[1. CALL TO ORDER]
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GOOD AFTERNOON, I WOULD 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.
TRACY UPCHURCH? PRESENT. ROXANNE HORVATH? HERE. NANCY SIKES-KLINE? HERE. JOHN VALDES? HERE BARBARA BLONDER? HERE.
WE HAVE A QUORUM AND ALL THE COMMISSIONERS ARE PRESENT.
WE ARE HONORED THIS AFTERNOON TO HAVE A REVEREND TIM FLEMING HERE TO GIVE US AN INVOCATION. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT YOU STAND FOR THE INVOCATION, AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE THAT VICE MAYOR SIKES-KLINE WILL LEAD US IN AT THE CONCLUSION OF OUR OPENING PRAYER EVENING.
AS WE GATHER TOGETHER IN RESPECT AND FRIENDSHIP THIS AFTERNOON TO CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF OUR COMMUNITY, LET US PRAY.
ALMIGHTY, AND EVER LIVING GOD.
WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD BLESS THIS LAND WITH YOUR WISDOM, YOUR LOVE AND YOUR COMPASSION.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE GIFTS OF LIFE AND LIBERTY MADE.
THE PEOPLE OF THIS LAND CONTINUALLY SHOW LOVE AND HONOR TO YOU AND MAY OUR DEDICATION TO YOU CAUSE US TO REACH OUT TO ALL OTHER NATIONS AND PEOPLES WITH A STRONG DESIRE FOR PEACE AND HARMONY TO BE DISPLAYED WHEREVER POSSIBLE.
LORD, WE ASK FOR YOUR BLESSING ON THE ARMED FORCES OF OUR COUNTRY.
WE PRAY FOR YOUR PROTECTION FOR ALL OUR BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM, BOTH HERE AT HOME AND WHEREVER DEPLOYED AROUND THE WORLD.
WE'RE DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THEIR SERVICE AND THEIR DEDICATION IN KEEPING OUR NATION SAFE.
AND WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD KEEP THEM FROM ALL HARM.
FINALLY, LET US PRAY FOR OUR LEADERS.
LORD, WE PRAY FOR THE SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME OF THIS MEETING AND FOR YOUR GRACE UPON OUR MAYOR, OUR VICE MAYOR, OTHER COMMISSIONERS, CITY STAFF AND ALL THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY. WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS THEM ABUNDANTLY AND WE CONTINUE TO SEEK YOUR WISDOM, GUIDANCE AND STRENGTH.
BE WITH US IN OUR DELIBERATIONS AND HELP US TO BE WISE IN THE DECISIONS WE MAKE FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL THOSE WHO PLACE THEIR TRUST IN THIS LEADERSHIP.
GIVE THEM INSIGHT TO LEAD WITH INTEGRITY SO THAT OUR DECISIONS MADE HERE TONIGHT MAY REFLECT WHAT IS RIGHT AND GOOD FOR OUR CITY AND GRANT ALL OF US THE HUMILITY TO SEEK YOUR WILL AND EVERYTHING THAT WE DO OR SAY ALL THIS, WE ASK IN THE NAME OF THY SON, OUR SAVIOR. JESUS CHRIST.
AMEN. PLEASE JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, REVEREND FLEMING, FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR BUSY DAY TO BE WITH US. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[2. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS]
COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU THE REGULAR AGENDA AS PUBLISHED IS ARE THERE ANY MODIFICATIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA? IS THEIR MOTION TO APPROVE? SO I'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE REGULAR AGENDA AS PUBLISHED, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THANK YOU. THE AGENDA IS APPROVED.
[3.A. Proclamation 2022-05: Declares February 2022 as Black History Month. (Mayor and Commissioners)]
WE HAVE A SPECIAL HONOR AND RECOGNITION THIS EVENING.OF COURSE, THE CITY ISSUES ALL SORTS OF PROCLAMATIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO RECOGNIZE DIFFERENT GROUPS AND DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS.
BUT THIS IS A PARTICULARLY APPROPRIATE AND IMPORTANT PROCLAMATION DECLARING THAT THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY BE DESIGNATED AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
AND SO THIS PROCLAMATION HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION.
I WOULD LIKE TO READ IT AND THEN WE'LL PROCEED.
THIS PROCLAMATION READS AS FOLLOWS.
WHEREAS IN NINETEEN TWENTY SIX, BLACK HISTORIAN CARTER G.
WOODSON AND THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF NEGRO LIFE AND HISTORY INITIATED NEGRO HISTORY MONTH TO ENCOURAGE THE TEACHING OF THE HISTORY OF BLACK AMERICANS AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTES, PARTICULARLY AT THE PRIMARY EDUCATION LEVEL.
AND WHEREAS NEGRO HISTORY MONTH HAS GROWN INTO A WORLDWIDE CELEBRATION, BECOMING A FULL MONTH COMMEMORATION IN THE EARLY 1970S AND 1976 IS A PART OF THE NATION'S BICENTENNIAL.
BLACK HISTORY WEEK WAS EXPANDED AND BECAME ESTABLISHED AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
AND WHEREAS DURING 1963 AND 1964, MANY PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE YOUNG AND OLD, BLACK AND WHITE FROM ST.
AUGUSTINE AND AFAR PARTICIPATED IN THE STRUGGLE FOR RACIAL EQUALITY IN ST.
AUGUSTINE, FURTHER DEEPENING THE ROOTS OF OVER 450 YEARS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY IN
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THE CITY. AND WHEREAS DURING THIS MONTH, WE RECOGNIZE THE COURAGE AND TENACITY OF SO MANY HARD WORKING AMERICANS WHOSE LEGACIES ARE WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF OUR NATION AND RECOGNIZE THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE ARTS, SCIENCE, INDUSTRY, BUSINESS, EDUCATION AND SOCIETY. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF ST.AUGUSTINE IS PROUD TO HONOR THE HISTORY AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AND OUR NATION, NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, DECLARES FEBRUARY 2022 TO BE DESIGNATED AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND CALLS UPON ALL OUR CITIZENS TO CELEBRATE OUR DIVERSE HERITAGE AND CULTURE AND CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS TO CREATE A WORLD THAT IS MORE JUST PEACEFUL AND PROSPEROUS FOR ALL.
WE'RE PARTICULARLY HONORED THIS EVENING TO HAVE MR. JAMES JACKSON HERE TO RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION.
MR. JACKSON'S STORY HAS BEEN TOLD RECENTLY.
OVER THE WEEKEND IN THE WASHINGTON POST AND HIS INVOLVEMENT AS A YOUNG MAN IS REALLY A STILL A TEENAGER IN THE STRUGGLE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.
AND I THINK WHAT IT DOES SO BEAUTIFULLY IS TO ILLUSTRATE THE ROLES OF SO MANY THAT IN MANY WAYS ARE UNSUNG HEROES AND HIS PERSONAL COURAGE, HIS COMMITTEDNESS TO THE STRUGGLE IS AN INSPIRATION TO ALL OF US, AND WE'RE HONORED THAT MR. JACKSON IS HERE TO RECEIVE THE PROCLAMATION.
MR. JACKSON, IF YOU'RE PRESENT AND I BELIEVE YOU ARE, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE COME FORWARD, SIR.
WELL. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING, MR. JACKSON? I WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND SAY THIS THAT.
I GOT INVOLVED IN THE RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
TO ONE MAN ONE DAY OR TO CARRY OVER TO THE NEXT MAN.
AND I WAS JUST SEEKING JUSTICE AND EQUALITY FOR MY PEOPLE.
AND WHEN I'M SAYING THE UNITED STATES, LISTEN TO ME.
WE HAVE GOT TO GET THAT WORD BACK INTO THE USA UNITED, BECAUSE DIVIDED, WE WILL FOLD.
[4. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS OR FOR AGENDA ITEMS NOT REQUIRING A SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING]
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.WE HAVE A NUMBER OF CARDS HERE AND I WILL CALL THEM YOUR COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES IF YOU'D BE SO KIND AS TO STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, FOR THE RECORD.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING YOUR COMMENTS AND OBSERVATIONS THIS
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AFTERNOON. OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS MR. JOHN GRAPPAS, AND FORGIVE ME IF I MISPRONOUNCED THAT, SIR.AFTER MR. GRAPPAS, WILL BE LESLIE KEYS.
IN ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH, BUT I AM A SHORT TERM RENTAL OWNER HERE IN THE CITY.
FAIRLY NEW TO THE SHORT TERM RENTAL COMMUNITY AND THING.
AND BE SURE OF WHERE THE ISSUES THAT ARE HAPPENING ON A CITY LEVEL AND ALSO ON THE WITH THE SHORT TERM RENTALS. AND I KNOW THERE'S AN ITEM LATER ON TO DISCUSS THAT REPORT AND LIVING ON A BEACH. WE SURE UNDERSTAND THOSE ISSUES.
WE DEAL WITH PARKING, NOISE, TRASH IN OUR FRONT YARD AS WELL, SO WE'RE VERY COMPASSIONATE TO THOSE. I'M PART OF A SHORT TERM RENTAL GROUP IN TOWN.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S AN OFFICIAL GROUP OR BUSINESS OWNERS LIKE SO MANY OTHERS IN THIS TOWN. WE CARE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
WE SEND THEM TO BUSINESSES AND AND WE WANT TO BE GOOD COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND WE WANT US.
OUR GROUP, LIKE ALL BUSINESSES IN TOWN, TO FOLLOW REGULATIONS.
WE WANT THEM TO BE GOOD EXAMPLES AND NOT BE A DETRIMENT TO OUR BUSINESS SECTOR.
YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, OURS IS VERY PARTICULAR.
SO. SO AS A GROUP, AS SHORT TERM, I DON'T KNOW.
WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE WANT TO WORK WITH YOU TO HELP POLICE AND ENFORCE THE REGULATIONS THAT APPLY TO OUR GROUP.
JUST LIKE I'M SURE OTHER GROUPS IN TOWN PROBABLY LIKE TO DO THE SAME BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT A BAD IMAGE FROM THOSE WHO AREN'T FOLLOWING RULES AND REGULATIONS TO TARNISH THOSE THAT ARE TRYING TO REALLY DO A GOOD THING AND BE A SUCCESSFUL, CONTRIBUTING PART OF THE COMMUNITY. SO JUST UNOFFICIALLY, I'M HERE TO REPRESENT THE GROUP AND LET YOU KNOW WHERE WE'RE HERE. WE'D LIKE TO WORK WITH YOU AND LISTEN TO THE CONCERNS AND AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR GROUP, LIKE ALL OTHER BUSINESS GROUPS, ARE PERFORMING RESPONSIBLY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT, SPEAKER'S LESLIE KEYES AND AFTER DR.
HELLO, AND MY THREE MINUTES COVERS PART OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND ST.
ONE MONTH AGO TODAY, JANUARY 14TH, 2022, THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RELEASED ITS WEEKLY LIST OF PROPERTIES ADDED TO THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.
THE LIST INCLUDED ONE PROPERTY IN FLORIDA THE ST.
AUGUSTINE BEACH HOTEL AND BEACHFRONT WAS RECOGNIZED AT THE NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS. OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS OF 2021, I PREPARED THIS NOMINATION, WHICH IS 55 PAGES IN LENGTH, SINGLE SPACED TEXT WITH IMAGES AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF 120 SOURCES.
MY CLIENT WAS THE ST. JOHN'S CULTURAL COUNCIL AS THE BUILDING TENANT WITH THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE OWNER. THE CITY OF ST.
STATE SIGNIFICANCE, DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION, A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP RESURRECTED THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE'S TOURISM DRIVEN ECONOMY AND HELPED THE CITY AVOID BANKRUPTCY.
WPA OR WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION PROJECTS RESULTED IN THE REOPENING OF THE ANASTACIA ISLAND COQUINA QUARRY FOR THE CUSTOM HOUSE AND POST OFFICE, OR GOVERNMENT HOUSE FOR THE ST. AUGUSTINE CIVIC CENTER.
THE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER AND THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING AT FORT MATANZAS ON ANASTASIA ISLAND MIRROR IMAGE TWIN HOTELS AND A FISHING PIER WERE CONSTRUCTED WITH A CELEBRATORY OPENING ON LABOR DAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND, 1939 AS PART OF THE CITY'S 375TH ANNIVERSARY. TWO DECADES LATER, IN 1959, THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE BEACH, WITH A POPULATION OF 396 WAS INCORPORATED.
THE BEACH HOTELS WERE WITHIN THE NEW CITY'S JURISDICTION.
HURRICANES DONNA AND DORA IN 60 AND 64 DAMAGED BOTH HOTELS AND THE NORTH HOTEL WAS RAISED IN 1981.
TODAY, WITH HISTORIC TIES TO THE GREATER ST.
AUGUSTINE COMMUNITY, THE SOUTH HOTEL STANDS AS THE SINGLE HISTORIC PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH.
LOCAL SIGNIFICANCE LOCAL ARCHITECT FRANCIS HOLLINGSWORTH WAS COMMISSIONED TO DESIGN THE TWIN HOTELS. AMONG HIS MANY DESIGNS ARE THE THREE FEC HEADQUARTERS STRUCTURES THE EXCHANGE ATLANTIC BANK BUILDING, THE REDESIGN OF THE ST.
AUGUSTINE WATERWORKS, MOST OF THE CITY'S SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND NUMEROUS RESIDENCES THROUGHOUT THE AREA. NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE LASTLY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE PROPERTY WAS RECOGNIZED FOR NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE.
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I WILL QUOTE FROM THE NOMINATION, THE ST.AUGUSTINE BEACH BEACHFRONT AND HOTEL BUILDING ARE THE BEST SURVIVING RESOURCES ASSOCIATED WITH A SIGNIFICANT WEIGHT IN AND SWIMMING ACTIVITIES OF THE ST.
AUGUSTINE MOVEMENT AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS CHAPTER.
THESE ACTIONS WITH THEIR INTERNATIONAL COVERAGE DURING THE COLD WAR RESULTED IN PRESIDENT LYNDON JOHNSON ACCELERATING PASSAGE OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT.
AT THIS TIME, THIS IS THE SINGLE PROPERTY LISTED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER IN THE ST.
AUGUSTINE AREA TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU IN THE AUDIENCE, INCLUDING MR. JACKSON, FOR HELPING TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
KEYES. I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THAT PROJECT.
JOHN WOOLRIDGE AND AFTER MR. WOOLDRIDGE IS ELIZABETH SMITH.
HI, I'M JOHN WOOLDRIDGE AT 170 M.L.
DANIEL, NATHAN AND I ARE HERE TO SHARE OUR MIND ON A COUPLE OF ISSUES.
ONE IS ABOUT PARKS AND ONE IS ABOUT PZB HEARINGS.
THE PARKS IS MORE IMPORTANT TO THEM, BUT WE FEEL THAT WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO OUR PARKS RIGHT NOW.
PROJECT SWING IS CLOSED AND BECAUSE IT WAS NOT TAKEN CARE OF.
AND I WONDER WHY WE DON'T HAVE A PARKS DEPARTMENT THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN KEEPING UP WITH THAT AS IT WENT ALL ALONG.
WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE A PARKS DEPARTMENT PAYING ATTENTION TO PARKS IS WORTHWHILE.
THAT PARKS PROVIDE A WAY FOR EVERYBODY TO BENEFIT FROM THE THE JOYS OF THE ENVIRONMENT, TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ENVIRONMENT, TO ENGAGE IN THE ENVIRONMENT.
PARKS ALSO ACCEPT CAN CAN RECEIVE SOME OF THE BURDENS OF OUR ENVIRONMENT USING IT, LOOKING AT AS A TOOL, MOVING FORWARD THAT WE CAN USE PARKS.
IT'S A GOOD PLACE FOR FLOODWATER.
IT'S A GOOD PLACE FOR STORM WATER.
IT'S A GOOD PLACE TO FILTER POLLUTION.
SO PARKS HAVE CAN DO A COUPLE OF THINGS AND I KNOW WE'RE DOING SOME THINGS WITH PARKS MORE ON THE CONSERVATION SIDE.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER PARKS WITH SPLASH PADS AND ZIP LINES ARE BETTER.
MY EXPERIENCE IS THAT PZB HEARINGS ARE UNFAIR, BASICALLY THAT IT'S HARD FOR PEOPLE WITH KIDS AND JOBS AND COMMITMENTS TO MAKE IT TO A PCB HEARING TO ENGAGE IN THAT PROCESS.
AND WHEN YOU DO COME, YOU'RE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES OF PUBLIC COMMENT.
YOU CAN'T ASK A QUESTION THAT IF SOMETHING COMES UP, YOU CAN'T CORRECT THE RECORD.
IF THERE'S SOMETHING INACCURATE INFORMATION THAT COMES UP, THE PROJECT MIGHT BE NEXT DOOR TO YOU, BUT IF YOU ARE NOT THE APPLICANT, IF YOU ARE NOT A STAKEHOLDER OR WHATEVER, YOU CAN'T ENGAGE IN THAT PROCESS.
AFTER THAT THREE MINUTES OF PUBLIC COMMENT, WHICH SEEMS TO BE UNFAIR.
YOUR ONLY RECOURSE, AS I UNDERSTAND, WOULD BE TO APPEAL THE DECISION, WHICH WOULD COST LOTS OF MONEY. SO, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO PAY TO PAY IN TO BE ABLE TO HAVE YOUR VOICE HEARD AT THAT POINT.
SO IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A FAIR PROCESS UNLESS THE PCB BOARD MEMBERS.
THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD MAKE IT MORE FAIR IS IF THEY ZEALOUSLY PROTECT THE INTEREST OF THE CITIZENS THAT ARE NEAR THE PROJECT THAT I BELIEVE THE PZB BOARD MEMBERS SHOULD BE MORE OF AN ADVOCATE FOR THE RESIDENTS THAN ANYTHING ELSE, AND I SUGGEST THAT THE PZB BOARD MEMBERS DO NOT NEED TO COME FROM THE DEVELOPMENT SECTOR THAT THEY MIGHT.
I THINK THEY ARE FULLY CAPABLE OF HANDLING ALL THE ISSUES THAT COME UP, AND I SUGGEST THAT MAYBE PZB MEMBERS SHOULD BE ELECTED.
THANK YOU, SIR. ELIZABETH SMITH AND AFTER MS. SMITH IS WAYNE SIMMS. YES, STAFF CAN HELP YOU WITH THAT.
THANK YOU. MY NAME IS ELIZABETH SMITH.
I LIVE AT 955 FISH ISLAND PLACE ON THE ISLAND.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
TWO WEEKS AGO, I STARTED A GROUP CALLED THE FISH ISLAND COMMUNITY ALLIANCE WITH A FACEBOOK AND EMAIL NEWSLETTER PRESENCE TO OPPOSE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY OWNED 33 ACRE PROPERTY AT FISH ISLAND ROAD.
THIS IS ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF 312.
WE BELIEVE THAT LOCAL VOICES MATTER AND THAT SAVING WILD FLORIDA MATTERS.
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OUR GOAL IS TO PRESERVE THIS LAND.OUR GROUP, HOWEVER, SERVES THE ADDITIONAL ROLES OF PROVIDING A VENUE FOR EDUCATION AND DISCUSSION REGARDING WILDLIFE LIVING ON THIS LAND, AS WELL AS OTHER QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES REGARDING POLLUTION, TRAFFIC, LOSS OF WILDLIFE AND WILDLIFE HABITAT, AS WELL AS FLOODING AND RESILIENCY ISSUES.
IN TWO WEEKS, WE HAVE 445 FACEBOOK MEMBERS AND REACH AN ADDITIONAL 20 PEOPLE VIA EMAIL NEWSLETTER. WE'VE HAD MORE THAN 4000 VIEWS OF SOME 200 POSTS AND COMMENTS.
IN SHORT, WE HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMED WITH SUPPORT.
MEMBERS HAVE DISCUSSED RUNOFF AND WATER QUALITY ISSUES, THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE SCRUB JAY FROM ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND WHY DEVELOPMENT HAS NOT BEEN BETTER CONTAINED.
THEY POST LINKS TO THE EPA AND TO FLORIDA WATER QUALITY AND WETLANDS MANAGEMENT WEBSITES.
THEY HAVE BEEN KEEPING CLOSE WATCH ON THE GATE CAR WASH CONSTRUCTION SITE AND THEY'VE UNCOVERED SOME ILLEGAL DUMPING THERE AND THEY ENJOY LEARNING ABOUT THEIR NEIGHBORS AS ONE MEMBER CALLS THE ANIMALS AND BIRDS LIVING ON THIS LAND AT FISH ISLAND ROAD.
IN FACT, ONE OF OUR MEMBERS NAMED A RED BELLIED WOODPECKER, SHAUN WHITE, AFTER OUR OLYMPIC SNOWBOARD CHAMPION, AND I'VE TRIED TO SHARE FASCINATING INFORMATION ABOUT OUR WILD NEIGHBORS. MEMBERS HAVE ALSO DIRECTLY ADDRESSED THE TWO PROPOSED USES FOR THIS LAND.
I GUESS IT'S ONE PROPOSED USE AT THIS POINT AS A SITE FOR SOME 375 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SAYING THAT THERE ARE BETTER PLACES FOR THESE PROJECTS.
MANY MEMBERS COMMENTS, HOWEVER, ARE HEARTBREAKING.
I WISH THEY WOULD STOP BUILDING HERE.
IT KILLS ME TO SEE OUR ISLAND TURNED INTO NOTHING BUT SHORT TERM RENTALS AND CONDOS.
WHERE IS THE COMPASSION FOR THE ANIMALS? A MEMBER MADE THIS A MEMBER MADE THIS AND GAVE THIS TO ME THIS MORNING.
WHERE IS THE COMPASSION FOR THE ANIMALS, DON'T THEY DESERVE SOME PLACE TO LIVE? I WORRY ABOUT FLOODING ALL THE TIME.
I'M SO AFRAID I'M GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE.
MY MOTHER WAS FRIENDS WITH THE MOTHER OF THE HYBRID SCRUB JAY.
SHE WOULD WHISTLE AND THE BIRD WOULD COME TO HER.
SHE CALLED HER PRETTY GIRL, AND THEY WERE FRIENDS FOR YEARS.
AND LASTLY, I DON'T RECOGNIZE THIS CITY ANYMORE.
THE WORK OF PROFESSOR NULLABOV OF FLAGLER COLLEGE IS ECHOED IN THE POST OF OUR MEMBERS WHO WANT TO BE HEARD.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MISS SMITH.
WAYNE SIMMS IS OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
AND AFTER MR. SIMMS, AS MELINDA RECOUNCE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR DALEY, COMMISSIONERS, I'M STANDING HERE, BECAUSE SOME 22 YEARS AGO, I RETIRED AS THE ORIGINAL DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS FOR THE CITY AND SAT AT THAT TABLE BACK THERE FOR MANY YEARS.
BUT IT'S WONDERFUL SURROUNDINGS.
I STAND BEFORE YOU THIS AFTERNOON BECAUSE I WANT TO APPEAL FOR YOU TO TAKE A POSITIVE APPROACH TO AN ITEM THAT THE CITY MANAGER IS GOING TO PRESENT TO YOU THIS AFTERNOON.
THE LEASE ON THE CITY WATERWORKS BUILDING THAT HAS BEEN RENOVATED DOWN ON SAN MARCOS AVENUE, ST.
AUGUSTINE HAS BECOME A HUB OF FOR TOURISTS, AS WE KNOW, LIKE IT OR NOT.
WE APPEAL TO TOURISTS BECAUSE ONE OF THE HISTORY AND THE HISTORY IS CERTAINLY TIED TO THE CULTURE OF THE CITY.
THE CULTURE OF THE CITY, I THINK, IS SYMBOLIC TO THE AWARD.
JUST A MOMENT, THE CITATION THAT YOU PRESENTED A MOMENT AGO.
ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY CAN COME IN HERE AND USE THIS NEW FACILITY IN A GREAT MANNER AND ELEVATE THE POSITION OF THE CULTURAL EVENTS, THE ARTS, THE ARTIST, THE HISTORY, THE PRESENTATION WE WANT TO MAKE TO REPRESENT OUR CITY AND OUR COUNTY. AND I THINK WE'LL FIND IT SOMETHING.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL WORK ALONG VERY WELL WITH A FACILITY THAT MATCHES THE QUALITY OF THE ENTERTAINMENT. YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER BACK WHEN I FIRST CAME ON AS AS DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS FOR THE CITY.
WE ONLY HAD A FEW SIMPLE EVENTS IN THE PLAZA EACH YEAR.
AND YOU SEE WHERE THAT HAS GONE TO AND HAVING A BASE FOR THOSE EVENTS IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS UNIQUE BUILDING CERTAINLY WOULD FIT RIGHT IN THE PALM OF THE THINGS WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
I REFLECT BACK ALSO ONE OF MY FIRST DUTIES BEFORE CITY MANAGER JOHN CAME FROM GAINESVILLE OVER TO DIRECTOR OF OUR PUBLIC WORKS IS WE RECEIVED RECOGNITION FOR THE WATER WORKS
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BUILDING OUT ON THE WEST KING STREET, BUT GETTING THAT ALL PUT TOGETHER.AND NOW WE'VE MOVED TO TAKE THE OTHER HALF OF THAT AND TURNED IT INTO A CULTURAL HUB THAT WILL ELEVATE THE WAY THE COMMUNITY AND THE WAY VISITORS VIEW THE OLDEST CITY IN THE NATION. AND I THINK IT'S ONLY PROPER THAT WE DO SO MANY LOCALLY GROUPS HAVE JOINED IN HELPING CITY MANAGER DEVELOP THIS LEASE.
THAT'S BENEFICIAL TO EVERYONE, INCLUDING FOLKS LIKE THE TELL TELLERS OF ST.
AUGUSTINE THAT UTILIZE BUILDINGS.
AND SO I JUST URGE YOU TO TAKE A POSITIVE LOOK AT IT WHEN YOU REVIEW THAT LATER THIS AFTERNOON, AND I HOPE YOU STAMP YOUR BIG FIST OF APPROVAL DOWN ON IT AND SAY, THANK YOU, JOHN, FOR THE WORK. WELL DONE AND AND GIVE ONE BIG BOOST TO CULTURAL EVENTS AND ARTS IN ST. AUGUSTINE AND ST.
JOHNS COUNTY. PLEASURE BEING HERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. SIMMS, IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
MELINDA RECONCE AND AFTER MS. RECONCE IS AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FORGIVE ME.
WELCOME. HI, MELINDA RECONCE 86 MAGNOLIA AVENUE AS PRESIDENT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL OF ST. AUGUSTINE, I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE ST.
JOHN'S CULTURAL COUNCIL BEING GIVEN THE LEASE FOR THE WATERWORKS BUILDING.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL OF ST.
AUGUSTINE WILL BE ONE OF THE NONPROFITS GIVEN RESERVATION PRIORITY FOR USE OF THE BUILDING. THE COUNCIL IS ONE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
COUNCIL IS ONE OF THE CITY'S MOST GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE FACT THAT THE ST.
JOHN'S CULTURAL COUNCIL REACHED OUT TO US TO BE ABLE TO USE THE WATERWORKS BUILDING.
EXCUSE ME. SHOWS HOW LOCALLY COMMUNITY ORIENTED THEY ARE BEING IN THE USE OF THIS BUILDING. CHRISTINA PARRISH MET WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL AT OUR JANUARY 30TH MEETING TO GO OVER TERMS OF THE LEASE AND OUR ABILITY TO USE THE BUILDING.
FOUR EVENTS AND MEETINGS FOR THE COMMUNITY, ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL VOTED IN THEIR SUPPORT OF THIS LEASE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO HOST INFORMATIVE LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS FOR THE RESIDENTS OF ST.
AUGUSTINE. AND SINCE I'VE GOT A LITTLE MORE TIME, I ALSO WANT TO PUT IN A THUMBS UP FOR THE MOBILITY FEE THING THAT'S GOING TO COME BEFORE YOU LATER TONIGHT.
AS ANOTHER HAT I WEAR IS THE RESIDENT LIAISON ON COMMUNITY FOR THE CITY, AND I'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH REUBEN OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS ON THIS MATTER.
AND THIS FEE IS VERY IMPORTANT AS WE GO FORWARD TO START WITH OUR AUXILIARY PARKING AND SHUTTLE SYSTEM TO CUT DOWN ON THE HEAVY TRAFFIC IN THE CITY AND TO GIVE BACK THE CITY STREETS TO THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE HERE.
SO AGAIN, TWO THUMBS UP FOR TWO OF THE THINGS ON YOUR AGENDA TONIGHT, AND I HOPE YOU SUPPORT BOTH OF THEM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT ON BOTH THESE MATTERS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
HMM. AFTER MR. VON HAUSZ IS BLAKELEY HUGHES, I BELIEVE IS IS THE PROPER NAME, FORGIVE ME AGAIN IF I'VE MISPRONOUNCED, SIR.
WELCOME, I AM GREGORY VON HAUSZ, 844 OCEAN PARKWAY AND I'M HERE FOR A COUPLE OF THINGS.
FIRST OFF IS TO THANK YOU ALL MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
YOU LET THE FILM FESTIVAL INTO YOUR HOUSE HERE AND WE ENJOYED A BEAUTIFUL THREE DAYS AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS WONDERFUL ROOM AND MAKING THE FILM FESTIVAL EVEN GREATER THIS YEAR. AND SPEAKING OF THAT, DURING THE FILM FESTIVAL, WE HAD A TERRIFIC LOCAL FILM AND MR. JACKSON WAS OUR GUEST.
IT'S CALLED FREEDOM ON OUR MIND AND IT ILLUSTRATED ALL OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUES.
YES, SIR, SORRY, THE NAME AGAIN.
I MISSED THE NAME OF THE FILM.
FREEDOM ON OUR MIND, AND IT WAS A TERRIFICALLY LOCAL MADE FILM AND WE WERE PROUD TO DO THE PREMIERE OF IT IN MR. JACKSON WAS THERE AS WELL, BUT I'M HERE REALLY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE USE OF THE WATERWORKS BUILDING. I'M VERY ENTHUSED, ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORTING THE CULTURAL COUNCIL, TAKING THIS BEAUTIFUL PROPERTY OVER AND TURNING IT INTO SOMETHING THAT ALL OF THE ARTISTS AND GROUPS CAN USE.
I THINK IT WILL BE A REAL BENEFIT FOR THE COMMUNITY.
I'VE WORKED IN THE ARTS IN GAINESVILLE, TAMPA, FORT LAUDERDALE AND NOW HERE, AND ALL OF THOSE COMMUNITIES HAVE A STRUCTURE LIKE THAT, AND IT CAN ONLY BRING GOOD THINGS.
SO I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT IT.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO PERHAPS SHOWING FILMS THAT ARE ON AN ONGOING BASIS AND HAVING OUR LITTLE TURN IN THE SUN, BUT IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN HELP IT THROUGH MARKETING AND GETTING THE WORD OUT.
WE'RE PROUD TO DO, AND I APPLAUD CHRISTINA AND WHAT SHE'S DOING WITH IT.
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SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, SIR.
AFTER MR. HUGHES IS ALAN WALDEN.
HELLO, MY NAME IS BLAKELEY HUGHES, I LIVE AT 23 HOLLAND DRIVE, I'M A ST.
AUGUSTINE RESIDENT, HAS ALSO BEEN A BROKER IN THE RENTAL COMMUNITY FOR OVER 20 YEARS HERE LOCALLY. SO I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE SHORT TERM RENTALS.
WE WANT TO WORK WITH LOCAL RESIDENTS.
I MYSELF OWN A COUPLE REALLY LOVE THE VALUE THAT IT BRINGS TO GUESTS VISITING THE LOCAL AREA. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF FAMILIES, YOU KNOW, WANT SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES VERSUS HOTEL ROOMS AND YOU KNOW, PEOPLE TO PLAY IN THE YARD OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
WE ARE AWARE OF PEOPLE WHO AREN'T FOLLOWING RULES AND THE BURDEN ON THE LOCAL COMMUNITY THAT IT CAN BRING. BUT MOST OF THE SHORT TERM RENTAL OWNERS ARE VERY RESPONSIVE AND WANT TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY.
I KNOW OURS, WE HAVE VERY, VERY STRICT RULES.
WE HAVE EVERYONE PRESCREENED AND WE WORK WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NEIGHBORS HAVE PEACE. WE HAVE PLENTY OF PARKING, ET CETERA.
SO I DO FEEL LIKE I SAW THE STATS ON THE NUMBER OF, YOU KNOW, POLICE REPORTS THAT WERE BEING, YOU KNOW, CALLED OUT TO VACATION RENTALS.
I DIDN'T SEE ANY FOR HOW MANY POLICE ARE BEING CALLED TO THE HOTELS, ET CETERA.
BUT. AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES.
SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THE OWNERS THAT DO THE RIGHT THING AND THAT ABIDE BY THE CITY RULES AND POLICIES AND WORK WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS.
WE'VE GIVEN ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS IN OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR PERSONAL CELL PHONE NUMBERS.
I THINK THAT IT ENHANCES PEOPLE'S VISITS TO ST.
AUGUSTINE. WE DELIVER BIRTHDAY BALLOONS TO PEOPLE AND CHOCOLATES FOR ANNIVERSARIES, ET CETERA. SO I DO WOULD RECOMMEND THE COMMITTEE POSSIBLY LOOKING AT THE CALLS THAT YOU GET ON UNAUTHORIZED SHORT TERM RENTALS, MAYBE INCREASING THE PENALTIES FOR THAT TO OUTWEIGH THE PROFIT INCENTIVE FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.
AFTER MS. WALDEN, I HAVE ONE OTHER CARD, AND SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYBODY ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION NOW WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY AND YOUR FINAL OPPORTUNITY TO FILL OUT A SPEAKER'S CARD AND STAFF WILL BE HAPPY TO BRING THAT FORWARD. AND WE WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS.
HI, GOOD MORNING. GOOD EVENING.
I'M ELLEN WALDEN, 4628 PEELE STREET, ELKTON, FLORIDA.
BUT I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF HOME AGAIN ST.
JOHN'S. I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW EXCITED I AM TO HAVE THE CITY ENGAGING IN A CONVERSATION ON HOMELESSNESS, ESTABLISHING THE OUTREACH OFFICERS, AND THIS HOMELESS OUTREACH INITIATIVE IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT COULD BE DONE TO WORK WITH THE HOMELESS IN THE CITY.
YOU KNOW THAT THE OLD WAYS DON'T NECESSARILY WORK FOR TODAY'S ENVIRONMENT, AND THE OUTREACH TEAM IS A TESTAMENT TO THIS STATEMENT.
SINCE THE OFFICERS HIT THE STREET SOME YEARS AGO, THE TWO PERSON OUTREACH TEAM HAS OFFERED AND PROVIDED SERVICES TO MANY OF OUR CITY'S HOMELESS, TRYING TO CONNECT INDIVIDUALS TO A RANGE OF SERVICES SUCH AS MEDICAL CASE MANAGEMENT, DETOX SERVICES, SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE BY OTHER COMMUNITY PROVIDERS, NOT TO MENTION SOME THINGS THAT THEY MIGHT MAY NEED THAT THEY NEED RIGHT AWAY.
OFTEN IT MEANS CALLING PARTNER AGENCIES AND GETTING THOSE FOLKS INVOLVED TO EITHER LEND A HAND OR COME DOWN TO WHERE THEY ARE AND HELP THEM OUT.
SOMETIMES THEY EVEN BRING THEM TO US.
BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND CULTIVATING THAT RELATIONSHIP VERSUS A STRICTLY REGULATORY ONE IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THE TEAM'S SUCCESS.
BY EQUIPPING THOSE OFFICERS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY AND BUILDING THOSE PARTNERSHIPS ARE CRUCIAL TO SUCCESS.
SOME WOULD LOVE TO SEE AN IMMEDIATE RESULT.
BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT? THERE IS A PROCESS TO HELP GET THE HOMELESS OFF THE STREETS.
THIS PROCESS REQUIRES PATIENCE AND PERSISTENCE AT ALL TIMES.
NOT EVERY DAY IS THE RIGHT DAY FOR SOMEBODY TO GET OFF THE STREET.
I CELEBRATE WITH YOU THEIR SUCCESS.
LASTLY, I DID WANT TO MENTION THAT WHEN WE WERE HERE LAST MONTH, TROY BLEVINS, OUR PRESIDENT, HAD MENTIONED THAT OUR DINING WITH DIGNITY DOWNTOWN HAS SEEN LESS POLICE PRESENCE AS IN THE PAST, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME HAVE MOVED ON.
THEY'RE EXPERIENCING A DEFICIT OF OFFICERS, AND SO THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO COME.
HOWEVER, IT IS CRUCIAL FOR US TO HAVE SOME SORT OF PRESENCE THERE, WHETHER IT'S A POLICE CAR TO FOOL THEM OR WHAT.
BUT IT JUST WE HAVE HAD SOME GROUPS PULL OUT BECAUSE MOST OF THEM ARE ELDERLY THAT PROVIDE THIS MEAL, AND MOST OF THEM ARE WOMEN.
SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, AND WE JUST IMPLORE YOU FOR YOUR HELP TO SEE HOW WE CAN GET THAT FIXED. AND TOGETHER WE I'M SURE WE CAN FIND A SOLUTION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MISS WALDEN.
[00:35:10]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LAUREN GEIBER.ST. AUGUSTINE, I AM VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE RESPONSE THAT THE ISLAND'S GOT OVER THEIR SANCTUARY AND THE BIRDS AND I HAVE OTHER FRIENDS THAT ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT BIRDS, ESPECIALLY AT EDDIE VICKERS PARK, BECAUSE WE HAVE ISSUES WITH DOGS RUNNING IN THE BASEBALL FIELD AND PEOPLE NOT BEING CONCERNED WHEN THE BIRDS ARE NESTING AND THEY HAPPEN TO NEST IN THE BASEBALL FIELD.
I KNOW IT'S NOT CONVENIENT, BUT IT IS NATURE.
AND SO I THOUGHT THEY'D BE HERE TODAY TO SPEAK, BUT I KNOW THEY SENT YOU ALL A LETTER AND IT WAS A VERY WELL WRITTEN LETTER.
BUT I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT RIBERIA STREET AGAIN, AND I WAS GIVEN THE CHALLENGE TO FIND OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF YOURS THAT WERE THAT WERE INTERESTED IN GETTING CHANGE TO THE STREET. SO I'M NOT AS VOCAL AND I NEED TO TAKE SOME LESSONS FROM THOSE FOLKS FROM THE ISLAND, BUT SO FAR WE'VE COLLECTED 75 NAMES AND THE COMMENTS RANGE FROM WE WANT SPEED BUMPS. WE WANT SLOW DOWN SIGNS.
WE WANT TO CHANGE LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
SO LET ME READ YOU MY PETITION.
THE REASON FOR THIS PETITION IS TO MOTIVATE THE ST.
AUGUSTINE CITY GOVERNMENT TO CREATE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR TAXPAYING RESIDENTS.
RESIDENTS WHO EITHER LIVE ON RIBERIA STREET OR USE THE STREET TO TRAVEL BY BICYCLE VEHICLE, JOGGING OR WALKING.
WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, STRONGLY FEEL WITH THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC ON THE STREET AND THE LACK OF ANY SPEED CONTROL I.E.
SIDE STREETS ARE LIKE RACETRACKS, ALL ABOUT CARS, UNSAFE WALKING FOR ANIMALS AND KIDS.
SLOW DOWN, SLOW DOWN CHILDREN AT PLAY.
MY DOG AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE ON RIBERIA STREET, RIBERIA SAFETY IS NOT SAFE FOR DOGS.
TOO FAST ON RIBERIA STREET, EVERYWHERE TOO FAST.
PLEASE HELP MAKE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SAFE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BJ KALAIDI.
AUGUSTINE. LETTER TO THE EDITOR ON MARCH 2014 BY LOYOLA STARK.
GARDEN CLUB, LONGTIME STEWARDS OF WATERWORKS, YOUR RECENT ARTICLE OMITTED A VITAL PART OF THE WATERWORKS.
FOR DECADES, THE GARDEN CLUB OF ST.
AUGUSTINE OCCUPIED AND KEPT A BUILDING IN A-1 CONDITION.
THE BUILDING WAS RENTED OUT TO HELP PAY FOR UPKEEP.
MANY WEDDINGS, RECEPTIONS, ANNIVERSARY PARTIES AND THE EASTER PARADE COMMITTEE WERE WELCOMED BY THE GARDEN CLUB.
THE REASON IT IS NOW IN DESPAIR, NOT 2014, IS BECAUSE IN 2005, THE CLUB DECIDED TO RENOVATE THE MAIN MEETING ROOM.
AND WHEN THE CITY CAME IN TO SEE WHAT THE CLUB WAS DOING, IT CONDEMNED THE WHOLE BUILDING AS UNSAFE. THE CLUB HAD ESTIMATES OF REPAIR AT THAT TIME OF ABOUT $50000, WHICH WE DECIDED WOULD BE A SOUND INVESTMENT ON OUR PART.
THE CITY TOLD US THEY WERE AFRAID THE MEETING ROOM AREA WOULD COLLAPSE AND TAKE THE OLDER PART WITH IT. THE OLDEST PART OF THE BUILDING, WHICH WAS PART OF THE WATERWORKS, HAD WALLS 13 INCHES THICK.
THE GARDEN CLUB RENOVATED THE KITCHEN SEVERAL TIMES AT ITS OWN EXPENSE AND KEPT THE LIBRARY ROOM IN GOOD REPAIR.
THE CITY HELPED US BUILD AN ADDITION.
THE CLUB ALSO REPAIRED AND UPDATED BOTH BATHROOMS, HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONING WERE ADDED
[00:40:01]
TO THE CLUB. THE CLUB WENT TO THE CITY COMMISSION TO ASK IF IT WILL ALLOW US TO KEEP THE BUILDING. COMMISSIONERS WOULD NOT EVEN ALLOW US TO SPEAK.EVERY PENNY THE GARDEN CLUB RECEIVED BY HAVING OUR ANNUAL TOUR OF HOMES WAS USED TO KEEP UP THE WATERWORKS.
IT WAS IN VERY BAD SHAPE WHEN THE CLUB TOOK IT OVER IN 1965.
IT WOULD PROBABLY NOT BE [INAUDIBLE] DAY AT THE CLUB, NOT TAKING IT OVER.
THE CLUB ASKED THE CITY TO ALLOW US TO ASK FOR THE BUILDING TO BE ADDED TO THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.
IT IS LUDICROUS TO WRITE AN ARTICLE ABOUT SAVING THE BUILDING WITHOUT AT LEAST MENTIONING THE FACT THAT THE GARDEN CLUB HAS KEPT IT GOING FOR 40 YEARS.
MISMANAGEMENT, NEGLECT OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN THE CITY LIMITS OF ST.
AUGUSTINE SEEMS TO BE BUSINESS AS USUAL.
REMEMBER, HISTORIC BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN WERE TAKEN OVER BY A SCHOOL IN GAINESVILLE.
THIS 501C3 RECEIVES OVER ONE MILLION TDC FUNDS AND PAYS TWO THOUSAND A MONTH RENT AT 15 OMISSION. THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE AT LEAST GIVES OUR HISTORIC WATERWORKS BUILDING TO THE 501(C)3FIVE FOR HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH. SINCE 2005, THE CITY HAS PAID WATER BILLS OF SOME CITY EMPLOYEES, YET THERE HAS NOT BEEN THE DOLLARS TO PRESERVE OUR HISTORIC WATER WORKS.
BUILDING OR HISTORIC HERITAGE SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN TO A 501C3 LAWYER TO IMPROVE THE CITIZEN AND GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS WITH ST.
AUGUSTINE. THIS LEASE SHOULD NOT BE PASSED SINCE IT REFLECTS POOR STEWARDSHIP BY CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE BUREAUCRATS AND IN FOLLOWING UP THE QUESTION, I HAVE TO ON SOME OTHER THINGS, TOO, GOT A COUPLE OF SECONDS.
WHO SHOULD CONCERN TAXPAYERS CALL ON WEEKENDS TO REPORT DEVELOPERS VIOLATING OUR LAWS? THERE'S PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WANT TO KNOW JUST LIKE ME.
THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I HAVE NO FURTHER CARDS, IS ANYBODY ELSE THAT WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION? SEEING NO ONE, THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION OF THE MEETING IS NOW CLOSED.
[5. CONSENT AGENDA]
MR. REGAN WERE ON ITEM FIVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE CONSENT AGENDA? GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS ON TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA, WE HAVE A REMINDER OF UPCOMING MEETINGS.
SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING REGARDING ARPA FINANCING FEBRUARY 28TH,2022 FIVE P.M.
THE REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
WE HAVE APPROVAL MINUTES FROM PRIOR COMMISSION MEETINGS, INCLUDING JAN.
24TH, 2022 WORKSHOP MEETING, JAN.
24TH, 2022 REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
I'M SORRY, LET ME CORRECT THAT JANUARY 24TH, 2022 WORKSHOP MEETING, I SAID THE DATE WRONG . RELEASE A LIEN FOR UNIT CONNECTION FEE MORTGAGES FOR LYNN AND RAYMOND HIGGS.
414 OLD SPANISH TRAIL, BARBARA WILLIAMS 866 COLLIER BOULEVARD, ADRIENNE CAREY LANE AND SHERYL LEE ANN NELSON 94 PARK PLACE.
WE HAVE PROPOSED PROCLAMATIONS PROCLAMATION 2022-04 PROCLAIMS MARCH 2022 AS MENORCAN AND HISTORY AND CULTURE MONTH PROCLAMATION 2022-06 PROCLAIMS MARCH 2022 AS NATIONAL WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH AND PROCLAMATION 2022-07 CELEBRATES THE FIVE 503RD BIRTHDAY OF THE FOUNDER OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, DON PEDRO MENENDEZ DE AVILES.
WE HAVE CONFIRMATION OF DAVID BERTRAM AS CO ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
WE HAVE APPROVAL OF THE NOMINATION OF MARGO POPE FOR THE 2022 ADELINE SANCHEZ AWARD.
WE HAVE APPROVAL OF A CITY PARK AND A LOCAL AGREEMENT, WHEREBY THE CITY AGREES TO MAINTAIN PASSIVE AREAS OF LOCAL ACTIVE PARKS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS WHILE THE COUNTY MAINTAINS THE ACTIVE BALL FIELDS AND COURTS.
WE HAVE APPROVAL TO ALLOW THE USE OF THE CITY SEAL BY THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA FOR THE ST. AUGUSTINE HISTORY FESTIVAL FROM MAY 12TH THROUGH THE 15TH, 2022 APPROVAL REQUEST TO USE CITY SEAL FOR THE FORT MOSES JAZZ AND BLUES SERIES FROM FEBRUARY 18TH THROUGH THE 26TH, 2022 AND APPROVAL OF INVOICE FROM CAVENDISH PARTNERS IN THE MARLOW VERSUS CITY MATTER FOR $2,430.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. REGAN.
IS THEIR MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? SO MOVED. IS THEIR SECOND? SECOND. I'VE, A MOTION AND A SECOND AND MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
NANCY SIKES-KLINE? YES. ROXANNE HORVATH? YES.
JOHN VALDES? YES. BARBARA BLONDER? YES. TRACY UPCHURCH? YES. THANK YOU.
THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED.
[9.A.1. Ordinance 2022-01: Adopts a Citywide Mobility Plan and Mobility Fee. (A. Skinner, Director Planning and Building)]
COMMISSIONERS, WE ARE NOW ON ITEM 9A.THESE ARE FIRST READINGS, THESE ARE NOT PUBLIC HEARINGS.
FIRST READING ON ORDINANCE 2020-01 THAT ADOPTS A CITYWIDE MOBILITY PLAN AND MOBILITY FEE.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT.
[00:45:01]
PER DIRECTION FROM THE CITY, COMMISSION STAFF HAS MOVED FORWARD WITH AN ORDINANCE TO ADOPT A MOBILITY PLAN.THIS ITEM, AS YOU SAID, WAS NUMBER 9A-1 ON THE AGENDA IS THE INTRODUCTION IN FIRST READING FOR THE ORDINANCE 2022-01 TO ADOPT A CITYWIDE MOBILITY PLAN AND MOBILITY FEE.
THIS IS AN UPDATE TO CHAPTER 21 IN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AND WOULD FORMALLY ADOPT A MOBILITY PLAN FOR THE CITY AND ESTABLISH A FEE SCHEDULE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT THAT REQUIRES A BUILDING PERMIT AND HAS AN IMPACT ON THE ROADWAY NETWORK.
THIS IS A CULMINATION OF ALMOST FIVE YEARS OF WORK ESTABLISHING THE PLAN AND WAS DISCUSSED AS EXTENSIVELY, EXCUSE ME, EXTENSIVELY DURING THE UPDATE TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, WHERE THE CITY ADOPTED AND UPDATED TRANSPORTATION AND MOBILITY ELEMENT IN JULY OF 2020. THE PZB HAS HELD THREE SPECIAL MEETINGS SINCE AUGUST, REVIEWING THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE IN DETAIL.
THE BOARD HAD SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS AND MADE A FINAL RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COMMISSION IN JANUARY.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDED ESTABLISHING ONE FREE ZONE AND ONE SPENDING ZONE, WHICH IS THE ENTIRE CITY SIMPLIFYING THE FEE SCHEDULE, ESTABLISHING A CLEAR APPEALS PROCESS. AND CONFIRMING TRANSPARENCY IN THE AGREEMENT PROCESS BETWEEN THE CITY AND AND ANY DEVELOPERS REGARDING ANY MOBILITY IMPROVEMENTS, IF ADOPTED, THE MOBILITY FEE WILL TAKE EFFECT MAY 17TH, 2022, AFTER THE 90 DAY NOTIFICATION PERIOD. REUBEN FRANKLIN IS HERE, HE IS THE MANAGER FOR THE MOBILITY DIVISION AND ALSO JONATHAN PAUL WITH NEW URBAN CONCEPTS, WHO HAS BEEN THE CONSULTANT THAT HAS HELPED US GET THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
WE ARE ALSO HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS AND ANY DETAIL IN WHICH YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO INTO.
COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE AN EXTENSIVE PACK OF INFORMATION AND ARE IN OUR AGENDA PACKET, I'M GOING TO TURN TO THE COMMISSIONERS IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.
COMMISSIONER VALDES? YES, I HAVE ONE QUESTION DID THE PZB TAKE UP A CONVERSATION AT ALL ABOUT GRANTING SOME KIND OF BREAK TO ENTRY LEVEL OR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AS FAR AS THE MOBILITY PHASE? THEY DID DISCUSS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THE RESIDENTIAL FEE IS BASED ON SQUARE FOOTAGE, SO IT REALLY IS KIND OF A SCALE BASED ON THE SIZE OF THE RESIDENTIAL UNIT.
I THINK THE ASSUMPTION WAS IN GENERAL, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS SMALLER SO THAT IT WOULD, YOU KNOW, JUST BE SCALED TO THE.
SIZE OF THE UNITS, IT'S ABOUT A DOLLAR, IT'S A DOLLAR, FIVE CENTS, ONE DOLLAR AND FIVE CENTS PER SQUARE FOOT.
SO CERTAINLY THAT COULD BE PART OF AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PACKAGE THAT THE CITY, YOU KNOW, DECIDES TO DISCUSS, THERE'S ALWAYS OPTIONS AS FAR AS PERMIT FEES.
OTHER OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO PROMOTE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ALLOW AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO BE MORE AFFORDABLE.
BUT ONE OF THE QUESTION IS REGARDING CHANGE OF USE.
WE'RE HANGING OUR MOBILITY FEE PRETTY MUCH ON NEW CONSTRUCTION OR AN EXPANDED FOOTPRINT, BUT A LOT OF THE IMPACTS WE EXPERIENCE WITH INCREASED TRAFFIC AND PARKING ISSUES DOESN'T NECESSARILY RELATE TO A BUILDING BEING MADE LARGER.
WAS THAT PART OF THE CONVERSATION AT ALL? IF, IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGING THE USE OF A BUILDING, A BUILDING PERMIT IS REQUIRED, WE WOULD CALCULATE A POTENTIAL FEE.
WE WOULD LOOK AT THE EXISTING USE.
WE WOULD LOOK AT THE NEW USE OR THE CHANGE OF THE USE AND IF THERE'S AN IMPACT ON THE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK.
SO FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD HAVE TO REQUIRE A BUILDING PERMIT.
AND THEN SECOND OF ALL, WE WOULD PRESUME THAT IT HAS AN IMPACT ON THE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK. IF THERE'S A NET DIFFERENCE, IF THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO USES, THEN THE PROJECT WOULD PAY THE NET DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE EXISTING USE AND THE NEW USE.
WE FOCUS A LITTLE MORE DOWN ON THIS.
PRINCIPALLY, I'M THINKING ABOUT AIRBNBS, THAT DOESN'T GENERALLY TAKE A BUILDING USE CHANGE. YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME TECHNICALITIES WITH THAT IF SOMEONE COMES IN AND HAS TO HAVE A BUILDING PERMIT IN ORDER TO CHANGE THE USE TO FROM A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE TO A SHORT TERM RENTAL, AND THEY DO WORK THAT REQUIRES A BUILDING PERMIT.
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN THE FEE ON OUR MOBILITY FEE SCHEDULE BETWEEN SINGLE FAMILY
[00:50:04]
RESIDENCES AND SHORT TERM RENTALS, SO POTENTIALLY SOMEONE COULD PAY A MOBILITY FEE AND ON A SHORT TERM RENTAL, AS LONG AS WE DETERMINE THAT IT HAS MORE OF AN IMPACT ON THE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK, THEY COULD.THE KEY IS, THOUGH, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A BUILDING PERMIT.
I CAN SHOW YOU ON THE FEE SCHEDULE, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FEES, IF YOU'D LIKE.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S NECESSARY, BUT I SEE I SEE WHERE YOU'RE GETTING.
SO IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOMEONE PURCHASES A SINGLE FAMILY HOME, CONVERTS IT TO A SHORT TERM RENTAL USE DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY RENOVATION, MAYBE THAT'S UNUSUAL, BUT IT'S POSSIBLE, THEY COULD THEN INCREASE THE NUMBER OF BEDROOMS, ACCORDING TO THE ORDINANCE.
WOULD CERTAINLY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF TRIPS, PRESUMABLY.
SO MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE LOOK AT.
WE OBVIOUSLY WOULD BE ABLE TO CAPTURE THAT WITH SOME TYPE OF INTERFACE BETWEEN THE REGISTRATION PROCESS MONITORING IT, BUT IT WOULD STILL REQUIRE AN AMENDMENT IF WE WERE TO HAVE THAT DIRECTION. YES, MA'AM.
YES, MS. LOPEZ? JUST, I THINK THE SIMPLE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS THE STATE STATUTE PROHIBITS US CHARGING THE MOBILITY FEE PRIOR TO SOMEONE PULLING A BUILDING PERMIT.
THEREFORE, THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.
SO EVEN IF WE WERE TO DEVISE A WAY TO MONITOR THIS INTERFACE, WE WOULD BE PRECLUDED BECAUSE THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
JUST SAVED YOU SOME WORK, MS. SKINNER. THANK YOU.
SURE. JUST RAISED MY FRUSTRATION LEVEL TO A NEW LEVEL, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONER HORVATH? OK. COMMISSIONER BLONDER? OK. FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED TO JUST SAY THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO STUDY AS MUCH THIS WEEKEND ON THIS ONE BECAUSE I HAD ATTENDED TWO OF THE THREE SPECIAL MEETINGS OF THE PZB, NOT TO THE BITTER END, BUT FOR THE MOST PART.
SO I WAS PRETTY FAMILIAR WITH THIS ABILITY FOR YOU.
I HAVE SOME COMMENTS AND THEN I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
SO THE STAFF AND PZB MEMBERS, AND MR. PAUL, I REALLY WANT TO THANK ALL OF THEM FOR THEIR HARD WORK.
THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING, YOU KNOW, JUST NOSE TO THE GRINDSTONE TO GET THIS THING DONE.
AND I THINK IT'S A REALLY, REALLY GOOD SHAPE.
IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE TRANSPORTATION AND MOBILITY ELEMENT OF THE 2020 UPDATED COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AS IS STATED.
I THINK IN SOME OF THE BACKGROUND FOR FOR THE MOBILITY FEE, IT WILL HELP US MEET THE NEED FOR ADDRESSING OUR OVERBURDENED TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM BY CONNECTING THE NEW DEVELOPMENT ON THAT SYSTEM WITH MOBILITY IMPROVEMENTS WITH A DIRECT CONNECTION AND THAT THEREFORE THAT FUNDS THOSE IMPROVEMENTS.
THIS IS A WAY FOR THE IMPACTS OF NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY TO CONTRIBUTE ITS FAIR SHARE OF THE COSTS ON OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
I HAD IMAGINED THAT MY COLLEAGUES OVER HERE ON THE COMMISSION, THE MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR OF THE THE MAJORITY OF MY EMAILS COMING INTO MY EMAIL INBOX ARE ABOUT TRANSPORTATION AND FLOODING. AND SO THIS GETS AT ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES IN THE CITY, I THINK.
AND I HAVE A THAT'S A COMMENT TO OK.
I WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER, WELL, TO COMMISSIONER VALDES POINT, PERHAPS AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH A FEASIBILITY PLAN FOR WORKFORCE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE COULD MAYBE AT A LATER POINT WHEN IT'S READY.
ADD IN MOBILITY FEE CREDIT FOR THOSE TYPES OF DEVELOPMENTS.
AND THE NEXT ONE IS CLEARLY THERE'S ESTABLISHED PRECEDENT BOTH WITHIN THE STATE AND IN THE COUNTY, AND OUR FEES ARE IN LINE OR EVEN LOWER THAN THOSE OF THE COUNTY IN MOST CASES. LAST COMMENT IS THAT IT EFFECTIVELY BROADENS AND REPLACES THE MORE TRADITIONAL ROAD IMPACT FEES WHICH ARE FOUND ON PAGE 88 OR CONCURRENCY, WHICH IS WHAT WE HAVE NOW AS I UNDERSTAND IT, BOTH OF WHICH ARE BASED ENTIRELY ON MOTOR VEHICLES.
SO WE'RE NOW LOOKING AT A MULTI-MODAL APPROACH.
IT GIVES US THAT OPPORTUNITY AND IS A, SORRY FOR THE PUN, ROADMAP TO DOING THAT.
IT WILL ENHANCE THE SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR CITIZENS AS WELL AND OUR VISITORS.
THIS WOULD BE, IN MY OPINION, A HUGE STEP FORWARD IN REACHING OUR SUSTAINABILITY GOALS AND WOULD EVEN HELP REDUCE OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT.
AND I THINK THOSE ARE IMPORTANT THINGS.
AND THE FIRST IS JUST A SCENARIO AGAIN, WHAT WOULD BE A CHANGE IN USE? AND I'VE ALREADY ASKED YOU THIS, BUT I WANT TO JUST GO THROUGH IT FOR EVERYBODY.
IF A HOMEOWNER, SUCH AS MYSELF, APPLIES FOR A BUILDING PERMIT FOR AN ADDITION TO MY HOUSE TO ENLARGE MY LIVING ROOM THAT WOULD NOT TRIGGER A MOBILITY IMPACT FEE, AM I CORRECT?
[00:55:05]
THAT IS CORRECT. ONLY AREAS THAT WOULD PROVIDE AN INCREASE IN TRIPS.SO A MOTHER IN LAW APARTMENT OVER MY GARAGE WOULD.
OK, I WANTED TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.
ON PAGE ONE 131 OF THE PACKET, WHICH IS PAGE 51 OF YOUR TECHNICAL REPORT, THERE'S A PARAGRAPH THAT. READS QUOTE, "THE CITY COUNCIL MAY WISH TO ESTABLISH A MAXIMUM SQUARE FOOTAGE FOR WHICH A RESIDENTIAL MOBILITY FEE WOULD BE ASSESSED." I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT, AND I WANTED AN EXPLANATION OF IT.
MR. PAUL WILL PROBABLY BE BETTER TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
YEAH, I JUST KIND OF STUCK OUT AND I HADN'T HEARD ANY DISCUSSION OF IT PREVIOUSLY.
THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS, JONATHAN PAUL, NEW URBAN CONCEPTS. WOULD YOU MIND REPEATING THE QUESTION? IT'S ON PAGE 131 OF OUR PACKET OR PAGE 51, ONE OF YOUR TECHNICAL REPORT.
THE PARAGRAPH READS, AND WE'RE A CITY COMMISSION, NOT A CITY COUNCIL.
THAT'S PROBABLY WHY I NOTICED IT.
WHAT I WANT TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND IS IT SAYS THE CITY COUNCIL MAY WISH TO ESTABLISH A MAXIMUM SQUARE FOOTAGE FOR WHICH A RESIDENTIAL MOBILITY FEE WOULD BE ASSESSED.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IN SOME COMMUNITIES? RIGHT NOW, THE FEE IS BASED ON A SQUARE FOOTAGE, AND THAT'S LARGELY TO ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY. SO A SMALLER HOME WOULD PAY A LOWER FEE.
A LARGER HOME WOULD PAY A HIGHER FEE.
SOME COMMUNITIES AND PREDOMINANTLY ONES THAT HAVE A LOT OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMES OR NEW HOMES HAVE ELECTED TO ESTABLISH A MAXIMUM THRESHOLD BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, TYPICALLY IF A HOME CAME IN AND IT WAS 8000 SQUARE FOOT, THEY WOULD PAY ON EIGHT THOUSAND SQUARE FEET.
SOME COMMUNITIES HAVE ELECTED TO SAY, WE'RE GOING TO CAP IT AT FOUR THOUSAND FIVE THOUSAND SIX THOUSAND.
IT REALLY IS DEPENDING UPON THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE DONE STUDIES THAT BASICALLY SHOW AS THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING GOES UP OR AS THE SIZE OF THE RESIDENTIAL UNIT GOES UP, TRIPS GO UP.
AND GIVEN THIS COMMUNITY LIKELY HAS AN ISSUE WITH SHORT TERM RENTALS, LARGER UNITS POTENTIALLY COULD BE RENTED OUT.
YEAH. THEREFORE, THERE IS A PRETTY STRONG CONNECTION BETWEEN A HIGHER FEE, BUT SOME COMMUNITIES DO ELECT TO CAP IT.
I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT IT MEANT, AND I WOULD OFFER THAT I WOULD NOT AT ALL BE INTERESTED IN ESTABLISHING A MAXIMUM SQUARE FOOTAGE.
YES. YES, SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THIS WORK.
YOU KNOW, IT'S A CHALLENGE BECAUSE WE HAVE A 16TH CENTURY STREET SYSTEM AS CHARLES TINGLEY LIKES TO REMIND US AND WE HAVE OUR CHALLENGES, WE CAN'T REALLY WIDEN THE ROADS.
SO WE HAVE TO THINK REALLY HARD ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO, WHICH IS PROMOTE WALKABILITY, REDUCE CONGESTION WHERE WE CAN IMPROVE RELIABLE TRAVEL TIMES IF POSSIBLE, AND CERTAINLY MAKE TRAVEL EASIER FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO GET IN AND OUT OF THEIR HOMES.
SO. MY QUESTION IS ABOUT THE THE LIST OF POTENTIAL PROJECTS, AND BECAUSE I THINK THE PROOF THAT THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING AND THAT TO ME, THAT'S THE PUDDING. LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? WE'RE GOING TO IMPOSE A FEE.
WE'RE SAYING WE WANT TO POSE A FEE AND TO DO THESE THINGS.
SO WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS? AND SO MY WHEN I READ THE HANDOUT YOU GAVE US, WHICH IS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS, AND I'M ASSUMING THAT'S AVAILABLE ON A WEBSITE SOMEWHERE WHERE CITIZENS CAN ACCESS THIS, AND IT'S VERY, VERY HELPFUL.
IT TALKS ABOUT HOW WILL THE CITY PRIORITIZE THE MOBILITY PLAN PROJECTS? SO AT THE VERY LAST SENTENCE, IT'S THE PROJECTS WILL BE PRIORITIZED THROUGH THE ANNUAL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN UPDATE.
WELL, YOU'VE HEARD ME RANT ABOUT THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, SO I THINK WE HAVE SOME WORK TO DO BEFORE WE MATCH THIS UP.
BUT GETTING INTO MORE SPECIFIC THAN THAT, EVEN IF SO, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE LIST OF POTENTIAL PROJECTS WHICH IS IN HERE IS TIED TO THE CIP.
SO,IS THAT CORRECT? YES, IT WILL BE TIED TO THE CIP.
SO I'M VERY CURIOUS AS BEING ON THE TPO FOR SO MANY YEARS.
WE HAVE THE DOT WORK PROGRAM SYSTEM THAT WE USE AND WE DO HAVE THE TIME FRAMES, WHICH I NOTICE YOU HAVE TIME FRAMES ON THESE, ALTHOUGH I CAN'T REALLY SEE EVERYTHING, BUT I DON'T SEE HOW IT WORKS TOGETHER, LIKE IN A FIVE YEAR WORK PROGRAM.
[01:00:02]
BUT I'M VERY INTERESTED IN KNOWING MORE ABOUT THESE PROJECTS AND HOW THEY GOT ON THIS LIST. AND THEN HOW DO WE LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, I SEE SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ON IT THAT I THINK KIND OF BELONGS ON IT.WHAT WHAT'S THE PROCESS? WHAT ARE YOU SUGGESTING? THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, THAT WAS AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.
SO REALLY, THIS IS SORT OF THE START OF THE PROCESS TO REALLY GIVE THE CITY COMMISSION A FRAMEWORK. AND SO THE FIRST PART WAS IDENTIFYING THE PROJECTS ON THE MAPS, INCLUDING THEM IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THEN HAVING THE OVERALL LIST.
THE LIST IS REALLY INTENDED TO SERVE AS A GUIDE, SO AS YOU GO THROUGH YOUR ANNUAL PROCESS OF YOUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM, YOU'RE BUDGETING EACH YEAR, YOU PROJECT OUT HOW MUCH YOU PROJECT INTO COLLECTING FEES AND ALSO WHAT MONIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE STATE OR FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND THEN YOU WOULD START TO PRIORITIZE THOSE PROJECTS.
AND WE TOOK A ROUGH GUESSTIMATE BASED ON THE OVERALL NEED OF IMPROVEMENTS, TALKING CLOSELY WITH WITH RUEBEN, WITH THE TPO AND JUST REVIEWING PAST PLANS AS WELL TO REALLY DEVELOP THAT LIST.
AND ULTIMATELY, IT WILL BE YOUR DECISION AS A CITY COMMISSION.
IF ONE PROJECT IS NEEDED IN THE COMMUNITY, YOU CAN MOVE THAT UP.
SO REALLY, THE PLAN SERVES AS A GUIDING STANDPOINT FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, WHEN YOU GO TO UPDATE IT AND YOU'VE GONE THROUGH ALL THAT PROCESS AND MAYBE EVEN MORE REFINED.
BUT RIGHT NOW, WE TRIED TO PICK THE PROJECTS THAT ARE MOST LIKELY TO GET APPROVED, AND SOME OF THE SMALLER DOLLAR AMOUNTS ARE SHOWN IN THE FIRST YEARS AND THEN SOME OF THE LARGER PROJECTS IN THE OUT YEARS.
AND WHAT'S ALREADY HAPPENED IS THIS PROJECT LIST HAS ALREADY ALREADY BEEN INCLUDED IN THE TPOS LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN.
SO THAT'S ACTUALLY MADE IT ELIGIBLE FOR STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING, AND SEVERAL OF THE PROJECTS HAVE ACTUALLY ALREADY BEEN EARMARKED FOR FUNDING.
AND SO EACH YEAR, FDOT AND AS OF RIGHT NOW, I BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, JACKSONVILLE HAS A PLAN AND THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, BUT THOSE ARE THE ONLY TWO COMMUNITIES IN THE ENTIRE PART OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA THAT ACTUALLY HAVE AN ADOPTED MOBILITY PLAN WHERE YOU'VE IDENTIFIED ALL YOUR PROJECTS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO THOSE ARE THEREFORE THE ONES THAT ARE LOOKED AT TO FUND ANNUALLY AS PART OF THE DOT PROCESS. AND WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL, IT'S JUST COME OUT.
A LOT OF POTENTIAL FUNDING IS AVAILABLE, BUT REALLY IT IS INTENDED TO SERVE AS A GUIDE IF YOU WANT TO MOVE PROJECTS UP.
YOU CAN CERTAINLY DO SO AS A CITY COMMISSION.
IF YOU WANTED TO AMEND THE PLAN, YOU COULD DO SO AS WELL.
SO THESE HOW DO WE MATCH THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN TO THIS? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IN THE FUTURE OR, THESE THESE ALL THESE ARE NOT IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, BUT WE'RE SAYING THAT THEY'RE GOING, WHICH COMES FIRST.
WELL, OBVIOUSLY, IT'S A PROCESS WE TOOK A LOT OF WORK TO GET TO THIS POINT.
THE LIST OF THE PROJECTS, YOU KNOW, REALLY CAME OUT OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PROCESS.
SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD A LIST THAT KIND OF COINCIDED WITH THE THE MOBILITY PLAN. AS AS JONATHAN STATED, WHEN YOU FIRST OF ALL, THERE'S LOW HANGING FRUIT, THERE'S THINGS THAT THE CITY'S ALREADY DOING THAT WE CAN.
SINCE WE HAVE A LIST OF PRIORITIES, WE CAN SET PRIORITIES, WE CAN WORK WITH WHAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING AND EXPAND PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE ALREADY STARTED.
THEN WE THEN YES, EACH YEAR WE LOOK AT A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN.
WE CAN LOOK AT YOUR ONE YEAR BUDGETING PROGRAM, YOUR FIVE YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN.
WE CAN EVEN DECIDE TO LOOK OUT A LITTLE FURTHER.
SOME OF THESE PROJECTS ARE MUCH LARGER, AND WE WOULD NEED TO MAYBE LOOK OUT 10 YEARS AND KIND OF PRIORITIZE THEM.
SO THIS, I WOULD SAY, WOULD BE THE FIRST YEAR WHERE WE'RE, YOU KNOW, IF THIS IS ADOPTED THAT WE WOULD BE KIND OF FORMALLY INCLUDING THESE MOBILITY, THE MOBILITY PLAN IN WITH THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, FIVE YEAR PLAN AND PRIORITIZING PROJECTS.
SO I THINK AS THIS YEAR MOVES ALONG THROUGH THE BUDGETING PROCESS, YOU'LL SEE WHERE THESE PROJECTS ARE GOING TO BE DISCUSSED.
THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT AND I WILL LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HOW THAT WORKS.
IT'S JUST I KNOW I WAS KIND OF GETTING INTO THE GRITTY DETAILS, BUT I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT. AND I WOULD ADD ONE THING.
I MEAN, WE HAD A SPEAKER EARLIER TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED ON RIBERIA STREET, AND I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING IN HERE ON RIBERIA STREET.
AND I DO REALIZE THAT THAT'S LIKE A MAIN ACCESS TO RIBERIA TO THE PEOPLE OF LINCOLNVILLE.
SO I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD PROBABLY THINK ABOUT, INCLUDING.
I THINK ONE. EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT IN THE LRT TP, BUT IT IT OR THE CIP.
[01:05:05]
BUT MAYBE WE SHOULD.ONE OF THE MAIN PRIORITIES OF MOVING FROM CONCURRENCY, WHICH TALKS ABOUT LEVEL OF SERVICE AND BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, SLING SHOTTING CARS AROUND AND MOVING CARS AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE TO THE QUALITY OF SERVICE, WHICH IS THE STANDARD FOR A MOBILITY PLAN, IS THAT THEN WE WOULD LOOK AT SPEED LIMITS ON ROADS, SPEED LIMITS ON STREETS, THE TYPES OF STREETS THAT WE HAVE LOCAL, YOU KNOW, COLLECTOR STREETS, THAT SORTS OF THINGS AND PRIORITIZE POSSIBLY PROJECTS THAT SLOW EVERYTHING DOWN, THAT CREATES SAFER SPACES FOR ALL THE USERS. SO PRESUMABLY AS WE IMPLEMENT SOME OF THESE THAN THE SPEED OF ROAD, PEOPLE TRAVELING ON ROADWAYS WILL SLOW DOWN BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE BIKE PATHS, WIDER SIDEWALKS, YOU KNOW, OTHER OTHER THINGS THAT ARE IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY THAT WILL HOPEFULLY MAKE THINGS SAFER FOR EVERYONE.
MORE CHOICES FOR TRAVELERS, NOT JUST AUTOMOBILES.
WE'RE WAY PAST BEING DEPENDENT ON AUTOMOBILES.
THANK YOU. THIS IS MY THANKS, THOUGH.
THANK YOU. CITY MANAGER REGAN, MAYOR COMMISSIONERS SO ON FEBRUARY 28TH, WE HAVE SCHEDULED THE REPORT ON RIBERIA STREET THAT WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.
RIGHT. AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS JUST MAY NOT MEET THE.
SOME IMPROVEMENTS MAY OR MAY NOT MEET A DEFINITION OF A CAPITAL PROJECT.
FEBRUARY 28TH? COMMISSIONERS, OTHER COMMENTS? IS THERE A MOTION? YES, THERE IS.
ORDINANCE NUMBER, AM I CUED UP? YOU ARE CUED ORDINANCE NUMBER 2022-01, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES CHAPTER TWENTY ONE, ARTICLE ONE AND ARTICLE TWO, CREATING ARTICLE THREE TO BE ENTITLED MOBILITY PLAN AND MOBILITY FEES PROVIDING FOR AUTHORITY SETTING FORTH GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR MOBILITY FEES.
DEFINITIONS, PURPOSE, THE MOBILITY PLAN AND MOBILITY FEE, TECHNICAL REPORT AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION PROVIDING FOR IMPOSITION AND A MOBILITY FEE SCHEDULE PROVIDING FOR THE PROCESS FOR REVIEW OF ALTERNATIVE AND SPECIAL FEE DETERMINATIONS.
CREDITS, ESTABLISHMENT OF MOBILITY FEE BENEFIT DISTRICTS, FUND ACCOUNTS EXPENDITURES, REFUNDS EFFECTS ON LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS.
DEVELOPMENT OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE MANUAL AND SERVICE CHARGES.
REQUIREMENTS FOR ANNUAL REPORTING REVIEW AND UPDATES AGREEMENTS AND OR LOCAL AGREEMENTS, VESTED RIGHTS APPEALS AND PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS.
PROVIDING FOR SCRIBNER'S ERRORS.
PROVIDING FOR A LIBERAL INTERPRETATION, PROVIDING FOR MODIFICATIONS AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
BEFORE WE VOTE, I DO WANT TO JOIN IN MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS.
THIS IS A THIS IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT PROJECT.
IT'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK.
AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL TO CITY STAFF AND TO OUR CONSULTANT FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR VISION HERE. AND WE'RE VERY, VERY GRATEFUL.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
BARBARA BLONDER? YES. ROXANNE HORVATH? YES. JPOHN VALDES? YES. NANCY SIKES-KLINE? YES. TRACY UPCHURCH? YES.
THANK YOU. THE ORDINANCE PASSES ON FIRST READING AND WE WILL SEE IT AGAIN FOR A PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING IN THE FUTURE.
[9.A.2. Ordinance 2022-03: Small Scale Land Use Plan Amendment to only the upland portion of the property referred to as Flagler Crossing from Residential Low Density Mixed Use to Residential Medium Density. (A. Skinner, Director Planning and Building)]
MS. SKINNER, WE ARE ON ORDINANCE 2022-03.YES, THANK YOU AND GOOD EVENING AGAIN.
THIS ITEM NUMBER 8982 ON THE AGENDA.
IT IS THE INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING FOR ORDINANCE NUMBER 2022-03 TO AMEND THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN MAP FROM RESIDENTIAL LOW DENSITY MIXED USE TO RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY FOR APPROXIMATELY 42.36 UPLAND ACRES.
THIS PROJECT IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS FLAGLER CROSSING.
THE PROPOSED USE OF THE PROPERTY HAS CHANGED FROM A SINGLE FAMILY SUBDIVISION APPROVED IN A PUD IN 2006 AND AMENDED IN 2013 TO A MULTIFAMILY PROJECT AT APPROXIMATELY EIGHT UNITS PER DEVELOPABLE ACRES, OR 336 UNITS.
THE PROPOSED LAND USE WOULD ALLOW UP TO 16 UNITS PER ACRE, WHICH WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 676 UNITS.
HOWEVER, THE PROJECT, AS PROPOSED, INCLUDES A TOTAL OF 510 UNITS.
ITEM NUMBER NINE A THREE ON THE AGENDA IS THE INTRODUCTION IN FIRST READING FOR ORDINANCE NUMBER 2022-04, WHICH IS THE COMPATIBLE REZONING OF THE PROPERTY FROM RESIDENTIAL LOW ONE, RL-1 TO RESIDENTIAL GENERAL ONE RG-1 FOR THE SAME ACRES.
[01:10:05]
I APPRECIATE YOU EXPLAINING BOTH OF THEM.WE, OF COURSE, WILL TAKE A SEPARATE VOTE.
AND WE APPRECIATE THE BACKGROUND ON BOTH QUESTIONS OF STAFF.
I HAVE A QUESTION IF YOU DON'T MIND, PLEASE, COULD YOU REPEAT THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN? THE PROPOSED WITH EIGHT UNITS PER ACRE, OR AT LEAST AS IS PROPOSED NOW IS 510 UNITS? YES. SO RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE AN APPROVED DEVELOPMENT PLAN THAT IS FOR 336 UNITS.
336? 336, EIGHT UNITS, AN ACRE FOR THE DEVELOPABLE ACRES, THERE'S 338.
SO THEY ARE ALMOST AT THE MAXIMUM EIGHT UNITS PER ACRE RIGHT NOW.
IF IF YOU CHOOSE TO MOVE FORWARD AND ADOPT THE LAND USE PLAN AMENDMENT AND REZONING, IT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO GO UP TO 16 UNITS PER ACRE, WHICH WOULD BE TWICE THAT.
BUT THEY ARE PROPOSING 510 UNITS IF THIS GETS APPROVED.
OK, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 200 ODD UNITS INCREASE.
THANK YOU. AND IF THE COMMISSION DOESN'T MIND.
THERE, I'M SORRY, I'M POKING MY LITTLE HEAD UP HERE.
THIS, IN TERMS OF THE PROCEDURAL POSTURE FOR THE COMMISSION IS THIS PARTICULAR ITEM IS A LEGISLATIVE DECISION.
SO IT IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU'RE USED TO SEEING WITH A REZONING BECAUSE THIS IS A REQUEST TO CHANGE YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
YOU'RE NOW WEARING YOUR LEGISLATOR HAT AND THE COURT'S REVIEWING YOUR DECISION MAKING ON THIS ITEM ON THIS FIRST ITEM WOULD BE JUDGING IT UNDER THE FAIRLY DEBATABLE STANDARD, WHICH IS VERY, VERY DEFERENTIAL TO YOUR LEGISLATOR ROLE.
AND SO THEY WOULD BE LOOKING AT WHETHER THERE'S A RATIONAL DECISION MAKING PROCESS, EVEN A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION IN TERMS OF CHOOSING FROM A PUBLIC POLICY PERSPECTIVE TO AMEND YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OR CHOOSING NOT TO AMEND YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
SO IT IS SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU'RE TYPICALLY SEEING.
TYPICALLY, YOU SEE THE REZONING WHERE YOU'RE WEARING YOUR QUASI JUDICIAL HAT.
THIS IS TRULY A LEGISLATIVE POLICY MAKING KIND OF PROCESS AT THIS FIRST LEVEL FOR THIS FIRST ITEM, THIS FIRST ORDINANCE.
COMMISSIONER BLONDER? WELL, I'M GOING TO ASK FOR YOUR INDULGENCE AND YOUR PATIENCE.
I HAVE QUITE A NUMBER OF COMMENTS AND I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED WITH THOSE.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO NOTE THAT THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT AND REZONING COMES IN IMMEDIATELY ON THE HEELS OF OUR LAST MEETING, DURING WHICH WE DIRECTED STAFF TO DEVELOP AN ADVANCE OF PLAN TO ADDRESS OUR CRITICAL NEEDS FOR AFFORDABLE AND WORKFORCE HOUSING, AND THAT STAFF WAS DIRECTED TO RETURN TO THE COMMISSION WITH A STRATEGIC REVIEW OF OUR OPTIONS AND A RECOMMENDATION WHICH WILL BE BROUGHT TO US WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME, I'M ASSUMING.
SECONDLY, THE PROPOSED COMP PLAN AMENDMENT, AS OUR ATTORNEY HAS JUST EXPLAINED IN MORE DETAIL. IF ENACTED, IS LEGISLATIVE AND AS SUCH COULD SET THE STAGE FOR SIMILAR REQUESTS.
AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR HERE, THIS ONE IS WOULD DOUBLE THE DENSITY OF A PARCEL ZONED AS RESIDENTIAL, LOW DENSITY MIXED USE, SO IT WOULD DOUBLE THAT AND ENABLE DENSITY.
AND SO AS SUCH, I DON'T AGREE THAT IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
THAT'S WHY THEY'RE WANTING TO AMEND IT BECAUSE IT IS IN SEVERAL SENSES QUOTE CONTRARY TO THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
I DON'T THINK THIS MEETS THE BAR OF GOOD PUBLIC POLICY.
THE PROPERTY WAS RE ZONED, AS I DISCOVERED OVER THE WEEKEND, FROM PUD TO ITS CURRENT LOW DENSITY ZONING BY REQUEST OF THE APPLICANT ON MARCH 3RD, 2020, AND THE IMPLICATIONS ACTUALLY THEY WERE DIRECT QUOTES WERE TO PROVIDE INCENTIVE FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING, WITH THE DEVELOPER STATING THAT HE EXPECTED NONE OF THE UNITS AT THAT TIME TO BE MORE THAN $250000.
I WONDER IF THAT'S STILL THE CASE.
MY MY UNDERSTANDING, THOUGH, IS THAT FOR THIS PROPOSAL BEFORE US, THESE WOULD NOW BE SOLD AT MARKET VALUE. THEY WOULD NOT HAVE ANY COMPONENT THAT IS WORKFORCE OR AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUILT IN.
I ALSO RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH THE ASSESSMENT THAT THE APPLICANT HAS A QUOTE DISADVANTAGE DUE TO THE REDUCTION IN DEVELOPABLE AREA DUE TO THE EXISTING RAIL LINE AND CONSERVATION AREA UNQUOTE.
NOTHING HAS CHANGED REGARDING EITHER THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT NOR THE RAILROAD EASEMENT SINCE 2020, SO IT IS REASONABLE TO ASSUME THAT THE APPLICANT HAS HAD FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THE EXISTENCE OF BOTH QUOTE DISADVANTAGES ALL ALONG.
IN OTHER WORDS, I FAIL TO SEE HOW THESE QUOTE DISADVANTAGES ARE RELEVANT TO THE REQUESTED
[01:15:04]
CHANGE TO OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.ADDITIONALLY, THE APPLICANT STATED ON MARCH 3RD OF 2020, AGAIN, THAT'S LESS THAN TWO YEARS AGO IN HIS REQUEST FOR A REZONING FROM PUD TO LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL THAT THE CITY HAS QUOTE A HIGH DEMAND FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING AS JUSTIFICATION, LEADING SEVERAL OF THE PCB BOARD MEMBERS TO NOTE THAT AS A POSITIVE ELEMENT IN THEIR DECISION TO APPROVE IT AND IT WAS A SPLIT VOTE AT THAT TIME, THE 2020 REZONING WAS ALSO TO A HIGHER DENSITY.
NOW, LESS THAN TWO YEARS LATER, WE'RE THE APPLICANTS REQUESTING YET ANOTHER REZONING AT AN EVEN HIGHER DENSITY.
AND THIS TIME IT'S JUST NOT INCLUDING WORKFORCE HOUSING AT ALL, WHICH WE ALL RECOGNIZE IS A CRITICAL NEED. IT SHOULD THEREFORE BE NOTED THAT NEITHER THIS ORDINANCE NOR THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT ARE DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THIS NEED AND ON ANOTHER TOPIC, A SIMILAR PROJECT. I HAVE SOME REAL CONCERNS ABOUT THIS.
THE LANDING HAS AT LEAST SOME NUMBER OF STRS, SHORT TERM RENTAL UNITS, EVEN IF THIS WERE TO BE PROHIBITED FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT.
HOW COULD THAT BE ENFORCED AND BY WHOM? IT IS STATED THAT THIS IS A SMALL SCALE CHANGE BY DEFINITION, BUT WHEN WE HAVE 90 PERCENT OF OUR CITY BUILT OUT, 42 ACRES OF THE REMAINING UNDEVELOPED LAND IS SIGNIFICANT, AND WHAT WE DO ON THAT IS SIGNIFICANT IN TERMS OF DENSITY AND OTHER MEASURES.
YEAH, I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR NOW.
MS. SKINNER, IS THERE ANYBODY HERE REPRESENTING THE OWNER? YES, THE APPLICANT IS HERE.
WOULD THE APPLICANT CARE TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION? GOOD EVENING. YES, PLEASE ADJUST THAT, AND IF YOU COULD STATE YOUR NAME AND BUSINESS ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD I CAN.
MY NAME IS BILLY ZITES, MY BUSINESS ADDRESS IS 1819 GODWIN STREET, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.
MY HOME ADDRESS IS 502 AGRICOLA ST.
AUGUSTINE AND I'M A CITY RESIDENT AND I'M THE REPRESENTING THE OWNER AND I WORK FOR THE COMPANY AND WE ARE ALSO THE DEVELOPER.
AND I ALSO DELIVERED THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD PRESENTATION WITH MY COLLEAGUE, FREMONT LATIMER, IS HERE AS WELL.
AND I WOULD LOVE TO GIVE A FULL PRESENTATION TO THE THE COMMISSIONERS ON THE TOPIC.
AMY WAS KIND ENOUGH TO CALL AND YOU GUYS SHOULD KNOW YOUR STAFF IS INCREDIBLY RESPONSIVE AND HELPFUL FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING DEPARTMENT PLANNING ACROSS THE BOARD THROUGHOUT THIS PROJECT, WHICH HAS BEEN A LARGE UNDERTAKING FOR OUR FIRM.
AND IMMEDIATELY THIS MORNING, ABOUT 9:30, SHE GAVE US A CALL.
SO TO LET US KNOW, ONE, I KNOW AS A RESIDENT HOW IMPORTANT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS, BUT TWO THAT SOME OF THE COMMISSIONERS EXPRESSED THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT IF THIS DEVELOPMENT WAS THE RIGHT FIT. WE HAVE STARTED LOOKING AT SOME OPTIONS OF HOW WE COULD INCORPORATE THAT.
WE HAVE ANOTHER PROJECT THAT IS IN THE CITY SERVICE AREA, THAT'S COUNTY LAND USE THAT'S GOING THROUGH THE REZONING FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING.
AND OUR DEVELOPMENT FIRM HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO PROVIDING AFFORDABLE OR ATTAINABLE HOUSING SINCE ITS INCEPTION FOUR YEARS AGO.
WE THINK THIS SITE, BECAUSE IT'S NEXT TO SOME COMMERCIAL AND EXISTING HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL AND IT HAS A TRAFFIC SIGNAL COMING AND IT'S ACROSS FROM COUNTY AND STATE SERVICES, IS THE RIGHT FIT FOR SOME INCREASED DENSITY BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST READING WE DIDN'T EVEN INTEND. IF WE GOT THROUGH THIS TO COME BACK UNTIL MARCH 28TH, WHICH WOULD GIVE US LOTS OF TIME TO RUN DOWN OUR OPTIONS AND DISCUSS WITH EACH COMMISSIONER INDIVIDUALLY HOW THOSE OPTIONS WOULD FIT WITH WHAT THE CITY IS DOING IN THE FUTURE FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING. WE ARE OPEN TO THAT.
THAT IS WHY I'M HERE TO EXPRESS OUR INTEREST IN DOING THAT WITH YOU.
THE OTHER PART IS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT MUCH TIME AND BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN THROUGH PLANNING AND ZONING, WE NOW HAVE THE ABILITY TO SEE WHAT COMES OUT OF THE WORKFORCE HOUSING INITIATIVE THAT CITY STAFF IS TAKING AND SEE IF THERE'S SOME HARMONY BETWEEN OUR PROJECT AND WHAT'S COMING OUT OF STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
SO I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY POINTED QUESTIONS DIRECTLY.
I DO NOT HAVE THE PRESENTATION FROM PLANNING AND ZONING, BUT I DID WANT TO EXPRESS THAT TO TO THE THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
VICE MAYOR, IS THIS MULTIFAMILY OR CONDOS? IS IT RENTAL OR CONDO? THIS IS ALL RENTAL.
SINGLE FAMILY 30 UNIT THREE STOREY UNDER THE THIRTY FIVE HIGH LIMIT APARTMENT BUILDINGS.
OK. AND THEY'RE ALL RENTAL? ALL RENTAL AND.
FAMILIES, BUT THEY'RE FOR FAMILIES.
YES, MA'AM. AND DURING THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD PRESENTATION, WE PROVIDED EXAMPLES OF OUR LEASE THAT RESTRICTS SHORT TERM VACATION RENTALS AND ALSO HAS PARKING RESTRICTIONS
[01:20:03]
WITHIN THAT IS MANAGED BY OUR ON SITE MANAGEMENT COMPANY.SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE CONDITIONS WE EMPLOYED TO THEM.
HOW ARE YOU FIXED FOR SIDEWALKS? OUR SIDEWALKS, YEAH.
OH, WE'VE I MEAN, EVERYTHING INTERNAL IS PRIVATE, EXCEPT FOR THE UTILITY, SO WE MANAGE.
ARE YOU CONNECTING TO THE SYSTEM OUTSIDE? YEAH, WE'RE CONNECTING THE SYSTEM OUTSIDE AND WE HAVE A LARGE INTERNAL TRAIL NETWORK AS WELL. ALL RIGHT.
COMMISSIONER VALDES, YEAH, I THANK YOU.
I WILL BE VERY MUCH CONNECTED TO THE OUTSIDE, BUT WE'LL BE ADDING A LOT OF TRIPS ON THE U.S. 1 WHICH IS GOING TO BE ADDING TO THE INTERSECTION, THE CONFLICTS WE HAVE AT 16.
THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AND NUMBER OF TRIPS.
I THINK IN MY WAY OF THINKING, WE HAVE TWO ISSUES.
WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO PUT A GARAGE OUT OF THAT END OF TOWN AND TO PART OF OUR MOBILITY THING, AND THIS LOOKS LIKE A POSSIBLY A GOOD MATCH BETWEEN A PUBLIC AND PRIVATE VENTURE TO MAYBE HAVE A PARKING FACILITY THAT THEY CAN USE, WHICH CLEARS UP SOME OF YOUR SURFACE PARKING.
IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO STACK AUTOMOBILES THAT MAYBE THE CITY CAN BENEFIT FROM, AS WELL AS FAR AS OUR MOBILITY ISSUES.
I MEAN, I'M THROWING OUT IDEAS, I'M BRAINSTORMING HERE.
I'M NOT WILLING TO SUPPORT THIS INCREASE IN DENSITY UNLESS WE GET SOMETHING BACK.
AND YOU KNOW, AND I SEE TWO THINGS WE NEED BACK.
WE NEED ENTRY LEVEL HOUSING OR WE NEED SOME SOLUTION TO HELP MITIGATE OUR MOBILITY PROBLEMS. THOSE ARE YOUR PROBLEMS, TOO.
AND SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I'M AT AT THIS JUNCTURE.
COMMISSIONER HORVATH? YES, THIS MAY BE A QUESTION FOR OUR ATTORNEY WHEN A DEVELOPER COMES IN AND SAYS IT'S GOING TO BE A RENTAL.
AND THEN A FEW YEARS LATER, THEY MIGHT WANT TO MAKE IT INTO CONDOS.
HOW DOES THAT? I MEAN, CAN THEY BE LOCKED IN TO ALWAYS BE RENTAL IF THEY SAY THE RENTAL NOW OR? THE ONLY WAY YOU COULD ADD CONDITIONS AND PROBABLY NOT THE RENTAL, NO RENTAL, BUT MAYBE THE ONLY MECHANISM AT THIS LEVEL WOULD BE A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, WHICH IS A CREATURE OF STATUTE THAT SETS OUT THE DENSITY, THE USES, THE DONATIONS OF LAND, IF THAT'S PART OF THE DISCUSSION, THE THE UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS, ALL OF THOSE SITE DEVELOPMENT ISSUES COULD BE BUNDLED THEORETICALLY COULD BE BUNDLED INTO A STATUTORY DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
THE REZONING CAN HAVE NO CONDITIONS, WHICH IS NOT THIS ITEM.
IT'S OUR NEXT ITEM IS THE REZONING.
THE REZONING CAN HAVE ZERO CONDITIONS BECAUSE IT'S A QUOTE UNQUOTE STRAIGHT REZONING.
BUT AT THE POLICYMAKING LEGISLATIVE STAGE OF DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT IT WOULD BE GOOD POLICY TO AMEND YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, THE ONLY MECHANISM THAT I CAN THINK OF AT THIS TIME, THEORETICALLY, WOULD BE A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WHICH IS REQUIRED TO HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND SO ON, AND ALL THE TERMS OF IT ARE INCLUDED.
IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN A PUD.
PEOPLE THINK OF IT AS SORT OF A A PRELIMINARY PUD, BUT IT REALLY ISN'T BECAUSE YOU CAN'T CUSTOMIZE ANY OF THE CODE REQUIREMENTS.
YOU'RE SIMPLY ITEMIZING WHAT THE DENSITY INTENSITY IS, WHAT DONATIONS OF LAND WOULD BE NECESSARY FOR THE PROJECT, WHO WOULD SUPPLY THE SERVICES, HOW THAT THAT PROVISION OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES WOULD BE SHIFTED BETWEEN THE DEVELOPER AND THE CITY.
SO IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT CREATURE, BUT THAT'S THE ONLY MECHANISM I CAN THINK OF RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.
YOU HAVE, I THINK, VOICE SOME IMPORTANT CONCERNS, AND I THINK THAT THE DEVELOPER HAS HEARD THOSE AND HAS INDICATED A WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH US.
AND SO IN ORDER TO TO CREATE A SETTING IN WHICH WE CAN HAVE SERIOUS CONVERSATION WITH THE DEVELOPER, I'M PREPARED TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE PASS.
ORDINANCE 2022-03 ON FIRST READING, READ BY TITLE ONLY AND MOVED TO SECOND READING.
MADAM CITY ATTORNEY? CAN WE HAVE SOME DISCUSSION? I'M GOING TO HAVE HER READ THE TITLE FIRST AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK, ABSOLUTELY.
ORDINANCE NUMBER 2022-03, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FUTURE LAND USE MAP TO RECLASSIFY A PARCEL OF LAND CONTAINING APPROXIMATELY 42.36 UPLAND ACRES LOCATED WEST OF THE FEC RAILWAY SOUTH OF SAN SEBASTIAN VIEW AND EAST OF THE SAN SEBASTIAN RIVER IN THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE, AND BEING MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREINAFTER FROM RESIDENTIAL, LOW
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DENSITY MIXED USE TO RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES AND PROVIDING AND PROVISIONS OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COMMISSIONER BLONDER? TRYING TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO MAKE THIS WORK, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, I FEEL LIKE AN AMENDMENT TO OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS JUST PREMATURE RIGHT NOW.
A MONTH ISN'T VERY LONG TO COME UP WITH THESE KINDS OF DETAILS, ESPECIALLY SINCE STAFF HAS JUST BEGUN, SORRY, JUST BEGUN WORK ON PUTTING TOGETHER RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING LOCATION.
I THINK I KNOW THAT THAT RECOMMENDATION FROM STAFF WOULD TRIGGER THE DEVELOPMENT OF A REGULATORY SCHEME FOR THIS TYPE OF HOUSING, AND THAT ONCE CONCLUDED, ADJUSTMENTS TO OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COULD THEN BE HOLISTICALLY REVIEWED RATHER THAN IN A PIECEMEAL FASHION. AS I FEEL LIKE WE'RE DOING, WE COULD BE DOING RIGHT NOW.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF I CAN DO THIS, MR. MAYOR. BUT IF I COULD ASK FOR A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT THAT THE SECOND READING BE POSTPONED UNTIL AFTER WE HAVE RECEIVED THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM STAFF REGARDING AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING AND THAT THEN WE COULD REALLY LOOK AT WHAT THE DEVELOPER CAN BRING TO US WITH REGARD TO THAT.
SO, MS. LOPEZ, IS THE SECOND DATE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING A PART OF THE ORDINANCE? OR IS THAT SET BY STAFF? IT'S SET BY STAFF, AND I BELIEVE THE APPLICANT HAD ALREADY REQUESTED A BIT MORE TIME, DID I MISS HEAR? NO, THAT'S CORRECT, AND THROUGH THE MAYOR TO THE BOARD, WE'RE HAPPY TO WORK WITH STAFF THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS AND WE'RE HAPPY TO COME AND DISCLOSE--.
I'VE ALREADY SET A MEETING WITH HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HOUSING DEPARTMENT TO SEE WHAT'S POSSIBLE IN TERMS OF RENT TO INCOME RATIOS AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN OUR OVERALL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, SO.
AND IF I COULD ADD ONE MORE THING, THROUGH THE MAYOR TO THE COMMISSIONER VALDES, IS THAT INTERSECTION THAT IS GOING TO SEE A LOT MORE TRAFFIC, ALL OF THE DEVELOPERS, AND THIS WAS PART OF THE PCB PRESENTATION, TO HAVE ENTERED INTO A COST SHARE AGREEMENT TO PUT A LIGHT AT THAT INTERSECTION. AND THAT STUDY IS ONGOING NOW AND RELATED TO WHAT HAPPENS WITH ANY DENSITY CHANGES OR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT OUT THERE THAT IS ALL PUT INTO FDOT STUDY FOR WHAT THAT INTERSECTION CONTROL LOOKS LIKE.
SO THAT IS UNDERWAY, IT'S ABOUT SIX MONTHS THROUGH A NINE MONTH STUDY PROCESS, AND THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE OVER THE NEXT 18 MONTHS, OR SO, UNTIL WE GET A LITTLE BIT FURTHER ALONG IN THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION.
ASSUMING WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME OF THE TRAFFIC WILL GO NORTH BECAUSE IT'LL BE A BEDROOM COMMUNITY IN THE NORTH PART OF THE COUNTY, BUT I'M ASSUMING A FAIR AMOUNT WILL GO SOUTH TO THE INTERSECTION OF 16 AND THE US-1.
IN YOUR STUDIES OR YOU TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE IMPACTS INTERSECTION AS WELL? I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE TRAFFIC ENGINEER, BUT I'D BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE YOU WHAT THAT STUDY ENCOMPASSES [INAUDIBLE]. WELL, YOU SEE MY CONCERN? ONE HUNDRED PERCENT. THANK YOU.
YOU'RE WELCOME. SO WHAT I HEAR FROM STAFF AS WELL AS THE DEVELOPER, IS WE'LL TAKE AS MUCH TIME AS WE NEED TO GET THIS RIGHT AND BRING IT BACK AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME WHEN STAFF AND DEVELOPER CAN ANSWER THE QUESTIONS OF THE COMMISSION.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION I'D BE VERY INTERESTED IN HEARING WHAT THE COMMUNITY HAS TO SAY AND HEARING MORE OPENLY THE CASE FOR SUPPORT OF ADDITIONAL MULTIFAMILY AS WELL AS THE BENEFITS OF DENSITY.
BECAUSE I ALWAYS HEAR A REACTION FROM THE COMMUNITY WHEN THEY WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT MORE GROWTH, EVERYBODY AUTOMATICALLY THINKS WILL DENSITY SOME KIND OF BAD THING.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR YOU TALK ABOUT WHY DENSITY IS NOT A BAD THING AND WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF IT. I KNOW A COUPLE OF THINGS RIGHT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, WHICH IS COMPACT GROWTH IS MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE LESS CARBON EMISSIONS WITH LESS CARS DRIVING ON ALL DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.
THEY MAY--. WE MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE BICYCLE PATHS TO THEM AND ADDITIONAL SIDEWALKS SO THEY CAN WALK TO GET TO ALL THE PLACES THAT WE TALK ABOUT IN THE MOBILITY PLAN.
SO I'D LIKE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT FROM YOU ON--.
SO I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THAT ISSUE OF DENSITY DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A BAD THING. SO THANK YOU.
WELL, ALSO TO FOLLOW THAT THOUGHT, DENSITY ALSO WOULD FURTHER MASS TRANSIT.
CORRECT. SO. YEAH, IT GETS US TO MASS TRANSIT A LITTLE BIT QUICKER.
YEAH. MR. ZEITS, DID YOUR FIRM DEVELOP THE LANDING?
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ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, WE'VE HAD DISCUSSION, I WOULD NOW ASK THE CLERK TO PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.THE ORDINANCE PASSES ON FIRST READING.
[9.A.3. Ordinance 2022-04: Rezoning a portion of approximately 42.3 acres of land referred to as Flagler Crossing from Residential Low-One (RL-1) to Residential General-One (RG-1) on the upland portion of the property only. (A. Skinner, Director Planning and Building.]
I DON'T BELIEVE WE NEED ANY FURTHER INTRODUCTION FOR THE NEXT ORDINANCE.JUST A REMINDER, THOUGH, THAT YOU DO HAVE TO DISCLOSE EX PARTE BECAUSE THIS IS THE QUASI JUDICIAL HAT YOU'RE WEARING.
WELL, I PROBABLY ARE GOING TO WAIT A MOMENT SINCE I'M LOSING MY COMMISSIONERS HERE.
[LAUGHTER] WHILE WE'RE DOING-- I'VE HAD NO COMMUNICATION FROM THE DEVELOPER OR ANY OTHER PARTY OTHER THAN CITY STAFF.
SO, WE'VE ALREADY HAD A PRESENTATION, WE REALLY JUST ARE GOING TO--.
COMMISSIONER BLONDER, MS. LOPEZ HAS ADVISED US BECAUSE THIS IS A REZONING THAT IT'S NECESSARY FOR US TO DISCLOSE ANY EX PARTE COMMUNICATION.
AND THE THREE COMMISSIONERS HERE PRESENT HAVE DONE THAT AND WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY.
YOU'VE HEARD STAFF'S INTRODUCTION, WE ARE ON FIRST READING, AND I WOULD MOVE THAT ORDINANCE 2022-04, BE READ BY TITLE ONLY AND PASS MOVING TO SECOND READING.
SECOND. I'VE GOT A MOTION IN A SECOND.
ORDINANCE NUMBER 2022-04, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, REZONING APPROXIMATELY 42.36 UPLAND ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED WEST OF THE FEC RAILWAY, SOUTH OF SAN SEBASTIAN VIEW, AND EAST OF THE SAN SEBASTIAN RIVER IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HERE AND AFTER FROM ITS CURRENT CLASSIFICATION OF RESIDENTIAL LOW ONE, RL-1, TO THE CLASSIFICATION OF RESIDENTIAL GENERAL ONE, RG-1, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? I WANT CLARIFICATION.
WOULD THIS MOVE TO SECOND READING BE TIED SPECIFICALLY TO, AND DIRECTLY, TO THE PREVIOUS ORDINANCE? YES. IT WOULD.
COMMISSIONER VALDES, MS. LOPEZ HAS ADVISED, [INAUDIBLE] IT'S NECESSARY TO DISCLOSE ANY EX PARTE COMMUNICATION YOU MAY HAVE HAD ON THIS PROPOSED REZONING.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
THANK YOU. THE ORDINANCE PASSES ON FIRST READING.
THANK YOU, MS. SKINNER, MS. [INAUDIBLE] AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO FURTHER DISCUSSIONS.
COMMISSIONER, WE ARE NOW ON RESOLUTION 2022-01.
[9.B.1. Resolution 2022-01 and Interlocal Agreement: Provides for the dredging of the entire channel in Salt Run to be done in multi-phases with the approval of a $150,000 Florida Inland Navigational District (FIND) grant and a required Interlocal Agreement to provide for said dredging. (Corey Sakryd, Deputy Director General Services)]
WELCOME, SIR. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR COMMISSIONERS, COREY SAKRYD, DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL SERVICES.TODAY I HAVE TWO ITEMS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION ON THE AGENDA.
FIRST IS A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO APPLY FOR FUNDING FROM THE FLORIDA INLAND NAVIGATION DISTRICT FOR THE DREDGING OF SALT RUN.
WE ALREADY HAVE TWO GRANTS IN POCKET AND THIS WOULD BE THE THIRD GRANT.
WE DAISY CHAIN GRANTS TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE WE REDUCE MOBILIZATION FEES AND TAKE AS MUCH SPOIL OUT OF THE SALT RUN AS WE CAN.
IF YOU APPROVE THAT RESOLUTION, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FUNDING FOR THAT.
THIS IS A 75/25 GRANT AND OUR OTHER PARTNERS AT THE ST.
AUGUSTINE PORT, WATERWAY, AND BEACH DISTRICT HAS ALREADY PONIED UP THE OTHER $50000 FOR THIS PROJECT. VERY GOOD.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? IS THERE A MOTION? I MOVE I LIKE THAT ENERGY. I SECOND.
[LAUGHTER] I HAVE A MOTION FROM THE VICE MAYOR, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER HORVATH.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I DO NOT SEE ANY.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
TRACY UPCHURCH. YES, THANK YOU.
AND THEN APPROVAL OF THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE ST.
AUGUSTINE PORT, WATERWAY, AND BEACH DISTRICT, ALSO, SIR.
I WOULD MOVE APPROVE OF THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.
SECOND. [LAUGHTER] I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE THIS EVENING.
[9.B.2. Resolution 2022-06: Requires all parades within the City to conclude by 11:00am. (J. Regan, City Manager)]
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MR. REGAN, WE ARE ON RESOLUTION 2022-06, ITEM 9.B.2.MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, THIS ITEM STEMS FROM A REQUEST FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO MOVE THE TIME OF PARADES FROM THE CURRENT ENDING TIME OF NOON TO 11 AM.
THERE ARE THREE PARADES THAT THIS AFFECTS; THE EASTER PARADE, THE CHRISTMAS PARADE AND THE ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE.
AND OFFICER TRUNCELLITO IS HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT POLICE OPERATIONS WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT, BUT FUNDAMENTALLY, YOU KNOW, PARADES FAIL TO EXPAND TO THE ALLOTTED TIME.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, CHOP CHOP, IT'S TIME TO OPEN THE ROAD.
WE'VE GOT TO GET THE BARRICADES AND GET THINGS OPEN, AND SO IT STARTS TO CREEP INTO THE AFTERNOON AND WE HAVE A HIGHER TRAFFIC LOADING TODAY THAN WE DID WHEN WE INITIALLY CREATED THIS ORDINANCE. SO WE'D LIKE TO MOVE IT TO 11 O'CLOCK FROM NOON, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS RESOLUTION DOES.
I HAVE A QUESTION. THE OTHER DAY, THE LIGHTHOUSE HAD A RUN, AND IT WAS AT AN UNUSUAL TIME I THOUGHT SEEMED TO TIE UP THAT AREA NEAR GIPSY AND ALL OF THAT, DOES THAT FALL INTO THIS 11 O'CLOCK THING OR? JEFF YOU WANT TO ANSWER THAT? YES.
NO, ON THE ISLAND, IT DOES NOT--.
THE 12 O'CLOCK DEADLINE AS OF NOW IS CONTAINED FROM THE BAY TO, I BELIEVE, BRIDGE STREET.
CORDOVA, YOU KNOW, DON'T GET ME [INAUDIBLE] THAT, BUT IT'S BASICALLY THE DOWNTOWN AREA HAS THAT TWELVE O'CLOCK DEADLINE AS OF NOW.
ON THE ISLAND, THEY ARE NOT CONSTRAINED TO [INAUDIBLE] TIME.
THANK YOU. OKAY, OTHER QUESTIONS? IS THERE MOTION I MOVE WE PASSED RESOLUTION 2022-06.
FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
YES. THANK YOU. THE RESOLUTION PASSES.
[10.A. Update regarding the City's efforts on homelessness. (A. Cuthbert, Assistant Chief of Police)]
HOMELESSNESS, THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD WITH OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS. WELCOME, SIR.GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS VICE MAYOR, MAYOR.
ANTHONY CUTHBERT, ASSISTANT CHIEF OF POLICE, ST.
I'VE BEEN TASKED TO COME UP AND GIVE YOU A SHORT UPDATE FOR THE ST.
AUGUSTINE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S OUTREACH PROGRAM.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING AND WHAT WE CAN DO MORE OF. I'LL PRESENT SOME DATA, I KNOW THAT CHIEF FOX WAS BEFORE YOU IN JUNE OF LAST YEAR AND GAVE YOU AN OVERALL WRAP OF THE LAST FIVE YEARS, SO I'M JUST GOING TO CONCENTRATE ON 2021 AND RUN DOWN OUR PARTNERSHIPS AND STAKEHOLDERS, AS WELL AS SOME OTHER OUTREACH FUNCTIONS THAT SOMETIMES GETS OVERLOOKED.
FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT AND THANK THE CITY COMMISSION, AND I'D LIKE TO ALSO THANK THE CITY STAFF FOR NOT ONLY TAKING AN ACTIVE ROLE IN COMBATING HOMELESSNESS, BUT FOR DOING IT COMPASSIONATELY.
OVER $318,566 DOLLARS A YEAR ARE ALLOCATED BY YOU TO COMBAT THIS PROBLEM, AND THAT'S PRETTY FORMIDABLE SINCE AS A POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE FEEL THAT SOMETIMES WE'RE THE ONLY GOVERNMENT AGENCY THAT HAVE SOME SWEAT IN THIS GAME, AND YOU ALL PROVIDE THAT TO US.
WE APPRECIATE IT. AS A WHOLE IN 2021, THE ST.
AUGUSTINE POLICE DEPARTMENT ANSWERED APPROXIMATELY 700 CALLS FOR SERVICE REGARDING HOMELESS RELATED SITUATIONS.
THIS IS A VERY CONSERVATIVE NUMBER, PRIMARILY BECAUSE WE DON'T DELINEATE OR IDENTIFY PERSONS BY CERTAIN ECONOMIC STATUS OR HOMELESS STATUS IN OUR REPORTING SYSTEM.
THESE 700 CALLS FOR SERVICE ALONE EQUATE TO POSSIBLY SEVERAL THOUSAND MANPOWER HOURS DUE TO THE LEVEL OF RESPONSE REQUIRED BY OUR OFFICERS.
THE FACTORS THAT MAY INCREASE TIME ON A CALL WOULD BE WHETHER OR NOT THAT SUBJECT REQUIRES MEDICAL ATTENTION, OR PSYCHIATRIC NEEDS, MEDICAL ATTENTION DUE TO INTOXICATION LEVELS. IN THESE CASES, THE OFFICERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR TRANSPORTING THE SUBJECT TO OUR LOCAL HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT AND IN SOME CASES TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR ASSISTANCE.
[01:40:03]
IF ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS SUCH AS ARRESTS ARE MIXED INTO THIS EQUATION, THE OFFICER COULD RELATIVELY BE ON A CALL FOR SEVERAL HOURS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BE CLEARED BY THE HOSPITAL BEFORE BEING TAKEN INTO THE JAIL.SO WE BEGAN THIS PROGRAM IN 2018, AND WE RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO PLACE AN OUTREACH PROGRAM IN WHICH OFFICERS SPECIALLY TRAINED AND SELECTED BY THEIR ABILITY AND KNOWLEDGE TO BECOME THE STOREFRONT FOR THOSE IN NEED WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF MULTIPLE COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
IT WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE POLICE BEING THE FIRST FACE OF GOVERNMENT FOR MUCH OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WHEN THEY COME INTO CONTACT WITH US, SO WE WERE THERE TO FILL THE VOID BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE CONNECTION TO SERVICES.
THIS ENDEAVOR REQUIRED OFFICERS TO GAIN THE TRUST OF THE HOMELESS, AND THAT'LL PLAY A LITTLE PART FURTHER INTO MY PRESENTATION.
BUT I WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND FOR OUR OUTREACH TEAM FOR BUILDING THESE BRIDGES, AND FOR WORKING SO HARD AND BUILDING THE TRUST OF THE HOMELESS, ST. FRANCIS HOUSE, HOME AGAIN ST.
JOHN'S, SALVATION ARMY, EPIC, SPENCER REHAB, FLAGLER HOSPITAL CONTINUUM OF CARE, GATEWAY, TRINITY MISSION, MERIDIAN BEHAVIOR.
THAT'S JUST A NUMBER OF FEW, THERE'S MORE THAN 30 ON THIS LIST THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH AND LEARN ABOUT THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AND WHAT THEY OFFER FOR OUR HOMELESS POPULATION.
SO DURING THE 2021 CONTRACT YEAR WITH THE ST.
FRANCIS HOUSE, OFFICERS UTILIZED ORDINANCE BEDS FOR 162 CLIENTS.
FIFTY FOUR OF THOSE CLIENTS ENTERED THE HOUSING FOCUS SHELTER PROGRAM TO END THEIR HOMELESSNESS. THIS IS A FIVE PERCENT INCREASE OVER THE PREVIOUS CONTRACT YEAR.
OF THOSE 54 INTRODUCED BY THE ST.
AUGUSTINE POLICE DEPARTMENT, 14 HAVE EXITED THEIR HOMELESSNESS AS A RESULT OF ENCOUNTERING OUR PROGRAM. TO ME PERSONALLY, THAT'S A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM, FOURTEEN PEOPLE.
MANY THANKS TO THE ST. FRANCIS HOUSE AND JUDY FOR THEIR SUPPORT.
IN 2021, FOR THE FAMILY REUNIFICATION PARTNERSHIP WITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES, OVER 60 INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVICED BY THIS PROGRAM AND REUNITED WITH FAMILY.
OUTREACH OFFICERS ARE PRIMARILY TASKED WITH ADMINISTERING THIS PROGRAM AND TO TRACK THE ENCOUNTERS.
TO BE ELIGIBLE, CLIENTS MUST HAVE FAMILY WILLING TO TAKE THEM IN AND OFFICERS ENSURE THE CLIENT ARRIVES AND BOARD THE TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED.
THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN UTILIZED FOR BUS TICKETS, AND IN SOME CASES AIRLINE TICKETS.
ONE PARTICULAR CLIENT, I RECALL, WAS REUNITED WITH FAMILY IN PUERTO RICO AND IS DOING VERY WELL TODAY. IF IT'S WITHIN ONE HUNDRED MILES, OUR OUTREACH OFFICERS WILL ACTUALLY TRANSPORT THE PERSON TO WHERE THEIR DESTINATION IS WITH FAMILY.
OUR PROGRAM IS ADMINISTERED BY OUR OUTREACH OFFICERS AND HAS BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE REFERRALS FROM THE VICTIMS ADVOCATES OFFICE REENTRY PROGRAM AND THE ST.
JOHN'S COUNTY JAIL. ANOTHER PORTION OF THE OUTREACH PROGRAM IS THE HABITUAL MISDEMEANOR PROGRAM. I'M NOT SURE HOW FAMILIAR ARE WITH THIS, BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT THIS PROGRAM IS NOT INTENDED TO PUNISH THE HOMELESS OR THOSE IN NEED.
THIS PROGRAM IS ACTIVELY WORKS WITH OUR PATROL AND STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO ENHANCE A SUBJECT SENTENCING GUIDELINES UNDER THE FLORIDA STATE STATUTE 775.
IT'S BETTER USE TO IDENTIFY THOSE SUBJECTS WITH UNDERLYING DEPENDENCY ISSUES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTACTS.
OUTREACH OFFICERS ATTEND AND TESTIFY AS NEEDED.
THIS TOOL ENHANCES THE COURT'S ABILITY TO SENTENCE THOSE IN NEED WHO MIGHT NOT CHOOSE TO DO IT ON THEIR OWN, SUCH AS ATTEND REHABILITATION OR SEEK PSYCHIATRIC CARE.
CURRENTLY, OUR OUTREACH OFFICERS ARE TRACKING 123 SUBJECTS, AND SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE PROGRAM, 17 PERSONS HAVE ENTERED THE HABITUAL MISDEMEANOR DETERMINATION.
SO THIS IS THE PART I REALLY LIKE TO TALK ABOUT.
THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT THERE'S REALLY NO DATA POINTS ON THAT WE DON'T TRACK, BUT THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT TAKE UP A LOT OF OUR OUTREACH OFFICERS TIMES.
THEY ACTIVELY ENGAGE OUR HOMELESS POPULATION AND THOSE IN NEED.
MUCH OF THOSE SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE PROVIDED GO UNNOTICED AND ARE NOT CAPTURED.
WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE ST.
AUGUSTINE POLICE BENEVOLENT ORGANIZATION AND OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS, WE'RE ABLE TO OBTAIN EYEGLASSES AND MEDICAL CARE, ASSISTING THOSE IN NEED TO OBTAINING STATE ID OR A P.O. BOX, WHEELCHAIRS, BICYCLES, CAR SEATS, WE TRANSPORT ELDERLY SHUT INS TO IMPORTANT
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APPOINTMENTS OR FINANCIAL NEEDS.IN ONE CASE, WE HELPED ARRANGE FUNERAL SERVICES FOR A VETERAN WHO PASSED AWAY ON THE STREET, AND JUST RECENTLY, OUR OUTREACH ASSISTED A JUVENILE WHO LOST HER CARETAKER AND CONNECTED HER WITH LEGAL SERVICES AND DCF WITH THE HELP OF UNITED WAY.
SO, IN 2021, ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHANGES THAT WE ARE HAPPY TO SEE AND HELPS US DO AND GIVES US TOOLS IN OUR TOOLBOX, AND THAT WAS THE VISIBLE PARK SIGNAGE THAT WAS RECENTLY POSTED AND THE PASSING OF ORDINANCE 2021-08.
I'M SURE EVERYONE'S NOTICED THE GIBBS PARK TRANSFORMATION.
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE POINT IN TIME, IT HAPPENED--.
IT WAS MEASURED BETWEEN JANUARY 29TH, 2021 TO FEBRUARY 4TH OF 2021, AND THIS POINT IN TIME IDENTIFIED 419 HOMELESS.
SO I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE SAPD OUTREACH EFFECTIVELY ENDED HOMELESSNESS FOR 83 OF THESE INDIVIDUALS.
THE NEXT POINT IN TIME, CONTACT COUNT WILL TAKE PLACE ON FEBRUARY 28TH OF THIS YEAR.
SO LOOKING FORWARD, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO STEVEN FISCHER, WHO'S OUR OUTREACH OFFICER, AND THEN DETECTIVE DROUIN, WHO RECENTLY JUST LEFT THE POSITION TO BE A DETECTIVE, AND I ASKED ABOUT THINGS THAT WOULD HELP US OR THAT THEY SAW THAT WE NEEDED TO ENHANCE OR A WISH LIST THAT THEY WISHED THEY HAD THAT WOULD MAKE THEIR JOBS MUCH EASIER.
WE HAD AN OPEN DISCUSSION ON HOW WE CAN ENHANCE THE OUTREACH PROGRAM AND MAKE IT MORE EFFECTIVE. NUMBER ONE BEING, MORE LOCAL GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATION.
AS I SAID BEFORE, WE FEEL THAT SOMETIMES WE'RE THE ONLY AGENCY THAT HAS ANY SWEAT IN THIS GAME. CONTINUED EXPANSION OF THE PARK SIGNAGE AND POSSIBLY AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR TOURISM. CONTINUED BENCHMARKING OF OUR OUTREACH PROGRAM AND FISCAL CONTRIBUTION COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES, AND THE FEASIBILITY OF AN ENTRY LEVEL SHELTER.
ALONG WITH CONSISTENCY IN PROSECUTION, AND POSSIBLY A CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE SOCIAL WORKER TO HELP WITH TRUST BUILDING.
SOMETIMES WE FIND THAT THE HOMELESS DO NOT LIKE TO SPEAK TO A UNIFORM, REGARDLESS OF WHAT OUR INTENTIONS ARE. SO I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS COMMENTS.
LET ME START, ASSISTANT CHIEF, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS INFORMATION, OFFICER FISCHER SPOKE TO ONE OF MY CLASSES AT FLAGLER.
I'M AWARE THAT HE'S SPOKEN TO AT LEAST ONE OTHER CLASS, PROBABLY SEVERAL OTHERS, AND HE REPRESENTS THE DEPARTMENT SO WELL, AND I LOVE THAT YOU STARTED YOUR PRESENTATION BY USING THE WORD COMPASSION.
THAT WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT CANDIDLY, I LEARNED FROM BARRY FOX AND I WAS ALWAYS IMPRESSED THAT, THAT WAS ALWAYS A PART OF HIS UNDERSTANDING OF THIS PROBLEM.
AND OF COURSE, WE ACT LIKE IT'S A LAW ENFORCEMENT PROBLEM, BUT IT'S SO MUCH MORE THAN A LAW ENFORCEMENT PROBLEM, IT'S JUST YOU'RE THE FOLKS THAT WE JUST CONSTANTLY TURN TO HELP AND WE DO PUT A LOT ON YOUR PLATE AND--.
THE LONGER I'VE SAT IN THIS POSITION, I JUST BECOME MORE AND MORE APPRECIATIVE OF NOT ONLY WHAT WE ARE DOING, BUT HOW DIFFICULT THE PROBLEM IS, AND SO PLEASE KNOW HOW GRATEFUL I AM. I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE REST OF THE COMMISSION, BUT I WOULD HAZARD THE GUESS, THEY SHARE MY OPINION FOR THE WORKS THAT WE ARE DOING, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUGGESTIONS OF WAYS THAT WE CAN STRENGTHEN IT.
I GET MORE EMAIL ON THIS TOPIC THAN ANY OTHER TOPIC.
SOMETIMES THEY ARE FROM VISITORS, SOMETIMES THEY'RE FROM RESIDENTS.
I HAVE ONE FROM A RESIDENT THAT CLAIMS THAT ONE OF THE REASONS THEY HAVE MOVED FROM THE COMMUNITY IS BECAUSE OF THEIR DISSATISFACTION WITH THE HOMELESS ISSUE, AND SO THIS CONTINUES TO BE AT LEAST ON MY PLATE OCCUPIES A LARGE SECTION OF IT.
AND SO THIS IS REALLY HELPFUL.
LET ME ASK ONE SPECIFIC QUESTION, THE POINT IN TIME COUNT THE 419 THE HOMELESS FOLK THAT WERE IDENTIFIED IN 2021 ARE THOSE EXCLUSIVE TO THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE OR DO THEY INCLUDE--.
WHAT IS THAT GEOGRAPHIC AREA THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE COUNT? I CAN'T SPEAK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT GEOGRAPHICALLY, BUT IT INCLUDES, MORE GEOGRAPHICALLY,
[01:50:03]
THE WHOLE COUNTY. OK.NOT JUST IN THE CITY. OK, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. YES, COMMISSIONER VALDES? I HAVE A--. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, AND YOU KNOW, IT'S SO EASY TO FORGET THAT THE HOMELESS ARE JUST LIKE US, EXCEPT THEY FALLEN ON HARD TIMES.
MANY OF THEM WERE [INAUDIBLE] FOR THE GRACE OF GOD [INAUDIBLE] I COULD BE THE ONE THAT MAY BE OFF MY MEDS.
IS THERE ANY KIND OF BREAKDOWN OF THE NUMBERS? I MEAN, TO KNOW HOW TO FIX A PROBLEM, YOU'VE GOT TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND THE HOMELESS PROBLEM IS A HAS MANY FACETS.
YOU HAVE THE ECONOMIC HOMELESS, YOU HAVE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE OFF THE MEDS, YOU HAVE THE ADDICTED, YOU HAVE THE HABITUAL--.
THE NUMBER YOU JUST GAVE US, DO WE HAVE ANY BREAKDOWN AS TO WHAT-- HOW MANY ARE ECONOMICALLY HOMELESS, HOW MANY ARE OFF THEIR MEDS? THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME.
THE SECOND THING IS, I, YOU KNOW, WE FIND A REPLACEMENT SO OFTEN BEING ASKED TO BE POLICEMEN AND PUT THEIR LIVES IN HARM'S WAY TO HELP ENFORCE OUR LAWS AND PROTECT US, BUT WE ALSO ASK YOU TO BE PSYCHIATRIC WORKERS SO OFTEN, AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT MAYBE THIS WOULD BE BEST SERVED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE INDEED TRAINED TO BE PSYCHIATRIC WORKERS, TO WORK WITH THE HOMELESS AND WORK WITH THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THESE VARIOUS PROBLEMS GOING ON.
AND MAYBE IT'S NOT ALWAYS BEST AS A POLICE OFFICER, AND MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING WE AS A CITY SHOULD EMBRACE THE IDEA OF POSSIBLY--.
IF WE'RE GOING TO BE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS, WE HAVE TO BE BECAUSE WE CAN 'NOT' BE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS AS A CITY AND ALSO SIMPLY, AS, YOU KNOW, CONSCIOUS HUMANS THAT MAYBE WE NEED TO LOOK AT EXPANDING HOW WE ADDRESS THE HOMELESS INTO MAYBE HAVING PEOPLE ON STAFF THAT WORK WITH THEM THAT ARE NOT IN THE UNIFORM, NOT THAT YOU DON'T DO A TERRIFIC JOB, BUT I'M SURE YOU HAVE OTHER THINGS YOU'D LIKE TO BE DOING.
I HAVE QUESTIONS. YES, PLEASE.
SO WHEN YOU SAY EXPANSION OF PARK SIGNAGE AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM, I'M NOT CLEAR ON WHAT THE-- IS IT THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE VISITORS? CORRECT. BACK WHEN WE WERE REVAMPING THE PANHANDLING ORDINANCE, I BELIEVE THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT IT AND I ACTUALLY DID QUITE A BIT OF RESEARCH FOR CHIEF FOX ON IT.
MM-HMM. PERSONALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT MAYBE COME TO SOME MORE FRUITION THAN IT DID . OK. [INADUIBLE] POSSIBLY HELP.
OK, SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS AND EXPANSION OF PARK SIGNAGE.
YES. SO, GIBBS PARK, I BELIEVE, SIGNED RIGHT NOW WITH ONE.
SPEAKING TO JERRY BLAYLOCK, HE WOULD LIKE ANOTHER SIGN ON THE OTHER END, WHICH I SAID I WOULD TAKE CARE OF, BUT WITH ANY PARKS UNDER THAT ORDINANCE, SIGNAGE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. OK, SO YOU MEAN A MATCHING SIGN FOR THE GIBBS PARK? SOMETHING FOR THAT BECAUSE IT'S WORKING? IT IS WORKING. IT IS WORKING. OK, SO THAT GOES TO THE TOP OF THE LIST.
I GET THE CONTINUED BENCHMARKING.
I LOOK AT FEASIBILITY OF ENTRY LEVEL SHELTER AS KIND OF A BUDGETARY ITEM THAT WE NEED TO PUT ON OUR LIST.
I SEE REVIEWING OF THE PANHANDLING ORDINANCE FOR TIGHTER REGULATION, SOMETHING WE DON'T NEED TO WORK ON--. I MEAN, WAIT ON.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD START RIGHT AWAY AND I WILL BE INTERESTED IN HEARING YOUR INPUT ON WHAT YOU THINK WOULD NEED TO BE DONE THERE, AND MAYBE WE CAN HAVE THAT OFFLINE CONVERSATION. BUT I THINK THAT THAT THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT RIGHT AWAY, AND THEN, I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU MEAN BY INCREASED PARTICIPATION FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ALTHOUGH I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT I DON'T KNOW SPECIFICALLY.
SO, I WOULD LOVE TO TALK ABOUT THAT MORE TOO, BECAUSE THIS IS A CRITICAL ISSUE FOR, YOU KNOW, THIS AS YOU WELL KNOW AND YOU ARE TAKING THE MOST OF THE WORK ON IN YOUR DEPARTMENT . BUILDING INTO OUR BUDGET, A SOCIAL WORKER I SUPPORT BECAUSE BASED ON YOUR SUCCESS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SHOWING US THAT YOU CAN DO THIS AND YOU'RE DOING IT AND YOU'RE SAYING YOU NEED IMPROVEMENT.
SO I WOULD SUPPORT THAT AS A BUDGET ITEM, YES.
CONSISTENCY IN PROSECUTION, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.
LIKE, IS THAT SOMETHING WE CAN CONTROL? OR IS THAT JUDICIAL SYSTEM? THAT'S MORE OF JUDICIAL AND WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE CITY ATTORNEYS, ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY, AND GETTING THAT DONE CORRECTLY.
OK, SO THAT'S SOMETHING REALLY WE WOULD TALK TO OR ENCOURAGE OUR JUDICIAL, OUR JUDGES, SPECIFICALLY? OK.
AND THIS LIST WAS BASICALLY AN ANTHONY TO STEVE FISCHER.
YEAH. ANTHONY TO CAROLINE DROUIN.
SOME OF IT WE CAN HANDLE IN-HOUSE, BUT YOU KNOW, I FELT LIKE I NEEDED TO TELL YOU WHAT THEIR THOUGHTS WERE BECAUSE THEY WERE THE ONES THAT WERE DOING THE FRONT LINE WORK.
AND STEVEN FISCHER AND CAROLINE HAVE BEEN TERRIFIC.
[01:55:01]
OK. ALL RIGHT, SO DO YOU SEE ANY OTHER BUDGETARY ITEMS THAT, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE ON THIS LIST? BUDGETARY? NO. LOOK YOU ALL DO QUITE [INAUDIBLE] DO A GOOD JOB AT FUNDING THIS AND THAT GOES BACK INTO MY COMMENT ABOUT MORE LOCAL GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATION BECAUSE I FEEL THAT WE'RE FOOTING THE BILL FOR EVERYBODY AND WE'D LIKE TO SEE MORE PARTICIPATION.I DON'T WANT TO BE SPECIFIC, BUT YOU CAN USE YOUR IMAGINATION AS TO WHO THAT WOULD BE.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER BLONDER? I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ECHO THE VICE MAYOR'S COMMENTS AND MY SUPPORT FOR IT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING.
IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE THERE ARE TWO STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT ELEMENTS OF THIS THAT ARE THE INCREASED PARTICIPATION FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, WHICH I READ AS COUNTY, AND ST.
AUGUSTINE BEACH AS WELL, BUT I IMAGINE THEY'RE DOING SOME OF THIS AND THE REVIEW--.
I MEAN, SORRY, THE FEASIBILITY OF AN ENTRY LEVEL SHELTER.
COULD WE REQUEST THAT STAFF EXPLORE DEVELOPING A STRATEGY TO ADDRESS BOTH OF THOSE NEEDS? I THINK THERE-. AND I WOULD GO A LITTLE BIT BROADER.
I THINK THAT WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A LIST OF IDEAS, AND WE'D SIMPLY ASK MR. REGAN TO REVIEW THOSE AND RESPOND IN SOME TYPE OF MORE FORMAL MANNER AT SOME FUTURE DATE.
AND I APOLOGIZE, BUT MAY I ADD ONE THING, I TOTALLY FORGOT THIS, WE HAD A REQUEST FROM MS. WALDEN TO INCREASE PRESENCE AT THE DINING WITH DIGNITY.
RIGHT? AND IS THERE A WAY TO DO THAT? YES. CHIEF MICHELLE AND MYSELF SPOKE TO ELLEN AND A FEW OF HER PARTICIPATING MEMBERS WITH DINING WITH DIGNITY.
WE WILL BE ASSISTING THAT AS BEST WE CAN, AS YOU KNOW, CALLS FOR SERVICE, PUBLIC SAFETY IS PRIORITY SO WE CAN ALWAYS DEDICATE AND OFFICERS FOR THAT.
WE DID GIVE HER SOME OPTIONS, BUT WE WILL BE LOOKING AT IMPLEMENTING ONE OF THE THINGS SHE MENTIONED IN HER STATEMENT TO YOU, BUT WE'RE--.
BUDGETARY ITEM THAT WOULD, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAD EITHER ON DUTY, OFF DUTY, WHATEVER. YEAH, WE'VE SPOKEN TO HER AND GIVE HER SOME OPTIONS, INCLUDING HIRING AN OFF DUTY OFFICER, SPEAKING WITH THE COUNTY AND GETTING THEIR ASSISTANCE, BUT WE'RE WORKING ON IT AND WE HOPE THERE'LL BE A RESOLUTION TO THAT.
I THOUGHT THAT WE DID SUPPORT FINANCIALLY DINING WITH DIGNITY, IS IT NOT? IT'S JUST THAT WE HAVE THE SPACE FOR THEM? WE GIVE THE SPACE AND OUR OFFICERS HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, VERY PARTICIPATORY.
I'LL SAY SOMETHING PUBLICLY THAT IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT PAST AND AT THE TIME, I DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT PUBLICLY BUT YOU KNOW, PART OF THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN RELATED WITH COVID. SO WITH OFFICERS OUT WITH COVID AND NORMAL VACANCIES, WE WERE RUNNING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 25 AND 30 PERCENT.
YOU KNOW, UNDER 25 TO 30 PERCENT LESS OFFICERS, LESS STAFF, AND THAT AT THE TIME WASN'T SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT.
SO, THE ASSISTANT CHIEF AND CHIEF HAVE HAD TO REALLOCATE RESOURCES, DEPENDING ON PRIORITIES. IF I MAY ADD THAT OFFICER FISCHER WILL BE RETURNING TO HIS OUTREACH DUTIES AT THE END OF THIS MONTH, AND THAT WILL ALLEVIATE MUCH OF THAT BECAUSE HE DID TAKE THAT TASK ON PRETTY MUCH ON HIS OWN WITH DINING WITH DIGNITY.
I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON SOMETHING COMMISSIONER VALDES SAID ABOUT FURTHER INFORMATION ON HOW THE BREAKDOWN HAPPENS, HOW MANY WOMEN ARE OUT THERE, HOW MANY MEN, HOW MANY CHILDREN ARE OUT THERE, I MEAN, THAT AT ALL IS INFORMATION WE REALLY NEED TO TACKLE THIS PROBLEM. I WILL DEFINITELY FOLLOW UP WITH THAT.
COMMISSIONER VALDES DID MENTION ABOUT DEPENDENCY ISSUES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S BROKEN DOWN OR AVAILABLE.
THAT MIGHT BE SOME HIPAA ISSUE IS THAT WITH THAT, BUT WE'LL LOOK INTO IT.
THANK YOU. ASSISTANCE CHEIF, [INAUDIBLE] APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION AND THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT ARE DOING.
MR. REGAN. SO, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONER, SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE TAKING BITES OF THIS ELEPHANT, ONE MEETING AT A TIME, AND SO A COUPLE THINGS I WANTED TO MENTION AS A RULE OF THUMB, ALTHOUGH WE'LL GET OUR MOST RECENT POINT AND COUNT TIME-- POINT IN TIME COUNT, TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF BREAKDOWN, BUT AS A RULE OF THUMB OF ALL HOMELESS, ABOUT 15 PERCENT MEET THE DEFINITION OF CHRONICALLY HOMELESS.
SO IF YOU TAKE 450 ROUGHLY AND ABOUT 10-15 PERCENT IS THE CHRONIC HOMELESS AND IT'S THE
[02:00:06]
CHRONIC HOMELESS THE PEOPLE ARE BASICALLY COMPLAINING ABOUT.SO MOST PEOPLE, 85 PERCENT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS DON'T WANT TO BE HOMELESS AND THEY'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT.
THE NEXT THING, WHERE DO WE GO NEXT? SO IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE NEXT STEP IS STARTING TO LOOK AT WHAT IS THE DEMAND AND WHAT ARE EXISTING CAPACITIES IN THE VARYING TYPES OF HOUSING ALONG THE CONTINUUM OF CARE.
SO AT ONE END, IS SHELTERING, EMERGENCY SHELTERING, ST.
FRANCIS HOUSE, MOVING UP TO TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, PERMANENT AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SO ON, UP THE CONTINUUM OF CARE.
SO THERE'S A, I'M HOPING THAT BY WEDNESDAY, WE'LL HAVE A DOCUMENT THAT WILL BE ABLE TO SHOW YOU WHAT IS THE AMOUNT OF INVENTORY IN THOSE DIFFERENT CLASSES OF HOUSING, AND I THINK WHAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING ABOUT THE PRESENTATION BY THE ASSISTANT CHIEF IS THAT IDENTIFYING THE NEED FOR WHAT WE CALL A LOW BARRIER TO ENTRY FACILITY, I THINK YOU CALLED IT--. WHAT DID YOU CALL IT? BASIC ENTRY LEVEL. BASIC ENTRY LEVEL.
SO IN THE INDUSTRY, THAT'S CALLED LOW BARRIER TO ENTRY, SO WHAT WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT, COMMISSIONER VALDES AND I HAVE BEEN THE MONROE COUNTY KEY WEST MODEL, WHERE THERE'S A FACILITY THAT IS WHERE HOMELESS CAN PUT THEIR THINGS, HAVE A PLACE TO SLEEP, SHOWER OR SO FORTH THAT HAS SOME SECURITY, AIR CONDITIONING, WHATEVER THAT MATCHES THE POINT IN TIME COUNT. AND SO WHEN WE SHOW YOU THE NEXT PHASE, YOU'LL SEE THAT'S THE MAJOR MISSING INGREDIENT, AND ALSO THE TOTAL CAPACITIES AND DEMANDS FOR THESE TYPES OF HOUSING.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE WANTED TO GET ACROSS TODAY THAT THE CONTRACTS YOU CAN POINT TO ARE $318,00. IT'S NOT REALLY MEASURABLE WHAT HOMELESS IS REALLY COSTING US, AND THAT'S WHY BEFORE I SAID, IT'S PROBABLY NORTH OF HALF A MILLION EASILY BASED ON WHAT THE ASSISTANT CHIEF JUST SHOWED YOU.
SO WE'LL BE BRINGING THAT FORWARD TO YOU SO WE CAN KEEP BUILDING THIS CONVERSATION THAT MAKES LOGICAL SENSE OF WHERE WE CAN GO NEXT, AND--.
AND I THOUGHT IT WAS ALSO MY TAKEAWAY WAS I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE THAT THE OFFICERS DOING THE WORK, TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PSYCHIATRIC SOCIAL WORKERS ADDED TO THE WORKFORCE AS COMPARED TO THIS CONTENTIOUS DEBATE THAT WE HEAR NATIONALLY ABOUT DEFUND POLICE, WHICH IS REALLOCATING RESOURCES TO SOCIAL SERVICES, WHICH IS A VERY NEGATIVE, YOU KNOW, CONTEXT.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE REALLY SEEING SOME THINGS COME TOGETHER HERE AND WE'LL KEEP MOVING THIS FORWARD.
I HOPE WE CAN PRESENT ON THE 28TH THE NEXT STEP IN THIS MOVEMENT.
MR. REGAN. ONE THING I WOULD ADD TO THE LIST THAT THE ASSISTANT CHIEFS PROVIDED US IS, I'VE SUGGESTED IN THE PAST THAT WE CONSIDER HAVING A DEDICATED-- A PAGE ON OUR WEBSITE WHERE WE CAN DIRECT COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS WELL AS VISITORS TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION OF WHAT WE'RE DOING ABOUT HOMELESS.
WE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS AND THOSE FADED AWAY, BUT WE'VE GOT AN IMPORTANT STORY TO TELL, AND THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THE COMPLICATED NATURE OF THIS PROBLEM.
WE'RE ONLY REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT IT WHEN THEY'RE IN OUR FACE.
WE DID PROVIDE AN FAQ ON THE CITY ATTORNEY'S WEB PAGE FOR A LOT OF THESE QUESTIONS, SORT OF PIGGYBACKING ON WHY THE PANHANDLING ORDINANCE IS WRITTEN THE WAY IT IS AND WHY IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO AMEND IT.
AND WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL BECAUSE IT'S DEEMED A FIRST AMENDMENT CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT, SO WE DID CREATE THAT.
NOW WE DON'T HAVE THAT SECOND PART OF YOUR QUERY, WHICH IS TELL US ALL THE THINGS THAT THE CITY'S ALREADY DOING IN OTHER PROGRAMS, BUT WE DO HAVE THE FAQ ON ISSUES HAVING TO DO WITH HOMELESSNESS AND WHAT THE PARAMETERS LEGALLY ARE IN TERMS OF WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO FOR PANHANDLING, HOMELESSNESS AND SO ON.
WELL, LET'S GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT.
IT APPEARS WE HAVE A FOUNDATION FOR THAT, AND
[02:05:01]
ACCESSIBLE? OK.DID BRING UP EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AND THAT WOULD BE PART OF IT.
A WEB PAGE WITH FAQS WOULD BE PART OF IT AND ALSO THE BROCHURE OR [INAUDIBLE] THAT WE DID. I DON'T HAVE A COPY OF IT, BUT WE DID THAT IN COLLABORATION WITH THE, I BELIEVE, THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
I DON'T KNOW IF MS. WALDEN MIGHT REMEMBER, BUT THERE WAS [INAUDIBLE] THAT COULD BE GIVEN OUT TO VISITORS THAT ANSWERED THE QUESTIONS ABOUT--.
THERE WAS ACTUALLY AN APP THAT WENT ALONG WITH THAT.
PEOPLE COULD DONATE TO THE APP INSTEAD OF GIVE MONEY DIRECTLY TO THE PERSON THAT'S PANHANDLING, AND THEN THAT WAY, THE MONEY ACTUALLY GOES DIRECTLY TO THE ENTITIES THAT ARE ACTUALLY PROVIDING THE SERVICES TO HELP THEM.
SO THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE COULD PROBABLY PUT TOGETHER INTO AN EDUCATION PROGRAM.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
[10.B. Update on the short-term rental program within the City. (A. Skinner, Director Planning and Building)]
MS. SKINNER, WE ARE ON ITEM 10B UPDATE ON SHORT TERM RENTAL PROGRAM WITHIN THE CITY.YES, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT AT THE LAST MEETING YOU REQUESTED AN UPDATE ON THE SHORT TERM RENTAL PROGRAM.
THE CITY HAS MOVED FORWARD TO ESTABLISH AND ENFORCE THE SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE, WE HAVE HIRED A CODE ENFORCEMENT MANAGER, WE HAVE A CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER THAT IS DEDICATED TO THE SHORT TERM RENTAL PROGRAM.
I GAVE YOU A LITTLE SUMMARY OF SOME NUMBERS.
BASICALLY, NOW SINCE I WROTE THIS MEMO, WE HAVE 448 REGISTERED SHORT TERM RENTALS, THAT 17 ADDITIONAL SHORT TERM RENTALS SINCE I WROTE THE MEMO.
WE ARE CONSTANTLY WORKING ON MONITORING THE STATUS OF SHORT TERM RENTALS.
WE CONSTANTLY HAVE PEOPLE APPLYING, YOU KNOW, GOING INACTIVE, ACTIVE, BACK AND FORTH, WORKING WITH COMPLIANCE.
WE ALSO ARE WORKING WITH HOST COMPLIANCE, WHICH IS A COMPANY THAT HELPS US MONITOR THAT.
THAT ALSO, YOU KNOW, HELPS US SEE WHO'S REGISTERED AND ACTIVE.
THIS HAS BEEN KIND OF A YEAR LONG PROGRAM, IT'S BEEN A LEARNING PROCESS FOR SURE.
THIS IS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF AN EMOTIONAL ISSUE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING US TRYING TO ENFORCE THE ORDINANCE.
THIS IS OUR FIRST YEAR WHERE WE ACTUALLY HAD RENEWALS, SO WE HAVE HAD A LEARNING PROCESS WITH THAT. WE DIDN'T REALIZE, BUT NOVEMBER 1ST, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, HOST COMPLIANCE, IF SOMEBODY WASN'T OFFICIALLY REGISTERED, THEY JUST WENT THROUGH AN INACTIVATED PEOPLE ARBITRARILY ON NOVEMBER 1ST.
SO WE'RE WORKING THROUGH ISSUES, BUT WE ARE-- IT'S ON A DAILY BASIS.
WE'VE HAD, AS OF THE DATE OF THE MEMORANDUM, WE'VE HAD 20 COMPLAINTS IN THE LAST 30 DAYS AND WE'VE HAD ABOUT 100-200 COMPLAINTS, MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS FROM THE COMMUNITY DEAL WITH THE TRASH ISSUES AND PARKING ISSUES.
WE HAVE APPROVED THROUGH THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD BASED ON THE ORDINANCE 25 PARKING SPACES FOR PEOPLE TO USE THEIR SHORT TERM RENTALS IN THE PARKING GARAGE.
SO OUT OF, YOU KNOW, THE 450 OR SO REGISTERED SHORT TERM RENTALS, WE'VE HAD 13 GO TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD AND ASK FOR PARKING IN THE PARKING GARAGE.
IT'S BEEN A DIFFICULT PROCESS AT THE PZB AS AGAIN, THIS IS KIND OF A DIFFICULT ISSUE FOR THE COMMUNITY, BUT MOST PEOPLE ARE, IF THEY'RE REGISTERED, THEN PRESUMABLY THEY'RE COMPLYING WITH PARKING AND THE REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY NEED TO ACTUALLY RUN THE SHORT TERM RENTAL. SO IN LOOKING AT KIND OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF RENTALS, IT SEEMS THAT MOST SHORT TERM RENTALS ARE REGISTERED SOUTH OF MAIN STREET, KIND OF EAST OF US-1 IN THE ABBOTT TRACT, IN NORTH CITY AND IN LINCOLNVILLE AREAS, AS WELL AS DAVIS SHORES, SO.
[LAUGHTER] IS THERE? [LAUGHTER] I KNOW IT'S--.
YOU KNOW AGAIN, THE FLORIDA STATE LEGISLATURE HAS PREEMPTED OUR ABILITY TO REGULATE A LOT OF THESE THINGS. WE DO HAVE CERTAIN AREAS THAT IN OUR RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS, THEY ARE LIMITED TO, YOU KNOW, SEVEN DAYS OR LONGER, IN OUR HISTORIC PRESERVATION ONE ZONE, THEY ARE LIMITED TO 30 DAYS OR LONGER.
[02:10:01]
AGAIN, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, LOTS OF DIFFICULTIES IN KEEPING TRACK, BUT WE DO HAVE STAFF THAT IS DEDICATED TO THIS AND THEY DO WORK HARD EVERY DAY AND--.WELL, I APPRECIATE IT, AND I APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK.
I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, I WAS OPERATING UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT WE HAD ABOUT 600 SHORT TERM RENTALS.
THAT WAS THE NUMBER THAT WE USED A LOT WHEN WE WERE DEVELOPING THE ORDINANCE, SO I'M SURPRISED TO SEE THAT WE'RE SIGNIFICANTLY SHY OF THAT.
WELL, WE HAVE-- IT'S BEEN A LONG PROCESS TO REALLY BRING PEOPLE INTO THIS FORMAL REGISTRATION PROCESS.
YOU KNOW, I WOULD ASSUME THAT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE OPERATING OUT THERE THAT HAVE STILL NOT COMPLIED WITH THIS.
IT'S A CONSTANT BATTLE TO BRING PEOPLE IN THROUGH THE REGISTRATION PROCESS.
WE ARE REALLY GLAD FOR, I GUESS, EACH ACHIEVEMENT, YOU KNOW, EACH VICTORY EVERY DAY, SO WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS.
BUT WE'VE REALLY ONLY BEEN AT THIS, YOU KNOW, SINCE WE HIRED THE CODE ENFORCEMENT MANAGER. SO, WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME IS THE SIX HUNDRED PLUS OR MINUS, WAS WE BELIEVE THAT'S A REAL FIGURE, WE REALLY HAVE THIS GAP OF NONCOMPLIANCE? I BELIEVE THAT'S THE SITUATION WHEN WE--.
I WOULD JUST NOTE THAT-- AND I THANK YOU, I KNOW IT'S A BIG STRUGGLE AND THAT'S A BIG GAP.
I WOULD NOTE THAT WE HAD PUBLIC COMMENT FROM AT LEAST ONE PERSON WHO WAS OPERATING SHORT TERM RENTALS, AND I THINK WE HAVE MOSTLY GOOD, YOU KNOW, WELL-INTENTIONED OWNERS.
IT'S THE BAD ACTORS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, NOT COMPLYING, AND SO I WOULD ACTUALLY ASK THE GOOD ACTORS TO TRY TO HELP US IDENTIFY THE FOLKS THAT ARE MAKING THEM LOOK BAD AND GET [INAUDIBLE] HELP--. YOU KNOW, WITHOUT RATTING PEOPLE OUT, BUT, YOU KNOW, SOME WAY OF HELPING US GET A HANDLE ON THEM.
BECAUSE ONE CODE ENFORCEMENT PERSON, AND THAT'S A LOT, 150 OR MORE, THAT ARE OUT OF COMPLIANCE. SO, IT'S GOING TO TAKE YEARS AT BEST.
I'LL ASK A QUESTION, IT'S REALLY JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY MORE THAN ANYTHING.
WE'RE LOOKING AT 488, HOW MANY OF THESE ARE ACTUALLY SINGLE FAMILY HOMES? DO WE HAVE ANY NUMBER ON THAT? I THINK THE MAJORITY, BUT THAT WOULD JUST BE MY IMPRESSION, I'D HAVE TO LOOK AND SEE.
AND WHAT WOULD YOU GUESS [INAUDIBLE] ARE TOTAL HOUSING STOCK IN THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE IS SINGLE FAMILY HOMES? IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I LOOKED AT OUR HOUSING ELEMENT, BUT WE HAVE ROUGHLY LIKE 6500 HOUSES. SO IT'S NOT A HUGE NUMBER, BUT THEY SEEM TO BE CONCENTRATED IN CERTAIN AREAS.
WOW. MY IDEA WOULD BE, KIND OF BUILDING ON COMMISSIONER BLONDER'S, IS JOHN GRAPSAS IS HERE, AND HE HAS A GROUP ORGANIZED AND THEY'RE SAYING THEY WANT TO WORK WITH US AND THEY WERE ALL ABOUT BEING RESPONSIBLE MEMBERS OF THAT BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
THEM, I DON'T KNOW THEIR NAMES, BUT MAYBE COULD REACH OUT TO THEM.
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS, COMMISSIONERS? MS. SKINNER, THIS IS A REALLY INTERESTING INFORMATION TO THE COMMISSION, WE WORKED HARD ON THIS ORDINANCE. YOU FOLKS HAVE WORKED HARD ON IT AND WE APPRECIATE THE UPDATE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[12.A. Request for appointment to the Code Enforcement Adjustment and Appeals Board. (D. Galambos, City Clerk)]
WE ARE NOW ON ITEMS BY THE CITY CLERK.GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND COMMISSIONERS.
I HAVE THREE ITEMS TOTAL TONIGHT.
MY FIRST ONE IS A REQUEST FOR ONE APPOINTMENT ON OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT ADJUSTMENTS AND APPEALS BOARD. WE ADVERTISED THIS VACANCY, WE RECEIVED ONE APPLICATION FROM MS. KELLY AND IT IS-- WE RECOMMEND APPOINTING HER IF YOU SO CHOOSE.
I'VE VOICED THIS IN THE PAST, THIS IS, I DON'T WANT TO FUSS, BUT I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT EITHER ONE OF THESE APPLICANTS.
THERE'S NOTHING IN OUR APPLICATION THAT TELLS US ANYTHING, AND I JUST THINK WE HAVE GOT TO DO A BETTER JOB AND I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER, AND I'D BE DELIGHTED TO HEAR YOUR OBSERVATIONS, MR. REGAN'S OBSERVATIONS, ABOUT HOW WE CAN GET JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHO
[02:15:01]
THESE FOLKS ARE. I'M SURE THEY'RE WONDERFUL.WELL, WE DO HAVE THEIR APPLICATION, SAYS SHE'S AN ATTORNEY, AND SHE'S OFFICIAL PREVIOUS LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AND--.
WELL THAT-- YOU FOUND MORE THERE THAN I DID.
I KNOW SHE'S AN ATTORNEY AND I KNOW WHERE SHE LIVES.
BUT THERE'S NO RESUME. THERE'S A--.
PREVIOUS MEMBER OF THE CITY COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING COMMITTEE.
SHE'S A CERTIFIED ELECTION OFFICIAL--.
I MEAN, I APPRECIATE WHAT SHE'S DONE.
YOU'LL NOTICE THAT SHE HAS PROVIDED US MORE INFORMATION THAN THE SECOND APPLICANT.
WHO HAS TOLD US WHERE SHE LIVES, AND AGAIN, I'M--.
WELL KNOW THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE THERE, FORGIVE ME.
SO--. I AGREE WITH YOU AND I THINK MAYBE WE COULD WORK ON OUR APPLICATION TO ASK FOR MORE INFORMATION, AND MAY I POINT OUT SOMETHING? WHY DO WE NEED TO ASK RACIAL CATEGORY? WHY ARE WE DOING THAT? ACTUALLY, SOME OF OUR FEDERAL GRANTS DO REQUIRE THAT WE PROVIDE AS MUCH INFORMATION ON THE VARIOUS UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
ALL RIGHT. BUT I THINK WE COULD PROBABLY WORK ON OUR APPLICATION IF WE'RE LOOKING FOR MORE QUALIFICATION.
I ASSUME YOU'RE LOOKING FOR QUALIFICATIONS? YES. SO, ON OUR PLANNING AND ZONING AND HISTORIC ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD APPLICATION, IT DOES HAVE A VERY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE A COVER LETTER AND RESUME.
I THOUGHT THAT WE HAD UPDATED OUR GENERAL BOARD APPLICATION AS WELL, BUT IT WAS JUST MORE OF A RECOMMENDATION TO PROVIDE IT.
RIGHT. TO HAVE THAT SAME LANGUAGE.
YES, MR. REGAN? THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER STRUCTURAL ISSUE IS THAT WHILE WE CAN REQUEST A COVER LETTER OR RESUME AND A RICHER APPLICATION, SO TO SAY, IT'S BEEN THE POLICY OF THE COMMISSION THAT WE BRING ALL APPLICATIONS FORWARD.
SO THERE'S NO MECHANISM FOR STAFF REALLY TO SAY, LOOK, I'M NOT GOING TO BRING THIS FORWARD IF YOU DON'T JUST COMPLY WITH THE STANDARDS, AND SO I JUST WANT TO BRING THAT UP WITH YOU THAT IN THE PAST, THERE'S BEEN A DELIBERATE POLICY OF BRINGING THINGS FORWARD DESPITE THEIR INADEQUACIES, SO TO SAY.
AND YOU KNOW, WE MAY WANT TO CONSIDER HAVING THE ABILITY FOR STAFF TO CHECK OFF A MINIMUM STANDARD COVER LETTER APPLICATION THAT WOULD CERTAINLY BE MY POSITION.
OR YOU COULD HAVE A LIST LIKE WHEN WE'RE ON THE TDC, WHEN WE'RE MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BCC FOR APPLICATIONS TO BE MEMBERS, THEY GIVE US TWO LISTS.
THEY SAY THESE ARE THE QUALIFIED ONES AND THESE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE NOT, SO YOU STILL SEE THE NAMES YOU'RE NOT MISSING OUT ON WHO'S TRYING TO APPLY.
SO IT'S NOT NECESSARILY IN THE APPLICATION, BUT IT'S IN HOW IT'S PRESENTED BY STAFF.
OF COURSE, IN THIS CASE, I ONLY SEE ONE APPLICANT, SO.
GALAMBOS? WE DO HAVE AN ORDINANCE-- OR RESOLUTION ON THE BOOKS THAT REQUIRES THE CITY CLERK TO PROVIDE ALL APPLICATIONS TO YOU.
SO I LIKE THE IDEA THAT PERHAPS WE HAVE A LIST OF COMPLETED APPLICATIONS AND INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS, SO WE WOULD KNOW THAT THAT APPLIED.
I'D MAKE A MOTION BASED UPON THE INFORMATION THAT MS. KELLY PROVIDED THAT WE APPOINT HER TO THE CODE ENFORCEMENT APPEALS BOARD.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THANK YOU. AND NOW WE ARE MS.
[12.B. Request for one appointment to the St. Augustine Police Officers' Retirement Board. (D. Galambos, City Clerk)]
GALAMBOS ON ITEM 12.B.THIS SECOND ITEM IS A REQUEST FOR ONE APPOINTMENT TO THE ST.
AUGUSTINE POLICE OFFICERS RETIREMENT BOARD.
WE ADVERTISED THIS POSITION AND RECEIVED ONE APPLICATION FROM MS. MARY JANE LILES, WHO IS A CITY RESIDENT.
WE HAVE SPOKEN TO HER AT LENGTH ABOUT THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES OF THE PENSION BOARD, AND SHE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY SERVING IN THAT CAPACITY.
I WOULD MOVE THAT MS. LILES BE APPROVED. SECOND.
[02:20:01]
A MOTION AND SECOND ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THANK YOU. MY FINAL ITEM IS BASED ON A COMMENT THAT, I
[12.C. Discussion regarding alternatives to advertising for board term expirations and vacancies. (D. Galambos, City Clerk)]
BELIEVE IT WAS YOU, MR. MAYOR, AT THE PREVIOUS MEETING REGARDING OUR POLICIES ON WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD CONTINUE ADVERTISING BOARD POSITIONS IN THE NEWSPAPER AND MAYBE COME BACK WITH SOME OTHER SUGGESTIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS.SO, I DID PROVIDE TO YOU AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT OUR CURRENT APPLICATION REQUESTS LOOK LIKE THAT GO ON--. IT'S A DISPLAY AD, AND THESE TYPICALLY COST ABOUT $216-$230 DOLLARS A PIECE. IF WE HAVE A POSITION THAT TAKES A LENGTH OF TIME TO FILL, WE CONTINUE TO ADVERTISE IN THE SAME MANNER.
THE ONLY REQUIREMENT THAT WE HAVE IS ACTUALLY IN OUR ORGANIZATIONAL RESOLUTION, AND ALL IT SAYS IS A SPECIAL ADVERTISEMENT IN THE ST.
AUGUSTINE RECORD. THERE AREN'T ANY GUIDELINES IN THE CODE, ANY GUIDELINES IN THE STATUTE, ON HOW WE GET THE WORD OUT FOR THESE POSITIONS.
SO WE DID SEND IN THE SAME LANGUAGE TO THE RECORD TO GET A SAMPLE OF WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE IF WE ADVERTISE THESE IN THE CLASSIFIED SECTION, AND THAT COST IS ABOUT $60 DOLLARS, A LITTLE BIT UNDER $60 DOLLARS.
AND I DID PROVIDE YOU WITH AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE AS WELL.
I THINK THAT'S MORE THAN REASONABLE.
UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE ADVERTISING IN OUR SOCIAL MEDIA, AND NEWS AND [INAUDIBLE].
YES, WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT AND YOU KNOW THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BE MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO ADVERTISE IN THE CLASSIFIED SECTION.
I KNOW I PERSONALLY LOOK AT THEM FOR YARD SALES, SO I SEE IT ALL THE TIME.
I THINK THAT'S THE CONSENSUS THEN OF THE COMMISSION THAT WE'LL GO TO THE SMALLER, CLASSIFIED AD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MR. REGAN, THE CITY'S WATERWORKS LEASE.
[13.A. Review and approval of the lease of the City's Waterworks Building to the St. Johns County Cultural Council, Inc. (J. Regan, City Manager)]
MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, THIS ITEM IS A FOLLOW UP TO OUR JANUARY REVIEW OF THE OPTIONS IN THE LEASE WITH THE ST.JOHN'S CULTURAL COUNTY REGARDING THE WATERWORKS.
WE WENT BACK AND TOOK ALL THE COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS AND ADDRESSED THEM TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY. SOME THINGS WE COULD, SOME THINGS WE COULD NOT.
WE ALSO HAD EMBARKED ON MAKING SURE THAT WE DID SOME PUBLIC OUTREACH TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC KNEW WHAT WE WERE DOING AND CONTEMPLATING, I WOULD SAY GENERALLY THAT WE REALLY DIDN'T GET NEGATIVE FEEDBACK, BUT WE DID HAVE OTHER GROUPS THAT BECAME AWARE AND THEN STARTED TO REALIZE THE RELATIONSHIP TO THEIR ORGANIZATION.
SO THE FILM FESTIVAL WOULD BE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT.
MR. BIRCHIM HAS BEEN RUNNING POINT, HE CAN ANSWER ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE BASED ON YOUR PRIOR COMMENTS, AND ALSO MS. PARRISH STONE IS IN THE AUDIENCE AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ST.
JOHN'S CULTURAL COUNCIL, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE CULTURAL COUNCIL.
I'VE HEARD NOTHING BUT POSITIVE FEEDBACK, SO I'M 100 PERCENT IN FAVOR OF THIS, I SEE IT AS A GREAT CIVIC ASSET THAT WE HAVE FOR THE CITIZENS.
IT'S A REALLY GOOD FIT WITH THE ORGANIZATION AND OUR VISION AND OUR GOALS.
I THINK THEY PROVIDED AN INCREDIBLE SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY, IMPORTANT SERVICE OF THE COMMUNITY AND I THINK IT'S GREAT.
THAT'S A COMMISSIONER BLONDE? I NOTE ON EXHIBIT THREE, ITEM B, FEES ON PAGE 345 OF OUR PACKET.
I THINK IT'S REALLY VAGUE AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE WORD DIRECT INSERTED BEFORE THE WORD COSTS.
SO IF YOU ALL WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO LOOK THAT UP OR I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WOULD DO THAT, BUT--.
I'M SORRY, THE PAGE NUMBER AGAIN.
345 OF OUR PACKET UNDER EXHIBIT THREE, ITEM B, FEES.
THERE'S A WORD COSTS AND I'D LIKE THE WORD DIRECT TO BE PUT IN FRONT OF THAT.
[02:25:05]
SO IT WOULD BE DIRECT COST AS OPPOSED TO A MORE VAGUE COSTS OVERALL.PAGE 15 OF 16? OK. YES. [INAUDIBLE], IT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE I'M LOOKING AT THE DIGITAL VERSION, SORRY.
AND WHERE DO YOU WANT THIS INSERTED? I'M AT EXHIBIT B.
IN WHAT SECTION OF--? I [INAUDIBLE] LET ME FIND IT.
[INAUDIBLE] THREE? YEAH, SECTION THREE, AND IT'S RIGHT UNDER FEES FOR USE, SO IT WOULD READ, LESSEE MAY CHARGE A REASONABLE FEE FOR USE OF THE AUDITORIUM BASED ON DIRECT COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH USE. I THINK THAT SOUNDS GREAT.
OK. ANOTHER COMMENT, AND I AM RELUCTANT TO OFFER THIS COMMENT BECAUSE I DO SUPPORT THE LEASE IN PRINCIPLE, BUT WHILE THE UPDATED LEASE ADDRESSES MOST OF THE CONCERNS I'VE PREVIOUSLY RAISED, IT DOESN'T ADDRESS THEM ALL AND IN PARTICULAR, THE FACT THAT NEARLY A THIRD OF THE USABLE SPACE THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, AND FOR WHICH THE RENOVATION WAS DONE, WOULD REMAIN OFFICE SPACE FOR THE CULTURAL COMMISSION STAFF.
I DON'T FEEL THAT THIS DEMAND HAS BEEN FULLY EVIDENCED AND I'M THEREFORE UNABLE TO SUPPORT IT. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY WHY I WOULD VOTE IN THAT WAY.
OK, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? I ASSUME WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE FORMALITY OF AN AMENDMENT THAT WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH ADDING THE WORD DIRECT COST IN PARAGRAPH 3 OF EXHIBIT B.
YES. AND WE'RE IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT.
FURTHER DISCUSSION? YEAH, I'D LIKE TO QUALIFY MY SUPPORT.
INITIALLY, I WAS SKEPTICAL, I WANTED THE CITY TO HANDLE THIS, AND MY LITMUS TEST WAS I WANTED THE COMMUNITY TO COME BACK AND TELL ME THAT THEY EMBRACE THIS IDEA.
I HAVE GOTTEN NOTHING BUT THAT IN RETURN.
I HAVE HAD NOTHING NEGATIVE, AND EVEN WHEN I THREW OUT THE IDEA OF THE NET-NET LEASE, MY RESPONSES I GOT FROM THAT IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL NEW.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, WE'D RATHER HAVE THIS SERVICE, SO I APPRECIATE [INAUDIBLE] COMMISSIONER BLONDER'S COMING FROM.
HAVING SAID THAT, I THINK IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON, AND THIS IS WHEN SKEPTICAL COMMISSIONERS COME OVER TO THE SIDE OF THINKING THIS IS A GOOD IDEA.
THANK YOU. SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
[Additional Item]
I HAVE ONE THING THAT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA.I'D LIKE TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF A FULLER DISCUSSION ABOUT WHERE WE ARE IN THE LEGISLATIVE FIGHT IN TALLAHASSEE WITH THE SHORT TERM RENTAL BILL AND WHERE THE NEWS SITS TODAY. IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT WITH THE COMMISSION AND YOU SO LAST MONDAY, VICE MAYOR SIKES-KLINE, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER DAVID BIRCHIM AND MYSELF WENT TO TALLAHASSEE TO PARTICIPATE IN LEGISLATIVE DAY, AND ONE OF THE MAIN ISSUES WAS TO ADDRESS THE SHORT TERM RENTAL BILL.
AND THE WHERE IT IS RIGHT NOW IS THAT THERE WAS A CONCENTRATED STRATEGY TO FLIP REPUBLICAN VOTES ON THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, AND THE REPORT IS THAT FIVE VOTES ARE CURRENTLY FLIPPED.
IT ONLY TOOK THREE TO DEFEAT THE BILL IN WAYS AND MEANS.
SO, TOMORROW BY 4:30, THERE WILL BE A PUBLICATION OF THE WAYS AND MEANS AGENDA FOR THURSDAY IN TALLAHASSEE.
IF THE BILL IS NOT ON THE AGENDA, THAT'S A VERY GOOD SIGN.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT REPRESENTATIVE FISCHER, WHO'S THE SPONSOR OF THE BILL, ADDRESSED THE ENTIRE COUNCIL DIRECTLY IN TALLAHASSEE OF THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE BEACH, THAT HE FELT THAT THE BILL WOULD NOT SURVIVE AND HE HAS NOT BEEN PUSHING THE BILL.
HE HAS NOT BEEN MAKING PHONE CALLS AMONG THE COMMITTEE.
NOW WHAT CAN HAPPEN? WHAT CAN HAPPEN BETWEEN IS THAT IF THE CHAIR THINKS THAT THE VOTES ARE THERE FOR IT, IT WOULD BE SCHEDULED ON THE AGENDA.
WE COULD ALSO HAVE AN AMENDMENT.
THERE HAS BEEN NO DISCUSSION OF AMENDMENTS, BUT AN AMENDMENT COULD POP OUT.
AN AMENDMENT IDEA WAS FLOATED LAST WEEK, WHICH I THINK COULD STILL BE ONEROUS TO THE CITY, SO WE'RE GOING TO BE WATCHING TOMORROW TO SEE IF ANY OF THESE TWO CASES HAPPEN.
[02:30:06]
BUT I WOULD SAY THAT THE TRIP, IT WAS VERY WORTH IT, AND IN THESE MEETINGS, THE WAIT IS WITH THE ELECTED OFFICIALS.HOPEFULLY, THINGS WILL GO WHERE WE THINK THEY WILL GO, BUT WE MAY NEED TO GO TO TALLAHASSEE AGAIN TO FIGHT THIS.
IF THIS BILL PASSES, I MEAN, IT IS JUST DEVASTATING TO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH SHORT TERM RENTAL. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
AND SO, I DON'T THINK THAT THE VICE MAYOR SCHEDULE ALLOWS TRAVEL ON WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, IS THAT RIGHT VICE MAYOR? IF WE HAVE TO MAKE ANOTHER RUN.
[COUGH] TO TAKE THE TRIP WITH STAFF.
IF IT COMES UP, YOU CAN TALK TO ME PRIVATELY IF ANYONE MIGHT HAVE AN INTEREST OR THE ABILITY TO DO THAT, IF NECESSARY.
IT STILL HELPS FOR PROFESSIONAL STAFF TO GO.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT DAVID BERTRAM S DEFINITELY A TREMENDOUS RESOURCE TO THE REPRESENTATIVES IN TALLAHASSEE WITH HIS BACKGROUND OF KNOWLEDGE OF THESE TOPICS.
THE OTHER THING THAT ALSO WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF IS OUR MEETING WAS WITH PAUL RENNER'S OFFICE, WITH REPRESENTATIVE RENNER, AND THE WORD WAS VERY DIRECT THAT REPRESENTATIVE RENNER SUPPORTS THE BILL AS IS, THE LANGUAGE AS IS.
SO WHAT COULD HAPPEN IS THERE COULD BE A CALL FROM LEADERSHIP DOWN, THEY COULD GET THIS SCHEDULED AND MOVING AT THE LAST MINUTE, SO I WOULD SAY THAT THE NEXT FEW DAYS ARE VERY CRITICAL TO US WITH THIS ONE REMAINING BILL.
THE OTHER BILL, THE 620 BILL, AND 280 BILLS ARE BASICALLY THROUGH THE SENATE.
THE ONLY FIGHT REMAINING THERE IS WITH THE HOUSE, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAYOR UPCHURCH ADVOCATED, WITH SENATOR HUTSON, WAS TO CHANGE THE LANGUAGE ABOUT PREVAILING PARTIES. THE BILL ORIGINALLY HAD THAT WE CAN NEVER SEEK FEES IF WE WERE TO PREVAIL IN A LAWSUIT. HE TOOK THE MAYOR'S COMMENTS TO HEART AND THAT BILL WAS CHANGED SO THAT THERE ARE PREVAILING FEES, AND TO GIVE YOU HOW IMPORTANT THAT ONE ISSUE IS, IF YOU LOOK AT THE BERT HARRIS LAW, WHICH THIS IS MODELED AFTER, WE'VE BEEN SUED TWICE UNDER BERT HARRIS IN ALL THE YEARS, SO IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT CONCEPT OF PREVAILING PARTY.
AND WE THANKED HIM FOR THAT CHANGE, BUT WE DO--.
WE'RE GOING TO BE ALSO WATCHING, I THINK, IN MY EMAIL SINCE THE MEETING, THIS MEETINGS GONE, I'VE GOTTEN AN ANALYSIS OF WHERE THINGS ARE IN THE FIGHT ON THAT BILL AS WELL.
SO, OTHERWISE, OUR APPROPRIATIONS ARE DOING VERY WELL.
OUR WEST AUGUSTINE IS SITTING IN THE SENATE BUDGET AT HALF A MILLION AND A MILLION IN THE HOUSE BUDGET. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'VE EVER HAD THE PROJECT FUNDED ON BOTH SIDES GOING INTO BUDGET RECONCILIATION, AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
THE OTHER THING ALSO IS THAT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE CONTACTED US LOOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR FIREHOUSE DESIGN APPROPRIATION, SO THAT'S A REALLY GOOD SIGN.
THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING FROM OUR CONSULTANTS IN TALLAHASSEE.
SO I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS WEEK IS A CRITICAL WEEK ON SHORT TERM RENTAL. VERY GOOD, THANK YOU.
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? OK, I HAVE ONE ITEM.
[14.A. Discussion regarding approving utility funds of $50,000 for the payment of a unit connection fee for a future medical clinic to be located in West Augustine. (J. Regan, City Manager)]
DID WE MISS THE ITEM ON THE MEDICAL CLINIC OR? NO, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ON.THIS IS A INITIATIVE IN WEST AUGUSTINE, IT IS OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS, BUT IS WITHIN OUR WATER AND SEWER SERVICE AREA.
THIS IS SEEN AS A CONTRIBUTION BY THE CITY FOR THE FUNDING FOR THAT, THAT I BELIEVE IS COMING PRIMARILY, IF NOT EXCLUSIVELY FROM THE COUNTY.
THERE ARE ALREADY TWO PENDING TENANTS, FLAGLER HOSPITAL AS WELL AS THE YMCA, AND SO, WHE FOLKS IN WEST AUGUSTINE, THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN THE STRONG SUPPORTERS, SEE THIS AS AN ANCHOR FOR REDEVELOPMENT OF THE ENTIRE KING STREET CORRIDOR, THAT, OF COURSE, HAS A POSITIVE IMPACT ON, IF YOU WOULD, THE EASTERN PORTION OF WEST KING STREET, THE PORTION THAT'S INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS.
THIS, OF COURSE, IS IN OUR WATER AND SEWER SERVICE AREA, WOULD BE A SUBSTANTIAL CLIENT AND THEREFORE PROVIDES THAT BENEFIT TO THE CITY.
[02:35:01]
THE--. OF COURSE, THE ABILITY TO HAVE A MEDICAL CLINIC IN WEST AUGUSTINE DOES HELP PROVIDE ESSENTIAL HEALTH SERVICES TO WHAT HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY AN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY, AND SO IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE'S ANY NUMBER OF THINGS THAT DEMONSTRATE A SUBSTANTIAL PUBLIC PURPOSE IN MAKING THIS ALLOCATION.MR. REGAN CAN EXPLAIN TO YOU EXACTLY HOW THE ALLEGATION WOULD GO ABOUT, BUT IT'S CLEARLY SOMETHING THAT I FEEL IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF BOTH OUR UTILITY FUND BUT IN THIS LARGER PORTION OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS HAS BEEN ARGUABLY THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY OF THE WEST AUGUSTINE CRA LEADERSHIP.
WEST AUGUSTINE IS A COMMUNITY THAT HAS A LACK OF MEDICAL CARE FACILITIES OTHER THAN THE WILD FLOWER CLINIC, AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S CLEARLY ON THE RECORD, THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR THIS FACILITY.
IT IS AN INTEGRATED FACILITY, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, FLAGLER HOSPITAL IS A PARTNER, YMCA AND ALSO I BELIEVE THAT THERE'LL BE SOME FEDERAL PARTICIPATION.
THE PROJECT IS HIGHLY SUPPORTED BY CONGRESSMAN JOHN RUTHERFORD, FOR EXAMPLE, BUT THE IDEA IS TO BRING AN INTEGRATED MEDICAL COMPLEX, AND--.
SO, THE FIRST ISSUE IS TO PROVIDE MEDICAL SERVICES FOR A COMMUNITY THAT SOMETHING OF A DESERT, AND THEN, I THINK THE MAYOR ARTICULATED WELL, THAT ONCE YOU HAVE THAT ANCHOR AT THE INTERSECTION OF VOLUSIA AND KING STREET, THAT THEN IT STARTS TO SPIN UP ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE REGION.
THAT CORRIDOR WAS, VOLUSIA WAS, A VERY RICH ECONOMIC CORRIDOR.
WHEN FLORIDA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL VACATED AND WENT TO MIAMI, THAT WAS THE DEMISE OF THAT ECONOMIC CORRIDOR.
[INAUDIBLE] OF MEMORIAL COLLEGE.
MEMORIAL COLLEGE. AND WHEN YOU--.
ACTUALLY WHEN YOU WALK IN THE WEEDS ALONG THE ROAD, YOU ACTUALLY STAND ON THE FOUNDATIONS OF THOSE HISTORICALLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN OWNED BUSINESSES.
SO, THE CONCEPT HERE IS THAT THE TOTAL CONSTRUCTION IS ESTIMATED AT APPROXIMATELY $8 MILLION, AND LEADERSHIP ASKED THE MAYOR FOR SUPPORT TO SHOW SOME TYPE OF SUPPORT OF THE CITY TO GET ACROSS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FACILITY.
THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE ACTUAL MONEY.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT PROMPTED THE MAYOR TO WRITE THE LETTER THAT SAID, ONE WAY WE CAN PARTICIPATE IS IF THE UTILITY-- IF THE CITY PAYS, THROUGH ITS UTILITY REVENUE, THE CONNECTION FEES, WHICH ARE ESTIMATED AT $35,000, BUT JUST WITH A LITTLE BIT OF CONTINGENCY THE LETTER SAYS $50,000, THEN THAT WOULD SHOW THE COMMITMENT OF THE CITY AND ALSO GET ACROSS THE URGENCY.
ALSO, THE LETTER WAS VERY SPECIFIC THAT THE MONEY WOULD COME FROM THE MONEY THAT WE ALREADY DEDICATE ANNUALLY TO THE WEST AUGUSTINE FROM THE RESTRICTED FUND.
WE'RE USING THAT MONEY NOW TO MATCH GRANTS TO DO CONSTRUCTION, PAY CONNECTION FEES FOR HOMEOWNERS, SO IT CERTAINLY FITS WELL WITHIN THAT, AND LEADERSHIP WAS GOOD WITH THAT.
THE--. AND SUBJECT TO CITY COMMISSION APPROVAL, WHICH IS WHY IT'S HERE TONIGHT.
THE LETTER WAS USED IN A PRIVATE MEETINGS WITH ALL THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO DEMONSTRATE THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO THIS IMPORTANT COUNTY PROJECT.
ON $8 MILLION, $35,000 IS NOT IMPORTANT, IT'S THE SPIRIT OF IT THAT MATTERS.
THE PROJECT ALSO HAS QUITE A BIT OF SUPPORT FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR, LED BY MARK-- THE BAILEY FOUNDATION, WHICH IS ACTUALLY DONATED ALL-- PRETTY MUCH ALL THE FEES THAT HAVE BEEN USED IN THE DESIGN, CONCEPT DRAWINGS AND SO FORTH, AND IS ADVOCATING ON PRIVATE DONATIONS TO CLOSE ANY GAPS AS WELL.
SO THE COUNTY IS LOOKING AT ALLOCATING $5 MILLION AS A MINIMUM FLOOR, THAT'S THE REQUEST, FROM THEIR AMERICAN RECOVERY ACT MONEY TOWARDS THIS $8 MILLION, BUT THESE PRIVATE MEETINGS HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING SUPPORT OF THE COUNTY COMMISSION LEVEL TO REALLOCATE $8 MILLION, AN ADDITIONAL THREE MAKING A TOTAL OF EIGHT FROM THE ARPA MONEY. THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING--.
THIS IS ABOUT AS CLOSE AS ANYONE'S EVER GOTTEN TO SIGNIFICANT INITIAL FUNDING OF THE FACILITY. IT ALSO FACTORS IN WITH BY HAVING VA SERVICES, IT ALSO AIDS THE
[02:40:02]
DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMMUTER RAIL.CONGRESSMAN MICA REALLY POINTED OUT--.
RUTHERFORD POINTED OUT THAT PEOPLE CAN TAKE THE RAIL AND THEN CLOSE THE LAST MILE TO THE CLINIC AND GET BACK ON THE RAIL AND GO BACK TO JACKSONVILLE.
I KNOW PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT MORE LONG-WINDED, BUT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THESE PROJECTS OFTEN IN THE PUBLIC, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IN THE PUBLIC COULD UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS.
AND THE $50,000 COMES WOULD BE ENCUMBERED IN THE RESTRICTED FUND.
IT WOULD SIT FOR YEARS, PROBABLY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS PROJECT, AND THAT'S WHAT IT IS. THANK YOU, MR. REGAN. I WOULD MAKE A MOTION THAT WE EARMARKED THE $50,000 FOR THE UNIT CONNECTION.
FURTHER DISCUSSION? SOUNDS GOOD. [LAUGHTER] SEEING NO MORE.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THANK YOU. THE ONLY OTHER THING I'LL BE QUIET IS WE HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL NEW BUILDING, THE WATERWORKS, AND WE HAVE PLASTER, DO NOT ENTER SIGNS, OFF OF SAN MARCO.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE A BARRICADE WITH THEM.
BECAUSE YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THAT THE LIBRARY CAME TO US AND APPEALED TO US TO SECURE THE SITE, AND THEY HAD--.
AND I'M DELIGHTED THAT WE HAVE--.
I'M DELIGHTED THAT WE HAVE ONE DO NOT ENTER SIGN.
OK. [LAUGHTER] I DON'T BUT WE DO NEED THE FENCE.
BUT IT'S THE VISUAL CLUTTER OF EXCESSIVE SIGNAGE, AND SO MR. REGAN, IF YOU COULD LOOK AT THAT.
[INAUDIBLE] GOOD. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
THERE'S ONE MORE ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
[14.B. Local land conservation initiatives. (B. Blonder, Commissioner)]
YES, THERE IS. [INAUDIBLE], CAN I INTRODUCE IT? YES, YOU MAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH.SO, I WANT TO GIVE SOME BACKGROUND FOR IT FIRST AND THEN KIND OF EXPLAIN WHAT I'M THINKING ABOUT WITH STAFF AND ME AND AN OUTSIDE PERSON HAVE TALKED ABOUT, AS WELL A COUPLE OF OUTSIDE PEOPLE, BUT I JUST WANT TO START IT BY THE BACKGROUND IS THAT WHEN WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE CITY OWNED LAND AND I ACTUALLY, THE 80 ACRES OR WHATEVER, I GOT A TOUR OF THAT WHEN I FIRST BECAME A COMMISSIONER.
MR. GRANT TOOK ME OUT THERE AND THEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS 33 ACRE PARCEL AND THE POSSIBLE USES AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT USES, BUT THINKING ABOUT WHAT'S THE BEST USE FOR THAT, YOU KNOW? AND WE HAD A LOT OF PUBLIC FEEDBACK ABOUT OVERDEVELOPMENT.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT I HEARD A LOT ABOUT.
THERE'S THE CULTURAL POSSIBILITIES WITH THE SHELL PROPOSAL, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF DIFFERENT COMPETING ISSUES HERE.
AND SO, I WAS-- WE'VE ALL THOUGHT ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES, THE PACE AND EXTENT OF THE DEVELOPMENT THAT'S HAPPENING IN THIS COUNTY, AND THEN I STARTED THINKING ABOUT OUR FLOOD INITIATIVES AND OUR CHALLENGES WITH FLOODING IN THOSE PROJECTS AND THEN RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, ESSENTIALLY THAT BIG OLD 312 IS OUR FISH ISLAND, WHICH YOU ALL WERE HERE. YOU DID THAT. YOU HAD THE VISION TO PUT THAT INTO PLACE, WORKING WITH ALL THE PARTNERS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
AND SO THAT'S A REALLY GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WITH A LAND ACQUISITION STRATEGY, AND, I THINK, THAT I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE AN EXPANSION OF AN [INAUDIBLE] INITIATIVE THAT WAS BEGUN WITH FISH ISLAND.
NOTING THAT 90 PERCENT OF THE LAND WITHIN THE CITY'S BOUNDARIES ARE ALREADY DEVELOPED, WE'RE AT A TIPPING POINT FOR ALL OF THOSE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES, ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, FLOOD RESILIENCE AND SO FORTH.
SO OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, OUR STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN, AND PROBABLY OTHER PLANS THAT I CAN'T REMEMBER RIGHT NOW, SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFY OPEN LAND CONSERVATION AS AN IMPORTANT STRATEGY FOR FLOOD RESILIENCE.
THE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES PROVIDED BY CAPTURING AND SLOWLY RELEASING WATER IS A WIDELY SUPPORTED STRATEGY FOR FLOOD RESILIENCE, AND IT'S EMPLOYED BY MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES BOTH IN THE STATE, IN THIS COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD.
I USE THIS ANALOGY IN CLASS WHEN I TALK ABOUT FLOOD RESILIENCE AND OPEN SPACES, ESPECIALLY WETLANDS.
IF YOU TAKE A SPONGE FROM YOUR KITCHEN AND YOU SOAK IT WITH WATER AND YOU PUT IT ON A TABLE OR WHEREVER, THE WATER DOESN'T IMMEDIATELY LEAVE IT, IT HOLDS IT, AND THAT'S WHAT THE FUNCTION OF A WETLAND DOES AS WELL.
OPEN SPACE CAN HOLD THAT WATER, SLOWLY, RELEASE IT AND NOT OVERWHELM OUR STORM MANAGEMENT
[02:45:04]
SYSTEMS, AND FURTHERMORE, ONE OF THE IMPORTANT, AND RECOGNIZED, RESPONSIBILITIES OF GOVERNMENT IS TO ACQUIRE LAND FOR THE LONG TERM PUBLIC BENEFIT.THAT'S TYPICALLY THOUGHT OF IN UTILITIES TERMS, BUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER SERVICES THAT CAN BE PROVIDED BY OPEN LAND, IT CLEARLY QUALIFIES, IN THIS CASE, FOR LAND CONSERVATION AS PUBLIC BENEFIT.
AND SO I ALSO WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR THAT ANY LAND CONSERVATION ACQUISITION THAT WE WOULD DO WOULD ONLY MOVE FORWARD WITH WILLING SELLERS.
WE'VE SEEN SOME EXAMPLES OF OTHER TYPES OF ATTEMPTS AT ACQUISITION IN THE PAST, AND THAT DOESN'T--. IT'S NOT AT ALL WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, WILLING SELLERS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. SO WHEN I MET WITH CITY STAFF WITH THIS IDEA, WE ALSO MET WITH A REPRESENTATIVE FROM A NONPROFIT WHO LOOKS AT FUNDING SOURCE AS POSSIBLE, FUNDING SOURCES FOR LAND ACQUISITION, AND THAT'S THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND.
WE MET WITH ONE OF THEIR EXPERTS LAST WEEK, AND THEY HAVE DEEP EXPERIENCE AND FUNDING OPTIONS IN HELPING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO DEVELOP FUNDING STRATEGIES FOR LAND ACQUISITION.
AND SO WHAT I'M HERE TONIGHT TO ASK IS--.
NOT--. TO FIND OUT IS, FROM MY COLLEAGUES HERE, TAKE THE TEMPERATURE ON THIS COMMISSION TO FORMALLY REQUEST TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND TO WORK WITH THE CITY STAFF IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER, AND THAT WOULD BE THAT THEY WORK TOGETHER TO ANALYZE THE FEASIBILITY OF A LAND ACQUISITION INITIATIVE, DETERMINE WHETHER THERE IS ADEQUATE PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR IT, DEVELOP A PROPOSAL FOR FUNDING MECHANISMS, AND PREPARE A RECOMMENDATION TO THIS COMMISSION FOR PUBLIC INPUT AND A DECISION AS TO WHETHER ADOPT SUCH A PROPOSAL.
WHEN YOU BROUGHT THIS UP, YOU MENTIONED DEVELOPED LAND.
NO--. BUT 90 PERCENT THE LAND IN THE CITY BOUNDARIES, AS I UNDERSTAND IT IS DEVELOPED, I'M SORRY. CORRECT. THAT'S MY POINT.
SO DOT DEVELOPED LAND ARE HISTORIC PROPERTIES, RIGHT? WHICH ARE--. MANY.
SO I'M TAKING IT THAT YOU'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT OPEN LAND.
NOT PRESERVING HISTORIC PROPERTIES, ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES AND CONSERVATION? I'M NOT SURE HOW YOU DEFINE IT.
I'M TALKING ABOUT OPEN LAND OR LAND THAT IS ESSENTIAL AS LIKE A JIGSAW PUZZLE PIECE, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS.
LESLEE KEYS, SHE HAD AN OFFICE NEXT TO MINE AT THE COLLEGE FOR MANY YEARS, AND ONE OF THE KEY STRATEGIES FOR PROTECTING THESE HISTORIC RESOURCES IS THAT FLOOD RESILIENCE PACKAGE THAT WE'RE DOING ALREADY.
THIS IS A PIECE OF THAT PACKAGE.
ONE PIECE. SO I WOULD BE VERY SUPPORTIVE IF IT INCLUDED HISTORICAL SITES AS WELL AS ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES.
THE WHOLE PACKAGE BECAUSE I DON'T SEE HOW YOU CAN SEPARATE THEM.
I WOULD HAVE TO DEFER TO THE TPL EXPERTS AS WELL AS OUR ATTORNEY TO KNOW WHETHER THAT CAN BE INCLUDED IN THIS ELEMENT.
I'M JUST WONDERING IF IT COULD BE INCLUDED.
OK. AND THAT'S SOMETHING TO BE EXPLORED.
YEAH. OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? I THINK IT'S TIME THAT, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD HAVE DONE IT 10 YEARS AGO, BUT.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASSETS WE'VE GOT HERE, AND I'VE SAID THIS YEARS AGO, WE HAVE HISTORY, WE HAVE A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY, BUT WE ALSO ARE STILL BLESSED WITH THE REMNANTS OF WHAT USED TO BE FLORIDA, AT LEAST THE FLORIDA THAT MANY OF US GREW UP WITH, AND THAT'S WHAT PART OF WHAT KEPT ME HERE WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE WAS--.
I CAME FROM TAMPA BAY. YOU KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE OR DID.
SO I SUPPORT THIS 100 PERCENT, I THINK IS A GREAT IDEA, AND LET'S MOVE AHEAD WITH IT, GUYS. SO LET'S JUST TO COMMISSIONER BLONDER HAS ARTICULATED A DIRECTION TO BEGIN EXPLORING THIS IDEA, AND WE WOULD ADD ON TO THAT THE POSSIBILITY OF INCLUDING HISTORIC AND ARCHEOLOGICAL LANDS AS WELL. ALL IN FAVOR OF DIRECTING STAFF TO PROCEED WITH THE DEVELOPING THE IDEA, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THANK YOU. SO THE INITIATIVE IS LAUNCHED.
COMMISSIONER HORVATH. NO COMMENTS.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER VALDES.
[02:50:01]
YEAH, I'D LIKE STAFF TO GIVE US A LITTLE UPDATE, NOT TONIGHT, NECESSARILY, BUT SOMETIMES IN THE NEAR FUTURE IS WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THE MARIA SANCHEZ LAKE PROJECT, AND RESOLVING OUR ISSUES THERE.I WANTED TO CORRECT, SOMETHING I SAID EARLIER WHEN I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE [INAUDIBLE] CARD THAT WE USED TO PASS OUT ON PANHANDLING.
IT WAS THE UNITED WAY THAT WAS OUR PARTNER AND THEY HAD A SYSTEM OF COLLECTION.
AND I THINK THAT IT WAS A GOOD THING, EXCEPT THAT WE REALLY COULDN'T GET THE SHOP OWNERS TO PUT THEM IN THEIR SHOPS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO, I GUESS, BRING THAT SUBJECT IN TO THEIR HOUSE THROUGH THEIR THRESHOLD, THIS THRESHOLD OF THEIR DOOR.
SO I'M COMING TO YOU, I'M NOT TRYING TO CATCH YOU OFF GUARD, BUT I'M COMING TO YOU BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT A VERY OLD IDEA THAT HAS KIND OF RESURFACED. DON CRICHLOW, YEARS AGO, PROPOSED UNDERCARRIAGE LIGHTING FOR THE BRIDGE OF LIONS AND IT WAS, I DON'T--.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF NEW PEOPLE HERE, BUT IT WAS EXTREMELY-- IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY SENSITIVE TO THE HISTORIC CHARACTER OF THE BRIDGE.
IT WOULD BE DONE PROFESSIONALLY, AND THERE WAS A PROPOSAL BY DON TO DO PARTIALLY GOVERNMENT FUNDED, PARTIALLY PRIVATE FUNDED TO DO IT.
AS I RECALL, IT WAS AROUND, I TALKED TO DON TODAY, WAS AROUND IN A $100000 RANGE TO ACTUALLY DO THE LIGHTS.
HOWEVER, HE THINKS THAT THE COST HAS COME DOWN [INAUDIBLE] WAY BELOW, WELL, WELL, WELL, WELL, WELL BELOW, AND HE'S THINKING, HE SAID, HE THOUGHT AROUND 50.
I'VE ASKED THE CITY MANAGER TO PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS, LIKE WHAT WOULD THE COST OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE LIGHTING BE? WHAT WOULD BE THE OPTIONS? WHO COULD WE WORK WITH? AT ONE TIME WE WERE ACTUALLY WORKING WITH A GENTLEMAN HERE IN TOWN WHO DOES UP LIGHTING.
I THINK HE DID THE LIGHTHOUSE.
I THINK HE DID FLAGLER [INAUDIBLE].
I DON'T KNOW WHO HE DID, BUT HE DID A NUMBER--.
MEMORIAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH EXTERIOR LIGHTING.
JOHN, YOU MAY REMEMBER SOME MORE OF THIS, BUT ANYWAY, MY PROPOSAL IS I'D LIKE TO GET SUPPORT TO MOVE FORWARD.
I'D LIKE TO GO TALK TO THE DOT BECAUSE WE DID PAY, WHEN THEY DID THE REHAB ON THE BRIDGE, WE DID PAY FOR THE CONDUIT.
WE, THE CITY, LAID THE BASIC BONES FOR THE CONDUIT TO ACTUALLY BUILD UPON, BUT I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE THIS PROJECT GET DONE.
I HAPPEN TO KNOW DAVID [INAUDIBLE] IS A SPECIALIST IN LIGHTING, HE LIT ALL THE BRIDGES IN JACKSONVILLE AND MANY OTHER CITIES, AND SO HE WOULD BE SOMEBODY I THINK COULD CONSULT AND GIVE US A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT TO ACTUALLY USE, BUT I'D BE IN SUPPORT OF IT.
YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO SAY, I LOVE PLAYING WITH THE LIGHTS AND I LOVE PLAYING, I LOVE WATCHING THE REFLECTION OF LIGHTS OFF THE WATER.
I'VE TAKEN A LOT OF PICTURES OF THE BRIDGE OF LIONS AT NIGHT AND UP LIGHTINGS IS FUN, I DO TO ALL MY BUILDINGS.
IT'S THE INTENSITY OF UP LIGHTING WHERE YOU PLACE IT AND MY QUESTION, WHY CAN'T WE GENERATE ELECTRICITY WITH SOLAR POWER, OR A TIDE DRIVEN GENERATORS, OR WIND GENERATION, INSTEAD OF RUNNING A CONDUIT OUT THERE AND BURNING MORE DEAD DINOSAURS TO LIGHT IT? YOU KNOW, I'D JUST-- I'D LIKE TO EXPLORE THAT.
I'M TOTALLY OPEN. I THINK THAT'S A GREAT SUGGESTION.
I JUST THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA.
SO I'D LOVE TO--. OK, I THINK YOU'VE GOT THE CONSENSUS OF THE COMMISSION TO COME BACK WITH A PROPOSAL WHICH WE COULD THEN FORMALLY CONSIDER.
THANK YOU. ANYTHING FURTHER? HE HAD ONE CHANCE [LAUGHTER].
THERE BEING NOTHING FURTHER TO COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION, WE ARE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.