May 23, 2022 City Commission

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:05]

GOOD AFTERNOON.

I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE CITY COMMISSION TO ORDER AND ASK THE CLERK TO PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

THANK YOU. ALL THE COMMISSIONERS ARE PRESENT AND WE HAVE A QUORUM.

WE ARE HONORED THIS EVENING TO HAVE ONE OF OUR OWN, ONE OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS, MARK SAMPSON, WHO IS GOING TO GIVE US OUR INVOCATION.

I WOULD ASK YOU TO RISE AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY VICE MAYOR NANCY SIKES-KLINE.

OFFICER SAMPSON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING AND DOING THIS FOR US.

YOUR GOD. THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY AND A BEAUTIFUL CITY, GOD.

WE JUST ASK THAT WE ALL COME TOGETHER IN HARMONY, GOD.

AND WE DISCUSSED THE ISSUES BEFORE US THAT WE MAKE PROGRESS AS THE DAY GOES ON.

AND THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS PEOPLE ARE HERE TODAY.

GOD, I HOPE YOU'RE ABLE TO GET THINGS ANSWERED.

IF NOT THIS MEETING. AS WE CONTINUE ON WITH NEXT WEEK AND THE WEEK AFTER, WE ASK FOR YOU TO HAVE MERCY ON OUR COUNTRY, GOD OR OUR SOLDIERS OR POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS.

GOD, WE ASK THAT YOU JUST GIVE EVERYBODY DISCERNMENT FOR A GOOD MEETING HERE TONIGHT.

GOD, IN YOUR NAME, WE PRAY.

AMEN. AMEN. AMEN.

PLEASE JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PLEASE BE SEATED.

AND THANK YOU, OFFICER SAMPSON, FOR YOUR WORDS.

COMMISSIONERS YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU THE REGULAR AGENDA AS PUBLISHED.

[2. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS]

STAFF HAS NO CHANGES TO THE AGENDA.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS.

ANY CHANGES? SEEING NONE. IS THERE MOTION TO APPROVE? I MOTION TO APPROVE.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR OF THE REGULAR AGENDA AS STATED? PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? THANK YOU. THE AGENDA IS APPROVED.

WE NOW HAVE THREE SPECIAL AND IMPORTANT PRESENTATIONS.

ALL OF THESE ARE UNDER THE VICE MAYOR'S NAME.

AND I WOULD LOOK TO VICE MAYOR SIKES-KLINE FOR THE THREE PROCLAMATIONS.

[3.A. Proclamation 2022-15: Proclaims May 2022 as National Historic Preservation Month. (N. Sikes-Kline, Commissioner)]

AND AFTERWARDS, I WILL ASK THE RECIPIENTS TO STEP UP AND SAY A WORD AND GET A PHOTOGRAPH.

SO WHEREAS 2022 MARKS THE 56TH ANNIVERSARY OF NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT OF 1966, WHICH WAS PASSED PRIMARILY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING OUR NATION'S HERITAGE.

AND. WHEREAS, PRESERVATION OF OUR HISTORIC RESOURCES IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND VITAL TO THE LEGACY OF CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL, ESTHETIC, INSPIRATIONAL AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS AND SHOULD BE MAINTAINED AND ENRICHED FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

AND. WHEREAS, IT IS IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND CELEBRATE THE BENEFIT OF OUR LOCAL HISTORY, ARCHITECTURE, AND ARCHEOLOGY TO OUR LIVES, AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS IN HELPING TO PRESERVE THE TANGIBLE ASPECTS OF THE HERITAGE THAT HAS SHAPED THE CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE. AND.

WHEREAS, THE ST.

AUGUSTINE HISTORY FESTIVAL, HELD THIS MAY 11TH-15TH, WAS NEWLY CREATED TO RAISE EXCITEMENT ABOUT THE HISTORY OF AMERICA'S OLDEST CITY AND SHOWCASE EVERY ERA OF ST. AUGUSTINE'S LONG AND STORIED PAST.

WHEREAS THE CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE CONTINUES TO DISCOVER AND CELEBRATE THE CITY'S DIVERSE CULTURAL HERITAGE FOUND IN IRREPLACEABLE PLACES THAT HOLD THE STORIES OF ALL AMERICANS BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

2022 PRESERVATION MONTH THEME.

PEOPLE SAVING PLACES TO RECOGNIZE EVERYONE DOING THE GREAT WORK OF SAVING PLACES IN WAYS BIG AND SMALL AND THOSE WHO INSPIRE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE CITY COMMISSION DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 2022 AS NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH AND CALLS UPON ALL RESIDENTS TO JOIN THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS IN RECOGNIZING AND PARTICIPATING IN THIS SPECIAL OBSERVANCE.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE, I THINK, THAT ARE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

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SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN RECEIVING THIS HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROCLAMATION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

IS THERE SOMEONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF? ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH? ANY VOLUNTEERS? HERE WE GO. GOING. ONE, TWO.

YES, MA'AM. HI THERE.

I'M JULIE COURTNEY. I'M THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE. I REPLACED JENNY WOLFE AFTER HER TEN YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CITY, AND SHE BUILT A REALLY STRONG FOUNDATION FOR OUR HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROGRAM. AND AS WE SAID IN OUR PROCLAMATION, IT'S PEOPLE SAVING PLACES.

IT TAKES ALL OF US TO WORK TOGETHER.

WE HAVE SUCH A SPECIAL CITY, SO MANY HISTORIC RESOURCES, AND WE'RE WORKING HARD AT A STAFF LEVEL.

BUT ALSO ALL OF THESE PEOPLE ARE SO INSTRUMENTAL IN SAVING THE HISTORIC RESOURCES OF OUR CITY.

SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE ALL OF US CELEBRATING THAT.

THE ST. AUGUSTINE HISTORY FESTIVAL WAS OUR FIRST THIS YEAR, AND WE'RE EXCITED THAT THAT WAS SO SUCCESSFUL.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MANY YEARS IN THE FUTURE OF THAT.

AND AS A CITY STAFF LEVEL, WE'RE WORKING ON REDUCING DEMOLITIONS, DOCUMENTING OUR HISTORIC RESOURCES.

SO YOU'LL BE SEEING THINGS LIKE A PARTIAL DEMOLITION ORDINANCE PROPOSAL COMING SOON, MORE DOCUMENTATION WITH UPDATES TO OUR NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICTS. SO THERE'S A LOT OF PROGRESS THAT WE'RE MAKING AND WE'RE WORKING HARD TO CONTINUE THAT.

THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT PROCLAMATION, WHICH WILL ALSO BE PRESENTED BY THE VICE MAYOR'S PROCLAMATION 2020 216, WHICH PROCLAIMS MAY 2022 AS NATIONAL

[3.B. Proclamation 2022-16: Proclaims May 2022 as National Drug Court Month. (N. Sikes-Kline, Commissioner)]

ALL RIGHT. WHEREAS 2022 MARKS THE 33RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE MIAMI-DADE DRUG COURT AND THE FIRST DRUG COURT IN THE NATION. THAT COURT SPARKED A NATIONAL REVOLUTION THAT CHANGED THE FACE OF THE AMERICAN JUSTICE SYSTEM.

AND. WHEREAS, FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS, DRUG COURTS HAVE SERVED 1.5 MILLION INDIVIDUALS, RESTORED LIVES, REUNITED FAMILIES, AND MADE COMMUNITIES ACROSS THIS NATION SAFER.

WHEREAS DRUG COURTS ARE NOW RECOGNIZED AS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL CRIMINAL JUSTICE INTERVENTION IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY.

WHEREAS TREATMENT COURTS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT OUTCOMES, SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND CRIME, AND DO

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AND. WHEREAS, 75% OF TREATMENT COURT GRADUATES WILL NEVER SEE ANOTHER PAIR OF HANDCUFFS AND SAVES AN AVERAGE OF $6,000 FOR EVERY INDIVIDUAL SERVED.

WHEREAS DRUG COURTS DEMONSTRATE THAT ONE PERSON RISES.

WHEN ONE PERSON RISES OUT OF DRUGS AND CRIME, WE ALL RISE.

AND THE TIME HAS COME TO DRUG COURT WITHIN THE REACH OF EVERY ELIGIBLE PERSON IN NEED.

NOW, THEREFORE, WE, THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE, HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 2022 AS NATIONAL DRUG COURT MONTH IN THE CITY AND RECOGNIZES THE SUCCESSFUL WORK OF THE PRACTITIONERS AND PARTICIPANTS OF DRUG COURT PROGRAMS AND URGES ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN IN RECOGNIZING THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF DRUG COURTS AND TO CONGRATULATE DRUG COURT GRADUATES THIS YEAR.

AND WITH THE TEAM DRUG COURT TEAM COME UP.

JUDGE CHRISTINI AND THE TEAM.

COMMISSIONERS.

. I IMAGINE YOU HAVE A FEW WORDS FOR US.

WELL, LET ME SEE THAT PROCLAMATION FIRST.

HERE IS YOUR PROCLAMATION.

THIS IS ALL SO TRUE.

HEARING HER GO THROUGH THIS, I MEAN, IT SOUNDS LAUDATORY.

IT SOUNDS SOME OF IT UNBELIEVABLE.

IT'S ALL ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

AND I JUST THIS IS MY OLD STOMPING GROUNDS.

SO I LOOK AROUND, I GET IT.

BUT WE HAD THAT BIG, LONG TABLE.

WE DIDN'T HAVE THESE NICE LITTLE TABLES WITH INDIVIDUALS ALL GOING AROUND.

ALL RIGHT. OKAY.

WELL, THERE'S NO MASKS TODAY.

ANYWAY, I WANT TO THANK THE CITY.

THE CITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF DRUG COURT.

YOU MENTIONED THAT IT STARTED IN DADE COUNTY 33 YEARS AGO NOW.

WELL, WE'VE HAD DRUG COURT IN ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY NOW, ALMOST 20 YEARS.

BUT THIS PROGRAM IS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM FOR INTERVENTION IN THE HISTORY OF OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.

I'VE BEEN 30 SOME YEARS IN THE IN THE BUSINESS OF PRACTICING LAW, MOSTLY CRIMINAL LAW.

AND THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROGRAM UNMATCHED.

WHAT WE DO IS WE TAKE HIGH NEEDS PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

THESE ARE FELONS. THESE ARE USUALLY MULTIPLE CONVICTED FELONS, BUT THEY'RE HIGHLY ADDICTED.

THESE AREN'T LIKE WEEKEND POT SMOKERS.

THESE ARE FOLKS THAT ARE REALLY HIGHLY ADDICTED.

AND THEIR ADDICTION HAS CAUSED THEM TO COMMIT OFFENSES OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

SO THEY GET PUT ON PROBATION.

THEY VIOLATE PROBATION BY USING TESTING THAT THE CLASSICAL RESPONSE WAS TO SEND THEM TO PRISON.

WHEN YOU SEND THEM TO PRISON WHERE 77% OF THE PEOPLE THERE HAVE ADDICTIONS AND ALMOST 90% OF THE PEOPLE IN PRISON BY THE TIME THEY GET OUT NEVER GET ANY SERIOUS TREATMENT. AND SO THEY'RE GOING TO RECIDIVISM AT OVER 80%.

THEY'RE GOING TO THEY'RE GOING TO RE-OFFEND WITHIN A COUPLE OF YEARS.

DOC FOLLOWS THEM AS WE DO.

WELL, WE TAKE THEM GET INTO DRUG COURT.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PROGRAMS, THEY'RE GETTING A LOT OF EDUCATION.

THEY'RE COMING TO COURT WEEKLY, THEY'RE GOING TO GROUP MEETINGS AND INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS.

THEY'RE GOING TO SUPPORT MEETINGS AA, NA, THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND WE TEST THEM FREQUENTLY AND RANDOMLY.

THEN WHEN THEY IF THEY TEST POSITIVE, IT'S A SWIFT RESPONSE.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BIG HEARING AND THEN THREATEN THEM AND SEND THEM TO PRISON.

THAT MIGHT HAPPEN EVENTUALLY IF WE CAN'T GET THEM TURNED AROUND.

BUT USUALLY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, WE'RE GOING TO GET A RESPONSE, A TREATMENT RESPONSE EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.

MAYBE I POP THEM IN JAIL FOR A DAY OR TWO TO GET THEIR ATTENTION BACK.

AND THEN WE DO WHAT? THEN YOU SEND THEM TO PRISON AFTER? NO, WE GIVE THEM MORE INTENSIVE TREATMENT AND MORE TESTING AND THEY COME TO COURT MORE OFTEN AND YOU GET IT AND THAT STRAIGHTENS THEM OUT.

WE KEEP THEM SOBER LONG ENOUGH THAT THEY'RE STARTING TO UNDERSTAND THIS, THIS EDUCATION THAT WE'RE GIVING THEM ABOUT MAINTAINING SOBRIETY.

AND THEN THEY MIGHT HAVE ANOTHER SIDE STEP IN IT, BUT THEN YOU SEND THEM TO PRISON FOR A JUDGE THAT TIME, RIGHT? BECAUSE IT'S LIKE THE THIRD TIME AND KNOW MAYBE A JAIL FOR A DAY OR TWO, THEN MORE TREATMENT, MORE COURT, MORE

[00:15:03]

AND THEN MOST WILL STAY SOBER LONG ENOUGH THAT THEY WILL BEGIN TO DRINK UP HOW TO STAY IN RECOVERY.

AND THIS IS A RECOVERY, WHAT WE WANT TO HAVE LAST A LIFETIME.

MOST OF OUR FOLKS WILL GRADUATE WHEN THEY DO THAT.

80% RECIDIVISM RATE HISTORICALLY IS LESS THAN 20% IN OUR COURT.

YOU CAN IMAGINE THE SAVINGS.

AND THESE ARE HEALING PEOPLE, LITERALLY SAVING LIVES.

THESE ARE MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS AND FATHERS.

AND WE HAVE WHAT IS IT, RALPH, ABOUT 20 TO 23 BABIES BORN UN-ADDICTED, NOW IN DRUG COURT.

AND SO IT HEALS.

THESE FOLKS GET THEIR KIDS BACK, THEY GET THEIR VISITATION, THEY GET THEIR CUSTODY.

IT HEALS THE FAMILY AND THE NEIGHBORS AND THE WHOLE COMMUNITY BENEFITS.

AND IT LITERALLY SAVES LIVES.

SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR ALL OF THE SUPPORT YOU'VE HISTORICALLY GIVEN.

I SEE HER HERE ALMOST AS MUCH AS THE GRADUATES.

HE COMES TO MY GRADUATION SO OFTEN.

NANCY, THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT AND ALL OF THE SUPPORT THE COMMISSION HAS GIVEN US OVER THE YEARS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

. THANKS FOR READING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING AND JUDGE CHRISTINI, WHO OF COURSE, WAS A FORMER CITY COMMISSIONER YEARS AGO.

I THOUGHT FOR A MOMENT I WAS GOING TO HAVE A CHANCE TO GAVEL THE JUDGE.

I'VE NEVER HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY.

BUT ALEX, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND IT'S BEEN MORE THAN 35 YEARS, MY FRIEND.

IT'S 40. AND NOW OUR LAST PROCLAMATION IS 2022-18, WHICH

[3.C. Proclamation 2022-18: Proclaims May 2022 as Mental Health Awareness Month. (N. Sikes-Kline, Commissioner)]

VICE MAYOR? OH, YES. WHEREAS MENTAL HEALTH IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT PART OF OVERALL HEALTH.

WITH A GROWING NUMBER OF AMERICANS EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH SYMPTOMS, WE NEED TO JOIN TOGETHER TO ADVOCATE FOR IMPROVING OUR NATION'S MENTAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

AND. WHEREAS, EACH YEAR, MILLIONS OF AMERICANS FACE THE REALITY OF LIVING WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS.

DURING MAY, THE CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE JOINS THE NATIONAL MOVEMENT TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.

AND. WHEREAS, ONLY ONE OUT OF TWO PEOPLE WITH A SERIOUS FORM OF MENTAL ILLNESS SEEKS TREATMENT FOR HIS OR HER MENTAL ILLNESS DUE TO THE STIGMA AND FEAR OF DISCRIMINATION.

AND. WHEREAS, RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO REDUCE STIGMA IS THROUGH PERSONAL CONTACT WITH SOMEONE WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS.

AND GREATER PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESSES CAN CHANGE NEGATIVE ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIORS TOWARDS PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESSES.

AND. WHEREAS, MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY NOT ONLY BENEFITS INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS BY FOCUSING ON THEIR ABILITIES TO LIVE, WORK AND LEARN AND FULLY PARTICIPATE AND CONTRIBUTE TO OUR SOCIETY, BUT ALSO ENRICHES THE CULTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY LIFE.

NOW. THEREFORE, WE, THE CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE CITY COMMISSION, HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 2022 AS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH IN THE CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE AND URGES CITIZENS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS, BUSINESS AND SCHOOLS TO COMMIT TO INCREASING AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND THE NEED FOR APPROPRIATE AND ACCESSIBLE SERVICES FOR ALL PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS TO PROMOTE RECOVERY.

PLEASE COME FORWARD.

COMMISSIONERS.

MR. MARQUIS, WHO HAS BEEN A CHAMPION AND ADVOCATE FOR MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS, IS GOING TO ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION.

AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL HE'S HERE.

AND I'M GOING TO SEE IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

[00:20:04]

AND COMMISSIONERS, A WISE MAN SAID BREVITY IS THE SOUL OF ALL WIT.

I WILL TALK FOR 30 SECONDS, SOME NUMBERS FROM A WELL KNOWN STUDY IN 1955.

THERE WERE 340 HOSPITAL BEDS PER 100,000 POPULATION, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE MENTALLY ILL.

YEARS LATER, ACROSS OUR COUNTRY, THERE WERE 17 BEDS FOR 100,000 FOR THE MENTALLY ILL.

DOWN 95%, THE NUMBER UP SLIGHTLY DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, BUT STILL TRAGICALLY SHORT OF THE NEED.

THE NUMBERS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR UPCHURCH, AND ALL THE CITY COMMISSIONERS FOR THEIR STAND ON MENTAL HEALTH.

THEY HAVE ALL ADDRESSED THEIR CONCERNS MULTIPLE TIMES CONCERNING THIS CRISIS AND IT IS A CRISIS.

THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS.

THANK YOU. I'D LOVE TO HAVE A PICTURE.

THAT CONCLUDES OUR PROCLAMATIONS.

[4. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS OR FOR AGENDA ITEMS NOT REQUIRING A SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING]

WE DO REQUEST THAT YOU LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO 3 MINUTES.

WE WOULD ALSO ASK THAT YOU COMPLETE A SPEAKER'S CARD, WHICH WE HAVE IN THE CITY STAFF CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH.

I HAVE A NUMBER OF CARDS AND I'M GOING TO BEGIN AND MY FIRST SPEAKER THIS EVENING IS LESLIE KEYES.

WELCOME, MS. KEYES.

I MIGHT HAVE NEEDED A FEW OF THOSE SECONDS I DIDN'T TAKE FOR THE PROCLAMATION, BUT.

AND I HAVE COPIES FOR EVERYBODY.

I'M DOING THIS IN PART BECAUSE I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH GAIL PHILLIPS AND SHE'S, WE'RE WORKING ON PERHAPS JUNETEENTH BEING RECOGNIZED IN ST.

AUGUSTINE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

I LEARNED THIS AS I WAS DOING RESEARCH ON THE ST.

AUGUSTINE YACHT CLUB, WHICH WAS FOUNDED IN 1874.

CONFEDERATE AND UNION OFFICERS AND A LOT OF OTHER GUYS SORT OF DE-ORGANIZED IN 39 DURING THE DEPRESSION AND RESURGED IN 1978.

THAT SAID, I DON'T HAVE ANY AFFILIATION WITH THE YACHT CLUB.

I'M NOT HERE BEFORE OR TO SUPPORT OR OPPOSE ANYTHING THEY MIGHT COME TO YOU WITH.

BUSINESS ON THIS IS TO GIVE YOU SOME HISTORY.

AND AGAIN, I PROMISE NOT TO READ THIS ENTIRE THING, BUT ST.

AUGUSTINE'S CONNECTION TO JUNETEENTH CIVIL WAR UNION OFFICER MAJOR GENERAL GORDON GRANGER IS RECOGNIZED IN CIVILIAN CIRCLES AS THE COMMANDER OF THE POST WAR DISTRICT OF TEXAS, WHO, ON MONDAY, JUNE 19, 1865, BROUGHT THE NEWS TO SLAVES IN GALVESTON THAT THEY WERE FREE.

A DATE CELEBRATED FROM THEN FORWARD AS JUNETEENTH.

MANY AUTHORITIES CONSIDER THIS FULFILLMENT OF HIS RESPONSIBILITIES AS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ROLE FOR CONTEMPORARY AMERICA.

AND I HAVE A COPY OF THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES ANNOUNCEMENT AND A TRANSLATION IN CASE THERE ARE SOME OF YOU THAT CAN'T READ SCRIPT HANDWRITING FROM THE 19TH CENTURY.

MAJOR GENERAL GRANGER IS KNOWN IN MILITARY CIRCLES AS A CAREER OFFICER FROM UPSTATE NEW YORK, GRADUATED FROM WEST POINT AND RECOGNIZED BY MILITARY HISTORIANS AS THE SAVIOR OF CHICKAMAUGA, A CIVIL WAR UNION LOSS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC WITHOUT HIS STRATEGIC MOBILIZATION OF THE RESERVE COURSE.

AFTER 30 YEARS OF SERVICE, HE EARNED THE RANK OF MAJOR GENERAL OR AS A TWO STAR GENERAL TODAY.

PERHAPS THE LEAST KNOWN CHAPTER OF GRANGER STORY WAS HIS PERSONAL LIFE.

IN 1869, HE RETURNED TO LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY, WHERE HE MARRIED MARIAH LETCHER OF NEARBY LEXINGTON, AND THEY TRAVELED AS HIS HEALTH WAS DECLINING DURING THE WINTERS OF 1873, 74, 1874, 75, AS THE ST.

AUGUSTINE LIGHTHOUSE WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, GENERAL MSS GRANGER RESIDED IN THE NATION'S OLDEST CITY.

HERE HE SERVED AS A FOUNDER AND THE FIRST COMMODORE OF THE NEWLY ORGANIZED ST.

AUGUSTINE YACHT CLUB DURING THE MARCH 2ND, 1874, GRAND REGATTA EVENT OF THE SPRING GALA.

HIS YACHT, SEMINOLE, PLACED THIRD OF THE SEVEN RACERS.

HE SERVED AS THE CHAIR OF THE EVENT.

AND THEN THIS HISTORY GOES ON AND LISTS THE PEOPLE THAT WERE INVOLVED.

[00:25:01]

SO HERE, TOWARD THE END OF RECONSTRUCTION, YOU HAVE PEOPLE FROM BOTH SIDES GETTING INVOLVED IN THIS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION TO HELP PROTECT THE COASTLINE OF FLORIDA AS A LOCAL. AND AGAIN, I'M JUST ABOUT FINISHED, I PROMISE IS OLIVER BRONSON, WHO WAS THE EXECUTOR OF BUCKINGHAM SMITH'S ESTATE AND THEREFORE CREATED THE BUCKINGHAM SMITH BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION, WHICH HELPED FREED SLAVES, AFRICAN AMERICANS AND STILL DOES TO THIS DAY.

OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MS. KEY, DR. KEYS.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MELINDA RECONESE.

YES, YOU'RE CORRECT. THOSE.

THANK YOU. THOSE ARE.

SPECIFIC PUBLIC HEARINGS.

THANK YOU. I HAVE A NUMBER OF SPEAKERS HERE CONCERNING FISH ISLAND ROAD AND RELATED ISSUES.

MY FIRST SPEAKER IS ELIZABETH SMITH.

NO, I WOULD. WE'LL DO ONE AT A TIME.

THANK YOU. ELIZABETH SMITH, PRESIDENT OF FISH ISLAND COMMUNITY ALLIANCE 955 FISH ISLAND PLACE, CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE. I AM HERE TO GIVE VOICE TO OUR MEMBERS SOME 800 STRONG ACROSS THREE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AND OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTER MEMBERS UNITED IN THEIR DESIRE TO PRESERVE HABITAT, PROTECT WILDLIFE, AND PROMOTE THE RESILIENCE OF UNDEVELOPED LAND.

UNITED IN THEIR DESIRE TO SEE FISH ISLAND ROAD BECOME A PASSIVE PARK FOR THE LAND, FOR THE TREES, FOR THE WETLAND, FOR THE ANIMALS, FOR THE BIRDS, TO WITNESS THE VISION OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES.

AND FINALLY, FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOHN T.

POLLOCK. FORGIVE ME IF I MISPRONOUNCED THAT.

YES. THAT'S OUR NEXT SPEAKER.

GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

I AM HERE TO GIVE VOICE TO THE LAND.

82 YEARS AGO, WOODY GUTHRIE PUT TO MUSIC THE FOLLOWING WORDS THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND.

THIS LAND IS MY LAND.

THIS LAND WAS MADE FOR YOU AND ME.

I BELIEVE THE EFFORT TO MAKE THE LAND OF FISH ISLAND ROAD, A PRESERVED PASSIVE PARK FOR ALL LOCAL CITIZENS TO ENJOY AND LEARN FROM, IS IN KEEPING WITH THESE WORDS THAT HAVE INSPIRED MANY THROUGH THE DECADES.

AND I ENCOURAGE THIS COMMISSION TO APPROVE AND SUPPORT THIS EFFORT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MISS MAUREEN LONG.

MAUREEN LONG, 1821 CASTIEL ST MENENDEZ PARK AND I'M HERE TO GIVE VOICE TO THE TREES.

FISH ISLAND ROAD IS HOME TO MANY TREES.

THEY PROVIDE OXYGEN, ABSORB CARBON DIOXIDE, REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF STORM WATER RUNOFF, WHICH REDUCES EROSION AND POLLUTION IN OUR WATERWAYS, AND HELP TO REDUCE THE EFFECTS OF FLOODING. MANY SPECIES OF WILDLIFE DEPEND ON THESE TREES FOR HABITAT.

THEY PROVIDE FOOD PROTECTION AND HOMES FOR MANY BUTTERFLIES, BIRDS AND MAMMALS.

THEY ARE TRULY AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF OUR ECOSYSTEM AND THANK YOU FOR SAVING THEM VERY MUCH.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. GREG SMITH.

MR. SMITH, FEEL FREE TO ADJUST THAT MICROPHONE SO IT'S COMFORTABLE FOR YOU.

THANK YOU, SIR. YES, SIR.

MY NAME IS GREG SMITH.

I LIVE AT 955 FISH ISLAND ROAD IN THE CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE, AND I'M HERE TO GIVE VOICE TO THE WETLANDS.

SIX AND A HALF ACRES OF FISH ISLAND ROAD IS WETLANDS HABITAT TO A MULTITUDE OF NATIVE PLANTS, ANIMALS, TREES, FISH AND BUTTERFLIES.

THE WETLANDS OF FISH ISLAND ROAD PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN PROTECTING THE CITIZENS OF ST.

AUGUSTINE, 90% OF WHOM LIVE IN A FLOODPLAIN FROM FLOODING AND STORM DAMAGE.

PRESERVING THE WETLANDS OF FISH ISLAND ROAD IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF RESILIENCE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BLAIR CLARK.

[00:30:10]

MY ADDRESS IS 325 MONICA PLACE, ST.

AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA 32080.

TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE VOICE TO THE BIRDS.

HABITAT LOSS IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE GREATEST THREAT TO AVIAN LIFE RIGHT NOW.

I BELIEVE SAVING ANY PIECE OF LAND IS VITAL TO KEEPING OUR CITY FILLED WITH BIRDSONG.

FISH ISLAND ROAD HAS AND WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE AS AN IMPORTANT RESTING AND FEEDING LOCATION FOR BIRDS ON THE MOVE AND A HOME FOR RESIDENT BIRDS TO RAISE THEIR YOUNG.

A BLACK POLE WARBLER WEIGHS JUST A HALF AN OUNCE, CANNOT ADVOCATE FOR THE SPACES IT NEEDS TO FEED AND REST UP FOR ITS ANNUAL 12,000 MILE ROUND TRIP MIGRATION.

BUT WE CAN. THE CRIMSON NORTHERN CARDINAL, A FAN FAVORITE IN BACKYARDS ACROSS THE CITY, NEEDS US TO STEP UP AND PROTECT ITS HOME SO IT CAN CONTINUE TO RAISE THE GENERATIONS THAT WILL VISIT OUR FEEDERS.

WE LIVE IN ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING AREAS IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT IS OUR DUTY TO PROTECT WHAT IS LEFT AND LOOK OUT FOR OUR WILD NEIGHBORS.

I ASK YOU THIS EVENING TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF PROTECTING THIS LAND, TO ALLOW OUR BIRDS TO THRIVE FOR THEIR BENEFIT AND THE ENJOYMENT OF ALL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BARBARA OLSON.

GOOD AFTERNOON. BARBARA OLSON, 1824 OLD BEACH ROAD, ST.

AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA. I'M HERE TO GIVE VOICE TO THE ANIMALS.

ANIMALS HAVE LOST SO MUCH HABITAT TO DEVELOPMENT, AND THESE 33 ACRES ARE TEEMING WITH WILDLIFE OF ALL KINDS.

IN ASKING YOU TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THE DEER, THE OTTERS, THE ARMADILLOS, THE RACCOONS, THE MARSH RABBITS, THE SNAKES, AND THE BUTTERFLIES THAT MAKE THEIR HOME AT FISH ISLAND ROAD.

I'M REMINDED OF THE STARFISH STORY AND THE CERTAINTY OF THE CHILD WHO SO PURPOSELY THREW THE STARFISH BACK TO THE SEA, SAVING THEM ONE BY ONE FROM THE FORCES OF THE TIDES, EVEN AS HE WAS TOLD, YOU CANNOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

YOU COMMISSIONERS HAVE ALSO FACED THE STRONG FORCES OF COMPETING PRIORITIES, OFTEN VOICED IN WAYS THE ANIMALS CAN'T.

TODAY, AS YOU CONSIDER THE BENEFITS OF PRESERVING THE HABITAT OF A SMALL NUMBER OF ANIMAL FAMILIES IN A NARROW SWATCH OF LAND.

KNOW THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SAY I TOO MADE A DIFFERENCE TO THAT ONE.

AND TO THAT ONE. AND TO THAT ONE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HAROLD LOCKE.

GOOD AFTERNOON. MAYOR.

VICE MAYOR. JOHN.

FEEL FREE TO PULL THAT MICROPHONE A LITTLE BIT CLOSER, MR. LOCKE, IF YOU LIKE. THANKS.

MY NAME IS HAROLD LOCKE.

I'M A RESIDENT OF ST.

AUGUSTINE. 153 MLK AVENUE.

I'M AN AMERICAN INDIGENOUS CANADIAN BORN.

ALSO I WAS AT ONE POINT.

I'M A RETIRED GENERAL CONTRACTOR, SO I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AND BUILDING AND THE NEEDS OF HUMANS. I'M FLYING NOW WITH THE VISION OF THE EAGLE.

AND THE EAGLE FLIES HIGH ENOUGH TO SEE THE WHOLE CONTINENT.

AND THE VEHICLE IS ACTUALLY WITNESSING THE LAND USE, ABUSE AND ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE HAVING BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH OF OUR POPULATIONS.

WHAT? WHAT REALLY THE EAGLE SEES IS ACTUALLY THE CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE HAVING THIS TREE POLICY.

SAY IF YOU WANT TO CUT DOWN A TREE IN ST.

AUGUSTINE. THE TYPE OF TYPE OF TREE IT IS DEPENDS ON HOW MANY TREES YOU GOT TO REPLACE AFTER YOU CUT IT DOWN.

SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE AS A DEVELOPER AT ONE POINT AND A GENERAL CONTRACTOR, THESE POOR DEVELOPERS THAT ARE REALLY SUFFERING AND HAVING A HARD TIME, I SUPPOSE.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS HAVE THEM.

REPLACE EVERY ACRE THAT THEY USE UP, REPLACE IT SOMEPLACE ELSE WITH THE ACRE.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE DEVELOPED.

SO WE GET THEM THINKING EVERY ACRE WE USE FOR DEVELOPMENT, THEY'RE GOING TO SHOW US ANOTHER COUPLE OF ACRES SOMEPLACE ELSE THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE DEVELOPED. AND THAT WOULD REALLY GIVE US AN AREA, SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.

I MEAN, 50% MIGHT BE A GOOD NUMBER FOR DEVELOPMENT AND 50% UNDEVELOPED.

[00:35:01]

WE ARE UNDER VARIOUS CONSTRAINTS NOW.

WE HAVE. WE HAVE GLOBAL WARMING.

WE HAVE ALL THESE OTHER PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE NOT SURE OF.

BUT WE'VE GOT TO START THINKING IN A VERY GOOD, POSITIVE WAY ABOUT WHAT WE DO WITH THIS LAND.

AND FROM THERE, THE EAGLE IS WATCHING.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I WAS GOING TO GET IT.

WELCOME, SIR.

YES. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

SO I AM IOLANI HALESKY.

I LIVE IN WAS IT 5880 DAWN MANUEL IN ELKTON, JUST OUTSIDE OF THE CITY.

BUT I'M FROM HERE, I'M FROM ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY, SO I'M BRINGING VOICE TO THE FUTURE GENERATIONS.

AND SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT IS THIS LITTLE TINY PIECE OF LAND THAT COULD HAVE BEEN APARTMENT COMPLEXES AND BROUGHT MORE PEOPLE IN HERE, COULD JUST AS WELL SAVE A BUNCH OF THE DEER AND THE BIRDS.

JUST LIKE WHAT YOU'VE JUST HEARD.

ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU JUST HEARD.

JUST A LITTLE PLACE THAT CAN SUPPORT A LITTLE BIT OF NATURE, A LITTLE BIT OF LIFE, AND THINKING ABOUT OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND THINKING ABOUT OUR CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN. AND AS IT GOES ON, AS THE NATIVE THINKS, SEVEN GENERATIONS IN FRONT OF US.

LET THIS LITTLE TINY PIECE OF LAND BE OUR PROMISE TO START LOOKING AT OTHER LANDS TO KEEP SO OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS CAN CONTINUE TO ENJOY SOME OF THE WILDERNESS AREA.

SO I'M FOREVER LOOKING FOR AND I USED TO FIND IT A LOT MORE WHEN I WAS A WAS ONE OF THOSE YOUTH RUNNING AROUND FRUIT COVE WHEN IT WAS WILDERNESS AND IT'S NOT ANYMORE. I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NOW IN MY KAYAK, A PLACE THAT HAS NO ENGINE NOISES.

WE TALKED ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND CORTISOL LEVELS.

EXTREME WITH ENGINE NOISES AND FLASHING LIGHTS AND CONCRETE BUILDINGS AND OUR TVS, YOU KNOW, REDUCING CORTISOL LEVELS HAVE BEEN PROVEN. ALL WE NEED IS SOME WILDERNESS AND SOME SILENCE.

NATURE SOUNDS, AND THEY'RE EVEN GOING WAY BEYOND THAT WITH THE SMELLS OF DIFFERENT TREES OR ACTUALLY HEALING DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE BODY.

THIS IS NOT HEARSAY ANYMORE.

THIS IS ACTUALLY SCIENCE NOW.

SO FUTURE GENERATIONS, WE COULD BE WALKING AROUND CONCRETE OR WE COULD ACTUALLY SAVE SOME EXTRA AREAS.

SO WE COULD HAVE THAT NICE NATURE WALK AFTER YOUR BUSINESS MEETINGS AND BRINGING YOUR CHILDREN TO RESPECT OUR NATURE COMMUNITIES AND START SEEING THEM AS A PART OF US AND NOT A RESOURCE THAT WE CAN TAKE AS WE WANT.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MAKES SENSE TO YOU, BUT THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND LOOKING AT FISH ISLAND AS THAT PROMISE TO LOOK AT FUTURE STUFF.

FUTURE LAND. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, SIR. AT THIS POINT, I HAVE ONE CARD REMAINING AND BEFORE I CALL ON OUR LAST SPEAKER, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION AT THIS TIME UNDER OUR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION? I DON'T SEE ANYONE.

I'D HAVE NO FURTHER CARDS.

SO, MISS KALAIDI, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.

BJ KALAIDI, WEST CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE.

10A REPAIR NOT WASTE TAX DOLLARS TO REPLACE ENTRANCE SIGNS 10B TRAINING TOWER AT 865 FISH ISLAND ROAD SHOULD BE PAID WITH RESERVES OR COST PAID FROM POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET AND FIRE DEPARTMENT BUDGET, SINCE BOTH WILL BENEFIT.

10C, HOW MUCH DID THE CITY TAXPAYERS PAY FOR THE APPRAISAL AT 800 PLANTATION ISLAND DRIVE SOUTH.

CA8. WHAT AMOUNT OF TAXES ARE IN RESERVES AFTER USING 200,000 TO REBUILD PARK? WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DONATIONS FOR THAT PARK? PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR WATER BILLS.

$0.52 HERE AND $0.88 THERE.

ADD UP. THOSE LIVING IN THE CITY LIMITS ARE PAYING APPROXIMATELY $728,524 A YEAR.

REMEMBER, TAXPAYERS PAY THE WATER BILLS OF 19 CITY EMPLOYEES.

IN APRIL, MR. REGAN USED APPROXIMATELY 175,000 TAX DOLLARS TO GIVE 300 PLUS 350 PLUS CITY EMPLOYEES $500 EACH SINCE CONCERNED ABOUT INFLATION.

WILL THE POLITICIANS AND BUREAUCRATS REDUCE OUR MILITARY RATE, ALSO KNOWN AS PROPERTY TAXES, OUT OF CONCERN FOR INFLATION? VOTE NO SALES TAX INCREASE ON NOVEMBER THE EIGHTH.

[00:40:04]

IT'S TIME FOR PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY, NOT LIVABILITY.

LET ME ENCOURAGE CITY TAXPAYERS TO THANK FIRE CHIEF FOR THAT WITH THE ST.

JOHNS COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THANKING CHIEF AVILES AND OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR HELP AT THE VOCC MEETING MAY 17, 2022.

GOT 1.2 SECONDS LEFT.

I BELIEVE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT JUST SPOKE ABOUT PRESERVING REALLY TOLD US WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

TAKE A MINUTE TO THINK ABOUT IT.

PRESERVING WHAT WE HAVE HERE AND.

NOT JUST FOR US, IT'S FOR THE ONES THAT ARE COMING AFTER US.

AND I THINK SOMETIMES WE'RE GETTING TOO INVOLVED IN STUFF INSTEAD OF PRESERVATION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AT THIS POINT, I HAVE NO FURTHER CARDS.

DOES ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE ON THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION OF THE MEETING IS CLOSED.

[5. CONSENT AGENDA]

AND MR. REGAN, IF YOU COULD PLEASE READ THE CONSENT AGENDA.

ON TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA, WE HAVE A REMINDER OF UPCOMING MEETINGS.

JUNE 13, 2020 2:05 P.M.

REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING JUNE 27, 2020 2:05 P.M.

REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING JULY 11, 2022 3:00 PM SPECIAL COMMISSION MEETING TO DISCUSS THE 2023 BUDGET ASSUMPTIONS JULY 11, 2022 5:00 PM REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING HAVE APPROVAL MINUTES FROM PRIOR COMMISSION MEETINGS.

APRIL 11, 2022 REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING WE HAVE A RELEASE, A LIEN FOR UNIT CONNECTION FEE MORTGAGES.

SERGIO IBARRA 1185 CAROLYN ROAD.

FRANCIS FOLLAND 1647 NATHALIE ROAD.

WE HAVE APPROVAL OF THE USE OF RESERVES NOT TO EXCEED 200,000 FOR THE RESULT FOR THE REBUILD OF PROJECT SWING.

WE HAVE APPROVAL, RENEWAL AND AMENDMENT OF CODE ENFORCEMENT.

SPECIAL MAGISTRATE AGREEMENT AUTHORIZATION FOR THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE SUBDIVISION SETTLEMENT PARTICIPATION FORM REGARDING THE SETTLEMENT BETWEEN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND WALGREENS IN THE OPIOID LITIGATION.

AND WE HAVE APPROVAL OF INVOICE FOR SMITH FIRST CITY FROM CAVENDISH PARTNERS FOR LEGAL SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,200 AND FOR MARLOWE VERSUS CITY FROM CAVENDISH PARTNERS FOR LEGAL SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF $8,755.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IS THERE MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? SO MOVED. IS THEIR SECOND? SECOND. MADAM CLERK, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED.

[7.A.1. Presentation by Elizabeth DeJesus, Transportation Planning Manager for the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization identifying upcoming publicly funded highway, transit and aviation projects planned and programmed for the St. Johns County area. (R. Franklin, Director Public Works)]

MR. FRANKLIN.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. I COULDN'T HAVE SAID THAT BETTER MYSELF.

SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, MS. DEJESUS, THIS IS A, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AN ANNUAL PRESENTATION THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION GOES TO EACH OF THE PARTICIPATING JURISDICTIONS. YES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WELCOME.

GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ELIZABETH DEJESUS.

I AM THE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS MANAGER FOR THE NORTH FLORIDA TPO.

THE TPO IS THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AGENCY SERVING CLAY DUVAL, NASSAU AND JOSE COUNTY.

FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO START BY ACKNOWLEDGING COMMISSIONER NANCY SIKES-KLINE, WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE TPO BOARD FOR CLOSE TO 13 YEARS NOW.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.

THIS IS A PRESENTATION ON THE DRAFT TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM OR TIP FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022-23 TO 2026-27. THE TIP IS A FIVE YEAR TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PLAN THAT INCLUDES HIGHWAY, TRANSIT, BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN AND MULTIMODAL PROJECTS WITH THE TIP IS DEVELOPED ANNUALLY AND IT IS A SUBSET OF THE LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN.

AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE A VERY BUSY SCHEDULE THIS MONTH.

WE SCHEDULE A TOTAL OF 20 PRESENTATIONS TO THE REGION AND THIS IS PRESENTATION NUMBER 17.

[00:45:05]

JOHN'S COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ON JUNE 7TH.

THE VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW, MAY 24TH FROM 4:30 TO 5:30.

FOR MORE DETAILS AND TO OBTAIN THE MEETING LINK, YOU CAN VISIT NORTHFLORIDATPO.COM.

THE FINAL TYPE WILL BE APPROVED BY THE NORTH FLORIDA TPO AT THEIR REGULAR MEETING ON JUNE 9TH AT 10 A.M.

AND WE ARE LOCATED AT 980 NORTH JEFFERSON STREET IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.

AND THE FIRST PROJECT IS KING STREET, FROM MALAGA STREET TO AVENIDA MENDES.

THIS IS A DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT AND CONSTRUCTION IS SCHEDULED FOR 2023.

AND THIS SPECIFIC PROJECT IS INCLUDES CATHEDRAL PLACE FROM KING STREET TO A1-A.

KING STREET OVER THE SAN SEBASTIAN RIVER BRIDGE.

THIS IS A BRIDGE REPLACEMENT AND RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITION IS SCHEDULED FOR 2023.

CONSTRUCTION IS SCHEDULED FOR 2024.

KING STREET.

THIS ALSO IS THE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FROM MALAGA STREET TO AVENIDA MENDES, AND CONSTRUCTION IS SCHEDULED FOR 2023. THIS ONE, IF INCLUDES SOME STORM DRAIN, SOME SIGNAL WORK AND IS FROM AVENIDA MENDES TO BAY WALL, INCLUDES THE BULKHEAD OR SO OF [INAUDIBLE] IN THE SOUTH AND KING STREET INTERSECTIONS.

PONCE DE LEON NORTH FROM MARION AVENUE TO FORT MOSS TRAIL.

THIS IS A LANDSCAPING PROJECT AND CONSTRUCTION IS SCHEDULED FOR 2025.

SMART SANTIAGO'S CONNECTED VEHICLE SYSTEM IN CITY OF SAN AUGUSTINE.

THIS IS AN IT'S COMMUNICATION SYSTEM PROJECT, AND CONSTRUCTION IS SCHEDULED FOR 2024.

STAY AWAY FROM THE BRIDGE OF LIONS TO CHARLOTTE STREET.

THIS IS ALSO A PROJECT TO IMPROVE DRAINAGE AND PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING IS SCHEDULED FOR 2026.

[INAUDIBLE] FROM SAN MARCO TO NORTH OF FRANK BUTLER COUNTY PARK ENTRANCE.

THIS IS A BIKE PATH AND PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY IS SCHEDULED FOR 2023 AND THE PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING IS SCHEDULED FOR 2024.

ANASTASIA STATE PARK FROM POPE ROAD TO RED CROSS DRIVE, ALSO A BIKE PATH PROJECT AND PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING IS SCHEDULED FOR 2023. [INAUDIBLE] FROM MARYLAND TO FORT MATANZAS INLET, ALSO A BIKE PATH. CONSTRUCTION IS SCHEDULED FOR 2027.

FIRST COAST EXPRESSWAY FROM I-95 TO EAST OF COUNTY ROAD 16.

THIS IS A NEW ROAD CONSTRUCTION.

RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITION AND PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING IS SCHEDULED FOR 2023.

DESIGN BUILD IS SCHEDULED FOR 2023 AND 2025.

FIRST COAST EXPRESSWAY FROM EAST OF COUNTY ROAD 16A.

THIS IS ALSO A NEW ROAD.

CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN BUILD IS SCHEDULED FOR 2023 AND 2024.

AND THIS IS JUST A HIGHLIGHT OF SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE IN THE TIP FOR [INAUDIBLE] COUNTY.

WE PROVIDED A HANDOUT THAT INCLUDES ALL OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE FOR SENIORS COUNTY.

AND WITH THAT, I WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS INFORMATION.

I WOULD NOTE THAT IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE MAP THAT YOU HAVE ON PAGE SEVEN AND THE MAP YOU HAVE ON PAGE 11 ARE OUT OF DATE AND INACCURATE.

YES, WE WILL UPDATE THAT.

YES. YEAH, THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL.

YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT COMMENT.

YEAH. COMMISSIONERS, ANYTHING FURTHER? NO. MS. DEJESUS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HAVE A GREAT DAY.

[8.A.1. 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)]

[00:50:07]

THIS ORDINANCE HERE IS ON SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING.

YES. GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS AMY SKINNER.

I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT.

THIS AGENDA ITEM IS THE SECOND READING IN PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCE NUMBER 2022-03 TO AMEND THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN MAP FROM RESIDENTIAL LOW DENSITY MIXED USE TO RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY FOR APPROXIMATELY 42 UPLAND ACRES.

THIS PROJECT IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS FLAGLER CROSSING.

THE PROPOSED USE OF THIS PROPERTY HAS CHANGED FROM A SINGLE FAMILY SUBDIVISION APPROVED IN 2006 TO A MULTIFAMILY PROJECT.

AT APPROXIMATELY EIGHT UNITS PER ACRE OR 336 UNITS.

THE PROPOSED LAND USE WOULD ALLOW UP TO 16 UNITS PER ACRE, WHICH WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 676 UNITS.

HOWEVER, THE PROJECT IS DESCRIBED AS DESCRIBED INCLUDES A TOTAL OF 510 UNITS.

ITEM NUMBER 8A-2 ON THE AGENDA IS THE SECOND READING IN PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCE NUMBER 2022-04, WHICH IS THE COMPATIBLE REZONING OF THE PROPERTY FROM RESIDENTIAL LOW ONE TO RESIDENTIAL GENERAL ONE FOR THE APPROXIMATELY 42 UPLAND ACRES.

THESE ITEMS ARE RELATED BUT REQUIRE SEPARATE ACTION BY THE CITY COMMISSION TO ADDRESS THEM.

THE PCB CONSIDERED THESE ITEMS AT THEIR FEBRUARY 1ST PCB MEETING AND DELIBERATED ON THE POTENTIAL INCREASE IN DENSITY ON THIS PROPERTY.

THE PCB DETERMINED THAT THE AREA IS APPROPRIATE FOR MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT GIVEN THE LOCATION AND SURROUNDING DEVELOPMENT.

THE PROPOSED RG-1 ZONING DISTRICT IS THE STANDARD MULTIFAMILY ZONING DISTRICT FOR THE CITY AND IS THE SAME STANDARD THAT WAS USED ON THE ADJACENT PROPERTY.

THE PCB ALSO DISCUSSED THE GENERAL NEED FOR RENTAL UNITS WITHIN THE CITY.

AND THE CITY COMMISSION MEETING OF FEBRUARY 14TH.

THE CITY COMMISSION DISCUSSED THESE ITEMS AT FIRST READING AND REQUESTED THAT THE APPLICANT LOOK INTO THE PROVISION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS PART OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT.

THE APPLICANT AGREED AND HIS STAFF'S UNDERSTANDING THAT THE APPLICANT HAS CONTACTED ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY TO ESTABLISH A POTENTIAL METHOD TO USE THE COUNTY TO QUALIFY UP TO 20% OF THE ADDITIONAL UNITS, WHICH ARE 180 THAT THEY'RE PROPOSING AT 90 TO 100% OF THE AMI, WHICH IS THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME IN PERPETUITY BY DEED RESTRICTION TO PROVIDE SOME LEVEL OF AFFORDABLE OR WORKFORCE HOUSING.

THIS IS ARTICULATED IN THE ATTACHED CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE CEO OF CORNER LOT CONSTRUCTION.

THAT'S THE CURRENT DEVELOPERS OF THE SITE.

AS A NOTE, THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME AS OF LAST WEEK NOW IS $88,000.

90% OF $80,000 WOULD STILL BE $72,000, WHICH THAT'S QUITE AN INCOME IN THIS AREA.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE CITY CURRENTLY HAS NO MECHANISMS IN PLACE TO QUALIFY, MONITOR OR ENFORCE ANY ARRANGEMENT FOR THE ONGOING PROVISION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS CURRENTLY ARTICULATED.

ADDITIONALLY, THE CITY'S PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAD SOME CONCERNS RELATED TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGN CAPACITY FOR THE POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL UNITS.

IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE APPLICANT HAS MET WITH OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND THAT STAFF IS MORE COMFORTABLE THAN ANY ISSUES RELATED TO INFRASTRUCTURE AND INCREASING THE PROPOSED DENSITY WILL BE ADDRESSED.

THIS IS THE SECOND READING IN A PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCE 2022-03 TO CHANGE THE LAND USE IN A SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCE 2022-04, WHICH IS THE COMPANION REZONING OF THE PROPERTY ON SAN SEBASTIAN VIEW, KNOWN AS FLAGLER CROSSING.

THANK YOU. AND I'M AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, MS. SKINNER, AT THIS JUNCTURE? YES, MISS SKINNER, I ASKED YOU TO GIVE ME THE NUMBER ON WHAT THE ACTUAL MOBILITY FEE INCOME ON THIS PROJECT WOULD BE.

COULD YOU TELL US WHAT THAT WILL BE? THE THERE ARE SIX ADDITIONAL BUILDINGS, REMAINING BUILDINGS TO BE PERMITTED.

AND THEY ARE APPROXIMATELY 35,000 SQUARE FEET.

SO THE MOBILITY FEE WOULD BE CLOSE TO $224,000.

OKAY. THANK YOU, OK.

MS. LOPEZ, IT'S NECESSARY FOR US TO DECLARE EX-PARTE COMMUNICATIONS.

IT IS FOR THE REZONING PORTION.

SO, YES, YOU MIGHT AS WELL DO IT NOW.

YES. SO I WOULD STATE FOR THE RECORD THAT I HAVE HAD COMMUNICATIONS WITH WILLIAM SEITZ, WHO IS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEVELOPER.

[00:55:07]

ALSO LETTER FROM MELINDA [INAUDIBLE], SAY ON THE SERVER.

THANK YOU. A LETTER FROM MELINDA RECONESE NO OTHER CONTACT.

COMMISSIONER BLONDER? I MET WITH MR. WILLIAMS IN APRIL, I WANT TO SAY, AND GOT A TEXT MESSAGE FROM MELINDA RECONESE, PLUS AN EMAIL.

THANK YOU. I'VE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MELINDA RECONESE AND THAT IS THE EXTENT OF MY EXPERTISE.

THANK YOU, OK.

I WOULD NOW LIKE TO CALL UPON THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE DEVELOPER CORNER LOT FOR THEIR PRESENTATION.

WELCOME, GENTLEMEN.

FEEL FREE TO ADJUST THAT MICROPHONE.

SO IT'S COMFORTABLE. WONDERFUL.

GOOD. GOOD EVENING. AND THE MAYOR AND THE COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

WE WERE HERE ON VALENTINE'S DAY TOGETHER AND WE REALLY APPRECIATED THE FORTHCOMING FEEDBACK THAT WE GOT FROM EVERYBODY.

IT'S NOT. SIR, I TRULY APOLOGIZE.

I SHOULD HAVE SAID SOMETHING EARLIER, BUT SINCE WE'RE ROLLING THE PRESENTATION, I BELIEVE ALL IN ONE PRESENTATION AND SPLITTING IT UP.

YES. IF YOU'LL BE TESTIFYING ON THE REZONING PORTION, WHICH IS LIKE THE SECOND ITEM WE'D LIKE TO SWEAR IN WHOMEVER WILL BE TESTIFYING ON THE REZONING. MY PLEASURE.

MY NAME IS WILLIAM. IT'S 502 AGRICOLA AVENUE, ST.

AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA. ROSEMONT LATIMER, MARQUIS LATIMER HALL, HALBACH, 34, CORDOVA STREET.

THANK YOU, OK.

NOW WITH FORMALITIES OUT OF THE WAY, PLEASE.

SO YEAH, TO GO BACK, WE WERE HERE ON VALENTINE'S DAY.

WE APPRECIATED THE FEEDBACK THAT WE GOT.

I DID SPEND QUITE A BIT OF TIME AND WAS HONORED AND PRIVILEGE TO SPEND THE TIME WITH SEVERAL STAFF FROM THE CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS AND ALSO WITH JOHN'S COUNTY.

AND ALSO DID SOME RESEARCH IN THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE WHERE WE SAW A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT, DOES A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT TO UNDERSTAND KIND OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY IN REGARDS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING SOLUTIONS.

SO A LOT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THAT FEBRUARY 14TH MEETING.

A LOT OF THAT YOU WILL SEE IN OUR PRESENTATION.

BUT I DID WANT TO ADD SOME COLOR TO THAT BEFORE WE GOT INTO THE ACTUAL FORMAL POWERPOINT PRESENTATION, WHICH I BELIEVE YOU'VE SEEN BEFORE.

SINCE FEBRUARY, THE STATE HAS PUT OUT A NEW AMI CHART.

IT COMES OUT EVERY APRIL.

WE WERE UNABLE TO ACCESS THAT UNTIL ABOUT EARLY MAY AND I PROMISED THE COMMISSIONERS THAT WHO WE HAD MET WITH THAT WE WOULDN'T SURPRISE THEM WITH ANYTHING.

SO AT THE 11TH HOUR ON THURSDAY, WHEN WE WERE DUE TO RESUBMIT EVERYTHING, WE HAD MODIFIED WHAT OUR ORIGINAL PROPOSAL WAS, WHICH WAS TO CHANGE OUR RENTS FROM 100 AND 110% OF THE RENT RESTRICTION TO 90 TO 100%, BECAUSE IT WAS OUR PERCEPTION THAT THE 100 AND 110% THAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY PROPOSED WASN'T REALLY GOING TO TRULY PROVIDE ANY RELIEF WHEN WE HAD WORKED WITH THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT IN JOHN'S COUNTY.

THEY WERE COMFORTABLE IN THE 120% RANGE.

THAT REALLY WASN'T MUCH OF AN IMPACT OFF OF OUR RENT.

SO WE ADJUSTED THAT AT THE LAST SECOND.

WHEN WE GO THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION, YOU WILL SEE THE MEMO THAT MS..

SKINNER REFERENCED PRIOR TO THIS, AND YOU WILL ALSO SEE THE UPDATED RENT CHART THAT SUMMARIZES THE RENTS AND THE AM-I.

AND WE ARE HERE TO LISTEN TO FEEDBACK FROM THE BOARD AND DISCUSS KIND OF THE IMPACT, HOPEFULLY POSITIVE IMPACT THAT THIS REZONING AND ADDITIONAL DENSITY COULD HAVE ON THE CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE. SO HAVING SAID THAT, I WILL GET US THROUGH.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. SO WE'RE GOING TO GO OLD SCHOOL FOR ALL OF US.

AND THIS IS THE PRESENTATION THAT WAS SUBMITTED FOR THE HEARING THIS EVENING.

SO YOU'LL GO THROUGH WE'LL GO THROUGH THE APPROVED PLANS, THE SITE LAYOUT, THE ARCHITECTURE, THE ZONING AND FUTURE LAND USE, AND ITS COMPATIBILITY WITH THE ADJACENT PROPERTIES, PARKING AND TRANSIT, WHICH WE KNOW IS SIGNIFICANT AND IMPORTANT.

AND THEN WE'LL SUMMARIZE WITH WHAT OUR PERCEPTION OF WHAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING COULD BE WITHIN THIS 180 UNIT DEVELOPMENT.

SO THIS IS A CHART THAT SHOWS WHAT THE CURRENT AND REQUESTED ZONING IS.

[01:00:04]

THE OTHER CHANGE THAT WE ARE FORECASTING WAS PARKING, WHICH WE BROUGHT TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD ALONG WITH THIS INITIAL REQUEST TO HAVE A VARIANCE.

THAT VARIANCE GRANTED THIS DEVELOPMENT TO ALLOW FOR PARKING IN FRONT OF THE GARAGES THAT ARE WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT.

SO OUR APARTMENT DEVELOPMENTS HAVE GARAGES THAT YOU CAN LEASE AND IF YOU LEASE THOSE GARAGES, YOU CAN PARK IN THE SPACE IN FRONT OF IT.

AND THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD COUNTED THAT TOWARDS WHAT OUR PARKING CREDIT WAS, WHICH MEANS THE RESULT OF THAT IS WE HAVE 19 MORE PARKING SPACES THAN ARE REQUIRED IN OUR DEVELOPMENT.

AND YOU'LL SEE AS WE GO THROUGH THIS HOW WE ARE GOING TO PROGRAM THOSE TO BENEFIT THE RESIDENTS, SERVE THEIR GUESTS, AND WE ALSO INCORPORATE ELECTRICAL VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS AND BIKE FACILITIES AT EACH OF THE BUILDINGS FOR PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE TO RIDE THEIR BIKES.

SO NOW WE'LL GET INTO THE SITE PLAN.

A LITTLE TIMELINE FOR US.

SO IT WAS JANUARY 5TH THAT WE WENT BEFORE PCB.

WE HAD OUR PLANS APPROVED FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT MAY 17TH BY THE BILLING DEPARTMENT, AND THAT IS FOR THE MASTER SITE PLAN THAT YOU SEE ON THE INSET AND ON THE MASTER CHART.

THAT IS ALL OF THE UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL SERVE ALL OF THESE BUILDINGS AND THAT IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

FOR EVERYBODY'S KNOWLEDGE, THIS SITE IS ALSO A DESIGNATED BROWNFIELD.

IT WAS AN OLD RAILYARD, SO THERE'S SIGNIFICANT REMEDIATION THAT'S BEEN GOING ON AND TAKING PLACE.

FOR ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS.

WE'VE UNCOVERED SOME NOT AS COOL THINGS AS YOU WOULD THINK.

YOU THINK OF OLD TRAIN CAR WOULD BE FUN, BUT A TRAIN RAIL OR A TRAIN WHEEL OR 300 YARDS OF THREE FOOT THICK CONCRETE THROUGHOUT THE SITE IS LESS THAN IDEAL. BUT WE ARE REMEDIATING THAT.

WE ARE UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF DEP.

WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S NO FURTHER IMPACTS TO THE GROUNDWATER AND THAT WE SATISFY WHAT IS CALLED OUR SITE REHABILITATION COMPLETION ORDER AT THE COMPLETION OF THIS DEVELOPMENT.

SO IT'S BEEN A LONG, WE'LL CALL IT, ENTERTAINING PROCESS.

THEN WE WENT TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD ON FEBRUARY 1ST AND THEN AS WE DISCUSSED BEFORE, WE WERE HERE ON VALENTINE'S DAY.

SO IN THE EVENT THAT THE LAND USE CHANGE AND REZONING IS SUPPORTED, THERE WILL BE NO CHANGES TO THE EXISTING SITE PLAN AS YOU SEE IT.

THERE WILL NEED TO BE A MODIFICATION TO THE LIFT STATION.

AND AS MS.. SKINNER HAD DISCUSSED, WE HAVE MET WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS STAFF TO ENSURE THAT ANY UPGRADES OR CHANGES TO THE LIFT STATION IN TERMS OF PUMP SIZE, CAPACITY OR TIMING COULD BE ADDRESSED THROUGH A CONSTRUCTION PLAN MODIFICATION, WHICH WE HAVE FILED.

FRIDAY WE GAVE THE INFORMATION FOR REVIEW AFTER STAFF MEETING ON THURSDAY, AND WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN WORK WITH STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY CHANGES WOULD BE DEEMED APPROPRIATE. SO KIND OF IN TIME WITH A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION ABOUT CONSERVATION REGARDING THE FISH ISLAND PROPERTY.

SINCE WE ACQUIRED THE PROPERTY, THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CONSERVATION EASEMENTS OVER THE PROPERTY.

NOT ONLY DID WE NOT MODIFY ANY OF THOSE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS WHEN WE WENT THROUGH OUR DEVELOPMENT, AFTER WE DEALT WITH THE AREA OF IMPACTED SOILS, WE HAD SIGNIFICANT AREAS OF TREE SAVES THAT ARE ON THE SITE.

SO WE WERE TRYING TO BE AS CONSCIOUS AND AS THOUGHTFUL AS POSSIBLE TO KEEPING A COMMUNITY THAT PEOPLE WOULD FEEL LIKE THEY WERE SOMEHOW ENGAGED AND EXPERIENCING WITH THE SAN SEBASTIAN RIVER.

I'LL SHOW YOU SOME MORE OF THOSE AREAS AS WE GO THROUGH THIS.

BUT THIS SLIDE REALLY SHOWS KIND OF ALL OF THE DIFFERENT DYNAMICS OF OUR SITE.

THE OTHER KEY THING THAT YOU'LL THAT I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE IS THAT WE HAVE TRAILS THAT WRAP THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROPERTY, ONE FOR RECREATION AND TWO FOR RESIDENTS CONNECTIVITY TO THEIR UNITS. SO SINCE WE'VE BEEN WORKING THROUGH THE CONSERVATION, THAT SITE HAD BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED.

IT HAD A LARGE TRANSIENT POPULATION.

PEOPLE WERE DRIVING THEIR CARS BACK.

THEIR PRIMITIVE CAMPING WAS OCCURRING.

IT WAS REASONABLY INTENSE.

WE HAVE GONE TO THE WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT WHO HOLDS THAT CONSERVATION EASEMENT.

WE HAVE REQUESTED THE ABILITY TO DO SOME ENHANCEMENT, WHICH MEANS REMOVE THE INVASIVE SPECIES, REMOVE ALL OF THE TRASH BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT. SO WE HAVE TAKEN THAT JOURNEY ON.

WE'VE REMOVED ALL THE INVASIVE SPECIES OFF THE SITE AND WE ARE RESTORING IT, WHICH MEANS LEAVING IT ALONE FOR THE CURRENT TIME AND MAKING SURE THAT BECAUSE IT'S A DEVELOPMENT SITE, THERE'S NO FURTHER TRANSIENT SITUATIONS.

SO I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MINUTE TO TALK ABOUT THE ARCHITECTURE.

[01:05:04]

AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE BELOW THE 35 FOOT HEIGHT LIMIT.

I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF THE CITY FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS.

I HAD THE PLEASURE OF SERVING AS A ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY EMPLOYEE FOR A LONG TIME, I FOUNDED A NON PROFIT.

I'M FAMILIAR WITH KIND OF THE KEY POINTS OF THE REGION.

SO WHEN OUR DEVELOPER WHO WAS FROM JACKSONVILLE ASKED ME TO COME ON THEIR TEAM, WE WERE TRYING TO BE AS SENSITIVE TO SOME OF THESE ITEMS AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THEY WERE MAYBE MORE UNFAMILIAR WITH THEM THAN I WAS.

SO WE WORKED REALLY HARD WITH DAVID BERTRAM AND HIS TEAM AT THE TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FOUND A DESIGN, ONE THAT WE COULD CONSTRUCT AND TWO THAT WAS WITHIN THOSE 30 FOOT HIGH LIMITS. SO THE RESULT OF THAT IS SOME COMPACT VERTICAL DEVELOPMENT IN A SITE THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY IMPACTED BY ITS HISTORIC USES THE RAIL YARD, THE TRANSIENT POPULATION THAT HAD BEEN SITTING THERE FALLOW AND UNDEVELOPED FOR FOR SOME TIME.

SO BECAUSE OF THIS COMPACT DEVELOPMENT LOCATED ON A COUNTY ROAD WHICH CONNECTS TO A STATE ROAD, WE FELT LIKE IT WAS THE RIGHT AND APPROPRIATE REQUEST TO INCREASE THE DENSITY THERE, ADD MORE RESIDENTS TO THE CITY IN A FOR RENT COMMUNITY BECAUSE THAT IMPACT HAD ALREADY BEEN CONTAINED INSIDE OF THE SITE. WE'RE BORDERED BY THE RAILROAD TRACK AND THE SAN SEBASTIAN AND SURROUNDED BY THOSE CONSERVATION AREAS.

SO ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IN THE SITE, I MEAN, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THIS GRAPHIC, I THINK IS TELLING ME, YES, THE THE NARROW SPOT WE HAVE IN WHICH TO WORK IS SOMEWHAT SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE HAVE THE CONSERVATION LAND, WHICH IS WEST PLANT SOUTH, AND THEN WE HAVE THE IMPACTED SOILS IN THE NORTH.

SO YOU'LL SEE ALL OF OUR STRUCTURES, ALL OF OUR BUILDINGS, ROADWAYS, THEY'RE ALL IN THAT FAIRLY NARROW STRETCH IN BETWEEN THAT PORTION YOU SEE ON PLAN NORTH, WHICH WILL BE EAST, THAT'S NEXT TO THE RAILROAD.

WE HAVE A TWO FOOT BERM WHERE WE'RE CAPPING ALL OF THIS, THIS REMEDIATED SOIL.

SO THERE'S A GOOD 50 FOOT LANDSCAPE BUFFER THAT'LL BE SITTING BETWEEN US, THE RAILROADS AND THE ADJACENT DEVELOPMENT.

AND THEN ON THE WEST SIDE, WE HAVE NOT ONLY THE CONSERVATION LAND WITH THE MUDFLATS, THEN THE 25 FOOT UPLAND BUFFER THAT'LL SEPARATE OUR DEVELOPMENT FROM THE WATERWAYS. SO IT'S A FAIRLY NARROW STRIP IN BETWEEN.

AND THAT'S I THINK ONE OF THE STRENGTHS THE SITE PLAN IS THE DEVELOPMENT HAS MANAGED TO FIT INTO THE [INAUDIBLE] WITHOUT IMPACTING THE SITE OVER MUCH. I CAN DRAW ON.

THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S EXCITING.

SO THIS AREA RIGHT HERE IS ONE THAT WE IDENTIFIED AS A HISTORIC CALL IT SANDY LIVE OAK COMMUNITY.

YEAH. SO SO WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THIS, THE INITIALLY THAT WAS WHERE THE AMENITY CENTER WAS GOING TO BE.

BUT WE WALKED OUT, DID A TREE SURVEY AND THE WHOLE SITE WAS OVER 5000 TREES AND THEN THAT SITE WAS BEAUTIFUL.

[INAUDIBLE] THE SAME LIVE OAKS, YOU KNOW, THE REAL, REAL TWISTY OAKS THAT GO IN AMONG THE PALMETTO.

SO WE ENTIRELY PRESERVED THAT WILL HAND-CUT TRAILS IN THERE.

BUT ASIDE FROM THAT, IT'LL BE AN INTACT NATIVE COMMUNITY.

WE TRY TO BE SENSITIVE ONE TO TO THE.

THE LOCAL CLIMATE.

AND TWO, WE WANT TO CREATE A LIVABLE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

WE WANT THEM TO FEEL LIKE THEY CAME HOME SOMEWHERE.

THEY CAN RECREATE THEIR ALL OF THEIR SERVICES FROM THEIR POOL, THEIR KAYAK LAUNCH, THEIR NATURE TRAILS.

THEY'RE ALL CONFINED IN THAT AND ALL OF THAT MAINTENANCE AND SERVICES PROVIDED BY OUR MANAGEMENT GROUP.

SO WE'LL GO THROUGH THE ZONING AND FUTURE LAND USE REQUESTS, WHICH MS. SKINNER SUMMARIZED.

SO THIS JUST SHOWS THE CURRENT.

THE CURRENT LAND USE OF OUR SITE AND THE ADJACENT LAND USES SURROUNDING IT.

SO WE'RE BORDERED BY SOME INDUSTRIAL AND SOME OPEN LAND WHERE ACROSS FROM THE COUNTY'S PUBLIC SERVICE AND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OFFICES.

AND WE HAVE COMMERCIAL MEDIUM DENSITY RIGHT NEXT DOOR.

WAIT ONE SECOND, MR. SEITZ.

SO YOU CAN SEE IT'S IN OUR IN OUR PERCEPTION IT WAS A COMPATIBLE ADJACENT LAND USE TO THE LANDINGS WHICH ARE NEXT DOOR.

AS YOU KNOW, THOSE HAVE BEEN VERY POPULAR AND ARE SOLD OUT I BELIEVE AND PROVIDING A NICE FOR RENT RESIDENTIAL SOLUTION AND THAT US ONE

[01:10:06]

WE'RE CURRENTLY RL-1 REQUESTING TO BE RG-1 AND THE ADJACENT ZONING IS INDUSTRIAL WAREHOUSE AND CM2 WITH SOME RC ONE AND RG ONE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF US ONE.

SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING THROUGH THE BEST USE OF OUR PARKING.

ALTHOUGH PARKING IN THE CITY IS ALWAYS A BIG TOPIC.

I LIVE IN DAVIS SHORES, SO STREET PARKING IS A BIG DEAL OVER THERE FOR MY FOR MY FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AND WE ALL SEEM TO GET ALONG.

I THINK WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE CLEAR ABOUT HOW WE COULD PROGRAM THIS PARKING.

SO THERE'S FOUR ELEMENTS THAT WE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT.

ONE IS IDENTIFYING SOME AREAS FOR CHARGING STATIONS.

RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE EIGHT STATIONS FORECAST.

IF THE DEMAND FOR THOSE GOES UP, WE CAN INCREASE.

MORE GENERALLY, IT'S ABOUT.

TWO PER 100 RESIDENTS IS WHAT WE'RE FINDING IN THE MARKET.

SO THAT COULD GO AS HIGH AS TEN, BUT WE FEEL LIKE EIGHT IS GOING TO BE THE RIGHT NUMBER TO START WITH.

WE HAVE SUFFICIENT NUMBER FOR RESIDENTS AND THEIR GUESTS IF I WANT TO GO VISIT.

FREMONT WHO LIVES OUT THERE AND HIM AND I WANT TO GO PADDLE BOARDING ON THE SAN SEBASTIAN.

THERE SHOULD BE A PLACE FOR ME TO PARK.

WE HAVE BIKE PARKING INSTALLED AT EACH BUILDING AND IT'S JUST RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM AN EXISTING SUNSHINE BUS ROUTE AT THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BUILDING.

SO A COUPLE OTHER KEY ELEMENTS ARE IN OUR LEASE REQUIREMENTS, WHICH ARE MANAGED BY A MANAGEMENT COMPANY, A PRIVATE MANAGEMENT COMPANY THAT WE CONTRACT WITH. SHORT TERM RENTALS ARE PROHIBITED, SO THE MINIMUM LEASE IS FOR TEN MONTHS FOR SOME REASON.

I'LL USE FREMONT.

FREMONT LIVE THERE.

AND HE DECIDED TO VACATION RENT IT WHILE HE WENT HOME FROM FLAGLER FOR THE SUMMER.

FREMONT WAS FOUND OUT BY HIS NEIGHBORS OR THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY.

AND ACCORDING TO OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM, NEIGHBORS ARE VERY FORTHCOMING WITH WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

FREMONT'S LEASE WOULD BE IMMEDIATELY TERMINATED AND THEY'D REPLACE HIM WITH ANOTHER LONG TERM TENANT.

AND THEN THE GARAGE SPACES, WHICH WE DISCUSSED EARLIER THAT ARE STACKED SPACES THAT ARE RESERVED FOR THE INDIVIDUAL UNITS.

IT'S COMMON THAT THAT A RESIDENT APARTMENT COMPLEX HAS A GARAGE, STORES THEIR STUFF IN IT, PARKS IN FRONT OF IT, OR PARKS IN BOTH SPACES.

SO THAT IS A TRADITIONAL THING THAT WE SEE IN ALL OF OUR MULTIFAMILY COMPLEXES.

AND ALL OF THAT ENFORCEMENT IS MANAGED BY THE ONSITE MANAGEMENT COMPANY.

WE GENERALLY HAVE AT LEAST ONE, IF NOT TWO LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPUTIES FOR 300 UNITS.

SO WE COULD HAVE AS MANY AS THREE.

AND WE ALSO HAVE TWO ONSITE 24 HOUR MANAGERS WHO RESPOND TO ANY OF THE NEEDS FOR THE COMMUNITY INTERNALLY.

SO NOW WE'LL GET TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SO OUR FIRM CORE DEVELOPMENT GROUP SINCE 2017 HAS BEEN PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING SOLUTIONS, MOSTLY THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE.

UNTIL I CAME ON BOARD IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS, THEY HAD ASKED ME WHAT SOME OF MY GOALS WERE, AND I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT PROVIDING AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING SOLUTION AND.

IN MY HOMETOWN WOULD BE GREAT.

RECENTLY, WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN WORKING THROUGH THE COUNTY'S NEW ZONING ORDINANCE TO HAVE A PROJECT APPROVED IN WEST ST.

AUGUSTINE THAT IS GOING TO BE A WORKFORCE HOUSING PROJECT WITH 106 HOMES, 54 OF THEM TOWNHOMES AND 52 OF THEM SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, OF WHICH 40% WILL BE SOLD FOR 240 OR LESS.

WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF ABLE TO PUT THAT PROJECT TOGETHER.

IT WAS A SITE THAT HAD BEEN SITTING THERE FOR A LONG TIME.

I SHARE THIS WITH YOU BECAUSE.

WE DIDN'T TAKE THIS PART OF THE PRESENTATION AND THIS PIECE OF IT LIGHTLY.

WE WORKED ALL THE WAY UNTIL THURSDAY TO TRY TO COME UP WITH WHAT WE FELT LIKE WAS A LONG TERM, VIABLE SOLUTION TO PROVIDING SOME RELIEF IN AN AREA THAT'S SEEING INCREDIBLY HIGH RENTS, WHICH CONTINUE TO GO UP.

SO THIS IS WHAT WE HAD PUT TOGETHER.

AS I SAID, IT WAS TEN DAYS AGO THAT THIS WAS UPDATED.

SO WE WOULD HAVE A SELF IMPOSED DEED RESTRICTION THAT WOULD TRANSFER WITH ANY OWNERSHIP OF THE PROPERTY FOR 20% OF THE 180 UNITS, WHICH IS 36. AND WE ORIGINALLY HAD STARTED WITH A LOWER UNIT NUMBER AND COLLECTIVELY THROUGH THE FEEDBACK I HAD GOTTEN THROUGH SINCE VALENTINE'S DAY, WE DECIDED THAT THAT WASN'T GOING TO BE ENOUGH OF AN IMPACT.

SO WE INCREASED OUR PERCENTAGE OF 20% OR 36 UNITS, AND WE MOVED OUR RENT LIMITS AS RECENTLY AS LAST THURSDAY OR TWO THURSDAYS AGO WHEN THE AMI

[01:15:01]

SO ALTHOUGH ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY FELT 120% WOULD PROVIDE SOME RELIEF, WE ORIGINALLY HAD PROPOSED 100 AND 110%.

WE HAVE NOW CHANGED THAT TO 90 AND 100% TO PROVIDE WHAT WE FELT LIKE WAS SOME RELIEF OFF OF WHAT OUR RENTS ARE FORECASTED TO BE.

WE'RE SEEING MARKET RATE APARTMENT RENTS INCREASE AS MUCH AS 5% A YEAR.

SO OVER THE COURSE OF TIME, THESE WILL BE RESTRICTED TERMINALLY AS MARKET RENTS INCREASE.

THESE WILL ONLY MOVE AS MUCH AS THE ARMY MOVES.

AND THE NUMBER THAT AMY WAS REFERENCING EARLIER WAS.

THE SALARY. THAT SALARY IS THE MOST SOMEONE CAN MAKE.

THEY COULDN'T MAKE MORE THAN THAT.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO MAKE 78 OR 80,000 TO QUALIFY.

THEY CAN MAKE 40,000 AND STILL QUALIFY.

AND THAT WILL ADJUST ANNUALLY AS DETERMINED BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA, AND THAT WILL BE OUTLINED IN OUR DEED RESTRICTION.

SO THIS IS THE SECTION OF THE MOST RECENT CHART.

THIS CHART COVERS EVERY COUNTY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

I JUST TOOK AN EXCERPT OF THE CHART TO DEMONSTRATE KIND OF WHAT THE RENTS ARE.

YOU CAN SEE THEY ONLY DO 80 AND 120% AND 140%.

SO WE HAD TO CALCULATE WHAT 190% WAS.

AND THIS SLIDE SUMMARIZES WHAT THAT IMPACT IS.

SO YOU CAN SEE THAT 90 TO 100% RENT LIMITS ON THE LEFT.

AND THE PROJECTED MARKET RENTS THAT ARE ON THE RIGHT.

AND THEN WE ALSO PRODUCED KIND OF THE LAST FOUR YEARS OF THE ARMY, WHICH IS DETERMINED BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA, BASED OFF THE ENTIRETY OF ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY BECAUSE OF THE CENSUS.

SO THAT IS THAT IS HOW WE CAME UP WITH THIS FORMULA.

YOU CAN SEE THE MEMO THAT IS ATTACHED THAT WE MADE SURE TO GET TO EVERYBODY BEFORE THE MEETING.

AND WE WERE.

WE WERE TRYING TO BE AS FLUID AS WE COULD WITH THE INFORMATION AS SOON AS WE RECEIVED IT.

SO THAT SUMMARIZES OUR PRESENTATION.

WE'RE HERE TO GATHER FEEDBACK FROM THE BOARD.

WE'RE GOING TO ASK FOR YOU ALL TO SUPPORT OUR LAND USE CHANGE IN REZONING WITH THE INTENT THAT IT'S THE APPROPRIATE LOCATION FOR ADDITIONAL COMPACT VERTICAL DEVELOPMENT ON A SITE THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN IMPACTED.

AND WE WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING SOLUTION.

FOR THE RESIDENTS, FUTURE RESIDENTS OF CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE. SO QUESTIONS AND FEEDBACK.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. SEITZ.

COMMISSIONERS, WITH YOUR PERMISSION, I THINK WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND SO I WOULD OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS POINT.

I WOULD ASK IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO.

YES. I WAS WAITING FOR YOU TO FINISH YOUR SENTENCE.

I JUST MEANT TO DO A LITTLE WAVE IF IF WE'RE DOING THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP AMENDMENT, WHICH IS A COMPLIANT CHANGE WE DON'T NEED TO SWEAR FOLKS IN. SO IF THEY'RE COMING UP FOR THE FIRST ITEM, WHICH IS ORDINANCE 2020-03, THEY DON'T NEED TO BE SWORN IN.

AND THEN YOU'LL VOTE ON THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP AMENDMENT, WHICH IS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

IT'S A LEGISLATIVE DECISION.

SO IT'S THE FAIRLY DEBATABLE STANDARD, VERY DEFERENTIAL TO YOUR POLICY MAKING.

IT IS NOT A QUASI JUDICIAL HEARING.

SO THE FIRST HEARING, FOLKS DON'T NEED TO BE PLACED UNDER OATH.

IF AND WHEN WE GO TO THE SECOND PART, WHICH IS THE REZONING, THEN WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE ALL THESE NICE FOLKS WHO ARE COMING UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT PUT UNDER OATH.

AND I'M CONFIDENT YOU REMIND ME AS WE GO AHEAD.

THANK YOU. I'VE OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE 2022-03.

THIS IS THE SMALL SCALE LAND USE PLAN AMENDMENT.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU WOULD COMPLETE A PRESENTATION CARD AND PROVIDE IT TO STAFF.

AT THIS JUNCTURE, I HAVE ONE CARD AND THAT IS FROM MELINDA [INAUDIBLE].

YES. THE APPLICANT OF FLAGLER CROSSING HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE NUMEROUS CONCERNS THAT MANY OF YOU COMMISSIONERS VOICED DURING YOUR FIRST READING OF THESE ORDINANCES ON FEBRUARY 14TH.

[01:20:02]

I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE DEVELOPMENT UNDER ITS PRESENT ZONING.

OVER THREE MONTHS HAS PASSED AND INSTEAD OF TAKING YOUR LIST OF CONCERNS AND REVISING THE APPLICATION, THE APPLICANT HAS TURNED IN THE SAME BUILDING AND PARKING PLAN THAT WAS BEFORE YOU IN FEBRUARY.

THE ONLY CHANGE WAS TO ADD THAT THERE WOULD BE RENT LIMITS ON 36 UNITS, WHICH IS ONLY 7% OF THE TOTAL OF 510 UNITS PLANNED.

NONE OF THE DENSITY PARKING IN MASS TRANSIT AND CONDO CONVERSION CONCERNS OF THE CITY COMMISSION WERE ADDRESSED.

IT IS TRUE THAT THE APPLICANT HAS NOT INCREASED THE FOOTPRINT OF THE BUILDINGS BY ADDING A THIRD STORY.

AND I AGREE THAT'S AN EFFICIENT WAY TO PUT MORE PEOPLE ON THE SAME ACREAGE BY BUILDING UPWARDS.

HOWEVER, THE INCREASED DENSITY THAT WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED WITH IS THE INCREASE IN CARS AND THEREFORE THE INCREASE OF TRAFFIC, WHICH IS HAVING A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON THE LIVABILITY OF THE CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE. THE APPLICANT IS ASKING FOR A VARIANCE TO ALLOW THE STACKED PARKING SO THAT HE CAN INCREASE THEIR PARKING FROM THREE 613 SPACES TO 931 SPACES, WHICH IS 19 MORE THAN REQUIRED BY CODE.

THIS IS AN INCREASE OF 318 CARS AND MORE TRAFFIC ONTO US, ONE WHICH IS ALREADY CONGESTED AT THE NORTH END OF THE CITY, PROVIDING AN ADDITIONAL LIGHT AT US. ONE IS SIMPLY WANT TO SLOW TRAFFIC DOWN.

THE APPLICANT IS NOT PROPOSING TO HELP WITH THE PARKING GARAGES OR THE SHUTTLE SYSTEM TO DECREASE THE TRAFFIC PROBLEMS AT ONLY 7% WITH RENT LIMITS. THEY ARE NOT REALLY PROVIDING WORK FOR HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WHO WOULD PERHAPS BENEFIT FROM A MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM.

THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE USING A CAR TO GO PLACES THE APP.

IT'S BAD ENOUGH THAT ST JOHN'S COUNTY IS UNCONTROLLED IN ITS GROWTH.

DOES THE CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE NEED TO START CHANGING OUR COMP PLAN AND OUR ZONING TO ALLOW EVEN MORE GROWTH? YOU'D BE HARD PRESSED FOR PUBLIC GOOD HERE, THEREFORE DENY ORDINANCES 2022-03 AND 2022-04, WHICH TOGETHER INCREASE THE ALLOWED DENSITY FROM EIGHT UNITS TO 16 UNITS PER ACRE.

LIKE I SAID, MY MAIN CONCERN IS THE INCREASED TRAFFIC THAT THIS IS BRINGING.

STACKING PEOPLE IS FINE IF YOU'RE NOT ADDING MORE CARS, BUT THEY'RE ASKING TO ADD MORE CARS TO THIS DEVELOPMENT.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HAVING OUR PROBLEMS. UP ON THE NORTH END OF THE CITY IS TRAFFIC.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON ORDINANCE 2022-03 SEEING NO ONE ELSE.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.

COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT, QUESTIONS OF STAFF OR CONVERSATION AT THE COMMISSION TABLE.

I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION OF THE APPLICANT.

I'M JUST CURIOUS, OF THE ADDITIONAL 180 UNITS, WHAT IS THE MIX? HOW MANY ONE BEDROOM? HOW MANY TWO BEDROOMS? HOW MANY THREE BEDROOMS? SO OUR RESEARCH LEADING UP TO THIS DEVELOPMENT IS THAT IT'S 50% ONE BEDROOMS, 40% TWO BEDROOMS AND 10% THREE THREE BEDROOMS. THAT'S WHAT OUR MARKET RESEARCH DETERMINES.

SO WE WOULD OFFER THE SAME MIX FOR THOSE 36 UNITS THAT WE HAD DISCUSSED.

AND I SHOULD ALSO NOTE THAT THE MIX OF THOSE 36 UNITS WOULD BE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE SIX BUILDINGS.

SO IF I WAS ONCE A CANDIDATE WHO WAS ELIGIBLE FOR AN AFFORDABLE RENTAL UNIT, MY UNIT WOULD LOOK IDENTICAL TO THE UNIT NEXT DOOR, AND THERE WOULD BE NO WAY TO DETERMINE THAT I QUALIFIED FOR THE AFFORDABLE RENT VERSUS ANYBODY ELSE.

ALL THE UNITS WILL BE THE SAME AND THEY'LL BE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING.

SO I'M UNDERSTANDING YOU TO SAY 50%, 40%, 10%.

YES, SIR. DO YOU HAVE A CALCULATION AS TO THE NUMBER OF CARS THAT WILL INTERPRET IT? I DO. AND HAVE YOU HAVE YOU DONE ANY KIND OF TRIP ANALYSIS ON HOW MANY TRIPS YOU SEE ORIGINATING FROM YOUR DEVELOPMENT? YES, SIR, WE HAVE.

WE ARE A PARTY TO THE COST SHARE AGREEMENT THAT IS A RESULT OF THE POTENTIAL LIGHT OR ROUNDABOUT OR PEANUT, WHATEVER FDOT DETERMINES WHICH IS THAT SAN SEBASTIAN, US ONE.

WE CAN'T FURTHER A TRAFFIC STUDY WITHOUT A DENSITY APPROVAL.

SO RIGHT NOW IT'S BEEN STUDIED OFF 336 UNITS, WHICH IS WHAT IS CURRENTLY IN THERE.

BUT BECAUSE OF THE AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH FDOT, WE ARE REQUIRED IN THE EVENT OF ANY CHANGE TO THE DENSITY TO RESUBMIT THAT WHICH WOULD CHANGE THEIR ANALYSIS AND ALSO CHANGE OUR COST SHARE ACCORDINGLY.

AND I WILL FIND THE PARKING SECTION.

SO RIGHT NOW YOUR STUDY IS BASED ON 330 UNITS.

[01:25:02]

SO WE COULD REASONABLY EXPECT A ONE THIRD INCREASE.

YEAH. ABOUT THAT.

AND IT'S ABOUT 1.7 CARS PER BED, IS THE GUESSTIMATE.

BASED OFF MARKET RESEARCH.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER'S OTHER QUESTIONS.

OKAY. I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT ARCHITECTURAL.

YOU SHOWED SOME FLAT ROOFS.

THERE'S NO INTENTION OF ANY ROOFTOP TERRACES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

NO. THROUGH THE THROUGH THE MAYOR TO COMMISSIONER HORVATH, THERE'S NO INTENTION OF ANY ROOFTOP TERRACES.

THERE'S AN INTERNAL DRAINAGE SYSTEM THAT CONNECTS TO OUR STORM DRAINS ON.

OKAY. I FIND I'M MOST TROUBLED BY THE 90 TO 100%.

I WAS FAR MORE TROUBLED BY 100 TO 110% AMI.

BUT WITH THE, YOU KNOW, COSTS OF A ONE BEDROOM AT 90%, 1400 FOR ONE BEDROOM. THAT'S GENERALLY THAT'S SUPER HIGH.

I MEAN, I KNOW EVERYTHING'S ESCALATING, BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M BOTHERED BY THAT.

I THINK IT SHOULD BE AROUND 80.

80% AMI.

AND ALSO THIS, THE FACT THAT YOU'RE OFFERING 36 UNITS AND THAT'S, AS SOMEBODY MENTIONED BEFORE, IT IS 7% OF THE 510.

PERHAPS IT SHOULD BE 20% OF THE 510, WHICH WOULD BE 110 AFFORDABLE QUOTE.

I DON'T REALLY FEEL THAT'S AFFORDABLE.

IT WOULD BE 102 AFFORDABLE.

408 MARKET RATE.

SO, I MEAN, I JUST FEEL THERE'S NOT ENOUGH GIVE HERE FOR INCREASING THE TRAFFIC IN THAT AREA.

WELL. THROUGH THE MAYOR FOR COMMISSIONER HORVATH.

WE APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK.

WE'VE BEEN FLUID WITH OUR RENTAL PERCENTAGES.

I THINK LET'S GET SOME MORE FEEDBACK AND I THINK WE CAN HAVE SOME CONVERSATION ABOUT IT.

I DO NEED TO MENTION THAT THE TWO PROJECTS.

ARE SOMEWHAT INDEPENDENT OF EACH OTHER.

THE 330 UNITS WHICH ARE ALREADY APPROVED ALREADY HAVE KIND OF MARKET RENTS SET.

THEY ALREADY HAVE ARCHITECTURE FINISHED.

WE'VE ALREADY KIND OF DONE ALL OF THE DEVELOPMENT IN TERMS OF HOW YOU FINANCE A DEVELOPMENT LIKE THIS.

SO WE ARE WE ARE OPEN MINDED AND WILLING TO WORK ON WHAT WE CAN DO WITH 180 UNITS.

I JUST CAN'T TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO MODIFY ANYTHING THAT'S GOING ON WITH THE ALREADY EXISTING AND APPROVED 330 UNITS BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT FOR FOR SOME TIME. AND I'M JUST HERE TO BE AS AS HONEST WITH YOU AS I CAN, AND I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT THAT JUST MEANS THAT YOU MAKE 102 OUT OF THE 180 MARKET RATE AND LET THE REST BE AFFORDABLE AND LET THE REST OF THEM BE MARKET RATE.

YOU CAN'T TOUCH THE FIRST 336, BUT YOU CAN TOUCH THE 180.

I UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER'S OTHER COMMENTS? THOUGHTS? I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY WITH ALL THE TALK ABOUT TRAFFIC.

I'M LOOKING AT THE ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY TRANSPORTATION ANALYSIS SPREADSHEET THAT WAS RELEASED.

IN APRIL IN THE SEGMENT OF US ONE.

BETWEEN THE CITY LIMITS.

AND STATE ROAD 16, WHICH IS THE SPEEDWAY, IS AT 60% CAPACITY.

AND. FROM 312 TO THE CITY LIMITS, WHICH WE'RE RIGHT ABOUT THERE IS AT.

THAT'S GOING TO BE HIGHER.

BEAR WITH ME 1/2.

I'M TRYING TO DO THIS ON GOOGLE DRIVE, 76% CAPACITY.

SO THE ROAD CAPACITY IS FINE.

IT PROBABLY FEELS LIKE IT'S NOT AT PEAK TRAVEL TIMES.

BUT I DO THINK THAT.

[01:30:02]

YOU ARE OUR FIRST APPLICANT THAT WOULD BE PAYING THE MOBILITY FEES.

SO THAT'S $224,000.

IT GOES INTO OUR MOBILITY DEPARTMENT.

THAT'S ESSENTIALLY OUR ANSWER TO CONCURRENCY.

THAT IS OUR WAY OF RECOUPING WHAT WHAT WOULD TYPICALLY BE CONCURRENCY.

SO THAT'S THAT'S A FIRST AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO REALLY KEEP IN MIND WHEN WE START THINKING ABOUT THESE PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD.

THIS DOES HAVE AN IMPACT.

SO I HAVE TO SAY, THIS POOL, THIS MOBILITY FEE SETTLES ME DOWN A LITTLE BIT ON THE TRAFFIC, ADDING CARS TO THE ROAD COMBINED WITH THE FACT THAT IT'S NOT YOU KNOW, THAT IS NOT CAPACITY.

THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK THAT I'D LIKE TO.

PLEASE GO AHEAD. FINISH.

I DO THINK THAT THE CITY NEEDS MULTIFAMILY.

WHEN WE ANNEXED THIS PROPERTY, THAT WAS AT LEAST WHAT I HAD IN MIND WAS MULTIFAMILY.

I DIDN'T PRESUME IT TO BE ANYTHING BUT.

SO I THINK THAT THAT'S NEEDED.

AND I CERTAINLY WOULD LIKE, I LIKE THE BUFFER.

I MEAN, THAT'S GENEROUS.

IT'S WARRANTED BECAUSE IT'S A RAIL, YOU KNOW? BUT I REALLY LIKE THAT IDEA, ESPECIALLY ON THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY.

SO NICE WORK ON THE SITE PLANNING THAT I DO WANT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT.

BUT COMMISSIONER HORVATH IS OFFERED.

I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF PIGGYBACK ON WHAT YOU SAID, NANCY, ABOUT THE CAPACITY OF US 1 AT THAT LOCATION BEING AT 76%.

WELL, THAT'S TRUE, BUT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S COMING.

I MEAN, ON THE EAST SIDE OF THAT INTERSECTION, THERE'S A BIG DEVELOPMENT THAT HASN'T EVEN STARTED TO THE NORTH OF THAT INTERSECTION, WELL IT'S STARTED, BUT IT STILL HAS MUCH, MUCH TO GO.

IT DOES HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

AND THE NORTH OF THAT INTERSECTION ON THE WEST SIDE, THERE'S MORE HOUSING COMING.

SO WE'RE GOING TO REACH CAPACITY ON THAT ROAD, IN MY OPINION, AND WE'RE POTENTIALLY LOOKING AT INCREASING THIS BY 180 UNITS.

NOW, WE ALL, I THINK, SEE IT AS MULTIFAMILY, BUT I JUST I DON'T KNOW THAT I, I FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT'S OFFERED HERE . AND I, I HAVE A MUCH HIGHER LEVEL OF COMFORT HERE.

I LIKE THE FACT THAT THIS IS AN INFILL DEVELOPMENT.

I LIKE THE FACT THAT WE'RE USING WHAT HAS BEEN A BROWNFIELD, WHAT HAS BEEN USED INAPPROPRIATELY BY FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO HAVE DAMAGED THE PROPERTY SUBSEQUENTLY.

I LIKE THE RESTORATION, IF YOU WOULD, OF THE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS THAT BELONG TO THE WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.

I LIKE THE SENSITIVITY OF THIS DEVELOPER AND THEIR WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THEY MET WITH VERY POPULAR SUPPORT FOR THEIR PROJECT IN WEST AUGUSTINE, AND I THINK THEY'VE SHOWN SOME BOTH , PRACTICAL SENSITIVITY, BUT EMPATHY FOR THE FOLKS THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY ARE TRYING TO HELP.

AND SO I THINK THEY'RE VERY MUCH ON THE RIGHT TRACK HERE.

AND I THINK THAT WE BEGIN TO ADDRESS WE BEGIN TO BE AVAILABLE TO ADDRESS MORE FORWARD THINKING FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION WHEN WE HAVE SUFFICIENT DENSITY TO WARRANT THAT.

AND THIS PROJECT, I THINK, HELPS US MOVE US TO A POINT WHERE THESE OTHER FORMS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION BECOME MORE PRACTICAL, MORE FEASIBLE.

COMMISSIONER BLONDER.

I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR IN THAT THIS IS A POSITIVE.

PROCESS. BUT I THINK WE HAVE SOME WAY TO GO.

I REALLY LIKE, TOO THAT IT'S A MULTIFAMILY PROJECT.

WE ARE EXTRAORDINARILY LOW ON INVENTORY FOR THOSE AND WE NEED MORE.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

I HAVE SOME SPECIFIC COMMENTS AND THEN SOME MORE GENERAL COMMENTS, IF YOU WOULD, GO AHEAD AND SHOW US AGAIN THE ITEM THAT OF YOUR PRESENTATION THAT STARTS WITH CORNER LOT AT THE VERY TOP AND GOES INTO THE RENT LIMITS BECAUSE THERE'S SOME CONTRADICTORY LANGUAGE IN THERE AND I AM

[01:35:03]

SO I NEED TO GET CLARITY ON IT.

THE I'M SORRY, THE ONE THAT HAS CORNER LOT AT THE VERY TOP.

YES. THROUGH THE MAYOR TO COMMISSIONER, BLONDER.

I GOT TO GRAB THAT BECAUSE IT'S AT MY SEAT AND THIS ONE IS TOO SMALL.

YEAH, I THINK I THINK MAYBE OTHER EYES ON IT WOULD HELP ME BETTER UNDERSTAND IT.

OR MAYBE I HAVE FOUND SOMETHING THAT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

I'M NOT SURE YET.

SO IF YOU GO ABOVE THE LINE WHERE IT SAYS 2021 RENT LIMITS AND SO FORTH.

THE SECOND LINE ABOVE IT, YOU HAVE RENT LIMITS THAT WILL BE TIED TO 100% TO 110%.

AND THEN BELOW THAT YOU HAVE THREE LINES BELOW THAT.

THAT CHART YOU HAVE THAT IT'S BELOW.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S TIED TO OR BELOW A CERTAIN AMOUNT RELATIVE TO THE AMI.

AND IT'S A MOVING TARGET RIGHT NOW SO I REALLY NEED THAT NAILED DOWN BEFORE I APPROVE ANYTHING.

SECONDLY, THIS IS TIED TO MORE GENERAL COMMENTS THAT I'LL PROVIDE IN A MINUTE.

BUT THERE'S ANOTHER LINE FOUR WORDS THAT'S PART OF A SENTENCE SORRY, FOUR LINES DOWN FROM THE THE CHART.

AND IT SAYS IN PERPETUITY IN THE EVENT THE PROPERTY IS SOLD TO A DIFFERENT PARTY IN THE FUTURE.

WHEREAS THE SECOND LINE OF THE NEXT PARAGRAPH SAYS, FOR AS LONG AS OUR TEAM OWNS THE PROPERTY.

FOR ME, IT'S GOT TO BE IN PERPETUITY, PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

AND SO THOSE ARE CONTRADICTORY TO ME.

I'M SORRY.

I THINK HE'S GOT A RESPONSE.

YEAH. THROUGH THE THROUGH THE MAYOR FOR COMMISSIONER BLONDER.

THOSE 90% AND 100% ARE LIMITS, MEANING IT CAN'T BE ABOVE THAT LIMIT.

RIGHT. SO WHICH IS IT? IS IT 90 OR IS IT 100%? GREAT. SO IT'S IT'S 10% AT 90 AND 10% AT 100.

SO 18 UNITS WILL BE CAPPED AT THE 90% RENT AND 18 UNITS WILL BE CAPPED AT 100%, WITH THE CURRENT PROPOSAL.

SO HALF AND HALF.

CORRECT. OKAY. SO THAT ISN'T EXPLICIT IN THE LANGUAGE.

AND THAT I THINK NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED.

SO TO CLARIFY.

BUT I MEAN, I WANT THE LANGUAGE CLARIFIED.

I'VE GOT YOUR I'VE GOT YEAH.

YEAH. AND I THINK THERE'S, THERE'S MECHANISMS TO CLARIFY THE LANGUAGE AND WE'RE HAPPY TO DO THAT.

I THINK, I THINK FOR THE SECOND ONE, OUR LEASING MANAGEMENT TEAM WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ADHERING TO RENTING AT THAT CAPACITY. THE DEED RESTRICTION WILL TRANSFER FOREVER.

RIGHT. THERE'S OTHER WAYS BESIDES A LEASING MANAGEMENT TEAM TO DO IT.

YOU COULD YOU COULD PAY A THIRD PARTY.

THERE'S THIRD PARTIES WHO RENT APARTMENTS THAT SPECIALIZE IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WE ARE OFFERING TO DO IT WITH OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM WHEN WE SELL THE PROPERTY.

IF WE SELL THE PROPERTY, THE DEED RESTRICTION REMAINS IN PERPETUITY.

HOW THAT WHAT THE MECHANISM IS THAT PERSON USES OR THAT ENTITY USES.

WE WOULD BE SPECULATING AS TO HOW THEY DO THAT.

THEY MAY AGREE IN SOME FORM WITH SOMEBODY THAT'S NOT A LEASING MANAGEMENT COMPANY.

YEAH, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

THAT WASN'T CLEAR TO ME THOUGH, SO I BROUGHT THAT UP FOR THAT REASON.

AND THEN I WOULD JUST REINFORCE WHAT MS. SKINNER SAID ABOUT THE CITY'S CAPACITY TO MONITOR AND ENFORCE DEED RESTRICTIONS, BECAUSE THAT MIGHT BECOME PROBLEMATIC AS WELL.

I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER HORVATH THAT THE NUMBER OF UNITS THAT WOULD BE RENT LIMITED OR AFFORDABLE ARE NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO OUR LAND USE PLAN, IN MY OPINION.

AND THEN I JUST WANT TO REGISTER THIS AND I BEG YOUR.

JUST FOR A FEW MINUTES, I WAS ASKED TO BE ON A PANEL DISCUSSION FOR A THREE NIGHT FILM SERIES ON HOMELESSNESS OVER THE WEEKEND AND SAW A DOCUMENTARY ON CALLED PUSH.

AND IT OPENED MY EYES.

I'M NO EXPERT IN ANY OF THIS, BUT IT OPENED MY EYES TO WHAT IS HAPPENING OUT IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF INVESTMENT REAL ESTATE THAT I WAS NOT AWARE OF.

AND THERE IS A INVESTMENT COMPANY CALLED BLACKSTONE, WHICH IS INTERNATIONAL.

AND WHAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY DOING IS PURCHASING PROPERTIES LIKE THIS, LIKE OTHERS, AND CONVERTING THEM TO CONDOMINIUMS. AND MY UNDERSTANDING FROM STAFF IS THAT WE HAVE HAD AT LEAST TWO CASES OF THAT WITHIN CITY LIMITS IN RECENT HISTORY WHERE THEY WERE MULTIFAMILY RENTAL UNITS AND THEY WERE

[01:40:02]

BUT THIS IS HAPPENING A LOT.

THEY NOT THEY WILL STOP ANY REPAIRS, MAINTENANCE IN UNITS AND RAISE RENTS SO THAT PEOPLE NO LONGER CAN LIVE THERE, THEREBY INCREASING HOMELESSNESS AS THEY PUSH PEOPLE OUT.

THEREFORE, THE NAME OF THE MOVIE OR THEY WILL JUST PURCHASE THE ENTIRE BUILDING AND LEAVE IT EMPTY.

AND SO THAT DOES NOT IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN IN THIS TOWN, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD COME UP WITH A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO PREVENT THAT.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT THAT SHOULD HOLD YOU UP, BUT I'M JUST SAYING THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT OR SOME SORT OF MECHANISM THAT WOULD HELP US PREVENT THESE TYPES OF FUTURE ACTIONS THAT ARE BEING FELT BY CITIES AROUND THE WORLD.

AND SO IN SUMMARY I GUESS WHAT I'M ASKING FOR IS TO SEE FINALIZED DEED RESTRICTIONS AND INCREASED PERCENTAGE OF UNITS THAT ARE DEDICATED TO AFFORDABLE OR RENT LIMITED BEFORE I CAN SUPPORT AMENDING THE LAND USE PLAN.

BUT I AM LEANING TOWARD THAT IF WE CAN GET THAT THOSE MECHANISMS. [INAUDIBLE] ALL RIGHT, I.

NUMBER ONE, PROJECTS DON'T EXIST IN A VACUUM.

ROXANNE IS ENTIRELY CORRECT.

THIS IS ONE OF MANY PROJECTS THE PROBLEM WE HAVE IN THE COUNTY IS THEY LOOK ON EACH PROJECT OF US IN A VACUUM AND WE GET OVERDEVELOPMENT.

FLORIDA'S FULL OF IT'S BEEN HAPPENING FOR 125 YEARS.

TO ME, LOOKING AT THIS PROJECT, THEY'VE GOT A PROJECT TO BUILD.

THEY'VE ALREADY GOT THEY'VE GOT THE NUMBERS WORKED.

THEY WOULD BE BUILDING IT. I'M FROM A DEVELOPMENTAL BACKGROUND.

I KNOW HOW THIS WORKS.

THE ADDITIONAL 108, 180 ACRES, 180 UNITS IS A BIG NUMBER THAT THEY'RE GOING TO APPRECIATE ON THE PROPERTY.

THEY'RE OFFERING US 20% BACK.

IN THE WAY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT THEY'RE GIVING US AN ADDITIONAL, ACCORDING TO THEIR NUMBERS, 307 CARS ON THE PROPERTY TIMES THREE TRIPS A DAY.

THAT'S NEARLY 1,000 TRIPS A DAY ON SOME ROADS THAT MAY BE 76% RIGHT NOW.

BUT BY THIS TIME NEXT YEAR, THEY MAY BE 90% AND THEY PROBABLY WILL BE BECAUSE THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE'RE GOING.

YOU HAVE TO BUILD BIGGER ROADS, HOW TO HANDLE BIGGER TRAFFIC, AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

AND THAT'S GOING TO FOREVER CHANGE THE CITY.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW.

WE'RE GETTING PRESSURIZED FROM THE OUTSIDE INTO BECOMING SOMETHING WE DON'T WANT TO BE.

NOW, JUST BECAUSE THE COUNTY EMBRACES DEVELOPMENTAL INTERESTS DOESN'T MEAN THIS CITY OR THIS COMMISSION SHOULD.

I DON'T. AND LOOKING AT THIS PROJECT, GOD BLESS YOU, YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.

I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND WHAT YOU GOT, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BRING A LOT MORE TO THE TABLE TO GET THIS COMMISSIONER TO SWING OVER TO SUPPORT THESE 180 ADDITIONAL UNITS. NOW, I PUT PARKING GARAGE OR HELPING US WITH SOME KIND OF TRANSIT.

YEAH, WE'RE GETTING AN IMPACT FEE FOR OUR TRANSIT FEE, BUT THE $200,000 DOESN'T [INAUDIBLE] GOING THROUGH.

THAT'S NOT MONEY.

THAT'S A TEMPTATION.

IN THE DEVELOPMENTAL WORLD, $200,000 IS CHUMP CHANGE.

SO I WANT TO SEE SOMETHING THAT COMES BACK THAT MAKES ME WANT TO DO THIS PROJECT, THE ADDITIONAL 180 UNITS.

I CAN'T GO WITH IT AS IT'S OFFERED.

SO COME BACK AND BE CONVINCING, PLEASE.

COMMISSIONER VALDES, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS, BUT ISN'T THAT SHAME ON US.

WE JUST APPROVED A MOBILITY FEE.

AND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS MOBILITY FEE THAT WE JUST APPROVE.

THIS IS OUR FIRST CHECK.

IS INADEQUATE FOR THE IMPACT YOU FORESEE.

YES, IT IS I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE SEEN MORE.

I MEAN, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S IN DEVELOPMENTAL INDUSTRIES IS SO I MEAN, WHY DO THEY DO THIS TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT IF THERE'S NOT A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO BE MADE? I APPRECIATE THAT.

BUT I TAKE I TAKE GREAT UMBRAGE WITH YOUR SUGGESTION THAT THE MOBILITY FEE PROGRAM THIS COMMISSION JUST APPROVED, YOU BELIEVE IS INADEQUATE.

I BELIEVE I BELIEVE IT COULD HAVE BEEN MORE GENEROUS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU TAKE WHAT YOU CAN GET, YOU TAKE WHAT YOU CAN MANAGE.

AND THAT WAS THAT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

IT DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T DRIVE A HARD BARGAIN WITH DEALING WITH DEVELOPMENTAL INTERESTS TO GET MORE OUT OF IT.

THERE'S MORE ON THIS TABLE TO BE HAD.

WHILE I APPRECIATE I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION, I HEAR FROM SOME OF THE COMMISSIONERS HERE ABOUT WANTING A

[01:45:01]

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THE WAY I HEAR YOUR COMMENTS IS YOU'RE WANTING TO CHANGE THE RULES.

WE'RE PLAYING MONOPOLY AND YOU'RE CHANGING THE RULES.

WE HAVE A MOBILITY FEE.

WE HAVE A CALCULATION FOR IT.

THEY SAID, GREAT, HERE'S THE MONEY FOR IT.

AND NOW YOU'RE SAYING, NO, WE WANT TO CHANGE.

THEY'RE WANTING TO CHANGE RULES THEY'RE COMING BACK AND ASKING FOR A ZONING CHANGE.

THAT'S A FUNDAMENTAL RULE CHANGE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT. FOR US TO GIVE THEM THAT, THEY HAVE TO GIVE US SOMETHING IN RETURN, THAT'S BUSINESS.

AND THAT'S I THINK, IN FAIRNESS, WHERE WE GO WITH WITH THE PERCENTAGE OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

BUT I'M TAKING UMBRAGE WITH YOUR SUGGESTIONS THAT THE TRAFFIC IMPACT AND THE TRAFFIC FORMULA, THE MOBILITY FEE WE HAVE IS INADEQUATE TO ADDRESS THIS.

SO MAYBE THAT'S A CONVERSATION ALL RIGHT. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION.

WE NEED A MOTION OR WE NEED TO WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD.

I MOVE THAT WE GIVE THE DEVELOPER AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK TO US WITH REVISIONS BASED ON THE MORE SPECIFIC FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE GIVEN THEM.

YOU'VE HEARD US. I DON'T THINK I NEED TO REVISIT EACH OF THOSE ITEMS TO A DATE CERTAIN.

SECOND. LET'S SET THE DATE, SIR.

CERTAIN. MR. [INAUDIBLE], WHEN DO YOU THINK YOU COULD BE PREPARED TO COME BACK TO THE COMMISSION? WHAT WOULD WORK FOR YOU? THROUGH THE MAYOR, TO THE BOARD, ONE MY ENTIRE TEAM APPRECIATES THE FEEDBACK.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO SOMETIMES GET ALL OF THIS INFORMATION OUTSIDE OF A PUBLIC HEARING, AND YOUR GUY'S HONESTY IS APPRECIATED.

WE'VE DONE QUITE A BIT OF WORK TO GET HERE, NOT ONLY ON THE REMEDIATION AND CLEANING THE SITE UP, BUT ALSO ON A DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT WE CAN FINANCE THAT WE FEEL IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE FUTURE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.

YOUR STAFF'S BEEN INCREDIBLE.

THEY'VE BEEN RESPONSIVE.

THEY'VE BEEN HONEST. WHETHER WE LIKE THE ANSWER THEY GAVE OR NOT, WE GOT THE ANSWER IN A TIMELY FASHION.

AND FOR A DEVELOPER, THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO, WHICH IS WHAT I EXPRESSED AT THE FEBRUARY 14TH VALENTINE'S DAY MEETING, IS PRESSURE THEM INTO A TIME FRAME.

THAT MAY BE UNREALISTIC BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND HOW BUSY THE CITY IS AS A RESIDENT, AND I WANT TO BE SENSITIVE TO THAT.

SO AS A DEVELOPER, WE ARE AS COMFORTABLE AS STAFF IS AND SETTING A DATE.

SO WE DON'T NEED IT TO BE THE NEXT MEETING OR TWO MEETINGS.

IF WE NEED TO TAKE SOME TIME, MAYBE A THREE MINUTE RECESS TO DISCUSS WHEN AN APPROPRIATE DATA IS AMONG OURSELVES.

SURE, WE ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.

ACTUALLY, I'D BE HAPPY TO MODIFY MY MOTION TO BE THAT YOU BRING IT BACK TO US AT YOUR ABSOLUTE TIME.

THAT'S FINE. ALL RIGHT.

AND WE'LL RE NOTICE IT.

OKAY, SO REALLY WHAT I HEAR IS TO TABLE, IS THAT THE RIGHT WORD? IS THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING? YES, TO A FUTURE DATE THAT WILL BE NOTICED AND ADVERTISED.

IT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD MOTION.

ALL RIGHT, I HAVE A MOTION.

I HAVE A SECOND.

FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? AYE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. [INAUDIBLE]. OKAY, THANK YOU ALL.

OKAY, COMMISSIONERS, WE'RE NOW ON ORDINANCE 2024, 2022-04.

[8.A.2. Ordinance 2022-04: Rezoning a portion of approximately 42 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.]

SECOND [INAUDIBLE].

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. SO WE HAVE TABLED BOTH OF THOSE TO A FUTURE DATE.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, FOR YOUR INPUT.

WE'RE NOW ON ITEM 9B1, RESOLUTION 2022-14.

[9.B.1. Resolution 2022-14: Temporary easement along King Street and Prawn Street granted to the State of Florida Department of Transportation for the San Sebastian Bridge Replacement Project. (M. Breidenstein, Assistant City Manager)]

BEFORE YOU NEXT, I HAVE FOUR RESOLUTIONS.

I'LL READ THEM EACH INDIVIDUALLY, BUT IN SUMMARY, THEY ARE ALL EASEMENTS FROM THE FDA THAT THE FDOT IS REQUIRING IN ORDER TO START THE PROCESS OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SAN SEBASTIAN BRIDGE, WHICH WE SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER TONIGHT ACTUALLY.

TWO OF THESE ARE TEMPORARY.

TWO OF THESE ARE PERMANENT.

AND IF YOU LOOK INTO YOUR PACKET, YOU'LL SEE THAT BEHIND EACH RESOLUTION THERE'S AN EASEMENT, A PARTIAL INFORMATION SHEET, AND A MAP WITH A SPECIFIC LOCATION HIGHLIGHTED, SO YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

I'LL START WITH RESOLUTION 2022-14.

IT'S A TEMPORARY EASEMENT FOR PARCEL OR FOR AREA 704.1, IT'S THE AREA ON KING STREET AND PRAWN STREET.

[01:50:06]

I NEED THEM PASSED ONE AT A TIME SO, YEAH.

SO WOULD YOU ENTERTAIN A MOTION? YEAH. I WOULD RATHER DO THEM ALL AT ONE TIME.

CAN WE? ISABELLE'S NOT HERE.

WE CAN. I DON'T THINK WE NEED A SEPARATE MOTION AND VOTE FOR EACH.

THERE ARE FOUR SEPARATE RESOLUTIONS.

OKAY? THEY DON'T NEED PUBLIC.

THEY DON'T NEED PUBLIC COMMENT.

OKAY. SORRY.

OKAY. SO THE VICE WAY, THE VICE MAYOR MOVES RESOLUTION 20-22-14 BE APPROVED THE MAYOR'S SECONDS.

FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

NANCY SIKES-KLINE, YES.

TRACY UPCHURCH. YES. JOHN VALDES YES.

ROXANNE HORVATH. YES.

BARBARA BLONDER. YES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE RESOLUTION PASSES WERE NOW ON RESOLUTION 2022-15.

[9.B.2. Resolution 2022-15: Temporary easement along Malaga Street North of Oviedo Street granted to the State of Florida Department of Transportation for road construction. (M. Breidenstein, Assistant City Manager)]

IT IS FOR AREA 705.1 AND ITS PORTION OF MALAGA STREET NORTH OF OVIEDO, AND AGAIN, IT'S TEMPORARY FOR 70 MONTHS FOR THE SAME PROJECT.

I MOVE.

COMMISSIONER HORVATH MOVES PASSES THE MAYOR SECONDS FURTHER DISCUSSION SEEING NONE.

MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

ROXANNE HORVATH YES.

TRACY UPCHURCH YES. JOHN VALDES YES.

BARBARA BLONDER YES.

NANCY SIKES-KLINE YES.

THANK YOU. WE'RE NOW ON RESOLUTION 2022-16, RESOLUTION 2022-16 IS A PERMANENT EASEMENT FOR AREA

[9.B.3. Resolution 2022-16: Permanent easement for submerged lands within San Sebastian River granted to the State of Florida Department of Transportation for the San Sebastian Bridge Replacement Project. (M. Breidenstein, Assistant City Manager)]

ALTHOUGH THIS IS A PERMANENT EASEMENT, AS WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING, THE TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF THE BRIDGE AND OF KING STREET.

ONCE CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETE, THIS WILL TECHNICALLY COME BACK TO THE CITY.

BUT AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME, IT'S A REQUEST FOR A PERMANENT EASEMENT AS IT CURRENTLY BELONGS TO THE DOT, I HOPE I DIDN'T ADD TOO MUCH CONFUSION THERE.

THANK YOU. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED. COMMISSIONER.

COMMISSIONER BLONDER MOVES. COMMISSIONER HORVATH SECONDS MOVES, PARDON ME, SECONDS.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

BARBARA BLONDER. YES.

ROXANNE HORVATH. YES.

NANCY SIKES-KLINE. YES.

JOHN VALDES. YES. TRACY UPCHURCH.

YES. THANK YOU.

THE RESOLUTION PASSES AND NOW ON RESOLUTION 2022-17.

[9.B.4. Resolution 2022-17: Permanent easement for apportion of the land east of the fire station along Malaga Street granted to State of Florida Department of Transportation for the San Sebastian Bridge Replacement Project. (M. Breidenstein, Assistant City Manager)]

I WOULD MOVE APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION, IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

COMMISSIONER HORVATH SECONDS FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

TRACY UPCHURCH. YES.

ROXANNE HORVATH YES. JOHN VALDES BARBARA BLONDER YES.

NANCY SIKES-KLINE THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

MS. BREIDENSTEIN WE ARE NOW ON ITEM 10A A REVIEW OF OPTIONS TO REPLACE REPAIR ENTRANCE SIGNS TO THE CITY.

[10.A. Review of options to replace or repair entrance signs to the City; discussion on design and location of each. (J. Piggott, Director General Services)]

MAYOR COMMISSIONERS JIM PIGGOTT DIRECTOR GENERAL SERVICES.

IF YOU RECALL LAST AUGUST TIMEFRAME, THE COMMISSION DIRECTED STAFF TO TAKE A LOOK AT POSSIBLY REPLACING THE ENTRANCE SIGNS THAT WE HAVE WITHIN THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.

SINCE THEN, MYSELF, MEREDITH BREIDENSTEIN AND JEREMY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON A PLAN WITH THREE DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT YOU'LL SEE TWO BRAND NEW SIGNS, AND THEN ONE IS A RE SKINNING OF WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.

THEN THERE'S ALWAYS A FOURTH OPTION KEEP WHAT WE HAVE AND THAT YOU WON'T SEE.

BUT THAT'S AN OPTION THAT WE HAVE.

AT THE END OF THIS BRIEFING PRESENTATION BY JEREMY, THERE ARE SEVERAL, SEVERAL DECISION POINTS THAT WE WOULD LIKE THE COMMISSION TO MAKE FOR US TONIGHT.

BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE IS THE SIGN ON STATE ROAD 16 THAT EASEMENT HAS EXPIRED IN APRIL AND WE WOULD LIKE DIRECTION WHETHER TO EXTEND THAT EASEMENT MONTH BY MONTH TO TAKE THAT SIGN DOWN THAT ENTRANCE SIGN RIGHT DOWN OR TO MOVE IT, WHICH YOU'LL SEE TO THE WEST SIDE OF THE BRIDGE.

THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THE DECISION POINTS THAT IS STARING AT US RIGHT NOW.

WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'LL INTRODUCE JEREMY AND HIS AND HIS TEAM.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS JEREMY MARCUS [INAUDIBLE] GOOD TO SEE YOU THIS EVENING.

BUT FIRST, I WANT TO INTRODUCE CAROLINA SCHULTZ.

HI THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO PRESENT THE CONCEPTS TO YOU.

[01:55:01]

SO CAROLINA HAS BEEN WITH OUR FIRM FOR ALMOST EIGHT MONTHS NOW, MOVING HERE FROM FORT MYERS AFTER GRADUATING FROM PENN WITH HER MASTER'S DEGREES.

PART OF WHY I SHARE THAT IS THAT IT REALLY GETS TO THE, I THINK, MESSAGE OF WHAT THE SIGNS ARE IN TERMS OF WE HAVE A NEWCOMER TO THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN FORTUNATE TO BE AROUND HERE FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

SO WE BROUGHT BOTH OF THOSE SENSIBILITIES, I THINK, TO THE DESIGNS.

SO THERE ARE REALLY FOUR DIFFERENT ITEMS WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH TODAY.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE DESIGN AND WHAT THAT COULD BE.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THOSE LOCATIONS.

MR. PIGGOTT STARTED TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THAT, THE MESSAGE IN TERMS OF WHAT THE SIGNS ARE REALLY GOING TO BE SAYING, AS WELL AS, OF COURSE, THE COST.

BUT GOING BACK TO WHAT I WAS JUST MENTIONING ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE ENTRY SIGNS, WE SEE THAT THERE'S REALLY TWO DISTINCT PURPOSES OF THE ENTRY SIGNS.

OF COURSE, IT'S THE OPPORTUNITY TO WELCOME RESIDENTS AND VISITORS THAT ARE ENTERING THE CITY.

BUT I ALSO THINK, ESPECIALLY AS WE SEE THE TREMENDOUS GROWTH IN THE COUNTY, 40% OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS, IT'S ALSO A WAY TO DEFINE THAT TRANSITION ZONE BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE CITY, WHICH I THINK IS IMPORTANT.

SO RIGHT NOW THERE ARE FOUR EXISTING SIGNS WHICH YOU SEE IN THE YELLOW PUSHPINS.

WE'LL GO FROM NORTH TO SOUTH.

YOU HAVE THE US 1 NORTH AND SAN MARCO AVENUE SPLIT.

AS A SIDE NOTE, YOU ALSO HAVE THE CONQUISTADOR GATES THAT ARE IMMEDIATELY NORTH OF THERE, CLOSE TO RAMBLA STREET.

WE'LL GET INTO THAT MOMENTARILY.

THE NEXT ONE, AS YOU ARE MOVING SOUTH, IS ON STATE ROAD 16 IN THE EASEMENT THAT MR. PIGGOTT WAS MENTIONING.

WE WILL SHOW YOU IF THE COMMISSION IS INTERESTED ABOUT MOVING IT TO THE WEST SIDE OF THE BRIDGE.

REALLY LOVELY BACKDROP AS WE MOVE FURTHER TO THE SOUTH.

THERE'S ONE THAT IS CLOSE TO THE TRIP, WYNDHAM, I GUESS IT'S A RADISSON NOW, BUT THEY'RE ON US 1 SOUTH.

YOU CAN SEE IT'S QUITE FAR AWAY FROM THE CITY LIMITS.

AND YOU ALSO HAVE OVER ON THE ISLAND ANASTASIA BOULEVARD, CLOSE TO THE ALLIGATOR FARM, AS YOU ARE HEADING NORTH ON A1A.

YOU ALSO SEE A WHITE PUSH PIN THAT WE HAVE ON THE WEST EDGE OF THE CITY ON WEST KING STREET, POSING TO THE COMMISSION ABOUT WHETHER THERE SHOULD ALSO BE AN ENTRY SIGN ON THE WEST SIDE.

SO WHAT WE DID FIRST WAS JUST LOOK AT WHAT COULD THE ENTRY GATES START TO LOOK LIKE.

AND SO WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT CONCEPTS THAT WE LOOKED AT.

THE FIRST IS ESSENTIALLY TAKING SOME OF THE FORMS OF THE CITY GATES, NOT TRYING TO REPLICATE THEM EXACTLY, BECAUSE IT'S NOT ABOUT CREATING FAUX ARCHITECTURE, BUT USING THOSE FORMS AND COQUINA, WHICH OF COURSE IS SO SPECIAL TO THIS AREA, A LIGHT FIXTURE AND THEN SOME SHELLED STUCCO AND JUST BOLDLY ANNOUNCING, WELCOME TO SAINT AUGUSTINE, THE NATION'S OLDEST CITY, ESTABLISHED 1565.

YOU CAN SEE IN RELATIONSHIP TO OUR LITTLE SCALE THERE ON THE TOP WITH THE MAN STANDING BESIDE THE GATE, IT'S A FAIRLY LARGE GATE, BUT REMEMBER THAT YOU'RE ALONG US 1 FOR A MAJORITY OF THESE AND SO THAT 19 FEET BY 38 FEET REALLY IS THE SCALE OR THE MASS, IF YOU WILL, THAT WE BELIEVE IS RIGHT FOR THE ENTRY.

THE SECOND ONE STARTS TO PULL IN A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THAT SPANISH MEDITERRANEAN REVIVAL FORMS. IT IS MUCH MORE SYMMETRICAL THAN THE ONE THAT WE WERE JUST LOOKING AT WOULD HAVE THE SHELLED STUCCO ALONG WITH THE COQUINA BASE AND AGAIN WITH WELCOME TO SAINT AUGUSTINE BEING THE TWO LARGEST FORMS. AND YOU CAN SEE THERE WOULD BE A SMALL CURVE TO THAT AS WE ARE ARRANGING IT TOWARDS THE ROADWAY.

IT'S 43 FOOT SIX INCHES BY ABOUT 15 AND ONE HALF FEET.

AND AGAIN, YOU CAN START TO GET A SENSE OF SCALE WITH THE PERSON THERE.

THE THIRD OPTION IS WHERE WE WENT BACK AND SAID, WHAT IF WE KEPT THE EXISTING SIGNS AND SIMPLY REQUIRED THEM THAT YOU KEEP THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S CURRENTLY THERE AND YOU ADD [INAUDIBLE], STUCCO, YOU ADD THE COQUINA, YOU ADD LIGHT FIXTURES, AND SO YOU CAN SEE HOW THE SCALE CERTAINLY IS REDUCED IN TERMS OF THAT.

BUT WE CERTAINLY THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT THIRD OPTION.

THEN, AS MR. PIGGOTT ALSO MENTIONED, OPTION NUMBER FOUR IS TO KEEP THE SIGNS, AS IS THE SCALE OF THIS IS ABOUT THE SAME LENGTH AND A LITTLE BIT SHORTER THAN THAT FIRST ONE WE WERE LOOKING AT.

SO CONTINUING.

YES, SIR? I HATE TO INTERRUPT YOUR PRESENTATION.

THE TWO THAT HAVE THE TOWERS WITH THE LIGHT FIXTURE, DO YOU ENVISION THOSE WOULD BE OPERABLE? YES, SIR. AND THEN I ASSUME THERE WOULD BE SOME OTHER TYPE OF OF LIGHTING ON THEM, GROUND LIGHTING, CORRECT BOTH ON

[02:00:09]

AND ALSO, I THINK THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF LANDSCAPE LIGHTING.

IF THE COMMISSION WAS SO INTERESTED, FOR INSTANCE, ON THE PALM TREES, THAT WOULD BE BEHIND.

SO IF YOU ALL ARE LIKE ME, I'M A VISUAL PERSON.

SO I WANTED TO SHOW THE COMMUNITY WHAT THESE WOULD START TO LOOK LIKE.

SO CAROLINA AND OUR TEAM HAS BEEN PUTTING THESE TOGETHER.

SO THIS IS THE EXISTING SIGN.

THEY'RE CLOSE TO THE ALLIGATOR FARM AS YOU'RE COMING NORTH ON A A1A, IT HAS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS, SUCH AS A WHOLE MIXTURE OF FONTS.

I THINK THAT THE ROOF TILE IS OUT OF SCALE FOR THE SIZE OF THE SIGNS.

CERTAINLY THE SERIES OF CIVIC SEALS, SOME OF THEM IN BETTER REPAIR THAN OTHERS.

THIS IS WHAT THAT OPTION A WOULD LOOK LIKE IN THE SAME LOCATION.

SIMPLE PLANTINGS IT'S REALLY MORE ABOUT CREATING THE BACKDROP FOR THE SIGN TO REALLY READ AND TO POP OUT.

AS AN ASIDE, THIS IS ONE OF THE ONES WHERE YOU SEE THE MOST PEOPLE GETTING THEIR PHOTOS IN FRONT OF BECAUSE YOU HAVE REASONABLY CLOSE PARKING.

THIS IS OPTION B, THE MORE SYMMETRICAL ONE THAT WE WERE DISCUSSING, AND OPTION C, WHICH IS SIMPLY RE CLADDING.

THIS IS THE CURRENT ONE AT THE INTERSECTION OF US 1 AND SAN MARCO OPTIONS A, B AND C.

THIS IS ONE ALTERNATIVE THAT WE WANTED TO PROVIDE TO THE COMMISSION IS THAT I'M NOT POSITIVE THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT LOCATION FOR THE SIGN YOU HAVE. THIS IS THE EXISTING BY THE WAY, YOU HAVE BEAUTIFUL GATES WITH THE CONQUISTADORS IMMEDIATELY NORTH OF THIS.

SO THE CONCEPT HERE IS WE GET RID OF IT.

AND IN ITS PLACE YOU JUST COME IN WITH PALM TREES AND [INAUDIBLE] GRASS.

IT BECOMES A LANDSCAPE ENTRY TO REALLY BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FLAGPOLES AND THE WATER FEATURE THAT'S THERE IN THE DISTANCE.

AND THEN INSTEAD YOU GO BACK AND THESE WERE SOME REALLY FUN PHOTOS OF THE GATES UNDER CONSTRUCTION THAT THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE HELPED US TO DIG UP, BUT THAT YOU GO BACK TO THE EXISTING GATES AND INSTEAD YOU MODIFY THOSE AND YOU ADD IN THE PANELS WELCOMING TO SAINT AUGUSTINE. AND THAT WITH JUST A LITTLE BIT OF LANDSCAPE, I THINK THAT REALLY STARTS TO PUNCH IT OUT.

AND WE'RE INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND NICE SIGNAGE THAT THE COMMUNITY ALREADY HAS.

MOVING OUT TO STATE ROAD 16.

THIS IS THE EXISTING ONE.

THIS IS THE ONE THAT I THINK REALLY IS THE THE HARDEST ONE BECAUSE OF THE BACKDROP IS NOT IDEAL.

YOU HAVE A PARKING LOT RIGHT BEHIND IT.

YOU HAVE UTILITY POLES, YOU HAVE SIGNAGE.

THERE'S A LOT OF DISTRACTIONS RIGHT AROUND HERE.

AND AS MR. PIGGOTT JUST MENTIONED, THE LEASE IS UP.

SO AGAIN, JUST WANTED TO SHOW YOU ALL WHAT THOSE WOULD LOOK LIKE.

BUT SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS QUITE EXCITING IS MAYBE INSTEAD OF WORK WITH DOT AND THAT WE MOVE THE SIGN ALL THE WAY OUT TO THE WEST SIDE OF THE BRIDGE.

SO NOW AS YOU ARE ABOUT TO PASS OVER THE BEAUTIFUL SAN SEBASTIAN, YOU HAVE THE TREES IN THE DISTANCE THAT THIS IS WHERE WE'RE WELCOMING PEOPLE VERSUS RIGHT BEFORE YOU GET TO CVS.

NOTHING AT CVS I JUST THINK THIS IS A LITTLE BIT MORE INCLUSIVE AND REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR CITY.

US 1 SOUTH, THIS IS THE ONE THAT WE LOOKED AT A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT AREAS.

IT GETS VERY FULL AS YOU GET INTO US 1 SOUTH.

SO I ACTUALLY THINK THAT IF YOU ALL DECIDE TO KEEP A SIGN THIS IS ABOUT THE BEST LOCATION AND AGAIN, THOSE THREE DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE SUPERIMPOSED. THIS WAS AN OPTION THAT WE WANTED TO SUGGEST, WHICH IS THAT WE REALLY DON'T GREET PEOPLE INTO THE CITY COMING IN FROM WEST AUGUSTINE AT THE CITY LIMITS.

AND SO THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, IF YOU WERE TO THINK ABOUT MAYBE A SLIGHTLY SCALED DOWN VERSION OF THOSE THREE DIFFERENT OPTIONS.

AND SO AS WE GO THROUGH THIS, THERE'S A NUMBER OF DECISION POINTS THAT MR. PIGGOTT HAD MENTIONED. I THINK THE FIRST IS, OF COURSE, ON THE SIGNS THEMSELVES, IS THERE A DESIGN THAT'S RESONATING WITH THE COMMISSION? ARE THERE ANY SIGNS THAT WANT TO BE ELIMINATED ALTOGETHER, OR ARE THERE ANY SIGNS THAT WANT TO BE ADDED THROUGH THIS PROCESS? AGAIN, THE LOCATIONS I THINK ARE OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO US.

STATE ROAD 16 SEEMS TO BE THE TIME SENSITIVE ONE AND THEN THE US 1 NORTH.

THE QUESTION IS DO WE CONSOLIDATE THE SIGNAGE AND THE GATEWAY MOMENT TO RAMBLA STREET WHERE THE CONQUISTADORS ARE AND RE-ENVISION WHERE THE CURRENT SIGN IS.

THE MESSAGE ITSELF, SHOULD IT BE PER SLIDE'S MEANING THE WELCOME TO SAINT AUGUSTINE NATION'S OLDEST CITY ESTABLISHED 1565.

[02:05:08]

AND THEN WHAT DO YOU MEAN, NIGHTS OF LIGHT SHOULD BE INCORPORATED INTO THE MESSAGE, OR THAT THEY BE LIT FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS? BOTH. AND SO WHAT THOSE AREAS WITH THE COQUINA ONE ITEM THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IN IN THE OFFICE IS WHETHER OR NOT TO ACTUALLY HAVE THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS THAT CAN BE ADDED ON TOP OF THE COQUINA VERSUS THE STANDALONE WOODEN STAND THAT SAYS NIGHTS OF LIGHTS TODAY.

SO THAT'S PART OF WHY WE'RE CREATING SOME OF THOSE SPACES.

IT'S AN ITEM THAT WE WOULD LIKE COMMISSION FEEDBACK TO SEE IF WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THAT VERSUS THE STANDALONE NIGHTS OF LIGHT SIGNS THAT ARE ADDED NOW.

I JUST WANT TO ADD, I ASKED FOR THIS OPTION BECAUSE I FELT LIKE THE STAND ALONE SIGNS WERE THEY'RE OK.

BUT LET'S THINK ABOUT IT.

AND I LIKE THE IDEA OF ADDING EXTRA SPACE SOMEWHERE TO DO OTHER THINGS LIKE MAYBE FLY FLAT.

I DON'T KNOW, JUST A FLEXIBILITY.

AND THEN THE FINAL PIECE THAT WE WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL IS THAT LOOKING AT OUR RECENT PRICE AND BID HISTORY, WE WERE ABLE TO EXTRAPOLATE WHAT WE THINK IS A REASONABLE OPINION OF PROBABLE COSTS.

AND FOR THE COMMISSION'S CONSIDERATION, BECAUSE CERTAINLY THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE, IS THE FACT THAT TO RESKIN THE SIGNS, IT'S ABOUT $72,000 PER SIGN.

TO START OVER YOU'RE AT ABOUT $104,000 PER SIGN.

THE US 1 SAN MARCO, BECAUSE OF THE SPACE IN THAT AREA, WOULD BE HIGHER BY ABOUT 15% IF YOU WERE TO KEEP THE SIGN IN THE SAME LOCATION AGAIN, IF YOU DECIDED TO BRING IT ALL UP TO WHERE THE CONQUISTADORS ARE.

I THINK THOSE MONIES COULD BE USED BETTER, BUT CERTAINLY WANTED TO AT LEAST GIVE A TARGET FOR THE COMMISSION'S CONSIDERATION BECAUSE THERE CERTAINLY ARE A NUMBER OF WAYS TO APPROACH THIS.

ONE IS TO DO NOTHING.

ANOTHER IS TO DO THEM ALL AT ONCE.

A THIRD OPTION IS TO STAGGER THEM OVER TIME.

WHAT WE DO SEE WITH PRICES ACROSS THE BOARD AND THIS ISN'T TRUE FOR JUST THIS PROJECT, BUT IS A YEAR OVER YEAR WE'RE SEEING ABOUT AN 8% INCREASE RIGHT NOW SIMILAR TO INFLATION.

SO WE ARE HERE. I KNOW THAT WAS A LOT OF INFORMATION TO PRESENT TO THE COMMISSION, BUT WE APPRECIATE THE ASSIGNMENT.

WE HOPE THAT THIS AT LEAST GIVES SOME FUN IDEAS FOR DISCUSSION.

WE'RE HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

SO LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THIS, BECAUSE MR. PIGGOTT INDICATE THAT THE EASEMENT IS UP ON THE STATE ROAD 16 SIGN.

WHY DON'T WE TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THAT FIRST? YES, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT MOVING IT MAKES A GREAT DEAL OF SENSE.

I DON'T SEE US RE SKINNING THESE, BUT THAT'S NOT ON THE TOPIC NECESSARILY.

BUT IT MEANS THAT WE COULD GET RID OF THAT SIGN AND NOT WORRY ABOUT IT AT THIS TIME.

THAT WOULD BE MY PROPOSAL FOR THAT SITE.

SO YOUR PROPOSAL IS SIMPLY TO ELIMINATE THE SIGN AND NOT MOVE IT WESTWARD? NO, NO. I WOULDN'T SPEND THE EXPENSE OF MOVING IT WESTWARD.

I WOULD HOPE THAT WE'RE GOING TO SELECT SOMETHING NEW AND THEY WILL ALL BE NEW SIGNAGE.

SO MOVING THAT IS WASTED MONEY, IN MY OPINION.

OK DO YOU SUPPORT A NEW SIGN ON A WESTWARD LOCATION ON STATE ROAD 16? I DO. OK.

I AGREE WITH YOU ON THE EXISTING SIGNS.

IN MY OPINION, THERE'S NOT MUCH WE CAN DO.

AND SO I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF RE SKINNING THE EXISTING SIGNS, ANY OF THE EXISTING SIGNS.

COMMISSIONER VALDES THE LEASE IS UP, IS THAT THE DEAL.

YES, SIR. CAN IT BE RENEWED, WAS DOES IT COST? IT COULD BE RENEWED, I ASSUME.

IT EXPIRED IN APRIL AND I DON'T THINK WE'VE WORKED OUT A COST ANYBODY'S BEEN WORKING WITH.

THE PERSON IN YOUR PROPERTY.

WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER WAS VERY GENEROUS FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS AND LET US LEASE IT FOR ESSENTIALLY FREE.

BUT AT THIS TIME THEY ARE LOOKING CLOSER TO A MARKET RATE.

WE HAVE NOT NEGOTIATED A NUMBER BECAUSE WE DID NOT KNOW IF YOU WANTED TO MAINTAIN THAT EASEMENT OR NOT.

[02:10:03]

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE.

I'M A LITTLE BIT WRAPPED AROUND THE AXLE ABOUT SPENDING A HALF MILLION DOLLARS FIXING THREE NEW SIGNS UP.

WHEN I LOOK AROUND ME, WE COULD SPEND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS BUILDING HOMELESS SHELTERS OR HIRING MECHANICS FOR THE MOTOR POOL OR LOTS OF OTHER THINGS.

THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY. AND WE HAVE ENTRY SIGNS AND MOST PEOPLE KNOW THEY'RE GETTING [INAUDIBLE] THEIR GPS TELLS THEM THEY'VE ARRIVED.

SIRI SAYS YOU'RE IN ST.

AUGUSTINE.

AND QUITE HONESTLY, I KIND OF LIKE THE AMBIANCE OF THE LITTLE RUNDOWN, BEAT UP SIGNS, REMINDS ME OF MY CHILDHOOD.

I THINK ABOUT A HISTORIC CITY.

IT'S A HISTORIC BEAT UP A OLD 70S SIGN.

SO THE NUMBERS ARE TALKING TO ME AND I SEE WAYS WE COULD SPEND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS AND MAYBE GET A LITTLE MORE RETURN.

I MEAN, WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL SIGN TO GET THE SAINT GEORGE STREET.

THERE'S 14 PEOPLE SLEEPING ON THE SIDEWALK BECAUSE WE'VE GOT NO PLACE TO PUT THEM.

I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER VALDEZ.

I JUST ESPECIALLY AS I LOOK AT MY PROPERTY INSURANCE RATES GOING UP AND ALL THE OTHER EXPENSES IN THE INFLATION, A HALF MILLION DOLLARS JUST OVER TIME OR NOT.

AND I WOULD ACTUALLY CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT THE EXISTING US 1 SAN MARCO AND THE EXISTING STATE ROAD 16.

HAVE THE SAME DESIGN ELEMENTS IS, I THINK, YOUR THIRD OPTION.

SO THEY'RE NOT THAT BAD APPARENTLY, BECAUSE THEY'RE ONE OF YOUR OPTIONS.

SO I WOULD SUGGEST RE SKINNING THEM AT MOST.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH THE ONE ON 16, BUT I WOULDN'T SPEND A BUNCH OF MONEY ON IT AND TAKE OFF ALL THE EMBLEMS BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM ARE DATED AND FRANKLY OFFENSIVE TO SOME OF THEM ARE TO CERTAIN PEOPLE, SO I'M WITH YOU.

I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT PRESSURE CLEANING THE PAINT JOB AND FIXING THE TITLE COST.

FOR NOW, I MEAN, IT DOESN'T MEAN IN TEN YEARS WE CAN'T DO IT OR FIVE YEARS FROM NOW.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST THAT THEY'RE NOT ON FIRE.

WE DON'T HAVE TO PUT THEM OUT.

WELL, I'M ALL IN OF FAVOR OF CHEAPENING THEM UP, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU LIKE TO DO.

I KNOW THEY'RE CHEAP ENOUGH AS THEY ARE CHEAPENING UP AND BEING BEAT AND BEAT DOWN AND LIKE THE YOUTH.

BUT THAT'S FINE.

I WILL JUST TELL YOU WHAT I LIKE.

MAYBE WE CAN GO FROM THERE.

I LIKE THE IDEA OF LETTING GO OF THE STATE ROAD 16 EXISTING AND SEARCHING FOR A SITE.

IT DOESN'T THESE THREE DESIGNS.

NONE OF THEM PLEASE ME IMMENSELY, BUT I'M OKAY WITH THEM.

IF THAT'S THE WAY WE WANT TO GO.

WE CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE TO HAVE $72,000 SIGNS.

YOU KNOW, WE CAN GO LESS, WE CAN FIND OTHER OPTIONS.

SO THAT'S BUT I DO WANT TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE I THINK A SENSE OF ARRIVAL TO THE CITY IS IMPORTANT.

AND I SEE PEOPLE EVERY DAY OVER AT THE ONE AT THE FIRE STATION ON ANASTASIA ISLAND TAKING PICTURES AND LAUGHING AND ENJOYING THEMSELVES.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S A GREAT PHOTO OP, SO I'D LIKE TO SEE THEM NICE.

I DON'T LIKE WHAT I SEE.

MAYBE RE SKINNING THEM IS THE WAY TO GO.

I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T CARE.

BUT I DO THINK WE NEED TO NOT HAVE WHAT WE HAVE.

THE OTHER THING IS.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SPACE FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS.

I DON'T LIKE THE LITTLE SIGNS THE LITTLE.

I MEAN, I KNOW PEOPLE IT WAS A BIG SPLASH AT THE TIME WHEN WE DID THEM WITH THE LITTLE RICKETY WOOD SIGNS.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING A LITTLE NICER.

WE'RE DOING WE'VE BEEN DOING NIGHTS OF LIGHTS FOR HOW MANY YEARS NOW? LONG TIME. I THINK WE CAN DO SOMETHING NICE.

THEY LIKE IT. YEAH.

OKAY. THROWING IT OUT THERE.

YEAH. SO THERE WAS ONE OTHER SO THERE WAS ONE OTHER REQUEST ABOUT WHERE SAN MARCO COMES TOGETHER WITH US 1.

AND I WOULD BE HAPPY.

I WOULD BE OKAY WITH LOSING GIVING UP THAT ONE BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL ENTRY.

OBVIOUSLY, IT WAS THERE A VERY LONG TIME AGO.

IT WAS ESTABLISHED WHEN THE CITY WAS QUITE DIFFERENT.

AND I LOVE THE IDEA OF LANDSCAPING WITH NATURAL CLIMATE VEGETATION AND DOING WHAT WE HAVE WITH THE CITY GATE, WITH THE STATUE.

IT'S REALLY HIGHLIGHTING THAT AND REALLY MAKING THAT BEAUTIFUL.

SO I THINK THAT'S AN AREA WHERE IT WOULD BE WORTH IT TO SPEND.

BUT THAT'S JUST MY OPINION.

JUST ONE OPINION. WELL, MY AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK.

[02:15:05]

AND THERE AGAIN, WE COULD GO SIMPLER BY MODIFYING WHAT WE HAVE.

BUT I WAS THINKING THAT IT COULD BE A DESIGN COMPETITION FOR ARCHITECTS IN THE AREA [INAUDIBLE]PROBABLY WOULD REALLY ENJOY TACKLING THIS PROBLEM.

AND IF WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THEM ANOTHER 50 YEARS BECAUSE THESE HAVE BEEN HERE NEARLY THAT, THEN I WOULD LIKE TO INVESTIGATE SOME OTHER ALTERNATIVES.

BUT WHAT I HEAR FROM AT LEAST TWO THAT WE DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO SPEND THAT KIND OF MONEY.

I CERTAINLY THINK ELIMINATING THE ONE AT THE SPLIT, AT THE AT THE ENTRY MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

AND MODIFYING THE CONQUISTADOR GATES MAKES SENSE AND LOCATING THE ONE ON 16 FURTHER WEST MAKES SENSE.

SO WE COULD RELOCATE.

IF WE WERE JUST GOING TO MODIFY IT, I WOULD SUGGEST WE'D MODIFY THE ROOF TILES AS WELL AS TAKING ALL THE DECALS OFF AND LANDSCAPING IT AND YOU KNOW CHANGING FONTS AND ALL OF THAT.

BUT IT WOULD I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE $72,000 TO DO THAT.

WHAT DO WE DO THIS.

WHY DON'T WE GIVE THEM A BUDGET? COME BACK. BUT WE WANT TO SPEND 150 K ON SIGNS.

WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR THAT? I MEAN, JUST THROWING IT OUT THERE.

OKAY. AND I THINK THAT'S FAIR.

LET ME BE A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFIC ABOUT MY DESIRES.

I THINK THE EXISTING SIGNS ARE UNATTRACTIVE, AND THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN UNATTRACTIVE WHEN THEY WERE CONSTRUCTED.

AND I'M I THINK A COUPLE WERE CONSTRUCTED ON MY WATCH.

AND I'M SORRY I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THEM AT THE TIME.

AND CERTAINLY REMOVING THE CIVIC SIGNS, THAT IS FROM THE PAST.

MANY OF THOSE CLUBS ARE NO LONGER ACTIVE.

CIVIC CLUBS ARE NOT WHAT THEY ONCE WERE IN THE LIFE OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO SO AT A BARE MINIMUM, I WOULD SUPPORT REMOVING EVERY ONE OF THEM.

I WOULD RATHER HAVE NOTHING THAN WHAT WE HAVE TODAY, CERTAINLY THE ONE ON US 1 SOUTH BY OYSTER CREEK.

IT DOESN'T IT'S AN ODD LOCATION.

IT'S THE BEST WE CAN DO, PERHAPS, BUT I THINK WE COULD SAFELY LET THAT ONE GO.

THE ONE ON STATE ROAD 16 AND ITS CURRENT LOCATION IS USELESS.

SO IF WE'RE GOING TO DO ANYTHING, I WOULD MOVE THAT FURTHER WEST ON 16.

THE ONE ON ANASTASIA IS CLEARLY ONE THAT IS USED ON A REGULAR BASIS.

STILL MEANS IT'S UGLY, BUT IT IS USED, BUT IT WILL BE IMPACTED WE ASSUME BY THE ROUNDABOUT THAT WILL BE CONSTRUCTED THERE AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE.

THE ONE ON US 1 NORTH DETRACTS FROM WHAT IS REALLY A VERY ATTRACTIVE FOUNTAIN LANDSCAPED AREA.

I THINK THERE'S THINGS WE CAN DO TO ENHANCE THAT, BUT CLEARLY NEEDS IT'S STUCK THERE.

I'D BE ALL ABOUT REFURBISHING PUTTING NEW LIFE INTO THE THE EXISTING NORTHERN CITY GATES.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED THE THE RICKETY WOODEN NIGHTS OF LIGHTS ANYMORE.

I JUST I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T HAVE A STRONG OPINION ABOUT THAT.

OF THE THREE EXAMPLES, I DO LIKE THE THE FIRST OPTION A, I FEEL LIKE I'M AN OPTOMETRIST.

I DO LIKE OPTION A THE BEST OF OF EITHER RE SKINNING OR THE MISSION.

I DO TOO. YEAH.

AND COMMISSIONERS, IF I COULD THROW JUST A LITTLE MONKEY WRENCH IN IT.

ONE POSSIBILITY TO TIE GRANT MENTIONED TO MEREDITH MYSELF, MAYBE WE TAKE ONE OF THESE SIGNS AND PUT IT IN THE PROMENADE BETWEEN THE VIC AND A PARKING GARAGE AS PEOPLE EXIT THE PARKING GARAGE.

THAT'D BE ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THEY SEE.

WELCOME TO SAINT AUGUSTINE.

JUST THE THOUGHT. THAT'S MY FAVORITE ONE.

ALL RIGHT. I'M KIND OF IN I'M AGREEING WITH YOU, MAYOR, BECAUSE THAT'S MUSIC TO MY EARS.

AND IT'S JUST IT'S IT'S SO UNUSUAL.

NO, IT'S NOT [LAUGHTER].

I LIKE. YES, MR. REGAN. YOU'RE TRYING TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO.

[02:20:01]

OKAY, SO ONE PIECE OF HISTORY OF THE EXISTING SIGNS.

THEY WERE DESIGNED BY FORMER CITY MANAGER JOE PALMER.

SO LET'S DEFINITELY NOT DO THAT.

IN OTHER WORDS, LET'S NOT ASK YOU TO DESIGN [LAUGHTER] GOTCHA.

OKAY. WHAT ABOUT COMMISSIONER VALDEZ'S IDEA THAT WE ASK STAFF TO COME BACK WITH A REASONABLE BUDGET? I THINK THERE'S SOME VALIDITY IN THAT.

I THINK IT HELPS US FRAME THE CONVERSATION A LITTLE BIT.

MAKES SENSE. AND IN THE MEANTIME, CAN WE GET THE EMBLEMS OFF OF THERE? ALL OF THEM. HMM.

I THINK I THOUGHT I HEARD WE AGREED ON THAT.

I THINK WE DID. WELL, IF WE'RE GOING TO TAKE OFF EMBLEMS, WHY DON'T WE JUST BULLDOZE? YOU REALLY DO. WHY ARE YOU.

PARDON ME. YOU REALLY DON'T LIKE THIS? I DO NOT LIKE THEM.

I, I REALLY DON'T EITHER.

I REALLY DON'T.

LOVE WITH THE ONE BY CVS ON STATE ROAD 16.

CORRECT. SO REMOVING THAT FROM THAT LOCATION, I THINK THERE'S CONSENSUS.

I'M SEEING NODS.

MAYBE NOT COMMISSIONER VALDEZ, BUT.

BUT EVERYONE ELSE.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT IT SHOULDN'T HAVE ALL THE DATA.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO COST TO LEAVE IT THERE.

BUT. ALL RIGHT. SO I'M JUST I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE REMOVE THE EXISTING WELCOME SIGN ON STATE ROAD 16.

ARE WE GOING IF WE'RE GOING TO KEEP AND SKIN ALL OF THOSE WHY WOULD WE WOULD RELOCATE THAT ONE SO WE COULD SKIN IT.

IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT, BUT WE DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT.

IT'S A MASONRY STRUCTURE, ISN'T IT? YEAH. BY THE TIME WE DIG IT UP AND LOCATE IT [INAUDIBLE] GOING TO DO THAT.

I MEAN. OKAY, SO I WILL.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, TO REMOVE THE EXISTING SIGN OF STATE ROAD 16.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, AYE.

ALL RIGHT. OKAY, GOOD.

I'M GOING TO MAKE A SECOND MOTION THAT WE REMOVE THE SIGN ON US 1 SOUTH BY OYSTER CREEK.

I'LL SECOND THAT.

FURTHER DISCUSSION? MY QUESTION IS WITH THE REMOVAL, IS THAT FOREVER, ARE WE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER MOTION VERY SHORTLY ABOUT BUILDING A BACK FOR $150,000 A PIECE? I WOULD RATHER IT BE REMOVED AND NOTHING BE THERE THAN IT CONTINUED TO EXIST.

WAS DOES IT COST TO TAKE THEM DOWN? ALL RIGHT, HOLD ON, MR. PIGGOTT. WHAT'S YOUR BEST ESTIMATE TO REMOVE THEM? I WOULD GUESS MY BEST ESTIMATES.

ABOUT $35 TO $40,000.

OH, NO WAY.

IF YOU'RE TALKING TWO SIGNS.

OH, TWO SIDES.

SO $7,000 APIECE.

WHAT? AND I GOT TO GET WITH OUR PUBLIC WORKS UTILITIES DIRECTOR.

CITY FORCES PROBABLY COULD DO THAT.

DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR WORK SCHEDULE IS LIKE, BUT WE CAN PROBABLY GET ON IT PRETTY QUICKLY.

WE COULD DO THAT IN HALF.

I WOULD RATHER, RATHER WE'RE SPECULATING AND I WOULD RATHER COME BACK WITH, YOU KNOW, WE CAN DO IT IN HOUSE.

IT'S GOING TO BE A COUPLE OF THOUSAND DOLLARS IN LANDFILL FEES.

I'D RATHER BE ABLE TO PUT SOME TIME ON IT.

THANK YOU. I AGREE.

I FEEL LIKE WE NEED MORE TIME ON THIS ENTIRE TOPIC.

YES. ALL RIGHT.

SO THAT'S WHERE I WAS TRYING TO GO.

SO LET ME COME BACK TO YOU, COMMISSIONER BLONDER.

WHAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW? I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT A REASONABLE BUDGET MIGHT BE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN HEARD AROUND THE TABLES TONIGHT.

AND JUST THE DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES LIKE REALLY LIMIT THE BUDGET, NOT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS, BUT SOMETHING THAT IS MUCH MORE REASONABLE.

AND I LIKE $150,000 PERSONALLY.

WELL, IT'S, YOU KNOW, TO REMOVE THEM.

I MEAN, REALISTICALLY, YOU'RE PROBABLY LOOKING THROUGH A NUMBER OF $7,500 A PIECE.

I MEAN, THINGS ARE EXPENSIVE.

SO WE GOT FOUR OF THEM WERE TAKEN DOWN.

OH, IT'S JUST TRUST ME, I DEAL WITH EVERY DAY.

IT'S AMAZING WHAT THE STUFF COSTS.

SO WE'RE AT $35,000 RIGHT THERE JUST TO REMOVE THEM.

RIGHT. AND, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THEY'RE NOT ON FIRE.

IT'S NOT LIKE WE GOT TO DO THIS IMMEDIATELY.

WE CAN DO THIS ANOTHER TIME.

YOU KNOW, WE CAN CLEAN THEM UP.

WE CAN TAKE THE PLAQUES OFF OF IT, WE CAN PAINT THEM.

WE DO LOTS AND LOTS OF THINGS TO THEM.

I MEAN, TO A CLAIM AND PAINT THEM.

YOU'D PROBABLY LOOK AT SPENDING $3,500 A PIECE ON.

[02:25:03]

SO WHAT I HEAR IS THIS.

THERE IS A RELUCTANCE ON THE PART OF THE COMMISSION TO EXPECT TO EXPEND BIG DOLLARS ON THIS PROJECT.

TO DO SOMETHING TO IMPROVE, TO EITHER DEMOLISH OR TO AT LEAST IMPROVE AND THEN IMPROVE.

THE EXISTING ONES WOULD AT A MINIMUM, LOOK AT TAKING DOWN THE EXISTING PLAQUES AND POWER WASHING PAINTING, AT LEAST PUTTING A LITTLE LIPSTICK, WHICH IS WHERE THIS WHOLE START, THE WHOLE THING STARTED REALLY WAS, YOU KNOW, GETTING THEM SPRUCED UP.

BUT IT KIND OF GREW INTO THIS.

BUT THAT'S A GOOD SUMMARY, I THINK.

I THINK IT SOUNDS LIKE A DO NOTHING TO ME.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THE COMMISSION REALLY DOESN'T WANT TO DO MUCH.

SO I'M THINKING, WHAT CAN WE DO? WE ALREADY VOTED ON 16.

THAT'S GONE, RIGHT? ARE WE RECONSIDERING? WELL, WE DID VOTE ON THAT.

BUT THEN YOU ALL STARTED HAVING HEARTBURN ABOUT HOW MUCH THAT'S GOING TO COST.

I WAS ABOUT TO GET US 1 DOWN TOO.

I WAS READY TO GO WITH YOU ON THAT.

I THINK WE HAVE A STUCK IN A MOTION AND A SECOND.

BUT WE DO NEED TO ADDRESS 16 BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A LEASE THERE ANY LONGER.

SO I THINK REMOVING THAT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO.

THE 16 WON'T BE FREE GOING FORWARD.

MAYBE THAT'S THE KEY DIFFERENCE IS IT'S NOT A MATTER OF DO NOTHING, SPEND NOTHING.

IF I'M DIRECTED TO CONTINUE CONVERSATION WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER, THEN THEY ARE GOING TO GIVE ME A NUMBER THEY WANT FOR A LEASE EVERY MONTH.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO SPEND MONEY ON THE CURRENT STATE ROAD 16 SITE.

I'LL MAKE A SUGGESTION, PLEASE.

WHY DON'T WE GET NUMBERS WE'RE TAKING 16 DOWN IS GOING AWAY, ALL RIGHT.

BECAUSE IT'S SILLY TO REDO A LEASE.

WE CAN PUT IT DOWN FOR $3,500, $5,000, WHATEVER THAT NUMBER IS.

LET'S GET NUMBERS. LET'S GET REAL NUMBERS WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO DISAPPEAR THESE THINGS.

THEN LET'S GET NUMBERS ON WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO TAKE ALL THE PLAQUES OFF OF IT.

FRESH, CLEAN THEM AND PAINT THEM.

OKAY, THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.

AND THEN WE WORK UP FROM THERE WHEN THINGS ARE DONE SURE.

I DON'T WANT TO SPEND.

BY THE WAY, THIS DESIGNS ARE BEAUTIFUL.

I HAVE A GREAT LOOK INSIDE.

AND I MEAN DESIGN ME A HOMELESS SHELTER, YOU KNOW.

ALL RIGHT. BUT BUT I WANT TO PROBE HERE JUST A LITTLE BIT FURTHER.

IS THERE THERE'S DESIRE ON MY PART TO SEE SOME NUMBERS TO IMPROVE THE NORTHERN CITY GATES.

SURE. OKAY PIGGOTT, DOES THAT GIVE YOU ENOUGH DIRECTION? JUST A QUICK QUESTION. WHEN YOU SAY IMPROVE THE NORTHERN CITY GATES, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT TAKING THAT AND MOVING IT TO THE CONQUISTADORS OR JUST IMPROVING.

THE NORTHERN CITY GATES I'M SORRY.

I'M REFERRING TO IS THE CONQUISTADOR DIRECTIONS HOW THAT HAPPENED I HAVE NO IDEA BUT THEY ARE.

DECIDE THOSE WERE CONSTRUCTED? FROM WHAT I CAN TELL WITH THE PHOTOGRAPHS, IT WAS PROBABLY AROUND THE CITY'S 400TH ANNIVERSARY.

OKAY.

OK. ALL RIGHT, SO HOLD ON.

HANG WITH ME HERE.

I'M GOING TO GET MR. [INAUDIBLE] TO COME BACK AND GIVE YOU ALL INSTRUCTIONS [LAUGHTER].

MR. PIGGOTT, DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH CLARIFICATION NOW? ALLIGATOR FARM SIGN TAKING EVERYTHING DOWN AND REPAINTING IT, LIPSTICK ON IT.

THAT'S PROBABLY THE BEST.

US 1 SOUTH.

NUMBERS. WE WANT NUMBERS BOTH TO DEMOLISH AND TO CLEAN UP.

GOT IT. IS EVERYBODY REASONABLY HAPPY WITH THIS? FOR NOW. REASONABLY HAPPY.

YES. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHTY. WELL, YOU DID A GREAT JOB OF GUIDING ME THROUGH THAT.

I REALLY DID.

REALLY MASTERFUL WORK [LAUGHTER].

ALL RIGHT. SEEING WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THIS PASSIVE PARK ITEM 10B.

[10.B. Approval of the creation of a passive park on property located at 865 Fish Island Road as well as approval for the City Fire Department to continue to use a portion of the property for training and storage. (D. Birchim, Assistant City Manager)]

[02:30:03]

THANK YOU. DAVID BIRCHIM, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.

LET ME SEE IF I CAN GET MY GRAPHIC UP.

IN MARCH, YOU ASKED THE CITY STAFF.

TO LOOK AT THE FEASIBILITY.

OF USING 865 FISH ISLAND ROAD AS A PASSIVE PARK.

IN YOUR MATERIALS, YOU'LL SEE AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT THAT WE DID IN 2013.

OUR CONCLUSION IS THAT IT IS FEASIBLE TO USE THIS PROPERTY AS A PASSIVE PARK.

ON THE OVERHEAD, YOU'LL SEE THE CENTER PORTION OF THE PROPERTY.

IT'S ABOUT 19 ACRES IN SIZE TOTAL.

THE CENTER THREE AND A HALF ACRES IS THE ACTUAL DECOMMISSIONED SEWER PLANT.

WE WOULD ASK YOU TO ALLOW US TO CONTINUE TO USE THAT FOR TRAINING.

WE HAVE A NEED FOR THAT CENTER PORTION, WHICH IS ALREADY FENCED AND SECURED AS A TRAINING SITE FOR OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENT AND POSSIBLY AS A STAGING AREA OR LAYDOWN AREA FOR ANY MATERIALS THAT WE MIGHT BE MOVING OFF OF THE HOLMES BOULEVARD SITE.

THOSE ARE PASSIVE MATERIALS, LIKE A TELEPHONE POLES, LIGHT POLES, BASES FOR LIGHT POLES.

AND IF YOU CHOOSE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PASSIVE PARK CONCEPT, WE WOULD.

CREATE A MANAGEMENT PLAN.

THAT MANAGEMENT PLAN WOULD INCLUDE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.

WE WOULD THEN BUDGET FOR INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL ON THE SITE AND ANY PARK IMPROVEMENTS.

WE ENVISION THIS AS A VERY PASSIVE PARK.

WE'D LIKE YOU TO KEEP THE VEHICULAR ACCESS BLOCKED FROM THE PUBLIC AS IT IS NOW, BECAUSE IT IS A DEAD END DIRT ROAD.

BUT THERE IS A THERE IS SOME LAND IN FRONT OF THE VEHICULAR BARRIER THAT WE COULD USE FOR PARKING.

THERE'S NOT MUCH MORE TO IT.

I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.

TWO QUESTIONS.

THE AREA IS FENCED.

WHAT DO WE CALL THAT AREA? SORRY, WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.

NUMBER TWO IS THE CENTER PORTION ON THE AERIAL THAT IS FENCED AND GATED.

AND THEN TO THE NORTH OF OF THAT AREA, THIS SITE HERE IS A LARGE CELL TOWER THAT IS ALSO FENCED AND GATED.

THOSE ARE THE ONLY TWO SITES THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE VEHICULAR ACCESS TO.

WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO DRIVE BACK THERE AND GET STUCK.

ALL RIGHT. AND THEN QUESTION NUMBER TWO, THE PROPERTY IS A LAND, AN OLD LANDFILL.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES, MA'AM.

WAS THE LANDFILL CAPPED? YES, MA'AM. AND THAT THE DEPTHS OF THE LANDFILL CAP ARE WHAT WE ANALYZED IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT THAT'S IN YOUR PACKET.

SO WE BELIEVE THAT INVASIVE SPECIES CAN BE REMOVED AND THE CAP IS A THREE FOOT TO A SIX FOOT CAP.

IT WILL NOT POSE ANY ENVIRONMENTAL.

HAZARD TO FOLKS USING THE SITE AS A PASSIVE PARK.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. YES. I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU, AND THEN I WANT TO MAKE A STATEMENT.

FIRST OF ALL, WOULD THE TRAINING TAKE PLACE AT TIMES THAT WOULD IMPINGE ON THE NEIGHBORS IN THAT AREA IN ANY WAY LIGHTS, NOISE, THAT SORT OF THING? WE CAN ENSURE THAT IT WILL NOT AND WE CAN IDENTIFY THAT IN THE MANAGEMENT PLAN, IF YOU WISH, SO THAT ANY TRAINING WILL BE DONE DURING A DAYLIGHT HOURS AND DAYTIME AND WEEKDAYS.

AND THEN I JUST, YOU KNOW, I THINK I BROUGHT THIS IDEA OF A PASSIVE PARK UP WHEN WE FIRST BEGAN TALKING ABOUT IT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE PASSIVE PARK APPROACH ENABLES THE CONTINUATION OF THIS PROPERTY'S ECOSYSTEM SERVICES, FUNCTIONS SUCH AS FLOOD REDUCTION, GREEN SPACE PROTECTION OF BIODIVERSITY.

IT CAN SERVE AS A TRAINING SITE.

IT CAN SERVE AS A STORAGE SITE FOR SOME OF THE MATERIALS THAT WOULD NEED TO BE MOVED THAT ARE CURRENTLY STORED AT HOMES BOULEVARD.

IF WE WERE TO BUILD AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT THERE, SO WE KIND OF SOLVED THAT PROBLEM.

I'M JUST GOING TO JUMP AHEAD AND INTRODUCE A MOTION TO APPROVE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS TO ACCEPT THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT IN PLACE OF A FEASIBILITY STUDY.

AND NUMBER TWO, TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO PROCEED WITH THE PASSIVE PARK DESIGN AND BUDGET FOR CONSTRUCTION.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MY COLLEAGUES COMMENTS, SECOND SECOND AND THIRD, I JUST WANT TO ADD ONE THING.

THANK YOU TO THE GROUP THAT STAYED THROUGH THE WHOLE MEETING.

WE APPRECIATE THAT.

I WANT TO SLOW YOU DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

THIS IDEA CAME TO US ONLY BECAUSE SOMEBODY ELSE CAME TO US WITH AN IDEA TO BUILD A CULTURAL CENTER ON THIS SITE.

[02:35:04]

THIS SITE IS CLEARLY ENTERING A SECOND LIFE.

BUT LET'S BE HONEST WITH OURSELVES.

THIS IS A LANDFILL SITE.

THIS IS CURRENTLY A QUASI INDUSTRIAL SITE.

AND SO.

BUT IT IS ALSO A PIECE OF PROPERTY WITH SIGNIFICANT VALUE.

WE HAVE AN APPRAISAL THAT SAYS THE TWO ACRES ACROSS THE STREET ARE WORTH, WHAT, $1.8 MILLION? YES, SIR. AND SO THIS IS A SIDE OF, WHAT, 40 ACRES, APPROXIMATELY 35 ACRES? LESS THAN THAT 19, 19, 19, BUILDABLE, 19 TOTAL.

I THOUGHT 19 TOTAL.

NO, NO, NO 19 BUILDABLE, 32 TOTAL.

IF I MAY.

WELL, LET ME FINISH MY COMMENTS.

SO IT DOES HAVE VALUE.

IT DOES HAVE VALUE ON THE MARKET.

SO WE JUST HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS HERE ABOUT EXPENSE, ABOUT OTHER NEEDS OF THE CITY.

AND IT FEELS LIKE WE GOT HERE REALLY, REALLY QUICKLY WITHOUT THINKING DEEPLY ABOUT OTHER, USES THE URGENCY.

IF WE DO NOTHING, THE PROPERTY WILL CONTINUE TO BE JUST AS IT IS TODAY.

AND I GUESS AS MUCH AS ANYTHING, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE SPEED IN WHICH WE GOT HERE AND THE CONTEXT IN WHICH WE GOT HERE.

SO IF I MAY, THE SPEED WITH WHICH WE GOT HERE, AS I SEE IT AND AS I HEAR IT AND I LIVE IT IS BECAUSE OF THE PACE OF DEVELOPMENT.

AND THE PACE OF DEVELOPMENT HAS GOT US TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE OVER 90% BUILT OUT ESSENTIALLY WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S PLOTTED OUT AND IN THE PIPELINES.

WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A STATEMENT AS A COMMUNITY THAT WE VALUE OPEN SPACE, THAT WE VALUE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES.

IF WE KNOW THAT IT'S COSTING US $26 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS TO GET JUST TO GET TO THE POINT OF ADDRESSING RESILIENCY IN THIS CITY, HOW MUCH DOES IT COST FOR US, FOR EACH ONE OF THESE GREEN SPACES TO BE REMOVED, FOR THE FLOOD RETENTION, FOR THE OXYGEN PRODUCTION, FOR THE CARBON SEQUESTRATION, FOR THE WATER FILTRATION, FOR THE NUTRIENT CYCLING, I COULD GO ON AND ON, BUT THERE ARE WHOLE ECONOMIC STUDIES THAT ARE WIDELY ACCEPTED THAT ACTUALLY PUT VALUES ON THESE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IF WE REMOVE THEM FROM FUNCTIONAL ECOSYSTEMS. SO THAT'S WHERE I FEEL LIKE THE CITY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A STATEMENT THAT WE VALUE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES AND THAT WE DON'T JUST LOOK FOR THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE IN TERMS OF TRADITIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT.

AND I DON'T DISAGREE, BUT I WE HAVE NO EVIDENCE BEFORE US THAT THIS IS A FUNCTIONING ECOSYSTEM.

IT IS CERTAINLY THIS IS THIS IS NOT FISH ISLAND.

THIS IS THIS IS PROPERTY THAT IS CONSTRAINED BY A STATE ROAD.

IT IS CONSTRAINED BY DEVELOPMENT ON INCLUDING MANY OF THE INDIVIDUALS IN THE ROOMS ON AT LEAST THREE, IF NOT FOUR SITES.

SO SO I THINK WE NEED SOME SOME CONTEXT HERE AS TO WHAT THIS PROPERTY IS.

AGAIN, I'M NOT ARGUING AGAINST A PASSIVE PARK.

I AM ARGUING I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROCESS.

WE AS A COMMISSION AND WE AS A CITY HAVE USED TO ARRIVE AT THIS POINT.

THE CITY OF ST AUGUSTINE I THINK WE CAN FAIRLY SAY HAS BEEN CLOSE TO 90% BUILT OUT FOR DECADES.

SO THIS IS THIS IS ONLY A PART OF THE CITY BECAUSE WE EXPANDED OUR CITY LIMITS IN THE LAST 20 OR 30 YEARS.

IF I MAY JUMP IN REAL QUICK.

IN ALL FAIRNESS, THE ONLY OTHER USER OF THIS PROPERTY IS GOING TO WANT TO DEVELOP IT.

THAT'S JUST THE FACT.

IT IS A LANDFILL.

THERE'S GOING TO BE CONSIDERABLE COST IN DEVELOPING THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY AT $1.8 MILLION PRICE TAG THAT'S APPRAISED ON THE OTHER PIECE OF PROPERTY.

HASN'T SEEN THE RESULTS COME BACK FROM DOING THE ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING.

IT COULD DROP BY HALF.

STILL A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY.

BUT HAVING SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU START LOOKING AT THE PIECE ACROSS THE STREET AND IF A DEVELOPER DID COME IN AND WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE A DEAL WITH IT, ANYTHING THEY DEVELOP IS GOING TO DIMINISH THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE PEOPLE REMAINING ON THE ISLAND.

[02:40:02]

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, CAN WE JUST SAVE A DUMP? AND I KNOW FOR A FACT, THERE IS THERE IS AN ECOSYSTEM THERE.

IT'S ONE THAT'S BEEN SALVAGED FROM THE LAND AROUND IT THAT IT'S MORE LIKE A RESPITE FOR THE ANIMALS THAT DO LIVE IN THE AREA THAT HAVE BEEN PUSHED THERE.

AND, YOU KNOW.

I, I WOULD HATE TO SEE THAT DEVELOPED.

I WOULD HATE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.

AND IF WE ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN, SHAME ON US.

I REALLY YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAY, WE SURELY WE CAN SAVE A LANDFILL.

I LIKE TO WEIGH IN A LITTLE BIT HERE.

YES, WE CAN SAVE A DUMP.

AND WE DID AT THE END OF RIBERIA STREET.

AND IT'S CALLED ROBERT HAYLING FREEDOM PARK.

YOU CAN DO IT. IT'S A LANDFILL AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD LOVES IT AND IT'S VERY APPRECIATED AND LOVED.

AND SO I'M VERY HAPPY.

I FELT LIKE THAT KIND OF MOVED FAST TOO I MEAN THAT US APPROVING IT FOR CONSERVATION AND GOING FORWARD, I FELT LIKE IT MOVED PRETTY QUICKLY BECAUSE YOU KNOW GOOD IDEAS DO USUALLY MOVE PRETTY QUICKLY IF YOU GET GOOD CONSENSUS SO.

BUT MY FEELING ABOUT THIS IS YOU CAN'T PUT A PRICE ON LAND PRESERVATION.

AND THIS IS IRREPLACEABLE LAND.

WHETHER IT'S A CAPPED LANDFILL OR NOT, IT'S STILL GOING TO BE PRESERVED IN PERPETUITY.

I THINK WE CAN ENHANCE AND ENRICH THE PROPERTY.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE WELL LOVED.

AND AND YOU'RE RIGHT.

AS FAR AS GROWING AND IMPROVING GROWTH.

YES. WE DON'T HAVE WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT ON THE EDGES, YOU KNOW, AFTER WHAT YOU SAID.

YOU'RE RIGHT, MAYOR, THERE WAS AN ANNEXATION POLICY, I BELIEVE, IN THE 2000.

PRETTY AGGRESSIVE ANNEXATION POLICY.

THERE HASN'T BEEN ONE SINCE.

AND THOSE ARE THOSE AREAS ARE BEGINNING TO BE DEVELOPED NOW.

THERE'S BEEN A FEW ANNEXATIONS SINCE, BUT I LIKE THE IDEA OF BALANCE.

AND PRETTY MUCH SAVING EVERY LITTLE PIECE THAT WE CAN.

THAT WE ESPECIALLY WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE WELL LOVED.

WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO GET LOVED ON JUST LIKE THE ONE ROBERT HAYLING PARK IS.

THAT'S MY FEELING.

I'D LIKE TO.

I'M SORRY. NO, I WAS JUST GOING TO BRIEFLY SAY THAT.

CERTAINLY I AGREE WITH THE RESILIENCY FACTOR.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED TO ACTUALLY MAKE A DECISION ON THIS.

IT'S BEING USED AS A PASSIVE PARK RIGHT NOW, ISN'T IT? I MEAN, WE COULD PUTTING A MANAGEMENT PLAN AND TAKING OUT A BASE OF INVASIVE SPECIES ISN'T A BIG DEAL.

AND BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE'S GOING TO HOLD.

I MEAN, DO WE REALLY HAVE TO COMMIT THAT IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A PARK AT THIS TIME? I LOVE PARKS.

I MEAN, I DO.

SO I'M KIND OF TORN, BUT I DON'T SEE WHY WE HAVE THE PRESSURE TO DO IT RIGHT NOW.

I MEAN, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO DEVELOP IT.

COMMISSIONS CHANGE, CITY GOVERNMENTS CHANGE.

AND THE REALITY, IT WON'T ALWAYS BE A PARK.

IT'S GOING TO BECOME A WETLAND.

IT'S GOING TO BE, WHAT, A WETLAND.

LET ME GO BACK HERE TO COMMISSIONER BLONDER.

I, AS AN ECOLOGIST, WOULD NEVER ARGUE THAT THIS IS A PRISTINE NATURAL AREA BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION.

IT DOES PROVIDE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES.

IT DOES PROVIDE HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE.

IT DOES PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO APPRECIATE NATURE, AS ONE OF THE SPEAKERS SAID EARLIER.

SO PLEASE DON'T GET ME WRONG, I AM NOT SAYING THAT THIS IS A HIGH QUALITY NATURE PRESERVE, BUT IN AND OF ITSELF, AS A CITY, WE HAVE A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A STATEMENT, AS I SAID BEFORE.

BUT WE HAVE AN ELECTION COMING UP IN A VERY SHORT TIME, AND THE WHOLE LANDSCAPE COULD CHANGE VERY QUICKLY TO THE POINT WHERE WE DO ALLOW HIGH INTENSITY DEVELOPMENT IN THAT AREA.

AND WE DO ENABLE, THEREFORE, ALL OF THE TRAFFIC AND ALL THE OTHER CONSIDERATIONS THAT WE WERE REGISTERING TO THE TO THE PREVIOUS PROPOSAL FOR DEVELOPMENT, YOU KNOW, AT FLAGLER CROSSING.

SO THAT TYPE OF DENSITY IN THAT LOCATION IS WHAT BROUGHT TO BEAR THE OPPOSITION FROM THE PUBLIC, AND I THINK RIGHTLY SO, FOR THE PROPOSAL FOR THE PERFORMANCE CENTER.

SO JUST IN CONCLUSION, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THOSE ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS.

[02:45:08]

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? YEP. A MOTION AND A SECOND YOU KNOW I, I'LL BE OFF THIS COMMISSION IN A FEW MONTHS.

I ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTAND ALL THE ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF THIS BEING A PASSIVE PARK.

I WAS SIMPLY IN MY QUESTIONS TRYING TO PUT THIS IN A LARGER CONTEXT TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE AND THE SPEED AND THE MANNER IN WHICH WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE.

FURTHER DISCUSSION? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

BARBARA BLONDER. YES.

ROXANNE HORVATH. YES.

JOHN VALDES.

YES. LINDSAY. EXCUSE ME.

NANCY SIKES-KLINE. YES.

TRACY UPCHURCH. YES.

THE APPROVAL IS GRANTED.

OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE'RE NOW ON ITEM 10 C MR.

[10.C. Sale or retention of 800 Plantation Island Drive South. (D. Birchim, Assistant City Manager)]

YES. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.

ON THE OVERHEAD, YOU'LL SEE AN AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH OF WHAT WE'RE CALLING 800 PLANTATION ISLAND DRIVE SOUTH.

IT HAS YET TO BE OFFICIALLY ADDRESSED.

BUT IT IS A CITY PROPERTY THAT IS HAS A SMALL LIFT STATION DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF IT ON PLANTATION ISLAND DRIVE.

THE ZONING IS SPLIT BETWEEN COMMERCIAL MEDIUM 2 AND GOVERNMENT USE.

THIS SITE IS ALSO, WE BELIEVE, CONTAINS PART OF THE OLD LANDFILL THAT WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT.

IN MARCH YOU ASKED US TO LOOK INTO THE FEASIBILITY OF SELLING THIS PROPERTY.

TO THAT END, WE'VE GOT AN APPRAISAL WHICH IS IN YOUR PACKET.

THE APPRAISAL CAME BACK AT $1.8 MILLION CLEANED.

SO IF YOU WISH TO SELL IT, FIRST DECISION MAKING POINT IS, DO YOU WISH TO SELL IT OR DO YOU WISH TO HOLD ON TO THE PROPERTY IN INVENTORY? IF YOU WISH TO SELL IT, THEN WE CAN SELL IT AS IS AND LET PROSPECTIVE BUYERS DO THE DUE DILIGENCE TO DETERMINE WHAT THE COST OF THE MITIGATION OF THAT LANDFILL MATERIAL WOULD BE.

COME BACK TO YOU AND SAY, THIS IS OUR ESTIMATE TO MITIGATE THAT LANDFILL MATERIAL, AND THEN YOU CAN DECIDE WHETHER YOU WANT TO REDUCE THE PRICE TO REFLECT THAT. ANOTHER OPTION WOULD BE FOR THE CITY TO GO IN AND DO A PHASE ONE AND ALSO A PHASE TWO ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY TO DETERMINE WHAT WE BELIEVE WOULD BE THE COST OF MITIGATION AND THEN ADJUST THE LISTING PRICE ACCORDINGLY.

I BELIEVE EVEN IF THE CITY DOES THAT WORK ON THE FRONT END, THE DEVELOPER OR THE BUYER WOULD ALSO COME BACK AND DO THE SAME AMOUNT OF WORK FOR THEMSELVES.

I DON'T WANT TO DUPLICATE THAT COST, BUT THAT IS CERTAINLY AN OPTION.

WE WOULD THEN HAVE A TRUTH, SORT OF TRUTH OUT WHAT IT WOULD COST WE BELIEVE, TO MITIGATE THE LANDFILL MATERIAL.

AND FINALLY, WE WOULD ALSO ASK YOU FOR PERMISSION TO SEND OUT A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR PROFESSIONAL REAL ESTATE SERVICES.

WE'D LIKE TO ADVERTISE FOR REAL ESTATE SERVICES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

HAVE QUALIFIED REAL ESTATE COMPANIES COME UNDER A CONTINUING SERVICES CONTRACT WITH THE CITY AND TITLE COMPANIES.

IF YOU CHOOSE TO SELL THE PROPERTY, THEN WE WOULD SEND THIS LISTING TO ALL THE QUALIFIED REAL ESTATE COMPANIES IN TOWN.

THEY WOULD COME BACK AND YOU WOULD ESSENTIALLY PICK THE REAL ESTATE BROKER THAT GAVE YOU THE BEST DEAL.

I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.

THANK YOU. QUESTIONS.

COMMENTS. YEAH.

I'LL JUMP IN. WHY NOT? THERE'S A CERTAIN WISDOM TO HOLDING AN INVENTORY BECAUSE WE KNOW LAND IS GOING TO APPRECIATE, DO WE NEED THE $1.8 MILLION? IT'S NOT GOING TO BE $1.8 MILLION? I'D BE CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT THE PHASE ONE PHASE TWO ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT WOULD COST US IF WE'RE GOING TO PUT IT ON THE MARKET.

THAT WOULD BE THE QUICKEST WAY OF SELLING IT, BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME.

IF YOU GET A CONTRACT FROM SOMEONE AT $1.8 WITH A CONTINGENCY OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT, YOU MAY BE LOOKING AT SIX MONTHS HANGING OUT THERE WITH A CONTRACT ON IT.

YOU TAKE BACK UP OFFERS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

I THINK THE FIRST QUESTION IS, DO WE WANT TO HOLD AN INVENTORY? WE CAN DO NOTHING WITH IT IF WE DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING WITH IT.

IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE IT ENVIRONMENTALLY.

IT JUST SITS THERE.

PRICES WILL PROBABLY APPRECIATE.

BUT THEN AGAIN, IT'S REAL ESTATE, ISN'T IT? THEY MAY CRASH AS WELL.

THE CLOSER WE GET TO THAT DAY THAT WE ALL DREAD, WHICH HOPEFULLY IS A LONG TIME OFF WHEN IT BECOMES NONNEGOTIABLE BECAUSE OF OCEAN RISE, THAT'S ANOTHER STORY.

[02:50:01]

IF IT'S DONE BY A REPUTABLE COMPANY, IT'S GOING TO BE AN EASIER SELL.

ASSUMING IT'S NOT REALLY POLLUTED BADLY.

THERE ARE OPTIONAL COURSES OFFERED AS THIS AND YOU.

NOBODY'S GOING TO BUY THAT BY DOING AN ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT, WHICH MEANS IT'S GOING TO BE A LONGER PROCESS AND THEN YOU'LL BE NEGOTIATING.

THOSE ARE THE OPTIONS I SEE.

I'LL JUST SAY I'M REALLY INCLINED TO DO NOTHING.

I MEAN, I'M YOU KNOW, I'VE HEARD THE SUGGESTION, LET'S GO SELL IT AND NOT AND DA DA DA DA.

BUT I DON'T SEE, YOU KNOW.

DOES IT SERVE THE CITIZENS BETTER TO SELL IT NOW? IT'S NOT WE. IT'S THEIR MONEY.

I MEAN, I'M SORRY, BUT I'M TRYING TO LOOK AT WHAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CITIZENS WANT US TO DO.

I MEAN, I DON'T THINK THE CITIZENS ARE SAYING WE NEED MORE MONEY OVER HERE OR, HEY YOU SHOULD BE SELLING IT SO WE CAN HAVE MORE DEVELOPMENT.

NO, I DON'T HEAR THAT.

WE COULD TAKE THE MONEY EARMARKED FOR ADDRESSING HOMELESS ISSUES IN THE CITY OR EARMARKED OKAY, WELL, THAT'S AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT MATTER.

THAT'S AN ENTIRELY. THAT'S WHERE THAT'S WHERE I'M COMING FROM.

SO YOU WANT TO DESIGNATE IT AND EARMARK IT FOR YOU WANT TO SELL THIS AND DESIGNATE.

EARMARK IT FOR GOING TOWARDS FINDING A SOLUTION TO MITIGATING OUR HOMELESS ISSUES, WHICH ARE HUGE.

BESIDES, AS HUMANITARIAN AS SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO.

OKAY. SORRY, MR. BIRCHIM. SHOULD THIS BE SOLD? COULD WE EARMARK THE PROCEEDS FROM IT FOR A PARTICULAR TO ADDRESS A PARTICULAR ISSUE OR NEED OF THE CITY? WELL, CERTAINLY IT CAN BE SOLD, AND IT IS A SELLER'S MARKET RIGHT NOW, AS YOU KNOW, AND YOU CONTROL THE BUDGET.

SO YOU COULD CERTAINLY EARMARK ALL OF IT OR A PORTION OF IT TO PAY FOR WHATEVER YOU WISH.

WHAT DO WE THINK THAT IT MIGHT BE A GOOD SITE FOR SOME HOMELESS SITUATION OR WHAT IS THAT? KEY WEST, FIRST [INAUDIBLE] $1.8 MILLION WOULD CERTAINLY GIVE US THE HOMELESS SHELTER BUILT.

I'M SAYING AS A PIECE OF PROPERTY FOR BUILDING ONE, IS ITS USE BETTER? CONCEIVABLY. I MEAN, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE WE BUILD IT, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE RIGHT PLACE.

YOU DO KNOW THAT.

IT'S JUST A FACT OF LIFE.

BUT HAVING SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S THAT'S THE CONVERSATION THAT NEEDS TO BE HAD.

THAT'S AN EXPENSIVE PIECE OF PROPERTY THOUGH, TO NECESSARILY BUILD A HOMELESS SHELTER ON AT $1.8 MILLION.

THAT'S NOT THE HIGHEST THE BEST USE BE FOR THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY.

NOT SAYING THAT HOMELESS SHELTER SHOULDN'T BE BUILT ON A NICE PIECE OF PROPERTY.

I'M JUST DOING THE MATH IN MY HEAD THERE.

BUT AGAIN, IF WE DON'T NEED TO SELL IT, MAYBE WE WAIT AND SEE WHAT WE MIGHT WANT TO DO WITH THE PROPERTY IN THE FUTURE.

I DON'T THINK PROPERTY IS GOING TO GET ANY CHEAPER.

SO WE THINK IT'S THE SELLER'S MARKET NOW, BUT IN FIVE YEARS IT MIGHT REALLY BE THE SELLER'S MARKET.

COMMISSIONERS. WE'VE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS THIS EVENING ABOUT THINGS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT WE DON'T FEEL LIKE WE HAVE THE MONEY FOR.

WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT SIGNS.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A HOMELESS SHELTER.

SO. I BELIEVE THE CITY IS BETTER SERVED BY SELLING A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WE KNOW WE WOULD NEVER USE FOR A HOMELESS SHELTER THAT HAS NO PRACTICAL BENEFIT TO THE CITY.

WE CAN'T PUT A FIRE STATION THERE.

WE WE CAN'T USE IT AND HOLD THE MONEY.

I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARY TO EARMARK IT, BECAUSE I THINK IT IS AN ASSET JUST LIKE ANY OTHER ASSET.

AND THEN WE EVALUATE OUR PRIORITIES AT SUCH TIME AS IT IS SOLD.

I THINK WE ARE BETTER OFF LISTING IT FOR SALE WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO NEGOTIATE.

BUT IF WE DO AN ENVIRONMENTAL, THE BUYERS ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO RELY UPON THE ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE.

THEY'RE GOING TO GO AND DO THEIR OWN.

SO I DO FEEL, AS MR. BIRCHIM SAID, THAT'S A DUPLICATIVE COST.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT NUMBER, BUT I'M NOT WILLING TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TO FIND OUT THAT NUMBER.

AND SO THEREFORE, I WOULD MAKE A MOTION THAT WE, FIRST OF ALL, DO THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, WHATEVER THE PROPER TERMINOLOGY IS, TO

[02:55:02]

AND PERHAPS WE LEAVE IT AT THAT WITH THE EXPECTATION THEY WILL COME BACK AND ADVISE US ABOUT THE ADVISABILITY OF REMEDIATION NOW OR THE BUYER REMEDIATING.

MY INCLINATION IS TO LET THE BUYER DO IT.

ARE YOU INCLUDING TITLE COMPANIES AS WELL? [INAUDIBLE] I'D LIKE TO ALSO HAVE AN RFQ FOR TITLE COMPANY.

THANK YOU. YES.

YES. SO AN RFQ FOR REAL ESTATE SERVICES, A TITLE COMPANY, AND THAT CITY STAFF PROCEED TO LIST THE PROPERTY FOR SALE BASED UPON THE ADVICE OF THE REAL ESTATE AGENTS, [INAUDIBLE] THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THE BUYER MAY CHOOSE THEIR OWN TITLE COMPANY THOUGH.

THAT'S FINE. WE JUST WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO GO OUT FOR SERVICES IF WE HAVE TO.

OKAY, SO I SECOND THAT I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

YES. OKAY.

CAN YOU WRAP THAT UP AGAIN FOR ME? YES. ONE SERVICES REAL ESTATE SERVICES.

TWO TITLE COMPANY SERVICES.

THREE, THE INSTRUCT STAFF TO CONSULT WITH REAL ESTATE ADVISERS AND TO BEGIN THE NECESSARY STEPS TO LIST THE PROPERTY FOR SALE.

MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

TRACY UPCHURCH. YES.

ROXANNE HORVATH YES.

BARBARA BLONDER. YES.

NANCY SIKES-KLINE YES.

JOHN VALDES YES.

THANK YOU. MOTION PASSES.

THANK YOU. MR. BIRCHIM.

MS. LOPEZ, I HAVE NOTHING.

MS. GALAMBOS, I HAVE NOTHING.

MR. REGAN HAD A REALLY LONG LIST, BUT I THINK I'LL DROP IT [LAUGHTER].

I HAVE NOTHING. THE MAYOR HAS NOTHING.

[14. ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS]

BUT LAYING AND SLEEPING IN ST GEORGE SOUTH INTO ST GEORGE ST, WHICH IS ALWAYS A PROBLEM BECAUSE WE DON'T YOU KNOW OUR ZONES DON'T COVER THE AREA OF THE WALL OUTSIDE OF THE CATHEDRAL TO THE WEST OF THE CATHEDRAL WHERE IT CROSSES WHERE IT BORDERS ON ST GEORGE STREET.

SO THERE'S THIS ONE AREA THAT SEEMS TO ALWAYS BE A PROBLEM.

AND AND I HAVE TALKED TO STAFF ABOUT SOLUTIONS IN THE PAST, AND I THINK THERE ARE SOLUTIONS TO THAT SPECIFIC AREA.

BUT THE PICTURES WERE ALSO FROM THE THE PLAZA AROUND WHERE THE BENCHES ARE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO I DO JUST LIKE COMMISSIONER BLONDER BROUGHT UP MAYBE A COUPLE OF MEETINGS AGO, WE ALWAYS HEARING ABOUT VAGRANCY ISSUES.

I WOULD CALL THIS A VAGRANCY ISSUE.

NOT SO MUCH. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A PANHANDLING PROBLEM.

I HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED IT MYSELF AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A HOMELESS PROBLEM BECAUSE ALL I CAN SEE IS WHAT I CALL VAGRANCY.

SO MY QUESTION IS.

CAN WE GET BACK ON TRACK WITH THE SYSTEM, THE SERIES OF PROGRAMS THAT WE WERE ACTUALLY DISCUSSING THIS ISSUE, GETTING UPDATES ON IT AND MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION TO TOWARDS SOLUTIONS? ABSOLUTELY. WE CAN DO THAT.

GREAT. SO AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE I DON'T KNOW IF IT INCLUDES EXPANDING THOSE ZONES.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S GOING TO SAY ABOUT THAT, BUT I CERTAINLY WILL.

NOW, WE'VE DISCUSSED IT.

BUT THERE MAY BE OTHER SOLUTIONS.

SO, I MEAN, I THINK IT'S TIME THAT WE ACTUALLY DRILL DOWN AND FIND REAL RECOMMENDATION SOLUTIONS.

SO THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER HORVATH. THE ONLY THING I HAVE IS THAT OUR CLERK HAS KIND OF ROUGHED OUT A PROCLAMATION FOR THE POET LAUREATE POSITION.

I WANTED TO MENTION THAT I'M GOING TO BE GETTING UP WITH CHRISTINA PARISH STONE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CULTURAL COUNCIL, TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND HOW WE MIGHT SET UP A COMMITTEE THAT WOULD BE CULTURAL COUNCIL, MAYBE THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT OF FLAGLER, VARIOUS PEOPLE TO SELECT THIS PERSON AND ALSO THE LITERARY CITY DESIGNATION.

SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY I'M GOING TO BE WORKING ON THAT AND BRINGING IT BACK.

[03:00:03]

COMMISSIONER VALDES, I HAVE NOTHING.

I THINK I'VE SAID ENOUGH TONIGHT.

COMMISSIONER BLONDER.

I THINK YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN A HANDOUT THAT'S TITLED THAT'S FROM OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

AND THIS COMES RIGHT OUT OF LEFT FIELD FOR ME.

BUT I.

SO IT'S OUT OF LEFT FIELD FOR YOU ALL.

BUT I WAS ASKED I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER A REQUEST AND THAT I'LL POINT OUT A COUPLE OF THINGS.

KRATOM IS A UNREGULATED SUBSTANCE THAT IS SOLD ALL THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.

IT IS MARKETED, TARGETED TOWARD COLLEGE STUDENTS IN PARTICULAR, AND IT IS A TEA AND AVAILABLE OVER THE COUNTER IN CONVENIENCE STORES AND VAPING SHOPS AND SO FORTH.

I'LL CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SECOND PARAGRAPH ON THE BACKGROUND ON KRATOM, RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT KRATOM PRODUCTS MAY CONTAIN HARMFUL CONTAMINANTS THAT PRODUCE EFFECTS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH KRATOM OR KRATOM COMPOUNDS ALONE, INCLUDING HEAVY METALS LIKE LEAD AND NICKEL AND HARMFUL BACTERIA IN SOME KRATOM PRODUCTS, TWO COMPOUNDS FROM KRATOM MITRAGYNINE AND SEVEN HYDROXYMITRAGYNINE INTERACT WITH OPIOID RECEPTORS IN THE BRAIN.

IT IS THEREFORE UNDERSTOOD AS BEING ADDICTIVE MAY BE HIGHLY ADDICTIVE.

IT IS UNREGULATED IN TERMS OF THE POTENCY.

IT IS UNREGULATED IN TERMS OF WHETHER ADDITIONAL SUBSTANCES LIKE FENTANYL MIGHT BE ADDED TO IT.

AND STATES, INCLUDING ALABAMA, JUST A HANDFUL OF STATES, BUT INCLUDING ALABAMA, HAVE PROHIBITED.

IT'S A COMPLETE BAN.

ALL OF THE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, HAVE BANNED IT.

FLORIDA HAS ATTEMPTED TO BAN IT, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN THE LAST SESSION.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF THERE IS A WILL ON THIS COMMISSION TO HAVE OUR STAFF EXPLORE DEVELOPING AN ORDINANCE TO BAN ITS SALE IN CITY LIMITS.

CAN I ASK HOW THIS ISSUE CAME TO YOUR ATTENTION PERSONALLY? ARE YOU INCLUDING KAVA IN THAT.

THE BACKGROUND ON KAVA IS THAT IT DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME TYPES OF ADDICTIVE QUALITIES, BUT IT IS SOLD AT KAVA SHOPS.

I WOULD RATHER WAIT AND READ THE MEMORANDUM AND PERHAPS WE CAN ADDRESS IT THE NEXT MEETING.

READ MORE ABOUT IT. WHAT'S THE DEA SAY ABOUT IT? IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, THEY WANTED IT'S RIGHT HERE.

IT SAYS, OH, IT HAD A NOTICE OF INTENT TO INSTITUTE THE EMERGENCY SCHEDULING OF THE ACTIVE INGREDIENTS OF KRATOM AND THE THE INDUSTRY, THE CREATIVE INDUSTRY BLOCKED THAT.

OKAY. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION.

ANYTHING FURTHER? WE ARE ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.