[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:07]
AND I WOULD ASK THE CITY CLERK TO PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
TRACY UPCHURCH? PRESENT. NANCY SIKES-KLINE? HERE. ROXANNE HORVATH? JOHN VALDES? BARBARA BLONDER? HERE.
AND COMMISSIONER HORVATH, WE KNOW, IS NOT GOING TO BE WITH US.
SHE IS UNAVAILABLE AND WE HOPE AND LOOK FORWARD TO HER RETURNING SOON.
AT THIS TIME, IT'S MY HONOR, OUR HONOR TO HAVE REVEREND TED VOORHEES FROM ST CYPRIAN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, WHO HAS COME TO GIVE US THE INVOCATION. I WOULD ASK THAT YOU RISE AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY VICE MAYOR SIKES-KLINE.
WE ASK THAT YOUR SACRED SPIRIT BE WITH US IN THIS MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.
THE COUNCIL TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS WE FACE AND THE COMFORT WE SEEK IN OUR REGRETS.
AND GUIDE THEM AS THEY WORK FOR A JUST HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS COMMUNITY.
WE ARE BLESSED BY THE RICH HISTORY OF OUR CITY, COUNTY, STATE AND NATION, BY THE WONDERFUL TAPESTRY OF DIVERSITY IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AND BY THE MANY CITIZENS CONTRIBUTING TO THE FABRIC OF OUR COMMON LIFE TOGETHER.
MAY THERE BE CLARITY IN OUR GOALS, RESPONSIBILITY AND OUR ACTIONS AND CIVILITY IN OUR ATTITUDES.
HELP US TO SEE THE HUMANITY AND DIGNITY OF ALL PEOPLE, INCLUDING THOSE WHO WE DISAGREE WITH US, AND TO TREAT ALL PERSONS, NO MATTER HOW WEAK OR POOR, WITH THE COMPASSION YOUR CREATION DESERVES.
LASTLY, WE ASK THAT YOU WILL POUR YOUR GRACE UPON OUR CITY COMMISSIONERS WHO GOVERN IN THE NAME OF ALL THE PEOPLE OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, THAT THEY MAY ALWAYS ACT WITH JUSTICE, CIVILITY AND KINDNESS AS THEIR CONSTANT COMPANIONS AND HELP THEM ALWAYS TO SEEK THE COMMON GOOD.
WE ASK ALL OF THIS IN YOUR HOLY NAME.
AMEN. PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, REVEREND VOORHEES, FOR YOUR INVOCATION.
IT'S MY HONOR TO MAKE A SPECIAL PRESENTATION TO DIANE WHEELER ON BEHALF OF FORMER COMMISSIONER
[3.A. Special Presentation of the American flag that was flown on Monday, July 11 in honor of Errol Jones, former Vice Mayor and City Commissioner, to Diane Wheeler. (T. Upchurch, Mayor)]
ERROL JONES.COMMISSIONER JONES SERVED THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE FOR TEN YEARS FROM 2002 TO 2012 AS A CITY COMMISSIONER AND TWO OF THOSE YEARS FROM 2008 TO 2010.
HE ALSO SERVED AS VICE MAYOR OF THE CITY.
HE'S A MAN THAT LOVED THIS CITY AND WAS PROUD OF HIS OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE.
I THINK FROM TALKING TO FOLKS THAT KNEW ERROL AND OF COURSE, I KNEW HIM.
I NEVER HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE WITH HIM.
ONE IS THAT COMMISSIONER JONES HAD REALLY WAS PERHAPS THE FIRST TO BRING A REAL SENSITIVITY FOR THE NEED FOR GREATER DIVERSITY IN OUR CITY WORKFORCE, OUR POLICE, OUR FIRE, OUR OTHER FOLKS THAT WORK HERE IN CITY HALL. SO HE SAW THE WISDOM OF THAT AND HE WAS A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR REVISE AND IMPROVING OUR POLICY AND OUR WAY OF WORK TO PUT A GREATER EMPHASIS ON DIVERSIFYING OUR WORKFORCE.
HE ALSO HAD A TREMENDOUS HEART FOR CHILDREN AND THE NEED TO SERVE CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY.
[00:05:02]
AND THE MOST TANGIBLE RESULT OF THAT IS PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.I DROVE BY JUST A FEW DAYS AGO.
SO THAT, IN FACT, IT WOULD BE A PART OF THE CITY PROPER.
THIS FLAG FLEW IN FRONT OF CITY HALL IN HONOR OF COMMISSIONER JONES.
COMMISSIONERS. IF YOU WOULD, COME JOIN US? [INAUDIBLE] . TO EVERYBODY OUT THERE I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING MY COUSIN FOR THIS GREAT RECOGNITION.
FOR THOSE THAT NEW ERROL, HIS LAST 2 TO 3 YEARS, IT WAS TOUGH.
HE DID HAVE CANCER AND HE BATTLED A GOOD FIGHT TO THE END.
HE WOULD LIKE FOR PEOPLE TO COME BY.
HE WAS A GREAT TALKER, AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, AND HE WOULD STAND HIS GROUND NO MATTER WHAT HE THOUGHT.
RIGHT OR WRONG. HE WOULD STAND HIS GROUND.
I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE] . [INAUDIBLE] WE'RE NOW AT ITEM FOUR ON OUR AGENDA AND OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
MAYOR, AT THE RIGHT MOMENT, PERHAPS WE SHOULD APPROVE THE AGENDA IN ANY MODIFICATIONS.
[2. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS]
I THINK THAT WOULD BE A WONDERFUL IDEA SINCE I SKIPPED IT.COMMISSIONERS. I WOULD THANK YOU, MR. REGAN. I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THREE ITEMS OFF OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THOSE WOULD BE ITEM CA 13, 14 AND 15.
AND WHY DON'T WE MOVE THEM TO ITEM TEN? AND SO THOSE WOULD BECOME WE'LL DO THOSE AFTER THE REPORT ON THE ENTRANCE SIGNS ON THE FOUNTAIN.
[00:10:01]
COMMISSIONERS ARE THE ONLY OTHER CHANGES TO THE AGENDA.I WOULD MOVE APPROVAL WITH THOSE THREE MODIFICATIONS AS THERE A? SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ALL IN FAVOR.
PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING I HIGH ANY OPPOSE.
THANK YOU. THE AGENDA IS APPROVED AS RESTATED.
NOW WE'RE ON THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
[4. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS OR FOR AGENDA ITEMS NOT REQUIRING A SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING]
AGAIN, I'D BE DELIGHTED TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL SPEAKER'S CARDS.I'M GOING TO CALL THEM IN THE ORDER IN WHICH I'VE RECEIVED THEM, THEY'VE BEEN GIVEN TO ME.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS CYNTHIA GARRIS.
I CAME TO THE COMMISSION MEETING TONIGHT BECAUSE I HEARD ABOUT THE WELCOME SIGNS BEING DEMOLISHED.
AND AS A RESIDENT, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
OK WE ANY TIME ANY OF THE SIGNS FADED THAT THE BUSINESSES GAVE US, WE SEEK TO GET NEW SIGNS TO RESTORE IT SO THAT THE BEAUTY OF THOSE WELCOME SIGNS REMAINED UNTOUCHED.
IT SEEMS LIKE A WASTE OF MONEY TO DEMOLISH THOSE AND CREATE SOMETHING ELSE.
THE STRUCTURES ARE STRONG RECENTLY.
I KNOW PROBABLY WITHIN THE LAST TWO YEARS OF MY EMPLOYMENT, THEY WE PUT NEW ROOFS ON THEM.
SO WE'RE JUST THROWING MONEY AWAY BY DEMOLISHING THEM AT THIS TIME.
I THINK THAT THE CITY THERE'S AN ARCHITECT ON YOUR COMMITTEE, AND WE ALSO HAVE PEOPLE ON STANDBY CONTRACTED THAT CAN CREATE A DESIGN ON THE EXISTING STRUCTURE.
AND I THINK THAT THE COMMISSION SHOULD CONSIDER RETHINKING THAT DECISION.
BJ KALAIDI, WEST CITY OF ST AUGUSTINE.
OH, DEAR. START MY TIME, PLEASE.
DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE FOR ONE DEVELOPER MIKE DAVIS RECUSED HIMSELF.
GRANT MR. LEE WAS ABSENT, AND CHARLES PAPPAS VOTED AGAINST PUSHING THIS FORWARD TO THIS COMMISSION.
THE DEVELOPER AND THOSE WHO SPOKE ABOUT HIS CHARACTER SHOULD CLEAN UP WITH KING STREET.
SINCE CODES CONTINUE TO BE VIOLATED, THE CITY OF ST AUGUSTINE IS BECOMING TRASH BILL.
SELFISH INDIVIDUALS CLUTTER THE PROPERTY, THEN USE THE STREET AS THEIR GARAGE.
THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE IS NOT SAFE AND NOT CLEAN.
LET'S HOPE THE HOMELESS SLEEP IN AT OYSTER CREEK PARK WILL MOVE TO COQUINA PARK.
AS LONG AS THIS COMMISSION IGNORES AND GETS ANGRY ABOUT PUBLIC COMMENTS, BLIGHT WILL INCREASE.
AND IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE TO GET UP AND BE THE LAST ONE TO PUT IN THERE.
SPEAKER CARD BECAUSE NOW WHENEVER YOU ASK TO SPEAK.
THEY'RE TAKEN IN THE ORDER THAT THEY'RE GIVEN.
THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRIS FOLMER.
CITY ORDINANCE 2212 AND 2213 ARE ASKING TO INCREASE THE RETIREMENT FUND INVESTMENT IN REAL ESTATE.
[00:15:04]
MAY I REMIND EVERYBODY ABOUT 2008 AND THAT WITH THE CURRENT OVERINFLATED PRICES INDICATING ANOTHER ISSUE WITH REAL ESTATE THAT'S JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND.I WANT TO ASK ABOUT ALCOHOL LICENSES AT RESTAURANTS IN THE CITY.
BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T PURCHASE A SPECIAL LIQUOR LICENSE IN ORDER TO SERVE BEFORE 1:00 ON SUNDAYS, WHICH SURPRISED THE HECK OUT OF ME THAT WE HAD BLUE LAWS STILL IN OUR TOWN.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS OUTDATED FROM THE PREVIOUS CENTURY.
I HOPE THAT I MISUNDERSTOOD IT.
AND IF I DIDN'T MISUNDERSTAND IT, I HOPE THAT THIS RIDICULOUS THING NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
WE NO LONGER NEED SUCH NONSENSE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO FIREHOUSE SUBS FOR DONATING THE 15 EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS.
THEY MAKE GOOD SANDWICHES AND THEY SUPPORT THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
I AGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER BEFORE THAT THE WELCOME SIGNS ARE IMPORTANT AND UNLESS THERE'S A REASON TO DEMOLISH THE ONES THEY HAVE, I THINK THAT KEEPING THEM IS A GOOD IDEA AND AS ALWAYS, BE KIND.
TIP YOUR SERVERS. SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHARLES PAPPAS.
CHARLES PAPPAS. MACABRE STREET, SAINT AUGUSTINE.
I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK ON ONE OF THE FIRST READINGS.
UNDER SECTION ONE SUBSECTION A OF DEFINITIONS.
COULD YOU PLEASE ADD TO THE APPROVED FUEL COOKING, WOOD PELLETS AND WOODCHIPS? THIS FUEL USED IN BARBECUE, SMOKING AND GRILLS? AND IT WASN'T LISTED.
NO RECYCLABLE MATERIALS MAY BE DISPOSED OF OPEN BURNING, I UNDERSTAND THAT'S IN WHOLESALE NOT TO TAKE RECYCLABLE BURNING ITEMS. BUT THE TECHNICAL SIDE OF ME WANTS TO ASK.
I SAVED MY PAPERS TO USE TO I DO A LOT OF SMOKING OF MEATS AND I SAVE THEM TO START THE FIRES.
SO TECHNICALLY I WOULD BE BREAKING THE ORDINANCE IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO NITPICK.
I UNDERSTAND THAT'S NOT THE INTENT.
AND THE LAST THING WHICH I WASN'T PLANNING TO SPEAK ON, BUT ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS ON FULWOOD, WHICH YOU WOULD THINK IS A SAFE AREA, HAD THEIR BIKES STOLEN BY CUTTING THE LOCK IN THIS TOWN.
WE DON'T EVEN REPORT STOLEN BIKES ANYMORE BECAUSE IT'S SO FREQUENT.
IT'S JUST I DON'T KNOW HOW TO ADDRESS THAT, BUT IT IS A BIG PROBLEM.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. JOHN MILLER. THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS JOHN MILLER FROM SAINT AUGUSTINE.
I DON'T BRING A WEIGHTY PROBLEM.
ACTUALLY, I BRING SOMETHING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
I WORKED WITH HIGH SCHOOL KIDS FOR 50 SOME YEARS BETWEEN OHIO AND HERE.
I HAVE A CLUB AND THE TWO OF MY KIDS WILL BE SPEAKING TO THE COUNCIL IN A FEW WEEKS.
BUT I DID WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THEM.
THEY'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THE PROJECT.
THANK YOU. NOW, MR. MILLER, I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU EVER IDENTIFIED YOUR ORGANIZATION, BUT I ASSUME IT'S MODEL U.N..
NO, IT'S NOT, MR. MAYOR. I HAD THE MODEL U.N..
THIS IS A GROUP CALLED THE BRIDGE CONNECTION.
BASED ON SIMON GARFUNKEL'S, BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS IS REACHING OUT.
I'LL TELL YOU, THEIR PROJECT RIGHT NOW IS TO GET THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY CAN'T COME THROUGH HERE.
BUT I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT TO ALLOW MENTAL HEALTH DAYS AS EXCUSED IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND SO THEY'LL BE SPEAKING TO YOU WHEN WE GET THE NAMES DOWN AND GET THEM TO TO THAT.
THANK YOU. WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR STUDENTS AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I HAVE I DO NOT HAVE ANY OTHER CARDS.
[00:20:06]
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION AT THIS TIME? SEEING NOBODY ELSE THAN OUR PUBLIC HEARING SECTION OF THE MEETING IS NOW CLOSED.MR. REGAN WERE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[5. CONSENT AGENDA]
WOULD YOU PLEASE JUST READ THAT FOR THE RECORD? ON TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA.THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCES ARE TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR A SECOND READING ON AUGUST 8TH, 2022.
ORDINANCE 2022 DASH 12 ORDINANCE 2022 DASH 13 ORDINANCE 2022-23 ORDINANCE 2022-24 ORDINANCE 2022-25. WE HAVE A REMINDER OF UPCOMING MEETINGS.
REGULAR MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING ON BUDGET RELATED RESOLUTIONS.
TO NOON SPECIAL MEETING DISCUSSION OF FISCAL YEAR 2023 BUDGET AND ACTION ITEMS. AUGUST 19, 2022 TO 9 A.M.
TO NOON SPECIAL MEETING DISCUSSION OF FISCAL YEAR 2023 BUDGET AND ACTION ITEMS IF NEEDED.
WE HAVE THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT OF A FIREHOUSE SUBS PUBLIC SAFETY GRANT BY THE SAINT AUGUSTINE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE ACQUISITION OF 15 AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS. APPROVAL OF FLAG PROTOCOL IN THE EVENT OF THE DEATH OF A CITY COMMISSIONER AND OTHER NOTABLE FIGURES.
THE JUNE 2022 FINANCIAL UPDATE, THE THIRD QUARTER REPORT FOR PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITY DEPARTMENT.
THE THIRD QUARTER REPORT FOR THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
THE ITEM 13 CARS 14 AND 15 ARE PULLED FOR DISCUSSION UNDER ITEM TEN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. REGAN. IS THERE MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? I SO MOVE. IS THERE SECOND? SECOND. A MOTION AND A SECOND.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
NANCY SIKES-KLINE? YES. JOHN VALDES? YES. BARBARA BLONDER? YES. TRACY UPCHURCH? YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED.
WE ARE ON ITEM 9A1 ORDINANCE 2022 DASH 12.
[9.A.1. Ordinance 2022-12: Amends St. Augustine Police Retirement Trust Fund increasing real estate investments to an allowable 25% of the fund. (R. Thibault, Assistant City Attorney)]
IT'S BEFORE US ON FIRST READING AND IT WOULD AMEND THE ST AUGUSTINE POLICE RETIREMENT TRUST FUND, INCREASING REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS UP TO AN ALLOWABLE 25% OF THE FUND.MS. LOPEZ, ARE YOU HANDLING THAT? I AM. I'LL BE HANDLING ALL FIVE ORDINANCES COMING UP, THOUGH.
THE FIRST ONE IS ORDINANCE 2022-12.
AS YOU STATED, THE POLICE OFFICERS RETIREMENT TRUST FUND BOARD OF TRUSTEES RECOMMENDED TO THE CITY COMMISSION THAT IT AMEND OUR CHARTER TO INCLUDE INVESTMENTS IN REAL ESTATE UP TO THE STATUTORY MAXIMUM, WHICH WOULD BE 25% FROM WHAT IT CURRENTLY IS, 15%.
SO THAT IS THE FIRST ITEM ON YOUR AGENDA FOR FIRST READING AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR I BELIEVE MS. BREIDENSTEIN IS IS BEHIND ME SOMEWHERE.
AND SHE CAN ALSO ADDRESS SOME OF THE FINANCIAL ASPECTS.
SO MY ONLY QUESTION IS JUST TO CONFIRM THAT THIS HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED BY THE FINANCIAL ADVISOR TO THE RETIREMENT FUND AND IT HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED TO THE COMMISSION BY THE TRUSTEES.
THE RETIREMENT FUND? THAT IS CORRECT. THANK YOU.
IS THERE? I'LL SECOND. THANK YOU. IS THERE DISCUSSION? I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CAUTION THAT THE PUBLIC SPEAKER MADE EARLIER, AND ALSO THAT I DO HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT INTERNATIONAL CONGLOMERATES BEING FUNDED THROUGH THIS AND THE OTHER FUNDS SO THAT THERE'D BE SOME MECHANISM OF DETERMINING EXACTLY WHERE THE REAL ESTATE FUNDING WOULD BE GOING SO THAT WE'RE NOT INADVERTENTLY FUNDING THINGS LIKE THE REMOVAL OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING BY INTERNATIONAL CONGLOMERATES.
THANK YOU. FURTHER DISCUSSION, SEEING? NONE. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
I'VE GOT TO READ THE SHORT TITLE.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING PART ONE ARTICLE NINE OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE RELATING TO THE CITY TO THE SAINT AUGUSTINE POLICE OFFICERS RETIREMENT TRUST FUND.
AMENDING SECTION 9.05 2C TO REVISE ALLOWABLE INVESTMENT LIMITS.
[00:25:06]
PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND FURTHER DISCUSSION.
SEEING NONE? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
TRACY UPCHURCH? YES. NANCY SIKES-KLINE? BARBARA BLONDER? YES. JOHN VALDES? YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE ORDINANCE PASSES ON FIRST READING.
MISS LOPEZ, WE ARE NOW ON ORDINANCE 2022-13.
[9.A.2. Ordinance 2022-13: Amends the 1977 City Employees' Retirement System increasing real estate investments to 25% of assets of the system. (R. Thibault, Assistant City Attorney)]
YES, SIR. AND SIMILARLY, THE GENERAL EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT PENSION BOARD, ALSO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES RECOMMENDED THE SAME TYPE OF CHANGE IN THEIR INVESTMENT POLICY, WHICH WOULD BE TO GO FROM A MAXIMUM OF 15% OF REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS TO THE STATUTORY MAXIMUM OF 25%.AND AGAIN, VERY SIMILAR TO THE ORDINANCE YOU JUST HEARD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WOULD MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE ORDINANCE 2022-13 ON FIRST READING THAT IT BE MOVED TO A PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING I'LL SECOND.
ORDINANCE. I'M SORRY, WAS THERE COMMENT? ORDINANCE NUMBER 2022-13 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE CODE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE RELATING TO THE 1977 CITY EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING SECTION 20-124 2C TO REVISE ALLOWABLE INVESTMENT LIMITS, PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CODE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SEEING NONE. MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? TRACY UPCHURCH? YES. NANCY SIKES-KLINE? YES. BARBARA BLONDER? YES. JOHN VALDES? YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
FIRST READING THIS, MS. LOPEZ WE ARE NOW AN ORDINANCE 2022 TO 23.
[9.A.3. Ordinance 2022-23: Regulates and posts idle speed-no wake zones. (R. Thibault, Assistant City Attorney)]
YES, MR. MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, THIS I THINK WE'VE CHATTED ABOUT FOR ROUGHLY A YEAR PLUS REGARDING CREATING IDLE SPEED, NO WASTE ZONES IN CERTAIN PROBLEMATIC AREAS, CURVATURES OF THE TRIBUTARIES ALONG HOSPITAL CREEK AS WELL AS ADJACENT TO A JULIA ISLAND OR BIRD ISLAND, ESPECIALLY DURING LOW TIDE, WHEN THERE'S SORT OF IMPROMPTU ANCHORING AND OTHER RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES OCCURRING IN THAT AREA.AND THE COMMISSION WAS CONCERNED ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY IN THOSE AREAS.
SO THE STATUTE HAS AN INTERESTING DICHOTOMY.
I SUPPOSE THE FIRST STEP WOULD BE FOR THE CITY COMMISSION TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE AND THEN IT IS SENT TO THE FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION FOR THEIR FORMAL APPROVAL BEFORE WE CAN START ENFORCING IT.
I DID WANT TO MENTION A FEW THINGS.
THEY HAD THEIR MEETING, I BELIEVE LAST WEEK.
THE SECOND BIT OF GOOD NEWS IS I DID FORWARD THE DRAFT ORDINANCE TO MR. CARL BLOW, WHICH WE KNOW IS SITS ON ONE OF OUR BOARDS AND IS AN AVID VOTER, VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE AREA, BUT HE'S ALSO THE CHAIR OF THE FLORIDA INLAND NAVIGATION DISTRICT FIND.
SO THE DISTRICT IS NOT UNFORTUNATELY IS NOT MEETING IN AUGUST BUT HE PERSONALLY SUPPORTS THE ORDINANCE AND HAS OFFERED TO CHAT WITH ANY COMMISSIONERS IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. THE ONE THING THAT HE DID ASK ME TO CONVEY TO YOU IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RECORD REFLECTS AND PERHAPS IN YOUR COMMENTS.
I KNOW IT HAS LEADING UP TO THIS POINT, BUT SINCE THE MINUTES WE'LL BE TAKING THIS MEETING THAT THE INTENT OF THIS IS TRULY A PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN, APPARENTLY.
AND I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS, BUT MR. BLOW INFORMED ME AND EDUCATED ME ON THIS, THAT A NUMBER OF JURISDICTIONS GET ESSENTIALLY LOBBIED BY PRIVATE HOMEOWNERS WHO WANT LOW SPEED OR NO IDLE SPEED, NO WAKE ZONES BEHIND THEIR HOMES, ON TO JUST KEEP THINGS QUIET.
AND HE WANTED HIS SUGGESTION WAS THAT THE COMMISSION REALLY MAKE A POINT OF EXPLAINING TO FWC IN YOUR MINUTES AND YOUR COMMENTS THAT THIS REALLY WAS NOT THE MOTIVATING FACTOR OR EVEN THE INCIPIENT REASON WHY WE STARTED LOOKING AT IDLE SPEED ZONES FOR THE BIRD ISLAND AREA AND AROUND HOSPITAL CREEK, THOSE DANGEROUS CURVES.
[00:30:03]
SO OF COURSE, IF THE COMMISSION IS SO INCLINED, IF YOU COULD MAKE THOSE COMMENTS PRIOR TO OUR FIRST READING AND ADOPTION IN YOUR COMMENTS, I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO SORT OF BOLSTER THAT THAT INTENT IN OUR MINUTES.AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE, UNLESS YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.
NO QUESTIONS. COMMISSIONER BLONDER, PLEASE.
AND THEN I WANTED TO REFLECT ON HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE BEEN ON HOSPITAL CREEK, ON THOSE TRIBUTARIES, AND THE NUMBER OF VERY CONCERNING BEHAVIORS I'VE SEEN BY THE VOTING PUBLIC CONCERNING BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUES, I'VE SEEN KAYAKERS THAT ARE RIGHT AT THE CONFLUENCE OF TWO OF THE BENDS AT A BLIND SPOT GET NEARLY SWAMPED BY A SPEEDING BOAT THAT COULDN'T SEE THEM AS THEY CAME AROUND BECAUSE THEY WERE SPEEDING.
AND SO THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO TIME HAD THERE BEEN A CHILD IN ONE OF THOSE BOATS THAT GETS SWAMPED, THEN THAT CHILD COULD REALLY FACE THERE COULD BE SOME TRAGIC INCIDENCES.
AND I HAVE SEEN THIS ON MANY OCCASIONS.
IT'S THE INTERCOASTAL WATERWAY IS RIGHT ADJACENT TO IT.
IT'S DANGEROUS FOR IT TO NOT BE A NO WAKE ZONE.
AND WE HAVE A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO PREVENT A TRAGEDY BEFORE IT HAPPENS.
THAT'S A RARE OPPORTUNITY, USUALLY IN MANY CASES IN GOVERNANCE.
IN THIS CASE, WE'RE GETTING OUT IN FRONT OF THE PROBLEM.
AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT BETTER BEFORE WE HAVE TO.
AND SO I THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON THE SAFETY ISSUES.
THANK YOU. YES, COMMISSIONER VALDEZ.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COMMISSIONER BLONDER FOR RECOGNIZING MY CONTRIBUTIONS.
AND I'D LIKE TO AIR OUT ONE MORE THING.
WE'RE PROTECTING ONE OF THOSE CHERISHED AND HEADED TOWARDS EXTINCTION, FLORIDA MAMMALS.
SO THIS IS A GOOD THING ON MANY LEVELS.
WE'RE REALLY JUST TRYING TO CALM THIS AREA.
EXCUSE ME, MR. MAYOR, COULD WE HAVE ONE OF THOSE PHOTOGRAPHS? THE THIRD ONE IN THE SERIES PROJECTED AFTER THE VICE MAYOR SPEAKS.
OH, YES. I THINK EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID HERE IS GOOD.
IT'S A VERY CONGESTED AREA I'VE WITNESSED BECAUSE I'M A FISHER PERSON.
AND SO OFTENTIMES YOU HAVE JET SKIS, YOU HAVE MOTOR BOATS, YOU HAVE KAYAKERS, YOU HAVE, WELL, NOT SO MUCH SAILING JUST BECAUSE THAT MAKES NO SENSE.
BUT WHAT I WANTED TO NOTE THAT I DIDN'T HEAR BEING NOTED WAS THAT THE BOUNDARIES, THE ACTUAL PERIMETER HERE OR THE AREA OF POTENTIAL EFFECT IS REALLY NOT DOES NOT GO BEYOND WHAT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE.
I MEAN, THIS IS ANY SUMMER AFTERNOON, ANY NICE WEATHER AFTERNOON.
PEOPLE TAKE THEIR FAMILIES OUT THERE.
AND YOU HAVE OTHER VESSELS THAT ARE GOING BY AT FULL SPEED.
AND I THINK THIS PICTURE SPEAKS A THOUSAND WORDS.
ONE OF THOSE YOU KNOW ANY ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE JUST BEING IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME WHEN A BOAT GOES BY AROUND A BLIND CURVE IS WHAT I AM REALLY, REALLY WORRIED ABOUT AND HOPING THIS ORDINANCE WILL HELP US.
OK. I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION AND A SECOND? SO MOVED. WELL, THERE YOU GO.
[00:35:05]
PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND HEARING.AND COMMISSIONER BLONDER SECONDS.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA.
AMENDING THE CODE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, CREATING SECTION SEVEN DASH FOUR REGULATING AND POSTING IDLE SPEED, NO WAKE ZONES, PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CODE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
JOHN VALDES? YES. BARBARA BLONDER? YES. NANCY SIKES-KLINE? YES. TRACY UPCHURCH? YES, THANK YOU. THE ORDINANCE PASSES ON FIRST READING.
MISS LOPEZ WERE ON ORDINANCE 2022-24.
[9.A.4. Ordinance 2022-24: Prohibits smoking in public parks and the Willie Galimore Public Pool at Eddie Vickers Park. (R. Thibault, Assistant City Attorney)]
YES, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, AS YOU KNOW, AT THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THERE WAS AN AMENDMENT TO STATE STATUTE TO NOW OPEN UP THE OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO REGULATE SMOKING IN PUBLIC PARKS THAT THEY OWN AND OPERATE.AND WE SPECIFICALLY CALLED OUT THE PUBLIC POOL DECK AT THE WILLIE GALLIMORE CENTER.
ONE WOULD THINK IT'S INTUITIVE.
YOU SHOULDN'T SMOKE THERE, BUT YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED.
AND SO THAT IS WHAT IS BEFORE YOU TODAY AT FIRST READING.
DISCUSSION? SO QUESTION. AND THIS WOULD ALSO INCLUDE THE COMMUNITY GARDENS, WHICH I ASSUME NO ONE WOULD SMOKE IN, BUT.
NO, I DON'T BELIEVE SO, BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY GARDENS, I DON'T THINK ARE IDENTIFIED AS PUBLIC PARKS.
BUT I CAN FURTHER LOOK INTO THAT BETWEEN NOW AND THE SECOND READING.
AND WHEN YOU REFER TO THE COMMUNITY GARDENS YOU'RE REFERRING TO? THERE'S ONE IN NORTH CITY.
THERE'S AND I BELIEVE THERE'S THE ONE IN LINCOLNVILLE, WHICH I PROUDLY WAS A FOUNDING MEMBER YES.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY MORE THAN JUST THOSE TWO.
WELL, THE LARGEST IS DOWN AT VICKERS PARK.
YES, THEY'RE GOVERNED BY A LICENSE AGREEMENT.
SO WE NEED TO ALSO THINK THAT ONE THROUGH.
SO WE'LL GET BACK ON WITH AN ANSWER.
BUT I DO THINK THERE ON CITY OWNED PROPERTY.
THEY ARE ON CITY OWNED PROPERTY.
YES. PLUS THE ONE IS ON SCHOOL, BUT NOT THE ONE.
CORRECT. I THINK THE ONE IN FULLER WOOD IS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD.
I THINK YOU'LL LOOK INTO THAT ISSUE FOR US.
THERE'S ONE IN LIGHTHOUSE PARK.
I WOULD MOVE THAT ORDINANCE 2022-24, BE READ BY TITLE AND TITLE, ONLY PASSED ON FIRST READING, MOVED TO SECOND READING AND A PUBLIC HEARING. SO YOUR SECOND, I'LL SECOND.
AND MAY I ASK ONE QUESTION, PLEASE.
SO IT'S THE FINE IS $100 FOR VIOLATION, AS I UNDERSTAND IT.
AND WHAT WOULD ACTUALLY BE THE PROCEDURE IF SOMEONE WAS ACTUALLY VAPING OR SMOKING IN THE PUBLIC PARK? WOULD IT BE A TICKET? THEY WOULD GET LIKE A CIVIL CITATION.
THANK YOU. BUT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE SEEN BY A CITY POLICE OFFICER.
THANK YOU, MISS LOPEZ, IF YOU WOULD READ THE TITLE ORDINANCE NUMBER 2022-24, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, CREATING CHAPTER 18, ARTICLE ONE, SECTION 18 DASH NINE OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, PROHIBITING SMOKING AT PUBLIC PARKS AND THE WILLIE GALLIMORE PUBLIC POOL AT EDDIE VICKERS PARK. PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CODE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FURTHER DISCUSSION, SEEING NONE.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
TRACY UPCHURCH? YES. NANCY SIKES-KLINE? YES. BARBARA BLONDER? YES. VALDES.
THE ORDINANCE PASSES ON FIRST READING.
MISS LOPEZ WERE ON ORDNANCE 2022-25.
[9.A.5. Ordinance 2022-25: Prohibits open burning with exceptions for reasonable recreational and cooking burning. (R. Thibault, Assistant City Attorney)]
YES, THIS AS WAS MENTIONED DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, THIS ORDINANCE CREATES SORT OF A MORE DETAILED FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION CODE SECTION IN OUR MUNICIPAL CODE AND WOULD PROHIBIT THINGS LIKE OPEN BURNING OF VEGETATION, DEBRIS AND SO ON.IT ALSO HAS WHAT I WOULD CALL COMMON SENSE REGULATIONS ON WHERE YOU CAN DO CERTAIN BURNING OPERATIONS OR UTILIZE HIBACHI OR OTHER OTHER FIRE OPERATED DEVICES.
FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, I DON'T THINK ANY OF THIS WILL SURPRISE ANYONE.
THEY ARE VERY COMMON SENSE TYPE REGULATIONS.
IT DOESN'T PROHIBIT ANYONE FROM HAVING A FIRE PIT OR A GRILL.
THERE ARE SOME REGULATIONS IN TERMS OF HAVING GRILLS ON BALCONIES, THOUGH.
SO ALL THESE ARE ESSENTIALLY PUBLIC SAFETY TYPE FIRE SAFETY REGULATIONS.
[00:40:06]
I BELIEVE WE HAVE THE FIRE MARSHAL SOMEWHERE BEHIND ME THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS, IF YOU HAVE ANY.MS. LOPEZ, IF YOU COULD JUST HELP US UNDERSTAND THE IMPETUS FOR THIS ORDINANCE, WHERE WAS WHOSE IDEA WAS IT TO BRING IT TO US? WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS OVER THE YEARS, AT LEAST IN THE TEN YEARS PLUS I'VE BEEN HERE OVER TIME, PEOPLE CALLING MY OFFICE OR CALLING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO FIND OUT WHAT THE REGULATIONS ARE FOR HAVING AN ASADO GRILL OR A FIRE PIT.
I BELIEVE THAT THE FIRE MARSHAL MORE RECENTLY HAS BEEN CHATTING WITH FLAGLER COLLEGE ABOUT THE ENHANCEMENTS TO THEIR STUDENT ACTIVITY AREAS, IF I CAN PHRASE IT THAT WAY.
AND THAT WAS THE MORE RECENT IMPETUS.
BUT THERE'S BEEN QUESTIONS OVER TIME AND WE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF THOSE ANSWERS IN OUR CODE.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD COMMON SENSE ORDINANCE.
AND I WOULD JUST ASK ONE QUESTION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY.
IT OCCURS TO ME THAT WHEN WE DO HAVE STORM DEBRIS, THAT PEOPLE MAY BE INCLINED TO WANT TO PILE THAT AND BURN IT INSTEAD OF LETTING IT SIT. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO SPECIFICALLY INCLUDE OR IS IT DO YOU THINK ITS ALREADY INCLUDED WITHIN THE LANGUAGE THAT'S WRITTEN? SO IT WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED AS I READ IT.
AND I KNOW THAT WOULDN'T BE SAFE, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR THE FIRE MARSHALS.
AND WHILE SHE'S COMING UP, IF I CAN ASK, I KNOW WE HAD MR. PAPPAS, I BELIEVE, MENTIONED TO CLARIFYING THE DEFINITIONS THAT WOOD PELLETS WOULD BE ALL RIGHT.
AND I SUPPOSE THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
ABSOLUTELY. YES. AND THE OTHER QUESTION AND THIS MAY BE TO THE FIRE MARSHAL WOULD BE THE, I BELIEVE YOU MENTIONED, PAPER RECYCLABLE PRODUCTS TO BE USED AS STARTER FUEL. AND I DON'T HAVE A SENSE OF THAT, BUT PERHAPS OUR.
WELL, I TOOK SOME COMFORT WHEN YOU SAID COMMON SENSE APPROACH.
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ABBY PEDIGO.
I'M THE FIRE MARSHAL FOR THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.
I WOULD AGREE THAT THE WOODCHIPS AND THAT PAPER COULD PROBABLY BE ADDED TO THE DEFINITION OF FUEL.
I CAN'T SEE ANY SPECIFIC HAZARDS WITH HAVING THOSE.
I HAVE A SMOKER AT HOME AND WE SMOKE AND WE USE THE WOODCHIPS.
AND IT SEEMS PERFECTLY SAFE TO ME FOR THE QUESTION OF THE STORM DEBRIS.
I THINK THAT WOULD FALL UNDER YARD DEBRIS, THE CATEGORY OF YARD DEBRIS.
AND I WOULD JUST STRESS TO RESIDENTS THAT THE CITY WE DO HAVE THESE CITY RESOURCES IN PLACE WHO WILL COME AND PICK UP THAT STORM DEBRIS. SO WHILE IT MAY BE SITTING FOR A LITTLE LONGER THAN USUAL, EVERYBODY'S OUT SITTING FOR LONGER THAN USUAL IN THE CITY WILL BE BY TO PICK THAT UP.
AND WE WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE YOU NOT TO TRY TO BURN THAT ON YOUR OWN.
IN OUR CONGESTED CITY, A LOT OF THE CALLS WE DO GET FOR COMPLAINTS FOR PEOPLE BURNING ARE FOR SMOKE, NUISANCE SMOKE. THAT'S TRAVELING OVER INTO OTHER PEOPLE'S SPACES.
YES, MR. REGAN, I'D ALSO JUST LIKE TO MENTION THAT OUR YARD DEBRIS IS RECYCLED INTO COMPOST AT THE INDIAN HEAD FACILITY WITH OUR BIOSOLIDS SO THAT WE ARE RECYCLING YARD WASTE.
VERY WELL. THANK YOU, FURTHER COMMENTS? IF NOT, I WOULD MOVE THAT ORDINANCE 2022-25 BE READ BY TITLE ONLY THAT WOULD BE PASSED ON FIRST READING THAT IT MOVED TO SECOND READING IN A PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. I HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BLONDER.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, RELATING TO FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION.
ADDING CHAPTER 18, ARTICLE FOUR, SECTION 1876 OF THE CODE PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
TRACY UPCHURCH? YES. BARBARA BLONDER? YES. NANCY SIKES-KLINE? YES. JOHN VALDES? YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE ORDINANCE PASSES ON FIRST READING.
[10.A. City entrance sign project update. (J. Piggott, Director General Services)]
WE ARE NOW ON ITEM 10A CITY ENTRANCE SIGN PROJECT.MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS. JIM PIGGOTT DIRECTOR GENERAL SERVICES.
WE'RE MEETING TOGETHER FOR THE THIRD TIME.
[00:45:01]
WE MET THE FIRST TIME, THE END OF MAY, AND THEN THE SECOND TIME WAS JULY 11TH.TODAY WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR YOU THAT MR. MARQUIS HAS BEEN WORKING ON TO SHOW YOUR RENDITION OF THE SIGN AT US NORTH.
THEN WE HAVE THREE OPTIONS FOR YOU TO CHOOSE FROM AT THE SIGN BY THE ALLIGATOR FARM.
GIVE US A BLESSING TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE SIGN TO US ONE NORTH BY THE CONQUISTADORS.
SO WITH FURTHER ADIEU, I'LL INTRODUCE JEREMY AND HE'LL TAKE YOU THROUGH THE PRESENTATION.
ALL RIGHTY. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COMMISSIONERS.
AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE THIS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO GREET PEOPLE, BOTH RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE, TO THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE. WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH TODAY IS A SLIGHTLY ABBREVIATED VERSION OF WHAT IS LIKELY IN YOUR PACKETS, BUT WE'LL REALLY STAY FOCUSED IN TERMS OF, AGAIN, WHAT THE ROLE OF THE ENTRY SIGNS ARE.
THE TOPICS CONSIDERATION THAT WE TALKED ABOUT BACK IN MAY.
WE LOOKED AT THREE DIFFERENT DESIGNS THAT THERE WAS A GENERAL PREFERENCE THAT WE HEARD FROM THE COMMISSION ABOUT CONSIDERING A BUDGET FRIENDLY MODIFICATION OF THE EXISTING SIGNS, BOTH EDITING THE SIGNS THAT ARE OUT THERE IN TERMS OF DO WE NEED ALL OF THEM AS WELL AS HOW WE COULD POTENTIALLY RESKIN SOME OF THE EXISTING ONES.
WHEN ALL WAS SAID AND DONE, IN TERMS OF THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE HEARD TODAY FROM THE COMMISSION.
THERE'S REALLY TWO REMAINING LOCATIONS.
ONE WOULD BE US ONE NORTH, SPECIFICALLY WHERE THE CONQUISTADORS ARE CLOSE TO RAMBLA STREET, AND THERE POTENTIALLY BE A MODIFICATION OF THAT SAN MARCO LANDSCAPE WHERE THE CURRENT SIGN SITS.
AND THEN THE SECOND ONE DOWN BY THE ALLIGATOR FARM OFF OF A ONE, A ANASTASIA BOULEVARD, THE STATE ROAD 16 EXISTING SIGN WOULD BE ABANDONED AND REMOVED.
AND THEN WE HAD TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT A NEW SIGN ON SEAWARD 16 THAT DID NOT FIT WITHIN THAT BUDGET AS DEFINED BY COMMISSION AT THIS POINT, AS WELL AS THE US ONE SOUTH, WHICH WE UNDERSTAND THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT REMOVING THAT ONE AS WELL.
SO AS WE GO THROUGH THEM AND STAY FOCUSED ON THOSE TWO WITH THE YELLOW CIRCLES, THE US ONE NORTH CONQUISTADOR, SO TO SPEAK, AS WELL AS THE ANASTASIA BOULEVARD OR ALLIGATOR FARM ONE. SO AGAIN, THE MESSAGE AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BACK IN MAY IS TO STAY REALLY FOCUSED, WELCOME BEING THAT KEY WORD, SAINT AUGUSTINE, NATION'S OLDEST CITY AND ESTABLISHED 1565.
AGAIN, JUST MAKING IT VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT THERE IS A DEEP SENSE OF HISTORY HERE IN OUR CITY.
THE BUDGET WE HAD LOOKED AT THAT THE NEW SIGNS WOULD BE ANYWHERE FROM 75000 TO 130000 PER SIGN, BUT THAT THE BUDGET, AS DEFINED BY COMMISSION WAS $150,000 TOTAL.
WE'RE COMING IN AT ABOUT 120 WITH THESE OPTIONS.
SO THIS IS LOOKING AT SIMPLY JUST REPAINTING THE EXISTING SIGNS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
AND SO THIS IS JUST A GENERAL PROTOTYPE.
IF YOU WERE TO TAKE WHAT IS CURRENTLY OUT THERE PUTTING SOME NEW SIGN ELEMENTS AND SAY, WELCOME, SAINT AUGUSTINE, NATION'S OLDEST CITY, 1565, COURSE OF THE CITY SEAL. THIS IS JUST REPAINTING IT WITH THE EXISTING COLOR, ADDING A LITTLE BIT OF LANDSCAPE TO GIVE IT SOME CONTEXT.
THIS IS ONE WHERE WE CAME IN AND ADDED A DARKER COLOR AT THE BASE OF IT, A ZOCALO LINE, AS WE WOULD CALL IT HERE IN THE HISTORIC DOWNTOWN.
AND WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT COLOR OPTIONS THAT ARE PRESENTED TO YOU.
[00:50:06]
INFORMATION CENTER AND THOSE PLAZA AREAS THAT WE COULD CLAD PORTIONS OF THE SUN WITH COCINA.SO I WANTED TO SHOW YOU ALL WHAT SOME OF THESE OPTIONS WOULD LOOK LIKE, BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES TO RECORDING, THIS IS THE ONLY SIGN THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT KEEPING AND RECORDING.
SO THIS WOULD BE HERE CLOSE TO THE ALLIGATOR FARM.
YOU CAN SEE THERE IN THE DISTANCE ON A1A THIS IS TO COME IN AND TO JUST GIVE A NICE NEW COAT OF PAINT AND FINISH ON IT, THE NEW SIGN ELEMENTS AND THEN A LITTLE BIT OF LANDSCAPE AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF IT.
WE'RE USING ALL NATIVE LANDSCAPE, SABLE, PALMETTO, CABBAGE, PALMS WAX, MYRTLE AND SPARTAN GRASS.
THIS IS THE SAME OPTION WITH THAT ZOCALO LINE.
YOU CAN SEE THAT WITH THE ZOCALO AND I THINK IT ADDS SOME SOME WEIGHT AT THE BOTTOM.
BUT I THINK THAT IT'S STILL WITHIN THE SCALE THAT YOU CAN READ AS YOU WERE DRIVING DOWN A1A.
AND THIS IS THE OPTION CLAD WITH THE COQUINA AS KIND OF A BASE AS WELL AS THE TWO CENTER COLUMNS.
AND YOU'LL NOTICE THAT I HAVE THE BUDGETS DOWN THERE.
THAT SIMPLY IS A 15% SPREAD JUST BECAUSE BETWEEN NOW WHAT ACTUALLY GETS UNDER CONSTRUCTION WITH INFLATION, ETC., WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BEING MINDFUL OF THAT BUDGET EARLY ON JUST FOR THE REPAINTING AND A LITTLE BIT OF LANDSCAPE AROUND IT WHERE BETWEEN 31 AND 36,000 FOR THE A1A, A SIGN MOVING OUR ATTENTION TO US.
ONE NORTH. SO NOW WE ARE BY THE CONQUISTADORS.
SO THIS IS THE CURRENT VIEW AS YOU COME DOWN US ONE AND SAINT AUGUSTINE THIS IS ADDING A SIGN PANEL ON ONE SIDE ALONG WITH THE CITY SEALS ON BOTH COLUMNS.
YOU MAY RECALL THAT IN OUR MAY MEETING WE ACTUALLY HAD A SIGN PANEL ON BOTH SIDES.
AS YOU CAN SEE IT, WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING SOUTH ON US ONE, YOU DON'T REALLY LOOK AT THE SIGNS THIS WAY.
THIS IS LOOKING OUT THE REAR VIEW FROM GOING NORTH ON US1.
IF YOU'RE HEADING SOUTH LIKE YOU SEE THERE ON THE RIGHT, THAT'S WHERE WE CAME IN.
ADDED THE SIGN PANELS AS WELL FROM SAINT AUGUSTINE, THE CITY SEAL ON THE COLUMN ITSELF, AND THEN SPARTANBURG, SOME SPINELESS YUCCA KIND OF PLAYING OFF OF THE DEFENSIVE LINES THAT USED TO BE DONE OUT OF LANDSCAPE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE AS WELL AS SOME CABBAGE PALMS. THIS IS ABOUT A 57,000, 65,000 ADDITION.
AND SO IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, WE'RE CERTAINLY HERE TO ANSWER ANY OF THOSE FOR THE COMMISSION.
DID YOU HAVE A LIGHTING? LIGHTING INCLUDED FOR EVENING.
IS THERE. I SAW SOMETHING IN THE PACKAGE, BUT.
RIGHT. THERE'S A $5,000 ALLOWANCE THAT WE HAVE IN BOTH OF THE BUDGETS FOR SOME LIGHTING, BUT THAT WOULD BOTH BE FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS AS WELL AS A LITTLE BIT OF LANDSCAPE LIGHTING.
SO THERE'S LANDSCAPE LIGHTING, BUT SO IT DOES LIGHT THE SIGN SO YOU CAN SEE THE WELCOME AT NIGHT.
YOU ARE CORRECT. THE COMMISSION HAS ALREADY AUTHORIZED THE REMOVAL OF THE SIGN ON US ONE NORTH AT THE FOUNTAIN STATE ROAD 16 AND U.S.
ONE SOUTH. SO WE ARE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE ONE AT ANASTASIA AND THE ALLIGATOR FARM AND THEN WHAT I REFER TO AS THE NEW CITY GATES, THE RENDITION OF THE SIGN AT ANASTASIA ISLANDS, THE FAUX I'M GOING TO CALL THEM FAUX PARAPETS.
YES, SIR. ARE THOSE THERE NOW? YES. OK.
IF THEY'RE THERE NOW, THAT'S FINE.
THEY'RE NOT AS PRONOUNCED ON THIS ONE AS THEY ARE ON SOME OF THE OTHER.
THE INTENT WOULD NOT BE TO ADD THEM.
IT WOULD JUST BE TO KEEP IT AND TO REPAINT.
IF THEY'RE THERE, LET'S KEEP THEM.
IF WE WERE, THEY'RE MUCH LOWER ON ANESTHESIA BOULEVARD THAN THEY ARE, FOR INSTANCE, ON STEROIDS.
COMMISSIONERS. MY SENSE ABOUT THIS WHOLE THING IS HOPEFULLY IN THE RELATIVELY NEAR TERM, THIS SIGN WILL BE REMOVED AS WE MAKE THE ROUNDABOUT AND AND ADDRESS IMPROVEMENTS, NEW FIREHOUSE, ETC..
[00:55:05]
SO I THINK THE SIMPLEST PROPOSAL THAT YOU HAVE WITHOUT THE THE SECOND HALF, THE BOTTOM HALF PAINTED WITH THE LANDSCAPING, I THINK IS A NICE IMPROVEMENT TO WHAT WE HAVE NOW.AND THAT WOULD BE MY PREFERENCE.
I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION I THINK YOU ASKED THIS THE LAST TIME WE HEARD IT INSIDE THE LITTLE TOWERS.
IS THAT A LANTERN? YES, I WOULD AGREE WITH THE MAYOR ON THAT POINT.
AND PLUS, WITH THE REDUCTION IN THE SIZE OF THE TEXT, WITH THE ADDED FEATURES THAT ARE MORE COSTLY, I THINK IT WOULD BENEFIT US TO GO WITH THE FIRST OPTION.
VALDES? WELL, I APPRECIATE THE ENTHUSIASM FOR WANTING TO DO THESE SIGNS.
THEY NEED IT. I APPRECIATE THE ARTWORK, THE RENDERINGS YOU'VE DONE.
AND THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF MONEY.
AND THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY, BUT YOU PUT A BUNCH OF LITTLE BITS OF MONEY TOGETHER.
SO FOR THAT REASON, I GOING PROBABLY VOTE NO ON THIS AND NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY DESIGNS.
AND I APPRECIATE THAT I'M NOT GOING TO TRY TO DISSUADE YOU FROM THAT.
WE'RE CALLED UPON TO PRIORITIZE, TO BALANCE PRIORITIES ALL THE TIME.
AND THIS SEEMS TO ME MONEY WELL SPENT.
I'M HAVING TROUBLE TRACKING THE TOTAL COST OF WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING.
I'M LOOKING AT SIGN THREE UNDER OUR DESK.
WELL, I DON'T THINK IT WAS. YES, MA'AM.
OKAY. AND I AM ON PAGE SEVEN OF EIGHT.
I THINK I'M ASKING FOR THE NEW GATEWAY SIGNS AS WELL, LIKE THE WHOLE PACKAGE OF ARE WE TALKING ABOUT ONE, TWO OR THREE SIGNS? I'M HAVING TROUBLE TALKING ABOUT TWO SIGNS.
WHAT IS THE TOTAL COST FOR BOTH OF THOSE SIGNS? MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM.
LET ME BACK INTO THAT QUICKLY HERE.
THE MINIMUM, WHICH WOULD BE FOR THE US ONE CONQUISTADORS.
THAT PORTION THAT YOU SEE IN THE IMAGE RIGHT HERE.
FOR THE ONE SIGN? I APOLOGIZE.
SO THE ONE SIGN AT THE ALLIGATOR FARM YOUR LOW SIDE OF THE OPINION OF PROBABLE COST IS $31,570.
SO IF WE WENT IN WITH THE CLOUD COQUINA, THAT WOULD TAKE US UP BETWEEN 48 AND 55,000.
IT'S ABOUT 12,000 SWING TO ADD THE COCONUT.
OKAY. BUT THAT'S THAT'S NOT THE CONSENSUS.
SO THE FIRST ONE, THAT RANGE IS BETWEEN 31,570 AND 36,305.
SO LET'S GO WITH THE 31,570 PLUS THE.
WELL, WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THE OTHER ONE YET.
OKAY. SO DO WE HAVE A CONSENSUS, AT LEAST THAT OF THE DESIGNS? THAT IS THE DESIGN WE LIKE BEST? YES. OKAY. SO LET'S NOW LOOK AT THE NEW CITY GATES.
I HATE TO BE PERSNICKETY, BUT THIS PROPOSAL DOESN'T DO MUCH FOR ME.
AND I'M PREPARED TO LET THIS SIT FALLOW FOR ANOTHER COMMISSION TO ADDRESS
[01:00:09]
THE SIGN ON THE WEST SIDE DOES.WE'RE LOOKING AT THE CONQUISTADORS.
YEAH, THAT WAS IN OUR PACKAGE.
I AM TOO. SO WE'RE ONLY DISCUSSING THE OUTER GATE? YES. AND CONQUISTADORS, NOT THE TRIANGLE.
RIGHT. SO THAT'S IN MY PACKAGE.
AND WE VOTED FOR. SO I FEEL SIMILAR TO YOU ABOUT THE CONCRETE PIECE, THE DOOR, THE OUTWARD THAT IT DOESN'T.
THAT'S. I JUST THINK THERE'S A BETTER SOLUTION.
AND I'M DRIVING BY IT, GOING SOUTH.
I'M NOT THRILLED WITH THE AMOUNT OF SIGNAGE THAT'S IN THE RIGHT OF WAY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW ALL THAT IS IT.
AND I WONDER IF MAYBE WE CAN TALK TO THE DOT, IF WE MAYBE THE CITY MANAGER WOULD ADDRESS THAT WITH THE DOT AND SEE ARE THOSE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY? BECAUSE IT CERTAINLY IS NOT HELPING WITH THAT.
THANK YOU. AND WHILE WE'RE ON THIS TOPIC, BECAUSE IT'S A SORE POINT WITH ME, WE HAVE SIX DO NOT ENTER SIGNS INTO THE PARKING LOT AT THE WATERWORKS.
TRAFFIC DIRECTION BY A BARRIER.
AND I'VE ASKED MR. FRANKLIN, MR. REGAN TO LOOK AT THOSE.
THOSE, MR. MARCUS, ARE NOT YOUR ISSUE TODAY.
SO BUT I I'D LOVE TO ELIMINATE SIGNAGE WHENEVER WE CAN.
SO, COMMISSIONERS, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I'M HAPPY TO MOVE APPROVAL OF THE ANASTASIA BOULEVARD ALLIGATOR FARM SIGN AT THE 31,000 FIGURE WITHOUT THE JUST THE GENERIC, IF YOU WOULD, WITHOUT THE BORDER STRIKE. THAT WOULD BE MY MOTION.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
THANK YOU. FURTHER DISCUSSION.
I HAVE TO SAY THAT I JUST DOWNLOADED AGAIN THE ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THE AGENDA AND THE PACKET, WHICH IS WHAT I RELY ON. AND NONE OF THIS MATERIAL WAS IN THAT AND STILL ISN'T RIGHT NOW UNLESS I'M DOING SOMETHING WRONG.
SO I ACTUALLY DID NOT GET TO SEE THIS AHEAD OF THE MEETING.
AND THEN WE GOT THIS ON THE TABLE WHEN WE GOT HERE AND I HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO STUDY IT AND THE WAY I LIKE TO AND IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S ADDITIONAL SIGNAGE IN HERE THAT WE'VE ALREADY REJECTED.
AND I'M SORRY THAT THE PRESENTATION WAS NOT IN THE ELECTRONIC VERSION.
IT IS THAT THE PUBLIC DOESN'T HAVE IT EITHER.
THE ONLY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WE WERE PRESENTED THIS EVENING WAS THE OPINION OF PROBABLE COST.
I THINK THAT'S EASIEST ENOUGH FOR US TO DISCARD IT.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
IF WE VOTE IN IT'S A TIE THEN THE APPROPRIATE.
I WOULD THEN MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE TO THE NEXT MEETING.
IN DEFERENCE TO COMMISSIONER BLONDER.
WITH REGARD TO THE TABLING, IF YES NO, I WOULD TABLE BEFORE WE ASK YOU TO VOTE.
I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. SURE.
SO I'D MAKE A MOTION THAT WE TABLE FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, AYE.
[01:05:02]
MR. REGAN, WE WOULD WANT THIS BACK.WE WOULD WANT THE PRESENTATION CLEARED UP AND JUST TO THE BARE MINIMUM THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING AND THE PROBABLE COST INFORMATION INCLUDED.
AND WE'LL ALSO FOLLOW UP ON WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ELECTRONIC VERSION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.
WE ARE NOW ON THE THREE ITEMS THAT I ASKED TO BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
MR. MAYOR, WE SAW THE FOUNTAIN.
I'M SORRY. WE'RE ON THE FOUNTAIN.
[10.B. City Hall/Lightner fountain update. (J. Piggott, Director General Services)]
YES. JIM PIGGOTT GENERAL DIRECTOR GENERAL SERVICES.I WANT TO BRING BACK TO YOU THE FOUNTAIN THAT'S IN FRONT OF CITY HALL.
IF YOU RECALL WHEN SHE WAS HERE, COMMISSIONER HORVATH BROUGHT BEFORE YOU A QUOTE OF $22,000 FOR A COMPANY TO COME IN, GRAB THE FOUNTAIN, REFURBISH IT, AND THEN BRING IT BACK AND SET IT BACK UP AGAIN.
AND WE JUST WANTED TO VALIDATE THAT COST FOR YOU.
WE CONTACTED SEVEN ADDITIONAL COMPANIES OF NONE OF WHICH WOULD WANT TO DO THAT WORK OR COULD DO THAT WORK BECAUSE THEY DON'T DO WORK HERE. WE CONTACTED THE COMPANY AS FAR AS ORLANDO.
WE DID FIND OUT THAT THERE WAS TWO COMPANIES THAT WE CONTACTED THAT SAID WE DON'T DO THAT TYPE OF WORK, BUT WE CAN SELL YOU ANOTHER ONE FOR 60 TO 64000 OR 55 TO 75000.
SO THAT VALIDATED A $22,000 COST.
WE ALSO FOUND A VERY I WON'T SAY SIMILAR, BUT LIKE TYPE FOUNTAIN ON EBAY FOR $15,000.
SO IF WE GO THAT DIRECTION, WE CAN PROBABLY FIND ONE MUCH CHEAPER, LIKE THE ONE WE FOUND.
BUT I JUST WANT TO VALIDATE TO YOU THAT THE $22,000 THAT COMMISSIONER HORVATH FOUND SEEMED TO BE A VERY REASONABLE COST FOR WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO FIND OUT. I THOUGHT WE'D ALREADY APPROVED IT, SO I'M HAPPY TO MAKE ANOTHER MOTION TO APPROVE IT.
I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE REWORK OF THE FOUNTAIN IN FRONT OF CITY HALL AT THE 22,000 PRICE.
I HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND, FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE ALL IN FAVOR.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
I'VE BEEN A LITTLE DISJOINTED THIS EVENING.
[Items CA.13. - CA.15.]
I PULLED THESE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION THAT I SAW IN THE PACKET AS TO ANY CHANGES FROM OUR EXISTING AGREEMENT. AND I THINK MS. BREIDENSTEIN OR MR. REGAN IS GOING TO ADMONISH US THAT THIS IS A NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT, AND SO I'LL WAIT FOR THE ADMONISHMENT.I DON'T KNOW IF I'D CALL THAT.
I THINK IT'S I APPRECIATE YOUR PULLING THEM SO THAT WE CAN GO THROUGH.
AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT ARE IN THE TWO CONTRACTS? IT IS A NEGOTIATED PROCESS STARTED MONTHS AGO WITH MY LISTENING SESSIONS WITH EMPLOYEES, AND THEN OUR NEGOTIATING TEAM, LED BY MS. BREIDENSTEIN AND MS. HAYES, HAD MULTIPLE MEETINGS SO WE CAN GET INTO THAT.
THE UNIONS HAVE APPROVED THE AGREEMENT.
SO IT'S REALLY TONIGHT IS A RATIFICATION.
IT'S AN UP OR DOWN OR GO BACK INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
ANY CHANGE TO THE CONTRACT WOULD REQUIRE GOING BACK TO THE UNION.
AND SO MS. BREIDENSTEIN WILL GO THROUGH THE CHANGES CONTRACT BY CONTRACT.
THE FIRST ITEM IS THE RATIFICATION OF THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT FOR THE FLORIDA CARPENTERS REGIONAL COUNCIL LOCAL 2038. WE CALL THAT THE INDUSTRIAL UNION.
SO WHEN I REFER TO INDUSTRIAL UNION, THAT'S WHAT I'M SPEAKING OF.
THAT'S THE FIRST ITEM THAT YOU SEE ON THE AGENDA.
AFTER MEETING WITH EMPLOYEES ACROSS THE CITY AND THE UNION NEGOTIATING TEAM, CITY STAFF FEELS LIKE THESE CHANGES TO THE CONTRACTOR AND THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CITY AND THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR INDUSTRIAL UNION MEMBERS.
SOME CHANGES. I'LL HIGHLIGHT THE CHANGES.
[01:10:01]
THERE WERE CHANGES MADE TO 14 OF THE 29 ARTICLES.SIX OF THESE WERE CHANGED TO BRING DETAILS ONLINE WITH OTHER UNIONS AND THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
AND THOSE INCLUDE ADDING JUNETEENTH AS A HOLIDAY, MOVING THE TRIAL PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT FROM 60 DAYS TO SIX MONTHS, ADDING MORE FLEXIBILITY WITH VACATION USAGE AFTER HIRE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT QUITE SO LONG TO USE IT.
FIVE OF THE CHANGES OF THOSE 14 WERE FOR GRAMMATICAL, CLARIFYING OR OTHER CLEAN UP OF LANGUAGE.
THREE OF THE ARTICLES CHANGED ARE SPECIFICALLY FOR THE INDUSTRIAL UNION, AND THOSE ARE A COMMITMENT TO AN 8% GENERAL WAGE INCREASE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023 ONLY AND ADDITIONAL STEPS FOR OBTAINING CERTAIN LICENSES THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO THESE PROFESSIONS AND INCREASE TO ON CALL PAY, WHICH MEANS SOMEONE IS REQUIRED TO BE HOME BUT TO BE AVAILABLE IF SOMETHING IF THEY ARE NEEDED TO BE CALLED IN.
AND AN INCREASE TO OVERTIME PAY WHEN CALLED IN ON CERTAIN HOLIDAYS.
THAT'S THE SUMMARY OF THE INDUSTRIAL UNION CONTRACT.
YES, LET'S DO IT ONE AT A TIME.
HOW MANY EMPLOYEES DO WE HAVE THAT ARE COVERED BY THIS? APPROXIMATELY. ABOUT 75 QUESTIONS.
COMMENTS. I WOULD MOVE THAT WE RATIFY THE.
INDUSTRIAL UNION CONTRACT WITH THE FLORIDA CARPENTERS REGIONAL COUNCIL LOCAL 2038.
MOTION AND SECOND FURTHER DISCUSSION.
SEEING NONE MADAM CLERK, IF YOU WOULD CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE.
NANCY SIKES-KLINE? YES. BARBARA BLONDER? YES. VALDES? YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SO NOW WE'RE ON THE AGREEMENT WITH THE COASTAL FLORIDA POLICE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION.
YES. AND THAT ONE WE CALL THE POLICE UNION.
SO I'LL USE A SHORTENED TITLE ON THAT ONE AS WELL.
AND SIMILAR TO THE FIRST ONE, THESE NEGOTIATIONS TOOK PLACE OVER THREE MONTHS, WITH ALL SESSIONS BEING POSTED AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AGAIN AFTER MEETING WITH THE CITY, THE NEGOTIATING TEAM, CITY STAFF.
CHANGES WERE MADE TO 13 OF THE 34 ARTICLES IN THIS CONTRACT CONTRACT.
FOUR OF THESE ARTICLES WERE CHANGED TO BRING DETAILS IN LINE WITH OTHER UNIONS THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
THOSE INCLUDE ADDING JUNETEENTH AS A HOLIDAY, ADDING MORE FLEXIBILITY WITH VACATION ACCRUALS OVER TIME, AND CREATING A PENALTY ON VACATION AND SICK LEAVE PAYOUT IF A TWO WEEK NOTICE IS NOT GIVEN.
SIX OF THESE WERE GRAMMATICAL CLARIFICATION AND OTHER CLEAN UP OF LANGUAGE.
ONLY ADDITIONAL STEPS FOR OBTAINING A MASTER'S DEGREE OR CHANGE OF STEPS FOR THOSE TRANSFERRING FROM INVESTIGATIONS AND INCENTIVE PAY ADDED FOR CERTAIN SPECIAL TEAMS. THAT'S ALL.
ONE ARTICLE ADDING THE TERM HEALTH PANDEMIC AS A CIVIL EMERGENCY CONDITION.
AN INCREASE REQUIREMENTS FOR EDUCATION REIMBURSEMENT.
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? I'M HAPPY TO MOVE THAT WE RATIFY THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND COASTAL FLORIDA POLICE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION IS THERE? I'LL SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND.
SEEING NONE. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
THANK YOU. IT'S RATIFIED AND NOW WE'RE ON THE AGREEMENT WITH THE PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS.
YES, THE FIREFIGHTER UNION CONTRACT WAS NOT EXPIRED YET, SO IT IS STILL IN EFFECT.
SO THIS IS A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING IN FRONT OF YOU.
IT HAS BEEN VOTED ON BY THE MEMBERS.
IT HAS OR HAS NOT? IT HAS. THANK YOU.
I WOULD MOVE APPROVAL OF THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.
I'LL SECOND. FURTHER DISCUSSION.
SEEING NONE. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
[01:15:03]
TRACY UPCHURCH? YES.NANCY SIKES-KLINE? YES. BARBARA BLONDER ?YES.
MR. LOPEZ. ANY THING? I HAVE NOTHING, SIR.
[12.A. Notification of three (3) upcoming term expirations on the Planning and Zoning Board (PZB). (D. Galambos, City Clerk)]
WE WILL ACTUALLY HAVE ONE TERM EXPIRATION AND TWO TERM VACANCIES.SO WE WILL HAVE TWO OPEN POSITIONS.
AND THIS JUST IS THE BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS FOR ADVERTISING FOR APPLICATIONS.
WE'LL BRING THE APPLICANT APPLICATIONS BACK TO YOU IN SEPTEMBER.
A QUESTION FOR THE CITY CLERK.
WE'VE HAD SEVERAL OPENINGS OVER THE PAST YEAR OR TWO ON THE PCB, AND NOT EVERYBODY WAS CHOSEN, OBVIOUSLY, FOR THE LIMITED NUMBER OF SEATS. WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO CONTACT THOSE WHO ARE QUALIFIED THAT HAVE APPLIED IN THE PAST TO SEE IF THEY ARE STILL INTERESTED? THEY MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT.
WE WILL SEND THOSE LETTERS OUT.
HISTORIC ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD.
GIVEN THE THE VERY SPECIFIC QUALIFICATIONS, YOU GUYS HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE LATITUDE TO APPOINT SOMEBODY OUTSIDE OF THE CITY.
THANK YOU. MR. REGAN? I HAVE NOTHING. WELL, LOOK AT YOU, COMMISSIONER VALDEZ?
[14. ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS]
I HAVE NOTHING. COMMISSIONER BLONDER? I HAVE TWO SHORT COMMENTS.THE FIRST IS TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY DID CAPTURE A CONVERSATION THAT SHE AND I HAD REGARDING THE UNREGULATED SUBSTANCE KRATOM THAT I BROUGHT TO EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION.
AND I JUST WANTED TO EXPLAIN THAT I'VE LEARNED SINCE THEN THAT IT IS WIDELY AVAILABLE ONLINE AT EVERY VAPE SHOP IN THE STATE AND WOULD BE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE.
SO I AM WITHDRAWING MY REQUEST TO THE STAFF ON THAT ONE.
AND THEN SECONDLY, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HELD A TRAINING AT CATALINA'S LAST WEEK AND I WENT TO IT AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF TEACHERS AND OTHER SCHOOL BOARD ADMINISTRATORS.
I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE TRAINING LEVEL OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE RESPONSES, THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE BEING ASKED AND THE ANSWERS THAT WERE BEING GIVEN BY THE TRAINING STAFF.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU AND I APPRECIATE YOU GOING AND OBSERVING THAT.
VICE MAYOR SIKES-KLINE? SO JUST A COUPLE OF SHORT THINGS.
SO I HAD I JUST WANTED TO REMIND YOU I'M SORRY THAT COMMISSIONER HORVATH ISN'T HERE, BUT AS WE APPROACH THE BUDGET, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ANY ITEMS THAT ARE ON YOUR LIST THAT YOU THINK THAT NEED TO BE PUT INTO THE BUDGET.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU GO AHEAD BEFORE THE BUDGETS FORM TO BRING THOSE ITEMS FORWARD TO STAFF.
AND THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT I HAD REMINDED YOU OF BEFORE EARLIER.
AND THAT VAIN, I WAS GOING TO BRING UP THE ZORA NEALE HURSTON PARK IDEA.
I'VE TALKED TO STAFF AND KIND OF THOUGHT ABOUT IT WHEN WE BOUGHT THE YEARS AGO WHEN THE CAR WASH WAS PURCHASED ON THAT PROPERTY AND THAT WAS JUST MADE VACANT, LAND WAS DEMOLISHED AND TORN DOWN AND IT WAS A GREAT IMPROVEMENT TO THAT INTERSECTION.
I THINK THAT AND THEN WE NAMED IT ZORA NEALE HURSTON PARK, BUT IT HAS IT DOESN'T REALLY HAVE IT'S SORT OF JUST BEEN PLANTED OVER TIME. IT LOOKS LOVELY RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT HAS THE PEANUT PEANUT GRASS AND THE LITTLE YELLOW BLOOMS AND THINGS.
BUT WE'VE NEVER REALLY I THINK MISS KALAIDI HAS BROUGHT THIS UP.
BUT SO I WAS GOING TO BRING THAT UP AND ASK FOR YOU YOUR AGREEMENT TO PUT A PROPOSAL TO HEAR A PROPOSAL ABOUT ZORA NEALE HURSTON PARK IMPROVEMENTS.
BUT THEN WHEN COMMISSIONER VALDES BROUGHT UP THE HOMELESSNESS AND NOT REALLY WANTING TO GO DEEPER INTO SPENDERS ON ESTHETICS AND SENSE OF ARRIVAL ISSUES, IT MADE ME REMEMBER THAT THE CITY MANAGER HAD, WHICH I AGREE IN PRINCIPLE, THAT WE
[01:20:03]
DO NEED TO CONTINUE TO ADDRESS.WE HAVE BEEN ADDRESSING THE HOMELESS, WE'VE BEEN FACT FINDING, WE'VE BEEN HEARING FROM DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND IT'S CERTAINLY A TOPIC IN THE COMMUNITY THAT I HEAR THE VERY HIGH PRIORITY IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO BUT WE HAVE BEEN PROMISED A COMPREHENSIVE HOMELESS PLAN FROM CITY STAFF AND I WOULD LIKE VERY MUCH TO HEAR THAT VERY AT A NEXT MEETING OR AS SOON AS YOU CAN POSSIBLY BRING US MORE INFORMATION.
SO BUT I WANTED TO ASK YOU, IS THERE DO YOU HAVE SPECIFIC IDEAS OR ARE THERE THINGS THAT YOU'RE THINKING OR DO YOU HAVE DO YOU HAVE INPUT ON THAT? BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
WE DON'T REALLY GET TO TALK TO EACH OTHER.
EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE HEARD ABOUT ADDRESSING THE HOMELESS.
NOT JUST HERE, BUT NEIGHBORS, THE CITY HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS TOTAL SUCCESS WITH THIS.
IT'S ONE OF THESE THINGS YOU'LL NEVER GET AHEAD OF UNTIL OUR SOCIETY CHANGES IT WHOLE, AND OUR MORAL ATTITUDE TOWARDS HELPING PEOPLE THAT NEED HELP CHANGE IS THE BEST OF NATIONAL CONVERSATION AND WORLD CONVERSATION.
SOMEDAY IT HAS TO BE HAD OR NOT.
BUT IT ALL COMES BACK TO ONE CENTRAL THING.
YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A PLACE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE STREET WHO ARE HOMELESS CAN GET HELP.
WE HAVE THE SAINT FRANCIS HOUSE.
THAT'S A VERY SMALL EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE NEED IN A MUCH LARGER WAY.
NOW, I KNOW WE'LL BE GETTING A REPORT ON KEY WEST SHORTLY.
I UNDERSTAND THEY HAVE 60 BEDS WAS AT THEIR JOB, 100 AND 160 BEDS.
THEY ALSO HAVE A THEY DON'T SEEM TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH PANHANDLING.
SOMEHOW THEY'RE APPLYING THEIR PANHANDLING ORDINANCES IN A MUCH BROADER WAY.
MAYBE THEY'RE PUSHING THE ENVELOPE.
MAYBE WE NEED TO PUSH THE ENVELOPE.
IN SOME PLACES, IT'S A COMBINATION OF A CARROT AND STICK THING, AND EVERYTHING DOESN'T WORK FOR EVERY PERSON THAT'S HOMELESS BECAUSE THERE'S SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOMELESS OUT THERE. THERE'S THE ECONOMIC HOMELESS WHERE THIS FACILITY WILL GREATLY HELP THESE PEOPLE.
THERE'S PLENTY OF JOBS, BUT THEY HAVE TO BE PRESENTABLE FOR THE JOB.
WE HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF THAT IN THIS PARK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ON THE CORNER OF KING STREET AND US.
BUT HE'S BECOME A FIXTURE THERE NOW.
IT'S THAT SIMPLE. THESE ARE ALL DIFFERENT APPROACHES.
BUT HAVING SAID THAT, THE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE HERE IS FINDING THE MONEY, FINDING THE PLACE, INVESTING THE MONEY, AND DOING IT SUCH A WAY THAT WE CAN CREATE BEDS, A FACILITY THAT WE CAN TAKE, PEOPLE WHO WANT A BREAK AND GIVE THEM A BREAK.
AND THAT IS THE REASON I KEEP COMING BACK TO THE DOLLARS AND CENTS.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE PUTTING LIPSTICK ON A PIG.
WE HAVE A PIG HERE RIGHT NOW, AND THE PIG IS OUR HOMELESS SITUATION.
AND I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
AND I'M I WOULD LOVE TO BE EDUCATED IF I'M WRONG ABOUT THIS.
BUT MY SENSE IS THAT THOSE THAT WANT HELP, THAT THERE IS A MYRIAD OF SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR THOSE FOLKS, CERTAINLY WOMEN, CERTAINLY WOMEN WITH CHILDREN, BUT I THINK FOR MANY MEN AS WELL.
I THINK IT'S MORE OF A VAGRANCY ISSUE AND TO SOME DEGREE IS A PANHANDLING ISSUE.
AND I DO BELIEVE THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO BECOME MORE AGGRESSIVE AND PERHAPS WE NEED TO TO PUSH THE ENVELOPE AND OUR EXISTING ORDINANCE OR WHAT WE CAN GLEAN FROM OTHER CITIES.
I KNOW THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS HAD FRUSTRATION WITH THE JUDICIAL REMEDIES THAT THAT THEY SEEK WHEN THEY ARE SITING THESE PEOPLE, ARRESTING THESE PEOPLE, AND SOME SOME FRUSTRATION WITH THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT FROM THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
AND THAT'S A PIECE OF IT AS WELL.
[01:25:02]
CORRECTED IF I'M WRONG IS THAT THERE ARE SERVICES THERE ARE RESOURCES FOR THOSE THAT ARE WILLING TO, NUMBER ONE, WHO DESIRE AND ARE WILLING TO TO ENGAGE WITH THAT PROCESS.I THINK THAT'S VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT HOME INSTEAD IS DOING OR HOME AGAIN.
AND SO I'M ANXIOUS TO HEAR OFFICER FISHER, WHO IS OUR LIAISON, DID GO TO KEY WEST.
THE CITY MANAGER WAS UNABLE TO GO.
AND SO I'M VERY ANXIOUS TO TO HEAR HIM.
AND I RESPECT HIS HIS VIEWPOINT VERY MUCH BECAUSE OF HIS HAND ON EXPERIENCE.
AND I THINK, TOO, THAT WE NEED TO GET THE COUNTY INVOLVED.
I MEAN, WE CAN'T SHOULDER THIS ALL ON OUR OWN.
AND WE NEED TO FIND SOME STRATEGIES.
I THINK THIS WOULD BE A GREAT WORKSHOP COMING UP AGAIN SOON.
AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE THE LEAD ON THAT, MR. REGAN, AS TO WHETHER WE HAVE ENOUGH SUBSTANCE THAT WARRANTS A WORKSHOP.
MR. MAYOR. SO THANK YOU FOR POINTING OUT THE KEY WEST TRIP.
I WAS NOT ABLE TO GO BECAUSE OF COVID, BUT OFFICER FISHER AND I DID A DEBRIEFING AND THEN WE GENERATED A SERIES OF ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR KEY WEST THAT ARE THAT HE HAS GONE BACK AND CONTACTED THEM.
WE COULD DO IT ON THE 8TH OF AUGUST.
I WILL NOT BE HERE, BUT THAT'S OKAY.
OR WE CAN JUST WAIT FOR THE SECOND MEETING IN AUGUST SO THAT YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THE BUILD.
AND THEN WE HAVE TWO OTHER CITIES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE BENCHMARKING AS WELL TO COMPARE, ULTIMATELY CULMINATING IN A STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WE THINK WOULD BE THE RIGHT PLAN FOR SAINT AUGUSTINE.
THE SHORT ANSWER ABOUT THE KEY WEST TRIP IS THAT IT AFFIRMED FOR US THE IMPORTANCE AND THE ROLE OF WHAT IS CALLED A LOW BARRIER TO ENTRY FACILITY.
AND WHAT THAT DOES EXACTLY AS COMMISSIONER VALDES DESCRIBED, IT'S A CRITICAL PART OF OF BASICALLY DEALING WITH WHAT YOU'RE CALLING VAGRANCY.
WE CAN GET WE'LL GET INTO MORE DETAIL LATER.
AND THEN IT APPEARS AND THIS WAS WHERE WE WENT BACK WITH ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
FROM A POLICE ENFORCEMENT POINT OF VIEW, THE KEY WEST DOES HAVE A BROADER ORDINANCE.
THEY PROHIBITED PANHANDLING IN PARKS.
AND IT'S JUST A BIGGER IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT APPROACH.
SO WE NEED TO BRING LEGAL UP AND DO SOME INTERNAL WORK WITHIN STAFF.
IT WAS A VERY, VERY VALUABLE TRIP.
SO. AND WHAT'S GOOD TO KNOW ABOUT KEY WEST IS THEY'RE INVESTING MORE DEEPLY IN THEIR STRATEGIC PLAN IN TERMS OF REPLACING THEIR CURRENT FACILITY.
BUT I THINK VICE MAYOR SIKES-KLINE REALLY BRINGS UP THE POINT.
WE'VE GOT TO KEEP IT ON THE BURNER BY GIVING YOU INTERMEDIATE PROGRESS REPORTS UNTIL IT CULMINATES IN A WORKSHOP AND A VERY SPECIFIC STRATEGIC APPROACH AND WHAT IT WOULD COST AND FINANCE IT.
AND MAYBE WE'RE GOING TO PUT IT.
I AM VERY INTERESTED IN HEARING MORE ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WAY KEY WEST APPROACHES THEIR ORDINANCE ON PANHANDLING AND HOW WE APPROACH IT, AND WHAT, FOLLOWING UP ON WHAT THE MAYOR SAID ABOUT PERHAPS WE NEED TO MODIFY OUR ORDINANCE AND TAKE MORE RISKS.
WE DID. WE EXPECTED A LAWSUIT WHEN WE ESTABLISHED THE ZONES, BUT WE NEVER HAVE HAD ONE.
AS FAR AS I AM, I CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
AND THAT WAS AN INTENTIONAL STRATEGY.
RIGHT? THE ENTIRE THING WAS VERY INTENTIONAL.
THIS IS THE BURDEN THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO OVERCOME.
SO IT WAS QUITE INTENTIONAL IN TERMS OF REALLY HAVING A PRUDENT APPROACH.
BUT WE CERTAINLY CAN LOOK AT OTHER, OTHER WAYS AND OTHER CITIES THEIR APPROACHES AS WELL.
WE'RE ALL BOUND BY THE SAME CASE LAW, BUT DIFFERENT PLACES MAY HAVE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT STRATEGIES.
[01:30:09]
SUBSTANTIAL LOITERING, ESSENTIALLY VAGRANCY AND PANHANDLING, BECAUSE THESE FOLKS HAD A PLACE TO GO DURING THE DAY.CORRECT. THEY HAD A PLACE TO GO WITH THEIR STUFF.
SO I GUESS MAYBE CONCEPTUALLY I'M UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT IS FAIR, PROBABLY.
I THINK WE OUGHT TO BE CAREFUL BEFORE WE START SAYING IT'S MORE EFFECTIVE.
THEY HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT APPROACH.
I CAN CERTAINLY ANALYZE THE KEY WEST ORDINANCE AND SEE HOW IT'S DIFFERENT.
OBVIOUSLY, OUR LAYOUT IS PHYSICALLY DIFFERENT THAN KEY WEST, SO WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT ANALYSIS.
I THINK THAT'S GREAT. AND MR. REGAN, ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS SOME SENSE OF THE VOLUME OF ARRESTS, THE NATURE OF ARRESTS, CITATIONS, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ASPECT.
WHAT WHAT DOES THAT LOOK? WHAT IS WHAT TYPE OF PENALTIES ARE BEING IMPOSED BY THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM? BECAUSE WE CAN HAVE THE BEST ORDINANCE IN THE WORLD.
BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT SUPPORT AND THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM, THEN WE DON'T HAVE A COMPLETE SOLUTION.
THEY DO HAVE A GATHERING IN A NATIONAL PARK AT FORT JEFFERSON, WHERE MANY PEOPLE BUY AN ANNUAL PASS.
BUT HE ALSO HAD AN INTERESTING REPORT AND THAT HE DESCRIBED THE KEY US PROBLEM AS AN INVERSE OF SAINT AUGUSTINE IN THAT KEY WEST DOESN'T HAVE, ACCORDING TO OFFICER FISHER, NEAR THE WRAPAROUND SUPPORT SERVICES THAT CAN BE AVAILABLE FOR THE HOMELESS THAT WE HAVE HERE.
AND HE DESCRIBED IT AS THEY HAVE MUCH MORE SPACE AND COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE NOT ONLY THE LOW BARRIER TO ENTRY FACILITY, BUT ALSO TRANSITION HOUSING, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING ON A FORMER MILITARY PROPERTY.
AND I FOUND THAT A VERY INTERESTING OBSERVATION TO HEAR OFFICER FISHER DESCRIBING THIS RELATIVELY TINY ISLAND AS HAVING MORE SPACE TO IMPLEMENT THE COMPONENTS OF A HOMELESS STRATEGY.
I MEAN, WE HAVE A PRETTY BIG COUNTY.
SURE. SO BUT THAT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT OF AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF WHAT OFFICER FISHER REPORTED.
BUT YOU'LL BE HEARING DIRECTLY FROM HIM.
AND THE GOOD NEWS IS HE'S ALSO BACK OUT ON THE STREET.
AND AGAIN, I'M MUCH LESS CONCERNED ABOUT CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED PANHANDLING THAN I AM VAGRANCY, LITERALLY. THE LOITERING, THE CAMPING, THE SLEEPING ON THE STREETS, IN PUBLIC SPACES.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE GET MANY OF THE HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES.
BUT I APPRECIATE YOU SLOWING US DOWN THIS EVENING TO DISCUSS THAT.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING FURTHER? I DO NOT. THANK YOU.
AND I HAVE NOTHING FURTHER EITHER.
WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.