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[1. Call to Order.]
WE HAVE A QUORUM. IF I CAN JUST TAKE A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.I HAD A GRANDSON BORN THIS MORNING AT ABOUT 4:30.
CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, WE'RE SUPER EXCITED.
HE DOES NOT HAVE A NAME YET, BUT WE TRUST HE WILL AT SOME POINT.
[CHUCKLING] THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[2. General Public Comments.]
I HAVE ONE CARD.I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION.
MR. SPRINGFIELD, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED, AND I WILL REMIND YOU THAT JAMES THOMAS IS A VERY NICE NAME.
CODE ENFORCEMENT HAS BEEN A HOT ISSUE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT'S ALSO BEEN A HOT ISSUE ON SOCIAL MEDIA LATELY, AND I'M GLAD THAT, AS GINA POINTED OUT DURING THE PREVIOUS BUDGET MEETING, THAT YOU'VE ADDED A STAFF MEMBER, BUT I THINK THE IN ADDITION TO THAT, I THINK IT JUST NEEDS TO BE THE RIGHT KIND OF PERSONNEL THAT ARE HIRED FOR THOSE JOBS SO THAT WE HAVE GREAT LEADERSHIP AND WE HAVE GREAT RESPONSE FOR THOSE ISSUES, AND THEN LASTLY, I WANT TO MENTION THAT I'M ALSO GLAD THAT THE POLICE AND FIRE HAVE BEEN HELPED OUT. WE'RE HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE HOTELS BEING BUILT AND WE HAVE FOUR THAT ARE OPENING SOO AND EVERY TIME YOU OPEN A HOTEL, YOU'RE ADDING ANOTHER [INAUDIBLE] NEIGHBORHOOD AS FAR AS PEOPLE WHO NEED TO BE SERVED AND WE DO HAVE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, THEN WE HAVE HEART ATTACKS IN HOTELS AND WE HAVE TO SERVE THEM.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP UP WITH THE POLICE AND FIRE ON THAT ISSUE, BUT ALSO TO HAVE THE STAFF THINK ABOUT THE ISSUE OF THOSE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE LIVING ON THE STREET, THAT MAYBE WE NOT HIRE NECESSARILY A POLICE OFFICER, BUT AN OFFICER IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT HAS TRAINING IN HELPING WITH MAYBE SOCIAL WORK SO THAT WE CAN HELP SOME OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
NOT EVERYBODY WANTS TO GET OFF THE STREET.
I JUST WOULD ACTUALLY CONSIDER THAT.
THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GINA BURRELL WELL, YOU HAD MY CARD FROM BEFORE I SPOKE OUT OF TURN.
I DON'T KNOW. I HEARD WE HAVE SOMEBODY FOR WEEKENDS, BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING MORE ABOUT THAT.
SO THERE REALLY IS A NEED, AND WHAT I SAID ABOUT DOWNTOWN, I DIDN'T REALLY MEAN CRIME.
I JUST MEANT TO KEEP THINGS IN ORDER DOWNTOWN WITH A NEW CODE ENFORCEMENT.
THAT'S A GOOD THING TO HAVE IT DOWNTOWN, BUT WE NEED IT FOR THE REST OF THE CITY, AND I HEARD ONE OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IS GOING TO BE RETIRING IN A YEAR. SO WE'RE GOING TO BE SHORTHANDED AND WE CERTAINLY DO HAVE A NEED.
THANKS A LOT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
BJ KALAIDI, WEST CITY OF ST AUGUSTINE, 8 NEWCOMB ST.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE WRONG ONE IS RETIRING, AND I'LL PUT THAT ON THE RECORD.
EVEN THOUGH YOU DON'T CUT OUR COMMENTS ON THE RECORD AND EVERYONE THAT HAS TO DEAL WITH CERTAIN PEOPLE IN THIS STAFFING UNDERSTANDS WHO DOES THEIR JOB AND WHO DOES NOT DO THEIR JOB, AND AGAIN, SO THE WHOLE AREA, NOT JUST THE EAST SIDE, WILL BE 30.8.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK THAT UP IN YOUR CODES.
THAT IS, THE ENTIRE CITY IS BECOMING TRASH.
ALSO, I WANTED TO BRING UP SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN 2018.
I'M SURE SOME OF YOU DON'T KNOW OR SOME OF YOU WEREN'T EVEN ON THE BOARD AT THAT TIME.
WE HAD A COMMISSIONER, IF YOU ALL CAN JOG YOUR MEMORY, WHO WANTED TO HAVE A MEETING WITH DEVELOPERS, NOT IN THIS BUILDING, BUT IN ANOTHER BUILDING, WHICH ENDED UP BEING THE FINEST DEPARTMENT'S BUILDING OVER THERE ON BRIDGE STREET, AND IT SAID THAT THEY COULD SPEAK FREELY.
THAT KIND OF TOLD ME SOMETHING.
YOU DON'T WANT TO SPEAK AND LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH YOUR DEVELOPMENTS IN THIS CITY.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT WERE INVITED TO SPEAK FREELY AWAY FROM EVERYBODY.
[INAUDIBLE] TROY BLEVINS, JIM [INAUDIBLE].
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I DON'T KNOW HIS LAST NAME.I DON'T THINK IT'S TRANSPARENT IN WHAT YOU DO.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT OUR COMMENTS ARE IGNORED WHEN WE ARE IN THIS MEETING AND IF YOU LOOK IN THE AUDIENCE, YOU SEE WHO IS AND WHO IS NOT HERE AND YOU WANT PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE, BUT WHEN YOU SHOW A DISINTEREST IN WHAT WE SAY, NOT EVEN PUTTING IT ON THE RECORD, IT SHOWS US THAT WHY SHOULD WE BOTHER? IT'S THROUGH EMAIL OR WHO YOU KNOW IN THIS CITY IS WHAT'S GOING ON AND OUR CITY'S BEING DESTROYED.
THANK YOU. MS. KALAIDI I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR.
THE REFERENCE YOU MADE TO THE MEETING OCCURRED IN 2018? YES, SIR. OK.
THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION? SEEING NOBODY ELSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION OF THE MEETING IS CLOSED.
[3. Presentations and Discussions Regarding FY 2023 Proposed Budget, Mark Simpson, Financial Service Director.]
SIMPSON FOR THE BUDGET PRESENTATION.MADAM VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
MARK SIMPSON, FINANCE DIRECTOR.
HOPE YOU'VE ALL HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE BUDGET BOOK.
I'M GOING TO BEGIN ON PAGE TWO WITH THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS FISCAL YEAR, BOTH MONETARY AND OTHER NONMONETARY ACCOMPLISHMENTS ON THE FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS.
MR. SIMPSON, LET ME INTERRUPT YOU, AND I'M SORRY TO DO THAT.
YOU DIRECTED THIS TO PAGE TWO, BUT I WANT TO PAUSE FOR JUST A MOMENT ON PAGE ONE, BECAUSE I THINK THIS VERY GRAPHICALLY REPRESENTS THE FACT THAT IN OUR PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE.
THIS COMMISSION, THIS CITY STAFF BEGINS WITH TOUCHING BASES, WITH GROUNDING OUR PLANNING IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, AND OF THE FOUR KEY ELEMENTS, THEIR LIVABILITY, AUTHENTICITY, CHARACTER AND VITALITY ARE FOUNDATIONAL TO WHO WE SEE AND WHO WE ENVISION OURSELVES AS A CITY, AND I COMPLIMENT STAFF IN IN YOUR CONSISTENTLY KEEPING THAT IN THE FOREFRONT OF HOW WE DO OUR PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE, AND THAT'S ALL THE BUDGET IS, IS PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE, AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE NOTE THAT WHEN THERE IS SO MUCH CONCERN ABOUT GROWTH AND OTHER IMPACTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
PLEASE GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. ALL FUNDS AS OF RIGHT NOW ARE PROJECTED TO HAVE A BUDGET SURPLUS AT THE END OF YEAR 2022.
MEREDITH AND I SHARPENED OUR PENCILS AND FOUND WHERE I WAS A LITTLE TOO CONSERVATIVE WITH RESIDENTIAL COLLECTION AND THE SOLID WASTE FUND, IT IS PROJECTED TO JUST BARELY BREAK EVEN ON A CASH BASIS THIS YEAR.
WE DID EXPERIENCE IN OUR EXPENSES.
SO WE ARE PROJECTING SURPLUSES FOR THIS YEAR.
JOHN'S COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
WE WE HAVE COMMENCED THE PROCUREMENT FOR OUR AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN INITIATIVES.
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IMPACT OF NEW DEVELOPMENT AND USE THOSE FUNDS FOR MOBILITY PROJECTS.WE SECURED THE PURCHASE FOR A NEW LADDER TRUCK OR AERIAL TRUCK FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, A VERY, VERY LARGE FINANCIAL COMMITMENT, BUT MUCH NEEDED FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO FUND PROGRAMS SUCH AS HOME AGAINST ST.
JOHN'S AND THE ST. FRANCIS HOUSE, TRYING TO DEAL WITH THE HOMELESS.
ANOTHER HUGE DEAL THIS YEAR WAS THE SECURING OF $26.5 MILLION FROM DEP AS PART OF THEIR ARPA MONEY AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FOR THE RESILIENT GRANT FUNDING TO ADDRESS SOME OF OUR MAJOR STORMWATER PROJECTS WHICH WHICH WERE REVIEWED IN OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
THE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER AND THE MARINA RECORDED RECORD REVENUES THIS YEAR.
SO WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE TRANSFERS FROM THE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER TO HELP OFFSET THE COSTS OF OUR MOBILITY INITIATIVES AND OUR HISTORIC PRESERVATION INITIATIVES, AS WELL AS SAVINGS FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE GARAGE, AND AS FAR AS THE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER ITSELF, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THAT ENTIRE ROOF THIS FISCAL YEAR.
SO THOSE ARE THE FINANCIAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR, FISCAL YEAR 22.
ON THIS NEXT SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE THE OVERALL ACCOMPLISHMENTS, WHICH MIGHT NOT BE FINANCIAL IN NATURE, BUT THE FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT, OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE AND WE'RE PROUD OF THIS, IS JUST OVERCOMING THE STAFFING ISSUES.
THERE WAS A MASS EXODUS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES POST-COVID.
THERE WAS A REAL SHIFT IN ALL SECTORS, BUT WE WERE HIT PRETTY BADLY, BUT WE OVERCAME IT AND WE'RE DOING A BETTER JOB OF RECRUITING AND WORKING ON RETENTION.
SO WE CONSIDER THAT A SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENT.
COMPLETED PHASE TWO OF THE SOLAR TRASH COMPACTORS AND THOSE ARE IN OPERATION AT THIS TIME.
I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'VE SEEN THE BIG BELLY COMPACTORS ON ST.
GEORGE STREET, BUT IT'S A GREAT, SMART PROGRAM.
WE WERE APPROVED FOR USE OF FREE CHLORINE AT THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT AFTER A YEAR LONG STUDY.
ANOTHER LARGE PROJECT COMPLETED, AS WELL AS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A VOICE OVER IP PHONE SYSTEM AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, ASSISTED HOMEOWNERS WITH NAVIGATING POTENTIAL FLOOD MITIGATION GRANTS, AND ONE OF THE MAJOR INITIATIVES THIS YEAR THAT WE MADE PROGRESS ON IS THE RESPONSIBLE HOSPITALITY INSTITUTE, WHO'S STUDYING THE DOWNTOWN NIGHTLIFE FOR US.
SO WE WERE EXCITED TO GET THAT PROGRAM GOING.
THE GIS ADVANCEMENTS ARE PRETTY IMPRESSIVE, AND I THINK AT THE LAST MEETING MR. GRANT SHOWED YOU THE STORIES AND THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT OUR GIS FOLKS, AND WE'RE EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT HOW THEY'RE MAKING US SMARTER AS AN ORGANIZATION.
NEW SOFTWARE WAS DEPLOYED AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
KIND OF BRINGING EVERYTHING TOGETHER INTO ONE SYSTEM WITH REPORTING, INSPECTIONS, PLANNING AND GIS.
SO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS GETTING MORE EFFICIENT AS WELL, AND POSSIBLY PAPERLESS, I HOPE.
COMPLETED DESIGN AND BID SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE SPANISH STREET PROJECT AND THE TOLOMATO PARKING LOT.
I'M SURE RUBEN AND TODD WILL UPDATE YOU ON THE PROGRESS OF THAT AT THEIR NEXT UPDATE, AND THE FDOT, WE SECURED A DEVELOPMENT GRANT FOR OUR CIRCULATOR, WHICH IS ALSO BEING ASSISTED WITH BY THE TDC.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS CIRCULATOR PROJECT, WHICH SHOULD BE COMING ONLINE VERY SOON.
SO THERE'S NO QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
I CAN MOVE ON TO THE FISCAL YEAR 23 BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS.
THE MILLAGE STAYS THE SAME AT 7.5 MILLS RESULTS IN $2.1 MILLION OF ADDITIONAL REVENUE.
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THE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER FUND IS INCREASING ITS TRANSFER TO 1.365 MILLION FOR MOBILITY, HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND THE VIC SINKING FUND IS $250,000 THAT WE PUT AWAY EACH YEAR FOR POTENTIAL MAINTENANCE OF THE GARAGE.THE FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE IS THE SAME THIS YEAR, AND IT COVERS APPROXIMATELY 50% OF THE ASSESSABLE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXPENSES, AND WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THAT IN MORE DETAIL AND WHAT WHAT IT'S GOING TO ENTAIL TO RAISE THAT FEE TO KEEP UP WITH PRICE INCREASES SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN THAT 50% TARGET FOR THE ACCESSIBLE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXPENSES.
ONCE AGAIN, I HIGHLIGHTED THE MOBILITY FEE BECAUSE IT REALLY JUST GOT OFF THE GROUND THIS SUMMER AND WE HAVEN'T COLLECTED MUCH, BUT WE DO HOPE TO COLLECT ANYWHERE FROM 100000 TO 150000 NEXT YEAR, POSSIBLY MORE, DEPENDING ON PERMITS, AND THERE ARE MOBILITY PROJECTS ALREADY IN PLACE SUCH AS THE MARINA CROSSWALK, THAT AS SOON AS THE MOBILITY FEES COME IN, WE CAN GET STARTED ON THOSE PROJECTS.
BIGGEST CHALLENGE, OBVIOUSLY, THIS YEAR FROM A BUDGET STANDPOINT WAS DEALING WITH INFLATION.
IT IT WAS A CHALLENGE, AND QUITE FRANKLY, IT IS THE REASON WHY WE NEEDED TO LEAVE THE MILLAGE AT 7.5 WAS TO DEAL WITH JUST THE INCREASED COSTS. THE HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN THAT WAS BROUGHT TO US BY THE INDUSTRIAL UNION WAS THE BIG WIN FOR THE YEAR, IN MY OPINION.
I BELIEVE IT IS BETTER COVERAGE FOR LESS MONEY AND WE'RE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THAT, ABOUT A $500,000 SAVINGS WHEN NORMALLY I'M UP HERE TELLING YOU ABOUT A 10% INCREASE IN HEALTH CARE COSTS.
OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT, OUR HR DEPARTMENT VETTED IT VERY CLEARLY, AND WE'RE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
NEXT IS THE FULL TIME EMPLOYEES THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING THIS YEAR.
INCLUDING TWO FIREFIGHTERS, THREE POLICE OFFICERS, A CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, TWO UTILITY PERSONNEL MOBILITY TECHNICIAN, AN ADDITIONAL MARINA ATTENDANT, AND TWO NEW VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER GIFT SHOP FOLKS.
LET'S PAUSE HERE JUST A MINUTE.
BOTH OF THIS MEETING AND PREVIOUS MEETINGS, WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.
SO THIS WILL BRING US TO A TOTAL OF THREE.
I BELIEVE IT'S MORE LIKE FIVE.
MEREDITH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO CHIME IN? WE CURRENTLY HAVE THREE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND A MANAGER WHO CAN ALSO ACT AS A CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.
SO ONE OF THEM IS SPECIFICALLY FOR SHORT TERM RENTALS, BUT CAN ALSO DO ALL CODE ENFORCEMENT RELATED ITEMS. SO THIS ADDITION WILL BRING IT TO FOUR OFFICERS, ONE OF WHICH IS STILL SPECIFICALLY FOR SHORT TERM RENTALS, BUT FOUR OFFICERS AND AN ACTING WORKING MANAGER, AND THEN DO WE HAVE STAFFING ON WEEKENDS? HOW DOES THAT WORK? I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE STAFFING FOR AFTER HOURS AND WEEKENDS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY I CAN'T SPEAK ENOUGH TO IT, AND I'LL SEE IF MR. REGAN OR MS. SKINNER IS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
YES, MR. REGAN, AND WE I'LL LET AMY TALK TO THE SPECIFICS OF OPERATIONS CURRENTLY.
THE SHORT ANSWER WOULD BE LIMITED.
THE NEW CODE ENFORCEMENT GIVES US MORE CAPACITY TO DO NIGHTTIME ENFORCEMENT, WHICH IS OUR PLAN.
SO AND MS. SKINNER, YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME FORWARD.
WHEN WE SAY NIGHTTIME ENFORCEMENT.
I GUESS I'M CURIOUS EXACTLY WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
WHAT TYPES OF ISSUES ARE WE EXPERIENCING AT NIGHT? WELL, AT NIGHTTIME, LET'S DEFINE THAT AS, YOU KNOW, NOT WERE STOPPED DURING BUSINESS HOURS, BUT AFTER BUSINESS HOURS AND WEEKENDS IS WHERE WE NEED TO BEEF UP CODE ENFORCEMENT, AND MUCH OF OUR NOISE COMPLAINTS, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE AT NIGHT BECAUSE WHEN THE AMBIENT NOISE LEVEL DROPS, THE IMPULSE NOISES ARE MORE DISTURBING, AND PARTICULARLY FROM THE WATER AND VEHICLES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO WE'VE LAUNCHED A NEW INITIATIVE EDUCATING OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, OUR ON THE WATER MARINE UNIT AND IN OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT ON HOW THEY CAN ENFORCE IMPULSE NOISES COMING FROM VEHICLES AND VESSELS, BUT WE ARE GOING TO NEED MORE MANPOWER CAPACITY TO BE CONSISTENT DURING NIGHTTIME AND WEEKENDS, WHICH IS HENCE THE CODE ENFORCEMENT ASK.
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MS. SKINNER, ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD? GOOD MORNING. I WOULD JUST ADD THAT OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS DO TYPICALLY WORK STANDARD BUSINESS HOURS.WE DO ADJUST AND WE DO HAVE OFFICERS THAT WILL THEN WORK ON A WEEKEND.
BUT SO FAR IT'S BEEN JUST SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO A CERTAIN ISSUE THAT WE KNOW IS COMING UP ON THE WEEKEND AND WE HAVE SOMEONE WORK THE WEEKEND TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE.
SO WE DON'T ROUTINELY HAVE ANYONE WORKING ON THE WEEKENDS.
I CERTAINLY FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I THINK WE'VE HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC AS WELL IS THAT WE DO HAVE BUSINESSES THAT MY WORDS PLAY CUTE WITH WITH OUR SIGNAGE WITH OTHER THEY NOBODY THEY KNOW NO ONE'S ON DUTY AND THEREFORE THEY DO WHAT THEY WANT WITH THEIR SIGNAGE, WITH THEIR MERCHANDISE, ETC..
ON WEEKENDS, LATE AFTERNOON, AND THE EVENINGS, AND SO I THINK IT'S WELL WORTH OUR CONSIDERATION THAT WE SPREAD OUT THAT ENFORCEMENT JUST LIKE WE DO WITH REGULAR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
I THINK WE DO KNOW THAT THERE ARE ISSUES OUT THERE ALSO WITH I WILL SAY, AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE RHI STUDY AND ANY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT COME OUT OF THAT, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE AND ISSUES THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONSIDER COVERING AND NIGHTS, WEEKENDS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
I WOULD HAVE ASKED THEM MYSELF, BUT ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT YOUR STANDING POLICY IS ON TIMELY RESPONSES TO CITIZEN COMPLAINTS AND HOW THE COMPLAINTS ARE RECORDED.
BUT CERTAINLY WE TRY TO RESPOND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
WE DID HAVE SOME CHANGES WHERE WE HAVE A NEW ADMINISTRATION PERSON WHEN CALLS COME IN.
WE RESPOND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THE WE HAVE A SYSTEM WHERE THEY'RE RECORDED INTO THE SYSTEM AND WE FOLLOW UP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THE CITY WORKS SYSTEM DOES HAVE WHERE WE CAN KIND OF FILE.
THE COMPLAINT COMES IN, THEY GO OUT, THEY LOOK AT IT.
WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WITH THE HIRING OF A CODE ENFORCEMENT MANAGER, YOU KNOW, IT HAS EVOLVED SO THAT WE DO HAVE MORE, I WOULD SAY. YOU KNOW, ON THE SPOT SUPERVISION OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND ALLOCATION OF TIME, EFFORT, DISTRIBUTION OF WORKLOAD. SO WE ARE ACTIVELY KIND OF WORKING ON THAT ISSUE.
THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT RESPONSE BECAUSE THOSE ARE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I GET.
I'M ACTUALLY CURIOUS TOO MR. MAYOR, I'M SORRY, IS THERE A FOLLOW UP BY THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TO THE COMPLAINANT JUST LETTING THEM KNOW THAT THEY HAVE BEEN THERE WHEN THEY WERE THERE AND WHAT THE OUTCOME WAS? MAYBE THAT'S PART OF WHAT THE ISSUE IS HERE.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF COMMUNICATION BACK AND FORTH.
SO CERTAINLY WE'LL MAKE AN EFFORT TO FOLLOW UP WITH WITH ANYBODY THAT WE NEED TO, AND JUST TO ADD ONE LAST THING TO THAT, IT'S VERY HELPFUL TO US IF IT'S A WRITTEN RESPONSE.
I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF THAT--ON THE RECORD WRITTEN RESPONSE.
SO WE NOW HAVE [INAUDIBLE] FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, ON THE WATERFRONT.
ARE THEY COVERED BY OUR NOISE ORDINANCE? YES, AND THIS IS ONE OF OUR LARGEST INITIATIVES THAT WE TO CRACK DOWN.
ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, WE STARTED IN EARNEST WORKING ON THE WATER.
THERE IS A PLAINLY AUDIBLE STANDARD THAT CAN BE APPLIED AS WELL AS A DECIBEL STANDARD.
WE HAVE BUILT INTO OUR TENANTS AT OUR MARINA LEASE THAT IF YOU ARE A PROBLEM ACTOR IN THIS AREA, THAT WE CAN TERMINATE YOUR LEASE , BUT WE HAVE NARROWED IT DOWN TO TWO OPERATORS THAT COME OUT OF OTHER MARINAS THAT ARE THE LARGEST PROBLEM, AND THE PEOPLE WHO SUFFER THE
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EXPERIENCE ARE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH OUR ON THE WATER MARINE UNIT.SO I'LL GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE SUCCESS OF THAT IN A FUTURE MEETING.
WHAT IS A MOBILITY TECHNICIAN? THE MOBILITY TECHNICIAN IS GOING TO HELP [INAUDIBLE] WITH THINGS RELATED TO SPECIAL EVENTS AND THE SHUTTLE SYSTEM AND [INAUDIBLE] JUST NEEDS HELP.
OKAY, THAT'S FOR [INAUDIBLE] DEPARTMENT NEEDS HELP.
YES. YES, AND I MIGHT ADD, THAT POSITION IS BEING PAID FOR BY THE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER.
IT'S NOT A GENERAL FUND AD VALOREM HIT.
MAYOR, MOBILITY IS ALSO A PROGRAM THAT IS NOT AN 8 TO 5 PROGRAM.
SO THE WEEKENDS AND COVERAGE, JUST STAFFING, ROBUSTNESS, AND WITH THESE ADDITIONAL HIRES, WHAT DOES HOW LARGE IS OUR WORKFORCE? WE'RE LOOKING AT 370.
I HAVE A QUESTION, MR. SIMPSON. THE GIFT SHOP PERSONNEL.
IS THAT TWO FULL TIME ADDITIONAL? YES, IT IS, AND SO THEN THE NUMBER OF NEW FULL TIME EMPLOYEES, THAT IS MORE THAN EIGHT.
THE GENERAL FUND HAS ONE OF THE POLICE OFFICERS IS FUNDED BY CONTRACT.
SO IT'S THE GENERAL FUND IS SIX FOR THE GENERAL FUND.
IT MIGHT IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO JUST CLARIFY THAT WHEREVER THE SOURCE OF THE.
YEAH, AREN'T THERE TWO SCHOOL BOARD OFFICERS THAT AREN'T--HOW DID YOU COUNT THAT AT.
SO MR. SIMPSON SAID, I BELIEVE SOME OF THE OFFICERS WERE CONTRACT OFFICERS.
WE HAVE CONTRACTS WITH FLAGLER COLLEGE.
THEY ARE THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS FOR THE THREE SCHOOLS INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS.
WAIT, I'M SORRY YOU DROPPED YOUR VOICE AT THE VERY END.
SORRY THEY ARE THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS FOR THE THREE SCHOOLS INSIDE OUR CITY LIMITS.
R.B. HUNT, [INAUDIBLE] AND THE GAINES ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL IS THE NEW ONE THAT WE ARE ADDING.
THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAD BEEN THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICE OFFICER THERE.
IT'S NOW GOING TO BE THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE, AND THAT'S BEEN INCLUDED IN THE SCHOOL BOARD CONTRACT.
AUGUSTINE. WE HAVE A REVENUE SOURCE COMING IN FOR THE FLAGLER COLLEGE AND THE ELEMENTARY OR THE SCHOOLS, AND THEN THEY'RE AVAILABLE FOR GENERAL POLICE WORK WHEN THEY'RE NOT FULFILLING THEIR CONTRACTUAL ASSIGNMENTS.
YES. SO THE QUESTION SO LET ME JUST DRILL DOWN.
MAYBE I'LL TEASE IT OUT THIS WAY.
SO THERE'S TWO NEW POLICE OFFICER POSITIONS THAT ARE FULL TIME PATROLLING, DOING ADMINISTRATION.
YES. I MEAN, THE SCHOOL BOARD OFFICER THAT GOES TO GAINES NINE MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR.
SO HELP ME UNDERSTAND [INAUDIBLE].
SO IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, WE HAVE THREE NEW ADDITIONS TO POLICE OFFICERS IN THE BUDGET.
THE OTHER TWO POSITIONS ARE BASICALLY GOING TO BE LOOKED AT IN TERMS OF HOW WE ADDRESS OUR HOMELESS STRATEGY PLAN, WHICH WE'RE WORKING ON NOW, AND DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, I HAD BEEN ADVOCATING FOR ADDING SOCIAL WORKERS SO THAT WE COULD RETURN TO OFFICERS WHO LARGELY DO SOCIAL WORK TO THE STREET, AND CHIEF MICHAUX
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REALLY PUSHED BACK THAT, YOU KNOW, NOT SURE HOW THAT WORKS OPERATIONALLY, HOW IT FITS THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, AND SO WE DECIDED THAT WE WOULD BUDGET TWO OFFICERS, WE WOULD DO OUR STRATEGIC PLAN ON HOMELESSNESS AND WHICH WILL HELP DEFINE WHETHER THOSE POSITIONS BECOME OFFICERS OR PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT SERVICE POSITIONS, RETURNING OFFICERS TO THE STREET.BY TIME WE DETERMINE WHAT THOSE POSITIONS ARE, IT EFFECTIVELY RESULTS IN TWO NEW OFFICERS ON THE STREET ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, AND SO THAT'S KIND OF HOW IT WORKS, AND TO CHIEF MICHAUX'S CREDIT, SHE JUST RETURNED FROM THE ANNUAL POLICE CHIEF CONFERENCE AND REALLY MADE A VERY SPECIFIC EFFORT TO NETWORK WITH OTHER POLICE CHIEFS THAT ARE RUNNING PROGRAMS THAT ARE HAVE STEEPENED, PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT SERVICES BUILT INTO THEIR OPERATIONS.
SO THEY ARE BUDGETED AS POLICE OFFICERS IF WE JUST DECIDE TO ADD POLICE OFFICERS.
BUT I THINK IT'S CLEAR WORKING WITH WE HAD A MEETING YESTERDAY INTERESTINGLY WITH THE A STAFF MEMBER FROM THE UNITED INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS IS A VERY DR.
JOE [INAUDIBLE], VERY HIGH LEVEL FROM THE WHITE HOUSE TO HELP STEER OUR DEVELOPMENT OF THE PLAN THAT WILL BE THAT WE'RE WORKING ON AND DEFINITELY GOT VALIDATION THAT THIS IS A GOOD APPROACH TO NOT JUST THAT OFFICERS NOT JUST ADD PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT SERVICES, BUT DO IT IN A REALLY THOUGHTFUL, INTEGRATED PLAN IN THE FUTURE.
WHAT WE'RE PLANNING IS WHEN WE GIVE YOU A PROPOSED STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK, WHICH BASICALLY DEEPENS OUR COMMITMENT TO DEALING WITH THE HOMELESS ISSUE AND LARGELY HINGES ON THE EVOLUTION OF WHAT'S CALLED A LOW BARRIER TO ENTRY FACILITY.
I THINK LATE SEPTEMBER IS GOING TO BE A REAL EXCITING TIME WHEN IT COMES TO THESE MATTERS , AND ONE OF THE THINGS IS IN SEPTEMBER, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS PUBLISHING A NEW STRATEGY, PRINCIPLES, AND WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT THOSE PRINCIPLES ARE AND WE'RE ALREADY MAPPING TOWARDS IT.
[INAUDIBLE] QUESTIONS. OKAY, I'M SLOWING US DOWN.
ADDITIONAL 2023 CITYWIDE BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE INCREASED TDC FUNDING FOR THE SHUTTLING AND DOWNTOWN CIRCULATOR, THE DOT FUNDING AS WELL FOR THE CIRCULATOR THAT'S ANTICIPATED TO BE $1,000,000.
FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE HACRA REVENUES ACTUALLY ECLIPSE THE DEBT SERVICE ON THE GARAGE.
SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA MONEY IN THE HISTORIC AREA CRA TO WORK WITH WHETHER IT BECOMES OPERATIONAL OR IT'S A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY, BUT I THINK IT'S EXCITING TO NOTE THAT THOSE REVENUES FINALLY PAY THE COMPLETE AMOUNT OF DEBT SERVICE ON THE GARAGE.
THE FUNDING FOR THE PUBLIC ART AT THE MAIN STREET INTERSECTION WE THOUGHT WAS A HIGHLIGHT.
THE INCREASED FEES FOR THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS TO KEEP UP WITH INFLATION.
WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP THE TOTAL BILL.
EVEN WITH THE $5 INCREASE ON SOLID WASTE, WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP THE TOTAL AVERAGE BILL TO ABOUT 9%, EVEN THOUGH A $5 INCREASE IN SOLID WASTE IS MORE LIKE 20%.
THE 4% INCREASE IN THE UTILITIES, THE WATER AND SEWER KEEPS THE KEEPS THE TOTAL BILL FOR UTILITIES, INCLUDING STORMWATER AND SOLID WASTE TO ABOUT 9%.
THE SUCCESSFUL UNION NEGOTIATIONS WERE A HIGHLIGHT OF THIS BUDGET.
THE FEASIBILITY STUDY OF LAND CONSERVATION INITIATIVE, I THINK IS SIGNIFICANT AND WORTH NOTING AS WELL AS OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS AND THE CITIZEN SURVEY.
I DON'T BELIEVE I ADDED THE CITIZENS SURVEY TO YOUR BOOK, BUT IT SHOULD BE NOTED.
THE SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS SEEMS TO ME THAT A GREAT MODEL FOR GETTING INFORMATION
[00:35:01]
OUT OR HAVING INFORMATION ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC IS IS GOES BEYOND INCREASING SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS.I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE STRATEGIC AND TARGETED, AND A GOOD MODEL MIGHT BE THE RESILIENCY WEB PAGE, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT HAS RECENTLY BEEN LAUNCHED BY MS. BEACH'S SHOP.
I SEE THAT AS WE I'M CONCERNED THAT AS WE INCREASE UTILITY FEES, WE ALSO PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH THE ABILITY TO CUT THEIR OWN COSTS AND HOW WE CAN EDUCATE PEOPLE ON HOW TO CUT THEIR OWN COSTS.
IT'S NOT WIDE IT'S NOT WIDELY KNOWN THAT THERE ARE YOU KNOW, IF YOU INVEST IN A DUAL FLUSH TOILET, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT IT WILL PAY ITSELF OFF IN YOUR WATER BILL WITHIN.
I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW, BUT A COUPLE OF YEARS IN THE LIFETIME OF THAT PARTICULAR PLUMBING FIXTURE MIGHT BE QUITE A LOT LONGER THAN A COUPLE OF YEARS. WE'RE JUST TURNING OFF THE TAP WHILE YOU'RE BRUSHING YOUR TEETH OR SOME WAYS OF REDUCING, INCENTIVIZING STORM WATER RETENTION AND SLOWER RELEASE ON YOUR OWN PROPERTY SO THAT YOU GET A REDUCTION.
I KNOW I'VE BROUGHT SOME OF THESE IDEAS UP BEFORE, BUT I THINK THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT CAN REALLY MAKE AN IMPACT RATHER THAN, AS I READ THIS . I'M SURE THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT IDEA OF WHAT INCREASED SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN MEANS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT BE VERY STRATEGIC AND VERY TARGETED IN HELPING OUR OUR CITIZENS UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY CAN PERSONALLY DO, WHETHER IT BE PREPARATION FOR STORMS OR ANY NUMBER OF THINGS.
BUT I'D LIKE THEM TO BE TARGETED AND STRATEGIC.
THAT SOUNDS GREAT, AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT NOT EVERYBODY HAS A COMPUTER, SO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO STUFFERS IN OUR UTILITY BILLS, AND MR. GRANT AND I HAVE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THAT AS FAR AS EDUCATING PEOPLE ON THINGS LIKE SOLID WASTE AND HOW MUCH IT COSTS US TO DISPOSE OF ONE WINE BOTTLE, OR ONE SIX PACK OF GLASS BEER RIGHT WAYS THIS MUCH AND ADDS TO YOUR COST AND THAT EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT.
WE ACTUALLY TALKED ABOUT PUTTING IT IN THE UTILITY BILL SO THAT EVERYONE WOULD.
I LOVE THAT IDEA BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO COMPUTERS, BUT WHEN THEY SIT DOWN AND OPEN THEIR MAIL OR THEIR BILL, I'M MORE LIKELY TO READ WHAT'S IN THE BILL, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IN THAT ENVELOPE THAN I AM TO GO SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING ON THE INTERNET THAT MIGHT BE HARD TO FIND AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW IS THERE.
SO I LOVE THAT IDEA OF INCLUDING SOME OF THIS INFORMATION, AND IT'S NOT SOCIAL MEDIA.
MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT.
THAT'S ONE. THE OTHER ONE IS YOU MENTION HOW TO PREPARE FOR FLOODS OR HURRICANES.
THE OTHER THING WAS HOW TO BE HOW TO PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR RESILIENCY.
SO THERE'S EMERGENCY PREPARATION, AND SO THERE IS A NUMBER OF ITEMS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.
SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE OR HEAR IS MORE DETAILS ABOUT WHAT'S BEING SUGGESTED HERE FROM THE COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT SO THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE SOME INITIATIVES AND CAMPAIGNS THAT THEY WANT TO DO AND THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, BUT I'D LIKE TO HEAR WHAT THEIR COMMUNICATION PLAN ACTUALLY IS SO THAT WE KNOW AND CAN EXPECT THAT.
SO GETTING INTO THE TOTAL BUDGET, I'M ON PAGE FOUR OF YOUR BOOK.
THE TOTAL BUDGET THIS YEAR IS UP TO $74.6 MILLION, UP FROM 64.7 LAST YEAR, AND YOU CAN SEE THE BREAKDOWN BY CATEGORY AS FAR AS THE TAXES, PERMITS AND FEES, THE INNER GOVERNMENTAL REVENUE THAT'S GOING TO INCLUDE YOUR YOUR DOT MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE CIRCULATOR. YOU CAN SEE THE CHARGES FOR SERVICES.
THAT'S OUR UTILITIES BUT IT'S ALSO THE PARKING GARAGE FEES THAT WE ANTICIPATE INCREASING SUBSTANTIALLY AS WELL AS THE REVENUES THAT THE MARINA.
FINDS AND FORFEITURES RELATIVELY STATIC MISCELLANEOUS UP QUITE A BIT AND I'D HAVE TO RESEARCH EXACTLY WHAT IS IN MISCELLANEOUS, BUT 74.6 MILLION TOTAL IN REVENUE, AND THEN ON THE SECOND PAGE OR PAGE FIVE--MR. MAYOR, I DEFINITELY LIKE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO RESEARCH WHAT'S IN THE MISCELLANEOUS AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING THAT WHEN WE COME BACK.
[00:40:14]
QUITE A BIT OF THAT MISCELLANEOUS IS THE INCREASE IN CONTRACT REVENUE FOR THE NEW POLICE OFFICER AS WELL AS WE WENT FROM EARNING ALMOST NO MONEY ON OUR $50 MILLION IN SAVINGS TO EARNING 2%, WHICH IS ENORMOUS FOR A SAVINGS ACCOUNT OF $50 MILLION.SO A LOT OF THAT MISCELLANEOUS IS INTEREST EARNINGS.
EARNING 0.1% WAS NOT FUN FOR SEVERAL YEARS, BUT WE'RE ANTICIPATING TO EARN 2% ON VERY LIQUID AND VERY SAFE SAVINGS. AS FAR AS THE EXPENDITURES GO ON PAGE FIVE, THOSE ARE BROKEN DOWN BY FUNCTION, WHICH WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FUNCTION, THAT'S OUR GENERAL SERVICES, JUST THE OVERALL GOVERNMENT ITSELF.
THE CULTURE AND RECREATION INCLUDES SPECIAL EVENTS AND OUR GROUNDS DEBT SERVICE.
WE DID BORROW AN ADDITIONAL $12 MILLION THIS YEAR, SO THAT BUDGET INCREASED A LITTLE BIT AND THEN WE DO NET OUR TRANSFERS BETWEEN FUNDS, BUT YOU WILL SEE IT IS A BALANCED BUDGET OF $74,605,726. THAT'S TOTAL CITYWIDE.
I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THIS POINT, MR. SIMPSON, BUT OUR ORIGINAL BUDGET IN 2020 WAS 64,000 PLUS.
THE FINAL BUDGET WAS ALMOST 90,000.
THE DIFFERENCE, I ASSUME, IS LOAN PROCEEDS, GRANT PROCEEDS.
12 MILLION OF THAT IS THE LOAN.
WE HAVE A ROBUST GRANTS DEPARTMENT, SO WE DON'T ACTUALLY BUDGET FOR THOSE AHEAD OF TIME.
PAGE EIGHT. SO PAGE EIGHT BREAKS DOWN THE GENERAL FUND REVENUES BY CATEGORY.
LARGEST OF WHICH IS INCREASES IN TAXES.
WE'VE GONE FROM A $35.8 MILLION GENERAL FUND BUDGET TO A $40.2 MILLION GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, THIS IS BROKEN DOWN BY FUNCTION AS WELL.
THAT'S YOUR POLICE. YOUR FIRE AND CODE ENFORCEMENT IS IN PUBLIC SAFETY.
THE BOOK BREAKS DOWN THE GENERAL FUND REVENUES AND EXPENSES, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT ON PAGE TEN AND 11, ON PAGE 11 OF YOUR BOOK.
YOU CAN SEE EACH DIVISION IN THE GENERAL FUND AS WELL AS THEIR PERCENTAGE INCREASE.
SO I'D BE HAPPY TO REVIEW THESE IN DETAIL WITH YOU TO LET YOU KNOW.
I MEAN, JUST FOR EXAMPLE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE INCREASING BY 160%, BUT THAT IS EASILY EXPLAINED BY US REMOVING OUR DISPATCHERS AND SENDING THEM TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THEN REPLACING THEM WITH A CONTRACT. SO WE'VE JUST SHIFTED MONEY FROM PERSONAL SERVICES, WHICH IS ON TOP DOWN TO OPERATIONAL.
SO I CAN HELP EXPLAIN ANY OF THESE INCREASES OR DECREASES THAT YOU LIKE.
BOTTOM LINE INCREASE IN OUR OPERATING EXPENDITURES IS 33.3%.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT JUST THE DISPATCH SITUATION ALONE WAS THREE QUARTERS OF $1,000,000.
[00:45:07]
MEETING, BUT COULD YOU ARTICULATE WHAT IS INCREASING DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS? WE PUT THINGS IN CERTAIN PLACES, BUT WHEN IT COMES TIME TO DO THE FINANCIAL REPORTING, I DO REPORT INCORRECT FUNCTIONAL CATEGORIES. SO IN YOUR COMMISSION BUDGET, THERE IS THE $80,000 FOR THE MAIN STREET ART PROJECT.I WILL MOVE THAT TO THE GROUNDS BUDGET OR SOME BETTER CATEGORY, BUT IT'S CURRENTLY IN THE CITY COMMISSION BUDGET.
I THINK IT'S MORE APPROPRIATE IN ANOTHER CATEGORY, MAYBE CULTURE OR GROUNDS.
YES, AND ACTUALLY, I THINK MAYBE CULTURE, BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET AT IN TERMS OF MEETING OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, AND I JUST NOTICED THIS YESTERDAY EVENING.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IS STATIC OR DROPPING.
WHY IS THAT? IT WOULD SEEM THAT WITH I'M JUST THINKING GLOBALLY, IT WOULD SEEM THAT THERE ARE GREATER CHALLENGES IN IT, AND WHAT ARE WE DOING THERE? TWO REASONS.
WE DID HAVE A CONSULTING CONTRACT.
WE WERE LOCKED IN FOR THREE YEARS FOR DESK SUPPORT AND THAT CONTRACT HAS CONCLUDED AND WE HAVE A NEW IT MANAGER AND QUITE FRANKLY, A WONDERFUL IT TEAM.
WE NO LONGER NEED THAT CONTRACT WITH ARCO AND A LOT OF OUR CURRENT NEEDS AS FAR AS CYBERSECURITY AND THINGS LIKE THAT ARE BEING COVERED BY THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN. SO WE ARE NOT SKIMPING ON TECHNOLOGY, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT, AND MR. SIMPSON, I'M ON PAGE 11, IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO THE CHANGE IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S BUDGET.
MARK. I CAN COVER THAT ONE IF YOU WANT ME TO.
WE LAST YEAR BUDGETED IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S BUDGET FOR A SPECIAL MAGISTRATE, NOT KNOWING WHAT WE MIGHT NEED IN CASE WE HAD ANYTHING THAT CAME TO US FROM OUR SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCES.
WE DON'T THINK WE NEED TO KIND OF PUT THAT HOLDING SPACE THERE THIS YEAR.
WE DID NOT SPEND ANY OF THAT IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 BUDGET.
OKAY, BUT WE COULD ADD IT BACK IN IF WE NEED TO USE SPECIAL MAGISTRATES.
I MEAN, THAT'S ANOTHER CODE ENFORCEMENT ISSUE.
WE INTENDED TO HAVE A SPECIAL MAGISTRATE FOR THINGS THAT GOT STICKY, RIGHT? YES. WE PUT A SMALLER AMOUNT IN CODE ENFORCEMENT.
WE HAVE NOT USED ANY IT'S NOW IN CODE ENFORCEMENT BUDGET INSTEAD OF THE CITY ATTORNEY'S BUDGET.
SO I WOULD RATHER HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY ABOUT BEING ABLE TO USE A SPECIAL MAGISTRATE, BUT I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE DETAILS AS TO WHY WE HAVEN'T USED A SPECIAL MAGISTRATE.
MS. LOPEZ OR MR. REGAN. WE HAVE MONEY WE PLAN TO USE A SPECIAL MAGISTRATE.
IT'S BUDGETED IN CODE ENFORCEMENT.
IF WE EXCEED THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY, THEN WE'LL DO A BUDGET VARIANCE.
WE KNOW THAT CODE ENFORCEMENT IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE.
WE DIDN'T USE IT BECAUSE A CASE DIDN'T GO TO A SPECIAL MAGISTRATE IN THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
ALL RIGHT, SO IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT THAT MEANS TO ME AND TO THE CITIZENS IS THAT WE STILL WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A SPECIAL MAGISTRATE SHOULD CASES NEED TO BE ADDRESSED THAT WAY.
THANK YOU, THAT'S THE REINSURANCE THAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.
THANK YOU. MISS LOPEZ, DID YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEEDED TO ADD? [INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU. [INAUDIBLE] PLEASE.
I DO HAVE ONE OF MY OWN QUESTIONS ABOUT SINCE YOU INVITED US TO DIG INTO THE CHANGES IN THE BUDGET.
SO WE HAVE A 11% DROP IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN ARCHEOLOGY.
COULD YOU GIVE ME MORE DETAIL ON WHY?
[00:50:29]
AND THEN I HAVE A SECOND QUESTION.YES, PLEASE. AT A STAFF LEVEL, WE HAVE DIFFERENT ADVANTAGES.
SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS WERE ASKED TO IN BRIEFINGS WITH MEREDITH AND I AND MARK ISN'T FAMILIAR WITH SOME [INAUDIBLE] NECESSARILY HAS ALREADY ANSWERED THIS QUESTION.
SO MEREDITH, IF YOU WOULD JUST QUICKLY ANSWER THAT.
NOT SURE IF MEREDITH HAS ANYTHING ADDITIONAL ON THAT.
I THINK WE'RE ALSO FINISHING UP A GRANT PROJECT IN THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION THAT WE HAD IN 2022.
WE HAD INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET NOT A NEW IN THERE.
WE HAD 100,000, I DON'T WANT TO SAY IT WRONG.
NO, IT'S NOT THE WATERWORKS, BUT IT WAS ANOTHER STATE GRANT FOR RESILIENCY IN HISTORIC BUILDINGS WE HAD SOME MEETINGS ON AND WE BELIEVE IT WAS 100,000.
I'LL HAVE TO LOOK UP THIS SPECIFIC GRANT FOR YOU, BUT THAT WAS REALLY A THERE'S SOME ONE TIME ALLOCATIONS FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION, NOT CONTINUING OPERATIONS THAT YOU'LL SEE IN FUTURE BUDGETS. I HAVE A SUGGESTION THAT WHEN WE HAVE THESE QUESTIONS THAT STAFF DOESN'T HAVE AN IMMEDIATE ANSWER FOR OR ISN'T QUITE CERTAIN ABOUT THAT WE JUST COME BACK WITH THIS INFORMATION.
I SEE PLANNING IS 100%, 104% THAT ONE.
I KNOW THAT'S THE LARGE INCREASES I CAN HANDLE.
IT'S THE DECREASES THAT I WASN'T QUITE SO CERTAIN ABOUT, BUT THE WORKSHOP, WE'RE CASUAL HERE, SO THAT IS FOR A STUDY OR AN UPDATE OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, WHICH IS SIZABLE.
THAT'S THE PRIMARY INCREASE FOR THAT PARTICULAR BUDGET IN PLANNING.
WELL, THAT SHOULD BE HIGHLIGHTED IN OUR COMMUNICATIONS BECAUSE I DO HEAR QUITE A BIT OF COMMENTS ABOUT OUR CODES AND ARE WE UP TO DATE? AND I'M VERY, VERY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE UNDERTAKING THAT THOROUGH REVIEW OF OUR CODES.
ARE THEY EFFECTIVE? BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE THAT CODES HAVE TO CHANGE AS NEW TRENDS EMERGE AND NEW PROBLEMS EMERGE, AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING THAT REVIEW, BECAUSE YOU JUST HAVE TO ADAPT WITH THE TIMES IN THE CASES WHERE YOUR HANDS ARE NOT TIED BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA, FOR EXAMPLE, AND THEIR PREEMPTIONS.
YOU'RE WELCOME. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ON PAGE 11? GREAT SUGGESTION, THOUGH, COMMISSIONER BLONDER.
SO ABOUT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, WE'RE ON PAGE 12.
SO ON THE UTILITY FUND, I'VE GOT SOME GRAPHS HERE.
AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, THE MAJORITY OF OUR REVENUES ARE, YOU SAID UTILITY FUND.
THIS IS THE GENERAL FUND ON PAGE 12, UNLESS WE'VE DONE THAT.
PAGE 12 IS A SUMMARY OF THE REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES, AND THEN IT HIGHLIGHTS THE INNER FUND TRANSFERS IN AND OUT, AS WELL AS THE DEBT SERVICE AND HIGHLIGHTS WHAT WE PAY TO THE CRAS.
OKAY, PAGE 13 SIMPLY HIGHLIGHTS THE AD VALOREM GROWTH OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS.
IT WAS IT WAS STAGNANT FOR MANY YEARS, BUT IT'S BEEN ON THE RISE.
I'LL MOVE ON TO PAGE 15, WHICH IS THE UTILITY FUND.
SO JUST SO WE'RE CLEAR ON PAGE 13, WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS NOT AN INCREASE IN MILLAGE.
WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS AN INCREASE IN ASSESSED VALUE.
THAT'S CORRECT. OUR MILLAGE HAS REMAINED AT 7.5 FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND THIS IS A REFLECTION IN INCREASED VALUES, WHETHER IT BE NEW DEVELOPMENT OR I THINK I REFERENCED IN A PREVIOUS MEETING THE CONVERSION OF PRIMARY RESIDENCES TO AIRBNB AND PEOPLE LOSE THEIR
[00:55:05]
HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.15 UTILITY FUND UP TO 21.8 MILLION FROM 20.4 MILLION.
THIS FUND, AS I STATED PREVIOUSLY, WE WORKED WITH THE RATES, WE UPDATED A RATE STUDY, WE HELD OUR INCREASE TO 4% ACROSS THE BOARD, AND THEN WE REDUCED THE SURCHARGE FOR WATER AND SEWER OUTSIDE THE CITY FROM 20% TO 19%.
SO WE WERE PROUD OF THAT, PROUD TO BE ABLE TO BALANCE THIS BUDGET.
BUT WE DID SO WITH ONLY ADDING TWO NEW FTES FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM, AND AS THE CITY MANAGER REFERENCED THIS MORNING, I'M SURE ALL HANDS ARE ON DECK HANDLING THAT 12 INCH WATER MAIN BREAK AS WE SPEAK.
SO THAT WAS THAT WAS HOW WE WE MANAGED THE 4% INCREASE WAS JUST NOT BY ADDING STAFF TO THE UTILITY FUND, AND I BELIEVE I MENTIONED IN A PRIOR MEETING THAT WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT ROBUST ENHANCEMENTS IN SOFTWARE WITH OUR GIS AND OUR CITY WORKS TO TRY TO BE MORE EFFICIENT WITH THE UTILITY MAINTENANCE AND FIX THINGS BEFORE THEY BREAK IS THE GOAL.
THE UTILITY FUND DOES HAVE SUBSTANTIAL DEBT SERVICE REQUIREMENTS SO THAT WE CAN SPREAD THE COST OF IMPROVEMENTS OVER THE USER'S LIFETIME , AND THEN THE GENERAL FUND DOES TRANSFER OUT QUITE A BIT TO COVER THE COST OF THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AS WELL AS SOME OTHER FUNDS THAT IT NEEDS TO HELP.
SO THERE'S A BREAKDOWN OF THE UTILITY FUND EXPENSES BY FUNCTION TOTALING $21.8 MILLION IN 23, AND THEN WE HAVE OUR DETAIL PAGES WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE BREAKDOWN OF HOW OUR REVENUE COMES IN FROM WATER AND SEWER INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CITY, AS WELL AS THE OTHER MISCELLANEOUS KIND OF NON-OPERATING REVENUES, LIKE OUR TAPPING FEES AND OUR FLOW BASED FEES, OFTEN CALLED CONNECTION FEES , AND I WOULD ALSO ADD THAT THE CONNECTION FEES ARE RESTRICTED.
SO WHEN YOU SEE IT ON PAGE 17, THE WATER FLOW BASED FEES, THE BUDGET IS 500,000, BUT WE'RE PROJECTING TO GET $1.5 MILLION IN REVENUE THIS YEAR, WE HAVE TO RESERVE ALL THAT ON OUR BALANCE SHEET FOR FUTURE PLANT EXPANSION.
AS PEOPLE COME ONLINE, THEY'RE PAYING AHEAD FOR THE CAPACITY OF THE PLANTS.
SO THIS EXTRA MILLION DOLLARS IN FLOW BASED FEES IN JUST THE WATER IS NOT REALLY SPENDABLE.
SO THE 20 MILLION ORIGINAL BUDGET REALLY TURNED INTO 33.5 BECAUSE OF THAT BORROWING.
SO WE'RE BACK DOWN TO 23 TO HAVING A NORMAL 21.8 MILLION BUDGET, BUT THE SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE THIS YEAR WAS THE BORROWING. ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE.
I'VE GOT IT BROKEN DOWN AS FAR AS JUST THE PERSONNEL OF THE UTILITY FUND BUDGET AND THEN ALL THE DIVISIONS WITHIN THE UTILITY FUND.
AS FAR AS ADMINISTRATION, THE TWO PLANTS, METER MAINTENANCE, THE TWO MAINTENANCE DIVISIONS AS FAR AS WATER IS CALLED TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION AND WASTEWATER IS MORE ON THE SEWER SIDE.
THEN YOU CAN SEE OUR CAPITAL EXPENDITURES.
THAT'S ALSO WHERE THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS CAME IN FOR 22.
YOU CAN SEE THE ORIGINAL BUDGET OF 278,000 AND THEN THE FINAL BUDGET OF 20 MILLION.
THAT'S BORROWINGS AND AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
THIS YEAR, BACK DOWN TO A NORMAL BUDGET OF 438,000 ON THE CAPITAL SIDE.
[01:00:09]
BOTTOM AND A BALANCED BUDGET FOR 2023.ANY QUESTIONS ON THE UTILITY FUND BEFORE I MOVE ON? OKAY, STORM WATER.
THOSE ARE GRANTS FOR STORM WATER.
SO THE ORIGINAL BUDGET OF 1.2 MILLION WAS INCREASED TO 4.5 BECAUSE OF THE SIZABLE NUMBER OF GRANTS THAT WE'VE EITHER RECEIVED OR WE ANTICIPATE RECEIVING BY THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
SO THAT'S THE THAT'S THE REASON FOR THE LARGE INCREASE IN PROJECTED REVENUES.
TOTAL BUDGET ON THE REVENUE SIDE OF $1,342,142, WHICH AGREES WITH THE TOTAL EXPENDITURE BUDGET ON PAGE 20, AND ONCE AGAIN, ON PAGE 20, WE HAVE THE EXPENSES BROKEN DOWN BY CATEGORY.
ALMOST ALL OF WHICH ARE IN THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT CATEGORY, AND YOU CAN SEE THERE THAT.
THE LARGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ORIGINAL BUDGET AND THE FINAL BUDGET WAS GRANT PROJECTS , AND THE STORM WATER DOES HAVE SOME SMALL DEBT SERVICE REQUIREMENTS OF APPROXIMATELY 195,000, AND THEY DO TRANSFER APPROXIMATELY 400,000 OVER TO THE GENERAL FUND TO OPERATE THAT OPERATE THAT UTILITY.
WHY IS THERE A CATEGORY IN THERE? IN THE STORM, WATER EXPENSES FOR CULTURE AND READ AND RECREATION.
IT'S IN THERE FOR ALL OF THEM, BUT IT HAS A $0 AMOUNT.
IT JUST STOOD OUT TO ME HERE, AND YOU CAN SEE I'M INCONSISTENT.
I BELIEVE I TOOK OUT THE ONES THAT AREN'T USED ON THE MARINA FUND SUMMARY, BUT IT'S KIND OF A TEMPLATE THAT HAS ALL THE CATEGORIES, BUT YES, STORM WATER DOES NOT DO ANY CULTURE OR RECREATION.
I SUPPOSE KAYAKING WHEN THINGS GO WRONG.
YEAH, YOU CAN DO SOME KAYAKING.
SO ON PAGE 21 IS THE STORM WATER BUDGET SUMMARY.
THE REVENUES DID INCREASE TO $9.81 PER SFU, SO THE REVENUES ARE SLIGHTLY HIGHER.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE OPERATIONAL AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURES ARE FAIRLY CONSISTENT WITH PRIOR YEARS.
[INAUDIBLE] IT'S LIKE THAT EPISODE OF GILLIGAN'S ISLAND.
SO WE DO HAVE A BALANCED STORMWATER BUDGET.
SUBJECT TO CHANGE SUBSTANTIALLY AS WE RECOGNIZE THE RESILIENCY GRANTS AND OTHER GRANTS IN THIS FUND.
THIS IS JUST AN OPERATING BUDGET.
THIS IS THE FUND WHERE WE ARE RAISING SOLID WASTE FEES BY $5 AGAIN FOR RESIDENTIAL COLLECTION, LARGELY DUE TO THE INCREASED COSTS OF TIPPING FEES AND ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADD AND GET CONSENSUS FROM THE COMMISSION.
WE DO HAVE A $1.8 MILLION NEED FOR NEW EQUIPMENT IN THE STORMWATER FUND AND I DO HAVE IT IN THE BUDGET TO BORROW THOSE FUNDS FROM THE UTILITY FUND ON A SEVEN YEAR LOAN BUT RATHER THAN WAIT TILL OCTOBER 1ST, IF I COULD GET CONSENSUS, IF SOMETHING HAPPENS AND A GARBAGE TRUCK BECOMES AVAILABLE, WE WOULD LIKE TO BUY IT TOMORROW. SO IF YOU COULD AUTHORIZE US TO EXECUTE THAT INNER FUND LOAN FROM THE UTILITY FUND, I THINK WE'D BE IN A BETTER POSITION TO--I SEE THE VICE MAYOR'S HEAD SHAKING.
COMMISSIONER HORVATH, SECONDS.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[01:05:01]
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THANK YOU.SOLID WASTE FUND ON PAGE 23 TOTAL PROJECTED REVENUES OF $5.4 MILLION.
WANT TO OPEN UP A DISCUSSION ABOUT.
WHERE MOST OF WHERE MUCH OF THE INCREASE IS COMING FROM.
WE DID THIS BEFORE WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT I BELIEVE JUST CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG AND MY MEMORY BECAUSE I DIDN'T GO BACK AND LOOK AT THIS, BUT AND I MAY NEED TO ASK MR. GRANT, BUT I BELIEVE WE ADDED A SECOND PICKUP FOR STRS, AM I RIGHT PER WEEK? YES, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT.
MR. GRANT, WHY DON'T YOU COME FORWARD, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE? I GUESS WHAT I'M GETTING AT IS WE'RE WE'RE ADDING WE'RE INCREASING OUR FEES ACROSS THE BOARD.
WE'RE INCREASING OUR FEES FOR COMMERCIAL, BUT WE STILL HAVE ADDRESSES, STRS, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING MORE THAN AN AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD WOULD CONTRIBUTE.
AND I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO PUT SOME MORE OF THE BURDEN ON THAT AND HAVE THEM DO THEIR FAIR SHARE.
THAT'S WHAT I'M GETTING AT. COULD YOU REMIND US OF WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR SPECIFICALLY RIGHT WHEN WE INCREASED RESIDENTIAL RATES TO THE CURRENT RATE OF 22.44? I ALSO PROPOSED A ENHANCED SHORT TERM RENTAL OF $60.53.
SO EVERY SHORT TERM RENTAL WAS HAD THAT CODE FOR THEIR BILLING, AND I GAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR OWNERS OF SHORT TERM RENTALS TO OPT OUT AND THAT WE WOULD MONITOR THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY COMPLIED WITH BEING ABLE TO PUT ALL OF THE TRASH OUT ON THE RIGHT DAY AS WELL AS NOT HAVE EXCESSIVE TRASH.
SO OUT OF THAT, PROBABLY 50 PEOPLE CONTACTED US.
WE PUT THEM BACK AT THE RESIDENTIAL RATE.
EVERY OTHER SHORT TERM RENTAL IS AT THE $60.53 WERE THE ENHANCED COMES IN IS IT'S THE OBLIGATION OF THE SHORT TERM RENTAL UNIT TO CONTACT SOLID WASTE FOR AN ADDITIONAL PICKUP BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE STAFF TO BE ABLE TO GO AROUND AND MONITOR WHAT IS AND IS NOT A SHORT TERM RENTAL.
WE HAVE ADDRESSES FOR THEM, BUT IT'S JUST NOT EFFICIENT OR EFFECTIVE TO HAVE A TRUCK AND STAFF DEDICATED WITH GOING AROUND TRYING TO PICK UP ADDITIONAL. IF THEY PUT IT OUT ON THE WRONG DAY.
RIGHT. SO IT'S ON DEMAND, BASICALLY.
CORRECT BY THE SHORT TERM RENT.
SO IF I'M WALKING AROUND OR DRIVING AROUND IN CERTAIN AREAS OF THE CITY WHERE THERE'S A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF SHORT TERM RENTALS AND I SEE MY ONE, YOU KNOW, TRASH CAN OUT ON THE RIGHT DAY AND THEY HAVE FIVE AND THEY'RE OVERLOADED.
I JUST WANT TO GO BACK TO THAT.
I KNOW THAT THIS IS A STAFFING ISSUE AND IT'S ALSO A TRUCK ISSUE AT THIS POINT, TOO, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE IS MORE TRAFFIC GENERATED BY SOME OF THESE SHORT TERM RENTALS, AND I'D LIKE TO SEE THEM HAVE A FAIRER SHARE OF THAT BURDEN OF THIS SOLID WASTE TIPPING FEE COST.
SO WHERE WE COULD REEVALUATE THIS IS TWO WAYS, CURRENTLY THEY ARE THEY'RE PAYING $60.53 INSTEAD OF $22.44, BUT THEY'LL ALSO GO UP ONLY $5, RIGHT? THEY'RE GOING TO GO UP AS WELL BASED ON EITHER THE INFLATION COST OR THE ADDITIONAL $5 COST.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE CAN DO, WE'RE TRYING TO IMPLEMENT A SOFTWARE THAT ACTUALLY TIES DIRECTLY INTO OUR BILLING SYSTEM SO THAT IF A DRIVER.
THEY CAN LITERALLY HIT A BUTTON AND SAY EXCESSIVE TRASH WILL HAVE IT CODED FOR A CERTAIN DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR THAT EXCESS, AND IT WILL GO DIRECTLY TO THE BILL. IT WILL ALSO [INAUDIBLE] NOW, RIGHT? NO, NO, NO, NO. OKAY, THAT'S BUDGETED FOR NEXT YEAR.
GREAT. YEAH, [INAUDIBLE] SAYING, THOUGH, IS THAT REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT'S A SHORT TERM RENTAL OR A REGULAR RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE, HOPEFULLY THIS NEW SOFTWARE, WHICH WILL TAKE A PHOTO OF IT, WE'LL BE ABLE TO BILL EXTRA REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEIR CURRENT FEE IS. THAT'S GREAT. OKAY, AND I APPRECIATE THAT, BUT IT'S A FLAT FEE.
RIGHT. COULD WE CONSIDER A BIGGER THAN FLAT FEE, WHICH WOULD REPRESENT THE ADDITIONAL BURDEN ON THE TRUE COSTS? CORRECT. SO THE WAY WE WOULD STRUCTURE IT IS BY THE AMOUNT OF TRASH THAT'S EXCESS OF WHAT THE CAN SIZE IS.
[01:10:04]
SO IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A FLAT FEE OF ONE BAG OR FIVE BAGS OUTSIDE OF THE CAN.IT'S GOING TO BE A STAGGERED FEE, DEPENDING ON WHAT AMOUNT IS THERE.
IS IT ONE YARDS, TWO YARDS, THREE YARDS, AND WE'LL HAVE A CODE FOR THAT.
OKAY, THANK YOU. I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA, BY THE WAY.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT I THINK I'M GETTING AT AND I'M HEARING IS THAT THE FAIRNESS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT THE COSTS ARE GOING UP, BUT IT'S ONLY FAIR THAT THOSE WHO ARE ADDING THE GREATEST AMOUNT TO THAT COST ARE PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE AND REWARD PEOPLE THAT ARE PRODUCING LESS GARBAGE.
BRIEFLY, JUST THE BREAKDOWN OF THE EXPENSES IS ALMOST ALL PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT THAT TRANSFERS OUT OR TO COVER THE GENERAL FUND AND THINGS LIKE REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE ON THE TRASH TRUCKS.
ON PAGE 25, YOU HAVE THE BUDGET SUMMARY OF THE SOLID WASTE FUND AND AND WHERE THOSE FUNDS COME FROM AS FAR AS RESIDENTIAL VERSUS COMMERCIAL, SMALL AMOUNT OF RENT, FRANCHISE FEES AND THE OTHER REVENUE WOULD BE THINGS LIKE INTEREST EARNED ON THE SMALL AMOUNT OF SAVINGS THAT THE SOLID WASTE FUND HAS. THE OPERATIONS, AS YOU CAN SEE, ARE GOING UP FROM 3.7 MILLION TO 4.9 MILLION FOR SOLID WASTE OPERATIONS. ALMOST ALL OF THAT INCREASE IS TIPPING FEES AS WELL AS COST INCREASES FOR THE OUTSIDE LABOR THAT WE NEED FOR THE TRUCKS. HOPEFULLY WITH THE SIDE LOADER VEHICLES THAT WE WANT TO PURCHASE, IT'S GOING TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE NEEDED.
IT CAN JUST BE DONE WITH A DRIVER AND AN AUTOMATIC SIDE LOADER.
SO WE'RE EXCITED TO GET THE NEW EQUIPMENT AND BECOME MORE EFFICIENT IN THIS FUND.
THE BIG HIGHLIGHT ON THIS PAGE IS THE $288 PROJECTED SURPLUS.
AS I STATED PREVIOUSLY, MY INITIAL RESIDENTIAL COLLECTION REVENUE WAS DONE IN MAY AND WE COLLECTED QUITE A BIT MORE IN MAY, JUNE AND JULY THAN I ANTICIPATED.
SO I WAS ABLE TO UPDATE THAT PROJECTION AND ACTUALLY BRING US INTO THE BLACK TO THE TUNE OF $288.
IF I COULD, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO SAY THAT STAFF DID A FANTASTIC JOB.
I MEAN, WE'VE WE'RE BACK TO NORMAL AND NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES HAD A REALLY HARD TIME GETTING THEIR TRASH PICKED UP AND AND THEIR RECYCLING PICKED UP, AND WE WE DID HAVE SOME ISSUES, BUT THEY WERE IMMEDIATELY ADDRESSED AND HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE WORKING OVERTIME AND WEEKENDS AND AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT STUFF DIDN'T ACCUMULATE AND CAUSE PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEMS IN ADDITION TO THE PANDEMIC.
SO I JUST I JUST WANT TO COMMEND STAFF FOR CARRYING THAT EXTRA LOAD AND KEEPING US AS NORMAL AS POSSIBLE AND AS FUNCTIONAL AS POSSIBLE AND AS CLEAN AS POSSIBLE.
SO, YES, MR. REGAN, FIRST OFF, WE ALL VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT COMMENT, BUT I'D LIKE TO JUST TAKE A MINUTE AND RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAD A MANAGEMENT CHANGE IN SOLID WASTE WITH THE RETIREMENT OF RICK STEPHENS AND EARLIER IN THE FISCAL YEAR, OLIVIA SMITH, WHO'S SITTING IN THE BACK, IS OUR MANAGER FOR SOLID WASTE, AND HER AND HER TEAM HAVE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB KEEPING EVERYTHING MOVING AND PROPERLY ACCOUNTING FOR GARBAGE WHICH RESULTS IN A SURPLUS, YOU KNOW, JUST JUST THE ACCOUNTING, ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING OF ACCOUNTS AND SO FORTH.
THAT'S A BIG PART OF WHY THE SURPLUS OCCURS.
SO I'D JUST LIKE TO MAYBE JUST RECOGNIZE OLIVIA AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN ATTACH A NAME AND A FACE.
THANK YOU. OKAY, THE MUNICIPAL MARINA FUND STARTS ON PAGE 26. WE DO HAVE SOME REVENUE INCREASES TO KEEP OURSELVES COMPARABLE WITH NEIGHBORING MARINAS.
[01:15:09]
WE DON'T WANT TO OVERCHARGE OUR FOLKS, BUT WE ALSO DON'T WANT TO HAVE PREDATORY PRICING AND UNDERCHARGE AND AND NOT BE FAIR WITH COMPETITION. SO THERE ARE SOME SHORT TERM ONE YEAR FEE INCREASES AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO EVALUATE THINGS ON A YEAR BY YEAR BASIS AT THE MARINA JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FEES ARE FAIR.YOU CAN SEE THIS BUDGET IS UP SUBSTANTIALLY FROM 3.5 MILLION TO $5 MILLION.
A LOT OF THAT IS THE RESULT OF GASOLINE PRICES.
I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS SPECIFICALLY THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE INCREASING FEES PER FOOT WRITE FOR DOCKETS, AND IT'S ALMOST LIKE A HIGH WIRE ACT TO GET IT RIGHT IN TERMS OF NEIGHBORING MARINAS, MAYBE POTENTIALLY OVERCHARGING IN A MONOPOLISTIC KIND OF WAY.
I'M JUST GOING TO SAY IT, AND THAT THE CITY MARINA IS YOU KNOW, IT'S A CHALLENGE TO GET IT RIGHT.
BUT I HOPE THAT OUR LONG TERM OPERATORS THERE OR AND SO FORTH, ESPECIALLY IN THE COMMERCIAL SECTOR, HAVE PLENTY OF ADVANCE NOTICE ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT AND THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM SO THAT IT IS NOT A, YOU KNOW, A SURPRISE, AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE, AND THAT WE ARE DELIBERATE ABOUT HOW WHAT THE PACE OF RAISING THOSE FEES MIGHT BE.
WELL, I BELIEVE THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT A LONG TERM, THREE YEAR PLAN, AND THAT WAS NEVER THE INTENT OF MANAGEMENT OR THE BUDGET OFFICE, BUT WE DID AGREE WITH THE ONE YEAR INCREASES TO KEEP UP WITH OUR NEIGHBORS LIKE CAMACHEE COVE AND [INAUDIBLE] AND THINGS LIKE THAT, OR THE SHIPYARDS, SO THAT WE'RE COMPETITIVE BUT NOT PREDATORY.
MR. REGAN RECENTLY I PERSONALLY DID SOME PRICE COMPARISON OF MARINAS, AND MY CONCLUSION WAS THAT OUR CURRENT RATE OF $16 A FOOT AT THE OUR CITY MARINA CALL THAT PREMIUM DOCKAGE, CLOSE ACCESS TO THE INLET AND SO FORTH IS ABOUT 45 TO 50% OFF THE MARKET RATE OF OTHER PREMIUM MARINAS SUCH AS CAMACHEE AND [INAUDIBLE].
WE'RE ABOUT 12% OFF NON PREMIUM MARINAS.
SO EVEN EVEN WITH THE PROPOSED RATE INCREASE, WE'RE STILL VERY BELOW THOSE THOSE RATES, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE MARINE INDUSTRY, FRANKLY, IS MONOPOLIZATION OF OWNERSHIP OF MARINAS.
WINDWARD MARINA GROUP HAS BEEN BUYING MARINAS, AND SO WE HAVE TO BE VERY COGNIZANT THAT MONOPOLIZATION IN ANY INDUSTRY WITHIN THE CITY IS NOT HEALTHY FOR OUR ECONOMY. ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, YOU CAN SEE THE MAJORITY OF THE MARINA EXPENSES ARE CONSIDERED CULTURE AND RECREATION.
ON PAGE 27, THERE'S A SMALL AMOUNT OF DEBT SERVICE FOR IMPROVEMENTS.
WHEN WE BORROWED MONEY IN 2017 AND THE TRANSFERS WERE TO COVER THE GENERAL FUND OPERATION.
ON PAGE 28 IS A BREAKDOWN MORE SPECIFICALLY OF WHERE WE DERIVE OUR REVENUES.
YOU CAN SEE, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, JUST A LARGE INCREASE IN THE SALE OF DIESEL FUEL, NOT NECESSARILY A LARGE VOLUME, ALTHOUGH OUR VOLUME DOES INCREASE AS BOATING BECOMES MORE POPULAR AND THE ECONOMY FLOURISHED, BUT THE PRICE OF DIESEL AND GASOLINE JUST OBVIOUSLY WENT THROUGH THE ROOF.
SO THAT'S THE REASON FOR THE LARGE DIFFERENCE IN THE FINAL BUDGET FOR 22 AND THE 23 BUDGET, BUT WE DID ALSO INCREASE DOCKETS SLIGHTLY PER WHAT MR. REGAN JUST EXPLAINED, AND SMALL INCREASES IN THE MOORING FIELD AS WELL.
THE OPERATIONS OF THE MARINA INCLUDE COST OF GOODS SOLD FOR THE FUEL THAT WE'RE BUYING AND SELLING.
[01:20:05]
AND OUT ARE CONSISTENT WITH PRIOR YEARS PROJECTING A $450,000 SURPLUS THIS YEAR, WHICH WE DEFINITELY NEED TO GO INTO SAVINGS NOT ONLY FOR IN CASE OF A HURRICANE, BUT THE MARINA'S DEBT IS STRUCTURED TO MATURE LIKE IN 2000 OR START PAYING MASSIVE PRINCIPAL IN THE 2030S.SO PLEASED WITH THE $450,000 PROJECTED SURPLUS THIS YEAR, AND WE ARE BUDGETING FOR ADDITIONAL SURPLUS, I BELIEVE, IN 2023.
SO I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT IT UP ABOUT SAVINGS, BUT I CALL THOSE RESERVES.
IS THAT NOT THE SAME THING? IT IS. SO BRINGING UP THE IDEA SO THAT WE HAD THE HURRICANES IN 2016 AND 17 AND WE SAW A LOT OF DAMAGE THERE, WE KNOW IF WE GET ANOTHER EVENT THAT THE MARINA WILL BE SHUT DOWN, AND SO WHAT IS THE STATE? SO THIS IS A QUESTION THAT I WANT TO SEE ANSWERED ON EVERY FUND, AND THAT IS WHAT IS WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE RESERVES? IS IT SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE SHOULD JUST REGULARLY REPORT OUT AT EVERY TIME WE ADDRESS THE BUDGET? WE SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE A REALLY GOOD IDEA OF WHERE OUR RESERVES ARE, AND THIS IS JUST THE ONE FUND THAT I REALLY STAY MOST SOLID WASTE IN THIS ONE ON RESERVES.
SO YOU'D BE HELPFUL IF YOU COULD BRING THAT BACK TO US.
SURE, I HAD IT AT THE LAST MEETING, BUT IT IS ON THE SCREEN.
THE MARINAS RESERVE THE UNRESTRICTED RESERVES AT SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2021 WERE 985,000, AND WE ANTICIPATE ADDING ANOTHER 450,000.
BUT I DO HEAR YOU, AND IN FUTURE BUDGETS, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN IS A REFORMATTING OF THIS DOCUMENT WHERE ABOVE REVENUE, IF YOU LOOK AT PAGE 28 ABOVE REVENUE, I'D LIKE TO HAVE BEGINNING RESERVE BALANCE OF 900 OR 985,000, THEN ADD REVENUES, THEN SUBTRACT EXPENDITURES AND HAVE AN ENDING RESERVE BALANCE THERE.
IT WILL GIVE A BETTER PICTURE FOR US.
I AGREE, AND OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AND THE COUNTY DOES IT THAT WAY.
WE NEED TO DO THAT, AND I THINK IT MIGHT ALSO BE HELPFUL BECAUSE SOME OF THESE RESERVES ARE OPERATING RESERVES KIND OF OUR OUR RAINY DAY ACCOUNT, BUT THERE'S ADDITIONAL RESERVES THAT YOU'RE BEGINNING TO ACCUMULATE OR HAVE ACCUMULATED TO GO TO DEBT SERVICE.
SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE SEE THAT FUTURE COMMISSIONS SEE THAT DISTINCTION.
WELL, AND SO, LIKE IN THE CASE OF THE PARKING GARAGE, YOU HAVE A SINKING FUND, BUT THAT'S REALLY A RESERVE, RIGHT? SO IT'S TAGGED.
IS IT RESTRICTED? [INAUDIBLE] BECAUSE THAT'S DIFFERENT.
NOW, THE TECHNICAL TERM IS RESTRICTED.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MARINA BEFORE I MOVE ON TO THE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER? NO, SIR. VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER BEGINS ON PAGE 30.
YOU SEE THE REVENUES ARE FAIRLY CONSISTENT WITH PRIOR YEARS, THE GARAGE DOES WELL.
WE'VE TALKED IN THE PAST ABOUT RAISING RATES AND WE DO WANT TO BRING A COMPREHENSIVE PARKING PLAN TO YOU, BUT THIS BUDGET REFLECTS THE CURRENT RATE OF $15.
SO YOU CAN SEE THE CONSISTENT REVENUES THERE.
TOTAL REVENUE BUDGET OF 5,247,000.
ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, IT'S BROKEN OUT BETWEEN THE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER AS A FUND.
SO PART OF THAT IS THE GARAGE.
SOME OF THAT IS THE CENTER ITSELF.
GARAGE IS CLASSIFIED AS TRANSPORTATION AND THE CENTER IS CLASSIFIED AS CULTURE AND RECREATION.
YOU CAN SEE THE DEBT SERVICE THERE OF $1,683,078 THAT IS PAID FOR BY THE HACRA. SO THAT'S WHERE I WAS PLEASED THAT THE HACRA IS BRINGING IN SLIGHTLY MORE THAN THAT THIS YEAR.
[01:25:02]
FUND FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND MOBILITY, IN ADDITION TO THE 250,000 SINKING FUND FOR MAINTENANCE , AND ALL OF THAT IS BROKEN DOWN ON PAGE 32 FOR YOU, TOWARDS THE BOTTOM, YOU CAN SEE THE TRANSFER HAS BROKEN OUT.HISTORIC PRESERVATION INCREASED TO 400,000.
MOBILITY INCREASED TO 715,000 TO COVER THE MOBILITY TECHNICIAN THAT WE ADDED TO THE BUDGET, AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THIS SINKING FUND AS WELL FOR 250,000 ON TOP OF PAGE 32.
YOU CAN SEE THE BREAKDOWN OF THE REVENUES BETWEEN PARKING AND THE GIFT SHOP AND THE TDC.
IF THE GIFT SHOP REVENUE AND I KNOW STAFFING ISN'T TIED TO REVENUE PER SAY, BUT CAN YOU CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY WE NEED TWO ADDITIONAL STAFF POSITIONS IN THE GIFT SHOP? I MYSELF CAN'T, BUT I BELIEVE MR. PIGGOTT MIGHT BE IN THE AUDIENCE, AND HE MIGHT.
IF NOT NOW, THEN AT OUR NEXT MEETING, BUT IT'S A QUESTION THAT BECAUSE THE REVENUE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE, YOU KNOW, 50,000 IS BUDGETED FOR AN INCREASE.
DIRECTOR GENERAL SERVICES, THE SHORT ANSWER TO THAT IS THE INCREASE IN VISITORS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE VIC GIFT SHOP OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, IT'S INCREASED PROBABLY CLOSE TO 75,000 PEOPLE, AND WE HAVE A LIMITED NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THERE WHICH RESUPPLYING, STOCKING AND ALSO NOW THE SCHOOL GROUPS ARE ALSO COMING BACK, IS ALSO ADDING TO THAT AGAIN, BUT BASICALLY IT'S THE INCREASED NUMBER OF VISITORS THAT ARE NOW GOING INTO THE VIC GIFT SHOP.
OKAY, I'D LIKE TO SEE US MONITOR WHETHER THAT INCREASE CONTINUES AT THE SAME RATE, AND IF IT DOESN'T, DO WE REALLY NEED TO? WE HAVE AND I DON'T HAVE IT WITH ME, BUT SINCE THE VIC OPENED, IT'S A STEADY INCREASE OF PERSONNEL, WHICH IS ONE REASON WHY TDC HAS GIVEN US ADDITIONAL FUNDS THIS YEAR FROM 180000 TO 250000.
OKAY, THANK YOU. YES, MR. REGAN. ANOTHER BIG PART OF THIS IS, AS YOU KNOW, IN THE SPRING I WENT IN DUE TO THE ISSUES OF STAFFING AND LOSS OF STAFF, WENT AND TALKED WITH EVERY EMPLOYEE IN THE IN THE CITY THROUGH THEIR DEPARTMENTAL DIVISIONS.
AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WAS TO LISTEN, AND THERE ARE CERTAIN DIVISIONS IN THE CITY THAT ARE RUNNING THESE OPERATIONS THAT HAVE A LOT OF HOURS WITH A SMALL NUMBER OF STAFF, AND THEN WHEN YOU GET INTO HOLIDAY SEASONS, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH STAFF COVERAGE AND OVERLAP TO DEAL WITH THINGS LIKE VACATION TIME SICK AND HOLIDAY SCHEDULES.
SO THE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER IN TOTAL IS ONE OF THOSE DIVISIONS WHERE EVERYBODY IS LOCKED DOWN OVER THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OVERLAPPING STAFF COVERAGE.
SO WHEN YOU ADD TWO ADDITIONAL PEOPLE, IT HELPS JUST IN THE ROTATION OF STAFF TO TAKE CARE OF THE GIFT SHOP AND VISITOR QUESTIONS THAT ARE COMING IN, AND WE ARE NOW OPEN DURING PERIODS AND LENGTHS OF TIME IN A DAY.
SO THIS AD IS VERY MUCH A RESPONSE OF THE FEEDBACK THAT I HAD FROM THE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER STAFF OF JUST AN IMBALANCE OF QUALITY OF LIFE AND WORKLOAD.
OTHER AREAS THAT SUFFER THIS HEAVILY ARE SOLID WASTE AS AN EXAMPLE AND POLICING.
ANY QUESTIONS ON PAGE 32, THE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER BUDGET SUMMARY? RELEVANT OR NOT, BUT WHERE, SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT VISITORS INFORMATION AND I'M RELATING THAT TO THE EXTRA FUNDING FROM THE TDC, WHICH IS A GOOD THING BUT THEY ALSO FUNDED RECONSTRUCTION FOR THE SWING PARK.
IS THAT NOT PART? HOW DOES WHERE DOES SWING PARK FALL? DOES IT FALL UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE VISITOR'S INFORMATION OR--IT'S PART OF GENERAL SERVICES.
[INAUDIBLE] THE GENERAL FUND, BUT THOSE IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE COMPLETE SHORTLY.
THROUGH THE MAYOR, MAYBE A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE MR. PIGGOTT GIVE A SCHEDULE UPDATE ON PROJECT SWING.
IF YOU CAN DO IT RIGHT NOW, THAT'S GREAT, MR. PIGGOTT, BUT OTHERWISE WE CAN GET AT A FUTURE MEETING.
[01:30:04]
WHILE HE'S COMING UP. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THE REVENUE FROM THE TDC AND THE SPENDING OF THAT IS IN THE 2022 BUDGET SINCE THAT CAME IN LIKE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.THAT'S RIGHT, IT HAD TO BE SPENT THIS YEAR.
CORRECT. SO IN THE GENERAL FUND, 2022.
THE SWING PARK RENOVATION IS GOING ALONG REALLY WELL.
IT'D BE GREAT TO HAVE THE KIDS THERE TO CELEBRATE WITH THAT.
WHATEVER WE WANT TO DO, BUT AS FOR, THE RECONSTRUCTION IS DOING REALLY WELL.
THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT UPDATE.
SINCE I'M PUTTING IT ALL IN THE POT OF THE VISITORS INFORMATION SERVICE, I JUST WANT TO SAY YOU HAVE YOUR HANDS FULL RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WITH THE NEW ROOF IS GOING ON AND I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD ON THE VISITOR'S INFORMATION CENTER ITSELF.
SO YOU'VE GOT QUITE A BIT OF ACTIVITY GOING ON IN THAT AREA AND A ROOF BACK HERE, TOO, AND A ROOF BACK HERE, WHICH WE WE WALK BY EVERY TIME WE COME, BUT SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THE ROOF WILL LOOK LIKE WHEN YOU RETURN IT TO THE VISITOR'S INFORMATION CENTER, BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF OUR GREAT HISTORIC ASSETS.
SOMETIMES IT'S A LITTLE UNDERAPPRECIATED, BUT IT WAS A WPA PROJECT.
I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT WHEN OR IF THE AWNINGS PLAN TO BE REPLACED.
THEY'RE LOOKING KIND OF FADED.
THE YELLOW AWNINGS THAT ARE ON THE--THAT WOULD BE A DENISE QUESTION FROM THE PARKING GARAGE.
NORMALLY WE WOULD PRESSURE WASHER THOSE WHEN SHE ASKS.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT HER PLAN IS SO I CAN GET WEATHER ON IT.
NOW IF YOU COULD LET US KNOW AT THE NEXT MEETING.
I'M JUST CURIOUS. I WAS THINKING IT LOOKED LIKE IT NEEDED SOME WORK.
THANK YOU. SO NOW WE GET TO THE GOOD PART.
YES, PAGE 33, THE HP TRANSFERS FROM THE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER, PAGE 33 HIGHLIGHTS WHAT THOSE HAVE BEEN USED FOR SINCE 2016 AND JUST WHAT A WONDERFUL INVESTMENT THAT GARAGE HAS BEEN FOR THE OVERALL CITY.
THIS YEAR, FISCAL YEAR 22, YOU CAN SEE $250,000 FOR THE LIGHTNER MUSEUM ROOFING PROJECT.
THE SALARY AND BENEFITS FOR AN ASSISTANT ARCHEOLOGIST, FUNDING FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA PRESERVATION INSTITUTE AND THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA LA FLORIDA PROGRAM, WHICH CARRIED FORWARD SOME MONEY FROM 2021 THAT WAS NOT SPENT THIS YEAR CONTINUING WITH SOME LIGHTNER MUSEUM PROJECTS, $200,000 FOR WINDOWS.
ALL THE PENA PECK HOUSE INITIATIVES THAT ARE IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET ARE BEING FUNDED WITH THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION TRANSFER FROM THE VIC TOTALING $15,000, CONTINUING THE LA FLORIDA CONTRIBUTION OF 20,000, WHILE USING 15,000 OF THAT FROM 2021 EXTRA FUNDING.
WELL, I WANT TO SAY THAT I'M VERY PROUD THAT THIS HAS BEEN SUCH A GREAT WORKHORSE FOR US.
WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO USE OUR PARKING FEES TO SERVE THE PUBLIC AND CARE FOR OUR ALLOW US TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR GREAT CIVIC ASSETS AND HISTORIC PROPERTIES.
I LOVE THE WAY YOU PUT IT ALL TOGETHER.
IT REALLY SHOWS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT FOR GOOD STEWARDSHIP OF OUR HISTORIC PROPERTIES IN ST.
I'VE GOT TO GIVE THE CREDIT TO MS. BREIDENSTEIN FOR THAT BECAUSE IT WAS PUT IN KIND OF AT THE LAST MINUTE.
I DID NOT HAVE IT IN THERE, BUT SHE DID THE WORK ON THAT.
LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT BOTH THE LIGHTNER MUSEUM AND THE PENA PECK HOUSE.
A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ON WHAT THOSE TWO PROJECTS ARE.
THE LIGHTNER MUSEUM WINDOWS, THE 200,000 YOU SEE FOR 2023.
ALL THE WINDOWS? YES, SO WE'D LIKE TO DO THIS 200,000 PER YEAR OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, AND OUR TEAM WILL BE WORKING WITH THE LIGHTNER MUSEUM TO FIGURE OUT WHICH ONES ARE IN THE MOST DIRE
[01:35:03]
NEED TO BE REPLACED FIRST, AND WE'LL SET UP A PLAN FOR THAT REPLACEMENT.THE TOTAL PROJECT, OF COURSE, HAS INCREASED EACH TIME WE LOOK AT IT, BUT WE'RE HOPING THAT OVER 3 TO 4 YEARS, IF WE CONTINUE TO COMMIT 200,000 FROM THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION TRANSFER FROM THE VIC, WE CAN COMPLETE THAT PROJECT.
PENA PECK HOUSE, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT IN A PREVIOUS MEETING.
WE HAVE DONE A BUILDING ASSESSMENT.
THERE ARE SOME BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS OVERALL THAT ARE GOING TO BE MADE, I BELIEVE, TOTALING 75,000.
ALSO WINDOWS AND I HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK MY NUMBERS, BUT TO ABOUT 25,000 REPLACING WINDOWS IN THAT PROPERTY AS WELL FOR A TOTAL OF THE 100,000 THAT YOU'LL SEE ALLOCATING THE TRANSFER THIS YEAR.
WE ANTICIPATE THAT BEING A ONE TIME TRANSFER OR SOMETHING WE'LL BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THIS YEAR.
CORRECT. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE LA FLORIDA PROGRAM.
WE'VE BEEN GENEROUS SUPPORTERS OF THAT.
I'M GOING TO RAISE THE RHETORICAL QUESTION OF WHAT TYPE OF RETURN WE'RE GETTING ON THAT.
I THINK OBVIOUSLY WE'VE CREATED A DATABASE, BUT I GUESS I'M RAISING THE QUESTION AS TO THE ACCESSIBILITY OR THE UTILITY OF THAT TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
FRANCIS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, AND WE HAVE GIVEN SPECIFIC DIRECTION TO DR.
FRANCIS TO DO RESEARCH HERE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE ON IN THE CATHOLIC ARCHIVES, WHICH UNVEIL THE RECORDS AND THE HISTORY OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE.
SO IF YOU'VE ATTENDED ANY OF HIS RECENT LECTURES AND HE FOCUSES ON THE AFRICAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE, THAT'S FROM THE DOLLARS THAT WE ARE PROVIDING, AND FRANKLY, I NEED TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT GIVING US MORE CREDIT FOR THAT WHEN HE GIVES HIS SPONSORSHIP CREDIT REMARKS, THE INFORMATION IS ACCESSIBLE DIGITALLY THROUGH THE LA FLORIDA WEBSITE, WHICH IS A ROBUST RELATIONAL DATABASE SYSTEM THAT PEOPLE CAN DO WORK. IT'S LARGELY USED BY RESEARCHERS MOST MORE AS COMPARED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, BUT THE GENERAL PUBLIC CAN CERTAINLY ACCESS IT.
SO THIS WAS A COMMITMENT TO CONTINUING TO FUND PRIMARY RESEARCH ON SAINT AUGUSTINE.
THE REALITY OF IT IS, IS A LOT OF DR.
FRANCIS' WORK IS ALSO CENTERED ON THE EXPEDITIONS THAT CAME AFTER PEDRO MENENDEZ, THE ARGENTINA EXPEDITION, WHICH CAME A YEAR AFTER PEDRO MENENDEZ WITH 2000 PEOPLE.
IT WAS THAT EXPEDITION THAT REALLY ANCHORED ST AUGUSTINE.
THE PROBLEM, IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHO WAS THE SECOND MAN TO WALK ON THE MOON, RIGHT? SO A LOT OF HIS WORK IS ON THOSE EXPEDITIONS AND HOW THAT INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORTED THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DO AS JUST A COMMITMENT TO OUR EDUCATION PILLAR WITHIN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
I THINK THAT PRACTICALLY AND I SUPPORT EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID IT IT HELPS US PAINT A PART OF THE PICTURE THAT WE'VE NEVER HAD BEFORE, THAT PART OF THE HISTORICAL RECORD THAT WE'VE NEVER HAD BEFORE IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY.
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF STUDY BY SCHOLARS ON THE EXPLORERS, THE CONQUISTADORS, FROM THE LETTERS TO THE KING, BUT NEVER REALLY FROM THE COMMON MAN.
WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THE RESIDENTS OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF ST AUGUSTINE, SO TO SPEAK AND THIS PROJECT IS UNIQUE IN THAT IT USES THAT INFORMATION BASED ON CHURCH RECORDS AND ARCHIVES, THE ARCHIVES THAT OUR CHURCH RECORDS TO SHOW US WHAT WAS THE WHAT WAS THE ORDINARY, LIKE I SAID, NEIGHBORHOOD CITIZEN RESIDENT DOING AND YOU KNOW WHAT WERE THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN POPULATION COUNTS AND WHAT WERE THEIR ACTIVITIES AND HOW ARE THEY SERVING, ETC.
ETC.. SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM TOO.
WELL, IT'S THE COLONIAL HISTORY AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT I THINK THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM IS MORE FOCUSED ON CONTEMPORARY HISTORY, BUT THAT DOESN'T IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY SHOULDN'T COVER IT OR THAT PERHAPS IF WE CHOOSE TO DECIDE TO SHOW THIS INFORMATION, WE HAVE A VISITOR'S INFORMATION CENTER THAT HAS MUSEUM QUALITY SPACE PREPARED FOR MUSEUM QUALITY SPACE.
WE COULD USE THAT TO TELL OUR STORY AS WELL.
[01:40:02]
MR. REGAN, I THINK THE LINCOLNVILLE CULTURAL MUSEUM IS PRETTY TAPPED IN WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF DR.I BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE HOSTED HIS LECTURES HERE LOCALLY, BUT AGAIN, AND I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE IMPORTANCE OF SCHOLARLY RESEARCH, BUT THIS FUNDING IS REALLY IS A MORE PUBLIC FUNDING, AND I GUESS THE QUESTION I RAISE AND I DON'T EXPECT ANYBODY TO ANSWER IT, IS HOW DO WE TAKE HIS HIGHLY ACADEMIC RESEARCH AND MAKE MAKE IT MORE READILY ACCESSIBLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND THAT'S NOTHING I EXPECT ANYBODY TO ANSWER. YES, MR. REGAN.
WHAT WE'VE BEEN STRATEGIZING IS MAKING A DIGITAL INTERFACE AT THE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER SO THAT PEOPLE CAN WALK IN AND SEE IT AND TOUCH AND SEE THE RELATIONSHIP OF HISTORY.
I HAVE SPOKEN TO [INAUDIBLE] AT UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA HISTORIC ST AUGUSTINE, AND THEY ARE GOING TO JOIN US IN THE CONTRACT TO MAINTAIN THEIR FOUNTAIN.
SO THEY'LL BE DOING THAT AT THEIR EXPENSE AND USING THE SAME CONTRACTOR WE'RE USING.
THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. CERTAINLY.
OKAY, MR. SIMPSON, WHERE ARE WE? MAYOR, WE ARE AT THE CRAS, WHICH BEGAN ON PAGE 35.
I'VE JUST GOT A ONE PAGE SNAPSHOT OF THE HACRA WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE INCREASE IN THE INCREMENTAL TAX REVENUE UP TO 632,000. THE CITY SHARE OF THAT IS $1,072,324, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE IS A SMALL SURPLUS THERE.
AFTER WE TRANSFER THE DEBT SERVICE TO THE VIC AND I'VE ELECTED TO TRANSFER THAT EXCESS TO THE GENERAL FUND BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THE CRAS AND WE HAVEN'T BEEN PAID FOR IT BY THIS CRA IN THE PAST.
IT'S ALL GONE TO DEBT SERVICE, SO THE $21,000 SURPLUS IS BEING TRANSFERRED TO THE GENERAL FUND.
ON THE LINCOLNVILLE CRA ON PAGE 36, YOU CAN SEE THE INCREMENTAL TAXES FROM THE COUNTY HAVE RISEN TO $626,721. I'M ANTICIPATING SOME INTEREST INCOME ON OUR SAVINGS AND THE TOTAL OPERATIONS. THE EXPENDITURES ARE PROJECTED TO BE 1.6 MILLION, AND THEN BELOW THAT, ON THE FAR RIGHT, YOU CAN SEE THE INCREASED TRANSFER FROM THE CITY FOR OUR SHARE OF THE INCREASE IN AD VALOREM IS OVER $1,000,000 NOW AT $1,010,037.
TO BALANCE THE BUDGET, WE'RE CARRYING FORWARD SOME SURPLUS OF $9,358, AND ADDITIONALLY, THE LCRA IS ALSO DOING AN ADMINISTRATIVE TRANSFER BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND TO COVER THE OVERHEAD OF RUNNING THAT CRA.
SO WE DO HAVE A PROJECTED SURPLUS IN 2022 OF 225,000 AND A BALANCED BUDGET FOR 2023.
SO GOING BACK TO THE HISTORIC AREA, CRA, IS THAT THE TRANSFER BACK? IS THAT THE $21,348? THAT'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE TRANSFER.
WHAT IS THE BALANCE? CAN YOU POINT THAT TO ME? OVER ABOVE YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO GO BACK INTO THE GENERAL FUNDS.
IT'S NOT SLIGHT. I LIKE $21,000.
IN FACT, I'D LIKE I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT WE SET THAT ASIDE FOR POTENTIAL EXHIBIT UPDATES IN THE VIC. I THINK THAT IT'S PROBABLY TIME TO REVISIT IN A REFRESH.
PERHAPS WE COULD WORK WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA AND FIND OUT WHERE THEIR EXHIBIT WENT.
THAT WAS REALLY TOLD THE WHOLE STORY OF ST AUGUSTINE AND WE HAD NEVER SEEN IT.
WE WERE QUITE GRATEFUL JUST TO INDULGE ME FOR A MOMENT.
WE WERE FOR A LONG TIME WE DID NOT HAVE A MUSEUM THAT TOLD THE ENTIRE HISTORY, SO TO SPEAK, OF ST AUGUSTINE, THE WHOLE SPAN OF HISTORY, AND SO THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA UNDERTOOK AN EXHIBIT THAT DID THAT, AND IT WAS AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE FOR A LONG TIME.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENED TO IT.
[01:45:03]
MAYBE WE COULD HOUSE IT.I'M SURE $21,000 WOULD GO A LONG WAY TO HELPING US DO THAT, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY WORTH EXPLORING.
I MEAN, WE COULD PERHAPS THIS COULD WORK.
IT'S JUST AN IDEA, AND IT'S ALONG THE THINKING THAT I HAVE THAT WE REALLY YOU KNOW, WE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON THE VIC DURING THE [INAUDIBLE] TO PREPARE IT FOR MUSEUM QUALITY TRAVELING EXHIBITS, AND WE HAVEN'T REALLY DONE THAT.
WE HAVEN'T REALLY USED THAT, AND IF YOU VISIT CHARLESTON AND SAVANNAH, YOU HAVE THESE YOU VISIT THEIR VISITOR'S INFORMATION CENTERS AND YOU HAVE THESE VERY VIBRANT EXHIBITS AND INFORMATION THAT TELL THESE STORIES, AND I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A VERY GOOD IDEA FOR US TO DO THAT AT THE VISITOR'S INFORMATION CENTER ON OUR OWN.
SO IT REALLY COMES TIES INTO WHAT I'VE BEEN LEARNING ABOUT THE OFFICE OF THE LIVABILITY AND HERITAGE TOURISM THAT I MENTIONED IN THE LAST MEETING WAS IN CHARLESTON.
THAT'S BEING USED TO ADDRESS QUALITY OF LIFE FOR CHARLESTON RESIDENTS.
SO THAT'S MY LONG THANK YOU FOR INDULGING ME.
AND I DID MAKE AN OVERTURE TO THEM TO SETTING UP ARTIFACT LOAN AGREEMENTS IN THE EVENT THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO USE SOME OF THAT MATERIAL IN OUR VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER.
WITH REGARD TO THE TOPIC OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA.
THE SECOND THING IS THAT VICE MAYOR IS CORRECT.
IT IS MUSEUM QUALITY SPACE AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE TOTAL OPERATION OF THE VIC AND IT WOULD PROBABLY BE MORE APPROPRIATE TO USE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER FUNDS IF WE DID DECIDE TO DO ANY TYPE OF OCCASIONAL CHANGING OF EXHIBITIONS.
I WILL SAY THIS WE HAVE A VERY WELL CURATED PIECES AND VERY VALUABLE PIECES THAT TELL THE BROAD OVERVIEW OF THE HISTORY OF THE CITY IN THE VISITOR CENTER IF NO ONE HAS EVER WALKED THROUGH.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THAT, BECAUSE MANY OF THOSE PARTS AND PIECES CAME FROM JOURNEY, FROM THE [INAUDIBLE] EXPEDITION AND THOSE THINGS , BUT WE HAVEN'T FRESHENED IT UP IN A LONG TIME, AND SOME OF THE MOST VALUABLE PIECES OF THOSE EXHIBITIONS WERE RETURNED TO THEIR OWNERS.
A LOT OF IT WAS ARTIFACT ON LOAN.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO BUILD A LITTLE BIT OF AN OPERATION STRATEGY AND YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP IT FRESH AND TO KEEP PEOPLE COMING BACK.
THERE'S CURRENTLY AN EXHIBIT ABOUT SAINT AUGUSTINE AT THE SMATHERS LIBRARY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, PARTICULARLY WITH AN AFRICAN AMERICAN FOCUS. I'VE NOT SEEN IT.
I KNOW THAT IT'S OPEN, AND AGAIN, I THINK THIS IDEA OF BRINGING THESE EXHIBITS OR REPURPOSING THESE EXHIBITS FOR THAT SPACE MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER IT'S FREE, BUT IT'S ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.
THEY'VE BEEN GATHERING COMMUNITY INPUT.
THE HACRA, AS MR. SIMPSON MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, HAS NOT EVEN PAID FOR ALL OF WHAT ITS INTENTION WAS IS THE VIC DEBT.
SO THE 21,000 NOW FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE TRANSFER, WHICH WE HAD NOT BEEN DOING IN YEARS PAST, WE EXPECT THAT DIFFERENCE TO BE EVEN LARGER IN THE FUTURE, AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A CLEARLY DEFINED PLAN THAT WILL COME TO YOU, OF COURSE, SO THAT FUTURE DOLLARS, WE HAVE A CLEAR DEFINITION FOR HOW THOSE CAN BE SPENT.
SO HELP THAT HOPE THAT HELPS WITH THE HACRA FUND CONVERSATION.
EXCELLENT. MR. SIMPSON, 36, I BELIEVE.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LINCOLNVILLE CRA BUDGET? MISS PERKINS HIGHLIGHTED MOST OF IT FOR YOU IN A PREVIOUS MEETING AND HER BUDGET IS RECAPPED ALSO ON PAGE 37.
PAGE 37 IS A DIFFERENT PRESENTATION OF IT BECAUSE IT CONTAINS CARRYFORWARDS, BUT THE ANNUAL
[01:50:01]
ONE YEAR BUDGET IS CONTAINED ON PAGE 36, WHICH JUST SAYS CURRENT REVENUES AND CURRENT EXPENDITURES WITHOUT THE CARRYFORWARDS.OKAY, AND TO WRAP THINGS UP, TO TIE EVERYTHING TO OUR STRATEGIC GOALS.
WE'VE GOT PAGES 39, 40 AND 41 WHICH HIGHLIGHT HOW OUR FUNDS ARE BEING SPENT TOWARDS OUR STRATEGIC GOALS, LIKE IN THE GENERAL FUND, OUR PAVING PROGRAM.
ON PAGE 39, WE'VE GOT THE MAP OF OUR PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN PROVIDED BY MR. FRANKLIN. IT'S PART OF OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
YOU CAN SEE OUR ACTION ITEMS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION.
MOST OF THESE ADDRESSED IN OUR CIP, OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
PLEASE. WHEN MIGHT WE RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON THE BACK BAY FEASIBILITY STUDY? AND ALSO, HOW ARE WE DOING ON LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ IN TERMS OF OUR TIMELINE? WE CAN SCHEDULE THAT FOR A COMMISSION MEETING.
PAGE 39 IS A GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF THE PAVING PLAN.
THE GREEN LINES ARE COMPLETED.
THE RED LINES ARE WHAT WE HOPE TO PAVE IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
I DON'T HAVE A NUMBER, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE GREEN AND THE RED.
IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS A WHOLE LOT MORE GREEN AND A LOT LESS RED.
SO CAN IS IT LESS MONEY THAN WAS BUDGETED LAST YEAR OR MORE MONEY THAN WAS BUDGETED LAST YEAR? THE PAVING PROGRAM WAS REDUCED FROM 800000 TO 600000 THIS YEAR.
I MEAN, YEAH, IT'D BE OKAY IF IT WAS.
GOOD MORNING, REUBEN FRANKLIN PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR THE PAVING PROGRAM.
LAST YEAR, A MAJORITY OF IT WENT TO FUND THE DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, PHASE TWO.
THAT'S THE CURB-LESS STREET DESIGN WHICH WE HAD FINISHED THE DESIGN OF AND BIDDING OUT CURRENTLY, AND I'LL GIVE YOU A BETTER UPDATE, BUT WE'RE WE PUT THAT OUT ON THE STREET TO BID AND IT'S OVERBUDGET RIGHT NOW.
SO WE'RE WORKING ON TRYING TO WHITTLE THAT DOWN SO WE CAN MOVE INTO CONSTRUCTION.
THIS UPCOMING YEAR, I PRESENTED THE LIST OF STREETS AT OUR LAST CIP WORKSHOP, AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE HAVING JUST A DIFFICULT TIME GETTING ASPHALT.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHEN WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO INTO PRODUCTION NEXT YEAR, BUT WHATEVER STREETS WE DON'T ACCOMPLISH ON THAT LIST, WHICH IS ROLL OVER TO THE FOLLOWING YEAR, AND I'M CURRENTLY WORKING ON A ROADWAY ASSESSMENT SO WE CAN CREATE KIND OF A FIVE YEAR PAVING PROGRAM THAT YOU CAN SEE FUNDED, BUT AS FAR AS THE 600,000, THAT'S JUST AS WE WORK THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS AND TRYING TO BALANCE THE BUDGET, THAT WAS A NUMBER THAT WE BECAME COMFORTABLE WITH.
THIS UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR, WE WOULD BE SPENDING 600,000 ON MILLING AND RESURFACING STREETS, AND I HAD PROVIDED THAT LIST OF STREETS, BUT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD IT'S ST GEORGE STREET, CORDOVA STREET, CARRERA STREET, RIBERIA STREET, BY FRANCIS FIELD ARE SOME OF THE BIG ONES THAT WILL GET DONE.
OKAY, WELL, IT'S A GOOD EXPLANATION, BUT--OH, I'M SORRY.
I'LL ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE TO IT.
THIS IS THE BUDGET WHERE WE DO MILLING AND RESURFACING OF STREETS THAT JUST NEED REPAVING.
WHEN A STREET HAS UNDERLYING UTILITIES AND HAS MAJOR CONSTRUCTION FORECASTED WITHIN TYPICALLY A FIVE YEAR WINDOW, THEN WE WOULDN'T GO IN AND MILL AND RESURFACE THAT STREET.
[01:55:01]
THE REPAVING OF A STREET THAT IS A FULL RECONSTRUCTION IS EMBEDDED IN THE PROJECT ITSELF , BUT IF UTILITY IS GOING TO BE PUSHED WAY OUT IN THE FUTURE, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MILL AND RESURFACE AS WE DID AROUND CITY HALL.SO A LARGE PART OF OUR STREETS HAVE WE'VE REACHED A POINT WHERE THE INVENTORY OF JUST STRAIGHT MILLING AND RESURFACING HAS BECOME A SMALLER NUMBER, AND WE HAVE MANY PROJECTS WITH FULL CONSTRUCTION, AND GIVEN THE ASPHALT ISSUE, I HOPE WE SPEND 600,000 IN THE COMING YEAR.
THE RED PLUS WHAT IS RECONSTRUCTED.
OKAY, THANK YOU, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY FOR FUTURE REFERENCE THAT.
I FEEL LIKE WE'RE GOING THE WRONG DIRECTION.
I AGREE WITH GOING FORWARD WITH MORE SPENDING.
WE'RE GETTING READY TO TAKE OVER KING STREET, AND THAT'S ADDING TO OUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR.
PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT, AND SO I REALLY HOPE WE CAN GET THIS HOUSE IN ORDER SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT TOUCHES PEOPLE'S LIVES MORE DIRECTLY BESIDES HAVING THEIR GARBAGE PICKED UP AND THEIR WATER CLEAN DELIVERED TO THEIR HOUSE WITHOUT THEM AND HAVING TO THINK ABOUT IT AND THEIR TOILETS FLUSHING EFFICIENTLY, IT'S WHAT'S THE CONDITION OF THEIR ROAD.
SO IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH QUALITY OF LIFE.
THANK YOU. SO JUST TO EXPOUND UPON THAT, I'M VERY HAPPY LEVERAGING NEW TECHNOLOGIES, BUT WE HAVE A COMPANY, ROBOTICS, THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY UNDER CONTRACT THAT WE'RE DRIVING EVERY SINGLE STREET AND WE FILM THE STREET, AND THEN THROUGH AN AI ALGORITHM, THEY ARE GOING TO PROVIDE US WITH A CITYWIDE ROADWAY ASSESSMENT.
SO YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO COME BACK IN A FEW MONTHS AND BE ABLE TO SHOW YOU THE ROADS THAT ARE IN GREAT CONDITION, THE ROADS THAT NEED TO BE PAVED, AND WHILE WE'RE DOING THAT.
WE'RE ACTUALLY TAKING DOWN EVERY POTHOLE THAT WE SEE ALONG THE WAY.
SO WE HAVE TO DRIVE EVERY STREET.
WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT DONE THIS MONTH IN AUGUST.
WE'RE NOTING DOWN POTHOLES THAT ARE GOING TO GET FILLED AS WE'RE DOING THE ASSESSMENT, AND THEN I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO BRING BACK A REALLY ROBUST PAVING MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE FUTURE.
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, MR. FRANKLIN, WHEN WILL WE ACTUALLY HAVE A TITLE TO KING STREET? I WILL BE BRINGING BACK THE LAST THING THAT WE HAD TO DO WAS A LOCAL JURISDICTION TRANSFER.
I'M EXPECTING THAT TO COME BACK IN SEPTEMBER, AND THEN AFTER THAT, THE STIPULATIONS OF THE AGREEMENT, I BELIEVE IT'S ONCE THEY FINISH THEIR DRAINAGE PROJECT, WE RETAIN OWNERSHIP OF THE ROAD AND WE CAN START DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION AND I'VE ALREADY STARTED IN MOTION WITH THE WE'RE DEVELOPING AN RFQ TO SELECT THE DESIGN TEAM.
SO WHEN WILL WE BE THE PROUD OWNERS? I'M EXPECTING PROBABLY NEXT YEAR, 2023.
WE'LL GIVE YOU ALL THE CREDIT.
[CHUCKLING] I DON'T NEED THE CREDIT.
WE WON'T FORGET. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S ON THE--NO, THAT'S ONE OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
MR. REGAN AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE 40, THE PRESERVATION INSTITUTE OF ST AUGUSTINE, WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THAT? WHAT'S THE FUNDING LEVEL? SO THE PRESERVATION INSTITUTE OF ST AUGUSTINE IS A FUNCTIONAL RESEARCH FACILITY IN GOVERNMENT HOUSE.
IN FACT I WOULD ENCOURAGE AND I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS ARRANGE TOURS FOR ALL THE COMMISSIONERS TO GO THROUGH AND SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING, AND BY THE WAY, AS, AS ONE OF THEIR ADVISORS ON THEIR BOARD OF ADVOCACY, MY COMMENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IS THAT THEY NEED TO STEP UP THE MESSAGING OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN GOVERNMENT HOUSE.
I BELIEVE WE PUT 15,000 A YEAR INTO INTO THE FACILITY AS A SHOWING A COMMITMENT FROM THE CITY TO THE PRESERVATION INSTITUTE OF ST AUGUSTINE.
SO THIS IS IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE GIVE TO U OF HISTORIC ST AUGUSTINE.
[02:00:01]
NO, IT'S TWO DIFFERENT AMOUNTS.OH, IT IS. IF YOU GO BACK TO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION TRANSFER KIND OF HISTORY EACH YEAR, IT'S 15,000 TO U OF F PISA 20,000 TO USF LA FLORIDA, AND I BELIEVE THAT HAS BEEN LOOKS LIKE SINCE FISCAL YEAR 2020.
THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA IS A SEPARATE INSTITUTION.
SO I'M ALSO ON THE BOARD OF ADVISORS FOR THE COLLEGE OF DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION PLANNING, DEPARTMENT OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, WHICH OVERSEES THE PRESERVATION INSTITUTE, AND.
THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF SEEKING INPUT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF A LONG TERM PLAN, MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE INSTITUTE, AND WE MAY WANT TO BE THINKING ABOUT HOW WE WANT TO WEIGH IN WITH THAT.
PRIMARILY, WHAT THEY DO THERE IS A CONSERVATION LAB THAT CURRENTLY, IT ALLOWS OUR STUDENTS TO LEARN ABOUT THE MATERIALS THAT THE CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, THE HISTORICAL CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS OF ST AUGUSTINE, FOR EXAMPLE, COQUINA, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING AND FASCINATING STORIES THAT OFTEN OUR VISITORS ARE ENCHANTED BY, SO TO SPEAK.
PEOPLE TRAINED IN THESE MATERIALS.
WE OFTEN HEAR HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS.
AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING, BUT I WOULD LUMP THIS IN WITH THE SOUTH FLORIDA CONTRIBUTION, PROVIDING SEED MONEY TO GET IT STARTED AS ONE THING, BUT THESE ARE BECOMING ANNUAL GRANTS AND I'M GOING TO BEGIN TO SCRATCH MY HEAD AS TO THE TANGIBLE BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, AND SO I THINK WE HAVE GOT TO URGE THEM TO ADOPT A HIGHER PROFILE AND FOR IT TO BE MORE CLEARLY EXPLICIT AS TO HOW THESE CONTRIBUTIONS ARE BENEFICIAL TO NOT JUST THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY, BUT THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
YES, MR. REGAN. MAYOR, AS ONE OF THE ADVISERS TO THE PROGRAM, MY PRESSURE ON THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA HAS BEEN TO DEVELOP A MUCH STRONGER TECHNICAL RESOURCE OUTREACH PROGRAM IN PRESERVATION AND MATERIALS AND DIGITAL DOCUMENTATION.
THAT IS VERY WOULD BE AKIN TO THE WAY THAT [INAUDIBLE] DOES AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AGENTS , AND I KNOW THAT SO MANY PEOPLE COME TO MY OFFICE SEEKING WHERE DO I BEGIN ON MY DOWNTOWN PROPERTY WITH THIS PRESERVATION PROBLEM? AND THIS IS WHERE WE COULD REFER THEM.
SO I REALLY THINK THAT THEY COULD BECOME A METAPHORICAL [INAUDIBLE] AG AGENT OF PRESERVATION, IF YOU WILL, AND THEY'VE BEEN RECEPTIVE TO THAT. AND I THINK YOU'RE SPOT ON.
I THINK THAT'S A GREAT ANALOGY BECAUSE I MEAN, [INAUDIBLE], THAT'S BECAUSE I GO TO [INAUDIBLE] AND FIND OUT MY AMARYLLIS AND MY OTHER [INAUDIBLE].
WELL, THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT, JOHN, BECAUSE THIS PRESERVATION INSTITUTE IS MODELED OFF OF THE NANTUCKET PRESERVATION INSTITUTE, AND THERE'S GREAT COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ORGANIZATIONS, BETWEEN THE THAT FROM THE NANTUCKET PRESERVATION INSTITUTE AND THE COMMUNITY, AND THEY DO PROVIDE THAT, YOU KNOW, HANDS ON ASSISTANCE TO RESIDENTS AS THEY'RE TRYING TO PRESERVE THEIR PROPERTY.
IF WE HAVE A LAB AND STUDENTS THAT ARE WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE COMMUNITY, THEY CAN, LIKE JOHN SAID, ACT AS ESSENTIALLY AG AGENTS FOR ARCHITECTURAL MATERIALS.
[02:05:02]
THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE AS A COMMUNITY.IF IT'S THE WILL OF THE COMMISSION, I'LL MAKE THIS PROPOSAL.
I THINK WE SHOULD REACH OUT TO BOTH DR.
SUPER, AND OF COURSE, THE OTHER THING WE HAVEN'T DISCUSSED IS THE MAIN STREET INTERSECTION PUBLIC ART PROJECT, AND I THINK EVERYONE I'VE TALKED TO ABOUT IT IS PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT SEEING THAT INTERSECTION.
I KNOW, AND I KNOW THAT'S YOUR INITIATIVE.
SO WE'LL GET ON IT NOW THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING.
YES, AND WE'RE EXPECTING TO SEE LANDSCAPING SOON, TOO PAID FOR BY THE DOT TO [INAUDIBLE] THE PROJECT, RIGHT? OKAY, MR. SIMPSON, ANYTHING FURTHER FOR US? I WOULD BE REMISS DURING THE GENERAL FUND PRESENTATION, I DID NOT SPECIFICALLY MENTION THAT WE ARE GOING TO USE WE ARE ASKING TO USE APPROXIMATELY 300,000 OF RESERVES TO EQUIP OUR SPECIAL RESPONSE TEAM AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH AN UPDATED ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIER.
SO RATHER THAN BURDEN THE AD VALOREM TAXPAYERS WITH THAT, WE CHOSE TO FUND THAT WITH SOME RESERVES.
SO I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT UP AND MADE PUBLIC.
MAYOR, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THIS IS A BIG ADVOCACY OF MINE THAT WE MAKE THIS PURCHASE.
I COULD BORE YOU TO DEATH, IF YOU LIKE, ABOUT HOW A BEARCAT FUNCTIONS BOTH IN POLICING AND IN HIGH WATER VEHICLE RESCUE SITUATIONS AND ALSO DEMONSTRATIONS, BUT I KNOW I'VE TALKED ABOUT IT QUITE A BIT BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT I THINK IT'S THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT NEEDS, AND IT IS WHAT THE STAFF OFFICER RECOMMENDS THE MOST.
IT ALSO FUNCTIONS HEAVILY AS OUR AS OUR SAFE HAVEN FOR OUR PARAMEDICS WHO GO WITH OUR SR TEAM ON KNOCK WARRANTS AND SO FORTH.
WELL, AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING IT TO OUR ATTENTION, MR. SIMPSON. I WOULD WELCOME NOT NOW, BUT A BRIEF PRESENTATION AT A FUTURE MEETING AS TO HOW IT WORKS, AND OF COURSE, I'M ALWAYS INTERESTED IS THERE DUPLICATION BETWEEN OUR DEPARTMENT AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT? SO A BRIEF PRESENTATION I THINK WOULD BE VERY INTERESTING.
SOUNDS GREAT. MR. SIMPSON, ANYTHING ELSE? ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, INSTRUCTIONS? I DO HAVE QUESTIONS, AND IT'S ON OUR STRATEGIC OUR STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE REMISS IF WE DIDN'T DISCUSS AT LEAST TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT SMART ST AUGUSTINE PROGRAM AND WHICH IS.
IT'S BEEN AROUND BUT IT'S NOW GOT ITS FUNDING PARTIALLY AND ALSO ON THE IT LOOKS LIKE WE'VE EXPANDED OUR OBJECTIVE TO ENHANCE OUR PARTNERSHIPS ON WORKFORCE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS.
SO I'D LIKE TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A FLESHING OUT OF WHAT THAT HOMELESSNESS STRATEGIC PLAN IS. AM I CORRECT IN THAT IT'S A NEW ITEM THIS YEAR? SO THAT'S WHAT I DON'T HAVE HERE IS LIKE WHAT'S NEW, WHAT'S BEEN ADDED BUT THAT I CAN IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFY AS SOMETHING THAT'S ADDED TO OUR PLAN THIS YEAR AND THEN MAYBE SMART ST AUGUSTINE HAS BEEN ON THERE, BUT IT'S FUNDED NOW, SO I'D LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT BOTH OF THOSE.
I THINK THAT'S A GREAT OBSERVATION, AND WE CAN BE INDICATING WHAT MIGHT BE A NEW ADDITION.
THE HOMELESS STRATEGIC PLAN IS WHAT I'VE BEEN REFERRING TO WITH REGARD TO DEVELOPING A DEEPER COMMITMENT OF THE CITY TO DEAL WITH THE UNSHELTERED HOMELESS POPULATION, AND WE'RE PLANNING TO BRING IN LATE SEPTEMBER THE FIRST DRAFT OF THAT STRATEGY AND FINANCING OPTIONS.
IT HINGES LARGELY ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MAJOR MISSING COMPONENT OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH IS WHAT I KEEP REFERRING TO AND COMMISSIONER VALDEZ IS A LOW BARRIER TO ENTRY FACILITY WITH WRAPAROUND SUPPORT SERVICES.
[02:10:02]
THAT IS THE COMPONENT THAT WE NEED TO DEAL WITH THE CHRONIC, UNSHELTERED HOMELESS THAT WE SEE.SO THE AND THE DEEPENING OF THE COMMITMENT OF THE CITY AND COORDINATION OF THE OTHER PARTNERS.
SO WE I'VE CREATED AN INTERNAL TASK FORCE THAT WE'RE WORKING ON THIS NOW.
YESTERDAY WE HAD A MEETING, AS I MENTIONED, WITH DR.
THERE'S TEN PRINCIPLES THAT ARE RECOMMENDED ON HOW YOU DEAL WITH UNSHELTERED POPULATIONS AND ALSO OPENING UP FINANCING SYSTEMS THAT ARE FEDERALLY FUNDED AND STATE FUNDED.
IT'LL BE SURFACING, AS I SAID, IN LATE SEPTEMBER, AND THERE'LL BE A LOT OF COORDINATION THAT'LL BE HAPPENING WITH OUR AGENCY PARTNERS, AND WHAT I'VE OFFERED TO OUR AGENCY PARTNERS IS ONCE THE COMMISSION SEEN ITS FIRST DRAFT OR MAYBE EVEN BEFORE.
EVERY AGENCY INVOLVED WILL HAVE JOINT AUTHORSHIP OF THIS STRATEGIC PLAN.
THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THIS THAT EXISTS IN THE COMMUNITY NOW.
SO WHEN WE HAVE THIS PLAN, THE AUTHORSHIP IS THE CITY CONTINUUM OF CARE.
ST JOHN'S COUNTY AGENCY PARTNERS ON AND ON.
THIS IS A MAJOR EFFORT TO CREATE A NEW PROGRAM TO DEAL AND MAKE AN EFFORT WITH THE UNSHELTERED HOMELESS, WHICH MY OFFICE THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE COMPLAINT PROBABLY FOR EACH OF YOU AS WELL, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, HOW WE CAN FINANCE IT.
AS WE'RE ALL AWARE, THERE IS A CONTINUUM OF CARE ORGANIZATION REALLY UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF FLAGLER HOSPITAL WITH THEY'RE SEEKING OUT A MERGER PARTNER.
THERE, OF COURSE, IS NO UNDERSTANDING.
IT'S WAY TOO MATURE AND IT'S WAY TOO PRELIMINARY AS TO WHICH OF THEIR PROJECTS WILL CONTINUE WITH A NEW PARTNER, AND SO THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS PARTICULAR FUNCTION, WHICH I THINK HAS BEEN BENEFICIAL TO THE COMMUNITY, WILL BE WILL CONTINUE.
SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND.
AND OF COURSE, IT'S INCUMBENT UPON ALL OF US TO REALIZE THAT WE ARE NOT THE SOLE PLAYER IN THIS ARENA, THAT THERE'S LOTS OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS DOING WONDERFUL WORK, AND THAT AN OVERARCHING COORDINATION IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
MY ONLY COMMENT WOULD BE THAT WE CLEARLY TAKE A LOOK AT AREAS, AS WAS MENTIONED BY OUR SPEAKER EARLIER, OUTSIDE OF THE DOWNTOWN CORE, BECAUSE IT GOES FAR BEYOND THAT, AND WHAT I'M HEARING IS MANY NEIGHBORHOODS SPREAD OUT ACROSS THE CITY ARE SEEING, INCLUDING DAVID SHORES AND NOT ONLY DAVID SHORES, BUT WE HAVE PEOPLE LIVING IN ALL KINDS OF PLACES, FROM ALLEYS TO WOODS TO WETLANDS. SO THAT REALLY IS SO IMPORTANT.
IT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT INITIATIVE.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE.
OTHER COMMENTS? SO, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A TIME FOR FINAL COMMISSIONER COMMENTS, BUT PLEASE OK.
MR. SIMPSON I JUST AND I KNOW I SPEAK FOR THE WHOLE COMMISSION FOR THE WORK OF YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT MS. BREIDENSTEIN AND PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
IT'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL, AND WE JUST APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND EXPERTISE.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PRESENTATION ON SMART? YES. YES.
IT'S BEEN A LONG MEETING SO FAR.
SO WE RECEIVED SOME GREAT NEWS THIS PAST WEEK.
WE HAD SUBMITTED THROUGH NORTH FLORIDA TPO AND THE DOT.
WE SUBMITTED FOR A FEDERAL RAISE GRANT, WHICH IS THE ACRONYM IS REBUILDING AMERICAN INFRASTRUCTURE WITH SUSTAINABILITY AND EQUITY, AND SO IT'S VERY HEAVY.
OUR APPLICATION WAS REVOLVED AROUND OUR MOBILITY PLAN FOR DYNAMIC MESSAGING, REAL TIME PARKING, FLOOD SENSORS, PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS , AND WE GOT AWARDED, WHICH IT'S A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE GRANT.
[02:15:06]
TIME WILL BE LEADING THE PROJECT THROUGH A LOCAL AGENCY AGREEMENT.SO WE'LL BE COMING BACK WITH YOU AND I CAN PROVIDE A MORE IN-DEPTH PRESENTATION, BUT IT WAS BIG NEWS AND WE GOT RETWEETED OUT BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND OUR OTHER PARTNERS.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT'S GOING TO BE AN EXCITING COUPLE OF YEARS.
FUNDING BECOMES AVAILABLE THIS UPCOMING JULY, AND I'LL JUST ADD, I FEEL LIKE THIS IS TRULY A MERIT BASED GRANT AWARD FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, AND SECONDLY, I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR PATIENCE AND YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR VISION ON THIS, BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO BE THE RESULTS OF WHAT'S DONE HERE IN ST AUGUSTINE AT THIS VERY SMALL SCALE WILL BE USED TO IMPLEMENT TO OTHER CITIES IN THE FUTURE USING NEW AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGY.
SO AND IT'S JUST I CAN'T BOIL IT DOWN INTO ONE SENTENCE, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
YOU AND JEFF [INAUDIBLE] AND CLAYTON HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB.
SO ALL OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA WILL BE VERY PROUD OF THIS PROJECT, AND I FEEL LIKE WE'RE ONLY PART OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA IN THE TPO.
SO BUT THANK YOU, AND I THINK THIS IS GOING TO SET US MILES AHEAD IN THE FUTURE ON OUR SOLVING OUR TRAFFIC AND MOBILITY PROBLEMS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
SURE SEEMS LIKE A HEADLINE TO ME.
[CHUCKLING] YES. IT SHOULD BE.
BEFORE I BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION, WE HAVE TIME FOR ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
I'M AN OPEN A SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION.
DOES ANYBODY WISH TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION AT THIS TIME? SEEING NO ONE PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED COMMISSIONER BLONDER FOR FINAL COMMENTS.
[4. Items by Mayor and Commissioners.]
IT OCCURS TO ME THAT OUR BUDGET BOOK PRESENTS BOTH HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS PREVIOUS YEAR 2022, ALTHOUGH WE'RE NOT OVER IT, BUT IN TERMS OF THE FISCAL YEAR AND ALSO PRIORITIES FOR THE UPCOMING YEARS, BUT WHAT I THINK I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE AND I DON'T WANT TO BURDEN THE STAFF WITH THIS, BUT MEREDITH KIND OF LAID IT OUT WITH THE HACRA AND THE PRESERVATION PROJECTS AND THE TIMELINE.I THINK I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME SORT OF A PACKAGE OF PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FOR THE PROGRESS THAT'S BEEN MADE ON EACH OF OUR FOUR ELEMENTS OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN. TO KIND OF PUT IT INTO CONTEXT, WHAT WE'VE SPENT MONEY ON, WHERE WE ARE, AND I REALLY LIKE THAT MODEL THAT YOU PRESENTED, I GUESS THAT MEREDITH PRESENTED WITH THE HACRA PRESERVATION FUNDS.
YEAR TO YEAR, WHAT HAVE WE DONE? WHERE ARE WE HEADED? AND, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE EVENTUALLY WE'RE GOING TO UPDATE OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, AND WE SHOULD AND IT SHOULD BE BASED ON WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED AND WHERE WE NEED TO GO, BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M NEW TO THE COMMISSION, BUT I CAN SEE THAT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF GOOD WORK HAS BEEN DONE IN MEETING THE GOALS OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN, AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO BE VISIBLE TO EVERYBODY AND A REMINDER TO EVERYBODY.
WE'RE DOING THE COMPREHENSIVE OVERHAUL OF THE ZONING CODE, THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
MANY PEOPLE REFER THEM TO REFER TO THEM AS ZONING CODES, PUBLIC EMPHASIS ON PUBLIC SAFETY, INCLUDING CODE ENFORCEMENT MOBILITY, AND OF COURSE, AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF INFRASTRUCTURE TO ADDRESS TO MAKE US MORE RESILIENT.
SO TO FRAME IT POSITIVELY, BUT ALL OF THESE ADD UP TO A GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE AND BETTER LIVABILITY FOR OUR CITIZENS, AND THAT IS OUR GOAL, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.
WE HAVE YOU KNOW, SINCE I'VE BEEN A COMMISSIONER, I'VE SEEN I SEE A LOT OF NEW FACES AND I APPRECIATE THAT ENERGY THAT YOU ALL BRING TO THE JOB.
OFTENTIMES, GOVERNMENT GETS CRITICIZED FOR THIS OR THAT, BUT WHAT THEY WISH, WHAT PEOPLE WOULD UNDERSTAND ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS THAT WE ARE PRIMARILY MADE AT WHAT WE DO IS PRIMARILY MADE UP OF PEOPLE, AND IT'S THE WORK THAT YOU DO FROM EVERY LEVEL, FROM ADMINISTRATIVE, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE GUYS THAT PICK UP OUR SOLID WASTE
[02:20:05]
AND WE SEE ON THE STREETS.SO IT'S ALL ABOUT PEOPLE, IN MY OPINION, AND I WANT TO THANK EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU.
HOW MANY DID WE SAY WE HAD NOW? YOU GAVE US THE NUMBER 386 EMPLOYEES.
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU OUR DEEPEST THANKS FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO TO EXECUTE THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I THINK YOU'VE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB.
IT'S HARD FOR MY BRAIN TO WRAP AROUND HOW MUCH YOU HAVE DONE TO BRING IN THE KINDS OF DOLLARS THAT I'VE NEVER SEEN FLOW INTO THE CITY.
IT'S JUST A STUNNING AND AND I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE, BUT IT'S JUST AN OUTSTANDING JOB THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE, AND WE SIT UP HERE AND WE TAKE THE CREDIT FOR IT AND, YOU KNOW, WE SAY, WELL, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE A PART OF IT, BUT IT'S REALLY YOU GUYS THAT DO THE WORK AND WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT AND THE REASON I'M MAKING THIS BIG SPEECH IS BECAUSE IT ALL CULMINATES IN THE BUDGET, AND THIS IS WHERE THE REAL WORK HAPPENS, AND IT'S A BALANCED BUDGET.
[5. Items by City Staff.]
WE APPRECIATE THE VICE MAYOR'S COMMENTS AND ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS, AND THANK YOU, AND IT'S A REAL PRIVILEGE AND PLEASURE TO WORK WITH SUCH A GREAT GROUP OF ELECTED OFFICIALS AND A TEAM AND A MANAGEMENT TEAM.THE EXPERTISE OF THE MANAGEMENT TEAM AND THEN ON DOWN TO OUR CRAFTSMEN.
I CAN TELL YOU FROM COMPARING OTHER SMALL CITIES IT'S ABOVE AND BEYOND MOST CITIES OF 14,000 WE PUNCH ABOVE OUR WEIGHT, AND I THINK THE VICE MAYOR'S COMMENTS REFLECTED THAT.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT A LARGE REASON WHY WE'RE SO SUCCESSFUL WITH THE NORTH FLORIDA TRANSPORTATION ORGANIZATION IS BECAUSE THE VICE MAYOR HAS BEEN AT THE TABLE OPENING THE DOOR FOR US AND ADVOCATING FOR I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG, MORE THAN A DECADE, AND SO THERE'S A TEAMWORK THAT HAPPENS BETWEEN STAFF AND ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND THAT'S HAPPENING WITH ALL ALL FIVE OF OUR OFFICIALS, AND WE APPRECIATE IT, AND, MAYOR, THIS IS YOUR LAST BUDGET, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP.
WE'RE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.