[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:04]
I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE CITY COMMISSION TO ORDER AND ASK THE CLERK TO PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
WE'RE HONORED THIS EVENING TO HAVE PASTOR LAVOY NEWTON OF THE LIGHTHOUSE CHURCH OF GOD, WHO HAS GRACIOUSLY AGREED TO COME AND OFFER US AN INVOCATION AND I'D ASK YOU TO RISE AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
THANK YOU, FATHER GOD, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE.
LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO LIVE IN SUCH A BEAUTIFUL AND HISTORIC CITY, LORD, AND EVEN AS IN JEREMIAH, 29 AND 7 LORD, IT SAYS FOR US TO SEEK THE PEACE OF THE CITY AND TO PRAY FOR THE LORD, FOR IN IT AND IN ITS PEACE, WE WILL HAVE PEACE.
LORD, I JUST PRAY PEACE OVER OUR CITY THAT YOU WOULD LEAD AND GUIDE AND DIRECT.
WE PRAY FOR PEACE OVER THE CITY COMMISSION MEETING TONIGHT.
WE PRAY FOR WISDOM FOR OUR MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSIONERS.
LORD, I PRAY FOR TRACY, UPCHURCH AND ROXANNE HORVATH AND NANCY SIKES-KLINE AND JOHN VALDES AND BARBARA BLONDER.
LORD WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD BLESS THEM AND CONTINUE TO GIVE THEM WISDOM AND GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION.
LORD, BECAUSE LORD, YOU'VE ASKED US TO PRAY FOR THOSE IN AUTHORITY THAT WE MAY LIVE A QUIET AND PEACEABLE LIFE AND ALL GODLINESS AND REVERENCE LORD FOR YOU SAID THAT THIS IS GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE IN THE SIGHT OF GOD WHO DESIRES ALL MEN TO BE SAVED AND TO COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH.
AND SO, LORD, WE JUST ASK THAT YOU WOULD CONTINUE TO GIVE GUIDANCE NOT ONLY IN THIS MEETING, BUT IN THOSE TO COME.
AND LORD, WE PRAY AS WELL FOR OUR CITY MANAGER, JOHN REGAN LORD, OUR FIRE CHIEF, CARLOS AVILES AND THE POLICE CHIEF, JENNIFER MICHAUX.
AND LORD WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD GIVE SAFETY, ORDER AND PROSPERITY OVER OUR CITY AND WE ASK ALL THIS IN JESUS NAME.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC, FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
PLEASE BE SEATED AND THANK YOU, PASTOR NEWTON, FOR YOUR INVOCATION.
[2. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS]
COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU THE REGULAR AGENDA IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REGULAR AGENDA AS PUBLISHED.MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO ADD AN ITEM 13 B UNDER MY COMMENTS REGARDING THE STORM.
I JUST WANTED THE AUDIENCE TO BE AWARE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BRIEF THE COMMISSION ON THE STORM.
I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REGULAR AGENDA WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CITY MANAGER WILL PRESENT KIND OF A POST ACTION REPORT OF THE STORM UNDER HIS ITEM 13.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE..
NOW IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
[4. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS OR FOR AGENDA ITEMS NOT REQUIRING A SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING]
WE DO LIMIT THOSE TO THREE MINUTES.IF YOU'D LIKE TO FILL THOSE OUT AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OUR FIRST PUBLIC SPEAKER THIS EVENING IS MR. TYRONE BENNETT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, CITY COMMISSIONERS JOHN REGAN, CITY CLERK, JUST HERE TODAY TO GET A FOLLOW UP.
AUGUST 9TH COMMISSION MEETING ABOUT BRINGING NIGHTS OF LIGHTS AND SOME TYPE OF LIGHTING PROJECT AND FESTIVAL TO THE WEST KING STREET NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT CAME, IT HAPPENED, BUT IT CAME IN TWO FOLD, SO WE WERE NOT ABLE TO SECURE FUNDING FOR THE FESTIVAL PIECE.
BUT WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE THE FUNDING FOR LIGHTS FOR ALL THE BUSINESSES IN THE
[00:05:02]
WEST KING DISTRICT.AND SO THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME THAT LIGHTS WILL BE ON THE WEST KING STREET DISTRICT.
I MET WITH HIM AND HE HAS ALREADY INITIATED A PLAN, AND I THINK THEY ALREADY STARTED PUTTING UP LIGHTS ON CITY BUILDINGS IN THAT AREA.
AND SO WE ALSO GOT SECURE FUNDING FROM THE BAILEY INSURANCE GROUP AND ALSO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
AND SO WITH THAT IN THE HELP OF CASEY AT KOOKABURRA ELECTRIC, WE WILL BE HAVING LIGHTS AT THE WEST KING STREET DISTRICT INSTALLED WITHIN THE NEXT TWO TO THREE WEEKS.
AND WE'RE SHOOTING FOR THE SAME ALIGNMENT WITH THE CITY SO THAT EVERYTHING IS COHESIVE.
SO HE'S WORKING VERY HARD TO GET THAT DONE.
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT GOOD NEWS HERE TODAY AND FOLLOW UP AND SAY WITH A LOT OF HARD WORK, A LOT OF TELEPHONE CALLS, IT DID GET DONE AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
NEXT YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO SHOOT FOR THE ENTIRE BIG FESTIVAL AND WE HAVE A GOOD YEAR TO PLAN IT OUT.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO COME BACK AND FOLLOW UP BECAUSE I LIKE TO SAY WHATEVER I SAY I'M GOING TO DO.
I LIKE TO DO IT, FOLLOW IT THROUGH.
AND SO I'M VERY EXCITED TO SAY THAT THIS YEAR.
FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY, IT GOT DONE, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE LIGHTS ON THE WEST KING STREET DISTRICT AS PART OF NIGHTS OF LIGHTS THIS YEAR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THAT, MR. BENNETT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. ED SLAVIN.
ED SLAVIN BOX 3084 EDSLAVIN.COM.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE HEALING THAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE ISAAC BARRETT LYNCHING MONUMENT BEING UNFURLED AND DEDICATED.
I'D LIKE TO SEE A MONUMENT TO JACKIE ROBINSON, PREFERABLY AT WHAT IS NOW FRANCES FIELD.
LET'S CALL IT FRANCES HYPHEN ROBINSON FIELD, JUST LIKE THE ATLANTA AIRPORT, HAS A HYPHEN IN IT.
JACKIE ROBINSON WASN'T ALLOWED TO PLAY BASEBALL HERE IN ST.
LET'S GET HER HERE WHILE SHE'S STILL ALIVE.
AND LET'S DEDICATE FRANCES FIELD TO JACKIE ROBINSON, WHO WAS FORBIDDEN TO PLAY BASEBALL ANYWHERE IN FLORIDA.
LET'S PUT UP A MONUMENT FOR THE THREE ROMAN CATHOLIC NUNS WHO WERE ARRESTED IN 1916 ON ORDERS OF THE GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA AND LET'S PUT IT IN FRONT OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN LINCOLNVILLE AT BENEDICT THE MORE.
AND LET'S BE ABOUT DOING MORE IN TERMS OF HEALING.
WE HAD A GOOD CONFERENCE CALL WITH JOHN REGAN TODAY.
VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THE ISAAC BARRETT LYNCHING MONUMENT HASN'T GONE UP YET, AND I HOPE Y'ALL AREN'T AFRAID OF THE KKK.
WE'RE SURE NOT, AND THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY AREN'T AFRAID, BUT.
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA WAS SUPPOSED TO PUT UP, AND THEY WENT TO HARB LAST YEAR.
THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO PUT UP A MONUMENT FOR THE U.S.
COLORED TROOPS, NOW A MONUMENT TO THE U.S.
COLORED TROOPS JUST WENT UP IN NORTH CAROLINA.
IT WAS IN THE WASHINGTON POST MAGAZINE.
WHERE'S OURS? UF HAS DROPPED THE BALL.
TOM GRAHAM HAD SOME GOOD QUESTIONS.
WHAT UF CAME UP WITH WAS JUST A DULL, EIGHT FOOT TALL FUNERAL TYPE MONUMENT.
IT NEEDS TO BE A SCULPTURE, NEEDS TO BE A SCULPTURE OF AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN UNION SOLDIER READING A BOOK LOOKING ACROSS THE STREET AT FLAGLER COLLEGE, SOMETHING THAT'S EVOCATIVE.
UF WERE SUPPOSED TO REACH OUT TO THE FAMILIES, THE DESCENDANTS OF THOSE U.S.
COLORED TROOPS WHO TOM GRAHAM HAS IDENTIFIED ALL OF THEM.
WHAT HAPPENED TO UF? WHY HAVEN'T WE SEEN ANY RETURN TO HARB BY UF ABOUT THE U.S.
COLORED TROOPS MONUMENT? WHY AREN'T OUR QUESTIONS HERE IN THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE, AND CITY COMMISSION EVER ANSWERED, WHY AREN'T ANY OF THEM EVER, EVEN IN THE MINUTES? WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED AT THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE CITY COMMISSION IN 1879 BECAUSE SOMEBODY WROTE IT DOWN BUT OUR CLERK HAS BEEN FORBIDDEN FOR YEARS TO PUT ANYTHING DOWN THAT WE, THE PEOPLE, SAY IN THESE MEETINGS.
AND THAT'S DEEPLY OFFENSIVE, AND I KNOW YOU CAN DO BETTER.
BUT LET'S KEEP ON WITH THE HEALING, AND LET'S REACH OUT TO JACKIE ROBINSON'S WIDOW WHILE SHE'S STILL ALIVE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ERIC SCHAEFER.
[00:10:01]
ON A LITTLE BIT MORE POSITIVE NOTE, I'D LIKE TO JUST COME BEFORE YOU AND MAKE SOME PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING 110 CARVER STREET AND THE PROPOSED LEASE WITH THE YACHT CLUB.WE TALK A LOT ABOUT HERITAGE AND THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN ST.
AUGUSTINE THAT ARE HISTORICAL.
WE TALK A LOT ABOUT IN THESE MEETINGS, THE ARCHITECTURE AND HOW WE DEFINE THE PHYSICAL SPACE OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
BUT ST. AUGUSTINE IS AT ITS HEART, A MARITIME COMMUNITY, AND THE ONLY REASON PEOPLE CAME AND SETTLED HERE WAS BECAUSE OF THEIR ABILITY TO SAIL.
AND WHAT THE YACHT CLUB IS PROPOSING UNDER THIS LEASE IS AN ABILITY FOR US TO CONTINUE TO HELP LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS, AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
REMEMBER THE UNIQUE HERITAGE THAT ST.
AUGUSTINE HAS AS A MARITIME COMMUNITY.
SO THAT'S MY FIRST AND PRIMARY FOCUS IS THAT I BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE IN SUPPORT OF GETTING THIS CARVER STREET LEASE DONE AND TURNING OVER THE PROPERTY TO THIS CITY AND THEN ALLOWING THE YACHT CLUB TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THIS SUPPORT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
THE OTHER PIECE I WANTED TO ADDRESS TODAY IS REALLY SOMETHING THAT JUST CAME TO ME AS I'M WALKING UP WASHINGTON AND WATCHING.
WE WERE NOT ABLE TO ATTEND THE LAST MEETING, BUT COMMISSIONER VALDES MADE SOME COMMENTS AT THE END OF LAST MEETING THAT HIS MINUTES HAVEN'T BEEN FINALIZED YET ABOUT HOMELESSNESS.
AND AS WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS OUR EFFORTS ON HOMELESSNESS ON WASHINGTON STREET WITH THE ST. FRANCIS HOUSE AND CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE THE GROWTH OF THAT FACILITY, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND AND MAYBE WALK DOWN WASHINGTON STREET ONE DAY WHEN YOU'RE WALKING OUT OF THESE MEETINGS, THAT STREET IS LITERALLY LOOKS LIKE A STREET IN DOWNTOWN PHILADELPHIA AND NOT IN A PART OF PHILADELPHIA YOU WOULD WANT TO WALK.
WHEN WE WALK HERE TODAY, THERE IS TRASH ON THE STREETS.
THERE ARE EMPTY LIQUOR BOTTLES BEHIND MY HOUSE ON A HISTORIC BUILDING EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND THERE IS SOMEONE PUBLICLY WALKING BEHIND THAT HOUSE TO URINATE, OR POTENTIALLY WORSE.
SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE PROBLEM OF HOMELESSNESS, IT IS A PROBLEM WE ALL NEED TO WORK ON.
BUT WE NEED TO ALSO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE EFFECTS OF THESE DECISIONS ON THE RESIDENTS OF THE COMMUNITY AND MAKE SURE WE MAINTAIN A CLEAN, SAFE AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT FOR BOTH THE RESIDENTS AS WELL AS THE INDIGENT POPULATION.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOHN GRAPITIS.
FORGIVE ME, I'M CONFIDENT I MISPRONOUNCED THAT.
JOHN GRAPITIS I LIVE AT 7 16TH STREET, ACTUALLY ON ST.
AUGUSTINE BEACH, BUT I HAVE PROPERTY HERE ON CORDOVA STREET AND NOBODY'S, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEKEND WITH OUR COINCIDING OF THE KING TIDES AND THE NOR'EASTER AND THE FLOODING THAT ALWAYS HAPPENS OUT OF THE LAKE DOWN CORDOVA STREET.
THERE REALLY ISN'T A SOLUTION, I GUESS IMMEDIATE.
I SEE THERE'S AN INCREASE IN STORMWATER TAXES COMING UP, BUT I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, FAIRLY NEW TO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, THOUGH I'VE SEEN IT BEFORE.
IN THE INTERIM, I'M ALMOST BEGGING Y'ALL FOR SOME KIND OF HELP ON THAT STREET FOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC, THE STORMWATER IS BAD ENOUGH, BUT IT DOESN'T REALLY TYPICALLY AFFECT THE BUILDINGS UNTIL TRUCKS COME PLOWING THROUGH THERE AND THE WAKE GOES UP TO THE DOORS AND TO THE BUILDING WE OWN [INAUDIBLE] OWN IN THE WATER CAME INTO THE DOOR JUST FROM THE WAKE, AND IT WAS SEVERAL FEET BELOW.
PEOPLE ARE TURNING AROUND OR STALLING ON THE STREET.
THEY'RE GOING DOWN THE WRONG WAY STREET.
SOMEONE AT THE OTHER END PAID SOME KIDS TO PUT A SIGN UP, WHICH IS EQUALLY AS DANGEROUS.
THE WHOLE CITY? I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU OBVIOUSLY CAN'T PUT A CONE UP ON A FLOODED STREET, WHETHER WE GET SIGNS ON EACH END THAT IT EVEN HAS A WATER MARK, SAYING IF THE WATERS HERE DON'T, YOU KNOW, YOU AREN'T ALLOWED TO GO DOWN THE STREET.
BUT SOMEHOW WE NEED TO STOP TRAFFIC FROM BASICALLY HERE TO THE LAKE ON CORDOVA STREET DURING THESE SITUATIONS BECAUSE IT'S HORRENDOUS.
IF YOU WATCH THE WAKES AND PEOPLE IN THE BUILDING WILL TELL YOU THEY HEAR THE WATER HITTING THEIR WINDOWS, HITTING THE BUILDING WALLS, AND THEY FEEL LIKE THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A TIDAL WAVE COMING.
SO ANYTHING YOU COULD DO ON A TEMPORARY BASIS TO LIMIT THAT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED FOR ALL OF US WHO HAVE PROPERTY ON THAT STREET.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DEBBIE WICKER.
[00:15:03]
JUST WANT TO SAY I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED, JOHN REGAN CALLED ME THURSDAY NIGHT AND SAID THAT HE WAS GOING TO TALK TO YOU GUYS ABOUT THE YACHT CLUB SAILING CENTER THING TONIGHT AND YOU WERE GOING TO LOOK AT WHETHER YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THAT PROPOSAL AGAIN AND POSSIBLY MOVE FORWARD WITH UP THE LEASE.ABOUT AN HOUR AGO, I LOOKED AT THE AGENDA AND I SAW THE PACKET AND I SAW A LEASE HAS ALREADY BEEN WRITTEN UP.
I SENT OUT THURSDAY NIGHT TO THE LIGHTHOUSE PARK NEIGHBORHOOD THAT YOU GUYS WERE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS, BUT WE DIDN'T THINK THAT THERE WAS A LEASE BEING DRAWN UP.
IT WAS GOING TO BE VOTED ON TONIGHT.
AND SO I FEEL LIKE I GAVE MY NEIGHBORHOOD THE WRONG INFORMATION.
SO I'M FEELING VERY UPSET ABOUT THAT.
ALSO, WHEN I LOOK OVER THE LEASE, THERE'S NO MENTION OF YOUTH SAILING CENTER.
ACCEPTED IN OCTOBER 2019 WAS A YOUTH SAILING CENTER.
SOME THINGS THAT MS. SIKES-KLINE AND MS. HORVATH, YOU SAID THAT WOULD BE ADDRESSED IN THE LEASE WERE THE CLASSES? MORE CLASSES IN THE LARGER CLASSES? NONE OF THAT'S BEING ADDRESSED.
EVEN MENTION OF THE CHILDREN IS NOT EVEN THERE.
SO THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THERE.
AND YOU KNOW, THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS INVITED YOU GUYS TO PLEASE COME AND TALK TO US AND TALK TO OUR CONCERNS.
I CAN, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A VERY ACTIVE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS IS NOT EXCLUSIVELY A YOUTH SAILING CENTER.
THIS IS A SAILING CENTER FOR ALL OF ST.
WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT BY YACHT CLUB REPRESENTATIVES.
THERE HAS BEEN SOME DOCUMENTATION THAT I SENT YOU BY EMAIL THAT SAYS THAT IT'S A SAILING CENTER FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES.
SO I KNOW YOU GOT ALL THESE KIDS OUT HERE AND I UNDERSTAND THEY WANT A NEW SAILING CENTER.
I GET THAT, BUT THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THIS PROPERTY.
ST. JOHNS COUNTY HAS GROWN SO MUCH.
YOU GUYS ALL KNOW THAT IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, AND IT'S NOT GOING TO STOP.
WE ARE SATURATED IN LIGHTHOUSE PARK.
WE CANNOT HOLD MORE TRAFFIC, MORE PARKING.
YOU COME DOWN THERE ON A SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.
AND I JUST THINK A SAILING CENTER FOR ALL OF ST.
IT'S GOING TO HURT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SO BAD, AND I LOVE LIGHTHOUSE PARK, I'VE BEEN THERE FOR 33 YEARS AND I'VE BEEN IN THAT HOUSE FOR 33 YEARS AND I LOVE IT.
AND IT'S VERY EMOTIONAL TO ME BECAUSE I AM TRYING TO PROTECT MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND MY NEIGHBORS AND MY QUALITY OF LIFE.
SO I'M ASKING YOU WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS, YOU REALLY LOOK AT IT CRITICALLY AND YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE LAST THREE YEARS SINCE YOU SAID THAT YOU WOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT.
OUR COUNTY HAS GROWN, AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT, PLEASE COME TO A LIGHTHOUSE MEETING.
I ASSURE YOU THAT THE COMMISSION IS NOT GOING TO TAKE ANY FINAL ACTION ON THIS MATTER, AND I'M VERY, VERY SORRY FOR ANY MISCOMMUNICATION.
I DON'T THINK THAT WAS THE CITY MANAGER'S INTENT, AND I DON'T THINK IT'S THE COMMISSION'S INTENT.
AND MAYOR, TO THAT POINT, I WAS VERY EXPLICIT IN THE LETTER THAT THIS WAS AN UPDATE TO THE COMMISSION AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANT TO CONTINUE TO MOVE THE PROJECT FORWARD FOCUSING ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LAUREN GUIBERT.
GOOD EVENING, ALL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT THE FLOODING, NOT JUST ON CORDOVA STREET, WHICH I KNOW I CALLED THE SAPD ON FRIDAY TO ALERT THEM.
RIBERIA STREETS GONE THROUGH THE SAME FLOODING EVEN TODAY.
IT WILL GO ON TOMORROW AND THE FOLLOWING DAY.
THERE'S AN APP FOR YOUR PHONE CALLED TIDES, AND YOU CAN LOOK AT IT AND IT WILL TELL YOU HOW HIGH THE WATER IS GOING TO BE.
TOMORROW AT NOON, IT'S GOING TO BE FIVE FEET, 12 INCHES.
SO WE HAD FLOODING TODAY ON RIBERIA STREET, AND MY NEIGHBORS AND I DECIDED TO STAND OUT THERE AND TRY TO DIRECT THE CARS AND THE TRUCKS FROM GOING BY.
TO TELL THEM THAT THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, EIGHT INCHES OF WATER.
AND SOME OF THEM LISTENED AND TURNED AROUND AND WENT BACK UP SOUTH STREET TO MLK
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TO GO DOWN.AND SOME OF THEM INTENTIONALLY WENT PLOWED THROUGH THE STREET IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, CAUSING SEVEN FOOT WAKES.
AGAIN, RIBERIA STREET NEEDS HELP.
AND I'VE ASKED YOU ALL FOR HELP BEFORE.
I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE CROSSWALKS AND THE YIELD SIGNS THAT WERE PUT IN ON MY STREET.
IT HELPS ME GET ACROSS THE STREET, BUT SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO REALLY LOOK AT SOMEBODY AND SAY, WELL, ARE YOU GOING TO STOP AND LET ME GET A CROSS? OR YOU'RE JUST GOING TO GO THROUGH THE YIELD SIGN WHEN THERE'S A PEDESTRIAN WAITING TO CROSS? AND THAT'S WHAT INEVITABLY HAPPENS.
SO WHILE I APPRECIATE ALL OF THAT THAT YOU'VE DONE, I REALLY WOULD REALLY HAVE STOP SIGNS PUT IN IF I HAD MY DRUTHERS STOP SIGNS IN THOSE LOCATIONS SO THAT PEOPLE WOULD STOP.
THERE'S NO REASON WHY PEOPLE CAN'T STOP ON SOUTH RIBERIA STREET.
THEY STOP ALL THE TIME ON NORTH RIBERIA STREET AT EVERY SINGLE STREET.
NOW I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE NEED IT AT EVERY SINGLE STREET, BUT WE NEED IT AT CERTAIN PLACES TO SLOW PEOPLE DOWN.
IT'S NOT A RACEWAY, IT'S A CITY STREET.
WE'RE GETTING 15 NEW HOUSES ON THAT STREET, AND MANY OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE AIRBNBS, AND YOU CAN BET THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE THREE CARS PARKED IN THOSE DRIVEWAYS.
SO THAT'S GOING TO ADD MORE CONGESTION.
AND THEN YOU HAVE THE SCHOOL THAT'S COMING IN THE VERITAS SCHOOL.
THEY, TOO ARE GOING TO USE RIBERIA STREET TO GET DOWN TO THAT SCHOOL.
SO I REALLY DO NEED YOUR HELP.
AND IF NECESSARY, I WILL GO AND PETITION ALL OF MY NEIGHBORS TO SIGN A PETITION TO SEND TO YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND CONCERN.
MY NEXT CARD IS MATTHEW MURPHY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GIVING ME A FEW MINUTES TO TALK.
I'M A BRAND NEW RESIDENT, SO WE JUST MOVED IN IN JUNE, SO WE'RE GLAD TO BE HERE.
BUT I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU REAL QUICKLY ABOUT THE LIGHTHOUSE PARK YACHT CLUB YACHT SCHOOL.
AND, YOU KNOW, AS A HOMEOWNER, THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION IS ONLY ABOUT 50 YARDS FROM MY HOUSE.
SO I DON'T REALLY THINK IT'S ACCURATE TO KIND OF TALK ABOUT THIS AS A MARITIME PRIDE ISSUE.
I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT.
WELL, THAT'S A GREAT HALO EFFECT AND TEACHING ON, YOU KNOW, UNDERPRIVILEGED YOUTH HOW TO SAIL IS NOBODY'S GOING TO ARGUE WITH THAT.
BUT I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT IN THE LIGHT OF HOW IT IMPACTS THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR HOMEOWNERS LIKE OURSELVES.
YOU KNOW, I BOUGHT INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE IT'S QUIET AND IT'S A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT'S SMALL AND IT'S COMPACT AND EVERYBODY KNOWS EVERYBODY AND WE DO GET A FAIR AMOUNT.
I'M RIGHT ON 102 CARVER STREET EAST, SO WE ALREADY GET A FAIR AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC FOR THE LIGHTHOUSE, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, WONDERFUL.
WE TOLERATE THAT BECAUSE IT'S THE LIGHTHOUSE AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LATECOMERS.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT WHAT I WOULDN'T WANT TO DO IS TAKE WHAT WAS A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY AND NOW CREATE A, YOU KNOW, HUGE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, DRAW, QUITE FRANKLY, IT REALLY IT WILL DIRECTLY IMPACT OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE INVESTED IN THAT HOUSE IN THAT SPECIFIC HOUSE IS FOR THE VIEW OF THE SALT RUN.
AND UNLESS THEY MAINTAIN A VERY, YOU KNOW, DIMINUTIVE SINGLE STORY STRUCTURE THAT, AS IT EXISTS NOW, IT'S GOING TO, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO RUIN OUR VIEW FOR SURE.
AND THE TRAFFIC, AS DEBBIE HAD MENTIONED, IS, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS REALLY NO PLACE FOR THAT TRAFFIC TO GO.
THERE'S ONLY KIND OF ONE WAY IN, YOU KNOW, AND THEN A WINDING WAY OUT.
AND I JUST WOULD ASK YOU TO REALLY LOOK CRITICALLY AT ANY PROPOSED LEASE IN THINGS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, NOISE AND OPERATING HOURS AND LIMITS ON USE.
YOU KNOW WHAT I WOULDN'T WANT THIS TO BECOME AS A WEDDING VENUE BY ANOTHER NAME, RIGHT? OR A PARTY VENUE.
YOU KNOW, LET'S OPEN THIS SCHOOL, BUT WE'RE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, SO I'D REALLY ASK YOU TO LOOK AT THOSE KINDS OF RESTRICTIONS IF IN FACT IT DOES GO FORWARD, THAT REALLY WILL HELP PEOPLE LIKE ME IN QUALITY OF LIFE WHERE WE DON'T HAVE PARTIES AT NIGHT.
[00:25:01]
WE DON'T HAVE TRAFFIC ALL HOURS OF THE DAY, ALL DAYS OF THE WEEK.SO PLEASE LOOK AT THOSE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT HOMEOWNERS LIKE US.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MURPHY.
I HAVE ONE MORE SPEAKER'S CARD.
I HAVE A COUPLE THAT ARE COMING FORWARD.
IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK IN REFERENCE TO THE SAILING CENTER, NOW IS YOUR ONLY OPPORTUNITY THERE WILL NOT BE AN OPPORTUNITY LATER IN THE MEETING.
SO I DO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL CARDS.
AND AGAIN, WE ARE NOT TAKING ACTION ON THIS ITEM THIS EVENING, THIS IS AN INFORMATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMISSION TO GET BACK UP TO SPEED.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER, STANLEY PARIS.
WELCOME, WELCOME, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SOME THREE YEARS AGO, WE MET HERE AND PRESENTED OUR CASE FOR THE YOUTH SAILING CENTER, SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE SAFER THAN THE PRESENT USING THE PUBLIC SLIP AND SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE A GREAT ASSET TO THE COMMUNITY.
I HEARD THE WORDS OF THE LAST SPEAKER AND [INAUDIBLE] TO SEE THE LEASE THAT WE HAVE WORKED OUT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE YACHT CLUB THAT HE'D BE PLEASED THAT THERE WON'T BE BIG FUNCTIONS LIKE WEDDINGS AND THERE WON'T BE NOISE IN THE EVENINGS.
WE'VE LIMITED ALL THAT KIND OF ACTIVITY.
WE'RE FOCUSING THIS PROPERTY ON THE YOUTH SAILING.
IT'S ALSO GOING TO BE A ONE STORY PROPERTY.
MY WIFE AND I HERE, CATHERINE PALAM, I'M [INAUDIBLE] STANLEY PARIS, ARE PREPARED TO GIVE THIS PROPERTY TO THE CITY AND THE CITY, THEN TO LEASE IT TO THE FOUNDATION OF THE YACHT CLUB.
AND I TRUST THAT THIS WILL GO FORWARD AS A COMMUNITY THING FOR THE YOUTH OF TOMORROW.
NOTHING'S BETTER THAN GETTING KIDS OFF THEIR CELL PHONES AND OUT ON THE WATER IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, AND WE'VE DONE IT.
THE YACHT CLUB, A GREAT PROGRAM WITH MANY YOUTH IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND THIS WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR IT TO CONTINUE AND WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THIS DONATION TO THE CITY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONERS [INAUDIBLE].
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JUSTIN MILLER.
HI GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS JUSTIN MUELLER, I'M THE CURRENT WELL SORRY, 31 DELMAR AVE, I AM THE CURRENT COMMODORE OF THE YACHT CLUB AND THE COMMODORE ELECT FOR NEXT YEAR.
I JUST WANTED EVERYBODY'S HEARD A LOT ABOUT EVERYTHING, BUT JUST TO COUNTER A COUPLE OF THE POINTS.
THE LIGHTHOUSE ADVERTISES ITSELF AS HAVING MORE THAN A QUARTER OF A MILLION GUESTS PER YEAR.
WE'RE NOT TALKING, ADDING ANY KIND OF SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF TRAFFIC THAT COULD PROBABLY EVEN BE MEASURABLE BY HAVING SOMETHING THAT IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO ON THE YACHT CLUB GROUNDS TODAY.
SO THE IDEA THAT WE'RE SUDDENLY GOING TO HAVE A HUGE INFLUX OF CARS AS IT'S RELATED TO THIS SALT RUN CAN ONLY HANDLE SO MANY BOATS SAILING AROUND SMALL BOATS SAILING AROUND IT AT A TIME THAT WE CAN'T CHANGE SALT RUN, THAT WE CAN'T MAKE THIS INTO AN ENORMOUS PROGRAM, AS SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO BE.
ONE OF THE OTHER POINTS IN TERMS OF RUINING PEOPLE'S VIEW.
THERE'S NO SENSE IN THAT BUILDING BEING ANY TALLER THAN ONE STORY.
AND IN FACT, IF THE PROPERTY WERE TO JUST GO BACK TO BEING RESIDENTIAL, IT WOULD PROBABLY END UP BEING THREE INDIVIDUAL LOTS, ALL WITH MULTISTORY HOMES ON IT.
I THINK THAT HAVING IT AS A SAILING CENTER PRESERVES THE VIEW AND THE SURROUNDING AREA.
AND AS MENTIONED BY STANLEY, IT'S YOU KNOW, THERE IS VERBIAGE IN THE LEASE THAT SPECIFICALLY TALKS ABOUT LIMITING OUR HOURS.
AND AGAIN, GOING BACK TO THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF IT IS SUMMER CAMP.
SO EVEN THAT WE'RE TALKING 10 OR 11 WEEKS WHILE SCHOOL'S OUT OR WHEN IT MIGHT ACTUALLY BE FULLY UTILIZED.
KIDS GO TO SCHOOL AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE AT THE YACHT CLUB.
SO PLEASE TAKE A COUPLE OF THOSE NOTES INTO ACCOUNT.
AND WE OBVIOUSLY RECOGNIZE THE THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS CONCERNED.
BUT I THINK THIS IS IN HARMONY WITH KEEPING THE HERITAGE IN ST.
AUGUSTINE, THE HERITAGE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK ITSELF AND OUR ASSOCIATION AND VICINITY TO THE LIGHTHOUSE.
[00:30:01]
FINE, THANK YOU.I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF TWO KIDS THAT ARE IN THE SAYC SAILING PROGRAMS. MY DAUGHTER MARGOT AND MY SON BREAR MARGOT HAS SAILED FOR THE OLYMPICS CENTER IN SAVANNAH.
AND SHE'S ALSO SAILED AT THE GOLDEN ISLES SAILING CENTER UP IN THE GOLDEN ISLES OF GEORGIA.
MOVING HERE, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE OPERATION RUN BY SAYC IS INFINITELY MORE PROFESSIONAL, DEFINITELY SAFER.
AND BOTH OF MY KIDS HAVE GAINED SO MUCH MORE CONFIDENCE BY BEING PARTS OF THIS.
SO PLEASE TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
KNOW THAT THE OPERATION THAT IS BEING RUN HERE IS OF A DIFFERENT CALIBER THAN WHAT YOU SEE IN OTHER AREAS.
THERE IS A REAL FUTURE FOR THIS AND CERTAINLY FOR THESE KIDS IN THE AREA.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
MR. BENNETT, I'M GOING TO MAKE A VERY QUICK EXCEPTION IF YOU WANTED TO COME FORWARD AGAIN, NORMALLY YOUR TOTAL COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES, SO I'M GOING TO TRUST YOU TO BE, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
SO THAT'S WHY I'M SO I'LL TRUST YOU TO BE EXPEDITIOUS.
I'M GETTING USED TO THE RULES OF THE COMMISSION.
JUST QUICKLY, I'M SITTING HERE AND AS I'M JUST OBSERVING AND I'M LISTENING, I WORK WITH A LOT OF KIDS.
I'VE WORKED WITH CHILDREN IN MENTAL HEALTH FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS.
I'VE WORKED IN THE CULINARY FIELD.
AS MANY PEOPLE AS KNOW THAT I PRESENTLY AM IN NOW, AND I ALSO RUN A 501 C THREE CHARITY.
I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS OF THE NEIGHBORS.
I'M NOT TOO FAMILIAR WITH THE PROJECT, BUT JUST SITTING AND HEARING BOTH SIDES OF THE SPECTRUM IN VIEW, WE MUST REMEMBER CHILDREN ARE VERY IMPORTANT.
CHILDREN ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHEN THEY GET LOST, I THINK I SAY IT'S THE SAME THING TO MY SON NOW.
WE'RE TOO WRAPPED UP IN TECHNOLOGY.
I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, WE DID A LOT OF OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES.
MY PARENTS HAD TO REEL ME IN OFF THE STREETS TO FROM DOING ACTIVITIES, PLAYING BASKETBALL, FOOTBALL, BASEBALL.
AND SO I THINK THERE'S A COMMON GROUND THAT THE CITY CAN MEET WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I DON'T LIVE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND I'M NOT SPEAKING FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M JUST SPEAKING IN THE SENSE OF A SAILING SCHOOL TO GET UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN THE OPPORTUNITY AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT HERE IN ST.
BECAUSE WE HAVE FISHING, WE HAVE WATER, YOU HAVE BOATING.
AND THE IMPORTANCE OF CHANGING A CHILD'S PERSPECTIVE IN THEIR LANE IN THEIR LIFE IS VERY CRITICAL AT A YOUNG AGE.
THE WORLD IS VERY SOCIAL MEDIA.
KIDS ARE GETTING LOST IN SOCIAL MEDIA.
THEY'RE GETTING, HURTING THEMSELVES, HURTING OTHERS.
AND SO WHEN CHILDREN PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES THAT REALLY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIFE AND IF THE SCHOOL IS PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR KIDS THAT NORMALLY CAN'T AFFORD IT, I THINK SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, WE HAVE TO SIT BACK, KIND OF RELAX AND THINK ABOUT IT AND MEET PEOPLE HALFWAY.
HOW DO WE MOVE ON? I THINK EVERYTHING IS ALWAYS GOOD IN COMPROMISE.
IT SHOULDN'T JUST BE A NO OR YAY.
AND SO JUST MY PERSPECTIVE SITTING BACK, I THINK THE PROGRAM IS VERY DETRIMENTAL TO CHILDREN IN PRODUCTION AND LIVELIHOOD.
I WORKED IN MENTAL HEALTH AND A LOT OF THE CONCERNS BACK THEN WHEN I WORKED IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS AS WELL WAS ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN TO DO AND GET OUT OF THE HOUSE AND REALLY GET ENGAGED, AND SO I THINK IT'S A VERY GOOD PROJECT.
I THINK THERE'S A WAY THAT THE CITY AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD CAN COMPROMISE AND GET THE JOB DONE AND GET THE DEAL DONE.
AND SO THAT'S JUST MY PIECE IN THAT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARK EDMAN.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE GENTLEMAN THAT JUST SPOKE, YOU TOOK A LOT OF THE WIND OUT OF MY SAILS.
[LAUGHTER] BUT ON THE SAME VEIN OF WHAT HE SAID, YOU KNOW, I GREW UP BEFORE THE DAY AND AGE OF THE INTERNET.
I GREW UP BEFORE VIDEO GAMES WERE A HUGE PART OF LIFE AND SEEING MY CURRENT CHILDREN.
NOW THAT I AM RAISING THE ISSUES THAT THEY STRUGGLE WITH AS FAR AS WITH SOCIAL MEDIA, HOW IT'S JUST ALWAYS HOUNDING THEM.
AND THERE'S REALLY NO SAFE SPACE FOR KIDS TO GO TO ANYMORE IF THEY CAN'T EVEN
[00:35:01]
COME HOME AND BE ALONE AND BE LOVED BY THEIR PARENTS.THEY GET HARASSED AND BULLIED ONLINE.
THE BEST THING ABOUT THE YOUTH SAILING PROGRAM THAT I FOUND FOR MY CHILDREN IS THERE IS NO BETTER WAY TO BREAK THEM AWAY FROM THE GRASP OF THESE TECHNOLOGIES THEY HAVE IN THEIR LIFE THAN TO GET THEM OUT ON THE WATER WHERE THEY CAN'T HAVE THESE THINGS.
AND YOU WILL FIND NO GREATER SPORT TO TEACH YOUR CHILD SELF-RELIANCE PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS.
BECAUSE WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG ON THAT BOAT, WHEN YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WATER AND THERE'S NOBODY THERE TO HELP YOU, IT'S ON YOU TO GET YOURSELF BACK TO SHORE SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY.
YOU WON'T LEARN THAT ANYWHERE ELSE.
AND WHILE I WAS IN THE BACK, I SAW, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE HEADS SHAKING NO TO WHAT HE WAS SAYING.
AND ALL I HAVE TO SAY TO PEOPLE THAT FEEL THAT WAY ABOUT A YOUTH SAILING PROGRAM IS YOU CAN JUDGE A COMMUNITY BY HOW THEY TREAT THEIR CHILDREN.
IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HELP CHILDREN AND FOSTER THE NEXT GENERATION, WHAT KIND OF YOUTH DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE WALKING THROUGH YOUR YARD AT THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO? I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH YOUTH PROGRAMS MY ENTIRE LIFE.
MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN YOUTH DIRECTORS.
I HAVE A LOT OF MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
SO IT'S NOT GOOD WHEN YOU DON'T PARTICIPATE IN PROGRAMS LIKE THAT TO FOSTER YOUTH AND BRING THEM ALONG.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK THAT DO NOT LIKE THE IDEA OF THIS PROGRAM.
OBVIOUSLY, YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE TONS AND TONS OF TRAFFIC THROUGH YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT I WOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU TO JUST STOP BY THE YACHT CLUB IN THE MORNING WHEN WE'RE LAUNCHING BOATS AND WATCH OUR CHILDREN ALMOST GET RUN OVER BY BOATS THAT ARE BACKING DOWN THE LAUNCH BECAUSE THE ONLY THING THEY HAVE TO USE IS THE PUBLIC BOAT LAUNCH TO GET IN THE WATER, IT'S NOT A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN.
SO PARENTS ALWAYS HAVE TO BE THERE TO HELP KIDS LAUNCH THEIR BOAT, WHICH IS ANOTHER GREAT SKILL FOR CHILDREN TO LEARN HOW TO GET YOUR BOAT IN THE WATER, HOW TO GET YOUR BOAT OUT OF THE WATER.
SO PLEASE, I JUST I HOPE THIS DOESN'T TURN INTO A HEAD BUTTING AND TIT FOR TAT.
I HOPE EVERYBODY CAN COME TOGETHER AND HEAR EACH OTHER'S GRIEVANCES AND AIR OUT A SOLUTION THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TAYLOR REICHERT.
REICHERT FORGIVE ME IF I'VE MISPRONOUNCED THAT COASTAL VILLAGE LANE.
HI, I'M TAYLOR, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE SAILING CENTER.
I FOUND MY LOVE FOR SAILING AT THE ST.
AUGUSTINE YACHT CLUB, AND IT ONLY CONTINUES TO GROW WITH EVERY NEW REGATTA THAT WE RACE IN.
THE TILL AND THE SHEET IN MY HAND BRING A SENSE OF FREEDOM AND BELONGING, I CAN'T FIND ANYWHERE ELSE.
SAILING IS A SUPER AWESOME AND EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE SPORT THAT SHOULD BE IN EVERY TOWN.
I'VE HAD MANY DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES TO SAIL WITH COLLEGE LEVEL, WORLD, NATIONAL AND OLYMPIC LEVEL SAILORS.
I CONTINUALLY LOOK FOR COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL SAILING OPPORTUNITIES, AS WELL AS CAREER PATHS IN THE SPORT OF SAILING FOR MY FUTURE.
HOWEVER, IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO GROW TO NEW HEIGHTS, MY SAILING TEAM AND I NEED A SUITABLE VENUE AND SAFE LOCATION TO LAUNCH AND SAIL OUT OF LOCALLY.
WE'VE SEEN MANY GREAT EXAMPLES OF INCREDIBLE SAILING SAILORS ALL OVER THE U.S.
AND WANT TO HAVE ST. AUGUSTINE SAILING CENTER ADDED TO THE LIST OF OTHER SAILORS FAVORITE PLACES TO SAIL OUT OF.
WE LIVE IN A CITY ON THE WATER AND SHOULD HAVE MORE THAN A PUBLIC BOAT RAMP FOR YOUTH TO LAUNCH OUT OF.
I'M EXCITED TO GIVE NEW, YOUNGER SAILORS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAIL AND A BETTER, NICER LOCATION AND EXCEL INTO GREATNESS SUPER FAST.
I'M TAYLOR AND I WROTE THIS MYSELF.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK NEXT? YES.
YOUR LAST NAME, PLEASE, [INAUDIBLE] MARK.
THAT'S MY DAUGHTER, TAYLOR, IF I COULD DROP THE MICROPHONE FOR HER I WOULD.
YEAH, I MEAN, THAT'S THE TYPE OF KID THAT YOU'RE INVITING TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND SUPPORTING.
AND I JUST WANT TO REITERATE, I THINK THAT THESE CHILDREN DESERVE MORE THAN PUBLIC BOAT RAMPS TO LAUNCH THEIR BOATS FROM.
IT'S ASTONISHING AGAIN, THAT WE LIVE IN ST.
AUGUSTINE ON THE WATER AND THERE'S NO SAILING CENTER HERE WHEN THERE'S SO MANY ACROSS THE STATE IN THE SOUTHEAST AND I ALSO HEAR THE ARGUMENTS FOR, YOU KNOW, WE LIVE IN A QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THERE'S THE SAME SENTENCE.
THERE'S A LIGHTHOUSE, A PUBLIC BOAT RAMP, ALL THIS NOISE THERE.
I REALLY DON'T THINK THAT THEY'RE GOING TO SEE MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE OTHER THAN PROBABLY A NICER BUILDING IN THAT LOCATION, A SAFE DOCK FOR THE KIDS TO LAUNCH FROM.
AND I WOULD INVITE ANYBODY FROM THAT NEIGHBORHOOD TO COME DOWN AND MEET WITH THE FAMILIES AND THE CHILDREN THAT SAIL THERE BECAUSE WE'RE THERE ALL THE TIME, WHETHER THEY KNOW IT OR NOT.
THAT'S IT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. ROY JEAGER.
[00:40:01]
I'M A PAST COMMODORE OF THE ST.AND AS I LOOK, I SEE MANY SAILORS UP HERE AS WELL.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE JUNIOR SAILING PROGRAM SINCE 2000.
OH, I GUESS WE STARTED IT REALLY OFFICIALLY IN 2010.
WE WORKED ON IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH 2009 AND THE FIRST YEAR WE DID THE PROGRAM, I BELIEVE WE PUT 137 KIDS THROUGH THE PROGRAM.
MANY OF YOU REMEMBER WENDY SMITH AND WENDY WAS JUST A TREMENDOUS SPARK PLUG FOR THE SAILING PROGRAM, AS WE ALL WERE BECAUSE WE BELIEVED WE WERE BRINGING SOMETHING TO THE KIDS OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
AND WE WATCHED THE FIRST FEW YEARS WITH THE KIDS LAUNCHING DOWN BY THE PUBLIC BOAT RAMP.
I WAS VERY CONCERNED WE ALL WERE.
AND THEN STANLEY PARIS CAME TO US AND SUGGESTED THAT HE WOULD PURCHASE THE PROPERTY NEXT DOOR AND THEN WE COULD BUILD A SAILING CENTER FOR THE YOUTH.
AND I WILL JUST TAKE AWAY ONE THING THAT WAS SAID BEFORE.
WE HAVE NEVER PUT AN ADULT THROUGH THAT PROGRAM, AND THE ST.
AUGUSTINE YACHT CLUB HAS ALWAYS HAD A SAILING PROGRAM.
I MEAN, WE HAVE RACES FOR THE ADULTS AND WE HAVE NO INTENTION OF USING ANY PART OF THE EXISTING CLUB FOR THE SAILING CENTER.
NOW I TOLD YOU, WE PUT ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY SEVEN KIDS THROUGH THERE THE FIRST TIME, AND I BELIEVE WE'RE UP OVER 1300 KIDS THAT WE HAVE PUT THROUGH THAT PROGRAM.
AND I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH ONE THOUGHT, AND IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT THOUGHT YOU HAVE TO SEE THE LOOK ON THOSE KIDS FACES WHEN THEY FIRST PUSHED THAT BOAT OUT INTO THE WATER AND THEY HAVE CONTROL OF THAT SAIL AND THEY HAVE TO BRING THAT BOAT BACK.
THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAT WE CAN TEACH THE KIDS OF ST.
AUGUSTINE AND THE COMMUNITY, AND I FEEL VERY BAD THAT, YOU KNOW, THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS PUTTING UP SUCH OPPOSITION TO THIS BECAUSE IT'S TO ME, IT'S JUST NOT A VALID COMMENT.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD ALL HAVE AND WE SHOULD ALL BE PROUD OF AND HELP OUR KIDS.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION AT THIS POINT? SIR, YOU NEED TO COMPLETE A CARD.
THE POLICE CHIEF CAN HELP YOU WITH THAT.
IF THERE'S ANYBODY ELSE, THIS IS THE LAST CALL, ANYBODY ELSE THAT WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION, YOU NEED TO COMPLETE A CARD RIGHT NOW AND HAND IT TO THE CHIEF AND SHE WILL GET IT UP TO ME.
THANK YOU, SIR, IF YOU'D COME FORWARD AND IF YOU'D PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, FOR THE RECORD.
GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS TOM FLEMING AND I LIVE AT 100 [INAUDIBLE] COURT IN PONTE VEDRA BEACH.
FORTY YEARS AGO, MY WIFE AND I HAD A DAUGHTER AND A SON.
AND IT'S A GREAT FAMILY SPORT.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE GOLF, BUT NOT AS FRUSTRATING.
YOU CAN DO IT BY YOURSELF, OR YOU CAN DO IT AS A TEAM OR IN THE KIND OF WAY WE PREFER IT AS A SUNDAY AFTERNOON WITH THE FAMILY ON THE BOAT.
FROM MY WIFE AND I, TO MY KIDS TO MY GRANDKIDS THAT ARE HERE.
AND THE ONE GENTLEMAN SAID WATCHING THE EXPRESSION ON THEIR FACE WHEN THEY TAKE THE BOAT OUT, FLIP IT OVER.
IT'S A GREAT FAMILY SPORT, AND I'M REALLY GLAD THAT SOMEBODY ELSE IS TEACHING MY GRANDCHILDREN TO SAIL AND NOT ME.
OUR LAST SPEAKER IS MS. BJ KALAIDI.
NUMBER ONE, BILL HARRIS AND THE WEST AUGUSTINE BLACK COMMUNITY IN THE COUNTY WILL ONLY HAVE HOME AGAIN AT 285 SOUTH HOLMES BOULEVARD ON A MONTH TO MONTH BASIS.
[00:45:02]
NUMBER TWO 195 WEST KING PLANS TO BE USED FOR CANDY MANUFACTURING.IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL IF THEY EMPLOY THE HOMELESS PERSON WHO LIVES AT HURSTON PARK, U.S.
ONE AND KING STREET TO HELP OUT.
I DIDN'T GET MY HANDS ON SOME OF THE BACKUP MATERIAL UNTIL HALF AN HOUR BEFORE THIS MEETING, AND HERE'S MY COMMENTS ON THE STUFF THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET BEFORE THEN.
THAT'S WHAT'S IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY.
IF 13 A IS ABOUT THE SAILING CENTER YACHT CLUB LEASE, IT SHOULD BE AN AGENDA ITEM WHERE PUBLIC COMMENT IS TAKEN.
IT'S OBVIOUS THAT SOME PEOPLE DIDN'T GET THE WORD.
THE STRUCTURE STILL HAD A BLUE TARP ON THE ROOF.
DID CITY POLITICIANS ATTENDING THE RETIREMENT PARTY AT THE YACHT CLUB SEE THIS NEGLECT.
WHY IS IT AT LEAST NOT RECORDED IN PUBLIC RECORDS? WHO AT THE CITY WILL RECEIVE THE MAIL SINCE TIM FLEMING IS NOT EMPLOYED AND THAT'S WHAT'S WRITTEN ON YOUR DOCUMENTS.
THERE'S NOTHING IN THERE SHOWING US WHERE THE DOCK PLANS ARE.
HOW MANY RED SHIRTS LIVE IN THE CITY LIMITS.
AND NOT LOW INCOME RED SHIRTS AT THIS MEETING, I DON'T SEE ANYBODY THAT'S IS FROM A LOW INCOME FAMILY SITTING OUT HERE ON THE FLOOR OR ON THE CHAIRS THAT YOU'VE MADE AVAILABLE FOR THESE CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS.
AND MR. JEAGER SPOKE WITH MR. REGAN IN OCTOBER 2021, ACCORDING TO THE CITY MANAGER'S CALENDAR.
THAT'S THE WAY YOU CAN KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES, AND I DON'T THINK THIS IS BEING VERY TRANSPARENT AND I'M GLAD MR. TRACY THAT YOU DID MENTION THAT NO DECISION WAS GOING TO BE MADE TONIGHT.
AND I HOPE THE PEOPLE THAT DID NOT GET THE WORD WHO ARE IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND A FEW MINUTES, I'LL JUST STOP RIGHT HERE AND SAY THE GENTLEMAN THAT SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT WASHINGTON STREET I INVITE ALL OF THESE CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS TO GO DOWN ON WASHINGTON STREET AND CLEAN IT UP.
HELP CLEAN UP THE CITY INSTEAD OF COMING IN HERE AND TALKING ABOUT IT.
AN THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION IS NOW CLOSED.
MR. REGAN WERE ON ITEM FIVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[5. CONSENT AGENDA]
PLEASE.GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS ON TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA.
WE HAVE A REMINDER OF UPCOMING MEETINGS.
REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING JANUARY 10TH, 2022 5:00 P.M.
REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING JANUARY 24TH, 2022 3:00 P.M.
SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING REGARDING WORKFORCE HOUSING.
REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
SINCE THE PUBLICATION OF AGENDA, WE'VE ADDED AN ADDITIONAL MEETING THAT WILL BE ADDRESSED BY THE CLERK AND HER COMMENTS.
WE HAVE APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PRIOR COMMISSION MEETINGS, INCLUDING SEPTEMBER 27TH 2021 REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
OCTOBER 11TH, 2021 REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
WE HAVE RELEASE OF LIEN FOR UNIT CONNECTION FEE MORTGAGE IN THE NAME OF SHAKIA COLLIER 900 WEST 4TH STREET.
WE HAVE APPROVAL OF FINAL SUBDIVISION PLAT FOR PHASE SIX PELICAN REEF APPROVAL OF A GRANT AWARDED BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN THE AMOUNT OF FOUR THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED EIGHTY DOLLARS APPROVAL OF GRANT AGREEMENT WITH FDEM REGARDING SOUTH WHITNEY AND WEST KING STREETS FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECT.
APPROVAL REQUEST FOR CARRY FORWARD FUNDS FROM THE 2021 FISCAL YEAR AND THAT COMPLETES THE CONSENT AGENDA.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? SO MOVE.
I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND MADAM CLERK, IF YOU'D PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
[8.A.1. Ordinance 2021-25: Amends the zoning of 36 Granada Street (CL-1) and 8 DeSoto Place (RG-1) to Planned Unit Development (PUD) and approval of License Agreement to accompany PUD. (D. Birchim, Director Planning and Building)]
THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED.THIS IS SECOND READING AND A PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE 2021-25 MR. BIRCHIM.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS DAVID BIRCH, PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT.
ORDINANCE 2021-25 AMENDS THE ZONING OF 36 GRANADA STREET FROM COMMERCIAL LOW ONE TO PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT, AND IT AMENDS THE ZONING OF 8 DESOTO PLACE FROM RESIDENTIAL GENERAL ONE ALSO TO PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT.
IT INCORPORATES BOTH PROPERTIES.
ONE OF WHICH IS THE FORMER CORAZONE THEATER AT 36 GRANADA STREET AND THE OTHER
[00:50:03]
IS A PARKING LOT ON DESOTO PLACE.THE USES ALLOWED IN THE PUD INCLUDE ALL OF THE USES IN THE CL1 ZONING DISTRICT AND IT ALLOWS FOR RESTAURANTS WITH MORE THAN 100 SEATS AND A FULL LIQUOR LICENSE FOR THE RESTAURANT.
THE 8 DESOTO PLACE PORTION WILL BE LIMITED TO A PARKING LOT.
IT DOES NOT ALLOW TATTOO SHOPS OR BARS.
THERE ARE ALSO LIMITATIONS ON MUSIC AND A LARGE EVENTS IN THE PUD AND THE FORMER MOVIE THEATER AT 36, GRANADA WILL BE REDEVELOPED AND THERE IS PARKING ON BOTH PROPERTIES WITH DRIVEWAY ACCESS FROM GRANADA STREET.
AS PER THE ATTACHED SITE PLAN.
THIS ZONING WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD ON AUGUST 10TH.
FIRST READING OF THE ORDINANCE WAS APPROVED AND TONIGHT IS A SECOND READING.
YOU HELD A SECOND READING ON OCTOBER 25TH AND HAD SEVERAL CHANGES AND ADDITIONS YOU WANTED THE APPLICANT TO MAKE.
I BELIEVE THEY HAVE MADE THE CHANGES YOU ASKED FOR AND SPECIFICALLY THEY HAVE ELIMINATED A CURB CUT ON DESOTO.
THEY HAVE INCLUDED LANGUAGE THAT INCENTIVIZES A RIDESHARE PROGRAM THAT WOULD BE MANAGED BY THE BUSINESS OWNER.
THEY'VE INCLUDED A BICYCLE RACK ON THE PROPERTY.
THEY HAVE MADE A STATEMENT OF THE NET CHANGES FROM THE CL1 ZONING TO THE PUD.
THEY HAVE CLARIFIED THE SIZE AND LOCATION OF THE MURAL ON THE BUILDING, AND THEY HAVE CLARIFIED THAT PARKING AND STORMWATER RETENTION REQUIREMENTS WILL BE COMPLIED WITH.
SORRY, THEY'VE ALSO COMMITTED TO USING NATIVE PLANTS FOR LANDSCAPING AND ALSO PERVIOUS PAVERS FOR THE PARKING LOT.
IN ADDITION TO THIS REZONING APPLICATION, IF YOU CHOOSE TO APPROVE IT, THERE IS AN ACCOMPANYING LICENSE AGREEMENT.
THAT'S ALSO PART OF THIS REQUEST.
IT'S AT THE VERY END OF YOUR PACKET.
AND THIS IS TO ALLOW AN AWNING TO OVERHANG THE DESOTO PLACE SIDEWALK.
AND I BELIEVE THE HEIGHT OF THE AWNING FROM THE SIDEWALK IS 10 FEET AND TWO INCHES, SO THERE'S PLENTY OF CLEARANCE UNDER THE AWNING.
AND ALSO TO ALLOW FOR FIVE PALM TREES TO BE INSTALLED IN PLANTERS IN THE SIDEWALK ON GRANADA STREET.
AND WE HAVE MEASURED AND CONFIRMED THAT IF THESE PALM TREES ARE INSTALLED IN THE SIDEWALK ON GRANADA STREET, THERE IS SUFFICIENT WIDTH FOR ADA COMPLIANCE IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING ON THE SIDEWALK.
SO THIS IS SECOND READING AN A PUBLIC HEARING.
I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE, AND THE APPLICANT IS ALSO HERE.
THANK YOU, MR. BIRCHIM, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE BEST ADDRESSED TO YOU OR TO THE APPLICANT.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF RENDITIONS OF THE ELEVATIONS AND THEN THERE'S SUPERIMPOSED A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE OLD BUILDING, THE ORIGINAL BUILDING, THE HISTORIC BUILDING THAT WAS ON THE LOCATION.
THAT'S CONFUSING TO ME, SO I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT I'M LOOKING AT.
I ASSUME THAT THIS PROPERTY IS NOT IN ANY HISTORIC DISTRICT AND THEREFORE THE CITY HAS NO REVIEW OVER THE ARCHITECTURE.
THAT IS CORRECT THAT IT DID GO TO HARB FOR A CERTIFICATE OF PARTIAL DEMOLITION.
AND AS A CONDITION OF THAT, THEY DID MAKE IT A REQUIREMENT OF THE APPLICANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS A FIVE FEET OF CLEARANCE BEFORE WINDOWS AND GLAZING WAS PLACED ON THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING.
AND ONE OF THE DOCUMENTS YOU HAVE THERE IS THE ARCHITECT'S CONFIRMATION THAT THEY WILL MEET THAT HARB REQUIREMENT.
AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE ONES YOU'RE CONFUSED ABOUT.
SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING, CAN YOU SEE THAT.
MAYOR CAN YOU PUT THIS OVERHEAD PROJECTOR ON? THERE WE GO, HERE WE GO.
SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING ON THE ON THE OVERHEAD ON THE TOP IS THE ELEVATION FROM THE GRANADA STREET SIDE, THAT'S THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING, WHICH IS RIGHT NOW THE OLD CORE ZONE THEATER.
AND WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO IS THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE THOSE BLANK WALLS.
THEY FILLED IN THE STOREFRONT WINDOWS BECAUSE WHEN THEY CONVERTED INTO A MOVIE THEATER, THEY'RE GOING TO OPEN UP THOSE STOREFRONT WINDOWS.
AND WHAT HARB WANTED WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT IN THIS FROM THE SIDEWALK.
[00:55:02]
UP TO THE BASE OF THE WINDOW, THERE WAS A BREAK THAT IT WASN'T JUST A ONE GIANT SHEET OF GLASS.AND WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE AND YOU'RE CORRECT, IT'S DIFFICULT TO SEE BECAUSE THE TEXT IS SO SMALL, IS THE ARCHITECT CONFIRMING THAT THEY'RE DOING THAT.
AND THEN THESE ARE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE INSIDE OF THE BUILDING WHERE THEY HAVE DETERMINED WHERE THOSE ORIGINAL OPENINGS WERE WHEN THIS WAS A FEED STORE.
SO THIS IS THIS DOCUMENT REALLY IS JUST TO ACCOMPANY WHAT HARB APPROVED WITH THE CERTIFICATE OF PARTIAL DEMOLITION.
OK, IF YOU'LL GO AT LEAST IN OUR BOOK, IT'S TWO PAGES BACK TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE PRESENTATION.
THAT, AGAIN, REPRESENTS THE GRANADA ST ELEVATION, THE GARDEN VIEW ELEVATION AND THE PARKING VIEW ELEVATION.
I THINK I UNDERSTAND IT, BUT IT'S JUST ALL RIGHT, THAT ONE WILL DO.
NO, NO, NO, THAT EITHER ONE WILL DO SO.
IS THE REPRESENTATION THERE OF THE OLD PHOTOGRAPH ON THE RIGHT SUPPOSED TO INDICATE TO US THAT'S WHERE THE MURAL, THE OLD COMMERCIAL SIGN WILL GO? YES.
AND SO AGAIN, AND I RECOGNIZE THIS IS OUT OF CURIOSITY AND CONCERN, BUT I RECOGNIZE THE CITY HAS NO JURISDICTION HERE, IS THAT THIS IS INTENDED TO LOOK FOR 1920S COMMERCIAL STYLE BUILDING THAT WAS THERE.
YES, IT KEEPS THE SAME FORM AS THE THE OLD FEED STORE, THE EXISTING BUILDING THAT'S THERE.
IT DOES OPEN UP THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING SO THAT THERE WILL BE MORE OF AN OPEN PATIO FEEL TO IT.
THIS WOULD BE LOOKED STANDING IN THEIR PARKING LOT, LOOKING SOUTH TOWARDS THE BUILDING.
SO IF YOU WERE BETWEEN THIS BUILDING AND THE WISTERIA HOUSE AND YOU WERE LOOKING AT THE CORE ZONE, THIS WOULD BE.
AND SO THE THE PARKING LOT FOR THE [INAUDIBLE] MUSEUM WOULD BE TO YOUR LEFT.
THIS IS THAT SIDE OF THE BUILDING RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST A BLANK WALL, AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE THEY'VE OPENED UP WINDOW OPENINGS IN THE SIDE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE DINING INSIDE.
AND THE MURAL ON THE ON THE BACK OF THE BUILDING.
OTHER QUESTIONS MR. BIRCHIM? OK.
AT THIS POINT, THEN I HAVE THREE CARDS, SO I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MAYOR, DID YOU WANT TO DO EX PARTE DISCLOSURE AT THIS TIME OR LATER ON, OK? NOTHING HAS CHANGED FROM MY DISCLOSURE FROM WHAT I GAVE TWO WEEKS AGO.
SO THERE'S BEEN NO FURTHER EX PARTE COMMUNICATION BY ANY PARTIES TO THE COMMISSION SINCE WHAT WAS ANNOUNCED TWO WEEKS AGO.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS ERIC [INAUDIBLE], MR. [INAUDIBLE].
I JUST WANTED TO COME PUBLICLY FORWARD AND STATE HOW MUCH I AM IN FAVOR OF THIS TRANSFORMATION.
I SPENT A LOT OF CONVERSATION TALKING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS AS A THEATER, BUT IT IS ALSO SERVED NOT ONLY AS A FOOD OR FEED STORE AND IS ALSO SERVED AS A BAR IN THE PAST IN ST.
SO WE NEED TO BE THOUGHTFUL OF WHAT THIS BUILDING EXISTS AS TODAY AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT SOMETHING BETTER DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM OUR CITY HALL, OUR MUSEUM, WHICH WE RENT OUT ON A REGULAR BASIS TO PEOPLE TO COME IN AND HAVE EVENTS AT.
AND RIGHT NOW, WE'RE SPEND A LOT OF TIME FOCUSING ON WHETHER THIS SHOULD BE A THEATER OR SHOULD NOT BE A THEATER IN THE LAST COUPLE OF COMMISSION MEETINGS.
THIS HAS BEEN MANY THINGS OVER ITS LIFE.
THE BUILDING STRUCTURE IS BEING MAINTAINED, AND WE ARE BEGINNING TO DRAW AN OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS ALONG THE WASHINGTON STREET CORRIDOR TO HAVE A REASON TO WALK TOWARDS THE CITY, TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH THE CITY IN A MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE WAY, MUCH CLOSER WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE ENTIRE TOURIST AREA.
THE APPLICANT HAS ADDRESSED ALL OF THE COMMISSION'S CONCERNS THAT I HEARD IN THE PRIOR MEETINGS, AND I THINK THIS IS A THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMISSION TO MOVE THIS FORWARD, MAKE EFFECTIVE USE OF THIS BUILDING IN WHAT IS BETTER THAN ONE OF THE PRIOR USES.
OUR NEXT SPEAKERS, MR. ED SLAVIN.
NOT SO FAST ED SLAVIN BOX 3084 ED SLAVIN.COM THIS WAS A THEATER FOR 40 YEARS.
[01:00:03]
THIS IS PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.THIS IS A CENTER OF CULTURE AND THE ARTS UNDER TWO DIFFERENT NAMES, AND HE JUST MOCKED AND TRIVIALIZED IT, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS APPLICANT HAS DONE.
THERE'S NO REPLACEMENT THEATER IN THIS PUD AND THEREFORE THERE IS NO PUBLIC BENEFIT AND THIS PUD SHOULD BE REJECTED.
[INAUDIBLE] BROWN, LONG TIME PCP MEMBER AND THE LONGTIME HEAD OF THE COA HERE, HER LINE AND I TOTALLY AGREE WITH HER, IS THAT PUDS ARE A SNEAKY WAY OF GETTING AROUND ZONING.
AND AS BILL CLINTON WOULD SAY ABOUT ABORTION, PUD SHOULD BE SAFE, LEGAL AND RARE.
THIS ONE SHOULD BE REJECTED OUT OF HAND.
IT JUST FLOODED IN THE LATEST NOR'EASTER.
THEY HAVEN'T GIVEN ANY REASON TO DO THIS PUD.
AND IF YOU APPROVE THIS PUD, YOU'D BASICALLY SAY TO EVERY SINGLE PROPERTY OWNER IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE OR EVERY SINGLE SPECULATOR.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE HERE [INAUDIBLE] SPECULATOR, YOU'D SAY TO EVERY SINGLE SPECULATOR.
OH, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS HIRE A LAWYER, AND THIS ONE IS THE TOP LAWYER FOR THE FLORIDA NATIONAL GUARD.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS HIRE A LAWYER AND HIRE A CONTRACTOR AND SAY YOU WANT THE STRUCTURE STRUCTURE TO HAVE A LIQUOR LICENSE THAT IS CORRUPT.
RAY BLANTON, THE FORMER GOVERNOR OF TENNESSEE, WENT TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR SELLING SELLING LIQUOR LICENSES.
THE TEMPTATION IS TOO GREAT BOTH FOR THIS COMMISSION AND THE STAFF AND THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO BASICALLY HAVE THIS BE WHAT JUSTICE JUSTICE BRANDEIS WOULD CALL A RACE TO THE BOTTOM.
WHERE'S THE NEXT PUD GOING TO BE? HOW MANY MORE BARS CAN WE STAND? THE POLICE AND COMMISSIONER SIKES-KLINE HAVE RIGHTLY POINTED OUT HOW NOISY AND TRASHY OUR TOWN HAS BECOME.
I THINK BJ KALAIDI WOULD CALL IT TRASHY TOURIST TOWN TTT.
AND WHO'S GOING TO PAY THE COST OF BAILING OUT THIS APPLICANT WHEN THIS PUD GOES BELLY UP OR WHEN IT FLOODS? THEY'RE LOOKING FOR MONEY FROM FEMA.
WHO ARE THE OWNERS OF THIS PUD? PLEASE IDENTIFY EVERY SINGLE BENEFICIAL OWNER INVESTMENT IN THIS PUD.
THE GENTLEMAN WHO SPOKE BEFORE ME IS HE AN INVESTOR? IS LOUIS JOHN [INAUDIBLE], AN INVESTOR.
AND WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A PUD? IT'S SUPPOSED TO MAKE THINGS BETTER.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO SOMETHING CREATIVE.
IT'S BARELY LEGALLY COGNIZABLE AS A PUD AND THE CITY STAFF SHOULD NOT BE ENCOURAGING THESE KIND OF REALLY SMARMY PROJECTS.
POORLY WRITTEN, POORLY DRAFTED, POORLY RESEARCHED, NO OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY.
WHERE IS OUR REPLACEMENT MOVIE THEATER? WE HAD ONE FOR 40 YEARS, AND I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION ABOUT WHAT MR. MUGABE IS TRYING TO DO, AND I HOPE THEY INVESTIGATE, AND I HOPE THEY ISSUE CIVIL INVESTIGATIVE DEMANDS AND SUBPOENAS.
PLEASE MOVE TO TABLE OR AS THE MAYOR WOULD SAY MOVE TO TABLE AND SEND IT INTO OUTER SPACE FOREVER.
IT'S AN AWFUL, AWFUL, AWFUL PUD.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHICH TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON THE GRENADA STATE PROJECT? SEEING NO ONE ELSE.
OUR LAST SPEAKER IS MS. BJ KALAIDI.
ORDINANCE 2021-25 36 GRANADA LLC LISTS THEIR ADDRESS AS 77 ALMERIA STREET CORDOVA PALMS INVESTMENT LLC, WHERE STATE ROAD 313 AT 6365 U.S.
1 NORTH WILL CUT THROUGH 12 MILE SWAMP CONSERVATION AREA LISTS THEIR ADDRESS AS 77 ALMERIA 112 NORTH PONCE DE LEON LIST THIS SAME ADDRESS.
THERE ARE REPEAT VIOLATIONS CODE VIOLATIONS AT 112 NORTH PONCE DE LEON, WHICH CREATE A TRASHY APPEARANCE.
HOPEFULLY, CITY CODES AND TRAFFIC LAWS WILL BE ENFORCED AT 36 GRANADA.
TIME WILL TELL IF THIS BUSINESS FUNCTIONS FOR THEIR SELF INTEREST OR THE BENEFIT TO THE PUBLIC.
THE LOVE OF MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL, BUT I DON'T WANT TO SAY SOMETHING TOO.
I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THE RED SHIRTS AND THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT 13 A [INAUDIBLE] REALLY GETTING AN EARFUL TONIGHT OF HOW OUR REPUBLIC AND OUR GOVERNMENT WORKS.
SO I HOPE EVERYBODY CAN STAY HERE UNTIL YOU CAN GET TO NUMBER 13 A THANK YOU.
I DO NOT HAVE ANY MORE CARDS, I DO NOT SEE ANYBODY ELSE INDICATING A DESIRE TO SPEAK ON THIS PUBLIC HEARING, AND THEREFORE IT IS NOW CLOSED.
WELL [INAUDIBLE] EVERYONE WANTS TO JUMP RIGHT INTO THIS, I GUESS I WILL.
[01:05:08]
I SUPPORT IT.I THINK IT'S A REINVENTION OF A BUILDING THAT NEEDS TO BE REINVENTED.
IT'S BEEN MANY THINGS IN HIS LIFE, INCLUDING IN A VERY SAD STATE OF DISREPAIR AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER.
I THINK THIS IS A GOOD REUSE OF THE STRUCTURE.
I DON'T SEE IT AS AN INCURSION INTO THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD.
THAT AREA IS NOT RESIDENTIAL NOW.
IT'S ON THE EDGES OF RESIDENTIAL TRANSIT.
YOU KNOW, WE REALLY GO FROM COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL, BUT AND YEAH, IT'S IN A FLOOD ZONE.
BUT HOPEFULLY OUR [INAUDIBLE] PROJECT WILL MITIGATE THAT.
AT LEAST WHAT WE'VE HAD IN THE LAST FEW DAYS, AND I'M SURE THEY'LL BE PUTTING IN FLOOD PROOFING IN THE BUILDING WHEN THEY DO THEIR RENOVATION.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD PROJECT AND I PLAN TO VOTE FOR IT.
SO I FIND THIS STATEMENT VERY INTERESTING THAT WAS ADDED RIDE SHARE PROGRAM SHALL BE INCENTIVIZED BASED INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ENHANCED PERCENTAGE OF TIPS TO EMPLOYEES WHO CARPOOL RESTAURANT.
CARPOOL COMMA, RESTAURANT MANAGER, TRANSPORTATION OF EMPLOYEES WHO OPEN RESTAURANT IN THE MORNING AND ADDITIONAL TIPS FOR EMPLOYEES WHO USE UBER LYFT TO GET TO WORK.
I CAN'T MUCH MAKE SENSE OF THAT.
I WILL LET THE AUTHOR COME UP AND SPEAK TO THAT, OK? THANK YOU, MR. DAVENPORT.
I THOUGHT TIPS CAME FROM CUSTOMERS, NOT FROM MANAGEMENT, BUT.
SOMETHING I'M NOT SEEING HERE.
WAIT, IF YOU'D WAIT ONE SECOND, YOU NEED TO SWEAR HIM IN.
DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR THANK YOU, MR. GARVEY.
THE SENTENCE OR TWO THAT YOU READ.
COMMISSIONER, ONE, THERE IS AN INCENTIVE FINANCIAL INCENTIVE FOR TAKING UBER NOT PARKING IN THE STREETS OR LYFT.
SECONDLY, THERE ARE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS.
THAT WILL BE ADDED TO TIPS IF THOSE EMPLOYEES RIDESHARE TO WORK AND BACK.
AND THAT'S ANOTHER AND THAT'S AN EXISTING CURRENT PROGRAM THAT THE OUR TENANTS ARE RIGHT NOW USING AND EMPLOYING IN ATLANTIC BEACH, IN SAN MARCO AND IN RIVERSIDE.
THOSE ARE ALL PRETTY CONGESTED AREAS AND NONE OF THEM HAVE ANY PARKING.
WHAT IS THE MENTION OF RESTAURANT MANAGER? I FIND THAT HARD TO UNDERSTAND.
WHO IN THE STATEMENT IS RIDESHARE PROGRAM SHALL BE INCENTIVE BASED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ENHANCE PERCENTAGE OF TIPS TO EMPLOYEES WHO CARPOOL COMMA RESTAURANT MANAGER TRANSPORTATION OF EMPLOYEES WHO OPEN RESTAURANT IN THE MORNING.
OK, LET ME LET ME EXPLAIN HOW THAT WORKS IN THE OF THE THREE RESTAURANTS THAT THEY HAVE.
THE RESTAURANT MANAGER ACTUALLY, IN EACH CASE, DIFFERENT RESTAURANT MANAGER FOR EACH RESTAURANT WILL PICK UP EMPLOYEES TO OPEN UP THE RESTAURANT.
THERE AREN'T A GREAT NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES WHEN THEY'RE OPENING, BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL AND THEY PICK UP THOSE EMPLOYEES AND BRING THEM TO WORK.
IT JUST CUTS DOWN ON THE NUMBER OF CARS THAT SHOW UP THAT EARLY IN THE MORNING.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE EXPLANATION.
I DON'T THINK THAT THE TEXT OF THE PUD, WHICH IS A LEGAL BINDING DOCUMENT, IS VERY CLEAR ARTICULATING THAT.
SO MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD WORK ON BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THIS WOULD BE MOSTLY UNENFORCEABLE WHEN WE APPROVE A PUD WITH AGREEMENTS THEY AT SOME
[01:10:07]
POINT IN THE FUTURE, WHETHER YOU OWN THE RESTAURANT OR SOMEBODY ELSE.THIS IS STILL A DOCUMENT THAT'S ENFORCEABLE, SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT IT'S CLEAR AND THAT ANYBODY COULD UNDERSTAND IT.
EMPLOYEES, FUTURE PLANNING DIRECTORS.
WELL, CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICE.
COMMISSIONER, LET ME SAY THIS THERE MAY BE OTHER AS TIME PROGRESSES, THERE MAY BE OTHER INCENTIVES TO EMPLOYEES.
ALSO, I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT THEY MAY BE, BUT LIFE CHANGES, AND I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S POSSIBLE TO ENUNCIATE IN THE DOCUMENT EVERY TYPE OF POTENTIAL FUTURE INCENTIVE.
BUT I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT FINANCIAL INCENTIVES WORK BEST.
OK SO HOW DO YOU PROPOSE TO REWORD THIS SO THAT IT MAKES SENSE? BECAUSE I'M NOT ARGUING YOUR CONCEPT, I'M NOT ARGUING THAT IT WORKS OR DOESN'T WORK, I JUST WANT IT CLEAR.
WELL, LET ME ASK YOU HOW YOU WOULD LIKE IT BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY WE'VE ALREADY JUST WE'VE.
I AM NOT GOING TO TOLERATE HECKLING FROM THE CROWD.
AND THE POLICE CHIEF WILL BE DELIGHTED TO REMOVE YOU.
SO PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL AND ALLOW THE APPLICANT TO SPEAK.
OK, SO SO I SHARE YOUR CONCERNS, IT'S VERY UNARTFULLY WORDED.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT THE APPLICANT HAS SAID IS HIS INTENT TO PROVIDE SOME TYPE OF INCENTIVE PLAN.
THAT IS IT IS NOT OUR JOB TO DRAFT THE LANGUAGE AND IT IS AN OPEN ISSUE.
COMMISSIONER HORVATH, ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO SAY, COMMISSIONER BLONDER.
I SHARE YOUR CONCERN ABOUT THE LANGUAGE, IN FACT, I THINK THE THE PROPOSAL IS MUCH TIGHTER THAN IT WAS WHEN WE SAW IT LAST TIME AND TABLED IT.
BUT THERE'S STILL QUITE A QUITE A NUMBER OF ERRORS.
THERE'S SPELLING ERRORS LYFT IS SPELLED LIFT AND I DON'T MEAN TO BE TOO PERSNICKETY ABOUT IT, BUT THAT'S NOT THE THERE ARE MUCH BIGGER ERRORS THAT REMAIN.
AND SO I WOULD SUGGEST TABLING IT AGAIN.
I'LL I'LL I'LL SPEAK TO THE POSITIVE, WHICH IS THAT YOU HAVE ADDED A [INAUDIBLE] AND PERVIOUS PAVERS, WHICH SHOULD HELP REDUCE THE STORMWATER RUNOFF BURDEN ON THE PROPERTY.
BUT THE THE LANDSCAPE PLAN CONTINUES TO INCLUDE SPECIES SUCH AS MEXICAN [INAUDIBLE], WHICH CLEARLY BY THE WORD MEXICAN.
IN FRONT OF IT MEANS THAT IT'S A NOT FLORIDA NATIVE AND THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE SPECIES ARE NOT ON THE LANDSCAPE PLAN.
IT SPEAKS TO IRRIGATION THAT IS A LOWER FLOW OR USES LESS WATER, BUT IT STILL HAS SPRINKLER SYSTEMS ESSENTIALLY ABOVE GROUND IRRIGATION THAT IS NOT COHERENT WITH THE LOWER IMPACT OF IRRIGATION.
SO JUST ON THE BASIS OF THE THE THE THE LANGUAGE THAT IS STILL INACCURATE, AND I WOULD SUGGEST TABLING IT.
BUT FURTHERMORE, I APPRECIATE THE STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT I'M STILL NOT SEEING A COMPELLING REASON FOR A PUD, FOR A PUBLIC BENEFIT.
AND SO I'LL CONCLUDE WITH MY COMMENTS THERE.
I WOULD RESPOND TO ONE OF YOUR COMMENTS COMMISSIONER, OR SEVERAL OF THEM, BUT OUR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT WHO'S WELL THOUGHT OF WOULD DISAGREE WITH YOU RELATIVE TO NATIVE SPECIES ENTIRELY.
AND AS SOON AS SOME OF THOSE PLANTS ARE ESTABLISHED.
WE WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO TURN THE IRRIGATION SYSTEM OFF, WHICH IS OUR INTENT.
I'VE DONE THIS WITH I'VE DONE THIS FOR 40 YEARS AND THAT'S HOW WE'VE OPERATED IN THE PAST.
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, MR. MCGARVEY, THOSE AREN'T NATIVE PLANTS.
THEY'RE NOT FLORIDA NATIVE PLANTS, THAT'S A FACT.
[01:15:02]
THERE ARE A COUPLE THAT ARE BUT YOU CAN DISAGREE WITH ME AS MUCH AS YOU WANT THEY'RE SIMPLY NOT OK.SPEAKING INDIVIDUALLY, NOT FOR THE COMMISSION, I SHARE COMMISSIONER VALDES SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT.
I ALSO SHARE COMMISSIONER SIKES-KLINE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE SOME LOOSE LANGUAGE AND I CERTAINLY WOULD DEFER TO COMMISSIONER BLONDER.
THERE MAY BE OTHER TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS.
IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE WOULD BE INCLUDED TO PROVIDE AN INCENTIVE TO ADDRESS THE RIDESHARE PROGRAM? I CAN CERTAINLY WORK WITH WHATEVER THE COMMISSION ASKS ME TO.
WE COULD ALSO DO A BRIEF RECESS, OR YOU COULD ADDRESS ANOTHER ITEM ON THE AGENDA AND I COULD.
MEET WITH MR. MCGARVEY OR WHOMEVER ON THE TEAM AND WORK THROUGH SOME BETTER LANGUAGE.
COULD WE ALSO ADD TO THAT A MODIFICATION TO THE LANDSCAPE PLAN SO THAT YOUR CONCERNS CAN BE MET? WELL, I CAN TELL YOU, WE CANNOT DO THAT IN A RECESS.
I JUST AM NOT ABLE TO RE DESIGN THE LANDSCAPE PLAN.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT YOU WILL COMMIT TO NATIVE PLANTS.
WELL AND I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO.
COMMISSIONER HORVATH, I'M HAPPY TO TO HAVE A VOTE OR TAKE THE TEMPERATURE OF THE COMMISSION ON THAT ISSUE.
I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER BLONDER'S CONCERNS, BUT I'M ALSO WILLING TO DEFER TO A PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT WHO HAS HEARD OUR CONCERNS AND I HAVE EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE HAS ADDRESSED THEM IN A PROFESSIONALLY APPROPRIATE MANNER.
SO THAT'S NOT A DEAL BREAKER FOR ME.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE REST OF THE COMMISSION IS ON THAT.
THAT'S NOT A DEAL BREAKER FOR ME, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE'S A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF LANDSCAPING HERE.
THIS IS NOT LIKE WE'RE DOING A CITY PARK.
AND YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I WRESTLE WITH THIS IDEA OF, YOU KNOW, USING NATIVE PLANTS.
I HAVE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT, BUT I ALSO RECOGNIZE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF OTHER PLANT MATERIALS BEEN INJECTED INTO OUR ENVIRONMENT IN THE LAST 400 YEARS, AND SOME OF IT WORKS PRETTY WELL.
AND YOU KNOW, IT'S ACCEPTABLE.
BUT AGAIN, THIS IS A TINY LITTLE BIT.
WE'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT A FEW HUNDRED PLANTS IF THAT.
SO I DON'T SEE THAT AS A DEAL BREAKER.
WELL, YES, IT'S NOT JUST THE NATIVE PLANTS, WHICH IS AN ERROR, AND THAT WAS A SPECIFIC REQUEST I MADE TWICE NOW BEFORE THIS MEETING AND STILL HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSED.
BUT IT'S THE PREPONDERANCE OF THE THE PIECES THAT ARE STILL NOT QUITE THERE YET THAT TELL ME THAT THIS THIS IS A PUBLIC BENEFIT THAT MERITS A PUD.
AND I ABSOLUTELY HEAR YOU, COMMISSIONER BLONDER, AND YOU'RE SPEAKING TO MORE SUBSTANTIVE MATTERS.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, I CAN'T SUPPORT YOU ON THOSE JUST SPEAKING AS ONE COMMISSIONER.
I DO SEE A PUBLIC BENEFIT HERE.
I ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTAND THIS CONCERN.
I'M GLAD THE LANGUAGE WAS INSERTED THIS.
THIS ALLOWS FOR MORE CREATIVE.
THIS IS NOT A STAND ALONE BAR.
THIS IS ALCOHOL SALES AS ANCILLARY TO A RESTAURANT OPERATION.
IT CREATES A MORE VIBRANT COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY AND FOR SMALL SCALE PUD OF THIS NATURE, AT THIS TIME IN THIS LOCATION, IT'S ACCEPTABLE TO ME.
SO ALL I'M TRYING TO DO IS TO FIGURE OUT, DO WE NEED TO TABLE? OR CAN WE TEMPORARILY TABLE THIS ALLOW THE CITY ATTORNEY TO MEET WITH THE APPLICANT AND THE HOPES THAT THEY CAN CLEAN UP THIS LOOSE, SLOPPY LANGUAGE AND BRING IT BACK TO US BY THE END OF THE MEETING? THAT'S THAT'S ALL.
AND THAT SO I ASSUME THAT'S OK WITH COMMISSIONER VALDES.
I'M LOOKING FOR ONE OR TWO OTHERS [INAUDIBLE] IT'S OK WITH ME.
AND I JUST WOULD SAY JUST ONE THING WHERE THEY MENTIONED UBER AND LYFT THAT THAT REALLY SHOULD BE RIDESHARE.
JUST BE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, WHATEVER.
SO I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE TEMPORARILY TABLE THIS TO BRING IT BACK AT THE END OF TONIGHT'S MEETING.
IS THERE A SECOND? I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, AYE.
[01:20:01]
ANY OPPOSED.WE ARE NOW ON ITEM 8A 2 ORDINANCE 2021-28 CONCERNING ADOPTING THE PROPERTY RIGHTS
[8.A.2. Ordinance 2021-28: Adopting the Property Rights Element into the City's Comprehensive Plan. (D. Birchim, Director Planning and Building)]
ELEMENT INTO THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS ORDINANCE 2021-28 ADOPTS A PROPERTY RIGHTS ELEMENT INTO THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
THIS ELEMENT IS REQUIRED BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA TO BE INCLUDED IN EVERY LOCAL GOVERNMENT'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND THE STATE HAS PROVIDED SPECIFIC LANGUAGE.
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 CHANGES TO OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UNTIL THIS REQUIRED ELEMENT IS ADOPTED.
FIRST READING AND TRANSMITTAL OF THE PROPERTY RIGHTS ELEMENT WAS APPROVED ON SEPTEMBER 2 7TH, AND THE STATE HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THEIR RECEIPT OF THE AMENDMENT.
UH, WITH NO OBJECTION, AND THAT BEGINS A 180 DAY DEADLINE TO ADOPT THE PROPERTY RIGHTS ELEMENT.
TONIGHT IS SECOND READING OF THE ORDINANCE.
IT IS THE ADOPTION HEARING AND IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. BIRCHIM.
I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE 2021-28.
IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION CONCERNING THIS MATTER, THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY.
PLEASE COME FORWARD MR. SLAVIN AND YOU CAN DO A CARD LATER.
IF ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION, PLEASE COMPLETE A CARD THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL.
WE NEED TO ADDRESS PEOPLE'S RIGHTS AS WELL AS PROPERTY RIGHTS.
YOU'VE DONE A THOROUGH JOB IN THE CITY CODE OF ADDRESSING PROPERTY RIGHTS, BUT AS FAR AS PEOPLE'S RIGHTS, WHAT ABOUT OUR RIGHT TO HAVE A MOVIE THEATER AS PART OF A PUD? AND WHAT ABOUT THE FACT THAT OUR MOVIE THEATER WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM US BY A SPECULATOR, MR. MCGARVEY, WHO DOESN'T EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE ABOUT THE MOVIE THEATER? WE'VE HAD MOVIE THEATERS IN THE ST.
AUGUSTINE MR. SLAVIN PROPOSED ORDINANCE, NOT USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE MATTER YOU'VE ALREADY SPOKEN TO.
I THINK WE PLACE ENTIRELY TOO MUCH EMPHASIS IN THIS CITY COMMISSION ON PROPERTY RIGHTS AND NOT ENOUGH ON HUMAN RIGHTS.
AND BY THE WAY, MAYOR, WE HAVE A FIRST AMENDMENT AND NINTH AMENDMENT AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO LAUGH.
AND EARLIER THIS EVENING, SOMETHING RIDICULOUS WAS SAID, AND I LAUGHED AND I HAVE A RIGHT TO LAUGH AND YOU NEED TO RESPECT THAT.
YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE A RIGHT TO LAUGH AND I HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO CONDUCT A MEETING IN AN ORDERLY FASHION.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON ORDINANCE 2021-28? SEEING NO ONE HAVING NO FURTHER CARDS.
I WOULD MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE ORDINANCE 2021-28 ON SECOND READING.
I'LL SECOND, FURTHER DISCUSSION? MS. LOPEZ.
ORDINANCE NUMBER 2021-28 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE CITY OF ST.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO INCORPORATE CHANGES REQUIRED BY HOUSE BILL 59.
HOUSE BILL 59 REQUIRES THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ADOPT A PROPERTY RIGHTS ELEMENT INTO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE COMPREHENSIVE 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.
SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
ORDINANCE 2021-28 IS APPROVED.
WE ARE NOW ON ITEM 8C 1 THIS IS RESOLUTION 2021-40.
[8.C.1. Resolution 2021-40: Public Hearing Required: Approves the increase of the Stormwater Utility Fee Rate. (M. Simpson, Director Finance)]
THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING AS WELL AND APPROVES THE INCREASE OF THE STORM WATER UTILITY RATE.GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, MADAM VICE MAYOR COMMISSIONERS MARK SIMPSON, FINANCE DIRECTOR.
THIS RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU RAISES OUR STORMWATER FEE FROM $8 TO $9 PER MONTH IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REVENUE WORKSHOP THAT WE HAD EARLIER IN THE BUDGET YEAR.
AND I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING, SO I BELIEVE WE'RE OPEN TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO RECEIVE ANY OTHERS OF ANYBODY THAT WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON RESOLUTION 2021-40.
[01:25:01]
I HAVE ONE CARD.MS. KALAIDI YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
RESOLUTION 2021-4040 SHOULD NOT BE PASSED WITH THE LANGUAGE QUOTE "OR OTHER FINANCIAL NEEDS OF THE STORM WATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM" END QUOTE.
ORDNANCE 2021-24 AND THIS RESOLUTION WILL ALLOW CHARGING THOSE WHO DO NOT CEMENT DRIVEWAYS, ET CETERA, TO BEAR THE BURDEN OF THOSE WHO CREATE STORMWATER RUNOFF.
MR. REGAN AND 23 CITY EMPLOYEES WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE $60 A MONTH, FOR A TOTAL OF $720 A YEAR OF CITY REVENUE TO PAY ON THEIR WATER BILLS SINCE THERE IS A NEED TO INCREASE WATER BILLS.
IT'S TIME FOR CITY EMPLOYEES WHO LIVE INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS TO PAY, JUST LIKE OTHERS WHO LIVE IN THE CITY OF ST.
I'M NOT A CPA, HOWEVER 264,960 WATER BILL DOLLARS PAID FROM CITY REVENUE TO 23 INDIVIDUALS IS NOT USING CITY RESOURCES FOR THE BENEFIT OF EVERYONE LIVING IN THE CITY LIMITS OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
JUST AS ASIDE, I DON'T KNOW HOW.
YOU SCRUTINIZE YOUR WATER, BILL.
I SCRUTINIZE MINE, BUT I'VE NOTICED I DIDN'T WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT IT, BUT I KIND OF NOTICED TONIGHT, IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR LAST WATER BILL, HAS ANYONE NOTICED ON THEIR WATER BILLS SINCE 2016 THE WORD RECYCLING WAS SPELLED INCORRECTLY WITH A $5 INCREASE.
I APPRECIATE THAT, AND IT'S LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT THAT CAN ADD UP, AND IT'S JUST THE REASON I KEEP BRINGING THIS UP.
THERE ARE PERKS AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT IF YOU CHOOSE TO LIVE IN THIS CITY, WHETHER YOU'RE AN EMPLOYEE OR NOT, YOU SHOULD BEAR THE BURDEN, NOT JUST US WHO ARE NOT EMPLOYED BY THE CITY, BUT SPEND OUR TIME DOWN HERE A LOT.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON RESOLUTION 2021-40? SEEING NO ONE THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.
MAYOR I MOVE WE PASS RESOLUTION 2021-40.
WE DON'T HAVE A READING FURTHER DISCUSSION, SEEING NONE, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
WE ARE NOW ON RESOLUTION 2021-42.
[8.C.2. Resolution 2021-42: Public Hearing Required: Approves the increase of the water and sewer rates by the CPI. (M. Simpson, Director Finance)]
THIS IS ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRES A PUBLIC HEARING.THIS APPROVES THE INCREASE OF THE WATER AND SEWER RATES BY THE CPI MR. SIMPSON.
ALSO, AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, WE APPROVED THE OVERALL RAISING OF OUR UTILITY RATES BY 5.8 PERCENT.
WE DID TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS AND HAVE COME UP WITH A LITTLE BIT OF A UNIQUE RAISE IN THAT WE KEPT THE BASE RATE THE SAME AND RATCHETED UP HIGHER CONSUMERS OF WATER, SPECIFICALLY THOSE USERS FROM 20000 GALLONS TO 30000 GALLONS.
WE RAISED THEIR RATE BY 7 AND A HALF PERCENT.
AND PEOPLE THAT USE OVER 30000 GALLONS, WE RAISED THEIR RATE BY 10 PERCENT TO TRY TO ENCOURAGE CONSERVATISM OR THE LIKE CONSERVATION, I GUESS, IS THE WORD I'M LOOKING FOR.
ALSO ON THE OUTSIDE CITY AS WELL, BASE RATE REMAINS THE SAME.
LOW CONSUMERS A 5 PERCENT INCREASE THE MIDDLE CONSUMERS A 5.8 PERCENT INCREASE.
THE TWO HIGHEST CONSUMERS GO FROM A 7.5 AND A 10 PERCENT INCREASE TO ENHANCE OUR REVENUE BY A TOTAL OF 5.8 PERCENT SO THAT WE COULD LEAVE THE BASE RATE THE SAME.
THANK YOU, ARE THE QUESTIONS COMMENTS? JUST A QUICK COMMENT.
JUST A QUICK COMMENT THAT I REALLY LIKE THAT CHANGE TO A TIERED SYSTEM WHICH TRIES TO ENCOURAGE CONSERVATION OF WATER BY THE HEAVIEST USERS.
BUT IF WE DO NOT ADVERTISE THIS, THEN WE HAVEN'T ACHIEVED ANYTHING.
SO I THINK IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT THAT WE DO HAVE THAT.
THAT'S THE METHOD IN THE APPROACH HERE SO THAT CONSUMERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE THE WATER BILL BY THEIR CONSUMPTION.
THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS POINT, I HAVE ONE CARD, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT
[01:30:01]
WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION? SEEING NO ONE, I WOULD ASK MS. KALAIDI COME FORWARD.I WOULD ALSO SAY AS SHE'S COMING FORWARD, THAT I THINK THIS IDEA OF OF OF TRYING TO HOLD SMALLER USERS HARMLESS OR TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT WAS ALSO A COMMENT THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLIC AT AN EARLIER MEETING.
AUGUSTINE 8 NEWTON STREET RESOLUTION 2021-42 SHOULD NOT PASS AS PROPOSED ZERO GALLON WATER RATE FOURTEEN SIXTY NINE REMAINS THE SAME BEFORE THAT.
HOWEVER, ZERO GALLON SEWER RATE FIFTEEN ELEVEN SHOULD ALSO REMAIN THE SAME.
CITY WATER BILL REVENUE IS USED TO REMOVE SEPTIC TANKS IN WEST AUGUSTINE OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS OF ST.
AUGUSTINE, SO PROPERTIES WILL CONNECT TO THE CITY SEWER.
THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE CONTINUES TO ALLOW SEPTIC TANKS IN THE CITY LIMITS OF ST.
LOW INCOME AREAS CAN RECEIVE STATE AND FEDERAL TAX DOLLARS TO REMOVE SEPTIC TANKS.
HOWEVER, PONCE DE LEON AVENUE AND 104 [INAUDIBLE] STREET WOULD HAVE TO USE THEIR OWN MONEY TO CONNECT TO THE CITY OF ST.
IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT THE MONEY, NOT THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC.
IT'S TIME THIS COMMISSION INSTRUCT MR. REGAN TO STOP USING CITY REVENUE TO PAY OFF 24 EMPLOYEES WHO DECIDED TO LIVE IN THE CITY LIMITS OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
I BRING UP THE SEPTIC TANKS BECAUSE WHENEVER I GO TO 8:30 A.M.
WERE YOU THERE ARE PEOPLE COMING IN AND IT'S NOT ALL BIG DEVELOPERS, YOU MIGHT HAVE ONE OR TWO LOTS AND YOU BUY IT KNOWING YOU FIRST OF ALL, YOU CAN'T GET TO IT BECAUSE THERE'S NO ROAD.
AND SECOND OF ALL THAT, THEIR LINE OUR CITY LINE IN THE CITY LIMITS DOES NOT REACH YOUR HOME, BUT THE ONLY REASON THEY'RE NOT DOING IT IS BECAUSE IT COSTS THEM A LOT OF MONEY.
AND I KNOW THAT'S A PROBLEM, BUT IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RESILIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY ALL THE TIME AND WE'RE ALLOWING THIS TO GO ON THINKING THAT WE'RE HELPING THE PEOPLE IN WEST AUGUSTINE BECAUSE THAT'S OUR SERVICE AREA IN THE COUNTY.
BUT IGNORING WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON IN THE CITY FOR YEARS AND MR. REGAN HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS WHENEVER HE WAS HEAD OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
AND I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THIS AND REALLY TRY TO DO SOMETHING TO EITHER HELP THESE PEOPLE INCENTIVIZE THEM OR INCENTIVIZING EVERYBODY ELSE, INCENTIVIZE THEM TO GET ON WITH OUR SEWER SYSTEM AND GET OFF OF SEPTIC TANKS.
I DO NOT HAVE ANY FURTHER CARDS, I DO NOT SEE ANYBODY ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON THIS ISSUE AND THEREFORE THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.
MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE PASS RESOLUTION 2021-42.
SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
THANK YOU, MR. SIMPSON, MR. REGAN, WE ARE NOW ON ITEM 13 A.
I'M SORRY, I ROLLED RIGHT PAST YOU.
[12. ITEMS BY CITY CLERK]
ITEM 12 ITEMS BY THE CITY CLERK.I WAS JUST WANTING TO BUY NOTICE THAT WE WILL BE HAVING ANOTHER SECOND READING OF OUR BUDGET ORDINANCE IN THE FINAL MILLAGE RATE RESOLUTION, WHICH WILL BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 15TH AT 5:05 P.M..
THE AD VALOREM REVENUE BUDGETED AND ADVERTISED WAS BASED ON THE COUNTY'S PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES.
WHEN THE FINAL NUMBERS CAME OUT, THE BUDGET AND ADVERTISED FIGURES WERE NOT ADJUSTED TO REFLECT THE FINAL NUMBERS, SO WE WILL BE HAVING A SECOND FINAL PUBLIC HEARING ON OUR BUDGET NOVEMBER 15TH.
SO IT'S ONLY IT'S ONLY NECESSARY THAT WE HAVE THE ONE MEETING AND NOT DO THE ENTIRE PROCESS CORRECT? THANK YOU.
SO THAT'S NOVEMBER 15TH AT 5:05.
NO, I WANT TO GO TO MR. REGAN FIRST.
[13. ITEMS BY CITY MANAGER]
ITEMS BY THE CITY COMMISSION, THE CITY MANAGER, PARDON ME.MAYOR COMMISSIONERS JOHN REGAN, CITY MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF ST.
[01:35:01]
AUGUSTINE, THE.I'D LIKE TO BEGIN ON THIS ITEM BY BEING VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT OUR GOALS ARE TONIGHT AND WHAT I HAD RECOMMENDED TO THE COMMISSION.
IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE THIS HAS BEEN ON THE PUBLIC RADAR.
AND SO TONIGHT IS TO UPDATE THE CITY COMMISSION TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN FURTHER VETTING OF THE PROJECT, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE QUITE A BIT OF NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH, ESPECIALLY WITH THE LIGHTHOUSE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
SO IT'S NOT ABOUT TAKING AN ACTION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT ONLY TO THE EXTENT WHETHER THIS PROJECT CONTINUES TO BE VIABLE.
I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT ONE REASON WHY IT TOOK SO LONG IS THAT ONCE WE DISCUSS THIS ITEM, IT WASN'T LONG UNTIL WE GOT INTO COVID ADOPTED A POLICY OF HAVING ONLY THE MOST ESSENTIAL BUSINESS COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION IN ZOOM MEETINGS, WE IN FACT CANCELED MEETINGS FOR A WHILE, AND THEN SHORTLY THEREAFTER WE HAD THE HORRIFIC MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD, WHICH TRIGGERED THE THE THE ISSUE OF MOVING THE AND RELOCATING THE CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL.
AND SO THAT REALLY TOOK OUR PRECEDENCE AND BUT WE ARE HERE NOW.
AND ONE THING I'VE REALIZED IS THERE ARE MANY NEW PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE AND INVOLVED.
SO I THOUGHT MAYBE I SHOULD GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND.
DR. STANLEY PARIS AND HIS WIFE, CATHERINE, ARE BOTH PREEMINENT ACADEMICS, SCHOLARS, TEACHERS, PRACTITIONERS IN THE FIELD OF PHYSICAL THERAPY AND MANY YEARS AGO CREATED THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, WHICH IS FOCUSED ON THE EDUCATION OF POSTGRADUATE PEOPLE IN THE FIELDS OF OCCUPATIONAL PHYSICAL THERAPY.
STANLEY IS ALSO A WORLD CLASS SAILOR, AND THE REASON IS IS THAT DR.
PARIS COMES FROM THE COUNTRY OF NEW ZEALAND, WHERE NEW ZEALAND IS A COUNTRY WHERE ALL CHILDREN ARE TAUGHT SAILING.
THERE'S OPEN ACCESS TO SAILING BOATS.
IT'S ALMOST MINIMAL OR FREE, AND THAT IS VERY MUCH WHAT BUILDS THE ETHOS OF NEW ZEALANDERS WITH REGARD TO AN APPRECIATION OF MOTHER NATURE SELF-RELIANCE, CONFIDENCE, UNDERSTANDING, HARNESSING ENERGY, BUILDING THOSE INTRINSIC MORAL COMPASS THAT WE OFTEN ADOPT IN OUR FIELDS OF SUSTAINABILITY AND CARING FOR THE WORLD AND FOR EACH OTHER.
PARIS STEPPED AWAY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW ZEALAND, THEY'VE BEEN LOOKING IN FOR DIFFERENT WAYS TO CONTINUE ON THE THEME OF EDUCATION AND HELPING TO BRING SAILING MORE TO THE FOREFRONT.
THEY ARE PHILANTHROPIC IN MANY WAYS.
MOST OF THEIR PHILANTHROPIC ACTIVITIES ARE NOT KNOWN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, BUT ONE THAT IS IS THEIR COMMITMENT TO USE SAILING IN THE CREATION OF THE FLEET THAT IS USED IN THE YOUTH SAILING PROGRAMS AT THE YACHT CLUB, AND THIS IS A GIFT TO FURTHER THAT EXPERIENCE.
AND SO THE KEY THING HERE IS THAT WE AGREED TO A DEED CONDITION AND THE LANGUAGE WAS SPECIFIC THAT CALLED IT A SAILING CENTER.
WE TALK ABOUT U SAILING CENTER, BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR THE DEED LANGUAGE AND THEREFORE THE LANGUAGE IN THE FIRST DRAFT OF A PROPOSED LEASE IS ABOUT A SAILING CENTER.
BUT MOST OF THIS OBVIOUSLY IS DIRECTED TOWARD U SAILING THE TYPES OF BOATS.
BUT AND WE HEAR TESTIMONY THAT NOT AN ADULT HAS BEEN TAUGHT THROUGH THE PROGRAM, BUT I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT IT IS A SAILING WITH THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF INSTRUCTIONAL SAILING.
SO THE QUESTION IS WHY DO THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE? AND THE GENESIS OF THE PROJECT COMES FROM THE DRIVE THAT WE HEAR ALL THE TIME FROM NEIGHBORHOODS, ABOUT COMPRESSION, ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD STABILITY.
TRY NOT TO PUSH MORE COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY INTO NEIGHBORHOODS.
ONE THING GOOD IS THAT THE HISTORY OF THE YACHT CLUB BUILDING WAS A RESTAURANT THAT WAS LARGELY NOT VERY SUCCESSFUL.
JUST IMAGINE IF THERE WAS A SUCCESSFUL RESTAURANT, BUT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD HAS QUITE A NUMBER OF GOVERNMENT USES IN IT, RANGING FROM THE BOAT RAMP.
GOVERNMENT OWNED PROPERTY, THE TENNIS COURTS, RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, A SKATE PARK AND, OF COURSE, THE LIGHTHOUSE.
AND SO IT IS A HUB OF QUITE A BIT OF ACTIVITY.
SO THE IDEA BECAME THAT THE YOUTH ARE BEING TAUGHT AND LAUNCHED IN A HIGH TRAFFIC ZONE, WHICH YOU HEARD TESTIMONY IS GROWING WITH WITH POPULATION AROUND THE BOAT RAMP, WHICH ISN'T A GREAT PLACE FOR YOUTH WHO ARE LEARNING TO SAIL AND NAVIGATE A BOAT, A SMALL OPTIMISTS PRAM TO TO BE ENGAGED WITH MOTOR BOATS AND SO FORTH.
PARIS AND CATHERINE WERE TO MOVE TO IF WE WERE TO GIFT THIS RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY TO THE CITY, THAT THE YOUTH COULD BE RELOCATED FROM A VERY COMPRESSED BUSY AREA NEAR THE BOAT RAMP TO THE TO THE PROPERTY.
THAT'S TO THE ADJACENT AREA JUST ACROSS A RIGHT OF AWAY CALLED CARVER STREET.
[01:40:04]
AND SO THE KEY THING IS A GIFT HAS TO BE A GIFT.IT CANNOT BE A GIFT WITH STRINGS ATTACHED, BUT IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR GOVERNMENT TO ACCEPT A GIFT WITH MAYBE SOME ADDITIONAL USE CONDITIONS IN THIS CASE.
THE DEED IS SPECIFIC THAT THE CITY HAS TO USE IT FOR U SAILING PROGRAM RUN AS A NOT FOR PROFIT THROUGH THE YACHT CLUB OR ITS SUBSIDIARY OR IN THE FAILURE OF THE YACHT CLUB IN THE FUTURE OF THE CITY COULD SEEK ANOTHER OPERATOR.
THE CITY WOULD HAVE A PERIOD TO HANDLE ALL THE ZONING WORK.
THE ENTITLEMENT WORK TO THAT WOULD AFFECT THE ABILITY TO USE IT AS U SAILING AS COMPARED TO ZONED RESIDENTIAL.
NOW THE YACHT CLUB THEN WOULD HAVE ONE YEAR ONCE ALL ENTITLED WORK IS DONE IS TO BRING THE THE SAILING INSTRUCTION TO FRUITION, AND THEY HAVE TO OPERATE THAT CONTINUOUSLY.
AND IF THEY FAIL TO OPERATE IT CONTINUOUSLY AND IF THEY WERE TO BAIL OUT OF TRAINING IN ANY WAY AND WE DIDN'T FIND ANOTHER OPERATOR OF SAILING TRAINING, THEN THE PROPERTY COULD ONLY BE USED TO ONLY THE SECOND STRING ATTACHED IN THE DEED, WHICH IS AS A PASSIVE PARK.
NOW STOP AND THINK ABOUT THIS.
THIS IS A PROPERTY WORTH MORE ARGUABLY IN TODAY'S DOLLARS WORTH NORTH OF A MILLION DOLLARS AND ADJACENT TO A STATE PARK.
IT'S VERY RARE FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO EVER BE ABLE TO ACQUIRE LAND.
IT'S A DIFFICULT PROCESS, AND I'M GOING TO ARGUE AND I BELIEVE THAT IT'S VERY HARD.
YOU CAN'T HAVE ENOUGH GREEN SPACE.
YOU CAN'T HAVE ENOUGH PASSIVE PARK SPACE ON ON ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES LIKE SALT RUN.
SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND YOU THOSE THAT KNOW ME, KNOW I THINK LONG TERM IS THAT I'M THINKING ABOUT THE GENERATIONS IN THE FUTURE THAT WILL HAVE AN EXPANDED PASSIVE PARK IN THE AREA.
AND SO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE THEORY OF IT AND THE DEVIL'S ALWAYS IN THE DETAIL IS THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD KNOWS WHAT THE USES IS CERTAIN.
CERTAINLY, RESIDENTIAL ZONING IS RESIDENTIAL, BUT COULD BE A VERY VIABLE AIRBNB LOCATION, FOR EXAMPLE, OR AS PASSIVE PARK.
SO A SAILING INSTRUCTION CENTER OR A PASSIVE PARK.
NOW, ONCE WE BEGAN TO RENEGOTIATE THIS AND GET INTO IT, IT TOOK A LITTLE WHILE TO GET ALL THE PARTIES TO UNDERSTAND.
A GIFT IS A GIFT AND THAT WE ALL HAVE TO LOOK OUT FOR THE CONCERNS THAT WE ALL EXPRESS OF EACH OTHER, ESPECIALLY THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO THERE ARE SOME CONDITIONS THAT ARE IN THIS DRAFT AGREEMENT THAT I WORKED ON.
CITY ATTORNEY LOPEZ WORKED ON IT.
THE YACHT CLUB, THE PARESIS TO PROTECT THOSE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE PROTECTED.
FIRST IS THAT THERE CAN NEVER BE AN OBSTRUCTION TO THE CARVER RIGHT AWAY THAT THAT RIGHT AWAY HAS TO HAVE PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE WATER.
SO YOU CAN'T COMBINE THE PROPERTIES INTO ONE FUNDAMENTAL FENCING SYSTEM AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.
THERE CAN BE NO OTHER ACTIVITY IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM AS A SPECIAL EVENT, AS A WEDDING VENUE, AS A BUSINESS, AS A BUSINESS SELLING ALCOHOL OR ANYTHING THAT TAKES AWAY FROM THAT FUNDAMENTAL USE AS A SAILING INSTRUCTION CENTER.
AND THE LEASE LANGUAGE IS VERY EXPLICIT TO THAT THERE IS ONE THING I WANT TO POINT OUT, WHICH MIGHT BE A RUB.
REALISTICALLY, IF YOUR CHILD IS HAS A SUMMER LESSON AND IT'S 6:30 AND THE BOATS ARE BREAKING DOWN AND YOUR DAD AND YOU WALK ACROSS FROM A BEER THAT YOU PURCHASED OVER THE YACHT CLUB, YOU MIGHT WALK ONTO THAT PROPERTY.
THIS LEASE ENVISIONS THAT POSSIBILITY AND THEREFORE WOULD ALLOW THAT I WANT TO BE VERY UPFRONT ABOUT THAT, THAT MAY BE A BAD THING.
THE YACHT CLUB IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL PROPERTY IMPROVEMENTS.
THE TERMS ARE $10 A YEAR PLUS TAXES AND NINETY NINE YEAR AT FOR A 99 YEAR LEASE.
ONE OF OUR SPEAKERS SPOKE ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE, AND THAT HAS BEEN THE DRIVING ISSUE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AGREEMENT.
SO THERE ARE SOME HOURS OF OPERATION.
THE HOURS OF OPERATION ARE 8 TO 6:30 P.M., ALTHOUGH IN THE SUMMER WITH DAYLIGHT, WITH THE LONGER DAY, THAT COULD GO LONGER BECAUSE THAT MAKES SENSE, BUT NEVER TO EXCEED AN ACTIVITY ON THE PROPERTY BEYOND 10 P.M.
[01:45:02]
TO MAKE IT A SAILING CENTER THERE REALLY NEEDS TO BE A REBUILDING OF THE DOCK AND JUST TO THE EAST GENERALLY IN THIS AREA, AND I'M PROBABLY NOT THE BEST.IS THE HISTORIC LIGHTHOUSE FROM FROM A LONG TIME AGO, IT'S A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE AND CULTURAL RESOURCE.
AND SO WHAT WE SAID IN THE LEASE IS THAT A NEW DOCK CAN ONLY GO INTO THE EXISTING FOOTPRINT OF THE OLD DOCK.
NOW WHY? WELL, BECAUSE SOMEBODY YEARS AGO DROVE PILINGS PROBABLY PUT IT THROUGH SOME [INAUDIBLE] BASE OF THE LIGHTHOUSE AND SO FORTH.
ANY DEVIATION OF THAT NEEDS TO BE APPROPRIATELY ADDRESSED BY OUR ARCHEOLOGICAL PROFESSIONALS.
SO THE LEASE IS EXPLICIT ABOUT STAYING IN THE FOOTPRINT.
BUT EVEN THAT HAS TO GO THROUGH THE APPROPRIATE REVIEW, ENVIRONMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW, CULTURAL REVIEW, ARCHEOLOGICAL REVIEW.
AND THAT IS REALLY GOVERNED AND DICTATED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE PERMIT APPLICATION PROCESS.
THERE IS A FLOATING MEMBER AT THE END THAT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT CONFIGURATION THAN THE ORIGINAL DOCK.
AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS SO THAT BOATS CAN BE RACKED ON THE FLOATING DOCK.
THE FLOATING DOCK IS BY DEFINITION FLOATING, NOT DAMAGING ANY RESOURCES THAT COULD BE ON THE SEA BOTTOM.
BUT I THINK IT'S PARAMOUNT THAT WE ADDRESS ALL THOSE ISSUES IN ANY OF THAT.
PEOPLE WILL TAKE WHAT I SAID AND VIEW IT IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO FIND OUT WHERE WE CAN AGREE, WHERE WE CAN DISAGREE, WHAT IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND WHETHER OR NOT WE BRING THIS BACK MUCH OF THE COMMENT TONIGHT.
I APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE IT GAVE ME A LITTLE TWEAKING AND TUNING THAT I THINK NEEDS WOULD NEED TO HAPPEN TO THE LEASE, AS WE CURRENTLY HAVE IT DRAFTED.
BUT IN ORDER TO BRING THIS, I HAD TO GET EVERYONE INTO THE BALLPARK WITHIN REASON, AND THAT TOOK A WHILE.
IT WASN'T A MINOR EXERCISE TO DO THAT.
IT CANNOT HAVE STRINGS ATTACHED.
THE YACHT CLUB CANNOT HAVE STRINGS ATTACHED BEYOND THE PURPOSE OF THE GIFT.
PARIS NEED TO ACCEPT THAT THIS PROPERTY IN A FAILURE OF THE YACHT CLUB TO RUN THIS OR US TO TO RUN IT, THAT THEY HAVE GIVEN A PASSIVE PARK TO THE COMMUNITY AND EVERYBODY HAS COME TO THAT ACCEPTANCE AND.
ONE OF THE THINGS I'M READING ABOUT TO START READING A BOOK.
THAT ONE OF THE SPEAKERS BROUGHT IT UP THAT TALKS ABOUT LIKE 13 WAYS TO LIKE DESTROY YOUR CITY.
AND ONE IS DON'T INVEST IN YOUTH.
THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO RUIN YOUR CITY.
SO THIS IS PREDOMINANTLY ABOUT YOUTH.
BUT IT IS NOT CURRENTLY EXPLICITLY CLEAR BECAUSE IT'S SAILING CENTER, THAT WAS YOUR APPROVED LANGUAGE.
MAYBE WE CAN MODIFY THAT IF NECESSARY, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ADULTS TO LEARN HOW TO SAIL TO.
GIVING THE NEIGHBORHOOD CERTAINTY OF THE FUTURE.
THAT THESE THIS DEED CANNOT BE UNDONE IN ANY EASY WAY.
AND TO THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE GENERATIONS.
I'M LOOKING FOR YOUR FEEDBACK.
I THINK WE HAD SOME GREAT TESTIMONY TONIGHT.
AND FOR ALL THE YOUNGER MEMBERS AND THE AUDIENCE, THANK YOU FOR COMING TONIGHT AND LEARNING HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS AND PARTICIPATING IN THE PROCESS.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS OF THE CITY MANAGER.
SO OBSERVATIONS, I'LL JUST START.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I FIND IT A LITTLE BIT UNBALANCED WITH WHO IS IN THE ROOM TONIGHT AND WHO WE HEARD FROM, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEIR INPUT.
IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THEY REACT AND I'LL BE INTERESTED TO HEAR THEIR OPINIONS.
I APPRECIATE THE ARCHEOLOGICAL PROTECTION, THE SITE OF THE ARCHEOLOGICAL, THE ORIGINAL WHITE HOUSE, THE THAT'S AN IMPORTANT IT'S NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE SITE, SO WE NEED TO PROTECT IT.
I GUESS THE THING THAT I REALLY OF KIND OF SET ME ILL AT EASE.
WAS THE COMMENT ABOUT THE DAD WITH THE BEER? SO COULD YOU TELL ME WHAT? I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU WERE SAYING.
WELL, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE VERY, VERY EXPLICIT.
BUT I THINK THE WAY THE LANGUAGE IS WRITTEN, IT WOULDN'T STOP SOMEONE WHO
[01:50:07]
BOUGHT A BEER FROM WANDERING OVER.AND THIS MIGHT NOT BE A DEAL BREAKER.
THIS PART OF THIS NEGOTIATION WAS ALSO HANDLED WITH ISABELLE, MAYBE ISABELLE.
IF YOU WANT TO WEIGH IN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, AND MAYBE I'M WRONG ON THAT, MAYBE I'M OVER READING THE LANGUAGE.
I JUST WANT TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THAT'S A SENSITIVE TOPIC, AND I DON'T THINK ANY OF THIS IS A DEAL BREAKER.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN? IT'S SENSITIVE? WELL, I THINK ALCOHOL IS JUST CAN BE A GATEWAY TO THE WRONG TO WHAT WE DON'T WANT HAPPENING, WHICH IS BECOMING AN OBNOXIOUS ELEMENT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THAT'S WHY I'M JUST BRINGING IT UP AND THAT NEEDS TO BE CLOSED.
BUT THEY'RE CROSSING A PUBLIC ALLEY.
WHEN WE HAVE AN OPEN CONTAINER, WE DON'T HAVE AN OPEN CONTAINER, SO I DON'T KNOW.
OK, SO THAT WAS KIND OF WHERE I GOT BLURRED.
A LITTLE BIT WAS FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, MY RECOLLECTION OF THE LEASE AND I'M CHECKING NOW WAS ONE OF THE REQUESTS FROM THE YACHT CLUB WAS THAT ALCOHOL WOULD BE ALLOWED ON SITE.
SO IT WASN'T JUST SO MUCH PEOPLE WANDERING OFF SOMEWHERE ELSE, BUT THAT THEY COULD HAVE ALCOHOL ON SITE.
OK, WE'LL DOUBLE DOUBLE CLARIFICATION, SO WE CAN PROBABLY TAKE THAT OFF THE TABLE RIGHT NOW.
AND THEN I JUST WANTED TO SAY TO YOUR POINT ABOUT YOUTH AND IT BEING A YOUTH SAILING CENTER, THE WHOLE PREMISE OF THIS AND THAT GOT MY SUPPORT WAS HOW UNSAFE IT IS FOR THE CHILDREN TO BE NEAR THE BOAT RAMP AND THAT THEY NEEDED A LOCATION SOMEWHAT REMOVED FROM THE BOAT RAMP THAT WOULD BE SAFER FOR STUDENTS AND CHILDREN.
SO I I I FEEL LIKE THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PIECE, BUT I'D LIKE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT.
THAT WAS A DRIVING THOUGHT PROCESS OF THE YACHT CLUB, THE PARISHES AND THE CITY THAT THIS IS A WAY TO JUST RELOCATE THAT ACTIVITY BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH COMPRESSION AND THAT IS A SAFETY MATTER.
I CONCUR WITH THAT VERY MUCH THIS IS ABOUT KIDS, THIS IS ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE LEARNING TO SAIL.
I FIRST STARTED SAILING AN OPTIMUS PRAM 65 YEARS AGO.
I WAS 8 YEARS OLD AND I THINK IT WAS HOLE NUMBER 10 OR 11, AS A MATTER OF FACT.
BUT HAVING SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ANOTHER THING HERE THAT INTERESTED ME A WHOLE LOT.
IF THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO THIS PROPERTY, THIS PROPERTY FALLS IN THE HANDS OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
THERE WILL BE AT LEAST ONE BUILDING 35 FEET TALL AND PROBABLY 40 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND MAYBE MORE THAN ONE.
AND THAT MAY BE BUILDING MAYBE DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY WITH MULTI BEDROOMS AND MULTI BATHROOMS FOR AIRBNB USE.
HAVING THE YACHT CLUB TAKE THIS WITH A PROHIBITIONS WE'RE PUTTING ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF IT IS THE BEST THING CAN HAPPEN TO THAT PROPERTY AND HAPPEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE THE ALTERNATIVE, WHICH IS RIGHT NOW ALLOWED BY THE ZONING, IS WHAT I JUST DESCRIBED.
AND TO ME, I THINK WE'RE DOING A REAL SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY BY HAVING A LOW IMPACT USE, KEEPING THE PROPERTY ONE STORY AND HAVING A DOT PUT IN THAT'S VERY DONE VERY CAREFULLY TO AVOID THE ARCHEOLOGICAL DEPOSITS THAT ARE THERE.
AND YOU KNOW, THE THAT WITH THE GROWTH WE'VE HAD IN ST.
JOHN'S COUNTY, OUR BOAT RAMPS WE ALL KNOW ARE TOTALLY OVERRUN.
I'VE GOT THE POINT WHERE I DON'T EVEN LAUNCH OVER HERE ANYMORE BECAUSE IT'S A NIGHTMARE.
AND THE IDEA OF HAVING MY NEPHEWS, I HAVE TWO OF THEM WHICH I'LL DISCLOSE SAIL THEIR YOUTH, THEIR YOUTH SAILORS.
MY ONE SAILS PRAMS WITH ONE, SAILS THE LARGER TYPE OF BOAT AND THEY SAIL FROM THE YACHT CLUB THERE.
IT'S DANGEROUS, IT'S VERY DANGEROUS.
AND I THINK THIS IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY, A WONDERFUL GIFT TO THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S A WONDERFUL GIFT FOR OUR YOUTH AND IT SAVES A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT CAN BE OVERDEVELOPED VERY EASILY AS IT SITS.
SO I VERY MUCH SUPPORT THIS GOING FORWARD.
I HOPE TO HEAR HEAR A LOT MORE ABOUT IT.
[INAUDIBLE] QUESTION TO BEGIN WITH AND FORGIVE MY IGNORANCE BECAUSE I WAS NOT ON THE COMMISSION AT THE TIME, BUT THE BUILDING THAT EXISTS THERE NOW, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT IT BEING POTENTIALLY DEMOLISHED AND THEN RECONSTRUCTED? MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE YACHT CLUB IS THAT PARTS OF IT WOULD BE DEMOLISHED AND SOME OF IT WOULD REMAIN TO BE INDOOR CLASSROOM SPACE.
SO ITS PRIMARY PURPOSE, THEN, WOULD BE INDOOR CLASSROOM SPACE AT ONE ITERATION THAT I SEEM TO REMEMBER, THERE WAS TALK OF OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS THERE.
WOULD THAT BE OFF THE TABLE? THAT WOULD BE OFF THE TABLE.
AND THE ANOTHER, I GUESS, POINT THAT I WANT TO MAKE IS THAT I THINK THAT MUCH OF THE
[01:55:01]
DISAGREEMENT THAT WE'RE HEARING IS A RESULT OF AND YOU MAY HAVE MISSED THIS IN CAPTURING THE HISTORY OF THIS, BUT I HAD HEARD FROM THE NEIGHBORS THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF CHANGEOVER IN THE LEADERSHIP OF THE YACHT CLUB IN RECENT YEARS, WHICH ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THE DELAY.IS THAT CORRECT? YOU'RE YOU'RE CORRECT IN THAT.
SO YES, I'M BEING, YEAH, THAT'S FINE.
SO IN THE PROCESS OF THAT CHANGEOVER THERE, THERE WAS A LOT OF MY UNDERSTANDING.
OK, THIS IS WHAT I REMEMBER ENCAPSULATED FROM THE NEIGHBORS THAT I SPOKE WITH IS THAT THERE WAS IT WAS A MOVING TARGET.
THERE WERE DIFFERENT ITERATIONS, DIFFERENT PLANS.
TALK ABOUT ALCOHOL AT NIGHT AND SO FORTH ON THE PROPERTY.
AND SO I THINK THE NEIGHBORS ARE NOT DON'T HAVE CERTAINTY, I GUESS, IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY.
THEY DON'T HAVE CERTAINTY AT THIS POINT.
AND WITHOUT THAT CERTAINTY, I CAN CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND WHY THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PLANS BECAUSE THEY HAVE HEARD SEVERAL DIFFERENT PLANS.
AND SO IF WE MOVE THIS FORWARD, I THINK WE NEED TO TIGHTEN UP ALL OF THIS LANGUAGE VERY CAREFULLY.
BUT WITH THE NEIGHBORS BEING DEEPLY INVOLVED AND COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE PARTIES HAPPENING IN A VERY TRANSPARENT WAY, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
BOTH PARTIES ARE COMMITTED TO THAT.
A LOT OF THE ITERATION ALSO HAD TO DO WITH THE YACHT CLUB TRYING TO REWORK TERMS OF THE ORIGINAL LEASE AGREEMENT, AND IT REALLY TOOK A MEETING WHERE I HAD TO BRING EVERYONE IN AND SAY, THIS IS THE WAY IT'S GOING TO BE.
STOP MONKEYING WITH YOUR OTHER LEASE.
KEEP ON POINT WHERE THE COMMISSION IS TRYING TO DRIVE THIS.
IF IT'S GOING TO DRIVE AND WHERE THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS IT.
I DID HAVE ONE MORE THING I FORGOT.
IN RECENT YEARS, I'VE SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME IN SALT RUN DOING SOME OF MY WORK AND THE THE BOATING TRAFFIC HAS JUST GOTTEN OUT OF CONTROL, IN MY OPINION, AND I FRANKLY WORRY ABOUT SMALL SAILBOATS AND THE SPEEDING JET SKIS.
THIS IS IN ALL OF OUR WATERWAYS.
I THINK WE HAVE SOME REAL POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUES APART FROM THE LAUNCHING AT THE BOAT RAMP ITSELF.
BUT IN OUR WATERWAYS AND I I KNOW AT LEAST ONE, SEVERAL OF MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS FEEL THE SAME WAY THAT WE REALLY HAVE TO GET A HANDLE ON ON THIS SAFE ON THE WATER SAFETY ISSUES BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT.
I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE SAID, MR. REGAN, I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
I APPRECIATE THE GENEROSITY OF OF DR.
PARIS AND DR. [INAUDIBLE] FOR CONCEIVING OF THIS IDEA AND BRINGING IT AS FAR AS WE HAVE.
I THINK IT'S AS I VOTED FOR QUITE SOME TIME AGO, BUT WE'RE GOING TO GO SLOW.
WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS EVERY ONE OF THE THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE COME FORWARD.
THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN WE'LL AGREE ON ALL OF THEM, BUT WE'LL ABSOLUTELY ADDRESS THEM.
AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMIND OURSELVES THAT LIGHTHOUSE PARK WAS A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION BEFORE WE HAD WORDS FOR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, BEFORE WE, YOU KNOW, CREATED THEM ALL OVER TOWN, THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN INCREDIBLY COHESIVE GROUP OF FOLKS THAT LOVE THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, THAT LOVE THE THE HISTORY AND THE CULTURE OF IT.
I HOPE THAT THIS COMMISSION HAS BEEN RESPECTFUL OF THAT ENTITY THAT COMMUNITY ARE IN THE PAST, WE WILL ABSOLUTELY CONTINUE TO BE RESPECTFUL OF IT.
AND I THINK THAT WE ABSOLUTELY CAN CREATE A POSITIVE SITUATION FOR ALL PARTIES CONCERNED.
I DO THINK THIS IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT TIME TO UNDERSCORE THAT.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE PROPOSED ROUNDABOUT IN THE ANASTASIA BOULEVARD AREA, THE OLD QUARRY ROAD, ET CETERA, THIS IS.
THE PRESSURE WE HAVE FOUND ON THIS LITTLE COMMUNITY OF LIGHTHOUSE PARK.
IS DRASTICALLY IMPACTED BY TRAFFIC SOLUTION ON ANASTASIA, AND IT'S NOT JUST THE FOLKS THAT LIVE THERE, IT'S OUR VISITORS, IT'S OUR BOATERS, IT'S ALL OF US THAT ARE ACCESSING THIS WONDERFUL LITTLE PIECE OF OUR TOWN, SO MR.
[02:00:02]
REGAN, WHAT IS YOUR RECOMMENDATION TO THE COMMISSION ABOUT NEXT STEPS? IF IT'S THE WILL OF THE COMMISSION TO MOVE FORWARD, THE NEXT STEP WOULD FOR BE TO CONTACT MS. [INAUDIBLE]AND SCHEDULE A AN INITIAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING WITH THE GOAL OF BEING A PUBLIC OUTREACH, NOT PUBLIC INFORMATION, BUT TO SINCERELY WORK TOGETHER TO TRY TO FIND SOLUTIONS THAT ADDRESS DIFFERENT CONCERNS AND SEE WHERE IT FALLS AND NOT LIMITED TO ONE MEETING NECESSARILY, BUT TO WORK WITH EVERYONE INVOLVED UNTIL THE ITEM IS READY FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE COMMISSION.DON'T RUSH IT AND YOUR NEXT STEP WOULD BE THEN TO REACH OUT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
FOR THE RECORD, DO I CAN I INTERPRET THAT AS A CONSENSUS OF FIVE? YES.
I NEED TO JUST FOR THE RECORD.
I DO WANT TO JUST GO BACK AND NOT TO THERE'S I DON'T THINK, ANY DESIRE ON THE PART OF THIS COMMISSION THAT THERE BE ALCOHOL SALES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS OR CONSUMPTION USE.
AND I THINK THAT YOU SEE A BROAD CONSENSUS THAT UNLESS THERE'S A TERRIBLY COMPELLING REASON, THIS IS A YOUTH SAILING CENTER, NOT A SAILING CENTER AND YOUTH BEING 18 AND 17 AND UNDER WHATEVER THAT DEFINITION IS, I WILL FOLLOW THROUGH WITH YOUR DIRECTION.
MR. REGAN, DID YOU DID YOU WANT TO GIVE YOUR REPORT ON THE STORM THIS WEEKEND? YES, BUT I KNOW WE HAVE A PENDING MATTER THAT WHATEVER.
SO AS YOU KNOW, THIS WEEKEND WE HAD A VERY STRONG NORTHEASTER AND WE WE WORKED ALL WEEKEND AND DEALT WITH SOME SIGNIFICANT MATTERS.
ONE, WE HAD 10 VESSELS THAT BROKE FREE FROM THEIR ANCHORAGE.
NONE OF THEM WERE ON MOORING BALLS THAT ARE OPERATED BY THE CITY.
AND SO BASICALLY, ALL BUT ONE BOAT HAD PEOPLE AND OR PETS ON BOARD.
SO THESE WERE REAL LIFE SAVING RESCUES OF NINE OF THE EVENTS.
SO, YOU KNOW, HATS OFF TO OUR CREW THAT DID THAT ALL NIGHT LONG.
OFTEN THERE WERE TIMES WHERE THE WINDS WERE 60 MILES AN HOUR.
SO I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT THAT'S A DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENT.
WE HAD 12 HOUSES THAT HAD SOME TYPE OF FLOODING 10 ARE IN SOUTH DAVID SHORES.
NO REPORTS OUT OF LINCOLN BILL, WHICH IS GOOD.
SO IT KIND OF TELLS YOU WHERE THE.
TO BE HONEST, IT TELLS YOU WHERE THE 12 LOWEST HOUSES ARE.
THERE COULD BE PEOPLE THAT HAVEN'T REPORTED YET.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S INTERESTING IS, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A GRANT PROGRAM THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING TO HELP PEOPLE ACCESS FEDERAL MONEY TO ELEVATE OR DEMOLISH AND BUILD A NEW HOME AND STAY IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
INTERESTINGLY, OF THE 12 THAT FLOODED, ONLY 4 OF THOSE 12 ARE ENGAGED IN WITH THE CITY IN THE CURRENT GRANT CYCLE AND OR NEXT YEAR'S GRANT CYCLE.
I BELIEVE THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH 42 PEOPLE AND 25 APPLICANTS ARE STILL SURVIVING THIS PROCESS OF THE FEDERAL GRANT.
SO I THINK THAT THAT REALLY SPEAKS THAT WE NEED TO BE REALLY OUT WORKING WITH EACH ONE OF THESE ADDRESSES THAT HAD FLOODING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW WHAT TYPE OF RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP THEM WITH THIS SITUATION.
WE HAD A TREE COME DOWN OVER ON THE WEST SIDE AND IT ACTUALLY HAD SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO ONE HOME AND MINOR DAMAGE TO A SECOND HOME.
I'M NOT GOING TO USE ADDRESSES OUT OF DISCRETION.
AND SO THAT WAS A VERY IMPORTANT IMPACT.
THE OTHER THING ALSO IS WE'VE PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO THE RESILIENCE OF THE WASTEWATER SYSTEM, AND WE DID NOT HAVE ANY SEWAGE SPILLS AND WORKING FOR THE CITY 23 AND
[02:05:01]
A HALF YEARS, I THINK FOR THIS NORTHEASTER OF THIS SCALE, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I CAN SAY THAT.SO ALL THE RESILIENCE, ALL THE SLIP LINING, ALL THE WORK, ALL THE PROACTIVE MEASURES THAT WE'RE TAKING ALL WEEKEND REALLY PAY DIVIDENDS, DIVIDENDS IN THAT WAY.
BUT THE KEY ISSUE IS THIS FLOODING.
SEA LEVEL RISE, MAKING SURE THAT WE HELP PEOPLE CONNECT TO THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
TOMORROW MORNING WE HAVE AN AFTER ACTION REPORT TO COLLECT UP.
WE EXHAUSTED ALL THE RESOURCES THAT ARE NORMALLY ASSOCIATED TO THIS TYPE OF STORM, RANGING FROM PERSONNEL AND MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT, BARRICADES AND SO FORTH.
WE HAVE SOME IDEAS HOW TO IMPROVE THAT.
I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE COMMISSION COMMISSIONER.
BLONDER AND I HAD A REALLY BIG A GOOD DISCUSSION EARLIER, AND I'D LIKE TO MAYBE LET HER EXPRESS WHAT SHE'S HEARING FROM THE CONSTITUENTS AND HOW WE CAN RESPOND TO THAT, PERHAPS.
BUT I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU SO THAT YOUR COMMENTS ARE CAPTURED IN TOMORROW'S AFTER ACTION REPORT AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO REFINE OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR STORMS. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS.
COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS, COMMENTS COMMISSIONER [INAUDIBLE].
AND THIS IS ACTUALLY THIS WAS BROUGHT UP BY ONE OF THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, TOO.
I KNOW FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT THE THE THE FOLKS WHO ARE DRIVING AFTER THE STORMS, DURING THE STORMS DOWN OUR FLOODED STREETS EXACERBATE THE ALREADY RISK, ALREADY HIGH RISK OF FLOODING.
SO MATTHEW AND IRMA, WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT MORE FLOODING AND MORE DAMAGE BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE DRIVING QUICKLY DOWN OUR STREET.
I'VE SINCE RECEIVED PROBABLY A HANDFUL OF EMAILS OVER THE WEEKEND FROM PEOPLE SAYING THE SAME THING AND THE TALK THAT WE HAD THIS THIS AFTERNOON.
ME AND MR. REGAN WAS ABOUT HOW WE CAN BE MORE PROACTIVE.
WE KNOW KING TIDES ARE COMING.
WE KNOW WHEN THEY'RE COMING, WE KNOW WHEN WIND EVENTS ARE COMING.
AND IF WE CAN HAVE THE PERSONNEL, THE SIGNAGE, THE BARRIERS, WHATEVER TO TO TO KEEP THE LOOKY LOOS OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS, THE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE REROUTING AND GOING AROUND THE ARTILLERY, ROADS AND SO FORTH ARE ANCILLARY ROADS AND SO FORTH.
WHICH WORD AM I LOOKING FOR? IT'S AN A-WORD.
IN ANY EVENT, ARE ARE DOING A LOT OF DAMAGE AND THAT THAT HAS TO STOP.
THIS IS AN INTERIM SOLUTION TO A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM, OBVIOUSLY, AND WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON OCTOBER 25TH BEGINNING TO GRAPPLE WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE ON RESILIENCE.
AND SO KIND OF A COMBINATION OF TWO THINGS WHAT CAN WE DO TO PREPARE BETTER AND AND KEEP THE FOLKS FROM DRIVING QUICKLY ON THESE ROADS WHEN THEY DON'T NEED TO BE ON THEM AT ALL? AND THEN SECONDLY, TO WITH ALL URGENCY, CONTINUE WITH OUR WORKSHOP ON RESILIENCE.
I THINK YOU RAISE A REALLY GOOD POINT.
WE KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO BARRICADE TO ADDRESS TRAFFIC ON THE 4TH OF JULY ON NIGHTS OF LIGHTS.
WE KNOW WHAT TO DO FOR THE MATANZAS BAY 5000.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THESE ARE A PART OF OUR LIFE, THIS IS PART OF OUR ADAPTATION AS A COMMUNITY.
AND SO I THINK HAVING THAT PLAN, WE KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING TO FLOOD AND THE ABILITY WITH APPROPRIATE SIGNAGE TAILORED FOR PARTICULAR PROBLEM AREAS IS A REALLY GREAT IDEA.
I WANT US TO SPECIFICALLY LOOK AT THE FLOODING THAT OCCURRED.
I'M GOING TO CALL IT THE FLAGLER BOULEVARD ROUNDABOUT, WHERE THE THE THE TWO NEWEST LIONS ARE AT THE END, WHERE FLAGLER BOULEVARD, OGLETHORPE NORTH ST.
AUGUSTINE BOULEVARD COMING TOGETHER.
AND JUST MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND WHAT'S CAUSING THAT FLOODING IN THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION.
I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR OURSELVES FOR FOR CITY LEADERSHIP AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND WHICH STORM STORM DRAINS ARE UNDER OUR CONTROL AND WHICH ARE UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION'S CONTROL.
WE'VE BEEN AGGRESSIVE ABOUT BACK FLOW, PREVENTERS, ET CETERA.
BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE STATE.
AND THE THIRD IS JUST MY OWN LOOKY LOOS AROUND TOWN IS THAT I BELIEVE IT'S A DOUGLAS AND [INAUDIBLE] SEEMS TO BE AN INCREDIBLY [INAUDIBLE] WAS WONDERFULLY DRY, EXCEPT FOR THAT PARTICULAR INTERSECTION, WHICH WAS VERY WET, VERY DEEP.
[02:10:05]
AND I'M SURE IT'S WHERE IT GOES INTO THE DMV, BUT THOSE ARE JUST THREE PARTICULAR AREAS.WELL, I HAVE FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE AT SOUTH STREET IN WASHINGTON, AND I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT PUTTING UP A WEBCAM TO CATCH LICENSE PLATE NUMBERS OF THESE PEOPLE DOING LIKE 40 IN SEVEN FOOT WAKES, YOU KNOW, SO WE REALLY DO NEED TO CUT THAT OUT.
YOU KNOW, YOU HIT ON SOMETHING I THOUGHT ABOUT TOO DURING THIS STORM EVENT, WHICH MY CALCULATION WAS PUSHING A SIX FOOT IN ABD, WHICH IS GREAT BECAUSE MARIA SANCHEZ LAKE IS BENCHMARKED AT SEVEN.
SO MARIA SANCHEZ LAKE PROJECT HAD BEEN IN PLACE.
WE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD A LOT OF THE FLOODING, INCLUDING ROXANNE'S HOUSE.
OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I NOTICED, OF COURSE, I'M LIVING DOWN AT THE VERY SOUTH OF ONEIDA NOW TEMPORARILY IS THE HIGH GROUND COMING IN AND OUT TO AVOID THE FLOODING WAS MLK [INAUDIBLE] DOWN TO KING STREET.
YOU HUNG A RIGHT AND WENT DOWN ALONG THE LEFT AND WENT DOWN.
REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE STREET YOU COULD GET OVER.
YOU COULD FIND A DRIVEWAY IN AND OUT.
THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE STUCK IN RIBERIA STREET BECAUSE I KNOW THEY KNEW NO OTHER WAY TO GET OUT.
SO THEY DROVE DOWN IN THEIR PRIUS AND THEY WERE FLOATING AROUND AND I SAW QUITE A FEW DOING THAT.
SO YOU KNOW WHAT, IF WE WERE TO GENERATE A MAP OF SOME SORT SHOWING THE ROADS THAT ARE LEAST LIKELY TO BE INUNDATED UNDER A CERTAIN STORM SURGE LIKE MLK? I HAPPEN TO KNOW MARINE STREET IS A GREAT WAY TO GET INTO A CERTAIN PART OF THE CITY AND CHARLOTTE STREETS.
A GREAT WAY TO GET OUT BECAUSE THAT'S THE HIGH RIDGE ON THE EAST SIDE OF MARIA SANCHEZ LIKE SO I DON'T KNOW.
IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO OUR CITIZENS AND LIVE IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS IF WE HAVE A SIX FOOT STORM SURGE.
THIS IS THE ROUTE YOU NEED TO USE.
STAY OFF RIBERIA OR YOU'RE GOING TO DROWN.
NOW THE OTHER THING YOU KNOW, AND RUBEN AND I HAVE TALKED WITH US AND WE TOUCHED ON THE LAST MEETING IS THE WE HAD A LOT OF TOPPING THAT WENT OVER.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE WATER WAS COMING OVER TOP OF THE BULKHEADS ON DAVID SHORES.
I DON'T CARE HOW GOOD YOU CHECK VALVES ARE, THEY AREN'T GOING TO BE.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE REDUNDANT.
AND I SIT THERE AND WATCH THE WATER TRICKLING DOWN DRIVEWAYS WHERE IT WAS TOPPING.
OF COURSE, THOSE BULKHEADS WERE BUILT LITERALLY 100 YEARS AGO NOW AND OCEAN LEVEL WAS PROBABLY SEVERAL INCHES LOWER, PROBABLY A FOOT LOWER AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
BUT GOING FORWARD, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT A BASE ELEVATION FOR ANY NEW BULKHEADS OR BEING BUILT OR ANY REFURBISHING A BULKHEADS.
IT NEEDS TO BE UP AT BASE FLOOD.
IT NEEDS TO BE AT NINE FEET OR EIGHT FEET [INAUDIBLE] WHICH IS FEMA'S BASE ANYWAY.
RIGHT NOW, MOST OF THEM ARE PROBABLY DOWN AT SIX AND I WATCHED IT IN DAVID SHORES, A PARTICULAR WATER JUST ROLLING OVER THE TOP OF THE BULKHEADS.
AND YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING WE PUT IN PLACE WAS BASICALLY NEGATED BY THAT POWER SURGE OF VEHICLES.
A LOT OF THE GUYS LOOK AT THOSE SIGNS AND SAY THOSE SIGNS ARE LITTLE CARS.
I'VE GOT A BIG TRUCK, SO I'M GOING TO SHOW OFF MY BIG TRUCK AND HAUL BUTT DOWN THE ROAD AND I SEE IT ALL THE TIME AND I SAW A LOT OF IT.
AND HOW DO WE IT'S DO WE EDUCATE? DO WE BARRICADE? DO WE WRITE TICKETS? DO WE HAVE A POLICE BOAT CHASE THEM DOWN THE STREET? I DON'T KNOW.
WE GOT TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THAT ONE.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WE, I THINK, DID A GOOD JOB ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA.
DID WE HAVE A LOT ON OUR WEBSITE FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY DOING SOCIAL MEDIA? WE HAD A NUMBER OF COMMUNICATION CHANNELS RANGING FROM ALL SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, TARGETED SPECIFIC INFORMATION GOING INTO NEXT DOOR BETWEEN THE BRIDGES, WHICH IS THE MOST COMMON PLATFORM USED IN SOUTH DAVID SHORES AND OTHERS.
WE USED OUR WE ACTIVATED OUR [INAUDIBLE] SERVICE, WHICH IS DIRECT COMMUNICATIONS TO YOUR PHONE THAT IS BASED ON THE EOC SYSTEM.
WE WORKED WITH ALL OF THE MEDIA.
WE DID A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND BUT I REALLY LIKED THE COMMENT ABOUT ONE THING WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IS MORE TARGETED, VERY SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT FLOOD AND HOW HIGH.
YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT TO BE A LITTLE CAREFUL IN OUR BUSINESS BECAUSE IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN, PEOPLE GET ON YOUR CASE.
I FINALLY HAD MELISSA PUT OUT A REPORT FROM ME THAT EXPECT ONE TO TWO FEET ABOVE YOUR ROAD IF YOU'RE IN LOW LYING AREAS.
WE DIDN'T GO THROUGH AND MAKE TOO LONG A LISTING THE SPECIFIC ROADS BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T READ FOR MORE THAN 10 SECONDS, YOU KNOW? AND AS MUCH AS WE PUSHED THE MESSAGE ACROSS SO MANY PLATFORMS WE ACTUALLY HAD, PEOPLE SAY, HOW ARE WE TO KNOW ABOUT ALL THIS?
[02:15:02]
I MEAN, IT'S INTERESTING.YOU KNOW, I ALMOST WONDER IF SOCIAL MEDIA IS CAUSING CONFUSION IN MESSAGING.
IT USED TO BE YOU TURNED ON YOUR LOCAL NEWS AND EVERYBODY DID IT, AND NOW IT'S JUST SO CHAOTIC, BUT WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE.
THERE ARE WE HAD A LOT OF SIGNAGE ABOUT CLOSED ROADS AND ALL THAT PEOPLE DRIVE AROUND THEM, THEY'LL EVEN BYPASS A FIRE CHIEF WITH LIGHTS FLASHING A POLICE CHIEF.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TEND TO FOCUS ON POLICE, FIRE AND PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES IN TERMS OF OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT IN THE FIELD.
I WENT OUT TO CONTROL SOME TRAFFIC AND THE VEHICLE, HAVE NOW DOESN'T HAVE LIGHTS, YOU KNOW, LIKE SLOW DOWN AND BE THAT PERSON.
AND PEOPLE COULDN'T RELATE THAT I WAS WITH THE CITY BECAUSE I JUST LOOKED LIKE A CAR AND MY WIFE POINTED OUT, YOU SHOULD.
SO IT'S MORE OF AN OFFICIAL CAR LIKE YOUR OLD CAR WHEN YOU USED TO DO THIS.
BUT ONE THING WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER AND WE'RE GOING TO BRING IT UP TOMORROW, IS CREATING A LARGER WORKFORCE THROUGH ANY TYPE OF VEHICLE THAT CAN BE A CITY VEHICLE, WHATEVER YOUR JOB IS, TO HAVE A PRE-POSITIONING PLAN WHERE WE CAN BRING PEOPLE FROM ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE MORE INTERLOCKS AND BLOCKAGES IN THESE CRITICAL ROADS WHERE YOU MIGHT GET PAST THE FIRE CHIEF, BUT THEN YOU'RE GOING TO GET STOPPED A BLOCK IN THE NEXT INTERSECTION BY A PUBLIC WORKS OR A CAR OR A PUBLIC WORKS TRUCK OR SOMETHING WITH A CITY OFFICIAL THAT IS DIAGONAL ACROSS THE ROAD.
THERE'S NOT THAT MUCH TRAFFIC.
WE JUST RAN OUT OF HUMAN RESOURCES.
I MEAN, ALL WEEKEND, WE WERE TRYING TO BRING IN MORE AND MORE PEOPLE.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT WORK IN CITY HALL, THAT'S NOT THEIR JOB AND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A NEW JOB.
EVERY JOB HAS A JOB DESCRIPTION AND OTHER DUTIES AS DEFINED.
WE NEED TO DEFINE THIS DUTY, BUT YOU CAN'T DO THAT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORM.
SO WE, YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN A LEARNING LESSON AND I REALLY LIKED THE ANALOGY TO THE FOURTH OF JULY PLAN.
I MEAN, IT USED TO TAKE FOUR HOURS TO DUMP THE CITY AND NOW WE DO IT IN 45 MINUTES.
WHY? BECAUSE WE KEEP ITERATING AND IMPROVING THE PLAN.
I CAN TELL YOU, I LIVED IN A FLOOD AT ONE OF THOSE HOUSES IS MY OLD HOUSE OR IT'S ACTUALLY IT'S ACTUALLY WASN'T REPORTED IT DID FLOOD.
THAT'S WHY I SAID THERE'S HOUSES THAT DIDN'T FLOOD.
FOR 23 YEARS I'VE BEEN THROUGH THESE NORTHEASTERNERS.
WE'VE HAD THESE DOZENS AND DOZENS OF TIMES OF THIS MAGNITUDE WHEN ALL THAT THE NORTHEAST ERS TODAY, THAT TIDE IS HIGHER.
THIS TYPE OF STORM USED TO BE HALFWAY UP MY OLD DRIVEWAY.
NOW IT'S TWO TO THREE INCHES IN THE GARAGE OF MY OLD HOUSE.
SO IT IS DIFFERENT AND WE GOT TO ADAPT.
WE'VE GOT TO BRING MORE RESOURCES, MORE PEOPLE AND WE CAN DO THAT.
AND I'M NOT ADVERSE TO MAYBE CREATING A I'LL HAVE TO TALK TO ISABELLE ABOUT CAN WE MAKE A TICKET IF WE HAVE A STANDARD, NO SPEEDING, YOU KNOW, YOU GET A WARNING, YOU GET A TICKET.
SURE, AND JUST THE THE CITY MANAGER AND THE POLICE CHIEF, I BELIEVE ALREADY IN OUR CHARTER HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO CLOSE STREETS TO HANDLE EMERGENCIES, BUT SPECIFICALLY TO CLOSE OR PARTIALLY CLOSED STREETS.
AND THAT WOULD BE A TICKET ABLE OFFENSE IF SOMEONE VIOLATED A DIRECT SIGNAGE OR INSTRUCTION.
YEAH, SO WE'LL TAKE YOUR COMMENTS TONIGHT.
THE VICE MAYOR HAS NOT HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK.
I WAS READY TO MAKE A COMMENT, SO I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE GETTING A PLAN TOGETHER.
WE'D LOVE TO HEAR WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE.
AND I'M ALSO REALLY EXCITED TO HEAR THAT YOU'RE I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE DRILLING DOWN INTO THE NATURE OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE FLOODED LIKE ONE ON ONE THAT YOU'RE KNOCKING ON DOORS, YOU'RE MAKING THAT PERSONAL TOUCH AND YOU MEANT YOU WERE YOU WEREN'T AT THE RESILIENCY WORKSHOP, BUT THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, I DID BRING UP THAT.
SO I'M KIND OF EXCITED ABOUT THE IDEA THAT.
YOU'RE ACTUALLY ON THAT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KNOW THE NATURE OF WHY SOME PEOPLE DIDN'T PARTICIPATE IN, AND I BROUGHT THIS UP THE HMGP, THE HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM.
WHY DID WE LOSE SO MANY PEOPLE? SO I WAS ENCOURAGED TO HEAR YOU MENTIONED THAT, AND I THINK IT'S IT'S GOING TO BE TELLING FOR US.
AND YOU KNOW, MY FIRST QUESTION ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, WHEN THIS CAME UP WAS, HEY, WHAT AREAS DID WE HAVE THE FLOODING IN? AND IT WOULD ANSWER CAME BACK.
IT'S ALWAYS THE SAME AREAS, SO WE KNOW BY NOW WHERE IT IS.
SO THAT'S THAT WAS MY IMPETUS.
THOSE ARE JUST REALLY OBSERVATIONS.
BUT REALLY, WHAT I WANTED TO SAY IS I JUST I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW STRESSFUL AND IT
[02:20:04]
HAD TO BE FOR SUCH A LONG PERIOD OF TIME FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND OUR POLICE OFFICERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE PUBLIC WORKS, ALL OF Y'ALL.IT WAS JUST IT JUST SEEMED LIKE IT NEVER ENDED.
AND I KNOW WE'RE STILL FLOODING AND WE MAY STILL HAVE MORE FLOODING TOMORROW, BUT IT WAS SO INTENSE.
FOR SO LONG, SO I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR STICKING IN THERE, I HOPE THEY'RE GETTING SOME REST NOW BECAUSE IT SURE WAS NICE TO SEE THE SUN COME OUT YESTERDAY.
SO ANYWAY, MY HEART WAS WITH YOU.
I WAS ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT THAT.
I'VE GOT ONE QUICK QUESTION, JOHN, AND I PROBABLY SHOULDN'T ASK YOU BUT I'LL ASK YOU ANYWAY.
UP UNTIL THE TIME THAT THE BULKHEADS WERE TOPPED IN SOUTH DAVIS SHORES, HOW WAS OUR EFFORTS TO DATE WORKING AS FAR AS THE PARK AND THE BACK FLOW PREVENTERS AND EVERYTHING? EXCELLENT.
SO INTERESTINGLY, REUBEN FRANKLIN, THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, CALLED ME WITH A WHO HAD BEEN DRIVING DURING ONE OF THE EARLY SURGES BEFORE RAIN.
HOW PEOPLE THAT HE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT ELEVATION USED TO TOP THE ROAD DOWN TO THE TENTH OF AN INCH.
AND HE KNEW HE CALLED TO SAY, YOU KNOW, LOOK, PEOPLE ARE WALKING THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEY'RE EXERCISING, THEY'RE WALKING THEIR DOGS.
THIS STREET USED TO BE FLOODED.
I SAID, I KNOW, BUT WHEN IT GOES OVER THE YOU'RE ONLY AS STRONG AS YOUR WEAK LINK.
SO ONCE THE BULKHEADS ARE TOP, THEN IT'S GAME OVER.
AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE RAINFALL.
AND SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN ELEVATION DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ROAD AND THE BAY.
AND WHEN THE BAY IS HIGHER THAN THE ROAD AND YOU HAVE ALL THIS RAINFALL, THE DRAIN CAN'T DRAIN, AND THAT'S THE CANDLELIGHT.
AND IT IS A DOT SYSTEM, BUT WE CAN TALK TO THEM ABOUT A PUMPING OPERATION TO MAYBE SPEED UP THE RECOVERY.
SO, SO IT WORKS VERY WELL FOR SUNNY DAY FLOODING.
BUT ONCE THE WEAK LINK IS BROKE, IT'S BROKE.
SO THOSE ARE GOOD PROGRAMS, BUT THEY'RE NOT REALLY THE ANSWER.
THE REAL KEY ANSWER FROM MY POINT OF VIEW IS ELEVATION.
AND THAT'S WHY THE HMGP PROGRAM IS SO IMPORTANT.
AND SO WE NEED TO KEEP DOING THOSE THINGS.
THE MARIA SANCHEZ PROJECT WILL SOLVE THE TYPE OF PROBLEM OCCURRING TODAY.
THAT'S WHAT IT WILL BE DESIGNED FOR.
SO GETTING BACK TO DAVID SHORES, IF WE HAD STAYED AT NIGHT OR STAYED AT FIVE FOOT AND ABD, WE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
WHAT WE HAD IN PLACE IS WHEN IT HIT THE SIX FOOT AND TOP OF THE BULKHEADS, RIGHT? SO THE ANSWER THERE IS EITHER HIGHER BULKHEADS AND BIGGER PUMPS.
OR I MEAN, WE ELEVATE BUILDINGS, BUT THE ROADS STILL FLOOD SO, RIGHT.
OK, WELL, WE'RE WORKING ON A ONE ON ONE WITH PROPERTY TO CONTINUE WORKING IN PRIVATE PROPERTY, TO FIX, TO ELEVATE BERMS. YOUR POINT ABOUT THE SEAWALL STANDARD THAT IS SOMETHING DONE IN MANY COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING FORT LAUDERDALE, OF HAVING.
IF YOU REPAIR YOUR SEAWALL, YOU'VE GOT TO BRING IT UP YOUR WALL UP TO A DEFINED ELEVATION.
SO I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD CODE ISSUE, COMMISSIONER.
AND YEAH, THE TEAM ACROSS THE BOARD, YOU KNOW, IN ORDER, YOU KNOW, I GOT ALWAYS KEEP THIS IN MIND FOR SOMEONE TO BE IN A BOAT IN 60 MILE AN HOUR WIND SAVING SOMEONE'S LIFE.
THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT MAINTAINS THAT BOAT SUPPORTS THAT BOAT.
SOMEONE MAKE SURE THAT EMPLOYEES TAKING CARE OF THAT, THEY GET THEIR PAYROLL AND ALL THOSE SUPPORT SYSTEMS. SO ABOUT, I WANT TO SAY MAYBE A THIRD OF THE WORKFORCE IS IN VERY CRITICAL DANGEROUS OPERATIONS AND TWO THIRDS ARE SUPPORTING THEM.
AND SO MY POINT IS THERE'S A LOT OF HEROIC HEROISM THAT OCCURRED IN OUR POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEIR SUCCESS IS A TEAM EFFORT FROM PEOPLE THAT WE GENERALLY DON'T REALLY THINK ABOUT A WHOLE LOT.
SO THANK GOD THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO RISK THEIR LIVES ON BEHALF OF OTHERS.
AND THEY DID IT AND NOBODY WAS LOST.
AND WE'LL WE'LL GO THROUGH AND GO IN GREAT DETAIL TOMORROW.
AND WE ALWAYS WHEN WE TAKE THE TIME FOR AN ACTION MEETING, WE PUBLISH A DOCUMENT AND SO WE WILL PUBLISH A DOCUMENT THAT WILL SHOW YOU HOW WE ARE EVOLVING, JUST LIKE WHEN WE DID AFTER ACTION DOCUMENTS AND MATTHEW AND IRMA AND SO FORTH.
ARE THERE ANY ANYTHING ELSE RELATIVE TO THE WEEKEND STORM? DID WE GET ANY HELP FROM THE COUNTY WITH BOATING ON ON? I WOULD HAVE TO DEFER TO OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT MARINE RESCUE IS HIGHLY COORDINATED WITH OTHER AGENCIES, GREAT LIKE HOMELAND SECURITY AND SUCH.
I WOULD RATHER HAVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT I ASSURE YOU THAT EVERY AGENCY PLAYS THEIR ROLE.
BY THE WAY, THE FIRE CHIEF IS NOT HERE BECAUSE HE'S RESTING.
[02:25:01]
NOT TO BELABOR THIS, BUT I MADE THIS POINT WITH THE CONSTITUENT TODAY.THERE ARE OTHER PLAYERS, THE COUNTY IS ABSOLUTELY A PLAYER, STATE GOVERNMENTS, A PLAYER AND CONGRESS IS A PLAYER.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL PASSED THIS WEEK $42 BILLION IN CLIMATE RESILIENCY.
BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE EITHER OF OUR LOCAL CONGRESSMEN SUPPORTED THAT BILL.
I'M SURE THEY HAVE WELL THOUGHT REASONS FOR THAT, BUT THEY NEED TO BE A PART OF THIS CONVERSATION AS WELL.
BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY.
MS. LOPEZ, WE ARE NOW BACK TO ITEM.
YES, SIR, I DID HAVE A HOUSEKEEPING ISSUE THAT THE CLERK WANTED ME TO REMIND YOU THAT EMAILS WERE RECEIVED FROM A NUMBER OF CONSTITUENTS AND INTERESTED PERSONS.
I BELIEVE THE MASS EMAILED ALL FIVE OF YOU DURING YOUR EX PARTE'S.
WE DIDN'T MENTION THAT THIS GO AROUND, BUT IF I CAN GET CONCURRENCE THAT AT LEAST SOME OF YOU RECEIVED SOME OF THOSE EMAILS REGARDING EITHER THE OLD POT BELLIES OR GRANADA STREET.
I'M UNAWARE THAT I RECEIVED ANY.
I THINK MR. SLAVIN SENT OUT A COUPLE OF EMAILS AND POSSIBLY ANOTHER RESIDENT, BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO.
AND I THINK I SAW COMMISSIONER HORVATH RECEIVED THEM AND COMMISSIONER VALDES AND COMMISSIONER SIKES-KLINE.
SO I GUESS THE MAYOR WAS THE ONLY ONE OUT AS TO THE LANGUAGE.
I DID DRAFT SOMETHING THAT THE APPLICANT HAS CONCURRED WITH, SO IT WOULD BE SUBSTITUTE LANGUAGE FOR THAT SOMEWHAT NEBULOUS TIPS, INCENTIVE COMMUTING LANGUAGE, SO I'LL READ IT FAIRLY SLOWLY, SO YOU CAN DIGEST IT.
SO TO SUBSTITUTE THE LANGUAGE MANAGEMENT OF THE BUSINESS OR BUSINESSES WITHIN THE PUD SHALL PROVIDE EMPLOYEE INCENTIVES TO ENCOURAGE NON VEHICULAR COMMUTING BY EMPLOYEES TO THE SITE OR RIDE SHARE OPTIONS FOR THE EMPLOYEES.
THIS PLAN FOR ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF COMMUTING TO THE SITE SHALL BE MEMORIALIZED BY EACH BUSINESS WITHIN THE PUD.
THIS PLAN MUST BE PROVIDED TO THE CITY UPON A REQUEST FOR PURPOSES OF CODE ENFORCEMENT.
HOW'S THAT? I LIKE IT A LOT, THANK YOU.
IN ADDITION, THE THE APPLICANT WANTS TO ADD TO THE TEXT THAT NATIVE LANDSCAPE SPECIES SHALL BE VERIFIED BY CITY STAFF TO ADDRESS COMMISSIONER BLONDER'S CONCERN.
OH, AND WE WILL NEED TWO VOTES BECAUSE THERE IS.
IF YOU'RE SO INCLINED TO ADOPT THE PUD, THERE IS A LICENSE RIGHT AFTER.
I WOULD MOVE APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE 2021-25 WITH THE ADDED LANGUAGE AS ENUNCIATED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, MADAM.
ORDINANCE NUMBER2021-25 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE ZONING FOR APPROXIMATELY, OH DEAR LORD, POINT SEVEN FIVE ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT 36 GRANADA STREET.
PARCEL ID NUMBER 203240-0000 AND 8 [INAUDIBLE] PLACE PARCEL ID NUMBER 203230-0000.
AS NOW PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEARING AFTER FROM ITS CURRENT CLASSIFICATION OF COMMERCIAL LOW ONE CL1 AND RESIDENTIAL GENERAL ONE 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.
IS THERE FURTHER DEBATE SAYING NONE, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU PROPOSED LICENSE AGREEMENT, I WOULD MOVE APPROVE OF THE LICENSE
[02:30:03]
AGREEMENT.FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
THE LICENSE AGREEMENT IS APPROVED.
COMMISSIONERS, I BELIEVE THAT WE'VE COMPLETED THE AGENDA EXCEPT FOR ITEMS BY
[14. ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS]
MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.I HAVE ONE THING I DID ATTEND CITY MANAGER MYSELF, ATTENDED THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES ADVOCACY COMMITTEE MEETING LEGISLATIVE SESSION I ATTENDED.
OBVIOUSLY, I AM ON THE ADVOCACY COMMITTEE.
AND WE WERE GIVING SOME OF THE HIGH NOTES OF THE ISSUES AND BILLS THERE WILL BE WE SHOULD EXPECT DURING SESSION IN JANUARY.
BE REALLY SHORT HERE AND NOT GO THROUGH THE WHOLE LIST, BUT I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
THERE IS A BILL BY SENATOR HUDSON THAT HAS A MATCHING HOUSE BILL, THOSE NUMBERS ARE SENATE BILL 280 AND HOUSE BILL 403 THAT WILL REQUIRE ANY ORDINANCE PASSED BY A MUNICIPALITY.
UM, PROVIDE A BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT PREPARED BY EXPERTS, IT'S NOT IT'S NOT A IT'S PRETTY WELL DEFINED AT WHAT LEVEL THE IMPACT STATEMENT HAS TO BE DONE TO.
IT SOUNDS PRETTY EXPENSIVE AND IT'S GOT A LOT OF OTHER ONEROUS STUFF TO IT.
SO EVERYBODY SORT OF REELING FROM THAT, AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, FOLKS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE ADVOCACY.
SO I WILL BE BRINGING TO YOU SINCE THERE'S NOT VERY MUCH TIME I WILL BE BRINGING TO YOU SOME RESOLUTIONS CONCERNING THESE BILLS THAT WE SEE.
THERE'S A THERE ARE A COUPLE OF BILLS ON THE TREE TRIMMING OR BILLS ON THE 2019 TREE TRIMMING BILL THAT WAS JUST SO AWFUL THAT HAS BEEN SO DEVASTATING TO SO MANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND SO I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE THERE MAYBE A BILL OR TWO THAT COULD MOVE AND CLARIFY SOME THINGS ABOUT THAT TREE TRIMMING BILL.
AND THERE'S ALSO SOME REGULATION.
THERE'S A COUPLE OF BILLS THAT ARE ON THE LEAGUE IS SUPPORTING CONCERNING REGULATION OF SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES, WHICH WOULD GIVE LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES THE ABILITY TO BAN SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES WITHIN OUR CITIES, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE A PRETTY GOOD THING.
SO I WILL MENTION SO I'LL BRING YOU THOSE.
I WILL MENTION TO YOU THAT THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES IS TRYING TO INVOLVE AS MANY VOICES AS POSSIBLE.
THEY HAVE A CAMPAIGN CALLED LOCAL VOICES UNITED, WHICH IS A GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY GROUP.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO TO THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES WEBSITE AND TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THEY'RE CALLING THEIR AD-VO-KIT TOOLBOX, SO IF YOU JUST GO TO FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES AND YOU PULL DOWN THE TAB THAT SAYS ADVOCACY, YOU'LL SEE LOTS OF THE TOOL BOXES.
CITY, OUR CITY ATTORNEY, HAS BEEN EXTREMELY GOOD ABOUT FORWARDING IMPORTANT THINGS TO US.
AND JUST I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT HOW EVERYBODY'S REALLY TIGHTENING UP AND RISING TO THE CHALLENGE OF THESE INCREASINGLY ONEROUS BILLS THAT REMOVE OUR VOICE, REALLY REMOVE OUR VOICE AND REMOVE OUR POWERS, OUR LOCAL POWERS.
SO THAT'S A WRAP UP, BUT EXPECT TO HEAR MORE.
THANK YOU, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE IN THOSE ISSUES AT SUCH A DEEP LEVEL.
COMMISSIONER VALDES YEAH, I'D JUST LIKE TO BRIEFLY BRING UP SOMETHING APPROACH TO THE LAST MEETING, WHICH IS THE PLIGHT OF THE HOMELESS IN THE CITY AND THE IMPACT THEY'RE HAVING ON OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR BUSINESSES HERE AND HOW WE NEED TO AS A COMMISSION PRESS UNTIL WE FIND A SOLUTION TO THE HOMELESS PROBLEM IN THE CITY OR AT LEAST MITIGATE IT IN SOME WAY.
AND I USED THE TERM, YOU KNOW, PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS OR PUT OUR
[02:35:03]
MOUTH WHERE THE MONEY'S AT.AND I THINK I THINK I'LL PROBABLY BRING THIS UP AT EVERY MEETING GOING FORWARD BECAUSE I SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T DO A LOT ABOUT OCEAN RISE AND CLIMATE CHANGE AS A CITY.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT ADDRESSING OUR HOMELESS, BUT WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
WELL, MY SUGGESTION IS, IS THAT MADAM CLERK, THAT WE SCHEDULE THAT FOR A WORKSHOP.
AND SO JUST CUE IT UP AND WE'LL DO IT AT OUR FIRST OPPORTUNITY IN THE NEW YEAR.
ANYTHING FURTHER? IF NOT, WE'RE ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.