[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:04]
I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE TO ORDER AND ASK THE CLERK TO PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
ALL THE COMMISSIONERS ARE PRESENT.
WE'RE HONORED THIS EVENING TO HAVE REV.
DAN OTT FROM ANASTASIA BAPTIST CHURCH, WHO'S GRACIOUSLY AGREED TO COME AND DELIVER SOME INVOCATION.
I WOULD ASK FOR YOU TO RISE AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE LED BY VICE MAYOR SIKES-KLINE.
GOD, WE THANK YOU TODAY FOR YOU BEING A GOD WHO CARES AND LISTENS GOD WHEN WE PRAY.
FARTHER THAN WE KNOW THAT WE DON'T PRAY IN VAIN.
BUT GOD, I THANK YOU TODAY, LORD, FOR TODAY.
GOD, I THANK YOU FOR OUR PRESIDENT LORD AND PRAY THAT YOU WOULD BE WITH HIM AS HE LEADS OUR GREAT COUNTRY GOD WITH OUR GOVERNOR AS HE LEADS OUR GREAT STATE.
AND FATHER WITH THESE, THESE LEADERS THAT YOU'VE APPOINTED TO LEAD OUR GREAT CITY, I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM CLARITY WHERE THERE'S CONFUSION GOD, THAT YOU WOULD JUST LEAD THEM BY YOUR WISDOM, GOD IN THE CLIMATE AND CULTURE IN WHICH WE LIVE.
AND FATHER, WE PRAY THIS IN YOUR GREAT AND MIGHTY NAME.
PLEASE JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
PLEASE BE SEATED AND THANK YOU, REVEREND, OTT.
COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU THE REGULAR AGENDA AS PUBLISHED.
[2. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS]
ARE THERE ANY MODIFICATIONS TO THE AGENDA? SEEING NONE.IS THEIR MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA? SO MOVED.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE ARE NOW AT A POINT IN OUR AGENDA FOR GENERAL PUBLIC
[4. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS OR FOR AGENDA ITEMS NOT REQUIRING A SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING]
COMMENTS.THIS WOULD INCLUDE ANY COMMENTS ON THE [INAUDIBLE] THAT SEEMS TO HAVE DRIVEN A NUMBER OF YOU OUT TO SPEAK THIS EVENING, AND THAT'S WONDERFUL AND WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE.
I DO NEED YOU TO COMPLETE A SPEAKER'S CARD IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THAT OR ANY OTHER ISSUE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ALL OF THESE COMMENTS NOW.
I WOULD ALSO ADD THAT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OUR FELLOW CITIZENS OUTSIDE IN THE COLD WHO WANT TO COME IN AND SPEAK, AND WE WILL CERTAINLY INVITE THEM IN, IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER THIS EVENING IS CHRIS FULMER.
CHRIS, OUR LEADOFF BATTER, HOW ARE YOU THIS AFTERNOON? OH, [INAUDUIBLE], I HAVE A PICTURE TO PUT UP.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, WHEN YOU'RE READY.
LAST MONDAY, OUR CITY HAD A WONDERFUL EVENT.
THE 37TH ANNUAL COMMEMORATIVE BREAKFAST AT FLAGLER COLLEGE HONORING MARTIN LUTHER KING, FOLLOWED BY A MARCH TO THE PLAZA.
THE THEME WAS 'NO ONE IS FREE UNTIL WE WERE ALL FREE'.
THIS IS WHAT OUR COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY DOES.
SADLY, THERE WAS ANOTHER GROUP IN THE PLAZA LATER IN THE AFTERNOON.
ON MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY, THESE PEOPLE FOUND THAT THE BEST USE OF THEIR TIME WAS TO GATHER IN THE PLAZA TO SEND SOME SORT OF MESSAGE.
THE ONLY MESSAGE THEY SENT IS THE HATE IN THEIR HEARTS.
THEY ARE AGAINST EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER THE LAW, AGAINST SAFETY AND PEACE FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHY THIS WAS ACCEPTABLE IN THE 1950S.
I CERTAINLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S ACCEPTABLE TO SOME PEOPLE NOW.
WE AS A COMMUNITY NEED TO SPEAK UP AND SAY, THIS IS NOT WHO WE ARE.
NEUTRALITY HELPS THE OPPRESSOR, NEVER THE VICTIM.
SILENCE ENCOURAGES THE TORMENTOR.
ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU, IF AN ELEPHANT HAS ITS FOOT ON THE TAIL OF A MOUSE AND YOU SAY YOU ARE NEUTRAL, THE MOUSE WILL NOT APPRECIATE YOUR NEUTRALITY.
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE THURGOOD MARSHALL SAID WHEN YOU SEE WRONG OR INEQUALITY
[00:05:04]
OR INJUSTICE, SPEAK OUT BECAUSE THIS IS YOUR COUNTRY.AND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING SAID THE ULTIMATE TRAGEDY IS NOT THE OPPRESSION AND CRUELTY BY THE BAD PEOPLE.
BUT THE SILENCE OVER IT BY THE GOOD PEOPLE.
I AM ASKING SAINT AUGUSTINE TO NOT BE SILENT.
CINDY WARD IS OUR NEXT SPEAKER, MS. WARD.
IF YOU'D GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS IF YOU'RE SO INCLINED.
MY NAME IS CINDY WARD AND I LIVE IN ST.
I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT I WOULD BE THE FIRST PERSON TO SUPPORT THE ARTS IN THIS COMMUNITY, I'M AN ARTIST MYSELF, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I OPPOSE THIS PROJECT THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING THIS EVENING, AS I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS NOT IN THE BEST LOCATION FOR SUCH AN ENORMOUS UNDERTAKING.
AS YOU ALL WILL RECALL, WHEN ANTIGUA WAS BEING CONSTRUCTED, MANY NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES EXPERIENCED AN UPTICK IN THE DEER MIGRATION.
COYOTE SIGHTINGS AND MISSING PETS.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THIS IS SIGNIFICANT AND THE PRESSURE ON RESOURCES CAN'T EVEN REALLY BE MEASURED.
I'M SADDENED AS EVERY SQUARE INCH OF PROPERTY IS UNDER THREAT HERE IN OUR CITY.
I'VE BEEN AN EAGLE WATCH VOLUNTEER WITH THE ST.
JOHN'S COUNTY AUDUBON SOCIETY FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS NOW, AND I WAS ORIGINALLY ASSIGNED TO THE EAGLE NESTS ON ANTIGUA AND ON FISH ISLAND.
THE NEST ON ANTIGUA APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN ABANDONED DUE TO THE PRESSURES.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU'VE BEEN THERE, THE HOUSES WERE BUILT RIGHT ON TOP OF THE NEST.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHAT WOULD YOU EXPECT? SINCE I'VE BEEN GOING IN THE FALL WHEN EAGLE WATCH OPENED THE NEST, WE ORIGINALLY HAD SOME EAGLES EARLY ON, BUT THEY APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN ABANDONED, AT LEAST FOR THE MOMENT ON FISH ISLAND.
I WAS THERE ON THURSDAY AND I DIDN'T SEE ANY.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN THE MOMENT I WAS THERE, BUT EVERY TIME I'VE GONE NOW, THERE'S NO EAGLES THERE.
SO, WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THOSE NESTS AND HOPE FOR THE BEST.
MY HOPE IS THAT THE GREENWAYS REMAIN VIABLE FOR WILDLIFE TO LIVE AND THRIVE NOW AND IN THE FUTURE OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS, MAUREEN LONG.
MAUREEN LONG, 1821 CASTILE STREET MENENDEZ PARK, I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SHARE THE REASONS I OPPOSE THE [INAUDIBLE].
THIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER THAT IS PROPOSED TO BE CONSTRUCTED ON ANASTASIA ISLAND WITHIN THE 33 ACRE PARCEL OF LAND JUST NORTH OF STATE ROAD, 312 NEAR MIZELL ROAD AND IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO NEARBY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS, WILL INCREASE TRAFFIC, VISITOR AND CONGESTION AND NEGATIVELY IMPACT ANYONE LIVING ON THE ISLAND OR DOWNTOWN OR TRAVELING ON 312.
THE ENORMOUS SIZE AND SCALE OF THE SHELL IS WHOLEHEARTEDLY MISMATCHED WITH THE SURROUNDING AREA.
IT PROPOSES TO ENCOMPASS A PARKING GARAGE, AUDITORIUM, THEATER, CAFé, GALLERY AND MUSEUM, ROOFTOP INDOOR/OUTDOOR RESTAURANT, JAZZ CLUB CONFERENCE AND OFFICE SPACE.
SOUNDS WONDERFUL, BUT NOT AT THIS LOCATION.
IT IS TOTALLY INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE LOCATION ON THE ISLAND THEY ARE CONSIDERING.
WE VALUE AND WANT TO PRESERVE OUR SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE ON ANASTASIA ISLAND AND IN DOWNTOWN ST.
AUGUSTINE AND ENCOURAGE THIS DEVELOPER TO LOOK FOR A MORE SUITABLE LOCATION THAT CAN BETTER ACCOMMODATE THE EVENT GENERATED TRAFFIC FROM SUCH A LARGE SCALE VENUE.
IF WE'VE BEEN AT THE AMPHITHEATER AND WE'VE SEEN THE TRAFFIC THAT COMES FROM THAT AND IT'S A WONDERFUL VENUE AND WE ALL HAVE A GOOD TIME, THIS IS GOING TO BE MUCH LARGER THAN THAT WITH TRAFFIC RIGHT THERE ON 312.
NOT TO MENTION ALL THE OTHER AREAS THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE COMING IN FROM.
SO, IT'S JUST NOT THE RIGHT LOCATION AND NOT COMPATIBLE, AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO CAUSE A SAFETY PROBLEM.
OUR NEXT SPEAKERS, MR. ALBERT SYELES.
[00:10:08]
WHEN MR. SYELES IS GETTING READY, I WAS REMISS AND NOT STATING THAT YOU ARE ALLOWED THREE MINUTES AND IN THE INTEREST OF TIME AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE ANY NUMBER OF OTHER FOLKS TO WHICH TO SPEAK, I'LL GENTLY BUT FIRMLY URGE THE COMPLETION OF YOUR REMARKS.I'M SPEAKING HERE AS THE PRESIDENT OF ROMANZA, NOT AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE EPICENTER ALLIANCE, WHICH IS THE PRESENTATION TO FOLLOW.
I'M SIMPLY TRYING TO CONVEY THE PERFECT STORM IN THE ANALOGY THAT COMMISSIONER VALDES HAS USED THAT IS HAPPENING FOR OUR ARTS COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH OF ST.
FIRST OF ALL, MANY PEOPLE ARE MOVING HERE AND WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ARTS.
THEY'RE JOINING OUR ARTS ORGANIZATIONS.
OUR ORGANIZATIONS ARE GROWING AND GETTING BETTER.
MANY PEOPLE ARE MOVING HERE AND GROWING UP HERE AND WANT TO ENJOY THE ARTS AND CULTURE THAT IS INCREASING DEMAND.
AT THE SAME TIME, MANY PEOPLE ARE MOVING HERE AND HAVING CHILDREN, AND THERE ARE FEWER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE ARTS TO USE SCHOOL PROPERTIES AND EVEN THE COLLEGE IN ORDER TO PERFORM AND PRACTICE.
SO WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT PRESSURES GROWING THAT ARE IN CONFLICT, AND WE CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT UNLESS WE GET TOGETHER AND PROVIDE SPACE FOR PERFORMANCE, EXHIBIT AND PRACTICE.
WE'RE HOPING THAT THE CITY WILL PARTNER WITH THE EPICENTER ALLIANCE SO THAT ROMANZA AND OUR FRIENDS WILL HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP THE WONDERFUL ARTS AND CULTURE THAT WE HAVE IN THIS CITY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS VIRGINIA [INAUDIBLE].
AFTER MS. LENTO WILL BE KENT LOPEZ.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO, FIRST OF ALL, THANK THE MAYOR, MR. REGAN AND EVERY COMMISSIONER FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I KNOW THAT YOU TRY YOUR VERY BEST TO DO THE BEST YOU CAN FOR ALL OF US WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE LAW.
I'M A RESIDENT OF ANASTASIA LAKES.
MY HOUSE FRONTS ON MIZELL ROAD AND I AM CERTAINLY A SUPPORTER OF THE ARTS AND EVERY TYPE OF VENUE.
BUT AND I DO SUPPORT AN EPICENTER, BUT NOT AT THIS LOCATION.
I FEEL THAT THERE IS A MUCH MORE APPROPRIATE LOCATION THAT CAN BE FOUND FOR IT.
AND ONE OF MY MAIN CONCERNS IS THE TRAFFIC.
I GOOGLED MARSH CREEK POPULATION, AND GOOGLE SAYS THAT THERE ARE 22,000 PEOPLE LIVING IN MARSH CREEK.
I NOW I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S TRUE OR NOT, BUT THAT'S WHAT IT SAID.
AUGUSTINE BEACH FOR POPULATION, AND THEY SAID THE POPULATION OF THE BEACH IN CRESCENT BEACH IS ABOUT 14,000 WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS CLOSE TO MIZELL ROAD, THERE'S AT LEAST ANOTHER THOUSAND PEOPLE LIVING IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, SO YOU'RE TALKING CLOSE TO 40,000 PEOPLE.
THAT'S 40,000 CARS OR IT'S 80,000 CARS IF THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE IN EACH HOUSEHOLD WITH A CAR.
SO RIGHT NOW, WE ARE STRUGGLING WITH THE FACT THAT WE ARE CONFINED TO A TWO LANE HIGHWAY AND A TWO LANE BRIDGE THAT GOES DOWN TO ROUTE ONE AND 312, WHICH WE ALL KNOW IS DESIGNATED AS THE WORST INTERSECTION FOR TRAFFIC IN THE COUNTY.
I WOULD PROPOSE THAT THIS COUNCIL DULY CONSIDER EVERY ASPECT OF THIS AS I KNOW THAT YOU DILIGENTLY WILL, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIND A DIFFERENT PLACE TO PUT THIS CENTER, SHOULD IT BE A VIABLE SOLUTION FOR THE ARTS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND AGAIN, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
OUR NEXT SPEAKERS KENT LOPEZ AND AFTER MR. LOPEZ, OUR SPEAKER WILL BE JOE MARX.
I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY I'M INNOCENT OF ALL CHARGES.
SO, VIRGINIA REALLY MADE A GOOD PRESENTATION, AND SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A SUBJECTIVE PART, AN OBJECTIVE PART, THE SUBJECTIVE PART FOR ME IS THAT IT'S KIND OF THE NOT IN MY BACKYARD BECAUSE IT'S VERY CLOSE.
SO WHEN I WANT TO GO TO HOME DEPOT, I CRUISE RIGHT DOWN TO MIZELL ROAD.
I MAKE A LEFT, I GO OVER, DO MY THING AND I COME BACK.
[00:15:01]
SO, I'M VERY, VERY WORRIED ABOUT THE TRAFFIC IMPACT.SO, IF YOU GUYS DO MOVE FORWARD THIS, YOU'RE REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO DO A TRAFFIC STUDY AND YOU'D HAVE TO HAVE SOME DIFFERENT INGRESS AND EGRESS.
I WOULD JUST PRAY THAT YOU DIDN'T DO IT STRAIGHT OFF OF MIZELL ROAD.
YOU'D HAVE TO DO IT, YOU KNOW, AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BRIDGE.
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THESE KIND OF UP AGAINST THE WALL, YOU KNOW, IN A SMALL TOWN AND YOU KNOW, WE WEREN'T ON AN ISLAND, SO THEY WERE ABLE TO FIND OTHER WAYS TO ACCOMMODATE.
SO, THAT'S ONE THING THAT I WOULD, YOU KNOW, IMPLORE THAT YOU HAVE TO DO.
YOU KNOW, THE OTHER THING IS, I THINK THAT THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, NOISE POLLUTION.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS INFRASTRUCTURE IS GOING TO HANDLE IT, BUT I THINK THAT'S MY MAIN THING IS, IS I DON'T HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE NATURE OR THE WILDLIFE, BUT I THINK THE TRAFFIC'S REALLY GOING TO BE A SITUATION.
AND I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE TO DO A BIG STUDY ON THAT.
SO THAT'S ABOUT ALL I HAD TO SAY.
JOSEPH MARX IS NEXT, AND AFTER MR. MARX IS GREG SMITH.
AUGUSTINE FOR OVER 18 YEARS AND I LIVE JUST SOUTH OF 312, SO I'M PRETTY COGNIZANT OF WHAT THE TRAFFIC ISSUES ARE.
BUT THE NEED FOR A PERFORMANCE AND VISUAL ARTS CENTER IS GREAT.
THIS PROJECT WILL ADDRESS A CHALLENGE ALL OF THE ALLIANCE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE FACED THROUGHOUT THEIR EXISTENCE.
WE NEED RELIABLE, MODERN PERFORMANCE SPACE THAT CAN BE RESERVED MORE THAN A YEAR OUT, WE NEED PERMANENT STORAGE SPACE AND REHEARSAL SPACE.
WE NEED CONTROL OF OUR OWN DESTINIES.
AND WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY GET? THE COMMUNITY GETS A TOP NOTCH ENTERTAINMENT AND A BEAUTIFUL, MODERN SPACE THAT'S ACCESSIBLE TO ALL.
IT GETS CLASSROOM SPACE TO TRAIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF ARTISTS.
IT GETS NATIONAL EXPOSURE AS A PREMIER DESTINATION OF THE ARTS.
IT GETS SATELLITE PARKING WITHIN SHUTTLE DISTANCE OF DOWNTOWN.
IT'LL BE A GREAT ADDITION TO OUR TOWN WITHOUT DESTROYING THE HISTORIC LOOK OF DOWNTOWN.
THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY, AND I HOPE YOU DON'T MISS IT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GREG SMITH, AND AFTER MR. SMITH IS ELIZABETH SMITH.
I'M GREG SMITH, AND I DO LIVE AT 955 FISH ISLAND POLICE AND THANK YOU FOR LISTENING, GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU TODAY.
I AM ALSO HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE SHELL THING.
I ALSO HAPPENED TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF THE ANASTASIA LAKES ON THE ISLAND HOA, BUT I'M NOT HERE IN THAT CAPACITY TONIGHT, I'M HERE AS A PROPERTY OWNER, REGISTERED VOTER AND A CONCERNED CITIZEN.
IN ADDITION, MY DAUGHTER IS A GRADUATE OF THE TEMPLE UNIVERSITY FINE ARTS DANCE PROGRAM, AND SHE MAKES HER LIVING IN THE PERFORMING ARTS.
I CERTAINLY CONSIDER MYSELF A SUPPORTER OF THE ARTS, AND THE PROPOSED ART CENTER APPEARS TO BE A FIRST CLASS VENUE.
HOWEVER, I AM ADAMANTLY OPPOSED THAT THE PROPOSED LOCATION OF THIS PROJECT FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.
FIRST, THE PROPOSED LOCATION IS ONLY ABOUT A MILE FROM THE ST.
NOT ONLY WILL THE VENUE BE A COMPETITOR WITH THE EXISTING AMPHITHEATER, BUT WILL DIRECT MORE CROWDS TO AN ALREADY SATURATED AREA.
IT WOULD BE HARD TO IMAGINE THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION THAT WOULD BE CREATED AT THESE TWO VENUES WERE TO HOLD SIMULTANEOUS EVENTS.
TRAFFIC ON A1A CURRENTLY COMES TO A STANDSTILL WHEN THERE'S A LARGE EVENT AT THE AMP.
DO WE REALLY NEED TO ADD ANOTHER VENUE ON TOP OF THAT? SECOND, THE PROJECT IS COMPLETELY INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS THAT THE PROJECT WILL BE SANDWICHED IN BETWEEN.
IT WILL CREATE MORE CONGESTION, TRAFFIC LIGHT AND NOISE POLLUTION IN AN AREA THAT'S ALREADY STRUGGLING WITH THESE ISSUES.
THIS PROJECT WILL HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON NEIGHBORHOODS SUCH AS ANASTASIA LAKES, THE ISLANDER, ANTIGUA, AND THERE'LL BE INDIRECT IMPACTS ON MANY OF THE OTHER SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND LASTLY, BUT NOT LEAST, THERE WILL BE AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.
IT WILL DESTROY MORE OF THE RAPIDLY SHRINKING WILDLIFE HABITAT LOCATED ON THE ISLAND.
THE SMALL HAVEN OF NATURAL HABITAT, ONE OF THE LAST ON THE NORTH SIDE OF 312, IS THE HOME OF DEER, OTTER, MARSH RABBITS, RACCOONS, TURTLES, MULTIPLE BIRDS AND REPTILES.
AND IT'S ALSO ONE OF THE FEW PLACES WHERE YOU CAN STILL SEE ROSEATE SPOONBILLS AND
[00:20:01]
THE ENDANGERED WOOD STORKS.THERE'S A VERY DIVERSIFIED WILDLIFE IN THIS VERY SMALL AREA IS AMAZING.
THE [INAUDIBLE] APPEARS TO BE A VERY NICE VENUE, BUT IT SHOULD BE LOCATED IN AN AREA THAT CAN MORE READILY HANDLE THE ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC FLOW AND CROWDS THAT WILL BE GENERATED INSTEAD OF TRYING TO SHOVE MORE ONTO OUR SMALL ISLAND.
ALTERNATIVE SITES OFF THE ISLAND AND AWAY FROM DOWNTOWN SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS PROJECT.
[APPLAUSE] I'M GOING TO ASK--.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE, THAT YOU HOLD YOUR COMMENTS, IT SLOWS US DOWN.
IT INTIMIDATES OTHER SPEAKERS, SO I'M GOING TO PLEASE ASK THAT YOU HOLD YOUR COMMENTS AND APPLAUSE.
ELIZABETH SMITH IS AT THE PODIUM, AND AFTER MS. SMITH WILL BE VERNA BROWN.
COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I LIVE AT 955 FISH ISLAND PLACE.
I HAVE BEEN A HOMEOWNER ON THE ISLAND SINCE 2011.
MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN A RESIDENT OF NORTH FLORIDA FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS.
NEARLY 20 OF THOSE YEARS ON THE ISLAND, WE LIVE, WORK AND PAY TAXES LESS THAN A FOOTBALL FIELD AWAY FROM THE PROPOSED ARTS CENTER, A PROJECT WHOSE LOCATION WE STRONGLY OPPOSE.
WE LOVE THE ARTS, BUT A VENUE OF THIS SIZE IN THIS LOCATION IS ILL ADVISED FOR MANY REASONS.
NOTHING ABOUT THIS PROJECT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE SURROUNDING RESIDENTIAL AREAS.
WE ALREADY HEAR CONCERTS FROM THE AMP SHOULD WE NOW HAVE TO LISTEN IN SURROUND SOUND.
ADDITIONAL CONCERNS ABOUND REGARDING SAFETY, TRAFFIC FLOW, TRESPASS, NOISE AND LIGHT POLLUTION CONGESTION IN AN ALREADY OVERBUILT AREA AND ACCESS VIA A BRIDGE THAT REGULARLY BACKS UP.
SIMPLY PUT, THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT LOCATION FOR THIS VENUE.
OTHER LOCATIONS EXIST THAT DO NOT HAVE THESE COMPATIBILITY AND SAFETY CONCERNS.
OF ADDITIONAL IMPORT IS THE UNIQUE BIOME THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS ON THIS LAND.
A WILDLIFE HAVEN THAT CAN NEVER BE RECREATED.
SO RICH IS THE BIRD LIFE THAT WALKING THIS LAND IS LIKE BEING IN AN AVIARY.
JEN ANDERSON, CURATOR OF THE ALLIGATOR FARM, IS A RESEARCH LEADER ON ENDANGERED AND THREATENED LOCAL SPECIES.
HER RESEARCH RESULTED IN OUR OWN FLORIDA WOOD STORK BEING FEDERALLY DOWNGRADED TO ENDANGERED.
AND WHY IS? THIS LOSS OF HABITAT, PARTICULARLY NESTING HABITAT.
OF ADDITIONAL CONCERN IS THE STATUS OF THE PROPOSED ART CENTER SITE.
ACCORDING TO AMY MCCLURE SKINNER, DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND BUILDING, THE SITE IS A FORMER LANDFILL.
IT IS CURRENTLY LISTED ON THE FLDEP SOLID WASTE FACILITY INVENTORY AS AND I QUOTE, OLD DUMP CLOSED.
THE CITY OWNS THE LAND AND IT IS DESIGNATED BY THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AS PUBLIC USE.
PROTECTING THE SAFETY OF ALL FISH ISLAND NORTH RESIDENTS IS PARAMOUNT, AS IS RESPECTING THE WISHES OF THOSE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY PLANNING AND LAND USE DECISIONS.
WE URGE YOU NOT TO CONSIDER THIS A VIABLE LOCATION FOR THIS VENUE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKERS VERNA BROWN AND AFTER MS. BROWN IS NANCY PERRY.
AND THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL PEOPLE.
I LIVE AT 97 ANASTASIA LAKES DRIVE.
I'M ABSOLUTELY A NIMBY FOR THIS COMPLEX.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALBERT, THOUGH, YOU KNOW, ALBERT, YOU HAD A VISION YEARS AGO FOR ROMANCE, AND WE HAD SPOKEN AND I DID NOT GET INVOLVED.
BUT YOU'VE REALLY DONE A GREAT JOB AND YOU SHOULD BE APPLAUDED FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
EVERYTHING THAT I COULD POSSIBLY THINK OF TO TALK ABOUT.
I THINK IT'S AN INAPPROPRIATE USE OF OUR LAND.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO PUT THIS BETWEEN TWO LOVELY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS, I'VE LIVED AT ANASTASIA LAKES SINCE 2003.
MANY OF US HAVE HAVE LIVED THERE.
MIZELL ROAD IS CURRENTLY THE NORTH PART OF MIZELL ROAD IS CURRENTLY A SANDY LITTLE TRACK THAT GOES BACK FOR THE UPKEEP OF THE TOWER THAT'S BACK THERE.
AND I KNOW, YOU KNOW, MOST PEOPLE AREN'T CONCERNED ABOUT THE WILDLIFE, BUT WE HAVE AN INFLUX OF THE DEER AND WE'VE EVEN HAD I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT WAS A LITTLE
[00:25:01]
COUGAR OR SOME TYPE OF LITTLE CAT THAT HAS COME INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE DEER COME AND THEY JUST INVADE US, WHICH IS LOVELY.AT FIRST, THEY SCARED THE HECK OUT OF ME AT 10 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT WHEN I SAW THIS DARK THING, WALK BY THE WINDOW, AND THEN I REALIZED THE DEER WERE COMING.
AND I DON'T HAVE ANY PLANTS THAT THEY EAT.
AND SO WE'VE ALL CHANGED WHAT WE'VE DONE.
BUT REALLY, IT'S-- I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS COULD BE A REVENUE WINDFALL FOR THE CITY.
THAT IF YOU LEASE THAT, THEN YOU'VE GOT-- AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S A 99 YEAR LEASE, BUT THAT WOULD BE GREAT INCOME TO HAVE THAT LEASE.
BUT I WAS HERE FOR THE WHOLE PRESENTATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WAS PRIOR TO THIS AND I THINK I KNOW WHERE YOU PROBABLY WILL BE GOING WITH THIS PIECE OF LAND, RIGHT? AND WHEN YOU DO THAT WITH 360 UNITS ON THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY RATHER THAN THE COMPLEX, THE ART COMPLEX, AND WE HAVE 80 HOMES AND THE ISLANDER HAS 80 UNITS.
NOW YOU'RE TALKING UP, I THINK I'VE GOT TWENTY NINE SECONDS LEFT.
I KNOW IT'S NINE VEHICLES PER UNIT.
THAT'S JUST A LOT OF CONCURRENCY FOR THAT INTERSECTION, WHICH IS USED BY MARSH CREEK.
THE OTHER THING IN MY 14 SECONDS IS TO TELL YOU THAT IN THE LAST TWO HURRICANES IN IRMA AND MATTHEW, WE FLOODED.
WE DID NOT HAVE ANY WATER DAMAGE, BUT THAT AREA FLOODS, AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NANCY PERRY, AND AFTER MS. PERRY IS DIANE [INAUDIBLE].
HELLO, MY NAME IS NANCY PERRY, AND I LIVE AT 716 WANDERING LANE, ST.
AUGUSTINE, AND THAT IS IN MARSH CREEK, SO I AM VERY NEXT TO THE PROPERTY THAT YOU WERE CONSIDERING.
I REPRESENT MYSELF AS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS ON THE EPICENTER STEERING COMMITTEE AS WELL AS ON THE BOARD OF THE EPICENTER.
I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO CONSIDER THE LOCATION FOR THIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER TO BE ON LAND OWNED BY THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE, ADJACENT TO ROUTE 3112 AND MIZELL ROAD AS A PAST PRESIDENT OF FIRST GHOST OPERA.
I KNOW FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO FIND A SUITABLE VENUE FOR OPERA OR FOR MOST OF THE PERFORMING ARTS.
WE SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE A PLACE WE DESPERATELY NEED THIS.
ALL OF US IN THE PERFORMING ARTS GROUPS GOT TOGETHER AND DECIDED THAT WE WILL TRY TO BUILD THIS.
THE LOCATION IS THE ISSUE AT THIS POINT.
YOU WILL DECIDE ON YOUR OWN WHETHER THE PROS AND CONS HOW THEY WAY OUT.
I'M ALSO HERE REPRESENTING KATHLEEN VANDE BERG, WHO'S THE DIRECTOR OF THE ST.
SHE IS INVOLVED WITH THE CHORAL REHEARSAL THIS EVENING AND COULD NOT ATTEND.
AND SHE SAYS AS THE DIRECTOR OF A VOCAL PERFORMING GROUP, THE EPICENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS IS A DREAM COME TRUE FOR ME AND FOR ANYONE INVOLVED IN THE ARTS.
THE ST. AUGUSTINE CHAMBER SINGERS WHO HAVE TWICE BEEN INVITED TO SING AT CARNEGIE HALL HAVE BEEN THE RECIPIENTS OF THE GENEROSITY OF THE CATHEDRAL BASILICA AS THE SETTING FOR MANY OF OUR CONCERTS.
HOWEVER, IT HAS BEEN INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO SCHEDULE CONCERTS IN THE BASILICA, NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THEIR BUSY SCHEDULE OF CHURCH EVENTS AND WEDDINGS, BUT BECAUSE MANY OF THE OTHER PERFORMING ARTS USE THAT SAME VENUE AT NEARLY THE SAME TIMES.
CAN I HAVE AN EXTRA FEW MINUTES SINCE I'M REPRESENTING TWO.
NO, MA'AM, YOU CAN'T THANK YOU, THOUGH, OK.
I TRULY HOPE YOU WILL MAKE THIS DREAM A REALITY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DIANE [INAUDIBLE], AND AFTER MS. [INAUDIBLE] WE HAVE A NUMBER OF SPEAKERS THAT ARE OUTSIDE.
LET ME SAY THAT DAVE ROUNDS IS OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
MY NAME IS DIANE [INAUDIBLE], AND I'VE BEEN AN OWNER AT ANASTASIA LAKE FOR 20 PLUS YEARS.
TODAY, I WANT TO DISCUSS THE THREE NEIGHBORHOODS WHICH WOULD BE MOST ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SHELL.
ALL OF THESE ARE LOCATED IN THE ST.
THE FIRST OF THESE IS ANTIGUA.
AND ACCESS TO THAT IS OFF PLANTATION ISLAND DRIVE AND THEN COMING DOWN JUST A SHORT DISTANCE ON 312.
[00:30:03]
I'LL SHOW YOU A PICTURE OF THAT IN JUST A MINUTE WHEN WE GET A LITTLE BIT FURTHER ON.AS YOU'RE DRIVING FROM THE MATANZAS RIVER AND COMING IN THAT DIRECTION WHEN YOU SEE ANTIGUA THERE ARE 157 HOUSEHOLDS THERE, THE ISLANDER HAS 80 AND ANASTASIA LAKES HAS 80 AS WELL.
AND BOTH OF US ARE OFTEN MIZELL ROAD, WHICH IS A VERY SMALL ROAD, AND THAT IS THE ONLY ACCESS THAT WE HAVE IN AND OUT OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS.
BUT WHEN YOU COME FROM THE MATANZAS RIVER AND YOU'RE LOOKING NORTH, YOU SEE ONLY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE UNTIL YOU REACH A1A.
THAT ONE IS ALL AMERICAN AIR, WHICH IS ON THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF MIZELL ROAD NORTH.
ALL OF THESE PROPERTIES ARE CONSIDERED HIGH END PROPERTIES.
AT THIS TIME, YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT RECENT SALES IN ANTIGUA AND IN ANASTASIA LAKES ARE AT THE PRICE RANGE OF FIVE HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND TO A MILLION PLUS.
THESE ARE FEEDING TAXES INTO THE CITY OF ST.
THEY'RE HIGHLY DESIRABLE NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND WHY IS THAT? ONE OF THE FIRST REASONS IS SAFETY.
VERY FEW PEOPLE WHO AREN'T RESIDENTS COME INTO THESE NEIGHBORHOODS AND ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT.
BUT THAT WOULD BE A BIG CHANGE WITH THE EPICENTER.
IT'S EASY FOR US TO GET IN AND OUT OF OUR ENTRANCES UNTIL WE REACH STATE ROAD 312.
WE HAVE WONDERFUL VIEWS OF THE RIVER, MARSHES, FRESHWATER LAKES AND WILDLIFE FROM THE UNDEVELOPED CITY PROPERTY.
THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 2019 REPORT SHOWED THERE WERE 34,500 AVERAGE DAILY TRIPS ON THIS SECTION OF THE STATE ROAD 312.
WE KNOW THAT ST. JOHN'S COUNTY IS THE SECOND FASTEST GROWING COUNTY IN FLORIDA AT THIS TIME, AND THOSE OF US WHO TRAVEL 312 DAILY.
REALLY, NO, THE INFLUX OF NEW PEOPLE IS ENORMOUS.
THE TURN LIGHT FROM STATE ROAD 312 ONTO [INAUDIBLE] NORTH--.
MS. [INAUDIBLE] I'M SO SORRY, BUT WE'RE OUT OF TIME.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVE ROUNDS, AND AFTER MR. ROUNDS, IT'S MARY [INAUDIBLE], I BELIEVE.
FORGIVE ME IF I MISPRONOUNCED THAT.
I'M HERE AS PRESIDENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH CLUB ASSOCIATION, BUT NOT OFFICIALLY IN THAT CAPACITY.
I'VE TALKED WITH A NUMBER OF OUR MEMBERS RECENTLY AND WE WILL HAVE A BOARD MEETING ON THURSDAY NIGHT TO TAKE A FIRMER POSITION ABOUT THIS.
BUT THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE TALKED TO INDICATE THAT THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE FINER PROJECTS THAT THE CITY HAS CONSIDERED, AND WE WOULD NOT BE AGAINST THE PROJECT AT ALL.
WHAT WE ARE AGAINST, THE ONES THAT I'VE TALKED WITH, IS THE TRAFFIC SITUATION.
WE THINK THIS IS JUST THE WRONG LOCATION.
OUR ASSOCIATION ALONE HAS 265 HOMES.
WE ALL USE THE 312 BRIDGE MORE THAN ANY OTHER.
WE'VE ALL IN THIS ROOM BEEN STUCK IN TRAFFIC FROM THE TOP OF THE BRIDGE ALL THE WAY TO ROUTE ONE.
SO I THINK IT'S NO QUESTION THAT WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF TRAFFIC THERE NOW, AND PROBABLY WE DON'T NEED TO ADD MUCH MORE.
WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DID AT FISH ISLAND.
THAT WAS A WONDERFUL POSITION THAT YOU TOOK ON THAT AND WE ARE ALL ENJOYING THAT.
BUT WE THINK YOU [INAUDIBLE] HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS ONE AND RESTRICT THE TRAFFIC AND FIND ANOTHER LOCATION FOR THIS VENUE.
MARIE [INAUDIBLE] AND THEN AFTER MS. [INAUDIBLE], IS MICHAEL MANN.
HELLO, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU.
I RECENTLY HAD SOME DENTAL WORK, SO I'M A BIT OUT OF IT.
SELFISHLY, I WILL TELL YOU THAT IT HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO FIND REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE SPACE FOR AS LONG AS WE'VE BEEN IN EXISTENCE, BY THE WAY, 75
[00:35:01]
YEARS.SO, THAT'S KIND OF SELFISH ON MY PART FOR THE EPICENTER.
I'D LIKE YOU TO KNOW THAT SINCE WE WANTED TO BE, I ALSO REPRESENT THE ALLIANCE AS A BOARD MEMBER, AND WE WANT IT TO BE SELF-SUSTAINING.
THAT MEANS THERE MUST BE SEVERAL REVENUE STREAMS THAT WILL BRING VISITORS, TOURISTS, HEADS AND BEDS AND A TAX BASE THAT WILL BE INCREASED.
I UNDERSTAND THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE MANY OBJECTIONS.
I THINK IN TIME, WE THE BOARD, HAVE ADDRESSED MANY OF THOSE AND THERE'LL BE MORE.
WE'RE READY AND PREPARED TO ADDRESS EACH ONE, WHILE WE UNDERSTAND THOSE CONCERNS.
AGAIN, PLEASE, IF YOU WILL SUPPORT THE SHELL, WE DESPERATELY NEED A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER TO SERVICE ON SO MANY LEVELS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND YOUR CONSIDERATION.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHAEL MANN AND AFTER MR. MANN AT SARAH [INAUDIBLE].
GOOD AFTERNOON, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAR BEFORE YOU.
I LIVE AT 3 MILTON STREET, ST.
I AM THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE ST.
OUR FIRST FULL SEASON WAS 2016.
DUE TO COVID, WE LOST A SEASON AND A HALF.
WE ARE NOW RESUME PERFORMING AND REHEARSING.
WE REHEARSE AT PACETTI BAY MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHICH IN WORLD GOLF VILLAGE, WHICH IS A BIT OF A DISTANCE FOR QUITE A FEW OF OUR MEMBERS.
WE ARE LIMITED TO THE USE OF THE FACILITY ONLY DURING SCHOOL OPERATIONS.
IT ALSO AFFECTS WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE EQUIPMENT TO GO TO REMOTE PERFORMANCES.
WE DO FOUR CONCERTS A YEAR AT PACETTI BAY.
WE HAVE ALREADY SOLD OUT TWO PRIVATE PERFORMANCES AT DEL WEBB [INAUDIBLE].
WE'VE DRAWN A VERY LARGE CROWD WHEN WE'VE PERFORMED AT THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, PROBABLY ULTIMATELY SEVERAL THOUSAND PEOPLE GOING BY THERE.
MAKING IT VERY EASY TO GET STANDING OVATIONS WHEN YOUR CROWD IS ALREADY STANDING.
THERE IS A SERIOUS NEED FOR REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE FACILITIES FOR THE ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
BANDS, ORCHESTRAS, ALL OF THE ARTS, STAGE PERFORMANCES, THIS IS LARGELY AN INDOOR VENUE.
THE THREE PRINCIPAL PERFORMANCE AREAS ARE ALL INDOORS.
THEY WILL NOT CREATE ANY NOISE POLLUTION IN THE SURROUNDING AREA.
THERE ARE-- THERE'S AN OUTDOOR CAFé POSSIBLE AND A JAZZ CLUB, BUT THOSE WILL BE MUCH QUIETER PERFORMANCES.
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO CONFLICT WITH THE AMPHITHEATER IN THAT WE ARE NOT BRINGING IN THE SAME TYPE OF PERFORMANCES THAT THEY HAVE.
WE ARE SHOWCASING OUR LOCAL TALENT.
AND THAT IS THE PRIME CONSIDERATION FOR THIS.
IT IS SEVERELY NEEDED IN THIS COMMUNITY.
THIS IS AT LEAST A REASONABLE LOCATION.
WE'RE OPEN TO DISCUSSION IF THERE IS A, YOU KNOW, A BETTER LOCATION.
BUT THE TIME HAS COME TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF VENUE IN THE CITY OF ST.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MANN.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER, SARAH [INAUDIBLE] AND AFTER MS. PAGE IS GEORGE MOON.
HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
MY NAME IS SARAH [INAUDIBLE] AND I LIVE ON OGLETHORPE BOULEVARD IN ST.
I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE ST.
AUGUSTINE ORCHESTRA FOR 41 YEARS AND HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THINGS.
I WANT TO GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF NUMBERS.
FIVE, FIVE REPRESENTS THE PLACES THAT I CAN REMEMBER WHERE WE HAVE REHEARSED.
AUGUSTINE HIGH SCHOOL, PARISH HALL ON ST GEORGE STREET, A CHURCH ON PACETTI ROAD, TURNING POINT BAPTIST CHURCH ON STATE ROAD 16, SEBASTIAN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND MURRAY
[00:40:07]
MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHERE WE CURRENTLY ARE.ANOTHER NUMBER FOR YOU TO THINK ABOUT, 14.
14, OVER THE YEARS, WE HAVE PERFORMED IN 14 DIFFERENT VENUES THAT I CAN REMEMBER, AND IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER.
THE LANDING IN JACKSONVILLE, RAVINE GARDENS IN PALATKA, CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN PONTE VEDRA, THE PONTE VEDRA CONCERT HALL, A CHURCH IN SWITZERLAND ON STATE ROAD 13, DEL WEBB IN ST. AUGUSTINE, RIVER TOWN IN ST.
ANASTASIA BAPTIST CHURCH, RIVER GARDEN RETIREMENT CENTER, JACKSONVILLE, WESTMINSTER WOODS AND FRUIT COVE, ST.
WHICH MAYBE SOMEONE HERE REMEMBERS WAS ON LABOR DAY OF 1980, AND THEN IT DISAPPEARED.
ST. AUGUSTINE TECHNICAL CENTER, THE PONCE DE LEON MALL.
AND NOW WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE LIGHTNER MUSEUM SWIMMING POOL.
WHILE WE GREATLY APPRECIATE OUR ALLIANCE WITH THE LIGHTNER MUSEUM.
WE ARE IN NEED OF A PERMANENT HOME IN WHICH WE CAN REHEARSE AND PERFORM JUST AS THE OTHER ARTS GROUPS HAVE MENTIONED.
I CAN REMEMBER BACK WHEN ON A GOOD DAY, THE ORCHESTRA HAD 25 MUSICIANS IN THE ORCHESTRA.
WE NOW HAVE 50 REGULAR MEMBERS WHO COME HERE EVERY TUESDAY TO REHEARSE AND TO COMMIT TO BETWEEN SIX AND EIGHT PERFORMANCES EACH SEASON.
WE, LIKE OTHER CULTURAL ENTITIES HERE IN ST.
AUGUSTINE OFFERS WAVES, BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS LIGHTS.
AND HISTORY FOR ITS RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE MUSICAL NOTES OF THE HALLELUJAH CHORUS, AS PERFORMED BY THE ST.
AUGUSTINE COMMUNITY CHORUS AND THE STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER, AS PERFORMED BY THE ST.
AUGUSTINE ORCHESTRA, PROVIDE LASTING MEMORIES AND EMOTIONS FOR EVERYONE.
I HOPE THIS GOVERNING BODY WILL LEAVE ITS LEGACY BY SECURING THESE CULTURAL TRADITIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR WONDERFUL LITTLE CITY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKERS GEORGE MOON AND AFTER MR. MOON, IT'S MICHELE [INAUDIBLE].
MY WIFE, SHARON, AND I LIVE AT 24106 HARBOUR VISTA CIRCLE IN THE PRESERVES CONDOMINIUMS, WHICH IS JUST DOWN THE STREET FROM THE PROPOSED PERFORMING ARTS.
SHARON AND I ARE BOTH SUPPORTERS OF THE ARTS.
WE'VE SEEN MAYOR UPCHURCH AT FLAGLER AUDITORIUM IN THE NUTCRACKER, AND MY WIFE EXHIBITS HER PAINTINGS AT THE ST.
AUGUSTINE BEACH ART STUDIO AND GALLERY IN THE ART ASSOCIATION DOWNTOWN.
WE ARE OPPOSED TO THIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER IN THE PROPOSED LOCATION AT FISH ISLAND.
WE WERE VERY HAPPY WHEN THE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF FISH ISLAND WAS TURNED DOWN AND IT LOOKED LIKE THE AREA WOULD BE PRESERVED.
NOW IT LOOKS LIKE THAT SMALL VICTORY MIGHT BE SHORT LIVED.
THIS CENTER WILL BE A DISASTER TO THE ECOSYSTEM AND WILL HAVE A HORRIBLE IMPACT ON OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AS IT IS, THE [INAUDIBLE] CAR WASH THAT IS BEING BUILT IS GOING TO CREATE HORRENDOUS TRAFFIC PROBLEMS. SHARON AND I URGE YOU TO DO WHATEVER YOU CAN TO HALT THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT.
MICHELE [INAUDIBLE] IS OUR NEXT SPEAKER, AND THEN AFTER MS. INAUDIBLE IS CAPTAIN [INAUDIBLE].
GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.
MY NAME IS MICHELE [INAUDIBLE].
I LIVE IN 306 ST GEORGE STREET AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF FIRST COAST OPERA TO ENDORSE THE EPICENTER ALLIANCE AND THE BUILDING OF THE SHELL.
FIRST COAST OPERA IS GOING NOW INTO ITS 22ND SEASON.
EACH YEAR WE SEEM TO GET BETTER AND BETTER.
WE HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED AND ENDORSED BY THE NATIONAL-- BY THE NEA, BY THE FLORIDA STATE CULTURAL ALLIANCE, BY ST JOHN'S SCULPTURE ALLIANCE.
I THINK THAT WE ARE INCREASED SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND INTRASTATE HAS HAS INCREASED OVER THE YEARS.
I THINK WE'RE AN ASSET HERE AND WE COULD GET EVEN BETTER AND BETTER, BUT WE FACE THE CONSTRAINT OF A VENUE IN WHICH TO PERFORM REGULARLY.
I ENDORSE WHAT THE OTHER ARTS ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN SAYING ABOUT PERFORMANCE, SPACE, STORAGE, SPACE, BUILDING SPACE, EVERYTHING.
OPERA IS A MULTI-ARTS ART [INAUDIBLE] WE HAVE TO DO THEATER, MUSIC, ACTING, EVERYTHING.
I HOPE YOU WILL GIVE US A CHANCE TO IMPROVE AND TO GO ON AND TO CONTINUE TO EXIST
[00:45:04]
AND THRIVE.I HAVE NOT COME PREPARED TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE LOCATION OF THE SHELL SHOULD BE, BUT HERE TO ENDORSE THE IDEA OF THE SHELL.
I DO ASK THE QUESTION, THOUGH WHAT WILL BE THE ALTERNATIVE USE OF THIS LAND? BECAUSE THAT SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR POINT THAT'S BEING MADE IS THE ALTERNATIVE TO BUILD A CULTURAL CENTER ON IT OR SOME OTHER FORM OF HOUSING OR TO LEAVE IT AS A PUBLIC PARK THAT'S UP TO YOU ALL TO DETERMINE.
BUT IF IT IS GOING TO BE BUILT UPON, IN ANY CASE, I THINK YOU OUGHT TO BUILD A CULTURAL ARTS CENTER ON IT.
CAPTAIN [INAUDIBLE], FORGIVE ME IF I'VE MISPRONOUNCED THAT, AND AFTER MR. [INAUDIBLE], IS LAUREN [INAUDIBLE].
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I HAVE BEEN A SCHOOL PRINCIPAL FOR THIRTY FIVE YEARS.
AND AS PART OF MY RESPONSIBILITY, I WAS ABLE TO START A COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA, A COMMUNITY BAND, COMMUNITY CHORUS AND A TON OF CHILD CARE PROGRAMS AS PART OF A PROGRAM CALLED THE JOINT [INAUDIBLE] COMMUNITY ADULT EDUCATION IN NEW JERSEY.
NOW THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THAT I NEED TO SHARE WITH YOU, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THIS AS A SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, I'D BE OUT IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL WATCHING THE SCHOOL BUS PICK UP THE KIDS.
AND TO ME, THAT WAS A VERY, VERY HONORABLE WAY TO SPEND MY TIME.
WELL, IN ANASTASIA LAKES, I LIVED THERE AT [INAUDIBLE] ANASTASIA LAKE DRIVE.
EVERY MORNING I COME DOWN AND I WATCH THAT SCHOOL BUS AND THEY PICK UP THE KIDS AND THE PARENTS COME WITH THEIR CARS OR THEY'LL WALK DOWN WITH THE DOG.
AND IT JUST, I GET THIS FEAR AND THAT'S THIS FEAR OF A CHILD BEING HIT BY A CAR OR BEING MAIMED BY SOME KIND OF ACCIDENT.
AND I HOPE THAT NEVER HAPPENS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT PARTICULAR COMMUNITY IS CHANGING.
THERE HAVE BEEN MORE AND MORE FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN COMING IN, WHICH IS A WONDERFUL THING.
SO THAT'S PART OF MY CONCERN ABOUT USING THAT PLOT OF LAND.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE ARTS, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE I WAS A TEACHER.
BUT KEEP THIS IN MIND RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE A USE OF MANY BUILDINGS, COMMUNITY BUILDINGS, CHURCHES, HIGH SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY CENTERS.
THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WERE MENTIONED TO YOU.
NOW YOU'RE FOCUSING ON ONE SITUATION IN A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE NOW IF I'M A SINGER, IF I'M AN ARTIST, I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH TRAFFIC TO GET TO A REHEARSAL.
I WANT TO BE ABLE TO JUST DRIVE SOMEPLACE AND PARK SOMEWHERE, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE EPICENTER.
YOU KNOW WHERE THE MOVIE THEATER IS UP THERE? THAT'S FABULOUS BECAUSE IT'S WIDE OPEN LAND.
PEOPLE HAVE GOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE COMMUNITY BUILDINGS THAT ARE VERY, VERY HELPFUL.
WE PAID A LOT OF MONEY TO PUT THEM IN PROCESS.
HAVING THE CENTER IS GOOD, BUT THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE GOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU'VE SPREAD OUT.
YOU ELIMINATE THE HAZARDS THAT BECOME MOST EVIDENT WHEN YOU'RE OPERATING IN ONE SITUATION.
THE OTHER THING THAT'S REALLY CRITICALLY IMPORTANT IS THIS ONE PLACE A PERFORMING DO YOU KNOW HOW FAST THAT'S GOING TO FILL UP? IT'S GOING TO BE A [INAUDIBLE], A TERRIBLE KIND OF SITUATION BECAUSE THIS GROUP IS GOING TO WANT TO PERFORM, THIS GROUPS WANT TO BE THERE.
THIS THAT'S [INAUDIBLE] THE OTHER THING.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LAUREN [INAUDIBLE] AFTER MS. [INAUDIBLE] IS MARCUS NELSON.
GOOD EVENING, HOW ARE YOU? I'M FINE, HOW ARE YOU, SIR? FINE, THANKS.
MS. [INAUDIBLE], WOULD YOU PULL THAT MICROPHONE JUST A LITTLE BIT CLOSER, PERFECT.
BETTER FOR YOU? THAT'S BETTER, YES.
THIS IS THE TIME OF PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA.
THE SHELL IS ON THE AGENDA AND I WILL SPEAK ON THE LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE SOUND OF TRAFFIC, THE FLOODING ON THE ISLAND AND THE ENDANGERMENT OF
[00:50:04]
WILDLIFE.I HAVE ANOTHER THOUGHT FOR MY THREE MINUTES OF PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND I WANT TO SUGGEST THAT THE CITY MANAGER'S IDEA FOR A NEW SAPD OFFICE BE QUELLED AND THAT IN ITS PLACE TWO SATELLITE OFFICES BE BUILT.
AUGUSTINE LAND AND THE OTHER ACROSS THE BRIDGE ON THE ISLAND.
BECAUSE WHEN WE HAVE THE NIGHT OF LIGHTS AND WHEN WE HAVE A LOT OF TRAFFIC IN THIS TOWN.
THE OFFICERS CANNOT GET ACROSS THE BRIDGE OF LIONS.
SO IF YOU HAVE THREE SQUAD CARS ON THE ISLAND TO BE THERE FOR EACH OTHER AT THE NEW FIRE STATION THAT IS GOING TO BE BUILT, THAT WOULD BE A GOOD USE OF PUBLIC MONEY.
HAVE IT INTEGRATED WITH THE FIRE STATION ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN.
IF YOU HAVE THREE SQUAD CARS THERE WITH AN OFFICE AND THEY HAVE SOMETHING THEY NEED TO GET TO.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO OVER THE KING STREET BRIDGE.
THEY ARE RIGHT THERE IN THE VICINITY AND THEY CAN GET TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.
AND THAT'S MY SUGGESTION FOR THE SAPD BECAUSE OTHERWISE MY THOUGHT IS THAT WHO IS GOING TO BUY THAT BUILDING? WILL THE BUILDING BE RAISED THAT WAS BUILT WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS? OR WILL THE COLLEGE COME ALONG AND TURN AROUND AND BUY THE BUILDING AND THEN INFILTRATE THE DOWNTOWN AREA EVEN MORE THAN THEY ALREADY HAVE? SO THAT'S MY THOUGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR PUTTING THE SPEED THINGS UP ON MLK AND RIBERIA.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT WE STILL NEED SOME SIGNS IN EDDIE VICKERS PARK FOR DOGS ON LEASH AND $150 DOLLARS COUNTY OR STATE FINE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING THE MESSAGE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF STR PEOPLE COMING INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY DON'T GET IT.
AND THAT'S A PROBLEM FOR ANYONE WHO DOES GET IT AND IS WALKING THEIR DOG ON A LEASH.
SO, I WOULD REALLY LIKE YOU TO TAKE ME VERY SERIOUSLY.
I APPRECIATE THE SIGNS IN THE FRONT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARCUS NELSON AND AFTER MR. NELSON IS BOB BUTLER.
GOOD EVENING, GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS, I'M HERE TO TALK, I THINK REALLY LIKE ALMOST EVERYONE ELSE TONIGHT ABOUT THE EPICENTER PROPOSAL, AND I REALLY JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE MY THREE MINUTES TO POINT OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, FROM THE PEOPLE I'VE HEARD SPEAK HERE TONIGHT IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT, YOU KNOW, I'VE HEARD REALLY THE EXPRESSION OF SERIOUS NEED.
I'VE HEARD, YOU KNOW, THE CONCERN OF HAVING TO RUN ALL OVER THE COUNTY TO FIND THE SPOT TO DO PERFORMANCES AND MAKE PREPARATIONS, WHEREAS KIND OF THE OPPOSITIONAL CONCERNS I'VE HEARD ARE REALLY MINOR.
IT SOUNDS REALLY LIKE MINOR AND NIGGLING ISSUES, MINOR CONCERNS ABOUT TRAFFIC.
THERE'S JUST ENVIRONMENTAL MENTION THAT KEEPS COMING UP, WHICH I FIND ODD WHEN MANY OF THESE PEOPLE DIDN'T SEEM PARTICULARLY CONCERNED WHEN THEY CHOSE TO BUY HOUSES IN THOSE AREAS.
AND I THINK THE EXPECTATION THAT NOW A PUBLIC AMENITY IS UNACCEPTABLE, WHEREAS THEIR PRIVATE ONE WAS, YOU KNOW, I PERSONALLY FIND SOMEWHAT HYPOCRITICAL.
AND I THINK GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE'VE SEEN THIS EXPRESSION OF NEED FROM SO MANY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, IT'S IMPORTANT TO TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT TONIGHT WHEN YOU'RE MAKING YOUR DECISION ON WHETHER ST.
AUGUSTINE IS GOING TO HAVE THAT PERFORMING ARTS CENTER OR WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO END UP SPIRALING INTO THIS QUESTION OF WHAT ELSE CAN WE PUT IT? AND VERY IMPORTANTLY, IN THAT SENSE, I HAVEN'T HEARD A SUGGESTION OF WHERE ELSE THIS COULD GO.
YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THIS CITY LAND IS AVAILABLE HERE, AND I THINK THAT'S VALUABLE IN TERMS OF NOT INCREASING COSTS OF THIS PUBLIC AMENITY.
SO TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, DISRUPT THIS PROCESS, THIS POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, I THINK, IS REALLY UNFORTUNATE AND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S FOR, YOU KNOW, PERSONAL CONVENIENCE REASONS INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, GENUINE CONCERN ABOUT THE COMMUNITY IN ITS FUTURE.
AND AT THE END, THE FUTURE IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
IN THIS CASE, IT'S ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR DEVELOPMENT AS A HISTORIC CENTER, A CULTURAL CENTER AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE DOING SO, OF COURSE, IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY IS IMPORTANT, BUT ALSO THAT WE'RE DOING IT AT ALL.
SO I REALLY HOPE THAT YOU TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT TONIGHT.
[00:55:02]
AND YOU KNOW, AGAIN, JUST VERY CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE FUTURE, THE CONSEQUENCES AND, YOU KNOW, REALLY THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST THE WANTS.OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BOB BUTLER.
I HAVE ONE MORE CARD AFTER MR. BUTLER.
SO, IF ANYBODY WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSIONER IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT I GET A CARD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
AND MR. BUTLER, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY COMMENTS HERE.
I NEITHER DON'T WISH TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THE CULTURAL ARTS.
MY CONCERN IS FOR THE ISLAND IN GENERAL, THE ISLAND IS GEOGRAPHICALLY ONLY SO BIG.
WE STARTED COMING DOWN HERE IN THE LATE 60S AND WE'RE [INAUDIBLE] CAMPGROUNDS AND EVERYTHING.
I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT DOWN ON THE SOUTHERN END OF THE ISLAND NOW FOR 10 YEARS, AND THERE'S NOT A DAY THAT GOES BY THAT I HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING OUT OF MY COMMUNITY TO TURN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT ON A1A.
NOW, AS I GO DOWN TO 312, IT GETS EVEN WORSE.
I ALSO WORK AT ALLEGRO, AN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY, AND ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS, I'LL SEE AN AMBULANCE OR SOME TYPE OF VEHICLE COME IN THERE, AND THEY ONLY HAVE TWO POINTS TO GET OUT.
YOU KNOW, ONCE THEY COME INTO ALLEGRO BUNCH OF DOCTORS OFFICES AND WE'VE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS OVER AT THE PRESERVES AND EVERYTHING BUT THE ADDED TRAFFIC.
IT CONCERNS ME THAT I CAN'T EVEN GET OUT OF MY COMMUNITY AND A LOT OF CASES AND COMING OUT OF MARSH CREEK AND WANTING TO GO ON A1A.
I GUESS IT WOULD BE IF TURN LEFT OUT OF MARSH CREEK OR THE BACK ENTRANCE.
SO NOW WE ADD, IN ADDITION TO THE AMP, WE HAD THIS VENUE, WHICH WOULD PROBABLY START TREMENDOUS TRAFFIC AS EARLY AS FOUR IN AFTERNOON, MAYBE GO TILL 10:00-11:00 AT NIGHT AND WE PUT ALL OF THE COMPLICATIONS THAT THE ISLAND IS EXPERIENCING NOW.
AND I'M JUST CONCERNED FOR THE ISLAND AGAIN.
NEITHER HAVE A COMMENT ABOUT THE ARTS.
I LOVE THE ARTS AND I HOPE THERE'S AN ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION THAT CAN BE FOUND SO THAT WE CAN PROCEED WITH IT.
I THINK I HAVE ONE MORE CARD AND THEN I'LL READ MY AND THEN I'LL RECOGNIZE OUR FINAL SPEAKER.
OK, OUR FINAL SPEAKERS, BJ [INAUDIBLE].
BJ [INAUDIBLE], WEST CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE, 8 [INAUDIBLE] STREET.
[INAUDIBLE], NO REASON TO BUILD A SHELL SINCE THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE PLANS TO GIVE OUR WATERWORKS BUILDING ON SAN MARCO TO ANOTHER 501C3, WHICH WILL FEATURE ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE.
THEY RENT 15 [INAUDIBLE] RIGHT NOW FOR $2000 A MONTH, NOT $500.
HAYLING PARK ON RIBERIA WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR THIS 501C3 SHELL.
EXCEPT THIS GOT SOME TRAFFIC PROBLEMS TOO.
THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE ALLOWED ANOTHER 501C3 FILM FESTIVAL TO USE THIS ROOM, THE ALCAZAR, TO SHOW A FILM WITHOUT CHARGING THEM.
IS THERE A CURRENT LIST OF CITY OWN PARCELS WHERE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CAN BE BUILT MORE THAN THE THREE THAT YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT, AND ALSO OTHER PARCELS WHERE SUCH A SHELL CAN BE BUILT? IN 2019, 241 RIBERIA WAS LISTED AS WELL AS MAKATI, WHICH THE DEVELOPER CHANGED FOR A SCHOOL INSTEAD OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
501C3'S DO NOT PAY PROPERTY TAXES.
PROPERTY TAXPAYERS ARE BURDENED, WHILE 501C3S USE THE CITY TO MAKE A BUCK.
THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF POOR LONG TERM PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT BY THE CITY OF ST.
THIS DOES NOT MAINTAIN LIVABILITY IN OUR CITY.
THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP ARE TRAFFIC AND COMPATIBILITY IN NATURE.
THE NEW CITY FIRE STATION SHOULD GO ON THIS PARCEL, NOT THE SHELL GAME.
AND I UNDERSTAND, TOO, THAT THE-- FOR SOME OF THE PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW THIS.
YOU'RE DESIGNED TO PUT THE FIRE STATION CLOSER TO THE AMP OR ACROSS THE STREET FROM THEM, BUT WE NEED TO KNOW THE CITIZENS, INCLUDING-- I APPRECIATE ALL THESE PEOPLE.
WE NEVER SEE THESE PEOPLE HERE AT CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS IN THE PAST.
[01:00:02]
I'D LIKE TO SEE THEM EVERY TIME WE HAVE ONE OF THESE, BUT BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT EVERYBODY, NOT JUST OUR LITTLE SELVES, RIGHT? OK.IT'S THE LIVABILITY THAT WE'RE GETTING AWAY FROM.
AND YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND TALKED ABOUT IT, NIGHT OF LIGHTS, WE WANT TO CUT IT BACK.
WE WANT TO DO THIS, WANT TO DO THIS.
WE ARE LIKE A FIVE POUND BAG OF POTATOES AND I'M NOT A FARMER.
WE'RE TRYING TO PUT IN 100 POUNDS.
YOU THINK IT WILL, BUT IT WON'T WORK.
AND IT GOES BACK TO THE LIVABILITY.
AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE TOLD AS TAXPAYERS IN THIS CITY, ESPECIALLY, WHERE ARE THE PARCELS? I'LL HAVE TO DO SOME CHECKING NOW.
I HAVE TO GO TO THE LIBRARY AND GET ON THAT COMPUTER.
WHERE THE PROPERTY AS IT BELONGS TO THE CITY AND WHAT WE CAN USE, NOT JUST WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT AND BRINGING THIS TO US AND THEN PACKING THE COURT, SO TO SPEAK, WHICH IS FINE.
THAT'S WHY I LIKE TO SPEAK LAST.
BUT I DO APPRECIATE EVERYBODY CAME.
HAVING NO FURTHER CARDS, I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION OF THE AGENDA.
[5. CONSENT AGENDA]
WE'RE NOW ON ITEM FIVE, THE CONSENT AGENDA.IF YOU WOULD PLEASE READ THE CONSENT AGENDA? ON TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA WE HAVE A REMINDER OF UPCOMING MEETINGS THE FEBRUARY 14, 2022 FIVE P.M.
REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING, FEB.
SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS FEBRUARY, 28TH, 2022, FOUR P.M.
SHADE MEETING TO DISCUSS SA MARINA HOLDINGS LITIGATION, FEB.
REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING, MARCH 14, 2022, FIVE P.M.
REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
WE HAVE APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM A PRIOR CITY COMMISSION MEETING JANUARY 10, 2022 REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
WE HAVE A RELEASE OF LEAN FOR UNIT CONNECTION FEE MORTGAGE AT 6 CORDOVA ST.
WE HAVE FIRST QUARTER REPORT FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE DECEMBER 2021 FINANCIAL REPORT.
THAT COMPLETES THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. REGAN.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? I SO MOVE.
MOTION AND A SECOND, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
[7.A.1. Public presentations by private service providers for homeless services including: (D. Birchim, Assistant City Manager)]
THANK YOU.THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED.
MR. BIRCHIM, PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS BY PRIVATE SECTOR PROVIDERS FOR HOMELESS SERVICES.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, THIS IS A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THREE PRIVATE SECTOR SERVICE PROVIDERS FOR HOMELESS SERVICES IN OUR CITY.
THE FIRST ONE IS THE CONTINUUM OF CARE ORGANIZATION MS. LINDSAY RODEA AND SALLY REED WILL BE PRESENTING.
NEXT WILL BE THE HOME AGAIN ST.
MR. TROY BLEVINS AND ELLEN WALDEN WILL BE PRESENTING FINALLY, THE ST.
FRANCIS HOUSE WITH JUDITH DEMBOWSKI.
WOULD THE FOLKS FROM-- THANK YOU, CONTINUUM OF CARE, WELCOME.
GOOD EVENING, I'M LINDSAY RODEA, I WORK AT FLAGLER HOSPITAL, WHICH IS THE LEAD AGENCY FOR THE CONTINUUM OF CARE.
I WORK IN GRANT MANAGEMENT AND I SERVE AS A COC LEAD AND I'M HERE WITH MY COLLEAGUE SALLY.
HI, I'M SALLY REED, AND I AGAIN WORK WITH FLAGLER HEALTH IN THE CONTINUUM OF CARE IN OUR HOUSING PROGRAMS, AND WE THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
DO I NEED TO PUT THIS UP ON THE SCREEN? YES, CITY STAFF CAN HELP YOU WITH THAT.
SO, OUR COC WAS DEVELOPED IN 2003 AND ACTS AS THE COMMUNITY PLANNING BODY TO ORGANIZE AND DELIVER HOUSING AND SERVICES TO MEET THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS.
THE GOAL IS TO MAXIMIZE SELF-SUFFICIENCY AS PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS MOVE INTO STABLE HOUSING.
SO TO START OUR PRESENTATION, I WANTED TO REVIEW THE MISSION AND VISION OF THE COC.
SO THE MISSION, THE CONTINUUM OF CARE LEADS THE EFFORT TO PREVENT AND END HOMELESSNESS, BRINGING TOGETHER RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS TO MAKE HOMELESSNESS RARE, BRIEF AND ONE TIME.
AND OUR VISION BELIEVING HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT.
WE ENVISION A COMMUNITY WHERE ALL PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO SAFE, STABLE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
[01:05:01]
SO, I WANTED TO DISCUSS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE LEAD AGENCY, SO AS I MENTIONED, WE BOTH ARE FLAGLER HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES.FLAGLER HEALTH PLUS UNDERSTANDS THAT THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, SOCIAL DETERMINANTS AND BEHAVIORAL FACTORS INFLUENCE UP TO 80 PERCENT OF A PATIENT'S ABILITY TO SELF CARE.
SO THAT'S WHY IN 2017 FLAGLER HOSPITAL OR FLAGLER HEALTH PLUS BECAME THE LEAD AGENCY FOR THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY CONTINUUM OF CARE.
AND IN DOING SO, WE BECAME THE ONLY HOSPITAL TO SERVE IN THAT ROLE.
PREVIOUSLY, THE AGENCIES WERE EMERGENCY SERVICES AND HOMELESS COALITION AND HOME AGAIN IN ST. JOHN'S.
SO OUR COC IS ONE OF TWENTY SEVEN IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
AND SO THIS GRAPHIC HERE SHOWS A LITTLE BIT OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE COC.
SO FUNDS COME IN FROM HUD AND THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, SO THEY PROVIDE FUNDING AND INITIATIVES FOR THE HOMELESS SERVICES THAT FLOW INTO THE CONTINUUM OF CARE.
THAT'S THE OPERATION AND PLANNING OF THE COC, CRISIS RESPONSE SYSTEM.
AND THEN LEAD AGENCY, WHICH IS FLAGLER HOSPITAL, WE ADMINISTER THE FUNDING, MONITOR PERFORMANCE, WE SUBMIT APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDING ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY AND WE REPORT ON SYSTEM PERFORMANCE.
SO, THE MONEY FLOWS THROUGH THE LEAD AGENCY AND THEN OUT TO THE COC FUNDED AGENCIES WHO ARE THE HOMELESS SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO ACTUALLY RECEIVE THAT FUNDING.
SO WITHIN THE COC, WE HAVE OUR COC MEMBERSHIP OR WE HAVE A BOARD.
AND THEN I HAVE TWO OTHER TERMS HERE I HAVE BEEN REFERRING TO FLAGLER AS THE LEAD AGENCY, BUT WE'RE ALSO THE COLLABORATIVE APPLICANT IN THE HMIS.
BUT OUR COC MEMBERSHIP, WE MEET MONTHLY, THE SECOND WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH.
THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR PLANNING, OVERSIGHT AND PROVISION OF HOMELESS SERVICES WITHIN THE COUNTY.
THEY MEET EVERY OTHER MONTH ON THE SECOND WEDNESDAY, AND THE BOARD PROVIDES LEADERSHIP AND DIRECTION TO ENSURE THAT WE DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT STRATEGIES TO END HOMELESSNESS IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY.
SO LIKE I MENTIONED, THE COLLABORATIVE APPLICANT IS FLAGLER HOSPITAL AND WE'RE THE FISCAL AGENT OF THE COC.
AND WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR STAFFING AND CONTRACT MANAGEMENT.
WE ARE ALSO THE HMIS LEAD AGENCY.
THE HMIS SYSTEM IS WHAT WE USE TO TRACK ALL THE DATA TO CARRY OUT THESE SERVICES.
SO, WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT DATA AND ENSURING ACCURACY.
THE REPORTING PROVIDERS IN THE COC.
IF ANYONE'S INTERESTED, THE LAST SLIDE TALKS ABOUT OUR MEETING SCHEDULES, SO WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE EVERYONE JOIN.
SO, I MENTIONED PART OF MY ROLE IS THE GRANT MANAGEMENT SIDE OF THINGS, SO THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE HAVE OVER TWO MILLION DOLLARS, SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THAT MONEY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND FLOWING THROUGH TO THE HOMELESS FOLKS IN ST.
SO, THE FUNDED AGENCIES I HAVE LISTED HERE, WE HAVE BETTY GRIFFIN, CATHOLIC CHARITIES, EMERGENCY SERVICES AND HOMELESS COALITION, FLAGLER HOSPITAL, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, SALVATION ARMY AND ST.
AND THEN ON THE RIGHT SIDE, YOU'LL SEE OUR FUNDED PROJECTS.
SO IT'S STREET OUTREACH, EMERGENCY SHELTER, HOMELESS PREVENTION, RAPID REHOUSING, THE HMIS SYSTEM, PERMANENT HOUSING AND HOUSING NAVIGATION.
SO I'LL GO INTO THAT IN A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL SOME OF THESE FUNDED PROJECTS, BUT THIS EXTRA FUNDING IS DUE TO THE CARES ACT.
SO WE HAD AN INFLUX OF 1.4 MILLION THIS YEAR THAT WE USUALLY DON'T HAVE.
SO, I WANTED TO TOUCH A LITTLE BIT ON STREET OUTREACH AND EMERGENCY SHELTER, SO BOTH OF THESE PROJECTS FLOW ACTUALLY THROUGH ST.
FRANCIS HOUSE AND THEN EMERGENCY SHELTER, WE HAVE MONEY FLOWING THROUGH ALSO TO BETTY GRIFFIN.
SO WITH STREET OUTREACH, WE WORK REALLY WELL.
I THINK WITH THE TEAM RIGHT NOW, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THAT TEAM GROWING AND THAT TEAM ACTUALLY GOES OUT INTO ENCAMPMENTS AND SEES HOMELESS PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE STREET AND TRIES TO CONNECT THEM TO RESOURCES.
SO, IT MIGHT BE THE PEOPLE THAT AREN'T LIKELY TO COME IN TO ASK FOR HELP.
SO IT'S ACTUALLY THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING OUT TO THE ENCAMPMENTS.
[INAUDIBLE] EMERGENCY SHELTER, LIKE I MENTIONED THAT THOSE FUNDS ACTUALLY GO TOWARDS SHELTER OPERATIONS AND THE SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED BY THE SHELTER.
SO FUNDS GO TO SAN FRANCIS HOUSE AND BETTY GRIFFIN FOR THAT.
I ALSO WANTED TO GO INTO RAPID REHOUSING AND HOMELESS PREVENTION A LITTLE BIT MORE.
THOSE FUNDED AGENCIES, AT LEAST FOR RAPID REHOUSING, YOU'LL SEE BETTY GRIFFIN, WHO RECENTLY IS IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THEIR PROGRAM UP AND RUNNING.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES, FLAGLER HOSPITAL THAT'S NEW FOR US THIS YEAR TO BECOME A RAPID REHOUSING PROVIDER.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND SALVATION ARMY.
SO THAT RAPID REHOUSING FUND ARE USED TO HELP HOUSE THOSE THAT ARE LITERALLY HOMELESS.
[01:10:02]
AND SALLY WILL SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW PEOPLE ACCESS THOSE FUNDS.BUT IT'S FOR-- THESE FUNDS CAN PAY FOR RENT TO GET SOMEONE IN FIRST LAST SECURITY UNTIL SOMEONE GETS ON THEIR FEET AND REACHES SELF-SUFFICIENCY.
WE ALSO HAVE HOMELESS PREVENTION.
THAT'S FOR THOSE THAT ARE AT RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS.
SO WE HAVE FUNDS THAT FLOW THROUGH WHEN THERE'S SOMEONE THAT NEEDS ASSISTANCE.
WE HAVE DIFFERENT MECHANISMS TO GET THAT ASSISTANCE, AND SALLY WILL GO INTO THAT WITH COORDINATED ENTRY.
SO, I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HEALTH OUTCOMES, SO LOOKING AT LAST FISCAL YEAR, THE COC SPENT OVER $700,000 ON HOMELESS AND AT RISK SERVICES.
SO FUNDS WERE USED TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY SHELTER TO HOMELESS PERSONS, ENGAGING PERSONS LIVING ON THE STREET THROUGH STREET OUTREACH.
I MENTIONED PREVENTION FOR THOSE THAT ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING THEIR HOUSING AND TO PROVIDE RAPID REHOUSING.
SO, WE LOOKED AT THE 70 HOUSEHOLDS THAT WERE SERVED WITH A COMBINATION OF RAPID REHOUSING AND PREVENTION.
AND OF THOSE HOUSEHOLDS, WE SAW A 53 PERCENT REDUCTION IN ER UTILIZATION AFTER A HOUSING INTERVENTION.
SO, WE KEEP OUR DATA ON WHO ACTUALLY RECEIVES THIS ASSISTANCE LOOKED AT HOW OFTEN THEY VISITED THE ER.
FOR EXAMPLE, ONE CLIENT VISITED THE YEAR 18 TIMES BEFORE THEY RECEIVED RAPID REHOUSING ASSISTANCE.
AND THEN THE FOLLOWING YEAR THEY CAME ONE TIME.
I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION THE POINT IN TIME COUNT, IT'S VERY TIMELY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS RIGHT NOW.
USUALLY THE POINT IN TIME OCCURS IN THE LAST TEN DAYS IN JANUARY, AND IT'S ACCOUNT OF THE SHELTERED AND UNSHELTERED PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN ST.
LAST YEAR, THE COUNT OCCURRED ON JANUARY 28TH.
THE RESULTS SHOWED THAT WE HAD 419 INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN ST.
OF THOSE 291 WERE EXPERIENCING UNSHELTERED-- OH WOW, SORRY, I GOT TO TALK FASTER.
WE'RE EXPERIENCING UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS, AND 128 WERE RESIDING IN THE SHELTER, SO IT'S A ONE DAY SNAPSHOT LOOKING AT OUR COMMUNITY.
THE 2022 COUNT WAS POSTPONED UNTIL APRIL-- I'M SORRY.
SO THAT'LL BE COMING UP, AND WE'LL HAVE THOSE RESULTS FOR 2022 IN APRIL.
I'LL TRY TO TALK VERY BRIEFLY TO GET THROUGH EVERYTHING.
SO FOR THOSE THAT ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS THAT ARE IN NEED OF THOSE RESOURCES, THEY COME THROUGH A HUD MANDATED PROCESS KNOWN AS COORDINATED ENTRY.
THIS IS A PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE FAIR AND EQUAL ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND THOSE THAT ARE MOST IN NEED OF RESOURCES OR MOST VULNERABLE, OR RECEIVE THOSE SERVICES IN A TIMELY MANNER.
THEY CAN COME THROUGH THIS PROCESS THROUGH AGAIN, THESE ACCESS POINTS, WHICH ARE ST. FRANCIS HOUSE, THE STREET OUTREACH SERVICES LINDSAY SPOKE ABOUT, PORT IN THE STORM YOUTH SHELTER, AND CARE CONNECT PLUS, WHICH IS THROUGH FLAGLER HEALTH.
IT'S A PHONE LINE AS WELL AS THEY CAN COME IN PERSON.
THIS WAY, THEY CAN GAIN ACCESS TO THE SYSTEM, RECEIVE AN ASSESSMENT AND THEN WHEN FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE AND THERE'S CASE LOAD AVAILABILITY.
WITH OUR RAPID REHOUSING PROVIDERS OR A HOMELESS COALITION TRANSITIONAL UNITS, THEY ARE ABLE TO GET REFERRED OVER IN A WARM HANDOFF TO BEGIN LOOKING AT PERMANENT HOUSING.
CURRENTLY, THESE ARE THE NUMBERS OF ENGAGED WITH US.
FIFTY SEVEN HOUSEHOLDS ARE MATCHED WITH FUNDING THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR HOUSING STOCK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I'M SORRY, WE JUST DON'T HAVE MORE TIME.
COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE QUESTIONS? I'M-- I'VE GOT A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS.
THE POINT IN TIME COUNT, I ASSUME WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO PUT THAT ON, WHAT I'M GOING TO CALL A SCATTER GRAM.
WHERE ARE THOSE PEOPLE? WHERE ARE THEY PHYSICALLY WHEN YOU'RE COUNTING THEM? SO, WE COVERED THE WHOLE COUNTY.
SO WE RELY ON STREET OUTREACH, WHO MAINTAINS A LIST OF THE ENCAMPMENTS AND THEY'RE ALREADY WORKING WITH FOLKS THAT ARE OUT ON THE STREET.
SO, THEY ALREADY HAVE A LIST OF I DON'T WANT TO SAY, HOT SPOTS, BUT LOCATIONS THAT THEY'RE ALREADY WORKING IN.
SO IT'S ALL THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
BUT THAT'S A LIST THAT'S MAINTAINED BY STREET OUTREACH.
BUT CAN YOU TELL US JUST GENERALLY, WE'RE OPERATING ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY OF THOSE ARE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO DOWNTOWN ST.
IS THAT A FAIR ASSUMPTION? YES.
OK, WHAT IS STREET OUTREACH SERVICES? I DON'T KNOW THAT TERM.
I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER HEARD IT UNTIL THIS EVENING.
SHE MAY BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO IT A LITTLE BIT MORE, BUT IT'S A TEAM THAT I THINK THERE ARE BETWEEN FIVE AND SEVEN STAFF MEMBERS THAT ACTUALLY GO OUT.
THEY HAVE THEY HAVE THEIR OWN VANS AND TRANSPORTATION.
THEY ACTUALLY GO OUT TO THE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS AND ENGAGE WITH THE FOLKS THAT ARE LIVING UNSHELTERED IN THE WOODS.
OK, SO WHAT YOU'RE DOING PRIMARILY IS SERVING AS A FINANCIAL AGENT, AS A
[01:15:04]
CONDUIT FOR THESE FUNDS INTO OUR COMMUNITY.YEAH, THE COC DOES ALSO BRING TOGETHER ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS INTO ONE KIND OF COLLABORATIVE TO GET TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT HOMELESSNESS.
THERE'S THE FUNDING SIDE OF IT, BUT ALSO TO BRING THE HOMELESS INITIATIVES ALL INTO ONE.
BUT FLAGLER HOSPITAL PLUS IS NOT SPECIFICALLY PROVIDING A LARGE VOLUME OF SERVICES.
SO I THINK IN TWO WAYS, SO WE'RE THE HUB FOR COORDINATED ENTRY FOR THOSE THAT ARE SEEKING FOR SERVICES AND MATCHING THEM WITH RESOURCES.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE A RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM OURSELVES.
SO, WE ARE WORKING WITH THOSE HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED FOR THAT RESOURCE AND WE WORK TO HOUSE THEM, PLACE THEM IN PERMANENT HOUSING.
WE ARE A RECIPIENT OF THOSE FUNDS AS WELL.
WE ALSO HAVE CARE CONNECT PLUS, WHICH IS CLIENT FACING.
SO CLIENTS, WHETHER YOU'RE HOMELESS OR NOT, CAN REACH OUT TO US AND WE TRY TO NAVIGATE DIFFERENT RESOURCES YOU'RE ELIGIBLE FOR.
OK, DO YOU HOUSE PEOPLE IN HOTELS? NO, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY FUNDS FOR HOTEL STAY.
SO WE FIND, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUAL LANDLORDS, PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES, HOUSE AND APARTMENT COMPLEXES, MOBILE HOME PARKS AS WELL AS INDIVIDUAL RENTALS.
AND WE ALSO I WANT TO ADD ONE SLIDE THAT WAS COMING AT THE END IS WE'RE WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ST. JOHN'S HOUSING PARTNERSHIP ON A DEVELOPMENT KNOWN AS PATRIOT PLACE, WHICH WILL BE, YES, [INAUDIBLE] PERMANENT COMPLEX FOR VETERANS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS .
BUT IT FEELS LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF A DISCONNECT BECAUSE WE SPENT AN HOUR AND A HALF PRIOR IN WORKSHOP PRIOR TO THIS MEETING THIS EVENING TALKING ABOUT THE TREMENDOUS NEED FOR AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING.
BUT YET, ARE YOU EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY WITH FINDING UNITS FOR ALL OF THESE SERVICES THAT YOU'RE OFFERING? SO, THAT LAST SLIDE THAT WAS UP THERE, 109 HOUSEHOLDS WERE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH IN COORDINATED ENTRY, SO THEY'RE CURRENTLY ENGAGED WITH OUR PROVIDERS.
FIFTY SEVEN OF THOSE HOUSEHOLDS ARE MATCHED WITH FUNDING.
WE HAVE AN INFLUX OF FUNDING DUE TO THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC, SO THAT'S FUNDS TO GET THEM IN PERMANENT HOUSING.
AND WE ARE JUST TRYING TO FIND HOUSING STOCK.
SO IF I UNDERSTAND YOU CORRECTLY AND I'LL BE QUIET, THERE ARE FUNDS, BUT THERE ARE NOT HOUSING UNITS.
I WOULD SAY THAT'S OUR BIGGEST BARRIER.
YES, IS WE HAVE FUNDS TO PLACE THEM, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO FIND UNITS AND WE DO WE FIND THOSE DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH, BUT WE COULD ALWAYS USE MORE FOR SURE FOR THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING WE HAVE.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER VALDES.
I'D BE-- BEAR WITH ME FOR A SECOND.
IN MY ANALYSIS THERE IS FOUR TYPES OF HOMELESSNESS.
WE HAVE THE ECONOMIC HOMELESS PEOPLE WHO NEED JOBS OR LOST THEIR JOBS AND THOSE ARE THE ONES WHO DEFINITELY BENEFIT FROM HOUSING A PLACE TO WASH THEIR CLOTHES AND A PLACE TO SLEEP.
THEN WE HAVE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ADDICTED, BE IT ALCOHOL OR DRUGS.
THAN WE HAVE THE PEOPLE I REFERRED TO IS SIMPLY BEING OFF THEIR MEDS, THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE OFF THEIR MEDS.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE FOURTH TYPE, WHICH IS THE HABITUAL HOMELESS.
IN THE OLD DAYS THEY CALL THEM HOBO IS A LIFE CHOICE.
THAT'S THE FOUR I SEE OUT THERE.
OF THAT FOUR, SOUNDS TO ME, THE SERVICES YOU'RE PROVIDING ARE REALLY TARGETING THE ECONOMIC HOMELESS, THE PEOPLE THAT NEED A PLACE TO LIVE TO GET BACK ON THEIR FEET.
IS THAT A FAIR ANALYSIS NUMBER ONE AND NUMBER TWO, DO YOU THINK YOU'RE TOUCHING ON ANY ONE OF THOSE OTHER THREE CATEGORIES IN YOUR EFFORTS BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES WE SEE, OR AT LEAST I SEE ON THE STREETS OF ST.
AUGUSTINE THAT ARE HAVING THE BIGGEST NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS QUALITY OF LIFE.
THEY'RE THE ONES THAT TRULY NEED THE HELP.
AND I KNOW OUR OTHER AGENCIES WILL SPEAK AS WELL, SO I DON'T WANT TO OVERSTEP THEM, BUT WE-- I FEEL THAT WE SERVE ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS YOU MENTIONED IN THAT OUR STREET OUTREACH, FOR INSTANCE.
THEIR MISSION IS TO TRY TO ENGAGE WITH THOSE WHO WOULD NOT NORMALLY BE LOOKING FOR SERVICES.
THEY'RE NOT COMING IN AND SAYING THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO FIND HOUSING AND THEY, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE THEM-- THEY HELP WITH CASE MANAGEMENT TO GET THEM MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES, HOME AGAIN IN ST.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO ENGAGE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE TERM HOUSING FOCUSED OR HOUSING IS WHAT THEY'RE COMING AND SAYING THEY NEED, WE WORK WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS, OF COURSE, BUT WE ALSO WORK WITH THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN CHRONICALLY HOMELESS FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
THAT'S A PRIORITY OF OURS AS WELL.
AND EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT READY FOR HOUSING AT THAT POINT, WE'RE TRYING TO MOTIVATE THEM TOWARDS THAT AND TOWARDS OTHER TREATMENT OR GOALS THAT THEY MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN AS WELL.
[01:20:01]
THANK YOU.THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US AND FOR SHARING THIS INFORMATION.
WE APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING IT TO US AND WE APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU'RE DOING THE COMMUNITY.
HOME AGAIN ST. JOHN'S, I SEE MR. BLEVINS.
HE'S A LITTLE SCARY LOOKING, BUT [LAUGHTER] .
I'M TROY BLEVINS, I'M PRESIDENT OF HOME AGAIN ST.
I'VE BEEN AT THIS HOMELESS THING FOR QUITE A WHILE.
FRANCIS HOUSE FOR ALMOST SEVEN YEARS.
I WAS ACTUALLY PRESIDENT OF THE COC.
AND I WANT TO SAY A BIG THANK YOU BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THEY GET ENOUGH CREDIT.
FLAGLER HEALTH STEPPED UP WHEN WE WERE REALLY HURTING AS A COMMUNITY AND THEY STEPPED UP AND THEY HAD THE RESOURCES TO FUND-- BECAUSE WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO IS THEY HAVE TO FUND THAT MONEY UP FRONT AND THEN HOPE THE REST OF US GET OUR STUFF TOGETHER SO THAT WE GET OUR REIMBURSEMENT.
SO WHEN FLAGLER HEALTH STEPPED UP, THEY REALLY STEPPED UP FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SO, I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THAT.
BUT WHAT I WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS IN GOVERNMENT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW I WAS IN GOVERNMENT FOR 25 YEARS.
ONE THING I LEARNED IN GOVERNMENT, IT'S MORE IMPORTANT ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS THAN IT IS REGULATION.
JUST LISTEN TO THOSE WORDS RELATIONSHIP.
WHAT YOU'RE DOING TODAY IS GOOD GOVERNMENT.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS TO WHAT I FEEL ARE THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT IN THE CITY.
I'M A CITY RESIDENT AND YOU GUYS HAVE CREATED THE RELATIONSHIP BEFORE YOU THROW OUT THE REGULATION, AND THAT'S SO, SO IMPORTANT.
BUT I KNOW WE'RE ON A TIMELINE.
ELLEN HAS A LOT OF NUMBERS, AND THEN I'LL COME BACK TO YOU.
SO, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE ELLEN WALDEN, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HOME AGAIN ST.
GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY, AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HAVING US, BUT I'M GOING TO KIND OF WRAP THIS UP.
I TALKED WITH DAVID EARLIER TODAY, SO I'M GOING TO JUST HIT ON SOME THINGS ABOUT OUR SERVICES, OUR FUNDING AND OUR EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE.
AND JUST THROW OUT SOME OF OUR DATA FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, YOU KNOW, WITH THE PANDEMIC AND ALL BUT WE PRIMARILY PROVIDE, WE HAVE RECENTLY MOVED TO 285 SOUTH HOLMES BOULEVARD.
WE LEFT OUR 207 SITE FOR AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPLEX AND OVER AT THE HOLMES BOULEVARD SITE WE WERE FOLLOWING WITH-- WE'RE CONTINUING TO DO OUR CASE MANAGEMENT, WHICH INCLUDES THINGS LIKE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL ASSISTANCE, WITH APPLICATIONS FOR FEDERAL, LOCAL AND STATE BENEFITS THAT A CLIENT MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR.
WE HAVE AN ALCOHOL AND DRUG SUPPORT PROGRAM, EMPLOYMENT RELATED PROGRAM ACTIVITIES THAT WE DO WITH THEM AND WE HAVE HOUSING ACTIVITIES AS WELL.
AND WE ACTIVELY WORK WITH THE CONTINUUM OF CARE ON A REGULAR BASIS.
WE HAVE A COMFORT STATION, WHICH IS BASICALLY SHOWERS, LAUNDRY AND WE PROVIDE LUNCH.
WE PROVIDE TWO MEALS THERE AND THEN WE PROVIDE THE MEAL DOWNTOWN.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING US THE LOT AND EDDIE VICKERS PARK TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT DOWNTOWN HERE.
WE DO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION FOR MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, MENTAL HEALTH APPOINTMENTS AND EMPLOYMENT INTERVIEWS WHEN THERE'S NO OTHER SOURCE TO PROVIDE THAT TO THE CLIENT.
OUR STAFF IS COMPOSED OF MYSELF AND A HOMELESS PREVENTION SPECIALIST.
WE ARE TWO, BUT WE ARE MIGHTY.
SO, I DO A LOT OF THINGS OTHER THAN WHAT EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS DO.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE HAVE OVER 400 VOLUNTEERS.
PRIMARILY, MOST OF THOSE ARE IN OUR DINING WITH DIGNITY PROGRAM.
OUR FUNDING COMES-- SIXTY FOUR PERCENT OF THAT FUNDING COMES FROM DONATIONS.
TWENTY SIX PERCENT OF THAT COMES FROM FUNDRAISING AND 10 PERCENT COMES FROM THE CITY.
OUR DINING WITH DIGNITY PROGRAM HAS OVER 40 FAITH BASED VOLUNTEER GROUPS.
EACH GROUP TAKES TOTAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROCURING, PREPARING AND SERVING A NUTRITIOUS MEAL NIGHTLY, EACH MONTH, ALL YEAR LONG.
IN-- DURING THE PANDEMIC IN 20 AND 21, WE SERVED OVER-- WELL CLOSE TO 88,000 MEALS IN THAT PROGRAM, NOT ONLY DOWNTOWN, BUT AT OUR SITE THAT WAS LOCATED ON 207.
DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE HAVEN'T-- OUR SCHEDULE HAS REMAINED THE SAME.
WE'VE TAKEN, YOU KNOW, PROTOCOLS FOR SAFETY ISSUES.
WE HAVE HAD NONE INFECTED TO DATE AT OUR SITE.
WE DID-- WE COLLABORATED WITH WILDFLOWER AND FLAGLER HEALTH PLUS AND HAD OUR GUYS
[01:25:07]
VACCINATED DOWN HERE DOWNTOWN, AND WE ARE WORKING ON THE BOOSTER PART OF THAT RIGHT NOW.IN 2021, DESPITE OUR MOVE IN LATE OCTOBER TO OUR NEW LOCATION, WE PROVIDED CLOSE TO 3500 SHOWERS, 3700 LAUNDRY SERVICES, OVER 3400 CLIENT SUPPORT SERVICES, WHICH IS CASE MANAGEMENT AGAIN, APPLICATION FOR BENEFITS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE STARTED, DESPITE THE PANDEMIC, WE STARTED A MENTORING PROGRAM, WHICH WE HAVE HAD A 92 PERCENT SUCCESS RATE SO FAR.
WE STARTED OUT WITH FIVE PEOPLE, FOUR OF THEM HAVE GRADUATED AND ONE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL.
IN OUR ALCOHOL AND DRUG SUPPORT PROGRAM, WE HAVE A 75 PERCENT SUCCESS RATE AND THAT IS WORKING WITH INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE STAYED CLEAN, SOBER DRUG FREE FOR OVER SIX MONTHS.
SO, THAT WE STARTED THIS PAST YEAR AS WELL.
WE HAVE PROVIDED OVER 224 TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS AND APPOINTMENTS WITH SOCIAL SECURITY WHEN NECESSARY, AND WE HAVE HAD 29 INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE MAINTAINED EMPLOYMENT OVER ONE YEAR.
SO, WE'RE AT A 78 PERCENT SUCCESS RATE FOR THAT.
AND AS FAR AS VOLUNTEER HOURS, WE'VE GOT CLOSE TO 19,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS.
AND I THINK THAT KIND OF WRAPS IT UP.
TROY, DID YOU WANT TO? YEAH, I-- YOU GUYS KNOW ME WELL ENOUGH TO KNOW I DON'T STEP IN FRONT OF YOU UNLESS I HAVE A FAVOR TO ASK OF YOU.
WE TALKED ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS AND REGULATIONS EARLIER IN MY TALK.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE CITY DID AND CONGRATULATE YOU GUYS, YOU CAME UP WITH THE OUTREACH OFFICERS.
THE OUTREACH OFFICERS, UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE NOT GETTING THE TWO OUTREACH OFFICERS RIGHT NOW.
I ASKED THAT WE GET WITH CHIEF [INAUDIBLE] AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO HELP HER WITH THEIR STAFFING ISSUES BECAUSE THOSE OUTREACH OFFICERS BRING SITUATIONS TO US THAT WE CAN GET THEM IN THE RIGHT HANDS, WE CAN GET THEM TO THE COC, WE CAN GET THEM TO ST.
WE CAN GET THEM TO ALPHA OMEGA.
THOSE PEOPLE WERE SO INSTRUMENTAL IN THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND HOMELESS.
WE NEED TO TRY AND MAKE SURE WE TAKE CARE OF THAT PROBLEM.
AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU GUYS BECAUSE YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE ON THE FINANCIAL SIDE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN SOMEBODY DOES NEED TO STAY IN A HOTEL, IT COMES OFF OUR BOARD.
WE'RE WRITING CHECKS, AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO US TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT AND KNOW YOU HAVE OUR BACK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, TROY AND ELLAN, A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS.
APPROXIMATELY HOW MANY FOLKS DO WE FEED IN DOWNTOWN ST.
AUGUSTINE? DO YOU FEED IN DOWNTOWN ST.
AUGUSTINE ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT? WE HAVE MORE HERE THAN WE DO AT EDDIE VICKERS.
IT'S AROUND 60 TO IT USED TO BE AROUND 80.
IT WENT DOWN ABOUT SIX PERCENT OVER THE LAST YEAR.
YOU KNOW, WE THINK IT WAS BECAUSE OF COVID.
WE HAD TO GO TO BAG LUNCHES FOR COVID AND THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF DISTANCE.
WE CALLED DINING WITH DIGNITY, BUT WE HAD TO DO WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE.
SO WE WENT DOWN ABOUT SIX PERCENT.
WHEN WE WENT TO EDDIE VICKERS, IT DROPS DOWN, PROBABLY TO AROUND 50.
OK, SECOND QUESTION IS ALL THESE FOLKS THAT YOU'RE SERVING IN YOUR MENTORING PROGRAM, WORKING, ET CETERA, YOU'RE NOT PROVIDING THEM WITH NIGHTLY SHELTER.
SO THEY'RE ACCESSING YOUR SERVICES DURING THE DAY, BUT THEY'RE ON THEIR OWN AT NIGHT.
YEAH, WE DON'T PROVIDE OVERNIGHT SHELTER.
AND WHERE ARE THEY AT NIGHT? THAT'S A QUESTION WE'LL NEVER ANSWER FROM WHERE WE'RE AT BECAUSE WE LOSE TRUST WITH OUR HOMELESS.
WE JUST WE CAN'T LOSE THAT TRUST.
TROY THERE'S ONE QUESTION I CAN ASK, WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP TO MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF THE POOR SOULS WE HAVE ON THE STREETS EVERY WEEKEND AND EVERY NIGHT? WELL, I CAN TELL YOU THAT YOU HIT ON ONE MENTAL ILLNESS IS A HUGE THING AND GETTING THEM IN THE RIGHT SERVICE IS VERY CRUCIAL.
THAT TO ME, OVER MY 20 YEARS OF BEING, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THIS HOMELESS THING BECAUSE I'VE DONE A LOT OF COOL STUFF.
BUT THIS ONE'S ALWAYS BEEN MY HARDEST TASK THAT I'VE HAD IS HOW DO WE DO IT? AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT WE CAN EASE THE PROBLEM.
AND IT'S LIKE I SAID THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND FINDING OUT EXACTLY WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE AND GETTING THEM IN THE RIGHT LOCATION.
AND YOU'RE CORRECT IN YOUR STATEMENT.
THERE ARE CERTAIN PEOPLE WE KNOW WE CAN'T HELP, BUT THE MORE WE KNOW ABOUT THEM THAT
[01:30:03]
MAYBE WE CAN FIND A PROGRAM THAT EASES THE PAIN ON SOCIETY, THAT THEY ARE PUTTING A BURDEN ON SOCIETY.SO, IT'S ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP.
THE PROGRAMS, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, [INAUDIBLE] THAT THIS IS MORE THAN JUST THE ISSUE OF INCONVENIENCE FOR THOSE OF US THAT LIVE DOWNTOWN, FOR THOSE THAT VISIT AND IT'S A MORAL QUESTION AS WELL.
WE HAVE POOR SOULS OUT ON THE STREETS AND I DRIVE PAST THE INTERSECTION OF U.S.
ONE AND KING STREET EVERY DAY, SEVERAL TIMES A DAY, AND THAT BREAKS MY HEART.
HOW DO WE, IN YOUR MIND, HOW CAN WE HELP MITIGATE THAT? HOW CAN WE FIX THAT? I KNOW IT CAN'T BE FIXED.
THE PROBLEM WILL NEVER BE FIXED.
BUT HOW CAN WE LESSEN THE IMPACT? WHAT CAN WE DO? IT'S LEARNING THEIR BEHAVIORS, LEARNING WHAT SITUATION MAKES IT BETTER FOR THEM AND THEN IT MAKES IT BETTER FOR EVERYONE.
AND THAT'S 100 PERCENT WHAT IT IS.
I MEAN, AND I'M SURE EVERYBODY WHO'S WORKED HANDS ON, I MEAN, JUDY, WHO'S GOING TO COME UP AND SPEAK NEXT.
SHE'S VERY HANDS ON IN HER GROUP.
IT'S KNOWING THOSE INDIVIDUALS, AND THAT'S HOW YOU CAN HELP THEM MORE.
AND THAT'S ELLEN-- WHEN ELLEN SAYS SHE DOES EVERYTHING, SHE DOES, EVERYTHING SHE KNOWS, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING IN AND THEY KNOW THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.
THEY KNOW WHO'S BEEN VACCINATED, THEY KNOW WHO'S NEEDS TO GO SEE THE DENTIST AND GET HAIRCUTS AND THOSE THINGS.
AND A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE WITH THE MENTAL ILLNESS, THEY NEED SOMEBODY LIKE ELLEN, LIKE JUDY, THAT'S IN THE COMMUNITY THAT'S WILLING TO STEP UP AND DO THAT.
SO THE MORE ELLEN'S WE CAN HAVE MORE JUDY'S WE CAN HAVE, THE EASIER IT'S GOING TO BE TO GET THESE PEOPLE IN BETTER SITUATION.
I'M HEATING, YOU SAY IT'S PEOPLE, IT'S NOT MONEY, AND IT'S NOT NECESSARILY BUILDINGS.
BUILDINGS ARE PART OF IT, BUT IT'S THE RELATIONSHIP AND HOW WE LOOK AT HUMANIZE THE HOMELESS.
YOU KNOW, I LEFT THE HOMELESS FOUNDATION TO GO DO MY WALK FOR AUTISM AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
IT WAS SO EASY TO RAISE MONEY FOR CUTE KIDS.
I'M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW IT IS HARD, IT IS VERY HARD WHAT THESE GROUPS ARE DOING AND WHAT THEY HAVE AND THE MIRACLES THEY'RE TURNING OUT.
SO, JUST UNDERSTAND THAT AND HUMANIZE THE SITUATION INSTEAD OF FEELING YOU'RE THE VICTIM OF THE SITUATION BECAUSE I THINK SO MANY, YOU KNOW, I'M A BUSINESS GUY AND THEY AFFECT THE BUSINESS I'M ASSOCIATED WITH.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT IT AS A HUMAN SITUATION AND YOU NOT BE IN THE VICTIM, IT MAKES IT A LOT EASIER TO DEAL WITH.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
AND NOW OUR LAST PRESENTATION IS THE ST.
FRANCIS HOUSE, JUDITH DEMBOWSKI.
GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING ME.
I AM JUDITH DEMBOWSKI, I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ST.
WE HAVE SEVERAL PROGRAMS THAT WE RUN.
THE ONE THAT YOU'RE MOST FAMILIAR WITH, OF COURSE, IS ST.
FRANCIS HOUSE, WE OFFER 16 BEDS FOR MEN, 14 BEDS FOR WOMEN.
WE EXCUSE ME FOR FAMILIES WITH MINORS.
AND OVER THE YEARS SINCE MR. BLEVINS HAS DEPARTED US, WE'VE ACTUALLY CHANGED OUR MODEL QUITE A BIT.
WE ARE A HOUSING FOCUSED SHELTER.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT WE WORK WITH ANYONE THAT WANTS TO COME IN.
WE ARE LOW BARRIER, PER HUD'S REQUIREMENTS, AND THAT MEANS THAT ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO GET OFF THE STREET CAN COME INTO OUR PROGRAM.
THEY NEED TO WORK WITH ONE OF OUR CASE MANAGERS AND IDENTIFY WHAT ARE THE OBSTACLES TO THEIR HOUSING.
THEN OUR CASE MANAGERS ASSIST THEM IN ADDRESSING WHATEVER THOSE OBSTACLES ARE.
MOST TIMES WE ARE WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH FLAGLER HEALTH PLUS WE ARE AS LINDSEY AND SALLY MENTIONED, WE ARE A COC PARTNER.
AND WE ARE ALSO STRUGGLING, EVEN WITH COORDINATED ENTRY.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR SHELTER THAT ARE HOMELESS FOR REASONS THAT ARE ECONOMICAL AND THEY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE DEEPER NEEDS OR BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT CHRONICALLY HOMELESS.
THEY ARE NOT GOING TO COME TO THE TOP OF THE PILE AND GET AND GET HOUSED AS QUICKLY AS OTHERS.
THEY HAVE DEEPER NEEDS THAT REALLY, REALLY NEED THAT ATTENTION.
SO THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT WE ARE FACING DOWN THERE.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR STREET OUTREACH PROGRAM, WHICH WE ARE VERY PROUD OF.
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OUR STREET OUTREACH PROGRAM COMPRISES OF TWO TEAMS OF TWO STREET OUTREACH WORKERS AND A COORDINATOR.THEY COVER THE ENTIRETY OF THE COUNTY AND THEY SPEND THEIR DAYS DOING A 70/20/10 SPLIT.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS 70 PERCENT OF THEIR TIME IS SPENT WITH EXISTING CLIENTS WHO ARE LIVING UNDER THE BRIDGE, OUT IN THE WOODS, ON THE BEACH, ON THE CORNER OF KING AND US 1 TRYING TO GET THEM INTO HOUSING.
THESE THESE ARE THE THE UNSHELTERED HOMELESS THAT HAVE EXPRESSED THE DESIRE TO GET OFF THE STREETS, SO 70 PERCENT OF THEIR TIME IS ACTUALLY SPENT WORKING WITH THOSE CLIENTS AND OTHER AGENCIES TO GET THEM HOUSED.
20 PERCENT OF THEIR TIME IS SPENT SPELUNKING REALLY INTO THE VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUTREACHES IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR COUNTY ENCAMPMENTS.
ANY PLACE THAT THEY CAN THINK OF THAT THEY CAN LOOK FOR NEW CLIENTS THAT AREN'T COMING FOR SERVICES AND DESPERATELY NEED THEM.
THEY GO AND TRY TO CONNECT WITH THEM.
THE OTHER 10 PERCENT OF THEIR TIME IS SPENT CIRCLING BACK TO THOSE WHO KEEP SAYING, NO, I DON'T WANT HOUSING.
NO, I DON'T WANT, I DON'T WANT SERVICES, AND THAT'S OK.
BUT THAT DOESN'T ALLEVIATE MY OUTREACH WORKERS MANDATE TO TOUCH BASE AND AND MAKE SURE MAYBE THIS TIME IS THE TIME.
ADDITIONALLY, WE OPERATE PORT IN THE STORM YOUTH CENTER.
WE SHELTER KIDS THAT ARE 18 TO 24, AND I KNOW THAT THEY SOUND LIKE GROWN UPS, BUT THE KIDS THAT WE SERVE HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT MOST YOUNG PEOPLE GET.
THE KIDS THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH ARE COMING FROM VERY DYSFUNCTIONAL BACKGROUNDS.
THEIR HOMES MAYBE WERE TUMULTUOUS OR CHAOTIC.
THEY MAY BE SUFFERING WITH ADDICTION, THEY MAY BE SUFFERING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS, AND THEY DIDN'T GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO SURVIVE INDEPENDENTLY.
WE HAVE A RANGE OF KIDS, WE'VE GOT KIDS THAT GREW UP ON THE STREETS.
THEY GREW UP IN THE HOMELESSNESS AND SHELTERS WITH THEIR PARENTS.
WE ALSO HAVE KIDS THAT EXITED FOSTER CARE.
WE'VE HAD THREE ACTUALLY IN OUR PROGRAM THAT WENT FROM GRADUATING AND LEAVING FOSTER CARE INTO NOWHERE TO GO UNTIL THEY STARTED COLLEGE IN THE SPRING.
THEY'RE STILL HOMELESS THEY STAYED IN OUR SHELTER.
DURING THE DAY AT 70 WASHINGTON STREET.
THOSE TOO ARE HOUSING FOCUSED.
AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS EVERY INTERACTION MY STAFF HAVE IS THE EXPECTATION THAT THEIR GOAL IS HOUSING.
IF THEY'RE SEEING SOMEONE ON A REGULAR BASIS THAT JUST WANTS A SHOWER, IT'S OK, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM A SHOWER, BUT WE'RE ALSO GOING TO TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE THEM TO FIND OUT.
WHERE DID YOU STAY LAST NIGHT? ARE YOU TIRED OF BEING OUT THERE YET? ARE YOU GETTING FOOD STAMPS? YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE ELDERLY, DO YOU HAVE RETIREMENT? DO YOU HAVE SSI, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, AND THEY SPEND THEIR DAYS DOWN THERE APPLYING FOR VARIOUS ENTITLEMENT MONIES AND HELPING THEM TO CONNECT WITH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, PHYSICAL HEALTH SERVICES, WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH FLAGLER HOSPITAL AT OUR 70 AT OUR DOWNTOWN CAMPUS, WHEREBY WHEN FLAGLER HOSPITAL PERFORM SURGERY ON A PERSON WHO IS GOING TO BE ENTERING HOMELESSNESS AFTER THE HOSPITAL, BUT THEY STILL NEED MEDICAL CARE, THEY CAN COME AND STAY WITH US AND THAT TWOFOLD GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE SAFE AND DRY AND NOT ACCUMULATING MORE HOSPITAL DEBT.
HOSPITAL THE FLAGLER HOSPITAL SENDS IN THE OUTPATIENT MEDICAL CARE TO THEM, AND DURING THAT TIME, OUR STAFF ENGAGE WITH THEM TO SAY, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? WE'VE HAD TREMENDOUS SUCCESS WITH THAT PROGRAM.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE FIRST TWO THAT WE HAD WERE BOTH PATIENTS.
THEY HAD OPEN HEART SURGERY AND BOTH OF THEM POST RESPITE, WENT TO LIVE WITH FAMILY PERMANENTLY AND THEY'VE NOT RETURNED.
SO A NUMBER OF THEM HAVE COME INTO OUR SHELTER PROGRAM AFTER RESPITE AND HAVE WORKED WITH OUR CASE MANAGERS AND HAVE BEEN HOUSED.
BOY, WHAT ELSE DO WE DO? WE HAVE THE WILDFLOWER CLINIC COME REGULARLY, OUR KIDS PROGRAM HAS ITS OWN PRIVATE NAA MEETINGS.
OH, MY GOSH, I FEEL LIKE WE JUST DO.
WE JUST DO SO MUCH, IT'S HARD TO ENCAPSULATE.
LIKE I SAID, WE ARE A PROGRAM OF THE CONTINUUM OF CARE MYSELF AND OTHER ADMINISTRATORS SIT ON MANY OF THE COMMITTEES, SO WE WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY TO HELP SORT OF DRIVE THE
[01:40:01]
EFFORT AND STEER THE SHIP AND ALL OF THOSE OTHER ANALOGIES.ARE THERE QUESTIONS? I'M GOING TO ASK YOU THE SAME QUESTION I ASKED TROY.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP? I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE LOOKING AT PUTTING TOGETHER SOMETHING TO CREATE AFFORDABLE OR ENTRY LEVEL HOUSING ON A PROPERTY THAT THE CITY OWNS.
BUT WHAT MORE IS THERE? I THINK HOUSING IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.
TWO THINGS ALSO ON MY RADAR ARE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
I DON'T I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH TO ADDRESS THE NEED AND COMMUNITY CASE MANAGEMENT IN RELATION TO MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
WE TRY REAL HARD TO FOLLOW UP WITH OUR PEOPLE BECAUSE WE DO SERVE EVERYONE.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE LIVING ON THE STREET, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET CLEAN.
IF YOU'RE LIVING ON THE STREET, YOUR MEDS ARE NOT YOUR FIRST CONCERN.
SO WE TRY TO HOUSE THEM FIRST AND CONNECT THEM WITH THOSE AGENCIES THAT CAN COME IN AND WORK WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY STAY HOUSED.
BECAUSE THAT SEEMS TO BE, YOU KNOW, THE ISSUE IS THAT THEY RECYCLE INTO HOMELESSNESS WHEN THINGS KIND OF FALL APART.
WE DON'T HAVE THOSE SERVICES IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND I THINK THAT THAT IS A VERY CRUCIAL PIECE THAT'S MISSING.
SO TO FIX THE HOUSING PROBLEM, FIX THE HOMELESS PROBLEM, WE'VE GOT TO FIX THE HOUSING PROBLEM.
I THINK WE HAVE OUR MARCHING ORDERS NOW.
ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE SERVICE OF YOUR ORGANIZATION, BUT ALSO YOUR PERSONAL SERVICE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATIONS.
HOWEVER, I FEEL LIKE WHAT I'M A LITTLE BIT MISSING IS WE'VE HEARD ABOUT WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS DOING, BUT WE HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING.
SO I JUST HEARD, YOU KNOW, THE HOMELESS ST.
FRANCIS COME UP AND REFER TO THE CITY BEDS, BUT WITHOUT AN EXPLANATION OF WHAT THAT IS AND WHAT WE DO.
SO IN ORDER TO GET THE WHOLE PICTURE, I THINK IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM CITY MANAGEMENT ABOUT ALL THE THINGS I'M AWARE OF THE DINING WITH DIGNITY PROGRAM, THE FAMILY REUNIFICATION PROGRAM, THE CITY BEDS THAT WE FUND TO HOW MANY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A YEAR.
THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH OFFICERS, WHICH IT SEEMS LIKE I JUST HEARD THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY.
BUT OFFICER FISHER IS STILL ON THE STREET DOING THE WORK.
ALL RIGHT, AND THEN AND THEN IT SEEMED TO ME LIKE WE HAVE A POSITION THAT WE HAVE A SEAT ON THE COC BUT I DON'T KNOW IF SOMEONE ACTUALLY ATTENDING FROM THE CITY.
BECAUSE I KNOW THE MAYOR USED TO GO.
MAYOR SHAVER MAYOR NANCY SHAVER WOULD ATTEND, BUT I DON'T KNOW, DO WE HAVE A SEAT ON THE COC AND DOES STOP ATTEND OR ANYBODY? WHAT ARE WE DO? IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT ARE WE DOING? I'D LIKE TO KNOW.
LET'S LET'S ANSWER THE QUESTION VERY QUICKLY ABOUT THE SEAT ON THE COC.
THE SECOND WOULD BE TO REQUEST AT OUR NEXT MEETING THAT WE HAVE A FOLLOW AN ADDITIONAL PRESENTATION FROM CITY STAFF.
PROVIDE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ON FURTHER STEPS.
HAVE ANY KIND OF ACTION OUT OF IT.
FIRST OFF, THE VICE MAYOR BRINGS UP A REALLY GOOD QUESTION, WHAT ARE WE DOING AND WHAT I WOULD SAY COLLECTIVELY, WE SHOULD SAVE THAT FOR WHEN WE CAN PREPARE A PRESENTATION THAT THAT [INAUDIBLE] EXACTLY YES.
AND THAT'S THAT START OF, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTANDING WHAT EVERYBODY IS DOING THEN HELPS US IDENTIFY WHERE THE UNMET NEEDS ARE AND THAT'S WHERE THIS IS DRIVING.
CHIEF FOX HISTORICALLY HAS SERVED ON THE CONTINUUM OF CARE BOARD.
HE IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT RECENTLY WITH HIS TRANSITION OF POSITION AND ALSO COVID.
I'M NOT SURE IF SHE'S ATTENDING.
PERHAPS ASSISTANT CHIEF CUTHBERT KNOWS IF ANYONE FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT MAY HAVE
[01:45:01]
STEPPED UP IN THAT ROLE, BUT THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING THAT WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PARTICIPATORY IN THE COUNCIL THE CONTINUUM OF CARE.COLLECTIVELY THE BODY OF WORK THAT WE DO IN HOMELESSNESS RANGES ROUGHLY HALF A MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF VARYING SERVICES THAT WHEN WE GIVE YOU A PRESENTATION ON HOW HOW THAT'S ALL COMPRISED, IT WILL ASTOUND YOU, HOW MUCH WE'RE DOING.
AND THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO START WORKING.
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE TO AFFECT AND MITIGATE HOMELESSNESS IN ST.
AUGUSTINE? AND SO WHEN YOU PREPARE THAT PRESENTATION, WHICH HOPEFULLY WE COULD HAVE AT OUR NEXT MEETING, PERHAPS JUST BECAUSE THE SEQUENCING WOULD BE NICE, YOU COULD ALSO ADDRESS THE SEAT ON THE COC.
AND WE TURN THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT MEETING OVER IN TWO DAYS.
FORTUNATELY, I NEED TO CHECK MAKE SURE WE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AND WE'LL WORK TOWARDS THE NEXT MEETING.
YEAH, I HAD THE SAME REACTION THAT THE VICE MAYOR HAD THAT IT'S FINE TO HAVE A PRESENTATION, BUT I THINK WE ARE IN A POSITION WHERE WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT ADDRESSING THIS INCREASING PROBLEM OF HOMELESSNESS AND PANDEMIC RELATED, ECONOMY RELATED, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE.
WE'RE DOING A LOT, BUT WE'RE NOT.
WE'RE NOT KEEPING UP WITH OUR MORAL AND AND GOVERNANCE OBLIGATIONS.
SO I'D LIKE TO SEE US DEVELOP A ROADMAP OF WHEN YOU DO GIVE THE PRESENTATION, WHAT'S WHAT SOME OPTIONS MIGHT BE FOR MOVING FORWARD THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY TAKE ACTION ON? THANK YOU.
MAY I ADD JUST ONE MORE, PLEASE? WE HAD A SPECIFIC ANSWER TO A QUESTION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.
AND AS I RECALL, WE DID HAVE SAMHSA.
AT ONE POINT, HAD SAMHSA HAD A CAMPUS ON STATE ROAD 16, IT WAS SERVING THE CITY.
BUT IT BRINGS AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENED TO IT.
I KIND OF HEARD THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE, IT'S NOT THERE.
BUT THAT IS A QUESTION FOR US.
ALSO, WHERE IS WHAT'S MISSING ALSO IS WHERE IS THE MENTAL HEALTH COMPONENT? WHO'S SERVING THE MENTAL HEALTH? WHERE IS SAMHSA AND COULD WE MAYBE TALK ABOUT THAT TO IF IT'S POSSIBLE? OK, SO YOU'VE GOT YOUR MARCHING ORDERS.
[7.A.2. Presentation by Albert Syeles, President, St. Augustine EpiCentre Alliance, with an update on The Shell. (J. Regan, City Manager)]
WE ARE NOW ON ITEM SEVEN A TWO MR. [INAUDIBLE].YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
DO YOU NEED ANY PREAMBLE? THIS WAS SCHEDULED AS FOR FOR THE EPICENTER ALLIANCE TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THEIR PROGRESS, HOW THEY SEE A PROPOSAL TO THE CITY WITH REGARD TO THE FISH ISLAND PROPERTY.
AND I'VE BEEN MEETING WITH THEM PERIODICALLY AND THERE HAS BEEN A NUMBER OF STEPS THAT I THINK THEY'VE IMPROVED SINCE THE LAST TIME YOU'VE HAD A PROGRESS UPDATE.
BUT WITH THAT, I'LL GO AHEAD AND TURN IT OVER TO ALBERT.
GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU AGAIN.
I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT AS A RESULT OF THIS PRESENTATION, YOU GET TOGETHER AND GIVE INSTRUCTIONS TO STAFF TO TAKE A STEP FORWARD IN THE PROCESS IN A WAY THAT MOVES THINGS AHEAD.
IN PARTICULAR, I'M LISTENING TO THE STEP THAT YOU ASKED THE STAFF TO DO REGARDING WORKFORCE HOUSING.
THIS IS ON ONE OF THE SAME PIECES OF PROPERTY, AND I I'M LISTENING TO THE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND DEBATE THAT WE'RE OFFERED HERE, AND I'M HEARING ALMOST 100 PERCENT IDENTICAL PROBLEMS FOR EITHER THE SHELL OR MULTIFAMILY HOUSING ON THAT SPACE.
SO THERE IS A CLEAR OVERLAP, AND IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE DOING SOME KIND OF STUDY OR DIRECTIONS, I SUGGEST THAT YOU COMBINE THE EFFORT TO INCLUDE CONSIDERATION OF THE SHELL.
WITH THAT, I HOPE YOU'LL MOVE THE CHAINS FORWARD AND I WILL TURN THE REST OF THE PRESENTATION OVER TO DOCTOR ERIC BECKER OF HAVARTI, WHO IS OUR EMINENT CONSULTANT ON THIS CASES PUT IN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF PRO BONO TIME WITH HIS TEAM TO GET US WHERE WE ARE.
MR. MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, JOHN REGAN, STAFF, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE.
WE STARTED WORKING ON THIS TOGETHER TWO YEARS AGO AND ALWAYS THE GOAL HAS BEEN TO
[01:50:05]
GET IT RIGHT WITH EVERYONE.SO IT'S ALL THIS INFORMATION WE RECEIVED FROM THE COMMUNITY TONIGHT WAS REALLY VALUABLE.
THERE REALLY WEREN'T ANY SURPRISES IN IT, BUT IT WAS ALWAYS GOOD TO HEAR.
IN THE UNITED STATES, THERE'S OVER ONE POINT FIVE MILLION NONPROFITS ALL VYING FOR OUR SUPPORT AND OUR INFORMATION.
AND I'M SO PROUD OF THE EPICENTER ALLIANCE BECAUSE THIS GROUP OF TWELVE NONPROFITS HAVE COME TOGETHER TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE, WHICH YOU'VE HEARD FROM SEVERAL FOLKS TONIGHT THAT IT'S ALL ABOUT HAVING REHEARSAL SPACE, PERFORMANCE, SPACE AND WHATNOT.
BUT AGAIN, WE WANT TO GET IT RIGHT.
OUR PROPOSAL, OF COURSE, IS NO SURPRISE THE 312 SITE.
WE'VE LOOKED AT MORE THAN TWELVE SITES IN AND AROUND ST.
AUGUSTINE, AND IT'S INTERESTING THE FEEDBACK ALBERT AND I HAVE VISITED, PROBABLY WITH OVER A HUNDRED DIFFERENT GROUPS OVER THE LAST 13 MONTHS, GETTING FEEDBACK AND GETTING THIS REFINED.
SO WE'RE INDEED DOING IT RIGHT.
AND WHAT WE HEARD WAS PEOPLE DIDN'T WANT IT DOWNTOWN AND THEY DIDN'T WANT IT TOO FAR OUT.
SO WE LOOKED AT TWELVE DIFFERENT SITES AND WE DID A TRAFFIC STUDY, KIND OF AN INFORMAL TRAFFIC STUDY WHERE WE LOOKED AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE DAY WHERE THE TRAFFIC GOT BAD AND AND WHATNOT.
AND ONE THING YOU NEED TO KNOW IS THAT ALL THE BAD TRAFFIC TIMES, THE RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC TIMES ARE NOT TRAFFIC TIMES OF WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING FOR THE SHOW, THE SHOW, AND WE'VE DESIGNED IT THIS WAY BECAUSE IT NEEDS TO HAVE MULTIPLE REVENUE STREAMS OF THINGS HAPPENING THERE.
BUT WE ALSO WERE VERY COGNIZANT ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE WANTED IT TO BE ON A FOUR LANE RATHER THAN A TWO LANE ROAD.
WE WANTED IT TO BE IN AND AROUND ST.
SO I ACTUALLY DROVE INTO THE DIFFERENT SITES AT RUSH HOUR AND THEN FROM DOWNTOWN OUT TO THE DIFFERENT SITES TO EXPERIENCE ALL THOSE THINGS BECAUSE A LOT OF THE USERS WERE GOING TO COME FROM INSIDE THE CITY AND ALSO OUTSIDE THE CITY.
BUT AGAIN, MOST OF THE CONCERT ACTIVITY IS GOING TO HAPPEN, STARTING MAYBE 7:00, 7:30 IN THE EVENING, WELL AFTER A LOT OF THE RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC THERE.
WE WANTED IT TO BE IN A SITE, OF COURSE, THAT HAD THE FOUR LANES.
WE WANTED IT TO BE WITH PROXIMITY TO HOTELS AND ATTRACTIONS AND RESTAURANTS BECAUSE WE HEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN FROM PEOPLE.
AS WE TALKED ABOUT THIS PROJECT, THEY WANTED TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT TO DINNER BEFORE OR AFTER IT.
SO THEY DIDN'T WANT IT TOO FAR OUT AND THEY DIDN'T WANT IT DOWNTOWN WHERE THEY COULDN'T PARK, POTENTIALLY.
SO WE LOOKED AT THESE DIFFERENT SITES IN THAT WAY AND CAME UP WITH THIS ONE AS OUR FIRST CHOICE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE HEARD THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS IS THE CONCERN FOR TRAFFIC AND NO NOTE THAT THE LARGEST HAUL IN THIS IS IT MOST GOING TO BE EIGHTEEN HUNDRED SEATS.
THE NEXT HAUL WILL BE ABOUT TWELVE HUNDRED SEATS IN THE BLACK BOX WOULD BE MAYBE THREE OR FOUR HUNDRED SEATS.
THAT'S LIKE A CHURCH GETTING OUT, A LARGE CHURCH, GETTING OUT AT A CERTAIN TIME OF DAY.
IT'S NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN DURING THE RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC TIMES.
THE OTHER THING IS, WE HOPE THAT A LOT OF THE TRAFFIC IS THE COMMUNITY ITSELF, AND WE HOPE WHEREVER THE SITE ENDS UP, THAT A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE AREA ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THERE ON FOOT OR GOLF CARTS OR WHATEVER IT'S DECIDED THEY CAN DO.
SO WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT SURE THAT IT'S GOING TO ADD AS MUCH AS SOME FOLKS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT BECAUSE WE HOPE A LOT OF IT IS THEM.
WE ALSO LOOKED AT THE SITE TWO TO TRY TO FIND A SITE WHERE WE COULD ACTUALLY KEEP A LOT OF NATURE AND WHATNOT GOING FORWARD.
AND SO WE'VE PRESERVED A LOT OF THAT ON THE SITE.
SO THAT VERY THING HAPPENS FOR US.
THIS IS IN RESPONSE, ALBERT'S BEEN DOING THIS FOR 12 YEARS, HE'S BEEN WORKING AT THIS PROJECT.
I'VE ONLY HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING WORKING WITH IT FOR A LITTLE OVER 2 YEARS, AND THIS PROJECT IS A RESPONSE TO PART OF YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN WANTING THAT SITE TO BE THERE.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KNOW THAT THE SPIRIT OF THIS WITH THE EPICENTER ALLIANCE TEAM IS ALWAYS BEEN.
AUGUSTINE AND OF THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE, VERY SPECIFIC GUIDELINES THAT THE THE EPICENTER ALLIANCE WANTED TO DO.
AS A DEMONSTRATION OF HOW WE WANT IT TO BE ABOUT THE CITY WE FIGURED OUT IN THE IN THE RENDERINGS THAT WE PROVIDED LATER IN THE PRESENTATION.
THERE ARE AT LEAST SIXTEEN DISPLAY AREAS FOR VISUAL ARTS.
AND WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH THE AREA GALLERIES AND SAY, HEY, IF YOU'D LIKE TO PUT SOME PIECES UP AND IN THE AND THOSE SPACES, WE'LL PROVIDE OUT ADVERTISING AS HOW TO GET OUT TO YOUR GALLERIES SO THERE'S MORE TRAFFIC FOR THEM AS WELL.
THAT'S THAT'S REALLY THE SPIRIT OF THE WHOLE THING.
YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S INTERESTING.
I WAS A MUSIC CONDUCTOR FOR MANY YEARS AT THE UNIVERSITY LEVEL, AND THIS FACILITY IS
[01:55:03]
DESIGNED SO THE OUTSIDE NOISE DOESN'T GET INTO THE FACILITY.SO IF THAT'S TRUE, IT PROBABLY IS.
THE COROLLARY IS PROBABLY THAT THE SOUND WON'T GET OUT OF THE FACILITY TO BOTHER ANYBODY AS WELL, BECAUSE ACOUSTICALLY, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE WANT TO PRESENT TOGETHER TO COME UP WITH A THEME TO KEEP IT IN A CERTAIN KIND OF DIRECTION AND KEEP THE GENRE GOING.
ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES CAME UP WITH THIS WONDERFUL STATEMENT THAT I THINK ENCAPSULATES THE SPIRIT OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH ALL THE PRODUCTIONS AND CONCERTS AND FESTIVALS AND CONFERENCES THAT WILL BE THERE TO GIVE US A GUIDE.
THIS IS SUCH A GREAT THING WITH THE EPICENTER ALLIANCE BECAUSE YOU CAN IMAGINE THE OPPORTUNITIES NOW FOR COLLABORATIONS WHEN THEY CAN COUNT ON A SCHEDULE TO TWO YEARS OR MORE IN ADVANCE, SO THEY COULD DO COLLABORATIONS AND BRING THINGS FROM THE OUTSIDE IN AND BRING ARTISTS IN, GET ALL THE RIGHT PUBLICITY AND WHATNOT GOING FORWARD IN TERMS OF THE AMPHITHEATER.
I JUST NOT TOO LONG AGO WENT TO SEE EARTH, WIND, AND FIRE.
BUT THAT'S NOT THE TYPE OF MUSIC THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING THERE.
NOR SHOULD IT BE BECAUSE THE AMPHITHEATER DOES A GREAT JOB AT THIS.
WE THINK THAT THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AMPHITHEATER IS GOING TO BE WONDERFUL FOR THEM.
IN RESPONSE TO SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE HEARD IN THE CITY, WE WANT TO SUGGEST A PARKING STRUCTURE ON THE SITE SO WE CAN BE AN ANCILLARY PLACE TO TAKE SOME OF THE TRAFFIC OFF OF, YOU KNOW, THE HEAT OFF OF THINGS GOING FORWARD.
WE CAN CROSS POLLINATE WITH OUR ADVERTISING AT THE END OF CONFERENCE AND FESTIVALS.
A LOT OF TIMES WE CAN ALSO BE THERE TO SUGGEST, HEY, WOULD YOU PUT ON A LARGE CONCERT FOR US WITH THE AMPHITHEATER MAKING ALL THE PROFIT ON THAT? SO THIS THIS WHOLE PROCESS, WE THINK, IS GOING TO BE VERY ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE AMPHITHEATER AS WELL.
AND IN NO MEANS IN COMPETITION WITH THEIR THEIR GENRE OF OFFERINGS THERE.
THIS IS WE'VE WE'VE GOT A GROUP OF INVESTORS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN FUNDING THIS PROJECT PENDING THE LAND, BUT WE WANT TO GO FURTHER THAN THAT.
WE WANT TO MAKE THIS SUSTAINABLE.
SO THIS NEVER COMES BACK TO THE CITY, SO YOU HAVE TO FUND IT.
SO HENCE THE DIFFERENT REVENUE STREAMS. THE IRS HAS A RULE THAT IF YOU HAVE MORE THAN THIRTY, IF YOU'RE A NONPROFIT AND YOU HAVE MORE THAN THIRTY PERCENT OF UNRELATED BUSINESS INCOME, THAT'S NOT CENTRAL TO THE MISSION OF THE NONPROFIT.
YOU ARE NO LONGER A NONPROFIT, AND THIS IS THE CHALLENGE THAT THE ONE POINT FIVE NONPROFITS HAVE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
SO THIS PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING BOTH SIDES TOGETHER SO WE CAN HAVE DIFFERENT REVENUE STREAMS THAT AREN'T PART OF THE NONPROFIT AND THEN OTHER REVENUE STREAMS THAT ARE PART OF THE NONPROFIT GOING FORWARD.
HOW DID WE GET HERE? JUST TO SUFFICE TO SAY THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE COMMITTEE SINCE JANUARY OF 2020 AND WE'VE BEEN VISITING WITH MANY, MANY, MANY GROUPS OVER A HUNDRED HERE IN TOWN TRYING TO DO THE SAME THING.
WE HEARD TONIGHT IT WAS GET ALL THE CONCERNS AND IDEAS TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS SOMETHING THAT IS TRULY FOR THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE AND OF THE CITY OF ST.
COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS, OBSERVATIONS, AND I JUST HAD A QUICK QUESTION.
PLEASE, [INAUDIBLE] DO YOU MENTIONED A DID YOU MENTION OR NOT LIKE NOT MENTION A FOR PROFIT COMPONENT OF THE SHELL? I DID.
THE FOR PROFIT COMPONENT OF THE SHELL WILL BE TO TAKE CARE OF ALL THE OPERATIONS, THE SECURITY, THE PARKING, ALL THE DIFFERENT REVENUE STREAMS THAT ARE IN THERE.
THE RENTAL SPACES, ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS WILL NOT BE PART OF THE NONPROFIT, BUT BE PART OF THE FOR PROFIT TO RUN IT.
WHAT WOULD ACTUALLY THE NATURE OF THAT BE LIKE? WHAT WOULD THE USE BE THAT WOULD CREATE THE FOR PROFIT? FOR EXAMPLE, RENTING, WE'VE GOT SOME MEETING SPACES IN THERE.
WE'VE GOT SOME CONVENTION HALL SPACE, GOT OFFICE SPACE IN THERE.
THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE AN ACADEMY IN THERE, POTENTIALLY A CAFé AND A RESTAURANT, FINE ARTS GALLERY, A MUSEUM.
ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS WOULD BE OPERATED BY THE FOR PROFIT SIDE SO AS NOT TO PUT THAT UNRELATED BUSINESS INCOME EQUATION IN JEOPARDY.
THE REASON THAT WE HAVE INVESTORS INTERESTED IN THIS IS IT'S A DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AND THEY CAN MAKE A SMALL PROFIT.
THEY DON'T EXPECT TO MAKE A KILLING.
BUT WHILE THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY AND YOU CAN THINK OF IT AS IF SOMEONE WAS BUILDING A SHOPPING MALL AND PUT A MOVIE THEATER IN IT, IT'S MORE ATTRACTIVE.
WELL, THIS IS EVEN MORE ATTRACTIVE THAN THAT, SO IT BECOMES SOMETHING THAT A FOR PROFIT COMPANY IS INTERESTED IN.
AND WE, THE EPICENTER ALLIANCE AND OUR MEMBERS, WILL BE THAT MOVIE THEATER
[02:00:04]
EQUIVALENT THAT IS STILL A NONPROFIT THAT USES THE SPACE, BUT IT'S OWNED BY THE FOR PROFIT COMPANY, WHICH IS OWNED BY THE INVESTORS AND POSSIBLY SOME COMBINATION OF CONTRACT WITH THE CITY.I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW THAT WILL EVOLVE.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF PLACES LIKE DAYTONA HAS A FACILITY SIMILAR TO THIS, I UNDERSTAND THRASHER-HORNE AND ORANGE PARK.
HAVE YOU? I DON'T KNOW HOW EASY IT IS FOR YOU TO GET ACCURATE NUMBERS ON HOW THEY'RE SURVIVING.
HAVE YOU LOOKED INTO THAT? YES, WE'VE LOOKED AT IT PLACES ALL OVER THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND OUTSIDE OF THE STATE OF STATE OF FLORIDA, AND THEY'RE NOT SURVIVING.
THAT'S THAT'S THE CHALLENGE THESE DAYS BECAUSE THE OLD MODEL IS TICKET SALES.
DONORS, ADVERTISERS AND SPONSORS AND SOMETIMES CITY OR GOVERNMENT HELP.
YES, TO GET THIS DONE, AND IT'S NOT WORKING WELL.
AND SO THIS MODEL IS YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE THIS AROUND THE COUNTRY.
THERE'S ONE UP IN BROOKFIELD, WISCONSIN.
IT'S THAT'S THE SHELL ON A SMALLER SCALE, DOING THE SAME THING, HAVING REVENUE STREAMS THAT AREN'T ARTS RELATED, BUT TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THE ELECTRICITY, THE CLEANING, THE SECURITY, YOU KNOW, THE UPGRADES, ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE FOR NONPROFITS IF THEY HOPE TO SURVIVE.
I HAVE TO INJECT THAT ONE OF THOSE REVENUE STREAMS MAY BE.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT FUNDING THAT'S RELEVANT TO SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE.
AND THEN I WANT TO HOLD MY NEXT SET OF QUESTIONS FOR AFTER THAT.
I THINK IT'S AN IMPRESSIVE PROPOSAL.
AS YOU SAID, YOU'VE, YOU KNOW, SPOKEN WITH US, YOU KNOW, ALONG THE WAY AND SO FORTH.
BUT I HAVE MY FIRST CONCERN IS THE THE FUNDING.
IF YOU COULD GO BACK TO THE SLIDE ON THE FUNDING, I SEE SIX BULLET POINTS, BUT I DON'T SEE ANY SPECIFICITY ABOUT THE COSTS, HOW MUCH FUNDING HAS ALREADY BEEN SECURED, WHICH CATEGORY OF FUNDERS THAT FUNDING COMES FROM.
IS THERE A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR SECURING THE ADEQUATE FUNDS FOR CONSTRUCTION? DO YOU HAVE AN OPERATING BUDGET? DO YOU HAVE A VERIFIED ACCOUNT IN WHICH CONSTRUCTION FUNDS ARE BEING PLACED THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN SECURED? AND CAN YOU SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH US? I THINK THAT'S ESSENTIAL.
I'M ALMOST HEARING THAT THE CITY IS ON THE HOOK IF THIS DOESN'T COME THROUGH SUCCESSFULLY, AND THAT CONCERNS ME GREATLY.
IN JANUARY OF 2020, WE NEVER WANTED THE CITY TO BE ON THE HOOK BECAUSE THE GROUP WANTED TO CONTROL THEIR OWN DESTINY.
SO WE HAVE A GROUP OF INVESTORS THAT WANT TO PAY FOR THE BUILDING OF THE FACILITY.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE WORKING ON OTHER INVESTORS AND OTHER DONORS TO DO THINGS TO SECURE IT ON A MORE SUSTAINABLE WAY IN TERMS OF ENDOWING THINGS, PUTTING MONEY ASIDE FOR TECHNICAL UPGRADES.
SO WE NEVER HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE CITY OR THE COUNTY AND SAY WE NEED MONEY TO RUN THIS BECAUSE OTHERWISE THEY LOSE THE CONTROL ARTISTICALLY OF THE OF THE SITE.
BUT IN A PARTNERSHIP, THERE HAS TO BE FULL TRANSPARENCY AND I DON'T HAVE ANY SPECIFIC INFORMATION HERE.
WE'VE GOT WE'VE GOT A LOT OF INFORMATION.
WE'VE WE'VE SHARED A LOT OF IT WITH JOHN REGAN AND WE'RE HAPPY TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU IN GREATER DETAIL GOING FORWARD HERE.
THE NICE THING WHEN WE DID THE BUDGET IS WHEN I FIRST DID THE BUDGET, I WAS VERY AGGRESSIVE ON THE EXPENSES AND VERY MILD ON THE INCOME, AND IT CAME OUT WITH ABOUT A 1.3 MILLION DOLLAR SURPLUS EVERY YEAR.
WHEN THE INVESTOR GROUP LOOKED AT IT, THEY SAID, ERIC, YOU'RE NOT.
AND I WORRIED THAT I FORGOT SOMETHING.
THEY SAID IT'S MORE LIKE 2.8 MILLION.
SO IT'S A VERY STRONG MODEL TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONLY ARE WE SUSTAINABLE IN TERMS OF OPERATIONS, BUT THE INVESTORS CAN GET A MILD RETURN ON THEIR MONEY OVER TIME, MUCH LIKE INVESTING IN GOLD OR SILVER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
OR HAVE YOU RAISED CAPITAL FUNDS THEN THAT YOU'VE GOT INVESTORS? WHAT ABOUT THE OPERATING COSTS? DO YOU HAVE A BUDGET FOR THE OPERATING COSTS AND HOW WILL THIS BE COVERED? THROUGH ALL THE DIFFERENT REVENUE STREAMS THAT MORE THAN PAY FOR ALL THOSE OPERATING COSTS.
STAFFING BY OVER A HUNDRED DIFFERENT STAFF MEMBERS, WHICH IS WHY HAVING SOME HOUSING ON SITE WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO THAT.
BECAUSE WE NEVER WANTED TO COME BACK TO YOU ALL AND SAY, HEY, WE NEED HELP.
ACTUALLY, IT'S PRETTY EXTENSIVE, SO I'M JUST GOING TO GET STARTED.
THIS IS CITY OWNED LAND AND I'M REALLY GIVEN THE CONVERSATION WE HAD ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
[02:05:01]
WE HAVE THREE TRACTS OF LAND THAT THE CITY AND ITS TAXPAYERS OWN, AND WE DON'T HAVE A VISION FOR HOW WE'RE GOING TO USE ANY OF THOSE TRACTS AT THIS POINT.WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES, YOURS BEING ONE, POSSIBLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING BEING ONE, AND WHICH ONE OF THOSE OR OTHERS MIGHT GO WHERE I THINK WE NEED TO BE REALLY STRATEGIC ABOUT DEVELOPING THAT VISION FOR THOSE CITY OWNED PROPERTIES.
AND I DON'T THINK WE'RE READY TO LAUNCH THAT QUITE YET.
WE'RE JUST INITIATING THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH IS CLEARLY A GREAT NEED.
I'VE, YOU KNOW, I'M STRUCK THAT I'M RECEIVING MULTIPLE EMAILS ABOUT A NUMBER OF SEEMINGLY UNRELATED ISSUES, BUT THE COMMON THEME IS THAT WE'RE OVERCROWDED, WE'RE TOO BUSY, WE'RE TOO NOISY.
WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, OUR LIVABILITY.
I WAS RECENTLY TOLD BY MR. BIRCHIM THAT OUR CITIES 90 PERCENT BUILT OUT.
WE NEED TO REVISIT THE OTHER ELEMENTS OF OUR OF OUR VISION PLAN AND ENSURE THAT WE'RE MAKING EQUAL PROGRESS ON ALL OF THOSE ELEMENTS.
THE FIRST PRIORITY OF THE VISION PLAN IS LIVABILITY, AND WE NEED TO IN PARTICULAR TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE ELEMENTS IN THE VITALITY CATEGORY, WHICH NOT ONLY INCLUDES THE ARTS BUT ALSO INCLUDES ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND SUSTAINABILITY.
I HAVE TO SAY THAT WHILE I DO, I REALLY DO SUPPORT THE SHELL CONCEPT CONCEPTUALLY, I'M UNABLE TO SUPPORT ITS LOCATION ON CITY OWNED PROPERTY.
THE CITY, LIKE I SAID, NEEDS TO FIRST CAREFULLY EVALUATE WHETHER THERE ARE GREATER UNMET NEEDS, SUCH AS MAINTAINING UNDEVELOPED LAND.
THAT'S AN OPTION, AND I WOULD ADVOCATE FOR THAT OPTION IN CERTAIN LOCATIONS, MAYBE POSSIBLY LOW IMPACT RECREATIONAL LAND.
WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF RECREATIONAL LAND IN BOTH SUCH CASES, THE LARGE TRACKS SUCH AS THE TWO THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TODAY.
THEY CAN BE A FUNDAMENTAL STRATEGY ALSO FOR RESILIENCE FROM FLOODING AND THAT THEIR ECOSYSTEM SERVICES, SUCH AS FLOOD WATER RETENTION AND WATER FILTRATION, CAN BE MAINTAINED WHILE ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR CITIZENS AND MAINTAINING LIVABILITY.
SO I REGRET THAT I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL AT THE AT THIS LOCATION.
I FEEL WE NEED TO PUT THIS LOCATION TO BED SO THAT THE EPICENTER ALLIANCE COULD REFOCUS THEIR ENERGIES TOWARD A MORE SUITABLE LOCATION SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE THIS DREAM A REALITY.
AND I'M GOING TO THEREFORE MOVE THAT THIS BODY DISCONTINUE ANY FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF THIS PROPOSAL BEING SITED ON THIS CITY OWNED PROPERTY AND ANY CONSIDERATION OF ITS SITING ON OTHER CITY OWNED PROPERTY ONLY BE CONSIDERED AFTER A STRATEGIC EVALUATION OF THE BEST USES FOR THOSE PROPERTIES.
YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION, IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
LET ME JOIN THE CONVERSATION, I APPRECIATE VERY MUCH WHAT COMMISSIONER BLONDER SHARED, I'M NOT PREPARED TO SUPPORT THE MOTION.
WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO BE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE ARE STRATEGICALLY LOOKING AT THIS PROPERTY PROPERTIES.
AND LET'S BE REALLY CLEAR, WE HAVE TWO PROPERTIES.
WE HAVE TWO ACRES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF 312 THAT HAS SOME UTILITY, BUT NOT FOR WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING.
MAYBE THE BEST THING TO DO THERE IS TO PUT IT ON THE OPEN MARKET, REALIZE THOSE FUNDS AND USE THEM IN A MORE PRODUCTIVE MANNER.
BUT THAT'S THAT'S A CONVERSATION FOR ANOTHER DAY.
I AM ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED AND UNDERSTAND CLEARLY THE NEED THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS AND I ALSO UNDERSTAND AND DEEPLY APPRECIATE THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS PLAY IN THE LIFE AND THE LIVABILITY OF A COMMUNITY.
I APPLAUD YOUR VISION, I APPLAUD YOUR YOUR HARD WORK.
THIS IS, IN MANY WAYS, A VERY ATTRACTIVE FACILITY.
THERE ARE LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF DEEP FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.
BUT IT'S A REALLY INTERESTING IDEA AND YOU'RE CLEARLY TRYING TO CREATIVELY ADDRESS A NEED.
ONE THING THAT I'M MAYBE OVERLY SENSITIVE ABOUT, BUT THIS EMPHASIS ON THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
WHILE I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH, MANY OF THE SPEAKERS THAT SPOKE TO US TODAY ARE NOT RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE, THIS PARTICULAR FACILITY IS, OF COURSE, RIGHT ON THE THE SOUTHERN BOUNDARY OF THE CITY.
AUGUSTINE AREA, WHICH ARE MANY MORE COUNTY RESIDENTS THAN OUR 15,000 CITY RESIDENTS.
[02:10:01]
SO ONCE AGAIN, THE CITY'S BEING ASKED TO PROVIDE A BENEFIT TO THE LARGER COMMUNITY THAT FAR EXCEEDS OUR POLITICAL AND JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES.AND THAT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, BUT I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO KEEP THAT IN PERSPECTIVE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S BECOME MORE AND MORE CLEAR TO ME HOW OUR COUNTY IS GROWING AND IT'S GROWING VERY RAPIDLY AT THE NORTHWEST, AND I WAS THINKING THE OTHER DAY, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC, PRIVATE, YOU TALK ABOUT THAT, BUT MAYBE THERE'S PRIVATE PRIVATE THAT CAN WORK WHERE THERE ARE HUGE DEVELOPMENTS LIKE SILVER LEAF GOING IN SOME OTHER DEVELOPMENTS UP IN THE NORTHWEST AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF PROPERTY.
AND WOULDN'T THIS BE SOMETHING UNIQUE TO THEIR DEVELOPMENT? AND SINCE THAT YOU'RE CLOSER TO JACKSONVILLE, YOU COULD PULL FROM THERE.
I REALLY HEAR THE NEIGHBORS LOUDLY ABOUT HOW CONGESTED IT'S GETTING ON THE ISLAND, AND SO I JUST WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOU THINK ABOUT THE NORTHWEST AND SOME POSSIBILITIES, MAYBE IN THAT AREA.
ONE THING WE KEPT IN MIND DURING THIS WHOLE PROCESS WAS WE WERE LOOKING AT THIS 50 YEARS, 100 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD AND WE DIDN'T WANT TO.
WE WON'T BE ABLE TO LOOK BACK, UNFORTUNATELY, BUT WE DIDN'T WANT PEOPLE THEN TO LOOK BACK AND SAY, IT'S TOO BAD THAT WE DIDN'T RESERVE A SPACE THAT WAS MORE ST.
THAT IT WAS TOO FAR OUT WAS PART OF OUR WORK ON THIS, THIS WHY THIS SITE CAME IN SO HIGHLY ON OUR RADAR BECAUSE IT WAS ST.
AUGUSTINE AND, YOU KNOW, 50 OR 100 YEARS FROM NOW, IT'LL STILL BE.
WE DIDN'T WANT TO BE PART OF A RESIDENTIAL AREA AND MAKE THAT KIND OF A STATEMENT.
I JUST FEEL LIKE YOU'RE YOU'RE PRESENTING THIS RIGHT AFTER OUR CHRISTMAS SEASON WHERE WE'RE ALL REALLY TIRED OF SO MANY PEOPLE DOWNTOWN.
AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF WHAT YOU'RE HEARING THAT THE TRAFFIC AND ALL OF THAT.
BUT I WOULD SUGGEST MAYBE LOOKING IN THAT AREA AS A POSSIBILITY.
MAY I MAY I POINT OUT THAT THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT CREATED THE EPICENTER ALLIANCE ARE ST.
AUGUSTINE, RIGHT ORGANIZATIONS.
THEY'RE NOT HASTINGS, THEY'RE NOT NORTH COUNTY, THEY'RE NOT [INAUDIBLE].
THEY ARE ST. AUGUSTINE BASED ORGANIZATIONS.
ALL OF THEIR MEMBERS ARE RESIDENTS LIKE I AM OF DOWNTOWN, BUT THEY ARE ST.
AUGUSTINE BASED AND THEY CONSIDER THEMSELVES ST.
AND AND SOME OF THEM EVEN HAVE COMMUTING PROBLEMS. IF YOU WANT TO GO EVEN OUT TO WORLD GOLF VILLAGE, IT'S TOO FAR.
SOME OF THEM HAVE TROUBLE GETTING OUT TO I-95.
THEY WANT TO BE CLOSE TO TO DOWNTOWN ST.
WE KNOW WE CAN'T FIT IN DOWNTOWN ST.
AUGUSTINE PEOPLE AND THAT IS WHAT HAS ATTRACTED OUR INVESTORS.
COMMISSIONERS, ANYTHING YOU CARE TO ADD.
YEAH, I'LL LET YOU CHIME IN HERE.
YOU MENTIONED A HUNDRED YEARS.
A FEW SECONDS AGO, I SHOWED HER TO THINK ABOUT WHAT ST.
AUGUSTINE MIGHT LOOK LIKE 100 YEARS NOW, FACING THE CLIMATE DILEMMAS THAT SEEM TO BE THRUSTING THEMSELVES INTO OUR LIVES.
YOU'RE BUILDING A 100 YEAR FACILITY THERE.
AND I WOULD THAT CROSSES MY MIND WHENEVER I THINK ABOUT BUILDING ANYTHING THAT'S SUPPOSED TO LAST MORE THAN 25 YEARS, WILL IT BE ACCESSIBLE? WILL IT BE INUNDATED? YOU KNOW, THIS IS A CONVERSATION WE NEED TO HAVE ABOUT OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.
AND THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY ON THE ISLAND IS LOW.
PROBABLY AVERAGE ELEVATION OF THAT PROPERTY IS FIVE OR SIX FEET.
THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY, THE FISH ISLAND PROPERTY IS, WE'RE CALLING IT, NO MATTER WHAT'S DONE TO IT, OTHER THAN REMAINING FOLLOW AND CONTINUE TO BE UNDEVELOPED, IT'S GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON TRAFFIC.
WE PUT SEVERAL HUNDRED HOUSING UNITS IN THERE OR A FEW HUNDRED HOUSING UNITS IN THERE.
THAT'S GOING TO RESULT IN TRIPS ALL THROUGH THE DAY AND IT'S GOING TO HAVE A GREATER IMPACT.
I DARE SAY PROBABLY ON THE TRAFFIC 312 THAN THE SHELL MIGHT HAVE, BECAUSE THE SHELL YOU CAN TAILOR, YOU CAN ACTUALLY DESIGN THE TRAFFIC SURPLUSES BASED ON THE PERFORMANCE IN THE FACILITY, WHICH IS WHAT THEY'VE ALLUDED TO THERE.
SO WITH THAT PROPERTY, NO MATTER WHAT WE DO WITH IT, WELL, WE SIMPLY DO NOTHING WITH IT
[02:15:01]
AND IT'LL HAVE NO IMPACT IF THAT'S THE CHOICE WE'RE GOING TO MAKE.I THINK YOU'RE COMMISSIONER BONNER IS SUGGESTING IT'S NOT A BAD ONE.
SO WE'RE KIND OF LOOKING AT A PIECE OF PROPERTY HERE THAT IF WE DECIDE TO USE IT.
THAT'S IT'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM IF WE USE IT IN ANY WAY.
IT'S GOING TO BE IN USE MORE THAN 50 YEARS EVEN.
IT'S GOING TO BE PROBABLY LOST.
NO ONE KNOWS THE TIMEFRAME ON OCEAN RISE.
ALL WE KNOW IS IT'S HAPPENING OF.
FROM MY STANDPOINT, MY QUESTION TO YOU IS AND YOU KNOW, AND I'VE THOUGHT A LOT ABOUT THIS.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING FOR A LONG TIME ABOUT IT.
YOU KNOW, IS IT THE BEST PLACE TO PUT THE FACILITY BASED ON USE AND SUCCESSABILITY IN THE LONG TERM AFTER WE'RE GONE? I DON'T KNOW.
I HEAR THE ARGUMENTS FROM THE COMMUNITY AND I EXPECTED THEM, AND THEY'RE THEY'RE VALID.
BUT ANY DEVELOPMENT IS GOING TO RESULT IN THE SAME ARGUMENTS.
I'M AFRAID FOR THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY.
I'M NOT WILLING TO WRITE THIS OFF COMPLETELY YET BY ANY MEANS.
I'M NO BY NO MEANS AM I WILLING TO VOTE ON IT.
I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO UTILIZE A PROPERTY OR CERTAIN STUDIES THAT GO HAVE TO BE DONE REGARDLESS OF THE USE, BE IT HOUSING OR THE SHELL OR WHATEVER ELSE, AND WE KNOW WHAT THE IMPACTS ARE GOING TO BE.
IT'S GOING TO BE MORE TRAFFIC, MORE TRIPS, MORE CONGESTION.
THE PROBLEM IS NOT NECESSARILY THE SHELL.
THE PROBLEM IS THE INTERSECTION OF U.S.
AND THAT'S BEYOND OUR CONTROL BECAUSE THAT'S FDOT OR DOT.
SO ANYWAY, THAT'S MY THOUGHTS ON IT.
AND LIKE, EVERYTHING IS NOT CUT AND DRY, ISN'T IT? I JUST HAVE.
I REALLY DON'T HAVE MUCH TO SAY.
I JUST FEEL LIKE OUT OF I HAVE REAL HEARTBURN ABOUT THE COMMERCIAL ASPECT, THE FOR PROFIT COMPONENT COMBINED WITH ARTS, CULTURE AND EDUCATION FACILITY.
I LOVE ARTS, EDUCATION AND CULTURE AND WILL FEEL VERY.
FEEL VERY CLOSE TO IT IN THE COMMUNITY.
ALBERT, YOU AND I HAVE WORKED TOGETHER MANY YEARS.
HOWEVER, I JUST FEEL LIKE CONTINUING IN THAT VEIN OF BEING RESPECTFUL TO YOU.
I JUST DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE PUTTING YOU AND YOUR VALUABLE TIME THROUGH MORE OF STUDIES AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, BECAUSE I JUST DON'T SEE IT WORKING OUT FOR THIS SITE IN THE LONG RUN.
SO I THINK THAT THAT'S JUST MY POSITION, I JUST I FEEL LIKE IT'S JUST A, YOU KNOW, A RED HERRING TO KEEP RUNNING DOWN THE ROAD AND SPENDING IN MORE STUDIES AND COSTING YOU MONEY AND DOING TRAFFIC STUDIES AND DOING FEASIBILITY STUDIES AND THOSE AND JUST IN MY MIND, AFTER LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY, I'M LISTENING TO WHAT YOU HAD TO SAY IN YOUR PRESENTATION.
I JUST REALLY CAN'T GET OVER THAT FOR PROFIT COMPONENT AND WHAT THAT ACTUALLY IS.
AND AND I KNOW IT'S NECESSARY TO YOUR MODEL, SO I JUST DON'T WANT TO SEE IT.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU WIND UP AND GO DOWN THE ROAD.
OK? COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS.
I'D ASK THE CLERK TO PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
I'M NOT PREPARED TO TAKE ANY FURTHER ACTION ON THE PROPOSAL THIS EVENING.
I APPRECIATE THE INVITATION TO MOVE THE CHAINS, BUT THIS IS UNDER REVIEW IN THE BOOTH AND SO SO WE'RE WE HAVE DIRECTED STAFF TO HIRE A CONSULTANT TO LOOK AT THESE PARCELS AS IT PERTAINS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I THINK THAT'LL PROVIDE US A LOT OF INFORMATION.
SO I'M SATISFIED WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
OK, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, ARE YOU SAYING YOU'RE JUST NOT ADDRESSING IT? I'M SAYING I DON'T HAVE A A MOTION.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE I WANT TO DO ON THIS PROPOSAL THIS EVENING.
NO MORE ADDRESSING IT, NOT TONIGHT.
ALL RIGHT, GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN COMMUNICATION.
COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
[9.B.1. Resolution 2022-02: Opposes Senate Bill 280 and House Bill 403 regarding the requirement to include an economic business impact analysis before the adoption of a proposed ordinance. (D. Birchim, Assistant City Manager)]
RESOLUTION 2022-02.[02:20:03]
MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS RESOLUTION 2022-02 OPPOSES SENATE BILL 280 AND HOUSE BILL 403.THESE BILLS REQUIRE EVERY ORDINANCE TO CONTAIN A BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT.
WHICH INCLUDES AN ANALYSIS OF THE DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT AND COSTS OF AN ORDINANCE ON BUSINESSES, INCLUDING THE NUMBER OF BUSINESSES THAT WILL BE IMPACTED.
THE LAW DOES NOT REQUIRE AN ACCOUNTANT OR FINANCIAL CONSULTANT TO DO THIS ANALYSIS, BUT FRANKLY, IT IS UNCLEAR HOW A DEFENSIBLE IMPACT ANALYSIS CAN BE DONE WITHOUT THIS LEVEL OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE.
IT ALSO MAKES THIS ANALYSIS THE BASIS FOR LEGAL CHALLENGES.
IT CHANGES THE LEGAL STANDARD FOR REVIEWING AN ORDINANCE BY THE COURTS, FROM ARBITRARY AND CAPRICIOUS TO ARBITRARY AND UNREASONABLE.
AND I THINK ISABELLE COULD GIVE YOU MORE INSIGHT INTO THAT.
IT REQUIRES A CITY OR COUNTY TO SUSPEND ENFORCEMENT OF AN ORDINANCE THAT IS SUBJECT TO LEGAL CHALLENGE, INCLUDING ANY APPEALS.
A LATE CHANGE HAS ALLOWED THE APPELLATE COURT MAY LIFT THE SUSPENSION IF A LOCAL GOVERNMENT PREVAILS IN A LOWER COURT.
THERE ARE EXEMPTIONS TO THIS PROPOSED LAW, INCLUDING ORDINANCES WHICH IMPLEMENT THE COMMUNITY PLANNING ACT.
THIS INCLUDES LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS, WHICH IS ZONING CHANGES, ALSO ORDINANCES RELATED TO OUR BUDGET ORDINANCES RELATED TO REFINANCING OUR DEBT EMERGENCY ORDINANCES, OR THOSE ORDINANCES REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT STATE OR FEDERAL LAW.
SENATE BILL 280 HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE AND THE SENATE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AND HOUSE BILL 403, WHICH IS THE COMPANION.
IS HEADED FOR THE HEALTH, CIVIL RIGHTS, JUSTICE AND PROPERTY RIGHTS SUBCOMMITTEE.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
COMMISSIONERS MR. REGAN AND I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A ZOOM CONFERENCE CALL WITH SENATOR TRAVIS HUDSON, WHO OF COURSE, IS OUR SENATOR AS WELL AS THE SPONSOR OF THIS BILL.
HE WAS VERY ACCOMMODATING IN PROVIDING US SUFFICIENT TIME TO ADDRESS OUR CONCERNS.
I FELT LIKE HE LISTENED TO CAREFULLY.
I FELT LIKE HE ASKED GOOD QUESTIONS, SO I WAS GRATIFIED WITH THE CONVERSATION WE HAD.
WE DISCUSSED BOTH THESE TWO BILLS AS WELL AS THE NEXT RESOLUTION MR. BIRCHIM OR MS. LOPEZ.
MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE SENATOR WAS THAT AMENDMENTS HAD BEEN OFFERED TO THE SENATE BILL 280 AND THAT AT THE CURRENT TIME, THE LEAGUE OF CITIES WAS NEUTRAL, IF NOT IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL.
DO WE HAVE ANY UPDATE ON THAT INFORMATION? GO AHEAD.
I'M SORRY, I CAN UPDATE YOU ON THE LEGAL CITY'S POSITION.
THEY ARE CURRENTLY IN SUPPORT OF THE AMENDED BILL.
I'M SORRY, YOU WOULD SAY WHAT.
THE LEAGUE OF CITIES, I BELIEVE, SUPPORTED THE AMENDMENT THAT WAS LAST SHOWN TO.
ARE THEY THEN IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL AS AMENDED? THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.
SO LET ME ASK YOU THE AMENDMENT THAT CAME TODAY, WAS THERE AN AMENDMENT TODAY? NO.
THE AMENDMENT THAT WAS SHOWN AT THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE WHEN THIS WHEN THE LEAGUE OF CITIES SPOKE AT THAT COMMITTEE MEETING, THEY WERE IN FAVOR.
NOW I TOOK THAT TO MEAN THEY WERE IN FAVOR OF THE BILL, NOT THAT THEY WERE IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT AND OPPOSED TO THE BILL.
BUT MAYBE I'M SPEAKING ON THEIR BEHALF.
I MAY BE WRONG, BUT I WAS ON THE ON THE RECAP PHONE, THE CONFERENCE THIS MORNING WITH THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES.
WE HAVE A CONFERENCE CALL EVERY EVERY MONDAY MORNING AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY WERE EXPECTING ANOTHER AMENDMENT.
OH, I'M SURE THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE THAN THAT.
IT IS GOING TO THE FLOOR ON THURSDAY.
THAT IS AN UPDATE WE JUST GOT FROM ONE OF OUR LEGISLATIVE CONSULTANT THIS EVENING IS THAT BOTH SENATOR HUDSON'S BILLS, WHICH IS THIS ONE AND THE ONE WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT NEXT, ARE GOING TO THE FULL SENATE FLOOR THURSDAY ON A SPECIAL ORDER CALENDAR.
I DID REVIEW THE AMENDMENTS THUS FAR.
IN MY OPINION, THEY DO SOFTEN SOME OF THE HARDER EDGES THAT WE HAD CONCERNS ABOUT, BUT FUNDAMENTALLY.
THEY REALLY DON'T CHANGE THAT MUCH.
THE SUBSEQUENT RESOLUTION FOR SENATE BILL 620 ACTUALLY HAS AN ADDITIONAL AMENDMENT, AND I THINK DAVID WILL WILL CHAT WITH YOU ABOUT IT ON THIS NEXT ITEM THAT IS ACTUALLY A WORSE AMENDMENT TO 620, IN MY OPINION.
LET'S NOT GO TO 620, LET'S STAY ON 280.
IN IN YOUR EITHER ONE OF YOU MR.
[02:25:04]
BIRCHIM OR I'M SORRY CITY ATTORNEY I'M SORRY.THE AMENDMENT FOR THIS FIRST RESOLUTION UNDER 9B ONE, WOULD IT SUBSTANTIVELY CHANGE THAT REQUIREMENT FOR AN ECONOMIC BUSINESS IMPACT ANALYSIS? NO, NO.
IN EITHER FORM, THEN IT WOULD ENCUMBER THE CITY, CORRECT SIGNIFICANTLY.
OK, THIS IS THIS IS NOBODY'S FAULT, THIS IS JUST THE REALITY OF US TRYING TO RESPOND TO A LEGISLATURE THAT'S MOVING AT RAPID FIRE SPEED TWO HUNDRED MILES AWAY AND TO TRY TO MONITOR THESE MATTERS.
I'M PREPARED TO MOVE THE RESOLUTION, SECOND.
FURTHER DISCUSSION? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT CITY STAFF, WHEN THESE ARE CONVEYED TO OUR REPRESENTATIVES, SENATORS AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE, THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE OPERATING ON THE BEST INFORMATION WE HAVE AT ANY GIVEN TIME.
I CERTAINLY WAS ABLE, I FELT TO CONVEY TO THE SENATOR.
WHAT I PERCEIVE TO BE OUR COLLECTIVE CONCERNS AS TO HOW THESE IMPACT LOCAL GOVERNMENT ON BOTH OF THESE TWO TWO BILLS, SO NOW WE'LL GO TO RESOLUTION 2022-03.
[9.B.2. Resolution 2022-03: Opposes Senate BIll 620 and House Bill 569 regarding the authorization of certain businesses to claim damages from a municipality if it enacts or amends certain ordinances or other charter provisions. (D. Birchim, Assistant City Manager)]
YES, SIR.SENATE BILL 620 AND HOUSE BILL 569 PROVIDE A MECHANISM FOR BUSINESS OWNERS TO SUE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IF AN ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED, WHICH CAUSES A REDUCTION OF AT LEAST 15 PERCENT OF THE BUSINESS'S PROFITS AND THE BUSINESS HAS BEEN OPERATING FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS.
THIS ALLOWS FOR DAMAGES NOT TO EXCEED THE PRESENT VALUE OF SEVEN YEARS OF LOST FUTURE PROFITS, OR AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO THE BUSINESS'S GROSS RECEIPTS FOR THE FIVE YEARS PRECEDING THE ORDINANCE.
EXEMPTIONS ALSO INCLUDE GROWTH MANAGEMENT, PLANNING AND LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS, BUILDING AND FIRE CODE CHANGES, BUDGET, DEBT AND REFINANCING ORDINANCES AND EMERGENCY ORDINANCES, OR THOSE THAT ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLY FOR COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW.
THIS LAW WOULD ALSO ALLOW FOR A PREVAILING PLAINTIFF TO RECOVER ATTORNEY'S FEES AND EXPERT WITNESS FEES, BUT WOULD NOT ALLOW A LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO RECOVER ATTORNEY'S FEES IF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT WON THE LAWSUIT.
WE HAD A LATE AMENDMENT TO THIS BILL, WHICH IS VERY SIGNIFICANT.
AND IT TALKS ABOUT IF A LOCAL GOVERNMENT DESIGNATES REAL PROPERTY AS A HISTORIC RESOURCES, HISTORIC RESOURCE, HISTORIC LANDMARK OR PART OF A HISTORIC DISTRICT.
OR PLACING REAL PROPERTY UNDER SIMILAR DESIGNATION, A LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
LET'S READ A STATEMENT IN A PUBLIC MEETING OUTLINING SUCH AFFECTED PROPERTY OWNERS RIGHTS UNDER THE [INAUDIBLE].
HARRIS ACT AND PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS.
THAT'S THE SAME ACT PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS PROTECTION ACT AND PROVIDE A COPY OF SUCH STATEMENT TO EACH AFFECTED PARTY OWNER OR REGISTERED AGENT BY CERTIFIED MAIL AT LEAST 30 DAYS BEFORE THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT MAKES SUCH DESIGNATION.
AND AND THAT NOTICE HAS TO BE HAS TO INCLUDE HOW THE PROPOSED LAW WILL IMPACT THE PROPERTY OWNERS EXISTING PROPERTY RIGHTS.
IT GOES INTO DETAIL ABOUT THE WE HEARD ENOUGH A LONG TIME AGO.
OUT OF CURIOSITY, WHO PROPOSED THIS AMENDMENT? I'M NOT CLEAR ABOUT THAT.
DO YOU WANT THE HONOR? OH, MOVING THE RESOLUTION? YEAH, I KNOW.
WHAT'S OUR RESOLUTION NUMBER? 2022-03, I MOVE WE PASS 2022, RESOLUTION 2022-03.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FURTHER DISCUSSION.
I THINK I'M HAVING A HARD TIME CONTAINING MYSELF.
I MEAN, I GO BACK TO WHAT I SAID AT OUR LAST MEETING.
THIS IS BOTH OF THESE BILLS ARE EMBLEMATIC OF OVERREACH BY STATE GOVERNMENT.
THERE'S A BIAS TOWARD BUSINESS AND WHICH I'LL GET BACK TO IN A CENTRALIZATION OF POWER IN TALLAHASSEE.
WHAT IT MEANS IS THAT EVERY FRIVOLOUS LAWSUIT THIS BILL WILL BE PAID FOR BY OUR TAXPAYERS, BY YOU AND ME AND EVERYBODY ELSE OUT THERE.
THAT'S GOING TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT BUDGET IMPLICATIONS FOR 15000 PEOPLE IN A SMALL TOWN.
IT'S GOING TO MEAN THAT OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE NECESSARY SERVICES, NEVER MIND THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE CURRENTLY PROVIDE, WHICH I'M REALLY PROUD OF OUR STAFF,
[02:30:04]
INCLUDING THE ABILITY OF OUR CITY ATTORNEY TO WRITE SUCH BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE IN THESE RESOLUTIONS.THIS IS GOING TO IMPLICATE HAVE IMPLICATIONS IN OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE SERVICES.
IT'S GOING TO HAVE IMPLICATIONS ON OUR ABILITY TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES SUCH AS FLOODING POTENTIALLY BECAUSE WE MAY GET SUED BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE PERCEIVED THAT IT WAS GOING TO IMPACT SOMEBODY'S FUTURE BUSINESS PROFITS.
I JUST WANT TO CONTINUE BY CALLING ATTENTION TO THE THIRD, WHEREAS STATEMENT IN THE YOUR YOUR RESOLUTION ON THIS BILL.
CREATE A NEW SYSTEM OF LITIGATION PREMISED ON THE PUBLIC PURSE, THE PUBLIC PURSE, PAYING PRIVATE BUSINESSES FOR THE ROUTINE COST OF DOING BUSINESS REGULATIONS THAT BENEFIT EVERYONE, INCLUDING THE BUSINESSES THEMSELVES.
AND WHAT THAT STATEMENT MEANS IS THAT IF YOU TAKE THE LONG VIEW, IF ENACTED, THIS WILL IN FACT NEGATIVELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND OUR CITIZENS.
REDIRECTING OUR LIMITED FINANCIAL RESOURCES TOWARD QUOTE UNQUOTE EXPERT STUDIES OR LIMITED LAWSUITS WILL IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE SERVICES, AND NOBODY WANTS TO LIVE IN OR VISIT A CITY THAT STRUGGLES TO PROVIDE BASIC SERVICES.
I JUST CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH THAT WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO OPPOSE THESE BILLS AND HELP DEFEAT THEM.
OK, I'LL JUST ADD THAT I THINK DO I NEED TO CONVINCE ANYONE, NO, BUT I FEEL LIKE THIS IS BIG GOVERNMENT, FROM A GOVERNMENT, FROM A, YOU KNOW A STATE GOVERNMENT THAT SAYS THEY'RE NOT.
BUT IT IS THIS IS BIG GOVERNMENT, AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE WHAT'S BEING LOST HERE IS OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR CITIZENS ABILITY TO CONTROL THE QUALITY OF THEIR OWN LIVES.
AND THAT'S WHERE IT BASICALLY COMES DOWN TO FOR ME IS IT'S REALLY ROBBING THEM OF THE POWER.
IT'S NOT ABOUT US, IT'S ABOUT THEM.
WELL IT'S SAD THE CITIZENS NEED TO START ELECTING THE RIGHT PEOPLE THEN.
AND I WOULD JUST SIMPLY ADD IN THAT THE TRADITIONAL WAY THAT WE HAVE ADDRESSED THIS IN OUR CITIZENS OF GOVERNMENT AND OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT IS BY ELECTIONS AND A MAJORITY OF THIS COMMISSION IS ELECTED EVERY TWO YEARS, EVERY TWO WEEKS, EVERY TWO YEARS.
SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE EVERY TWO WEEKS, EVERY TWO YEARS, WE'RE ANSWERABLE TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
AND THAT'S WHERE THESE THINGS SHOULD BE RESOLVED, NOT BY THE LEGISLATURE IN TALLAHASSEE.
ALL RIGHT, MADAM CLERK CALL THE ROLL PLEASE.
[9.B.3. Resolution 2022-05: Opposes Senate Bill 512 and House Bill 325 regarding preemption of local governments from certain regulations specific to short-term rentals. (D. Birchim, Assistant City Manager)]
MR. BIRCHIM QUICKLY ON RESOLUTION 2022-05.RESOLUTION 2022-05 OPPOSE THE SENATE BILL 512 AND HOUSE BILL 325 REGARDING SHORT TERM RENTALS, THIS BILL ONLY ALLOWS A MAXIMUM OF $50 REGISTRATION FEE FOR VACATION RENTALS, AND IT LIMITS WHAT THE REGISTRATION CAN CONTAIN.
THIS WOULD RESULT IN THE COMMUNITY SUBSIDIZING THE SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE TO PAY FOR ENFORCEMENT AND PROSECUTION, WHICH IS NOW PAID FOR BY THE VACATION RENTAL OWNERS THEMSELVES THROUGH REGISTRATION FEES.
IT WOULD NOT ALLOW US TO ENFORCE OUR PARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR VACATION RENTALS UNLESS WE APPLY THE VACATION RENTAL PARKING REQUIREMENTS TO ALL SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND DWELLING UNITS.
IT WOULD NOT ALLOW US TO CHARGE A DIFFERENT FEE FOR TRASH PICKUP OTHER THAN WHAT WE DO FOR ALL OTHER SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND DWELLING UNITS.
IT REQUIRES A 15-DAY TIME FRAME FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO APPROVE A VACATION RENTAL REGISTRATION AFTER REGISTRATION IS SUBMITTED, WHICH WOULD VIRTUALLY ELIMINATE OUR ABILITY TO PERFORM SAFETY INSPECTIONS.
IT REQUIRES THE ADVERTISING PLATFORMS SUCH AS AIRBNB, TO COLLECT AND SEND THEIR TAXES DIRECTLY TO THE STATE.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
MR. BIRCHIM, WHO'S THE SPONSOR OF SENATE BILL 512.
WELL, I'VE GOT THAT FOR YOU RIGHT NOW, BUT I [INAUDIBLE] IN FRONT OF ME.
I WOULD MOVE PASSAGE OF RESOLUTION 2022-05, SECOND, FURTHER DISCUSSION.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
[10. STAFF REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS]
THANK YOU.WE ARE NOW ON THE DYNAMIC DUO FRANKLIN AND GRANT.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
THIS EVENING, MR. GRANT AND I WILL BE PRESENTING THE QUARTERLY UPDATE FOR PUBLIC WORKS AND
[02:35:12]
UTILITIES.OK, SO THIS EVENING ON THE AGENDA WILL GO OVER THE FEMA 13 LIFT STATION REHABILITATION PROJECT BRIEF UPDATE ON THE RESILIENCY PROGRAM.
WEST AUGUSTINE GRAVITY SEWER IMPROVEMENTS.
MR. GRANT WILL BE SPEAKING ON THE SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL UPDATES, AND THEN WE'LL CLOSE OUT WITH CAPITAL PROJECTS OVERVIEW AND AN UPDATE ON MOBILITY INITIATIVES.
OUR FEMA 13 WERE HALFWAY THROUGH THE CONSTRUCTION OF OUR 13 LIFT STATIONS.
WE'RE EXPECTING COMPLETION FEBRUARY 20 2023.
THIS SUMMER WILL BE WORKING ON A [INAUDIBLE] ON AGRICOLA AVENUE IN THE DAVIS SHORES AREA.
A BRIEF OUTLINE OF OUR RESILIENCY PROGRAM SINCE THE LAST TIME WE MET AND HAD A FAIRLY ROBUST WORKSHOP.
WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH A DEVELOPING SEAWALL ORDINANCE AND LIVING SHORELINES, MONITORING STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS AS WELL.
AS FAR AS PLANNING, WE HAVE RECEIVED OUR DRAFT OF THE STORM WATER OUTFALL MASTER PLAN, WHERE WE EVALUATED ALL THE STORM WATER OUTFALLS WITHIN THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE, AND WE'LL BE PUTTING THE FINAL TOUCHES ON THAT.
HOPEFULLY, WE CAN GET FUNDED, OUR RESILIENCE MASTER PLAN, WHICH WOULD BE OUR BASICALLY OUR STORMWATER MASTER PLAN CITYWIDE, AND WE CAN TAKE THINGS SUCH AS THE SOUTH DAVID SHORE STUDY AND EXPAND UPON IT AND LOOK AT ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY.
AS FAR AS PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION, FEMA 13 IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ, WE ARE STILL IN THE DESIGN PHASE.
WE DO HAVE A LAND ACQUISITION ISSUE WITH GETTING EASEMENTS FROM PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS THAT WE'RE STILL TRYING TO RESOLVE.
ONE PARTICULAR THING THERE IS WE HAVE ASKED FEMA IF WE COULD SPLIT THAT PROJECT INTO TWO, SO MAYBE WE COULD ACCELERATE A PORTION OF THE PROJECT WHILE WE WORK THROUGH THE LAND ACQUISITION AND EASEMENTS FOR THE PROJECT.
THE AVENUE TO MENENDEZ FLOOD BARRIER SEAWALL, WHICH IS THE COMPONENT OF THE SEAWALL FROM THE NEW SEAWALL BY WHERE THE SANTA MARIA USED TO BE THROUGH THE CITY MARINAS 100 PERCENT DESIGN PHASE SOUTH WHITNEY AND WEST KING STREET.
THAT'S ACTUALLY BEEN EXECUTED FOR PHASE TWO, SO THAT'S READY FOR CONSTRUCTION.
WE'RE JUST LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING DOLLARS TO COMPLETE THE CONSTRUCTION ON THAT.
AS FAR AS PRIORITIES WE HEARD FROM THE WORKSHOP, YOU KNOW, A SEAWALL ORDINANCE UPDATING OUR EXISTING VULNERABILITY STUDY WITH THE MOST CURRENT SCIENTIFIC DATA AND THEN MOVING FORWARD WITH CONTINUING OUTREACH AND EDUCATION AND THEN ALSO EVALUATION FOR COST AND BENEFITS FOR ANY PROPOSED PROJECTS TO BETTER PRIORITIZE LIMITED RESOURCES.
WE WILL BE PREPARED TO COME BACK.
I BELIEVE IN MARCH, WE WERE LOOKING FOR A FOLLOW UP WORKSHOP.
WELL, WE DID SUBMIT 11 APPLICATIONS FOR THE RESILIENT FLORIDA FUND, I WILL SAY THAT WE DID RECEIVE THAT NONE OF THE PROJECTS OF THE SEVEN PROJECTS WE DID NOT RECEIVE MONIES FOR OR GET SELECTED FOR.
HOWEVER, OUR FOUR PLANNING PROJECTS ARE STILL BEING EVALUATED, SO WE'RE HOPEFUL THERE AS FAR AS THE REBUILD FLORIDA.
WE'RE STILL WAITING TO HEAR BACK.
WE DID SUBMIT LIKE MARIA SANCHEZ FOR THAT.
CAN I ASK A QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU? SURE.
FOR THE RESILIENT FLORIDA FUNDING WHERE WE DIDN'T RECEIVE THE FUNDING THAT WE APPLIED FOR? DID YOU ALL RECEIVE ANY FEEDBACK ON WHY OUR APPLICATIONS WEREN'T SELECTED SO THAT WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB NEXT TIME? WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT RIGHT NOW.
I BELIEVE THERE WAS A COST MATCH, BUT I'M WORKING WITH MS. BEACH AND IN OUR WORKSHOP IN MARCH, WE'LL HAVE A BETTER BREAKDOWN OF THAT.
THINGS ARE GOING WELL IN THE WEST AUGUSTINE AREA FOR SEWER PROJECTS.
WE ARE IN THE DESIGN OF THE MASTER PLAN FOR THE AREA.
WE WILL BE WEST THIRD STREET IS IN DESIGN TO HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE MOVING INTO CONSTRUCTION, WHICH WOULD ELIMINATE 20 RESIDENTIAL SEPTIC TANKS ON WEST 3RD STREET.
WE ARE CURRENTLY IN PACKAGE FIVE.
SO WE'LL HAVE SEVEN NEW CONNECTIONS WITH THAT PROGRAM, WITH A TOTAL OF FIFTY SEVEN SEPTIC TANKS ABANDONED TO DATE.
[02:40:01]
AND THEN ALSO OUR PEARL STREET GRAVITY SEWER IS IN THE DESIGN PHASE AS WELL.THAT'S WHERE WE TOOK OVER OWNERSHIP OF THE WEBSTER LIFT STATION, AND THAT'S ENABLING US TO INSTALL GRAVITY SEWER IN THAT AREA.
AND WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO HAND IT OVER TO MR. GRANT FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL UPDATE.
MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, ONE THING I WANT TO POINT OUT BEFORE I GOT INTO THESE SLIDES IS THAT THE FEMA 13 LIFT STATIONS THEY'VE ALMOST BEEN CONSTRUCTED OR WILL BE CONSTRUCTED IN A SHORT, ALMOST A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME THAN IT DID FOR THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH FEMA AND THE DESIGN AND PROCUREMENT.
SO IT'S HATS OFF TO [INAUDIBLE] AND STEVEN AND THE CITY STAFF THAT HAVE PUSHED THAT FORWARD.
IT'S REALLY BEEN AN INCREDIBLE PROJECT, AND THE CONTRACTOR ON IT IS PHENOMENAL.
SO SOME SUSTAINABILITY UPDATES, THE TREE CANOPY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM, IT HAS BEEN A LEARNING LESSON, WE IT WAS VERY, VERY POPULAR AND WELL RECEIVED.
WE HAD MANY APPLICATIONS FROM OUTSIDE THE CITY.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE NINETY NINE LOCATIONS.
THE ISSUE WE HAVE NOW IS GETTING BACK TO AGREEMENTS.
AND SO WE'RE COMING UP TO A CRUNCH ON A FEW THINGS, ONE WITH A GOOD PLANTING SEASON TO GETTING THESE APPLICATIONS OR THE DOCUMENTS BACK THAT ALLOWS US TO PLANT SOMETHING ON THEIR PROPERTY.
AND LASTLY, OUR OUR MOST POPULAR SPECIES WAS THE FLOWERING DOGWOOD.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, ALL THE NURSERIES AROUND CAN'T SEEM TO FIND FLOWERING DOGWOOD.
SO WE'RE HAVING TO GO BACK TO 30 PLUS APPLICANTS AND ASK IF THEY'D LIKE A RED BUD INSTEAD.
SO THAT'S BEEN OUR WE'RE HOPING THAT NEXT YEAR WE CAN STREAMLINE THINGS.
IT'S TAKEN A LOT WITH THE ACTUAL SITE VISITS THE FOLLOW UP TO FOLLOW UP EMAILS [INAUDIBLE] SKIP MARK HARTLEY AND JB MILLER HAVE DONE A LARGE AMOUNT OF WORK.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT A BETTER WAY TO STREAMLINE THAT FOR NEXT YEAR, JUST TO MAKE IT LESS ONEROUS AND TIME CONSUMING.
WE DID CONTINUE OUR INTERNAL SUSTAINABILITY MEETINGS, AND WE'RE ALSO EXCITED THAT WE HAVE A CONSULTANT ON BOARD AND WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS CREATING A CALCULATOR, IF YOU WILL, A NICE SPREADSHEET WITH FORMULAS FOR US TO PUT IN.
WE'RE USING THE WATER AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS CURRENTLY AS THE OUR FIRST EXAMPLE, SINCE THEY ARE THE LARGEST ENERGY USERS TO ENABLE US TO CALCULATE OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT, THEN ALSO COME UP WITH SOME PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES TO SEE HOW WE'RE REDUCING THAT OR BRING IT DOWN WHERE WE CAN.
SINCE THE TREE CANOPY PROGRAM HAS TAKEN A LARGE CHUNK OF OUR TIME.
THE NEXT THINGS THAT ARE COMING UP, WHICH WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO ROLL OUT AS THE RESIDENTIAL COMPOST BINS MANY YEARS AGO WE DID A SURVEY AND IT WAS VERY POPULAR AS FAR AS I WOULD JUST RATHER DO MY OWN.
AND SO ACTUALLY PROVIDING THAT AS WELL AS THE TREE, I THINK WE'RE WE'RE HELPING OUT IN THE LONG RUN.
AND THEN WE'D LIKE TO BRING BACK TO YOU THE THE ROLLOUT OF A RECOGNITION PROGRAM FOR BUSINESSES THAT ARE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, EMPLOY SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES, BE IT.
WE HAVE A WHOLE LIST OF CRITERIA THAT WILL GO OVER WITH YOU.
SO I KNOW IT DOESN'T SOUND FUN AND EXCITING FAT OILS AND GREASE, BUT IT IS, AND IT TRULY IS.
THAT'S WHY WE LOVE YOU BECAUSE YOU THINK IT'S EXCITING.
I GO ON VACATION AND TAKE PICTURES OF FIRE HYDRANTS AND MY FAMILY DOESN'T UNDERSTAND WHY.
SO ONCE [INAUDIBLE] WAS PROMOTED TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS COORDINATOR, WE WERE ALLOWED TO HIRE ANOTHER INSPECTOR AND THAT HAS BEEN HUGE.
AND I BRING THAT UP BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE INSPECTIONS THAT WE'VE COMPLETED, ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY SIX PERCENT INCREASE.
AND THIS IS TREMENDOUS BECAUSE IT PREVENTS SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOWS.
IT ACTUALLY KEEPS OUR ARTERIES ON CLOGGED AND THEN KEEPS US OUT OF HAVING CONTINUED FINES.
AND EVEN IN THE CITY MANAGER HAD MENTIONED A WHILE AGO DURING THE [INAUDIBLE], WE DID NOT HAVE A SINGLE SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOW, AND A LARGE PART OF THAT IS BEING ABLE TO GET OUT TO THESE FACILITIES, MAKE SURE THEY'RE IN COMPLIANCE.
AND THEN WHAT WE'VE ALSO DONE WHILE OUR INSPECTORS ARE OUT THERE, THEY'VE PUT TOGETHER A WHOLE EDUCATIONAL PACKET AND ONE OF THE ASPECTS IS ILLICIT DISCHARGE.
SO IF THEY NOTICE TRASH BLOWING OUT OF THEIR BIN, GETTING INTO THE STORM DRAINS OR THEY SEE STAINING ON THE PARKING LOT, THEY EDUCATE THEM ON THE FACT THAT IT SHOULDN'T BE GOING DOWN THE DRAIN.
SO WE'RE ACTUALLY PROACTIVELY EDUCATING AND TRAINING FOR OUR STORMWATER PERMIT AND TRAINING THOSE BUSINESSES ON OTHER ASPECTS OF THINGS NOT TO DO.
[02:45:01]
SO IT'S REALLY NICE WHAT THAT GROUP OF THREE HAS DONE.IT'S THERE'S A LOT OF RESTAURANTS, AS YOU KNOW, INSIDE THE CITY THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO INSPECT, AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF THEM.
SO I'M GOING TO GIVE IT BACK TO [INAUDIBLE] SINCE I'M GOING TO LAY ON HIM TWO THIRDS OF THE ONE THIRD TONIGHT.
SO THAT WAS THE KIND OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE KEY PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS WE HAVE GOING ON.
THIS, OF COURSE, IS THE BIG OVERVIEW OF EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE GOING ON THAT'S BEEN FUNDED BY PAST BUDGETS AND ALSO THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AS WELL.
SO THIS IS HOW WE, YOU KNOW, TRACK AND PROGRESS THROUGH THE DIFFERENT STAGES OF A PROJECT THAT REQUIRES ENGINEERING AND DESIGN PERMITTING.
AND SO WHAT YOU'LL FIND IS ON THE LEFT, YOUR PROJECT SCOPE DEVELOPMENT.
THERE MIGHT BE SOME ITEMS THAT POP THEM POP UP ON THERE THAT AREN'T EVEN BUDGETED, BUT WE'RE DEVELOPING LIKE A SCOPE FOR IT.
AND THEN WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IS HIGHLIGHT THE DIFFERENT PROJECTS OF WHERE THE FUNDING IS COMING FROM.
SO IN THE BLUE HERE IS WHAT'S FUNDED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, AND THEN THE GREEN IS WHAT'S IDENTIFIED FOR LOANS OR GRANTS.
AND I'M HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS ON.
THIS SUMMARY, I THINK ONE THING THAT WE WANT TO WORK ON IS WE WANT TO PUT TOGETHER MORE OF A PROJECT DESCRIPTION SHEET THAT I'LL SHARE WITH YOU, MAYBE FOR THE NEXT UPDATE THAT WE CAN HAVE AN APPENDIX WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF THESE DIFFERENT PROJECTS.
AND SO JUST FOR A QUICK MOBILITY UPDATE, WE HAD A VERY BUSY NIGHT OF LIGHTS.
WE BROUGHT BACK THE SHUTTLING PROGRAM SINCE WE DID NOT RUN IT LAST YEAR DUE TO COVID, AND WE SAW UP TO PRE-COVID NUMBERS GOING BACK TO 2018, 2019 WAS A VERY, VERY BUSY YEAR.
WE BROUGHT IN ABOUT WE MOVED AROUND FOURTEEN THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED AND TWENTY FOUR PASSENGERS BASED ON THE SHUTTLE LOGS THAT FALLS RIGHT UNDERNEATH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF 2019, WHICH IS ABOUT NINETEEN THOUSAND.
WE HAD PRETTY GOOD FEEDBACK FROM OUR RIDERS AND WE SEE IT TO BE A VERY SUCCESSFUL OPERATION THIS YEAR.
NOTABLY, WE BROUGHT ON THE [INAUDIBLE] SITE.
THE [INAUDIBLE] SITE WAS A VERY POPULAR SITE AND WE PARKED, I THINK, IN THE HIGHEST ABOUT THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY CARS IN ONE EVENING ON THAT SITE.
SO PEOPLE DID SEEM TO GRAVITATE TOWARDS IT AND LIKE THAT, THAT SITE, WHICH IS A GOOD THING.
AS FAR AS THE CITY'S GARAGE IS CONCERNED ITSELF, IS THAT AT MAXIMUM CAPACITY, VARIOUS NIGHTS DURING MY NIGHTS OF LIGHTS? YES, IT IS.
AND SOMETIMES IT SELLS OUT MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
SO WHAT WE TYPICALLY DO IS IT WILL SELL OUT.
THE 1100 SPACES WILL BE FILLED AND THEN WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR PEOPLE TO LEAVE.
AND SO SOMETIMES I CAN FRUSTRATE PEOPLE THAT ARE QUEUED UP WAITING TO COME INTO THE GARAGE BECAUSE THEY'LL SEE CARS EXITING.
BUT IF WE JUST LET 10 CARS LEAVE AND THEN RE-OPEN THE GARAGE, PEOPLE IN THAT QUEUE WILL, YOU KNOW, TEND TO STAY THERE AND SAID, WE HAVE SIGNAGE OUT THERE THAT SAYS FREE PARKING, RIGHT? WE'RE TRYING TO DIRECT THEM WHEN THAT GARAGE CLOSES DOWN TO THE PARKING ON THE PERIPHERY.
SO YES, THE GARAGE CLOSES MULTIPLE TIMES, ESPECIALLY BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S.
IT WILL CLOSE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND JUST FOR SOME OTHER MOBILITY UPDATES.
I AM WORKING ON A [INAUDIBLE] TRAFFIC CALMING REPORT PLAN TO COME BACK TO THE COMMISSION, MAYBE THE SECOND MEETING IN FEBRUARY.
WE DID ROLL OUT THOSE SPEED DISPLAY SIGNS, BUT I'M AWARE ON MARTIN LUTHER KING AND RIBERIA STREET IN A COUPLE OF OTHER AREAS IN THE CITY THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME TRAFFIC CALMING AND SPEED STUDIES.
WHERE ARE WE ON THE DYNAMIC MESSAGING SIGN PROGRAM? SO THAT'S A BIG PART OF THE FDOT FUNDING THAT WE'RE ANTICIPATING TO RECEIVE IN JULY.
BUT THE STATE HAS REALLY GRAVITATED TOWARDS OUR DYNAMIC MESSAGING FOR PARKING, WHERE WE TRY TO PUSH THE DEMAND FOR PARKING OUT TO THE PERIPHERY USING DYNAMIC MESSAGE SIGNS AND THAT SO THEY'VE ALLOCATED UP TO SEVEN AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS TO HELP WITH THAT INITIATIVE.
SO WE'LL BE BRINGING BACK WITH THAT NECESSITATES IS A LAP AGREEMENT, A LOCAL AGENCY AGREEMENT THAT WE'LL BE BRINGING BACK.
AND THEN WE'LL GO INTO DESIGN THIS JULY WITH A PENDING APPROVAL BY THE COMMISSION AND THEN WITH SEVEN AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS TO GET TOWARDS THAT INITIATIVE.
[02:50:01]
THANKS.I HAVE A QUESTION, PROBABLY FOR MR. GRANT.
IT HAS TO DO WITH THE GLASS RECYCLING HAS.
HAVE YOU HAD ANY LUCK GETTING THAT BACK? I ALMOST MADE IT OUT OF HERE.
I WAS ACTUALLY JUST TALKING WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR AT THE BEACH BILL [INAUDIBLE], AND WE'RE TRYING TO PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER.
THE BEST INITIATIVE WOULD BE TO HAVE A DROP OFF LOCATION TO START OFF WITH STILL GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THE GENTLEMAN THAT'S WITH A GLASS RECYCLING.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF NEGOTIATING OUR LIMITED RESOURCES AS FAR AS A ROLL OFF CONTAINER TRANSPORTATION.
AND SO BETWEEN MYSELF AND OLIVIA SMITH, WHO'S NOW THE MANAGER OF SOLID WASTE, WE'RE TRYING TO NEGOTIATE SOMETHING WITH THEM INCLUDE THE BEACH TO WHERE THEY COULD HELP US OUT WITH EITHER A CONTAINER AND TRANSPORTATION FOR A REDUCED PER TON RATE.
SO IT'S NOT HASN'T DIED YET, BUT IT'S STILL THERE.
I JUST HAVE A DREAM THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO RECYCLE ALL OF OUR GLASS INTO BEACH SAND.
AND IT'S BEING DONE IN SOME PLACES, BUT THAT'S PROBABLY WAY BEYOND OUR CAPACITY HERE.
I WOULD SUGGEST YOU REACH OUT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION BECAUSE THEY DON'T RECOGNIZE THAT AS SAND.
[INAUDIBLE] BETTER RECYCLING IT TO CONCRETE AGGREGATE BUT.
I'M ALWAYS DELIGHTED WHEN WE PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF ST.
I FEEL LIKE THERE'S KIND OF A SHARED DNA AND WORLD VIEW THERE, AND SO I APPLAUD ANY OF THOSE EFFORTS AND I APPRECIATE YOU DOING IT.
OTHER QUESTIONS OF MR. GRANT [INAUDIBLE].
ACTUALLY I HAVE A QUESTION FOR [INAUDIBLE].
ONE, POSSIBLY ON BOULEVARD OYSTER CREEK BRIDGE.
WHERE IS THAT IN THE WORKS? WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO START DOING THAT PROJECT, DO YOU KNOW? WELL, THERE'S TWO PROJECTS.
ONE RESURFACING PROJECT THAT'S UNDERWAY.
BUT THEN ARE YOU REFERRING TO THE BOX CULVERT REPLACEMENT? OYSTER CREEK.
THEY SHOULD BE STARTING CONSTRUCTION.
I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT DATE, BUT I CAN GET THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU.
THEY'VE SELECTED A CONTRACTOR, SO IT SHOULD BE PRETTY SOON.
OYSTER CREEK, WHICH I'VE BECOME VERY FAMILIAR WITH AS OF LATE.
LEWIS STREET, WHICH RUNS ALONG THE SOUTH THE NORTH SIDE OF OYSTER CREEK, USUALLY COMES WITH ABOUT FOUR INCHES OF BEING INUNDATED EVERY HIGH TIDE.
IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE LOWEST STREETS.
THE CITY DOESN'T AFFECT MY HOUSE BECAUSE I ACCESS OFF [INAUDIBLE] BEHIND, BUT THERE'S SEVERAL HOUSES ON THAT STREET WHICH ARE GOING TO LOSE ACCESSIBILITY MORE FREQUENTLY AS TIME GOES ON, BECAUSE IT'S PERILOUSLY CLOSE NOW TO FLOODING EVERY HIGH TIDE.
IS THERE ANY PLANS FOR ANY BANK STABILIZATION OR ANY WORK TO BE DONE ON OYSTER CREEK IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE? JUST CONCEPTUALLY, WE HAD IDENTIFIED IT AS A POTENTIAL BULKHEAD WITH SIDEWALK FOR CONNECTION TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO U.S.
ONE, BUT THAT'S AS FAR AS WE HAVE GOTTEN.
YEAH, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN I'VE BEEN APPROACHED BY SEVERAL PROPERTY OWNERS ARE ASKING ME IF THERE'S ANY PLANS TO, YOU KNOW, BULKHEAD IT OR DO SOMETHING TO INCREASE THE SURVIVABILITY OF THOSE HOMES ACCESS.
ALL RIGHT, IT'S ON THE RADAR SCREEN.
I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION, AND I'M NOT SURE IF IT SHOULD BE DIRECTED TOWARD MR. FRANKLIN OR MR. REGAN, BUT I JUST WANTED BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NIGHTS OF LIGHTS.
WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THE REVIEW THAT WE DISCUSSED AT OUR LAST MEETING OF THIS YEAR'S IMPACTS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR CHANGES FOR NEXT YEAR? OUR PLAN WAS TO BRING THAT IN FEBRUARY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. FRANKLIN, MR. GRANT.
WE'RE ON ITEMS BY THE CITY CLERK, MS. GALAMBOS.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, I JUST HAVE THREE ITEMS
[12.A. Notification of upcoming term expiration on the Corridor Review Committee board. (D. Galambos, City Clerk)]
TONIGHT.ONE IS NOTIFICATION OF AN UPCOMING TERM EXPIRATION ON OUR CORRIDOR REVIEW COMMITTEE.
LORNA MCDONALD WILL EXPIRE ON MARCH 28TH WHILE HER TERM WILL AND SHE IS ELIGIBLE FOR REAPPOINTMENT.
WE WILL BE REACHING OUT TO HER AND ADVERTISING AS WE DO.
THE NEXT ITEM IS A NOTIFICATION OF TWO UPCOMING TERM EXPIRATIONS ON OUR
[12.B. Notification of two upcoming term expirations on the Historic Architectural Review Board. (D. Galambos, City Clerk)]
[02:55:01]
HISTORIC ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD [INAUDIBLE] MCDONALD IS HE SERVED ONE FULL TERM.HE IS ELIGIBLE FOR REAPPOINTMENT AND MS. BARBARA WINGO HAS SERVED FULL TERMS, TWO FULL TERMS SO SHE WILL [INAUDIBLE].
THOSE TERMS EXPIRE MARCH 28TH.
THEY WILL ALSO BE ADVERTISED AND WE'LL BRING THEM BACK IN.
JUST ANOTHER REMINDER THAT WE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR APPLICATIONS FOR OUR CODE
[12.C. Notification that applications are being accepted to fill specific board vacancies. (D. Galambos, City Clerk)]
ENFORCEMENT ADJUSTMENTS AND APPEALS.AUGUSTINE POLICE OFFICERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OUR ST.
AUGUSTINE FIREFIGHTERS PENSION TRUST FUND BOARD OF TRUSTEES, WHICH I WILL.
I'M VERY HAPPY TO SAY I'VE GOT ONE APPLICATION TO BRING TO YOU FOR CODE AND ONE FOR THE POLICE OFFICERS PENSION BOARD.
AND I THINK WE DID DETERMINE MS. LOPEZ MS. GALAMBOS THAT YOU MUST BE A CITY RESIDENT FOR THE POLICE AND FIRE.
BUT YOU NEED NOT BE A POLICE, A RESIDENT FOR THE GENERAL EMPLOYEES.
WE WILL NEED ONE RESIDENT TO BE SO KIND AS TO VOLUNTEER FOR THE FIRE PENSION.
[13. ITEMS BY CITY MANAGER]
REGAN.MAYOR, JUST TWO ITEMS, YOU KNOW, JUST COMING BACK ON THE LEGISLATION.
THE LEAGUE MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THIS ON THE SENATE SIDE, THESE BILLS THAT WE TALKED ARE THE PRIORITY OF THE SENATE PRESIDENT.
WE WILL KEEP UP THE HARD FIGHT ON THE HOUSE SIDE AS IT AS THE HOUSE BILLS ARE MOVING, AND MAYBE WE'LL HAVE BETTER SUCCESS.
THE SECOND THING I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT THE [INAUDIBLE] AWARD FOR THE ALVAREZ'S WILL BE AT 4:30 ON FEBRUARY 14TH, PRIOR TO OUR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
AND WE'LL BE DOING SOME NOTICING AND A HARD, YOU KNOW, MEDIA PUSH ON THAT.
MS. GALAMBOS, LET ME GO BACK TO ONE THING IS I QUESTION THE UTILITY OF ADVERTISING THESE VACANCIES IN THE ST.
AUGUSTINE RECORD AND WE ALSO SEND OUT NOTICES ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND OUR NEWS & NOTES.
WE TRY TO REACH OUT TO AS MANY.
I QUESTION THE UTILITY OF ADVERTISING IN THE ST.
IS THERE A STATUTORY REQUIREMENT TO USE THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER OR SOMETHING? THERE IS FOR LEGAL NOTICES WE CAN GO BACK AND CHECK IF THESE KINDS OF THINGS ACTUALLY REQUIRE FULL LEGAL NOTICE.
BUT THE FIRE PENSION AND THE POLICE PENSION ARE PECULIAR LITTLE BOARDS BECAUSE WE GET STATE FUNDS.
AND SO THAT COMES WITH CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS SO WE CAN GO BACK AND CHECK AND FOLLOW UP.
I GUESS DARLENE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH THE MAYOR ON THAT.
IT'S A SMALL POINT, BUT IT'S NOT CHEAP.
AND I THINK IT'S AN ARCHAIC WAY TO DO IT.
AND FACEBOOK AND THE OTHER AVENUES, IT SEEMS TO ME TO PROVIDE GREATER UTILITY.
COMMISSIONER BONDER FINAL COMMENTS.
[14. ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS]
THEY'RE GOING TO BE BRIEF.FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED TO THANK IN PARTICULAR YOU AND MR. REGAN FOR REACHING OUT TO MR. HUDSON AND TRYING TO GAIN SOME HEADWAY THERE.
THOSE EFFORTS ARE APPRECIATED.
I RECOGNIZING THAT FEBRUARY IS FAST APPROACHING.
I DID NOT SEE A PROCLAMATION FOR OUR CITY TO DECLARE FEBRUARY AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT WE DO SO.
WE'RE COMMISSIONER HARRY DEAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNTY COMMISSION, HAS REACHED OUT TO BOTH MYSELF, AS WELL AS DON [INAUDIBLE], THE MAYOR OF ST.
AUGUSTINE BEACH, THAT WE ALL ADOPT THE SAME RESOLUTION.
AND SO THOSE MACHINATIONS ARE IN PROGRESS, AND I THINK MS. WHISTLE WOULD BE A GREAT ONE FOR US TO COORDINATE THAT WITH.
IS IT THE SAME AS THE COUNTY AND ST.
AUGUSTINE BEACH? PROBABLY NOT.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING THE COUNTY COMMISSION.
WHAT'S THAT? MINE IS PRETTY AWESOME.
I KNOW I'M CONFIDENT IT IS, BUT LET'S.
COMMISSIONER DEAN HAS REQUESTED THAT AND I WOULD LOVE TO ACCOMMODATE HIM IF WE CAN.
IS THE SPONSORSHIP THE ENTIRE COMMISSION? SURE.
MR. MAYOR WILL CONTACT THE COMMISSIONER DEAN AND ADVISE THAT HE JUST COPY OURS.
IT'S A LITTLE CRAZY BECAUSE AT THE OYSTER ROAST, WHICH WE HOSTED BY THE WAY,
[03:00:04]
LAST WEEK AND WAS A GREAT SUCCESS, WE REALLY ENJOYED IT AND I HOPE THAT YOU'LL JOIN US IN THE FUTURE NEXT YEAR.IT WAS TWO YEARS WE MISSED, OUR CLERK MENTIONED TO ME TO SPONSOR IT, SO SHE WAS ALREADY ON THE BALL WITH THE PROCLAMATION.
SHE WAS TAKING STEPS FORWARD BECAUSE SHE ALSO THOUGHT IT WOULD BE REALLY COOL IF WE ALL COULD DO IT.
WHICH IS WHY I ALREADY WROTE IT .
WHICH IS WHY SHE ALREADY WROTE IT.
EXPEDITE THIS, THEN HOPEFULLY BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE.
WE WILL HAVE IT SCHEDULED FOR THE 14TH OF FEBRUARY, RIGHT? THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER VALDES, I JUST WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR PUTTING TOGETHER THE WORKSHOP TODAY.
I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE AND IT FELT GOOD.
COMMISSIONER HORVATH, DITTO TO BOTH.
OK, SO I HAD A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE CAME OUT OF PUBLIC COMMENT.
SOMEONE TALKING ABOUT DOGS NOT ON LEASHES AND VICKERS PARK, WHICH KIND OF SCARES ME AND BOTHERS ME.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S TRUE OR NOT BECAUSE I DON'T LIVE DOWN THERE AND I DON'T USE THE PARK THAT MUCH, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE A SAFETY ISSUE.
AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING, WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THAT.
I DON'T KNOW WHO ENFORCES THAT OR HOW IT GETS ENFORCED.
WE HAVE SIGNAGE ALREADY THAT'S AT COQUINA PARK, AND I'M SURE WE COULD REPLICATE.
I THINK THIS IS VICKERS IS WHAT I UNDERSTAND, BUT WE HAVE THE SIGNAGE.
AND THEN ALSO, I AM SITTING ON YOUR BEHALF, MAYOR OF THE TDC AND MY TERM HAS EXPIRED .
SO I WOULD MOVE THAT THE VICE MAYOR BE REAPPOINTED TO THE TDC.
MS. ZIEGLER, COULD YOU LET THEM KNOW THAT THIS.
AND ALSO WE, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR AN UPDATE AT SOME TIME, NOT NECESSARILY LIKE IMMEDIATELY, BUT AT SOME TIME [INAUDIBLE] HOW OR SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE IS WORKING? I GET A LOT OF FEEDBACK ABOUT IT WORKING, NOT WORKING.
SO ESPECIALLY IN THE LINCOLN VILLE AREAS.
I THINK LINCOLN VILLE MUST BE OVERRUN.
I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY WE HAVE NOW, BUT I THINK WE'RE ADDING THEM ALL THE TIME.
SO I KIND OF LIKE TO GET A FEEL OF WHERE WE ARESO.
ANYTHING ELSE? THAT'S IT [INAUDIBLE].
I JUST HAVE TWO THINGS I DO WANT TO UNDERSCORE THE COMMENTS THAT TROY BLEVINS MADE.
AND I WOULD CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE THE CITY MANAGER TO WORK WITH THE POLICE CHIEF TO SEE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO TO ADDRESS THIS QUESTION OF THE VACANCY WITH OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH OFFICE OR WHATEVER THE PROPER TERM IS.
OFFICER FISCHER DOES A WONDERFUL JOB.
BUT IF WE COULD, IF YOU WOULD FOLLOW UP ON THAT, I THINK IT'D BE WONDERFUL.
THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY VERY QUICKLY IS IT HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTE HONOR AND JOY TO SERVE AS THE MAYOR FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
AND WHILE I'VE SHARED THIS WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND IT'S CERTAINLY NO SECRET, IT'S NOT.
I AM NOT GOING TO RUN FOR REELECTION.
AND SO I FEEL LIKE IT'S ONLY FAIR TO SAY THAT PUBLICLY AND WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OLD [INAUDIBLE] AND NOVEMBER, BUT THAT'S WHERE WE ARE THERE BEING NOTHING FURTHER, THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.