSIBLE.

THEY DID DEDICATE FIFTY NINE PATROLS AND 190 PATROL HOURS THIS PAST YEAR ALONE.

AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS STEWARDING EFFORT ON THE WEEKENDS AND ON HOLIDAYS TO HELP COMMUNICATE WITH THE PUBLIC THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ISLAND.

SOMETIMES WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE BIRDS AND THEY WANT TO LEARN

[00:55:01]

AUGUSTINE HAS HELPED TO TRANSPORT OUR STEWARDS OUT TO THE ISLAND IN THE PAST AND REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT EFFORT.

A REAL BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE NESTING DATA.

WE HAVE SEEN INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY DUE TO THE COMBINATION OF OUR EFFORTS, AND ALTHOUGH THE AMERICAN OYSTER CATCHERS HAVE A HIGH NEST SITE FIDELITY AND ARE HIGHLY TERRITORIAL, WE'VE SEEN THEM FLEDGE MORE YOUNG AND INCREASING THEIR NESTING EFFORTS EACH YEAR.

WE'VE CONSISTENTLY PRODUCED WILSON'S PLOVERS AND FOR LEAST TERNS, ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST 2 YEARS, WE'VE REALLY BEEN INCREASING THE PRODUCTIVITY OF THE YOUNG KIND OF PRODUCING BETWEEN 40 AND 50 YOUNG IN 2020 AND THIRTY FIVE YOUNG THIS PAST YEAR, EVEN WITH ALL OF THAT OVER-WASH.

AGAIN, THE BLACK SKIMMERS WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL IN NESTING, BUT WE HOPE TO SEE THEM RETURN IN THE FUTURE. SO THIS IS AN AMBITIOUS GOAL FOR THE FLORIDA SHOREBIRD ALLIANCE IS TO INCREASE OUR FOCAL SPECIES POPULATIONS BY 10 PERCENT AND 10 YEARS ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA. AND TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL WILL REQUIRE TREMENDOUS EFFORT AND INCREASED PARTNERSHIP AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

THIS IS JUST AN INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION, NO ACTION IS IS NEEDED OR REQUESTED TO THE COMMISSION? CORRECT.

OK. AS I TOLD YOU, WALKING IN, YOU HAVE PHENOMENAL PHOTOGRAPHS.

IT'S SUPER INTERESTING.

YEAH, SO SO THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION.

AND ONE LAST THING [INAUDIBLE].

I HAVE A QUESTION TOO.

WAIT, HOLD ON, HE'S GOT SOMETHING EXCITING, I THINK.

I WOULD GO THERE. [CHUCKLING] WELL, WHILE THE BIOLOGIST TRIES TO BE A TECHNOLOGIST, COMMISSIONER VALDES, YOUR QUESTION? YEAH, I HAVE A QUESTION.

I MEAN, WE'RE LOOKING AT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF GROWTH IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA, AND PART OF THE OVER WASH PROBLEM IS PROBABLY NUTRIENT LOADS OVER WASH BEFORE, IT'S JUST A LOT RICHER NOW AND LEAVES BEHIND NUTRIENTS AND FOSTERS THE GROWTH OF PLANTS.

BUT HAVING SAID THAT, HAVING GROWN UP ON TAMPA BAY AND CHARLOTTE HARBOR, WHERE THERE'S NESTING AREAS DOWN THERE THAT I GUESS STILL FLOURISH, I DON'T KNOW.

PROBABLY NOTHING RELATIVE TO WHEN I WAS A CHILD DOWN THERE.

BUT HAVING SAID THAT, IS THERE A WAY, YOU CAN PROJECT THE IMPACTS YOU FORESEE HERE AND THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT BASED ON WHAT WE'VE SEEN SAY IN TAMPA BAY OR CHARLOTTE HARBOR? GREAT QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW IF I'D BE ABLE TO PROJECT THE CHANGES OR HOW WE THINK THINGS WILL CHANGE OTHER THAN WHAT YOU'VE ALREADY STATED, THE IMPACTS OF MORE AND MORE PEOPLE COMING TO THE COMMUNITY AND WANTING TO ENJOY THE ISLAND AND THE HIGHER RISK OF DISTURBANCE NOT ONLY AT THIS SITE, BUT POTENTIALLY ALL OF THE SITES, JUST BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND PEOPLE ARE REALLY ATTRACTED TO THESE COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS, AND IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THEY MOVE HERE.

SO IN THAT SENSE, WE ARE KEEPING AN EYE ON THAT, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE FIGHTING SO HARD TO KEEP THESE FEW SITES THAT WE DO HAVE PROTECTED AND ALSO TRY TO FIND NOVEL SOLUTIONS TO CREATING HABITAT FOR THE BIRDS ON AREAS LIKE SPOIL ISLANDS MOVING FORWARD WHERE THEY'RE MORE ELEVATED AND THEY MAY BE FURTHER AWAY FROM THE PUBLIC VIEW.

HOPEFULLY, THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.

YEAH. WELL, I MEAN, WHAT CAME TO MIND WAS [INAUDIBLE] AT THE MOUTH OF TAMPA BAY ON ANY GIVEN WEEKEND, YOU HAVE 2000 BOATS TIED UP.

JUST SOUTH OF THAT, YOU'RE GOING TOWARDS ANNA MARIA, THERE IS PASSAGE KEY, WHICH IS COMPLETELY PROHIBITED.

I MEAN, I DON'T BELIEVE YOU CAN GO ON THERE AT ANY TIME AND I MEAN, IT'S A ROOKERY.

IT DOES WELL. ANYWAY, THANK YOU.

I KNOW I'M ASKING YOU A QUESTION THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO ANSWER, BUT I MEAN, THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE FACING IS JUST DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH AND THE FALLOUT FROM ALL THAT AND HOW IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THE BIRDS.

ABSOLUTELY. SO I THINK HOPEFULLY SPOIL ISLANDS WILL BE ONE OF THAT SOLUTION AND JUST PROTECTING MORE HABITAT.

WE DO WORK STATEWIDE, THOUGH, TO MAKE SURE WE'RE UP TO DATE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OTHER REGIONS OF THE STATE SO THAT WE'RE NOT CAUGHT OFF GUARD IF THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES ARISING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

AND LASTLY, SOMETHING CAME UP--HAVE NO IDEA WHY IT CAME UP ON THE SCREEN--BUT SOME OF THE THINGS ARE UPCOMING AND THIS IS THE LAST OF WHAT WE WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU IS OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE--WE IS A VERY LARGE, COLLECTIVE WE--WANT TO CONTINUE TO MANAGE THE ISLAND FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF HUMAN VISITORS.

WITH THE PROTECTION, OF COURSE, SO THOSE NATURAL RESOURCES ON THAT ISLAND, WHICH IS PRIMARILY SHOREBIRDS IN THE SEA, BIRDS CONTINUE THE MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT OF THE ISLAND SPECIFICALLY FOR THE PROTECTION OF SHOREBIRDS AND SEABIRDS.

ONE THING PROJECT GOING TO BE MAPPING THE VEGETATION, AND I'LL EXPLAIN THAT IN A SECOND, WHICH WILL INCLUDE A PLANT INVENTORY OF THE ISLAND.

IT'S A SMALL ISLAND, OF COURSE.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO IN JEAN MENTIONED IT EARLIER IS TO DO SOME VEGETATION MANAGEMENT TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF VEGETATION THE BIRDS LIKE VEGETATION THAT HATCHLINGS DO BECAUSE THEY GET SOME SHADE FROM IT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT THEY ALSO, IF YOU HAVE TOO MUCH VEGETATION, THEY MAY NOT NEST.

[01:00:04]

SO IT'S THAT NICE BALANCE THAT JEAN MENTIONED OF ENOUGH OPENNESS AND ENOUGH VEGETATION.

SO AND WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL WE DO THE VEGETATION SURVEY ON THE ISLAND.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO DO IS INVESTIGATE WAYS TO INCREASE THE ELEVATION OR SIZE OF THE ISLAND NESTING AREA.

AND THAT COULD BE ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

IF WE CAN FIND SOME MATERIAL THAT MAYBE IS NOT BEACH QUALITY, THAT COULD BE PLACED THERE FROM A DREDGING OPERATION TO INCREASE.

YOU SAW THAT OVER WASH PICTURE EITHER INCREASE THE ELEVATION OF THE NESTING AREA OR INCREASE THE SIZE OF THE NEST AREA OR BOTH.

AND THAT'S IT. ANY QUESTIONS? NO, BUT I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THIS, THANK YOU.

YEAH. VERY WELCOME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE'RE NOW ON ITEMS BY THE CITY MANAGER.

[13.A. Summary of Fiscal Year 20/21 highlights and City Commissioner's evaluation comments. (J. Regan, City Manager)]

AND I WROTE A MEMO THAT'S PART OF YOUR PACKAGE AND THOUGHT I COULD JUST COVER THAT, AND THEN IF THERE'S ANY COMMENTS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE WITH REGARD TO MY PERFORMANCE OF THE PAST YEAR, THIS WOULD BE A GOOD TIME.

AND I, YOU KNOW, WHEN I REFLECTED ON THE YEAR, I CAME TO REALIZE AS EVIDENT IN THE MEMO HOW DOMINATING A COUPLE OF THEMES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WERE RANGING FROM COVID TO THE SOCIAL UNREST ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL RELOCATION, THE NATIONAL ELECTION SYSTEMS, INCLUDING THE POUNDING ON OUR WINDOWS, THE MEETING AFTER THEIR INSURRECTION, WHICH WAS UNNERVING.

AND WE WERE CONSTANTLY AT A TIME OF THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE.

AND THEN WHAT WE EXPERIENCED IS AN INCREDIBLE UPTICK WHEN ONE OF THE COVID SURGES WENT DOWN AND OUR TOURISM NUMBERS WERE PROBABLY IN THE BALLPARK OF 30 PERCENT HIGHER THAN NORMAL. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, OUR VOLUME OF WORK AS PUSHED OUT THROUGH OUR PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT AND OUR IT WAS CLOSE TO DOUBLE THE NORMAL CAPACITY OR THE NORMAL OUTPUT OF THAT DEPARTMENT.

AND WE CONSTANTLY HAD TO ADJUST AND BE AGILE AND HELP OUR PARTNER AGENCIES FROM ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY AND THE VACCINATION SITE TO ALSO FLAGLER HEALTH PLUS WITH THE TESTING ON THIS LAST DELTA VARIANT SURGE.

I WOULD DESCRIBE THE YEAR AS BEING A YEAR OF UNPREDICTABILITY, IMPERFECT INFORMATION, MULTIPLE UNKNOWNS AND THE NEED TO BE AGILE AND RESPOND QUICKLY.

AND I THINK THAT WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE WHOLE ORGANIZATION, STARTING WITH THE LEADERSHIP AT THE ELECTED LEVEL AND THROUGHOUT, I THINK WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED OUR ABILITY TO MEET THOSE CHALLENGES.

BUT NONETHELESS, OUR AGENDA ALSO IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MOVE FORWARD ON OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND LOOKING THROUGH, I SUMMARIZED BY DEPARTMENT AND FOR THE AUDIENCE MY MEMO IS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND CERTAINLY, IF YOU CALL 825-1006, WE WILL BE HAPPY TO SEND YOU A COPY.

BUT I THINK THE POLICE DEPARTMENT REALLY SHINED IN THAT WE IMPLEMENTED BODY CAMERAS, ACHIEVED THE ACCREDITATION AND WE WERE COMMITTED TO TRANSPARENCY AND THAT WHILE MANY AGENCIES LOST PUBLIC TRUST, OURS GAINED PUBLIC TRUST.

ONE THING I CAN SAY IN ALL THE CONVERSATIONS THAT TOOK PLACE ON ALL THE DIFFICULT TOPICS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY, THE ISSUE WAS IT WAS NEVER ABOUT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK OF ASSISTANT CHIEF CUTHBERT ANTHONY CUTHBERT WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN ALL THE OPERATIONAL DETAILS AND PLANNING OF 26 INDEPENDENT PROTESTS, ACTUALLY MORE BUT 26 WITHIN THE FISCAL YEAR THAT COULD HAVE GONE AWRY AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT, EVERYONE HAVING ITS OWN INDEPENDENT PLAN.

WE TRANSITION TO NEW LEADERSHIP WITH CHIEF MICHAUX AND WHO WILL COMMIT KEEP OUR COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE ON TOP.

OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS ALWAYS MAINTAINED ITS ISO 1 RATING, WHICH ONCE YOU GET TO THE TOP, YOU'VE GOT TO STAY THERE.

IT'S NOT EASY. AND I THINK THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS REALLY BEEN OUR LEAD AGENCY ON

[01:05:02]

AND A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF CHIEF AVILES OR RECOGNITION AT A STATE LEVEL.

IT CERTAINLY HAS BEEN A LOT OF FUN WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT AND ON OUR FUTURE PLANS OF A NEW ISLAND FIRE STATION.

IT'S EASY TO FORGET THAT WHEN UTILITIES OR PLANNING AND BUILDING OR ANY DEPARTMENT REALLY STEPS UP ITS OUTPUT, IT'S KIND OF LIKE A CAR, YOU KNOW, THE ENGINE CAN GO REALLY FAST, BUT THE WHEELS HAVE TO MATCH AND THE BRAKES AND THE SUSPENSION.

AND SO GENERAL SERVICES HAS TO KEEP UP WITH AN INCREASED VOLUME OF CONTRACTS AND GRANT WORK, LOTS OF COVID DOWN IMPACT ON STAFF.

AND BUT WE DELIVERED THE WATER WORKS, BUILDING LOTS OF MAINTENANCE TOO NUMEROUS TO SHARE TONIGHT. WE HAD A BANNER YEAR.

IT WAS A GOOD YEAR TO BE IN MARINA OPERATIONS.

I'LL SAY THAT. AND AGAIN, THE VOLUME OF PROCUREMENT WORK.

BUT WHAT WAS INTERESTING WAS TO WATCH OUR FLEET MAINTENANCE AREA, WHO HAD TO DEAL WITH EQUIPMENT SHORTAGES, CHIP SHORTAGES, MODULE SHORTAGES, PART SHORTAGES AND CREATIVELY KEEPING EQUIPMENT MOVING AND.

SO AGAIN, THIS IS A DEPARTMENT THAT HAS GONE THROUGH SOME TRANSITION, WE HAVE A NEW ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, COREY [INAUDIBLE], WHO TOOK OVER FOR TIM FLEMING, WHO WAS A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW, FOR SURE.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO COMPLIMENT THE LEADERSHIP OF THE DEPARTMENT AND PLANNING AND BUILDING REALLY, AS I MENTIONED, HAD A DOUBLING OF IMPACT, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, SUFFERED STAFFING SETBACKS BECAUSE THIS IS A DEPARTMENT THAT WAS RATED BY OTHER COUNTIES.

WE HAD AN INDIVIDUAL DOING A POSITION THAT LEFT FOR LIKE A 30-40 THOUSAND DOLLAR PAY INCREASE. I MEAN, WE'RE JUST NOT GOING TO COMPETE WITH THAT.

AND, IF ANYTHING, I THINK WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE DAVID BERTRAM, WHO HAS HELD THAT DEPARTMENT TOGETHER AND HAS KEPT UP THIS DOUBLING OF WORK, HAS BROUGHT IN AND ONBOARDED BARRY FOX WHO'S STARTING TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN CODE ENFORCEMENT, THE START OF OUR SHORT TERM RENTAL PROGRAM AND ARE ALREADY MOVING ON OUR QUALITY OF LIFE NIGHTTIME INITIATIVE, WHICH IS GOING TO BE A BIG DEAL.

AND SO ALSO, IT'S AN AWARD WINNING DEPARTMENT AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF JENNY WOLF.

IT'S SAD TO SEE HER GO, BUT ALL WE CAN DO IS CELEBRATE THE SUCCESS THAT SHE BROUGHT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND WISH HER THE BEST.

DAVID, I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY MORE THAN A KEY DIRECTOR, HE REALLY HAS HELD THE DEPARTMENT TOGETHER. WE'VE DONE A LITTLE REORGANIZATION, A LITTLE BIT OF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS IN THE DEPARTMENT.

KEEP RETAINING OUR STAFF IS A BIG DEAL.

UTILITIES, IT'S EASY TO FORGET THAT WE'RE IN A HIGH GROWTH MODE OF UTILITIES THAT WE SERVE FIVE MILES OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMIT AND THAT THESE ARE COMPLEX OPERATIONS.

AND TODD GRANT AND HIS TEAM HAVE KEPT UP A HIGH SERVICE LEVEL.

WE DON'T MISS MANY SCHEDULED DEADLINES ON NEW DEVELOPMENT.

AND ALSO, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH EXPANDING OUR GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM TO BE MORE ENTERPRISE WIDE.

IT'S A MOUTHFUL, BUT I ASSURE YOU THAT WHAT THAT DOES IS IT LEADS TO BETTER DATA, BETTER KNOWLEDGE, BETTER DECISION MAKING AND MORE EFFICIENCIES.

ALSO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD COMPLIMENT THE DEPARTMENT ON IS THE ABILITY TO WORK WITH OTHER AGENCIES IN EQUIPMENT SHARING.

YOU DON'T HEAR ABOUT THIS A LOT, BUT WHEN OUR GARBAGE TRUCKS GO DOWN, IF I [INAUDIBLE] WASTE TRUCK GOES DOWN, THEN WE BORROW EQUIPMENT FROM OTHER AGENCIES; WE GO THE OTHER DIRECTION. YOU SAW A LITTLE BIT ON YOUR DECISION TO ASSIST THE BEACH IN RECYCLING.

THERE WAS A PERIOD WHERE WE WENT DOWN IN UTILITIES, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, OPERATIONS ACROSS THE BOARD, FIVE TRUCK DRIVERS OUT SIMULTANEOUSLY FROM A FAIRLY SMALL WORKFORCE THROUGH SHEER DETERMINATION, THEY JUST NEVER MISSED A ROUTE.

WE WENT DOWN TO 40 PERCENT STAFFING DURING ONE PARTICULARLY BAD COVID MOMENT AT THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT. AND AGAIN, THIS IS A DEPARTMENT THAT HAS MANY UNSUNG HEROES AND ONE PERSON WE DON'T REALLY TALK ABOUT A LOT, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN TALK ABOUT IN UTILITIES, BUT RICK STEVENS IS RETIRING IN NOVEMBER, AND HE'S DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB IN SOLID WASTE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE FUND AND THE STRUGGLES THAT YOU'VE

[01:10:02]

AND AGAIN, WE WISH HIM JUST THE BEST PUBLIC WORKS.

YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC WORKS IS AN INTERESTING DEPARTMENT BECAUSE IT HAS KIND OF THE NUCLEUS OF HOW THINGS MOVE IS ENGINEERING.

AND SO THEY HAVE UNDER CONSTRUCTION MAJOR SEA LEVEL RISE RESILIENCY PROJECTS WITH THE FEMA 13.

WE HAVE MORE GRANTS THAN WE CAN MANAGE.

WE'VE GOT THE BIKE SHARE PROGRAM OUT.

WE HAVE REALLY REPOSITIONED OUR PROFESSIONAL STRENGTH AND OUR SENSITIVITY TO THE ENVIRONMENT AS WITNESSED TONIGHT, WHICH IS A REALLY IMPORTANT THING.

AND I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS WITH REGARD TO THE PRESENTERS THIS EVENING.

AND YOU KNOW, THESE THESE CAPITAL PLANS THAT COME FROM THESE FEMA PROJECTS, THEY QUADRUPLE OUR NORMAL CAPITAL OUTPUT.

SO I MEAN, IT'S NOT AN EASY TASK FROM AN ENGINEERING OR CONSTRUCTION POINT OF VIEW.

I THINK THAT THE COMMISSION HAS TO BE MORE ATTUNED TO ARTS AND CULTURE, AND I THINK THAT THE 200TH WAS AN EVIDENCE OF THAT EFFORT THAT STARTED AS AN INITIATIVE WITH THE MAYOR A NUMBER OF YEARS BACK.

AND SO, MAYOR UPCHURCH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE DRIVE TO DELIVER, AND WE DELIVERED IT ON REALLY A SHOESTRING BUDGET, MOSTLY THROUGH INTERAGENCY COOPERATION AND RECOGNITION OF OUR RE-ENACTORS. A LITTLE SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT IN THE EVENING AFTER THE TWO HUNDREDTH, THE MAYOR PERSONALLY THANKED EVERY RE-ENACTOR PERSONALLY.

IT WAS MANAGED BY MELISSA WHISTLE, OUR COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, IT WAS HER FIRST INTERNATIONAL EVENT.

THINGS WERE NOT PERFECT, BUT AT THE END IT DELIVERED EXACTLY AS WE HOPED.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE SPANISH AMBASSADOR AND THE CONSULATE GENERAL WERE BLOWN AWAY AT THE QUALITY OF THE SEAMLESS EXECUTION FROM THEIR POINT OF VIEW THAT THEY SAW AND REALLY WERE JUST FLOORED WHEN I TOLD THEM THAT WAS OUR DIRECTOR'S FIRST INTERNATIONAL EVENT AND HOW IT HAD TO COME TOGETHER WITH THE OTHER PARTNER AGENCIES AND VOLUNTEERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

LEFT ON A REALLY GOOD FEELING.

DARLENE DOES A GREAT JOB AS A CITY CLERK, KEEPING US ALL STRAIGHT.

IT'S BEEN TOUGH.

SHE'S HAD A LOT OF COVID IMPACTS.

I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FROM A PERFORMANCE POINT OF VIEW TO RECOGNIZE THAT MINUTES COME OUT QUICKER AND ARE MORE TIMELY THAN IN IN.

WELL, IT'S BEEN TIMELY FOR A WHILE, BUT IT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY WITH OTHER CLERKS AND SO FORTH. SO JUST REALLY TAKE A NOTE THAT BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, DARLENE IS SOMEONE I CAN GIVE SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS TO THAT SHE'LL DELIVER.

THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

ONE THING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE KEPT HOLD ON COVID, WE HAVE DONE SOME REFINANCING THAT SAVES US MONEY. WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF SOME OTHER REFINANCING AND SOMETHING THAT WE HAVEN'T REALLY TALKED ABOUT QUITE YET BECAUSE IT HASN'T COME UP IN THE TIMING, BUT I'LL MENTION IT TONIGHT IS THAT BECAUSE WE'RE ANTICIPATING SOME BORROWING IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE IN THE UTILITY FUND, WE'VE GONE THROUGH A RATINGS ANALYSIS WITH STANDARD & POOR'S AND MOODY'S, AND WE'VE ADVANCED OUR POSITION WHERE WE ACTUALLY REACH CATEGORICAL CHANGE. I THINK I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY COMING UP ON 24 YEARS AND WE ARE AT THE HIGHEST CREDIT RATING THAT I HAVE SEEN IN 24 YEARS.

AND SO ALL THESE THINGS THAT FACTOR IN FROM THE POLICIES THAT YOU SET TO HOW OUR FINANCE TEAM MANAGES THE MONEY MATTERS.

I GET TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME WITH EACH OF YOU.

I'M TRYING TO SPEND MORE TIME.

IT HASN'T BEEN PERFECT, MORE TIME WITH THE PUBLIC.

MORE TIME WITH MY STAFF TO BE MORE ATTUNED TO WHAT THE NEEDS OF THE WORKFORCE ARE.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT MY STAFF ALWAYS SAYS, TAKE MORE TIME WITH OUR EMPLOYEES AND I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT. IT ONLY WORKS BECAUSE OF MEREDITH BREIDENSTIEN AS THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER WHO RUNS THE BACK OF THE HOUSE MORE THAN PEOPLE KNOW.

AND YOU KNOW, JUST WHEN, WHEN THERE'S A CRISIS, SHE'S SOMEONE THAT YOU COULD REALLY ASSIGN. THIS AB SYSTEM WAS A CRISIS.

AND BUT ONCE SHE GOT A HANDLE ON THE CRISIS AND COULD WORK THROUGH THE COVID HITS ON THE

[01:15:02]

I'VE WORKED WITH MANY CITY ATTORNEYS HERE AND IN GAINESVILLE THAT HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE AND IT CAUSES A LOT OF HEARTACHE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE THING IS, IS THAT SHE'S NEVER LOST A LAWSUIT FOR US.

SHE'S A TIGER WHEN YOU NEED A TIGER AND SHE'S AN ANALYST WHEN YOU NEED AN ANALYST.

SHE DOES IT ALL.

AND I'M JUST REALLY PROUD AND FORTUNATE TO HAVE HER AS MY PROFESSIONAL COLLEAGUE REPORTING TO YOU.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT ISABELLE AND I, WE OFTEN DISAGREE.

WE HAVE OUR FIGHTS IN HER OFFICE AND WE WALK OUT AND WE KEEP IT THERE BECAUSE WE'RE PROFESSIONALS AND SHE'S THE CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL.

AND I ACTUALLY TRACK HER TRACK RECORD IN COURT AND SHE IS UNDEFEATED.

AND SO I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT I THINK OUR FOCUS HAS BEEN SEA LEVEL RISE, SUSTAINABILITY, THE ENVIRONMENT, KEEPING THAT HIGH INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE'RE WORKING ON PLANS TO ADVANCE THE ART AND CULTURE OBJECTIVE AT A PERSONAL LEVEL.

WHAT I'M TRYING TO WORK ON MORE BEING MORE TOWARDS THE END OF MY CAREER THAN THE BEGINNING IS EMPHASIS ON THE MENTORING OF BUILDING A WORKFORCE, SUCCESSION PLANNING, GIVING YOU THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE HAVE A GENERATION OF LEADERSHIP THAT'S RISING AND CAN MEET THE CHALLENGES AND ARGUABLY DO IT BETTER IN THE FUTURE.

AND PART OF THAT IS TRYING TO SHIFT MY LEADERSHIP STYLE, WHICH AN ANALYST WOULD CALL ME AN ADAPTIVE LEADER TO HAVING MORE, WHICH IS ITS OWN STORY, BUT MORE OF WHAT IS A SERVANT BASED LEADERSHIP, WHICH IS SPENDING MORE TIME WITH OUR STAFF, UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE AND ADJUSTING TO IT.

A LOT OF WHAT WE DID HAS NOT BEEN POPULAR.

A LOT OF OUR COVID POLICIES HAVE LEFT SOME OF OUR WORKFORCE FEELING DISENFRANCHISED.

WE RAN A VERY QUIET CLIMATE SURVEY TO UNDERSTAND WHERE OUR WORKFORCE IS COMING FROM ON DIFFERENT VIEWS OF COVID, OUR POLICIES WORKING OUR BEST.

BUT THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT I HAVE SENT A VERY CLEAR MESSAGE THAT OUR OUR VALUE SYSTEM HAS BEEN ON SCIENCE, ON MASKING, ON VACCINATION, ON CARE, OF TAKING AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN KEEP OURSELVES SAFE.

AGAIN, IT'S BEEN IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGING YEAR.

IT'S BEEN PROBABLY THE SECOND MOST CHALLENGING YEAR I WOULD CALL THE MONUMENT MOVE THE MOST CHALLENGING, BUT THE KEY THING IS, WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IN MY STAFF IS A SENSE OF EARNING AND THE UNDERLYING FOUNDATION AND MANAGEMENT THEORY IS TRUST.

AND WHEN SOMEONE HAS TRUST BUT BELIEVES THEY HAVE TO EARN, THAT'S WHERE YOU GET YOUR MOST PRODUCTIVE OUTPUT.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WORKING ON, BUT A LOT OF THAT IS THAT WHEN I OPERATE, THEY KNOW THAT YOU TRUST ME AND THAT'S WHERE IT STARTS.

AND SO WHEN I COME UP WITH THINGS, IT'S FAIRLY ABSOLUTE FROM THEIR POINT OF VIEW.

THEY KNOW THAT THIS IS AN INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT GROUP FROM THE ELECTED OFFICIALS DOWN INTO THE MANAGEMENT TEAM.

SO WE'VE DONE WELL.

I'VE ALWAYS KEPT UP WITH THE KINDS OF THERMOMETER NETWORK, AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT OUR KINSA THERMOMETER INDEX HAS BEEN PLUMMETING THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

IT'S AT THE LOWEST POINT WE'VE SEEN SINCE ALMOST PRE-COVID.

SO THAT'S A REALLY GOOD SIGN, NOT TIME TO NECESSARILY TAKE OUR FOOT OFF THE GAS.

AND I THINK ALSO WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT IT'S NOT IT'S NOT SO MUCH A YEAR TO CELEBRATE.

AS MUCH AS WE ALSO NEED TO REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE REALLY PAID A PRICE IN THIS COVID PERIOD.

WE HAVE LOST 2 EMPLOYEES.

ONE EMPLOYEE WAS A FULL TIME, ACTIVELY ENGAGED, VERY HEALTHY DIAGNOSIS TO DEATH 10 DAYS.

VERY, VERY DIFFICULT FUNERAL FOR EVERYBODY.

AND I THINK ABOUT HIS FAMILY AND TRY TO KEEP UP WITH THEIR FAMILY THROUGH A SISTER IN LAW

[01:20:06]

IT'S TOUGH TO LOSE YOUR HUSBAND WHEN YOU HAVE SMALL CHILDREN, WHICH WAS THE CASE.

THE SECOND EMPLOYEE HAD TO LEAVE BECAUSE OF SOME OTHER UNDERLYING HEALTH ISSUES AND HAD LEFT SERVICE, WAS TRYING TO GET BACK IN SERVICE AND COVID WAS JUST TOO MUCH AND PASSED.

WE'VE HAD MANY CITY EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE LOST FAMILY MEMBERS.

WE'VE DONE DIFFERENT THINGS TO HELP THEM BE ABLE TO GET INFORMATION WHEN THEIR FAMILY IS IN THE HOSPITAL. SO THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, WE'VE HAD QUITE A BIT OF PAIN AND SUFFERING FROM COVID, BUT WE HAVE ENDURED.

THE CITY HAS ENDURED, THE CITY WILL ALWAYS ENDURE.

THE CITY IS MUCH BIGGER THAN ANY OF US.

IT'S BEEN HERE 456 YEARS, I THINK.

IT WILL BE HERE FOR ANOTHER 456 YEARS.

AND MAYBE THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO REMEMBER.

UH, WELL, IT HAS BEEN STRESSFUL, AS A CITY, WE ARE VERY WHOLE.

WE'RE IN GREAT FINANCIAL SHAPE, WE'VE GOT A GREAT WORKFORCE, WE HAVE MONEY IN THE BANK, WE HAVE MORE MONEY COMING.

WE JUST GOT FOR A SMALL CITY AT OUR PAY SCALE, WHEN I COMPARE OURSELVES AGAINST MY COLLEAGUES IN SIMILAR CITIES, WE HAVE AN EXTREMELY PROFESSIONAL WORKFORCE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THOSE MEN AND WOMEN THAT ARE GOING TO COME OUT TONIGHT TO SOLVE A PROBLEM THAT NONE OF US NEED TO THINK ABOUT.

SO I ALWAYS END THIS BY SAYING THAT IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, CITY MANAGER OF THIS ORGANIZATION AND TO REPORT TO SUCH A GREAT GROUP OF ELECTED OFFICIALS. THE CIVILITY, HOW THE FIVE OF YOU INTERACT SETS THE STANDARD OF THE ORGANIZATION, AND YOU MAY HAVE DIFFERENT VIEWS AND POLICIES AND PHILOSOPHIES, WHICH IS WHAT WE EXPECT, WHAT THE PUBLIC EXPECTS, BUT THERE IS NO DOUBT IN YOUR UNIFORM LOVE AND UNIFIED BELIEF IN THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE AND YOUR LOVE OF THE CITY.

THIS IS OUR CITY AND THAT'S HOW WE ALL OPERATE.

THIS IS WE ARE NOT TRANSIENT MEMBERS OF THIS.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY IT'S A REAL PRIVILEGE TO BE YOUR CITY MANAGER.

AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK TO YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU, MR. REGAN, I APPRECIATE THE SUMMARY AND THE MEMO THAT YOU'VE CREATED.

WE'VE TRIED IN THE PAST TO DO A UNIFORM KIND OF A COMPOSITE AGGREGATED REVIEW.

WE'VE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN THAT.

AND SO I WOULD SIMPLY URGE THE INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONERS TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND WHICHEVER FORM OR FASHION YOU DEEM APPROPRIATE.

I WOULD REQUEST MR. REGAN IF YOU COULD HAVE MS. FOUNTAIN TO SEND US THE IN ELECTRONIC FORMAT, THE OVERVIEW, THE GRID RUBRIC.

OH YEAH, OK.

THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

BUT LET ME SIMPLY SAY, YOU SAID THAT IT'S AN HONOR; I WOULD SAY THAT IT'S A JOY TO WORK WITH YOU. I'M IN THE BUSINESS OF GIVING GRADES AND IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO GET 100.

BUT IN MY OPINION, YOU'RE 97-98.

IT'S YOUR INTELLIGENCE, IT'S YOUR, YOUR ETHICS AND YOUR CHARACTER.

IT'S YOUR ENERGY.

IT'S YOUR KINDNESS, YOUR GENTLENESS, YOUR COMPASSION, YOUR PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE, IT'S ANY NUMBER OF THINGS.

AND I THINK TO BALANCE THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CREATE A PLAN WHERE WE THINK THE YEAR'S GOING TO GO AND IT BLOWS UP IN OUR FACE, WHETHER IT'S A HURRICANE OR WHETHER IT'S A SOCIAL UNREST OR A PANDEMIC OR COUNTLESS OTHER THINGS, AND THE ABILITY TO ADAPT AND TO CONTINUE FORWARD IS VERY IMPORTANT.

AND SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY, I'VE SAID THIS TO YOU PRIVATELY, I'VE SAID IT TO YOU PUBLICLY AND ANY NUMBER OF FORMS, AND I NEVER GIVE A COMPLIMENT I DON'T MEAN, SO I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.

YOU DIDN'T MENTION HUMOR.

HE'S A VERY FUNNY GUY WHEN HE WANTS TO BE.

NO, I ALSO THANK JOHN, AND THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS THAT YOU DO AT THE END OF THE YEAR, TO GIVE US A SYNOPSIS OF ALL THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED AND ARE AND THAT ARE ONGOING.

AND IT MAKES ME SO PROUD OF OUR STAFF AND I AGREE.

I THINK WE HAVE JUST AN OUTSTANDING GROUP OF PEOPLE WORKING FOR THE CITY.

SO THANK YOU.

I'D LIKE TO ECHO EVERYTHING THAT THE MAYOR AND ROXANNE HAVE SAID, AND ONE OF THE THINGS I

[01:25:05]

JOHN EXCELS IN FINDING WAYS TO SOLVE PROBLEMS. SOMETIMES HE GOES OUT AND CREATES PROBLEMS AND SOLVES THEM FOR US, TOO [CHUCKLING] BUT THAT HAPPENS SOMETIMES; IT'S PART OF BEING PROACTIVE.

AND ONE THING HE IS, IS PROACTIVE AND I APPLAUD YOU FOR THAT.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU, AND IT'S A PLEASURE TO KNOW YOU, JOHN.

YOU DID A GOOD JOB AND YOU'LL BE SUCCESSFUL NO MATTER WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO DO WITH THE TRAITS THAT YOU HAVE.

AND WITH THAT.

THANK YOU.

MR. REGAN, ANYTHING FURTHER.

INTERNALLY, WE HAVE A STATEMENT OF PERPETUAL WORK AND THAT ISABELLE SOLVES THE PROBLEMS AS FAST AS I CREATE THEM.

[CHUCKLING] THERE YOU GO. COMMISSIONER HORVATH.

NOTHING. COMMISSIONER VALDES.

NOTHING THAT CAN'T WAIT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I HAVE NOTHING, EITHER.

WE'LL CONSIDER OURSELVES ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.