3.A. Proclamation 2022-01: Proclaims January 2022 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month. (B. Blonder, Commissioner)

[8.A.1. Ordinance 2021-29: Amends the zoning of 66 Lewis Boulevard from PUD to Residential General Office-A (RGO-A). (A. Skinner, Director Planning and Building)]

[00:35:08]

HOW ARE YOU? NICE TO SEE YOU.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS AMY SKINNER, I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT. THIS, AS YOU STATED, IS NUMBER 8A1 ON THE AGENDA IS THE SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCE 2021-29 TO AMEND THE ZONING FOR 66 LEWIS BOULEVARD FROM PUD, WHICH IS AN EXPIRED PUD TO RESIDENTIAL GENERAL OFFICE RGOA.

THE ZONING DISTRICT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE EXISTING LAND USE DESIGNATION IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

THE VACANT PARCEL AT SIXTY SIX LEWIS BOULEVARD IS APPROXIMATELY ZERO POINT ONE NINE ACRES SINCE THE LAST MEETING ON THIS ITEM AND AT THE REQUEST OF THE CITY COMMISSION.

A TOTAL OF SIX LETTERS WERE SENT TO SURROUNDING PROPERTY OWNERS, INFORMING THEM THAT THE STATUS OF THE EXPIRED PUD FOR THEIR PROPERTY IS A POTENTIAL ISSUE IMPACTING FUTURE DEVELOPMENT. AGAIN, THIS IS A SECOND READING AND A PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCE 2021-29 REZONING 66 LEWIS BOULEVARD.

I AM AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU, MS. SKINNER. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF AT THIS POINT? SEEING NONE. I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE 2021-29.

IS THERE ANYBODY THAT WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON THIS MATTER? I HAVE ONE CARD.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MS. KALAIDI, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.

BJ KALAIDI, WEST CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE, 8 NEWCOMBE ST.

ORDINANCE 2021-29.

THIS IS ALL IN YOUR PACKET.

FIFTY NINE WEST AVENUE, WHICH WAS BROOMSTICK, IS NO LONGER DOING BUSINESS AT THAT LOCATION. SIXTY SIX LEWIS BOULEVARD, WHICH YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, BACKS UP TO FIFTY NINE WEST AVENUE, WHICH IS NEXT TO THE CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE CITY GATES.

LET'S KEEP THIS IN MIND.

THIS IS A CORRIDOR. YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE U.S.

ONE AS A CORRIDOR, BUT IT IS.

ACCORDING TO MR. BURTON'S PRESENTATION.

ON DECEMBER 13, OLD FLORIDA MUSEUM SOLD SIXTY SIX LEWIS BOULEVARD ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER THE 10TH, JUST BEFORE YOUR DECEMBER 13TH MEETING.

DEVELOPMENT PLANS HAVE NOT BEEN PROVIDED.

IT'S NOT NECESSARY, BUT WE ALL NEED TO REMEMBER AMENDING THE ZONING TO AGRO 8A CAN ALLOW A BAR TAVERN.

QUESTION IS, WHO ARE THE NEW OWNERS? DOES ANYONE KNOW? HAS ANYONE LOOKED INTO THAT? AND NUMBER TWO, HOW MANY OF THE REMAINING SIX OWNERS RESPONDED TO MS. SKINNERS DECEMBER 29,02021 LETTER, WHICH YOU ASK HER TO WRITE TO THE OTHER PROPERTIES IN THAT AREA, WHICH IS.

BEING DEVELOPED AND THE OTHER TWO, 14 OR FOUR, 15 WHERE THERE WAS ANOTHER PROPERTY THERE THAT'S CHANGED THEIR ZONING TO IS NOW BEING OCCUPIED BY SOMEBODY ELSE, AND THERE'S A LOT OF CODES THAT ARE BEING VIOLATED BECAUSE THESE NEW OWNERS EITHER DON'T KNOW OR DON'T CARE ABOUT SIGNAGE AND THE RIGHT OF WAY ABOUT FLAGS WITH DIFFERENT FLAGS, ABOUT BANNERS.

AND YOU CAN KEEP ON TELLING THEM, DON'T DO IT, DON'T DO IT.

BUT UNTIL THERE'S REAL ENFORCEMENT, IT'S TRASH IN THE CITY, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT. SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MS. KALAIDI.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION DURING THIS PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE 2021-29? WELCOME, MS. GUYVER.

HI, LAUREN GUYBER, RIBERIA ST.

UM, THERE'S BEEN A PZB MEETING ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS PROPERTY, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF DISSENSION AT THE PZB MEETING LAST WEEK.

AND OVER PARKING, OVER GETTING NOTICES ABOUT THE RIGHT OF WAY FOR PARKING AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS, AND I WOULD REQUEST WHICH I DID TO THE PCB WAS THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BE BULLIED. AND THEY SHOULD HOLD ON AND FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH ALL OF THE PARTIES CONCERNED ABOUT THE SPACE OVER THERE BECAUSE THERE IS OTTERS AND THERE'S THE.

THE I DON'T KNOW, PINK.

SOMETHING OR OTHER.

THERE'S JUST ALL THESE OTHER BUSINESSES.

[00:40:01]

IT SEEMS TO BE IT'S GOING TO IMPACT EVERYBODY AT SOME POINT BECAUSE THE PARKING IS STILL AN ISSUE AND WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE PLANS FOR THIS.

BUT WE DO KNOW WAS WHEN THE COMPANY CAME A YEAR OR SO AGO AND TALKED THE FELLOW WHO BOUGHT THE MARINA.

HE WANTS TO HAVE A FERRY SERVICE BETWEEN HIS MARINA RESTAURANT AND THAT SPACE, THIS SPACE OVER ON SIXTY SIX LEWIS BOULEVARD.

SO BOATS GOING BACK AND FORTH.

I DON'T KNOW. YOU TELL ME.

DOES THAT SOUND RIGHT? SO PLEASE HOLD OFF.

GET SOME MORE INFORMATION.

TALK TO YOUR FELLOW PEOPLE AT THE PZB AND FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS PLACE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S LEGIT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION DURING THIS PUBLIC HEARING? I HAVE NO FURTHER CARDS.

SEEING NO ONE ELSE. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.

MS. SKINNER TWO QUESTIONS.

IS THERE A PENDING REZONING AT PLANNING AND ZONING PERTAINING TO THIS PROPERTY? THAT WAS THE IMPLICATION FROM THE SPEAKERS.

NO, THIS IS THIS IS THE APPLICATION YOU HAVE IT AS PRESENTED.

IT DID GO TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD IN NOVEMBER.

THIS IS THEIR RECOMMENDATION.

I HAVE A MAP HERE.

I THINK THERE'S SOME CONFUSION ABOUT THE PROPERTY THAT'S INVOLVED.

OK. THIS PROPERTY IS ON THE IT IS ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE SAN SEBASTIAN RIVER, BUT IT IS NORTH OF THE PROPERTY THAT WAS BEING REFERENCED.

SO THERE IS NO PENDING MATTERS PERTAINING TO THIS PROPERTY BEFORE THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD. NO SECOND, IN RESPONSE TO THE LETTERS, I ASSUME WE DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE SINCE NOTHING WAS INCLUDED IN THE PACKET.

WE ACTUALLY DID GET A PHONE CALL LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON FROM AN INDIVIDUAL THAT OWNS PROPERTY IN THE AREA, AND THEY ARE GOING TO PROCEED TO MOVE FORWARD AND RECTIFY THE ZONING SITUATION.

THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL ZONING SITUATION? YES, THANK YOU.

OTHER QUESTIONS OF STAFF? NO, SEEING NONE.

IS THERE A MOTION? I MOVE. WE PASS ORDINANCE 2021-29 ON SECOND READING.

READ BY TITLE ONLY IN PASS.

SECOND ORDINANCE NUMBER 2021-29.

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA REZONING APPROXIMATELY ZERO POINT ONE NINE ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT SIXTY SIX LEWIS BOULEVARD PARCEL ID NUMBER 1194900000 IN THE CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE HAS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREIN AFTER FROM ITS CURRENT CLASSIFICATION OF CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT PUD TO THE CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE CLASSIFICATION OF RESIDENTIAL GENERAL OFFICE A.

RGO PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FURTHER DISCUSSION.

SEEING NONE. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.ROXANNE HORVATH YES.

VALDES BARBARA BLONDER.

YES. TRACY UPCHURCH YES.

THANK YOU. THE ORDINANCE PASSES.

THANK YOU, MS. SKINNER. I'M GOING TO NOW MOVE DOWN TO ITEMS BY THE CITY ATTORNEY.

[11.A. Legislative session update. No Presentation. (R. Thibault, Assistant City Attorney)]

I RECOGNIZE THAT STATE'S NO PRESENTATION, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE MIGHT WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF MATTERS THERE.

YES. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, I BELIEVE THAT YOUR CITY MANAGER MAY HAVE SOME STRATEGIC ITEMS HE WANTED TO DISCUSS WITH YOU, AND I'M ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTION. THANK YOU, MR. REGAN. MAYOR AND COMMISSIONER.

SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS.

I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE VERY ENGAGED IN TALLAHASSEE AND MONITORING EVERY BILL THAT MATTERS TO THE CITY.

WE HAVE QUITE A BIT OF HORSEPOWER THAT'S DIFFERENT THIS YEAR TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECT OUR INTERESTS.

BESIDES THE HARD WORK OF OUR LEGAL TEAM, WE ALSO HAVE DAVID BERTRAM, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, WHO WILL BE OUR POINT OF CONTACT, PARTICULARLY IN, YOU KNOW, ON A MOMENT'S NOTICE, GOING TO TALLAHASSEE TO REPRESENT OUR INTERESTS WITH WHATEVER ELECTED OFFICIAL MAY WANT TO GO OR HOWEVER, WE NEED TO PURSUE OUR AGENDA.

MEREDITH BRIDENSTINE, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, IS ALSO RUNNING POINT ON OUR APPROPRIATIONS, WHICH WE HAVE.

SENATOR HUDSON AND REPRESENTATIVE STEVENSON ON BOTH SIDES ARE SUPPORTING A $2 MILLION APPROPRIATION FOR OUR WEST AUGUSTINE SUBJECT TO SEWER CONVERSION.

AND ALSO, WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE THAT IS SUPPORTING OUR REQUEST FOR $500000 FOR DESIGN SERVICES ASSOCIATED TO THE NEW FIRE STATION.

BUT THERE'S TWO THINGS THIS WEEK THAT ARE ACTIVE.

THE FIRST IS A FIRST HEARING ON THE VACATION RENTAL BILL AND THE VACATION RENTAL BILL, OR SHORT TERM RENTAL. IT HAS.

[00:45:03]

THERE ARE A FEW DETAILS THAT HAVE VERY NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON THE CITY THAT WE THINK WE HAVE TO BE PARTICIPATORY AND TRY TO FIND SOME CONSTRUCTIVE, PERHAPS MAYBE SOME FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS OR MAYBE FIND A WAY TO HELP KILL THE BILL.

A FEW ISSUES THAT WERE REALLY CONCERNED WITH OUR ONE IS THAT THERE THE BILL TAKES AWAY OUR ABILITY TO REGULATE OCCUPANCY.

IT LIMITS OUR FEE TO A $50 A RENT REGISTRATION FEE, WHICH WOULD BE WAY OFF THE MARK THAT WOULD BE NORTH OF $100000 IMPACT TO OUR BUDGET IF THIS WERE TO PASS.

AND ALSO AN UNREASONABLE EXPECTATION THAT ANY INSPECTION OF A OF A REGISTRATION NEEDS TO BE CONDUCTED WITHIN A 15 DAY TURNAROUND.

NOW ARE OUR LEGISLATIVE CONSULTANTS IN TALLAHASSEE, ALONG WITH THE LEGISLATIVE TEAM OF THE LEAGUE OF CITIES.

ON CONFERENCE CALLS THIS MORNING SUGGESTED THAT RUNNING TO TALLAHASSEE FOR THE COMMITTEE HEARING TOMORROW FOR WOULDN'T BE WIND SERVICE.

WELL, THIS IS A SENATE HEARING THAT IS SUPPORTED BY THE INCOMING SPEAKER AND IT'S THE VOTES ARE REALLY LOCKED IN THAT OUR FOCUS SHOULD BE MORE ON WORKING OUR ISSUES WHERE WE THINK WE'LL HAVE A MORE FRIENDLY RECEPTION.

ONE THE HOUSE SIDE OF THE LEGISLATION IS MOVING, WHICH IS SPONSORED BY REPRESENTATIVE FISHER. SO THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE'RE WATCHING VERY CAREFULLY.

AND THE SECOND THING HAS TO DO WITH ANOTHER SENATE BILL, WHICH I'M GOING TO TURN THAT BACK OVER TO MS. LOPEZ TO DESCRIBE WHAT IS IN PLAY ON WEDNESDAY MORNING AT 9:30.

YES, AND THAT WOULD BE SENATE BILL TO 80.

SENATOR HUDSON'S BILL, THERE'S ALSO A COMPANION HOUSE BILL, AS AS YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH.

WE DID RECEIVE NOTICE ON FRIDAY THAT THERE HAD BEEN A STRIKE, ALL IN REWRITE OF THAT PARTICULAR BILL.

I FORWARDED INFORMATION AS I GOT IT, BUT THE LEAGUE OF CITIES CONTINUES TO HAVE PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL CONCERNS ABOUT IT.

THIS IS THE BILL THAT IN A NUTSHELL, REQUIRES THAT WE DO AN ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS FOR ESSENTIALLY ALL OUR ORDINANCES, AND THAT BECOMES A LINCHPIN OF WHETHER OR NOT THE BILL IS FOUND TO BE ARBITRARY OR CAPRICIOUS BY THE COURTS.

SO IT SORT OF CREATES THIS THIS SYSTEM WHERE EVERY ONE OF OUR ORDINANCES, NO MATTER HOW BENIGN, WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THIS ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS, WHICH OBVIOUSLY COSTS SOME MONEY TO CREATE THESE THESE DOCUMENTS.

AND THEN THAT BECOMES THE THE ISSUE OF DISPUTE.

IF I CAN PHRASE IT THAT WAY BETWEEN PROPERTY OWNERS AND THE CITY, IT DOES ALSO CREATE A NEW CAUSE OF ACTION. SO A NEW WAY TO SUE THE CITY.

IT IT DOES.

THE THE FRIDAY REVISIONS WOULD CAP THOSE ATTORNEY'S FEES TO $50000, BUT THAT'S PER LAWSUIT. SO I THINK CERTAINLY MY CONCERN AND MANY OTHER PRACTITIONERS CONCERN IS IT KIND OF INCENTIVIZES A BIT OF A COTTAGE INDUSTRY OF SUING THE CITY REGARDING THE ECONOMIC ANALYSIS FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR ORDINANCES.

SO THE LEAGUE OF CITIES IS ENGAGING WITH SENATOR HUDSON'S STAFF.

IT HAS DRAFTED A FAIRLY EXTENSIVE POSITION PAPER ASKING FOR MORE FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS.

AND SO I BELIEVE THAT THAT IS THE LEAGUE'S POSITION IS THAT THEY CAN STILL WORK WITH THE SENATOR AND HIS STAFF AND OTHER SUPPORTERS OF THE BILL TO MINIMIZE THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

BUT RIGHT NOW IT IS LOOKING THAT THAT THIS IS A VIABLE BILL.

THE CITY SHOULD BE CONCERNED AND AWARE THAT THIS BILL IS OUT THERE.

IT IS GOING THROUGH VARIOUS COMMITTEES.

THE NEXT ONE IS WEDNESDAY MORNING AT 9:30.

SO THAT'S A VERY, VERY BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THAT PARTICULAR BILL.

AND THE KEY FACTOR THERE IS AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS FOR EVERY SINGLE ORDINANCE THAT SETS UP THIS BATTLE OF EXPERTS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT TO WHAT EXTENT ANY ORDINANCE WE PASS HAS AN ECONOMIC IMPACT ON BUSINESSES WITHIN THE CITY.

AND SO THAT THAT'S THAT'S THE GIST OF IT.

IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM, BUT I WAS TRYING TO MAKE IT MAYBE OVERSIMPLIFIED.

BUT BUT NO, THAT'S FINE.

COMMISSIONER YES, COMMISSIONER BLONDER.

SO I MEAN, THIS IS A BIG OVERREACH AND SEEMS TO ME LIKE A MASSIVE PRESENT PREEMPTION FOR US WITH RAMIFICATIONS FOR EXTREMELY HIGH COST TO OUR TAXPAYERS.

WHAT I'M REALLY WONDERING IS IF THIS BILL WERE TO PASS, WOULD IT SUPERSEDE FEDERAL LAW FOR, FOR EXAMPLE, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS, IN YOUR OPINION?

[00:50:02]

WELL, I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT THE LEAGUE HAS RAISED.

THEY WANT EXPLICITLY IN THE BILL TO SAY THAT ORDINANCES THAT ARE AUTHORIZED BY STATE OR FEDERAL LAW ARE EXEMPT FROM THIS, THIS NEW BILL AND ITS PROVISIONS.

AND I WOULD POINT OUT THAT THE BILL WOULD IS NOT RETROACTIVE, SO IT WOULD APPLY TO NEW ORDINANCES AS OF OCTOBER TWENTY TWENTY TWO IF PASSED.

WELL, IT'S IT'S.

IT'S EXCEEDINGLY DISAPPOINTING THAT THIS IS SPONSORED BY OUR SENATOR THAT REPRESENTS OUR DISTRICT, REPRESENTS THIS COMMUNITY WHO IS NEVER ONCE APPROACHED TO MY KNOWLEDGE, ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS INDIVIDUALLY, CERTAINLY NOT THE CITY STAFF OR THE COMMISSION ITSELF.

IT CLEARLY IS DESIGNED.

I SHOULDN'T SAY THAT IT CLEARLY HAS THE EFFECT OF EMASCULATING HOME RULE AND FURTHER AGGREGATING POWER IN TALLAHASSEE, AND IT'S IT'S.

IT'S EXCEEDINGLY DISAPPOINTING FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND NOT JUST, OF COURSE, OUR RESIDENTS, BUT. THROUGHOUT THE STATE, IT'S AMAZING.

SINCE THIS IS A SOLUTION.

FOR A PROBLEM THAT ARGUABLY DOESN'T EXIST.

OK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT MR. REGAN ANYTHING FURTHER.

I'M SORRY, I MISSED OUT ONE OTHER KEY MATTER OF THE VACATION RENTAL BILL.

IT ALSO WOULD TAKE AWAY OUR ABILITY TO ENFORCE A UNIQUE PARKING STANDARD TO SHORT TERM RENTALS. WE WOULD HAVE TO ONLY HAVE IT WOULD IT WOULD TAKE AWAY OUR ABILITY TO HAVE A PARKING STANDARD AS WELL FOR SHORT TERM RENTALS.

OUR PARKING STANDARDS WOULD HAVE TO BE UNIFORM.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, A RESIDENT CAN USE ON STREET PUBLIC PARKING.

RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T ALLOW THAT FOR YOUR PARKING CALCULATION FOR SHORT TERM RENTALS.

SO WE WE LOSE SOME SIGNIFICANT CONTROLS THAT AFFECT THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. SO WE FEEL AND WE HOPE THAT THE COMMISSION CONCURS WITH US THAT WE NEED TO BE REALLY ACTIVELY ENGAGED ON THAT PARTICULAR PIECE OF CODE AND ALSO FROM THE DIALOG, THE LANGUAGE AND THE ISSUES THAT ARE CONFRONTING US WITH SENATOR HUDSON'S BILL AS WELL.

WELL, WE APPRECIATE YOU AND AND OUR CONSULTANTS RIDING HERD ON THIS AGAIN.

THE SHORT TERM RENTAL BILL IS VERY DISAPPOINTING AS WELL.

IT HAS A RIPPLE EFFECT THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

IT DRAMATICALLY IMPACTS THE COST OF LIVING IN ST.

AUGUSTINE. IT'S IT'S.

IT'S IMPORTANT. SO THIS IS THE FIRST STOP ON THE SENATE SIDE, SO WE HAVE SOME OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD OF US AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT ON THAT.

THANK YOU. MR.

[13.A. Presentation of management alternatives for the Waterworks building. (J. Regan, City Manager)]

REGAN. WE ARE NOW ON ITEM 13, A PRESENTATION OF ALTERNATIVES FOR THE WATERWORKS BUILDING.

MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, THIS ITEM IS A FOLLOW UP ON THE DIRECTION TO EVALUATE THE PROPOSAL FROM THE ST.

JOHN'S CULTURAL COUNCIL AND LOOK AT THAT AS A POSSIBILITY OF THE MANAGEMENT OF THE RECENTLY COMPLETED WATERWORKS BUILDING AND ALSO TO COMPARE THAT TO OPERATING IT AS A CITY, AS A CITY FACILITY THAT WE WOULD JUST MANAGE AND MANAGE THAT INTERNALLY.

AND I WANT TO KIND OF START BY SAYING THAT WHERE WE ARE TONIGHT IS THAT THE CULTURAL COUNCIL HAS HAD COME TO US WITH WHAT I'LL CALL FUNDAMENTALLY THEIR THEIR TERMS, THEIR TERM SHEET RIGHT AND BASED ON YOUR DIRECTION.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CHRISTINA PARISH ST., WHO WAS HERE AS A RESOURCE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE IN OUR DISCUSSION TO DO OUR BEST TO REFLECT WHAT WE BELIEVE ARE THE TERMS THAT WOULD BE THAT WOULD WORK FOR THE CITY COMMISSION TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY AND WITH AND ALSO WITH STAFF INPUT.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR, MS. LOPEZ DRAFTED AN AGREEMENT AND THEN TOOK A WELL-DESERVED VACATION.

BUT DURING THAT PERIOD SINCE THAT PERIOD, MS. ST. AND I HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE DIFFERENT DISCUSSIONS CONTINUING TO REFINE WHAT WE THINK ARE KEY TERMS THAT NEED TO BE IMPROVED IN THIS.

AND SO WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR MS. LOPEZ TO RETURN THE CONVERSATION TONIGHT, WHICH IS THAT THIS IS YOUR FIRST CHANCE TO SEE THIS AND REFLECT BACK WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE AS TERMS THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED IN

[00:55:02]

LOOKING AT THAT EVALUATION.

AND SO TONIGHT, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR AS AN OUTCOME IS FOR DIRECTION FROM THE COMMISSION. IF YOU WANT US TO CONTINUE WORKING TOWARDS A LEASE WITH THE CULTURAL COUNCIL OR IF YOU, YOUR DIRECTION WOULD BE TO MANAGE IT AS A CITY FACILITY.

NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID EARLY IS THAT WE DID A SURVEY OF THE COMMUNITY AND WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN MEET WHAT WE SEE AS THE GOALS OF THE COMMUNITY REALLY IN EITHER PATH.

BUT WHAT I DID WAS I WENT THROUGH AND IDENTIFIED SOME KEY THINGS THAT ARE THINGS TO THINK ABOUT IN THIS DECISION, AS WELL AS WHAT THE WHAT WE THINK GET US INTO THE ORDER OF MAGNITUDE OF THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF OF EITHER DECISION.

SO THE FIRST IS IS THAT IF WE LOOK AT THE PROPOSAL FROM THE ST.

JOHN'S CULTURAL COUNCIL, WHAT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE, WHAT I'M GOING TO CALL ADVANTAGES OF THAT ARE ONE IS THAT THE ST.

JOHN'S CULTURAL COUNCIL IS IS THE THEIR MISSION IS TO FACILITATE THE LOCAL ARTS AND CULTURAL COMMUNITY. AND I THOUGHT WE SAW SOME GREAT TESTIMONY FROM GROUPS TONIGHT.

AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, I JUST WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT WHAT WE ADOPTED AS WHAT OUR GOALS ARE IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND OUR OUR PLAN NEEDS TO BE A MORE INTEGRAL PART OF THE COMMUNITY'S RICH ARTS AND CULTURAL SCENE.

THE CITY WOULD LIKE TO PLAY A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS THAT WILL EDUCATE BOTH OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR VISITORS.

SO IN THEIR CASE, THEY'RE READY TO COME UP.

IN OUR CASE, WE WOULD HAVE TO STAFF UP.

WE THINK WE COULD DO IT WITH THE ADDITION OF TWO STAFF MEMBERS.

BUT IN OUR WORLD, BRINGING STAFF ON AND GETTING UP TO SPEED CAN TAKE ANYWHERE FROM FOUR TO SIX MONTHS. NOT THAT THAT'S THE END OF THE WORLD.

BUT THEN THAT PUTS US AT THE BEGINNING POINT OF A LEARNING CURVE THAT THE CULTURAL COUNCIL HAS BEEN ON FOR.

I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE 15 YEARS IN TERMS OF NETWORKING WEBSITES, NEWSLETTERS, MARKETING AND AND BUYING OF THE ARTS AND CULTURAL COMMUNITY.

WHAT'S INTERESTING IS I THINK AT THE TOP OF THE LIST FOR THE COMMUNITY IS THE NEED TO PROTECT THE BUILDING TO HAVE PUBLIC SPACE THAT CAN BE USED NOT ONLY FOR THE TYPES OF PROGRAMS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT TONIGHT, BUT FOR THINGS LIKE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETINGS OR, YOU KNOW, BOARD MEETINGS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF GROUPS OR BOOK CLUBS OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE.

WHAT I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE CULTURAL COUNCIL IS THAT WHILE WE CAN WRITE LANGUAGE TO THAT AND WE DID, YOU CAN SEE IT IN EXHIBIT B TO THE CONTRACT.

INTERESTINGLY, THE CULTURAL COUNCIL HAD BEEN DOING THAT IN THEIR PRIOR FACILITY QUITE A BIT, I THINK THERE WERE 13 DIFFERENT BOOK CLUBS THAT WOULD MEET IN THEIR BOARDROOM.

THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM AND MANY OTHERS THAT I'VE HEARD FROM, BUT NO TESTIMONY TONIGHT NECESSARILY HAVE ALREADY BEEN WORKING WITH THE CULTURAL COUNCIL USING THEIR SPACE FOR FREE.

SO THAT IS NOT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S BEEN PART OF HOW THEY HOW THEY OPERATE, AND THAT HAS BEEN PROBABLY THE MOST CRUCIAL THING TO OUR COMMUNITY. THE THERE'S SOME DIFFERENT VIEWS.

ONE THING THAT I FELT AT THE BEGINNING AND YOU KNOW, NO ONE'S GOING TO GET EVERYTHING THAT THEY WANT IN THIS, OK? THERE'S UPS AND DOWNS. YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT IT AND TOTAL AND WHAT YOU THINK IS IN THE INTEREST IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.

BUT AT FIRST, I WAS VERY, NOT VERY FAVORABLE TO USING ANY OF THE SPACE AS LIKE REALLY DEFINED OFFICE SPACE.

BUT FOR THE CULTURAL COUNCIL TO MAKE THIS ALL WORK IN THE WAY THAT THEY CAN HELP MARRY THEIR BUDGET TO STEP UP THE SCALE IS TO USE THE OFFICE.

THE REAR ROOMS, WHICH ARE ON THE PLANS IDENTIFIED AS OFFICES, AS OFFICES WITH ALSO BACKSTAGE STORAGE.

AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS. AND I KNOW THAT'S A REAL KEY POINT FOR FOR PEOPLE.

BUT ONE THING THAT I THOUGHT WAS WHAT I CAME TO REALIZE IS THAT THERE'S NOTHING LIKE EYES AND EARS ON PROPERTY.

YOU CAN DO THAT A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

YOU DON'T NEED TO USE EVERY ROOM OR TWO OR THREE ROOMS AS LONG AS YOU HAVE EYES AND EARS LOOKING AT THE BUILDING AND CAN HEAR IF SOMEONE SCREAMS. IF A CHILD WAS IN DISTRESS, I WOULD CALL THAT AS AN ADVANTAGE, AND IT WAS INTERESTING THAT WE HAD SOME TESTIMONY TO THE VIEW OF THAT.

THE CULTURAL COUNCIL WOULD BE THE TENANT.

THEY WOULD PAY FOR ALL THE INTERIOR FINISHING WORK, WHICH FOR THIS BUILDING COULD BE AS

[01:00:04]

HIGH AS $100000 IN TERMS OF LIGHTING, CUSTOM WINDOW COVERS, FURNISHINGS, PA SYSTEMS, ALL THE THINGS THAT GO INTO IT.

YOU KNOW, THIS BUILDING? I MEAN, JUST WITHIN THIS ROOM, JUST THE MICROPHONES IN FRONT OF YOU, I THINK, WERE PROBABLY SOMEWHERE AROUND $70000.

AND WE'RE STILL DEALING WITH, YOU KNOW, BUFFERING SPEED ISSUES, WHICH, BY THE WAY, WE HAVE UPGRADED. SO THEN A.

I TALKED ABOUT THE SUPPORTING OUR GOAL THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED, AND ONE OF THE KEY THINGS ABOUT THAT IS NO MATTER HOW YOU SLICE AND DICE THIS, THERE'S NO WAY TO GET AROUND IT.

THIS IS A TAXPAYER SUBSIDIZED BUILDING AND WE WOULD BE SUBSIDIZING THE CULTURAL COUNCIL AND WE NEED SOMETHING IN RETURN FOR THAT.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS BEEN AGREED TO IS THAT THE CULTURAL COUNCIL SHALL IDENTIFY FOR EVERY PROGRAM IN THE BUILDING THAT WE ARE A SPONSOR OF YOUR EVENT.

SO IF YOUR GOAL IS TO GET RECOGNITION AND TO COMMUNICATE OUR SUPPORT FOR ARTS AND CULTURE, THEN THAT TO ME, THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT CONCEPT BECAUSE YOU CAN SPEND A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY ON ARTS AND CULTURE AND NEVER GET ANY CREDIT FOR THE EFFORT THAT YOU'RE DOING. AND I THINK A CLEAN COMMUNICATION IS AN IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE IN THIS.

THE CULTURAL COUNCIL IS A NONPROFIT.

IT IS NOT ST. JOHNS COUNTY, ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY. THE TDC STATUTES REQUIRE FUNDING INTO THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS. THEY RECEIVE FUNDING FROM ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY, BUT THEY ARE NOT TECHNICALLY ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY. THEY HAVE THEIR OWN INDEPENDENT BOARD FOR WHICH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORTS.

THE FINANCIAL ISSUES.

THIS IS THAT WHAT WE DID? MEREDITH BRIDENSTINE WENT AND LOOKED AT THE USE OF THE GALLIMORE CENTER.

WE HAD A LOT OF OPERATIONS DISCUSSIONS ABOUT STAFFING AND PUT TOGETHER A MODEL THAT YOU SEE IN YOUR PACKET.

IF IF WE HAD A SIMILAR USAGE OF HOURS, THAT WOULD BE RENTABLE HOURS IN THIS BUILDING TO THE GALLIMORE CENTER. WHAT WOULD THAT PROFORMA LOOK LIKE? AND ROUGHLY, WE THINK OUR ANNUAL RECURRING COSTS ARE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY FOUR THOUSAND.

LET ME TURN TO THE PAGE.

AND THERE'S SOME DIFFERENT PRICE POINTS THAT MS. BREIDENSTEIN MODELED TO SEE WHAT BECOMES THE DELTA BETWEEN THE OPERATIONS AND THE REVENUE AND AT A LOW PRICE POINT SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DO IN THE GEIMER CENTER, A $35.

OUR DEFICIT WOULD BE ABOUT 100000 A YEAR AT FIFTY FIVE DOLLARS AT SEVENTY THREE THOUSAND A YEAR AND AT $75 IT'S FORTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR.

AND ONCE YOU GET ABOVE THAT, I DON'T THINK IT'S REALISTIC THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE RENTING THE BUILDING A WHOLE LOT.

SO BY DOING THIS, WE DO OFFSET A COST TO THE TAXPAYER.

YES, IT'S A SUBSIDIZED BUILDING.

THE QUESTION IS, HOW FAR DO YOU WANT TO SUBSIDIZE IT? DO YOU WANT TO SUBSIDIZE IT WITH WHAT IS THE INTRINSIC SUBSIDIZATION BY DOING THIS AGREEMENT? OR DO YOU WANT TO DO ALL OF THAT COST PLUS FORTY FIVE TO $100000? SO THAT'S THE FINANCIAL ISSUE.

THE DISADVANTAGE IS, IS WE LOSE, YOU KNOW, ANY TIME YOU HAVE A PARTNER, THEN YOU HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER. YOU HAVE TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER'S GOALS AND BELIEVE IN THOSE GOALS.

AND IT MEANS YOU LOSE CONTROL.

AND SO WE WOULD HAVE A PARTNER NOW.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEGOTIATED HAS BEEN A CHANGE IN THE FUNDAMENTAL BEGINNING YEAR TERM TO TRY TO RETURN THAT CONTROL BACK TO THE COMMISSION AND THAT WHAT WHAT WE AGREED TO THAT'S NOT IN THE LEAST, IS TO CHANGE THE INITIAL TERM TO A THREE YEAR LEASE.

AND THE REASON THAT BESIDES JUST WANTING A LONGER TERM, THERE WAS A LOGICAL, RATIONAL REASON OF THE CULTURAL COUNCIL TRYING TO GET TO FIVE YEARS.

AND THAT WAS THAT THIS INVESTMENT, WHATEVER THIS INVESTMENT NUMBER, IS EIGHTY THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT THE COUNTY AND THE CULTURAL COUNCIL WOULD BE LOOKING.

THEIR BOARDS WOULD BE LOOKING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A SOME TYPE OF REASONABLE PROTECTION OF THAT INVESTMENT IF IN THREE YEARS WE DIDN'T RENEW THE LEASE.

AND SO WHAT I HAVE SUGGESTED IS THAT WHAT WE COULD DO IS JUST PUT A FIVE YEAR DEPRECIATION SCHEDULE ON THE ON THE IMPROVEMENTS AND WHATEVER IS LEFT BEHIND WILL ALREADY HAVE A SCHEDULE OF VALUES AND WE CAN JUST GIVE YOU THE GIVE THEM THE RESIDUAL VALUE BACK.

WHAT THAT DOES IS IT GIVES MS. STONE THE ABILITY TO REPRESENT TO THE BOARD THAT A THREE YEAR LEASE IS GOOD.

[01:05:02]

BUT THE ARE INVESTMENTS THAT WILL BE MAKING IN THE BUILDING WOULD BE PROTECTED AND IT'S INCUMBENT UPON ME AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO PERFORM AND MY FAILURE TO PERFORM.

IF I FAIL TO BE ABLE TO GET A RENEWAL WITH THE CITY IN THREE YEARS, OR THEN, YOU KNOW, I'M ACCOUNTABLE, BUT YOUR INVESTMENT IS PROTECTED.

SO THAT WAS KIND OF TRYING TO BRING BACK THAT LOSS OF CONTROL.

WE WOULD HAVE LESS DIRECT MONITORING OF THE PARKING IN THE AREA THAT WE HAVE A FIRST AGREEMENT WITH THE NATIONAL PARK AND THE NATIONAL GUARD, THAT THE 51 SPACES THAT ARE BETWEEN THE ARMORY AND THE WATERWORKS IS AVAILABLE FOR THE OVERFLOW PARKING, WHICH THEY WILL TYPICALLY USE ON, YOU KNOW, DRILL WEEKENDS.

OR THEY MIGHT HAVE SOME TYPE OF SHOW.

AND SO THERE DOES HAVE TO BE A COORDINATION.

THE LEASE IDENTIFIES THE 51 PARK PARKING SPACES, BUT ALSO IDENTIFIES IT AS NON-EXCLUSIVE, SO IT DOES REQUIRE SOME COLLABORATION ON PARKING.

AND IF WE WERE RUNNING IT, I THINK THAT WE COULD BE VERY RESPONSIVE TO THAT AND WE WOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE TO YOU TO BE RESPONSIVE.

NOW, THERE ARE CERTAINLY ADVANTAGES FOR US TO RUN THE WATERWORKS BUILDING AS A BUILDING, AND I'M STARTING TO GET A LITTLE REDUNDANT.

ONE. IT'S CONTROL.

THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH SEEING HOW THE COMMUNITY REACTS TO THIS NEW ELEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY AND HOW DO THEY REALLY WANT TO USE IT RIGHT? SO THAT WOULD BE AN ADVANTAGE.

THERE'S MORE FLEXIBILITY TO LEASE THE PROPERTY TO OTHER ENTITIES.

IT LEAVES US MORE AGILE THAN ONE INDIVIDUAL GROUP.

BUT I THINK I THINK THE COMMISSION IS INTERESTED IN THIS PROPOSAL BECAUSE THE CULTURAL COUNCIL IS SUCH A HUB OF THE ARTS AND CULTURE COMMUNITY.

THEY REPRESENT SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE, BUT, YOU KNOW, FLEXIBILITY AND THEN THE BUILDING IS THERE FOR WHATEVER WE MIGHT NEED THAT WE CAN DON'T SEE NOW OR FORECAST WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING IN OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLANS.

BUT FOR EXAMPLE, MAYBE WE WOULD, YOU KNOW, ALL ASSETS COME INTO PLAY DURING EMERGENCIES.

NOT TO SAY THAT THE CULTURAL COUNCIL WOULDN'T WORK WITH US, BUT YOU KNOW, WE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT. AND THEN OF COURSE, THERE'S A GREATER PERCEPTION OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE OWNERSHIP IS CLEARLY STATED.

IT IS THE WATER. WORKS BUILDING OWNED BY THE CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE, THE DISADVANTAGES IS IT'S GOING TO COST US MORE MONEY TO RUN THE BUILDING, AND WE COVERED THAT TOPIC.

WE ALSO TO FINISH IT OUT APPROPRIATELY FROM THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE WOULD NEED TO REALLOCATE WHATEVER NUMBER IS NEEDED 75 TO $100000.

NOT THE END OF THE WORLD, BUT.

I THINK THAT THE DISADVANTAGE OF RUNNING IT IS THAT IF I'VE LEARNED ANYTHING ABOUT BEING A CITY MANAGER, IT'S REALLY TRYING TO CLEAN UP YOUR LINE OF COMMUNICATION.

I'LL CONTEND THAT THE FLOODING.

I'LL GIVE YOU A COROLLARY EXAMPLE.

THAT THERE'S LESS FLOODING IN THE CITY NOW THAN 20 YEARS AGO.

WE'VE ALWAYS WORKED ON SEA LEVEL RISE.

BUT FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE ABLE TO TRACE A RELATIONSHIP TO THE EFFORT, IT BECOMES IMPORTANT WHERE YOU CAN POINT AND SAY THE CITY HAS A CHIEF RESILIENCY OFFICER.

IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE WE'RE WATCHING AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

THE CDC CANNOT GET A CLEAR LINE OF COMMUNICATION ON COVID PROTOCOL.

SO IN THIS CASE, THE HUB OF THE ARTS COMMUNITY, BY DEFINITION OF THEIR MISSION STATEMENT AND BY THEIR TRACK RECORD HAS MADE THEM THE CENTRAL POINT OF DISTRIBUTING GRANTS AND BECOMING THAT HUB.

AND SO FOR US TO BE ABLE TO, IN ONE CONTRACT SUPPORT ARTS AND CULTURE IN EVERY SINGLE BROCHURE IS A CLEAN, SIMPLE FORM OF COMMUNICATION.

AND I THINK THERE'S AN ADVANTAGE TO THAT.

AND IF WE THERE'S A DISADVANTAGE BY NOT DOING IT AS THE COROLLARY.

AND SO I THINK WE'VE COVERED MOST OF THAT.

A COUPLE KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE LEASE IS THAT THERE IS A THREE YEAR INITIAL TERM.

THE CULTURAL COUNCIL WANTED THE BUILDING FOR ESSENTIALLY FREE.

WE IDENTIFIED A MONTHLY LEASE THAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND, BUT IT'S YOUR DECISION TO PUT IT IN A RESTRICTED FUND FOR LONG TERM BUILDING MAINTENANCE.

WE'VE STARTED TO DO THAT FOR MANY OF OUR FACILITIES AND THOSE.

BY THE WAY, THOSE FINANCIAL POLICIES HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED BY WALL STREET, WHICH IS PART OF WHY OUR CREDIT RATING HAS IMPROVED.

THE INTERIOR ISSUES ARE ALL THE THE CULTURAL COUNCILS, UTILITY BILLS AND SO FORTH.

ONE THING THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS THAT THE CURRENTLY THE REQUEST THE CULTURAL COUNCIL IS FOR US TO MAINTAIN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAINTAINING THE BIG ISSUES LIKE AC ROOFS, BUILDING ENVELOPES, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

[01:10:01]

ALCOHOL SALES AND SERVICE ARE ONLY ALLOWED INSIDE THE BUILDING.

BUT I THINK WE NEED TO WORK ON THAT A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE IN THE MUSIC PLATFORM, I THINK, IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE BUILDING.

SO WE HAVE SOME WORK AHEAD ON THAT.

I WOULD ALSO SAY WE NEED TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF WORK TO ADDRESS NOISE AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS BECAUSE WE HEARD ABOUT THE INTEREST OF MUSIC, AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT AND VERY DOABLE. AND THEN ALSO THAT EVENTS MAY NOT BE HELD AFTER 10 PM.

AND SO THAT'S REALLY TO MAKE A VERY STRAIGHT FORWARD CONTROL THAT THIS BUILDING IS TO BE FOR LOCAL ARTS COMMUNITIES.

IT'S LOCAL EVENTS ONLY AT THE OCCUPANCIES THAT ARE RECOGNIZED BY OUR FIRE MARSHAL, IN FACT, IN THE IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE LEASE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTROL THAT THEY CANNOT EXECUTE AGREEMENTS WITH OTHER PARTIES THAT THAT ARE BEYOND THE THE OCCUPANCIES AS IDENTIFIED.

THE REST OF THE LANGUAGE IS FAIRLY TYPICAL, SUCH AS INDEMNIFICATION, HOLD HARMLESS AND INSURANCE CLAUSES.

SO THOSE ARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS.

IT'S NOT EVERYTHING COMPLETELY.

THERE IS ANOTHER HIGHLIGHT THAT I DID NOT PUT IN THE MEMO, WHICH IS THAT IN ORDER FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STAY ON TRACK WITH THE GOALS AND MISSION THAT THE CULTURAL COUNCIL HAS TO PRODUCE A MONTHLY REPORT TO ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY AND THAT THEY SUBMIT MONTHLY, IT IS A REQUIREMENT TO SIT THAT TO OUR OFFICE SO THAT WE CAN ALWAYS PROVIDE IT TO THE PUBLIC.

PUT IT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO YOU.

AND ALSO A ONCE A YEAR PRESENTATION BY THE CULTURAL COUNCIL TO THE CITY COMMISSION AS AN END OF YEAR SUMMARY OF WORK.

AND SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS, AND WITH THAT, MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO TURN IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AGAIN, MS. PEARSTONE IS HERE AS A RESOURCE AND CAN REPRESENT THE CULTURAL CAPITAL.

I LIKE WHERE YOU'RE GOING.

I RECOGNIZE WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE WORK TO DO.

THAT'S A GOOD THING.

BUT I THINK FOR ANY NUMBER OF REASONS, IT MAKES SENSE TO HAVE THE CULTURAL COUNCIL MANAGE THIS FACILITY, TO USE IT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT THE OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.

AND I APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK THAT YOU HAVE.

YOU AND YOUR STAFF HAVE PUT INTO THIS.

I WOULD ALSO THANK YOU, JOHN, FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DID OVER THE HOLIDAY TO MAKE THIS MORE COMPLETE.

I'M HAPPY ABOUT THE THREE YEAR CHANGE FROM FIVE, JUST TO GIVE US A FEEL FOR HOW IT WORKS OUT. I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE CULTURAL COUNCIL HERE.

I THINK YOU'VE COVERED JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING I COULD THINK OF.

SO I'M DEFINITELY EXCITED AND LOOKING FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY WE CAN APPROVE THIS TONIGHT.

WELL, OK, I WAS LOOKING AT ME, SO I GUESS I'LL JUMP IN HERE.

I WAS CONCERNED INITIALLY, AS YOU KNOW, ABOUT ALLOWING AN OUTSIDE OTHER THAN THE CITY TO MANAGE THIS BUILDING.

I HAVE COME AROUND TO AGREE THAT THE CULTURAL COUNCIL MIGHT BE THE BEST CHOICE.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS, THOUGH, THAT DOES CONCERN ME AND THE LEASE DOESN'T REALLY ADDRESS THEM? YOU KNOW THIS IS A NEW BUILDING.

IT'S GOT A NEW AIR CONDITIONING.

IT'S GOT A NEW ROOF. [INAUDIBLE] ABOUT IT.

IT'S VERY UNLIKELY IT'S GOING TO BREAK DOWN IN THE NEXT THREE OR FIVE YEARS.

BUT HAVING SAID THAT, I'VE NEVER SIGNED A LEASE IN MY WORLD WHERE A COMMERCIAL LEASE THAT THERE WAS SOME RESPONSIBILITY BY THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LEASING THE BUILDING FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF THE BUILDING SHOULD THERE BE A FAILURE? I'D LIKE TO HAVE STAFF AND THE CULTURAL COUNCIL CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO PUT SOME REQUIREMENT OR SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MAINTENANCE.

FOR INSTANCE, THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM, THAT BUILDING IS $70000 TO $100000.

I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT PRICE IT SHOULD LAST 15 YEARS, RELATIVELY WITHOUT ANY ISSUES OR 20 YEARS. THIS IS A VERY SHORT TERM LEASE IN RESPECT TO THAT.

BUT HAVING SAID THAT, JUST FOR THE SAKE OF DOING THE RIGHT THING, WE HAVE A PUBLICLY FUNDED BUILDING WITH TAXPAYERS MONEY THAT WE'RE LEASING FOR $500 A MONTH, WHICH IS A VERY FAIR AMOUNT OF MONEY, PROBABLY A TENTH OF WHAT IT SHOULD BE.

AND THEY HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAINTENANCE.

HAVING SAID THAT, THEY'RE VERY UNLIKELY THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE ANY MAINTENANCE MAJOR MAINTENANCE IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

[01:15:02]

BUT FOR THE SAKE OF CONVERSATION, I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT IT.

SURE. OTHER THAN THAT, I I'M PRETTY HAPPY THAT THE CULTURAL COUNCIL WILL DO THE RIGHT THING WITH THE BUILDING, AND THE SUPPORT IS GETTING FROM THE COMMUNITY MAKES ME EXCITED ABOUT IT. SO. OK.

I WAS ABOUT TO SAY I CAN'T READ EITHER OF YOUR FACES WITH YOUR MASK ON, SO ONE OR THE OTHER OF YOU. MY COMMENTS ARE REALLY PRETTY LENGTHY AND SPECIFIC, SO I WOULD DEFER TO THE VICE MAYOR IF SHE WANTS TO GO FIRST AND GET OUT AHEAD OF THAT OR NO, NO, I'VE MADE MY POSITION VERY CLEAR, SO I'M VERY INTERESTED IN HEARING WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.

OK, THEN IN THAT CASE, I WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR THAT I'M NOT IN PRINCIPLE OPPOSED IN ANY WAY TO PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THIS HISTORIC COMMUNITY RESOURCE TO THE CULTURAL COUNCIL.

AND I DO APPRECIATE MS. PARISH STONE'S HARD WORK AND STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE AND PREPARING THIS PROPOSAL.

I HAVE TWO OVERARCHING CONCERNS AND THEN I'LL MOVE TO MY MORE SPECIFIC NOTES.

THE FIRST AND THIS KIND OF THE VICE MAYOR KIND OF BROUGHT THIS TO MY MIND AT OUR LAST MEETING. THERE'S BEEN LITTLE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO REVIEW A SPECIFIC PROPOSAL, AND THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE TO NO OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO RESPOND TO IT, ESPECIALLY AS THIS IS BEING INTRODUCED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

AND MANY PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY NOT COMFORTABLE AT ALL ABOUT BEING IN A PUBLIC MEETING DURING THIS PANDEMIC SURGE.

AND I THINK THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE.

WHAT I'M REFERRING TO WITH THIS BEING KIND OF SERVED UP BY THE VICE MAYOR FOR ME IN OUR LAST MEETING WAS THAT SHE WAS VERY FORCEFUL ABOUT RECOMMENDING THAT A LOGO FOR FISH ISLAND, A LOGO BE VETTED WITH THE PUBLIC BEFORE THE COMMISSION MAKES A BINDING DECISION.

AND THAT PROCESS, EVEN THOUGH THE PUBLIC DID HAVE SOME OPPORTUNITY, ARGUABLY THAT WAS INADEQUATE FOR PUBLIC INPUT.

FOR THIS LOGO, WE DECIDED TO POSTPONE THAT DECISION ABOUT THE LOGO FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS.

AND I RESPECTFULLY HAVE TO REQUEST THAT A MINIMUM MINIMUM OF THE SAME DELAY FOR A MUCH MORE COMPLEX PROPOSAL, SUCH AS THIS ONE THAT IS A TAXPAYER FUNDED BUILDING, BE VETTED BY THE PUBLIC SO THAT THEY CAN FULLY ENGAGE IN REVIEWING THE PROPOSAL AND RESPONDING TO IT SPECIFICALLY, AS I WOULD LIKE TO DO IN THE NEXT FEW MINUTES, AT LEAST WITH THIS FIRST DRAFT OF THE PROPOSAL AND GIVE US THEIR HONEST ASSESSMENT OF IT.

THERE ARE CONSTITUENTS AND I WANT TO HEAR FROM THEM.

SECONDLY, THE PROVISION AND THE CITY MANAGER SORT OF ALLUDED TO THIS IN A WAY THE PROVISION OF ADEQUATE.

AND HERE I'M QUOTING FROM THE PROPOSAL QUOTE EVENT SPACE FOR COMMUNITY MEETINGS.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT NOT KNOWING WHAT THAT DEMAND WILL BE.

I SAID THAT THE LAST TIME THIS PROPOSAL CAME BEFORE US, WE CAN'T KNOW WHAT THE DEMAND FROM OUR COMMUNITY WILL BE UNLESS WE HAVE ADEQUATE SPACE AND WE TEST WHETHER THAT SPACE IS USED TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT.

AND IF IT'S NOT, THEN CLEARLY ONE OF MY MAJOR CONCERNS, WHICH I'LL TALK ABOUT NEXT WON'T BE AS MUCH OF A CONCERN IF WE DON'T HAVE MAXIMAL USE OF THE BUILDING AND ALL ITS SPACES.

SO AND DO A LITTLE BIT OF MATH RIGHT HERE.

ACTUALLY, COULD I ASK ONE OF THE STAFF TO BRING UP EXHIBIT B? THANK YOU, MS. BREIDENSTEIN.

SO THE CULTURAL COUNCIL IS PROPOSING HAVING TWO OFFICE SPACES THAT ARE IDENTIFIED ON THIS PROPOSAL IN THIS EXHIBIT AS BEING OFFICES, DEDICATED OFFICES, FULL TIME.

ONE IS 250 SQUARE FEET, THE OTHER IS TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY SEVEN.

THAT'S A TOTAL OF FIVE HUNDRED AND TWENTY SEVEN SQUARE FEET.

I'M EXCLUDING IN THE NEXT POINT THAT I'M GOING TO MAKE THE 251 SQUARE FOOT PREP OR BREAK ROOM, DEPENDING ON WHICH PART OF THE PROPOSAL YOU'RE READING, AS WELL AS THE STORAGE ROOM, WHICH IS AROUND 100 SOMETHING SQUARE FEET.

SO. AND THEN FINALLY, THERE'S A 1348 SQUARE FOOT QUOTE UNQUOTE OPEN ASSEMBLY ROOM FOR ACTUAL USABLE COMMUNITY SPACE.

WHEN THOSE OFFICES AND THAT PREP ROOM AND BREAK ROOM AND STORAGE AND AND RESTROOMS ARE EXCLUDED. THAT TOTAL COMMUNITY SPACE THEN IS COMES DOWN TO ABOUT 1875 SQUARE FEET.

SO THE PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL SPACE THAT WOULD BE OCCUPIED BY OFFICES IF MY MATH IS RIGHT IS ABOUT 28 PERCENT.

[01:20:01]

THAT'S NEARLY A THIRD OF THE BUILDING, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE A DEMAND FOR PART OF THAT SPACE OR ALL OF THAT SPACE IN MEETING COMMUNITY NEEDS.

SO THAT'S A REAL CONCERN THAT I HAVE.

THE NEXT POINT I WANT TO MAKE IS THAT.

THE THE OK.

I JUST WANT TO MOVE ON TO THE POINT THAT THIS THE TERMS OF THE GRANT INCLUDE THAT THIS SPACE BE DEDICATED TO THE COMMUNITY AND THESE OFFICES, I, I WOULD ARGUE, ARE NOT NECESSARILY DEVOTED TO THE COMMUNITY.

I CAN CERTAINLY SEE THE NEED FOR ONE OFFICE FOR A PRESENCE THERE FIVE DAYS A WEEK AND ON SPECIAL EVENTS AND SO FORTH.

BUT TWO OFFICES, I'M HAVING A HARD TIME JUSTIFYING.

I LIKE THAT WE WENT TO A THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE A THREE YEAR LEASE.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE FLEXIBILITY OF THE FROM THE PROPOSER WITH THE CULTURAL COUNCIL. AND THEN I'M GOING TO GO TO A PREVIOUS GRANT PROPOSAL AND THIS ONE GOES BACK TO THE ST.

AUGUSTINE REHABILITATION PHASE THREE APPLICATION OF 2018.

AND IT'S IN REGARDS TO AND I'M GOING TO SLOW DOWN A LITTLE BIT HERE.

SO WE MAKE SURE WE GET THESE NOTES FOR THE LOCATION TO FOLLOW UP ON ITS UNDER PRIORITY RESERVATIONS. IT'S NUMBER FIVE IN THAT APPLICATION ON PAGE 58 AND 59 AND ON PAGE 12, SECTION G5.

IT SPECIFICALLY REFERS TO THE FLORIDA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND AND ITS STUDENTS HAVING ACCESS AS PATRONS, QUOTE UNQUOTE OR QUOTE UNQUOTE CONTRIBUTORS TO INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS. THIS IS IN OUR GRANT PROPOSAL THAT WAS ACCEPTED.

I WANT TO KNOW WHETHER THE FSDB HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND WHY ARE THEY NOT INCLUDED THEN, AS ONE OF THE PRIORITY USERS THAT'S IDENTIFIED IN THE PROPOSAL, I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT ADDRESSED.

IT REFERS TO QUOTE UNQUOTE HISTORIC MARKERS AND OR INTERPRETIVE PANELS WHO WILL SEE THESE THROUGH AND HOW WOULD THEY BE FUNDED? I'D LIKE TO KNOW THAT.

WE WE DID TALK ABOUT THE REDUCTION, THE REDUCED LEASE AND THE STRATEGIES FOR THE COUNTY TOLERATING THAT MAYBE FOR A LITTLE BETTER BY HAVING A REDUCED LEASE RATE OF $500 FOR THAT ENTIRE SPACE FOR THE CULTURAL COUNCIL.

GIVEN THAT THEY'RE GIVING US A LOT OF A LOT OF THINGS BACK, BUT WE DON'T REALLY TALK ABOUT IN THE IN THE ASSESSMENT DONE BY THE STAFF OF THE LOSS OF MARKET RATE REVENUE TO THE TAXPAYERS, WHICH, AS MY COLLEAGUE INDICATED, COULD BE AS MUCH AS FIVE TIMES HIGHER THAN THAT $500 A MONTH.

I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE TIGHTER LANGUAGE ON THE ON ON WHAT THE CULTURAL COUNCIL IS DOING IN TERMS OF WHAT IS.

MAYBE WE COULD GET AN ANNUAL ASSESSMENT OF THE COMMUNITY USE.

WHAT ARE THE REQUESTS? WHAT REQUESTS ARE, YOU KNOW, GRANTED WHICH ONES HAVE TO TAKE A BACKSEAT AND DON'T GET THEIR REQUEST MET? I'D REALLY LIKE TO HAVE THAT AS PART OF THIS PROPOSAL AS A REPORTING ELEMENT.

MOVING ON, THERE IS IN THE DRAFT LEASE UNDER NO.

TWO APPLICATION PROCESS.

THAT'S ON PAGE 58 OF OUR PACKET IN THE SEVENTH LINE DOWN.

THE WORDING CONSISTENTLY AND NOT I'M SORRY, NOT CONSISTENTLY, BUT IN SEVERAL PLACES IN THAT DRAFT LEASE IS LITERALLY QUOTE CULTURAL CENTER.

I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT CHANGE.

THIS IS A COMMUNITY CENTER FIRST, AND CULTURE AND ARTS ARE FABULOUS AND IT'S IN OUR VISION PLAN AND IT'S IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.

BUT THIS IS FIRST AND FOREMOST A COMMUNITY BUILDING, AND THAT'S WHAT THE GRANT TERMS REQUIRE. AND THAT'S THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS, THANK YOU.

I CERTAINLY DO NOT HAVE ANY INTENTION OF APPROVING A LEASE THIS EVENING, I THINK WE STILL HAVE SOME LOOSE ENDS.

I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF TAKING TWO MONTHS TO BRING IT BACK.

THIS IDEA I ORIGINALLY HAD COMMUNICATION FROM COMMUNITY GROUPS MONTHS AGO.

THE DEDICATION OCCURRED MONTHS AGO, SO THIS IS NOT A NEW IDEA.

I'M DELIGHTED TO HEAR IF THERE ARE NEW IDEAS, BUT I ALSO WANT TO MOVE FORWARD.

AND SO MY SUGGESTION IS PERHAPS THE FEBRUARY 14TH MEETING, IF IT'S NOT COOKED, IF IT'S NOT BAKED, IF IT'S NOT READY AT THE 14TH, OBVIOUSLY WE CAN CONTINUE IT.

[01:25:02]

BUT I CERTAINLY HAVE NO INTENTION OF VOTING TO FINALIZE ANYTHING THIS EVENING.

PLEASE GO AHEAD AND WEIGH IN, SO I HAVE PREPARED A FEW NOTES TONIGHT, BUT YOU KNOW, THE LAST TIME WE DISCUSSED THAT, I WAS PRETTY CLEAR ON HOW YOU KNOW WHERE MY SUPPORT IS.

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE CONCERNS THAT WERE PRESENTED.

I DO BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE BEEN TAKING PUBLIC COMMENT FOR YEARS ON THE BUILDING.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY OPEN HOUSES WE'VE HAD, AND I SPECIFICALLY REMEMBER GOING TO THE GRANT PANEL AND SAYING AT ONE POINT WE DID NOT HAVE AN END USER BECAUSE NO ONE HAD STEPPED FORWARD, YOU KNOW, AT THE TIME.

SO WE HAVE BEEN ASKING AND MAYBE NOT HEARING WHAT WE LIKED, I DON'T KNOW, BUT WE HAVE BEEN ASKING AND WE HAVE BEEN HEARING FOR A LONG TIME.

SO I'D LIKE TO JUST THROW THAT OUT.

BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT I AM FEELING IN A HURRY ABOUT THIS.

AS MUCH AS I WAS AT THE LAST MEETING, I WAS VERY MUCH IN A HURRY AT THE LAST MEETING.

BUT I UNDERSTAND I GOT A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF IT AND AHEAD OF YOU GUYS, SO MY APOLOGIES.

BUT I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A PROCESS.

I THINK WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO TAKE PUBLIC INPUT ON IT.

I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD EVER, EVER SHUT THAT DOOR, AND I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT.

I DON'T HAVE ANY HEARTBURN ABOUT THE OFFICE SPACE.

I THINK IT'S A VERY GOOD USE OF THE BUILDING.

I THINK THERE'S LOTS OF OUTDOOR SPACE.

I THINK IT'LL BE WELL USED.

I THINK THESE ARE VERY SHARP PEOPLE THAT ARE USED TO WORKING IN PROBABLY TIGHT, VERY TIGHT SPACES. I'M IMPRESSED.

WE DO HAVE GOOD A GOOD RECORD AS A CITY, GOOD TRACK RECORD OF WORKING WITH THE YACHT CLUB, THE WOMEN'S EXCHANGE WITH THE PACKHOUSE, WITH THE LIGHTNER.

WE HAVE A LITTLE WE HAVE GOOD EXPERIENCE AND I THINK WE HAVE.

SOME SOME GOOD BACKGROUND TO FALL BACK ON AS FAR AS THAT'S CONCERNED, SO I FEEL A LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE. I'M IMPRESSED BY THE DEPTH OF SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY FOR THIS VENUE, AND I LIKE THE TERM THAT WAS SPOKEN BY ONE OF THE SPEAKERS.

AND I JUST ADD IT TO BEING THIS WOULD BE AN ARTS, CULTURE AND EDUCATIONAL CENTERPIECE FOR ST. AUGUSTINE AND ST. JOHN'S COUNTY, AND I VERY MUCH ATTRACTED TO THAT IDEA.

I I DON'T NECESSARILY FEEL LIKE IT NEEDS TO BE CALLED A COMMUNITY CENTER.

I THINK WE CAN BE SPECIFIC AND SAYING ARTS, CULTURE AND EDUCATION, BECAUSE THAT'S OUR VISION, THAT'S IN OUR VISION, THAT'S IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.

UM, SO MY MY THE THINGS THAT I REALLY LIKE ABOUT IT IS WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE ACCESSIBILITY TO THE COMMUNITY AND A WONDERFUL, INCREDIBLE BUILDING.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE'LL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A GOOD STEWARDSHIP OF A HISTORIC RESOURCE, WHICH HAS BEEN THE GOAL FROM DAY ONE HAS BEEN THE NUMBER ONE GOAL TO AN ORGANIZATION THAT APPRECIATES HISTORIC RESOURCES.

I THINK IT PRESENTS A VERY GOOD IMAGE FOR THE CITY TO BE WORKING WITH THE CULTURAL COUNCIL. I THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO BE PROVIDING GREAT ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR CITIZENS TO COME TOGETHER AND SOCIABLE SPACES, FOSTERING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY, WHICH IS BASICALLY THE DEFINITION OF TRIANGULATION, WHICH IS SOMETHING THE CITY MANAGER AND I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS ENTIRE SPACE FOR A LONG TIME.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU RECALL, BUT THE FLORIDA TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION HAD HAD THEIR CONVENTION HERE, YOUR ANNUAL MEETING HERE IN ST.

AUGUSTINE, AND WE ACTUALLY DID A CHARETTE ON THE WATERWORKS.

AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE IDEAS THAT CAME OUT OF IT WAS A CULTURAL CENTER, A COMMUNITY CENTER, AN ART CENTER, A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AS PART OF JUST ONE PART OF THE PARK SPACE AND THE LIBRARY SPACE, AND THE ENTRANCE FROM THE NORTH TO THE CITY, WHICH WE'VE ACTUALLY CREATED.

SO IT'S IT'S REALLY COOL TO ME TO SEE HOW THIS IS ALL COMING TOGETHER.

THESE IDEAS HAVE BEEN THOUGHT BUBBLES FOR A LONG TIME, AND I LOVE TO SEE THAT IT'S.

THAT IT'S STARTING TO ACTUALIZE, AND I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO PARTNER WITH A CULTURAL COUNCIL.

THANK YOU VICE MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

I WOULD MAKE A MOTION THAT WE DIRECT CITY STAFF TO TAKE IN THE SPECIFIC COMMENTS, SPECIFICALLY BY COMMISSIONER VALDES AND COMMISSIONER BLONDER TO RESPOND TO THOSE

[01:30:01]

APPROPRIATELY WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT WE WOULD SEE THIS AGAIN ON OUR FEBRUARY 14 AGENDA. I'LL SECOND.

HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

FURTHER DISCUSSION.

SEEING NONE, YES, MR. REGAN. MR. MAYOR, IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION, I DO WANT TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF CONSENSUS AND CLARIFICATION ON A COUPLE ITEMS HERE.

PLEASE. WELL, NO, LET'S LET'S LET'S VOTE ON THE MOTION FIRST, THEN WE CAN GIVE YOU THE SPECIFIC RESPONSE.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ALL IN FAVOR OF PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THANK YOU, MR. REGAN. OK. SO PROCEDURALLY, WE NEED TO TAKE ALL THESE COMMENTS AND PARTICULARLY THE COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONER BLONDER, THAT WE LOST SOME CONTINUITY WITH STAFF WHEN JENNY LEFT WITH REGARD TO GRANT TERMS. THAT IS A GREAT POINT, BUT ONE THING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THIS MORNING IS THAT ONCE WE HAVE A DOCUMENT THAT WE THINK YOU COULD APPROVE, I TALKED THIS MORNING WITH OUR COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR ABOUT A REALLY BIG COMMUNITY OUTREACH PUSH TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC WITH ALL OF OUR DIFFERENT PLATFORMS TO REALLY HONOR THAT, THE COMMITMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC KNOWS WHAT WE'RE DOING AND THAT WOULD, YOU KNOW, INCLUDE THE ABILITY TO DOWNLOAD THE LEASE AND ALL THOSE TYPES OF DETAILS PROCEDURALLY.

ONCE WE HAVE A DOCUMENT THAT THAT WE THINK IS GOING TO WORK, IT NEEDS TO BE PRESENTED FIRST TO THE CULTURAL COUNCIL BOARD AND THEN TO THE CITY COMMISSION.

BECAUSE THE COMMISSION IS THE LAST SIGNATORY.

THE THE THINGS THAT I JUST NEED A LITTLE BIT OF CLARIFICATION ON IS THAT THE SENSE IN NAMING? I THINK THAT'S KIND OF AN IMPORTANT CONCEPT.

YOU KNOW WHAT TO NAME IT.

I'VE KIND OF HEARD TWO DIFFERENT VIEWS OF AND WE CAN PUT IN THE CONTRACT, WHAT TO NAME IT. SO THE GALLIMORE IS A COMMUNITY CENTER, COMMUNITY CENTER.

IT'S GREAT. MANY CITIES HAVE CULTURAL CENTERS, THE THOMAS.

CAN'T WE JUST CALL IT THE WATERWORKS BUILDING? WE COULD DO THAT. DO I SEE CONSENSUS? OK, THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING.

ALL RIGHT. THE OTHER THING ALSO, I THINK IT'S A DESCRIPTIVE TERM.

I THINK CULTURAL CENTER IS A DESCRIPTIVE TERM, BUT I THINK THE NAME OF IT IS ALWAYS BEEN WATERWORKS. OK, I'LL WORK ON IT, AND THEN THE THE OTHER THING THAT I JUST WANT TO BRING UP IS THAT THE THE MUSIC PLATFORM IN THE BACK, THE LEASE IS FOR THE INTERIOR, THE SPACE AND THE MUSIC PLATFORM.

AND WHEN WE FIRST WROTE THE LEASE OR WHEN WHEN MS. LOPEZ WROTE THE LEASE, WE HAD SOME DIFFERENT IDEAS ABOUT FENCING AND CONCEPTS AND SO FORTH. BUT RIGHT NOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THIS ISSUE OF ALCOHOL THAT IF THERE'S A RECEPTION AND BECAUSE THAT'S INTRINSIC TO MUCH OF WHAT HAPPENS IN ARTS AND CULTURE, THE ABILITY TO STEP OUTSIDE THE BUILDING.

SO I WOULD UPDATE THAT AND PUT SOME CONTROLS ON HOW TO INCORPORATE THE MUSIC.

THE MUSIC PLATFORM IN THAT, THAT'S ONE THING WE DIDN'T REALLY TALK ABOUT, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S ON OUR MIND.

OK, MAY I MAY I JUST MAKE ONE COMMENT HERE? I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS, YOU KNOW, OUTDOOR AND MUSIC AND THINGS. I THINK AND I THINK THIS IS NOT AN OBSTACLE.

IT'S JUST SOMETHING TO BE WORKED ON AND BE AWARE OF.

IS THAT THERE, YOU KNOW, CHILDREN ARE PLAYING IN THE PARK AND THE LIBRARY IS SORT OF A QUIET ZONE.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE CHILDREN ARE GOING TO HEAR BE HEARING WHATEVER IT IS THAT'S GOING ON.

AND THAT MAY BE WONDERFUL THING.

AND BUT IT MAY NOT.

I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW YET, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO, I MEAN, THERE'S GOING TO BE BIRTHDAY PARTIES GOING ON AND, YOU KNOW, THAT SORT OF THING.

I'M NOT SUGGESTING.

I THINK ORIGINALLY I'D SAID, OR MAYBE IT'S A QUIET ZONE, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY A QUIET ZONE. BUT I THINK WE NEED TO BE SENSITIVE OF THE OTHER USES AND HOW YOU SHAPE THAT AND WHAT HOURS YOU ALLOW AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

AS FAR AS I THINK YOU SAID, ALCOHOL NEEDS TO BE CONTAINED WITHIN THE BUILDING, NO ALCOHOL OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING.

IS THAT CORRECT? EXCEPT I WOULD.

I WOULD ADVOCATE FOR THE MUSIC PLATFORM FOR THE MUSIC PLATFORM.

OK, WELL, THERE HAS TO BE SOME SENSITIVITY THERE BECAUSE THERE IS THE PARK NEXT DOOR.

SO WE DO HAVE SOME WORK TO DO RIGHT ON THAT.

AND THAT'S ALL I WAS.

OK. MR. REGAN.

ANY FURTHER DIRECTION YOU NEED FROM THE COMMISSION? NO, THANK YOU.

DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE AS A PART OF YOUR REPORT THIS EVENING? JUST JUST A QUICK UPDATE ON COVID.

[01:35:03]

WE HAVE 38 EMPLOYEES OUT WITH COVID TODAY, BUT I DON'T THINK WE'VE MISSED ANY SERVICE LEVELS ANYWHERE.

WE'VE BEEN MOVING PEOPLE AROUND.

MS. BREIDENSTEIN HAS BEEN DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB OF MAKING SURE RESOURCES ARE WHERE THEY NEED TO BE TO TO TO SERVE THE PUBLIC.

SO THAT'S AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR US, OF COURSE, AND FOR THE PUBLIC THAT IF ANYTHING MIGHT BE A LITTLE SLOW, A GARBAGE SERVICE, A LITTLE PICK UP A LITTLE LATER IN THE AFTERNOON OR SOMETHING. PLEASE, PLEASE BEAR WITH US.

THANK YOU. IT IS NOW TIME FOR ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS TO

[14. ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS]

START WITH COMMISSIONER VALDES.

YES, I WANTED TO THANK STAFF FOR THE HARD WORK THEY'RE DOING DURING THIS COVID PANDEMIC.

I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO WORK SHORT STAFFED.

WE'RE ALL DOING IT TO ONE DEGREE OR ANOTHER AND SOMETHING THE SIZE OF THE CITY.

KEEPING IT WORKING IN THIS CONDITIONS IS CHALLENGING.

I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT I'M HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE GOT OUR MANATEE SIGNS UP AND OR SLOW SIGNS IN OUR VARIOUS WATERWAYS, WHICH HAS TAKEN A WHILE.

BUT IT'S GOOD TO SEE IT, AND I'M SURE THE MANATEES WILL APPRECIATE IT AS WELL.

I KNOW MY PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON MY BOATS IN THE MARINA WILL CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE LAKE SOUNDS. THANK YOU FOR THAT AS WELL.

THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HORVATH.

I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY IT'S VERY NICE TO SEE SOME STUDENTS HERE TODAY INTERESTED IN GOVERNMENT AND WELCOME YOU TO COME BACK.

AND I WANTED TO WISH EVERYBODY A HAPPY NEW YEAR AND I'M EXCITED FOR THIS NEXT YEAR.

AND WHAT WILL WE'LL BE ACCOMPLISHING? THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER BLONDER.

I HAVE SEVERAL THINGS AND IT'S PART.

THE FIRST ONE IS PARTLY IN RESPONSE TO A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT I THINK I WOULD IMAGINE THAT SEVERAL OF US RECEIVED EMAILS ABOUT, BUT IT'S BECOMING CLEAR TO EVERYBODY.

I THINK THAT THE HOLIDAY PERIOD HAS BECOME BURDENSOME AND BURDENSOME ON BOTH STAFF AND OUR RESIDENTS.

EVEN OUR VISITORS ARE NOTICING SOME OF THE THE UNINTENTIONAL CONSEQUENCES OF CROWDING AND SO FORTH. AND WE I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST TO STAFF THAT THEY REVIEW.

I KNOW THIS IS ON THEIR AGENDA ALREADY, BUT I SUPPORT THEIR INITIATIVE TO REVIEW SOME MITIGATION ACTIONS, SUCH AS, PERHAPS FOR ONE EXAMPLE, UPDATING THE HOLLY JOLLY AGREEMENTS. YOU KNOW, I'M GETTING COMPLAINTS ABOUT BOTH NOISE, BATHROOM SMELLS AND TRASH LITTER. AND AND THAT'S THAT'S NOT HOW I WOULD DEFINE A VIBRANT CITY.

NONE OF THOSE ELEMENTS BELONG HERE, AND WE'RE WE'RE REALLY LOSING.

I THINK I'M AFRAID WE'RE LOSING OUR EDGE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.

AND IT'S NOT JUST THE HOLIDAY PERIOD, BUT THAT'S SORT OF ALWAYS BRINGS IT TO A HEAD.

SO I THINK WE NEED TO BE LOOKING MORE GLOBALLY AT WHO WE WANT TO BE AS A CITY, WHAT WE WANT TO REFLECT AND HOW WE CAN KEEP OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND GAIN SOME OF IT BACK, SOME OF WHAT WE'VE LOST BACK.

AND I'VE USED THE TERM CARRYING CAPACITY.

I THINK WE'VE EXCEEDED IT AGAIN AND WE DON'T HAVE AN END IN SIGHT.

THE PARKING GARAGE HAS RECORD NUMBERS AGAIN AND THIS IS AGAIN DURING A PANDEMIC.

IT'S JUST ON. IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE OMICRON CURVE A LITTLE BIT.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A J CURVE AND AND WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, FIND A WAY TO TO MAKE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE SUSTAINABLE AND REGAIN SOME OF IT.

ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I'M NOTICING JUST IN DRIVING AROUND, ESPECIALLY AGAIN DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT, IT'S REALLY CONCERNING TO ME, SAFETY WISE, THAT THERE ARE HORSE CARRIAGES, BICYCLE TAXIS, SCOOTERS.

I DON'T KNOW GOLF CARTS, WHATEVER ALL THESE THINGS ARE, ARE ON THE SAME ROADWAYS.

OUR MAIN THOROUGHFARES AS VEHICLES THAT ARE BIG TRUCKS AND DELIVERY TRUCKS, WHATEVER THEY SEEM TO BE INCOMPATIBLE IN A RECIPE FOR A REAL TRAGEDY.

AND I WANT TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN MAYBE REROUTE SOME OF THESE CONVEYANCES SO THAT THERE IS NOT THAT CONFLICT BETWEEN VEHICLES THAT ARE MUCH MORE SLOWER MOVING AND THOSE THAT ARE IN A HURRY TO GET SOMEWHERE.

AND THEN FINALLY, THERE'S A PROPOSAL BEFORE THE PCB RIGHT NOW THAT THEY ARE GRAPPLING WITH, AND THAT BRINGS TO MIND THE OPEN LANDS ZONING CRITERIA THAT WE HAVE.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO REVISIT THAT CRITERIA.

THAT ZONING CLASSIFICATION AND ITS PURPOSE, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO OUR COMPREHENSIVE

[01:40:07]

PLAN IN PARTICULAR, ARE OUR FUTURE LAND USE MAPS AND ALSO OUR CONSERVATION ZONES OR BUFFER ZONES. SO I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THAT OPEN LAND ZONING.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE WITH ME TONIGHT.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

VICE MAYOR SIKES-KLINE, I ONLY HAD TWO THINGS THE SPEED SIGNS ON RIBERIA, WHICH I'M NEVER SURE WHETHER TO BRING THAT UP AFTER RIGHT AFTER, WHEN, WHEN THE, YOU KNOW, THE SPEAKER IS STILL IN THE ROOM BECAUSE SOMETIMES THEY LEAVE.

AND IF I WAIT TO THE END, THEN I THEY MAY NOT BE HERE AND MAY NOT HEAR THE FEEDBACK.

SO BUT ANYWAY, I THINK IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE SOME JUST TO HELP REMIND PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, RIBERIA STREET NEEDS TO BE SLOWED DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

WELL, WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST IS AND AND THAT MAY WELL BE THE SOLUTION, BUT PERHAPS THE POLICE CHIEF AND MR. FRANKLIN CAN, WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S SUPERVISION, COME BACK WITH SOME TYPE OF REPORT.

IT'S ASTONISHING.

THERE ARE, I THINK, AS THE SPEAKER SAID, IF IN FACT THERE ARE 19 HOMES UNDER CONSTRUCTION ON RIBERIA STREET, THAT'S FASCINATING.

UM. YOU SHOULD GO DOWN AND SEE THEM.

WELL, I'VE SEEN SOME, BUT SO I WOULD ASK.

MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE THAT WE ASKED THE POLICE CHIEF AND MR. FRANKLIN AND MR. REGAN TO COME BACK WITH WITH SO CALMING, TRAFFIC CALMING.

YES, YES, PARTICULARLY.

IT'S FASCINATING THE FACT THAT MANY OF THESE HOMES ARE BEING BUILT SPECIFICALLY FOR THE AIRBNB MARKET, WHICH IS GOING TO SATURATE THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I'VE ALWAYS WONDERED, WE DON'T HAVE SPEED TABLES ON RIBERIA STREET.

I WOULD HAVE HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE TRANSIT OF HEAVY VEHICLES.

HAULING BOATS BACK AND FORTH FROM THE YARDS, I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY HAVE OUR GARBAGE TRUCKS. YEAH, IT MAY NOT BE PRACTICAL.

I DON'T KNOW. MAYBE THEY'VE LOOKED, BUT THAT'S WHAT.

THAT'S WHERE WE'LL GET SOME QUESTIONS.

WE'LL HEAR FROM THEM.

AND THEN THE OTHER THING WAS THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS GET THE EMAILS.

I MIGHT HAVE MENTIONED THIS TO YOU BEFORE, BUT THEY SENT AN EMAIL OUT TODAY ABOUT THEIR AD-VO-KIT. SO IT'S CUTE.

ADVO-KIT TWO WORDS.

YEAH, AND THERE YOU GO.

IT'S REALLY A TOOLKIT FOR ADVOCACY, AND IT'S A RESOURCE AVAILABLE TO YOU.

AND I THINK THE SESSION, WE'RE ALL GOING TO NEED TO BE ENGAGED AND BE ABLE TO GET ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET. I'D LIKE TO SEE I DISCUSS WITH CITY MANAGER.

I LIKE TO SEE SOME RESOLUTIONS PRESENTED WHEN WE GET A LITTLE BIT MORE REFINED ON WHERE WE STAND ON THESE AT LEAST THREE ONEROUS BILLS THAT HAVE COULD HAVE AN EFFECT ON US.

WE'VE HAD THEM IN THE PAST.

I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH THEY ARE, BUT IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO GO TO TALLAHASSEE WITH A RESOLUTION IN THE HAND SAYING MY WHOLE COMMISSION SUPPORTS THIS.

SO IF WE COULD WORK ON THOSE AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO DO THAT.

THAT'S IT. THANK YOU.

I WANTED TO UNDERSCORE COMMISSIONERS WANDA'S CONCERN ABOUT OUR NIGHT OF LIGHTS.

AND I THINK ONCE WE TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AT THE END OF THE MONTH, THAT THAT WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE TIME FOR US REALLY TO REVISIT.

THERE'S NOT MUCH PEACEFUL GOING ON.

AND AND I'VE BEEN DOWN A NUMBER OF TIMES DURING THE HOLIDAYS.

I WOULD SAY I WAS DOWN SATURDAY NIGHT AND THE STREETS LOOKED BEAUTIFUL.

THERE WAS ONE FULL TRASH CAN, BUT ST GEORGE STREET LOOKED PRISTINE AND THIS WAS 8:30-9:00 AT NIGHT.

SO I KNOW IT'S A MASSIVE CHALLENGE, BUT AT LEAST IT LOOKED LIKE WE WERE WINNING JUST FROM A CLEANLINESS POINT OF VIEW ON SATURDAY NIGHT.

I RECEIVE PROBABLY TWO TO THREE EMAILS A WEEK FROM VISITORS ABOUT OUR HOMELESS FOLKS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

I'M GETTING PRETTY ADEPT AT TRYING TO SEND A THOUGHTFUL RESPONSE, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THAT CONTINUES AND THESE ARE PRIMARILY FROM VISITORS, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE GOT TO KEEP IN OUR AND PARTICULARLY AS WE LOOK AT AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE TIME TO TRANSITION.

THAT JUST A LITTLE BIT TO LOOK AT HOMELESS AS WELL.

I COULD NOT AGREE WITH YOU ANY MORE ABOUT THESE KIND OF.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO CALL THEM EXACTLY THESE NONTRADITIONAL MODES OF TRANSPORTATION, THE CARRIAGES IN PARTICULAR MOVING FROM THE BAY FRONT TO MAKE THE LEFT HAND TURN ONTO ORANGE STREET IS JUST FRIGHTENING, IT'S BAD, IT'S WRONG, IT'S

[01:45:09]

AND IF NOTHING ELSE, WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT IT'S THIS COUNTERCLOCKWISE ROUTE, AND I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO REIMAGINE THE CARRIAGES.

AND OF COURSE, AS I'M SURE YOU RECENTLY RECEIVED, AND THESE ARE, I THINK, ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY FROM OUT OF TOWN, YOU KNOW, THE THE SEMIANNUAL BATCH OF OF ANTI CARRIAGE LETTERS. MY CONCERN IS SAFETY, TRAFFIC MOVEMENT AND AGAIN, THE CALMING AND I'M VERY ANXIOUS TO TO RECEIVE AND TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSAL ON KING STREET.

SO I HOPE THAT STAFF IS REALLY FOCUSED ON FINALIZING THAT DEAL AND BRINGING IT BACK FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE COMMISSION.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE COMMISSIONERS.

I WOULD JOIN IN WELCOME FOR THE NEW YEAR AND HOPEFUL EXPECTATION.

THERE BEING NOTHING ELSE TO COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION.

WE ARE ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.

Jan 10, 2022 City Commission

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