5. Invited Speakers; • Victor Ramos, CEO, St. Augustine and St. Johns County Board of Realtors (10 Min) • Bill Lazar, Executive Director, St. Johns Housing Partnership (10min)

[5. Invited Speakers; • Victor Ramos, CEO, St. Augustine and St. Johns County Board of Realtors (10 Min) • Bill Lazar, Executive Director, St. Johns Housing Partnership (10min)]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.

AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST TO ENGAGE THE CITY AND COUNTY IN THESE DISCUSSIONS OF AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR AND HONORABLE COMMISSIONERS AND MR. REGAN, THE CITY MANAGER.

I-- LIKE THEY SAID I'M THE ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE FOR THE ST.

AUGUSTINE ST. JOHN'S COUNTY BOARD OF REALTORS AND MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE.

MY BACKGROUND, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF IT HERE IN ST.

AUGUSTINE. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE CHAMBER AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL.

I HAVE BEEN ON THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE WITH THE COUNTY.

I WAS ON THE HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY WITH THE COUNTY AS WELL.

I USUALLY LIKE TO FOLLOW THE HONORABLE MR. BILL LAZAR, BECAUSE HE USUALLY HAS A LOT OF GOOD TALKING POINTS IN--.

THE BELOVED? [LAUGHTER] THE BELOVED. THE BELOVED.

YES, YES, THE BELOVED AND HONORABLE MR. BILL LAZAR, BECAUSE WHATEVER HE SAYS, I JUST COME UP AFTER HIM AND SAY DITTO.

SO, BUT I'LL TRY TO PRESENT SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE OF INTEREST AND VALUE TO YOU.

IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING THE LACK THEREOF? IS IT REALLY A PROBLEM IN ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY? AND THE ANSWER IS A RESOUNDING YES, BECAUSE IF YOU GO AND TALK TO THE EMPLOYERS IN THE COUNTY AND YOU ASK THEM HOW EASY OR DIFFICULT IS IT TO HIRE EMPLOYEES TO WORK WITH THEM? THEY'LL TELL YOU IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.

IT'S DIFFICULT BECAUSE THE EMPLOYEES THEY'RE TRYING TO HIRE, CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE IN ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY. THEY HAVE TO LIVE IN HASTINGS OR [INAUDIBLE] OR THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY AND THEN DRIVE IN.

AND SO WHAT THAT DOES IS IT CREATES MORE OF A OF A TRAFFIC PROBLEM WITH THEM COMING IN AND LEAVING EVERY DAY.

YOU ALSO LOSE REVENUE BECAUSE THEY SPEND THEIR DOLLARS BACK WHERE THEY LIVE IN THE TOWN OR THE COMMUNITY WHERE THEY LIVE.

AND SO YOU LOSE OUT ON THAT.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT.

IT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND THANK YOU FOR LOOKING AT IT IN THIS MANNER.

I HAVE A FEW STATISTICS I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU.

RIGHT NOW, PROPERTY OWNERS ARE CHARGING MORE FOR THEIR SINGLE FAMILY RENTALS AS DEMAND SOARS. AS YOU KNOW, THE HOUSING MARKET IS RED HOT.

THERE'S A LACK OF INVENTORY OF HOMES AVAILABLE FOR SALE.

THE INTEREST RATES HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY LOW, EXTREMELY LOW.

[00:40:03]

THEY'VE JUST GONE UP JUST A NOTCH.

BUT IT BUT THAT DRIVES THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THOSE PROPERTIES TO SELL, AND THE DEMAND IS GREAT. SO THE PRICES ARE GOING UP.

I DON'T THINK ANY OF YOU WHO HAVE GONE OUT AND LOOKED AT HOUSES CAN'T ESCAPE THE FEELING THAT IT IS INCREASING DRAMATICALLY THE PRICE OF HOMES.

WHEN THE PRICE OF HOMES INCREASE LIKE THAT, IT CAUSES THE RENTAL MARKET TO ALSO INCREASE BECAUSE THERE'S NO THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY HOMES, SO THEY RENT UP PROPERTY.

AND SO THOSE RATES GO UP.

SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL PRICES CONTINUE TO RAPIDLY INCREASE WITH RECORD GROWTH.

IN NOVEMBER OF 2021, ONE SINGLE FAMILY RENT GROWTH NATIONALLY ROSE 11.5 PERCENT YEAR OVER YEAR. AN ANNUAL RENT PRICE GROWTH HAS CONTINUED TO DOUBLE AND EVEN TRIPLE IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS IN SOME MARKETS.

FOR INSTANCE, MIAMI BEACH POSTED THE HIGHEST YEAR OVER YEAR INCREASE IN SINGLE FAMILY RENTS IN NOVEMBER OF 2021, WHERE PRICES JUMPED THIRTY THREE PERCENT OVER THE PAST YEAR.

THIRTY THREE PERCENT IN ONE YEAR.

IN ADDITION TO MIAMI OR ORLANDO, KISSIMMEE, SANFORD [INAUDIBLE], EXCUSE ME, RANKED FIFTH FOR THE HIGHEST YEARLY RENT INCREASE, RISING FIFTEEN POINT NINE PERCENT.

IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY IN 2019, THE AVERAGE RENT WAS $1,600 DOLLARS A MONTH.

THAT'S AVERAGE.

IN 2020.

THAT WENT UP TO $1,587 FOR THE RENTAL INCREASE FOR THE RENTS.

AND THEN IN 2021, THE AVERAGE WAS $1,730 DOLLARS.

SO IN TWO YEARS IT WENT FROM $1,600 A MONTH TO $1,730 DOLLARS A MONTH.

ANOTHER FACTOR MAKING THE RENTAL MARKET MORE EXPENSIVE IS, AS I SAID, HOMEOWNERS CAN SEE THAT THEY CAN GET A LOT OF MONEY FOR THEIR PROPERTIES, AND SO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THOSE AS RENTAL PROPERTIES, THEY'RE SELLING THOSE RENTAL PROPERTIES NOW TO REALIZE THE INCREASE IN THEIR ABILITY FOR RISE IN THEIR PROPERTY VALUES.

ANOTHER THING THAT'S CAUSING THE PROBLEM ARE THE INVESTORS, THE INVESTORS ARE COMING IN AND BUYING PROPERTIES IN HUGE NUMBERS AND THEY'RE TURNING AROUND AND THEY'RE RENTING THOSE PROPERTIES. AND OF COURSE, THEIR RENTS ARE HIGHER BECAUSE THEY PAID A HIGHER PRICE FOR THOSE PROPERTIES THAT THEY PURCHASED.

AND SO IT-- THEY HOLD THOSE PROPERTIES FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS UNTIL THE PRICES CONTINUE TO INCREASE AND THEN THEY'LL TURN AROUND AND SELL THOSE PROPERTIES MAKE A PROFIT ON THE SALE OF THOSE PROPERTIES.

THE-- NATIONALLY, THE NUMBER OF PERCENTAGE OF INVESTOR BUYERS INCREASED SIXTEEN POINT ONE PERCENT IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2021.

JACKSONVILLE WAS THE HIGHEST IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA, WITH A TWENTY EIGHT POINT ONE PERCENT INCREASE OF INVESTOR BUYERS BUYING PROPERTIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF TURNING AROUND AND RENTING THEM OUT.

SO, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO WHATEVER YOU CAN TO HELP WITH THIS DISCUSSION OF MOVING FORWARD. I'VE TALKED TO THE COUNTY.

I KNOW BILL LAZAR AND I BOTH HAVE TALKED TO THE COUNTY, AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE IS TAKING THIS INITIATIVE.

BUT THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO, AND THE LADY THAT PRECEDED ME OUTLINED QUITE A FEW OF THOSE POSSIBILITIES.

BUT THERE ARE-- YOU CAN REDUCE FEES, YOU CAN FORGO SOME OF THE HOOKUP CHARGES YOU CAN-- THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS YOU COULD DO TO HELP MAKE THAT PROPERTY MORE AFFORDABLE, MAKE IT-- INCENTIVIZE THE BUILDERS TO BUILD ON THAT PROPERTY WITH THOSE INCENTIVES.

SO, WITH THAT I LEAVE YOU? DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS. SIR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US AND SHARING YOUR EXPERTISE.

YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. MR. LAZAR, WELCOME.

GOOD AFTERNOON, I'M BILL LAZAR WITH THE ST.

JOHN'S HOUSING PARTNERSHIP, AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR ORGANIZING THIS WORKSHOP.

IT'S BEEN A GROWING PROBLEM, AND ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, I REALLY DON'T CARE WHAT YOU CALL IT, WORKFORCE, AFFORDABLE.

WE HAVE HOUSING CHALLENGES AND THERE BASED ON PEOPLE'S INCOME AND WHETHER IT'S PEOPLE WHO ARE FIXED INCOME, LIKE A SENIOR CITIZEN WHO'S LIVING ON SOCIAL SECURITY OR IT'S PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR OUR HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY AND THE EMPLOYER SAYS I CAN ONLY PAY THEM SO MUCH AND STILL RUN MY BUSINESS.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING IT'S A MATH PROBLEM, AND IT'S SIMPLY THAT IT'S BASED ON WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO CHARGE AND WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO RECOVER? THE HOUSING PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN AROUND FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS HERE, AND WE STARTED OUT PRIMARILY FIXING UP SUBSTANDARD HOUSING.

MR. VALDES USED TO DO SOME OF THE SHIP INSPECTIONS FOR US YEARS AGO FOR FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS BUYING AN EXISTING HOME, HELPING TO MAKE SURE THEY DIDN'T BUY A PIG IN A POKE.

[00:45:04]

YOU KNOW, THEY COULD GET MONEY DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE TO BUY THAT HOUSE, BUT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS FIXED UP SO THEY WOULDN'T GET IN AND HAVE THE AC BREAKDOWN OR THE ROOF START LEAKING AND THEIR CASH POOR BECAUSE THEY'VE JUST MOVED IN.

OUR HOME REPAIR PROGRAM HAS SPENT A LOT OF TIME INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS.

GRANTED, YOU HAVE YOUR CRA PROGRAM, WHICH WE'VE PARTNERED WITH FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, FIXING UP HOMES IN LINCOLNVILLE, BUT WE WORK ALL OVER THE CITY LIMITS WITH PEOPLE WHO'VE LIVED HERE FOR YEARS WHO JUST CAN'T AFFORD SOME OF THE BIGGER MAINTENANCE ISSUES.

SO, WE HAVE USED SHIP DOLLARS AND FEDERAL WEATHERIZATION DOLLARS AND WHATEVER WE CAN COBBLE TOGETHER TO KEEP PEOPLE LIVING IN THEIR HOME BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE, THAT'S WHERE THEY WANT TO BE.

WHETHER YOU'RE ELDERLY OR IT'S YOUR HOME YOU INHERITED FROM YOUR PARENTS, IT'S WHERE YOU WANT TO BE AND THEY'VE JUST GOT TO HAVE DECENT, SAFE AND SANITARY.

SO, WE STARTED DOING THAT.

WE WORK ON 100- 150 HOMES A YEAR IS KIND OF OUR AVERAGE FOR OUR HOME REPAIR PROGRAM.

WE SPEND ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR AND THAT'S GOVERNMENT FOUNDATION, MONEY, COMMUNITY SUPPORT, WHATEVER WE CAN RAISE THROUGH FACEBOOK AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

WE ALSO ARE HUD CERTIFIED COUNSELING AGENCY.

WE'VE GOT PEOPLE WHO TRY AND WORK WITH FOLKS ON IMPROVING THEIR CREDIT.

THEY SPEND A LOT OF TIME AND FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS SPENT A LOT OF TIME HELPING PEOPLE PREVENT FORECLOSURE IF THEY GOT INTO TROUBLE.

HOW DO YOU KEEP THEM IN THEIR HOME? A LOT OF THEM WE'VE SEEN ARE SENIORS WHO ARE DOING FINE UNTIL ONE OF THE PARTNERS PASSED AWAY. AND SUDDENLY YOU'VE GOT ONE INCOME AND YOU STILL GOT THE SAME HOUSE NOTE OR THE SAME EXPENSES, AND SOME OF THE LENDERS WILL WORK WITH THEM.

BUT A LOT OF SENIORS AND A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THE PAPERWORK.

WHEN THE BANK SENDS YOU 14 PAGES AND SAYS, PLEASE FILL THIS OUT, SEND IT BACK, IT JUST KIND OF STAYS ON THE KITCHEN TABLE.

SO WE TRY AND HELP THEM PUT THAT TOGETHER.

WE WORK WITH LEGAL AID A LOT TO EVALUATE, YOU KNOW, IS THERE A LEGAL ISSUE HERE OR IS IT SIMPLY JUST CAN WE RESTRUCTURE THE TERMS TO MAKE IT WORK? OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, 12 YEARS, WE'VE DEVELOPED OUR OWN RENTAL PROGRAM.

PRIMARILY, IT JUST GREW OUT OF THE FACT THAT WE NEEDED MORE RENTAL PROPERTY.

AND SO WE STARTED LOOKING.

WE OWNED ABOUT 70 SCATTERED SITE RENTAL PROPERTIES AROUND ST.

JOHN'S AND A FEW IN CLAY COUNTY.

AND WE BUY THEM EITHER BECAUSE WE FIND SOME GOVERNMENT PARTNER THAT WILL PARTNER WITH BUYING DOWN PART OF THE DEBT.

THEY'LL HELP US FIX THE HOUSE UP AND KEEP THOSE RENTS FOR 100-200 BELOW WHAT FAIR MARKET ALLOWS. WE OWN ONE LARGE USDA, A PROPERTY HERE IN TOWN-- SOUTHERN VILLAS, WHICH IS FOR LOW INCOME SENIORS, AND I'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THAT.

WHEN IT COMES TO BUILDING SOMETHING ONE PERCENT MONEY WORKS ALL DAY LONG.

AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IT'S GOVERNMENT, IT'S BUILDERS, DEVELOPERS AND ITS LENDERS. AND IF YOU CAN'T GET ALL OF THEM TO PITCH IN TOGETHER, IT JUST IT STAGNATES.

IT DOES WHAT WE HAVE NOW.

WE'RE JUST NOT MAKING ENOUGH PROGRESS.

SO THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO.

YOU KNOW, THE HOUSING PARTNERSHIP IS-- WE'RE BUILDING BOTH NEW SINGLE FAMILY HOMES FOR SALE AND WE'RE BUILDING THE OCCASIONAL RENTAL PROPERTY, A DUPLEX HERE, A TRIPLEX THERE, WHATEVER WE CAN SORT OF SQUEEZE IN AND COME BACK TO YOUR BUILDING SERVICES AND SAY, CAN WE TURN THIS SINGLE LOT INTO A INTO A DUPLEX? THOSE KIND OF DENSITY DEALS AND ANYTHING YOU CAN DO REGULATORY.

MY FEELING IS JUST DO IT FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING.

WE HAVE ENOUGH ISSUES WITH EVERYBODY ELSE MOVING HERE AND BUILDING WHATEVER THEY CAN AND SELLING OVERPRICED PROPERTY.

BUT IF YOU CAN GET A LAND PLAN OR AN ENGINEER AND TWO ATTORNEYS TO GET WHATEVER THEY NEED, IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

IF YOU CAN ONLY GET THAT DENSITY BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT TO DO SOME LEVEL OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IT STARTS TO WORK.

ST. JOHNS COUNTY HAS AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING ZONING DISTRICT OVERLAY.

THEY STARTED IT ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO AND A LARGE PART, IT WAS A LOT OF HAGGLING.

YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER WALDRON WAS ON THERE.

THEY WENT BACK AND FORTH WITH A COUPLE OF THE DEVELOPERS, AND THE DEVELOPERS WERE LIKE, WELL, WHAT DO WE HAVE TO GIVE YOU TO GET THESE DENSITY BONUSES? NARROWER LOT LINES, YOU KNOW, SMALLER SETBACKS, THAT SORT OF THING.

COMMISSIONER WALDRON IS LIKE, WELL, I'D LIKE 100 PERCENT OF THE UNITS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WELL, THEY FELL OUT OF THEIR CHAIR, BUT THEY SETTLED ON 40 PERCENT.

SO, IT ENDS UP BEING THAT MATH PROBLEM.

YOU GIVE SOMEONE INCREASED DENSITY, THAT'S INCREASED VOLUME TO BUILD SOMETHING THAT THEY MAKE A $1 ON.

AND SO IT'S JUST A MATTER OF SITTING DOWN AND FIGURING OUT, IS IT WORTH MY TIME? WHEN YOU LOOK AT INCENTIVES AND YOU SAY NO ONE'S USING THEM.

THE REASON GENERALLY IS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT SIGNIFICANT, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'VE GOT TO KIND OF GET DEVELOPERS ATTENTION.

RIGHT NOW, HABITATS THE ONLY BUILDER IN ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY BUILDING FOR PEOPLE AT THE LOWER END OF OUR WORKFORCE, WE'RE WORKING WITH SOME FOLKS. WE'VE GOT PEOPLE COMING TO US NOW THAT WORK HERE, THAT ARE QUALIFIED, THAT HAVE BEEN PRE-QUALIFIED FOR $300,000 DOLLARS AND THEY CAN'T GET A BUILDER TO SIGN A CONTRACT WITH THEM.

AND THAT'S SIMPLY BECAUSE THAT BUILDER SAYS I CAN BUILD SOMETHING, I CAN SELL IT FOR MORE AND I CAN SELL IT FASTER THAN WAITING FOR YOUR BANK TO PAY ME, AND YOU CAN'T FAULT

[00:50:01]

ANYBODY IN BUSINESS TO SELL THEIR PRODUCT FASTER.

I MEAN, THAT'S THE PROBLEM WE'VE GOT WITH THESE BUILD FOR RENT INVESTORS.

THEY GOT LOTS OF CHEAP MONEY.

THEY ARE HERE. THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, TO THE POINT THAT SOMEONE HAS OWN PROPERTY AND, YOU KNOW, GOD BLESS THEM.

NOW THEY CAN FINALLY MAKE A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY OFF OF IT AND THEN SELL IT FOR $35,000 INSTEAD OF $15,000.

I CAN'T BLAME THEM, BUT THE BUILD FOR RENT GUY SAYS, I'LL GIVE YOU CASH RIGHT NOW.

I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT A SURVEY, I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE, AND WE'LL TAKE YOUR PROPERTY. AND IF THEY DO THAT, SUDDENLY YOU'RE AFFORDABLE.

HOUSING HAS GONE THAT MUCH FURTHER OUT OF RANGE, SO IT REALLY IS A CHALLENGE TRYING TO COMPETE WITH THEM.

AND ON THE NONPROFIT SIDE, WHEN YOU TRY AND COMPETE WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS CASH, IT'S REALLY CHALLENGING.

SO YOU'VE GOT A COUPLE PROPERTIES THAT YOU COULD KEEP, YOU COULD SELL, YOU COULD TURN INTO OTHER REVENUES.

BUT YOU'VE GOT TO LOOK AND YOU'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, CAN YOU WORK WITH THE COUNTY? YOU KNOW, FOR TOO LONG, OUR CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS HAVE KIND OF HAD 12 DIFFERENT REASONS WHY THEY CAN'T QUITE WORK TOGETHER ON SOME THINGS.

BUT THE COUNTY IS PROBABLY GOING TO SET ASIDE MONEY TO HELP PAY IMPACT FEES OR MAYBE UTILITY CONNECTION FEES AND WON'T MATTER IF IT'S IN THE CITY OR IN THE COUNTY.

THEY'LL PROBABLY LOOK AT BOTH.

BUT WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO SAY TO DO SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, THE HOUSING PARTNERSHIP BUILT-- WE BUILT A SMALL SUBDIVISION 15 YEARS AGO.

MR. REGAN RAN THE CITY UTILITIES AT THE TIME.

THE COUNTY CAME TO THE HOUSING PARTNERSHIP AND SAID, WE WANT YOU TO BUY SEVEN ACRES IN WEST AUGUSTINE AND WE'LL PARTNER WITH YOU TO BRING THE ROADS, WATER AND SEWER THERE TO THE EDGE OF THE PROPERTY. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THEN YOU BUILD YOUR HOMES.

AND JOHN WAS HEAD OF THE UTILITIES, AND IT WASN'T NECESSARILY A POPULAR THING WITH THE CITY AT THE TIME TO SAY, OH YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO RUN THROUGH WEST AUGUST AND GO DOWN COLLEGE PARK AND BUTLER AND RUN ABOUT HALF A MILE BEFORE THEY EVEN GOT TO OUR PROPERTY.

BUT HE HAD THE VISION TO SAY WE GOT THIRTY SIX NEW HOMES AT THE END OF THAT, AND WE'RE GOING TO EVENTUALLY PICK UP ALL THESE PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ALONG THE WAY.

AND THEY GOT FUNDING FROM THE FEDS THROUGH CORRINE BROWN AND THROUGH CONGRESSMAN [INAUDUIBLE] OFFICE, BOTH TIMES TO HELP WITH THE WATER AND SEWER IMPACTS AND INFRASTRUCTURE FEES FOR THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO THAT WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD IS NO LONGER ON WELL AND SEPTIC.

BUT THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES, AND THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS INFRASTRUCTURE. GOVERNMENT HAS GOTTEN OUT OF THE BUSINESS OF PAYING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROBABLY 30 YEARS AGO, AND IT ALL CAME ABOUT WITH A LOT OF THE TAX REVOLTS.

AND WE DON'T WANT TO PAY TAXES AND WE WANT LOWER TAXES.

AND INFRASTRUCTURE'S A SIMPLE WAY TO SAY, WELL, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT ANYMORE, BUT THAT IS ABSOLUTELY THE SINGLE BIGGEST IMPEDIMENT TO DOING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

I'M SEEING PEOPLE IN WEST AUGUSTINE, THESE BUILD FOR RENT INVESTORS, THEY'RE BUYING CRAPPY LOTS THAT NOBODY WAS GOING TO BUILD A NEW HOME ON, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD IT BECAUSE THEY CAN CHARGE $1800 A MONTH RENT AND THEY'RE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT WHO MOVES IN OR HOW MANY PEOPLE MOVE IN BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO OWN IT.

THEY'RE GOING TO RENT IT, AND AT SOME POINT THEY'RE GOING TO DUMP IT.

BUT THEY CAN RAISE ENOUGH MONEY AND THEY'VE GOT ENOUGH CASH TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE CHALLENGES.

SO, THAT'S WHERE-- WE'VE GOT TO HAVE LONG TERM PLANNING AND WE NEED GOVERNMENT TO PLAN.

WHEN YOU LET DEVELOPERS PLAN, IT'S ANARCHY.

THEY START IN ONE AND THEY HOP OVER TO THE NEXT.

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE AND YOU CAN'T BUILD A LONG TERM COMMUNITY IMPACT.

SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HOPING WITH THIS, THAT Y'ALL GO FORWARD, LOOK AT YOUR PROPERTIES, TALK TO THE COUNTY.

YOU'VE GOT AMERICAN RESCUE ACT MONEY.

Y'ALL'S POT IS NOWHERE NEAR AS LARGE AS THE COUNTIES, BUT THAT'S THE CAPACITY TO HAVE A FIVE OR 10 YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN, YOU KNOW, AND YOU FIGURE OUT, OK, WE'RE GOING TO BRING JUST JUST LIKE THEY DID WITH OUR HANCOCK PLACE SUBDIVISION.

IT TOOK TWO AND A HALF YEARS TO GET THE ROADS, WATER AND SEWER TO THE END OF OUR DEVELOPMENT, BUT GOVERNMENT SAID WE WANT TO DO THIS AND WE SEE THE END RESULT AND WE'RE GOING TO WORK THROUGH FINDING ALL THE DIFFERENT POTS OF MONEY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

AND WE WERE THERE AT THE END WILLING TO WAIT FOR THEM.

MOST BUILDERS ARE NOT GOING TO SIT AROUND AND GO, YOU WANT ME TO DO WHAT? BUY THAT PROPERTY? AND MAYBE YOU'LL SHOW UP IN TWO YEARS WITH WATER AND SEWER.

THEY'VE GOT TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE THERE AND YOU'RE SERIOUS.

SO, THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE HOPE.

YOU KNOW THAT YOU'LL LOOK AT WHEN THIS-- IF NONPROFITS ARE THE ONLY DEVELOPERS IN A COMMUNITY, WE'VE GOT MARKET FAILURE, AND THE RISING TIDE THAT LIFTS ALL BOATS DOES NOT LIFT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

IT'S GOT TO HAVE GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATION.

WE NEED BUILDERS AND DEVELOPERS.

WE REALLY NEED LENDERS TO STEP UP.

AND LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, AT SOME POINT IT COULDN'T HURT A COUPLE OF THEM TO COME UP WITH ONE PERCENT MONEY THAT WOULD MAKE THINGS WORK ALL DAY LONG.

VERY GOOD, THANK YOU, SIR.

QUESTIONS. BILL, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AND YOUR VISION, YOUR EXPERTISE. THANK YOU.

MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MR. [INAUDUIBLE] AND MR. ROBERTO ORTIZ FROM ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY, WHO ARE IN THE AUDIENCE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM ST.

[00:55:02]

JOHN'S COUNTIES. THEY OPERATE THE CDBG GRANT PROGRAMS FOR THE COUNTY AND ALSO THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIVISION, AND THEY'RE IN THE COUNTY'S HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY. AND LASTLY, I PUT A GRAPHIC ON YOUR TABLES, I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET IT INTO THE PRESENTATION, BUT IT'S AN OVERHEAD OF ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY WITH SOME LIGHT SPLOTCHES ON IT THAT REPRESENTS THE DISTRIBUTION OF CITY EMPLOYEES. AND YOU CAN SEE THE MAJORITY OF CITY EMPLOYEES LIVE INSIDE ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY, BUT THERE IS A WIDE DISPERSION.

AT THE BOTTOM, YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE.

IN THE NUMBER OF CITY EMPLOYEES.

IN 2016 WHO LIVED INSIDE THE CITY WAS FORTY THREE, WHEREAS NOW IN 2022, THE NUMBER OF CITY EMPLOYEES LIVING INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS IS TWENTY SEVEN.

THIS IS BY NO MEANS A STATISTICALLY VALID STATEMENT, BUT I THINK THAT DOES GO A LITTLE WAY IN SHOWING THAT AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT MIRRORS SOCIETY, OUR EMPLOYEES ARE HAVING TO GO FARTHER AFIELD TO FIND HOUSING.

AND IF YOU ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM NEXT STEPS WOULD BE MUCH LIKE MS. NAZWORTH SAID, IF YOU WANTED TO PURSUE THIS, LOOKING AT FULL BLOWN FEASIBILITY STUDIES TO BE ORDERED. THAT WOULD BE A CONSULTANT THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO HIRE FOR FEASIBILITY STUDIES FOR ANY OR EITHER OF THESE CITY PROPERTIES YOU CHOOSE.

IF YOU GAVE US FORMAL DIRECTION TO THE CITY STAFF TO CREATE RESIDENTIAL DENSITY BONUSES IN OUR LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, WE CAN START WORKING ON THAT IMMEDIATELY.

AND SOME CERTAIN DIRECTION ON DIRECT CITY EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE, THE STAFF LEVEL, WE BELIEVE IT'S JUST NOT AT THAT POINT YET.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COMMISSIONERS? COMMISSIONER HORVATH. WELL, I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE THIS PRESENTATION, SO YOU CAN SEE KIND OF WHAT I'VE BEEN SEEING FOR A WHILE NOW.

I WOULD HOPE THAT WE CAN DIRECT STAFF TO LOOK AT BOTH OF THE PROPERTIES.

WE NEED A SURVEY, OBVIOUSLY THE FIRST THING WE NEED AND THEN I THINK A CONSULTANT WHO CAN TELL US HOW MANY UNITS WE GET ON THE PROPERTY AND THE KINDS OF HOOPS WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH. I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN TALK SERIOUSLY ABOUT THAT TODAY BECAUSE IT'S NOT GETTING ANY BETTER OUT THERE.

I MEAN, WE KNOW THE PRESSURES OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE FACING AND.

THAT'S--.

BEFORE WE GET TOO FAR AFIELD, I DO WANT TO EXTEND THE APPRECIATION OF THE COMMISSION TO THE TWO GENTLEMEN FROM COUNTY GOVERNMENT WHO ARE HERE WITH US.

I THINK MR. LAZAR UNDERSCORES A BROADER ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO ALWAYS BE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK TOGETHER.

THERE'S TOO MANY PROBLEMS THAT ARE TOO BIG FOR US TO GO OFF INDEPENDENTLY AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION ALWAYS VERY IMPORTANT.

AND SO WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE COUNTY STAFF BEING WITH US TODAY.

COMMISSIONER VALDES.

YES, I'VE REALLY ENJOYED THE PRESENTATIONS TODAY THUS FAR.

BUT YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE THREE PROPERTIES WE'RE LOOKING AT.

WE NEED TO DO A FEASIBILITY STUDY TO DETERMINE THE VIABILITY OF WHICH PROPERTIES ARE [INAUDUIBLE], WHICH IS WHERE YOU'RE GOING WITH IT ROXANNE.

A LOT OF THAT THE HAS TO DO WITH ACCESSIBILITY, UTILITIES, SEWER, WATER SERVICE, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT THE LONG TERM, WHICH [INAUDUIBLE] DEVELOP A PROPERTY THAT IN 15 OR 20 YEARS MAY BE THREATENED FROM OCEAN RISE AND CLIMATE CHANGE.

SO LOOKING DOWN THE ROAD IN 25 OR 30 YEARS, THIS IS HUGELY IMPORTANT.

THE HOUSING MARKET IS EXPERIENCING THE PERFECT STORM AS FAR AS AFFORDABILITY IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA IS DRIVEN BY DEMAND.

FLORIDA FILLING UP FOR THE BOTTOM, THE SUCCESS OF AIRBNB'S, PARTICULARLY IN ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY AND ST. AUGUSTINE.

ALL THESE THINGS DRIVE PRICES.

THE BUILDING BUSINESS IS DYNAMIC ANYWAY IS HARD TO PUT A PRICE ON WHAT SOMETHING'S GOING TO CAUSE TOMORROW BECAUSE OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH WE LIVE.

HAVING SAID ALL THAT, IT'S BEING DONE, WE HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT BECAUSE WE DO OWN THREE PROPERTIES AND THAT'S A BIG PART OF THE PROBLEM GOING RIGHT IN.

WE DON'T HAVE TO GO OUT AND BUY THEM AND COMPETE WITH THE DEVELOPERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE PAYING TOP DOLLAR FOR IT BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A FERTILE MARKET.

THE FIRST STEP TO ME IS JUST EXACTLY WHAT ROXANNA IS TALKING ABOUT.

WE NEED TO DO A FEASIBILITY STUDY.

HIRE PEOPLE THAT DO THIS, KNOW WHERE TO FIND THE MONEY AND GO AHEAD AND DO IT IF WE'RE GOING TO DO IT AND WE NEED TO, BECAUSE I IN MY BUSINESS.

[01:00:01]

WE PAY VERY WELL.

PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR ME HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING A PLACE TO LIVE IN ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY. THEY'RE COMMUTING A LONG WAYS AND THIS IS NOT HOMELESS.

IT'S NOT PEOPLE THAT ARE BORDERLINE HOMELESS.

THIS IS THE PEOPLE WHO CARE FOR US IN THE HOSPITALS THAT RESPOND TO OUR FIRE CALLS OR POLICE CALLS THE PEOPLE WHO BUILT OUR HOUSES.

SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS AND I'M EXCITED TO MOVE AHEAD WITH IT.

I'LL JUST ADD ONE THING I THOUGHT YOU SAID, GO AHEAD AND WORK ON THE BONUS.

SORRY, I THOUGHT YOU BROUGHT UP THE IDEA OF INCENTIVIZING DENSITY BONUSES.

I DO THINK THAT WE COULD LOOK I HEARD IT MENTIONED BY TWO OF OUR SPEAKERS AND KIND OF FRAMED DIFFERENTLY, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING THAT THERE WAS AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING OVERLAY IN THE COUNTY, AND I'D LIKE TO LOOK AT THAT AND SEE HOW THAT MIGHT WORK.

OR MAYBE IT'S NOT APPLICABLE TO US, BUT I THINK THAT'S VERY CURIOUS AND I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SEEING HOW IT'S ACTUALLY WORKING.

NOT JUST THAT THEY HAVE THE CODE THEY HAVE, BUT THE DENSITY BONUSES IN THE CODE.

BUT ARE THEY ACTUALLY USED? YOU KNOW, MAYBE THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.

MAYBE I MISSED THAT IN THE WHOLE DISCUSSION, BUT I THINK THAT WOULD BE LIKE DAVID BIRCHIM EXPLAIN THAT WOULD BE THE LOW HANGING FRUIT WOULD BE, LET'S GO AHEAD AND FIND-- AND THEN ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, PERHAPS THERE ARE THINGS, LIKE MR. LAZAR SAID, IN OUR CODES OR IN OUR PROCESSES THAT ARE IMPEDIMENTS TO THE COLLABORATIONS TO THE OBJECTIVE AND KEEPING US FROM THE OBJECTIVE.

AND I'D LIKE TO DEFINITELY TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE HOLDING PRIVATE BUSINESS BACK BESIDES JUST THE PRESENT, YOU KNOW, PROPERTY VALUES. SO MAYBE THERE'S SOME THINGS WE CAN DO.

GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD. OK.

I, FIRST OF ALL, WANT TO JUST POINT TO THE PACKED HOUSE.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE, NUMBER ONE.

NUMBER TWO, I THINK THAT IS EVIDENCE RIGHT THERE THAT WE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE AFFORDABLE AND WORKFORCE HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS IT RIGHT AWAY.

I JUST WANT TO SAY I WAS STRUCK LAST WEEK WHEN I READ A STORY, I DON'T KNOW, ONE OF MY NEWS FEEDS AND THE STORY QUOTED THAT THE MEDIAN SALE PRICE FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES NOW IN OUR COUNTY LAST MONTH WAS $470,000.

AND THEN I WENT AHEAD AND DID MY WONKY THING AND DID SOME MATH, AND THAT WORKS OUT TO A MONTHLY PAYMENT OF ABOUT $2,618 DOLLARS.

IF A IF A FAMILY WERE TO PURCHASE THAT SINGLE FAMILY HOME, THAT'S $31,000 PLUS ANNUALLY.

AND THAT MEANS THAT IF THIS WERE TO BE AFFORDABLE, THAT $470,000 SINGLE FAMILY HOME, THAT'S THE AMERICAN DREAM.

AT NO MORE THAN 30 PERCENT OF FAMILIES INCOME, WHICH IS WHAT MR. BIRCHIM USED AS A DEFINITION OF AFFORDABLE, THAT FAMILY WOULD NEED TO EARN ABOUT $105,000 DOLLARS ANNUALLY.

I MEAN, LET THAT SINK IN.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS, OUR TEACHERS, OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES, THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE US WORK THAT, THAT KEEP US RUNNING.

AND THAT'S JUST NOT-- IT'S JUST NOT WORKING WITH THE HOME PRICES THAT WE'VE GOT, THE RENTAL PRICES THAT WE'VE GOT.

SO I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT MY COLLEAGUE'S EFFORTS THAT SHE HAS PUT IN, COMMISSIONER HORVATH IN PARTICULAR, BUT ALL OF YOU TO TRY TO ADDRESS THIS.

AND I THINK WE DO NEED TO DIRECT STAFF TO DO A FEASIBILITY STUDY, TO DEVELOP A STRATEGY TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY SO THAT WE CAN LEVERAGE BOTH OF OUR GOVERNMENTAL STRENGTHS AND THEN ALSO ANY OTHER RESIDENTIAL DENSITY BONUSES AND OTHER INCENTIVES, AS WERE SUGGESTED IN THE PRESENTATION.

SO, I HOPE WE WILL MOVE FORWARD ON THIS.

THANK YOU. OK, WELL, LET'S PUT A FINER POINT ON IT.

I WOULD MAKE A MOTION THAT WE DIRECT STAFF TO HIRE AN APPROPRIATE CONSULTANT TO LOOK AT THE FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING THE THREE PROPERTIES INTO SITES THAT COULD BE USED FOR AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING.

THAT'S MY MOTION. IS THERE--.

SECOND THAT. [INAUDUIBLE].

IF I MIGHT, BEFORE YOU TAKE A VOTE ON THAT, YOU KNOW, THE HOUSES-- BUILDING BUILDINGS, I MEAN, THE COST OF MATERIALS IS HIGH.

WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.

THE COST OF MONEY IS CHEAP RIGHT NOW, BUT IT'S GOING UP.

WHAT WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IS SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN PREACHING FOR YEARS IS THE GOVERNMENTAL COST OF BUILDING, IMPACT FEES, CONNECTION FEES, ALL THESE OTHER THINGS, FOR

[01:05:07]

YEARS, I HAVE SAID, WHY DO WE CHARGE HUGE IMPACT FEES ON [INAUDIBLE] LOTS THAT WERE DEVELOPED 30-40 YEARS AGO? WHY DON'T WE CHARGE [INAUDIBLE] WAS IN PLACE WHEN THAT DEVELOPMENT WAS CREATED? THE IMPACTS HAVE BEEN FELT A LONG TIME AGO, BUT YET WE'RE STILL CHARGING TODAY'S IMPACT FEES.

TO MAKE--. WE AREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO AFFECT THE PRICE OF MATERIALS THAT MUCH.

IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

WE OWN THE PROPERTY.

MONEY'S CHEAP.

THERE IS ACCESS TO FUNDING.

WE NEED TO FIND SOME WAY OR WHATEVER WE CAN FIND TO CHANGE OUR ZONING, CHANGE REQUIREMENTS, CUT OR COSTS, IMPACT FEES, CONNECTION FEES.

EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS HERE BECAUSE THE PRICE OF LABOR AND THE PRICE OF MATERIAL IS WHAT REALLY DRIVES THE MARKET.

I SEE IT EVERY DAY. SO, WE NEED TO CONSIDER THAT.

I AGREE WITH THE MOTION AND WE'LL VOTE FOR IT.

BUT WE ALSO NEED TO DIRECT STAFF TO APPROACH THE COUNTY AND LOOK AT OUR OWN COST FROM THE STANDPOINT OF GOVERNMENTAL AND SEE IF WE CAN'T MITIGATE THAT IN SOME WAY.

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WE CERTAINLY, FOR THE PUBLIC THAT MAY NOT KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON GRANTS FROM THE STATE EXTENDING OUR SEWER OUT WEST AUGUSTINE.

SO THIS ISN'T NEW.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT NEW.

WE'RE ALWAYS ADDRESSING THAT.

SO I THINK, JOHN, YOU HAD SOMETHING TO ADD TO IT.

MR. MAYOR. YES, A COUPLE OF THINGS.

I KNOW YOU'RE ABOUT TO MAKE A MOTION, BUT GIVEN THAT IT'S A WORKSHOP AND I THINK THERE WERE A COUPLE OF KEY QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP THAT MIGHT BE WORTHY OF HAVING PEOPLE WHO CAN ADDRESS IT. THE QUESTION FROM THE VICE MAYOR WITH REGARD TO WHAT ARE THE IMPEDIMENTS AND COMMISSIONER VALDES BROUGHT A FEW ISSUES FORWARD.

WHAT WE FOUND INTERESTING WHEN WE STARTED WORKING WITH SHANNON IS HER DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF WHY THERE AREN'T PROJECTS IN ST.

JOHNS COUNTY AND IN THE CITY.

THAT WOULD BE A PERSON WHO COULD ADDRESS THOSE TYPES OF QUESTIONS-- THAT QUESTION DIRECTLY BECAUSE WE ASK THAT QUESTION AT A STAFF LEVEL.

AND THEN THE SECOND THING IS THAT THE TWO GENTLEMEN FROM THE COUNTY ARE EXPERT IN THE HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY THAT ACTUALLY MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP JUST BRING FORWARD SOME OF THOSE FINANCING OPPORTUNITIES.

WHAT IS IT THAT THEIR ORGANIZATION DOES AND JUST FLESH THAT CONVERSATION A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE EQUATION THAT ISN'T WELL UNDERSTOOD OR KNOWN.

SO, I JUST WAS GOING TO MAKE THAT SUGGESTION.

JUST LOOKING AT THE CLOCK.

WE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME.

THAT THEY MIGHT PREROGATIVE OF THE COMMISSION [INAUDIBLE] COURSE.

OK, LET'S DISPOSE OF A COUPLE OF MOTIONS HERE FIRST, AND WE DO HAVE PLENTY OF TIME.

SO, WE'RE IN DISCUSSION.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

WE'RE IN DISCUSSION? WE HAVE A MOTION.

WE DO HAVE A SECOND. YES.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I WOULD REGRET MISSING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BEGIN INVESTIGATION OF DENSITY BONUSES OR INCENTIVIZE.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU INTEND TO MAKE THAT IN A SEPARATE A MOTION? I DO. OR IF YOU WOULD ACCEPT A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO ADD THAT TO YOUR [INAUDIBLE].

LET'S DO IT AS A SEPARATE MOTION WAS MY INTENT.

ALL RIGHT. AND I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY.

FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION AND THE SECOND.

SEEING NONE, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

TRACY UPCHURCH. YES.

ROXANNE HORVATH. YES.

JOHN VALDES.

YES. BARBARA BLONDER.

YES. NANCY SIKES-KLINE.

YES. THANK YOU. THE MOTION PASSES.

I WOULD MAKE A SECOND MOTION THAT WOULD DIRECT STAFF TO SPECIFICALLY LOOK AT OUR ZONING CODE AND MAKE PROPOSALS, INCLUDING THE DENSITY BONUS THAT WOULD BOTH FACILITATE AND REMOVE OBSTACLES FROM DEVELOPERS OF ANY NATURE CONSTRUCTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS.

I'LL SECOND. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? SAYING NONE, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

DID VICE MAYOR SIKES-KLINE--.

YES, SHE DID. TRACY UPCHURCH.

YES. NANCY SIKES-KLINE.

YES. JOHN VALDES.

YES. ROXANNE HORVATH. YES.

BARBARA BLONDER YES.

THANK YOU. THE MOTION PASSES.

SO AT THIS POINT, IF IT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE COMMISSION, WE DO HAVE PLENTY OF TIME.

MS. LOPEZ. WE DO NOT HAVE A [INAUDIBLE] MEETING TODAY, CORRECT? THANK YOU. SO, WE'VE GOT APPROXIMATELY THIRTY FIVE MINUTES BEFORE WE WOULD WANT TO TAKE A BREAK BEFORE THE START OF OUR REGULAR MEETING AT FIVE O'CLOCK.

AND SO MR. BIRCHIM, MR. REGAN, IF THERE ARE FOLKS HERE FROM COUNTY STAFF OR MS.

[6. City Commissioners - General Discussion and Instructions to City Staff]

NAZWORTH THAT ARE IN A POSITION TO HELP US UNDERSTAND A FEW MORE OF THESE QUESTIONS.

I THINK THE QUESTION THAT YOU RAISED JOHN OR THE ISSUE YOU RAISED IS WHAT ARE THE IMPEDIMENTS IN ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY AND ST.

[01:10:01]

AUGUSTINE THAT SEEM TO STALL OR HINDER THE DEVELOPMENT OF WORKFORCE HOUSING? CORRECT. AND I THINK ABILITY HOUSING MIGHT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH AS WE THROW YOU UNDER THAT BUS [INAUDIBLE] BOOM.

[LAUGHTER] OK, SO, I MEAN, ONE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS HARD TO DO EVERYWHERE.

AND LET'S JUST BE HONEST, THIS IS NOT THE EASIEST THING IN THE WORLD TO DO.

I WILL SAY ONE THING THAT WOULD BE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR YOU AS THE COMMISSION AND THE MAYOR TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE WILLING TO WITHSTAND WHEN A GROUP OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WILL COME UP AND SAY, I DON'T WANT THIS IN MY BACKYARD BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU PLAN TO PUT IT, SOMEBODY WILL DECIDE IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY WILL COME UP AND TRY TO PREVENT YOU FROM ALLOWING THE ZONING OR THE WHATEVER IT IS THAT NEEDS CITY APPROVAL.

SO ONE FIRST AND FOREMOST.

AND THAT'S TRUE EVERYWHERE.

YOU KNOW, EVERY COMMUNITY, HIGH END, LOW END, YOU NAME IT, THEY DON'T WANT THOSE PEOPLE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, EVEN IF THE PEOPLE STANDING UP SPEAKING AGAINST THE PROPERTY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO LIVE IN THE PROPERTY.

THERE IS A PRECONCEIVED NOTION, AND I JUST WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE, AND I DO ENCOURAGE YOU TO VISIT SOME NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING BECAUSE IT'S REALLY HIGH QUALITY.

AND IN FACT, I WILL SAY, IF YOU WANT TO COME VISIT ANY OF OUR PROPERTIES, WE HAVE PLENTY IN DUVAL COUNTY. IT'S A VERY QUICK TOUR.

WE'D BE HAPPY TO SHOW THEM TO YOU.

AND IN ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY, AND I WILL SAY I'M NOT AS FAMILIAR WITH INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS, BUT IN ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY, THE FEES HERE ARE REALLY HIGH.

I MEAN, REALLY HIGH.

THE PROJECT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO IN WEST AUGUSTINE, YOU KNOW, IT'S A HUGE CHUNK OF CHANGE TO GET THE IMPACT FEES AND ALL OF THAT.

CERTAIN AREAS DO HAVE, YOU KNOW, UTILITY CONNECTION CHALLENGES.

I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE WORK YOU ALL HAVE DONE IN WEST AUGUSTINE OVER THE YEARS, AND IT'S PHENOMENAL AND I'M SO THRILLED.

YOU KNOW, ON A PERSONAL NOTE, MY HUSBAND USED TO BE A CO-COACH FOR THE POP WARNER TEAM OUT THERE, AND I DRIVE KIDS HOME AT NIGHT AND I'D BE LIKE, OH MY GOD, PLEASE, WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING. SO THANK YOU FOR DOING, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING TO HELP ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES. BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S PARTS OF THIS COUNTY WHERE GETTING THE UTILITIES TO THAT SPACE IS EXPENSIVE.

AND BILL WAS RIGHT.

THIS IS A MATH GAME.

ALL OF THIS IS NUMBERS.

IF THE BUILDING ITSELF IS JUST A BUILDING, IT LOOKS LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE.

IT'S WOOD, IT'S CONCRETE, IT'S TRUSSES, IT'S ROOF SHINGLES.

IT'S THE NUMBERS THAT MAKE THIS CHALLENGING.

SO ANYTHING THAT YOU ALL CAN DO TO REDUCE THE COST.

SO I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE NOT JUST LOOKING AT DENSITY BONUSES, BUT LOOKING AT THE FEES, LOOKING AT THE PROCESS.

CAN THINGS BE EXPEDITED? IS THERE A WAY TO EXPEDITE APPROVALS? IS THERE A WAY TO EXPEDITE INSPECTIONS ON THE BACK END? IT'S NOT JUST GETTING APPROVALS AT THE BEGINNING, BUT GET THE INSPECTIONS DONE QUICKLY SO THAT YOU CAN GET THE PRODUCT RELEASED IN SERVICE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, BOTH FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT BECAUSE CONSTRUCTION INTEREST, EVEN WHEN RATES ARE LOW, IS STILL A GOOD CHUNK OF CHANGE OF A BUDGET, BUT ALSO THAT PEOPLE NEED TO MOVE IN AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. SO THE FASTER YOU CAN GET THE PROCESS, THE BETTER OFF EVERYBODY IS.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WORKING WITH THE COUNTY IS GOING TO BE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE CITY IS REALLY TAKING THE LEAD ON THIS AND IT'S AWESOME AND WONDERFUL. BUT YOU HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES AND WORKING WITH THE COUNTY COLLABORATIVELY AND WORKING WITH THE STATE.

AS I SAID, THEY WILL LISTEN TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND IF THEY KNOW YOU HAVE A PRIORITY, THEY CAN'T BEND ALL THE RULES OR ANYTHING, BUT THEY WILL TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AND THEY CAN ALSO PROVIDE MAYBE SOME SUGGESTIONS OF THINGS THAT MIGHT BE OF BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY. I WOULD ALSO REALLY STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO TALK TO OUR STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS. I WILL SAY THE WORD HOUSING HAS NOT BEEN COMING UP IN THIS SESSION.

FLORIDA HAS THE HIGHEST YEAR OF A YEAR RENT INCREASES OF ANY STATE IN THE COUNTRY.

FLORIDA HAS SEVEN OF THE TOP 10 CITIES IN THE COUNTRY WITH YEAR OVER YEAR RENT INCREASES.

IT'S NOT GOING TO GO AWAY.

THE WORLD IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE.

IT WILL-- WELL, IT WILL CHANGE.

IT WILL EVER EVOLVE.

IT'S NEVER GOING TO STAY THE SAME, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO GO BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS.

OUR HOUSING MARKET IS FUNDAMENTALLY SHIFTED AND WE JUST HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE DEAL WITH THAT. AND I PERSONALLY AM REALLY CONCERNED SEEING WAGES NOT GOING UP AS MUCH AS HOUSING COSTS ARE GOING UP AND PEOPLE ARE-- INVESTORS ARE COMING IN, BUYING EXISTING PROPERTIES, JACKING UP--, NOT DOING MUCH WORK, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF PAINT, JACKING UP THE RENTS AND PEOPLE ARE NOW BEING ASKED TO PAY $200 A MONTH MORE AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANOTHER PLACE THEY CAN GO FINE.

AND I'M REALLY, REALLY WORRIED THAT THOSE ARE FAMILIES THAT ARE GOING TO START COUCH SURFING AND EVENTUALLY ARE GOING TO BE IN THEIR CAR.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO START NOW TO PREVENT.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OVERNIGHT.

THAT'S THE OTHER PART IS, YOU KNOW, AS YOU'RE WORKING WITH YOUR STAFF, REALLY TAKE THE LONG VIEW. I REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU.

YOU'RE NOT FIXING THIS OVERNIGHT.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LONG TERM STRATEGIC PLAN THAT YOU HAVE TO PASS ON TO THE NEXT GROUP AND THE NEXT GROUP AND THE NEXT GROUP.

SO THEY KEEP WORKING IT BECAUSE THIS IS ABOUT WHAT ST.

AUGUSTINE WANTS TO BE IN 20 AND 30 YEARS FROM NOW.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT IS WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY WE WANT TO BE PROVIDING.

[01:15:01]

AND I'VE LIVED HERE FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.

OVER 20 YEARS NOW, AND I'VE LOVED IT EVERY MOMENT OF IT, AND I'M THRILLED TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT I, YOU KNOW, I LIVE HERE IN ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY. I WANT TO STILL BE ABLE TO SAY THAT, THAT WE HAVEN'T BECOME THE COMMUNITY OF ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO PAY TO LIVE HERE AND THEN EVERYBODY ELSE IS COMMUTING IN. I MEAN, THAT'S JUST HEALTHY COMMUNITIES ARE ONES THAT HAVE A LOT OF DIVERSITY OF ALL NATURES, INCLUDING ECONOMIC.

SO I REALLY, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT THE FEES, FIGURE OUT HOW YOU CAN COLLABORATE WITH THE COUNTY. FIGURE OUT YOUR PROCESSES.

FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN STREAMLINE ANYTHING.

PROVIDE INCENTIVES.

MAKE THINGS FASTER IF THEY'RE DOING AFFORDABLE.

YOU KNOW ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO INCENTIVIZE PRIVATE DEVELOPERS.

IT'S NOT THAT THEY'RE OPPOSED TO DOING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

YOU JUST GOT TO MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR THEM, YOU KNOW, MAKE ZONING TO SMALLER STARTER HOMES, REALLY.

YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW, WE ZONED OURSELVES OUT OF A LOT OF THINGS, AND IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'RE INTENTIONALLY SAYING, I DON'T WANT LOWER COST HOUSING.

WE JUST WANT THE MCMANSIONS EVERYWHERE.

WELL, IF PEOPLE CAN'T BUY THEIR STARTER HOME, THEY CAN'T GET OUT OF THE RENTAL UNIT.

THE PERSON WHO NEEDS THAT RENTAL UNIT CAN'T GET INTO THAT RENTAL UNIT AND IT JUST BECOMES A SNOWBALLING EFFECT. WHENEVER YOU HAVE MARKET PRESSURES, THE LOWEST INCOME ARE THE ONES WHO ARE GOING TO BE HURT THE MOST.

SO, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ANSWERED ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS OR IF I MISSED SOMETHING THAT I HAD SAID PREVIOUSLY.

WELL, IN OUR CONVERSATION, WE TALKED I THINK WE'RE KIND OF HITTING THE POINTS OF COUNTY IMPACT FEES, CITY UTILITY IMPACT FEES, COUNTY UTILITY IMPACT FEES AND WAYS THAT WE CAN HELP BUY THAT DOWN.

BUT WHEN WE WERE TOGETHER AND WE STARTED GETTING A SENSE OF THE COMMUNITIES IN HOW YOU POP OUT AT DIFFERENT PRICE POINTS, THESE ISSUES ARE BRINGING THE GOVERNMENT LAND INTO INTO PLAY IS HUGE.

AND THEN ALSO, OF COURSE, DEALING WITH UTILITY IMPACT FEES ARE HUGE, AND EVERY ITEM THAT YOU BRING IN CAN ALLOW SOMEBODY TO BRING A UNIT WAY BELOW THE PRICE POINT.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, YOUR PRODUCT IN WEST AUGUSTINE IS EXPECTED TO COME ON AT A GIVEN PRICE POINT OF YOU GAVE US A NUMBER 60 PERCENT AREA MEDIAN INCOME.

OK, AND SO THAT NUMBER IS ONE THOUSAND--.

ABOUT A THOUSAND BUCKS THE UNIT.

DEPENDS ON UNIT SIZE.

A THOUSAND A UNIT. SO IF YOU BUY OUT THE LAND AS HOW THAT IS CALCULATED, IT STARTS TO DROP BY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS PER UNIT.

SO, I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO GET THAT POINT ACROSS.

AND THEN, MR. MAYOR, THE TWO GENTLEMEN FROM THE COUNTY ARE PEOPLE THAT WE WORK WITH BEHIND THE SCENES QUITE A BIT, BUT YOU DON'T NORMALLY SEE THEM.

I THINK THEY HAVE MIGHT BE WORTH ASKING THEM SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THE ROLE OF THE HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY AND THEIR ROLE AND UNDERSTANDING THAT INTERRELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNTY, BECAUSE THEY'RE THE TWO THAT ARE THAT INTERFACE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MS. NAZWORTH.

GENTLEMEN, I'M SORRY, I DON'T HAVE NAMES.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE WE'RE REFERRING TO THE--.

I'M SORRY MAYOR.

I APOLOGIZE. ROBERT ORTIZ AND JOE COHEN.

THANK YOU, MR. ORTIZ, MR. COHEN. WELCOME.

WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

AGAIN, MY NAME IS JOE COHEN, I'M THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

I SERVED THE COUNTY FOR ABOUT FIVE AND A HALF YEARS AS THE HOUSING MANAGER AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PERSON.

I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE ROOM.

IT'S REALLY GREAT TO SEE US HAVE A LARGE CONVERSATION ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THIS IS A LIFELONG PASSION OF MINE, AND TO SEE YOU ALL COME IN HERE AND BE SO AGGRESSIVE ABOUT IT IS REALLY A BREATH OF FRESH AIR.

AND I APPRECIATE IT.

I'M NOT-- IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO GET INTO ALL THE FINANCING MECHANISMS CONCERNING THE HFA.

I WILL TELL YOU, I'LL BE HAPPY TO SUPPLY YOUR STAFF WITH SOME OF THAT INFORMATION.

WE'VE BEEN VERY, VERY LUCKY THIS YEAR BECAUSE-- OR I SHOULD SAY, THE LAST TWO TO THREE YEARS BECAUSE THE COUNTY GOT A LOT OF FUNDS FOR THE DESTRUCTION THAT MATTHEW CAUSED.

AND I SAY FORTUNATE IN THE SENSE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PUT SOME OF THAT MONEY TOWARDS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AS PART OF THOSE DOLLARS WE HAD A FEW DEVELOPERS THAT CAME IN AND SAID, HEY, WE GET TAX CREDITS, WE GET THIS ADDITIONAL SUBSIDY AND POSSIBLY YOU GIVE US PROPERTY.

WE CAN BUILD SOMETHING OF HIGH IMPACT.

AND SO REALLY, YOU KNOW, BILL TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THOSE THREE WORLDS KIND OF CAME TOGETHER ALL AT THE SAME TIME IN AN EFFORT TO, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY CREATE TWO HOUSING UNITS THAT'LL BE OVER 200 PLUS UNITS, ALL AT A VERY LOW RATE.

IT'LL [INAUDIBLE] CLOSE TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE CLOSE TO HOMELESSNESS, AS WELL AS SOME LOW INCOME FAMILIES.

AND THEY'LL ALSO BE OUT OF THE 207 CORRIDOR, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, QUICKLY DEVELOPING.

THERE'S A LOT OF COMMERCIAL ZONING IN THAT AREA, SO HOPEFULLY THEY'LL BE NEAR SOME JOBS.

AND BECAUSE, AS NOTED EARLIER, TRANSPORTATION IS A HUGE ISSUE IN THE COUNTY AND IN THE CITY, FRANKLY. I ALSO WILL-- TO JUST IN ADDITION TO GIVING YOUR STAFF THAT INFORMATION, I

[01:20:01]

ALSO WANT TO SAY TO YOU ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

JUST TO REITERATE WHAT'S BEEN SAID UP HERE ALREADY.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS LIKE AN ICEBERG.

AND IN ORDER FOR US TO CRACK THE ICEBERG, WE'VE ALL GOT TO GET OUR PICKAXES OUT AND WE'VE ALL GOT TO CHIP AWAY AT IT.

IT'LL NEVER, NO MATTER WHAT WE DO, NO MATTER HOW MUCH SUBSIDY WE THROW AT THIS PROBLEM, YOU'LL NEVER JUST GO AWAY WITH ONE FELL SWOOP.

THIS IS A 30-40 YEAR PROGRAM OR PROBLEM, AND IT'LL BE WITH YOU FOR A LONG TIME, UNFORTUNATELY. BUT AGAIN, I APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU'RE DOING AND SAYING AND PUTTING YOUR STAFF IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND WE'RE ALWAYS HAPPY TO MEET WITH MR. REGAN. I ALWAYS SAY HI TO HIM WHEN I SEE HIM IN THE HALLWAY AND IF ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO EVER COME OVER AND SPEAK TO US ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE'RE HAPPY TO WORK WITH THE CITY STAFF ON THAT. IT'S GREAT.

I JUST HAD A QUICK QUESTION.

THE PROPERTY YOU MENTIONED ON 207.

WILL IT REMAIN AS AFFORDABLE FOR HOW LONG? YEAH, I BELIEVE IT'S-- I WANT TO SAY IT'S 30 YEARS RIGHT NOW.

I CAN'T REMEMBER THE EXACT NUMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

BUT TYPICALLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT KEEPING AFFORDABLE PROPERTIES AFFORDABLE, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THOUGHTS ON THIS, BUT IT TYPICALLY RANGES FROM ABOUT 30 TO 50 YEARS RIGHT NOW WITH A LOT OF OUR DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. AND THEN IT GOES MARKET RATE, WHATEVER THAT IS.

YEAH, WELL, I WAS HOPING THAT WE COULD DO IT IN PERPETUITY.

YES, SURE, SO WOULD I. YEAH, [LAUGHTER] WE'LL WORK ON THAT.

THANK YOU. MR. ORTIZ, I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH AND--.

I MR. COHEN [INAUDIBLE].

FORGIVE ME. HE'S OFF THE HOOK.

FORGIVE ME, MR. COHEN.

I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.

AND I GUESS AND YOU KNOW THIS VERY WELL, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BEAR REPEATING IS THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR RESIDENTS HAVE NO GREAT DEEP UNDERSTANDING WHETHER THEY LIVE IN UNINCORPORATED ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY OR WHETHER THEY LIVE IN ST.

AUGUSTINE, AND THEY CONSIDER THEMSELVES RESIDENTS OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO THEY SEE THIS, I THINK, IS A COMMUNITY WIDE PROBLEM, NOT A UNIQUELY ST.

AUGUSTINE PROBLEM OR A UNIQUELY ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY PROBLEM.

AND I THINK THAT I THINK THAT MAKES IT MORE INCUMBENT UPON US AS ELECTED OFFICIALS.

TO MAKE THIS A SEAMLESS AS POSSIBLE BETWEEN OUR RESPECTIVE GOVERNMENTS.

AND TO ABSOLUTELY PUT A HIGH PREMIUM ON SYNERGIES, ON COOPERATION, ON A COMMON MISSION AND A COMMON SOLUTION, AND I JUST I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP THAT IN MIND ALWAYS.

COMMISSIONERS OTHER COMMENTS, OBSERVATIONS? YEAH, I'D LIKE TO JUMP IN HERE REAL QUICK.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT KEY WEST A LITTLE BIT.

KEY WEST IS AN ISLAND SURROUNDED BY THE OCEAN AND VERY EXPENSIVE PROPERTY.

THERE'S NO PLACE TO LIVE IN THE FLORIDA KEYS UNLESS YOU LIVE ON A BOAT THAT'S AFFORDABLE.

WE'RE GETTING LIKE THIS HERE.

I HAVE THE MOST AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN ST.

AUGUSTINE. IT'S CALLED MARINA AND I HAVE [INAUDIBLE] BOARDS, AND IT'S GETTING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT FOR [INAUDIBLE] TO LIVE THERE.

BECAUSE INSURANCE COMPANIES DON'T WANT TO INSURE MARINAS, THEY HAVE [INAUDIBLE] BOARDS.

SO, ANYWAY, KEY WEST IS UNIQUE IN LOTS OF WAYS.

IT'S EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE.

IT HAS A HUGE DEPENDENCE ON PEOPLE IN THE WORKFORCE WHO HAVE NO PLACE TO LIVE UNLESS THEY DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO MIAMI.

OK, SO WHAT KEY WEST HAS DONE, AND THEY'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE IN THE FACT THAT THE NAVY HAS PULLED OUT, SO THEY'RE TAKING BACK ALL THE NAVAL HOUSING, WHICH WAS LEASED FROM KEY WEST FOR ALL THOSE YEARS.

AND THIS IS EXISTING HOUSING, SO THEY'RE NOT HAVING TO PAY THEM UP FRONT CONSTRUCTION COSTS IN TODAY'S MARKET, WHICH IS A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS A SQUARE FOOT, IF YOU'RE LUCKY. THEY'RE ASSUMING AND REFURBISHING THE NAVAL BASES THERE AND USING THAT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH IS BRILLIANT.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT.

WE GOT THREE PIECES OF PROPERTY.

THE OTHER THING THEY'RE DOING IS THEY HAVE A HOMELESS SITUATION VERY MUCH LIKE OURS, BUT IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE OURS.

THEY HAVE THE SAME SITUATION WITH MONROE COUNTY WE SEEM TO HAVE WITH ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY. THEY HAVE A HOMELESS SITUATION, MONROE SAYS.

YOU HAVE A HOMELESS SITUATION, THAT'S YOUR PROBLEM.

WE SEEM TO HAVE THAT HERE AS WELL.

[INAUDIBLE] ST. JOHN'S COUNTY.

WHAT THEY'VE DONE IS, AGAIN, THEY ARE DIFFERENT.

THEY'RE A CITY OF 40 SOME ODD THOUSAND, I BELIEVE, WITH VERY DEEP POCKETS.

WE'RE A CITY OF 14,000 WITH RELATIVELY DEEP POCKETS.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES WE DON'T HAVE.

THEY ALSO HAVE SOMETHING CALLED STOCK ISLAND, WHICH THE ISLAND NEXT DOOR WHERE THEY WERE ABLE TO BUILD FACILITIES FOR THE HOMELESS WITHOUT [INAUDIBLE] THE NIMBY PSYCHOSIS AS MUCH NOT IN MY BACKYARD. IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, I KNOW YOU GUYS ALL DAY.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY WE'RE GOING TO FIX THE HOMELESS PROBLEM [INAUDIBLE] ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO FIX THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROBLEM, WE'RE GOING TO SEE AND DO WHAT KEY WEST HAS DONE.

[01:25:02]

EXCEPT WE ARE GONNA HAVE DO IT THE HARD WAY.

WE DON'T HAVE NAVAL HOUSING WE CAN TAKE OVER THIS ALREADY STRUCTURE IN PLACE TO BE REFURBISHED, BUT WE HAVE THE WILL.

IT'S A MORAL PROBLEM.

IT'S A SOCIAL PROBLEM.

IT'S A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM.

[INAUDIBLE] ST. AUGUSTINE OR ANY STATE.

IT'S-- THIS IS A MORAL ISSUE IN THIS COUNTRY THAT WE HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES ANYMORE.

AND THIS IS THE RICHEST COUNTRY ON EARTH THAT EVER EXISTED.

AND WE HAVE THIS PROBLEM, WHICH IS SHAMEFUL.

HAVING SAID THAT, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE AND WE LOOK AT KEY WEST AND FOLLOW SOME OF THEIR EXAMPLES.

HAVING SAID THAT, THEY HAVE A JUMPSTART.

THEY'RE NOT PAYING TODAY'S CONSTRUCTION COST ON MATERIALS.

[INAUDIBLE] TO REFURBISH WHAT THEY'RE DOING, BUT THEY'RE DOING OTHER THINGS THAT ARE OUTSIDE THE BOX.

THEY'RE LOOKING AT TINY HOUSES, THEY'RE REZONING TO BUILD TINY HOUSES.

WELL, I THINK THAT'S BRILLIANT.

THIS IS LIKE HAVING A BOAT ON LAND.

IT'S A TINY PLACE TO LIVE, BUT DOESN'T COST AS MUCH.

WE'VE GOT TO GET OUTSIDE THE BOX ON THIS LIKE THEY'RE DOING.

AND ANYWAY, I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT TO YOU BECAUSE I THINK IT'S VERY EXCITING.

KEY WEST, IS ALWAYS, BEEN ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES [INAUDIBLE] IN MY FAMILY'S HISTORY FOR THREE GENERATIONS.

AND THEY'RE DOING SOME INTERESTING STUFF.

AND I THINK IT WOULD BEHOOVE US TO MAYBE FOLLOW THEIR LEAD ON SOME THINGS.

THANK YOU. LET ME ASK ARE THE QUESTIONS OF MR. COHEN AS HE'S STANDING HERE SO DUTIFULLY? I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A REAL QUICK COMMENT.

SURE. COMMISSIONER VALDES POINT, WE AREN'T AS FORTUNATE AS KEY WEST, BUT WE DO HAVE THREE TRACTS OF LAND, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO PURCHASE LAND TO DO THIS.

QUESTIONS MR. COHEN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH OUR STAFF ON THE TECHNICAL DETAILS THAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND.

WELL, I WANT TO THANK BOTH YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR INVITING US.

THANK YOU. THERE'S NOTHING PROFOUND ABOUT THIS, BUT I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO REMEMBER. PART OF OUR ECONOMY-- THIS PORTION OF OUR ECONOMY IS DRIVEN BY THE FACT THAT WE DO CURRENTLY HAVE AND HAVE HAD FOR SOME TIME THE NUMBER ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GO TO A PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOL IN JACKSONVILLE.

TUITION THERE IS NOW $27,600 DOLLARS A YEAR AND SO MANY FAMILIES, I THINK, ARE MAKING THE CHOICE. I CAN LIVE IN ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY AND GET A COMPARABLE EDUCATION AT, AT BARTRAM, [INAUDIBLE] WHEREVER FOR FREE THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $27,600 DOLLARS FOR OTHERWISE.

AND SO I THINK THAT CREATES A SIGNIFICANT, IF YOU WOULD, DISTORTION.

THAT'S A WONDERFUL BENEFIT THAT BENEFITS EACH ONE OF US.

MR. RAMOS AND I WERE WALKING IN AND YOU CAN'T HELP BUT COMMENT ON HOW PHENOMENALLY GORGEOUS THE WEATHER IS TODAY.

THAT PLAYS US-- WE LIVE IN A WONDERFUL PLACE AND WE'VE GOT WHAT, 43 MILES OF BEACH AND FORTY THREE MILES OF INTERCOASTAL AND FORTY THREE MILES OF THE ST.

JOHN'S RIVER. AND WE ARE BLESSED, WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO LIVE IN THIS PLACE AND THAT'S WHY SO MANY FOLKS WANT TO JOIN US.

AND SO-- AS DR.

ABER USED TO SAY ABOUT FLAGLER COLLEGE, HE SAYS, TRACY, THIS WOULD BE A WHOLE LOT HARDER SELL IF WE LIVED IN KANSAS AND WE LIVE IN A WONDERFUL PLACE AND THIS JUST HAPPENS TO BE OUR CHALLENGE. OTHER COMMENTS, I'M GOING TO GO TO STAFF MR. REGAN, MR. BIRCHIM, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? COMMISSIONERS, ANY OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE WE ADJOURN? [INAUDIBLE] IT'S JUST SO HAPPY TO BE DOING THIS.

GOOD. WE DO HAVE TIME AND I WOULD WITH THE COMMISSION'S PERMISSION, WE DO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME AND I'D BE HAPPY TO OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENTS IF THERE'S ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC THAT WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION AT THIS TIME.

THIS IS YOUR BIG CHANCE.

ALL RIGHT, AND WITH THAT, SEEING NOBODY THAT WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION WE'LL CONSIDER OURSELVES ADJOURNED, WE'LL RECONVENE AT FIVE O'CLOCK FOR OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.

Jan 24, 2022 Special City Commission

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